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New Zealand’s response to the Soleimani assassination is shamefully timid

How can New Zealand claim to have an independent foreign policy when it won’t even criticise America’s assassination of Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian leader? The furthest foreign minister Winston Peters went was to express “strong concern” at the “heightening...

A democratic giant of Tonga – a tribute

Akilisi Pohiva died on September 12, 2019. This tribute was originally published in The Spinoff. Tongan prime minister ’Akilisi Pohiva will be mainly remembered as the country’s leading democrat. For four decades he campaigned to reduce the powers of the Tongan King...

Keith Locke: Our defense policy and exercises align us with the US against China

With so many New Zealanders put off by Donald Trump and his maverick foreign policy, I had expected a Labour/New Zealand First Government to keep its distance. However, with its ban on Huawei's involvement in the 5G network our...

Trump’s assault on Huawei dangerous for New Zealand

This piece was originally published on The Daily Blog. Donald Trump came to power to “Make America Great Again” by asserting US economic and technological dominance over all other countries, particularly the rising economic power, China. This desire to remain top...

Green gains a bright spot in a depressing Australian election

This piece was originally published on The Daily Blog.  Australia’s election result was a big downer. But there was a bright spot in the gains made by the Australian Greens. The Green vote in the Senate went up from 8.65% in...

SIS persecuting foreign students with allegations of WMD research

The SIS has been causing grief to some foreign students by delaying or denying visas on the grounds that their research could help produce weapons of mass destruction. It has been happening for years but we have never been told publicly how any New Zealand course of study is making it easier to produce WMDs, or what students are involved.

Why on earth is NZ sending a plane into the Kim-and-Trump tinderbox?

Winston Peters says the Orion is to implement UN sanctions, but that’s only half the story, writes former Green MP Keith Locke We all know the erratic nature of Donald Trump’s policy towards North Korea. One moment he’s threatening a...

Splashing $2.3 billion on aircraft erodes NZ’s independent foreign policy

The purchase of four surveillance planes signals an even closer military alignment with the United States, and the reflects badly on our non-aligned status, writes former Green Party defence spokesperson Keith Locke. It was disappointing to see a Labour-led government...

Keith Locke’s submission to the NZ Parliament on the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill

Summary I am strongly opposed to this Bill, and I urge the Select Committee to reject it. The Bill violates the right of Members of Parliament to free speech and the freedom of political association. These are fundamental human rights...