Reading recommendations for the soon-to-be-former prime minister

13 days ago The Spinoff

If anyone deserves to lounge in a deckchair by the pool with a tangy cocktail and a stack of books, it’s soon-to-be-former prime minister Jacinda Ardern. After what has been a monumentally exhausting six years I am hereby calling upon the current prime minister to insist that the soon-to-be-former prime minister undertake a period of time spent doing sweet FA, and reading for pleasure. The benefits of sustained silent reading are endless: sitting down with a book and limited distraction literally heals a burnt-out brain. Also among Ardern’s reading recs is the novel in diary form, Go Ask Alice. So, given that 2023 marks 100 years since Katherine Mansfield died (too young at age 34 after enduring long periods of illness) it’s timely to suggest that a soon-to-be-former prime minister delve into Mansfield’s letters.
Continue reading...

Read On "The Spinoff"

More News On "The Spinoff"

Who will be the next prime minister? The Spinoff’s official odds

Jacinda Ardern has announced her resignation, prompting a leadership battle within Labour ahead of October’s election. / Stewart Sowman-LundMichael WoodPaying: $4The current transport minister seems like a decent bloke – and that could be what the country wants and needs. Perhaps most importantly, he’s the current finance minister and this year’s election will be won or lost on the cost of living. / Duncan GreiveAndrew LittlePaying: $11.50Ardern’s predecessor as Labour leader, and a minister who has proven an ability to take the weight of multiple major portfolios, Little is the only known quantity as leader in the parliamentary Labour party. As housing minister, she orchestrated the overhaul of KiwiBuild and has been front and centre of other lower profile housing policy announcements.

17 days ago The Spinoff

Schools stop playing for the cameras

This feels like a huge moment, like the first droplets of water being administered by pipette onto the raging bonfire that is school sport. The adults in the room have actually become the adults in the room, walking into headwinds that School Sport New Zealand, Rugby New Zealand and Sport New Zealand have failed to confront. He believed the traditions and fierce rivalries in the school game warranted a larger stage. School Sport New Zealand was one of the signatories to the deal, which outraged the same Auckland principals. “On no basis do I know how I can stop [the broadcasting of school sport],” he said.

3 months ago The Spinoff

Why New Zealand needs an e-bike rebate

The answer, according to national and local governments around the globe, is an e-bike rebate. In 2019, the government introduced an e-bike discount scheme for public sector staff. France is currently taking an aggressive approach to cut transport emissions, including an impressive e-bike rebate. (Photo: Paris Tourist Office)A NZTA study into the public sector e-bike discount found that further schemes are worthy of investment. E-bike rebate policies have proven to be politically popular internationally.

12 days ago The Spinoff

All Blacks vs Black Ferns: Incompetence from NZR even worse than malevolence

After scheduling an All Blacks test at the same time as the Black Ferns’ quarterfinal, NZ Rugby has revealed the reason behind the decision. New Zealand Rugby has addressed accusations of undermining and sabotage after the All Blacks match against Japan was scheduled at the same time as the Black Ferns’ World Cup quarterfinal this Saturday. The Black Ferns will play Wales in Whangārei with a 7.30pm kick-off. At least a deliberate sabotage implies that NZR thought about the Black Ferns for more than five seconds when making decisions. But there’s none of that and now we have a plausible explanation: New Zealand Rugby forgot that the Black Ferns were playing.

3 months ago The Spinoff

Tech company canary whistling a bad tune

newsletterMeta’s revenue is down, Twitter may be Elon Musk’s today, Apple and Microsoft predict a slow down. Bad news for Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta and UberAs I am sure you’ve gathered, dark clouds loom on the economic horizon. Bloomberg ran a piece headlined Tech Is ‘Canary in Coal Mine’ yesterday. The New York Times has a very good summary of the bad financial news for Google, Amazon, Snap, Apple, Meta and Uber. The New York Times article mentions the growing threat of trade and technology restrictions in China as an exacerbator of tech company woes.

3 months ago The Spinoff

Where is Wayne Brown?

Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick advised Aucklanders earlier this evening to stay home if possible and said she was in contact with emergency services and would update new information as it came to hand. Wayne Brown, aka The Fixer, was silent and out of sight until 7.17pm, after a major concert (Elton John) had already been cancelled due to the weather. Brown appeared on RNZ to reiterate the message, noting, “we need the rain to stop, that’s the main issue”. They ring 111 and are told that emergency services are overloaded and can’t get to them right now. Deputy mayor Desley Simpson told Today FM moments ago that an emergency situation had been declared, though it is yet to be confirmed or communicated widely by Brown.

8 days ago The Spinoff

2022 MLB playoffs expert picks: Odds for Padres at Phillies Game 4 and Astros at Yankees Game 3

AdvertisementAnd just a short train ride south in Philadelphia, the National League series will play out with similar stakes between the Phillies and Padres. We put our picks and all series coverage, plus the latest odds, all in one place for fans to easily digest and follow. Problem is, the Phillies now have to choose between starting Wheeler in Game 4 on short rest or throwing something like a bullpen game behind Noah Syndergaard. By their nature, the Padres don’t hit home runs like the Phillies do, but they are a more rounded offense. ALCS Game 3: Houston Astros (+120) at New York Yankees (-145) — 5:07 p.m.

