Thomas Manch
@thomasmanch.bsky.social
Senior political reporter at The Post, in Wellington, NZ.
On here to share the good word that is quality journalism. Email me: thomas.manch@stuff.co.nz or https://linktr.ee/thomasmanch
On here to share the good word that is quality journalism. Email me: thomas.manch@stuff.co.nz or https://linktr.ee/thomasmanch
Hey great post. I wrote this story.
“There’s no Cs or Ds there. But there’s room for improvement,” the Auckland mayor says.
Wayne Brown gives Government a B+ in ‘report card’
Brown, seeking re-election as Auckland’s mayor this year, has butted heads with the Government. But he’s happy enough about the relationship overall.
www.thepost.co.nz
May 14, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Hey great post. I wrote this story.
Peters further dismissing Luxon's suggestion:
April 10, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Peters further dismissing Luxon's suggestion:
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.
April 10, 2025 at 2:55 AM
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
April 3, 2025 at 12:17 AM
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.
April 2, 2025 at 9:05 PM
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.
March 18, 2025 at 5:49 PM
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
It's possible to make a pretty informed guess. Read more on @thepost-nz.bsky.social
March 17, 2025 at 11:02 PM
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
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.
March 17, 2025 at 3:28 AM
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.
March 16, 2025 at 9:37 PM
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.
Reposted by Thomas Manch
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…
www.linkedin.com
March 9, 2025 at 10:55 PM
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...
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...
Listen here: www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
Political panel
Listen to our weekly political panel.
www.rnz.co.nz
March 13, 2025 at 10:54 PM
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...
Listen here: www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
UPDATE: Foreign Minister Winston Peters says sacking Goff was one of the most difficult things he has done. Read more @thepost-nz.bsky.social
March 6, 2025 at 1:29 AM
UPDATE: Foreign Minister Winston Peters says sacking Goff was one of the most difficult things he has done. Read more @thepost-nz.bsky.social
WATCH: Phil Goff's question at the Chatham House event that has Foreign Minister Winston Peters sacking him.
March 5, 2025 at 11:42 PM
WATCH: Phil Goff's question at the Chatham House event that has Foreign Minister Winston Peters sacking him.
BREAKING on @thepost-nz.bsky.social: Winston Peters has sacked Phil Goff as UK High Commissioner over comments made about US President Donald Trump
March 5, 2025 at 11:15 PM
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:
March 1, 2025 at 9:42 PM
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.
February 28, 2025 at 1:36 AM
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.
February 26, 2025 at 8:34 PM
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.
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.
www.thepost.co.nz
February 26, 2025 at 5:32 PM
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...
NZDF aircraft and ship sent to monitor Chinese vessels in Tasman Sea, defence minister confirms
February 20, 2025 at 4:56 AM
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
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.
February 20, 2025 at 2:20 AM
"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
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
Read the story on @thepost-nz.bsky.social
February 19, 2025 at 11:44 PM
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
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.
February 19, 2025 at 10:41 PM
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.
February 19, 2025 at 10:02 PM
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.
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.
February 10, 2025 at 9:43 PM
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.