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Aaron Hawkins

@ahawkins.bsky.social

Dunedin City Council Byelection Candidate. Co-Founder of Escarpment Domes. Director of Inspiring Communities. Leader of the Otago Housing Alliance. Sundays 12-2pm on Radio One 91FM. Authorised by Aaron Hawkins, 218 George St, Dunedin.

1,397 Followers  |  339 Following  |  1,960 Posts  |  Joined: 03.07.2023
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Posts by Aaron Hawkins (@ahawkins.bsky.social)

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Vale Neville Peat, 1947–2026 Remembering the respected conservationist, prolific author and man of extraordinary talent and generosity....

Vale Neville Peat, 1947–2026

05.03.2026 01:34 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

A last ball century to win the game with seven overs to spare.

🫑 Finn Allen

#FinalBoss

04.03.2026 16:28 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I left to go to the gym just to make sure πŸ˜‚

04.03.2026 16:16 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Woke up at 330 anyway and no regrets so far!

04.03.2026 15:59 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

A 230am alarm is a bad idea, right?

04.03.2026 06:43 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Crazy idea… what if we ran our energy system on cheap electricity so petrol prices don’t leave people panicking anymore??? wellyclimatenerd.net/the-race-to-...

04.03.2026 05:59 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Hard to take any analysis seriously if it simply ignores the inconvenient truth of racism, that too many in local govt were either happy to go along with or at the very least refuse to challenge

04.03.2026 05:39 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

We put a little recording studio in the new South Dunedin library. Such good community infrastructure.

04.03.2026 04:31 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
On February 22, 2026, Naval Ravikant tweeted: "If you're unwilling to defend your country in time of war, then you're a tourist, not a citizen."

As of March 3, 2026, the tweet has been deleted.

On February 22, 2026, Naval Ravikant tweeted: "If you're unwilling to defend your country in time of war, then you're a tourist, not a citizen." As of March 3, 2026, the tweet has been deleted.

deleted his tweet as soon as an actual war popped off

04.03.2026 02:54 β€” πŸ‘ 10748    πŸ” 1069    πŸ’¬ 149    πŸ“Œ 39

"The site reveals that in Dunedin North, home to the city’s large student population, some 600 properties have been added, with an average rating of 2.9, and average rent of $665."

One of those numbers is really low and one of those numbers is really high and they're not in the order I'd prefer.

04.03.2026 01:46 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

So jealous of this one.

04.03.2026 01:30 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Same place wouldn’t provide us with a mailbox because β€˜there was no point.’

Last year’s tenants β€˜just put an ice cream container on the step.’

04.03.2026 01:10 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I could go back and review my flat from 2003, where you could reach the fridge from the toilet if you tried hard enough, but the back half of it has since been demolished

04.03.2026 01:00 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Flatchat β€” Dunedin | Know Your Flat Before You Sign Read honest rental reviews from real Dunedin tenants. Search flat reviews by address, check landlord ratings, and find your next flat in Dunedin.

And here’s the platform itself:

flatchat.co.nz

04.03.2026 00:49 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Great ideaβ€”not only for student flatters, but all Dunedin renters.

04.03.2026 00:45 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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β€˜I could hear my flatmate having sex’: A new flat review site tells it like it is The creator behind a new website rating Dunedin flats wishes the site was around before he moved into a cold and damp student flat.

What if the flat listings had a comments section?

We know that the Healthy Homes standards haven't been the silver bullet for rentals.

Until we have stronger regulation - and a system that doesn't put the burden of proof on tenants - sites like this go some way to level the playing field.

04.03.2026 00:39 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
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Conservationist, author a β€˜deeply loving’ man Dunedin author and photographer Neville Peat has been remembered by his family as a "kind, wise, talented and deeply loving husband, father and pop".

Really sad to hear of Neville Peat's passing.

He was a giant of the conservation movement, as an author, a science communicator and a local elected representative.

Sending aroha to Mary and the family, and all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Vale Neville.

03.03.2026 22:46 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Big energy company energy

03.03.2026 08:32 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Easy to do if it’s a fixed charge (inherently regressive) but harder if it’s apportioned the same way as general rates (ie it depends on the land value or capital value / other rating differentials etc)

You can always use an average, or a range of values, but that doesn’t work for everyone either?

03.03.2026 08:20 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

For the first time, I really am starting to think they're going to kill us all.

03.03.2026 03:09 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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Government β€˜kicked the tyres’ on solar subsidies but went with β€˜minor’ tweaks instead It is one of the cheapest ways to cut power bills - yet documents reveal the government shelved a subsidy.

New Zealand has more sunshine than Germany.
But only 1 in 35 homes here has rooftop solar.
Australia? 1 in 3.

