menu_open Columnists
Richard Shaw

Richard Shaw

The Conversation

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Mowing the lawn: the colonial ghosts haunting our suburban ritual

In this extract from his newly published essay collection, the author traces the imperial British origins of a quintessential Kiwi chore.

22.05.2026 20

The Conversation

Richard Shaw

Kiwi or not to be: can a citizenship test really measure what it means to be a New Zealander?

Can a short multiple-choice test encourage new citizens to connect with a sense of national identity, or does it risk oversimplifying complex,...

13.05.2026 10

The Conversation

Richard Shaw

Who wrote the cabinet paper recommending NZ not recognise a Palestinian state?

Cabinet papers are usually prepared by ministries with input from impartial public servants. The process over Palestine raises wider questions about...

03.10.2025 10

The Conversation

Richard Shaw

Māori wards: how the Hobson’s Pledge campaign relies on a ‘historical fiction’

As cities and districts prepare for referendums on retaining Māori wards, a contentious claim resurfaces about the meaning and intent of the Treaty...

12.08.2025 20

The Conversation

Richard Shaw

With so many parties ‘ruling out’ working with other parties, is MMP losing its way?

ACT won’t work with Labour, Labour won’t work with NZ First, National won’t work with Te Pāti Māori … What happened to the cross-party...

10.06.2025 20

The Conversation

Richard Shaw