New Zealand often appears to be bursting to have a national conversation and debate about issues of ethnicity and politics. The response to Paul Holmes’ latest opinion piece (Waitangi Day a complete waste http://bit.ly/zXpSQL certainly suggests this.

As the Herald notes http://bit.ly/xJ7beb, Holmes’ column hit a nerve, and the flood of positive and negative responses obviously reflect peoples strong feelings about Waitangi Day. However, Holmes’ column has generated extensive criticism, particularly for the way it paints all Maori with same brush – such as when he says, ‘never mind the hopeless failure of Maori to educate their children and stop them bashing their babies.'

Maori politics specialist Morgan Godfery says the column is the ‘vilest’ he has ever seen and ‘undeniably racist’ (see – Holmes: morally repugnant and deeply racist http://bit.ly/yTrLiP), while Scott Hamilton says on his Reading the Maps blog that Maori might pause before taking child-rearing advice from Holmes, given that he ‘helped bring up that model of scholarship and sobriety Millie Elder-Holmes’ – see: Lazy Maoris and idle words http://bit.ly/yP4JIu.

Others have expressed similar views to Holmes about Waitangi Day – albeit with more sophistication, see: Sean Plunket’s National day should be celebratory, not rudely divisive http://bit.ly/yf8qt2 and John Roughan’s Treaty principle cuts both ways http://bit.ly/ybqvOD.

Nonetheless, in his own limited and distorted way, Holmes raises important points and an arguably legitimate perspective. Rather than clamping down on such opinions, New Zealand desperately needs an expanded debate about ethnicity and politics.

So far this year, ‘race relations’ are dominating politics, so more debate should be welcomed – but hopefully the kind that generates more light than heat.

Is John Key losing his enthusiasm for the top job? That’s the question raised by John Armstrong in a must-read column: Grim reality has taken its toll on cheerful Key http://bit.ly/AmziyD. And although Key is still apparently our sexiest politician (see: TVNZ’s Sex appeal sways voters' choices), his appeal in general is on the wane – see: Prime Minister John Key wins hearts if not minds http://bit.ly/x4QyzH.

Declining enthusiasm for Key is almost certainly related to the growing pessimism of New Zealanders in general, coming down from the highs of the Rugby World Cup – see: Andrea Vance’s Rugby joy short-lived, nation pessimistic http://bit.ly/xenaYc. And it seems that it’s the economy (stupid!) that is weighing on Kiwi’s minds as they now rate it as more important an issue than at any time in the past 20 years – see: Vance’s: State of economy top of Kiwis' concerns http://bit.ly/xgqbKH.

However, in the very long term, New Zealand has a bright future according to global bank HSBC - see: TVNZ: NZ tipped to be developed world's 'top performer' http://bit.ly/yYHdtJ but it will be the Chinese, Indians and Brazilians who will be global economic leaders.

Labour’s relationship with other Opposition parties is examined by the Dominion Post’s Tracy Watkins in Old dog won’t let go of the bone (not currently online). She says that Shearer shouldn’t try and ‘out-mongrel’ Winston Peters – rather that is a job for his front bench. Watkins says the Whanau Ora policy is an obvious target for the Opposition but that Labour will ‘tread warily’ on the issue, particularly given that many of Labour’s Maori supporters gave their electorate vote to the Maori Party.

Meanwhile, for the second time in a week, David Cunliffe has staked out political territory that appears to be to the left of his erstwhile rival David Shearer (as far as one can tell) – see Cunliffe’s Red Alert post, A Big Ask http://bit.ly/yFqMOz.

Labour is now calling for further electoral finance reform, particularly the way breaches are dealt with – see: Claire Trevett’s Speed up electoral law breach process: Robertson http://bit.ly/z1iC1j. As David Farrar points out http://bit.ly/xnEohX, it has always been a low priority for the police. Despite the confusion over the rules, Tapa Misa applauds the Electoral Commission drawing the line over the RadioLive show, pointing to the blurring of lines between media, corporations and politicians in the US – see: Blurred lines are making a joke of election spending http://bit.ly/widVmX. Also on the issue of the RadioLive decision, Graeme Edgeler blogs that It’s (almost) never that simple http://bit.ly/x2XOTH.

Paul Holmes on Waitangi Day
Paul Holmes (Herald): Waitangi Day a complete waste http://bit.ly/zXpSQL
Herald: Holmes' Waitangi Day column hits a nerve http://bit.ly/xJ7beb
Morgan Godfery (Maui Street): Holmes: morally repugnant and deeply racist http://bit.ly/yTrLiP
Danyl Mclauchlan (The Dim-Post): Pathos alert http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/pathos-alert-2/
Reading the Maps:
Lazy Maoris and idle words http://bit.ly/yP4JIu
Sean Plunket (Dom Post): National day should be celebratory, not rudely divisive http://bit.ly/yf8qt2
David Cohen (NBR): Public wearies of Waitangi wrath http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/wr-media-watch-public-wearies-waitangi-wrat...
Paul Thomas (Herald): Ritual drama divides nation on day of unity http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=107...

Political finance
Claire Trevett (Herald): Speed up electoral law breach process: Robertson http://bit.ly/z1iC1j
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Better late than never http://bit.ly/xnEohX
Tapa Misa (Herald): Blurred lines are making a joke of election spending http://bit.ly/widVmX
Graeme Edgeler (Legal Beagle): It’s (almost) never that simple http://bit.ly/x2XOTH
SST: Editorial – Nats have to account for radio session (not currently online)
Timaru Herald: Editorial: Yes you can, no you can't http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/opinion/6401529/Editorial-Yes-you-c...

