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henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke
@henrycooke.bsky.social
1.7K followers 280 following 160 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
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 1d
Have we ever really had a bipartisan foreign policy consensus?

My column this week argues it is largely a myth:

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Our foreign policy consensus is a myth
OPINION: When voters care a lot about an issue overseas, our politicians generally start to disagree on it.
www.thepost.co.nz
3 6
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 2d
NEW: Andrew Hoggard pushed to double the lead-in time for new rules around farrowing crates- pushing them out to 2035 when his officials suggested they could be done by 2030.

The last Govt wanted something in place by Dec this year.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Minister of animal welfare delays farrowing crates changes - by 10 years
Officials say farrowing crate changes could be done by 2030, but Andrew Hoggard extended it to 2035, a move criticised by the Greens: "He's the minister of animal welfare, he's not the minister of pig...
www.thepost.co.nz
3 4 9
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 6d
The news that Toitū Te Tiriti are breaking away from TPM so publicly changed the stakes of this chaotic saga for TPM.

The party's 'reset' next week will be a huge test and shape the next 12 months in opposition politics.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
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henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 6d
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon declines to criticise Israel for potentially detaining Kiwis in international waters, repeats that MFAT advice is to not to try and travel to Gaza.
6 21 48
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 6d
They don’t I asked
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henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 6d
Nah it’s just a straight min reg media response but keen to get into this report
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henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 6d
Officials drafting Government policy say more than half of the time they are being "constrained" from following a normal policy process.

New story from me in The Post:

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Most Government policies skip normal process
Officials are increasingly complaining about constraints when preparing new laws or policies, with time pressures the most common issue.
www.thepost.co.nz
4 46 100
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 7d
Huge story from Māni Dunlop: Toitū Te Tiriti is breaking off relations with Te Pāti Māori. They led the hikoi last year and were seen as interwoven with TPM - but apparently no more:
www.teaonews.co.nz/2025/10/02/t...
Toitū Te Tiriti cuts ties with Te Pāti Māori
Toitū Te Tiriti distances itself from Te Pāti Māori over leadership and value issues, emphasising community-driven kaupapa and criticising centralisation of power.
www.teaonews.co.nz
3 10 26
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 7d
tbf in many urban areas you can generally do an ordinary vote in the neighbouring electorate's polling booths
1 1
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 7d
The Govt explored the idea of barring people from voting outside of their electorate - about 149k votes last time - but ultimately ditched the idea.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Government explored ban on people voting outside their electorate
The justice minister had said it was “worth exploring” requiring people to be in their electorate to vote, one of the ideas for cutting down on the number of special votes.
www.thepost.co.nz
3 11 20
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 8d
We may be heading into a period of one-term Governments, making tax reform very tricky to stick.

My column today is on the one weird trick that would still let Labour change the tax system anyway:

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Labour’s capital gains tax plan might need a referendum
OPINION: In an era of one-term Governments, getting tax policy to stick will become impossible. Unless...
www.thepost.co.nz
2 8
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 8d
i am v embarrassed to not be that across this one! thank you
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 9d
my colleagues and I have got to eat and pay rent
1 2
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 9d
EXC: Plans are underway for a coordinated strike across the public sector on October 23 featuring:
- Nurses
- Teachers
- Doctors
- and more

If the ballots go ahead it could well be the biggest coordinated strike in NZ history

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Tidal wave of strike action planned for October 23
Plans are under way for a co-ordinated strike across much of the public sector, with nurses, teachers and other public sector workers potentially walking off the job on the same day.
www.thepost.co.nz
8 94 200
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 9d
by agencies I should say
1 1 5
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 9d
Cabinet papers are typically written by ministerial staffers with direction from Ministers. But the paper canvassing the options on recognising Palestine and deciding on one was written by Winston Peters' office instead.

From my colleague Thomas Manch:

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Winston Peters did not ask foreign ministry for opinion on Palestine decision
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the paper trail shows the Government decision was based on “political positioning ... rather than a good, robust process”.
www.thepost.co.nz
6 40 91
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 12d
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
‘There is no fully legitimate and viable state of Palestine to recognise’
After weeks of Cabinet deliberations, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has told the UN that with war raging and Hamas still in place NZ will not recognise Palestine for now, as the UK, Canada, and Aust...
www.thepost.co.nz
3
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 12d
A long road from UNSC Resolution 2334 - undertaken by the last National Government, in the teeth of extreme opposition by Israel - to today.
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henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 12d
BREAKING: Winston Peters says is NZ is "not ready" to recognise Palestinian statehood.

"We do not think the time is now."

He says recognition at this time would be "open for political manipulation by both Hamas and Israel".
11 13 35
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 12d
we are up next after Zimbabwe
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 12d
Winston Peters is expected to speak at the UN - finally revealing NZ’s position on Palestinian statehood - at around 11am NZT.

Livestream here webtv.un.org/en
Home
UN Web TV is available 24 hours a day with selected LIVE programming of United Nations meetings and events as well as with pre-recorded video features and documentaries on various global issues.
webtv.un.org
1 4 7
Reposted by henry cooke
thepost-nz.bsky.social
The Post @thepost-nz.bsky.social · 13d
Whoops...
Dump customer buys discarded desk filled with confidential council papers
A man hunting bargains at a landfill tip shop paid $200 for rimu desk, donated by the Wellington City Council. But what he discovered inside a locked drawer shocked him.
www.thepost.co.nz
3 5
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 13d
The Government's controversial voting law will result in a 411% increase in the number of votes being thrown out, according to the Electoral Commission.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
An ‘election changing’ 55,000 votes could be barred under controversial new law
The Government’s changes to voting laws will see a 400% increase in “disallowed” votes, the Electoral Commission says.
www.thepost.co.nz
9 69 96
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 13d
more on this this morning:

The Government's controversial voting law will result in a 411% increase in the number of votes being thrown out, according to the Electoral Commission.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
An ‘election changing’ 55,000 votes could be barred under controversial new law
The Government’s changes to voting laws will see a 400% increase in “disallowed” votes, the Electoral Commission says.
www.thepost.co.nz
1 8 13
henrycooke.bsky.social
henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 13d
The Govt's stated reason for restricting voter enrolment in the last two weeks of the election has been speeding up the final count.

But the Electoral Commission just told the Justice Select Committee that wouldn't happen - with or without the law change it would take 20 days.

t.co/N0vRXHMbMt
https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360835185/controversial-changes-voter-enrolment-wont-speed-final-count-electoral-commission
t.co
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