Ben McKay @benmackey Twitter profile

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

in awe of this sign I passed this weekend. the absolute mana.

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Last Seen Profiles

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

Surprised at NZ's lack of interest in Harvard tapping Jacinda Ardern to give their commencement address. She'll be just the 8th head of govt in 40 years to give it- including giants like Angela Merkel, Vaclav Havel, Helmut Kohl, Benazir Bhutto. It's a massive, massive honour.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

1 year

Complete killshot from Jacinda Ardern in the joint presser with Sanna Marin when asked if they were meeting because they were similar. "I wonder if anyone asked Barack Obama and John Key that? ... because two women meet it's not simply because of their gender." 🪦🪦🪦

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

9 months

🥹 #FIFAWWC

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

Here's NZ PM Jacinda Ardern's blast at Australia today in Wellington. In the words of one senior gallery journo, 'that's the angriest I've ever seen her' It stood out to me that she revealed her personal representation, throwing Scott Morrison under the bus

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

five straight days of precisely no engagement with media by New Zealand Rugby. the All Blacks have even stopped posting on facebook and instagram. incredible

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

1 year

SHOCK! New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is tapping out from politics. Will leave the job in the next month. "I know what this job takes. And I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice." She has also called an election for October 14

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

Incredible crowd at NZ parliament for the Māori language moment on the 50th anniversary of the petition that saved the language. Bigger crowd than recent anti-gov protests or the accession of the King! Ka pai!!

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

10 months

this is sick. everyone at the eden park #FIFAWWC opener tonight is getting their own poi with a qr code explaining it, mātaurangi māori & more. kiwi values on display! how good.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

exceptionally kiwi areas: anti-mandate protesters knock down a fence … but put it back up again 😇 great package from @TovaOBrien

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

1 year

Hundreds of people - MPs, staff, Kiwis - have come to farewell Jacinda Ardern as she heads to government house to resign as PM. Saw several MPs crying.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

Jacinda Ardern has batted away a Scott Morrison "price of bread" style question today on the soaring price of petrol (nearly $3 a litre in NZ) ... How much did it cost you the last time you filled up your car? "I drive an electric vehicle"

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

4 years

What's Samoan for goodbye?

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

Jacinda Ardern eyeballs the Australian journalist as she says and repeats that rapid tests will be free

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

Expect some anti-Ardern vitriol from Barry Soper after he stormed out of the 4pm post-cab press conf after not getting the call from the PM. He'd already had three questions and the vast majority of journos hadn't had one. Talk about throwing the toys out of the cot. 👶

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

not sure if James Shaw releasing the govt's climate change adaptation plan or playing a cop in gritty Scando BBC series with new details on a disappearance

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

New Zealand. Where the opposition has put out a media release upset that NZ has fallen to world No.2 in the COVID response rankings.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

5 months

New: As Chris Luxon scolds public servants for taking te reo bonuses, its been revealed taxpayers have been paying for the NZ PM's own private te reo Māori lessons.

NZ PM Luxon caught out on Maori language lessons

As New Zealand grapples with a new style of government and approach to the Maori language, Prime Minister...

www.canberratimes.com.au

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 months

this is a doomsday scenario for NZ media. you might not have watched, the style might not be your cup of tea, but no one was more committed to breaking news than Newshub. we are all so much poorer if it shuts.

Newshub closure: Warner Bros boss fronts; PM reacts; Star's morale-boosting speech

There are 'a lot of devastated staff', a senior journalist said.

www.nzherald.co.nz

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

7 months

wow. major revelation on election eve that chris luxon’s grandmother is michelle obama

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

9 months

a timely reminder that England voted AGAINST australia and new zealand hosting this #FIFAWWC

Nice Orange

@AardigOranje

4 years

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

can't believe Dr Bloomfield has tested positive to COVID in Switzerland! surely he would have tested neutral

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

Al Noor Mosque has started a GiveALittle page for the New Lynn attack victims. "All terrorists are the same regardless of their ideology whether it is white nationalism or ISIS they stand for hate and we all stand for peace and love" - Imam Gamal Fouda

New Lynn Terrorist Attack Victims Fund

Muslim Association of Canterbury runs the Al Noor Mosque which is one of the two mosques where the terrorist attack took place on 15/3/2019

givealittle.co.nz

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

Just met a seven-year-old who is going to see her Mum for the first time in 15 months. I’m not really handling this well!! 😭😭

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 months

No idea how this will play among Kiwis - an exceptionally wealthy PM claiming a $52k handout to live in his own mortgage-free apartment during a cost of living crisis - but can confidently say it would be a top-order outrage in Australia.

