Folks, come hear me talk about the big bang, how long it took us to get from then to now - and what happened along the way, Tues, 25 Aug 2026, 7:30pm – 8:30pm @ the Oakroom; free tickets via Eventbrite. (And if you don't like my korero you can always have a pint) www.rtbevent.com/richard-east...

This is absolutely terrific, really great. Both from Jack Tame and Professor Marco te Brömmelstroet. Just don't read the comments, as they really speak to the vocal shutting-down minority that te Brömmelstroet mentions. youtu.be/yPIjaWFrC5Q?...

Most people want fewer cars, Dutch academic says

YouTube video by Q+A with Jack Tame

youtu.be

Sauce. This was the solution considered. Give me strength.

BusinessDesk@businessdesknz.bsky.social · 24h ago

As schools reported throwing out nearly one in three Compass lunches late last year, the Ministry of Education looked into adding sauce to make the meals more appealing but shelved the idea over cost.

Fucking SIGH

Pretty grim, when the conservative coalition running Aotearoa in 2026 is considering *Reagan-era* “ketchup as a vegetable” nonsense for our hungriest children. How’s that green shoots dancing shoes rock-star economy fixing the basics building the future working out? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketchup...

Ketchup as a vegetable - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

BusinessDesk@businessdesknz.bsky.social · 24h ago

As schools reported throwing out nearly one in three Compass lunches late last year, the Ministry of Education looked into adding sauce to make the meals more appealing but shelved the idea over cost.

'You'll choke too' - an aerial embroidery landscape inspired by all the wildfires happening right now... I'm upset every time I smell smoke outside and somehow we have people starting them maliciously too! But we all breathe the same air so they'll choke too (1/2 - see thread for close-ups)

A Raybon of National Significance, as it were: among the smartest and funniest of gentlefolk❤️ I vividly remember his deft ripostes (disguised as jokes) to racist stirring in the 1990s by politicians who should’ve known better. Unbelievable we’re still here 30 years later, same cast of characters 😫

Patrick Reynolds for a greater Auckland@patrickreynolds.bsky.social · 23h ago

Raybon is a national treasure, perhaps even a New Zealand first treasure: www.nzherald.co.nz/business/ive...

"It’s as if we launched a war against nature, and that has turned place after place into something that resembles a war zone. The climate movement is a peace movement, a movement to end this war and its casualties. ...summer was an immaterial treasure and joy that belonged to all of us."

My editor asked me to write about what happened to summer:

We launched a war on nature. Now we are in a climate warzone | Rebecca Solnit

Summer is not what it once was. We have been robbed of one of life’s great joys

theguardian.com

Soft Rains Day. "Today is August 4, 2026, in the city of Allendale, California. Today is Mr. Featherstone's birthday. Today is the anniversary of Tilita's marriage. Insurance is payable, as are the water, gas, and light bills." RIP Ray Bradbury, 1920-2012

“The fact is, the Minister was told that this decision would disadvantage our community, yet she did it anyway.” #nzpol

Kay in the End Times 🏳️‍🌈 💗💜💙📚@jennykaynz.bsky.social · yesterday

NZ Lotteries Minister Brooke van Velden cut Individuals with Disabilities )Fund) Committee against expert advice that specialist expertise is essential for delivering equitable and well-informed funding decisions. Why should she care? She's OK and sorted. #NZpol thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/min...

NZ Lotteries Minister Brooke van Velden cut Individuals with Disabilities )Fund) Committee against expert advice that specialist expertise is essential for delivering equitable and well-informed funding decisions. Why should she care? She's OK and sorted. #NZpol thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/min...

Minister Brooke van Velden ignores advice to retain the Lottery Individuals with Disabilities Committee

OIA documents reveal the Minister of Internal Affairs was repeatedly given advice to keep the specialised committee, but she chose to cut it six months later.

thedlist.co.nz

Astonishing light on the ride home.

Chlöe Swarbrick and NZ Greens with one of the most important messages for the public to note ahead of the upcoming election in Aotearoa.

Dropper, on film! Always nice having my brother up here playing a show, a great excuse to break out the good stuff to photograph it. First time shooting a gig in color! I think it worked out well. 🎞️:Kodak "Ektacolor pro" (portra) 800 📷:Pentax MX #photography #filmphotography

The substance resembled snow in many particulars. The city's residents, mostly though not entirely unfamiliar with such weather, surely assumed this was the case. At least, until the screaming started.

Paola@paolina.bsky.social · 2d ago

@stuff.co.nz nails it 👏🏻😅👏🏻😂👏🏻😂

Oof. @bernardchickey.bsky.social on "the democratic deficit": 📉Enrolment of 18-24-year-olds for Nov 7 election collapses to 53% from 70% 😱Over 200,000 young people not enrolled = more than voted NZ First in 2023 😞Auckland Council vote turnout under 20% for young thekaka.substack.com/p/a-generati...

