Sonja Mitchell
sonjamitchell.bsky.social
Sonja Mitchell
@sonjamitchell.bsky.social
Workers' rights are human rights. Tangata Tiriti and
Ngāti Toa. She/her. Love time with nature, loved ones, books, arts, and radical community building. Kei te rohe nei o Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, me ngā hapū katoa o Arai te Uru au e noho ana.
Another rally at Alverston Ave in Port Chalmers this Sunday at 12.30pm, aimed at stopping the impending sale of this public housing land. All supporters welcome. If you can, bring some choicely worded placards.
October 1, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Gutsy, powerful account from a former Destiny church member and abuse survivor who is wahine Māori and takatāpuhi, Lynia Morseu-Tol. Incisive journalism by Mihingarangi Forbes.

Lays bare the hypocrisy and harm of Destiny 'church'/cult.

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Not Her Destiny: Former church member asks: 'Did I not deserve to be protected?'
For years, Destiny Church shaped every part of Lynia Morseu-Tol's life. Now, she is reckoning with faith, identity and whānau.
www.rnz.co.nz
September 30, 2025 at 7:01 PM
An inspirational bunch of peps stood up for a healthy environment and climate in Ōtepoti Dunedin last Friday. They successfully shut down ANZ for the day, over ANZ's funding of and profiting from coal mining at Denniston plateau.

www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin...
Climate protesters shut down Dunedin bank
A central Dunedin bank has been closed after climate protesters blocked access for staff and customers. Police officers earlier held back the...
www.odt.co.nz
August 10, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Sharing this great article: emilywrites.substack.com/p/seymours-a....

Especially liked this: 'Because when Māori say no – to privatisation, to deregulation, to exploitation – that “no” isn’t a threat to peace. It’s a threat to profit.
And that’s why it’s being undermined.'
Seymour's Aotearoa: How to Lose a Country in 10 Clauses
Shitposting doesn't a democracy make...
emilywrites.substack.com
July 2, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Reposted by Sonja Mitchell
Growth, Development, and the Beastly Baby
(with apologies to Edward Gorey)
My Stuff #cartoon today #NZpol #RMA #FastTrack #RegionalCouncils #Conservation
June 26, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Mm, if it looks like corruption, and smells like corruption, chances are it is corruption: newsroom.co.nz/2025/06/26/m...
Ministers cleared of fast-track conflicts – but schmoozing, party donations queried
Auditor-General's inquiry finds two specific fast-track concerns and bigger questions over political donations, while endorsing efforts to avoid conflicts. Tim Murphy reports.
newsroom.co.nz
June 27, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Subs on the Regulatory Standards Bill close at 1pm tomorrow. Doesn't have to be fancy, just state that you oppose it, that you recommend it not be passed, and maybe mention that you oppose it's ignoring of Te Tiriti and prioritising of individualised property rights over all other values.
June 22, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Reposted by Sonja Mitchell
To live free of violence is a human right. To control one's own reproduction is a human right. Democratic participation is a human right. Food, shelter, education are human rights. They may manifest differently if you have a uterus, or are indigenous, or disabled, etc, but they are HUMAN. RIGHTS.
June 13, 2025 at 9:32 AM
#MWSecretSantaAoNZ Just opened my secret santander gift. What a heart-warming gift on a freezing cold night. The panaforte looks delightful, and maybe home crafted? So excited about the Catherine Chidgley book. Loved her last one and haven't yet read this one. Thank you to my Secret Santa
June 8, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Is anyone else hearing rumours of a general strike on women's suffrage day? I guess one way to achieve that legally would be for people en masse to take a day's unpaid leave - ie each tell the employer, rather than ask, that you will be on unpaid leave- like many of us did for the climate strikes.
May 25, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Winston Peters and Shane Jones got the reception they deserve in Ōtepoti Dunedin today
www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin...
'Shame!': Peters greeted with protest at Hillside
Protesters greeted Winston Peters with cries of '"shame" at Dunedin's Hillside Workshops and swarmed his vehicle as he left. Rail Minister Peters...
www.odt.co.nz
May 16, 2025 at 12:46 PM
May 11, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Photos from the Gender Pay Equity rally in Dunedin yesterday, courtesy of Jill Bowie
May 10, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Submissions on the Plain Language Repeal Bill Close on Wed 14th. You could just state that you oppose the Bill because it breaches human rights, undermines democracy, and leaves the public in the dark about what Government is up to. Job done. Sheesh our Government are a bunch of wankers.
Plain Language Act Repeal Bill - New Zealand Parliament
Public submissions are now being invited on this Bill
www.parliament.nz
May 9, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Good article about the fabulous gender pay equity rally in Dunedin yesterday. Heartening to see events happening around the motu. We're just getting started... www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin...
Dunedin joins protest against pay equity law change
Hundreds of protesters braved wet weather in Dunedin to voice their outrage at the government’s changes to the pay equity process. The Pay Equity...
www.odt.co.nz
May 9, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Gender pay equity events are happening around the country tomorrow and Sat. Details are here: union.org.nz/pay-equity-e...
Pay Equity Events - NZCTU
The Government using Pay Equity settlements as a way to fund their Budget is a new low.
union.org.nz
May 8, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Gender pay equity rallies happening in different locations around the country this Fri and Sat. For details, ask your workplace union delegates or check out union members' page on FB.
May 7, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Gender pay equity rally on in Ōtepoti Dunedin 1.30pm this Friday, at the Exchange. Nau mai, whakarauika mai.
May 7, 2025 at 10:37 AM
In response to the Government's gender pay equity vandalism, I'm sharing this video by Pussy Riot: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp-K... Expect resistance.
Pussy Riot - Straight Outta Vagina (feat. Desi Mo & Leikeli47). Official Music Video
YouTube video by Pussy Riot
m.youtube.com
May 6, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Rally at 1pm TODAY at Parliament, opposing Pay Equity cuts just announced by the Government. Please attend if you can, and please share the invite as widely as possible. Would also be good to have some journos there.
May 6, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Good coverage of the workers hui in Ōtepoti Dunedin by the Otago Daily Times. We have told them them that they left off mention of the Access homecare support workers who, like the doctors, were on strike that day. Other than that a great article.

www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin...
Union movement ‘under attack’, meeting told
Dunedin workers who turned out in force yesterday to demand better rights were told the union movement is under attack. The University of Otago...
www.odt.co.nz
May 2, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Photos by Jill Bowie from the amazing workers' rally held in Ōtepoti Dunedin on May Day, the mood was electric. This Government, and all future governments, better get their shit together. Working people are fired up and we are increasingly united and organised. photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip...
Maranga Ake 1 May 2025 · Thursday, May 1 📸
Shared album · Tap to view!
photos.google.com
May 2, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Copl work by Greta Yeoman. So the years that Labour was in, our minimum wage got close to the Living Wage amount, but since National-Act-NZ First have been in, the minimum wage has lagged behind. If only there was a Party in the Coalition that claims to care for workers. Oh, hang on...
Finally did some number crunching on #LivingWage and #MinimumWage data since the LW began in 2013. Column four shows the per-hour difference in pay between those on Living Wage and minimum. Columns 5 & 6 look at what percentage that difference would be within hourly wages over the years. #MayDay
April 27, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Palestine rally in Ōtepoti Dunedin yesterday. It was one of those stunning, sunny, crisp Autumn days. For the first bit we marched in silence, then we marched chanting, calling for Palestine to be free. It was a lovely bunch of people, and I found the whole experience of being there so moving.
April 26, 2025 at 6:40 PM