• You’re never as good as you think. The case for humility.

     

    This morning I was listening to a podcast which discussed the life and writing of Adam Smith. For those who haven’t come across him, Smith lived nearly three centuries ago and his most famous book, The Wealth of Nations,…

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  • Israel and its right to exist…

     

    I have a habit of turning any sightseeing visit into a running event. The year before COVID I took advantage of a business trip in Europe to meet up with my son who was doing a gap year in…

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  • A case for Hop-On trains…

     

    It’s incredible the things that become part of a family’s norm and how words uttered casually can inculcate themselves into the familial vernacular. We used to live right next to the main railway line in the South Island that…

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  • Let the children play. They’ll be better for it…

     

    I like listening to podcasts and interesting radio interviews. While I have a pretty poor memory and tend to forget the details, I’d like to think that what I hear makes its way into my synapses and adds to…

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  • Balance or life goals? Pick one.

     

    The other Saturday I followed my usual weekend programme. That is, after my morning run, I made myself a coffee (thanks for the beans, C4 Coffee) and sat down with the Weekend Press to catch up on the news…

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  • Society, journalism and opinions.

     

    The other weekend I spent a couple of days doing an advanced 4WD driving course. Seems like a fairly random thing to do, but I’ve always been a fan of putting my hand up to volunteer for any opportunity…

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  • Want something done? Ask a busy person

     

    A chap in my local community is one of those salt-of-the-earth types who is a part of every community organisation. Name a community group or local initiative and he’s part of it. We’re only a small community, yet his…

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  • Is philanthropy just propping up a broken system?

     

    A few weeks ago I wrote an article about tax. In it, I said that, while I don’t agree with the “Tax is Love” feel-good spin, I do believe that paying tax is in our own interests from a…

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  • Here’s to the craftspeople.

     

    Recently I had the need to drive to a place I don’t often go in Christchurch. As I did so, I was amazed by the amount of development that has gone on. We’re well over a decade past the…

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  • Building homes. Building communities.

     

    Recently I’ve been thinking about community. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about our need for company and companionship and how the built environment can add or subtract from that need. The other weekend, my wife went off to do a…

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