SECTIONS

Passing Notes

SUBSCRIBER
OpinionApril 17

Methinks her speech is archaic

Fascinated by language, what is Civis to make of Prime Ministers Christopher Luxon and Dame Jacinda Ardern?
Methinks her speech is archaic
Methinks her speech is archaic
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionApril 10

Election prediction could prove incorrect

While it’s always dangerous to make predictions, Civis will risk being proved very wrong.
Election prediction could prove incorrect
Election prediction could prove incorrect
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionMarch 27

If only the world was a benign place

The world, to put it mildly, is a rough-and-tumble place.
If only the world was a benign place
If only the world was a benign place
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionMarch 20

Time for a takahē to top the tree

With the flood of grim environmental news — especially the quickening pace of climate change — it is worth pausing to celebrate two genuine conservation successes.
Time for a takahē to top the tree
Time for a takahē to top the tree
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionMarch 13

Dog of an Act needs replacing

Sometimes, it’s obvious action is needed, yet nothing effective happens.
Dog of an Act needs replacing
Dog of an Act needs replacing
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionMarch 6

Can’t have a casual view of corruption

We have been naive in New Zealand. Our ‘‘she’ll be right’’ and ‘‘no worries’’ attitudes help corruption to take root.
Can’t have a casual view of corruption
Can’t have a casual view of corruption
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionFebruary 20

How to be the hero of an appalling, sordid tale

Civis wonders how on earth support for President Donald Trump remains solid in the United States.
How to be the hero of an appalling, sordid tale
How to be the hero of an appalling, sordid tale
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionFebruary 6

Slivers send shivers up cost-cutting councillors

What does the "Town Belt Active Trail Trial" reveal about Dunedin City councillors’ attitudes to spending?
Slivers send shivers up cost-cutting councillors
Slivers send shivers up cost-cutting councillors
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionJanuary 30

When will they ever learn about fad drugs?

"When will they ever learn?"
When will they ever learn about fad drugs?
When will they ever learn about fad drugs?
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionJanuary 16

Outraged by horrific killing in Minneapolis

Our eyes or, more accurately, our brains easily deceive us.
Outraged by horrific killing in Minneapolis
Outraged by horrific killing in Minneapolis
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionJanuary 2

Making our New Year’s resolutions achievable

How many New Year’s resolutions have already fallen over?
Making our New Year’s resolutions achievable
Making our New Year’s resolutions achievable
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionDecember 26

Adding up stray Xmas pounds and pennies

It is easy to overlook a few stray dollars amid the seasonal splurge on Christmas gifts and Boxing Day sales.
Adding up stray Xmas pounds and pennies
Adding up stray Xmas pounds and pennies
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionDecember 5

Comments from Uni NZ deserve an E, maybe D

It's absurd enough to make you splutter into your muesli.
Comments from Uni NZ deserve an E, maybe D
Comments from Uni NZ deserve an E, maybe D
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionOctober 31

Which way is up, actually?

September's geographic anomalies column drew a strongly worded email from one reader.
Which way is up, actually?
Which way is up, actually?
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionOctober 24

Long and short of skimping

As regular readers may have noticed, Civis has a chip on the shoulder about consumer exploitation.
Long and short of skimping
Long and short of skimping
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionOctober 17

Varied price of southern product questioned

When a "disgusted" shopper highlighted what appeared to be an excessive supermarket markup, Civis decided to investigate.
Varied price of southern product questioned
Varied price of southern product questioned
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionOctober 3

Don’t know exactly how it works but it does

Every local government vote is a stitch in the fabric of our future.
Don’t know exactly how it works but it does
Don’t know exactly how it works but it does
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionSeptember 26

Free speech battling to survive the culture wars

Several years ago, Civis watched with dismay as a senior executive at a Californian tech company was forced out because of his conservative views.
Free speech battling to survive the culture wars
Free speech battling to survive the culture wars
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionSeptember 19

East is east west is west vote for best

Rates, roads and rubbish.
East is east west is west vote for best
East is east west is west vote for best
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionSeptember 12

Great dame a force of nature and education

Civis feels compelled to add to the tributes for Dame Pat Harrison.
Great dame a force of nature and education
Great dame a force of nature and education
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionSeptember 5

The national broadcaster and facing hard truths

RNZ staff may rightly feel a little hard done by over the hard time RNZ has faced of late.
The national broadcaster and facing hard truths
The national broadcaster and facing hard truths
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionJuly 11

Whatever you call it, it’s warm and woolly

Civis won’t pull the wool over your eyes with this winter query: are those knitted upper-body garments called jerseys, pullovers, jumpers or sweaters?
Whatever you call it, it’s warm and woolly
Whatever you call it, it’s warm and woolly
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionJune 13

Swinging to and fro on vexing road cones

What is it about the pendulum effect?
Swinging to and fro on vexing road cones
Swinging to and fro on vexing road cones
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionJune 6

Judging on graft and careening while LOL

Civis is intrigued by ethical dilemmas, such as those faced by Logan Park High School and the "misappropriated" $365,000 (including GST and associated costs).
Judging on graft and careening while LOL
Judging on graft and careening while LOL
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionMay 30

A heckler and raised hackles a real puzzler

Which way do you fall on the issue of the Winston Peters heckler?
A heckler and raised hackles a real puzzler
A heckler and raised hackles a real puzzler