Perpetual reminder that Worksafe was set up following the recommendations of a completely independent expert Royal Commission responding to mass workplace deaths at Pike River.

Hospital admissions remain very low for now but likely to ⬆️ in coming weeks So it's a good time to get a booster if you're eligible - anyone over 30 whose last dose was >6 months ago can get one for free.

Covid levels have been historically low in NZ for the past 12 months but the signs are a new wave may be starting: noticeable increase in wastewater in last couple of weeks, variant with a moderate growth advantage (NB.1.8.1), uptick in cases.

Two academic (lecturer) positions available at the University of Otago in Aotearoa/New Zealand! One in Conservation Biology, another in Evolutionary Ecology. Links for positions below: otago.taleo.net/careersectio... otago.taleo.net/careersectio...

The Ministry of Health is now posting on Bluesky. Follow us to be alerted to our consultations, news and announcements. We welcome your respectful and relevant comments and reserve the right to take action against posts that violate our community guidelines:

The average real increase in wages falls every year from the last forecast. The wage differences now mean that the median income earner on 40 hours a week will be $978.40 worse off than forecast last year. That tax cut you got in 2023 just disappeared. Median FTE Annual Wages

Hey NZ bsky peeps, do any of you know how to find anyone who would be interested in adopting and restoring a classic early 90s Honda VFR750 motorbike (in red, obviously) that has been sitting in a garage unused for ~15yrs. Photo for attention. Actual bike is not quite so tidy.

Monash University has made many positions available specifically for young and early career researchers who would like to take some time away from the USA. These are case by case, not advertised. So if you are interested or know anyone interested have them get in contact with someone at Monash.

A reminder that, for NZ, flutracking.net is looking for more volunteers, particularly kids to turn the jagged variable small sample line into a much more reliable, steady large sample line.

my kids are two out of the 1600 school age kids enrolled in flu tracking (I fill it in for the whole family once a week, it takes about 2 minutes on a Monday morning). I would love to see more schoolkids enrolled in this study! Come on NZ!

FYI re the multiple measles exposures in Auckland last weekend: Locations of Interest and their related quarantine periods (times you HAVE to stay home if you were a close contact and are not immune) are being kept up to date here info.health.nz/conditions-t... along with other helpful info.

If you’re a 1970s/80s baby and either didn’t get two Measles vaccines or aren’t sure if you did (1990 was MMR vaccine schedule roll out in NZ) then go get a booster, it’s free and available at Life Pharmacies or your GP www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-...

#Auckland #NZ 🦠 Measles “the person with measles had been at Woolworths Kelston, on Fullers360 ferries, and at an Auckland carpark during the time they could be infectious” May 3-5+ Please check the locations. More in the article including symptoms ⬇️

If everyone could please repost this and share it on ur social media please…. Until we figure out how to link it from our website main page… This is absolutely everything the women need right now - furniture etc… aunties.co.nz/pages/wants-...

In particular sign ups from anyone with ppl under 18 in their household who they can answer on behalf of would be so valuable. There is a huge blindspot around levels of Acute Respiratory Illness in the community without this info.

Attention South Island-based experts looking for media training! There are still a handful of spots in our 5-6 June Chch workshop (including at least one fees-free space). We've extended the deadline to apply, and applications this week are likely to be accepted. smc.nz/science-media-savvy/#apply

If you live on the western side of Auckland's isthmus & you had flooding over Easter I'd love to hear from you - I'm trying to map where the hot spots are, to advocate for small and major projects to address them. I've been doing this work for a while but need your stories & photos etc please... /n

Anyone from Christchurch going to Timaru or Oamaru tomorrow?

Finally got around to getting my flu and Covid boosters this afternoon ✅ ☑️ Had the new flavour of whatever Kapiti’s equivalent of a Magnum is called as a special treat afterwards 🍦

Biggest commitment to a 3 second joke I've ever seen

In case you missed this & may own one of these heaters or know of someone who does (elderly relatives) Recall reminder for faulty bathroom heaters prone to fires

Measles is a shit disease that kills children. I wrote about the statistics of it all, and why my daughter has all of her vaccine doses. gidmk.substack.com/p/measles-is...

