Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 1d

Remember while the govt kicks poor parents in the teeth their own benefit entitlements are out of their hands, yeah right!
#nzpol
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...

Government cuts KiwiSaver contribution as MPs get generous superannuation subsidy

The coalition is being accused of topping up their already large salaries at a time of belt-tightening, but the associate finance minister says the decision isn’t up to politicians.

www.stuff.co.nz

1

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 1d

The major circulatory currents are slowing at an unprecedented rate. While predictions are difficult due to numerous feedbacks the most likely scenario is permanent La Nina type weather more severe than Gabrielle...

3 3

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 1d

We have the likes of Mark Cameron railing about free speech in parliament the other day yet the right want to control the narrative more and more to increase their grip with the ignorant cannon fodder wannabes at the polling booth who aren't even invited to their path to plutocracy #nzpol

Roscoe Changleen @changleen.bsky.social · 2d

#NZPol Fucking comedy that incredible paragon of journalistic excellence @stuff.co.nz aren’t allowing comments on this one.

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

TVNZ’s editorial standards put under the microscope in defamation case

TVNZ’s head of news said he was comfortable the stories about Talley’s were accurate, legitimate, balanced and fair.

www.stuff.co.nz

4

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 1d

Business trying to control the narrative more and more

1

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 1d

We wonder why we are having such weird weather incl here with this unusual spring caused by a SSW event which may continue for another month. AGW has warmed the planet at an unprecedented rate and now we're on the verge of collapse. When you pump 2.5GT of C into the atmosphere in such a short time..

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 2d

Brooke betrayed her gender
Willis used it to cook her books
Luxon is in constant denial of his mess
Yep it'll be their undoing

1

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 3d

The Rewilding photographic awards are worth a look. Toggle the language in the top right hand corner if wanting to view English commentary

#biodiversity
www.gdtfoto.de/seiten/rewil...

GDT Gesellschaft für Naturfotografie e.V.

Gesellschaft für Naturfotografie e.V. - eine der größten Organisationen für Naturfotografie weltweit.

www.gdtfoto.de

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 4d

Flying our way into oblivion
#climate

Go Green @ecowarriorss.bsky.social · 4d

Green aviation is essentially hogwash go give people false hope and designed to put no limits on aviation travel despite ever faster extreme climate
Some of these bio fuels will actually increase emissions
e360.yale.edu/features/cor...

2 8

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 4d

Part of what made the international rules-based system work was that we had a powerful anchor for it:...We expected leaders to pull back from their greed. And if they didn’t, journalists would expose these things. Now...

Luxon?

Food for thought
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

#nzpol

How to live a good life in difficult times: Yuval Noah Harari, Rory Stewart and Maria Ressa in conversation

From superintelligent AI to the climate and democracy, three leading thinkers discuss how to navigate the future

www.theguardian.com

1

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 4d

Are the wannabes dim can't they see through his self righteous pomposity for what it really is?

1 1

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 4d

I once tackled a well-off comfortable orchardist on her pleading on FB that we (she) needed cheap RSE workers from the islands stating that her business model was based on exploitation...Crickets

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 4d

Luxon needs a reset at an election coming near you!

Reposted by Paul van Brakel

Theta Salmon @thetasalmon.bsky.social · 4d

Watching Nicola Willis:
- hedge
- misdirect
- screw up basic facts
- confidently lie
- pivot
- bloviate
- gaslight
…it was clear she was way out of her depth & uninterested in learning anything that might contradict her delusions (as was Luxon).

Well… the numbers are in.
It’s brutal.

#nzpol

Toitū te Tiriti 🇳🇿 @mrjeffhowell.bsky.social · 5d

The data in this article is absolutely damning. In the face of this, Nicola Willis’ response is idiotic.

