Some mild criticism from me (ex Labour staffer, postgrad political comms student) of Labour's lack of policy and timid centrism on Labour socials led to really angry accusations of 'mudslinging', 'flinging barbs' and telling me to 'go back to fluffing the CoC'. Which was quite funny. 🤔 #nzpol

Cool story bro but from the cheap seats it sure looks like Labour saved lives and did its best to save businesses in extremely trying circumstances and all you’ve ever done is blame them for responding in a way that put the community first.

"Third Way" liberal politics involves *saying* things that working people love, but *doing* things that sociopathic plutocrats love. It works ...right up until voters notice that you're not *doing* the things. That realisation breeds cynicism and fury and paves the way for fascist strongmen. 2/

I've just replied to Stuart Nash's post announcing his NZF Napier candidacy. In case it's deleted or hidden, here it is #nzpol

As an anthropologist, I endorse this message!

So sick of these RW w@nkers big-noting.

Yes it sucks dealing with a cavalcade of endless fuckery from the Government but you know what's worse? Not dealing with it! www.emilywrites.co.nz/subs/

BREAKING ‼️ My members bill has just been drawn from the biscuit tin that would draw a line in stopping any new mining on public Conservation land 🌳🦎🐧🐝🦋 ...with all the Government's attacks on nature, this could not come at a more critical time. Big ups to the original bill holder Eugenie Sage 🙌

still not quite over the fact that i watched 15 year olds get sued for millions of dollars for downloading twelve songs and now we all have to accept AI slop because every tech company in the known universe decided that IP laws don't exist now that they're inconvenient for them

The entire NZ govt is behaving strangely when it comes to America. I mean it’s not that weird we have always been America’s chamcha but whether it’s the illegal war or random detainment of our citizen they have 0 courage it’s really disgusting and out of step with what the general public wants.

I have v good memories of working with Maiki Sherman when at Parlt. Admired her professionalism and non-partisan approach. I'm angry she was viciously targeted in a dirty politics smear campaign and that her employers + colleagues were so gutless in the face of clearly coordinated strategies. #nzpol

Moving from the most left-leaning electorate in AoNZ (Wgtn Central) to one of the top five most right-leaning (Tukituki) has been ... difficult. Worst is the absolute vacuum of LW discourse and the online racism and misogyny nurtured by (eg) new Cllr Gibson. Labour are nowhere. Greens are fringe and

This is starting to become a "throw everything we can into the shredder before we are thrown out" government.

i believe this is related to the rise in people who are utterly incurious about anything not directly beneficial to themselves

I've been waiting for my thesis examination reports for nearly 10 weeks. Today I found out that the research office never received the docs due to several admin snafus (and some CBF in the mix as well). Very disheartening as I upload the whole caboodle again and the wait resets.

Lord give me the confidence of an ex Air NZ CEO to go on the television to tell the whole country I’m doing a great job when my personal favorability is polling at 16%. I beseech you, oh lord, for this level of confidence.

Posting this here as I'm totally shadowbanned on the X site for anti-genocide sentiments. (And I don't think Ben's here?) #nzpol

Just published! Writing with the amazing @sarahhbickerton.bsky.social we unpack online misogyny in NZ, what laws look like right now and set out our vision for online safety regulations that support women's human rights. Was wonderful working with Sarah on this piece!

I remember John Carpenter describing right wing and left wing horror. Right wing horror the leader is asked where evil lives. He says it's out in the woods and it's going to attack their village in the night. Left wing horror the leader points to his heart and says "evil is inside all of us."

I'm gonna say that senators and representatives posting on social media that the madness has to stop is pretty weak sauce. These are people who, unlike the rest of us, can actually DO something to stop the madness. So maybe put down your phones and get to work?

