Sam Sachdeva

Lockdown, vaccine decisions 'considered and appropriate' – Royal Commission The Covid-19 Royal Commission has broadly backed the decisions taken during the pandemic, while identifying areas for improvement.

The Covid-19 Royal Commission's second report has been published, I've read (almost) all of it and here are the key takeaways:
newsroom.co.nz/2026/03/10/l...

TVNZ board chair rang senior minister to discuss negative coverage

Justice minister won't reveal exactly what the public broadcaster's board chair said, while police minister doubles down on concerns about bias.

Any Wellingtonians interested in buying a ticket to the Iron & Wine gig on March 15? I can no longer go thanks to work commitments 😭 Would just be selling for face value

The Internets are full of Sickos these days ...
@theoddkepple.bsky.social

Not that I've seen - interesting question!

New Zealand is getting a new streaming service - HBO Max is coming Shows like The Pitt, Succession and The White Lotus will live exclusively on the new platform from mid-2026.

So is Neon going to fold as a result of this? You'd have to think subscriber demand is heavily propped up by the HBO offerings www.rnz.co.nz/life/screens...

Guess it's that time of the year to wheel this out... 😏

Wonder how long until the Govt U-turns on the LNG non-levy levy? Getting hammered from all sides and their attempted defence is clearly not working

Now I want to know which CNN reporter or producer doesn't know the word "sycophant."

A large CRT 4:3 aspect tv screen with large blue serif letters reads FUCK YOU BARBARA in light blue

In 2002 or 03 a Chicago public access cable channel aired this for at least a full half hour. No audio. I took a photo with a digital camera & that’s all the documentation I have. Anyone have any dirt?

BlackRock bails on $2b NZ climate fund It was hailed as 'a game changer for the clean tech sector' and a model for the world; less than three years later, BlackRock is walking away from its NZ climate fund

When BlackRock unveiled plans for an NZ climate infrastructure fund in 2023, Chris Hipkins hailed it as 'a game changer for the clean tech sector'. Less than three years (and one change of govt) later, the US multinational is quietly scrapping the fund. More here: newsroom.co.nz/2026/01/16/b...

Had a buyer for my cross stitch that offered me $2000 USD, I literally cried with relief at what I could achieve with that amount. After the point of providing all bank details etc, Ive heard nothing. So I’m going to have to put my girl back up for sale. I need as much as possible. Please RT. #nzpol

Attachment issues

Chinese-NZ journalist defeats gagging order from 'Demon King' Best of the Year: Claims and counter-claims about Chinese interference in NZ sparked a now overturned court order that some say shows systemic flaws.

Best of the Year:

Claims and counter-claims about Chinese interference in NZ sparked a now overturned court order that some say shows systemic flaws.

One Indian media outlet is reporting Modi and his Cabinet has signed off on a trade deal with NZ - does this mean Luxon and McClay will get the Christmas present they were after? 👀 www.business-standard.com/economy/news...

Can we finally drop Blundell now please? That is all.

The cultural Cabinet’s top picks of 2025

Newsroom’s Parliament-based team makes their selection of (at least tangentially political) cultural must-consumes from 2025.

Govt accused of breaching Paris climate deal after Willis rules out buying credits Analysis: Finance Minister Nicola Willis effectively confirmed New Zealand will not meet its 2030 climate target under the current Govt's policies.

Analysis: Finance Minister Nicola Willis effectively confirmed Tuesday that New Zealand will not meet its 2030 climate target under the Paris Agreement under the current Government’s policies.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/12/03/g...

Could Govt seek financial jackpot with Lotto privatisation? As the Prime Minister calls for a 'mature' conversation about asset sales, the national lottery may be in the Govt's sights – but is the coalition on board?

For many Kiwis, Saturday's record-breaking $55 million Powerball jackpot was an opportunity to dream big - but the Govt is after a financial windfall of its own, with ministers starting tentative discussions about a privatisation of Lotto. More @newsroom.co.nz here: newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/19/c...

Chris Bishop diverts Kāinga Ora money to fund a bridge in his electorate Officials warned against the use of housing funds for bridge building but Bishop says it was a “pragmatic choice”.

NEW: Chris Bishop used housing money to fund a bridge in his electorate his own Govt had killed off.

Officials were against the move and Labour say he shouldn’t have been anywhere near the decision.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...

