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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON

@ahafoka.bsky.social

760 followers 890 following 5.3K posts

NZ / Aotearoa based. Freedive, spearfisher & mucking round in boats. Also volunteer crew for the Hibiscus unit of Coastguard NZ Tautiaki Moana https://www.coastguardhibiscus.org.nz I rabbit on about all of the above and throw in politics & dad jokes.

www.coastguardhibiscus.org.nz

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · Jun 29

Inspired by a pic Jeremy @floregonian.com posted of the sea I’m starting a thread of sea / water related pictures I’ve taken. Bear with me as I add to it sporadically as I seem to have quite a few pics in my phone. Most were taken in Aotearoa New Zealand. I’ll start with my profile pic.

Tony Freediving with a seal. We are both looking at each other (I’ve got a speargun in my hand but deliberately not pointing it at the seal). Pic taken at the end of Karikari Peninsula, Northland, New Zealand

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 19h

I like the chronological look thing and the “kind of related to a topic” thing.

Both help with community

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 21h

🤣 I stuffed up a video of one of the starts … took 1 picture when I thought I was starting a video.

Here’s a clip one of my Coastguard mates sent me (boats rounding the turn just off Gulf Harbour, Whangaparaoa)

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 21h

🤣 some pics of my boat on the start/finish line … and I’m waving the white flag to let racers know they are starting their last lap as they go past.

NZ Offshore Powerboat Racing, Whangaparaoa

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 1d

I was a bit busy to take many pics/videos 🤣 and one start where I thought I was videoing I had just taken a picture…

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 1d

Went out for dinner and a walk on the beach … then found a bar with 3 young guys playing … covers of Stray Cats, Joe Walsh and Elvis …

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

Bloody hell. That thing is insane

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

I saw another post in this and replied there:

bsky.app/profile/ahaf...

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

Yeah, there's some of that.

The relationships thing is interesting. I interact with many here that I respect and also know we have differences of opinion/experience on many things but the binding attitude is one of respect and listening.

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

ditto

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

I've only seen the offshore powerboats racing on TV ...

I know how hard the sea can be when you hit a swell at 48 knots so I'm not that keen to try it much faster myself.

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

I've never had any involvement in this sort of stuff before - so it's going to be interesting.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

Here's the course map - running close to the southern side of Whangaparaoa Peninsula from Gulf Harbour to Arkles Bay.

There should be some good views from the tops of the cliffs etc.

Apparently they last raced off Gulf harbour around 15 years ago (and on Auckland generally around 10 years ago)

Course map for the NZ offshore powerboat racing

Satellite view showing some of the vantage points on shore for viewing

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

Fair warning - you may see posts from me tomorrow showing fast boats going fast. (Somehow I've ended up agreeing to having the lap scorers on my boat anchored on the start / finish line)

NZ Offshore Powerboats racing off Whangaparaoa

Poster for the Gulf Harbour leg of the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Racing Series. 11th October - first race at 11am

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

... still supporting their right to post it (e.g. variations of adult X-rated content, rants on specific topics etc.).

Muting key words also supports this (I imagine some have muted me or 'Coastguard' ... )

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

The option to "curate your own feed" or follow an existing feed (like #kikorangi ) allows for those smaller communities to be seen by those that want to see them.

Also the ease of blocking & muting supports this. I block disruptive trolls & mute some that post stuff I don't want to see while...

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

Text reads :

"This hotel stinks!" a guest complained when he showed up at the front desk to check out.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I got no sleep. Every 15 minutes this loud banging sound woke me up!"

I apologized for the noise and checked him out. A few minutes later, a couple showed up. Again, I made the mistake of asking how their stay was.

"Terrible!" they said. "The guy in the next room was snoring so loudly that we had to bang on the wall every 15 minutes to wake him up!"

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

I have learnt some things, changed opinions (my own & others) and shared things that interest me with others.

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 3d

Oh - and he told everyone himself.

www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/me... Mexican man accused of exaggerating world's biggest penis

Has the world's biggest penis been exaggerated?

Scans have brought the size of the world's biggest penis into question.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 3d

This is pretty much what a dude (from Mexico) did …

He had an obsession

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 4d

He and his sister Soana have done great work in their chosen fields - here's her latest piece in Tagata Pasifika
bsky.app/profile/ahaf...

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 6d

CW elder abuse.

Here’s a sad article on elderly in Tonga - the reporter/director is my cousin Soana and the main interviewee is my amazing auntie Betty Blake.

Auntie Betty has done some awesome work since retiring

tpplus.co.nz/pacific-regi...

Growing concern for Tonga’s neglected elderly - TP+

Care for the elderly is a growing concern in Tonga. With its ageing population increasing and family members living abroad, Tongan elders are left with very little support.

tpplus.co.nz

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 4d

The match was immense for Tonga - both the rugby league fans and in general. The vibe in Auckland (& stadium) was one of friendly partying and celebration. It was Alf's biggest ... since then he has cemented himself as stadium DJ for the NZ All Blacks and other events.

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

NRL staff member apologises for 'dance monkey dance' remark

A casual staff member has apologised to a DJ for racist language during the historic NRL Test match between Australia and Tonga on Saturday night.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 4d

5 years ago my cousin Alf was stadium DJ for the Mate Ma'a Tonga vs. Australian Kangaroos rugby league test (Mt Smart, Auckland) when an NRL staffer told the Tongans to "dance monkey, dance". I'm saddened that he had to put up with it but in awe of how he handled it (and himself) at the time.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 4d

Well done! I recently shared the eulogy writing (and reading) with my mum and siblings- emotional work!

I found reading my bit VERY hard

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 5d

🤣 maybe twilight mode is appropriate for the red ensign as it’s mostly commercial and recreational vessels that fly it and the white ensign is the navy …