Finn Illsley-Kemp

They do say it's the queer capital of Aotearoa 🌈

I can't believe I'm defending this dreadful government, but I stand by my summary of the six experts quoted in this comment

Dealing with earthquake hazard and risk is a complex and nuanced problem, with no easy answers. For the most part, the scientific experts think the changes announced today are a positive step forward

Seismicity From Modern Magmatic Activity Beneath Taupō Volcano, Aotearoa New Zealand Seismicity beneath the northern part of Lake Taupō is directly related to the volcano, while other seismicity is tectonically controlled Newly observed arcuate shape at ∼6 km depth beneath the la...

Very happy to see El Mestel's work on seismicity at Taupō volcano published today in JGR: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...

El used a new seismic network to look at Taupō in more detail than anyone has done before

Geologists of bluesky, great opportunity at Otago Uni, NZ for a Lecturer in Earth Science! Special shout out to my #biomarker colleagues, the dept has a well set up, near new Org Geochem lab without a PI, with GCMS/FID and HPLC, if anyone wants a change of scene! ⚒🧪🥼🌊
otago.taleo.net/careersectio...

Wow, have never seen a horoeka like that, how old do you reckon it is?

I think Andrew Little is getting an overly harsh reception from Welly people on here. I don't agree with everything he says, but his policies have evolved to basically be what any progressive Wellington urbanist would want, especially on housing and transport

ffs

Are people suggesting it is?

City on the Edge Critical Signals explores practical and visionary responses to an era of collapses.

Wellingtonians! Do you want to know more about the geological forces that have shaped our region, and what we should prepare for in the future?

On 21st August I'll be talking at the Critical Signals public space on Taranaki Street, come along!

Free registration: criticalsignals.nz/programme/ci...

Further cuts fund new tech institute - Expert Reaction Details of new changes to research funding under sweeping science sector reforms have been released today. The briefing confirms that set up of the NZ Institute for Advanced Technology will be paid fo...

Further cuts fund new tech institute – Expert Reaction
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2025/08/06/f...

"The movement of funds from the Investigator-led Marsden Fund ... is absolutely an attack on fundamental research and on internationally-recognised research excellence" - @nicgaston.bsky.social

Thanks to the authority in NZ, we have English version of the picture!
www.geonet.org.nz/news/7KdKuPl...

You lot are grumpy this morning!

A reminder that even a small tsunami is not the same as a normal wave. They can still cause significant currents and rips and are very dangerous for anyone who was thinking of going into the ocean this morning.

YouTube video by KATU News LIVE: Japan under tsunami warning, US West Coast under advisory after 8.8 quake strikes off Russia

Whops, the live stream: Hiroo, Japan

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBQH...

About to start a lecture as my students watch a livestream of the tsunami arriving in Japan, quite surreal

Big earthquake in Kamchatka as seen on my RaspberryShake in Island Bay

Fantastic food at Supra tonight, the octopus rice clay pot was a highlight, go check them out Welly!

what on earth is going on there?

Great talk by Anna Miller of @vicuniwgtn.bsky.social all about the absolute monster Whakamaru eruption #iavcei2025

European airports are a miserable experience, give me regional NZ anyday

The discussion of whether the building is earthquake proof is laughable! Saying "it's made of concrete so should be fine" is wilfully uninformed 🙄

A genuinely great move by Minister Bishop, hurrah! Now let's get those wrecking balls swinging

Now that's a fold!

Quake, tsunami monitoring at risk from job cuts Analysts watching for potential tsunamis, earthquakes and eruptions are due to be laid off despite experts warning of the risks

“I have no doubt that if we were unlucky to experience a tsunami in our lifetime, a future Royal Commission of Inquiry will definitely find whoever defunded this monitoring centre as culpable.” -Ilan Noy newsroom.co.nz/2025/06/12/n...

New Zealand, betting on innovation and economic growth, cuts existing science funds Scientists warn that chronic underfunding and diverting support away from fundamental research may undermine efforts to boost the economy

My latest for @science.org on NZ's "shuffling of deck chairs" science and innovation budget, with @nzscientists.bsky.social et al and excellent editing by @mattbwarren.bsky.social www.science.org/content/arti...

But I think that's only from your three selected reviewers, so it's hardly feedback on the proposal, we could just ask for that from those three colleagues anyway

I'm amazed this is the only substantial change they've made to Tawhia te Mana. Yet they keep the ridiculous lottery system for Mana Tuapapa that results in most proposals not even being read 🙄

Unethical for Wellington council to sign more Golden Mile contracts, Andrew Little says Wellington mayor says project has been given the green-light, and it appears Little did not understand council process.

No you're right he hasn't released policies on it, but in this interview he says his priority is "to accelerate high density housing developments by removing council red tape... to make it easier, to get those developments going."

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

I don't think that's fair on housing, he's been pretty clear that he supports increased housing density