Author | Lightnews

Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 22h

My partner wrote something really worth your time.. #nzpol

thespinoff.co.nz/internet/23-...

I spent 18 months training generative AI – here’s what I learned

What it's like to teach AI.

thespinoff.co.nz

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 1d

Here's the closing track from my new album 'Darren Watson sings John Hiatt', which is out next week on Lamington Records.

Please like and share widely if you dig it.

#nzfolk #darrenwatson #johnhiatt

youtu.be/DTZI3ADw1ig?...

Darren Watson | Thirty Years of Tears

YouTube video by Darren Watson Official Channel

youtu.be

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 2d

Only 10 days to go until my new album 'Darren Watson sings John Hiatt' hits the stores... it'll be available at all good record stores across Aotearoa, on my Bandcamp, and of course, it'll be for sale at all my upcoming shows.

#darrenwatson #johnhiatt #newmusic #nzmusic #johnhiatt #nztour

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 6d

45 pendulous votes?

Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 7d

It takes a Temu John Key to present an admission that these absolute c*nts just do not care about their own grandkids' future on this planet. Let alone yours. #onetermgovernment #nzpol

newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/15/c...

Climate minister admits new target may breach global 1.5C goal

Climate Minister Simon Watts admitted the Government's new methane target may not be consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5C.

newsroom.co.nz

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 7d

Haha Derek... yeah, special case that one.

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 7d

What is 'broadcasting'? Are live radio and video events streaming on the internet 'broadcasts'? Are Radio NZ, and Sean Plunket's platform both 'broadcasting' online? I reckon they are, and as commercial broadcasters they should be held to the same broadcasting standards as each other.

#nzpol

Black and white picture of a 1930s radio jock in front of old radio equipment.

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 8d

Right-wing shock jocks don't seem to like the idea of having to obey the same rules as everyone else in broadcasting. I wonder why?

#nzpol

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Winston Peters accuses broadcasting watchdog of ‘Soviet era stasi’ censorship

This comes after the Broadcasting Standards Authority revealed its looking to widen its remit to include online media networks.

www.stuff.co.nz

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 10d

Only utterly...

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 15d

'Genius' level policy from National all round, eh!?! Do you think they actually think things through, or is it really just about being seen to punish the 'bottom feeders' as red meat for their base?
#nzpol

www.rnz.co.nz/news/busines...

Is this New Zealand's highest marginal tax rate?

New Jobseeker rules mean some homes would be better off if the parents worked less, commentators say.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 19d

From the WTF files? Just how much does the Miniature of Health HATE Wellington? This much...

"... the Government lowers the starting age from 60 to 58 in Northland, Auckland and the South Island." #nzpol

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Bowel cancer screening age lowered, but Labour says age could be lower still - by eight years

Thousands more New Zealanders will be eligible for free bowel screening from Monday,.

www.stuff.co.nz

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 20d

I cannot wait for my new album 'Darren Watson sings John Hiatt' to hit the stores! That's happening on 31 Oct, then I'm playing some shows around the place. Tickets and info from: www.darrenwatson.com

#darrenwatson #johnhiatt #newmusic #nztour

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 21d

What a pathetic, scheming and desperate excuse for leadership we have in Aotearoa at the moment. #nzpol

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

Luxon’s office admits leaking Hipkins letter to Herald

In the latest instalment of ‘lettergate’, the Prime Minister’s office has confirmed it sent “one media company” the same letter it sent Hipkins requesting a “credible, bipartisan approach” to offshore...

www.stuff.co.nz

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 23d

August 1939. Poland can have peace if it just agrees to be governed by a governing board including Neville Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler. Why wouldn't Poland accept this magnanimous peace deal - unless it WANTS war?

www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/3...

Trump, meeting Netanyahu, releases plan to end war in Gaza

The White House has released its 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza and establish governance for Gaza moving forward.

www.stuff.co.nz

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · 27d

Folks, here's my new video, 'Ride Along'.

My new album 'Darren Watson sings John Hiatt' is out on October 31 worldwide.

youtu.be/2KCWoJZTixE?...

Darren Watson | Ride Along

YouTube video by Darren Watson Official Channel

youtu.be

Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · Sep 15

Here's a wee bit of the video for 'Ride Along' which will be out Friday 27 September.

The album 'Darren Watson sings John Hiatt' is out worldwide on Friday 31 October.

www.darrenwatson.com

Tickets for the Nov/Dec tour are available from my website right now!

Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · Sep 4

From the continuing nominative determinism files.... Vascular surgeon Neil Hopper froze and chopped off his own legs for 'sexual gratification'. 😮

You cannot make this stuff up!

www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/3...

Surgeon jailed in UK for fraud had his legs cut off for ‘sexual gratification’

Neil Hopper, 49 had received a million dollars from insurers after claiming that injuries to his legs in 2019 were the result of sepsis, rather than self-inflicted.

www.stuff.co.nz

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · Sep 4

Brooke van Robot is fine with more of the same... #nzpol

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Company sentenced over scaffolding collapse on busy Auckland road

A witness described how they saw the metalwork “start to curl like a wave” before coming down onto the road.

www.stuff.co.nz

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · Aug 31

And Brooke van Robot thinks letting employers police themselves will improve things?!! It's bad enough now FFS! #nzpol

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · Aug 29

Available to stream for the first time. It's 'King Size'! Nominated for Best Roots Music Album at the 2003 NZ Music Awards.

Stream and playlist away, folks! Buy me a coffee this time next year! Fill your boots! #nzmusic

open.spotify.com/album/1oPc6R...

King SIze

open.spotify.com

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · Aug 29

Does anyone else think this comes across like "My Dad knows Michael Jackson" from 'Boy'?

“One of my best friends in America is actually in business with Travis, so he actually got a reply back from Travis..."

#nzpol

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Travis Kelce responds to Luxon’s Kiwi wedding and honeymoon invite

Luxon earlier congratulated Kelce and wife-to-be Taylor Swift on their engagement, inviting them to wed in New Zealand.

www.stuff.co.nz

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Reposted by Darren Watson

Christopher Luxon NatGPT @rugbyintel.bsky.social · Aug 28

What I'd say to you is, alcohol, tobacco, speed limits, work place safety, we're going against official advice on everything, but can you imagine how full my Coalition's donor coffers are going to be by the time of the next election?
#LyinLuxon #CoalitionOfCorruption #NZpol

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · Aug 26

Scar bro... appropriate name. #nzpol

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

A dump of ‘staggering’ scale is coming to their doorsteps - and they’re fighting it

Mound would fill Wellington’s Sky Stadium 1.4 times.

www.stuff.co.nz

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · Aug 25

Mark this day, I agree with Chris Bishop on something!?!!! #nzpol

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

Bishop wants house prices to fall. PM Luxon wants them to rise

House Minister Chris Bishop has openly called for house prices to fall. But Prime Minister Christopher Luxon wants to see modest increases.

www.stuff.co.nz

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Darren Watson @darrenwatson.bsky.social · Aug 21

Unemployment and inflation rising at the same time... there's a name for that: Stagflation. It was huge in the 70s, like Fleetwood Mac. I expect the caucus meetings are getting a bit like the 'Rumours' recording studio session time too. #nzpol

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

The two NZ ‘economies’: Willis’ optimism clashes with Labour’s warnings of pain

While Nicola Willis is promising things will get better, the current state of the economy is pretty dire. The RBNZ’s highlighting weak demand, rising costs, rising inflation, a soft labour market, and...

www.stuff.co.nz

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