Sam Sachdeva

@samsachdeva.bsky.social

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Foreign affairs + more at Newsroom.co.nz, author of THE CHINA TIGHTROPE. @SamSachdevaNZ on the site formerly known as Twitter. Contact me securely via samsnews@protonmail.com

Argentina fans in team shirts posing with a cut out of Lionel Messi
Labour selects Dr Gary Payinda for Whāngarei 17 November 2025 The Labour Party has selected emergency medicine specialist doctor Dr Gary Payinda as candidate for Whāngarei for 2026. “It’s an honour to be selected as Labour’s Whāngarei candidate,” Dr Gary Payinda said. “The work we are doing to provide every New Zealander with three free GP visits a year will be a game-changer in healthcare, helping people before their conditions worsen and they end up in hospital. It will prevent suffering, save lives, reduce pressure on our hospitals, and keep people healthier. “For nearly two decades, I’ve worked as an emergency doctor in Whangārei. I’ve raised my kids here, worked on the rescue helicopter, served on school boards, and as the national medical director for Surf Life Saving NZ. “It’s a privilege to live and work in Northland, but over the past two years I’ve watched the National Government drive inequity, undercut public health and make visiting the doctor more expensive and out of reach for many people. “I believe in equity for all and in the social good that Labour has always stood for – policies that benefit every New Zealander, regular Kiwis, the regular person, not just those at the top. “I understand how government policies and public services can literally transform lives. I am excited to stand as the Labour candidate for Whāngarei, and I am ready to represent the needs of our community in Parliament, with everything I’ve got,” Gary Payinda said.
Comment: A crucial part of New Zealand’s national identity – or myth, depending on your cynicism levels – is our history of moral leadership on the world stage. Whether on nuclear-free advocacy, the suffragette movement or the war in Iraq, we like to tell ourselves we are willing to put our head above the parapet on issues that affect our national conscience. Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ announcement that New Zealand will not yet support Palestinian statehood, splitting from the announcements made by Australia, the United Kingdom and a number of other close partners, at least technically maintains our claim to an independent foreign policy. But the coalition’s decision will leave a sour taste in the mouths of many New Zealanders, and a sense that pragmatism (bordering on cowardice) has trumped principle when it comes to the future of a territory that a United Nations commission has determined is being subjected to genocide.
Labour Party press release Headline: Christopher Luxon’s ego gets ahead of him, again Text: Christopher Luxon is claiming a major international business investment secured under Labour as his own. “In an embarrassing faux pas, Christopher Luxon is claiming a $7.5 billion investment in New Zealand as something he’s done, when in reality he’s had very little to do with it,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. “He’s the FIGJAM Prime Minister. He spends so much time and energy claiming everything Labour did was wrong, now he’s claiming Labour’s achievements as his own. “In 2021, Amazon announced the investment Christopher Luxon took upon himself to ‘announce’ this morning.
A screenshot of an OIA with the heading, 'If raised by China:', then all the following information redacted.
Headline on NZ Herald story: 'Nato chief clarifies ‘daddy’ comments about Trump at Nato summit'
ACT Party Facebook post saying: "Believe it or not, the Labour Party was once sane. In 2011, Labour’s Justice spokesperson and lawyer Charles Chauvel described the principles in the Regulatory Standards Bill like this:" "Principles that pretty much anybody should support." "Those principles are incontrovertible and are the basis on which the legal system rests." "Nobody could argue with those principles. They are right and they are self-evident."
Excerpt from Stuff story: Responding to Peters’ criticism of his leadership, Hipkins replied: “Winston Peters, every day looks more and more like an angry old man shouting at the clouds.”
New High Commissioner to the UK announced Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Hamish Cooper as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. “New Zealand’s relationship with the UK is one of our most important. “Mr Cooper is one of New Zealand’s most senior and experienced diplomats and is eminently well-qualified to take on this significant role,” Mr Peters says. Over his 40-year career at the Ministry, Mr Cooper has held several important roles including as New Zealand’s Ambassador to Japan, Russia, and Türkiye. He will take up the role in September.
Text from angsty millennial Hayden Donnell's Spinoff article about the retirement age (https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/28-05-2025/radical-millennial-idea-dont-raise-the-age-of-superannuation-eligibility): "Not every millennial is lucky enough to have a job working at Air NZ or sitting in front of the computer watching Toby Manhire research Juggernaut season two."
Text from High Court judgment: BETWEEN LIVING MAN: DAVID-JOHN: OF THE HOUSE WILSON Appellant AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE SOUTHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL Respondent
A Newstalk ZB tweet with the article headline 'Kiwifruit and sustainable sportswear: A year of the NZ-EU trade deal' ... but the link is to a different article, titled 'Watch: Kiwi released on Waiheke Island for first time', with an image of a kiwi being held by somebody.
In late 1986, amid public outcry over violent crimes, Banks releases details of previous convictions of two accused. He survives contempt of court charges. In April 1987 he is suspended from Parliament for seven days over allegations that Cabinet Minister Richard Prebble benefited from the votes of Pacific Island overstayers in Auckland Central.
Liquidators appointed to Libelle Group Auckland, March 11, 2025 – The above company was placed into Liquidation this morning (March 11, 2025) by the shareholders of the company. Robert Campbell and David Webb of Deloitte New Zealand have been appointed as Liquidators. Libelle Group is a food service provider, offering a range of services including government funded lunches, residential catering, tuckshop solutions and school catering services for the past 20 years. Its contracts span the education sector. Libelle Group is contracted by Compass Group New Zealand Limited (Compass) to deliver approximately 125,000 meals daily as part of the Government’s Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches programme. The Liquidators have immediately engaged with Compass who is working with the School Lunch Collective to support continuity of service. “The Liquidators are undertaking a full and urgent review of all of Libelle’s operations, with our immediate focus being working with Libelle’s employees and affected stakeholders to ascertain the way forward, including ensuring students around New Zealand continue to receive their school lunches,” said Liquidator David Webb. The Liquidators understand there will be many parties, including employees, suppliers and schools, who will have questions about the process and the Liquidators will work with Compass and relevant parties to ensure stakeholders are kept informed.
Selectively cropped NYT push alert: “What to watch: A Brisk and Juicy Australian”
Text from NZ Herald column: We hear Stuff is so unhappy about losing top reporter Sam Sherwood to RNZ that it has been considering invoking a three-month restraint of trade. Sherwood, who rejoined Stuff eight months ago following an award-winning stint at the NZ Herald, has been appointed national crime correspondent at the public broadcaster. Sherwood declined to comment and Stuff said: “We don’t comment on individual employment matters.”
Cricinfo stats for smallest margin of victory by runs in tests: https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/smallest-margin-of-victory-by-runs-215342
A screenshot of a Stuff news story stating that "both party leaders rated their own performance an eight out of 10"
A goofy black and white cat squishing his face against a glass window with a garden in the background