🐻Iona🐻
@bewarethefish.bsky.social
Chaotic soft bear residing in Pōneke. She/her.
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
If this doesn't hit MSM frontpages, or if it's pitched as *pro*-NZF, I think that will be another pretty good clue as to how NZ media newsrooms are operating and what their motivations are basically since 2023.
Hopefully this situation is egregious enough that they can't avoid it.
Hopefully this situation is egregious enough that they can't avoid it.
This should be headline news across every outlet in the country. This deal happening in secret - let alone directly involving us in a fascist war machine - should be criminal, fuck.
Breaking: the Government is negotiating with the US to provide access to our critical minerals, while a memo before the Waitangi Tribunal says a backdoor deal violates obligations to Māori
January 30, 2026 at 2:38 AM
If this doesn't hit MSM frontpages, or if it's pitched as *pro*-NZF, I think that will be another pretty good clue as to how NZ media newsrooms are operating and what their motivations are basically since 2023.
Hopefully this situation is egregious enough that they can't avoid it.
Hopefully this situation is egregious enough that they can't avoid it.
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
What -is- free speech according to FSU?
Well, it's basically anything that they agree with.
Anything they disagree with has that 'chilling effect' on free speech and is therefore bad.
But nothing they or their pals say ever has this 'chilling effect'.
Very convenient, I must say.
Well, it's basically anything that they agree with.
Anything they disagree with has that 'chilling effect' on free speech and is therefore bad.
But nothing they or their pals say ever has this 'chilling effect'.
Very convenient, I must say.
January 30, 2026 at 2:24 AM
What -is- free speech according to FSU?
Well, it's basically anything that they agree with.
Anything they disagree with has that 'chilling effect' on free speech and is therefore bad.
But nothing they or their pals say ever has this 'chilling effect'.
Very convenient, I must say.
Well, it's basically anything that they agree with.
Anything they disagree with has that 'chilling effect' on free speech and is therefore bad.
But nothing they or their pals say ever has this 'chilling effect'.
Very convenient, I must say.
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
My observations of the 'Free Speech Union' in NZ:
- They think criticising others is free speech, but if you criticise that criticism, that is not free speech.
- Other people's criticism of issue is not free speech, it is instead 'chilling' language that has a 'chilling effect' on free speech
- They think criticising others is free speech, but if you criticise that criticism, that is not free speech.
- Other people's criticism of issue is not free speech, it is instead 'chilling' language that has a 'chilling effect' on free speech
January 30, 2026 at 2:21 AM
My observations of the 'Free Speech Union' in NZ:
- They think criticising others is free speech, but if you criticise that criticism, that is not free speech.
- Other people's criticism of issue is not free speech, it is instead 'chilling' language that has a 'chilling effect' on free speech
- They think criticising others is free speech, but if you criticise that criticism, that is not free speech.
- Other people's criticism of issue is not free speech, it is instead 'chilling' language that has a 'chilling effect' on free speech
🤮🤮🤮
I love Alex Casey and everything she writes, but given how little funding Creative NZ is giving out right now, it sticks in the craw a little to have “This article was produced with the support of Creative New Zealand” under a review of an Ed Sheeran concert on @thespinoff.bsky.social
January 29, 2026 at 11:40 PM
🤮🤮🤮
So that's now two businesses this week alone Wellington Airport have killed. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellingto...
Wellington taxi company goes under after airport changes rules
The liquidator said the case raised "serious questions" about protections for businesses.
www.nzherald.co.nz
January 29, 2026 at 11:39 PM
So that's now two businesses this week alone Wellington Airport have killed. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellingto...
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
Today on NewstalkZB, Mike Hosking said it's a "reality check" for the Government to not have a proper response for climate hit areas.
Some examples of his previous work that may point to how we got here.
Some examples of his previous work that may point to how we got here.
January 29, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Today on NewstalkZB, Mike Hosking said it's a "reality check" for the Government to not have a proper response for climate hit areas.
Some examples of his previous work that may point to how we got here.
Some examples of his previous work that may point to how we got here.
