“The new roadside testing regime is yet another example of our country failing to implement evidenced-based drug policy. For far too long we have had an irrational approach to substance use.”… #nzpol Accessible article here: archive.ph/17n0y

The referendum result made it clear that the status quo was untenable, & that an ongoing, mature conversation about drug law reform was necessary. In the past year alone, 26 people have been imprisoned for cannabis offences as their most serious charge, & 3 imprisoned just for cannabis use. #nzpol

Just in case that wasn't enough Paradise duck content they were also 10/10 adorable getting out. The mum had done a very specific sounding meep call, different to her usual, and they all motored over and clambered out. Naturally always a straggler, I loved Dad's long suffering parenting with him. 🇳🇿🪶

These kids are so talented! A banger to dance to on a Saturday… Young rappers from The Kabin Studio in Cork & Lisdoonvarna have teamed up to make a belter for Cruinniú na nÓg, the national day of celebrating youth creativity 🔥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=njE3...

“On the 50th anniversary of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, journalist Russell Brown charts a potted history of New Zealand's outdated drug law.”… #nzpol drugfoundation.org.nz/news-and-rep...

The minister has not even reverted to research or evidence for the maths curriculum changes, because there is no evidence to support them. The ministerial advisory group leading the curriculum rewrite has said this explicitly. #nzpol Accessible article here: archive.ph/4UETG

In July, fundamentalist settler Yinon Levy shot dead my friend Awdah Hathaleen on camera, in broad daylight. Authorities arrested more than 20 of Awdah’s family, withheld his body for over 10 days, then barred people from attending the funeral. His killer was free within five days. #nzpol

Finished season 5 of Brassic on Netflix (NZ) and it ended on a cliffhanger! Anyone know where I can watch the last two seasons in NZ? Anyway, it’s a great show. Very funny. Worth watching. #kikorangi #tvshow #tv

“The NZ Initiative’s report follows a well-worn script. Step one: manufacture a crisis. Claim public services are “failing” by comparing them to private alternatives using cherry-picked metrics. Step two: propose privatisation as the “pragmatic” solution.” #nzpol

Lanny Wong is shocked at Casey Costello's plans in a Cabinet paper to deregulate pharmacies, allowing big corporates to expand massively & risking the creation of US-style hub-and-spoke 'pill mills'. #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/mini-hoon-...

Bryce Wilkinson gently fits ideological blinders and steers the public to a foregone conclusion: Government is not fiscally responsible and should not own anything. #nzpol weareunderused.substack.com/p/nz-initiat...

They are truly magnificent birds #NZKea

I’m between books at the moment, so I’m rereading an old favourite. Red Dwarf Omnibus by Grant Naylor. It includes 2 books: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers, and, Better Than Life. A great read for those who love the tv show, Red Dwarf. #pukapuka #scifi #booksky

In the absence of media literacy classes for all ages, it's up to us to try to educate ourselves and share that with others. We can only challenge propaganda if we can recognise it as propaganda. Great article from Emily Writes #nzpol www.emilywrites.co.nz/the-media-li...

It was a trick. A sleight of hand. It would be equivalent to selling the family bach that you rent out for cash, to pay for fixing your own roof, and then pretending that you were better off. You (and we) weren’t. #nzpol craigrenney.substack.com/p/the-bill-e...

Don’t tell me there’s no money, Prime Minister. You found over $20b for tax cuts & $2.7b for a few helicopters. You can find the money to fix our crises in housing, energy, health & education – & create jobs and hope for our young people at the same time. #nzpol www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/my-messag...

New Zealand is being schooled and coached day in day out to accept the normalisation that nothing should get in the way of the vested interests of private capital in their voracious appetite to devour power, resources, and wealth for the very few. #nzpol mfriend.substack.com/p/le-plat-du...

“A major new report has called for sweeping reform of New Zealand’s drug laws, warning punitive approaches are fuelling addiction, overdoses and inequality and leaving the country unprepared for the illicit drug market.” #nzpol www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...

The National-led government has been avoiding questions about whether it is joining in preparations for a US military confrontation with China. The public does not know what New Zealand military staff are discussing in secret meetings. Until now…. #nzpol newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/09/s...

“The government’s recent changes to benefits feel like this: the house is on fire, and this policy is them turning off the smoke alarm and saying it’s fixed. Sometimes a policy is so stupid it makes you question the very fabric of reality.”… #nzpol craigrenney.substack.com/p/a-small-wr...

Share a TV series from the 2000's you love. 📺 My choice: Outrageous Fortune

AI at its peak

Concerns are being raised about privatisation after Health Minister Simeon Brown met representatives of a controversial multinational company that runs prisons and hospitals. “The Minister must immediately & fully disclose the nature, purpose, & content of his discussions with Serco.” #nzpol

I wanted to get a video of this ghost crab but every time I got close to their hole they scuttled back in, so I tried getting clever with it. I made a little sandcastle and shoved my phone into it, hit record, and walked away. Crab was VERY suspicious of this addition to their environment.

