Thomas Manch
@thomasmanch.bsky.social
Senior reporter at http://businessdesk.co.nz. Here to share quality journalism. RTs no endorsement. Got tips? 📲+64274063671 📩thomas.manch@nzme.co.nz
Not sure how much attention this will get, but it’s quite a big deal - Labour has pulled its support for the Govt’s controversial census ‘modernisation’ plans, meaning it no longer has the 75% majority it needs in Parliament: newsroom.co.nz/2026/08/03/g...
Govt’s census overhaul thrown into doubt after Labour pulls support
Opposition parties warn relying on government agency data instead of a full census risks undercounting Māori and minority groups.
newsroom.co.nz
Peters further dismissing Luxon's suggestion:
Thomas Manch@thomasmanch.bsky.social · last yr.PM Luxon gave a speech this morning suggesting CPTPP and EU countries could get together to respond to US tariffs. This afternoon ... Foreign Minister Winston Peters dismissed this as premature. Mixed-messages as Luxon is due to make calls with world leaders this afternoon.
PM Luxon gave a speech this morning suggesting CPTPP and EU countries could get together to respond to US tariffs. This afternoon ... Foreign Minister Winston Peters dismissed this as premature. Mixed-messages as Luxon is due to make calls with world leaders this afternoon.
When that NZ cab and grass-fed steak tastes 10% sweeter
Trump's "liberation day" is here and Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on all countries, including NZ. And there's some janky accounting to work out how much NZ's tariff rate on US goods. The real tariff rates are much lower.
Winston Peters will meet Marco Rubio in the coming hours, and no doubt Trump tariffs will be front of mind. On The Post I've got a run down of the trade relationship - and the case NZ could make to avoid trade-smashing tariffs.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says initial conversations with Trump administration officials have centred on “what they want of us”. But he is unwilling to specify the “expectations” of the United States. It's possible to make a pretty informed guess. Read more on @thepost-nz.bsky.social
Bit of analysis with facts, numbers, and graphs (you hate to see it) on @thepost-nz.bsky.social about what's at stake in NZ-India trade negotiations, announced this morning.
In @thepost-nz.bsky.social 's Sunday Star this weekend I have a detailed look at ideas and questions for the incoming Defence Capability Plan, expected to outline the Govt's intended billion-dollar spend on defence. Lots of thoughts from informed people, including Josh Wineera and Andrew Little.
Good to chat with @thomasmanch.bsky.social for his article in the Sunday Star Times on #cartel conduct. Cartel conduct is serious, and the stakes are even higher when public money is involved. www.linkedin.com/posts/michae...
Michael Tilley on LinkedIn: #competitionlaw #antitrust #cartels
Good to chat with Thomas Manch for his article in The Sunday Star Times about cartel conduct. It’s not news that cartel conduct is treated seriously by the…
linkedin.com
I joined RNZ's Jo Moir on the weekly Morning Report political panel this morning to talk Winston Peters' Washington trip, Trump strategy, and school lunches. Tried to sound coherent and sane. Listen here: www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
Political panel
Listen to our weekly political panel.
rnz.co.nz
UPDATE: Foreign Minister Winston Peters says sacking Goff was one of the most difficult things he has done. Read more @thepost-nz.bsky.social
Thomas Manch@thomasmanch.bsky.social · last yr.WATCH: Phil Goff's question at the Chatham House event that has Foreign Minister Winston Peters sacking him.
WATCH: Phil Goff's question at the Chatham House event that has Foreign Minister Winston Peters sacking him.
Thomas Manch@thomasmanch.bsky.social · last yr.BREAKING on @thepost-nz.bsky.social: Winston Peters has sacked Phil Goff as UK High Commissioner over comments made about US President Donald Trump
BREAKING on @thepost-nz.bsky.social: Winston Peters has sacked Phil Goff as UK High Commissioner over comments made about US President Donald Trump
Splashed across the @thepost-nz.bsky.social Sunday Star's front today is a mega-story I wrote capturing all that's been happening in the world: China's Tasman Sea live fire drills, the Cooks agreements, Trump's shock-treatment of Europe and bullying Zelensky. Some interesting details:
Winston Peters lands in South Korea this evening and will meet with shipbuilders Hyundai Mipo, according to Korean officials. All indications are this is about the ongoing search for two new ferries, not the already cancelled contract with the firm.
Out of Beijing overnight: Winston Peters said China's failure to notify of live fire exercise in the Tasman Sea was a failure of the NZ-China relationship. Also, he didn't ask why they were in the Tasman in the first place.
Thomas Manch@thomasmanch.bsky.social · last yr.www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
China’s lack of live fire notification ‘failure’ of NZ-China relations, Peters says
At the Beijing meeting, Winston Peters placed on record his concern over the lack of warning for China’s naval drills in the Tasman but didn’t ask why warships were there.
thepost.co.nz
Dispute between NZ and Cook Islands sharpening. PM Mark Brown blasting NZ, framing the dispute as over self-determination. NZ firm on lack of trasnparency, leaning into assertion Cook Island people don't want to risk to realm relationship. www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Cook Islands PM Mark Brown lashes out at NZ
Brown says the NZ Government has tried “to drown us out”, while PM Christopher Luxon says the Cook Islands people want more transparency.
thepost.co.nz
NZDF aircraft and ship sent to monitor Chinese vessels in Tasman Sea, defence minister confirms
"I'm very aware that there is a highly capable task force from China, which is currently located in the middle of the Tasman Sea. It has enormous strike power ... we do not live in a benign strategic environment," says Judith Collins
Thomas Manch@thomasmanch.bsky.social · last yr.Spokesperson for Defence Minister Judith Collins confirms NZDF assisting Australia with monitoring the three Chinese navy ships sailing off its east coast atm. No word about what the vessels are up to.
NZSIS director Andrew Hampton says he spoke with Cook Island PM Mark Brown about nat sec risks and shared intelligence -- before Brown headed to Beijing to sign agreements NZ has expressed such concern over. Read the story on @thepost-nz.bsky.social
Substantive speech from Foreign Minister Winston Peters last night on wanting to rewrite the free association relationship with the Cook Islands, after the saga that has been PM Mark Brown’s striking deals with Beijing.
Spokesperson for Defence Minister Judith Collins confirms NZDF assisting Australia with monitoring the three Chinese navy ships sailing off its east coast atm. No word about what the vessels are up to.
Labour foreign policy spokesperson David Parker keeping his powder dry this morning, confirming he sees a problem with transparency here but not willing to comment otherwise, as he's being briefed this evening. Wouldn't comment on Labour colleague Mahuta's view.
Thomas Manch@thomasmanch.bsky.social · last yr.On @thepost-nz.bsky.social we're getting into the NZ-Cook Islands issue over pending agreements with China. Comment from likes of Anna Powles and frmer ASPI head Peter Jennings. NZ remains waiting as of this morning.
On @thepost-nz.bsky.social we're getting into the NZ-Cook Islands issue over pending agreements with China. Comment from likes of Anna Powles and frmer ASPI head Peter Jennings. NZ remains waiting as of this morning.
Statement from NZ’s foreign ministry on the Trump Gaza proposal: “New Zealand is following closely the range of discussions that are taking place internationally on Gaza and related issues.
Well, did not have making the gaza strip into the vegas strip on my Trump manifest destiny bingo. Can't see how this is going to go well.
