Ben Ross
@benakl.bsky.social
Spatial and Policy Planner
Resident of South Auckland
Cities Skylines Player and Snob
Resident of South Auckland
Cities Skylines Player and Snob
Pinned
Ben Ross
@benakl.bsky.social
· Dec 25
A very busy 2024 on LinkedIn
2025 will be even busier as the fight for evidence based policy continues against fact free reckons
2025 will be even busier as the fight for evidence based policy continues against fact free reckons
November 27, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Reposted by Ben Ross
Melissa Bruntlett is an urbanist storyteller. This is her story.
𝙊𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, “𝙊𝙆, 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤.” 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘.
NYTimes 🎁 article
@modacitylife.com
𝙊𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, “𝙊𝙆, 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤.” 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘.
NYTimes 🎁 article
@modacitylife.com
She’s on a Mission to Make the World More Bike-Friendly
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Melissa Bruntlett is an urbanist storyteller. This is her story.
𝙊𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, “𝙊𝙆, 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤.” 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘.
NYTimes 🎁 article
@modacitylife.com
𝙊𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, “𝙊𝙆, 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤.” 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘.
NYTimes 🎁 article
@modacitylife.com
I am on a Work life balance today as it is my agreement with my employer
Who believes in work life balance for happy and refreshed employees
Who believes in work life balance for happy and refreshed employees
While work-life balance may give you a sense of happiness and fulfillment, it isn’t always realistic, says Walmart executive vice president and chief people officer Donna Morris.
Walmart exec: ‘I’ve never believed in the term work-life balance’—this is the mantra that made her highly successful instead
Many professionals see work-life balance as a non-negotiable. Walmart CPO Donna Morris says people should practice work-life integration instead. Here's why.
cnb.cx
November 27, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I am on a Work life balance today as it is my agreement with my employer
Who believes in work life balance for happy and refreshed employees
Who believes in work life balance for happy and refreshed employees
Move e scooters off paths and into cycle lanes
Problem: Thanks to Simeon Brown, the current Government Policy Statement and later the NLTF slashed funding for Councils and NZTA to roll out more cycle lanes in urban and even rural areas for 4 lane highways instead
www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-t...
Problem: Thanks to Simeon Brown, the current Government Policy Statement and later the NLTF slashed funding for Councils and NZTA to roll out more cycle lanes in urban and even rural areas for 4 lane highways instead
www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-t...
'Outdated and dangerous': Govt wants to move e-scooters into cycle lanes as injury costs soar
Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd says new e-scooter rules could take effect by mid-2026.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Move e scooters off paths and into cycle lanes
Problem: Thanks to Simeon Brown, the current Government Policy Statement and later the NLTF slashed funding for Councils and NZTA to roll out more cycle lanes in urban and even rural areas for 4 lane highways instead
www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-t...
Problem: Thanks to Simeon Brown, the current Government Policy Statement and later the NLTF slashed funding for Councils and NZTA to roll out more cycle lanes in urban and even rural areas for 4 lane highways instead
www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-t...
Nothing too dramatic, more following the NYC Broken Windowns Policy which gets Geographers debating for a while
A new release is available from Hon Simeon Brown.
Creating a thriving Auckland city centre
Families, workers, visitors and businesses will benefit from a new action plan to ensure Auckland’s city centre is a safe, welcoming, and vibrant place, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Auckland Mayor Wayne Br
www.beehive.govt.nz
November 27, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Nothing too dramatic, more following the NYC Broken Windowns Policy which gets Geographers debating for a while
That
And
DONT FUCKING BOTHER
Also
FLEE TO THE WAIKATO
And
DONT FUCKING BOTHER
Also
FLEE TO THE WAIKATO
Haven't read AT's Ikea traffic plan. Assuming it's "shelter in place"
November 27, 2025 at 9:41 PM
That
And
DONT FUCKING BOTHER
Also
FLEE TO THE WAIKATO
And
DONT FUCKING BOTHER
Also
FLEE TO THE WAIKATO
These guys are that unserious they should be mocked until driven out of town
Santa parade = thousands of peoples, eyeballs and their wallets in front of your door in a few hours
A car park might give you two sets of eyeballs and a wallet if the business owner has not parked there first
Santa parade = thousands of peoples, eyeballs and their wallets in front of your door in a few hours
A car park might give you two sets of eyeballs and a wallet if the business owner has not parked there first
The car park fetishists are now calling for an end to Christmas parades.
