The National Government only destroys things.

We can disagree on policy. But promoting someone who spreads misogynistic rumours into a key leadership role? That should be a red line for any council committed to safe and respectful politics. #nzpol thespinoff.co.nz/politics/25-...

Watched a bit of an episode of Game of Wool. It's just...I mean...not very good.

I'm unexpectedly not in a great headspace this evening so going to listen to some silly podcasts and do some tidying.

In Scottish Gaelic folklore, the cat-sìth was a faery being in the form of a black cat with a white patch on its chest. The cat-sìth would attempt to steal the soul of a laid-out corpse, but on Samhain would bless a house if given a saucer of milk. #WyrdWednesday 🎨Aedsu

I feel like it's hopeless to keep pointing out that this is going to kill children. You say it over and over again and somehow it never seems to matter.

If we are stopping puberty blockers due to a lack of evidence, then by that metric all SSRIs should also be stopped.

The cruelty is a feature. It’s not ok. We must must must protect trans kids #TransRightsAreHumanRights

The Government is banning new patients from being prescribed the most common form of puberty blocker and is explicitly aligning NZ's future policy on this matter to the UK's. PR below.

If you have a young trans person in your life waiting for care in NZ... please please do what you can to lift them up. Shits going to get dark. (And check on their caregivers. They're probably not in a good way right about now)

So very tired.

Know of anyone in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton looking for a room? Italian Flatmate is moving out, so I'm advertising his room on Trademe. $275 (rent + utilities) plus you get to hang out with Oscar! The room is small but sunny, and the rest of the house is roomy. www.trademe.co.nz/a/property/f...

As you go to work today to start another week, it may help to remember that Skeletor was often thwarted by his own inept henchman too

AI is garbage.

I have regretfully decided to bow out of #SecretSantaAoNZ this year. I love taking part usually but too many plates spinning at the moment and the thought of playing is sparking more angst than joy.

There is no reason why this should have made me laugh so hard a bit of gas escaped.

muppetized book covers: thread

Timber wolf: OWOOOOOooooooo… Timbre wolf: ok that’s a bit reedy, maybe a bit more from the diaphragm yeah?

Mark Mitchell says 36 emails were sent to his office but also that a protocol had been put in place by the Police Commissioner's office to prevent him seeing them. I'd love a journo to ask: 1. When was the protocol put in place? 2. When did Mark Mitchell become aware of the protocol? #nzpol

We live in a country v much divided by those who have experienced police inaction, or worse - and those who haven't. I saw it constantly when talking about getting death threats or stalked - "I hope someone called the cops!". Why? Why would you assume they were going to do anything helpful?

It is dispiriting to see people in power (and men in power in particular) minimising and distancing the ongoing social and individual harm of corruption and abuse of power in the police and other institutions. A system which enables a failure of leadership is a failed system.

If the barrel keeps having rotten apples put in, or apples are turning rotten once inside, at what point do you accept there’s a system problem? Why are rotten apples put in? Why are they going rotten once in? And why aren’t (more) politicians asking this about police?

Also fuck Tamatha Paul really deserves a number of apologies huh

Right. Here's my big pitch: Muppet James Bond James Bond in…A Heart-Felt Goodbye Dominic Cooper as Bond Kermit M Frog Mrs Moneypiggy Beaker & Dr Bunsen HoneyQ The agents of G.O.N.Z.O. want to kidnap the world's chickens. MI5 has a mole (Rizzo the Rat). An agent is undercover as a chef in Sweden.

Fantastic. I hope there will be apologies to Ms Paul from the MPs who attacked her for expressing these views.

Our PM is probably 'not aware' of the report into police misconduct.

In completely shocking news the police fucking suck.

The NZ police news is fucking awful. The rot spreads deep.

For anyone passionate about The Huia or commuter rail, Waikato Regional Council are looking for feedback on the service. Open to anyone. Share it around #nzpol #transit #nz yourvoicematters.waikatoregion.govt.nz/future-of-te...

I keep seeing pictures from the Oval Office of the President standing there and ignoring it as a medical emergency happens next to him, but if this ongoing pandemic has taught me anything it’s that most people stand there and ignore it when a medical emergency happens near them.

House prices have gone up in the French town of Sauté since it's become gentlyfried.

THIS IS SO GOOD

Fireworks? More like ireworks.

french queer eye is called Homme Improvement

I haven't slept well the last few nights and oof is it hitting me hard. Don't know my arse from my kneecap.

Alternative names for The Traitors: - Great British Fake Off - Maskmaster - Bogglefox - Claudy With A Chance of Sneakballs

Quite an unfortunate place to drift off into an ellipsis.

Louvre Thieves Given Immunity After Confirming Jewels Stolen For Purpose Of Training AI Software https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/louvre-thieves-given-immunity-after-confirming-jewels-stolen-for-purpose-of-training-ai-software/

Retrospective #25: Almost forgot this one from 2018:

Is it ever going to stop raining?

Tough week. We had to say goodbye to a local stray cat we had been trying to befriend to help, to eventually get desexed. He was a nervous little fellow. Last week he turned up with an injured leg, suspected bite, and it was getting worse each day.

Aotearoa, New Zealand. You have till midday today (Saturday ) to vote in the local body elections . You can still register to vote and do a special vote today before midday. Please head to your local City Council website and find out how and where to vote. #elections #NZ #Aotearoa

I just saw someone use the abbreviation “AI;DR” and I’ll be laughing for a while.

finally saw that wonderful Jane Goodall clip and I can’t tell you how delighted I am to learn that in addition to being a genius and a pure soul and a phenomenal advocate and a cultural revolutionary, she was also a hater

My latest homebrew - an American porter - has started bubbling and blorping in the keg. It's alive!

Tonight me and my whānau got to see the official mayoral portrait done by Pōneke artist, Clark Roworth. This felt like a lovely end to this chapter with my mana intact and we will leave behind a progressive long term plan for the next council. I’m proud of of us 💚

I went to see Jane Goodall speak at the Michael Fowler centre in Wellington. Incredible. Though it did take forty-five minutes for the penny to drop that the reason she hadn't up to that point mentioned anything about her work with gorillas was that she was not in fact Dian Fossey.

“I love the aroma of fresh toffee in the morning!” “Toffee?” “Sorry - I meant coffee. It was a smelling mistake"

Can someone please explain to Luxon et al that independent =/= contrary, and having an independent foreign policy doesn't at all preclude NZ from aligning with other nations who have recognised a Palestinian state given the clear moral responsibility to do so in the face of ongoing genocide. #nzpol

It’s just over nine months until Te Huia’s five year trial comes to an end in mid-2026. There’s lots to be done to secure it as a permanent service between Auckland and Hamilton. Read on for what this involves. open.substack.com/pub/adventur...