Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 2h

Funny the things you think of to say *after* you cross paths with a cabinet minister at your local super. Probably not the right place though he likely wouldn't have noticed given his almost complete attention to his phone (while driving a trolley).

#NZPol

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Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 5h

#NZPol

A stylised syringe contains an RNZ story headline "Five reasons to feel positive about the New Zealand economy". A drop of hopium leaks from the needle.

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Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 8h

Hey GovtGPT, create a cartoon where this article is represented as hopium in a syringe where the contents are slowing trickling down from the "wealthy and sorted" to the "bottom feeders".

#NZPol

Five reasons to feel positive about the New Zealand economy

It's been a year of grim economic news - unemployment has been up, GDP down and consumer confidence weak.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 10h

I wonder if putting in a road around the coast, building houses close to the shore line, constructing a car park for the marina and ripping out native flora has been the major reason for ... the loss of the beach.

Hataitai residents fume as beloved beach 'basically lost' after council works

The regional council says it's investigating whether the city council breached resource management rules.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 11h

Ah to be wealthy and sorted enough not to be on the receiving end of the swift nut strikes.

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Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 1d

Hoping that is proper Welsh slate, that!

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Reposted by Brett

Tory Whanau @misswhanau.bsky.social · 1d

This is what happens when you don’t lead on ZB’s terms. Amazing how fragile some talkback hosts get when a woman does well. So emotional!

Nick Mills: Tory Whanau - What a ride; What a disappointment
ON AIR
WELLINGTON
Thu, 9 Oct 2025, 1:52pm
Well, one more day as Mayor for Tory Whanau - the
"accidental mayor," as many have called her - and just like that, her chapter in Wellington politics closes.
What a ride, and what a mess. And, let's be honest, what a disappointment.
From the very beginning, Tory framed her leadership through a lens of identity - "poor me, give me a break, I'm a woman, and I'm new.

Mike's Minute: Tory Whanau is the poster child for ineptitude
ON AIR MIKE HOSKING BREAKFAST OPINION
Mike Hosking, Thu, 9 Oct 2025, 10:33am
The Wellington mayor went out, not really in a blaze of glory yesterday, but more a fireball of misery and bitchiness.
Tory Whanau is probably the local body poster child for ineptitude. She's given her bye-bye speech.
She was a shambles. She may still be back, as she is standing in the Mãori ward.

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Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 1d

Mate, epic poster!

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Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 2d

"I am constantly in touch with people up and down the country who tell me ..." is their usual line to backup a policy versus, and equally facetiously, they get a call from a donor telling them what they need to do.

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Reposted by Brett

Sharon Murdoch @domesticanimal.bsky.social · 2d

The Govt wants to cut Health NZ staff working on alcohol harm & end its research & social marketing campaigns. Sixty five organisations have signed an open letter to the PM, calling for alcohol industry to be excluded from policy making.
My #cartoon today #NZpol #alcohol #Health #PublicHealth

Cartoon. Title: “Sponsored by the Alcohol Lobby”. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and Assoc Justice Minister Nicole McKee, drinking together. McKee hands her beer to Doocey and says, “Hold my beer” “I’m going to sort out these Public Health boffins. Lower right it says, “Govt ignores expert advice on alcohol”

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Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 2d

Meanwhile in Aus where their reserve bank does have a mandate to keep an eye on jobs...

#NZPol

Jobs market troubles putting pressure on RBA rate calls

The Reserve Bank’s job is to hold inflation steady and keep as many people in work as possible. The jobs market is showing signs of trouble.

www.smh.com.au

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Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 3d

Reminds me of many management types I encountered in corporate life. Hands in pockets in so many scenes - shows a complete lack of empathy or willingness to adjust from his previous life. And yep, arrogance.

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Reposted by Brett

(((𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚊𝙲𝚘𝚘𝚔))) @creativeelc.bsky.social · 3d

My cartoon in today's www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Luxon giving his 'best' advice to unemployed youth...

#NzPol #Caricature #Cartoon #PoliticalCartoon #EditorialCartoon #Luxon

Cartoon. Title: Youth 'Pep' talk...

A tiny Luxon is in the hall talking to young people. He's standing on a stool with his hand casually in his pocket lecturing a room of youth.

He's saying, "The world doesn't owe you a living! BUT... if you grow up to be a landlord..."

In the audience over 20 young people with varying expressions react to his speech. One in particular is looking at us with a distinct angry face.

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Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 4d

"Brain yourself."

Dear computer boffins please stop trying to fix problems I don’t have | First Dog on the Moon

I don’t want AI in anything and certainly not everything please stop asking

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Brett

Craig Renney @clrenney.bsky.social · 4d

This is a policy with no basis in any analysis. It's designed to look tough. It actually makes them look thoughtless and out of touch. It's arbitrary, mean, and simply designed to disguise the fact that the government is failing young people. Is this what being back on track feels like?

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Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 4d

This is the same fella, right?

Christopher Luxon urges Kiwis to have more babies, saying it 'would be helpful'

National's deputy leader says Christopher Luxon was joking when he encouraged people to "have more babies".

www.rnz.co.nz

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Reposted by Brett

Musical Chairs @musicalchairs.bsky.social · 5d

A casual canter through the jobs and vacancies data from hot to not. Note that I have used Trademe jobs data, which is not as fulsome in some areas as Seek. Feel free to keep any "there are 12 more jobs in XX than you said, you're wrong" gotchas to yourself 😘 Data sources in reply.

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Reposted by Brett

Sharon Murdoch @domesticanimal.bsky.social · 5d

The govt says it has a plan to combat high power prices, but their plan could do the opposite, report warns. They have rejected most of the energy report’s recommendations.
My Stuff #cartoon today #NZpol #Energy #FossilFuels #CostOfLiving

Cartoon. Title: “Side Board” Image shows PM Christopher Luxon at night, in his lounge. He’s being furtive, putting the Energy Report away in a sideboard draw. His wife Amanda has interrupted him, saying, “What are you doing, Christopher?” He answers, “Nothing”

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Brett @brettcd.bsky.social · 5d

What does "fail fast or pivot" even fucking mean? He complains that it's hard to write about how the economy isn't recovering the way he expected and then compares it to Rocky?? How about explain that the system is rigged, this govt has sold out and his words were generated by a feckless chatgpt.

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Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 6d

I think for me the most compelling answer for "why fund basic research?" (and the one most relevant to the people doing the work) is that humans are curious and finding stuff out makes us happy and fulfilled. Science is a thing humans like. Life would be more dull and sad if we didn't do it.

end/🧵