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Latest FromBarry Soper

National MP Hamish Walker. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: National lacks decisive leadership over Covid patient leak

8 Jul, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Clutha-Southland should now be looking for a new MP under the leader's orders.

Former health minister David Clark. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: You can't expect us to believe Clark stepped down because he was 'distracting'

3 Jul, 2020 9:01am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Clark did take one for the team, the Labour Party team, fighting to win election.

Greens co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Greens' tax the rich folly good news for National

30 Jun, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: It could be a very different story after September 19.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to the media about the latest Covid-19 cases during a press conference at Parliament. Photo / Marty Melville

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Why hasn't anyone lost their job for Covid cock-up?

18 Jun, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: At least our beleaguered Health Minister won't be on the parliamentary slide.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Covid-free doesn't mean lockdown the right or legal call

11 Jun, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: People ignored the dangers of being ruled by fear rather than the rule of law.

The legality of enforcing lockdown alert levels 3 and 4 will face a judicial review next month.

NEW ZEALAND

Was lockdown legal? Law groups join judicial review

10 Jun, 2020 4:50pm
3 minutes to read

The legality of lockdown alert levels 3 and 4 will face a judicial review next month.

Thousands turned out in Auckland to protest the killing of George Floyd despite Covid-19 restrictions.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Protest crowds show Beehive's lost control on gatherings

3 Jun, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: It's time to allow us to start the incredibly tough task of picking up our lives.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during the post-Cabinet press conference at Parliament on May 11. Photo / Getty images

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Thank goodness for level 2 - but damage has been done

12 May, 2020 5:00am
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: Psychologists will look back and ask how Kiwis were brought to heel so easily.

Comment: Was the lockdown legally enforceable? There are questions being asked. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Police response raises questions about whether lockdown was legally enforceable

8 May, 2020 6:18am
3 minutes to read

Opinion: If we accept we're required to live by rule of law, this is important.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. Photo / Getty

NEW ZEALAND

Leaked Crown Law documents question legal force of alert level 4 rules

7 May, 2020 5:05pm
4 minutes to read

Legality of the lockdown and the police power to enforce it questioned by Crown Law.

We have been frequently congratulated by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for achieving so much as part of the team, as if membership was voluntary. Photo / Getty Images

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Could NZ have done better in Covid-19 fight?

6 May, 2020 7:00am
4 minutes to read

Comment: It isn't the done thing to criticise the prime minister and her team, but...

Lockdown day 16: Police stopped motorists at a roadblock near Waihi Beach, as police around the country try to stop people travelling to holiday spots for the Easter break. Photo / Alan Gibson

NEW ZEALAND

Exclusive: Leaked emails reveal police unease over their lockdown powers, actions

4 May, 2020 8:11am
6 minutes to read

Commissioners warning the police have little or no power to enforce the lockdown.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Winston back with a splash, revealing Cabinet talks and leaving PM to explain

30 Apr, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Winston Peters let the cat out of the bag over the Covid countdown.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: PM's playing with words - a new meaning for elimination?

29 Apr, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Ardern is putting the use of elimination down to technical epidemiologist talk.

National Party leader Simon Bridges during his media conference at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: It's absurd to suggest Bridges' criticism is politicking

23 Apr, 2020 6:26am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The leader of the Opposition is expected to oppose what the Government is doing.

NZ First leader Winston Peters. File photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Winston Peters' trustee the subject of SFO raid

21 Apr, 2020 4:45pm
2 minutes to read

COMMENT: SFO won't find any evidence of wrongdoing because none exists, Henry says

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: PM to reveal new level 3 details - but our leaders went too far

16 Apr, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Comment: It's true that with the benefit of hindsight we would all be much better off.

Health Minister David Clark. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: David Clark has become this pandemic's Covidiot

8 Apr, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: David Clark must currently be the world's lowest ranking Health Minister.

International arrivals gate at Auckland International Airport which handled nearly seventeen million passengers in 2015.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Self-isolation rules for Kiwis returning home pose significant problem

7 Apr, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: If it's not dealt with soon it could be costly in so many ways.

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: The truth of bubbles we are living in

26 Mar, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Living in a bubble usually means you are content with your own world.

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: No place for politics in ghastly Covid-19 situation

24 Mar, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Unfortunately scoring points is never far from the aspirants' minds.

