The Good Society is the home of my writing about how we can shape a better world together.
A detail from Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s Renaissance fresco The Allegory of Good and Bad Government
The Spinoff: How effective have the healthy homes standards really been?
On the surface, compliance is improving, but some fundamental problems remain.
The Post: Ideas for the electricity market the Government didn’t come up with
Running utilities more democratically could be a way forward.
The Spinoff: The Treasury’s dire warning – New Zealand may have to look a bit more like Europe
There is no reason to panic about the public finances.
The Post: Wellington’s new waste plan is a step toward a greener city
Kerbside composting turns waste into profit: the circular economy dream come true.
The Spinoff: The one Australian democratic innovation New Zealand should adopt
On citizens’ juries, our cousins across the ditch are way ahead of us.
The Post: How this Government is adding fuel to the inflationary fire
Administered inflation, in the form of rising government fees, is a real embarrassment.
The Post: Why all of us drinking less might help reduce hazardous consumption
The prevention paradox tells us that we shouldn’t just focus on on the most at-risk.
The Spinoff: How to design a wellbeing ‘meta-law’ that could actually make a difference
A law is needed to enshrine social and environmental goals at the heart of government.
The Post: National is shedding compassion and showing its mean streak
People sleeping rough on wintry streets is hardly compassionate conservativism.
The Spinoff: Ten things we could do to better support people into work
The welfare state should provide employers with a steady stream of work-ready employees.