New Zealand's Latest Breaking News, Business, Sport, Weather, Entertainment, Politics

Latest FromBarry Soper

Flower tributes at Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Photo / Michael Craig

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Kiwis make themselves proud after Christchurch mosque shootings

20 Mar, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: We've risen above deep sorrow lashing out at the perpetrator or where he's from.

Brenton Tarrant in the Christchurch District Court. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: 20 years too late we're banning semi-automatic weapons

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

COMMENT: Courts would do us all a favour by conducting trial behind closed doors.

Ambulance staff take a man from outside a mosque in central Christchurch. Photo / AP

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Mosque massacre changes NZ forever

16 Mar, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: NZ has tragically lost its innocence. We are in a state of profound sorrow.

Green Party leader James Shaw. Photo / John Stone

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Attacks on MPs are rare in New Zealand

15 Mar, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: That's the rough and tumble of politics.

Simon Bridges and Jami-Lee Ross. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Someone likely to end up as toast after Nats SFO probe

13 Mar, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Simon Bridges was subdued and he looked shocked as he talked to journalists.

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Memo to Shane 'big chief' Jones - show some humility

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

COMMENT: Shane Jones is a colourful fellow but can also be highly irritating.

Tax Working Group chairman Sir Michael Cullen. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: It's a bit rich for Cullen to call Key a 'rich prick'

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

Comment: He seems to be doing the best to become one himself.

MPI Minister Damien O'Connor is accused of threatening the funding for an animal rescue group.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: The minister, the 'threat' and the animal rescue group

7 Mar, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Comment: Threat allegation centres on last month's fires in the Nelson district.

National's leader Simon Bridges should thank Michael Cullen for pulling him out of the doldrums.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Tax hands Simon Bridges a stick to flay Ardern with

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

COMMENT: Nats leader thankful to Michael Cullen for pulling him out of the doldrums.

Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi and PM Jacinda Ardern announcing Government measures to crack down on ticket scalping during their post-Cabinet press conference. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Don't expect fast resolution on ticket scalping

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

COMMENT: Well at least it's got the CGT off the post-Cabinet press conference agenda.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during her post-Cabinet press conference at Parliament, Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Govt's smoke and mirrors on Provincial Growth Fund

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

Comment: no-one in the maze quite sure of what direction they're meant to take.

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones in his Beehive office. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Provincial Growth Fund goes where banks fear to tread

28 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Fund agreed to pay up millions of dollars to improve forgotten, weed infested Māori land.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Finance Minister Grant Robertson during their joint post-Cabinet press conference at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Taxpayers the loser in capital gains tax debate

27 Feb, 2019 6:00am
2 minutes to read

COMMENT: Reaction to CGT report is causing some consternation on upper floors of Beehive.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is finally awake to the political damage a new tax plan is doing to Labour.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: PM in state of shock at Capital Gains Tax reaction

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

COMMENT: Jacinda Ardern finally awake to the political damage tax plan doing to Labour.

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: Aussie PM touches down in Auckland

22 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Comment: The irksome Ardern raised an issue that should make the Aussies feel uneasy.

Winston Peters has previously flagged a lack of support for a capital gains tax.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Today's tax report coalition Govt's biggest challenge yet

21 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The election next year could potentially be history repeating itself.

PM Jacinda Ardern insists our complex relationship with China is unchanged - but it is.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Chinese whispers - Trump looms large in NZ's woes

20 Feb, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: It doesn't take a whisper to see what the real concern here is.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Revenue Minister Stuart Nash, announcing Cabinet has agreed to investigate a new tax on multinational companies targeting digital revenues. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: We might pay for a tax on internet giants

19 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Comment: Particularly when it comes to those entities who're coining it on the Internet.

It's brilliant, it's had the desired effect, getting them all fired up. Photo / Twitter, NZ National Party

NEW ZEALAND

Watch: National Party's BBQ attack ad - worst ad ever...or brilliant?

15 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Barry Soper comment: The new advertisement has everyone fired up - and talking.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Photo / Getty Images

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: No love lost for China from the misguided

14 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

The Key Government's management of the global financial crisis has been lauded.

Jacinda Ardern and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Asean Summit in November in Singapore. Photo / ASEAN

NEW ZEALAND

China puts up NZ wall: PM visit and tourism plan on ice

12 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Exclusive: Diplomatic links plummet to a new low as Ardern is given the cold shoulder.

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: NZ feeling the heat of the Chinese dragon

12 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

The invitation for Jacinda Ardern to visit Beijing early this year's been put on ice.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Naida Glavish at Te Whare Ruanga Marae for the Waitangi Day celebrations. Photo / John Stone

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Ardern's embarrassing dinner guest moment

7 Feb, 2019 6:07am
2 minutes to read

COMMENT: Our leaders should have known the articles of The Treaty.

Don Brash is back at Waitangi. Instead of taking a shot, he'll be firing his own, writes Barry Soper. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: 15 years on, Don Brash returns to Waitangi

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

Comment: Don Brash is back at Waitangi. Instead of taking a shot, he'll be firing his own.

Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway, (left), announcing his decision to deport Czech drug dealer Karel Sroubek. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Memo to Iain Lees-Galloway - you're not the 'Boss guy'

1 Feb, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

Comment: Lees-Galloway was banging away about the expectation on this Government.

National Party leader Simon Bridges (right) and deputy leader Paula Bennett. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Barry Soper: PM starts year by dodging questions

31 Jan, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Bridges' State of the Nation speech in Christchurch should have been a breeze.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson's going to bring down the gavel on the unethical practices but not before the insurers get the chance to try and explain themselves.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: No doubt insurance companies rip us off

30 Jan, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The Govt's bringing down the gavel on unethical insurance practices.

The rubber hits the road this year as a slew of consultants report back to Jacinda Ardern's Government.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Ardern's Govt faces much tougher challenges in 2019

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

COMMENT: The rubber hits the road as a slew of consultants report back to Govt.

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Sarah Dowie, the police inquiry, and the text from her phone

25 Jan, 2019 6:06am
3 minutes to read

Comment: Police will be examining the text to decide whether a prosecution should follow.

Barry Soper looks at the political years of Jami-Lee Ross, Iain Lees-Galloway and Simon Bridges. Photos / Mark Mitchell / Getty Images

NEW ZEALAND

Soper: Here's my 2018 Politician of the Year

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

COMMENT: Lying. Leaking. An immigration saga. Barry Soper's pick in an eventful year.

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.