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Joel MacManus

@joelmacmanus.bsky.social
1.5K followers 337 following 316 posts

Senior Writer at The Spinoff.

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Reposted by Joel MacManus
The Spinoff @thespinoff.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Review: The Beths enter their greatest hits era with the ‘By Request’ tour
thespinoff.co.nz
Review: The Beths enter their greatest hits era with the ‘By Request’ tour
The new improvised show format from the Auckland indie darlings is chaotic, hilarious and artistically impressive.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
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Reposted by Joel MacManus
Sacha @sachadylan.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
'The downside for Labour is that they could end up in the same trap as National, with minor coalition parties setting the agenda because they’re the only ones who have one.' @joelmacmanus.bsky.social #NzPol
thespinoff.co.nz
Chris Hipkins is batting for a draw
Hipkins has been so focused on negating the case against Labour that he never built a cohesive argument for Labour.
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Reposted by Joel MacManus
Rachel R @rachelemridley.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
What AI data centres could do to your electricity bill thespinoff.co.nz/business/25-...
thespinoff.co.nz
What AI data centres could do to your electricity bill
Two proposed data centres in Taranaki and Southland could eat up as much as 13% of New Zealand's annual electricity supply. Here's what that could mean for you.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I'm keen to do this one too. Invercargill had a bit of a Tesla vs Edison thing going around the turn of the century with David Strang and James Pomeroy. thespinoff.co.nz/kai/21-06-20...
thespinoff.co.nz
The man who brought fish and chips to New Zealand
Meet James Henry Pomeroy: inventor, fishmonger, and the man responsible for deep fried blue cod on a southern beach.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
To be fair, it does sound tastier than their old name (German biscuits)
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
There's a few more that I'm hoping to get to soon. Belgian biscuits, anzac biscuits, boil up. The story of the first loaf of bread made from locally grown grain is a really good one.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
A mistimed billboard and a flub from the transport minister made for a funny morning, but both spoke to the pressure people feel to get the City Rail Link right. thespinoff.co.nz/politics/06-...
thespinoff.co.nz
Why the City Rail Link opening date gaffe matters
A mistimed billboard and a flub from the transport minister made for a funny morning, but both spoke to the pressure people feel to get this right.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
This looks like Stuff so I'm pretty sure I didn't write this
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
I wrote that article six years ago. That's depressing.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
kowtow to the vocal minority, obviously.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Eliminate cows to free up housing for others
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
I have a great idea to fix the housing crisis
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Is that really the point you thought I was making?
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
This is a post about the housing market.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
New Zealand museums are really bad at telling the difference between historical significance and boomer nostalgia.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
I think it was always disclosed? He'd previously run for NZF before becoming mayor.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
MPs from National, New Zealand First and Act have purchased or built at least 25 new rentals, investment properties or second homes since changing tax and tenancy laws to favour landlords. thespinoff.co.nz/politics/27-...
thespinoff.co.nz
Government MPs acquired 25 extra investment properties after passing pro-landlord reforms
From new rentals to redevelopments, some coalition MPs have been upping their ownership of residential properties.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Former Wellington mayor turned NZ First MP Andy Foster says he claims the $36k annual accommodation subsidy because "the cost of owning a home in Wellington is not cheap". thespinoff.co.nz/politics/27-...
thespinoff.co.nz
NZ First MP Andy Foster claims $36k top-up to stay in home he’s owned for 26 years
The former Wellington mayor says he claims the accommodation subsidy because 'the cost of owning a home in Wellington is not cheap'.
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Reposted by Joel MacManus
The Spinoff @thespinoff.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Is the Afghan biscuit racist or just misunderstood?
thespinoff.co.nz
Is the Afghan biscuit racist or just misunderstood?
The biscuits have attracted controversy over claims their name has racist origins. The real history is more complicated....
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Nicola Willis cuts jobs, loves AI, hates NZ First My report from the pre-budget speech.
thespinoff.co.nz
Nicola Willis cuts jobs, loves AI, hates NZ First
The finance minister announced public service layoffs, celebrated AI, and took swipes at Labour and NZ First in her pre-budget speech.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
thespinoff.co.nz/media/19-05-... Watchdog without a leash: How Queenstown’s Crux Media became a ‘one-man crusade’. The strange saga of New Zealand’s most controversial local news startup.
