Julie Anne Genter

Urbanists OUTSIDE North America Worth Following! Join the conversation

NEW STARTER PACK! This time I’m hoping to encourage and support global urbanists from OUTSIDE North America here on Bluesky, so hopefully this will help! Who’ve I missed? Just joined? Let me know! I’ll keep updating, so please keep checking & sharing this pack! And let’s try using #GlobalUrbanists.

"Pedestrian seriously injured after being hit by car, Botany Rd in East Auckland closed." Screenshot of a news story in the NZ Herald from Monday 29 September 2025. The first line of the story reads: "A worker close to the site where a pedestrian was struck by a car in East Auckland said he heard a loud “bang” noise before a rush of sirens." This year, Botany Rd was one of over 1400 Auckland streets that had its speed limit raised by order of the current government, in this case, from 50km/h back up to 60km/h. In a move that runs counter to evidence and good practice, the government's new Speed Rule (authored by Simeon Brown and rolled out by Chris Bishop) *reversed* speed reductions implemented since 2020 on the spurious grounds that safer speeds impacted "productivity". The speed reductions were aimed at making roads safer for everyone using them, whether in a car or not. A quick search of "Botany Rd serious crash" explains why Botany was one of them. Today's crash seems to have happened along a stretch of Botany Rd that has shops and bus stops on both sides of the road, but the nearest signalised crossings are around half a kilometre away in either direction.

"Six hurt in SH1 crash near Taupō." Screenshot of a Radio NZ news story from Monday 29 September 2025. This stretch of State Highway 1 recently had its speed limit raised back up to 100kmh from 60kmh. The speed limit had been lowered due to a history of serious and fatal crashes along this key route. Many locals were appalled by the reversal, as the highway runs through popular and busy holiday towns. For context, see this story from June 2025, in which the Taupō District Council's deputy mayor describes it as "grossly inappropriate”. https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/360717092/holiday-communities-livid-about-speed-limit-reversals and this NZ Herald story https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-speed-rules-100kmh-through-a-lake-taupo-campground/G2VZI4VSJZCTLKP3K444D6H2VU/ which describes some of the worst crashes in this area. "Until 2020, the speed limit remained 100km/h. Between 2000 and August 2023, there were 284 crashes reported on the 10km stretch of road from Motutere to Hallets Bay. Nine were fatal and 22 others were serious."

"'Significant delays' afer stock truck rolls on SH5 Napier Taupō Road." Screenshot of a Radio NZ news story from Monday 29 September 2025. SH5 had its speed limit raised this year back up to 100km/h from 80km/h, as a priority of the current government. Speeds had been reduced to 80km/h due to the ongoing history of serious and fatal crashes on this highway, which is the only link between Napier and Taupō. The return to 100km/h sparked concern from road safety experts. For further context, see this story from February 2025: "An independent study released after the drop to 80km/h concluded the lower speed limit on Napier-Taupō Rd prevented 34 crashes in the first 12 months following its implementation. Crash data also showed there had been fewer crashes on Napier-Taupō Rd since the drop to 80km/h." https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/napier-taupo-rd-speed-limit-rise-to-100kmh-sparks-safety-debate/5QTIH2LPTFGAFAAOWTME3AD7IE/

Three major crashes today on roads where the current NZ govt *increased* the speed limit (previously lowered for safety reasons) in pursuit of "productivity"?

Serious injuries. Lengthy closures. Costly disruptions to lives, whānau, the transport network, our health system. This is not productive. 😞

Te Ūpoko o te Ika Budget Roadshow We are building a future where we do more, faster, to protect our planet and make sure everyone is treated equally.

Thursday! Join Greens MPs Tamatha Paul, @julieannegenter.greens.org.nz, @celiawb.bsky.social and Lan Pham for a kōrero and kai, and to learn how the Green Budget works for you! Come along and help us imagine the future we can create together if we put people at the heart of decision making.

Kiwis 'can be proud' NZ isn't recognising Palestine yet - PM Christopher Luxon New Zealand was among only a handful of countries - including the US, Japan and South Korea - which had not formally recognised Palestinian statehood.

Mate, I don't know if you have ever been to New Zealand, but "pride" isn't a national value even on occasions when the government isn't Pontiusly auto-piloting a denial of genocide.

www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...

Electoral Amendment Bill: Submitters want fewer restrictions, more sausages The government's Electoral Amendment Bill has faced a deluge of criticism as submissions were heard at Parliament on Thursday.

The most obvious explanation is once again proven true: barring enrolments during advance voting was purely a pretext to deny franchise to a group of people who vote mostly against govt parties, so as to avoid the govt losing seats between election-night & final counts www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Minnesota is definitely more like NZ in terms of communication!

2 Knitted posters, each with the words vote, vote, vote. They were knitted by Louise Hutt, Hamilton councilor seeking re-election.

Tonight I went to the most creative and positive local government election event I have ever experienced. Louise Hutt, standing for re-election in Hamilton, exhibited her democracy knitting, and it is glorious. And she supports removing library overdue fines! @saycheeselouise.bsky.social

Timeless.
Simon Bridges:
"....businesses are prepared to bet on the future if conditions stabilise. But the message to government is clear: fiscal restraint has its place, but businesses also need growth-oriented policy settings, infrastructure investment and real relief..."

