Hayley
@writagal.bsky.social
Forever learning, opinions mine. Generally annoyed about something.
Aotearoa.
Aotearoa.
I know this is about the press conference that Labour held, but also funny to read this with the firm belief that Labour being more progressive instead of centrist at best will be the only thing that wins them the election - and the hint of fear in the headline may indicate others believe that, too.
February 8, 2026 at 12:57 AM
I know this is about the press conference that Labour held, but also funny to read this with the firm belief that Labour being more progressive instead of centrist at best will be the only thing that wins them the election - and the hint of fear in the headline may indicate others believe that, too.
I have started reading The Last American Road Trip by Sarah Kendzior, and am struck by the parallels to New Zealand politics. Different history and different contexts, but the same blueprint - and the same destination.
February 7, 2026 at 11:01 PM
I have started reading The Last American Road Trip by Sarah Kendzior, and am struck by the parallels to New Zealand politics. Different history and different contexts, but the same blueprint - and the same destination.
“In terms of why this is bad policy, we need to understand the general principle on which New Zealand elections operate. Voting generally is considered to be “A Good Thing” which ought to be made as easy and accessible as possible.”
Not anymore🫠
Revisiting this Electoral Amendment Bill explainer👇
Not anymore🫠
Revisiting this Electoral Amendment Bill explainer👇
Changes to electoral law will disenfranchise thousands – and may not save any time
The government does not want to spend the time and resources to fully modernise the law and processes surrounding our electoral rolls – so who are the real dropkicks in this story?
thespinoff.co.nz
February 7, 2026 at 7:41 PM
“In terms of why this is bad policy, we need to understand the general principle on which New Zealand elections operate. Voting generally is considered to be “A Good Thing” which ought to be made as easy and accessible as possible.”
Not anymore🫠
Revisiting this Electoral Amendment Bill explainer👇
Not anymore🫠
Revisiting this Electoral Amendment Bill explainer👇
Peter Thiel thinks democracy has failed & women/the poor shouldn’t vote - funnily enough echoed in the NZ government’s current term spent undermining democracy & disenfranchising voters, particularly Māori, Asian & Pacific people, young people, renters & low income voters (disproportionately women).
John Key and his government made Peter Thiel an NZ citizen and bent the rules to do it. Talk about captured. #nzpol
Thiel's rap against democracy has been around for quite a while. Now it's "in the files"
February 7, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Peter Thiel thinks democracy has failed & women/the poor shouldn’t vote - funnily enough echoed in the NZ government’s current term spent undermining democracy & disenfranchising voters, particularly Māori, Asian & Pacific people, young people, renters & low income voters (disproportionately women).
Reposted by Hayley
i've said it before and i'll say it again: rates rising are a result of underfunding and limited revenue streams for councils, not overspending and bureaucratic fat. a rates cap is worse than solving nothing - it legitimately is the worst thing they could do
“The world’s two biggest credit rating agencies have both put big New Zealand councils on notice: they say the Government’s proposed rates cap could impact on the local authorities’ finances and drive up their interest rates.”
Seeing very little media interrogation of this proposal. From Newsroom👇
Seeing very little media interrogation of this proposal. From Newsroom👇
Global credit agencies warn against council rates cap
'Be careful what you wish for': rates cap could increase council costs, the opposite effect to what's intended. Jonathan Milne reports.
newsroom.co.nz
February 6, 2026 at 7:55 PM
i've said it before and i'll say it again: rates rising are a result of underfunding and limited revenue streams for councils, not overspending and bureaucratic fat. a rates cap is worse than solving nothing - it legitimately is the worst thing they could do
“The delivery of critical services and infrastructure - like public transport and flood protection - will be compromised in the Wellington Region unless the Government reconsiders its proposed rates capping model, Greater Wellington says.”
We need much more reporting on these guaranteed impacts.
We need much more reporting on these guaranteed impacts.
Rates capping risks undermining regional services | Greater Wellington
www.gw.govt.nz
February 6, 2026 at 6:55 PM
“The delivery of critical services and infrastructure - like public transport and flood protection - will be compromised in the Wellington Region unless the Government reconsiders its proposed rates capping model, Greater Wellington says.”
We need much more reporting on these guaranteed impacts.
We need much more reporting on these guaranteed impacts.
“The world’s two biggest credit rating agencies have both put big New Zealand councils on notice: they say the Government’s proposed rates cap could impact on the local authorities’ finances and drive up their interest rates.”
Seeing very little media interrogation of this proposal. From Newsroom👇
Seeing very little media interrogation of this proposal. From Newsroom👇
Global credit agencies warn against council rates cap
'Be careful what you wish for': rates cap could increase council costs, the opposite effect to what's intended. Jonathan Milne reports.
newsroom.co.nz
February 6, 2026 at 6:46 PM
“The world’s two biggest credit rating agencies have both put big New Zealand councils on notice: they say the Government’s proposed rates cap could impact on the local authorities’ finances and drive up their interest rates.”
