We agreed a 99-year lease with then then Chinese Empire and that lease went to term. The Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 was (apparently) an agreement whereby the Chinese agreed to maintain th… (View Post)

Manawanui, as you well know, is a Maori word meaning to be steadfast, stout-hearted, tolerant, patient, unwavering, resolute, persistent, committed, dedicated, unswerving, staunch, dogged, tolerant. … (View Post)

I was watching a documentary on the catastrophe of HS2 - now, whether you like it or not, think it's a good idea or not, isn't the issue. The cost of doing the London-Birmingham link has en… (View Post)

I'm afraid you're absolutely right, my friend. Raising basic rate tax to 25p, higher rate to 50p and increasing thresholds by double the rate of inflation would be my approach but pace Blai… (View Post)

I've been to Waitangi and one of the most surreal experiences of my life was to do the tour with the Maori guide and a group of very pleasant Maori engineering students. Basically, it was all my… (View Post)