Jonathan Milne

Managing editor of Newsroom Pro. I investigate what happens when government, business and the community sector collide - and how it impacts on us all.

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

It was embattled Winton founder Christopher Meehan who made the phone call this week: would Michael Stiassny consider joining the property development company’s board, as chair?
Stiassny speaks exclusively to me at @NewsroomNZ. https://t.co/z5u8yw8iHN

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

Amid the political back-slapping about $100 million US and NZ investment for a new deepwater port for the remote Cook Islands community of Tongareva, islanders are worried – they’ve been here before. @NewsroomNZ https://t.co/vZxsyS4ZQH

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

Another director down in what's becoming the most spectacular collapse of a NZ-listed firm since Equiticorp. Julian Cook announced his resignation, after @NewsroomNZ reported board's initial failure to respond to complaints about founder Chris Meehan. https://t.co/dGGnlzhFgr

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

Two women have spoken to me about how political donor Chris Meehan sexually harassed them when they worked for him at NZX-listed Winton/Ayrburn. The board initially failed to act. Now, executive director Julian Cook has joined the exodus. @NewsroomNZ https://t.co/dGGnlzhFgr

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

The exodus continues from Winton as directors/mgmt refuse to deal with founder Chris Meehan and the complaints about him from staff. Chair Steven Joyce, director Guy Fergusson, CFO Jean McMahon and rem committee chair James Kemp have now quit @NewsroomNZ https://t.co/jIpCAEjgs0

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

We reported at least five Winton staff had lodged complaints; about four named founder Chris Meehan. He resigned – but just seven weeks later, Meehan is back hanging out downstairs at the company's Bravo restaurant – and chair Steven Joyce has quit.
https://t.co/jIpCAEjgs0

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

@Pukeko65 @NewsroomNZ It’s taken me a lot of years and hard work to achieve this level of ‘pathetic’.

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

Erica Stanford faces a tough gig today. I’m not talking about trying out for the Nats leadership. I’m talking about going head-to-head with the Black Ferns on a visit to Royal Oak Intermediate to announce 20 new specialist classrooms around NZ. @NewsroomNZ https://t.co/iJDm0mj9TQ

[Tim Murphy @tmurphyNZ]

Chris Penk.
An officer and a gentleman, a conspirator and a coupster. Dismissed, demoted, defrocked.
But who was the real candidate behind the cloak and dagger?
And will Luxon's court martial make the rest of the troops restless or suborned?

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

Merger proposals went down to deadline. 19 councils now face being ordering into forced marriages, for want of a better description. Yet the minister makes a candid admission: “If Wellington dictates to regions how it needs to look, it fails.” @NewsroomNZ https://t.co/5dASeqyTi4

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

It’s going down to deadline. On Sunday, about 48 cities and districts will submit proposals to merge into fewer than half that many councils. Wgtn’s mayors are gathering behind closed doors in a last chaotic attempt to hammer out an agreement. @NewsroomNZ https://t.co/AuPmVGVrFa

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

Listening to advocacy groups, you’d think NZ was a cheapskate in its govt funding for healthcare. In fact, it’s in the top half of the OECD. Now, with Act’s pledge to triple the medicines budget, I’m bringing my @Newsroom editorial out from the paywall. https://t.co/r6aZue9M4y

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

NZ has been dragged kicking into a geopolitical stoush with Russia’s release of security footage of a man’s arrest for ‘treason’. The ambassador tells me the man provided NZSIS with information that could be used against the security of Russia. @NewsroomNZ
https://t.co/B1QpRc9wTm

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

The award of the sought-after Michelin stars to 15 Kiwi restaurants is good news for those businesses – but a leading economist says the previously secret business case for NZ doesn’t stack up. @NewsroomNZ https://t.co/o4v5LoOrbu

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

Ministers are considering advice on extending $5.3b ratepayer assistance scheme after the election to include $1.4b rates postponement and $2b low interest loans to big and small property developers. @NewsroomNZ
https://t.co/nAJkkox0fg

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

Cow belches have worsened NZ greenhouse gas emissions; now their manure could be used by the reinvented Marsden Point refinery to make biofuels and fertilisers to help fix the problem. “This project would be transformational,” says CEO. @NewsroomNZ https://t.co/dbWYAYL4xa

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

In a provocative test, Beijing has fired a nuclear-capable missile into the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone – over the heads of those still suffering the harm of radiation poisoning from UK and US weapons testing in the 1950s. @NewsroomNZ https://t.co/kZXMbeSkoh

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

This leaves a bad taste. Disgraced Amisfield chef Vaughan Mabee becomes the new Michelin man, as the restaurant guide’s grasping pursuit of revenue overtakes its previous commitment to independence and excellence.
My morning editorial from @NewsroomNZ. https://t.co/ckgbBuCjf4

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

Once bitten, twice shy. Govt green bank NZGIF was forced to write off $133m following the collapse of solar energy provider SolarZero. Now, it’s refraining from handing over $78m to another solar business. My investigation is live at @NewsroomNZ ($). https://t.co/ZdMYRkuPbh

[Jonathan Milne @JonoMilne]

Manc mayor Andy Burnham’s favourite record is ‘The Queen is Dead’; now he too could accede unopposed to power.
It’s 10 years today since Brexit. For my @NewsroomNZ column, those who know him assess what it means for relations with NZ and the Commonwealth. https://t.co/Tmzjn5MwmC