These businesses literally view crowds of potential customers right next to their door as an obstacle rather than an opportunity. Deeply unserious people.
www.teawamutunews.nz/2025/11/call...
These businesses literally view crowds of potential customers right next to their door as an obstacle rather than an opportunity. Deeply unserious people.
www.teawamutunews.nz/2025/11/call...
Call for parade rethink - Te Awamutu News
The cat nobody wanted to be let out of the bag is free. Retailers, already weathering a storm worse than the global financial crisis of nearly two decades ago, take a financial hit every time...
www.teawamutunews.nz
November 27, 2025 at 8:53 PM
These guys are that unserious they should be mocked until driven out of town
Santa parade = thousands of peoples, eyeballs and their wallets in front of your door in a few hours
A car park might give you two sets of eyeballs and a wallet if the business owner has not parked there first
Santa parade = thousands of peoples, eyeballs and their wallets in front of your door in a few hours
A car park might give you two sets of eyeballs and a wallet if the business owner has not parked there first
The Opposition needs to diverge from National here in how they plan to nurture those Green Shoots!
Code, it is in the phrase Green Shoots 🟢
Code, it is in the phrase Green Shoots 🟢
There are enough emergent economic "green shoots" that Opposition parties need to realise now that running a "We're not Them" campaign won't be enough next year.
November 27, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The Opposition needs to diverge from National here in how they plan to nurture those Green Shoots!
Code, it is in the phrase Green Shoots 🟢
Code, it is in the phrase Green Shoots 🟢
There wont be one as Hipkins decides to cuddle Winston and NZF to shut out the Greens and TPM
Same as 2017
That is Hipkins values for all to see
BTW he hasnt apologised to Tamatha, and is threatened by Michael Wood returning to Parliament
Shows how insecure Hipkins is and slow Central Labour are
Same as 2017
That is Hipkins values for all to see
BTW he hasnt apologised to Tamatha, and is threatened by Michael Wood returning to Parliament
Shows how insecure Hipkins is and slow Central Labour are
I got so many really nice replies from Labour MPs but over a week later I can't seem to find a formal Labour Party statement about their plan to reverse the ban on puberty blockers. We are living in grim, grim times.
The people: ‘can we have pay equity?’
National: No.
Labour: No ❤️ ✨ 🌈
National: No.
Labour: No ❤️ ✨ 🌈
November 27, 2025 at 8:40 PM
There wont be one as Hipkins decides to cuddle Winston and NZF to shut out the Greens and TPM
Same as 2017
That is Hipkins values for all to see
BTW he hasnt apologised to Tamatha, and is threatened by Michael Wood returning to Parliament
Shows how insecure Hipkins is and slow Central Labour are
Same as 2017
That is Hipkins values for all to see
BTW he hasnt apologised to Tamatha, and is threatened by Michael Wood returning to Parliament
Shows how insecure Hipkins is and slow Central Labour are
Libraries fall under the Civic Infrastructure category
Thus a core service to Local and Central Government
Treat them as such
Fund them as such
Thus a core service to Local and Central Government
Treat them as such
Fund them as such
📚 Libraries, what are they good for? Absolutely everything
Commentary at Newsroom: newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/l...
#NZ, #Wellington, but relevant plenty of places elsewhere.
Commentary at Newsroom: newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/l...
#NZ, #Wellington, but relevant plenty of places elsewhere.
