NZ Govt demands #HealthNZ cut another $510 million Treasury cuts growth forecasts again, forcing Govt to delay surplus; Govt demands more spending #cuts, starting with $510 million more from regional #health; Economy stuck in debt deflation mud-BERNARD HICKEY #nzpol open.substack.com/pub/thekaka/...

A reminder from Huffington Post that DHS and ICE have opened fire on unarmed civilians 16 times since Trump took office, killing 4 people. In every case, DHS claims that the victims "assaulted officers" and/or tried to ram them with cars. In every case, evidence proves they are lying. Every time.

Guess who just changed her impending travel to USA, to somewhere tropical... with far less ice.

so between "if you work for the feds on immigration, seek counsel for the sake of your immortal soul" from the bishop of dallas and now "clergy, update your wills then hit the streets" from the bishop of new hampshire, I feel that a shift has begun in 2026 in the rhetoric from episcopal leadership

if you enjoy ice skating, this is a beautiful performance.

When negativity is loud, choose the Mamdani approach and lead with ideas, actions to problems and not just complaints. Week 1 already presenting universal childcare options!!!. www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...

It's started! The 2026 #kakapo breeding season is under way, with the first nest found on Whenua Hou today. Pearl is on two eggs. #conservation #parrots #birds

Attn: All Media!!! It shouldn’t be “how could ICE kill an American citizen?” It should be: how could ICE kill anyone? More than 30 people have died in ICE custody this year. 🧵1/2

Just did a search for NATO on here, things are getting so surreal... and it feels like something bigger is going on and this is all a distraction so that everything can get locked in place while the world looks elsewhere...just wondering where to look.

Yo Central Labour and Chris Hipkins, this is how you get shit done: BY JUST DOING IT No cuddling the 38% (most who fucked off to Australia rather than take self responsibility they landed us in this mess with Luxon), no cuddling National, working with your actual allies in Greens and TPM 👇

In today’s NZ Herald -

Just me...looking for a quality political leader...

Enrolment complete-->Learning while working 🧵1/2 Dusting off the old backpack and finishing the last stretch of a Master’s in Educational Leadership. This year’s focus is coaching, mentoring, and leading well in hybrid, real-world settings. Still moving forward. Calling 2026 Progress in Parallel

On January 1, Illinois begins to regulate employer use of AI, making it a civil rights violation to use AI tools that result in discrimination based on protected characteristics in hiring, promotion, discipline, termination, or other employment terms and requiring notice of AI use. #AIBillofRights

The New Zealand Labour Party condemns the US attack on Venezuela including kidnapping its president as a blatant violation of international law.

Oh my! 👇 Is that theory about dividing the world into 5 power sections true?

👇

#Trump blew up #Venezuela without congressional approval. There was no debate, no authorization, no legal mandate from the branch of government that holds the constitutional power to declare war. This was a unilateral decision carried out in the dark.

🧵 1/3 Don’t be afraid to let good ideas sit. A few months ago I watched a thrifting reseller remake an old suitcase and thought it was clever. A few weeks later I picked up 2 scuffed suitcases in a thrift shop, but with no plan of my own. Sometimes ideas arrive before their purpose does.

👇 quite clear now, isn't it?

Reasons for Israel disqualifying the operation of international NGOs that provide essential humanitarian aid in the OPT- affecting MSF and many other orgs - include expressions of support for any of the international court cases against Israeli soldiers or leaders apnews.com/article/gaza...

Also has tax filing implications.

President Trump’s spiteful defamation suit against the Pulitzer Prize Board may backfire, as the latter is now demanding Trump’s psychological records, prescription medication records, and tax returns in the discovery process. trib.al/LUCScTR

Fourteen countries condemn Israel's plans to expand West Bank settlements, express 'resolute support' for Palestinians https://aje.io/vl95me

Sanctioning people for countering disinformation... imagine that. 👇

People and families come as they are. That’s just real life. Disability is part of human diversity, not something that makes a family less welcome or less deserving of belonging. 🧵1/3

Call me Cassandra. For yrs, I warned the NZ Govt about rising RWE risks, unchecked tech platforms, resulting harmful narratives unmoderated. After March 15 attack, a widow asked me something I’ve never forgotten: “Why were you able to see what government couldn’t?” This article helps explains it.

