Author | Lightnews

Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · 3d

No Bolger in the Room: Mega strike looms
- Jim Bolger's death highlights what Luxon's cabinet lacks - experience, pragmatism and a willingness to respect the chosen representatives of workers.
Link: substacktools.com/sharex/bs7_y...
#nzpol #jimbolger #unions #megastrike #neoliberalism

No Bolger in the Room: Mega strike looms

The death of Jim Bolger highlights what Luxon's cabinet lacks - experience, pragmatism and a willingness to respect the chosen representatives of workers.

substacktools.com

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · 14d

voteauckland.co.nz/en/2025-loca... (3/3)

Mayor results | Vote Auckland

Auckland mayoral election results in the 2025 local elections.

voteauckland.co.nz

Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · 14d

This is what happens when Auckland doesn’t have a viable centre-left mayoral candidate and an ex-Labour councillor runs as an 'independent' on right-wing policies. Despite Brown's re-election, the strong showing for Blank and Informal should also be read as a clear message from the electorate (2/3)

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · 14d

Looking over the Auckland Mayoral election progress reports I see the Informal/Blank ticket is doing remarkably well.

My preferred candidate, Informal, has picked up 542 votes — and I’m delighted to see Blank pulling a strong 6,127. (1/3) #nzpol #aucklandcouncil #elections #democracy

Mayor results | Vote Auckland

Auckland mayoral election results in the 2025 local elections.

voteauckland.co.nz

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · 17d

Labour's view on youth welfare: 18- and 19-year-olds aren't adults either #nzpol @chrishipkins.bsky.social #unemployment #neoliberalism #history
# open.substack.com/pub/joehendr...

Labour's view on youth welfare: 18- and 19-year-olds aren't adults either

Why the removal of the unemployment benefit for 18–19-year-olds reveals the limits of Labour’s empathy in practice.

open.substack.com

Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · 17d

Kia ora Sue. My reaction yesterday was much the same. You questioned when anyone can ever trust Labour - here is my answer. joehendren.substack.com/p/labours-vi...

Labour's view on youth welfare: 18- and 19-year-olds aren't adults either

Why the removal of the unemployment benefit for 18–19-year-olds reveals the limits of Labour’s empathy in practice.

joehendren.substack.com

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · 18d

On the matter of a window at Peters' house being broken, my friend LiquidTimes on Twitter had a solid response. Peters, once again, is being a consistent hypocrite #nzpol

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · 18d

If ministers in the National–NZ First–ACT government had sound arguments, they wouldn’t need to constantly obstruct Official Information Act requests or abuse parliamentary urgency. #nzpol

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · 18d

The guilt-by-association tactics of Zionist supporters are getting tiresome. The “everything is Hamas” mantra has been used far too often to justify the killing of civilians. And one hardly needs to rely on such a low standard of evidence to see that Israel is committing genocide. #freepalestine

Post from Ani O'Brien - "Every journalist should be ready with a microphone to doorstep Swarbrick & the Greens now that their protestors have smashed a window at Winston's house & endangered his family.

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Reposted by Joe Hendren

Craig Renney @clrenney.bsky.social · 20d

#nzpol The government has announced that 18/19 year olds, who live in a household where the parents earn $65,529 or more, can't claim jobseekers support. If both parents work 27 hours on the minimum wage - $634 a week - they will be expected to now financially support their adult offspring. A 🧵

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Reposted by Joe Hendren

Emaux @emauxstylo.bsky.social · Sep 17

BBC News captures Doctor Who himself Sylvester McCoy at the Trump protest seemingly unaware of who they're interviewing.

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Reposted by Joe Hendren

Dylan Reeve @dylanreeve.com · Sep 21

While doing some research for work I found this incredible 1886 aerial view of Auckland in the Auckland Libraries Heritage collection!

It's zoomable in high detail on the website — kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/coll...

Hand drawn and coloured pictorial map of Auckland City in 1886 representing a view from 1000 feet up.

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · Sep 25

Ciao Liam Hockings: A life cut short, a call for change
open.substack.com/pub/joehendr...
#nzpol #housing #firesafety #neoliberalism #landlords #LoafersLodge #Wellington

Ciao Liam Hockings: A life cut short, a call for change

Remembering a friend lost in the Loafers Lodge fire - why his story matters and why change is still needed.

