Smellie Sniffs the Breeze: through a mask for a little bit longer

Smellie Sniffs the Breeze: through a mask for a little bit longer
Who remembers the elbow-bump? And who will remember masks in a year? (Image: Getty)
Pattrick Smellie
In about a week, mask mandates look likely to go in all but a few health and transport settings.This will be momentous in its own low-key way, for what it says about where we fervently hope we are now in the covid-19 journey.The latest wave of infections is clearly passing, the flu season is coming to an end, and the sun has been sighted in some parts of the country recently. There’s a sense of turning at least the seasonal corner on a grumpy winter 2022.A clever government, with a penchant for staving off worse polling by reading the pub...

More Opinion

Transparency: the biz case for shining a light
Opinion

Simon Robertson: Transparency: the biz case for shining a light

US Supreme Court jurist highlighted the value of publicity in fighting corruption.

Simon Robertson 15 Mar 2025
'Boom, bap, boom': A rating downgrade roll
Opinion

Cameron Bagrie: 'Boom, bap, boom': A rating downgrade roll

A margin of excellence rating downgrade could dent NZD sentiment.

Cameron Bagrie 13 Mar 2025
A creator-led answer to the mediapocalypse
Opinion

Peter Griffin: A creator-led answer to the mediapocalypse

Each wave of redundancies is hollowing out our mainstream media outlets.

Peter Griffin 13 Mar 2025
The 125-year investment birthday celebration
Opinion

David Chaplin: The 125-year investment birthday celebration

“Good investment decisions ... can sometimes have disappointing outcomes.”

David Chaplin 12 Mar 2025