Douglas Horrell

A tragedy! Such good stuff happened there.

Ōtautahi has elected the last mayor of the 20th century, rather than the first mayor of the 21st.

Time running out to vote in local elections Time is running out for the 69 per cent of eligible voters in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula who have yet to complete and return their voting papers for the local elections.

Ōtautahi / Chch procrastinators, join me in voting in the local body elections before midday tomorrow - drop off locations listed in the link www.newsline.ccc.govt.nz/news/story/t... #kikorangi

One hundred and eighty five billion dollars. That's the estimated bill to repair our terrible water infrastructure and experts think that estimate is too low. Why is it going to cost so much? Mainly because angry people who didn't want to pay rates were the only ones who voted in local elections. They elected other angry people who didn't want to raise rates and those people kept costs down via the foolproof method of "letting the pipes rot in the ground". Just a few years ago, 8,000 people in and around Havelock North got poisoned when sheep poo seeped into some poorly maintained water infrastructure. Four people died! Wellington's streets are now equal parts sewage and concrete. For a while there people in Otago were drinking lead.

Vote! Vote in your local election! Post your vote by 5pm today! It matters. Hayden explains this more hilariously than I can: thespinoff.co.nz/politics/06-...

Vegans! Why won't they leave us alone to consume the flesh of tortured animals in peace? | First Dog on the Moon I would prefer not to eat meat but I do because it is delicious and I am lazy. But I agree with vegans that it is bad for the planet!

I'll give my last word on this discomfort to a classic strip by the always excellent First Dog on the Moon: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This thread is about discomfort and inaction around diet in the climate movement. Personally, as a vegan of 30 years, I don't think veganism is THE solution. But it's almost certainly one of many, many solutions to the problem of making individual behavioural change stick in a diverse world.

Perhaps the stereotyping is the problem? The diversity of people who ride bikes or choose to eat vegan is huge. Why should they be reduced to stereotypical depictions (unless that happens to serve status quo narratives of what is, and what isn't, acceptable behavior/activism)?

Both veganism and cycling function as symbolic acts (as well as just doing the thing that needs to be done). That's why proponents of inaction or delay go after vegans and cyclists so hard. It's easier to denigrate someone who makes them look bad than thank us for actually addressing the problem.

It always fascinates me when this kind of stuff is referred to by media as "strategy". It's the exact opposite. Short-term blind power grabs that masquerade as policy. No idea that the future will be different than today.

Actually, I know a number of people with Pyroclassic burners and they're great. Lots of heat and very efficient. One friend days she burns half the wood for the same heat as her old non-ULEB burner.

Can't help, but our burner permit expires 2026 so I'm very interested in the answers! (Unfortunately, we have an inbuilt fire so currently that limits us to only two ULEB fires.)

Tiana Malina Te Rongopatahi Mo’iha looks pleased with a car bootload of palm leaves destined to build a Hawaiian hale for her Macmillan Brown artist residency in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Exciting! All the best things take time. This week I had a visit from Tiana, a Hawaiian weaver and hale builder, to harvest leaves from palms I grew from seed 20 years ago. So happy to be able to help out.

‘Flip and flop’ mayor gives latest take on asset sales Council-owned companies remain a contentious issue in the race for Christchurch’s mayoralty between Phil Mauger and Sara Templeton

Fine analysis of the very tight battle for Christchurch Mayor by David Williams.
Read it before you vote - because the next mayor will set the city direction in important ways.
Mauger’s disdain for any method of transport other than cars will screw the city.

newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/12/f...

We were going to this but now can't. I'd really appreciate any notes or observations!

Much appreciated!

Really sorry to hear that Ange. Take care of yourself.

Screenshot of the Merlin bird app showing a list of birds identified in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Very cool! Love how you can drag the audio to identify specific birds.

Thanks Mike. Had not discovered Merlin before. Riroriro are very much in residence at our place and I'm getting better at spotting them flitting swiftly around the garden.

I'm hoping the Cretaceous period will claim him back shortly.

Very good. Having grown up in a monolingual culture actually makes me more interested in trying to get pronunciation right in other languages. It's annoying enough when someone contracts my name to "Doug" so I can't imagine how heartbreaking it is when people don't care enough to try.

Fave recent encounter while out walking our two greyhounds was a kid who yelled out "MUUUM!!! THAT GUY HAS TWO ALEXS!!!".

(♥️ that in his world, every greyhound is named Alex)

Done.

Probably overkill, but more people should know that www.shuk.co.nz will cut gaskets to any size you want. Have an obscure brand of 1960s espresso pot that needs new seals but no time machine to buy them from the original company? They have you covered.

Our Prunus mume flowered weeks ago.

📌

And it's a prime tourist spot. That returning to a shared path could be a remotely good idea... 🤯

"Mayoral hopeful plans to mix pedestrians with fast scooters and bikes on busy city street" doesn't have the same ring does it.

Punky is usually quiet Wed/Thurs.

Actually read that campaign as people leaving NZ for Australia 🤭
(Hope the last one to leave turns the lights off...)

Vegans! Why won't they leave us alone to consume the flesh of tortured animals in peace? | First Dog on the Moon I would prefer not to eat meat but I do because it is delicious and I am lazy. But I agree with vegans that it is bad for the planet!

Looking forward to reading this and appreciate your review. It reminds me of my favourite cartoon on the subject:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...