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Joe Hendren

Peter Murphy @peterwmurphy1.bsky.social · Sep 11

The breaking news of Charlie Kirk's shooting at Utah Valley Uni in Utah (10Sep25 12.20pm), was followed less than 5min later by the breaking news of a school shooting at Evergreen High School, in the adjacent state of Colorado (10Sep25 12.24pm). 😔 #USPolitics #CharlieKirk #EvergreenSchoolShooting

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · Sep 12

Thanks Mrs Chippy I have found the 2023 representation review. One is reminded of the idiom about turkeys not voting for Xmas. In my view 'having a few years to settle in' was a convenient cover for perceived political interests. The Nats didn't want it.

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · Sep 11

The best way is to not let the asshats forget it. While I normally would not defend Hide, it would be fair to point out in this case he would have been bound by cabinet collective responsibility.

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · Sep 11

I am reminded of the scene from the film "The Beach" where the arrival of a US nuclear submarine following a nuclear war is not greeted warmly when it turns up in an Australian port!

Senator David Shoebridge @davidshoebridge.bsky.social · Sep 11

Here’s a better headline: “Inside the $8 billion US nuclear submarine base being built by Australian taxpayers that will make Perth a nuclear target.”

Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · Sep 11

Nope. Likely blocked by the National Party in 2009 when the Auckland Council establishment bill was going through the house. The big irony is that ACT Leader Rodney Hide was the minister in charge of the bill, but he effectively voted against STV back then, even though he supported STV himself.

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · Sep 11

Why it's time for Auckland to revisit STV
A proportional voting system could widen choice, boost turnout, and improve representation in the Super City.
Read: substacktools.com/sharex/cXTzJ...
#nzpol #KerrinLeoni #AucklandCouncil #elections #housing #transport #electoralsystem #WayneBrown

Why it's time for Auckland to revisit STV

A proportional voting system could widen choice, boost turnout, and improve representation in the Super City.

substacktools.com

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · Sep 11

Thanks for spotting Russell. I did a post yesterday about the poor options we have for Mayor this year. At present it looks like I will be voting for Councillors but spoiling my mayoral ballot - spoiling is more fun than leaving it blank.
substacktools.com/sharex/cXTzJ...

Why it's time for Auckland to revisit STV

A proportional voting system could widen choice, boost turnout, and improve representation in the Super City.

substacktools.com

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Reposted by Joe Hendren

Senator David Shoebridge @davidshoebridge.bsky.social · Sep 3

The complicity of major tech companies in the genocide in Gaza is unprecedented and shameful

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · Sep 2

‪Could Palestine Action be designated a terrorist organisation in New Zealand?
- Lessons from the UK and New Zealand on how anti-terror laws can target activists
#freepalestine #PalestineAction #terrorism #peace #history #law #freespeech #directaction
Link: substacktools.com/sharex/FasqQ...

Could Palestine Action be proscribed a terrorist organisation in New Zealand?

Lessons from the UK and New Zealand on how anti-terror laws can target activists

substacktools.com

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Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · Aug 21

First and only time the song was sung live - it was recorded in April. Orbison died on 6 December 1988 and the single was released Jan 3 1989.

Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · Aug 21

A year in Substack: Ideas, habits, and seeking a political alternative to the status quo
Link: open.substack.com/pub/joehendr...
#FreePalestine #nzpol #Peace #blogging

A year in Substack: Ideas, habits, and seeking a political alternative to the status quo

Happy Birthday blog!

substacktools.com

Joe Hendren @joehendren.bsky.social · Aug 13

When grandparents face terrorism charges: The Palestine Action story open.substack.com/pub/joehendr...
- Sixty years after jailing a Nobel laureate, the UK government is again using heavy-handed laws against non-violent protesters. #FreePalestine #Protests #UKpol #PoliticalHistory #Peace

When grandparents face terrorism charges: The Palestine Action story

Opposing war and protecting civil liberties across generations. Sixty years after jailing a Nobel laureate, the UK government is again using heavy-handed laws against non-violent protesters.

open.substack.com

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