thespinoff.co.nz
Watchdog without a leash: How Queenstown’s Crux Media became a ‘one-man crusade’
A watchdog without a leash: The strange saga of New Zealand’s most controversial local news startup.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Yeah it's because of that
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
I decided X the everything app was bad
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
this was my tweet lol
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Ray Chung has stepped down as chair of Wellington's Council Controlled Organisations committee.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Why this AI data centre might be New Zealand’s most important climate project. (I know Bluesky is gonna love this one /s) thespinoff.co.nz/business/15-...
thespinoff.co.nz
Why this AI data centre might be New Zealand’s most important climate project
The annual carbon emissions saving from running Datagrid in New Zealand rather than China could be equivalent to taking almost half a million cars off the road.<br />
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
There's still a long, long way to go before the data center industry is carbon neutral and New Zealand has a big part to play.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
what's the point?
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
the government owns Kiwibank.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
I just use en dash for everything even if it's improper usage.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
I miss being able to write "It's not X, it's Y" without feeling like a robot.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
This is discussed in the article.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
The case for Super Rugby-based regional councils. The perfect map for regional government already exists. It was drawn by a rugby administrator in 1995. thespinoff.co.nz/politics/11-...
thespinoff.co.nz
The case for Super Rugby-based regional councils
The perfect map for regional government was drawn by a rugby administrator in 1995.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Boomer journos love lecturing young reporters about how they used to write 3-5 stories every day. Meanwhile 20th century New Zealand newspapers were full of articles like this:
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
New Zealand’s immigration debate is like something out of the 1870s thespinoff.co.nz/politics/06-...
thespinoff.co.nz
New Zealand’s immigration debate is like something out of the 1870s
Act is chasing NZ First who are chasing the anti-immigration vote.<br />
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
'my culture is not your costume'
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
This week, right-wing politicians and pundits were outraged by a reporter using an offensive word at a private social event and a Green candidate making edgy jokes on social media. Welcome to Woke 2: conservative boogaloo. thespinoff.co.nz/politics/01-...
thespinoff.co.nz
It was a good week for… cancel culture
The right-wing media ecosystem was outraged by a reporter using an offensive word at a private social event. Welcome to Woke 2: conservative boogaloo.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
it's written by the office of the minister for tourism and hospitality
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Some great Luxonisms featured in the cabinet paper for the Major Events and Tourism Fund
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
I'm confused by that stereotype because in my experience Wellingtonians walk super fast. But maybe I'm just slow.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
One of the biggest culture shocks I had moving from Wellington to Auckland was seeing people use umbrellas. I had legitimately forgotten they were an option.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
One of the biggest culture shocks I had moving from Wellington to Auckland was seeing people use umbrellas. I had legitimately forgotten they were an option.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
"Only David Seymour can do that"
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Reposted by Joel MacManus
David Palmer @cloventt.net · 08/04/2026
As a Little Yellow Digger stan I am so very happy with Stuff journalists right now.
Stuff asked police if a bigger digger would be needed, but a police spokesperson advised after 11.15am that a “special tow truck” would be needed and that would take around an hour to arrive.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
The many dodgy claims behind the government’s major events fund thespinoff.co.nz/politics/26-...
thespinoff.co.nz
The many dodgy claims behind the government’s major events fund
Does anyone really believe that Robbie Williams wouldn’t have come to New Zealand without a taxpayer-funded sweetener?
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Living Streets Aotearoa (or at least the Wellington branch) is going to be so annoying about this.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
I think this is a really good idea. The years-long discourse about turning the golf course into housing was always pointless because of the Town Belt Act, but there is plenty of opportunity to use this green space for walking, cycling, or other forms of recreation.
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Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
The era of Chris power in New Zealand politics may be coming to an end. thespinoff.co.nz/society/14-0...
thespinoff.co.nz
Why Chrises run the country
An in-depth study of New Zealanders with the name Chris.
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