Hey great post. I wrote this story.

Peters further dismissing Luxon's suggestion:

PM Luxon gave a speech this morning suggesting CPTPP and EU countries could get together to respond to US tariffs. This afternoon ... Foreign Minister Winston Peters dismissed this as premature. Mixed-messages as Luxon is due to make calls with world leaders this afternoon.

When that NZ cab and grass-fed steak tastes 10% sweeter

Trump's "liberation day" is here and Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on all countries, including NZ. And there's some janky accounting to work out how much NZ's tariff rate on US goods. The real tariff rates are much lower.

Winston Peters will meet Marco Rubio in the coming hours, and no doubt Trump tariffs will be front of mind. On The Post I've got a run down of the trade relationship - and the case NZ could make to avoid trade-smashing tariffs.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters says initial conversations with Trump administration officials have centred on “what they want of us”. But he is unwilling to specify the “expectations” of the United States. It's possible to make a pretty informed guess. Read more on @thepost-nz.bsky.social

Bit of analysis with facts, numbers, and graphs (you hate to see it) on @thepost-nz.bsky.social about what's at stake in NZ-India trade negotiations, announced this morning.

In @thepost-nz.bsky.social 's Sunday Star this weekend I have a detailed look at ideas and questions for the incoming Defence Capability Plan, expected to outline the Govt's intended billion-dollar spend on defence. Lots of thoughts from informed people, including Josh Wineera and Andrew Little.

Good to chat with @thomasmanch.bsky.social for his article in the Sunday Star Times on #cartel conduct. Cartel conduct is serious, and the stakes are even higher when public money is involved. www.linkedin.com/posts/michae...

I joined RNZ's Jo Moir on the weekly Morning Report political panel this morning to talk Winston Peters' Washington trip, Trump strategy, and school lunches. Tried to sound coherent and sane. Listen here: www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

UPDATE: Foreign Minister Winston Peters says sacking Goff was one of the most difficult things he has done. Read more @thepost-nz.bsky.social

WATCH: Phil Goff's question at the Chatham House event that has Foreign Minister Winston Peters sacking him.

BREAKING on @thepost-nz.bsky.social: Winston Peters has sacked Phil Goff as UK High Commissioner over comments made about US President Donald Trump

Splashed across the @thepost-nz.bsky.social Sunday Star's front today is a mega-story I wrote capturing all that's been happening in the world: China's Tasman Sea live fire drills, the Cooks agreements, Trump's shock-treatment of Europe and bullying Zelensky. Some interesting details:

Winston Peters lands in South Korea this evening and will meet with shipbuilders Hyundai Mipo, according to Korean officials. All indications are this is about the ongoing search for two new ferries, not the already cancelled contract with the firm.

Out of Beijing overnight: Winston Peters said China's failure to notify of live fire exercise in the Tasman Sea was a failure of the NZ-China relationship. Also, he didn't ask why they were in the Tasman in the first place.

Dispute between NZ and Cook Islands sharpening. PM Mark Brown blasting NZ, framing the dispute as over self-determination. NZ firm on lack of trasnparency, leaning into assertion Cook Island people don't want to risk to realm relationship. www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...

NZDF aircraft and ship sent to monitor Chinese vessels in Tasman Sea, defence minister confirms

"I'm very aware that there is a highly capable task force from China, which is currently located in the middle of the Tasman Sea. It has enormous strike power ... we do not live in a benign strategic environment," says Judith Collins

NZSIS director Andrew Hampton says he spoke with Cook Island PM Mark Brown about nat sec risks and shared intelligence -- before Brown headed to Beijing to sign agreements NZ has expressed such concern over. Read the story on @thepost-nz.bsky.social

Substantive speech from Foreign Minister Winston Peters last night on wanting to rewrite the free association relationship with the Cook Islands, after the saga that has been PM Mark Brown’s striking deals with Beijing.

Spokesperson for Defence Minister Judith Collins confirms NZDF assisting Australia with monitoring the three Chinese navy ships sailing off its east coast atm. No word about what the vessels are up to.

