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@jonathanmilne.bsky.social

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jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · 9h

Happy and surprised to agree with ZB's Mike Hosking today, when he quotes from @newsroom.co.nz's "very good" critique of the Adrian Orr restraint of trade saga. "Read the whole article and make up your own mind," Hosking says. Sterling advice. So here's my article: newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/07/o...

Orr what? Ex-Reserve Bank Governor's tenuous restraint of trade payout

Update:Newsroom has been supplied Adrian Orr's exit agreement revealing he was barred from disparaging the Reserve Bank, its directors, and Nicola Willis – and the gagging order was potentially even m...

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · 10h

Two words: Mātauranga Māori. I visited the Bioeconomy Science Institute on Saturday to interview minister Shane Reti and was lucky enough to meet Christelle, Richard and Isabel – scientists who've made an amazing breakthrough alongside iwi partners. @newsroom.co.nz newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/07/c...

Cannabinoid breakthrough recognised as science minister bankrolls Māori traditional knowledge

Shane Reti funds science institute $42m to work with iwi to commercialise NZ's 80,000 indigenous species

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · 10h

In my @newsroom.co.nz Pro editorial today, I report that Minister Judith Collins has relaxed constraints on using consultants, after departments massively over-delivered on promised spending cuts… and the Govt work-rate slowed at the same time. Out from the paywall now newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/09/p...

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

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.

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · 6d

When he was PM, John Key famously said he wouldn’t bother finding out about his local election candidates before voting. He’s not alone. Hamilton frontrunners Sarah Thomson and Tim Macindoe say sadly, it comes down to the pic and 150-word blurb in the voting booklet. newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/01/m...

Mayoral frontrunners: ‘Local democracy hangs on a photo and 150-word blurb’

A poorly-taken picture or a grammatical error could be enough to rule someone out from the mayoralty, says Sarah Thomson, a leading contender in the Hamilton City Council election. Jonathan Milne repo...

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · 6d

Wellington’s had 3 single-term mayors in a row – voters threw out Justin Lester, threw out Andy Foster, and looked set to throw out Tory Whanau before she read the writing on the wall. So I ask newbie Andrew Little, why should his term be any different? @newsroom.co.nz newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/30/o...

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · 8d

This month, NZ could elect two Mayor Karen Morgans – one in Mackenzie, one in Hutt City. These aren’t the pejorative stereotype ‘Karens’; rather than complaining about the problems in their communities, they’re stepping up to make a change. My story at @newsroom.co.nz. newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/30/o...

Open mayoral races create uncertain 'power vacuums'

With 16 mayors handing back their chains, local government insiders warn council elections could be a lottery of unknown and inexperienced wannabes – but also strong new voices and fresh ideas. Jonath...

Reposted

Newsroom NZ @newsroom.co.nz · 9d

Energy Minister Simon Watts' reforms could open the door to diluted Crown shares in Meridian, Mercury and Genesis. Jonathan Milne reports.

Govt could allow capital raises by gentailers to build new power plants

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · 21d

In the latest from the @newsroom.co.nz Survey of Local Candidates, I report fears for the remote Chatham Islands council’s continued financial viability. It's trying to extend its $500k overdraft to stay afloat. The Auditor-General has tabled a warning to Parliament. newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/17/s...

'Significant doubt' Chathams council can continue as a going concern – auditor

Unable to afford to provide even basic services, there are fears for the remote island community's continued financial viability. Jonathan Milne reports.

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · 22d

The Auditor-General urges caution as local authority borrowings double to $40b next year. S&P says NZ council debt is globally high, but Govt wants councils to borrow more. At @newsroom.co.nz, I discover the first council to breach its debt cap – and there's an irony. newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/17/n...

Newsroom candidates survey: Alarm as councils breach debt ceilings

Update: The Auditor-General is urging caution as local authority borrowings double to $40 billion next year – but the Government wants councils to borrow more. Jonathan Milne investigates.

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · 25d

Who first sold the authentic Kiwi mince and cheese pie? And yes, we know Georgie Pie popularised it ... but they don't seem to have added it to their menu until 1983 or 1984 or later? So which bakery first sold mince and cheese pies, and when? How can we be sure? Asking the important questions ...

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Sep 4

Growing up under the shadow of the Chaîne des Puys, 10yo Isabelle Chambefort wanted to study volcanoes. Now, she's working to drill one of the world's deepest geothermal wells behind Taupō. "It’s like the first person that went to Antarctica, going into the unknown.” newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/04/1...

Dr Isabelle Chambefort

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Sep 3

To geologists, supercritical geothermal energy is the new Everest – instead of leading the way to the top of the world, NZ would plumb its searing depths for a new source of renewable electricity. To critics, the environmental impacts remain unknown. @newsroom.co.nz newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/04/1...

$10m to drill into science of one of world's hottest, deepest geothermal power wells

Minister meets Taupō iwi to discuss concerns about boring an exploratory well up to 6km into the supercritical zone beneath the Earth's crust. Jonathan Milne reports.

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Sep 1

This morning, supported by the PM, Amazon Web Services NZ boss Manuel Bohnet made one of the clumsiest and most embarrassing attempts in a long time to spin good news from a fiasco. At @newsroom.co.nz, I report the reality behind the '$7.5b cloud infrastructure spend'. newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/02/a...

Amazon gives up building its own Auckland data centre, as power prices soar

Opinion: Amazon's NZ boss makes one of the clumsiest and most embarrassing attempts in a long time to spin good news out of a fiasco, writes Jonathan Milne.

