Joel MacManus

overwhelmingly for

@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.

I definitely wouldn't say Bish is the problem with PC120

The government’s infrastructure plan points the blame at the government 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 proble...

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-...

Sure

The Epstein files and NZ: managers, models and the Kiwi billionaire A controversial billionaire, an esteemed professor, and two property managers are among the New Zealanders with links to the notorious sex trafficker.

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...

I someday hope to quit social media but I'm too addicted

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 The prime minister’s state of the nation speech failed to stir his own party faithful....

Luxon opens election year without a spark

Why Chrises run the country Joel MacManus presents an in-depth study of New Zealanders named Chris.

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 Billionaires, secrets, conspiracy theories, denials of racism, contempt of court and twists at every turn. This case had it all.

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

Inside the weirdest trial of the year: Jim Grenon, Julian Batchelor and TVNZ Billionaires, secrets, conspiracy theories, denials of racism, contempt of court and twists at every turn. This case had it all.

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-...

Unlikely given Bishop Snr is dead

The minister for abundance 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 the planet.

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 pie-oneer: In search of the unsung hero who invented the butter chicken pie 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?

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...

I assume you're talking about Juggernaut Season 2?

I think you're exactly right

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”

Christopher Luxon loves localism, until locals have the wrong opinions The government wants local communities to make their own decisions. The only problem – they keep disagreeing with the government.

Reposting this, apropros of nothing

thespinoff.co.nz/politics/18-...

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

While I agree with your point in general, this WCC is the clearest partisan split of any council I've seen. 6 Labour, 4 Greens, and 6 independent conservatives. There are no centrist or weird lefty independents. There are defined lines between the factions.

Andrew Little buddies up to the right In his first council meeting as Wellington mayor, Andrew Little opened a political rift between Labour and the Greens.

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-...

How to have a ‘mature conversation’ about asset sales 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.

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'.

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-...

It's up for review but he's never been supportive of it, so I'm not hopeful.

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