Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey.bsky.social · 4h

A prominent New Zealander has some opinions. www.reuters.com/world/us/pet...

Exclusive: Peter Thiel in talk on 'Antichrist' says he told Elon Musk not to give wealth to charity

Peter Thiel, the billionaire venture capitalist and early supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, has urged long-time associate Elon Musk to quit the Giving Pledge under which signatories leave the majority of their wealth to charity.

www.reuters.com

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Reposted by Bernard Hickey

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 6h

Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

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Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey.bsky.social · 6h

Some quiet reading for Simeon Brown.

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 7h

“In London cyclists now outnumber cars in the City by 2 to 1. Paris, where they now outnumber motorists across the whole city, is catching up with Europe’s traditional bike capitals, Amsterdam & Copenhagen…In Copenhagen, bikes account for almost half of commuter trips to work/school.” @economist.com

Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport

Pedal power is booming, spinning up a new culture war

www.economist.com

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Reposted by Bernard Hickey

The Press @thepress.co.nz · 7h

Dame Sue Bagshaw says she is seeing too many young people without homes who don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

Christchurch community marches against lack of state housing

Dame Sue Bagshaw says she is seeing too many young people without homes who don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

dlvr.it

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Reposted by Bernard Hickey

Musical Chairs @musicalchairs.bsky.social · 1d

Annual job growth still stuck firmly in the negative - running just short of 30,000 below the same week last year. Misery compounds. (1/2)

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Reposted by Bernard Hickey

Musical Chairs @musicalchairs.bsky.social · 15h

Here's the rest of the world, taking $12.6bn over the last year in net interest income (compared to $1.1bn central Govt). INCREDIBLE that is it the Govt interest payments that get the media coverage. [4/n]

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Musical Chairs @musicalchairs.bsky.social · 11h

Latest benefits data is out. More detail later, but suffice to say that we are going to need some new forecasts.

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Christina Hood @christinahood.bsky.social · 9h

Heads up - New Zealand government's annoucements on 2050 climate target will be made midday Sunday NZ time. Will we be the first country to weaken a legislated 2050 target?

Email from the Ministry for the Environment:

Tēnā koe,
On Sunday at 12.00pm (12th October) the Government will make an announcement about New Zealand’s 2050 climate change targets.

The Ministry for the Environment will also release the 2025 emissions projections at 5.00pm on Sunday.

Ngā mihi
Ministry for the Environment

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Morten Morland @mortenmorland.bsky.social · 14h

Friday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/morten-morla...

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Clay Bennett @claybennett.bsky.social · 11h

10/10/2025- The Trump Coin www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/oc...

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Reposted by Bernard Hickey

Sharon Murdoch @domesticanimal.bsky.social · 15h

Govt to cut #JobSeeker benefit for 18 & 19 year olds who’s parents earn over $65,000, even if the teens have a disability or health condition. With #CostOfLiving & the job shortage they’re cranking up stress levels to 11, all to meet a target.
My #cartoon today about hard-nosed #NZpol

Cartoon. Title: “Job Seeee-e-e-e” Image shows PM Christopher Luxon at the open hatch of a small plane, high above farmland. He’s leaning out, and holding up a parachute pack, labelled “Job Seeker” He’s calling out to someone falling from the plane, “And I’ve kept your parachute because you kids from low-income homes need some motivation” Then he adds, “Don’t let that disability slow you down!”

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Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey.bsky.social · 1d

Our weekly Hoon around the week's news is about to start. #nzpol www.youtube.com/@TheKakaHoon...

The Hoon

www.youtube.com

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Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey.bsky.social · 1d

Australia be like copying NZ again. Pharlap, Pavlova, Crowded House and now BoTY.

Nick Evershed!? @nickevershed.bsky.social · 1d

The Tawny frogmouth has emerged as an early favourite as we enter day four of the bird of the year contest!

As of the close of voting last night, the muppet-like frogmouth had increased its lead over Baudin's black cockatoo, surging ahead by 1,372 votes

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Line chart showing votes per round for birds in the top ten of each round. The Tawny frogmouth has led in every round, and dramatically increased its lead in round 3

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Reposted by Bernard Hickey

Newsroom NZ @newsroom.co.nz · 1d

Comment: Minister Judith Collins has relaxed constraints on consultants spend, after the public sector massively over-delivered on promised spending cuts ... and the Govt work-rate slowed accordingly.

