We're told one of these land uses is 'productive', while the other is not. But in terms of photosynthetic levels, as well as the production of clean air, water, no flooding, a stable climate, etc, etc, the natural ecosystem wins hands down. As for biodiversity, let's not even go there.

Recent research in New Zealand shows that Long Covid sufferers feel let down by the health system: "The picture painted by participants was bleak with a sense that the world had moved on from Covid-19 and left them behind." www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa... #longcovid

A new group for neurodiverse people has been formed in Palmerston North. First meeting is 1 February 2026. See below for details. 🇳🇿

Reason #1,589,361 that public libraries are such a treasure for the community 🥰

The most boring people are those who look at new tech, science, inventions and their only thought is "how can I save money" and no thoughts for all the improvements to the human experience possible.

It’s important to note that he was the person responsible for protective security during the time period many many people from the PM to me were receiving regular death and rape threats. The past is making more sense to me now.

If you have long covid and a doctor recommends graded exercise, exit that office and warn everyone else. These doctors are effing dangerous!!

We had this discussion 25 years ago. A colleague calculated that they could hire a full-time administrator for Linux instead of paying the MS licences. Most thought of it as absurd idea ;-)

A new group for neurodiverse people has been formed in Palmerston North. First meeting is 1 February 2026. See below for details. 🇳🇿

David became a freelance bioinformatician due to the situation he describes 👇. Freelance workers are typically looking for the next contract. That's how it is. Maybe we could boost this signal so that people who appreciate David's experience and principles can find him?

David became a freelance bioinformatician due to the situation he describes 👇. Freelance workers are typically looking for the next contract. That's how it is. Maybe we could boost this signal so that people who appreciate David's experience and principles can find him?

And their attitude - smash stuff under urgency, because we won't be in charge anymore - just highlights the need for an #OmnibusRepealBill to undo the damage. Nothing this illegitimate regime has done can be allowed to stand. Revert it all on day one.

Thought there was a recent article on how NZ Super is betting heavily on NVIDIA and AI....

How clear does it need to be that Europe needs independent digital infrastructure before we actually take credible action? The need is as clear for cloud as it is for the rest of our critical digital systems. www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/a...

WorkSafe cuts psychosocial harm team by a third www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa... I don't want to sound alarmist but I'm pretty sure they're trying to not find the bullies and such with this announcement. #nzpol #safestaffing #safeworkspaces

Long COVID cases are going to rise forever unless people stop getting and spreading COVID.

this position is now closed and in case anybody is wondering what the international job market in academic psychology is looking like, we received 160 applications for a single, entry-level faculty role (Lecturer scale 1-7)

Wow - I knew it was bad but requiring kids to remember facts like “What years did Queen Victoria sit on the throne?” is such a bizarre idea for a number of reasons but it's also wasted effort - I guarantee most kids will not retain this kind of info for very long because that's not how memory works.

Just saying… www.selfawaresoup.com/notes/2025/0...

I wish we had more hours in the day. This is why I really don’t think we’re meant to work most of our lives.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) will switch its internal work environment away from Microsoft Office to Open Desk, a European open source alternative, the institution confirmed to Euractiv. www.euractiv.com/news/interna...

Absolutely! More than that the whole process among FN people of passing knowledges down through generations should be the envy of historians and scientists alike.

So, Labour will fiddle around with how to spend 0.4% of the budget in 2027 (futures fund) and then get cracking on a capital gains tax that will increase revenue by around 0.6% by 2030. We could get maybe 20km of new road for that. 'The tranquilising drug of gradualism'.

So much this 👇. It certainly is the case in regards to history and indigenous knowledge, but also a whole lot more of the education 'reforms' as well. #NZPOL

It is an absolute travesty and disgrace that a national hero who worked tirelessly in a worldwide crisis to save lives, enduring thankless conditions and (ongoing) vile misogyny while doing so, is $400,000 out of pocket. This is something that can be put to rights - I’ve donated, will you help? 🙏

"Scientists targeted by dark PR tactics" Good coverage of the coordinated, anonymous attacks that have hit scientists who have been critical of Colossal Biosciences (me included) www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....