Bowen House, the Beehive and Parliament Building, Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Parliament by remote control the prospect facing politicians

19 Mar, 2020 8:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The new normal is mind boggling - and what is to come?

Finance Minister Grant Robertson arriving for his media briefing with Cabinet colleagues. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Coronavirus package is $12b that we'd rather not be spending

18 Mar, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: It wasn't a mini Budget. it was a mega Budget.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announcing the Government's measures to combat Covid-19 coronavirus during her post-Cabinet media conference. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Time will tell if Govt's dramatic Covid-19 moves are right

17 Mar, 2020 9:10am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: It was the most dramatic announcement of any Government in living memory.

Kiwi conservationist Rob Fenwick was honoured to have the male kiwi named after him (Ropata). Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Rob Fenwick - a man of humility who treasured everything around him

15 Mar, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

'I have danced with cancer. I refuse to call it a battle — I am dancing with the disease.'

Shane Jones in his Beehive office. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Shane Jones is having a whale of a time - with Winston's blessing

10 Mar, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Shane Jones has likened himself to a bowhead whale with a powerful blowhole.

Jacinda Ardern and Winston Peters. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Reading between the lines of PM's answers

5 Mar, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: They seem to translate as 'we haven't been able to persuade Winston yet'.

NewstalkZB political editor Barry Soper. Photo / Dean Purcell

PREMIUM

Top five columns of 2019: Barry Soper

1 Mar, 2020 9:44am
2 minutes to read

These were the top five most read columns from Barry Soper in 2019.

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Jacinda Ardern floors her fans in Fijian village

27 Feb, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Rapturous greeting for Ardern during her visit to launch $3m sanitation project.

Jacinda Ardern says Frank Bainimarama is always interested in seeing family photos. Photo / Jason Walls

NEW ZEALAND

Not so frank - kava and diplomacy as Ardern lands in Fiji

25 Feb, 2020 5:00am
2 minutes to read

Pomp and ceremony as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern pays her first official to Fiji

Independent MP for Botany Jami-Lee Ross now claims he did not seek name suppression, which lapsed yesterday.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: If Ross didn't want name suppression why did he threaten me?

20 Feb, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Independent MP's lawyers tried to muzzle me.

Winston Peters used his phone to play Queen's Radio Ga Ga to reporters rather than answer their questions.

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Winston played Queen to reporters; was it the right song?

19 Feb, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Peters is obviously feeling 'Under Pressure'.

Winston Peters, Jacinda Ardern and Simon Bridges are jostling for votes.

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Tight poll promises a lively election race

14 Feb, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Just a year ago few would have given Simon Bridges any chance of becoming Prime Minister.

NZ First leader Winston Peters. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Winston Peters' Trumpian moment

13 Feb, 2020 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Peters takes to social media to spread 'the truth'.

They spoke highly of Mike Moore in Parliament's debating chamber. Photo / Paul Estcourt

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Mike Moore, one of a kind, think about it

12 Feb, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

A light bulb moment was forever entering his head - before he was on to the next thing.

National Party leader Simon Bridges. File photo / Alex Burton

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Why Simon Bridges was wrong to kick NZ First to touch

4 Feb, 2020 12:11pm
3 minutes to read

Comment: The National leader has jumped the gun, declaring his hand way too soon.

The Government unveiled $12b of infrastructure funding - or was it $7b?

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: A bunch of BS - who to believe in infrastructure fingerpointing

30 Jan, 2020 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: A frantic day of BS (bovine scatology) as politicians argue over infrastructure.

Speaker Trevor Mallard is being sued for defamation. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Mallard sued over claim rapist working at Parliament

28 Jan, 2020 5:00pm
3 minutes to read

A Parliamentary worker stood down last year is seeking $450,000 in damages.

Don't, under any circumstances, transgress parking services, no excuse will wash, says Barry Soper, after his example of challenging the local council over an expired warrant. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Why city councils are so unpopular

24 Jan, 2020 9:12am
3 minutes to read

A $200 ticket, three appeals. A look inside a battle with Wellington parking services.

The coming months will require some serious strategic thinking from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Time for Jacinda Ardern to think dirty

21 Jan, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The coming months will require some serious strategic thinking from PM.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson arriving at the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update lock-up at the Treasury in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Govt steals Nats' thunder with $12b spend-up

12 Dec, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: You could be forgiven for thinking he was delivering an economic high-five.

