Recommended by Natalia Albert
I will recommend and amplify any voices advciating for less certainty and different ways of thinking about political social and economic issues. "During this mega-election year, we will hear many politicians argue with certainty about their solutions to the problems we face. I hope more journalists give a spotlight to those who are recognising that they don’t and never will have all the answers."
If you care about transparency, accountability, and the state of democracy in New Zealand, The Integrity Briefing by Dr. Bryce Edwards is a must reading. Bryce has been one of the sharpest voices on political integrity for years, cutting through spin to highlight what’s actually happening in our political system—especially when it comes to lobbying, corruption risks, and the erosion of public trust.
If you’re interested in international relations and how global events shape New Zealand, follow Robert Patman’s Substack. As a professor at Otago, he brings expertise and analysis to foreign policy, security, and international politics—topics that don’t always get the attention they should in our political discourse. I first came across his insights through The Kākā (Bernard Hickey’s newsletter), and I appreciate the way he cuts through complexity without dumbing things down.
Lou is a smart, mindful, creative communicator that cares deeply about what and how she does it. Her podcast is definitely worth a listen to.
I’ve been following Craig Renney’s voice for a while now, and I really appreciate the clarity, professionalism, and consistency he brings to his economic and policy analysis. If you want sharp, evidence-based takes on what’s happening in Aotearoa’s economy and labour market, without the noise, Craig’s Substack is well worth your time.
If you’re interested in thoughtful, evidence-based work on how to make our democracy more participatory and our housing system fairer, I highly recommend IDEA. They’re doing deep research on barriers to participation in decision-making and on modern social housing, two issues that couldn’t be more urgent right now.
Bernard is based in Wellington and covers politics, the economy, the housing market and a myriad number of other things from the Parliamentary Press Gallery. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox Monday to Friday. Only the weekend edition is available for ‘free’ subscribers - so pay!
If you work in or around the public service in Wellington, Bowl of Fish Hooks is essential reading. My brilliant friend and PhD colleague Annika Naschitzki is doing the deep, nerdy, and frankly necessary work of scrutinizing how restructures actually play out—and (spoiler) the system is a mess. Her writing is sharp, insightful, and full of the kind of analysis that should be informing policy but too often isn’t.
Jazial Crossley is a powerful, creative writer based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. Her memoir-by-playlist, Everyone I’ve Ever Loved & All the Songs That Remind Me of Them, is as original as it sounds weaving music, memory, and storytelling in a way that stays with you. She’s an award-winning journalist with several national accolades to her name, holds an MBA, a BA, and a journalism diploma and she’s also my friend. I highly recommend her newsletter.
If you care about Wellington politics, Museum Street by Henry Cooke is well worth your time. Henry spent years covering Parliament from the press gallery, and his newsletter offers sharp, well-informed insights into what’s happening behind the scenes—without the noise of the daily news cycle. I also love the name—Museum Street is that not-quite-a-street behind Parliament where all the political gossip happens.
