New Zealand Listener Issue 37 2018

Australia has had six changes of prime minister since 2007, when John Howard’s golden run ended. That compares with four changes at the top in New Zealand over the same period. But what’s more significant is the manner of those changes. In New Zealand, the transitions were orderly and bloodless: John Key took over from Helen Clark as the result of an election, Key voluntarily handed power to his deputy, Bill English, and English in turn was removed from office as a result of an election. Contrast that with Canberra, where every change since Howard has been accompanied by bloodletting and score-settling that have left the long-suffering Australian public dismayed and disillusioned. It’s not just because of the Bledisloe Cup that Australians look enviously across the Tasman. Why so different,…

There is an unfortunate misunderstanding at the centre of the toxins article (“Chemical warfare”, September 1), which is that natural and organic automatically mean benign and safe and chemical or synthetic means harsh and unsafe. This is untrue, and may put its believers at unnecessary risk, or, conversely, lead to unnecessary avoidance of useful things that are low risk. For example, morphine is the natural product of the opium poppy, yet opium has been known to be dangerously addictive since antiquity. Morphine remains a controlled drug used with caution for very good reasons. Nicotine, the natural product of the tobacco plant, is toxic enough to be used as an insecticide, and also one of the most addictive substances for humans. And caffeine is a multi-use natural “chemical warfare” agent used…

Australia has had six changes of prime minister since 2007, when John Howard’s golden run ended. That compares with four changes at the top in New Zealand over the same period. But what’s more significant is the manner of those changes. In New Zealand, the transitions were orderly and bloodless: John Key took over from Helen Clark as the result of an election, Key voluntarily handed power to his deputy, Bill English, and English in turn was removed from office as a result of an election. Contrast that with Canberra, where every change since Howard has been accompanied by bloodletting and score-settling that have left the long-suffering Australian public dismayed and disillusioned. It’s not just because of the Bledisloe Cup that Australians look enviously across the Tasman. Why so different, when…

WINNING CAPTION Brian Holden, Tekapo FINALISTS Boris Johnson: “MI5 have been bugging me for a mug shot.” – Bruce Eliott, St Heliers, Auckland Johnson: “Brexit – just bray and walk away.” – Felicity Leys, Parnell, Auckland Johnson: “I’m just moving my things to the dog house.” – Steve Cox, St Albans, Christchurch Johnson: “Out of Cabinet but still milking the system.” – Mike Lynch, Upper Hutt Johnson: “I’ll take euros or pounds.” – Dave Johnson, Ashhurst Johnson: “When the PM offered me the ‘t’ position, I thought she meant treasury.” – Brian Somerville, Somerfield, Christchurch Johnson: “My stylist calls it the dog’s Brexit.” – Kath Jones, Waikanae Johnson: “Theresa, do you want a tea, bag?” – Kevin Boyce, Raumati Beach Caption Competition {caption@listener.co.nz} TO ENTER Send your captions for the…

WINNING CAPTION Brian Holden, Tekapo FINALISTS Boris Johnson: “MI5 have been bugging me for a mug shot.” – Bruce Eliott, St Heliers, Auckland Johnson: “Brexit – just bray and walk away.” – Felicity Leys, Parnell, Auckland Johnson: “I’m just moving my things to the dog house.” – Steve Cox, St Albans, Christchurch Johnson: “Out of Cabinet but still milking the system.” – Mike Lynch, Upper Hutt Johnson: “I’ll take euros or pounds.” – Dave Johnson, Ashhurst Johnson: “When the PM offered me the ‘t’ position, I thought she meant treasury.” – Brian Somerville, Somerfield, Christchurch Johnson: “My stylist calls it the dog’s Brexit.” – Kath Jones, Waikanae Johnson: “Theresa, do you want a tea, bag?” – Kevin Boyce, Raumati Beach Caption Competition {caption@listener.co.nz} TO ENTER Send your captions for the photo above to caption@listener.co.nz, with “Caption Competition No 297” in the subject…

“When men are oppressed, it’s a tragedy. When women are oppressed, it’s ‘tradition’.” – US author Letty Pogrebin “Love is like central heating. You turn it on before the guests arrive and pretend it’s like this all the time.” – comedian Laura Lexx quoted in the Daily Mail “Opinion columns were designed by God to have the same lifespan as a croissant.” – journalist Alexander Cockburn quoted in the Week “Knowledge accumulates in universities, because the freshmen bring a little in and the seniors take none away.” – adage quoted in Forbes “A prisoner goes to the prison library, asks for a specific book. The guard tells him, ‘We don’t have that book … but we do have the author’.” – Twitter protest aimed at Turkey “Spaghetti can be eaten most successfully if you inhale…