Hey team - @siouxsiew.bsky.social's university spent > $1.5m defending a case that their lawyers largely conceded in court. This was a huge waste of public $$$, but despite Siouxsie's win, she remains out of pocket. Please support Siouxsie after she supported us: www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...

@siouxsiew.bsky.social has our whanau’s heartfelt thanks for helping to keep us alive, healthy, and informed. It should not have cost her so much to do so. Please help with her legal costs if you can.

💯 And for Labour to pledge to properly fund public research for the first time in 40+ years. Wouldn't that be something a little different to the decades of austerity....

Fucking synthetic data. YOU‘RE READING FICTION AND TREATING IT LIKE YOU DID ACTUAL RESEARCH.

yesterday on RNZ I talked with Kathryn Ryan about cuts to NZ science funding and the risk of losing talent www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro... here's some correspondence about the opposite problem: kiwi scientists who want to return home to work, but can't, given the bleak funding environment #nzpol

Tax hot take—capital gains should be deemed realized whenever someone uses the asset as collateral. The idea that we can’t tax ‘mere’ share ownership because the gains are unrealized stops making sense when you get to take a loan out again them.

Siouxsie took on an institution that failed to protect her and other academics from death threats, whilst doing fantastic #scicomm for the common good. She won against UOA. And is left with a house-size debt even after being awarded costs. Give a little back if you can 💚 🚨

And lest people think this is something that only affects Māori: building these principled capabilities can have a lot of knock-on benefits in protecting the data of Pākeha and Tauiwi New Zealanders as well.

A nice reminder this morning of how exposed some of our essential and particularly government services are to Microsoft. A company that recently informed the French that they may be compelled to violate their sovereignty, a company which has also been eagerly complicit in genocide and apartheid.

Every time I post a picture of a seismic signal, I am using #python software. Please read this thread from @python.org (I here have screenshotted the three posts that I think contain what you need to know.) I applaud the Python Software Foundation for taking this stand.

This very serious issue was discussed in yesterday's webinar. Having compute and data sovereignty avoids reliance on the mega corporations and reduces exposure to these kinds of problems. The video from the webinar will be available next week. #NZPOL

It's striking that relatively small orgs like @carpentries.carpentries.org and @python.org are standing up for what's right, while so many much larger orgs with deeper pockets are quick to acquiesce and throw their communities under the bus. They are pointing the way for the future of science.

Feels a bit trashy to self promote but if you are looking at the govts announcements and are wanting to learn NZ history that isn’t beholden to the whims of whoever happens to be in the Beehive, I do a podcast that might help with that Find it wherever you get podcasts etc historyaotearoa.com

WTF. 🤦 #nzpol

He has options to leave which makes it less risky. Unabashed and unapologetic public speaking out about the state of the research system is badly needed. Govts. have failed for 40+ yrs. The PR problem in the sector will not be solved with politer than is warranted comments and / or self censoring.

AI scraping copyright data without payment or agreement is THEFT. Pure and simple. With Brooke van Robot in charge of this issue in Aotearoa, I expect the opposite here. #nzpol www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

Very relevant to the talk at noon today. #NZPOL

www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro... here's the audio and i can confirm that i did not use any foul language while bemoaning the demise of basic science in new zealand

I've heard more in my life about what this completely unqualified man thinks about climate change than actual scientists or those most affected. Think that's our problem right there Bill

🤯 #NZPOL

I attended the Royal Society #NZ awards last night. A beautiful event with inspiring winners from Logan Walker on RNA splicing and genetic health (Liley medal) to Jacinta Ruru on legal personhood and legislative reimagining (Aronui medal). Any reporting of this in NZ? I’ve seen nothing. 🧪

Folks, I would like our research knowledge to get better, not worse. Our publications to become more intentionally structured and phrased, not less. And our experiences and perspectives to find more echoes in the academic language we use, not fewer. AI slop is the opposite of all that.

Well done @mehr.nz ! Unapologetic calling out of the mess that is NZ public research funding / policy / organisation is really needed. Too often, there is criticism (well warranted) along with some compulsion to highlight some little thing that is 'good'. The public sees 'both sides' in the news.1/2

I appear to have spoken to a reporter who took seriously the gravity of NZ's science crisis does anybody have a newsroom pro subscription so that I can learn what other choice phrases I used on the record? newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/29/w...