A juicy new blog about the history and posters of Garage Collective (aka @anrchivist.bsky.social), including numerous music gig examples from the 2000s New Zealand scene, including A Low Hum. Some beautiful artwork here from the archive at the Turnbull Library. natlib.govt.nz/blog/posts/g...

A month late, but the news is still sad. And considering LA right now, 'Riot. Strike. Riot' remains crucial reading. www.thenation.com/article/soci...

I've begun researching a new book, 'Farms Aflame: The Secret History of Rural Arson' (working title). Still very much at the gathering archives phase, but I can already see this is going to be interesting mahi! #envhist #radicalhistory

Last weekend, Destiny Church escalated its attacks against the queer community. Destiny wants to drive queer New Zealanders back into the closet. PAPA won't let this happen. We stood for queer liberation as No Pride in Prisons and we stand for it now.

Some pics from a recent research visit to Ōamaru, where I visited the Waitaki Archives as well as some historic estates (Totara, Windsor Park)

The closure of The Desert Road (SH1) will see people diverted onto highways first made by prisoners - SH4, 46, 47 and 48. I've written about these highways and work that went into their making here: garagecollective.blogspot.com/2024/11/heav...

Hey team. What is the technical term for this way of laying out a chapter's content? You see it in lots of 19th and early 20th century work...

NEW BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT! (Kind of) 📚💙 In honor of my late grandfather CLR James's 124th birthday, meet the new edition of his 1953 book *Mariners, Renegades, and Castaways: The Story of Herman Melville and the World We live In* I wrote the foreword with 🧪 in mind! press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...

Back at work and reading (and very much enjoying) 'Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class'. I love how Kelley weaves her own family story into the many lives she shares in the book wwnorton.com/books/978163...

I read some great historical fiction this year. These were my favourites

Also, very happy to announce that I've received a Whiria Te Mahara New Zealand History Grant for my next book, 'Farms Aflame: The Secret History of Stack Burning'. Turns out incendiarism in the NZ countryside was a thing... Congrats to the other recipients! #envhist #radicalhistory #labourhistory

Made my submission opposing the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. Nothing flash but sharing in case there's something of use to people. You can oppose the Bill here: www.parliament.nz/en/ECommitte...

'It is not often that a book can challenge the way you see the world around you. Jared Davidson’s Blood and Dirt does precisely this... Davidson effortlessly outlines how fundamentally the historical toil of incarcerated workers shapes NZs contemporary economy and relations of power.' 😍📕🔥

Nice to get a mention in this round-up of reads. Thanks @brannavan.bsky.social (and cool to learn about your reading process as well) www.anzliterature.com/feature/i-be...

Some snaps from this week: Ōnuku, Takapūneke, and the Coronation Library, Akaroa. Ngāi Tahu and colonial history.

A piece about writing, polarisation and genocide theconversation.com/friday-essay...

The govt can afford 3 billion for landlord tax cuts. The *entire Marsden fund* is 78 mil or so. & Soc sciences & humanities were only ever a fraction of that. The govt implicitly saying it can't afford it is not credible. They just don't want critic & conscience work from academics.

And the Greens. Very strong statement opposed & identifying what is lost. www.greens.org.nz/govt_guts_fu...

In the most direct statement yet that NZ's hard right government is totally opposed to any research that might challenge the social order they support, they have stripped the Humanities & Social Science panels from the largest fund for innovative research in the country.

Punk bands everywhere scrambling to claim 'Brain Rot' for next EP. www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...

'Maíllo says that, to his knowledge, no case such as this has been successful but Busquets, a lifelong anarcho-syndicalist, is not deterred. “It’s not about the money,” he said. “It’s about justice. This country hasn’t made reparations to the victims.' www.theguardian.com/world/2024/d...

