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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Peters further dismissing Luxon's suggestion:

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

When that NZ cab and grass-fed steak tastes 10% sweeter

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Also I looked at NZ's tariffs on US goods a couple weeks ago: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

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.

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

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.

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

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

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

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.

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

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.

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

UPDATE: Foreign Minister Winston Peters says sacking Goff was one of the most difficult things he has done. Read more @thepost-nz.bsky.social

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

WATCH: Phil Goff's question at the Chatham House event that has Foreign Minister Winston Peters sacking him.

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

BREAKING on @thepost-nz.bsky.social: Winston Peters has sacked Phil Goff as UK High Commissioner over comments made about US President Donald Trump

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

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:

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

NZDF aircraft and ship sent to monitor Chinese vessels in Tasman Sea, defence minister confirms

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

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

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

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.

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

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.

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Noteworthy that former foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta has spoken out about it this morning too - effectively taking the Cook Island side.

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

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.

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

The front of @the_postnz this morning: 🇳🇿📉 New Zealand exporters face being collateral to Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Trade Minister Todd McClay reponse by emphasising NZ's "well-balanced" relationship with the US ... as in, 'don't look at us'.

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Calling all trade experts ... is there any upside to all this? I'm trying to be a glass half full guy here. Do Kiwi tequila makers now have a leg up?

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has attack the Government's critics in a speech delivered to the NZ China Council this afternoon. Fairly pointed remarks no doubt directed at Helen Clark and Don Brash, who have campaigned against his Government's interest in Aukus pillar two this year.

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

I asked the Defence Force questions on October 21 about documents that had been provided under the OIA. Essentially asking to have some jargon decoded, and clarify if decisions mentioned in the docs were taken. Easy enough, I would've thought. More than 7 weeks later ...

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

PM Christopher Luxon has marked down his own department. DPMC has failed to achieve its KPI of scoring 4 out of 5 for policy advice across three areas: risk and resilience, national security intellgence, and from the 'Delivery Unit'. More here: buff.ly/4f3xwyK

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

I've updated this story with some interesting detail from the end of today's FADT committee, including: - An NZ P8 was 'on the scene' of China's ICBM test and reported back to Australia - New Def Sec Brook Barrington on Aukus pillar two (see image)

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

My latest for The Post's 'Annual Report' series, about a year of the Government, is a run down on how Treaty politics are being handled by the coalition - and it's not just the Treaty Principles Bill. buff.ly/3VboM2O

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Deterrence is not a word commonly invoked in New Zealand, but it's increasingly part of the picture as the Govt sharpens NZ's foriegn policy, a year in. Here, I look at how the Govt has respositioned NZ in word and deed and what to look out for next. buff.ly/3Z6t4cL

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Have published an interview with Deputy PM Winston Peters. Some takeaways: - Unaffordable tax cuts masked economic problems - Luxon is 'struggling', not in a bad way - Spending cuts successful, now to invest - Campaign for 2026 begins in May when he's no longer deputy

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Thomas Manch @thomasmanch.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Beautiful piece from Piers Fuller on journalism and the death of our colleague Nicholas Boyack. "He knew what he was doing was important in its own small way — just like the rest of you out there playing your part in the great mechanics of our flawed, but fortunate society." buff.ly/3CISUMB

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