As we say goodbye to 2020 and welcome in 2021, it's a good time to catch up on the very best of the Herald columnists we enjoyed reading over the last 12 months. From politics to sport, from business to entertainment and lifestyle, these are the voices and views ouraudience loved the most. Today it's the top three from Fran O'Sullivan.
Ardern the master of political spin
Jacinda Ardern defied the Gods with her boasts that New Zealand was "the envy of the world" for eliminating the Covid-19 virus.
In August, Ardern took the stage at the Auckland Town Hall to launch Labour's election campaign, telling her supporters New Zealand was preparing to take on the huge challenge of rebuilding the economy in the wake of the Government's relative success in driving out the virus.
But the emergence of a new coronavirus cluster changed the rhythm of this election.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealed that Auckland would go back into lockdown in August. Photo / Mark Mitchell
More to Liddell than Trump connection
When President Donald Trump pumped top aide Chris Liddell to be the next OECD boss, it was billed as (potentially) the first time an American might get the top job.
Many Kiwis have scorned Chris Liddell's US nomination for the top OECD job because of his proximity to President Donald Trump. Photo / Getty Images
Ardern and Morrison too slow to face big coronavirus question
There should have been only one serious topic on the agenda for the trans-Tasman prime ministerial talks in Australia back in February.
That is the Australian Prime Minister's decision to move ahead of international authorities and warn his country to prepare for a coronavirus pandemic, and if, or even when, the New Zealand Prime Minister would follow suit.