CuriousCat

Introduce yourself with five concerts/festivals you've been to:

UB40
Violent Femmes (twice)
Big Love Festival 1996
Big Day Out (a few times) - Underworld & Chemical Brothers
The Gathering 1999

Switched up the question as I’ve been to more festivals than concerts.

Greens' major focus is economic issues, not identity politics The public perception reflects the media's obsession with identity, not the Greens'

“There is a commonly-accepted notion in Aotearoa-New Zealand politics that the Greens are radical. They are often viewed and portrayed as ideologically-obsessed with the environment to the exclusion of anything else—a bunch of tree huggers.”

#nzpol

weareunderused.substack.com/p/greens-maj...

From Reform to Rupture How National, ACT and NZ First Are Rewriting New Zealand’s Future

When Luxon’s National Party formed a coalition with ACT and NZ First in late 2023, they promised a reset. What NZ got instead was a political earthquake that is reshaping public services, democratic norms & social cohesion at breakneck speed.

#nzpol

drhsinghnz.substack.com/p/from-refor...

Two kākāpō chicks in a nest. Credit: Andrew Digby

Stoked that the Kākāpō Files from Radio NZ will be back this summer. Follow to hear how this #kakapo breeding season - likely to be the biggest ever - unfolds! #conservation
www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

Screenshot of an article in The Post titled, Testing approach will lead to innocent people being charged by Jack McDonald

“The new roadside testing regime is yet another example of our country failing to implement evidenced-based drug policy. For far too long we have had an irrational approach to substance use.”…

#nzpol

Accessible article here: archive.ph/17n0y

Screenshot of an RNZ article, titled: Greens want public feedback on cannabis laws.

“The co-leader said it was still the party's position that cannabis should be legalised.”…

#nzpol

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

The referendum result made it clear that the status quo was untenable, & that an ongoing, mature conversation about drug law reform was necessary.

In the past year alone, 26 people have been imprisoned for cannabis offences as their most serious charge, & 3 imprisoned just for cannabis use. #nzpol

Just in case that wasn't enough Paradise duck content they were also 10/10 adorable getting out. The mum had done a very specific sounding meep call, different to her usual, and they all motored over and clambered out. Naturally always a straggler, I loved Dad's long suffering parenting with him. 🇳🇿🪶

YouTube video by The Kabin Studio “The Spark” - Kabin Crew & Lisdoonvarna Crew

These kids are so talented! A banger to dance to on a Saturday…

Young rappers from The Kabin Studio in Cork & Lisdoonvarna have teamed up to make a belter for Cruinniú na nÓg, the national day of celebrating youth creativity 🔥

www.youtube.com/watch?v=njE3...

Charting fifty years of failure 50 years after it was passed into law, journalist Russell Brown plots a potted history of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975

“On the 50th anniversary of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, journalist Russell Brown charts a potted history of New Zealand's outdated drug law.”…

#nzpol

drugfoundation.org.nz/news-and-rep...

Screenshot of an article in The Post NZ, titled: Curriculum upheaval is darkening the mood in school classrooms by Tom Pearce. Paywalled, accessible article in this post.

The minister has not even reverted to research or evidence for the maths curriculum changes, because there is no evidence to support them. The ministerial advisory group leading the curriculum rewrite has said this explicitly.

#nzpol

Accessible article here: archive.ph/4UETG

In July, fundamentalist settler Yinon Levy shot dead my friend Awdah Hathaleen on camera, in broad daylight. Authorities arrested more than 20 of Awdah’s family, withheld his body for over 10 days, then barred people from attending the funeral. His killer was free within five days. #nzpol

Promo shot of the cast of Brassic - tv show on Netflix

Finished season 5 of Brassic on Netflix (NZ) and it ended on a cliffhanger! Anyone know where I can watch the last two seasons in NZ?

Anyway, it’s a great show. Very funny. Worth watching.

#kikorangi #tvshow #tv

Photo from the movie, Human Traffic.

The drugs were very nice

“The NZ Initiative’s report follows a well-worn script. Step one: manufacture a crisis. Claim public services are “failing” by comparing them to private alternatives using cherry-picked metrics. Step two: propose privatisation as the “pragmatic” solution.”

