TRULY, THERE IS nothing new under the sun. The Coalition government’s big plans for vocational training are curiously reminiscent of Julius Vogel’s big plans for New Zealand’s universities – in 1874.

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Known principally for his political commentaries in The Dominion Post, The ODT, The Press and the late, lamented Independent, and for "No Left Turn", his 2007 history of the Left/Right struggle in New...