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Aug 31

Soaring air fares, cancelled routes: Out from the @newsroom.co.nz paywall, minister James Meager tells me the Govt is to intervene to improve aviation competition in the regions. I visited Napier Airport where CEO Nick Flack tells me which airports struggle to survive. newsroom.co.nz/2025/08/29/f...

Fears for the future of regional air routes

Govt reveals it's looking to intervene to improve aviation sector competition, as Air NZ fares soar and smaller regional airlines cancel routes. Jonathan Milne reports.

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Aug 29

On June 15, I posted this photo of Reserve Bank chair Prof Neil Quigley alongside the time-honoured lettuce, to accompany my article, 'Don’t you know who Neil Quigley is?'
Quigley finally resigned today. He outlasted the lettuce – but not by much. @newsroom.co.nz newsroom.co.nz/2025/06/13/d...

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Aug 19

Climate exposure: 30 Kiwi households are about to discover they’re the thin end of what will become a large wedge: those whose insurance firm will no longer cover their homes. Another 2000 homeowners face big premium hikes from Tower. My report's at @newsroom.co.nz Pro newsroom.co.nz/2025/08/20/n...

NZ-listed insurer prices in risk of sea surges and landslides, in world-first

Most of Tower's 150,000 home insurance customers will pay less, but nearly 15,000 face higher premiums – and more than 2000 will get the call they dread in coming days. Jonathan Milne reports.

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Aug 13

Asked about stimulus for struggling urban economies, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon offers some visionary leadership. Be open to stuff. Discuss stuff. Then do the same stuff as always.

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Aug 5

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says the changes are the biggest in 40 years, ending ‘reckless’ legal attacks that demonise fishers. He admits environmental groups will be dismayed, but is focused on jobs. My article at @newsroom.co.nz newsroom.co.nz/2025/08/06/f...

Fishing industry nets changes to cameras, discards and quota restrictions

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says the changes are the biggest in 40 years, and will put an end to 'reckless' legal attacks that demonise fishers. Jonathan Milne reports.

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Jul 29

Does Commerce Minister Scott Simpson not understand his own card surcharge ban? It took him until today to explain why in-store surcharges are being banned and online surcharges aren't – and when he did reply, he was simply wrong. My article is at @newsroom.co.nz ($). newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/29/b...

Ban ignores the surcharging elephants in the online retail space

Airlines, accommodation booking and events ticketing sites aren't reading the room, as they retain their contentious card charges, reports Jonathan Milne.

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Jul 27

Young people and Māori, Pasifika and Asian communities will pay the ‘heaviest price’ by being disenfranchised by new voter enrolment restrictions, warns Attorney-General Judith Collins, KC, in a belated warning to Parliament. My article is at @newsroom.co.nz. newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/28/a...

Attorney-General rules her own Govt’s voting crackdown breaches human rights

The young and Māori, Pasifika and Asian communities will pay the 'heaviest price' by being disenfranchised, warns Judith Collins, KC. Jonathan Milne reports.

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Jul 24

A blown pipe caused water outages in parts of Waipukurau last night; the council warns these will become common as it agrees to halve its $200m spend on water infrastructure. Other small councils are set to follow suit. My exclusive report is at @newsroom.co.nz Pro. newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/25/c...

Cash-strapped councils set to slash spending on water infrastructure

A blown pipe caused water outages in parts of Waipukurau last night; the council warns these will become common as it halves spending. Jonathan Milne investigates.

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Jul 24

I'm no Catholic but somehow, sitting across the desk from the oh-so-reassuring Rev Frank Ritchie, the podcast studio turned into a bit of a confessional! So ... some highlights/lowlights from my time in journalism – and a polite difference of opinion about its future. www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/re_c...

Jonathan Milne | Hiding from Nazis episode of re_covering podcast

Sixty years after the Battle of Crete, a Kiwi WWII veteran travelled back to Greece to find the family of the men who sheltered him from Nazi soldiers. Journalist Jonathan Milne chronicled their emoti...

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Jul 24

A fast-talking Kiwi businessman who left behind scores of hurt investors – including a Hollywood producer and the family of Taika Waititi who own the dairy made famous by the movie 'Boy' – has finally been struck off as a company director. My article at @newsroom.co.nz newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/24/f...

Failed director banned: Thwarted visionary or NZ's most witless wheeler-dealer?

A fast-talking Kiwi businessman who left behind scores of hurt staff and investors, including a Hollywood producer and the family of Taika Waititi, has finally been struck off as a company director. J...

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Jul 17

Vindication! All of you who've ever criticised my driving, it now has the endorsement of no less than a world-renowned professor of physics. RNZ interviewed Akld Uni physics professor Richard Easther about how my now-famous coffee cup survived its morning trip on my car www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

Why coffee cups stay on top of cars

We've all experienced the miracle of leaving keys, kids' toys or hot cups of coffee on top of cars and driving off without noticing. Professor of physics Richard Easther joins Emile Donovan to explain...

jonathanmilne.bsky.social @jonathanmilne.bsky.social · Jul 16

The Govt is to explore sharing GST raised from new-build housing with councils next year. "Imagine how many consents councils would issue if there was money in it for them," Act leader David Seymour tells me, exclusively at @newsroom.co.nz Pro. newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/17/g...

Govt to explore sharing GST with councils next year

David Seymour says giving local authorities a portion of tax collected on new residential builds would provide an enduring and predictable solution for infrastructure funding. Jonathan Milne reports.