More than fine New Zealand wine will be flowing this weekend at Apec. The chief executives’ summit will bring together around 330 international delegates for four busy days of debate and discussion in a forum which aims to build relationships between business and politics and analyse the impact of globalisation. After a full day of registration, guests will be welcomed …

The latest classic involves a public relations spin artist who APEC employed to sell the benefits of trade liberalisation, and, our Trade Negotiations Minister Lockwood Smith. Let’s get one thing straight from the start. The technique PR consultant Jane Sweeney uses is called “marketing public policy correctly”. Not simple propaganda – as some cynical readers might incorrectly infer from the …