Why? I tried to find out - despite some strange secrecy

www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

02.03.2026 19:05 β€” πŸ‘ 226    πŸ” 107    πŸ’¬ 16    πŸ“Œ 11
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$22,000,000,000 on just one road? - Greater Auckland Last year, I posted about the challenges I faced, trying to daylight public-interest information about the government’s Roads of National Significance programme. As I wrote then, The paper also sugges...

Try and find some time to read @connorsharp.bsky.social's excellent work here on the ways the government is trying to make its $22,000,000,000 Northern Expressway fantasy real – including refusing to release its own cost estimates. It's just reckless. www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/03/03/2...

02.03.2026 22:13 β€” πŸ‘ 110    πŸ” 54    πŸ’¬ 15    πŸ“Œ 10
Freshwater poll approval chart from https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360952728/postfreshwater-strategy-poll-christopher-luxons-approval-drops-sharply

Approval of Key Figures
Hipkins and Labour are perceived significantly more favourably by voters when compared to Luxon and National
Favourable
Never heard of
Neutral
Unfavourable
Jacinda Ardern
47%
18%
35%
+12
Labour Party
42%
24%
34%
+8
Christopher Hipkins
36%
1%
26%
37%
-1
Winston Peters
34%
1%
25%
40%
-6
King Charles III
30%
2%
44%
24%
+6
National Party
34%
20%
46%
-12
NZ First
29%
30%
41%
-12
ChlΓΆe Swarbrick
27%
15%
24%
34%
-7
Green Party
28%
1%
28%
44%
-16
Wayne Brown
13%
31%
30%
26%
-13
Christopher Luxon
27%
1%
22%
51%
-24
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
9%
34%
24%
33%
-24
ACT
21%
2%
29%
48%
-27
David Seymour
23%
2%
24%
52%
-29
Elon Musk
16%
2%
27%
55%
-39
Te Pāti Māori
13%
3%
27%
56%
-43
Donald Trump
16%
14%
70%
-54

Freshwater poll approval chart from https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360952728/postfreshwater-strategy-poll-christopher-luxons-approval-drops-sharply Approval of Key Figures Hipkins and Labour are perceived significantly more favourably by voters when compared to Luxon and National Favourable Never heard of Neutral Unfavourable Jacinda Ardern 47% 18% 35% +12 Labour Party 42% 24% 34% +8 Christopher Hipkins 36% 1% 26% 37% -1 Winston Peters 34% 1% 25% 40% -6 King Charles III 30% 2% 44% 24% +6 National Party 34% 20% 46% -12 NZ First 29% 30% 41% -12 Chlâe Swarbrick 27% 15% 24% 34% -7 Green Party 28% 1% 28% 44% -16 Wayne Brown 13% 31% 30% 26% -13 Christopher Luxon 27% 1% 22% 51% -24 Debbie Ngarewa-Packer 9% 34% 24% 33% -24 ACT 21% 2% 29% 48% -27 David Seymour 23% 2% 24% 52% -29 Elon Musk 16% 2% 27% 55% -39 Te Pāti Māori 13% 3% 27% 56% -43 Donald Trump 16% 14% 70% -54

It is not very surprising that Luxo does not have a coherent explanation for his instinctive support of Trump's illegal war against Iran

What is more surprising is that the people around him have not done enough to put him even slightly on the side of the 70% of the NZ electorate who oppose Trump

02.03.2026 19:21 β€” πŸ‘ 53    πŸ” 16    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 5

Everyone has a plan until they punch themself in the face

02.03.2026 04:09 β€” πŸ‘ 44    πŸ” 13    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0
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Luxon hits back after Helen Clark brands Iran response a β€˜disgrace’ PM Christopher Luxon has hit back at Helen Clark who called his response to the the situation in Iran a β€œdisgrace”.

Lol stuff. WTF is this? " In this interview, Luxon again spoke carefully about the legality of the US/Israeli attacks focusing on the brutality of the Iranian regime."

What exactly did he carefully say?

01.03.2026 21:39 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 2

When things feel bad, do good.

01.03.2026 01:52 β€” πŸ‘ 40    πŸ” 11    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
This War Will Destabilize The Entire Mideast Region And Set Off A Global Shockwave Of Anti-Americanism vs. No It Won’t

This War Will Destabilize The Entire Mideast Region And Set Off A Global Shockwave Of Anti-Americanism vs. No It Won’t

I can't fucking believe we're doing this again.

28.02.2026 15:50 β€” πŸ‘ 13785    πŸ” 3340    πŸ’¬ 111    πŸ“Œ 70

"The Islamists oppose women getting an education," I mutter, as I aim my missile at the girls school

28.02.2026 18:53 β€” πŸ‘ 23542    πŸ” 5959    πŸ’¬ 142    πŸ“Œ 65

Seeing a lot of cynicism on the timeline. What if this is one of the good wars?

28.02.2026 08:25 β€” πŸ‘ 1469    πŸ” 144    πŸ’¬ 41    πŸ“Œ 6
Post image

πŸ˜”

28.02.2026 08:07 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0