3 months ago The Athletic

BREAKING NEWS

18 minutes ago - Chinese Foreign Ministry Says Washington 'Overreacting' after Shooting down Meteorological Balloon 19 minutes ago - Fedor Emelianenko suffers first-round loss to Ryan Bader in retirement fight in Bellator 290 main event 21 minutes ago - Alycia Baumgardner Becomes Undisputed 23 minutes ago - State of the Union: Biden sees economic glow, GOP sees gloom 24 minutes ago - UFC Vegas 68 live stream results, play-by-play updates 27 minutes ago - China protests after US jets shoot down suspected spy balloon – KION546 29 minutes ago - Meet ‘wonderful’ gardener who's lived in Markeaton Park for decades 29 minutes ago - China could 'take further actions' in response to U.S. downing balloon 31 minutes ago - A Look at His Career Highlights 37 minutes ago - Dems reshuffle primaries to stress diversity over tradition 40 minutes ago - WWE NXT Vengeance Day Results: Bron Breakker Defeats Grayson Waller In Steel Cage Match To Retain NXT Championship, Carmelo Hayes Wants Next Shot (02/04) 43 minutes ago - Grateful Son Brad Pitt Flew Family to Mansion for Mom's 80th Birthday - Dad Came from Poverty & Worked Hard for Them 50 minutes ago - 12 romantic villages in Wales that could be straight out of a film 53 minutes ago - US shoots down Chinese spy balloon over Atlantic ocean 53 minutes ago - Pentagon working to recover Chinese spy balloon, expects valuable intel from it 54 minutes ago - Drug dealers, abusive partners and burglars among those sentenced in January 54 minutes ago - Top MMA expert reveals surprising fight card picks 56 minutes ago - China threatens consequences for downed spy balloon, reserves ‘right to take further action’ 56 minutes ago - Grammys worst dressed: Red carpet fashion fails from Lady Gaga to Cher 57 minutes ago - Explained: What is Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by US Air Force - Check Video 58 minutes ago - Coup’s Takeaways: Butler Shines, But So Does Antetokounmpo As HEAT Fall In Road Trip Finale 1 hour ago - UFC Vegas 68: Derrick Lewis vs. Serghei Spivac - live results, video highlights 1 hour ago - NXT Vengeance Day results: Moore’s live review of Bron Breakker vs. Grayson Waller in a cage match for the NXT Title, Roxanne Perez vs. Jacy Jayne vs. Gigi Dolin for the NXT Women’s Title, New Day vs. 1 hour ago - The new face of Nigerian political system 1 hour ago - Samsung Galaxy A14 5G in Nepal: Here’s what the brand’s cheapest 5G phone will deliver 1 hour ago - Boss Ladies of Digital South Asia 1 hour ago - Videocon Group laundered Rs 60,000 crore in name of developing overseas oil and gas assets: ED 1 hour ago - U.S. downs Chinese spy balloon, resulting in a tense exchange between the two nations 1 hour ago - Mount Washington experiences record-setting wind chill 1 hour ago - Bailey: Theatre has to evolve, or it will die 1 hour ago - Bellator 290 results: Live streaming play-by-play updates 1 hour ago - LeBron James NBA all-time scoring record tracker 1 hour ago - WWE NXT Vengeance Day Results: Gallus Defeat The New Day, Pretty Deadly & Chase U To Win NXT Tag Team Championships (02/04) 1 hour ago - Kurohanabi: Hotpot, Okonomiyaki, Yaki Soba & More At EatAtSeven 1 hour ago - LeBron James nears NBA all-time scoring record after 27-point game vs. Pelicans 1 hour ago - 95-Year-Old Ice Rink, ‘Catwalk’: Sask Village’s Video Goes Viral Amid Fundraiser 1 hour ago - 'World cannot ignore India': Andrey Belyaninov 1 hour ago - Incredible weekend of sport on February 25 and 26 includes Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury, Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle, Tottenham vs Chelsea, and Six Nations 1 hour ago - London Science Museum says their sponsorship with Adani will continue 1 hour ago - Watch: North Vancouver dog walker shoved in angry confrontation 1 hour ago - Why fans say Liam Wilson CHEATED after Aussie team's protest over 27-second knockdown Navarrete 1 hour ago - Highlights and results: Richardson Hitchins dominates John Bauza, wins for Yankiel Rivera, Skye Nicolson, more 2 hours ago - ‘One of the gutsiest wins I’ve seen’: Unlikely hero explodes in epic Nets win as rivals cop humiliating 25-year first 2 hours ago - UFC Fight Night 218 play-by-play and live results 2 hours ago - Lewis Capaldi ‘nude’ pictures ‘leaked’ on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show 2 hours ago - Join 411’s Live UFC on ESPN+ 76 Coverage 2 hours ago - Jackie and Kelso Have a Son in ‘That ’90s Show,’ But the Timeline Doesn’t Make Sense 2 hours ago - WWE NXT Vengeance Day Results: Carmelo Hayes [2] Defeats Apollo Crews [0] In Best 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match (02/04) 2 hours ago - Soil cracking, trees splitting as arctic blast sweeps US, Canada 2 hours ago - Broncos get another shorthanded goal, beat Bulldogs 4-1 2 hours ago - US looking for parts of Chinese surveillance balloon after shooting it down 2 hours ago - LeBron James 36 Points Away From NBA Scoring Record, Lakers Fall to Pelicans 131-126 2 hours ago - 45% of WWE fans want Cody Rhodes to be the one to beat Roman Reigns 2 hours ago - US shooting down China balloon draws threat from Beijing 2 hours ago - Love Island airs unseen moment that 'led to secret kiss drama' 2 hours ago - Legacy on social media 2 hours ago - Chinese public mocks US reaction to spy balloon, making ‘fuss about nothing’ 2 hours ago - Lakers blow double-digit lead to help Pelicans end 10-game losing streak 2 hours ago - AP Top News at 8:54 p.m. EST 3 hours ago - Why Enzo Fernandez’s British transfer-fee record is part soap opera, part circus and part reality show