The Auckland Writers Festival programme is out!
Events with BWB authors include: Charlotte Macdonald, Vincent O'Malley, Asher Emanuel, Rebecca Macfie, Craig Renney and Max Harris.
Book now: www.bwb.co.nz/events/bwb-aut...
Retiring Labour MP Peeni Henare on who's the most promising backbencher: "Oh, I think there are several, but I’m going to back Arena Williams. I think Arena is smart, wāhine Māori, she’s got huge appeal and I think she is a future star." #nzpol
The next Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival isn't until 2027, but we couldn't pass this one up.
The only South Island date on the former Prime Minister's itinerary.
Tickets: www.regenttheatre.co.nz/project/jaci...
I do not understand how the ABSOLUTELY VOLUNTARY destruction of the original ferry replacement is not a massive political scandal?!
It was a reflexive ideological decision that has disadvantaged the country significantly.
I’m in (redacted) for (redacted) & after picking up my Thai food, asked the hotel bar staff for a plate & some cutlery. “I’ve been in a room with men opining all day.” The sheer girlhood of response was a delight: “I hear you, just ring down if you need wine.”
‘Another poll also revealed Kiwis overwhelmingly wanted politicians to govern with future generations in mind and the economic system to be changed.’
Pretty crazy how important the blockade of a trade route is right now
I would simply deliver the giant infrastructure project on time and under budget
A corker of a sunset in broad lurid pink and orange streaks against the last blue of the day - the colours reflected back by the beach at low tide, for double the impact.
A fella in silhouette attempting to photograph tonight’s glorious sunset: to the left, long ripples of brilliant orange clouds, radiating from where the sun has just dipped below the horizon; to the right, a more demure mix of pink and purple-grey fluffy stuff.
Sunset washing out, now just a long low smear of salmon outlining the hills, and matching underlighting on the edges of the clouds above, with everything else fading into blue and grey… all reflected in the wet sand of a low-tide beach. Intermittent lights of cars and houses along the horizon, like glow worms.
Meanwhile at the north end of the beach, where the sky is still a fluffy quilt of pink and blue, lads are being lads and setting off fireworks to and from the pontoon, stranded at low tide. In the background, the “point” of Point Chevalier (Rangi-mata-rau), sandstone cliffs held together by gnarly old pōhutukawa and topped by rickety old pines.
Someone had the paintbox out tonight… 🎨
Anyone who still thinks 'businessmen' are automatically great politicians really needs to just go away and never vote again
Anyways, my analysis on these and other issues:
newsroom.co.nz/2026/03/11/n...
It's impossible to have it both ways: That the lockdown went longer against health advice and that it was 107 days which was too long.
Certainly it's possible to argue that the level of restriction was higher than necessary for those five days (but then you have to deal with the oral advice issue).
The key thing about the "Auckland's lockdown went longer than recommended" claim is not that Bloomfield may have updated his advice in an oral item to Cabinet, but that this actually had no impact on the length of the lockdown. This was about moving from L4 to L3 - but L3 was still lockdown.
Just catching up with this update.
Reluctantly feel need to (again) ask how original decision was *sound, prudent, and responsible*?
substack.com/@ganeshrahir...
Marco Rubio greets Chuck Schumer in January 2026 at the Capitol Visitor Center
A close-up of his foot shows his shoes are too big
hmm
Above a video of Trump signing the EO, Cartmell writes: "Restoring freedom by shrinking the U.S. federal government one Executive Order at a time. 👏"
The new donor to TOP is very much aligned to the Trump/Musk view of the world. Here he is on X celebrating Trump's EO that dismantles the Dept of Education. #NZpol
Lol , they really want him gone now.. #nzpol
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
Strong economies don’t close factories.
Don't let this one fly under the radar either
thespinoff.co.nz/politics/18-...
Hipkins explained on #BHN that Bloomfield would give cabinet a right-up-to-date verbal briefing alongside the written cab papers that have to be prepared and circulated in advance.
The Covid inquiry somehow only considered the written papers, not the verbal advice. #NzPol
Absolutely insane achievement given we aren’t an island.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
A rare zinger from Chippy here.
Jacinda Ardern & Grant Robertson Old Friends. One Stage. One Night. In conversation with Stacey Morrison (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu) Thursday 16 April | 7.30pm | Regent Theatre, Ōtepoti
This should be interesting for folks in Dunners. nz.patronbase.com/_RegentTheat... @paullecomtephoto.nz @thoughtfulnz.bsky.social
While the pathetic grifters are whining about Labour 'ignoring advice' regarding COVID, here's a quick reminder #nzpol
Advice ignored
- Smokefree Legislation
- Emissions Targets, etc
- Māori Health Authority
- Fast-track Bill
- School Lunches
- iReX
- Landlord Tax Breaks
- Significant Natural Areas
You don’t hear much any more about the raw sewage still pouring into Wellington harbour but it’s up to 2.5 billion litres
Happy birthday to Neneh Cherry. Here's Buffalo Stance filmed in Berlin for The Other Side of Midnight in 1988
youtu.be/XiwU9N9ST7E
Important for media to avoid repeating the Covid Inquiry misinformation. Give the quotes from the report, say that Peters, Jones, etc., are making misleading remarks about it. Don't "both-sides" factual information, readers will think it's a matter for debate. It's not. #NZPol
Essential read on this govt’s reckless gaslighting:
“It’s election year, I get it. But implying science & health advice was routinely being ignored fuels the distrust that erodes social cohesion—something the report is at pains to emphasise must be restored.” #nzpol
thespinoff.co.nz/politics/11-...
Cartoon. Title: “Energy Drink” Picture shows Methanex president and CEO Rich Sumner sucking the dregs out of a can labelled “NZ” and saying, “Just a minute - nearly done” On the can, in small print it says, “Consumes 45% of NZ’s Natural Gas. Pays $70m to Canadian Owner. Receives high ETS subsidies. Too broke to pay taxes”
Fuel shortages and rising prices. A proposal to import expensive and dirty LNG and impose a gas levy. And then there’s Methanex, sucking up 45% of our natural gas.
My #cartoon today #NZpol #Fuel #FossilFuel
I am very grateful for journalists like Marc Daalder. I just wish we had more like him
