The Olive green areas are councils where citizens voted down Māori wards (the little blue blob in the middle is Kirikiriroa, which voted by a whisker to retain theirs).
Coincidentally those Olive green areas also pretty accurately represent land confiscated by the crown after the Waikato wars.

With polls now officially closed on this local election day…

✊ Kudos to everyone who managed to get your votes in under the wire

🤞And best of luck to all candidates, currently keeping your cool (and holding onto your hats) while we wait for the counts to come in

Democracy ftw, hopefully! #nzpol

"The book that made me laugh: The Ice Shelf by Anne Kennedy. From the first page... it is a hoot. I especially love the way she skewers writing workshops and literary festivals."

Totally agree with @wendmyway.bsky.social – The Ice Shelf is an iconic, edgy, and oddly underrated instant classic.

My boss: so how's our fourth quarter looking?

Me, the sales manager at the company that makes inflatable frog suits: well, you're never going to believe this, but

#Auckland there's a heap of places to drop off voting papers right up until midday TODAY
Your vote matters to secure progressive local boards & a council that supports #climateaction #safestreets #affordablehousing #TeTiriti
No papers? Make a special vote
voteauckland.co.nz/en/informati...

Blessed are the frogs, for they keep making authoritarians look incredibly stupid

Bravo! And I love the idea of a “loose avenue of successionally flowering magnolias”, how grand.

“Almost 7 in 10 people in New Zealand supported lifting benefits in early 2021; and after the government increased benefits in 2021, 60% thought income support should have been increased further.

It’s not the 1980s any more, as much as the Govt wants to drag us back there.” @maxdnharris.bsky.social

I really hop they get back safely to their pads and don't get toad away

Oh, mate, and in birthday month and all, how unfair. May the excellent fainting couch hold you up, and let us all chip in with daily chipperness as required. Hooray for an optimistic doctor, and 21st C medicine! 🙏

On a serious note, I was shocked at the state of NZ... and I realise this only scratches the surface. We hope this at least helps feels Kiwis feel seen 👀💗 (And if you liked it let us know, we might make a follow up ahead of your 2026 election)

The Government of New Zealand has made a new tourism ad and it's surprsingly honest and informative!

It's heartbreaking, eh.

Generally a sunny-side up sort of person but yep, this is brutally accurate on the state of things. (Snap election when?)

"Everyone has challenges" Paul Goldsmith says when asked about leaving young jobseekers with medical certificates with no safety net.

I'll add that line to the list of ways this government sounds like a invalidating and gaslighting abuser. #nzpol

“I really want people to know that no one is immune to this, anyone can get long Covid. I didn't think it would happen to me.” Read it and weep:
www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/10/o...

Heads up - New Zealand government's annoucements on 2050 climate target will be made midday Sunday NZ time. Will we be the first country to weaken a legislated 2050 target?

Remember when Wellington council spent $7k on a gorgeous painting and we had 'outrage'

BVV spends $100,000 to move 1 road cone and calls it a success.

#nzpol

newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/09/v...

I reckon 20 minutes is the perfect number, because it allows you to pause for photos, chats, cats, raincoats, etc – and still get there within a joyful and respectable half an hour.

(Whereas with other modes that wiggle-room is easily eaten up by stressy stuff: late buses, looking for parking, etc)

Govt to cut #JobSeeker benefit for 18 & 19 year olds who’s parents earn over $65,000, even if the teens have a disability or health condition. With #CostOfLiving & the job shortage they’re cranking up stress levels to 11, all to meet a target.
My #cartoon today about hard-nosed #NZpol

Anyway I wrote an article back in 2013 analyzing permutations on Benedict Cumberbatch which you may read and sub in Timothée Chalamet should you so desire
web.archive.org/web/20250322...

Higgledy piggledy
Timothée Chalamet
Has a name meriting
Endless design

Much like his forerunner
Benedict Cumberbatch:
Hexasyllabically,
Easy to rhyme

We're new to Bluesky.

We are a New Zealand support group bringing forward the lived experience of our community with Long Covid and advocating for awareness, treatment, supports, and prevention.

Offered rest home care at 24: the lonely plight of young Kiwis with long Covid
www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/10/o...