Professor of Politics, Massey University
I teach comparative and New Zealand politics, with a particular focus on elections and electoral systems. My research interests are in the structure and functioning of policy advisory systems in Westminster nations, and particularly in the roles and influence of political advisers in cabinet ministers' offices.
The government’s first 100 days have gone largely to plan – now comes the hard part
Mar 06, 2024 22:59 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
Although the notion of a governments first 100 days in office is constitutionally meaningless, it has become part of the modern political lexicon. Ever since US president Franklin D. Roosevelt used the phrase to usher...
Oct 11, 2023 03:45 am UTC| Politics
After weeks of policy debate, disputed fiscal plans, sloganeering and no small amount of rancour, the election campaign has come down to a single, uninspiring contest of negatives: use your vote to avoid uncertainty, chaos...
Experts are back in fashion – now more than ever we need to question them
May 20, 2020 15:42 pm UTC| Insights & Views
Once upon a very different time, British cabinet minister Michael Gove sneered that people have had enough of experts from organisations with acronyms saying that they know what is best and getting it consistently...
One year on for Ardern's coalition government in New Zealand
Oct 20, 2018 05:53 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
Shortly before last yearss general election in Aotearoa New Zealand, a Morrinsville farmer protesting the then opposition Labour Partys planned water tax held up a placard describing its newly minted leader, Jacinda...