Andy McKay
@korimakoecology.bsky.social
Aotearoa based Restoration/Applied Ecologist.
Skateboarding, punk rock and plants.
iNaturalist enthusiast https://inaturalist.nz/observations?place_id=any&user_id=andymckay&verifiable=any
Skateboarding, punk rock and plants.
iNaturalist enthusiast https://inaturalist.nz/observations?place_id=any&user_id=andymckay&verifiable=any
Reposted by Andy McKay
This is a good summary of some of the issues with NZ's proposed school science curriculum. I spend a lot of time thinking about what science actually is, and how to communicate that to non-scientists, and this summarizes many of those issues simply:
NZ’s draft science curriculum favours rote learning over critical thinking
Critical thinking is an essential skill students should be encouraged to develop as part of their science learning. NZ’s draft science curriculum fails the test.
theconversation.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:37 AM
This is a good summary of some of the issues with NZ's proposed school science curriculum. I spend a lot of time thinking about what science actually is, and how to communicate that to non-scientists, and this summarizes many of those issues simply:
Reposted by Andy McKay
A useful overview by Professor Sarah Joseph (from November last year) on how the social media minimum age obligation might violate the implied freedom of political communication in the Constitution:
November 26, 2025 at 3:50 AM
A useful overview by Professor Sarah Joseph (from November last year) on how the social media minimum age obligation might violate the implied freedom of political communication in the Constitution:
So our only local emergency doctor just announced they will no longer allow free emergency visits for 0-17 year olds. It's going to cost $59 per visit.
How are families already pushed
to the brink supposed to afford this? All it does is push kids into stretched hospital emergency rooms.
#nzpol
How are families already pushed
to the brink supposed to afford this? All it does is push kids into stretched hospital emergency rooms.
#nzpol
November 26, 2025 at 9:07 AM
So our only local emergency doctor just announced they will no longer allow free emergency visits for 0-17 year olds. It's going to cost $59 per visit.
How are families already pushed
to the brink supposed to afford this? All it does is push kids into stretched hospital emergency rooms.
#nzpol
How are families already pushed
to the brink supposed to afford this? All it does is push kids into stretched hospital emergency rooms.
#nzpol
So cool! Another freshwater species on my bucket list. www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ...
Fish thought to be lost from Auckland's wetlands found after decade of searching
The black mudfish hadn't been seen in Auckland's wetlands since 2014 - but that all changes a couple of months ago.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 8:57 AM
So cool! Another freshwater species on my bucket list. www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ...
Reposted by Andy McKay
Still seeing conservation ecologists using the ‘precautionary principle’ as a catch all to constrain new ideas
As the climate crisis takes hold, we are going to have to try novel approaches to conservation
And some of that will involve taking risks
As the climate crisis takes hold, we are going to have to try novel approaches to conservation
And some of that will involve taking risks
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Still seeing conservation ecologists using the ‘precautionary principle’ as a catch all to constrain new ideas
As the climate crisis takes hold, we are going to have to try novel approaches to conservation
And some of that will involve taking risks
As the climate crisis takes hold, we are going to have to try novel approaches to conservation
And some of that will involve taking risks
We have strayed too far from God.
November 26, 2025 at 6:18 AM
We have strayed too far from God.
Reposted by Andy McKay
my takeaway from climate week nyc is that "climate storytelling" is a little too much "we must reimagine our deepest souls in relationship to mother nature and the moral abyss of the polycrisis into which we must now stare" and not enough "ok but get a heat pump"
September 28, 2025 at 6:52 PM
my takeaway from climate week nyc is that "climate storytelling" is a little too much "we must reimagine our deepest souls in relationship to mother nature and the moral abyss of the polycrisis into which we must now stare" and not enough "ok but get a heat pump"
Reposted by Andy McKay
The more I think about this, the more it really, really, REALLY bothers me
We've reached a point where a text-based reference fabrication engine - comfortably the most effective machine liar we've ever invented - is being pushed by an ultra-polluting tech company and accepted by climate scientists
We've reached a point where a text-based reference fabrication engine - comfortably the most effective machine liar we've ever invented - is being pushed by an ultra-polluting tech company and accepted by climate scientists
Deeply absurd. This Google PDF published on a blog (arxiv, not peer reviewed) claims an LLM is "PhD level" but in most cases the MAJORITY of reference URLs were invalid or inaccessible.