Libraries, what are they good for? Absolutely everything
From Auckland University - Comment: Wellington’s contested central library is about to reopen – and it’s not trying to be frictionless and avoid the messy everyday work of being a public space.
newsroom.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Libraries fall under the Civic Infrastructure category
Thus a core service to Local and Central Government
Treat them as such
Fund them as such
Thus a core service to Local and Central Government
Treat them as such
Fund them as such
If someone is asking to lower speed limits, here are some myths others will trot out. Emphasis on the word myth 👇
November 27, 2025 at 7:43 PM
If someone is asking to lower speed limits, here are some myths others will trot out. Emphasis on the word myth 👇
Me in a 40 minute traffic jam then an hour to find a park just to visit a store? NOPE
I rather take the car to Manukau City Centre, park, jump on an Eastern Line train to Sylvia Park, walk over the new overbridge, have a wonder through IKEA, might get some flatpack, reverse the direction
I rather take the car to Manukau City Centre, park, jump on an Eastern Line train to Sylvia Park, walk over the new overbridge, have a wonder through IKEA, might get some flatpack, reverse the direction
Expect 40-minute queues just to exit motorway, an hour to find a park when Ikea opens
Aucklanders won’t know what’s hit them when Ikea opens its doors for the first time on December 4, and we’re not talking about the Swedish meatballs.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Me in a 40 minute traffic jam then an hour to find a park just to visit a store? NOPE
I rather take the car to Manukau City Centre, park, jump on an Eastern Line train to Sylvia Park, walk over the new overbridge, have a wonder through IKEA, might get some flatpack, reverse the direction
I rather take the car to Manukau City Centre, park, jump on an Eastern Line train to Sylvia Park, walk over the new overbridge, have a wonder through IKEA, might get some flatpack, reverse the direction
Reposted by Ben Ross
New Zealand's Minister of Education can't tell the difference between Mathematics and Social Studies.
November 27, 2025 at 7:19 PM
New Zealand's Minister of Education can't tell the difference between Mathematics and Social Studies.
Ditto for my kids school 👇
Boards Chair here - before our BOT passed a motion affirming our commitment to Te Tiriti, I received emails from parents and teachers urging the board on.
The union never said a word.
Amazing that reaffirming a commitment to Te Tiriti is viewed as "anti-govt" (his words)
The union never said a word.
Amazing that reaffirming a commitment to Te Tiriti is viewed as "anti-govt" (his words)
November 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Ditto for my kids school 👇
It is great to see wonderful things in the world
All the best for Todd Maitland, the world is yours!
www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news...
All the best for Todd Maitland, the world is yours!
www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news...
'Acing this world': Waihī mum 'blown away' by autistic son's success
'We would never have dreamed in our wildest dreams that he’d be where he is now.'
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 6:55 PM
It is great to see wonderful things in the world
All the best for Todd Maitland, the world is yours!
www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news...
All the best for Todd Maitland, the world is yours!
www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news...
Making car parks work for you or rather the community
Wonderful initiative by the selfless tradie
Wonderful initiative by the selfless tradie
Tradie turns car park into an abundant veggie plot
A Kerikeri tradie turned a car park into an abundant veggie plot
"It's flourishing, it's a really good feeling."
www.rnz.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Making car parks work for you or rather the community
Wonderful initiative by the selfless tradie
Wonderful initiative by the selfless tradie
Centralism Incrementalism is a cancer, it is also fascism
Hipkins on denouncing Winston and his Anti Trans Policies: 🦗
Restoring Pay Equity: Nah sorry cant do that
Having Michael Wood back: fuck no, bastard would stab me from the front day 1 (that is the idea)
Anything that is not a squib: nope
Hipkins on denouncing Winston and his Anti Trans Policies: 🦗
Restoring Pay Equity: Nah sorry cant do that
Having Michael Wood back: fuck no, bastard would stab me from the front day 1 (that is the idea)
Anything that is not a squib: nope
Chris Hipkins will not say whether Labour will commit $12.8b to restore pay equity.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins speaks to the Herald ahead of his conference
Chris Hipkins will not say whether Labour will commit $12.8b to restore pay equity. Video / Mark Mitchell
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Centralism Incrementalism is a cancer, it is also fascism
Hipkins on denouncing Winston and his Anti Trans Policies: 🦗
Restoring Pay Equity: Nah sorry cant do that
Having Michael Wood back: fuck no, bastard would stab me from the front day 1 (that is the idea)
Anything that is not a squib: nope
Hipkins on denouncing Winston and his Anti Trans Policies: 🦗
Restoring Pay Equity: Nah sorry cant do that
Having Michael Wood back: fuck no, bastard would stab me from the front day 1 (that is the idea)
Anything that is not a squib: nope
If you want to know why kids are on screens all day, and we have a massive plague of social isolationism thus feeding in Fascism, authorities passing dim-witted policies banning activities off streets would be the reason why
Get outside kids, enjoy the fresh air with your friends!