We are 36 hours into the race, meaning the three runners still on Loop 3 cannot continue to Loop 4. However, if they complete Loop 3 within 40 hours they will be credited with a Fun Run. That’s where the real race is now. #BM100

“But what can we possibly do given everything that’s happening??” Well, stop posting on X for a start…

Commuting via ferry is awesome! It almost makes me want to live in Hobsonville Point but then I look at the ferry timetable…

doing a nazi salute is like whipping your dick out in class, like who cares if you were getting off on it or just trolling? you whipped your dick out in class

Manager: "What's this milestone 'Living on a prayer' ?" Me: "That's the documentation deliverable." Manager: "What's the status of that?" Me: "We're halfway there" Manager: "Why is progress so slow?" Me: "You fired Tommy" Manager: "So?" Me: "Tommy used to work on the docs"

ATTENTION BIRKDALE: Fruit Fly Found. Click for more: mpi.govt.nz/fruitfly ⚠️ A single male Oriental fruit fly was found in a surveillance trap in a suburban back yard in Birkdale. ⚠️Do not move fruit or vegetables from your home. Investigations are ongoing. More to come.

Earlier this month, @cip.uw.edu faculty members @carlbergstrom.com and @jevinwest.bsky.social introduced a new, free AI humanities course, "Modern-Day Oracles or Bullshit Machines?," which has 18 online lessons, each taking 5-10 minutes. Learn more: www.cip.uw.edu/2025/02/05/c...

Lots of studies in epidemiology rely on people being able to assess age of others - please participate in this survey to help get better error models for such data! warwick.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Does anyone know if Auckland Transport is on Bluesky yet? I am keen to give them some feedback on a shitty process of theirs and feel like they would be more likely to do something about it if called out publicly is all…

It's New Zealand bug of the year time! Anybody can vote, for absolutely free! bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/vote-here-20...

@emilynz.bsky.social is this the guy we saw in Nelson Lakes?

I did a 30 day trial of Canva to make the design work for my mum’s memorial service easier. Does anyone have any suggestions for things it is useful for that I should do before I cancel the trial?

Mina et al. (2019) showed that measles infection caused the elimination of 11-73% of the total antibody repertoire across individuals. The only way to build these back is re-exposure to the pathogens. Such immune system effects were not observed in MMR recipients. doi.org/10.1126/scie... (10/11)

Only two more days folks - make the most of it!

Jumping back on my gin of the day #gotd bullshit, to celebrate a Friday evening at home with this lovely Tāmaki Makaurau weather ☀️ and @droneale.bsky.social

Ooh, finally worked at 10pm... Maybe everyone else had to go to bed...?

...

Cool 3 year, full time position working on facial recognition for Kākā (native parrot of Aotearoa 🦜) ejye.fa.ap1.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

Media covering Candace Owens' potential visit to New Zealand should make clear she is a Holocaust denier, not merely "controversial".

Our youngest child is 13 and we're finally selling his old Thomas stuff. There are 4 auctions for wooden trains, plastic trains, a play table, and a bed. Perfect for Christmas for some lucky child. www.trademe.co.nz/5057363472

20%, under $15m, of Marsden funding went to social sciences while just under $60m went to hard sciences. Total govt research funding in year to March 2023 was ~$1.1b (0.29% of GDP). Cutting the humanities out of Marsden is just spite.

Juliet Gerrard: Funding the whole pie

I keep trying to write something eloquent and just being tired. History matters. Philosophy matters. Languages and literature matter. Indigenous studies matter. Arts and humanities and social sciences matter. All of them. Signed, a physicist

Anyway, the point is, of all the ways we (society) can fund basic research, federal (public) funding seems to be the most effective. And basic research — much more than applied research or development — is where you get the most bang for your buck.