Some great Luxonisms featured in the cabinet paper for the Major Events and Tourism Fund

One of the biggest culture shocks I had moving from Wellington to Auckland was seeing people use umbrellas. I had legitimately forgotten they were an option.

One of the biggest culture shocks I had moving from Wellington to Auckland was seeing people use umbrellas. I had legitimately forgotten they were an option.

"Only David Seymour can do that"

As a Little Yellow Digger stan I am so very happy with Stuff journalists right now.

The many dodgy claims behind the government’s major events fund thespinoff.co.nz/politics/26-...

Living Streets Aotearoa (or at least the Wellington branch) is going to be so annoying about this.

I think this is a really good idea. The years-long discourse about turning the golf course into housing was always pointless because of the Town Belt Act, but there is plenty of opportunity to use this green space for walking, cycling, or other forms of recreation.

The era of Chris power in New Zealand politics may be coming to an end. thespinoff.co.nz/society/14-0...

Incredibly funny bit from Chris Luxon to say "I don't comment on polls" after spending 3 minutes commenting on a poll.

I know a former CEO of a major New Zealand tourism and freight company who might be looking for a new job soon.

#RailNews: KiwiRail Director Scott O’Donnell has decided to depart the KiwiRail Board as a new venture will require him to spend more time in Australia, Chair Suzanne Tindal announced on Friday.

In an unexpected twist, the US-Israeli attacks on Iran may trigger regime change in New Zealand. thespinoff.co.nz/politics/06-...

Why do student politicans gotta be like this? Fund Critic properly you muppets. As @joelmacmanus.bsky.social says: If you value Critic Te Ārohi, tell OUSA.

Save Critic Te Ārohi - Sign the Petition! c.org/tZztmSV62Q

Could not agree with this more! Critic Te Arohi was crucial to my Dunedin experience and has been a springboard for NZ culture.

AN OPEN LETTER ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CRITIC TE ĀROHI.

@joelmacmanus.bsky.social looking like a prophet already (simply by paying attention) with the 'National will do the bits that suit them but ignore pretty much everything else' take on the infrastructure report. #nzpol

Today, this apartment building in Wellington was approved for construction. Two years ago, it was illegal to build. What changed? A group of 20-something YIMBYs campaigned for the council to change its zoning. Soon this site will have 32 homes where previously there was one.

The National Infrastructure Plan, released today, sets out a vision for a more efficient, affordable future. But is infrastructure minister Chris Bishop willing to accept that he is part of the problem? thespinoff.co.nz/politics/17-...

A controversial billionaire, an esteemed professor, and two property managers are among the New Zealanders with links to notorious sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. thespinoff.co.nz/society/05-0...

Wellington has two genres of local news story: 1. Beloved local business closes 2. Outrage over the threat of a new business opening

Luxon opens election year without a spark

In which I present an in-depth study of New Zealanders named Chris. thespinoff.co.nz/society/14-0...

Bad year to be a retired mayor from the South

Inside the weirdest trial of the year: Jim Grenon, Julian Batchelor and TVNZ thespinoff.co.nz/media/19-12-...

I spent three days in the Auckland District Court watching the weirdest trial of the year. Billionaires, secrets, conspiracy theories, denials of racism, contempt of court and twists at every turn. This case had it all. thespinoff.co.nz/media/19-12-...

After two years of major housing, infrastructure and planning reforms, Chris Bishop may have done more for the Abundance Agenda than any other politician on Earth. thespinoff.co.nz/politics/10-...

Today was the day New Zealand truly became a 40% off deck furniture piss country

The butter chicken pie has risen from a niche fusion food to New Zealand’s third-best-selling pie flavour. Who gave the nation this unique culinary taonga? thespinoff.co.nz/kai/01-12-20...

There's a stark contrast between Living Streets Aotearoa in Auckland, a useful advocacy group for pedestrian infrastructure, and Living Streets Aotearoa in Wellington which seems to exist only to complain about e-scooters and has never found a project they actually like.

If Little takes nothing else away from Joel’s piece, let it at least be “cars are not people”

Reposting this, apropros of nothing thespinoff.co.nz/politics/18-...

A quote from the man who just gave Ray Chung a promotion.

In his first council meeting as Wellington mayor, Andrew Little gave a big promotion to controversial rival Ray Chung and opened a political rift between Labour and the Greens. thespinoff.co.nz/politics/25-...

Christopher Luxon wants ‘a more mature conversation’ about selling public assets. Big daddy Spinoff is here to explain the birds and the bees of privatisation. thespinoff.co.nz/politics/21-...

To save the CBD, stop calling it the CBD. To succeed in a post-Covid world, city centres need to be more than ‘central business districts’. thespinoff.co.nz/business/18-...

"Make bold plans, small plans have no power to fire the imagination" - Sir Dove-Myer Robinson.

Some cities are actively pursuing growth. Others are stuck in a state of managed decline, merely cutting costs for loud existing homeowners while doing nothing to build for the future. I'm increasingly worried that Wellington is irrevocably stuck in the second category.

The conservative minority on Wellington City Council never had the votes to kill the Golden Mile, so instead they played for time, demanding more reviews and consultation to delay it until a conservative won the mayoralty. Andrew Little has played right into their hands.

Wellington's failure to build an obviously needed upgrade to its dilapidated main streets is a damning and demonstrative example of a capital city self-immolating through incompetence and political cowardice.

I've written extensively about homelessness policy on New Zealand and have repeatedly used the metaphor of disease and cure. I think it's accurate: homelessness can affect anyone, it takes a toll on mental and physical health, and it gets worse the longer it is left untreated.

The government’s homelessness ‘ban’ may not be as ridiculous as it sounds. The only cure for homelessness is homes, but responsible policing plays an important role in managing the symptoms. thespinoff.co.nz/politics/12-...

A long but interesting and engaging read, with a focus on solutions.

Long read from Joel MacManus visiting Vancouver, Inside the Canadian apartments redefining indigenous housing - 6,000 apartment complex built on First Nations land, without needing city council permission - Further in the article, Joel writes of the parallel in #NZ

I went to Vancouver to visit Sen̓áḵw, one of the most impressive housing developments in the world. Squamish Nation is building 6000 apartments on its reserve land with no city council permission required. Could this be the future of iwi-led housing in Aotearoa? thespinoff.co.nz/atea/03-11-2...

Canadian apartments redefining indigenous housing Joel MacManus in Vancouver, where a First Nation is building a massive complex of apartment towers on its reserve land, no city council permission required. Could this be the future of iwi-led housing in Aotearoa? thespinoff.co.nz/atea/03-11-2...

NZ First MPs keep proposing laws they have no intention of passing, and the media falls for it every time. thespinoff.co.nz/politics/06-...

Detailed data analysis by The Spinoff reveals an incredible true fact: people live in houses. thespinoff.co.nz/society/05-1...

Great piece from @joelmacmanus.bsky.social .