Seeing very little media interrogation of this proposal. From Newsroom👇
Seeing very little media interrogation of this proposal. From Newsroom👇
Reposted by Hayley
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
February 6, 2026 at 5:42 PM
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
Stuff, you can report on the racism without showing the screenshot on your front page FFS.
February 6, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Stuff, you can report on the racism without showing the screenshot on your front page FFS.
Reposted by Hayley
I wrote about how the women Epstein and co victimized have been minimized and ignored as individuals even in popular discourse about the very abuse they endured—and how the legal system has punished them and other women, not helped them, for daring to come forward.
spitfirenews.com/p/even-the-m...
spitfirenews.com/p/even-the-m...
Even the most famous victims are silenced
From the Epstein files to Amber Heard, we obsess over victims while denying their own right to speak.
spitfirenews.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:12 PM
I wrote about how the women Epstein and co victimized have been minimized and ignored as individuals even in popular discourse about the very abuse they endured—and how the legal system has punished them and other women, not helped them, for daring to come forward.
spitfirenews.com/p/even-the-m...
spitfirenews.com/p/even-the-m...
Reposted by Hayley
Another way to say "not all men". Because in a society that collectively oppresses women with lower pay, sexual harassment, rape, domestic violence, etc, the real sexism is when people make men feel bad.
Nb4 anyone comes in to say men can be victims of those crimes. Yeah. Mostly caused by other men.
Nb4 anyone comes in to say men can be victims of those crimes. Yeah. Mostly caused by other men.
One of my ongoing issues with people describing men who commit heinous acts as “monsters” or saying “those aren’t real men” is that it successfully otherises the problem instead of acknowledging the issue that is male violence. The only reason we do this is to protect men’s feelings.
February 6, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Another way to say "not all men". Because in a society that collectively oppresses women with lower pay, sexual harassment, rape, domestic violence, etc, the real sexism is when people make men feel bad.
Nb4 anyone comes in to say men can be victims of those crimes. Yeah. Mostly caused by other men.
Nb4 anyone comes in to say men can be victims of those crimes. Yeah. Mostly caused by other men.
Reposted by Hayley
Someone uploaded a full video on IG (hat tip @toddfishernz) of Chappell Roan talking about feeling happy to see Pride stuff in AoNZ and the shit going down in the US. #thehorrors adjacent.
February 6, 2026 at 6:34 AM
Someone uploaded a full video on IG (hat tip @toddfishernz) of Chappell Roan talking about feeling happy to see Pride stuff in AoNZ and the shit going down in the US. #thehorrors adjacent.
Reposted by Hayley
So the COC has completely defunded health & Brown is sending a stern letter to Health NZ to meet waiting list targets because it's unacceptable. Could the media please ask him if they are going to fund health properly and let hospitals hire? Nope just going to let him blame hospitals instead. OMG
February 6, 2026 at 5:24 AM
So the COC has completely defunded health & Brown is sending a stern letter to Health NZ to meet waiting list targets because it's unacceptable. Could the media please ask him if they are going to fund health properly and let hospitals hire? Nope just going to let him blame hospitals instead. OMG
I’m especially furious at the cultural norm of treating women and girls like objects this week because someone I love is navigating her daughter being assaulted by a boy at school.
We have to change the narrative from “boys will be boys” to “boys and men will be held accountable for their actions.”
We have to change the narrative from “boys will be boys” to “boys and men will be held accountable for their actions.”
February 6, 2026 at 2:41 AM
I’m especially furious at the cultural norm of treating women and girls like objects this week because someone I love is navigating her daughter being assaulted by a boy at school.
We have to change the narrative from “boys will be boys” to “boys and men will be held accountable for their actions.”
We have to change the narrative from “boys will be boys” to “boys and men will be held accountable for their actions.”
Reposted by Hayley
'"Well you only have to look at New Zealand as a success story. Even the poorest people in New Zealand today are living like kings and queens compared with most places and most times in history,”' (David Seymour, Atlas Foundation numpty, 2026)
Let's analyse that, shall we?
Let's analyse that, shall we?
February 6, 2026 at 12:12 AM
'"Well you only have to look at New Zealand as a success story. Even the poorest people in New Zealand today are living like kings and queens compared with most places and most times in history,”' (David Seymour, Atlas Foundation numpty, 2026)
Let's analyse that, shall we?
Let's analyse that, shall we?
NZ Citizen Peter Thiel, everybody.
February 6, 2026 at 2:23 AM
NZ Citizen Peter Thiel, everybody.
Reposted by Hayley
Seems the desire to punish the poor and oppress and abuse women goes hand in hand with other antisocial behaviour. Who woulda thought.