Labour foreign policy spokesperson David Parker keeping his powder dry this morning, confirming he sees a problem with transparency here but not willing to comment otherwise, as he's being briefed this evening. Wouldn't comment on Labour colleague Mahuta's view.

On @thepost-nz.bsky.social we're getting into the NZ-Cook Islands issue over pending agreements with China. Comment from likes of Anna Powles and frmer ASPI head Peter Jennings. NZ remains waiting as of this morning.

Statement from NZ’s foreign ministry on the Trump Gaza proposal: “New Zealand is following closely the range of discussions that are taking place internationally on Gaza and related issues.

Well, did not have making the gaza strip into the vegas strip on my Trump manifest destiny bingo. Can't see how this is going to go well.

I've heard stories about this kind of access/relationship with parts of the Wellington public sector *back in the day*, but it's truly old timers that talk of it. A distant memory now, and the status quo is deeply entrenched.

The front of @the_postnz this morning: 🇳🇿📉 New Zealand exporters face being collateral to Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Trade Minister Todd McClay reponse by emphasising NZ's "well-balanced" relationship with the US ... as in, 'don't look at us'.

No response from the NZ Govt as yet regarding the North American trade war, and nothing public-facing from the PM today, it appears.

Calling all trade experts ... is there any upside to all this? I'm trying to be a glass half full guy here. Do Kiwi tequila makers now have a leg up?

Cybersecurity firm CyberCX has warned Kiwi clients that AI tool DeepSeek, which roiled global markets, could pose data harvesting risk.

I spoke to Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown yesterday about Government policy, economic growth, a bed tax, and the Cabinet. He was scathing about former tourism minister Matt Doocey and how the Govt was handling the bed tax he's campaigning for: https://buff.ly/3Cxw76v

Economic growth ... economic growth ... economic growth ... the Government chants.

A debate over asset sales is back! (like my social media posting for 2025) David Seymour has breathed a bit of life back into this debate. Luxon is modelling himself on John Key's approach. Peters is with the Opposition in opposing the prospect. (of course).

Dr Shane Reti is out as health minister, and Simeon Brown has been gifted the job. Chris Bishop picked up transport to add to his infrastructure portfolio, and Nicola Willis adds minister for "economic growth" to her CV. Read more about Luxon's Cabinet reshuffle here:

The Govts fast-track regime has become law, but not without disruptive protest during its final moments in the House this afternoon.

Bonhomie over the Government’s concept of a ferry plan was short lived this week. Nicola Willis’ response to Winston Peters’ boasting said it all. But where Peters sees political reward, there’s also risk:

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has attack the Government's critics in a speech delivered to the NZ China Council this afternoon. Fairly pointed remarks no doubt directed at Helen Clark and Don Brash, who have campaigned against his Government's interest in Aukus pillar two this year.

A bit more on this Cook Strait ferry business. Winston Peters is putting aside Nicola Willis' "viable proposition" and "starting afresh". Also claims he had less than three hours notice of yesterday's announcement.

👀 👀 👀 from The Post's reporter in court this morning:

The Government has provided the outline of a plan for replacing the Interislander ferries: - new ferries to be bought (rail-enabled? TBD) - new company for project created (private operator instead of KiwiRail? TBD) - cost? TBD (but claimed cheaper) - Winston = Minister for Rail

Government under spotlight and mostly tight-lipped as ferry decision looms. But a refusal to answer a question about the cost indicates new ferries could cancel more than the two cancelled.

I asked the Defence Force questions on October 21 about documents that had been provided under the OIA. Essentially asking to have some jargon decoded, and clarify if decisions mentioned in the docs were taken. Easy enough, I would've thought. More than 7 weeks later ...

Veteran racing minister Winston Peters says the Government will close the greyhound racing industry in 20months time. But first, law passed today to stop the killing of dogs in response to the announced closure. https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360517158/live-government-close-greyhound-racing-ind…

'No comment' from PM as Cook Strait ferry deadline nears

An appraisal on the latest with the Aukus debate after Australian ministers urged NZ (or, Labour) to “take a deep breath”:

Another Australia-NZ defence agreement signed, this one to deepen joint procurement, planning, and deployments. Aus Defence Minister Richard Marles says “this is building Anzac, quite literally”.