A weeping sore – Jacinda Ardern must clean up New Zealand’s political donations mess

New revelations about party funding are a stain on the country’s reputation for transparency

Complacency can be a nation’s greatest foe.

New Zealanders, buoyed by their country’s high ranking in global transparency measures, see little to learn from other states when it comes to cleaning up politics.

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Behrouz Boochani calls Christchurch welcome a ‘reminder of kindness’

Official reception highlights New Zealand’s differences with Australia over immigration

The city of Christchurch has welcomed Behrouz Boochani with a civic reception and a traditional Māori mihi whakatau – a formal welcome – as his presence, and liberty, in New Zealand once again underscores the country’s political differences with Australia over immigration.

Boochani was formally greeted from the plane by the mayor of Christchurch and the city’s Māori leaders, who told him he was welcomed by the mountains, the rivers, and the people of the city.

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