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
“The report shows Forestry in Tairāwhiti only works because the public is paying the real costs.”
Now do mining!
Now do mining!
‘Forestry in Tairawhiti is a low-job, high-damage industry that survives by shitting billions of dollars of costs onto communities while exporting profits offshore.’
Forestry is far from the only industry to do this. #nzpol
Forestry is far from the only industry to do this. #nzpol
‘Low-job, high-damage:’ Forestry not the great economic contributor it claims - report
The paper’s findings have been rejected by the NZ Forestry Owner’s Association as “biased”, “incomplete” and “narrowly-framed”.
www.stuff.co.nz
January 29, 2026 at 7:25 PM
“The report shows Forestry in Tairāwhiti only works because the public is paying the real costs.”
Now do mining!
Now do mining!
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
It's almost quaint how successive RW NZ govts implement policies that have been proven to fail elsewhere, and yet people still vote them in
What's that? A policy that failed miserably in the UK/USA? A policy that created intergenerational harm to environment and infrastructure? We'll take the lot!
What's that? A policy that failed miserably in the UK/USA? A policy that created intergenerational harm to environment and infrastructure? We'll take the lot!
January 29, 2026 at 9:22 PM
It's almost quaint how successive RW NZ govts implement policies that have been proven to fail elsewhere, and yet people still vote them in
What's that? A policy that failed miserably in the UK/USA? A policy that created intergenerational harm to environment and infrastructure? We'll take the lot!
What's that? A policy that failed miserably in the UK/USA? A policy that created intergenerational harm to environment and infrastructure? We'll take the lot!
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
NZ Post should not be run "as a business". It's a fundamental public service and every issue you have had with it, or with courier delivery, in the past 30 years is down to governments sacrificing that public service for the sake of short term cashflow
January 29, 2026 at 6:08 PM
NZ Post should not be run "as a business". It's a fundamental public service and every issue you have had with it, or with courier delivery, in the past 30 years is down to governments sacrificing that public service for the sake of short term cashflow
Given that most American's views of their own history and country are almost entirely based on bullshit manufactured narratives that barely reflect reality this seems entirely on brand.
First trailer for Darren Aranofsky's new AI animated series 'On This Day... 1776'
• Tells short narrative stories about the Revolutionary War
• Uses Gen AI tools, including tech made by Google DeepMind
• Has SAG voice actors
• Tells short narrative stories about the Revolutionary War
• Uses Gen AI tools, including tech made by Google DeepMind
• Has SAG voice actors
January 29, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Given that most American's views of their own history and country are almost entirely based on bullshit manufactured narratives that barely reflect reality this seems entirely on brand.
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
GenAI should be banned from use in political campaigning. What's next? Generating political opponents saying things they didn't say? (Aside from the fact this is the sloppiest AI slop that ever slopped. SHAME). #nzpol
So ... um, National decided to put together a pre-election election advert, and it's all AI generated video.
Leaving aside that the AI generated animation is as bad as you think, I wonder how much energy it sucked down and how much it contributed to climate change.
www.instagram.com/reels/DUCyrB...
Leaving aside that the AI generated animation is as bad as you think, I wonder how much energy it sucked down and how much it contributed to climate change.
www.instagram.com/reels/DUCyrB...
NZ National Party on Instagram: "National is fixing the basics and building the future.
#ai #lifehacks"
652 likes, 111 comments - nznationalparty on January 27, 2026: "National is fixing the basics and building the future.
#ai #lifehacks".
www.instagram.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:55 PM
GenAI should be banned from use in political campaigning. What's next? Generating political opponents saying things they didn't say? (Aside from the fact this is the sloppiest AI slop that ever slopped. SHAME). #nzpol
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
Yeah it is almost as if the actual facts and realities require you to have some empathy, and almost as if continually shitting on stuff for the sake of it doesn't make you a good leader long term... Who'd have thought.
January 29, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Yeah it is almost as if the actual facts and realities require you to have some empathy, and almost as if continually shitting on stuff for the sake of it doesn't make you a good leader long term... Who'd have thought.
