A superb piece MT. Particularly your observations re Trotter and Dr Bryce Edwards, both have snubbed me for my opposing views to their situated narratives. I think the following four years are very bleak for the proletariat. I fear that as people continue to be denied agency they will resort to violence as their only means of regaining a semblance of control, this will increase political moves towards totalitarian place states, force the rich to live behind walled enclaves whilst the rest go without
Yes, sadly I agree Mike… I’m usually an optimist but I’ve come to think the whole system is broken with the very worst people in charge. History provides clues as to what’s next.
Thanks for your mahi MT, I concur with most of your comments. We regularly have a poll in our house (with visitors or often just us) on who we hate the most in this coalition - I would suggest that Simeon is the most dangerous without actually knowing what he is doing. I hope that there is a heaven and Simeon has to watch a bunch of greenies go through the pearly gates, before he is dragged off to that other place, at a sensible velocity…
Late last year I had to answer two questions posed by one of the afore mentioned Ministers and found myself having emotional meltdowns. When I go back next week, I'm compiling quarterly stats for them too. Fun, fun. Fun.
Absolutely amazing first 6 months of work, MT, big respect for the quality *and* quantity of your output. Congratulations on finding your groove. Fun and games to look forward to in 2025, eh...👀🫣
As regards what you’ve been reflecting on MT, your words are both useful and worthwhile, and relatable and insightful and to be looked forward to by us inarticulate ones. Please keep it up.
🫂Condolences on your loss 💜 Sadly something we can't avoid unless we have no-one we care about 😢
Agree with all to some degree or other, but particularly Dr Bryce Edwards - I was initially appreciative of someone gathering political news etc. from Aotearoa in one place, with links to the source, so I used my precious $$ to subscribe & support the work. However, it became problematic in the choice of guest writers (Chris Trotter!) and his own personal musings showing a distinct bias, so I cancelled my sub 🤷
🫨 The last straw for me is the rant about former politicians going on to make money off the back of it, after they left Parliament. After decades of Nats being tapped for high profile & lucrative "advisory" or "supervisory" roles attached to Nat govts (getting worse⁉️) , and/or lucrative roles on corporate boards etc. he elevated Jacinda Ardern as an egregious example - citing huge speaking fees at international events & inferring she was not qualified.
🧐Anyone paying attention knows 2 things about this (1) Dame Jacinda cannot safely live in Aotearoa at present without extraordinary security & protection, especially with regards to her child being targetted, because of the extremists who have vowed to kill, rape, maim, kidnap etc. & she is entitled to earn a living (2) No-one rocks up to these events & demands a fee for speaking, because you have to be INVITED to speak & generally the fee is in a range that all but the most exceptional circumstances prompt the organisation to offer. Sure, there have been Labour politicians who have leveraged their former roles, but that doesn't explain making Dame Jacinda the main object of criticism.
🤷 It is a little sad in these times of a need for strong independent media that a seemingly hopeful source called "the Democracy Project" would turn out to be partisan rather than promoting "democracy" per se
🙋 Also strongly agree about the quality of the Opposition (all 3 parties) who have some outstanding MPs doing the hard & unglamorous mahi - which is of course not reported by corporate media. Having been alerted to the BHN YouTube channel I have watched some of these MPs talking as "ordinary folk" if you will, & it would be a big improvement to get them into govt next term 🙏
💪 Finally, just sent off my submission to the Waitangi No-Principles Bill & encouraged at least 1 person to do the same when I shared what I was doing for the "holidays" 👍 Same with the Regulatory Standards Bill (which is my next project, once I have waded through all the links Melanie Nelson has provided 💪👏)
😱Yes 2025 is possibly going to be really challenging at home & abroad, but have to say DOING SOMETHING makes it feel less overwhelming & hopeless, and being part of communities like this who also care gives me hope that together we can at least make things less terrible on the road to making things better & fairer in Aotearoa 💪❤️🙏
Cindy, I read you like I read myself - it's like someone saying my words, but with eloquence and passion and intelligence and insight and heart. Thank you and best wishes - I can't say thank you enough for all your comments, contributions and presence.
Yep, the brown brothers (skidmark and peewee) sure know what's good for auk. But, only if it's for the CBD. Swimming pools and xmas trees are for kids. So we've opened a new budget pool and got a million dollar xmas tree in downtown CBD. Bout as far away from kids as you can get.
Late to the comments after time out 😉. Thank you for all you do Tui and I’m sorry to hear you lost a loved one. I hope you have many happy memories to sustain you.
On balance; Tai Chi is a fantastic way to improve balance. It’s like a moving meditation with multiple benefits, including physical ones.
My wish to everyone for 2025 is for strong supportive community, online and offline.
Thank you for staying alert and keeping us informed, all the good work is appreciated.
Thanks for your amazing work MT.
A superb piece MT. Particularly your observations re Trotter and Dr Bryce Edwards, both have snubbed me for my opposing views to their situated narratives. I think the following four years are very bleak for the proletariat. I fear that as people continue to be denied agency they will resort to violence as their only means of regaining a semblance of control, this will increase political moves towards totalitarian place states, force the rich to live behind walled enclaves whilst the rest go without
Yes, sadly I agree Mike… I’m usually an optimist but I’ve come to think the whole system is broken with the very worst people in charge. History provides clues as to what’s next.
Sorry to hear of the loss of a close family member of yours, Tui. Thanks for all the great work you do!
Thank you, Vicki.
