Reposted by Helen Rickerby
Depressing to see @henrycooke.bsky.social repeating nonsense about housing and the RMA: "Essentially we all stopped building new housing in recent decades". This is total nonsense - there has been a massive boom in housing builds, especially in Auckland after the 2016 unitary plan. Evidence:
December 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Depressing to see @henrycooke.bsky.social repeating nonsense about housing and the RMA: "Essentially we all stopped building new housing in recent decades". This is total nonsense - there has been a massive boom in housing builds, especially in Auckland after the 2016 unitary plan. Evidence:
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
What I read in 2025 (6):
Anna Jackson's Terrier, Worrier: A Poem in Five Parts
A splendid prose poem about affirmative doubt, in five seasons, from summer to summer, because you can only be aware of summer when you get back to it. A focused, feeling exploration of thinking. Somewhat fearless.
Anna Jackson's Terrier, Worrier: A Poem in Five Parts
A splendid prose poem about affirmative doubt, in five seasons, from summer to summer, because you can only be aware of summer when you get back to it. A focused, feeling exploration of thinking. Somewhat fearless.
December 9, 2025 at 2:59 AM
What I read in 2025 (6):
Anna Jackson's Terrier, Worrier: A Poem in Five Parts
A splendid prose poem about affirmative doubt, in five seasons, from summer to summer, because you can only be aware of summer when you get back to it. A focused, feeling exploration of thinking. Somewhat fearless.
Anna Jackson's Terrier, Worrier: A Poem in Five Parts
A splendid prose poem about affirmative doubt, in five seasons, from summer to summer, because you can only be aware of summer when you get back to it. A focused, feeling exploration of thinking. Somewhat fearless.
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
Hello fellow patriots
Did you know that at 3.30pm today the govt is introducing an “undisclosed bill” which, as the title suggests, means no one knows what it is.
The opposition needs to prepare for a bill that they haven’t been told about…can someone tell me how that is democratic?
Did you know that at 3.30pm today the govt is introducing an “undisclosed bill” which, as the title suggests, means no one knows what it is.
The opposition needs to prepare for a bill that they haven’t been told about…can someone tell me how that is democratic?
December 8, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Hello fellow patriots
Did you know that at 3.30pm today the govt is introducing an “undisclosed bill” which, as the title suggests, means no one knows what it is.
The opposition needs to prepare for a bill that they haven’t been told about…can someone tell me how that is democratic?
Did you know that at 3.30pm today the govt is introducing an “undisclosed bill” which, as the title suggests, means no one knows what it is.
The opposition needs to prepare for a bill that they haven’t been told about…can someone tell me how that is democratic?
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
While the govt celebrates the OCR being at 2.25%
they're happy to keep interest rates on overseas Student Loan borrowers at 4.9%.
71% of overseas Student Loan borrowers can't repay the total of $2.193 billion in overdue debt, which still keeps growing.
#nzpol
action.greens.org.nz/student_loan...
they're happy to keep interest rates on overseas Student Loan borrowers at 4.9%.
71% of overseas Student Loan borrowers can't repay the total of $2.193 billion in overdue debt, which still keeps growing.
#nzpol
action.greens.org.nz/student_loan...
We need an inquiry | Overseas NZers Student Loan Repayment Scheme
We need an inquiry into the Student Loan Repayment Scheme for New Zealanders living overseas!
action.greens.org.nz
December 8, 2025 at 11:12 PM
While the govt celebrates the OCR being at 2.25%
they're happy to keep interest rates on overseas Student Loan borrowers at 4.9%.
71% of overseas Student Loan borrowers can't repay the total of $2.193 billion in overdue debt, which still keeps growing.
#nzpol
action.greens.org.nz/student_loan...
they're happy to keep interest rates on overseas Student Loan borrowers at 4.9%.
71% of overseas Student Loan borrowers can't repay the total of $2.193 billion in overdue debt, which still keeps growing.
#nzpol
action.greens.org.nz/student_loan...
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
This Bill threatens every worker in New Zealand. Brooke van Velden's Employment Relations Amendment Bill has come back from Select Committee - and she's made it EVEN WORSE for workers. #nzpol
union.org.nz/employment-b...
union.org.nz/employment-b...
Employment bill is worst attack on workers in decades - NZCTU
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is condemning select committee changes to the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, which would give bad employers an even greater ability to exploit workers.
union.org.nz
December 8, 2025 at 10:34 PM
This Bill threatens every worker in New Zealand. Brooke van Velden's Employment Relations Amendment Bill has come back from Select Committee - and she's made it EVEN WORSE for workers. #nzpol
union.org.nz/employment-b...
union.org.nz/employment-b...