Labour selects Dr Gary Payinda for Whāngarei 17 November 2025 The Labour Party has selected emergency medicine specialist doctor Dr Gary Payinda as candidate for Whāngarei for 2026. “It’s an honour to be selected as Labour’s Whāngarei candidate,” Dr Gary Payinda said. “The work we are doing to provide every New Zealander with three free GP visits a year will be a game-changer in healthcare, helping people before their conditions worsen and they end up in hospital. It will prevent suffering, save lives, reduce pressure on our hospitals, and keep people healthier. “For nearly two decades, I’ve worked as an emergency doctor in Whangārei. I’ve raised my kids here, worked on the rescue helicopter, served on school boards, and as the national medical director for Surf Life Saving NZ. “It’s a privilege to live and work in Northland, but over the past two years I’ve watched the National Government drive inequity, undercut public health and make visiting the doctor more expensive and out of reach for many people. “I believe in equity for all and in the social good that Labour has always stood for – policies that benefit every New Zealander, regular Kiwis, the regular person, not just those at the top. “I understand how government policies and public services can literally transform lives. I am excited to stand as the Labour candidate for Whāngarei, and I am ready to represent the needs of our community in Parliament, with everything I’ve got,” Gary Payinda said.

Battle of the medical doctors in Whāngarei! Labour's selected emergency medicine specialist Dr Gary Payinda to take on Dr Shane Reti at next year's election

The unholy comrade of a cover-up: name suppression

The public almost missed out on learning of the police hierarchy’s cover-up of its disgraced deputy commissioner’s behaviour – because until the 11th hour the Crown wanted a permanent suppression order of his identity.

Decent shunt there! #eqnz

the united states government acknowledges but does not endorse new york city’s claim on staten island, a strategic ambiguity political scientists refer to as the One New York Policy

"My newest hobby is finding lines from The Simpsons that could pass for Morrissey song titles." I took this image from somewhere else and can't write all of these out on my phone, so if you're reading this because you need the alt-text, take the opportunity to brainstorm some good ones of your own.

oh my god

Christopher Luxon and Donald Trump meet one on one for the first time, ahead of an Apec leaders' dinner in Gyeongju, South Korea

$5b-plus blowout for eight Roads of National Significance The Government's 17 Roads of National Significance will cost it at least $44 billion – enough to rebuild Dunedin Hospital 23 times over. Marc Daalder reports.

New from me: Just eight of the Government's 17 Roads of National Significance have already seen costs blow out by $5.1 billion - before any shovels are even in the ground.

The full programme would cost $44-$54 billion on the latest numbers.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/23/5...

Parliament deluged by tsunami of submissions Almost half of the select committee submissions since 1996 have come in this term of Parliament – creating headaches for MPs and staff alike. Sam Sachdeva reports.

I wrote a (short!) piece in a newsletter for work about the use of generative AI to process and analyse submissions, sent it out, and then checked Newsroom only to see a (very good!) piece from @samsachdeva.bsky.social piece on the topic with more up-to-date numbers and a chat with the Clerk. #NZPOL

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD ***************** Investigation of: LOSS OF THE SUBMARINE TITAN IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN ON JUNE 18, 2023 * * * * * * Accident No.: *********** * * * * * * Interview of: Co-designer/Pilot Deepsea Challenger DCA23FM036 via Microsoft Teams Friday, July 26, 2024

INTERVIEW OF 10 BY LCDR 11 Q. So how did you get yourself started into submersible 12 operations? 13 A. Well, I'm sure you're familiar with my film Titanic. When I 14 set down the path to make that film, the first thing that I did 15 was arrange to be introduced to the head of the submersible 16 program at the P.P. Shirshov Institute in Moscow, a guy named 17| Professor I. I did that through a mutual friend 18 of ours, a guy named , who is one of the preeminent underwater cinematographers in the world. And had been on a 20 submersible expedition out to Titanic the previous year with the 21 Russians. And that was organized by a Canadian company that was 22 doing an IMAX film which was released under the title Titanica.

Learned that an anonymous outside expert on submersibles did an interview with the OceanGate Titan investigation, and they released a transcript, with all the names redacted. The first line of his first answer? "I'm sure you're familiar with my film Titanic."

'Slave master' to have some convictions quashed after solicitor-general bungle Procedural flaws from Crown Law have affected another high-profile case, Newsroom can reveal.

A New Zealand ‘slave master’ and human trafficker is set to have two of his convictions quashed, after being caught up in a procedural bungle from the solicitor-general’s office. More @newsroom.co.nz:

newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/16/s...