Thanks for your mahi MT, I concur with most of your comments. We regularly have a poll in our house (with visitors or often just us) on who we hate the most in this coalition - I would suggest that Simeon is the most dangerous without actually knowing what he is doing. I hope that there is a heaven and Simeon has to watch a bunch of greenies go through the pearly gates, before he is dragged off to that other place, at a sensible velocity…
Ngā mihi o te tau Hau pākehā
Late last year I had to answer two questions posed by one of the afore mentioned Ministers and found myself having emotional meltdowns. When I go back next week, I'm compiling quarterly stats for them too. Fun, fun. Fun.
Sounds exciting if I’m honest, JS
I'm past the days of excitement. But someone has to compile a reckoning of social harm and death. Grim accounting I call it.
Yes, noted. And in that case grim is correct. 🙏
On the upside, the last couple of years have been relatively low harm years in my sector, so there's that.
Yes and perhaps those results can be juxtaposed to demonstrate failure of the Dunce
Sorry for your loss MT. Please know your writing is appreciated. Trying to write my submission re rsb bill at the moment.
🙏 ☀️
Thanks for your analysis and clarity. Take care and I hope you get time out to enjoy Summer ☀️
Absolutely amazing first 6 months of work, MT, big respect for the quality *and* quantity of your output. Congratulations on finding your groove. Fun and games to look forward to in 2025, eh...👀🫣
Many thanks Ben 🙏 😀
I heartily agree, Ben!
My condolences for your loss, and thank you for your summary, pretty spot on in my book, especially on SB! Refreshing to read. Kia kaha.
Thank you Leonie I appreciate that
As regards what you’ve been reflecting on MT, your words are both useful and worthwhile, and relatable and insightful and to be looked forward to by us inarticulate ones. Please keep it up.
🫂Condolences on your loss 💜 Sadly something we can't avoid unless we have no-one we care about 😢
Agree with all to some degree or other, but particularly Dr Bryce Edwards - I was initially appreciative of someone gathering political news etc. from Aotearoa in one place, with links to the source, so I used my precious $$ to subscribe & support the work. However, it became problematic in the choice of guest writers (Chris Trotter!) and his own personal musings showing a distinct bias, so I cancelled my sub 🤷
🫨 The last straw for me is the rant about former politicians going on to make money off the back of it, after they left Parliament. After decades of Nats being tapped for high profile & lucrative "advisory" or "supervisory" roles attached to Nat govts (getting worse⁉️) , and/or lucrative roles on corporate boards etc. he elevated Jacinda Ardern as an egregious example - citing huge speaking fees at international events & inferring she was not qualified.
🧐Anyone paying attention knows 2 things about this (1) Dame Jacinda cannot safely live in Aotearoa at present without extraordinary security & protection, especially with regards to her child being targetted, because of the extremists who have vowed to kill, rape, maim, kidnap etc. & she is entitled to earn a living (2) No-one rocks up to these events & demands a fee for speaking, because you have to be INVITED to speak & generally the fee is in a range that all but the most exceptional circumstances prompt the organisation to offer. Sure, there have been Labour politicians who have leveraged their former roles, but that doesn't explain making Dame Jacinda the main object of criticism.
🤷 It is a little sad in these times of a need for strong independent media that a seemingly hopeful source called "the Democracy Project" would turn out to be partisan rather than promoting "democracy" per se
🙋 Also strongly agree about the quality of the Opposition (all 3 parties) who have some outstanding MPs doing the hard & unglamorous mahi - which is of course not reported by corporate media. Having been alerted to the BHN YouTube channel I have watched some of these MPs talking as "ordinary folk" if you will, & it would be a big improvement to get them into govt next term 🙏
💪 Finally, just sent off my submission to the Waitangi No-Principles Bill & encouraged at least 1 person to do the same when I shared what I was doing for the "holidays" 👍 Same with the Regulatory Standards Bill (which is my next project, once I have waded through all the links Melanie Nelson has provided 💪👏)
😱Yes 2025 is possibly going to be really challenging at home & abroad, but have to say DOING SOMETHING makes it feel less overwhelming & hopeless, and being part of communities like this who also care gives me hope that together we can at least make things less terrible on the road to making things better & fairer in Aotearoa 💪❤️🙏
Cindy, I read you like I read myself - it's like someone saying my words, but with eloquence and passion and intelligence and insight and heart. Thank you and best wishes - I can't say thank you enough for all your comments, contributions and presence.
Yep, the brown brothers (skidmark and peewee) sure know what's good for auk. But, only if it's for the CBD. Swimming pools and xmas trees are for kids. So we've opened a new budget pool and got a million dollar xmas tree in downtown CBD. Bout as far away from kids as you can get.
Whew! I have, at last, sent off submissions on both scurrilous bills.
And heartfelt thanks, MT for your work. I always feel informed by your writing - and supported in my values and beliefs too.
I am sorry you lost someone close to you. I trust you have many wonderful memories to help comfort you.
Thank you so much Lesley, and I also take comfort in what you say. Nga mihi.
Thank you for helping me understand things that are usually beyond my sphere of interest/knowledge.
Condolences for your loss and Best Wishes for 2025.
Late to the comments after time out 😉. Thank you for all you do Tui and I’m sorry to hear you lost a loved one. I hope you have many happy memories to sustain you.
On balance; Tai Chi is a fantastic way to improve balance. It’s like a moving meditation with multiple benefits, including physical ones.
My wish to everyone for 2025 is for strong supportive community, online and offline.
That's wonderful, your wish I mean, and also the tip. Thanks KSJ, hope you've had a good holiday season and I appreciate the kind words.