Branko Marcetic

Contributing writer

Branko Marcetic is an editorial assistant at Jacobin magazine and a freelance journalist who wiles away the hours writing about New Zealand and US politics

Politics

Nov 14, 2018

The curious political transformation of Shane Jones

For many years NZ First’s Shane Jones was one of Labour’s most reliably pro-business MPs. Yet today he presents as an anti-corporate crusader. Branko Marcetic assesses his record and asks whether supporters should trust his dramatic conversion.

Politics

Oct 19, 2018

The Ross v Bridges affair is a kick up the arse on Chinese state influence in NZ

If there’s one takeaway from the donations controversy that sparked the National Party Meltdown, it’s that we ought to start taking such influence campaigns seriously

Society

Jun 29, 2018

The problem with Lotto's move into online scratch cards

Online gaming is broadly illegal to operate in NZ, so how come government controlled Lotto NZ is running virtual betting with games like Texas Hold'Em?

Society

Jun 14, 2018

A brief history of New Zealand’s most absurd three-strikes cases

As the government is forced into retreat over its planned repeal of the three strikes law, it's worth remembering just why it needs to go.

Politics

Jun 7, 2018

Does Jacinda Ardern face a Helen Clark style winter of discontent?

From day one, Clark's government was confronted by a revolt from the NZ business world, and there is a similar chill in the air today.

Science

May 20, 2018

What happens to NZ after global nuclear war breaks out?

What might happen to the ecology, economy and overall quality of life in our distant isles?

Politics

Apr 10, 2018

Why Labour and the Greens should tear up their fiscal straitjacket

When your house is in decay, a refusal to spend money to fix it is the opposite of prudent

Politics

Mar 7, 2018

Does the revamped TPP get a clean bill of health on the environment?

We ask environmental critics of the original agreement whether the deal updated as CPTPP allays their concerns

Ātea

Mar 3, 2018

A history of outrage over the word ‘Pākehā’

'Pākehā' been used to describe Europeans, and then New Zealanders of European descent since before 1815. So why do people object to it so much?

Media

Jan 30, 2018

Everyone’s talking about the heatwave. Just don’t mention the elephant in the sauna

From fan shortages to sweaty insomnia, New Zealand can't get enough of heatwave talk. But there's one subject that few media stories about high summer temperatures seem eager to discuss.

Politics

Jan 15, 2018

The trouble with that ‘in defence of Trump’ column

In purporting to deliver a disinterested appraisal of the US president’s first year, Heather Du Plessis-Allan creates a perfect storm of misinformation, argues Branko Marcetic

Politics

Dec 18, 2017

The history of National party collusion with Australian politicians and strategists

The current trans-Tasman tensions have nothing on the decades of covert and overt collaboration between the Liberals, National and the shadowy Crosby-Textor strategists.

Politics

Dec 13, 2017

From Blair force to Super Splat: a rummage through MPs’ official CVs

Opinion: Green MP Golriz Ghahraman recently came under fire over a selective biography on the party site. Branko Marcetic dives into a bunch of other members’ bios.

Politics

Nov 11, 2017

The TPP v climate change: are they compatible?

Branko Marcetic asks around to see if the new government can keep both its trade promises and its climate change commitments. Jacinda Ardern melted the anthropogenically warming hearts of many an â€¦

Politics

Nov 2, 2017

The evidence is in: a minimum wage increase doesn’t actually mean economic apocalypse

In New Zealand and around the world, modest boosts to the minimum wage have failed to trigger the catastrophic effects detractors prophesy, writes Branko Marcetic No sooner was the new government’s â€¦

Politics

Sep 29, 2017

How did Labour’s immigration stance impact its immigrant vote?

Did Labour's anti-immigration stance prevent it winning the 2017 election? Branko Marcetic crunches the numbers.

Politics

Sep 25, 2017

What will Winston do? The lessons of ’96 tell us he might go with Ardern

To find out what Winston might do, Branko Marcetic takes a hard look at what he did before – specifically the campaign and aftermath of the 1996 election.

Politics

Sep 20, 2017

Winston’s history: what can we learn from the NZ First deals with National and Labour?

In 1996, NZ First went into coalition with Winston Peters' old party. In 2005 it propped up a Labour government. Branko Marcetic looks back at those examples and how they fared.

Politics

Sep 11, 2017

Winston’s children: meet the tempestuous youth wing of NZ First

Branko Marcetic talks to current and past members of Young NZ First about their role in a party usually linked to the old, about rivalries, radicalism and alt-right infiltration.

Politics

Aug 24, 2017

The hidden power of NZ’s political youth wings

Parties are forever chasing the youth vote, but it's during election season when the power of young political supporters is at its height. Branko Marcetic meets the leaders of the parties' youth wings, and finds them fired up and ready to go.

Politics

Aug 11, 2017

Jacinda Ardern as NZ’s Obama, Macron or Trudeau? Be careful what you wish for

The advent of Jacindamania has prompted hopeful comparisons between Ardern and other photogenic, likeable liberal leaders, including Canada's Justin Trudeau and France's Emmanuel Macron. If that turns out to be true, the NZ left is going to be sorely disappointed, writes Branko Marcetic.

Politics

Jul 19, 2017

Winston Peters is plotting to eat Labour’s lunch. And it’s working

In a followup to his report as an embedded NZ First member at the party's conference, Branko Marcetic looks at how the Winston Peters bus is going through the gears.

Politics

Jul 18, 2017

I joined NZ First and went to their conference to find out what they’re really up to

The headlines don’t quite capture the core message of Winston Peters’ party, finds Branko Marcetic when he attends their pre-election conference.

Politics

Jun 22, 2017

Remembering ‘paintergate’, and what Bill English had to say about it

The Todd Barclay affair has prompted many memory lapses, but perhaps none as powerful as Prime Minister Bill English's now-forgotten objections to cover-ups and deceit. Branko Marcetic looks back to 2002, when Helen Clark's Paintergate and Corngate scandals were making the news – and Bill English was making hay.

Media

Jun 20, 2017

What New Zealand looks like when you watch it on NBC

On Megyn Kelly's new show Keith Morrison delivers a glossy paean to New Zealand, where US citizens are apparently flocking following the demise of the American dream.

Politics

May 18, 2017

The influence machine: how an American neoliberal lobby group operates in NZ

Emails between the New Zealand branch of the US Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade offer a fascinating window into the way trade lobbying happens in NZ, writes Branko Marcetic.

The Spinoff is made possible by the generous support of the following organisations.
Please help us by supporting them.