A generation being disenfranchised in plain sight

Enrolment of 18-24 year olds for Nov 7 election collapses to 53% from 70%; Over 200,000 young people not enrolled = more than voted NZ First in 2023; Auckland Council vote turnout under 20% for young

thekaka.substack.com

NZ! I dropped a new t-shirt: LUDDITE. greentees.digitees.co.nz

Auckland on a random Friday night in the middle of winter. Pentax MX+SMC 50mm/1.7 Ilford Delta 3200 developed in Xtol 1+1. #photography #filmphotography

"The Muscle" at Public Bar, July 22nd. More concert photography, more soft focus, more ilford films, more xtol. Getting into a good groove while still trying new things! Ilford Delta 3200 developed in xtol 1+1. Pentax MX and various lenses.

The kids are alright. (My kids included)

Guinevere@fairguinevere.bsky.social · 3d ago

"The Muscle" at Public Bar, July 22nd. More concert photography, more soft focus, more ilford films, more xtol. Getting into a good groove while still trying new things! Ilford Delta 3200 developed in xtol 1+1. Pentax MX and various lenses.

"Basically, if you don't do politics, politics is going to do you." If you don’t do politics, the over 70’s will design a society that they’ll never see the consequences of, but will have you living a more expensive, unhealthy & oppressive existence than you are facing right now.YOUR VOTE MATTERS.

Tell everyone. Get in now because later is too late.

Aotearoa's Electoral Orange Guy@poti-aotearoa.bsky.social · 3d ago

To vote in this years general election you need to be enrolled by midnight, 13 days before Election Day. Days left to enrol or update your details. Maori Roll: 3 days General Roll: 83 days Remind your Friends & Whanau #nzpol

To boost #nzpol enrolment – especially for first-time/ younger voters – I reckon as well as "you get to vote", a vital message is "you get TWO votes": ✅ your local representative ✅ and also, THE VIBE Because even if the first kind of vote feels meh, the second one is where the real power is. ✊

The Castle: It's the Vibe

Alt: It's Denis Denuto from The Castle, and he's not wrong: "It's the vibe and, uh... no that's it. It's the vibe." Context: New Zealand's MMP voting system gives you two votes: one for the MP of the electorate you live in - plus a vote for the party of your choice. That party vote tangibly affects the shape of the next parliament, and is a powerful way to have a say about the direction of the country, no matter what you think of the people listed on your voting paper. We're very lucky to have this more nuanced option – other countries get stuck with one of two horses galloping first past the post. So enrol early, and vote hard!

static.klipy.com

By pointing out that their future selves, the 25-29 year olds are engaging with democracy by voting! Almost like they know something their younger versions don't aye 😉. vote.nz/enrolling/en... #nzpol #getoutthereandvoteNZ #enrolnowAotearoaNZ

Kermit the Frog Sips 'VOTE' Coffee

ALT: Kermit the Frog Sips 'VOTE' Coffee

static.klipy.com

Not sure how much attention this will get, but it’s quite a big deal - Labour has pulled its support for the Govt’s controversial census ‘modernisation’ plans, meaning it no longer has the 75% majority it needs in Parliament: newsroom.co.nz/2026/08/03/g...

Govt’s census overhaul thrown into doubt after Labour pulls support

Opposition parties warn relying on government agency data instead of a full census risks undercounting Māori and minority groups.

newsroom.co.nz

Law passed under urgency should have a sunset clause unless the consultation and committee processes are completed before the next election

RNZ News Feeds@rnzrss.bsky.social · 3d ago

More laws rushed through Parliament under urgency than any term since 2008

For today’s antidote to the horrors, I recommend watching gold-medal-winning Eliza McCartney addressing the NZ commonwealth games team in te reo Māori www.instagram.com/reel/Dbhr2mR...

The New Zealand Team on Instagram: "An extraordinary effort, Eliza McCartney 👏 𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪 𝘵𝘦 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘶 🖤 🗣️ In a wonderful display of cultural pride and respect, @eliza_mac_ superbly addressed the New Z...

9,024 likes, 322 comments - thenzteam on August 1, 2026: "An extraordinary effort, Eliza McCartney 👏 𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪 𝘵𝘦 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘶 🖤 🗣️ In a wonderful display of cultural pride and respect, @eliza_mac_ superb...

instagram.com

Talk about a vote of no confidence. Feels like a brutally specific indictment - not just of where things are at right now for young people, but also how they see the future. Can’t say as I blame them; but how do we win back hope?

RNZ News Feeds@rnzrss.bsky.social · 3d ago

'Things are screwed anyway, why try?' Youth voter enrolment rate plummets

This reflects poorly on all of us, and is also evidence of the incompatibility of neoliberalism with democracy. It’s less than 100 days to the election so it has to be about asking young people to please enroll and vote. But beyond that it has to be about building something that involves them.

RNZ News Feeds@rnzrss.bsky.social · 3d ago

'Things are screwed anyway, why try?' Youth voter enrolment rate plummets