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Latest FromBarry Soper

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (right) and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Wily Winston has dominated the political year

20 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Peters certainly reinforces the phrase punching above your weight.

All MPs are referred to as honourable which in many cases is debatable. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper on the year in politics: No party covers itself in glory

19 Dec, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: So much for the Ardern administration's promise of open government.

Justice Helen Winkelmann has been appointed the new Chief Justice. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: New Chief Justice's eye-watering salary and super scheme

18 Dec, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Chief Justice a top public service role which brings in more than PM's salary.

Other leaders often seek out Jacinda Ardern's engaging manner. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Ardern picks up the John Key playbook

17 Dec, 2018 6:00am
2 minutes to read

COMMENT: Like John Key, Ardern likes to be liked - and, like him, that's not hard to do.

We aren't willing to address the health and wider social issues that drive drug harm. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: No wonder cops are confused over Govt's mixed message on drugs

14 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

We aren't willing to address the health and wider social issues that drive drug harm.

Labour Minister Iain Lees-Galloway and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Labour pains - strikes dog Govt in Parliament

13 Dec, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

Let's hope Labour doesn't bite the hand that feeds them.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Medicinal cannabis law great for drug dealers

12 Dec, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The terminally ill will, like Helen Kelly, be able to get loose-leaf marijuana.

The Greens' Julie Anne Genter is a fervent cycling supporter.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Who says we all want more cycle ways?

11 Dec, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Labour mayors in the three big cities are ramming through cycle ways.

From left, Rodrigo Duterte, Theresa May, Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron and Jacinda Ardern. Photos / AP, Pool

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: World order becomes world of disorder

10 Dec, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The rise of the oddballs has all happened within the past couple of years.

Minister Phil Twyford and new KiwiBuild home owners Derryn Jayne and Fletcher Ross stand with PM Jacinda Ardern outside their Papakura Home. Photo / Greg Bowker

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Life in a rural commune is beginning to look attractive

7 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Comment: Complaints about Kiwibuild have flooded in. Many are justified; some aren't.

National Party leader Simon Bridges. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Burning Bridges - hapless Nats leader is toast

6 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Summer BBQs spell bad news for Simon Bridges' job at the top.

We live in much more sensitive times but are we any the better for it? Photo / Dean Purcell, Michael Craig, Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Snowflake NZ - Are we becoming a politically correct society of sycophants?

5 Dec, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: We live in much more sensitive times - but are we any better for it?

Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announcing the Government has officially begun the process of investigating the petrol industry. Photo / Mark Mitchell

BUSINESS

Soper: What can we expect from Govt's fuel price inquiry?

4 Dec, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: In fact a raft of taxes are responsible for around half the price at the pump.

National Party leader Simon Bridges. Photo / Doug Sherring

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Why Christmas can't come soon enough for Bridges

3 Dec, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The year, especially the past few months, hasn't been great for Bridges.

Decision has wide reaching implications for this country. Photo / Supplied

BUSINESS

Soper: Spy agency's Huawei ban conveniences Government

30 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Decision has wide reaching implications for this country.

Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway announcing his u-turn decision to deport Czech drug dealer Karel Sroubek. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Vacuous Lees-Galloway learns the hard way about how to do his job

29 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Iain Lees-Galloway has finally done what he should have done from the outset.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Labour waves the white flag as Winston prunes union power

28 Nov, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Labour surrenders flagship policy of giving unions more power in the workplace.

Julie Anne Genter cycled to Auckland Hospital to give birth in August. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: No more money for teachers but $23m for kids on bikes

27 Nov, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Beehive is happy enough to fork out $23m to get more kids on bikes.

Karel Sroubek is not going anywhere for a while. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Sroubek decision stirs up hornet's nest in Beehive

26 Nov, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Karel Sroubek must by now be the best-known Czech national with NZ residency.

Minister for health Dr David Clark speaks to media. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Jami-Lee Ross crashes the party at Labour's hospital ceremony

23 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Maverick MP takes centre stage at Labour's Middlemore shindig.

Gavin Hawthorne, 40, appears in court in Masterton. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Sorry minister, killer drivers should be in prison

22 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Have a look at this week's court appearance of serial drink driver Gavin Hawthorn.