February 6, 2026 at 2:01 AM
Seems the desire to punish the poor and oppress and abuse women goes hand in hand with other antisocial behaviour. Who woulda thought.
Reflecting on why no one is being held accountable despite files, sworn testimony etc, and on the two separate articles I read last week portraying Lolita as being about “seducing” a 12 year old girl without noting in either that Lolita is about child rape, & remembered normalisation erodes outrage.
February 6, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Reflecting on why no one is being held accountable despite files, sworn testimony etc, and on the two separate articles I read last week portraying Lolita as being about “seducing” a 12 year old girl without noting in either that Lolita is about child rape, & remembered normalisation erodes outrage.
Reposted by Hayley
It is really infuriating to see how misogyny really does unite men across the sociop[atholog]ical spectrum.
It is really infuriating to see how misogyny really does unite men across the sociopolitical spectrum. And, in so far as the Epstein files go, they sort women into two categories: fuckable or irrelevant. When they near a hint of accountability they complain about not being able to make women prey.
February 5, 2026 at 11:13 PM
It is really infuriating to see how misogyny really does unite men across the sociop[atholog]ical spectrum.
Reposted by Hayley
It is really infuriating to see how misogyny really does unite men across the sociopolitical spectrum. And, in so far as the Epstein files go, they sort women into two categories: fuckable or irrelevant. When they near a hint of accountability they complain about not being able to make women prey.
February 5, 2026 at 7:33 PM
It is really infuriating to see how misogyny really does unite men across the sociopolitical spectrum. And, in so far as the Epstein files go, they sort women into two categories: fuckable or irrelevant. When they near a hint of accountability they complain about not being able to make women prey.
Reposted by Hayley
NZ media: we simply won't interrogate this 🥰👍
David Seymour talking absolute shite, a falsehood so egregious that a schoolkid could dismantle:
“Well you only have to look at New Zealand as a success story. Even the poorest people in New Zealand today are living like kings and queens compared with most places and most times in history,” he said.
“Well you only have to look at New Zealand as a success story. Even the poorest people in New Zealand today are living like kings and queens compared with most places and most times in history,” he said.
Seymour says colonisation means even the poorest live like monarchs.
As someone who's spent far too much of my life involvedin studying the past, I say he's talking undiluted shite.
As someone who's spent far too much of my life involvedin studying the past, I say he's talking undiluted shite.
February 5, 2026 at 10:05 PM
NZ media: we simply won't interrogate this 🥰👍
It’s not being said loudly enough that the behaviour exhibited in the Epstein files is not exclusive to the Epstein files - the targeting, dismissal, control, abuse, inequity is demonstrable in every sphere of life, backed up by statistics and protected in policy.
It’s culture, led by wealthy men.
It’s culture, led by wealthy men.
February 5, 2026 at 7:28 PM
It’s not being said loudly enough that the behaviour exhibited in the Epstein files is not exclusive to the Epstein files - the targeting, dismissal, control, abuse, inequity is demonstrable in every sphere of life, backed up by statistics and protected in policy.
It’s culture, led by wealthy men.
It’s culture, led by wealthy men.
My theory is similar in that many men view women/girls as objects to fear, possess and control; the only people they see as human are other men, which explains the dehumanising, active targeting of women and consistent protection of the relationship with the man at the centre of the files, Epstein.
the Epstein files are really devastating because they remind me of how many girls and women miss out on professional opportunities, mentorship and careers because of how many powerful, rich and influential men only view girls and women — and interactions with them — through the lens of sex
February 5, 2026 at 6:55 PM
My theory is similar in that many men view women/girls as objects to fear, possess and control; the only people they see as human are other men, which explains the dehumanising, active targeting of women and consistent protection of the relationship with the man at the centre of the files, Epstein.
As we’ve seen in #nzpol, women and non-binary politicians are forced out of politics, men’s unacceptable behaviour is rewarded, and media are complicit in both by actively participating in one and deliberately staying silent on the other.
the Epstein files are really devastating because they remind me of how many girls and women miss out on professional opportunities, mentorship and careers because of how many powerful, rich and influential men only view girls and women — and interactions with them — through the lens of sex
February 5, 2026 at 6:45 PM
As we’ve seen in #nzpol, women and non-binary politicians are forced out of politics, men’s unacceptable behaviour is rewarded, and media are complicit in both by actively participating in one and deliberately staying silent on the other.
Reposted by Hayley
It’s so normalised that my DiL heard it at the preschool our moko attended when 4 year old boys knock over younger children ‘boys will be boys’ no endeavour to address the behaviour. It gets a free pass. When she raises the issue she gets side eye and negative comments.
February 3, 2026 at 7:36 PM
It’s so normalised that my DiL heard it at the preschool our moko attended when 4 year old boys knock over younger children ‘boys will be boys’ no endeavour to address the behaviour. It gets a free pass. When she raises the issue she gets side eye and negative comments.