Exit strategy substack.com/pub/deadder

NCEA gave us the ability and flexibility as teachers to assess out students outside the bullshit rigidity of exams. If you support this NACT bullshit but hated school, well done. You’ve made it go back 40 years

Sigh as a parent of kids in that early teens age gap so much of their independence is via aps even at school. Communication from high schools, sports teams, queer kids, disabled kids, ND kids, all kind of minorities find friends there. Surely under 16 it's on us as parents to monitor & guide usage.

My Dad, and his peers at the local bowls club, received 4 years of “fees free” university, allowing them to start their working lives completely debt free. Choices. 💭 #nzpol #OneTermGovernment #NZ www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

2 lines into a book: this is the worst. it’s so slow. i don’t know what any of these names mean. what’s going on? 20 chapters into a book: i don’t know how i’m going to continue living when this book ends

I’d been reading the news so used ‘Trump’ as my Wordle starting word yesterday. And the result, well, I like it.

Free dental care receives widespread support in new survey

Did you know that Pride Poetry Hour is on tomorrow night at Tūranga? And that it's open to all ages? And that it's free but requires bookings? events.humanitix.com/pride-poetry... #christchurchpride

The irony of the government being taken to court for cutting climate policies that would have significantly reduced NZ’s oil consumption from cars - our biggest user - and freight, just as the country faces an oil shock is ... difficult to ignore www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ...

“But unlike 1979, we now have EVs. Except, well, actually you probably don’t. Because the Luxon/Peters/ Seymour Government spent the last two years systemically punching NZ’s car electrification movement in the face. Then, when it was out cold on the pavement, kicking it in the head.” #nzpol

An honour for me and a lovely thing for my book. So pleased that 'Sick Power Trip' is shortlisted in the Ockhams. Full of gratitude. 🩵 🩷 @thwupbooks.bsky.social www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-...

The secret to finding 100% of your typos is just to wait until the piece is published, don't worry you'll find them all

Grateful for this review of Hailman - & to have it called "a really thoughtful and memorable read"... I love that. Thank you so much @kaggsy59.bsky.social & @theemmapress.bsky.social 🌨️

This is a hammer. It is my only tool. It does not seem to be working, so this year I will swing it more frequently and with greater vigour to get us back on track.

DELIGHTED to be included as a summer fiction writer for NZ Listener 🥳🙏 A wonderful way to start 2026, and in such fine company, esp @antzlapwood.bsky.social 🥂🥰

I’ve done some catalogue searching and am fairly confident in saying that 5/10 titles in this list do not exist (1, 2, 4, 5 and 7). Sloppy, unacceptable, and a real kick in the guts to real authors with real books they’d love people to buy and read!

Today (4/12) every dollar you donate to Orange Sky Aotearoa will be DOUBLED. Orange Sky does amazing work supporting individuals & whānau experiencing homelessness & hardship through access to free laundry & warm showers. give.orangesky.org.nz/holidayappea...

Bong Joon Ho hit me up for the squad you legend deadline.com/2025/11/bong...

How cool is this! Metallica donate $20,000 to Auckland Women’s Centre www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainmen...

Wrote a #shortstory abt sneaking smokes & pills, taking photos, & setting a doll on fire. Huge thanks to @lostballoon.bsky.social for giving Double Image a home 🌿 tinyurl.com/mtsn5yha

Dublin Literary Award nominated titles are out! Kia ora to the writers from Aotearoa New Zealand on this list: 📗1985 by Dominic Hoey 📕Delirious by Damien Wilkins 📘Kataraina by Becky Manawatu and - our pick - 📙The Mires by Tina Makereti. dublinliteraryaward.ie/features/new... #Booksky #ReadNZ ^DR

Teens need to get home from exams at midday, half an hour bus ride, akl city. Y11 waits 15 mins and catches bus straight home that takes 40 mins. Y9 gets impatient, catches bus to another suburb, hops on train for one stop, then catches another bus home, taking the same amount of time.

That’s the kind of kneejerk dismissive advice that makes me violent. Telling people to just grow their own food is tantamount to telling them to eat cake.

So the Prime Ministers new attack on teachers is their 12 weeks of school holidays which we all know many teachers work through. Regardless. NZ Parliament has 20+ weeks of recess each year including a far longer summer break than most professions including teaching!!!

650 Principals are saying 'are you fucking mad', Lord give me the confidence & ignorance of a conservative politician. newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/21/i...

Since the election, there are 37,243 fewer 15-19 year olds in filled jobs. The jobs market for young people is as bad - if not worse - than the GFC. So adding 6% to the cost of tuition fees and halving apprenticeship boost support makes life even harder. Brilliant work National.

I'm so embarrassed for my country right now. Luxon is an empty suit, so shameful, such an unprincipled coward.

I had the most wonderful time at the Surrey last year and am very grateful to have had the opportunity. Congratulations to all on this year’s longlist!

The books sector sets out a new five-year plan.

newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/13/s... Story up!

Lovely review in Kete of Kings of this World www.ketebooks.co.nz/en/reviews/r...

Paula Morris farewells Kelly Ana Morey. www.anzliterature.com/feature/kell...

WORD Christchurch Festival 2025 is over - what a great ride it has been! Kia ora and congratulations to our friends at #WORDChch & all the WORD workers. Thanks to the writers, and readers who came along to sessions. Check out our coverage at my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/word-christc...

Climate.

Data shows 'exciting' shift in Kiwis' attitudes to te reo Māori

Trans people are worth protecting. Not because we are amazing people (although we are) or because we offer a great deal to society (although we do) or because we are fine as hell (we are). We are worth protecting because we are HUMAN BEINGS, and it’s amazing how often that simple fact is forgotten.

I am feeling so ill about that Erica Stamford video gleefully announcing that school students are going to be assessed by AI. Esp the bit where she says you’re 2x as likely to get an ‘excellence’ with your own teacher so they are going to iron out that ‘inconsistency’. We are fucked.

In my kid’s lacrosse tournament permission form: Can your child confidently swim 60m? Erm yes but what sort of lacrosse will this be…?

this Ngaati Porou takataa wa is the lifeblood of so many of our takataapui works from @antzlapwood.bsky.social "Home Theatre" to Ruby Solly's "The Artist" to @tainuitillidienui.bsky.social "Poorhara" and so many more in our community and beyond. I'm so so so glad she is being recognised in this way

Poetic genius.

Yay for Nafanua! This is wonderful news 🎉 www.wgtn.ac.nz/news/2025/07...

a wee taster of my book to whet your appetite #booksky #author #YA www.ketebooks.co.nz/en/interview...

Never posted this here … ReadingRoom published my creepy arachnid story late last year which made me very happy. Another coming soonish 🤞 newsroom.co.nz/2024/09/28/s...

Well, this made me feel despairing today.

The ROI on the guest of honour programme has been proven so why did MCH deny funding for NZ to be guest of honour programme at the biggest children’s book fair in the world? How can they value literacy if they don’t value the industry that makes children’s books! www.thesapling.co.nz

Weather today.

My story 'Generation Brutal' got a mention in Savannah Patterson's thoughtful Kete review of bilingual super-short fiction collection, 'Poto/Short' 💕

Cat update: everyone meet Sage.