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
November 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The more I think about this, the more it really, really, REALLY bothers me
We've reached a point where a text-based reference fabrication engine - comfortably the most effective machine liar we've ever invented - is being pushed by an ultra-polluting tech company and accepted by climate scientists
We've reached a point where a text-based reference fabrication engine - comfortably the most effective machine liar we've ever invented - is being pushed by an ultra-polluting tech company and accepted by climate scientists
Reposted by Andy McKay
Apart from the hated RMA functions, it ignores all other regional tasks eg biosecurity, maritime, flood protection. It's incredibly stupid.
November 25, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Apart from the hated RMA functions, it ignores all other regional tasks eg biosecurity, maritime, flood protection. It's incredibly stupid.
Reposted by Andy McKay
The Govt wants to gut environmental protection. It also doesn't want strong councils. If it did it would create unitaries. It wants weak supplicant bodies and central control. This is authoritarian AF.
November 25, 2025 at 9:07 AM
The Govt wants to gut environmental protection. It also doesn't want strong councils. If it did it would create unitaries. It wants weak supplicant bodies and central control. This is authoritarian AF.
Reposted by Andy McKay
The challenge for the left generally, Labour specifically, and Hipkins personally is to present as appealing a platform, fronted as charismatically, as Mike Moore did in 93. If they can't collectively manage *that*, God help us all.
November 25, 2025 at 8:58 AM
The challenge for the left generally, Labour specifically, and Hipkins personally is to present as appealing a platform, fronted as charismatically, as Mike Moore did in 93. If they can't collectively manage *that*, God help us all.
Reposted by Andy McKay
Which is to say nothing is inevitable. Yes, this government's polling is bad. But for different reasons for each, the parties of the left are struggling to present a credible, appealing alternate government. Need to gets their collective As into G if they want next year to look more like 93 than 87.
November 25, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Which is to say nothing is inevitable. Yes, this government's polling is bad. But for different reasons for each, the parties of the left are struggling to present a credible, appealing alternate government. Need to gets their collective As into G if they want next year to look more like 93 than 87.
Reposted by Andy McKay
Australian authorities have confirmed the highly contagious H5 bird flu has reached Heard Island, about 4000km south-west of Perth and 1700km north of #Antarctica. High mortality rates in elephant seals have been observed in October, but no impacts on penguins and seabirds via @9news.bsky.social
Deadly bird flu strain reaches Australian territory for the first time
The deadly and highly contagious H5 bird flu has been confirmed in elephant seals on the Australian territ...
www.9news.com.au
November 25, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Australian authorities have confirmed the highly contagious H5 bird flu has reached Heard Island, about 4000km south-west of Perth and 1700km north of #Antarctica. High mortality rates in elephant seals have been observed in October, but no impacts on penguins and seabirds via @9news.bsky.social
Reposted by Andy McKay
Regardless of kayfabe comms and Nat equivocation in media, ACT always says the thing to its red-faced griefer audience
November 25, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Regardless of kayfabe comms and Nat equivocation in media, ACT always says the thing to its red-faced griefer audience
Reposted by Andy McKay
NZ has had two major reforms of subnational government so far: 1876 and 1989
As the guy who literally wrote a book on the demise of that first system, *and* as someone who generally supports more unitary authorities, my considered opinion is that this proposal is completely insane
As the guy who literally wrote a book on the demise of that first system, *and* as someone who generally supports more unitary authorities, my considered opinion is that this proposal is completely insane
No more regional councils - major shake-up of local government announced
The government says it is not a power grab, but about "making local government fit for purpose".
www.rnz.co.nz
November 25, 2025 at 7:59 AM
NZ has had two major reforms of subnational government so far: 1876 and 1989
As the guy who literally wrote a book on the demise of that first system, *and* as someone who generally supports more unitary authorities, my considered opinion is that this proposal is completely insane
As the guy who literally wrote a book on the demise of that first system, *and* as someone who generally supports more unitary authorities, my considered opinion is that this proposal is completely insane
Digesting what this will mean in practice...
Hard to know without seeing the new version of the RMA.
A key thing to consider is many of the current RC responsibilities coming into the TA space. Essentially a lot more unitary authorities like Auckland Council, sharing transport CCOs across regions.
Hard to know without seeing the new version of the RMA.
