Did Brian Tamaki Cross the Free Speech Line?

There's a huge leap from verbal sparring to temple riots, and a fine line between hyperbole and inciting violence. Did Brian Tamaki jump it?  Andrew Urquhart discuss the case and the principles behind it, with Douglas Brown of the Free Speech Union (Free Speech Union: If Brian Tamaki committed a c…

Panic Market: Feeding Fear of the 'Other'

Media chaplain Frank Ritchie and Andrew Urquhart discuss elements of social engineering in today's hot-button issues, where consumer trends and social policy are used to inflate differences and orchestrate 'culture wars'.   Rathen than indulge in conspiracy theories, it's a challenge to recognise m…

Peace Over Purge: Bringing Christian Cool to a Heated Issue

With the recent conflagaration of public debate over national identity and immigration policies, Andrew Urquhart ponders the Church's attitude to migrants of different cultures and faiths. Leadership mentor John peachey (www.thethinkfarm.org) comments on the part that media mischief plays in infla…

Digging for Earthquake Miracles

The Church in Venezuela is heavily persecuted yet remains resolutely at the frontlines. CEO of Barnabas Aid NZ Stephanie Johnston tells Andrew Urquhart that despite decades of sociopolitical and religious oppression by government and union forces, Christians are holding out hope for their fellow c…

Pre-Election Debates Coming to a Town Near You

You're invited! This July, communities from Dunedin to Whangarei will set the scene for 10 public debates about issues facing New Zealanders this Election year. Andrew Urquhart caught up with host of the Good Faith Yarns road tour and "Thought Crimes" political blogger Ani O'Brien, whose online ar…

Kiwisaver Evolution: Save Now for a Secure Future?

It's less survival of the fittest, and more like survival of the strictest - savers instead of spenders. The National Party's Kiwisaver policy announcement has surprised some, but after nearly 20 years of low Kiwisaver uptake, the logic of a compulsory retirement savings scheme is inescapable. An…

Middle East Resistance: Forging Peace and Reconciliation

Will the promised cessation of hostilities between Iran and the US lead to peace? Even as hope builds that the war has ended, media chaplain Frank Ritchie points out that a lack of violence doesn't mean genuine harmony.  He shines a light on the faith-based ministry of Musalaha (Arabic for “reconc…

Oil Dipstick Test: Has the Iran War Ended?

Let the oil flow! A geopolitical analyst says the barrel price is one way to gauge if the Iran war has truly ended. Dr Geoffrey Miller unpacked the multi-point Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, which promises a host of concessions to the Islamist regime. Text 8168, k…

Imported Cultures & Social Cohesion

It's a big deal overseas, but New Zealanders don't seem too worried about the mirage of an immigration tsunami.  So what is the real versus perceived impact of migrant cultures?   Family First founder Bob McCoskrie talks to Andrew Urquhart about the differences between a multiracial or multi-ethni…

What Did the Iran War Achieve?

Who is better off since the US and Israel set out to take down Iran's Islamist regime? What was achieved in four months of regional strife and global disruption? Commentator Brendan Malone observes that while the Memorandum of Understanding lifts sanctions on Iran, this war has claimed around 1700…