OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Read between the lines - rail is deadTransport planners can do so much more with wheels on roads that it is hard to fathom their attachment to iron rails, writes John Roughan.19 Jun 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Right-to-die - real life versus theoryAt what point precisely would a person ask a doctor for death? That is an important question for supporters of euthanasia to ask, writes John Roughan.12 Jun 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Koru and colours of land and sea is usThere is no point talking about changing the flag until we find one that says, yes, this is us, now, writes John Roughan. This might be the one.05 Jun 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanMemo to Bill English: We need that surplusA surplus, no matter how marginal, is an economic signal that matters. It says the country is well governed, writes John Roughan.01 May 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Salute bold few who were right on moneyAmid all the chatter of parity this week, I heard not a word of credit given to those who changed the country, writes John Roughan.10 Apr 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Bless those who retain their native treesThe way NZ's native trees grow straight, high and succulently green is a fine, fertile expression of the country's natural character. I don't know how any of us can cut one down, writes John Roughan.13 Mar 04:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: No shock and awe in Nicky Hager's revelationsNicky Hager's voice and manner are those of someone who is deeply shocked at the discovery of things that are interesting enough to report but are not really shocking, writes John Roughan.06 Mar 04:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Bowled out end of a summer love affairI don't know what happened. Once, no other sport, except rugby in a different way, captivated me like cricket. I suspect I'm not alone in falling out of love with it.13 Feb 06:23 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: New Chums' old charm worth preservingNew Chums Beach with its surrounding cliffs of regenerating native bush is worth preserving, writes John Roughan.23 Jan 04:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Why it's OK to be a redheadJohn Roughan: My daughter wants to know what it is like to grow up with red hair. Her baby son arrived seven months ago with a shock of flaming red frizz.02 Jan 04:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Zero-hour contracts give Little a missionSince I have never taken the first step let alone the second I’m in no position to lecture but it seems to me Andrew Little is right when he takes aim at “zero-hour” contracts.05 Dec 04:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: PM lets some light into secret intelligenceWhen the SIS comes to the Beehive it brings its briefing papers in a locked case and once the briefing is finished it gathers all the copies up, locks them back in the case and takes them away.28 Nov 04:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Superman? No, just an admiration-seekerThere is really no defence to a complaint of sexual harassment.21 Nov 04:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: TPP still the most promising talks in townSitting around the big table in Brisbane this weekend, the 20 leaders should take a good refreshing breath of the Pacific air, and drink plenty of the water.14 Nov 04:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Councils a waste of chicken sandwichesSo without enough to do, the elected body ponders long-term planning objectives and reads a great deal of paper on subjects such as environmental sustainability.31 Oct 04:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Ocean eco-caution being taken too farThe consortium that pumps gas from the Maui offshore platforms appears to have been forgivably naughty.24 Oct 10:57 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Press can be too precious about its rightsNicky Hager has claimed the rights of a journalist in response to the police search of his home, and I suppose he is one.10 Oct 04:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Fiction could not have had a more perfect endingHave we ever seen a more stunning election result? Watching the campaign it was hard to believe the attack on the character of John Key would have no effect.26 Sep 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Craig's day in the sun may dawnThere is something to admire in Colin Craig. I disagree with just about every bullet point in his brochure but I like the character he shows as a complete outsider.05 Sep 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Internet lowers the political toneJohn Key nominated Sir Keith Holyoake a few weeks ago when the Herald asked all the party leaders to name their political "hero".29 Aug 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Let the clean campaign be heardWatching the dirty politics of character assassination it would be easy to forget that this country is exceptionally well governed.22 Aug 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: All Blacks need not be sore losersRichie McCaw is the model New Zealander of today. Like Hillary, he is the epitome of the qualities we admire and the people we think ourselves to be.15 Aug 11:13 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Whyte lacking a Maori viewpointWhen Dame Susan Devoy was appointed Race Relations Commissioner last year, the intelligentsia sniffed at the choice of a squash champion.02 Aug 02:31 AM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Principles lost in a grammar zoneWhat goes through the minds of educational professionals when they see the lengths that property owners will go to remain in a prestigious school zone?25 Jul 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Auckland should not lose servicesAucklanders are told something has to go if the mayor is to keep rates from rising beyond his election promise. Aucklanders should not listen to this, writes John Roughan.11 Jul 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Labour chalks up a big tick on feesLabour's grant of an extra $100 a year for each pupil for state-funded schools will probably succeed in ending charges for all but the richest schools and that would be a pity, writes John Roughan.04 Jul 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Politics and life of John KeyJohn Roughan writes: Nine months ago, I received an offer that gave me excitement and trepidation. Would I like to write a book on John Key? Would I!20 Jun 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: A world we can only watchWe might not be any good at the game, and those who follow it from here might like its culture in England, but they should not pretend we are part of it, writes John Roughan.13 Jun 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Wrong time to cut taxesJohn Key and Bill English both know it is not the surplus that really matters, it is the debt they have accumulated, writes John Roughan.16 May 05:00 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: Traffic will jam if zippers brakeJohn Roughan asks; "Why is that so many car drivers haven't figured out how to use a merging lane? You see them every morning now that onramps are light controlled."18 Apr 04:15 PM
OpinionJohn RoughanJohn Roughan: That smile worth every minute of the waitWe would have seen far more on television but there is something about the briefest glimpse of real life that you never forget, writes John Roughan.11 Apr 04:15 PM
