#TrainNews: Community advocates are ramping up pressure on the Government to commit to a permanent passenger rail network connecting Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, ahead of a key funding decision on the future of Te Huia. Via Waatea News: waateanews.com/2026/01/26/r...

This is why we need UBI, so that people don't have to sell parts of themselves out of poverty. If someone makes that choice from an altruistic stance more power to them, but parting with your organs, bone marrow, etc should never be a financial decision.

Wild st Clair beach this morning. Dry for now, but very grey ☁️

Spotted the (very full) Mainlander train get back into Christchurch Railway Station for its trip south to Invercargill and Dunedin. Hopefully the first of many trips! 🚞

Drug use tends to go down when people have an unconditional basic income floor under them. NZ should start talking UBI. Reduce poverty, mass insecurity, and extreme inequality. Those are the roots.

Another multi years Universal Basic Income experiment shows benefits for people, incl. health and doesn't make them lazy! It's an important element to soften human impact when economies shrink as they will, for society to fit back into the planetary boundaries edition.cnn.com/2025/04/11/h...

#RailNews: KiwiRail has shared a Wellington summer works wrap-up video, which showcases the works they have undertaken in the region. WATCH: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjao...

Basic income is cheaper than poverty.

The first Chch-Dunedin-Invercargill Mainlander train this week has sold out 🚞 Also the return train to Timaru for the Crusaders - Highlanders match on the 30th has sold out 🏟️ Time and time again passenger trains sell out. The publics interested, private sectors interested, will Kiwirail take heed?

As the date for Election 2026 has been announced (November 7), now is a good time to check if you are enrolled to vote, and to update your details if needed. vote.nz/enrolling/en... #election #decision2026 #nzPol

#TransportNews: From the opening of Nelson’s new bus hub to a new fast ferry trial and everything in between, here's what you might have missed over the break. Read now: open.substack.com/pub/nztransi...

Just about to board the sold-out first scheduled passenger train between Ōtepoti/ Southerner and Waihopai/ Invercargill since the demise of the Southerner in 2002. Hoping this becomes a regular thing and not just occasional one-offs.

#RailNews: It was full steam ahead as passengers boarded the Mainlander train’s sell-out inaugural journey between Christchurch and Invercargill. Via The Press: www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3609...

Just down the road with the tent at Mahinapua for a few nights. A paddle up mirror creek -living up to its name

The first Chch-Dunedin-Invercargill Mainlander train this week has sold out 🚞 Also the return train to Timaru for the Crusaders - Highlanders match on the 30th has sold out 🏟️ Time and time again passenger trains sell out. The publics interested, private sectors interested, will Kiwirail take heed?

Parliament isn't back to work, but we are. The Opportunity Party is bringing new ideas to Hawke's Bay this Wednesday January 21 Learn about Universal Basic Income, help for the high cost of housing, superannuation...all the things www.opportunity.org.nz/meet_qiulae_... #KiwisDeserveBetter #nzpol

I ticked off 4 life admin tasks today and went on a lovely wee walk.

The weather in Hokitika is an absolute stunner today! Hoki is such an amazing spot, probably my favourite town in Aotearoa 🏞️

Big news for #UniversalBasicIncome The Marshall Islands has become the first country to implement a genuinely universal basic income payment at a national level. You can read more in this great overview from @scottsantens.com scottsantens.substack.com/p/marshall-i...

UBI turns economic fear into freedom—letting us chase dreams, not just paychecks

From Canada to Korea and around the world, Universal Basic Income schemes and the Land Value Tax are gaining proponents. The Opportunity Party will bring them to Aotearoa. Because #KiwisDeserveBetter www.ubiworks.ca/blog/south-k...

see a bridge, post a swing bridge

It's true Not a single UBI study found work meaningfully drops

CEO of Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce pro-UBI "Perhaps the strongest argument for basic income is that Canada already uses it selectively. The Canada Child Benefit and the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors are both forms of basic income" rabble.ca/columnists/b...

My favourite trams in Melbourne are the Z3 class and it's going to be such a shame when they're gone The best experience you can have on the network is riding a Z3 on route 58 through Royal Park standing by an open window on a lovely day

#LocomotiveNews: Historic locomotives have been rendered "basically wrecks" after thieves stripped valuable copper and irreplaceable parts from trains stored at Glenbrook Vintage Railway over the Christmas period. Via 1News: www.1news.co.nz/2026/01/03/t...