Got this cd last week. Hadn’t heard of Kneecap before the furore over their support for Palestine. I love this soundtrack. Parful, Guilty Conscience, and, H.O.O.D are bangers. Liberty Belle by Fontaines DC is great too. Excited to watch the movie now.

In the past year alone, the current govt has passed a law that gave more of our taxpayer money away to benefit landlords ($2.9 Billion) than the govt has spent in the entire 36-year history of all the Treaty of Waitangi settlements ($2.2 Billion). #nzpol drgarypayinda.substack.com/p/maori-ward...

This is a government run for the benefit of corporations, not people, whose every policy is united by one goal: to maximise profits & power for the corporate rich. Making money not off of producing things, but by hoarding assets & charging rent. #nzpol drgarypayinda.substack.com/p/govts-dirt...

“Māori were once regarded by Pākehā as a dying race and the language was to be the first casualty. That was a false prophecy.”… Paywalled - accessible article here: archive.ph/MDGwA #nzpol #ToitūTeTiriti

NZ media right now: - The assassination of Reinhard Heydrich: What we know - Reinhard Heydrich - the outspoken champion of free speech and tolerance - Heydrich slaying: Who would do such a thing? - Heydrich's widow vows to continue his glorious work - FSU: We should all mourn Heydrich #nzpol

"…and Magda Goebbels made a great strudel.”

“The stakes in healthcare are high, and they’ve put a hatchet-man on the job.”… #nzpol drgarypayinda.substack.com/p/simeon-bro...

Just finished this great book: Turncoat by Tīhema Baker. Saw a review of the book and thought it looked interesting. It was awesome, highly recommended. #pukapuka #ToitūTeTiriti

Kea in the Hooker Valley | Aoraki Mt Cook. Aotearoa New Zealand While these two were dancing around for the the tourists... Another three were sneaking around to the unguarded bags 🤣 #newzealand

Which TV series have you rewatched more than once…

“It’s hard to know whether it is more Animal Farm or Nineteen Eighty-Four but this Government is racking up a growing list of reforms that it claims will achieve the very opposite of logic.”… Paywalled - accessible article here… archive.ph/nUF2m #nzpol

“In an ideal world, people blind to social inequity should not be given the power to govern the less fortunate. Yet here we are.”… #nzpol werewolf.co.nz/2025/08/gord...

Drop something TELEVISED...

“After the 2023 election, legions of Sir John Key-era politicians were given high-ranking jobs… …Hiring the best is no longer the New Zealand way. It’s a schmoozing game.”… #nzpol (Paywalled - accessible article in comments) www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/opinion-c...

Name 5 albums that have had the biggest impact on your life. Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes Purple Rain - Prince Doo-Bop - Miles Davis Dubnobasswithmyheadman - Underworld Leftism - Leftfield

Name a film that cheers you up…

“The left is united in our desire to see Luxon ousted and Winston Peters sent into long-overdue retirement. We all want to see the mocking grin wiped off Seymour’s face. Everyone is against the Coalition’s agenda, and everyone wants to see change.” #nzpol elliotcrossan.substack.com/p/it-is-not-...

If you look at the actual substance of the Greens policy positions, they aren’t radical at all. They are the most pragmatic party, with evidence-based solutions, fully-costed budgets, & fiscal strategies that are meticulously researched & proofed. #nzpol weareunderused.substack.com/p/stop-calli...

“Make no mistake, this government knows full well what it is doing. It has one core objective and it continues to execute its plan to single-mindedly reach that core objective.”… #nzpol ganeshnana.substack.com/p/government...

“And this is the Party that extols itself as “prudent fiscal managers”? The miracle isn’t that National keeps labelling itself as somehow superior to Labour (it demonstrably isn’t) - but that voters keeping buying into that bullshit.” #nzpol frankmacskasy.substack.com/p/nikki-nobo...

“An unpopular Government, struggling in the polls and facing the prospect of election defeat in a year’s time, tries to change the law to block 100,000 mostly young and indigenous people from voting.” #nzpol Paywalled - accessible article here: archive.ph/3gAeQ

“Paul has an impressive line-up of portfolio responsibilities, all of which she sought: Housing, Corrections, Police, Youth, Youth Justice, Maori justice issues & the Government response to March 15.” #nzpol (Paywalled - accessible article in comments) www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...

Our team have been working hard changing transmitters on all ~90 #kakapo on Whenua Hou, including Vori. Catching kākāpō can be tricky - especially since they often roost up trees. #conservation #parrots Pic: Maddy WhittakerA

Warm, dry, safe homes are the foundation of a functioning society. They allow people to be healthier, attend school more, get jobs and keep them, and become part of a community-minded neighbourhood. #nzpol (Accessible article in comments) www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...

Sounds like David Seymour and his ‘jokes’ #nzpol “Far-right influencers use humour, irony and memes to inject ideas into public life that would otherwise be unacceptable. In doing so, they desensitise their audience and normalise extremism.”…

“Really concerning“ and “sneaky” reforms by the coalition Government are stripping back protections for nature so fast that “no New Zealander can keep up”, Forest and Bird’s CEO says. #nzpol www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/real-life...