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
Councillors being like 🥺😱 did you know there were 23 accidents at the Morrinsville Rd intersection, we just learnt that today! 👉👈 I guess it's good we're now doing these upgrades, and they're paid for by the govt!
...when that info was available for their whole DOWN WITH CYCLING SPENDING campaign
...when that info was available for their whole DOWN WITH CYCLING SPENDING campaign
January 29, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Councillors being like 🥺😱 did you know there were 23 accidents at the Morrinsville Rd intersection, we just learnt that today! 👉👈 I guess it's good we're now doing these upgrades, and they're paid for by the govt!
...when that info was available for their whole DOWN WITH CYCLING SPENDING campaign
...when that info was available for their whole DOWN WITH CYCLING SPENDING campaign
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
Another shitty male judge screws over NZ women.
Precedent now set that tricking women into sex isn’t rape. Disgusting.
Precedent now set that tricking women into sex isn’t rape. Disgusting.
'Felt like rape': Sportsman avoids jail after duping sex workers with fake payments, forged HIV test
One victim said she felt 'filthy', another said the man had violated her body and trust.
www.nzherald.co.nz
January 28, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Another shitty male judge screws over NZ women.
Precedent now set that tricking women into sex isn’t rape. Disgusting.
Precedent now set that tricking women into sex isn’t rape. Disgusting.
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
A solid two days of asking Seymour basic questions about his party's clear desire for ordinary people to starve, struggle and die in workplace accidents followed by a third of "where's Seymour? David keeps running away from us" would save both our struggling media outlets and our democracy tbh
it's fucking pathetic too, because they'll all whinge it's 'just the way media is' & Seymour is just 'so good at clicks' which is why they quote his PR verbatim & give him free media
you know what else is good for clicks? verbally flaying one of the most *hated nz MPs of all time* live on camera
you know what else is good for clicks? verbally flaying one of the most *hated nz MPs of all time* live on camera
January 29, 2026 at 8:32 AM
A solid two days of asking Seymour basic questions about his party's clear desire for ordinary people to starve, struggle and die in workplace accidents followed by a third of "where's Seymour? David keeps running away from us" would save both our struggling media outlets and our democracy tbh
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
If you are so christian you can’t go on a marae to do council business please don’t be a councillor. #nzpol
January 29, 2026 at 5:11 AM
If you are so christian you can’t go on a marae to do council business please don’t be a councillor. #nzpol
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
Today the Speaker told MPs that the only way to challenge the blatant lies and overt dishonesty of Government Ministers is through the Privileges Committee.
Can't be done using a Point Of Order.
How fucked-up is that?🤔💩🤬
#OneTermGovernment
#nzpol
Can't be done using a Point Of Order.
How fucked-up is that?🤔💩🤬
#OneTermGovernment
#nzpol
January 29, 2026 at 5:02 AM
Today the Speaker told MPs that the only way to challenge the blatant lies and overt dishonesty of Government Ministers is through the Privileges Committee.
Can't be done using a Point Of Order.
How fucked-up is that?🤔💩🤬
#OneTermGovernment
#nzpol
Can't be done using a Point Of Order.
How fucked-up is that?🤔💩🤬
#OneTermGovernment
#nzpol
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
The workplace relations minister refusing to back a bill to address the issue of modern day slavery doesn't bode well for workplace relations
January 29, 2026 at 4:09 AM
The workplace relations minister refusing to back a bill to address the issue of modern day slavery doesn't bode well for workplace relations
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
I don't want to party like its 1999
I want to pay for groceries like its 1999
I want to pay for groceries like its 1999
January 28, 2026 at 11:05 PM
I don't want to party like its 1999
I want to pay for groceries like its 1999
I want to pay for groceries like its 1999
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
Here's how this will play out: people will complain about the lack of coverage, then the Post or Herald will run a single story about it and then drop it.
Then every smarmy media figure will pop up saying "see we covered it" and "we hold both sides accountable".
Then every smarmy media figure will pop up saying "see we covered it" and "we hold both sides accountable".
January 29, 2026 at 3:59 AM
Here's how this will play out: people will complain about the lack of coverage, then the Post or Herald will run a single story about it and then drop it.
