Justin GiovannettiJustin Giovannetti

Justin Giovannetti is The Spinoff's political editor. He's Canadian, speaks some French and is writing a book about poutine. He'd love your news tips. Email him at justin@thespinoff.co.nz

Winston goes to war with the ‘woke generation’ as NZ First gets election ready

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Down in the polls and facing the risk of oblivion, New Zealand First has had a very busy Friday. Justin Giovannetti looks at the start of an NZ First electoral strategy focused on being tough. There’s no surer sign that it’s election time than the blitz of news coming out of New Zealand First. With … Read more

‘We are ready’: Jacinda Ardern declares end to almost all Covid-19 restrictions

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It’s a return to (nearly) normal as New Zealand moves to alert level one and the country is declared free of known cases of Covid-19. Justin Giovannetti reports from parliament as the decision was made. New Zealand will end nearly all Covid-19 restrictions at midnight while maintaining strict controls at the border, making it one … Read more

There’s something fishy about the government’s relationship with seafood

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New Zealand’s fishing boats were all supposed to carry cameras by the end of the month. And then they weren’t. With Greenpeace pointing fingers at NZ First for the delay, MP Shane Jones says he won’t accept criticism from the ‘green blowfish’ anymore. The government’s decision to delay the installation of monitoring cameras on fishing … Read more

New Zealand’s Covid-19 border restrictions are about to get tougher

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The biggest danger facing New Zealand under level one will be the border. Justin Giovannetti looks at what the government is doing to increase border defences and prevent another influx of Covid-19. As the elimination of coronavirus appears imminent in New Zealand, the country’s attention turns to its border and the conflicting need to keep … Read more

Goodbye social distancing, hello the ‘new normal’: NZ prepares for level one

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The country’s coronavirus restrictions might be coming to an end sooner than you think. Justin Giovannetti looks at what level one rules mean for you. Crowded stadiums and restaurants filled to capacity could be reality in New Zealand as soon as next Wednesday as the government eyes an early move to eliminating nearly all remaining … Read more

Widespread failure to comply with level two hospitality rules, survey finds

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Still unsure about what you need to do in restaurants and bars under level two? You’re not alone, according to a new Spinoff-commissioned survey. Ongoing confusion around the use of mobile apps for contact tracing and social distancing in restaurants means New Zealanders and business owners still have work to do to correctly follow Covid-19 … Read more

The National Party rolls the dice

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Four months out from a general election, National has turfed out Simon Bridges and installed Todd Muller as leader. Justin Giovannetti writes from parliament on a big day for NZ’s biggest party. As Simon Bridges clears his desk in the the leader’s office, the National Party now prepares to enter an unprecedented election campaign with … Read more

Covid-19, crisis and transformation: An interview with Jacinda Ardern

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The prime minister discusses the crunch decisions as the coronavirus threat spread, what comes next, and the ‘transformational’ idea, with Spinoff political editor Justin Giovannetti.  Jacinda Ardern was watching coronavirus in China with growing concern in January as developments were still largely limited to foreign news reports. The scale of the virus and its speed … Read more

A ‘tsunami of debt’: Parliament debates the Covid budget

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Budget 2020: Simon Bridges led the critiques, while Winston Peters got personal. Grant Robertson’s budget spends too much money, delivers too little help to businesses struggling due to Covid-19 and will leave future generations swamped by debt, opposition leaders have argued. The finance minister and the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, faced enormous expectations before unveiling … Read more

The clock is ticking: Parliament’s mad dash to pass a level two law, explained

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The legislation soon to be signed into law allows the government to keep doing what it’s done so far – while also giving it controversial new powers, writes political editor Justin Giovannetti. The government is currently attempting to quickly push through legislation that provides ministers and police with sweeping powers to battle Covid-19 for years … Read more

How to start a new job, in a new country, in the middle of a pandemic

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When we appointed Justin Giovannetti as our first press gallery journalist, it meant an adventure from Canada to New Zealand. When Covid-19 ripped around the world, the trip took on an altogether different dimension. Justin picks up the story from his temporary home in mandatory isolation in Auckland. The world as I knew it came … Read more