Public spend on consultants slashed – but not to those embedded deep in govt

newsroom.co.nz

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Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey.bsky.social · 1d

Christchurch could be huge!

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Reposted by Bernard Hickey

Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 1d

The most frustrating thing about this war is that the US could step in forcefully now with harsh sanctions against Russia and a large military package for Ukraine with ranged weapons as the centrepiece, and the war would end soon with a Russian defeat.

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Reposted by Bernard Hickey

Andrew Geddis @acgeddis.bsky.social · 1d

"The Government’s policy change to make many 18- and 19-year-olds ineligible for the Jobseeker benefit will go a significant way to helping it meet its target of reducing the number of people on Jobseeker by 50,000."

Stalin: "Death solves all problems, no man, no problem."

Marc Daalder @marcdaalder.bsky.social · 1d

My analysis: The design of the new Jobseeker policy incentivises parents of unemployed teenagers to work fewer hours, for fear of the teens losing their benefit.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/08/g...

Govt to meet 9% of Jobseeker target by taking teens off benefit

The design of the new Jobseeker policy incentivises parents of unemployed teenagers to work fewer hours, for fear of the teens losing their benefit.

newsroom.co.nz

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Reposted by Bernard Hickey

Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social · 1d

The NZ Drug Foundation has a major new report pressing the case for a replacement of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, which turns 50 this month. Thing is, its recommendations – for a complete realignment to health, not criminalisation and punishment, are ... drugfoundation.org.nz/topics/polic...

Safer drug laws

We need safer drug laws for Aotearoa New Zealand - our new report sets out a pragmatic, evidence-based way forward.

drugfoundation.org.nz

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Reposted by Bernard Hickey

Craig Renney @clrenney.bsky.social · 1d

#nzpol

GOOD NEWS ALERT 🚨

Today the government relented to pressure from the @livingwageaotearoa.bsky.social and retained the requirement for contracted workers to be paid at least the Living Wage rate in Government Contracts. Around 5,000 workers will likely benefit from this decision

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Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey.bsky.social · 1d

+1

Musical Chairs @musicalchairs.bsky.social · 2d

Provide free banking and mortgage lending at OCR+1 as a public banking service, and nationalise fossil fuel electricity generation (and incentivise generators to reduce it's use). Split wholesale / retail grocery and force sale of half of supermarkets to several new entrants. No more half measures.

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Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey.bsky.social · 1d

My Chorus today: RBNZ cuts 50 bps; More cuts in Nov & Feb expected; OCR may fall below 2%; National's pollster finds voters turning against National, but not much towards Labour; Stanford less unpopular than Luxon #nzpol
thekaka.substack.com/p/thursdays-...

Thursday's Chorus: OCR slashed as poll shows NZ on the 'wrong track'

RBNZ cuts 50 bps; More cuts in Nov & Feb expected; OCR may fall below 2%; National's pollster finds voters turning against National, but not much towards Labour; Stanford less unpopular than Luxon

thekaka.substack.com

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Reposted by Bernard Hickey

The Cathy Wilcox @cathywilcox.bsky.social · 1d

Scale.
My @smh @theage cartoon.

Single frame. Scale. On one side of scale, weighing heavily, a small gold weight marked “OCT 7 2023”. On the other side, much lighter, a huge bag (of sand?) marked “EVERY DAY SINCE.”

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Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey.bsky.social · 1d

I spoke to Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr last night after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's 50 basis point cut in the OCR. He says the cash rate may need to go under 2% to get the economy going again. #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/mini-hoon-...

Mini-Hoon: Jarrod Kerr on how low the OCR may have to go

I spoke to Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr last night after the RBNZ's 50 basis point cut in the OCR. He says the cash rate may need to go under 2% to get the economy going again

thekaka.substack.com

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Reposted by Bernard Hickey

Guy Body @bodycartoon.bsky.social · 1d

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Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey.bsky.social · 1d

Curia poll shows Labour above National & Hipkins above Luxon as preferred PM; RBNZ cuts 50 bps; Sub-2% OCR possible; Nicky Hager reports officials prepping for war with China; Andrea Vance reports Bryce Edwards’ Integrity Institute is unravelling. #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/thursdays-...

Thursday’s Early Bird: National under 30% as OCR cut to 2.5%

Curia poll shows Labour ahead of National & Hipkins above Luxon as preferred PM; RBNZ cuts 50 bps; Sub-2% OCR seen possible; ; Today's scoops & cartoons too

thekaka.substack.com

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