Luxon’s make-or-break year
In The Australian, David interviews New Zealand’s ‘CEO PM’, Christopher Luxon.
What they don’t tell you about New zealand
In The Spectator, a light look at whether New Zealand is all it’s cracked up to be for international visitors in 2026.
Jacinda Ardern was genuinely compassionate. She cared. But it was never enough
Commentator Damien Grant’s take on the new Jacinda book in Stuff.
ON JACINDA AND JOURNALISM
David chats with RNZ’s Emile Donovan about his new unauthorised biography of New Zealand’s 40th prime minister.
Beautiful VISIONS
David marks Van Morrison’s 80th birthday with an essay in Quillette.
Remembering Jim
David’s tribute in Stuff for New Zealand’s 35th prime minister, Jim Bolger.
READ MORE
Ireland And the Jews
In the wake of the anti-Israel demonstrations that have roiled political Ireland over the past 20 months, David offers an unusual first-hand perspective from Dublin for The JC on where the tempest has left one of the country’s smallest minority groups.
15 of the most influential New Zealanders you’ve never heard of
Katharine Birbalsingh, David Rozado, Christopher White. Ring any bells? Possibly not. These are people from New Zealand, David writes, whose intellectual and creative work tends to be better known abroad these days than in their country of birth or long-term residence.
READ MORE
New Zealand’s new cringeworthy slogan
Reporting for The Spectator on New Zealand’s baffling new tourism strategy.
READ MORE
TROUBLE IN PARADISE?
Reporting for The Spectator on the diplomatic storm clouds gathering around the tranquil Cook Islands.
BORN TO BOSS
Writing for Quillette, David charts the rise and fall of the great rock critics through the prism of the music of Bruce Springsteen. The essay also includes a nifty playlist of his favourite less-than-obvious studio tracks by Springsteen, live versions of his best hits and cover versions by other artists
AT ONE WITH THE CANTERBURY ELEMENTS
One here from the archives: Road tripping in New Zealand’s South Island for The New York Times.