A key thing to consider is many of the current RC responsibilities coming into the TA space. Essentially a lot more unitary authorities like Auckland Council, sharing transport CCOs across regions.
A new joint release is available from Hon Chris Bishop and Hon Simon Watts.
Simpler, more cost-effective local government
The Government has announced proposals that would fundamentally simplify how we plan our cities and regions and make it far easier to build the future New Zealanders deserve.
www.beehive.govt.nz
November 25, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Digesting what this will mean in practice...
Hard to know without seeing the new version of the RMA.
A key thing to consider is many of the current RC responsibilities coming into the TA space. Essentially a lot more unitary authorities like Auckland Council, sharing transport CCOs across regions.
Hard to know without seeing the new version of the RMA.
A key thing to consider is many of the current RC responsibilities coming into the TA space. Essentially a lot more unitary authorities like Auckland Council, sharing transport CCOs across regions.
Reposted by Andy McKay
Anderson Cooper: So it's more expensive to have a chronically homeless person living on the streets than it is to actually subsidize an apartment for them?
Answer: Yes, we’re paying more as taxpayers to walk past that person on the street and do nothing… #HousingFirst
Answer: Yes, we’re paying more as taxpayers to walk past that person on the street and do nothing… #HousingFirst
100,000 Homes: Housing the homeless saves money?
Giving apartments to the chronically homeless can save taxpayer dollars, advocates say
www.cbsnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Anderson Cooper: So it's more expensive to have a chronically homeless person living on the streets than it is to actually subsidize an apartment for them?
Answer: Yes, we’re paying more as taxpayers to walk past that person on the street and do nothing… #HousingFirst
Answer: Yes, we’re paying more as taxpayers to walk past that person on the street and do nothing… #HousingFirst
Reposted by Andy McKay
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
It costs a lot less to house people.
It costs a lot less to house people.
Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need - scoop.me
In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Why? The country applies the "Housing First" concept agains homelessness.
thebetter.news
November 24, 2025 at 8:01 AM
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
It costs a lot less to house people.
It costs a lot less to house people.
Reposted by Andy McKay
Our Changing World: Restoring native plants in our lakes and rivers
Our Changing World: Restoring native plants in our lakes and rivers
Rolling out Rototurf - the project aimed at helping native freshwater plants return to our lakes.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Our Changing World: Restoring native plants in our lakes and rivers
Reposted by Andy McKay
Hilariously (in the lolsob sort of way), Australia has concluded their social media ban law cannot actually be used to ban underage Australians from Roblox because it's not a social media site
Me: Australia's social media ban for under 16s is a deeply terrible idea and is going to make a lot of problems much worse
Also me: we should ban Roblox for all ages
Also me: we should ban Roblox for all ages
Oh, God, this is one of those "where do I even start" things, because Roblox is, like, *fractally* fucked. They are terrible at content moderation. A lot of the games are rated incorrectly, so kids can encounter graphic content (sex or violence) out of nowhere --
November 23, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Hilariously (in the lolsob sort of way), Australia has concluded their social media ban law cannot actually be used to ban underage Australians from Roblox because it's not a social media site
@memycoffeenbonsai.bsky.social I was actually thinking of you when I was up there today have you ever tried to bonsai pōkākā (Elaeocarpus hookerianus)? I found this very stunted one that looks reasonably old, but is in an exposed spot and would be getting constantly wind blasted.
November 23, 2025 at 8:45 AM
@memycoffeenbonsai.bsky.social I was actually thinking of you when I was up there today have you ever tried to bonsai pōkākā (Elaeocarpus hookerianus)? I found this very stunted one that looks reasonably old, but is in an exposed spot and would be getting constantly wind blasted.
A few pics from today from up Kāpiti's Mount Maunganui.
November 23, 2025 at 8:23 AM
A few pics from today from up Kāpiti's Mount Maunganui.
Reposted by Andy McKay
Yeah he can get in the bin with Dershowitz and the rest of them.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Chomsky had deeper ties with Epstein than previously known, documents reveal
The philosopher and the sex trafficker were in contact long after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, documents reveal
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Yeah he can get in the bin with Dershowitz and the rest of them.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
This is what native bee habitat looks like in Aotearoa New Zealand. Not an introduced wildflower in sight.
November 23, 2025 at 4:41 AM
This is what native bee habitat looks like in Aotearoa New Zealand. Not an introduced wildflower in sight.