View from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter of White Island. Photo / Auckland Rescue Helictoper Trust

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: White Island was not a police operation

11 Dec, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

Comment: Stuart Nash got one thing right when he was reflecting on the awful events.

Whangarei Heads and Port. Photo / Tania Whyte

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Auckland Port relocation decision could be a coalition breaker

10 Dec, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: NZ First gun is locked and loaded with target fixed, Northport near Whangarei.

It's thought that there are around 400,000 regular cannabis users in this country. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Legalising cannabis another example of Coalition politics

5 Dec, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Referendum comes as something of a risk to Winston Peters' party

Figures were being thrown around like confetti as to how many firearm owners have had their personal details compromised. Photo / NZME

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Master class of what Govt does when it's on ropes

4 Dec, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Those in power look for something that'll get traction.

Jacinda Ardern during annual Labour Party Conference in Whanganui. Photo / Lewis Gardner

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Bung about to be popped from political pork barrel

3 Dec, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: PM's year of delivery has so far been dogged by failure of big-ticket promises.

The accused’s offending was drunken rather than sexual, the judge said. Photo / Brett Phibbs

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Justice hasn't failed anyone from Labour Party camp scandal

29 Nov, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Drunkenness isn't usually a defence for anything and neither should it be.

Eugene Sage's solution is to increase the cost of using landfills. Photo / Paul Taylor

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Why not appoint Shane Jones as Minister of Waste to tackle landfills?

28 Nov, 2019 7:55am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The Prince of the Provinces has the money to do it: the Provincial Growth Fund.

A Strike Force Raptor specialist anti-motorcycle gang unit with the New South Wales Police force.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Simon Bridges goes gangbusters, takes 'tough on crime' to new level

27 Nov, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The gangs are the easy target for politicians.

Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick. Photo / Nick Reed

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Why Chlöe Swarbrick shouldn't be surprised by trolls

26 Nov, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: We've all done it, tracked down the troll.

Jacinda Ardern and Stephen Colbert on the Late Show. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Stephen Colbert gives NZ exposure money can't buy

21 Nov, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Was the PM driving to the airport to pick Colbert up demeaning the office?

Winston Peters should have learned by now that to leave an issue to bubble away eventually leads to a boiling cauldron where control is lost, writes Barry Soper. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: NZ First and the real problem with political donations

19 Nov, 2019 1:06pm
3 minutes to read

Comment: If politics are about perception, this doesn't look good for NZ First.

Of course there's an imbalance when you own something and someone rents it from you. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Rental law changes won't make life easier for anyone

19 Nov, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Of course there's imbalance when you own something and someone rents it from you.

NZ First Leader Winston Peters. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: When those in media become part of the story

8 Nov, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Comment: The sort of politics that should have no place in this country.

Shane Jones is on a collision course with Labour over immigration rules.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Beehive boxing ring - Shane Jones vs Labour

7 Nov, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Jones on a collision course with Labour over immigration rules.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Nick Reed

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Apec leaders won't get to clink their glasses in Chile

1 Nov, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Comment: The talkfest has been called off as a result of violent clashes on the streets.

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: National's gang policy? It's just welfare bashing

31 Oct, 2019 6:20am
3 minutes to read

Comment: Gang bashing may sound good, but Donald Trumping the dregs is political posturing

If you have to deal with banks, be prepared. Photo / 123RF

BUSINESS

Soper: Dealing with banks is one of most frustrating things in life

30 Oct, 2019 8:17am
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: Banks bring plenty of criticism on themselves.

NZ First leader Winston Peters. Photo / Boris Jancic

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: 'NZ First Government' delivers with euthanasia bill

25 Oct, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The whole dynamic of the euthanasia debate has now changed.

Tiwai Pt gets a cut price power deal from Meridian, from the nearby Manapouri hydro plant that's been supplying it for almost 50 years. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Is Rio Tinto calling the Government's bluff?

24 Oct, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Rio Tinto coughs and NZ's power companies catch a $2 billion cold.

Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni during Question Time in Parliament. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: The changing face of Parliament

23 Oct, 2019 12:11am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Progress to accommodate women in politics was slow.

Isis fighter and 'bumbling Jihadi' Mark Taylor has been languishing in a North Syrian prison.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Better safe than sorry, even for bumbling Kiwi jihadists

17 Oct, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Where was Iain Lees-Galloway when he was needed?