In this election year, I want to be clear that I want a government that functions as a government. Not like a business. Not like a household. These are three very distinct and different things. Conflating them is purposefully misleading. Not to mention absolutely wrong. Let's push back. #NZPOL

“It's the same old cliché every time attacking a centre-right government,” [Paul Goldsmith] told RNZ this week. I don’t agree with his wording, but it’s true that it's getting repetitive. People tend to repeat themselves if they’ve not been listened to, or if the problem has not been solved."

I hate hate hate the rhetoric that paid work is magically good for people. People need: * resources * meaningful activities * social connection. Paid work can be a means to those things for some, but it’s not the only (or necessarily the best) way.

I've changed my mind about how much more art we would get if we doubled the money. I reckon we would TRIPLE the art. look at what people achieve on the smell of an oily rag and think what they could accomplish if they didn't have to work a second job and just did FULL TIME art

fantasising about what the country would be like if somehow Creative NZ doubled its budget to $140 million and how we probably wouldn't get double the art BUT we would have $$$ spread around to heaps artists and producers and techs and maybe they'd be able to create without financial terror

happy Pride Eve to all the people who are about to paraphrase this tweet from 2022 or repost it with my name removed as if it’s a thought they just had themselves

KT TUNSTALL

💯 “A general pattern for LLMs is that they look really good at things you are bad at. What that means is that if you find yourself thinking of its output as significantly better than yours in a particular domain, there's a high chance that you are not equipped to judge that quality effectively.”

I want to see every party in opposition declare policies that reverse this decision, immediately

Good morning if you'd like a cry and also to feel some well directed rage (arts related) then here this is for you

Housing, education, and healthcare are the basic 'bread and butter' of a functioning, cohesive society. They are not the icing on top, or a lolly scramble at a birthday party - they are the meat and veg of society. Read more: #nzpol open.substack.com/pub/drbex/p/...

Anyone else find it really patronising of the government to talk to us about the budget like we are kids? ‘Lolly scramble’, ‘tough love’, ‘adult’ budget.. there’s nothing childish about wanting a responsible budget where we care for our poorest and everyone has a secure home.

Arts, Culture and Heritage must save $36.4m over the next 4 years. HOW? How can we save any more in an industry that is already bled dry, with artists themselves providing the biggest subsidies so that kiwis can experience our own stories, participate in the arts and make great new works?

12YO girl signed up to do “stand up comedy” at the talent show. 13YO boy decided to heckle her. Teacher started to tell the boy to leave her alone, but the 12YO comedian said “no, no, let him go, this is the closest he’s ever going to get to having a conversation with a girl.”

They keep claiming this bill is intended to protect (cis) women (which it won’t!) so I think it’s extra important for cis women to make it clear that you won’t stand for anti trans attacks in your name

If you love Parks & Rec but wish it had more magic: www.kickstarter.com/projects/kar...

Sorry, National MPs, history will judge you by the vote you cast, not the sad face you made while doing it

"A healthy society is not an efficient one. It is a stable one. It is one where people trust that institutions will be there when they need them, where work carries meaning beyond a salary, where ordinary people can see themselves in the future being built around them."

Soooo if I'm keeping track correctly this week we've had: Cuts/threats to disabled whānau finding TERF legislation 9000+ jobs on the chopping block And it's fuckin WEDNESDAY

They're right you know

I talked to Emily Writes about this new DSS Bill being sneakily whipped through that is seeking to absolve the State of responsibility and care. It’s a great article! www.emilywrites.co.nz/breaking-the...

My favourite part of austerity not working is when there is more austerity because the austerity didn’t work

divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived

god gives his toughest monkeys to his strongest circuses

That $70m Major Events and Tourism package, btw, is more than the annual budget for Creative NZ. You know, the outfit that actually funds local artists.

InternetNZ is once again being faced with a hostile takeover by lying right-wing nut jobs. You can stop this from happening, if you want.

me when i get shot

Today is Sir Terry Pratchett's birthday. By far one of the best authors of my generation. “A man is not dead while his name is still spoken.” So, may his name echo eternally through the clacks. GNUTerryPratchett

i have children

‘Every human is a unique instrument with its own weird little tuning. UBI is the thing that lets us actually find out what we sound like together.’

Improv Centre with: Flexible and comfortable 100 seat performance space Two rehearsal/workshop rooms Office space for staff and ppl who want to co work Green room with lockers & kitchen Bar/box office that doubles as a co working space during the day Space for taco truck Extremely good ventilation

This just in: it is still too soon to make fun of Steve Irwin’s death

(•_•) <) )╯Publique fundinge / \ \(•_•) ( (> of the artes and humanityes / \ (•_•) <) )> doth benefit everyone! / \

Oh and there's a link bats.co.nz/whats-on/lat...

I'm in Late Night Knife Fight on Saturday! headlined by MAL AND MOG and at Bats and, notably, at 7.30.

My friends and I are still covering sign ups for people who can't afford it! DM me if that's you ^_^

But… how will we pay for it? (🧵 with words). This phrase is used to obfuscate, deflect and generally suppress progressive policy. Why don’t dentists help the thousands of people suffering with tooth ache? Why is shit pouring into the harbour when it rains? Why are people sleeping in tents... [1/n]

TAPPING THE SIGN: trans issues are important not only because trans people are cool, but also as a vital litmus test of someone's politics: do they stand with the oppressed against conservatism and patriarchy, embracing the beauty and diversity of our human community or are they a fucking fascist

How do I advertise for a theatre/improv admin assistant when the hours are inconsistent and the skillset is oddly wide I have a lot I want to get done but the struggle to get the little things done is exhausting

First, the good news. The bathwater has been disposed of.

Go to internetnz.nz/membership/ to sign up before March 31 2026. Then make sure you vote for the board elections, and turn up to the online AGM and ensure the right wing don't capture INZ and implement their anti diversity agenda.

This is why I unapologetically tell the economics students to change their major to something respectable.

The Mammoth Hunters Definitely could have been worse, but we passed it around at intermediate, giggling at the sex scenes I’ve never read any of the rest of the series

probably a pattern game or a deconstruction

“I have no pants, and I must scream..” Finley, aged 2, running for his life instead of getting in the bath

Whānau, remember how the far-right tried to take over Internet NZ last year and we kicked their butts? They haven't learned, and they're trying to do it again this year. Register by March 31st ($21 for a year) so you can vote in the AGM and send them packing again. members.internetnz.nz

Happy International Women's Day to the original International Woman

Looking to consolidate my websites and newsletter into one single site. Currently on Strikingly and Substack: the former is fine but would not accommodate the newsletter, the latter is Not Cool and I neeeeed to move. If anyone has strong opinions/advice on where to go, I'm all ears!

Labour is not your friend. Wellington deserves better #nzpol