Just kidding, stay the F inside.
Just kidding, stay the F inside.
November 27, 2025 at 6:17 PM
If you want to know why kids are on screens all day, and we have a massive plague of social isolationism thus feeding in Fascism, authorities passing dim-witted policies banning activities off streets would be the reason why
Labour is still plagued by the cancer that is Centralism Incrementalism, still wedded to a leader who is a complete dud and has still not denounced Winiston's anti trans medical policies, nor apologised to Tamatha, thought it be wise to stand a candidate in a Green seat, etc
Why vote Labour
Why vote Labour
Agreed that Labour have changed since 2023.
They were a party I'd vote for.
Now they are not.
#nzpol
They were a party I'd vote for.
Now they are not.
#nzpol
Labour gathers for AGM as it shifts into campaign mode
The Labour leader says the party is now shifting from reviewing policy to campaign mode.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Labour is still plagued by the cancer that is Centralism Incrementalism, still wedded to a leader who is a complete dud and has still not denounced Winiston's anti trans medical policies, nor apologised to Tamatha, thought it be wise to stand a candidate in a Green seat, etc
Why vote Labour
Why vote Labour
Reposted by Ben Ross
Why does anyone with half a brain and the ability to read know that will happen but people in government and the farming industry apparently don't?
www.stuff.co.nz/business/far...
www.stuff.co.nz/business/far...
Tesco's warning to New Zealand farmers
If New Zealand farmers want to continue exporting to the lucrative UK market, they will have to commit to a better climate future, says UK supermarket Tesco.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Why does anyone with half a brain and the ability to read know that will happen but people in government and the farming industry apparently don't?
www.stuff.co.nz/business/far...
www.stuff.co.nz/business/far...
Have to pay for landlord tax cuts somehow
#NZpol Still not seeing anything in media about this. If it bears out, then HealthNZ had funds to pay staff more, might have retained some, or recruited a few. Instead Willis is grabbing it "back".
As Craig Renney revealed to a shocked Dr Gary Payinda, Te Whatu Ora underspent its wages budget by $500m which has been signed off by Willis & returned to general coffers. Let that sink in. The money was there, but they deliberately underspent. On orders?
November 27, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Have to pay for landlord tax cuts somehow
Hipkins has still not denounced Winston and the anti trans policy recently announced
Hipkins continues to white ant the very person more capable than him and would succeed him as a leader Day 1 of the new regime
Hipkins continues to white ant the very person more capable than him and would succeed him as a leader Day 1 of the new regime
can labour kick hipkins already lol
like... he's been more supportive of ACT and NZF MPs than this
AND we're well past the point where Labour should be kicking itself in the face over this stuff - Wood, at the very least, has done his time
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
like... he's been more supportive of ACT and NZF MPs than this
AND we're well past the point where Labour should be kicking itself in the face over this stuff - Wood, at the very least, has done his time
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Hipkins says Michael Wood must regain trust of his Labour colleagues
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says Wood will need to rebuild trust before he could take up any role in a future Government, but he could have a lot to contribute.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Hipkins has still not denounced Winston and the anti trans policy recently announced
Hipkins continues to white ant the very person more capable than him and would succeed him as a leader Day 1 of the new regime
Hipkins continues to white ant the very person more capable than him and would succeed him as a leader Day 1 of the new regime