Luxon's criticisms of profligate spending come back to bite

Analysis - National's Tama Potaka could have been mistaken for giving advice to his own leader when he told Newshub on Friday morning "the New Zealand taxpayer is not a free ATM card".

www.rnz.co.nz

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

11 months

New Zealand's new self-ID laws come into effect today. Kiwis can now change their sex marker on their birth certificate to male, female or non-binary without going to the Family Court. The law passed parliament in 2021 with the unanimous support of the house. ✨🏳️‍⚧️🧑‍🤝‍🧑

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

You have to hand it to Jacinda Ardern. The most popular politician in a generation makes a COVID-19 announcement that upsets literally everyone.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

7 months

hipkins returns

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

5 months

John Campbell scathing of the “mean” & “narrow, limp vision of our future” coalition deals … says “deeply regressive” plans for Māori show the government’s “heart of darkness”

John Campbell: I hoped to be surprised - actually I'm amazed

What has Aotearoa's brand new coalition government promised to deliver?

www.1news.co.nz

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

oh my god today has been so great

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

NZ PM Jacinda Ardern has left Wellington for the first time in over seven weeks during the Delta outbreak. She's off to support the vax effort in Rotorua, Murupara, Wairoa, Flaxmere, Hastings, Gisborne, and Ruatoria. 💉💪💉💪💉💪

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

5 months

at a snap press conference this afternoon, NZ PM Chris Hipkins has announced Labour's support for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

Congratulations New Zealand for its immediate response to the IPCC report of simply stopping power generation

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 months

A simple way to honour Efeso Collins today would be to read his maiden speech. He gave it last week. As he says in it, E le tu fa'amauga se tagata. Vale Fa’anānā Efeso Collins

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 months

well there’s a first? - booing at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds dawn service. It’s for David Seymour

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

1 year

Marin, sinking the boot in, "we are meeting because we are prime ministers"

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

5 months

Tākuta Ferris, the first of six te Pāti Maāori MPs sworn in today, offers allegiance to the Treaty of Waitangi from his seat in the house, before taking the formal affirmation to the King Charles III

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

4 months

Dame Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford have released some photos from their wedding today at Craggy Range Winery in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. 📸Felicity Jean Photography

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

8 months

NZ PM Chris Hipkins is ruling out working with NZ First and Winston Peters. Says there’s no place for “imported culture wars”. Hipkins: “New Zealand First has become a party more interested in toilets than the issues that matter most to New Zealanders”

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

4 years

Judith Collins’ last hour: 💁🏻‍♀️ street walk with obviously planted Nat volunteers/members 💁🏻‍♀️ refused entry to a shop, “we don’t want you in here” 💁🏻‍♀️ losing a cafe poll in deep blue Ponsonby 💁🏻‍♀️ media conf totally focused on these things & internal runctions Tough #nzpol day.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

5 months

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says Grant Robertson will continue as finance spokesman in opposition. Robertson: “I’m sticking around … these first few days have indicated exactly why I’d like to be here.” Verrall also staying in health. Full Labour portfolios expected tomorrow

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

now do the refugees

Karen Sweeney

@karenlsweeney

2 years

#Breaking Judge Anthony Kelly has rule that Djokovic be released from immigration detention within in 30 minutes. He says the visa cancellation decision will be quashed and the government wil have to pay his costs.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

Jacinda Ardern is 42 today - and she has celebrated by going to a Business NZ function. Those in attendance sang her happy birthday … except one at the back - her former deputy Winston Peters. Did not sing a single word.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

I love this. NZ's first family on the Hercules for the eight-hour flight to Antarctica. Ardern reading a book about explorer Ernest Shackleton. Clarke's got his book about "Pirates poaching perfect fish". Incredibly on brand

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

1 year

some personal news. tiny treasure rory patrick mckay arrived on november 2 like a timeline cleanse for my life 🥰 we love him

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

4 years

some personal news. Amid the big changes, AAP is keeping the role of NZ Correspondent and I am very grateful to accept an offer to stay. AAP is the only Aus company to have a print journo in NZ and its great and important to be able to keep the flag flying here.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 months

Hone Harawira: "you buggers want to get rid of (the treaty), strip the treaty of its mana ... to belittle te reo and try to make it a second class language in our land. It ain't going to happen!" to David Seymour: "your shitty arse bill is going down the toilet"

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

is there a more bad faith argument than the need to engage with #Convoy2022NZ protesters on the basis of "unity"? they deny vaccine science. 95% (!!) of Kiwis are now double dosed. there's your unity

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

7 months

revealed: the event that clashed with the rescheduled Stuff debate tonight that was impossible for Chris Luxon to move: a Nats rally in Wellington

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

A rare official public outing for Neve Ardern Gayford today for New Zealand's Proclamation of King Charles III. Possibly the cutest kid ever & also very well behaved when meeting GG Cindy Kiro 😇

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

5 months

From the Nats & NZ First agreement: "Refocus the curriculum on academic achievement and not ideology, including the removal and replacement of the gender, sexuality, and relationship-based education guidelines."

