Matthew Hooton: The case for abolishing regional councils in NZ

OPINION: Japan has 13 zones, while NZ has more than 1000, adding complexity and cost.

Matthew Hooton: NZ Super needs to be cut now

OPINION: Don’t laugh at the disastrous US fiscal outlook – we’re set to outdo them.

Matthew Hooton: Unlucky Luxon’s popularity hits new low

OPINION: Even good GDP news suggests the economic recovery has already peaked.

Matthew Hooton: Luxon’s China and Nato scheduling dilemma

OPINION: PM faces a choice between democratic friends and “awful foursome".

Matthew Hooton: Labour’s Te Pāti Māori problem

OPINION: Fear of the alternative is Christopher Luxon’s easiest path to a second term.

Matthew Hooton: If superannuation can’t be cut, wage subsidies must be

Opinion: Nicola Willis has few options for big savings next year, but there are some.

Matthew Hooton: Budget reveals we’re going broke faster than we knew

OPINION: Gross debt is projected to increase by $73b, reaching $283b by 2029.

Matthew Hooton: Te Pāti Māori should leave Parliament voluntarily

OPINION: If Parliament isn’t legitimate, why do Ngarewa-Packer and Waititi show up?

Matthew Hooton: Desperate times call for bold measures

OPINION: Brooke van Velden’s pay equity move is just the start of the savings needed.

Matthew Hooton: Labour’s credibility demands big new tax promises

OPINION: There’s no room for any new spending by anyone without massive tax hikes.

Matthew Hooton: Why we should introduce universal military service

OPINION: Call for universal military service amid rising defence costs.

Matthew Hooton: Cool heads needed as Trump disaster unfolds

OPINION: No one knows where Trump’s lunacy will lead – the priority is not making it worse

Matthew Hooton: Trumpism will force nuclear-free policy review

OPINION: Climate change is also a factor in anti-nuclear policy becoming outdated.

Matthew Hooton: RMA finally being fixed after 30 wasted years

OPINION: Chris Bishop built a team that has succeeded where his predecessors failed.

Matthew Hooton: Luxon’s India trade push could secure second term

OPINION: The PM might gain from trying the same approach he used in New Delhi back home.

Matthew Hooton: Why Winston’s the right person to lead us through transition to Trump’s new world order

OPINION: No Foreign Minister is better prepared to deal with Donald Trump than ours.

Matthew Hooton: Luxon has one job next week – don’t blow investment summit

OPINION: The PM must convince investors they face no political risk putting money into NZ.

Matthew Hooton: China flotilla about keeping NZ and Australia in our box

OPINION: Beijing wants free rein to colonise the South Pacific.

Matthew Hooton: Interest rate forecasts great news for National re-election

OPINION: Risks remain if interest rates start rising again in election year.

Matthew Hooton: Labour eyes swift return to Government – but may need to woo NZ First

OPINION: Te Pāti Māori is perhaps the biggest threat to Labour’s chances.

Matthew Hooton: Should New Zealand invade the Cook Islands?

OPINION: There are few non-military options to avoid this attempted secession.

Matthew Hooton: Luxon's single most important personal initiative

OPINION: Company tax cuts and RMA reform later in the year would be much too late.

Matthew Hooton: NZ needs a strategic approach to building wealth like Singapore's Temasek

OPINION: National, Act, NZ First and even Labour could achieve a historic agreement.

Matthew Hooton: Luxon’s big economic speech a good start, but needs more

The Beehive plans to spend the whole year on a rolling maul of announcements.

Matthew Hooton: Luxon promises laser-focus on economy, but will his aim be off?

OPINION: Luxon's State of the Nation speech should outline urgent, bold reform.

Matthew Hooton: The issues leaving the race debate in their dust

Opinion: Much attention follows Treaty Principles Bill, but voters tell a different story.

Matthew Hooton: Fiscal policy will push New Zealand back to China

OPINION: New Nato rule would require NZ to spend about $10b a year more on defence.

Matthew Hooton: Government faces death by a thousand cuts

OPINION: Five of the top columns of the year from Matthew Hooton.

Matthew Hooton: How to get things looking up in 2025

A whole new approach is needed when we return from holidays.

Matthew Hooton: Luxon Government guilty of profligacy not austerity

OPINION: Willis urged to adopt drastic spending cuts to avoid economic catastrophe.

Matthew Hooton: Government gets fast-track reform right

OPINION: Expect a construction boom with less risk of corruption than feared.