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
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.
Reposted by Andy McKay
Cats love to massacre bugs, and scientists have the videos to prove it 😼🪲🧪
www.popsci.com/technology/c... @popsci.com
www.popsci.com/technology/c... @popsci.com
Cats love to massacre bugs, and scientists have the videos to prove it
Cat videos aren’t just funny, they fuel the growing field of iEcology.
www.popsci.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Cats love to massacre bugs, and scientists have the videos to prove it 😼🪲🧪
www.popsci.com/technology/c... @popsci.com
www.popsci.com/technology/c... @popsci.com
Great to see this progress. www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
West Coast council winning battle - but not war - against pesky weed
The before and after shots tell the story: regional council staff have had some wins in the ongoing war on the pestilential water weed, parrots feather.
www.thepress.co.nz
November 22, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Great to see this progress. www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
November 22, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Reposted by Andy McKay
It also doesn't save any "red tape". It just creates an additional barrier to understanding whats in your food and means the seller can scrape your data.
Its a sh*tty solution to a non-problem that places the consumer increasingly at risk.
#nzpol
Its a sh*tty solution to a non-problem that places the consumer increasingly at risk.
#nzpol
These guys are dangerous idiots. It's tiresome enough already having to read, and re-check, the labels on everything that I eat, and now they want to have me scan a QR code to get to that information.
November 22, 2025 at 4:35 AM
It also doesn't save any "red tape". It just creates an additional barrier to understanding whats in your food and means the seller can scrape your data.
Its a sh*tty solution to a non-problem that places the consumer increasingly at risk.
#nzpol
Its a sh*tty solution to a non-problem that places the consumer increasingly at risk.
#nzpol
People love the idea of importing overseas wild flower meadows into New Zealand (for the bees) but what they really want is a manicured flower garden. Most people see photos like this and tell us we need to mow it.
Mostly exotic species but high plant diversity and supports domestic honeybees.
Mostly exotic species but high plant diversity and supports domestic honeybees.
November 22, 2025 at 5:19 AM
People love the idea of importing overseas wild flower meadows into New Zealand (for the bees) but what they really want is a manicured flower garden. Most people see photos like this and tell us we need to mow it.
Mostly exotic species but high plant diversity and supports domestic honeybees.
Mostly exotic species but high plant diversity and supports domestic honeybees.
Reposted by Andy McKay
#NZpol
"What they are proposing is that concessions may be granted up to 60 years for critical infrastructure and that essentially means that, on public conservation land, it's going to be privatised by stealth.
...alienating Māori, alienating Ngāi Tahu, alienating New Zealanders from the whenua."
"What they are proposing is that concessions may be granted up to 60 years for critical infrastructure and that essentially means that, on public conservation land, it's going to be privatised by stealth.
...alienating Māori, alienating Ngāi Tahu, alienating New Zealanders from the whenua."
Ngāi Tahu takes Crown to High Court over proposed changes to Conservation Act
Ngāi Tahu takes Crown to High Court over proposed changes to Conservation Act
Proposed changes include streamlining and centralising conservation land management, and a review of Section 4 of the Conservation Act.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 22, 2025 at 5:08 AM
#NZpol
"What they are proposing is that concessions may be granted up to 60 years for critical infrastructure and that essentially means that, on public conservation land, it's going to be privatised by stealth.
...alienating Māori, alienating Ngāi Tahu, alienating New Zealanders from the whenua."
"What they are proposing is that concessions may be granted up to 60 years for critical infrastructure and that essentially means that, on public conservation land, it's going to be privatised by stealth.
...alienating Māori, alienating Ngāi Tahu, alienating New Zealanders from the whenua."
Reposted by Andy McKay
“One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss.”
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss
Copenhagen, the bicycle-friendliest place on the planet, publishes a biannual Bicycle Account, and buried in its pages is a rather astonishing fact.
grist.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:40 AM
“One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss.”
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
If we are serious about prioritising feeding New Zealanders, but only 12% of the pop are recreational fishers, while 72% of consumers purchase commercially caught fish at least once a month, why would we lock species up for a minority who can afford to run a boat? www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/...
November 21, 2025 at 11:20 PM
If we are serious about prioritising feeding New Zealanders, but only 12% of the pop are recreational fishers, while 72% of consumers purchase commercially caught fish at least once a month, why would we lock species up for a minority who can afford to run a boat? www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/...
The funniest thing about this is Plunkett trying to connect school boards signing Tiriti pledges with a "union campaign." No, he's just completely out of touch & the majority of parents want their kids to learnt about & live the values of Tiriti. www.facebook.com/share/v/1CdR...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The funniest thing about this is Plunkett trying to connect school boards signing Tiriti pledges with a "union campaign." No, he's just completely out of touch & the majority of parents want their kids to learnt about & live the values of Tiriti. www.facebook.com/share/v/1CdR...