Obscene.

Very disappointing to see such political interference in the curriculum. Whatever one might think about aspects of the existing curriculum (and I certainly have my own criticisms of it), it must be remembered that many individuals and communities gave their time and expertise in its development.

"our future top taxpayers take their talents offshore, in search of stimulating jobs where they won’t constantly be interrupted by restructure and redundancies." This is a real and significant issue for NZ that comes on top of the fact that wages are uncompetitive with those paid in Aus. #nzpol

Imagine on the day 100,000 public servants strike the news is telling people you are getting an $8100 rates break

This is the way.

Snort #nzpol

More on Brian Roche - apparently he's on a part time $650,000 contract and keeps 4 private directorships including a property investment/development company and forestry. No wonder he has no problem politicising the PSC for his benefit #nzpol #kiw

Roche is the living embodiment of that Upton Sinclair quote “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” (In this case the 600K part time salary pays for A LOT of not understanding.)

The Public Service Commissioner frankly needs to shut up. He has a role in negotiations, but he should not be giving public commentary on what is ultimately a dispute between public sector workers and ministers (who made the decisions that resulted in the paltry offers on the table).

The ʻjust reporting what was said’ paradigm leaves them completely vulnerable to manipulation. People can argue whether by intent, by design, or by accident but regardless of nuances and causal links, the entire system is not fit for purpose.

The NZ political reporting culture has been so focused for so long on masterful gambits, they are unable to contextualise blatant lying and deception as bad and dangerous qualities in leadership situations.

Genuinely horrifying malevolence. NZ is being pulled into violence and complicity in Trump administration crimes. We didn’t ask for this and it’s not in our name.

1. Refuse unlawful, corrupt demands 2. Visibly bolster the rule of law 3. Unite in opposition 4. Harness economic power 5. Preempt electoral manipulation 6. Organize your community 7. Shape the story 8. Build bridges and democratic alternatives 9. Document abuses, protect people, reinforce truth 1/2

We have someone with no education knowledge or experience who has decided to be more than the Minister of Education and become the ministry, and media in this country have swallowed it whole. They have let our kids down and should be ashamed.

The Public Service Commission should take care to protect the political neutrality of the public service. That is their first responsibility

#nzpol I never thought that I would see the day when the Public Service Commission was used as an attack arm of the government. National Party polling must be telling them how popular the strikes are, and how unpopular they are. They are afraid. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

The ads placed by the Public Service Commission are astonishingly inappropriate and undermine confidence in the political neutrality of public service leadership. #nzpol

So much of this govt's strike messaging is 'these selfish ingrates are paid well & don't have the moral right to strike' which is so far beyond believable reality that it's just a weird choice. If they just said 'no money left soz', they'd get more public sympathy than for this Evil Mr Burns stuff.

The National playbook: 1) tank the economy and deliberately drive up unemployment, 2) blame and shame the newly unemployed for their situation, 3) punish beneficiaries and drive them further into poverty, 4) rinse and repeat. #nzpol

Your regular reminder that unions represent PEOPLE. They are simply the voice of the PEOPLE they represent. Nothing more. Nothing less. Attack them and you’re attacking the people they represent. It’s pretty simple. #nzpol

Unsurprisingly, the Archdiocese of Sydney is backing the schism. Many Australian Anglicans will be thinking 'good riddance'!

The multiple abuse scandals and cover-ups that have happened in Anglican churches around the world were apparently seen as no barrier to remaining in communion, but the appointment of a woman as archbishop is seen as beyond the pale and requires a schism.

More than a million dollars is at stake. The sum would destroy a young family. Vindictive. Vicious. Small. I suspect Reynolds would relish the prospect. What reputation? Reynolds has done this to herself. Free read. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21849/...

another broad point: people who have spent their entire working lives inside think tanks and magazines talking about how work needs to be more masculine are overcompensating for their own insecurities.

Excluding survivors of state abuse from redress because of their subsequent actions is a horrific move. Rights aren't rights if they can be disregarded when they're inconvenient.

Welcome home. My @smh @theage cartoon.

Miriam Margolyes is just a warrior woman. That's the post. She said it all.

It's almost as if national/state govt doesn't want a rival source of power.

It’s also WA local election season (polls close next Saturday) and it has similarly dire turnout. My council has had turnout of 24–29% for the past 15 years (biennial elections). The situation resembles NZ: optional voting, postal, virtually no open party affiliation, little media on most councils

Well, that didn’t go how I hoped it would. To say I’m a little disappointed in the NZ voting public’s decision on Māori wards is an understatement. Here’s a thought about aspiring to the bare minimum (& given our #nitrate problem even that might be too much) My Stuff #cartoon today #nzpol

Turnout figures this low (32.65%) raise serious questions about the democratic legitimacy of NZ local government. It would be easy to say those who didn't vote have no right to complain, but it is clear there are significant problems that leave people feeling the process is futile.

Should the fact that the voting process literally involves putting your ballot paper in a bin be seen as symbolic of the health of local democracy in NZ? 🤔

Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Chris Finlayson offer praise for the Waitangi Tribunal – and damning criticism of the coalition Government. Sam Sachdeva reports.

Suggesting that Greta Thunberg is the antichrist, railing against attempts to constrain tech companies and prevent tax evasion, but still no sign of the promotion of NZ he promised when granted NZ citizenship without ever having lived here.

Bloody well done. When Australian comedians sum up your government better than the professional media 😑 #nzpol

The Government of New Zealand has made a new tourism ad and it's surprsingly honest and informative!

My wife and I felt a sense of relief when I started in a new position last week after a period of job hunting. The relief was short-lived as this week my wife's workplace indicated there would be significant job losses as part of a restructure. Such is life in NZ in 2025 ...

Winston Peters arriving at the Koputai port today … (Credit Stephen Jaquiery from the OFT)

What a complete fool this Prime Minister is. I never want to hear him spout ‘international rules-based order’ ever again. Complicit in genocide.

I'm so hung up on Christopher Luxon saying "oh well the government has advised people not to go to Gaza for many years" as though Rana, Youssef and Samuel were on an ill-advised ski trip and not, you know, deliberately engaged in humanitarian efforts to deliver aid to victims of genocide

Just waiting for another strong and principled defence of international law from Luxon and co. "What I'd say to you is that New Zealand and other countries have issued travel advisories ..."

Unbelievable cowardice.

And the Sydney Anglicans form a breakaway church in 3... 2... 1...

Lots of people are taking that advice. They are now in Australia. Where the jobs are.