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
Thank you NZ Greens for saying this so clearly.
December 8, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Thank you NZ Greens for saying this so clearly.
And I 'm so delighted to be featured in the forthcoming December issue of takahē!
So excited to be featuring new poems by Helen Rickerby in the forthcoming December issue!
The selection comes from her next book, 'My Bourgeois Apocalypse'' (Auckland University Press, 2026).
The selection comes from her next book, 'My Bourgeois Apocalypse'' (Auckland University Press, 2026).
December 5, 2025 at 11:22 PM
And I 'm so delighted to be featured in the forthcoming December issue of takahē!
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
Prompted by the Self and Sequence: Lyric Diary symposium, Volume Books has put a page of books together that use fragments as form
volume.nz/volumebooks/...
volume.nz/volumebooks/...
Volume Focus: FRAGMENT AS FORM — VOLUME
A selection of books from our shelves that use the accumulation of fragments as a literary form. Click through to find out more: Garments Against Women Terrier, Worrier Flickerbook ...
volume.nz
December 5, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Prompted by the Self and Sequence: Lyric Diary symposium, Volume Books has put a page of books together that use fragments as form
volume.nz/volumebooks/...
volume.nz/volumebooks/...
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
✨ We're thrilled to announce Hungus by Amber Esau (Ngāpuhi / Manase) is coming 12 March 2026 – the arrival of a dazzling new voice in Aotearoa poetry.
teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/hun...
teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/hun...
December 4, 2025 at 2:16 AM
✨ We're thrilled to announce Hungus by Amber Esau (Ngāpuhi / Manase) is coming 12 March 2026 – the arrival of a dazzling new voice in Aotearoa poetry.
teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/hun...
teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/hun...
Ooh, advanced warning of my new (forthcoming) book is up on the AUP website: aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz/my-bourgeois...
My Bourgeois Apocalypse
A surprising and genre-bending poetic memoir about the years when everything got weirder.
aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz
December 4, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Ooh, advanced warning of my new (forthcoming) book is up on the AUP website: aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz/my-bourgeois...
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
This is an important point - bad faith actors like Seymour use these tactics regularly. If you've ever been a victim of this in your personal life you'll recognise it in people in positions of power and Seymour is a prime example. It's unacceptable and toxic AF.
DARVO from Seymour in full effect, classic abuser tactics.
Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender.
Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender.
'No political agenda': Principal says CCTV proves mouldy meals weren't last week's leftovers
The authority says it's more than likely that some lunches provided last week remained at the school and were not refrigerated.
www.rnz.co.nz
December 2, 2025 at 11:37 PM
This is an important point - bad faith actors like Seymour use these tactics regularly. If you've ever been a victim of this in your personal life you'll recognise it in people in positions of power and Seymour is a prime example. It's unacceptable and toxic AF.
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
This is really just Opposition MPs doing their job, reading the accounts and asking the right questions. And the Minister of Finance insulting them because she doesn't want to answer the questions.
“Under questioning in the meeting, Willis also confirmed the government had no intention of buying offshore carbon credits to meet the 2030 Paris agreement as part of a "performative awards ceremony" even if that meant it would breach its commitment.”
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
'A bit tired, a bit ratty': Heated exchange between Willis and Labour MPs at Parliament
The Finance Minister has called the opposition's behaviour "unbecoming" after accusations of name-calling and conspiracy-thinking.
www.rnz.co.nz
December 2, 2025 at 4:30 AM
This is really just Opposition MPs doing their job, reading the accounts and asking the right questions. And the Minister of Finance insulting them because she doesn't want to answer the questions.
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
Heads up NZ poets with no more than one collection published: entries for the Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize for New and Emerging Poets close this Friday! $6000 first prize, details here.
2025 Judith Wright Poetry Prize for New and Emerging Poets ($9000) - Overland literary journal
About the prize Established in 2007 and supported by the Malcolm Robertson Foundation, the Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize for New and Emerging Poets seeks poetry by writers who have published no ...
overland.org.au
December 1, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Heads up NZ poets with no more than one collection published: entries for the Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize for New and Emerging Poets close this Friday! $6000 first prize, details here.
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
My reach on socials doesn't = Ryan's, but I feel need to continue drumbeat. THESE WERE ALREADY ILLEGAL strikes. The doubletap makes it MORE OBVIOUS, not MORE ILLEGAL. (ok. it's a bit more illegal; since it opens a whole new category of illegal).
(we tried people at Nuremburg for crimes like this).
(we tried people at Nuremburg for crimes like this).
