Barry Soper is Newstalk ZB's senior political correspondent
Barry Soper is Newstalk ZB’s senior political correspondent. He was ZB’s political editor for many years after first joining the station and the press gallery in 1980.

Barry Soper: Is Michael Wood stinking rich or dishonest?
OPINION: Why Chris Hipkins didn't sack him, to begin with, is beyond belief.

Barry Soper: Surgery race-ranking rollout seems on ice as PM, Verrall not on same page
It seems the Government has put on ice plans for a nationwide rollout.

Auckland surgeons must now consider ethnicity in prioritising patients for operations
Health officials said it was an important step in reducing historical health inequities.

Barry Soper: There should be no coming back for Michael Wood
OPINION: Perception doesn’t pass the sniff test, opportunities to fix issue weren't taken.

Barry Soper: Heads should roll over Immigration NZ's 'dawn raid' tactics
Opinion: There are surely more humanitarian ways of dealing with overstayers.

Barry Soper: 'Festering sore' - PM needs to learn how to deal with talent and trouble
OPINION: Ardern's unknowingly become an expert at doing the dance of the unveiled.

Barry Soper: Why there was no point sticking around for Ashley Bloomfield
OPINION: Bloomfield's resignation would have come as no surprise to Ardern.

Barry Soper: The PM's announcement that wasn't - she's playing a cracked record
OPINION: The sermon sounded like the same script they had preached so many times before.

Barry Soper: Labour is abusing its absolute power
OPINION: What's happening to democracy, let alone the promised transparency of this Govt?

Barry Soper: Why can't this Govt make a decision and announce it at once?
OPINION: Is it about power or just plain incompetence?

Barry Soper: There's an air of permanency at Parliament grounds
OPINION: The camp's become a well-fed, ordered hippie village of sorts.

Barry Soper: Govt's refusal to engage with Parliament protesters unwise if not unkind
OPINION: From the beginning the Prime Minister has preached kindness.

Barry Soper: Government trying to oil squeaks that have turned into shouts
COMMENT: Don't hold your breath, as you may clog up the threatened hospital system

Barry Soper: The virus will be the Government's undoing
OPINION: It should come as no surprise to Ardern why her popularity's on the wane.

Barry Soper: Luxon's biggest mistake in first PM showdown
OPINION: Covid for Ardern and her band of weary warriors is their ticket to ride.

Barry Soper: National gets what it wanted
Opinion: Simon Bridges made the right call today.

Barry Soper: Few political hit jobs have been so badly executed
OPINION: It was like a script straight from Pink Panther and bumbling French inspector.

Barry Soper: Pulpit preaching - PM's press conferences all about media control
OPINION: Press conferences with politicians generally have always been torrid affairs.

Barry Soper: 'Paranoid' PM used Defence Force jet for Auckland visit
OPINION: Ardern's first visit in almost three months was virtually over before it began.