Reminder: regime voter suppression means you need to enrol early. vote.nz/enrolling/en...

NZ really is in danger of being the wild west for risky AI tools, and that's embarrassing. ICYMI here's 800 words where I explain why. Written with my friend and colleague Andrew Lensen. #nzpol www.1news.co.nz/2026/01/21/s...

Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you're been to: Yuja Wang, Beethoven op 106, Düsseldorf Yuja Wang, Leonidas Kavakos, Luxembourg, Brahms Sonatas Yuja Wang, Barbican, London, 2018 Another Yuja I have forgotten the details of - maybe Verbier Festival Beethoven 9, Berlin Phil, Tokyo, Claudio Abbado

Given all the discussion about hate speech laws going on in Australia right now, I decided it would be a good time to publish an article on the philosophical case for hate speech laws. Tl; dr; hate speech laws are necessary to preserve our democracy. www.rightsaotearoa.nz/the-philosop...

On NRT: Coalition of cronyism - norightturn.blogspot.com/2026/01/coal...

Can any legal experts tell me why NZBORA doesn't contain a transcription of ICCPR Article 17 (right to private life, etc.)? Any particular reason?

New publication 📢 Andrew Lensen and I explain how govt priorities on AI mean less regulation and more high-risk AI deployment in NZ. This is about more than just Grok and Elon Musk. #nzpol theconversation.com/sexualised-d...

It seems the best way to get any public sector appointment right now is to send your CV and a covering letter to the ACT Chief of Staff. Worked for Rainbow. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...

Given all the discussion about hate speech laws going on in Australia right now, I decided it would be a good time to publish an article on the philosophical case for hate speech laws. Tl; dr; hate speech laws are necessary to preserve our democracy. www.rightsaotearoa.nz/the-philosop...

Imagine promising to Netsafe you would never speak about someone online ever again and then you shit the bed and do an unhinged rant calling them "Deeply Unstable" just five months later

Just a friendly reminder that Rights Aotearoa is not just me. I have an amazing advisory council of 9 amazing people - they are anonymous for security reasons.

Today, @wikipedia.org turns 25 years old. It's never been more important — or under more attack from authoritarians. Here's what to know about how we got here, and what we can do to push for its future. There's no better example of the web we make together. www.anildash.com/2026/01/15/w...

Also featuring quotes from my letter to Goldsmith!

Rights Aotearoa's first letter of the year. The Government must urgently address the situation with xAi and non-consensual intimate imagery.

Covered last week on law news nz. #nzpol

I personally express my deep respect for the Iranian protesters and sincerely hope they are successful in manifesting change. The Iranian regime is one of the world's worst respecters of human rights. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Do you all remember when I won my judicial review in December 2025, which showed Goldsmith unlawfully appointed the Chief Human Rights Commissioner and the Race Relations Commissioner in 2024? 🍾🥂🍾 Para 101 of the judgment is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.

After a great downtime over Xmas/NY with my family and bestie, Lola, I have recommitted to Rights Aotearoa as my full-time gig for 2026. As was my intention at the end of 2025. Coffee tips (details below) are one significant way you can help me during 2026 - they really help to keep my spirits up.

The animating principle of representational democracy is to protect the rest of us from the whims of deranged rich people, be they kings or oligarchs. Everything else is wainscoting.

Doing my personal and work strategic planning for 2026, and even though I have a master's degree in strategic thinking, it's very taxing and difficult. More coffee needed!

Philosophical Logic, Formal Logic and the Foundations of Set Theory weren't my strongest subjects, but this made me LMAO.

If any Barristers want to sign up pro bono for a BORA declaration of inconsistency of the Government's voting changes, HMU. [email protected]

There are three main ways you can help my work with Rights Aotearoa: First, you can tip me coffee money directly at: Paul Thistoll 03-0547-0039160-001 (I can't tell you how important these little coffee tips are to my emotional morale - they really keep me going!)

I have come back from an incredibly invigorating vacation with Lola, determined to make Rights Aotearoa the leading human rights NGO in NZ. My email is [email protected]—I am here for all of you. If you have any focus areas you'd like us to prioritise, please email me with your thoughts.

Sometimes I think I should grow Rights Aotearoa to be like Amnesty should be—a defender of human rights in all countries. A kind of go big or go home strategy. Because Amnesty does fuck all for human rights in Aotearoa. Thoughts?

I wanted to make my first posts of 2026 jokey and a bit zany. However, our first human rights emergency is upon us early with the brutal, oppressive Iranian regime killing unarmed protestors. ~50% inflation and no human rights is a terrible combination. No one is truly free until everyone is.

Notably Yuja's teacher! www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/a...

If “free speech” were really a core US principle, Trump would target China, Russia, and the Gulf monarchies—not the EU. The selectivity reveals the truth: it’s weaponised against democracies with rights protections, while actual authoritarians get a pass.

What are people's New Year's resolutions? Mine is to redouble my efforts to promote and defend universal human rights in Aotearoa in 2026. And spend more time with Lola - she is so down-to-earth; she keeps me grounded.

Lola and I are taking a mini road trip today. "We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold." - Hunter S Thompson. LMAO, Lola and HST would have got on very well, I think. (No drugs actually involved with us!)

Someone on the interweb just accused me of not knowing anything about the law! Fun times on Xmas day!

Thankful to be spending Xmas with Lola’s family. Turkey, duck and more! Embarrassed by the riches of our dinner when so many are doing it tough.

Merry Xmas everybody 🍾🥂🍾!

Soooo. I am the new co chair for Wairarapa Branch of Te Pāti Māori. We want to make sure our voice is at the table and no one ever speaks on our behalf again without talking for us. Especially as we have Papawai, which housed almost 400 people for the Māori Parliament.

Holy moly it’s leaked.

Starting to relax! :-)

Come on surely Nz is going to declare

Drinking Last Shephard Shiraz and watching the cricket with Lola!

Gendall J's decision at para 101 agrees with me about why I took the Judicial Review. It was to ensure the integrity of the appointment process in the future. The Chief Human Rights Commissioner is one of the most important roles in NZ, and the appointee should be knowledgeable about human rights.

« À la recherche du temps perdu » — bientôt disponible

Interesting - will this affect anything?

The Sikh religion and wider culture will unambiguously: - feed you when you are hungry - give you clothes/blankets when you are cold - shelter you when you are homeless - organise a doctor when you are sick Their selfless generosity is legion. Brian Tamaki is really out-of-line and dangerous.

LMAO! We all have our cable drawer.

The theme of the week is: courts telling the govt they have to actually consider evidence before making policy decisions, not just pretend to consider it and then do whatever the fuck the minister wants to do anyway Much to think about www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Btw, in my opinion Jen is one of the best people in all our fair little country. An amazing person, advocate, and fighter for human rights. An absolutely first class mind and intellect too. Every conversation with her is a delight and I wish her a very restful holiday.

Even though it’s unenforceable, as of today it is illegal to prescribe puberty blockers to a trans child in Aotearoa. We now know that the Ministry recommended against this, that no one asked for it, and no one thought it was a good idea except for cabinet. This ban is a stain on our history.

Given there is a fair probability the minister will appeal I think I will not make any more public comment! I am going to sign off now mostly until after new years! Once again, thank you all for your wonderful support!

RNZ is reporting Goldsmith is considering an appeal. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...