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Mask Up Comments and Opinions

@commentsandopi2.bsky.social

2.2K followers 2.7K following 9.9K posts

Fact, history, opinion, and sarcasm, with an occasional side dose of sass. Primary function of being occasionally useful in between shitposting and ranting about politics! Expect bad language #CovidisNotOver #Masksinschoolsnz #MasksinHealthcare

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Mask Up Comments and Opinions @commentsandopi2.bsky.social · Nov 22

Never trust a Tory or a Neoliberal

What we know about the coalition:

They will carry out their policies and the coalition agreement.
Everything else they say is lies.

Easy way to analyse any of their comments, media releases etc

Alan (not ekshully a B'Stard) @alans-world.bsky.social · Nov 22

#NZpol

Yep, wouldn't trust any of their assurances *at all*.

This is the same lot that made *election* promises about Dunedin hospital... oh wait, until they broke them. That their tax cuts were 'definitely costed'... oh wait, until forced to admit they weren't.

On and on their gaslighting goes.

Shifty Cow @supergoofnz.bsky.social · Nov 22

I keep thinking about how Peters said the hīkoi was a waste of time because the bill isn't going to pass. But (a) I don't trust any of these arseholes to do what they say they will, and (b) if there was no pushback I'm sure Luxon et al would happily vote it through into law. #ToituTeTiriti #NZpol

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Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 9h

BREAKING

In a new video, Dolly Parton, the Queen of America, says she’s going to be ok.

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Andrew R @andrewr4.womcats.com · 5h

This should be fully funded

RNZ News Feeds @rnzrss.bsky.social · 6h

New treatment for endometriosis now available in New Zealand

An oral tablet taken once daily will set you back about $250 a month.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Bethany @bethanyrobison.bsky.social · 19h

I missed snl last weekend but I enjoyed this bit of silliness
youtu.be/LW9QJIT_T-A?...

KPop Demon Hunters - SNL

YouTube video by Saturday Night Live

youtu.be

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Stephanie... In New Zealand @bootstheory.bsky.social · 21h

This has been the vicious fucking thing about the "Jobseeker Benefit" ever since Paula Bennett coined it in 2013

In addition to keeping people in poverty it's been a term of propaganda forcing us all to accept the frame of welfare as economic obligation instead of social support

Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social · 22h

Fucksake. It's quite clear now that they only looked at this benefit policy as political marketing and took no advice on who it would impact – which includes young people with serious health issues and disabilities. Just feckless and cynical. Shame on them. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Hundreds of teens with a health condition, disability may be cut from Jobseeker benefit

The government is ending Jobseeker payments to 18- and 19 year olds whose parents earn more than $65,000.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Mask Up Comments and Opinions @commentsandopi2.bsky.social · 8h

Everything is reversible with sufficient political will

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David Hood @thoughtfulnz.bsky.social · 19h

There are MPs in parliament who have the personal lived experience of being part of the John Key administration that combined the sickness and jobseeker benefits. It ain't ignorance. Even if they aren't listening to advice, they were there on the day in the past.

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 19h

Another benefit of Brexit ... the UK has returned to its traditional role as the dirty man of Europe.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

UK plastic waste exports to developing countries rose 84% in a year, data shows

Campaigners say increase in exports mostly to Malaysia and Indonesia is ‘unethical and irresponsible waste imperialism’

www.theguardian.com

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♿ hiding from plagues - Always masked - N95 or bust @smollestbunny2.bsky.social · 19h

Remember when labour restored the sickness and artists benefit and increased the benefit to livable levels? Oh wait, never mind, that never happened because labour is a right wing party

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MeatMechSuit @meatmechsuit.bsky.social · 19h

Junk

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 3d

"There are currently one to two Starlink satellites falling back to Earth every day ... Soon, McDowell told us, there will be up to 5 satellite reentries per day." 😳

1 to 2 Starlink satellites are falling back to Earth each day

earthsky.org

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Mask Up Comments and Opinions @commentsandopi2.bsky.social · 8h

Guess all the Shakespeare studied at school in the past and lauded in the english curriculum rewrite was reaaallllly useful 🙄

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People Against Prisons Aotearoa @papa.org.nz · 19h

We condemn police brutality against @peaceactnotautahi.bsky.social members and supporters who engaged in peaceful direct action to oppose NZ arms and aerospace companies' collaboration with the American military industrial complex and the Israeli genocide in Gaza. thespinoff.co.nz/society/08-1...

Dozens of protesters arrested at Aerospace Summit in Christchurch

'We need to stop hiding behind this thin veneer of space exploration,' said one of the organisers. <br />

thespinoff.co.nz

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Megaholt 𓅃 @megaholt.medsky.social · 19h

This.

