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henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke
@henrycooke.bsky.social
1.8K followers 280 following 230 posts
deputy political editor at the post, wellington tragic

send me gossip or stories: 📞021 241 1398 📧[email protected] 📧[email protected]
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henrycooke.bsky.social
The Government is set to abolish regional councils later today, The Post understands.

www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
End of regional councils tipped in local government reforms
It is understood reforms to be announced today will mean the dissolving of regional councils, and the first steps could be within this current three-year council term.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 9:02 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
David Seymour says it sounds like Winston Peters is getting ready to go with Labour again, following Peters' promise to campaign on repealing the Regulatory Standards Bill.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Coalition chaos: David Seymour says Winston Peters ‘getting ready to go with Labour’
Peters has angered Seymour with a promise to repeal the Regulatory Standards Bill just days after voting it through.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 1:28 AM
henrycooke.bsky.social
The Post is free today!

If you’ve ever wanted a look behind the paywall, today is the day. I’ll link some great pieces in this thread:
November 19, 2025 at 8:21 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
The Government is banning new patients from being prescribed the most common form of puberty blocker and is explicitly aligning NZ's future policy on this matter to the UK's. PR below.
November 19, 2025 at 3:41 AM
henrycooke.bsky.social
The last sliver of the millennial lifestyle subsidy is safe under this Govt.

Column today:

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
The Post
www.thepost.co.nz
November 18, 2025 at 8:37 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
NEW: Chris Bishop used housing money to fund a bridge in his electorate his own Govt had killed off.

Officials were against the move and Labour say he shouldn’t have been anywhere near the decision.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Chris Bishop diverts Kāinga Ora money to fund a bridge in his electorate
Officials warned against the use of housing funds for bridge building but Bishop says it was a “pragmatic choice”.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
Great morning out in @zealandia.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 11:36 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
NEW POLL: Labour has surged to 38% support following its CGT release, per a TM poll obtained by The Post.

But it would still need TPM to govern.

- Labour: 38% (+3)
- National: 33% (+4)
- Greens: 9% (-1)
- NZ First: 8% (-4)
- ACT: 7% (-1)
- TPM: 2.4% (-1.2)

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Labour surges to 38% in new poll - but it still needs Te Pāti Māori
After announcing its capital gains tax plan the party has hit its highest poll number since 2022 - but not quite high enough to cut Te Pāti Māori out of the equation.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 13, 2025 at 1:47 AM
henrycooke.bsky.social
Key never really won the public over on asset sales, even with 50% support and an economy staggering. Will Luxon manage it?

Column today: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Key never won the public over on asset sales. Can Luxon?
OPINION: John Key started an asset sales debate with 50% support in the polls. Luxon will have trouble replicating it.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 11, 2025 at 9:23 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
Absolutely horror IPCA report on how the Police handled complaints against McSkimming.

A woman, who said she had a sexual relationship with him when she was 21 and he was 40, made complaints about him and instead of taking it seriously they prosecuted her under the HDCA.
November 11, 2025 at 4:34 AM
henrycooke.bsky.social
Juggernaut season 2 is out! It’s the story of the 90s in NZ politics, the decade that shaped our world just as much as the 80s but is far less examined.

I was very honoured to help with the research.

Out now whereever you get your podcasts.
November 10, 2025 at 7:07 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
Chris Hipkins says TPM are still not ready for Govt and he hasn't met the co-leaders in months.

Asked what they could do to show themselves ready, he said turning up to Parliament and contributing:

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Hipkins: Te Pāti Māori still not ready for Government
On current polling Labour could only govern with support from the party, but leader Chris Hipkins says "they've still got a long way to go" before they could be considered.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 10, 2025 at 5:46 AM
henrycooke.bsky.social
With both of the expelled MPs intending to challenge the decision and an open question on the support of the rest of their caucus, I don't think the TPM co-leaders attempt to end the story this morning will work.
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
November 10, 2025 at 1:14 AM
henrycooke.bsky.social
The Govt quietly announced a loosening of climate rules at 8pm last night:
- Decoupling the ETS from Paris
- Shifting ETS resets to every 2 years
- Delaying the public sector target by 25 years
- Removing CCC advice from *before* emission reductions plans:

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Government quietly loosens climate rules
An announcement at 8pm on Tuesday saw the Government delinking the ETS from the Paris Agreement and extending another emissions deadline by 25 years.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 4, 2025 at 10:26 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
Firework bans win out over gender politics: NZ First say its bill banning private fireworks sale is replacing its definition of a man and woman bill in the biscuit tin.
November 4, 2025 at 9:00 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
Labour’s medicard is an attempt to make a promise physical, to put a little bit of the welfare state right inside your wallet. Will it work?

Column today:
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Labour looks to put something in your wallet
OPINION: Labour’s got a lot to win by making its GP promise physical - and a lot to lose.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 4, 2025 at 8:14 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
At about 4am on the night before he met Trump, it sure seemed like the PM couldn’t sleep. Could you blame him?

My wrap of the weeklong trip to Asia:

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
November 2, 2025 at 8:35 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
I’m in Korea this week and the country is really showing off. Oodles of free skincare, impressive tech, and delicious food.

All this from a country that was 15x poorer than us just 70 years ago.

Christopher Luxon wants us to replicate that success - my column today is on whether we can
October 31, 2025 at 1:26 AM
henrycooke.bsky.social
Is there space for Christopher Luxon at the Trump show?

My piece from Malaysia on how NZ fits into the new world of intense personality-driven diplomacy that Trump has created:

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
October 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
Is National’s version of bipartisanship just demanding Labour back whatever it decrees is in the the national interest?

Column today:

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
National can’t decide how bipartisan it really is
OPINION: National’s approach to bipartisanship often looks like a dictation of terms to Labour.
www.thepost.co.nz
October 21, 2025 at 6:14 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
Labour’s future fund could be huge or tiny. It can mean anything you, a target voter, wants it to mean. Column today on the benefits and risks of this much ambiguity: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Labour’s ‘Future Fund’ promises everything — and nothing
OPINION: The fund is bold, vague, and brimming with promise — but the numbers, mechanisms, and mandate remain firmly in the realm of future detail
www.thepost.co.nz
October 20, 2025 at 7:11 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
NEW:

Labour's first election policy is a 'future fund' - an investment fund aimed at NZ infra and businesses.

It would be built on an unspecified capital injection + dividends from an unspecified range of crown-owned assets. The super fund guys would run it.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Labour’s first policy: An investment fund
Labour says it has learnt from its mistakes as it promises a new ‘future fund’ to boost Kiwi investment.
www.thepost.co.nz
October 20, 2025 at 12:35 AM
henrycooke.bsky.social
National usually lead on the economy. They are now behind on two most important economic issues for voters, and sliding elsewhere:

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
National’s economic credibility in freefall, poll shows
Team Luxon is now behind Labour on the top two economic issues, including cost of living – the issue that matters most to New Zealanders – and falling elsewhere.
www.thepost.co.nz
October 17, 2025 at 8:36 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
many are saying it can’t be beat on a good day
October 16, 2025 at 10:43 PM
henrycooke.bsky.social
Former PM Jim Bolger has passed away following months of treatment for kidney failure. He was 90.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger dies
The former National prime minister died on Wednesday aged 90 after months of treatment for kidney failure. “Jim was much loved and will be deeply missed,” his family said.
www.thepost.co.nz
October 15, 2025 at 5:52 PM