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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 1h

She didn’t - she was one of the awful candidates who thankfully missed out :)

Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 2h

One final bit of good news - 234600 people across the motu voted to remove Māori wards, 245800 to keep them - 51.1% of all votes were to keep them, 48.9% not to. The majority of the country that voted were in favour so suck it coalition!

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 4h

Shocker, VFF out here celebrating because low turnout let them get in in way too many places.

The founder of VFF gloating about today’s election wins for her candidates

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 5h

And finally - the most rewarding part for me, despite a raft of results I really dislike, was the sheer volume of people who messaged and told me this was the first time they’ve voted in local elections - that feels like a win no matter the results!

a r2d2 robot is standing in the sand near a rock

ALT: a r2d2 robot is standing in the sand near a rock

media.tenor.com

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 5h

…like TERF Suzanne Levy in Hutt City, Christo Nationalist Caleb Ansell in Matamata, Freedom fan Walt Cavendish in Waihou, anti 1080 campaigner Clyde Graf in King Country, VFFs Dean Harris and co in Kāpiti, all of the Reform group on the West coast, almost all of the Together for Waimak team & more!

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 5h

10) there was some truly amazing people elected, and they all tend to be community minded and supportive.
11) we lost a lot of very good councillors and missed out on some amazing candidates - and our communities will be worse off without them.
12) we also got rid of some really awful candidates

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 5h

… give it to the electoral commission, have it run like a general election, look at online options, more education and tools for councils and candidates, much better and more media coverage, a uniform voting method and some better accountability tools for candidates.

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 5h

6) the same people who vote in this election every time clearly did so again this year and low turnout got them what they wanted.
7) 9 elected Act candidates is 9 too many
8) if the left don’t mobilise, next year is going to be a shitstorm
9) the whole local government system needs an overhaul:

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 5h

3) the huge swell in Saturday voters makes me more concerned about incoming disenfranchisement changes to same day enrolments for next year.
4) Selwyn should carry a travel advisory warning from now on, same with Cambridge and Hamilton.
5) the lack of civics education here is really showing.

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 5h

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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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 8h

Oh that’s just there to scare Hope - she doesn’t like vaccines after all 😂

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 10h

Hamilton - four fucking Better Hamilton candidates? You absolute plonkers. I wonder if you get to pick which services they cut and which assets they’ll sell 🤔

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 10h

But only by fewer than 20 votes so specials and final day counts could change that 🤞

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 10h

Oh good lord - Cambridge voted in someone who wanted to storm Parliament as part of the protests and gave out ivermectin to treat Covid

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 11h

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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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 11h

I really hope today it pays off 🫣 so far there’s been a Groundswell member elected, someone linked to the TPU and a general conspiracy theorist

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 1d

These people are going to vote - and they’re going to vote for the worst candidates possible. So encourage everyone to vote for decent people before midday tomorrow!

Comment claiming I must be brain dead for my views

Another claimed being paid to have an opinion contrary to the commentator

A snide comment about viewer numbers and correlation with channel content.

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 1d

A comment claiming all other comments had been removed on a podcast that had no comments

Claims of being a DEI advisor because of lefties and Māori elite

Veiled threats by a known disinformation spreader in Hamilton

Claims any mention of the Selwyn huts connected with disinformation networks must be paid opposition

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 1d

A thread of some of the “lovely” comments I’ve had this election from some really keen voters

Selwyn hut account denying they’re linked to disinformation groups while disinformation groups praise them for being connected to them

An angry comment about disinformation being called disinformation from Kapiti

Claims people who disagree with right wingers must be paid

Claims content must be paid opposition because it disagrees with the poster

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 1d

Almost at the Finish Line - so please get out and Vote if you haven't yet, encourage others as well - it’s the best way to create an amazing future and to tell the coalition, hard right extremists and conspiracy theorists to go 🤬 themselves before the general election next year!
youtu.be/8wwl9hf7JHM

Almost at the Finish Line - so please get out and Vote if you haven't yet

YouTube video by Paul… The Other One

youtu.be

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 2d

According to resident Hamilton conspiracy theorists I am responsible for issues with the Integrity Project, because Bryce Edward’s wrote something on Substack that vaguely referenced their “better” group that was in a news article from Stuff which used data from the same source I did.

Please vote.

a man in a blue shirt and tie is pointing at a board with papers on it .

ALT: a man in a blue shirt and tie is pointing at a board with papers on it .

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Paul_BarlowNZ

Hayley @writagal.bsky.social · 6d

🚨A new under-reported NZ Bill: Summary Offences Amendment Bill closes 2pm Mon 6 Oct.
The Bill risks criminalising legitimate protest, is vague, unnecessary, gives wide Police discretion, allows arrest without warning, & could chill free expression.

Submit:
www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/mak...

More 👇

No protests outside homes – Protect Protest Aotearoa

protectprotest.nz

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 6d

I’ve done my vote - no VFF members, no hard right talking heads, no one who used racebaiting dog whistles or seemingly faked qualifications, or anyone who signed the TPU pledge.

If you’re posting it then it NEEDS to be in the mailbox by Tuesday or Midday Saturday for drop boxes & Special votes!

Local election envelope being put in nz post mail box

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Reposted by Paul_BarlowNZ

Undupably @undupable.bsky.social · 10d

📣 VFF and NZ First in Whanganui and Rangitīkei Local Elections (with a side of Napier)

As shown earlier, Baydal Furness, ahem, Rachel Woodhead is the local coordinator in Whanganui and president of Whanganui Residents and Ratepayers Association. No surprises, she's is a member of NZ First.

/1

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Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 6d

West Auckland has an infestation problem with its local election. VFF links, candidates who celebrate NZ’s only convicted saboteur, claim the Chch shooter was far left, push the great replacement theory and working with one of the most toxic ppl in the country
youtu.be/j1NKJRKximM

Paul's Red Flags - Auckland West

YouTube video by Paul… The Other One

youtu.be

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