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

7 months

Hipkins’ statement confirmed by The Press editor Kamala Hayman

Christopher Bishop

@cjsbishop

7 months

This is another lie from Chris Hipkins. Robertson was never put forward as a stand-in. We offered the Deputies - Nicola v Kelvin. We’ve never had a response to that. Offer remains open.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

21 days

Wow. NZF MP Tanya Unkovich using general debate to go off on vaccine mandates. Glorifies parliament occupiers, saying "they asked simply to be heard". 🤔 She must have missed the arson, violence and campaigning for the death of politicians, health officials and journalists.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

5 months

Hipkins - still caretaker PM five weeks after the election - says he would have preferred to have National's support to make this New Zealand's position but National didn't support it. The scale of the casualties has moved him to make this Labour's position

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

5 years

Not sure James Faulkner should be criticised for showing personality on social media. Very sure a few journalists should be criticised for running with stories without verifying them.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

7 months

oh no. jacinda ardern has just made a very deliberate decision to buy into the worst discourse of the NZ election

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

5 years

“There were a lot of critics talking about us but we’re back so suck on that” - Sam Kerr Etch it on a mountainside #AUSBRA #Matildas

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

7 months

i see nz twitter having a normal one over the foreign minister’s desire for peace

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

1 year

It will be lost in the sexist questions but Finland PM Sanna Marin said a lot of interesting things about trade and democracy! "I really worry about the dependencies that we have right now on authoritarian countries"

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

7 days

Newshub outlasts Melissa Lee as media and communications minister

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

NZ's Ministry of Health has updated the Super Saturday figure ... 130,002 !! 💉 🎉 💉 🎉

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

6 months

absolutely scathing piece by Hooton of Luxon's approach to government negotiations. lots of tidbits from the talks. says Luxon will enter government a diminished figure as a result

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

1 year

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has announced NZ has found 3.2 tonnes of cocaine - $500m worth - in the Pacific Ocean. "We believe there was enough cocaine to service the Australian market for about one year and this would be more than New Zealand would use in 30 years."

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 months

A Chris Luxon corporate-speak classic in Christchurch today in his first speech this year as PM "We're looking ahead to deliver a set of deliverables that will help our vision of New Zealand take root and come to pass."

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

5 months

First maiden speech of the 54th parliament: @JamesMeagerMP , Rangitata MP, a self-described "part-Māori boy raised in a state house by a single parent on the benefit". Says his dad had never set foot on North Island until yesterday!

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 months

just horrendous. Efeso Collins collapsed and died after a charity run to raise funds for clean drinking water in the Pacific. what can you even say

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

6 years

An all-time curveball to end Nick Kyrgios' #AusOpen press conference tonight ... 🤔

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

Blown away by the graciousness, pride and humility Laurel Hubbard has shown overnight. Just glides over the haters even after her disappointment. NZ should be very proud. What an Olympian.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

Jacinda Ardern accepts her appointment as NZ's Prime Minister by Governor General Patsy Reddy in Wellington today. A peaceful transition of power from the previous Jacinda Ardern administration #NZHellhole

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

ryan bridge’s visceral hatred of jacinda ardern is really something. its must-see/can’t-look-away tv for political tragics

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

1 year

half an hour until Jacinda Ardern’s valedictory. like her or loathe her, you cannot deny she is one talented six-year-old

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

23 days

It's a very strange framing of a problem to set a goal of having 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker, as opposed to having 50,000 fewer people in poverty. Like if you change the Jobseeker rules, you hit the target.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

This afternoon the NZ govt released the Christchurch Mosques terrorism Royal Commission. After four hours in the lockup with the report, the line I can't get out of my head is the earliest evidence of the terrorist's racism was anti-Aboriginal comments at school.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

7 years

✔️ 1st win over world No.1 🇺🇸 ✔️ Biggest win in 32 years over 🇯🇵 ✔️ Biggest win over 🇧🇷 ever ✔️ 11 goals #ToN2017 champs: @TheMatildas

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

7 months

National has admitted it knew just 3000 families - 0.2% of the country - would receive its maximum $250/ft tax relief it is heavily advertising. Luxon getting a serious grilling today at his daily press conference:

