10. Bad Bunny
The fact that Turning Point USA programmed a counter-show for the Super Bowl shows you exactly how great Bad Bunny is. In a time of political divide, he delivered an entertaining performance highlighting love, diversity, inclusion and just good music. But because he did it in Spanish, he is the devil.
9. Cleo Abram
Former model-turned-influencer Cleo Abram is really pushing her case to be this generation’s Bill Nye. This year the video journalist travelled the world explaining scientific breakthroughs and climate action, the polar ice caps and more to an audience in attention span bites for her Huge if True series.
8. Arena Williams
Several years ago, this list correctly predicted the rise of Jacinda Ardern. And although she is probably second on the list behind McAnulty, we think that Arena Williams will be a future Prime Minister. Need further proof? Watch the way she deals with Ryan Bridge or Paul Goldsmith.
7.Jack Tame & Tova O’Brien
In an age of ‘9 New Taxes’ and establishment politicians trying and failing to reach young people using meme culture, Tame and Tova are showing others around the country that simple accountability, pressing for answers, and not accepting talking points is both credible and infinitely watchable. NB this was written before Tuesday’s first leaders debate.
6.Andy Burnham
Watch the speech! In the Labour Party Conference, Burnham admits the country has been off track for 40 years. He blames Thatcher deregulation, trickle-down economics, and privatisation. He talks about rejoining the EU, electrifying Britain and bringing back state-owned enterprises for power companies, banks, supermarkets. We want our Labour Party to be that bold.
5.Stephen Colbert
Most people would consider the President actively working to get you fired as a sign to stay quiet. Stephen Colbert is not most people. He spent the last six months as the biggest and funniest critic of the Trump administration. He acted like a man untethered and without fear, but he maintained the class and dignity he has shown throughout his career. Then, with the help of Paul McCartney, he shut it all down and moved to New Zealand for an extended holiday.
4. Andrew Webster
It is hard to look past Warriors Head Coach and 2-time Daley M Coach of the Year Andrew Webster when talking about the greatest coaches the Warriors have ever had. This season alone may have got him to eighth on this list. But last week it was revealed that Webster has donated close to $500,000 to homeless shelters in Auckland and Waikato in the last three years. Not the way we thought redistribution of wealth should happen, but we will take it.
3. Tamatha Paul and Tania Waikato
When the Hobsons Pledge / Tax Payer Union guys start making you a target, you know you are doing something right. And honestly, Tamatha Paul and Tania Waikato each deserve their own place on this list for a number of reasons, but the campaign to counter the government’s draconian voting changes aimed at disenfranchising people has been a highlight. Creating thirst trap photos targeting Māori and Pacific men on social media to Stop The Scroll and Enrol… fucking genius!
2. Scotland at the Football World Cup
Another year, another corrupt world sporting body playing with people’s emotions while extracting as much revenue as possible so they can spend it on fake peace prizes but in the pre-tournament malaise of doom and gloom the world forgot one thing… No Scotland No Party! The Tartan Army made the world fall in love with them by being anti-hooligan. Singing songs, dancing and drinking Boston out of beer. Add to that a few well placed cones on statues that would make any Bryant Hall Resident proud and the added bonus of tidying as they went and all we can say is America is going to be a little bit more Ginger in about two trimesters.
1. Zohran Mandhami
The new Mayor of New York has swept the collective American consciousness by being revolutionary, or as the rest of the world calls it normal. His profound idea that shook all 50 states was that elected officials are there to serve the people. Crazy right?
You can fault the execution, though: faster buses, bins on streets, repairing roads and fixing water mains, not-for-profit supermarkets. For the second time in this list we find ourselves wondering why can’t Labour be this bold in a vision for the country.