#nzpol

Mini-Hoon: A shocking plan to deregulate pharmacies Lanny Wong is shocked at Casey Costello's plans in a Cabinet paper to deregulate pharmacies, allowing big corporates to expand massively & risking the creation of US-style hub-and-spoke 'pill mills'

Lanny Wong is shocked at Casey Costello's plans in a Cabinet paper to deregulate pharmacies, allowing big corporates to expand massively & risking the creation of US-style hub-and-spoke 'pill mills'.

#nzpol

thekaka.substack.com/p/mini-hoon-...

NZ Initiative's public housing report is a misleading hit piece Bryce Wilkinson gently fits ideological blinders and steers the public to a foregone conclusion: Government is not fiscally responsible and should not own anything

Bryce Wilkinson gently fits ideological blinders and steers the public to a foregone conclusion: Government is not fiscally responsible and should not own anything.

#nzpol

weareunderused.substack.com/p/nz-initiat...

They are truly magnificent birds #NZKea

Photo of a book - Red Dwarf omnibus by Grant Naylor. Two books included - Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers, and, Better Than Life.

I’m between books at the moment, so I’m rereading an old favourite.

Red Dwarf Omnibus by Grant Naylor.

It includes 2 books: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers, and, Better Than Life.

A great read for those who love the tv show, Red Dwarf.

#pukapuka #scifi #booksky

The media literacy game There's a game that my children do not like, but I insist we play it. We have talked before about manufacturing consent for genocide in our media - this post is an extension of that. So, let's play....

In the absence of media literacy classes for all ages, it's up to us to try to educate ourselves and share that with others.

We can only challenge propaganda if we can recognise it as propaganda.

Great article from Emily Writes #nzpol

www.emilywrites.co.nz/the-media-li...

The Bill English Trick We need to find new ways to invest in ourselves – not new ways to asset strip our existing holdings.

It was a trick. A sleight of hand. It would be equivalent to selling the family bach that you rent out for cash, to pay for fixing your own roof, and then pretending that you were better off. You (and we) weren’t.

#nzpol

craigrenney.substack.com/p/the-bill-e...

Accessible article here: archive.ph/DxJVo

Shane Te Pou: My message to Christopher Luxon – stop playing tough OPINION: Stop playing tough and start showing love for young jobseekers.

Don’t tell me there’s no money, Prime Minister. You found over $20b for tax cuts & $2.7b for a few helicopters. You can find the money to fix our crises in housing, energy, health & education – & create jobs and hope for our young people at the same time.

#nzpol

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/my-messag...

'Le plat du jour' Serving up a fetted menu unsuitable for human consumption!

New Zealand is being schooled and coached day in day out to accept the normalisation that nothing should get in the way of the vested interests of private capital in their voracious appetite to devour power, resources, and wealth for the very few.

#nzpol

mfriend.substack.com/p/le-plat-du...

Screenshot of an article from Stuff NZ by Bridie Witton titled: ‘Colossal Failure’ - Drug Foundation calls for law reform as three die each week.

“A major new report has called for sweeping reform of New Zealand’s drug laws, warning punitive approaches are fuelling addiction, overdoses and inequality and leaving the country unprepared for the illicit drug market.”

#nzpol

www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...

It’s so frustrating that there was no pushback from the interviewer. The Greens aren’t the ones calling people losers, dropkicks, layabouts, lazy, bottomfeeders, dogs, mobs and bludgers etc etc etc.

Secret defence notes pointing to sensitive China preparation left at op shop The National-led government has been avoiding questions about whether it is joining in preparations for a US military confrontation with China. A series of Official Information Act requests on this su...

The National-led government has been avoiding questions about whether it is joining in preparations for a US military confrontation with China. The public does not know what New Zealand military staff are discussing in secret meetings. Until now….

#nzpol

newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/09/s...

A small wrinkle in the Jobseeker policy The government’s recent changes to benefits feel like this: the house is on fire, and this policy is them turning off the smoke alarm and saying it’s fixed

“The government’s recent changes to benefits feel like this: the house is on fire, and this policy is them turning off the smoke alarm and saying it’s fixed.

Sometimes a policy is so stupid it makes you question the very fabric of reality.”…

#nzpol

craigrenney.substack.com/p/a-small-wr...

Share a TV series from the 2000's you love. 📺

My choice: Outrageous Fortune

AI at its peak