It’s a long article. If you don’t have time for all the words, the graphs tell the story.

www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

‘Not sound economics’: 20 economists slam government’s economic strategy

The signatories – including former Productivity Commission chair Ganesh Nana and economist Susan St John – say the Government’s fiscal approach has worsened the recession, weakened public services, an...

www.thepost.co.nz

1 4 20

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 4d

Yes it reminded me of something.
So posted it.
bsky.app/profile/paul...

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 4d

Anthropogenic EMF can affect sensitive species. We are not alone.
#biodiversity
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

1

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 4d

Anthropogenic EMF can affect sensitive species. We are not alone.
#biodiversity
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

1

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 5d

... and yet there is a small way everyone can help. Turn off outside lights at night
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Light pollution is a driver of insect declines

Insects around the world are rapidly declining. Concerns over what this loss means for food security and ecological communities have compelled a growi…

www.sciencedirect.com

1 1

Reposted by Paul van Brakel

Andy McKay @korimakoecology.bsky.social · 5d

"After only one year, the transformation is dramatic. A colony of 2000 Sooty Terns, where there was previously none, were feeding hundreds of chicks. We also counted 1000’s of native Pisonia grandis tree seedlings across just 60 12m monitored plots on the forest floor—in 2024 we found zero." 🌏

Press Release: Staggering Recovery of Plants and Seabirds on Marshallese Islands Just One Year After Rat Removal - Island Conservation

Astonishing results from our work to restore sites in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, boosting climate resilience and ocean health!

www.islandconservation.org

3 25 62

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 11d

Making some good connections and contributing to the dialogue in a very good way. Social media appears to be the way to leverage the right out of the way one conversation and voter after another

1

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 11d

If you haven't seen the "1st Politician on the Show", and yes it's someone from AoNZ, then watch this at least to when she talks about meeting with the coalminers who supposedly hate her and she breaks it down
#nzpol
youtu.be/zl_LgDjpzxE?...

The first politician on Gary's Economics

YouTube video by Garys Economics

youtu.be

1 4

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 18d

Simeon says clarity on new projects ... but no clarity on what will be cut in the money shuffle... our tax dollars shuffle
#nzpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

New funding for EDs, but where does the money come from?

An emergency doctor is concerned the $20 million funding injection could mean cuts to other areas of Health New Zealand.

www.rnz.co.nz

2

Reposted by Paul van Brakel

Neil Hillhouse (The Haunting Of) @nstenhouse.bsky.social · 20d

This is worth watching, here is a preview of their parody video

3 3

Reposted by Paul van Brakel

Melaine Le Roy @subfossilguy.bsky.social · 24d

Monte Perdido
1965 | 2025

How moving! 🤍

Jaime, standing on the same stone as his grandfather 60 years later, on top of Cilindro de Marboré (3325 m)! 🏔️⏳🔥

Monte Perdido (3355 m) at the background!

In the 20th c, there were glaciers on the W face of Monte Perdido!

📷 Joaquín and Jaime Romeo 🙏

2 21 120

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 24d

My understanding is that like any commodity they're sold on the global market. DIRA, however, regulates the price paid to farmers by Fonterra as set by Comcom. This is meant to be independent of the consumer price hence the reason Fonterra farmers complain they're subsidising other farmers.

1

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 24d

tradingeconomics.com/commodity/bu...

Butter - Price - Chart - Historical Data - News

Butter fell to 5,528 EUR/T on September 15, 2025, down 0.99% from the previous day. Over the past month, Butter's price has fallen 19.88%, and is down 30.90% compared to the same time last year, accor...

tradingeconomics.com

2

Paul van Brakel @paulvanbrakel.bsky.social · 24d

So we're in a free market AoNZ right? Anyone noticed the price of butter drop 20% as it has on the international market. No comments from the politicians...https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/butter/
#nzpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/busines...

Food prices keep crunch on household budgets

Food prices are rising much faster than wages, making it a "slow grind" for households waiting for relief from the cost of living crisis.

www.rnz.co.nz

3 3 18