Editorial

Criticisms from a University of Otago council member about the perceived bias of media when reporting about student disciplinary matters appear out of touch with the tertiary institution's own restrictive communication policy.

There was a surfeit of energetic athletes of mostly mid to mature years in Dunedin last week.

Some of the most beautiful places imaginable are to be found in New Zealand's 14 national parks. Mountains, diverse landscapes and places of interest extend from the bush and hills of Te Urewera through the golden sands of Abel Tasman and to the fiords and wilderness of Fiordland.

Such has been the fall from grace of wool, it is difficult to believe that 60 years ago it was New Zealand's major earner of foreign exchange.

It is the season of briefings from government departments to incoming ministers, with many providing helpful background, advice and recommendations.

It looks as if the Dunedin liquor-ban area might well be extended from the central city to cover North Dunedin. A powerful array of forces - the police, the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic - are all in favour and that could influence city councillors. When the issue has arisen over the past seven years, councillors were divided and an extension has been rejected.

While the Dunedin City Council has to watch its pennies as it tries to rein in every possible cost and earn every possible dollar, the proposal to charge for charity sausage sizzles was an idea with little merit.

Amid all the careering uncertainties of the helter-skelter race for the United States Republican Party's presidential nomination, President Barack Obama's re-election team will be rubbing its hands with glee.

The professional rugby era has not been kind to New Zealand.

There is more than a hint of sackcloth and ashes to the listen-and-learn mission Labour Party leader David Shearer has been engaged in over the last week or two.

Even before Parliament reassembles for the year, the temperature of politics rises.

The tragedy that by the day continues to overtake Syria goes from bad to worse with sectarian animosities now written vividly in blood.

Outright honesty is not the first quality that one associates with the criminal fraternity, so it might come as a surprise to many that disclosure of a criminal record for New Zealanders on entry to Australia, and vice versa, is voluntary.

In an attempt to placate public concern about soaring domestic milk prices, the Government appears to have alienated our biggest company and largest export earner and also unwittingly assisted its partly owned foreign-owned dairy processing competitors.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, as is his habit, protests too much.

While no-one would claim they are perfect, and there is room for debate round the edges particularly where meetings closed to the public are concerned, the processes of the Dunedin City Council, as exemplified by this week's pre-draft budget meetings, are an example of open democracy in action.