Back from inaugural meeting of #WaitematāLocalBoard of #AucklandCouncil. Inspiring and well-crafted speech from new chair #AlexandraBonham. Pity one member chose to do some self promotion / electioneering before taking the oath of office. Hope that behaviour doesn’t continue. #nzpol #CityVision

Just back from a great introduction to Atarau - a gallery at #AucklandMuseum telling stories of the New Zealand Wars. There’s an excellent accompanying collection of essays which show the intellectual vapidity of the press release from #DavidSeymour about the gutting of the history curriculum

So disappointing to realise that #AucklandCouncil has no official events to mark the day of commemoration of the New Zealand Wars - or if they do the information is so hidden I haven’t been able to find it. Compare this to Anzac Day events.

Have just finished reading The Covid Response by @hendysh.bsky.social. Moving, compelling, and yet worrying - the latter because it’s hard to see evidence we are learning lessons or making preparations.

Another positive in Auckland - Wayne B did not get his preferred candidates for councillors from the Manukau ward.

Best news out of Auckland local body elections is that only one ACT Local candidate seems to have got any traction. The one exception is in Orakei (I’m so surprised). Hope that resounding failure is repeated across the country and is a positive sign for 2026. #nzpol

Ignorance is the mother of fear and the grandmother of hate Kate Shugak / #DanaStabenow

Just back from candidates meeting for Waitemata Local Board and Waitemata and Gulf councillor. The obsession with character and heritage housing - even though many of those houses have only retained their original structure on the street facing facade - gets pretty monotonous. #nzpol

Lovely to see plants going in along Great North Road in Grey Lynn. And then I think of the images of trees planted in Paris and I really resent having to be grateful for the meagre number and size of the trees allowed by #AT. #nzpol

Reading article about claims Northland police are racist. I am so tired of the “this is not who we are” defence used so often. When things happen (racist email in this example) it is showing clearly that THIS IS who at least some of us are. Admit it. Get on with fixing it. #nzpol

Lots of commentary about #Willis or #Bishop as [terrible] replacements for #Luxon. Did any one else notice the 1/4 page article/advert in #NZHerald about Mark Mitchell and all the damage to his health from his dedication to public service? Couldn’t help but think “he’s running” #nzpol

So #DavidSeymour thinks churches should “stay in their lane”. What a strange view he has of religion if he thinks they have no intetest interest in social justice

#nzherald says Luxon “sees education as one of his passions in politics”. So that explains the public funding of early childhood education, quality meals in schools, better resourcing of teachers and support staff, more investment in tertiary education, etc., etc.

Every community needs one of these

Can we have weight-based car taxes too please? These are loathsome vehicles and they’re mushrooming all over London

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/lu...

I really appreciated Ardern withdrawing from Hosking’s show. Don’t support the indefensible, if you sit down to talk with bad faith actors who are racists and bigots you’re not giving them a new perspective your legitimising their platform.

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/cl...

Mmm. Hot cross bun warmed through and with blue vein cheese. Yummy.

“This bill has been absolutely annihilated” Hanalei-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke #nzpol

Have just finished reading the delightful Nights out at home by @jayrayner1.bsky.social I am now extremely hungry and have a long shopping list - as well as lots of ideas for using the readymade pastry I already have.

Very glad it’s raining here in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s a bit too cold though.

Damn it you insects. The wine is for me, not for thee!!

Pass it on. #StandWithUkraine

LIANZA condemns the violent actions of Destiny Church at Te Atatū community library this weekend where library staff were pushed and shoved as church members forced their way into the building.

I’ve been gardening and even at this time of the day ITS TOO HOT!!!

Oh darn. I’ve just read the programme for #AucklandFilmSociety and I’m going to have to miss some great films in the first weeks as I’m doing something else on those Monday evenings. In a world that’s going to the dogs, good films are palate cleansers.

Bottled fruit this afternoon. South Island apricots, some with spices, some not. Got so hot I decided to roast vegetables for a cold salad later tonight. Now collapsed on sofa drinking very cold rosé. #kikorangi

Six years later and this, from the editorial board of Nature (the single highest citation-indexed science periodical in the world) is sadly once again highly relevant. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

It’s good that the house smells of plums cooked with brown sugar and star anise. It’s less good that I wasn’t paying attention and the plums boiled over and now there is plum juice just everywhere!

Remember when advocates/experts/women/people with eyes said that abortion rights would be eroded by stealth by Luxon and co? Here we go. Suggest that Opposition spokespeople for women, rainbow communities and public health get much louder, very quickly, please. www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3605...

#Luxon to give a speech in #Abu Dhabi on renewable energy? I guess he’ll say he’s against it - got to keep #ShaneJones happy. #nzpol

Another one done. Oranga Tamariki Bill. This will be remembered as the summer of submissions. #nzpol

Beautiful Edith Ciller painting of alley in St Ives, Cornwall - part of exhibition of her works in the re-opened Te Whare O Rehya Sarjeant Gallery in Whanganui #AoNZ

Other side of previous hat picture. Can see contrasting fabrics and some lettering.

Highly desirable winged hat at beautifully refurbished and extended Te Whare o Rahua Serjeant Gallery in Whanganui

Tiny part of amazing Bason’s Botanic Garden near Kai Iwi beach #AoNZ #Kikorangi. Visited briefly on way back to New Plymouth after visiting wonderful Whanganui.

Gorgeous light in the cafe at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth #AoNZ #Kikorangi

@us3rrr.bsky.social if you run a weird list I’m on, please remove me from it.

@oracularhades.com please remove me from your list

Very hot so drinking #ouzo with ice and water in memory of travelling with @louiseofgreylynn.bsky.social to #Athens and #Crete

BlueSky is trying to monetize so let's show them some numbers: Reskeet this if you refuse to pay for BlueSky+ until trust & safety decides to prioritize marginalized users. That's $96 / year of lost revenue for each reskeet...

Enjoyed the #GreyLynnLibrary centennial celebrations this morning. A loved and much used community facility.

Things I can say because I work with Te Whatu Ora not for it: The wait list for pelvic floor physio in Waitemata has blown out to over 12 months so now, and I have this from a gynaecologist, they are just turning down legitimate referrals.

Reports from the UK of Farage teaming up with US groups to try and start a campaign to further restrict abortion access reminds me that the ghastly Herald is publishing half page ads promoting open adoption as as unstated alternative to abortion.

There are visitors in the neighbourhood including a child who has been shrieking excitedly for nearly an hour. May have to resort to taking my hearing aids out!

@oracularhades.com can you add me to the kiwi feed please

Just finished reading The Examiner by the inimitable @janicehallett.bsky.social Fantastic read and particularly relevant at the end of an academic year. Now to turn the light off and try and sleep.

Sad that so much of #NZHerald’s coverage of the hīkoi is focused on security arrangements, Mark Mitchell, and Seymour’s talking points. Where’s = space for the protesters’ views? #toitutetiriti

About time #NZHerald updated it’s name to reflect it’s real role - as the Harvey Norman advertising sheet with some additional stuff masquerading as news and entertainment. Oh, and lots of sport.