The Spinoff Daily, Thursday January 30

͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­

	Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more How a failure of the imagination opens the door to privatisation The Spinoff Daily, Thursday January 30 Jan 30   READ IN APP   Ahiahi mārie, welcome to The Spinoff Daily. Today on The Spinoff: Everything you missed from the first question time of 2025, the car crash that changed Shortland Street forever and all the books longlisted for the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. But first: When public services are failing, it’s easy to look to privatisation. But that doesn’t mean we should, argues Max Rashbrooke. “It was, as the economist Bill Rosenberg observed, ‘a conflict of interest fit for a post-Soviet state’. In 1993, financiers Fay Richwhite were allowed to advise the government on the sale of the state-owned New Zealand Rail – and then be one of main shareholders in the winning bid. After that things really went downhill. Privatised TranzRail had an appalling safety record, its staff dying at work at eight times the national average. And while cutting maintenance to a level Rosenberg labelled ‘abysmal’, Fay Richwhite and their fellow owners took out at least $370m in profits from a firm for which they had paid just $328m. Helen Clark’s Labour government was then forced to repurchase the railways, creating KiwiRail as we now know it. The whole episode cost the state around $4bn, according to then business commentator Brian Gaynor. Rampant conflicts of interest, asset-stripping, disastrous outcomes, profits flowing offshore to wealthy interests rather than ordinary New Zealanders: this might be why, as David Seymour observed last week, New Zealanders are ‘squeamish’ about privatisation. Not that the soon-to-be deputy PM has learned anything from those debacles: indeed he thinks we should plunge ourselves right back into them.” Read more We still need your help Our extensive coverage of Waitangi 2025 is powered by the nearly 16,000 people who give to us on a monthly or annual basis or who have donated on a one-off basis. It would have been unimaginable before so many of you met our honesty with your generosity after our open letter in November. We still need 4,500 new members to join us this year to ensure our future so we can continue the comprehensive, rigorous and thoughtful coverage of the things that matter to our audiences. Please, if you value comprehensive coverage of Waitangi and te Tiriti issues and you're not a member yet, make this week the week you sign up. Support The Spinoff Echo Chamber: Strap in for the first question time of 2025 The ‘diplomatic tiff’ between New Zealand and Kiribati, explained Treaty principles bill hearings, day two: Kiri Allan and Sandra Goudie make submissions Treaty principles bill: Is $6m a reasonable cost for a national debate? Join us live in 2025 We have four fantastic live events coming up in 2025. Join us in Auckland and Wellington for The Spinoff Live. Auckland at Q Theatre: Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club Party, February 13 and Gone by Lunchtime Live, April 9. Wellington at the Hannah Playhouse: The Fold Live, February 20 and The Spinoff Book Club, March 13. Book tickets All the books longlisted for the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards ‘Fiery deaths ahead’: The car crash that changed Shortland Street forever What I learnt making a documentary about Aotearoa’s queer history Help Me Hera: I can’t make a decision to save my life Share The Spinoff Daily   Share     Like Comment Restack   © 2025 The Spinoff 615 New North Road, Kingsland, Auckland 1021 Unsubscribe