#RailNews: KiwiRail have shared a post honoring the lives lost in the 1953 Rail Disaster at Tangiwai. Every year, the closest train to cross the Tangiwai Bridge will stop at 10:51 pm. Normally, the Northern Explorer would stop off at the Memorial to lay a wreath in remembrance.

#BusNews: Kinetic are welcoming the arrival of the country’s first lightweight electric double-decker bus. The bus was built using aerospace-grade aluminium technology, meaning the bus has a lighter frame than traditional steel construction.

Message from King Charles

#BusNews: Metro’s Route 7 Halswell to Queenspark service has seen patronage growth of 7% when compared to the same period in 2024, following a frequency upgrade to every 10 minutes from 5.30 am to 6.30 pm on weekdays.

If a private company like Mainland Rail can see the good sense to drop their ticket prices, why can't Kiwirail?

#RailNews: A passenger rail venture between Christchurch and Invercargill received a 25% price drop within 24 hours of going live. Via Otago Daily Times: www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin...

Don't accept the status quo. Come hear a fresh approach backed by good evidence. Bring your questions and concerns and join the campaign for a new New Zealand.

An end of an era; The Royal Hotel on Māwhera Quay was demolished today after sitting empty for over a decade. The formerly grand old building was built in the 1930s, but the Royal Hotel itself opened in 1866 🏨

My buddy Ariel is there with his food truck (Chilean style sandwiches). Worth a feed if you're hungry. The goat one is 🤌🤌

The rain stayed away long enough for the Greymouth Christmas parade today, what a great event and a massive turnout! 🎁

Happy Westland Anniversary! 🎉 The day to celebrate a Province that existed for all of 3 years, was abolished 149 years ago, and doesn't cover the Buller District part of the West Coast... We really should have a unified West Coast Day 🤔

#TransportNews: NZ Transit Buzz is able to confirm that two electric double decker buses in Metro Canterbury teal have arrived in Auckland for pre service preparation works. NZTB is unable to confirm the operator who purchased the units or when they will enter service.

#RailNews: After decades of abandoned business cases and much yearning, long-distance passenger rail is returning to the South Island in January – but it comes with a hefty price tag. Via The Press: www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3609...

I am so stoked about this. I could moan about some details, and how an enduring service must run multiple times a day, but simply having an operator prepared to run this in such a hostile car-centric environment is such a step up from having nothing for over two decades—I’m thrilled. We need this!

We grew up being told "you'll get more conservative as you age" but it turns out becoming more conservative isn't about aging it's about accruing wealth, which we didn't do as we aged because for most of us home ownership was out of reach www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...

BREAKING: Marshall Islands becomes the first country to launch a Universal Basic Income program. Every resident (about 33,000 people) will receive $200 every 3 months. This works out to being about 11% of GDP per capita. If the US did that same percentage, the UBI would be about $770/mo.

Walked to the top of the hill above Māwhera Greymouth, tracks a bit rough but the views are spectacular 🏞️

A slightly late #OnThisDay. On 15 November 1927 Sir Wallace Edward "Bill" Rowling was born in Motueka, New Zealand. He served as the 30th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1974 to 1975 as leader of the Labour Party. #OTD #history #nzpol #nzpolitics #politics

Ōnuke Marae, and Takapūneke Reserve, November 4

*Buses check in via Bluetooth with the building, so it knows what route it’s on, which direction it is travelling, which Platform it needs to go to, as well as opening the lounge doors, updating the platform screen & announcements.

#RailNews: Weka Pass Railway has now completed most of the work to re-lay Herberts Crossing. The track was lifted after becoming muddy from clay runoff from a nearby hill and has been replaced with fresh ballast and sleepers. Crews will soon tamp (lift and align) the track.

BREAKING🍁: 2025 Report of the National Advisory Council on Poverty recommends a basic income floor to ensure everyone reaches at least the poverty line This is pretty reasonable.

#RailNews: KiwiRail, Selwyn District Council, & Fire and Emergency NZ are holding fortnightly meetings to work together on fire prevention over the summer period. KR has also started its vegetation management plan, starting with high-risk areas along the Midland Line between Rolleston & Darfield.