Ryan Bridge: We need more than agriculture to be successful

There’s nothing quite like watching a well-thought-out strategy come together and work.

And hats off to South Korea this morning — they’re absolutely smashing it when it comes to tourism.

The government set a goal: 30 million visitors a year by 2030.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 5/9/24

Foot and mouth – export losses of $14.3 billion a year give govt good cause to commit to stamping out any incursion

We were troubled – briefly – at the prospect of politicians never saying anything improper, outrageous or untoward.

Wouldn’t that give us that much less fodder for the writers who are published on this blog?

Geoffrey Miller: Why is New Zealand’s defence minister visiting South Korea?

New Zealand’s defence minister, Peeni Henare, has had a very busy first half of the year.

In January, Henare was the face of New Zealand’s relief effort to Tonga, following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcano.

Then, from March onwards, Henare was often involved in Jacinda Ardern’s announcements of military support for Ukraine.

The Government initially decided to supply only defensive (or ‘non-lethal’) equipment to Kyiv, which took the form of body armour, helmets and vests.

Cabinet initially declined a request by Henare for New Zealand to also supply ‘lethal aid’ weaponry to Ukraine – but that decision was suddenly reversed in early April.