Economy
Bernard Hickey (Herald): Tough reality in a world of hurt http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=107...
Andrea Vance (Stuff): State of economy top of Kiwis' concerns http://bit.ly/xgqbKH
Simon Collins (Herald): Bridging Auckland's wealth gap http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10784783
David Cunliffe (Red Alert): A Big Ask http://bit.ly/yFqMOz
Herald: Editorial - Opportunity - key to a more equal society http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=107...
TVNZ: NZ tipped to be developed world's 'top performer http://bit.ly/yYHdtJ
Rob Stock (Stuff): Roll on 2050 - New Zealand economy to rise http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/6403688/Roll-on-2050-New-Zealand-economy...
Martin van Beynen (Press): Rot sets in from our profligacy (not currently online)
NBR: Editorial – Figures don’t back milk campaigners http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/wr-editorial-figures-don%25E2%2580%2599t-ba...
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Crafar Farms: Judge ponders 'significant benefit http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion/6405777/Crafar-Farms-Judge-ponde...
Rod Oram (SST): A highly negative purchase (not currently available online)

Parliament
John Armstrong (Herald): Grim reality has taken its toll on cheerful Key http://bit.ly/AmziyD
Tracy Watkins (Dom Post): Old dog won’t let go of the bone (not currently online)
Waikato Times: Editorial - Peters already on attack http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/opinion/editorials/6406893/Editoria...
John Hartevelt (SST): Labour steps on toes in the clean, green dance of the left (not currently online)
Matt McCarten (Herald): Key's power play won't stop the bills going up http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10...
Stuff: Today in politics: Monday, February 13 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6406222/Today-in-politics-Monda...
Stuff: The week in politics http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6401056/The-week-in-politics

SOE-related issues
John Roughan (Herald): Treaty principle cuts both ways http://bit.ly/ybqvOD
Damien Grant (Herald): The right is wrong http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10...
RNZ: Harawira scoffs at assurance over asset sales http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/98144/harawira-scoffs-at-assuran...
Newstalk ZB: State asset sales 'cultural treason' - Iwi leader http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10...
Morgan Godfery (Maui Street): Comments on the water claim http://mauistreet.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/comments-on-water-claim.html
Audrey Young (Herald): Troubled water debate flows on http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10...
John Tamihere (Sunday News): Water rights not defined (not available online)
Yvonne Tahana (Herald): Iwi cautious on joining water claim http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10...
Matthew Hooton (NBR): Nats, Maori Party win from s9 fiasco http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/wr-opening-salvo-nats-maori-party-win-secti...
Dion Tuuta (Taranaki Daily News):Why Section 9 is important for all Kiwis http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/opinion/6406705/Why-Section-9...
No Right Turn: Iwi, water, and privatization http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/iwi-water-and-privatisation.html
Oscar Kightley (Sunday News): Treaty clause priceless asset for all Aotearoa (not currently online)

Politician popularity
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Rugby joy short-lived, nation pessimistic http://bit.ly/xenaYc 
Andrea Vance and Lois Cairns (Stuff): Prime Minister John Key wins hearts if not minds http://bit.ly/x4QyzH 
TVNZ: Sex appeal sways voters' choices http://bit.ly/x8AXBJ 
Amelia Wade (Herald): They can't get enough of our sexiest politician http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10...

Other
Ian Steward (Stuff): Urewera four trial set to kick off http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6406982/Urewera-four-trial-set-to-...
Neil Reid (Sunday News): UN wants answers on ‘terror’ raids (not currently online)
Michael Field (Stuff): Ethnic rights advice stuns communities http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6403952/Ethnic-rights-advice-stuns-commu...
TVNZ: Asians face most discrimination in NZ – survey http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/asians-face-most-discrimination-in-nz-su...
Fairfax: Mana activist on mission to Antarctica http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6405538/Mana-activist-on-mission-to-Anta...
RNZ: Mana Party supporter on illegal polar expedition http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/98204/mana-party-supporter-on-ill...
RNZ: Mana president 'proud' of activist's actions on ice http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/98239/mana-president-'proud'-of-a...
Danya Levy (Stuff) Will bill make food safer or be a form of control http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6401221/Will-bill-make-food-saf...?
Rob Stock (Stuff): Debate heats up on national rates rebate http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6403951/Debate-heats-up-on-national-rate...
Rob O’Neill (Stuff): Salary stress increases in New Zealand http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/6403654/Salary-stress-increases-in-New-Z...
Brook Sabin (TV3): Politicians attend the Big Gay Out http://www.3news.co.nz/Politicians-attend-the-Big-Gay-Out/tabid/423/arti...
SST: Exploration story alters for investors and officials (not currently online)
Karla Akuhata (Stuff): Tainui leader ousted from board http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6407166/Tainui-leader-ousted-from-board 
RNZ: Morgan 'no longer head' of tribal executive http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/98252/morgan-'no-longer-hea...
Herald on Sunday (Editorial): Bottled up and ready to burst http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=107...
Anthony Hubbard (SST): The one per cent get their way (not currently online)
Deborah Coddington (Herald): Union never learns lesson on incompetent teachers http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=107...
Kate Newton (Stuff): Medical errors cost ACC $7.6m http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/6406223/Medical-errors-cost-ACC-7-6m
Michael Dickison (Herald): US Govt 'throwing everything' at Dotcom http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10784838
Andrea Fox (Stuff): Government blamed for Psa entry http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/6401076/Government-blamed-for-Ps...