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Reposted by Dr Bex

Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 4h

Ok after an afternoon of results, texts, calls, messages on other apps and emails, I have some thoughts on today’s Local Election results

1) Voter turnout is depressing. 32%ish on average across AoNZ is pathetic.
2) The Māori Wards referendum should never have happened - it was a racebaiting farce…

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Keith Ng @keithng.bsky.social · 2h

Hope everyone learnt their stupid damn lesson from this:

1. taking money from the crazy toxic people will get you billboards everywhere, but also cover you in their stink

2. giving toxic money to people stupid enough to take it just gets you the worst candidates money can buy

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Toitū te Tiriti 🇳🇿 @mrjeffhowell.bsky.social · 4h

The Olive green areas are councils where citizens voted down Māori wards (the little blue blob in the middle is Kirikiriroa, which voted by a whisker to retain theirs).
Coincidentally those Olive green areas also pretty accurately represent land confiscated by the crown after the Waikato wars.

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Dr Bex @drbex.bsky.social · 11h

Keeping the whole house warm and dry is so important for us in terms of managing the kids asthma and for reducing the severity of winter illnesses.

That means not hanging wet washing in the lounge but using a dryer, a dehumidifier in the bedrooms, and a heat pump.

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Dr Bex @drbex.bsky.social · 11h

Closer to $800 a month for gas and power for our warm, insulated 4 bedroom home with 6 people living in it in the middle of winter.

The Waikato is damp and wet so a dryer is a must if you want dry clothes.

I definitely breathed a sigh of relief when spring came round.

Sassy Little Hobbit @sassypolitico.bsky.social · 13h

I remember when asset sales were gonna lead to mum and dad shareholders and now we just have mum and dad paying $500 power bills in the winter. The right wing ideology is a scam. It’s a pyramid scheme. It’s useless. It improves nothing.

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Sassy Little Hobbit @sassypolitico.bsky.social · 13h

I remember when asset sales were gonna lead to mum and dad shareholders and now we just have mum and dad paying $500 power bills in the winter. The right wing ideology is a scam. It’s a pyramid scheme. It’s useless. It improves nothing.

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Connor Sharp @connorsharp.bsky.social · 12h

I cant even tell you the number of public interest (and interesting) stories about the local election that journos wanted to do, but couldn't because of editors..

Shout out those that did do coverage, esp The Spinoff

Patrick Reynolds for a greater Auckland @patrickreynolds.bsky.social · 15h

Well done media, you achieved this brilliantly, your campaign to nearly completely ignore AKL’s local elections has flowed on to its inevitable outcome. Accelerating your own irrelevance simultaneously -> www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Auckland records lowest turnout in local elections

“Vote today or let someone else choose Auckland's representatives for you,” Aucklanders are told, with local body elections entering the home straight.

www.thepost.co.nz

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Craig Renney @clrenney.bsky.social · 2d

#nzpol

Episode 25 of Locked Out with Craig Renney looks at the singularly most idiotic policy launched yet by the government. Visible from space levels of moronic. Have watch now 😄

youtu.be/8aTWMV6ULIc?...

Ep25 The singularly most stupid policy yet launched by the Coalition government

YouTube video by Big Hairy Network

youtu.be

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Dr Bex @drbex.bsky.social · 2d

Fantastic! Love our air fryer and that it turns off automatically when done. Brilliant for forgetful me and wondrous for the kiddos too.

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Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social · 3d

Fucksake. It's quite clear now that they only looked at this benefit policy as political marketing and took no advice on who it would impact – which includes young people with serious health issues and disabilities. Just feckless and cynical. Shame on them. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Hundreds of teens with a health condition, disability may be cut from Jobseeker benefit

The government is ending Jobseeker payments to 18- and 19 year olds whose parents earn more than $65,000.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Eddie Clark @dreddieclark.bsky.social · 2d

Sure is easier to write unsourced, unfootnoted, sketchily reasoned blog posts than conference papers you'll be challenged on by your peers, let alone peer reviewed articles.

But I don't think you can argue you're engaged remotely in scholarship if posting's your only output. Reckons aren't research

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Tory Whanau @misswhanau.bsky.social · 2d

Just got sent this from an article by Bryce Edwards. This is completely false, and he never once fact-checked it with me. My campaign was run by me and my small volunteer team. Comments like this reflect a tired mindset that assumes women can’t succeed in politics without a man pulling the strings.

7:50
:.!=
73)
concerns about transparency and public trust.
The Anatomy of influence - A Wellington case study
Many of the powerful vested interests behind local politicians are barely acknowledged. For example, how many Wellington voters knew that the current Mayor of Wellington, Tory Whanau, had her successful 2022 campaign essentially run by corporate lobbyist Neale Jones?
Jones co-owns and operates the Capital Government Relations firm with fellow political commentator Ben Thomas. The firm is the epitome of the "revolving door"

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D Jukic She/her @dejanajuk.bsky.social · 2d

Repost. NZ pensions are not a problem. They are not unsustainable. That’s a lie. #nzpol

Musical Chairs @musicalchairs.bsky.social · 13d

Looks like a good time in the news cycle to tackle three big myths 🧵
❌ NZ pension costs are an unsustainable burden ❌
Seriously, no, for lots of reasons.
1. Our current Govt spending on pensions is low compared to most other advanced economies. And... [1/n]

Graph of public pension costs as % of GDP for OECD countries in 2021 (latest data). NZ is lower quartile at around 5.1%. OECD average is 7.8%. Plenty of Euro countries are around 10% or above.