Andrew Little with Pike River Mine family members Anna Osborne, Sonya Rockhouse and Bernie Monk. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Pike re-entry fallout exposes politics' ugly side

21 Nov, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Politics have been cranked up to another level since decision was made to go in.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, right, passes a proclamation to Papua New Guinea's PM Peter O'Neill, left, as PM Jacinda Ardern watches during a signing ceremony at APEC Haus. Photo / AP

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Why on Earth was Apec meeting in PNG?

20 Nov, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The reality is Papua New Guinea simply couldn't afford to host the summit.

The Pike River mine will be re-entered next year. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Pike River mine re-entry not welcomed by all

19 Nov, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Memorial services today will be a tough one for some Pike River families.

In a few weeks time the letting fees that were charged to tenants will be gone by law. Photo / Ben Fraser

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Boozy parties, damage, denial - my nightmare landlord experience

16 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

In a few weeks time the letting fees that were charged to tenants will be gone by law.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Pence may regret asking Ardern to be his dinner partner

15 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Ardern wasn't stuck for words as she slid in beside Mike Pence.

Hopefully re-entry will give families an idea of how, why and what happened on that dreadful day. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Pike River saga step closer to closure

14 Nov, 2018 8:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Families' huge relief as Govt confirms mine re-entry will go ahead.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin and Sir Anand Satyanand announcing the terms of reference for an inquiry into abuse of children. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Child abuse inquiry - Brace yourself for NZ's cruel past

13 Nov, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: For the victims it'll give them some sort of closure, if that's possible.

President Donald Trump described CNN correspondent Jim Acosta as a rude and terrible person. Photo / AP

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Chilling parallels between Donald Trump and Rob Muldoon

12 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Trump is all powerful when it comes to those who are allowed to ask questions.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holding her bible during her speech at Ratana Marae. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Government's quick, quick, slow rhythm

9 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Certainly that's the case when applied to its decision making processes.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is joined by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Peters plays politics like no one else

8 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: He understands how things work and where the pitfalls are.

From left, Karel Sroubek, Jami-Lee Ross and Wally Haumaha.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Triple troubles causing headache for political leaders

7 Nov, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Two of them are likely to be fish and chip paper within the next few weeks.

if Kiwis don't like their money being vacuumed up and sent offshore they should look at the home grown banks. Photo / Michael Craig

BUSINESS

Soper: Kiwis have themselves to blame for obscene bank profits

6 Nov, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The eye watering profits sucked out of Kiwi households every year are obscene.

Trevor Mallard and Gerry Brownlee attended the All Blacks match in Tokyo. Photo / Tadashi Miyamoto / AFLO

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: MPs' dubious junket to watch All Blacks

5 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Trevor Mallard and Gerry Brownlee indulge in some rugby diplomacy.

Immigration Minister Ian Lees-Galloway. Photo / Greg Bowker

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Immigration NZ used by experts to do dirty work

2 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Immigration New Zealand will be feeling short changed.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Jacinda Ardern's questioner head-flicking habit

1 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: This week Jacinda Ardern would have done a break dancer proud.

Karel Sroubek at the Auckland District Court in 2011. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Government needs to explain why it's being soft on hardened criminal Karel Sroubek

31 Oct, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Unfortunately there's nothing between the lines coming from the Beehive.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Karel Sroubek case - immigration law is an ass

30 Oct, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Job of Immigration Minister isn't a sought-after portfolio, and here's why.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex meet with Prime Minister Jacinda Arder in Wellington. Photo / AFP

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Do we get value from royal tour?

29 Oct, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Looking at happy faces, spending taxpayers' money was last thing on their minds.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters in her Beehive office. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Politics' odd couple mark one year in power

26 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Jacinda Ardern's probably never noticed his socks before.

Former Prime Minister Sir John Key. Photo / Greg Bowker

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Leadership locked into a single issue

25 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

John Key promised that the age of the pension would never rise above 65 while he was PM.

Bridges' show of solidarity last week with his caucus colleagues who were after his job earlier this year may have been a little optimistic. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: National's support solid, but not for Bridges

24 Oct, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: New poll has no cause for comfort for National leader Simon Bridges.