Then every smarmy media figure will pop up saying "see we covered it" and "we hold both sides accountable".
Then every smarmy media figure will pop up saying "see we covered it" and "we hold both sides accountable".
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
The way these people really went from capitalism is the best system to provide all of the things to “eat less”.
January 29, 2026 at 3:45 AM
The way these people really went from capitalism is the best system to provide all of the things to “eat less”.
*takes long drag on a spaceman cigarette* think how many guillotines you could build for $344,100
Someone paid $344,100 plus slush and housing telling everyone else to "eat less" really is something, isn't it?
Shit like that is why guillotines were invented. We're more civilised now, fortunately - but we still need to run that prick out of office.
Shit like that is why guillotines were invented. We're more civilised now, fortunately - but we still need to run that prick out of office.
January 29, 2026 at 4:05 AM
*takes long drag on a spaceman cigarette* think how many guillotines you could build for $344,100
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
clearer and clearer every day that it's not that the electorate WANTS bigoted freaks to have power - it's that the institutions, particularly establishment media, that they trust to honestly inform them of reality are going out of their way to protect some of the worst people on the planet.
January 29, 2026 at 3:51 AM
clearer and clearer every day that it's not that the electorate WANTS bigoted freaks to have power - it's that the institutions, particularly establishment media, that they trust to honestly inform them of reality are going out of their way to protect some of the worst people on the planet.
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
this is LITERALLY worse than the Antoinette quote
Yet again, in almost any other NZ government a minister telling NZers to *eat less food* to save money would have them hounded by media and pushed out of politics.
Never forget the immensely important protective role that NZ media have played in protecting these fascists from public outrage.
Never forget the immensely important protective role that NZ media have played in protecting these fascists from public outrage.
#GinnyAnderson "Are wages keeping up with the cost of living when white bread has gone up 58.3% in the past year?"
#DavidSeymour "Consider wholemeal."
Ginny Anderson: "It's more expensive."
David Seymour: "Eat less."
You first, Scrooge McFuckFace. You first.
#nzpol #TheAtlasNetwork
#DavidSeymour "Consider wholemeal."
Ginny Anderson: "It's more expensive."
David Seymour: "Eat less."
You first, Scrooge McFuckFace. You first.
#nzpol #TheAtlasNetwork
January 29, 2026 at 3:31 AM
this is LITERALLY worse than the Antoinette quote
Reposted by 🐻Iona🐻
Yet another illustration of the fact that David Seymour's biggest constituency is the media.
He's the most unpopular politician in the country, he's completely incompetent as a minister, and he's routinely vile in a deeply off-putting way.
But media people love him, so they keep fluffing him.
He's the most unpopular politician in the country, he's completely incompetent as a minister, and he's routinely vile in a deeply off-putting way.
But media people love him, so they keep fluffing him.
Yet again, in almost any other NZ government a minister telling NZers to *eat less food* to save money would have them hounded by media and pushed out of politics.
Never forget the immensely important protective role that NZ media have played in protecting these fascists from public outrage.
Never forget the immensely important protective role that NZ media have played in protecting these fascists from public outrage.
#GinnyAnderson "Are wages keeping up with the cost of living when white bread has gone up 58.3% in the past year?"
#DavidSeymour "Consider wholemeal."
Ginny Anderson: "It's more expensive."
David Seymour: "Eat less."
You first, Scrooge McFuckFace. You first.
#nzpol #TheAtlasNetwork
#DavidSeymour "Consider wholemeal."
Ginny Anderson: "It's more expensive."
David Seymour: "Eat less."
You first, Scrooge McFuckFace. You first.
#nzpol #TheAtlasNetwork
January 29, 2026 at 3:45 AM
Yet another illustration of the fact that David Seymour's biggest constituency is the media.
He's the most unpopular politician in the country, he's completely incompetent as a minister, and he's routinely vile in a deeply off-putting way.
But media people love him, so they keep fluffing him.
He's the most unpopular politician in the country, he's completely incompetent as a minister, and he's routinely vile in a deeply off-putting way.
But media people love him, so they keep fluffing him.