The student loan scheme is predicated on the idea of a huge private benefit from tertiary education. I think its fair to say if you haven't repaid it by the time you retire, you did not get that benefit, and the loan should be wiped.

Very tentative return, nearly 50 years on, to a schoolboy “hobby”…

Err BUT... ❌️Potaka made it harder to access emergency housing ❌️Upston made it harder for teens to access Jobseeker ❌️Bishop cancelled thousands of planned social housing builds AND sold off existing social housing ❌️Chhour slashed OT investment into youth employment programs

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/lu...

Very tentative return, nearly 50 years on, to a schoolboy “hobby”…

Timeline Cleanse: Cornwallis beach looking good this evening

Good to see two old crime bosses now going straight and teaming up as a piano duet/private detectives. Streaming now on your favourite platform. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...

Timeline cleanse: exciting developments near Titirangi…

Timeline cleanse: exciting developments near Titirangi…

Good to see two old crime bosses now going straight and teaming up as a piano duet/private detectives. Streaming now on your favourite platform. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...

Good to see NZ First’s nonsense being called out here…

When I wrote this just two-ish months ago, the premise was that the architecture of the CCRA (zero carbon act) remained, but the policies that sustained it had been hollowed out. With the CCRA changes today, I feel like that no longer holds www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-dept...

The Govt quietly announced a loosening of climate rules at 8pm last night: - Decoupling the ETS from Paris - Shifting ETS resets to every 2 years - Delaying the public sector target by 25 years - Removing CCC advice from *before* emission reductions plans: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...

The invasion of Parihaka, 5 November 1881. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...

Excellent thread about Parihaka, which is far more fitting reason to remember remember the 5th of November.

Long shot (mainly due to how little engagement I get on here), but I'm looking for freelance writers with an interest, or specialism in, classical music. If you are one, or know one, please give me a shout.

At a time when academics are under sustained right-wing attack, Dr Siouxsie Wiles stood up to the neoliberal regime of university management and won, but it came at a cost. If you can, please consider supporting Siouxsie, one of the most courageous scholars I know. www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...

Flying Nun on Multitrack First installment of my blog about these special tapes in the FNR and Chris Knox collections at National Library of NZ. What is a multitrack? What is on these tapes? And how can you listen to and research them? Have a read. 👇👇 natlib.govt.nz/blog/posts/f...

if you see this post, your actions are: - if you have a spare buck, give it to Wikipedia, then repost this - if you don't have a spare buck, just repost your action is mandatory for the world's best source of information to survive

@davidstubbs.bsky.social Mark Lewisohn is circulating an op-ed he has written about the BBC's restrictions on access to the Written Archives Centre. I would be grateful if you could repost it: cstonline.net/defending-th...

RIP Jack DeJohnette…

For reference…

Having visited the WAC and drawn on material found there, as an independent researcher I concur that this is a very harmful and foolish move…

At last! Many of us have been saying for decades that the nature and climate emergency is a security issue not simply an environmental one - look forward to government ministers agreeing ….

You know, there’s this pervasive view that people don’t care about climate change / are bored of it / find it overwhelming but I wrote this story this week and social media went crazy over it. People care!!!! They really care are they need a way to channel it www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

More disgraceful action by this reprehensible government, as detailed by @kirstyjohnston.bsky.social www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Shame on this government for the deeply racist Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Amendment Act, just passed into law.

What was actually in the fine print of yesterday's roading announcement: a $40-to-$50 billion bill that we could not pay without bankrupting ourselves. This has been implicit for a long time and should be in the damn headlines. greaterauckland.substack.com/p/reality-bi...

8R8 - Flash sale - 50% off. Use this coupon to get 50% off: 8R8SALE The sale ends on 31 October. www.goldbaby.co.nz/8r8.html

“It's completely incoherent." - applies to most of this woeful government’s policies, but not to this enlightening piece by @kirstyjohnston.bsky.social on their deranged climate proposals…

Comment: The Government's methane announcement is the policy equivalent of a steaming cowpat on cross-partisan climate consensus.

Can’t wait to see the regulatory impact statement that outlines the impact of this decision on everyone who isn’t a farmer www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Apart from the opening act, this looks pretty good…

Registration reminder: SYNTHposium Saturday 11 October 2025 LEEDS, UK 09:00 - 22:00 (UK) Food and refreshments will be provided for ticket holders Bar open from 5pm Registration: www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/t-xm... Full details: synthresearch.org/symposium

People of the internet! I’m running a free online session on performance anxiety and managing negative thoughts (important!) on 30 October. I’m especially keen to reach non-professional musicians who love music, but struggle with stage fright. Please share! xeniapestovabennett.com/events/intro...

#nzpol 20,000 responses. This poll is here www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...

🧵…

Just had my 9th (or is it 10th?) covid vaccination. Thanks to the good folks at Titirangi Pharmacy.

Vote. Them. Out.

#nzpol The CTU has today released its report on electricity in NZ. We are calling for electricity generators to be brought back into public ownership - and to recognise electricity for what it really is - a public utility - not just a source of profit. 🧵 www.reimagineaotearoa.nz/publicly_own...

In Auckland the most high profile ticket that has clear anti-science anti-mandate links is WestWards - their leader Ken Turner is a climate change sceptic, and they have at last one anti-vax candidate (in this article). They are running Craig Lord in for councillor in Whau.

Have heard that govt likely to cut eligibility for Total Mobility - an essential lifeline for many disabled people who cannot drive or access public transportation. Please sign this petition to parliament calling for Increased funding for Total Mobility Scheme

Shameful www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Today’s welcome arrival - music by @fantasticdrfox.bsky.social

Today’s welcome arrival - music by @fantasticdrfox.bsky.social

🧵Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Senate hearings where Frank Zappa, Dee Snider, and John Denver delivered their testimony against the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) over their proposal to put warning labels on albums. (1/3)

Hell yeah. It’s the only direction available, some actually run on heading backwards… www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Sound familiar, Aotearoa?

Jesus christ on a cracker. We should not be turning to the US for new investments. Useless bloody government #nzpol

100 Māori words every New Zealander should know #TeWikiOTeReoMāori