Live updates
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for April 30, bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz
3.15pm: Political reaction to Waitangi Tribunal report into state care
Returning to one of the biggest news stories from the day. Earlier – as reported in these live updates and by The Spinoff’s Charlotte Muru-Lanning – the Waitangi Tribunal concluded that the Crown’s care and protection system had breached te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Unsurprisingly, since then, here has been a wave of reaction to the groundbreaking news. Here is some of that, below:
The Bulletin: New Zealanders facing hard road out of India
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: NZers facing hard road to get out of India, mould returning to Wellington flats for winter, and analysis of Judith Collins opening up the Brash playbook.
With no repatriation flights in sight, it could be really difficult for New Zealanders stuck in India to get home. Radio NZ reported yesterday morning that there are just over 100 people currently in India who have managed isolation spots booked, but many are unlikely to make it. Some of them have been waiting since before the travel ban was put in place several weeks ago. PM Jacinda Ardern said that she sympathised with the situation people were in, but said the government couldn’t guarantee assistance in getting home. “We may not be able to go in and rescue people. They need to make sure they take every precaution they can even when they are travelling in desperate circumstances.”
Gone By Lunchtime: A pod like the lockdown – short, sharp and slightly hysterical
Join Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee Mather and Ben Thomas as Gone By Lunchtime discusses the latest lockdown, trans-Tasman relations, business attire and more.
New Zealand’s leading political podcast pivots to true crime this week to investigate the disappearance of political commentator Ben Thomas from Twitter. Where did he go – and what’s he been doing with all his hot takes on The Bachelorette NZ?
Also discussed in this week’s episode: the latest short, sharp three-day lockdown, the ongoing Covid response and the need for specialist MIQ facilities, trans-Tasman relations, raising benefit levels and the great parliamentary neckwear debate of 2021.
Its caucus discipline is still shot and Judith Collins clearly has no control over her MPs.
The latest piece of evidence is Simon Bridges attacking Police Commissioner Andy Coster by describing him as being “wokester” and saying he is soft on crime.
Bridges’ portfolios are Justice, Pike River reentry, water and Maori Crown relations. Simeon Brown has the responsibility for Police.
So it is pretty surprising that he is delving into personal attacks on the country’s top police officer.
National Party MP Simon Bridges has taken aim at “wokester” police Commissioner Andy Coster, claiming he is more concerned with being nice than “actually catching criminals”.
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …