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.
Folk, Feedback and fury
Celebrating Neil Young’s eightieth birthday in Quillette.
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Why does the maori Party keep on doing the haka in the NZ parliament?
In the Spectator, an explainer on the latest cultural din caused by New Zealand’s most theatrical political party.
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.
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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.
Dear LORDE
On the occasion of her much-ballyhooed new album, a look back at the last one, and its attendant spat with Lana Del Rey, which David wrote about in The Spectator.
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.
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New Zealand’s new cringeworthy slogan
Reporting for The Spectator on New Zealand’s baffling new tourism strategy.
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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
ME AND MR LEVIN
Twenty years after his passing and writing for British readers of the Jewish Chronicle, David recalls a hapless interview he did with the English writer Bernard Levin.
AT ONE WITH THE CANTERBURY ELEMENTS
One here from the archives: Road tripping in New Zealand’s South Island for The New York Times.