When Christopher Luxon told Tova O’Brien on Breakfast, “My job is the CEO,” it wasn’t just a slip of the tongue. It was a window into how he thinks leadership works and cuts right to the heart of the problem in New Zealand’s environmental and social politics today. #nzpol

Not to overstate it - but things like online baking were, for some, community connection when such opportunities were scarce. The PM not understanding the morale-boosting affect of a non-transactional, grassroots communal activity is tone-deaf, patronising, and plain odd. #nzpol #sourdough

So bad they had to reel it back but there are still plent of fish hooks in this Bill. The National Party has truly given up on our environment by allowing Shane Jones and his mates to re-write the Fisheries Act at the expense of public interests.

After writing my apocalypse shopping list (h/t southstarbrew.bsky.social), I’m now reading Julian Barnes’ Departure(s) and was suddenly struck with the knowledge that my mother would have loved this book.

I was an occasional visitor to the BD with biker husband. Interesting how biker culture can now embrace conspiracy theories and bitter Jacinda-hate. Maybe it's pure misogyny. Maybe it's marketing. Either way, this corner of rural Kiwiana has turned rancid. I'm not going back.

Theroux’s manosphere doc. What struck me most was the lack of any coherent ideology. There’s none. It’s all empty, hollow. These guys pursue only a Trumpian ideal of maximised monetisation.

Actually not a great plan for mental wellbeing in today's world to read Chidgey's Remote Sympathy and watch Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere on the same day.

FYI @siouxsiew.bsky.social @hendysh.bsky.social @ashbloomfield.bsky.social

I love this scenario (though I might skip the Jessica then Tova part ;-)). Lean in @chrishipkins.bsky.social!

This is very good news. 💚 #nzpol www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Having listened to the ZB interview, I realise I underestimated Luxon’s ego and arrogance, and overestimated his capacity for self awareness. He’s a man who - clearly - will never acknowledge he’s the problem. Unfortunately for the Nats THAT’S THE PROBLEM for them right now. Happy weekend guys!

Sounds like Luxon's really convinced of his own ability and sceptical about polls (esp this one) so he's digging in. (Newstalk ZB just now) NOT considering his options actually hahaha - presenting as blindsided by the whole furore Good for the left #nzpol

"We called London a war zone and moved to Dubai by mistake"

“It’s not about you, man” “… abject followers, disguised as leaders, desperate to prove they’re out in front when they’re actually about 40 years behind.” www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...

This is as bad a symptom of political despair and nihilism as I've read. A tech company trying to give vague expression to some concept of the public good and the ethical, in opposition to a state regime that couldn't care less www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/t...

Absolutely fuck off to the fuck. And then fuck off some more.

The reason why we can afford to put homeless people in prison but not housing is because if you house them the homeless person benefits but if you put them in prison we can funnel public funds to a private prison corporation. It’s always about funneling public funds to the wealthy. Always.

Winston Peters is SuperMad. My Stuff #cartoon today #NZpol

The govts LNG plant idea is culture war bullshit based almost entirely on being an iteration of 'drill baby drill' which is an 'own the libs' policy they landed on some they can't just claim AGW is a hoax anymore (which was a less culture war position that they lost on the merits). Prove me wrong.

people are drastically unprepared for what the media & discourse environment is going to turn into this year, I think consider the smears on Green & TPM MPs last year, the months long coordinated campaigns between muckrakers, politicians & media that led to death threats 2026 will likely be worse

every epstein file drop underscores how elite power operates through shared socio-economic networks, regardless of people's ideological differences, populist posturing, or public feuds

We need to talk about the rise of "smol bean fascism" where you have all the guns and the immunity but the really scary people are the ones with whistles and phone cameras and they're giving you generational trauma and ptsd by filming you killing people for no reason

Simply outstanding from @rodemmerson.bsky.social

good Luxon called this out. But it would be helpful if someone in our official public sphere would note that "the people on the margins" disseminating the (sic) "misinformation" include a guy who is the only Twitter friend of his Minister of Foreign Affairs #nzpol www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...

So all it took for Shane Jones to find an environmental protection issue he cared about was a racism angle.

The Free Speech Union didn't exist when black ppl couldn't speak. The Free Speech Union didn't exist when LGBTQ ppl couldn't speak. The Free Speech Union didn't exist when disabled ppl couldn't speak. The Free Speech Union existed when racist white ppl were asked to keep their racism to themselves.