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MediaJuly 31, 2016

The best of The Spinoff this week: Sunday 31 July edition

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Compiling the best reading of the week from your friendly local website.

Duncan Greive: Announcing the War for Auckland

So for the first time we’re opening up the opportunity to contribute to The Spinoff financially via our PledgeMe campaign. We’re asking for money for this specific project, from both businesses and individuals, to chip in either publicly or anonymously. What we’re saying is: if you think it’s important that we live in a modern city which is fit for purpose into the future, then we would love your help to cover this election with that in mind.

Alex Behan: Don’t rock the boat: the real reason Radio Hauraki refuses to pronounce its own name right

“During Māori language week the first two years I didn’t drop a beat. I Hoeraki’ed all over the place. I mean, that was the one week where they couldn’t touch me yeah? It really stood out, I thought it sounded great and the majority of feedback was positive. (To be honest, there were one or two racist call outs which didn’t surprise or bother me). As soon as Māori language week ended, I was pulled aside and asked to go back to the regular program.”

Different logo, same incorrect pronunciation
Different logo, same incorrect pronunciation

Calum Henderson: Gloriavale: Where a woman’s place is submissive and pregnant

“Everything that has or will ever happen to these women in their lives is simply a result of God’s will. ‘I can’t do anything to get pregnant,’ claimed Angel, ‘God just gives me the baby when he wants me to have it.’ She gave birth to her sixth child on a still summer’s night. ‘It was easy,’ said her husband.”

Shamubeel Eaqub: Shamubeel Calls Bullshit #1: The confused Boomer rights activist from St Heliers

We introduce a new series, ‘Shamubeel calls Bullshit’, in which prominent economist Shamubeel Eaqub swears at people who say moronic things about the Unitary Plan, the housing crisis, and the local body elections.

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Tim Murphy: Len’s last stand: in his last days, Mayor Brown helps crush a move to axe Māori from the Unitary Plan debate

“This needed a proper Mayor in the Chair. Brown must have known beforehand what lay ahead. He knew what it would say to Māori in Auckland and everywhere if at the last minute, five years into a process, the Māori voice was silenced on Auckland’s future shape.”

 

 

Duncan Greive: Why the hell did Filthy Rich just get $7m to make a second season?

“Here we are, making yet more Filthy Rich, a show out of time but flush with even more cash, and one in which our commissioners retain a mystifying faith. It would be infuriating at any time, but I happen to be of the belief that we’re living through an era of extraordinary plenty as far as dramatic and comedic talent goes. There are a generation working in theatre, stand-up, reality and more bursting with talent and ideas.”

Hayden Donnell: Some graphs that show the new Unitary Plan is both great and extremely embarrassing for our worst councillors

“There was a lot of monotone droning at Auckland Council’s briefing on its new Recommended Unitary Plan. We were told about PAUPs, MHUs, and THAs. Feasible capacities and enabled capacities. But between the lines of planner speak, there was one consistent message: the council was being owned. Devastatingly burned. Mercilessly razzed.”

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Scotty Stevenson: Crusader Man: What to make of Todd Blackadder’s Super Rugby coaching career

“Each time he lifted the trophy it was with no fanfare. There were no wild gestures, no screaming at the cameras. He simply said what he had to say, flashed his shy and friendly smile, raised the trophy with a humble awkwardness and headed back to his team. They played for him. He played for them.”

Ian Shirley: To fix Auckland’s shambles, let’s begin with the Wellington Problem

“The problem had been identified as the fractured nature of governance in the region and Auckland’s inability to speak with “one voice”, but the past six years have refuted that assessment – as our recent report on Auckland suggested, since the formation of the unitary council, Auckland has spoken with one voice, particularly on the deficits that the region incurred and the priorities now being articulated by the regional government.

The problem is that Wellington did not like what that one voice was saying.”

Jami-Lee Ross: ‘It got vicious and it got nasty’ – a NZ National MP writes from the Republican National Convention

“The election is much closer than the world thinks. President Trump could conceivably be taking office in January 2017. Experts in presidential politics that presented to us admitted they got it all wrong in the primaries and are no longer willing to believe what conventional wisdom tells them. Trump has thrown everything they know to be true into question.”

 

Keep going!