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

1 year

quite extraordinary column. a knight companion of new zealand and lifelong labour voter writes about falling out of love with the party and his first example is ardern doing a woman's mag because her nice clothes are out of touch. righto

Sir Ian Taylor: 'All gone wrong' - the Labour Party I used to know

OPINION: PM's magazine cover 'tone-deaf' during a cost of living crisis.

www.nzherald.co.nz

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

7 months

Another way to read today's three polls: Newshub-Reid Resarch Right bloc: down 3 Left bloc: up 2.2 TVNZ-Verian Right bloc: steady Left bloc: up 3 Guardian-Essential Right bloc: down 0.7 Left bloc: up 2.6

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

7 months

Helen White on the way to caucus this morning: "I'm really really proud of my result... I didn't do badly, I did really really well and if you look at the stats, you'll see that." Mt Albert was the safest seat in the country. A 21,246-vote Labour majority. It is currently 106.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

4 years

Hey America, @TovaOBrien has other classics too

Josh

@trillyelliot

4 years

Tova getting a Pulitzer for this masterpiece lmao

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

1 year

Luxon savaged at a press conference just now- no willingness to grapple with the issues raised by the high-wealth tax report. couldn’t say whether NZ tax system was fair. pivoted to general lines on economic mismanagement “Labour is softening us up for a tax grab”

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

Groundswell NZ protest at 12:45pm. Protestors comfortably outnumbered by lunchers and security.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 months

yep, that’s the deputy prime minister of new zealand tweeting a pic of ken dolls at it

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

grateful for this premium push opinoin

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 months

Q: Why did you skip parliament and question time to come to Southern Field Days? PM Luxon: “Because I want to celebrate farmers. Because they’re the best people in the world.”

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

He gave his maiden speech to Parliament last week, speaking at length about how Tauranga was beset by gang issues and a “growing culture of lawlessness, lack of accountability, a sense of impunity, and significant underlying generational social problems.”

Kirsty Johnston

@kirsty_johnston

2 years

The National Party’s newest MP, Sam Uffindell, was asked to leave his exclusive boarding school after viciously beating a younger student late at night. He apologised 22 years later, just before becoming a National candidate.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

NZ PM Jacinda Ardern’s reflections on the Finland PM’s video leak backlash

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

1 year

no no no no no

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

5 years

Genuinely pisser moment at Honda's presser... HONDA: "I told Kevin, joking, I am old, I have to take care of myself. It’s bad but it's real. It’s fucked" MUSCAT: "Fact! Fact he said" HONDA: "Sorry, my pronunciations bad"

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

5 months

Luxon absolutely smashing Labour during his address-in-reply. "Should have been in power for 10-12 years. They squandered it." Says the Labour caucus has "survivors guilt" & asks why they haven't turfed Hipkins. "He is like an arsonist ... loitering at the scene of the crime."

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

8 months

worst Home Improvement re-make ever

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

give ardie savea the IG password

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

1 year

full question and the response

antihobbes

@antihobbes

1 year

Bad question!

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 months

wow. from Wellington CC: Green Party candidate Geordie Rogers has been elected in the by-election to fill the vacant seat in Wellington City Council’s Pukehīnau/Lambton General Ward. Mr Rogers has won the seat with 4147 votes - 45 votes ahead of Karl Tiefenbacher on 4102 votes.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

Breaking: NZ's COVID-19 announcement is really complicated

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

Real shiver down the spine stuff for Rawiri Waititi's maiden speech to NZ Parliament. Ends with "take the noose from around my neck so i can sing my song" ... he removes his tie and puts on a bone taonga. Cue waiata and haka from the public gallery. Scenes!

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

4 years

Not enough. Where are the resignations

The New York Times

@nytimes

4 years

Correction: We deleted a previous tweet that incorrectly said Auckland was the capital of New Zealand. Wellington is the capital.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

3 years

I also appreciate and respect New Zealanders don't want to hear anything more about the terrorist. My deep feeling is that Australians haven't done anywhere near enough thinking about it.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

9 months

absolute scenes at Aus PM Albanese’s formal welcome to NZ parliament as Australian camera operators break protocol, running *in front* of Hipkins and disrupt the Māori welcome to get decent shots. it was disgraceful. Kiwis couldn’t believe it. anyway here’s the handshake

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

New Nats leader Chris Luxon stumbling on Māori cultural literacy. On his "Matarangi" @NZQandA faux pas, today Luxon: I understand Matariki well, it was a stumble and I've apologised for that. Q: How many stars are there in the Matariki cluster? Luxon: I don't know.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

Stunning waiata in New Zealand parliament from the whānau of speaker Adrian Rurawhe after he was sworn in this week.

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Ben McKay

@benmackey

2 years

presented without comment

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