📢 New article: New Zealand’s plan to shift to a four-year parliamentary term could reshape its democratic system. Dr @edwardmwillis.bsky.social examines how this reform tests the balance between effective governance and accountability. Read more 👉 bit.ly/46G8QeX #Democracy #NewZealand

This morning I have been listening to many of the submissions to the Justice Committee on a move to a maximum Parliamentary term of 4 years, and the quality is truly excellent. So heart warming to see high quality civic engagement in action.

Corporate law firms made their summer clerkship offers today. I know this because a number of students came to me for advice about which firm they should pick. Honoured that my advice carries such weight, but also confused - do you really want to end up like me? Is grumpy academic your aspiration?

A truly picturesque open day at New Zealand’s most beautiful university campus today, as endorsed by Baxter.

Kicking off another season with the Dunedin City Royals

This op ed by Professor Geddis is insightful, eloquent and direct - almost wish I had written it myself

Happy May Day to all who celebrate!

Proposal: Give Anne Twomey a mech, and send her to sort out the Americans’ constitutional crisis

10 months to go on my Marsden-funded project into the public law dimension of economic regulation, and I now have an draft introduction and a draft first chapter for my proposed book!! I am excited and relieved in equal measure. Just 8 chapters left to write before the funding runs out...

25 months into a three year project, I finally have a draft introduction for my book. 8,300 words in 25 months….

The students in my LAWS 101 class seem to get younger every year…

Life of a football parent in sunny Dunedin

On the possibility of a four-year parliamentary term, here’s something I wrote a while ago that sets out my thoughts. newsroom.co.nz/2020/11/03/g...

Broadly in agreement with Deb’s points here.

Dear UK friends, I am in the early stages of planning a research trip for later this year. Do let me know if you might like me to come and talk about constitutional law or regulatory theory. Keen to visit as many people and places as I can as it may be a while before I’m back.

Terrible reviewer feedback? Don't worry, there's always tomorrow.

yeah well guess who’s not getting cited then

I don’t know where this kid gets his incredible sense of style from - definitely not from me!

Finally biting the bullet today and starting to write the draft of what I hope to be a valuable contribution to regulatory theory and public law scholarship.

The @uodroitpublaw.bsky.social is thrilled to once again support the @icon-s.bsky.social winter/summer school for emerging scholars. Please consider applying to participate.

Shout out to David Seymour and the Ministry for Regulation for making me work over the summer holidays. There really should be some sort of regulation against January submission dates…

Dang, I messed up. Maybe 2026…

Happy New Year everyone! Really feel like 2025 is going to be my year.

Happy to report that 2024 is officially a success because this draft paper is finally finished with 51 hours to spare.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas.

This looks like a photo of 2 seven-year-old cousins hanging out on holiday together, just sweetness and light. But this photo is actually evidence of an elaborate, premeditated scheme between 2 co-conspirators to catch Santa Claus in less than 36 hours…

There’s a cloud the full length of these isles just playing chance with the sun…

“What do academics even do over the summer?” We go on holiday … and take our work with us

Kia ora Bluesky