Can't tell you how exciting I am to see this in print, having seen some of the work that's gone into it. Believe me when I say @maryhicks.bsky.social's first book is going to be a fantastic contribution to #AtlanticWorld, #AfricanHistory, and #AfricanDiaspora #history. #BlackHistory

Writing tip no. 7: in my view, the essential unit of good writing is the paragraph. If you're stuck, spinning your wheels, write one strong paragraph, just one, about whatever topic you are on. In my experience, this breaks the logjam and allows thoughts to flow onto the page.

While the lower back tattoo or the barbed wire on the bicep may feel like recent trends, women have been getting inked for centuries. From initials to butterflies, Nastasha Sartore explores Victorian women's tattoo choices. ✊🗃️ www.historyworkshop....

For those interested in learning more about 'history from below', this was something I wrote back in 2019 for History Workshop @historywo.bsky.social. With thanks to Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social and others writing from the bottom up! www.historyworkshop.org.uk/activism-sol...

Yes! Can't wait to read this! www.goodreads.com/book/show/20...

If I had time I'd love to write a maritime history research guide for the Turnbull. Would def include this neat logbook of the New Bedford whaling ship 'South Carolina'. Doodles! Ref: qMS-1855 #MaritimeHistory

Not sure if it's the times but I've been listening to a heap of sludge (and doom) lately. Fav albums so far: - Grief, 'Come to Grief' - Noothgrush, 'Erode the Person' - Body Void, 'Ruins' youtu.be/M09hXbzXW5I?...

They're selling cherries roadside. Summer has officially begun in the Hutt* *Hutt summer optional

New review! 'Blood & Dirt has done much to place the sweated toil of NZs exploited prison labour force front & centre. It has also provided a framework for rethinking the rise of the prison...this is a terrific & important book' #pukapuka #envhist www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/...

It's nice to see reviews of Blood and Dirt still popping up! "Throughout the book, he skilfully weaves personal stories through the facts and figures, and his punchy, confident writing style deftly handles weighty methodological topics." #envhist www.thepolynesiansociety.org/jps/index.ph...

'in his acceptance speech, Flanagan said he would not accept the £50,000 prize money until the fund manager shares a plan to reduce its investment in fossil fuel extraction and increase investments in renewables.' www.theguardian.com/books/2024/n...

'Proclamations of sovereignty were a legal fiction, for they ignored some crucial caveats: those who signed Te Tiriti signed a Māori-language document that never ceded sovereignty, and in tikanga Māori, ceding sovereignty was impossible.' #ToitūTeTiriti garagecollective.blogspot.com/2021/01/arch...

I used a video editor to analyse the video + estimated the size of the space using google maps Based on that, the lower bound of the number of people in the video is about 83,000 people. Plus the 4,000 already at Parliament house (according to @tzemingdynasty.bsky.social) that makes 87,000 people.

More than 35,000 for sure

This was before the hīkoi had even arrived at Parliament. Amazing turn out

Wellington train station packed, full trains, lots of whanau and flags. It's amazing. Toitu Te Tiriti!

The Australian Historical Association is now on Bluesky! We'll be sharing information about the latest developments, news, and events relevant to the discipline of history in Australia -- give us a follow!

Info for tomorrow's hīkoi in Te Whanganui-a-Tara for anyone who wants it

I put together another primer to help people understand and talk about the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill www.metuauru.co.nz/wp-content/u... #nzpol

When you're working on two books (because who can decide?) you need a serious writing desk... Like this. Sore neck included.

Bluesky resources for Library people! 📚 The Library & Archives on list has grown exponentially over the last week: useful if you'd like to see examples of how institutions are settling in on here (perhaps with a view to setting up your own org on Bluesky). bsky.app/profile/did:... More below 🧵⤵️

Greetings, fellow deserters! We are part of an honorable tradition.

Bluesky feels like coming home on a summer evening and seeing all your friends hooning around the block on BMXs

Sharing my latest research here for those interested. 'Heavy metal: Forced labour, commodity frontiers and highways through Aotearoa’s central plateau' explores capitalism, ecology and infrastructure. It's free to read online or download a PDF: garagecollective.blogspot.com/2024/11/heav...

Was hoping to reduce my social media use. Oh well...