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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 1h

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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Andrew Geddis @acgeddis.bsky.social · 7h

Central issues were a reasonable council having to create a new water entity (as required by central govt's "Local Water Done Well" policy) + costs of infrastructure development driving up rates. Let's see how the nutty right manages to deal with these issues over the next 3 years ... .

Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 7h

Well fuck - Selwyn has elected a majority of Council with links to VFF, Act, and Trump fans. Maybe put that on the no fly list for the next three years

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The Press @thepress.co.nz · 2h

Westland could get New Zealand’s oldest and second transgender mayor if businesswoman Jacquie Grant can hold on to her slim majority.

Contender for ‘oldest tranny’ mayor in the world takes 64-vote lead

Westland could get New Zealand’s oldest and second transgender mayor if businesswoman Jacquie Grant can hold on to her slim majority.

dlvr.it

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MeatMechSuit @meatmechsuit.bsky.social · 2h

To ask a pakeha majority to remove representation of an indigenous minority is ongoing white supremacist colonisation. #nzpol

TheLoyalOrder @theloyalorder.bsky.social · 2h

Preliminary results of the 2025 Māori wards referendums

#nzpol

Map showing preliminary margin of support by council for the 2025 Māori ward referendums

CC BY 4.0 TheLoyalOrder

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Brendan Keogh @brkeogh.bsky.social · 3h

tfw you’re at pax but then remember the dickwolves boycott

Ben Kelly @beeseekay.bsky.social · 4h

Well at least this evacuation really shows just how big PAX has gotten

The crowd outside the PAX convention centre

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Brendan Keogh @brkeogh.bsky.social · 3h

On a whim, downloaded Nuclear Throne onto the Steam Deck and moments later remembered that Nuclear Throne is one of the best games ever made

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Vapor Weyve @nymphomachy.meangirls.online · Aug 2

Tweet too long.

“If HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS had filmed a season in the 2010s, there definitely would have been an episode where Hercules and Iolaus travel to the city of Ur—which looks like a New Zealand suburb—and discover there that Salmoneus has been placed under arrest by the King for fraudulently selling lousy copper. Hercules investigates and it turns out Salmoneus is just a wholesaler and the crappy product is the fault of his supplier, an absolute dirtbag merchant played by guest star Keenan Ivory Wayans.

Hercules beats up the merchant's goons to discover evidence of his shady business practices and the evidence saves Salmoneus from getting his hands chopped off but the king respects the merchant too much to punish him for his fraud. Salmoneus fecklessly screams out as he departs on horseback with his companions that he's going to write a formal complaint about his poor customer service, and the merchant just clutches his gut laughing and finally shouts back "And who shall ever care, that humble Ea-Nasir had a displeased customer?" Fade to credits as Salmoneus seethes”

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MeatMechSuit @meatmechsuit.bsky.social · 3h

Act knew there would be enough white supremacists to get rid of a lot of Māori wards and they were right.

The Press @thepress.co.nz · 3h

Early progress votes indicate the region has voted to remove the seat from the council table in 2028.

Marlborough votes to disestablish Māori ward

Early progress votes indicate the region has voted to remove the seat from the council table in 2028.

dlvr.it

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Veronica @veronicaf.bsky.social · 3h

Treats! Treats for Maeve and Cosette.

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Giovanni Tiso @gtiso.bsky.social · 5h

Māori ward retained. Rebecca Matthews elected. Paula Muollo not elected. This is pretty much all I was asking for, thank you Wellington.

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Lucky Zelle ✨ @lucky.mastodon.nz.ap.brid.gy · 4h

#nzpol

not all my numero uno votes got in (RIP Alex Baker, too left wing to be mayor of wellington at this moment but we were all rooting for you) but i'm really happy to see a green candidate (Laurie Foon) make it in my ward

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Laurie Foon @lauriefoon.bsky.social · 5h

Ka Rawe Paekawakawa Southern Ward! Thank-you for voting me back in to be your councillor! I love working with you, for our beautiful Pōneke! 💚

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olive🌺 @wick.works · 9h

All PC mechs are officially in-game for Lancer Tactics, fantastic: www.kickstarter.com/projects/wic...

