Passing Notes

While it’s always dangerous to make predictions, Civis will risk being proved very wrong.

The world, to put it mildly, is a rough-and-tumble place.

With the flood of grim environmental news — especially the quickening pace of climate change — it is worth pausing to celebrate two genuine conservation successes.

Sometimes, it’s obvious action is needed, yet nothing effective happens.

We have been naive in New Zealand. Our ‘‘she’ll be right’’ and ‘‘no worries’’ attitudes help corruption to take root.

Civis wonders how on earth support for President Donald Trump remains solid in the United States.

What does the "Town Belt Active Trail Trial" reveal about Dunedin City councillors’ attitudes to spending?

"When will they ever learn?"

Our eyes or, more accurately, our brains easily deceive us.

How many New Year’s resolutions have already fallen over?

It is easy to overlook a few stray dollars amid the seasonal splurge on Christmas gifts and Boxing Day sales.

It's absurd enough to make you splutter into your muesli.

September's geographic anomalies column drew a strongly worded email from one reader.

As regular readers may have noticed, Civis has a chip on the shoulder about consumer exploitation.

When a "disgusted" shopper highlighted what appeared to be an excessive supermarket markup, Civis decided to investigate.

Every local government vote is a stitch in the fabric of our future.

Several years ago, Civis watched with dismay as a senior executive at a Californian tech company was forced out because of his conservative views.

Rates, roads and rubbish.

Civis feels compelled to add to the tributes for Dame Pat Harrison.