🙄 Oh my goodness👇

The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5

NZ has joined Canada in designating as terrorist entities two far-right online networks that encourage extremist violence and exploit children.

Al Jazeera asked displaced Palestinian children about their hopes for the new year. I wanted to share their responses here:

Do they not realise, the people redacting... are reading these lines. At some point, one of them will say something.

Such an awesome mahi these last two years. I'd look for it every week. 👇

Let’s shift New Zealand down a better path. Further thoughts on the UN’s review of NZ’s efforts to eliminate racial discrimination found those efforts were not just lacking, but that key indicators show NZ is regressing. CERD report here: tinyurl.com/cerdnz1 #PublicPolicy #HumanRights 🧵1/5

👇An important decision... driven by the advocacy of @pault.bsky.social

Take care online today. Following the terror attack in Australia, please be aware of: explicit videos of the attack, AI generated videos of the attack, any disinformation about the shooting, shooter, or victims. Report anything that seems suss to the platform you saw it on and Netsafe. ❤️❤️❤️

Surrounded by CVE for years, I know this with certainty. No one should ever experience terrorism. Guns have no place in civil society besides tightly regulated hunting. No one should be targeted because of their faith. And the only long term solution to overcome hate is to love thy neighbour. 🧵1/2

Asked about my thoughts on social media bans for under 16s->Simply I feel mixed. Some lives saved & some youth will manage better, BUT it's crazy that govts happy to regulate end users, misplacing responsibility, and ignoring the actual producers of the most harm: Big Tech. 🧵1/4

Did you know that a member of the UN CERD has made an oral request encouraging New Zealand to open the door to a country visit? These requests are a recognised way for CERD to signal that on-the-ground engagement would add value to implementation and follow-up. Second 🧵 on CERD reporting 1/3👇

Is NZ letting human rights slip through our fingers? Last week, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination(CERD) released a report raising serious concerns about NZ’s efforts to address discrimination. Media coverage limited (especially for ethnic communities), so I share...🧵1/7

Our central, local, and regional govts use MS products for many, many things. So do our universities and Public Research Organisations (former CRIs) along with a whole heck of a lot of private companies all around the motu (e.g. law firms and banks). No guarantee of data sovereignty. None. #NZPOL

The University of Alabama on Monday suspended two student magazines — one appealing to women, another to Black students — saying they ran afoul of guidance from the Justice Department on DEI programs.

Good to see UN at minute 21 with firm questions on NZ’s human rights record and failure to implement key RCOI recommendations from the Christchurch attacks. Goldsmith’s response, starting after minute 38, was difficult to watch, stretched reasoning, and failed to address the core concerns. #painful

Democracy began with expectations, not elections. From its inception, even in Athenian times, leaders were meant to serve the people, protect the law, act with integrity, stay accountable, and safeguard the wellbeing of the whole community. That’s the base that everything “democratic” sits on.🧵1/4

Big deal alert: 🧵1/7 Meta’s internal research reportedly found that platform usage causes worse mental-health outcomes. And then the results were allegedly buried. This is more than PR trouble; this sounds like could be corporate cover-up based on allegations. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...

UPDATE: Americans who use YouTube 84% Facebook 71% Instagram 50% TikTok 37% WhatsApp 32% Reddit 26% Snapchat 25% X (Twitter) 21% Threads 8% Bluesky 4% Truth Social 3% Full Pew Research Center report: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/11/20/americans-social-media-use-2025/

EXPECT MORE Too many people act like decline is inevitable. It is not. Expect more from our institutions, including honesty and transparency. Expect more from our democracy, with real checks and balances. Expect more from our economy, with fair wages and support that lets families breathe. 🧵1/3

Wow...

You've got to admire those in the younger generation who know how to "sweet talk" the colourful "uncle" at the table and win him over. It's a skill. Well done @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social! Now asking younger Americans to take the opportunity Thanksgiving dinner offers and do the same with yours...

Embarassing...