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Jordan Rivers @jordanriversnz.bsky.social · 3d

Just for clarity, the unemployment numbers under this government may look terrible, but keep in mind, Luxon has driven tens of thousands of Kiwis overseas as well, so its actually far worse. These numbers are just the ones that couldnt leave.

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Foxy @foxylustygrover.bsky.social · 4d

Winston Peters strolled around and anti-vax picnic and spoke with people who had chanted and written threats of hanging on gallows of Jacinda Ardern, Dr Ashley Bloomfield and so on, but this was all OK as it was just harmless opportunistic politicking #NZPol

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nzjanette @nzjanette.bsky.social · 4d

Yes, the hypocrisy here is teeth grindingly annoying.
Please please please could the media and/or opposition parties point this out.
The coalition won't be shamed by it because that's not how they roll, but people would then have the chance to know and understand the dynamic.
#nzpol

Dr Bex @drbex.bsky.social · 4d

And dont even get me started on the unhinged level of abuse that Bejamin Doyle from the Greens faced - and that NZF and Winston were complicit in. Where was the public outcry by NACT then?

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Frank @fmacskasy.bsky.social · 4d

Remember how Winston Peters harrassed non-binary, Green MP, Benjamin Doyle; questioning their sexuality; hinting at child abuse; encouraging the baying unhinged mob to threaten them online?

Well, Karma just came calling for Mr Peters...

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

Nicola Willis urges Greens to 'call off' protesters outside Winston Peters' home

Senior government ministers are accusing the Greens of condoning "indecency" after a window at the Foreign Minister's house was smashed.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Dr Bex @drbex.bsky.social · 4d

And dont even get me started on the unhinged level of abuse that Bejamin Doyle from the Greens faced - and that NZF and Winston were complicit in. Where was the public outcry by NACT then?

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kyle @kyledchurch.bsky.social · 4d

The way media and business have IMMEDIATELY escalated and wrapped around to attack activists smacks of the same tacit coordination that we saw in the US when the far right weaponised Charlie Kirk’s death. This is being led by government ministers & is a massive attack on free speech & protest rights

Assiduously Julie @awaterevalley.bsky.social · 4d

She did not smash the window. She lawfully exercised her right to protest. She got the Kimmel treatment.

One NZ cuts actor from ads over protest at Winston Peters' house
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...

One NZ cuts actor from ads over protest at Winston Peters' house

The activist, who gave out the home address of Foreign Minister Winston Peters and encouraged other pro-Palestine protesters to join, is also one of the faces of One NZ’s advertising campaigns.

www.stuff.co.nz

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Dr Bex @drbex.bsky.social · 4d

Off to Parliament for a Parliamentary Friends of Eye Health Event. Should be fun and a chance to connect with others in the vision space. I'll try not to get too political (chortles endlessly at the thought that this is in any way manageable 🤣)

#nzpol

Selfie of me. I am wearing a black suit jacket and have lapel pins representing indigenous sovereignty

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Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social · 4d

Oh. Surely not a campaign of harassment of a history professor by Turning Point USA, founded by famous champion of civilised debate Charlie Kirk. Can't be.

Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 6d

I’ve received multiple death threats + doxing (including my home address) directly following harassment from Turning Point USA, Jack Posobiec, Andy NGO, + Fox News which called me an antifa ‘financier.’

I have been forced to move my classes online.

If journalists want to talk, DM me or reply here.

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Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · 4d

Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...

Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."

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Dr Bex @drbex.bsky.social · 4d

I remember when a protester punched the co-leader of the Greens in the face.

Hana Maipi-Clarke had her home broken into by a political stalker.

I recall VFF protesting outside Clarke's parents' home while Jacinda was on holiday.

I dont remember hearing about National's concerns back then??

Keith Ng @keithng.bsky.social · 4d

Calling people attack dogs is not at attempt to deescalate and maintain civility, it's a attempt to escalate to distract from a failing economy. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

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Keith Ng @keithng.bsky.social · 4d

Calling people attack dogs is not at attempt to deescalate and maintain civility, it's a attempt to escalate to distract from a failing economy. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

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Danielle, Petty Hate Machine @dimsie.bsky.social · 4d

Actual journalism being done to contradict stupid vibes-based dickhead www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic... #nzpol

How many job hunters are there for each job ad?

Finding work may not be as easy as "getting off the PlayStation", data on jobs and job hunters shows.

www.rnz.co.nz

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