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:31 AM
My reach on socials doesn't = Ryan's, but I feel need to continue drumbeat. THESE WERE ALREADY ILLEGAL strikes. The doubletap makes it MORE OBVIOUS, not MORE ILLEGAL. (ok. it's a bit more illegal; since it opens a whole new category of illegal).
(we tried people at Nuremburg for crimes like this).
(we tried people at Nuremburg for crimes like this).
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
Not only is this blatantly unfair, but for a Party that doesnt believe in collective responsibility,theyre holding ALL children responsible for the actions of others...
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...
Lunch funding to be tied to attendance for hundreds more schools
Next year funding for school lunches delivered through the internal model will be tied to attendance.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 28, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Not only is this blatantly unfair, but for a Party that doesnt believe in collective responsibility,theyre holding ALL children responsible for the actions of others...
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
Why is it "frankly disgusting" for parents and schools to stand up for what THEY believe is right for their tamariki? Why is the PM allowing his MPs to spread anti-worker, anti-Te Tiriti disinformation on social media?
#nzpol
#nzpol
November 28, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Why is it "frankly disgusting" for parents and schools to stand up for what THEY believe is right for their tamariki? Why is the PM allowing his MPs to spread anti-worker, anti-Te Tiriti disinformation on social media?
#nzpol
#nzpol
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
Applications are open for the 2026 Penguin Random House Māori and Pacific Publishing Scholarship. Deadline 31 January 2026 (and expressions of interest in the course itself should be made by early December).https://authors.org.nz/call-for-applications-for-maori-and-pacific-publishing-scholarship/
Call for applications for Māori and Pacific Publishing Scholarship | New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa
authors.org.nz
November 27, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Applications are open for the 2026 Penguin Random House Māori and Pacific Publishing Scholarship. Deadline 31 January 2026 (and expressions of interest in the course itself should be made by early December).https://authors.org.nz/call-for-applications-for-maori-and-pacific-publishing-scholarship/
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
More accurate headline:
Deloitte receives $435k of public funds to produce a report that recommends austerity, asset selling, and AI snake-oil for Wellington City Council.
#nzpol
Deloitte receives $435k of public funds to produce a report that recommends austerity, asset selling, and AI snake-oil for Wellington City Council.
#nzpol
Delloitte report suggests Wellington City Council has 330 more staff than it should
Delloitte report suggests Wellington City Council has 330 more staff than it should
PSA says analysis from Deloitte lacks a basic understanding of what the Council's role is.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 25, 2025 at 5:10 AM
More accurate headline:
Deloitte receives $435k of public funds to produce a report that recommends austerity, asset selling, and AI snake-oil for Wellington City Council.
#nzpol
Deloitte receives $435k of public funds to produce a report that recommends austerity, asset selling, and AI snake-oil for Wellington City Council.
#nzpol
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
the state should not stop me from building what I want to build but should stop other people from building what i don't want them to build and also the process should be faster with more consultation of me and not cost money
November 25, 2025 at 12:24 AM
the state should not stop me from building what I want to build but should stop other people from building what i don't want them to build and also the process should be faster with more consultation of me and not cost money
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
November 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
There are a million children in Aotearoa, about 700 of them have been prescribed puberty blockers (that's 0.07%)
Medication decisions should be decided by the child, their caregivers, and the relevant health professionals, not a party relying on imported culture wars to stay in power
Medication decisions should be decided by the child, their caregivers, and the relevant health professionals, not a party relying on imported culture wars to stay in power
November 19, 2025 at 8:57 PM
There are a million children in Aotearoa, about 700 of them have been prescribed puberty blockers (that's 0.07%)
Medication decisions should be decided by the child, their caregivers, and the relevant health professionals, not a party relying on imported culture wars to stay in power
Medication decisions should be decided by the child, their caregivers, and the relevant health professionals, not a party relying on imported culture wars to stay in power
Reposted by Helen Rickerby
"There are accidents that will happen. What I'm wanting to focus on is, how do I improve the overall economy and the situation that businesses and workers find themselves in?" - Van Velden. #PikeRiver
"She seemed to be focusing all the time on the employers and I sat and listened to it for a little while and then I just couldn't stand it" - Sonya Rockhouse. #PikeRiver
Meeting with govt 'complete waste of time', Pike River families say
Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse sat down with Brooke van Velden on the 15th anniversary of the disaster: "She seemed to be focusing all the time on the employers."
www.rnz.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 6:21 PM
"There are accidents that will happen. What I'm wanting to focus on is, how do I improve the overall economy and the situation that businesses and workers find themselves in?" - Van Velden. #PikeRiver