Barry Sopers asks whether National will use the so-called waka jumping law to get rid of Jami-Lee Ross. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Jami-Lee Ross saga - now the joke's on National

23 Oct, 2018 1:10pm
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Will National use the so-called waka jumping law to get rid of Jami-Lee Ross?

National Party leader Simon Bridges during his press conference over allegation made by Jami-Lee Ross, Parliament, Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Bridges could have avoided the National mire

19 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: He obviously thought that the leak wasn't from within.

National leader Simon Bridges during his press conference over allegation made by Jami-Lee Ross. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Bridges' National leadership irreparably damaged

18 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: This is not just about an MP going rogue, it's about buying influence.

National Party leader Simon Bridges speaks to media after a caucus meeting at Parliament. Photo / Getty Images

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Simon Bridges comes up short

17 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: All in all yesterday played out as a National Party soap opera.

Jami-Lee Ross, left, is in Nats leader Simon Bridges' sights. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Jami-Lee Ross has sealed his fate

16 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Jami-Lee Ross just doesn't have the smarts to pull off a leadership coup.

More than half the money we pay at the pump is made up of Government taxes. Photo / Duncan Brown

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Bridges' petition ensures Govt will do nothing about petrol taxes

15 Oct, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Bridges is playing similar political blame game to the one Ardern's been playing.

National leader Simon Bridges. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Bridges, the National leak and a shambolic schmozzle

12 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Bridges' use of ministerial limo has become something of a political tidal wave.

A death in New York got me thinking about mortality. Photo / Getty Images

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Live life for today - you never know what's around the corner

11 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: A lifetime of friendship ended just as we were about to reunite in New York.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Jacinda Ardern.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Fashionably late - Jacinda Ardern treads carefully on US TV show

28 Sep, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Ardern treads carefully on US talk show.

United States President Donald Trump. Photo / AP

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: There are times you have to bite your tongue

27 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: What parts of Donald Trump's speech did you agree with?

Jacinda Ardern with baby Neve and partner Clarke Gayford at the UN yesterday. Photo / AFP

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Plenty of babytalk in NY - but what about promoting NZ?

26 Sep, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Ardern is still the novelty as the youngest world leader in NY at the moment.

Jacinda Ardern's become a star on the international stage and freely acknowledges she's achieved that by being unusual.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Jacinda Ardern the apple of New York's eye

24 Sep, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Jacinda Ardern's become a star on the international stage.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to the crowd at the Suffrage 125 year sunrise celebration, Aotea Square. Photo / Michael Craig

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: PM shows some steel in sacking Whaitiri

21 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

For her first sacking Ardern turns to the Helen Clark playbook.

Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern campaigning in Grey Lynn in 2017. Photo / Michael Craig

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Ardern's rise still unprecedented a year on

18 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: It was a job PM-to-be hadn't aspired to - but there was no one else in Labour.

Winston Peters, Jacinda Ardern and James Shaw talk with media after outlining the next steps in the Coalition Government's plan. Photo / Greg Bowker

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Freaky Fridays dogging the Govt

17 Sep, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: So by week's end you could be forgiven for thinking the Govt was falling apart.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: When does collective Cabinet responsibility kick in?

14 Sep, 2018 5:00am
2 minutes to read

COMMENT: That's not an easy one to answer when it comes to this Government.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Top diplomat talks fairness and responsibility

13 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

It was a parting shot to the Aussies and coming from a diplomat it'll hopefully resonate.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is having a tough time dealing with coalition concerns. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Māori issues in the middle of a coalition tug-of-war

12 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Managing the coalition Government is becoming an unwieldy task.

Kelvin Davis, Titiwhai Harawira and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at an announcement on a Crown-Maori Partnership office at the Beehive. Photo / Audrey Young

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: From haters and wreckers to a seat at Cabinet table

11 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: This was the Govt doing what it does better than any other - virtue signalling.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern obfuscated when answering questions about Clare Curran, knowing full well she'd resigned the night before.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Clare Curran saga reflects poorly on PM's leadership

10 Sep, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Clare Curran's demise eerily similar to that of the Labour MP she replaced.