Long live the King. What now for NZ and the Commonwealth?

Long live the King. What now for NZ and the Commonwealth?
The Queen's 1990 acknowledgement of Treaty breaches at Waitangi was a touchstone moment. (Image: Getty)
Pattrick Smellie
I met the Queen once.Overawed by the regal presence, I babbled inanely about a peg-board calendar, handmade by my brother-in-law as a Christmas present, using a picture of her on safari in 1953.She quickly moved on.She was in Auckland for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM), the first attended by newly elected South African president Nelson Mandela and the infamous CHOGM during which the Nigerian government hanged dissident writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and nine others.John Major came storming out to condemn the Nigerian government.The...

More Opinion

The 20% question
Opinion

David Chaplin: The 20% question

KiwiSavers' average per member is better than nothing, but probably not enough.

Polarisation: from talkback to the trading desk
Opinion

Dileepa Fonseka: Polarisation: from talkback to the trading desk

Political polarisation is becoming more of a worry for NZ investors.

Dileepa Fonseka 15 Sep 2025
The All’s, the In’s, the outs and AI …
Opinion

Simon Robertson: The All’s, the In’s, the outs and AI …

Discussing the future of the West and humanity is bone-chilling.

Simon Robertson 13 Sep 2025
Search and rescue: Google given a lifeline
Opinion

Peter Griffin: Search and rescue: Google given a lifeline

The digital economy deserves more than ceremonial change.

Peter Griffin 10 Sep 2025