Finn Illsley-Kemp

To be honest I think it's borderline irresponsible reporting, particularly from RNZ. Trying to make something from nothing when there is already a lot of confusion about water safety

And comparisons to the Jaws mayor would only be applicable if they'd had scientists consistently checking for sharks over several weeks, and had found none

I'm not entirely sure why people comparing this to the COVID response, where we followed the science, are upset that they Mayor appears to be following the science.

The government’s infrastructure plan points the blame at the government The National Infrastructure Plan, released today, sets out a vision for a more efficient, affordable future. But is infrastructure minister Chris Bishop willing to accept that he is part of the proble...

The National Infrastructure Plan, released today, sets out a vision for a more efficient, affordable future. But is infrastructure minister Chris Bishop willing to accept that he is part of the problem?

thespinoff.co.nz/politics/17-...

Calls for investigation into Moa Point Treatment Plant failure PM Christopher Luxon told Morning Report the failure was "catastrophic" and he would be further talking with the mayor later on Monday.

Rather than government commitment to an enquiry it would be nice to see some commitment to action

Calls for investigation into Moa Point Treatment Plant failure www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

It really sticks in the craw. You can also add:

MP for Wellington Central 2008–2023 who was completely silent as VUW's financial position resulted in huge redundancies under his government in 2023

I understand that, I'm just saying that falling rents shouldn't be used as a diagnosis for a "dying city" when we've all been saying for years that high rents are holding Wellington back. We wouldn't want to see them rebound if wages increase

What's the alternative we want to see though? Rents rising faster than wages?

Recommending that visitors have their passports on them at all times...I couldn't with good conscience recommend that my students attend AGU. What a sad, terrible situation

wow what a huge win

It's wild that the new zealand govt sees what's going on in the states and rather than going "wow we have a huge opportunity to recruit foreign talent, let's invest" (like aus, canada, EU etc have done) instead they're like "ooh cutting science to the bone, cool idea bro" #nzpol

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?