Update 44: NHP portraits, in-person playtesting, finished HA mechs · Lancer Tactics

(looking back at my calendar) Wow, I went to a lot of conventions in a month!I’ve done showcase/workshop circuits for my games before, but not since COVID hit. Since the last update here, I attended S...

www.kickstarter.com

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David Clegg @delphijunkie.bsky.social · 4h

My non-political wife said “That Ben Thomas is a real dick, isn’t he?” #nzpol

Hamo @hamo.bsky.social · 4h

Ben Thomas beclowning himself on One News talking about the Wellington result. What a cock.

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Charlie Mitchell @comingupcharlie.bsky.social · 3h

The only two communities who have elected a trans mayor are the progressive strongholds of Carterton and Hokitika

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Charlie Mitchell @comingupcharlie.bsky.social · 3h

Jacquie Grant, who is 82 years old and a trans woman, looks likely to be the new mayor of Westland www.westlanddc.govt.nz/media/u0kbft...

www.westlanddc.govt.nz

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Quibble While Rome Burns @nimi0us.blacksky.app · 4h

The Enigma of Amigara Fault but with Sherman, the dog, yelling "TH-THIS IS MY HOLE! IT WAS MADE FOR ME!" edited into the picture.

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Veronica @veronicaf.bsky.social · 3h

In case anyone is worried I have forgotten about my *other* best girls, no I have not.

The weather has been impossibly gross so I've mostly just been hanging out reading my book with them, but Cosi returned the (bedraggled) feather toy, so we've just done playtime.

A calico tabby kitten and a slightly bigger tortie kitten - both only half grown, playing with a very bedraggled pink feather on a bendy wand. Cosi, the calico tabby is batting at it with one paw, and Maeve, the tortie, has both paws up about to grab it. You can just see a grey tabby cat in the background, watching the kittens play.

Maeve, a tortie cat, only half grown, stands on her back feet while teaching out to grab a bedraggled pink feather toy. Cosette, a calico tabby, is sitting down but intent and ready to also leap. Crumpet, a grey cat, is supervising in the background.

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Idiot/Savant @norightturnnz.bsky.social · 4h

Tory Whanau missing out on a Māori ward seat sucks, but it has an obvious brightside: she's free to run for parliament in 2026 if she wants to.

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Beccas can't be choosers @beccanical.bsky.social · 4h

audio of people with gaelic accents explaining things is so important. thank you to irish & scottish people of all genders for your contribution to nice voice experience

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Winifred Tylenol Spice Burton @authorwinifred.blacksky.app · 4h

"Magical Black Girls Burning Shit Down."

My story is always going to revolve around a Black femme in rebellion, whether the stakes are big, small, satirical, or solemn.

It's my thing.

Also I LOVE a cult.

Quintessa Knight @quietblkgrl.blacksky.app · 4h

Q3: What’s one quality you NEED your main character to have when you’re writing fantasy, dystopian, sci fi?

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morgan godfery @morgangodfery.bsky.social · 4h

the kawerau district is both extremely left wing and extremely māori

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Violet Blue® @violetblue.bsky.social · 4h

Got some really great stickers in the mail today from @theinfophile.bsky.social and @notthatcaltrans.bsky.social, thank you!!! I miss you ❤️

A group of colorful stickers on a white background. They say:
Unclench your jaw
Now that's what I call a trauma response
Eat the rich (pork flavored pink Churu tube)
Relax your shoulders
I was brave today (blue prize ribbon)
The catnip dispensary (black and white stoned tabby cat)

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Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 4h

This is a good idea, but it can also just be really hard to tell because some AI videos use techniques that intentionally mask the artifice.

For example, AI videos that mimic Ring camera videos can be hard to immediately clock as AI because of weird lightning and warped camera lens inherent there.

Susieus Maximus @susieusmaximus.bsky.social · 4h

Also, it's a good idea to look carefully at videos you know to be AI so you can start noticing how they look. There's often a combination of exaggerated expressions on the faces of the primary characters and almost expressionless, unmoving faces on the people in the background, for example.

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 5h

Don’t feel stupid if you fell for fake video. It can be really hard to tell these days. But we do have to try and be careful with what we share because there’s so much AI video out there.

It’s just the world we live in now.

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Kylie @styla73.bsky.social · 4h

CAN WE HAVE TERM LIMITS NOW?

Dr Sharon Bell @sharonbell.bsky.social · 7h

So proud of Peri and the campaign she has run here! The city definitely needs someone like her with a progressive vision.

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