Percentage of NZES respondents saying they had 0 covid vaccinations as percent of vote share (weighted)

I think it says a lot about NZ's Green Party being environment/ecosystem/science based rather than some of the cultural trends in other countries, that the Green Party had the fewest voters who had never had a covid vaccination 0.34%.
32.5% of NZ First voters say they never had a covid vaccination.

You know it's bad when Auckland businesses are pleading for government intervention.

Auckland's unemployment rate is now at a 10 year high and business liquidations are up 1000% from 2020.

#backontrack

An image of 2 wahine standing next to each other, text reads "This amazing mother-of- two, disabled sportswomen of the year (2023) and all around beautiful soul is standing for council in Lower Hutt!! હ Donate here! Vote Neelu Jennings!!".

Repost: @julieannegenter.greens.org.nz via Instagram
Donation link here: www.greens.org.nz/donateneelu2...

The argument against regulation is always the same: “It stifles growth and jobs.”

But just as tax cuts for corporations have not trickled down, regulatory cuts have not benefited most people.

Big companies enjoy bigger profits. Working people bear the costs.

Four lanes from here to the trains! Walking lanes, bike lanes, bus lanes and car lanes.

Walking, biking, bus and car infrastructure you can get around on quickly, safely and affordably.

Wellington needs transport infrastructure that makes it cheaper, safer and easier for people to get around. Space and money are the biggest constraints to transport infrastructure in our city. So value for money and efficient use of space have to be our priority when deciding between transport solutions. Bus priority, bike lanes and pedestrian improvements are the best option for Wellington. They will mean: - Cheaper, faster and more reliable public transport - Safer bike and walking journeys that are more fun - More foot traffic in our key hospitality areas This will mean: - A more cost effective transport network - When you need to drive, less congestion means you get around or across town faster - Emissions reductions from increased public transport use, walking and cycling

The new mount Victoria tunnel is forecast to be 4,500 times more expensive per kilometre than a cycle lane. Yet the tunnel will increase congestion in Wellington and bike lanes will reduce it.

My sustainable transport policy: "Four lanes from here to the trains", is about ensuring Wellington has the mix on transport infrastructure that it needs.

Check out the full policy on my Website - alexbakerwellington.nz/priorities/2

NEW: Our mental health is being destroyed by a collapsing economy

Honestly the boundary changes are so minor for Rongotai, it’s very strange to make the argument the name needs to change. It seems to have caught everyone by surprise.
Lack of counter objection was not a reason other objections were not taken on board, as far as I am aware.

They followed the letter of the process. But it shows a huge lack of political judgement to make a decision like that based on 3 objections/1 suggestion. Little consulted with us at the beginning - he could have given us or mana whenua a heads up those name objections were being srsly considered.

There were 2 weeks to look up objections and counter them. But the Commission in its press release didn’t signal Rongotai or name changes at all. Greens were looking at boundary changes to respond to. I was in parliament under urgency speaking on pay equity changes and doing constituency work.

Connor Sharp and Green MP Julie Anne Genter looking happy with the K'Road CRL station in the background

Just a couple of train nerds excited about a new train🚆
@julieannegenter.bsky.social

And part of the same government that wrecked the school lunch program, to feed kids pigswill, all to save $170m a year

Paying 122% For 0 i-Rex Ferries? You're On! Plus Edition: 98.7% of submitters oppose the RSB, foreign investors ban soon to be lifted, Gaza, Climate and more

NZ has now paid 120% of the full cost of 2 next generation, hybrid ferries for *checks notes* nothing at all. Those ferries were on track for 2025 & 2026 delivery.

Extra points: our only rail enabled ferry is being retired on Monday & maintenance costs have doubled

Should be sackable

#nzpol

anyone else remember when a NZ politician sent a text to cancel a major procurement and cost the country $600 million?

is there any other time in NZ history when an MP would've *got away with that*?

Restore our Māori place names

wellingtoncentral.greens.org.nz/restore_our_...

Restore our Māori place names

wellingtoncentral.greens.org.nz/restore_our_...

Sign the petition if you think it should be Rongotai, not Wellington Bays.

I can’t believe Andrew Little (on the Representation Commission) thought it was a good idea to change the name Rongotai to “Wellington Bays” on the suggestion of his former chief of staff, without checking in with local representatives, mana whenua or, apparently, anyone else.

Wellington Bays is a JK Rowling naming things name.

For people and planet Our candidates for Local Body Elections 2025. Find Green candidates standing for city, district, regional councils and community boards by searching your address. How do I register for Local Election...

Love this new resource from the Green Party where you can find out about your Green candidates these local government elections. PS I am on there 💚 www.greens.org.nz/local

👋😊 Thanks for coming to say hi yesterday @ChlöeSwarbrick when you saw us outside ANZ in Pōneke.

We were there to tell ANZ to drop Bathurst Resources as a customer, to drop support of Bathurst’s proposed Fast Track coal mine.

Yep