If Dolly needs prayers, you fucking pray, or meditate, send positive thoughts/vibes/whatever, because she’s a national treasure and we must protect her at all costs.

Carter Edman @carteredman.bsky.social · 1d

I don't care if you believe in God or not, you goddam pray for Dolly, you hear me?

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Mask Up Comments and Opinions @commentsandopi2.bsky.social · 16h

What did the cat order?

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Mask Up Comments and Opinions @commentsandopi2.bsky.social · 16h

Sounds like lawyers were involved in drafting these statements. No one talks like that in real life

Mask Up Comments and Opinions @commentsandopi2.bsky.social · 16h

@infinitescream.bsky.social

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Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 18h

“Would you like to buy some drugs?” No I’m fine thanks. I’m a novelist. I already hallucinate every day free of charge.

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Mask Up Comments and Opinions @commentsandopi2.bsky.social · 16h

Read the alt text

Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 18h

Highland cattle are famous for their ability to "disco nap". Normally these brief, efficient sleeps will last between three and twenty minutes, deploying a variety of objects as pillows, including moorland boulders, cars or any particularly large dog or sheep who happens to be nearby.

A highland cow having a little nap on a boulder on Dartmoor (ok, it was actually scratching its head)

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Pip Adam @pipadam.bsky.social · 18h

Trust me - from close proximity - for a 19 year old struggling with mental health challenges job-seekers is terrifying but these changes will make things far, far worse for so many of our young people. Imagine extra funding to support 18/19 year olds through this tough time?

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beckydubs @beckydubs.bsky.social · 1d

The Big As Strike

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Mask Up Comments and Opinions @commentsandopi2.bsky.social · 17h

Takes a village to fight this government.
(Possibly pitchforks and torches too?)

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James W @jamesw228.bsky.social · 18h

It's particularly stupid that it was about automation of the welfare state, after they had to have an inquiry after the last time they did it

bsky.app/profile/jame...

James W @jamesw228.bsky.social · 1d

Good of Deloitte to demonstrate why the current push by National to integrate LLMs into government departments and things like select committees is a terrible idea. Especially since it was in Australia not here #nzpol

www.afr.com/companies/pr...

Deloitte to refund government, admits using AI in $440k report

Deloitte will issue a partial refund to the government after admitting that artificial intelligence had been used in the creation of a report littered with errors.

www.afr.com

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Dan @danxduran.bsky.social · 3d

If you'd asked me which celebrity would posthumously unveil a list of people she wanted fired into the sun, I would not have guessed Jane Goodall

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 3d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

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Mask Up Comments and Opinions @commentsandopi2.bsky.social · 18h

Love her snark!

Mask Up Comments and Opinions @commentsandopi2.bsky.social · 20h

Infuriating

Paul Thistoll @pault.bsky.social · 1d

Letter from Goldsmith to Rights Aotearoa about the Ia Tangata report.

"Therefore, progressing the Commission’s recommendations is not a priority for the Government at this time."

The Law Commission’s Ia Tangata report Thank you for your email and accompanying letter of 9 September 2025, regarding your concerns about the Law Commission’s (the Commission) report: Ia ‘Tangata Protections in the Human Rights Act 1993 for people who are transgender, people who are non-binary and people with innate variations of sex characteristics’. The Commission has made 27 recommendations for reform of the Human Rights Act 1993 (HRA). The Commission’s central recommendation is to add two prohibited grounds of discrimination to the HRA, which are: 1. gender identity or its equivalents in the culture of a person, and 2. having an innate variation of sex characteristics. The Commission also makes recommendations on how the 19 existing exceptions which allow, in prescribed circumstances, discrimination based on sex in the private sector, should apply to the two new prohibited grounds. The Commission’s report covers a number of complex questions and will attract a range of views. As Minister of Justice, I will be receiving advice over the coming months about the Commission’s recommendations. Whilst I do not want to predetermine the Government’s response, we have significant commitments and priorities in the Justice portfolio to restore law and order and improve timeliness in the courts. Therefore, progressing the Commission’s recommendations is not a priority for the Government at this time. The Government will formally respond to the recommendations from the Commission as required, by the beginning of March 2026. I acknowledge your request to meet with me, however, I regret that I am unable to meet with you at this time. Thank you for taking the time to write. Yours sincerely

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Royal Free 1955 @rfh1955.bsky.social · 2d

The Nursing Mirror, October 7th 1981 - forty-four years ago today. Melvin Ramsay. #myalgicencephalomyelitis #myalgice

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