OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Control of prices major poll issuePrices and who controls them is already an issue for this year's election, writes Fran O'Sullivan. The "market rules OK?" is not the kind of slogan that opposition parties are chanting.08 Apr 05:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Daughter was not alone in miserably failing her motherI was sick to my stomach when I read the graphic details of the awful demise of 82-year-old Maureen Quinn04 Apr 03:15 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: IMF dulls shine on China trade goalJohn Key won't be thanking the IMF for taking a little bit of the shine off his new joint goal for bilateral trade between NZ and China to reach $30 billion by 2020, writes Fran O'Sullivan.01 Apr 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Dotcom puts Harawira's principles on the lineKim Dotcom bought his NZ residency with a $10m cheque; now he wants to buy off Hone Harawira to try to secure the balance of power at the September election, writes Fran O'Sullivan.29 Mar 12:52 AM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Ex-Fonterra exec leads China firmHead-hunting former Fonterra executive Gary Romano as chief executive of Pengxin International is a coup for the rapidly expanding Chinese company.25 Mar 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Key's visit a triumph for New Zealand IncJohn Key has firmly put his personal stamp on the New Zealand-China relationship by forging a "trusted partner" status with Chinese President Xi Jinping.21 Mar 03:15 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Dinner invite measure of Key's staturePresidential invitation a sign that China sees NZ not just as a trading partner but as a 'member of the family', writes Fran O'Sullivan.18 Mar 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: PM's need to save face rescues CollinsJudith Collins owes her political scalp to the imminent visit of the Prime Minister to Beijing.14 Mar 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: China currency deal on the cardsFran O'Sullivan asks: "Will all the chess pieces be in place within the next week in time for China to announce full convertibility of the NZ dollar into the renminbi during the PM's visit?"11 Mar 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Donor slip exposes Cunliffe hypocrisyCunliffe has been battling the stench of hypocrisy since the use of a secret campaign trust to launder leadership campaign donations from five donors was disclosed, writes Fran O'Sullivan.07 Mar 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'Sullivan: Key makes right call over UkraineThere is a huge amount riding on just how the West deals with Putin's incursion, with the Ukraine merely a pawn in the Russian president's geopolitical chess game, writes Fran O'Sullivan.04 Mar 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Good keen Matt to get Labour movingDavid Cunliffe's move to appoint long-time union organiser Matt McCarten as his key political operative is a smart move, writes Fran O'Sullivan.28 Feb 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Act Party opens options on SuperWho better than Prebble to spot a potential wedge between National and Act and create a groundswell in favour of raising the superannuation age, writes Fran O'Sullivan.25 Feb 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Dotcom and Brown peas in a pod of vain showmenKim Dotcom and Len Brown are linked by several personal characteristics. Both are showmen. Both are prone to vanity. Both hate being out of the limelight.21 Feb 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Gorilla war on Qantas' competitorsThe reason the Australian national airline is in such a deep funk comes down to the failure of its own business strategy and tactical manoeuvring, writes Fran O'Sullivan.18 Feb 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Blacklist is just not cricket, RalphSince Key's return, the PM's department has reached out to various New Zealand businesses to ask them for their views, writes Fran O'Sullivan.11 Feb 08:30 PM
New ZealandFran O'Sullivan: Australasian love-in but rocky marriageThe New Zealand expectations were just not realistic for what is still a relatively new Government facing huge fiscal constraints, writes Fran O'Sullivan.07 Feb 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Our chance to make Aussies listenAbbott has asked Key to ensure NZ concentrates its efforts on trade and relationships with the Pacific, writes Fran O'Sullivan. NZ is also roped into the B20 (business initiative).04 Feb 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Feet on the ground - focus on her dreams"Stay proud, Ella. You're a hell of an artist and feminist." That is the kind of support I hope Lorde is getting from her family, friends, manager and Joel Little, writes Fran O'Sullivan.31 Jan 08:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Baby bonus clear tilt at ballot boxDavid Cunliffe's "baby bonus" is a nifty Trojan horse that will do more for Labour's chances than the usual politically inspired and euphemistically labelled "kissing babies" exercise, writes Fran O'Sullivan.28 Jan 08:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Cunliffe and Jones get real on offshore hunt for oil and gasLabour's Shane Jones has used the rat-cunning skills that got him to the top of Maori fishing politics to manoeuvre his boss, David Cunliffe, into adopting new realism on offshore oil and gas exploration.24 Jan 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Mixed result on mayor's performanceLen Brown vigorously promotes Auckland but debatable how much his ability to be cheerleader is now compromised.21 Jan 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Plenty of concerns to drive Key's yearJohn Key will probably get in a few more rounds of golf in Maui before he returns to New Zealand to get his election year planning under way in earnest.31 Dec 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Big problem for both CunliffesLabour's David Cunliffe faces a conundrum - how to convince New Zealand voters it's time to break away from the "old economic orthodoxies" when the data shows the country is poised for a relative boom, writes Fran O'Sullivan.27 Dec 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Mayor's dealings with SkyCity need inquiryAuditor-General Lyn Provost is the right person to take inquiries into Len Brown's relationship with the SkyCity hotels and casino operator to the obvious next stage.20 Dec 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Compromised mayor has to be held to accountIf he had any skerrick of honour left, Len Brown would by now have tendered his resignation as mayor to the people of Auckland.13 Dec 07:18 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Review of Len Brown under watchAuditor-General Lyn Provost is keeping a watching brief on Auckland Council chief executive Doug McKay's review of Mayor Len Brown's possible use of council resources.10 Dec 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: G20 global tax debate vital for NZTrade, trade facilitation, productive investment and movement of labour will be on the agenda and NZ will be able to play a constructive role, writes Fran O'Sullivan.03 Dec 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: G20 spot proof of NZ's status in Aussie eyesIt is an "extraordinary honour" for New Zealand to be on the formal invitation list for next year's meeting of the powerful G20 in Brisbane, Fran O'Sullivan writes.29 Nov 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Closer eye needed on power of mayorPowerful position allows too many personal policy platforms without them being appropriately put to the test.26 Nov 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanGovt must pay for Pike tragedyThe Pike River disaster was a "national disaster" that exposed shocking negligence by the Labour Department and the Pike River company. The Govt should pay the $3.41m to the families, says Fran O'Sullivan.22 Nov 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanLabour's sell-down alarm absurdAir New Zealand has frequently been a political football for politicians of all stripes.19 Nov 04:30 PM
