Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by UrbanAKL

Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa @sanjanah.bsky.social · 9h

Just over a year after I posted this, glad to see the Broadcasting Standards Authority, based on a listener compliant, interpret its mandate to include networks like Plunket's platform. Tellingly, those most upset are tinpot populists, & leading far-right networks. What better endorsement of BSA?

2 8 32

Reposted by UrbanAKL

RealEyesNationalsLies @samiam40.bsky.social · 8d

Nicola Willis would like to tell people to not exercise free speech when talking about MP's. Only Winston (and David Seymour), should be allowed to do that unchecked. 👀

2 3 5

UrbanAKL @urbanakl.bsky.social · 12h

Or certain political parties wanting to 'motivate' youth into supporting their values and narratives...

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

www.politico.com

9

UrbanAKL @urbanakl.bsky.social · 12h

well fuck, that's every building in Aotearoa isn't it?

#nzpol

RNZ News Feeds @rnzrss.bsky.social · 12h

'Touch to exit' security switch recalled as it may allow unauthorised access to secure areas

The fault "could allow an unauthorised person access to a secure area without a user first touching their hand to the device".

www.rnz.co.nz

2 10

UrbanAKL @urbanakl.bsky.social · 13h

The BSA receives a complaint on a certain political podcast for "unacceptable racist comments"

and Winston Peters, and one of the fake unions, are freaking out on losing their freedom to spew racist bullshit.

#nzpol

RNZ headline "Winston Peters accuses Broadcasting Standards Authority of 'Soviet era stasi' censorship"

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/576015/winston-peters-accuses-broadcasting-standards-authority-of-soviet-era-stasi-censorship

6 18

Reposted by UrbanAKL

Dylan Reeve @dylanreeve.com · 13h

Thoughts and prayers to Sean Plunket who, it seems, is entering the "Find Out" stage of broadcasting.

NZ Herald article preview with the headline:
'We're going to war': Broadcasting watchdog claims authority over The Platform; Sean Plunket hits out

7 20 110

UrbanAKL @urbanakl.bsky.social · 16h

Exhibit A, B, C, and D

for why this argument isn't bound to reality

UrbanAKL @urbanakl.bsky.social · 16h

Welcome back to Simeon Brown making another shitty argument.

In today's episode:

not wearing a tie = disruption in parliament

#nzpol

Excerpt from the RNZ Article: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/575992/greens-warn-gerry-brownlee-over-becoming-fashion-police

But National Minister Simeon Brown told RNZ's Morning Report he welcomed the Speaker looking into those issues, and it was the Speaker "doing his job".

Brown believed removing the requirement to wear a tie reduced the standards across parliament, and "standards continue to slip", leading to some of "the behaviour we're seeing now".

2 3

Reposted by UrbanAKL

samuel mehr @mehr.nz · 1d

NZ's govt has announced reforms to science funding

just one line about basic science in there: "Discovery-led science & research will continue to be funded. This will sit outside the pillars & is essential for maintaining vibrant curiosity-driven science system"

yea mate seems like a real priority

A new strategy for the science system | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

The Government is changing how science, innovation and technology are funded and supported in New Zealand. The goal is a simpler and more strategic system that helps researchers turn ideas into solutions that benefit New Zealand.

www.mbie.govt.nz

3 32 68

UrbanAKL @urbanakl.bsky.social · 1d

more like great savings... and then an eternity of great expenses

from https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/counting-cost-asbestos-find

Hillside closed in 2012, ending 130 years of history with the loss of about 130 jobs. The closure came after KiwiRail opted to order 40 locomotives, at a total cost of about $150 million, from China.

The locomotives had since been plagued by a string of faults, before the latest discovery of asbestos, it was confirmed.

2

Reposted by UrbanAKL

Mountain Tui @mountaintui.bsky.social · 1d

When you think of how Luxon spent years boasting of how he "managed an airline", then see how he really did it, you might want to take a seat. Interesting how none of it made it to the media. Also Erica Stanford joins Luxon in showing what gaslighting looks like #nzpol

Prime Minister, Unions ARE Workers

Chris Luxon, Erica Stanford and Simeon Brown continue to gaslight Kiwi workers, in their latest instalment of divide and conquer

mountaintui.substack.com

5 24 68

UrbanAKL @urbanakl.bsky.social · 1d

"They need their teacher in front of them for that very last minute revision."

is frankly not an effective rebuttal against teachers - who are striking after years of being overworked, understaffed, and underpaid from teaching students...

#nzpol

Excerpt from an RNZ article: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/575824/ppta-teachers-strike-on-day-of-ncea-exams-the-dates-to-know

"Those students who are going to miss out on days with these rolling strikes are about to go into their final exams," Stanford told Morning Report on Tuesday. "They need their teacher in front of them for that very last minute revision."

4 13

UrbanAKL @urbanakl.bsky.social · 2d

WorkSafe to

what

RNZ News Feeds @rnzrss.bsky.social · 2d

WorkSafe to asses Auckland fire station after asbestos scare

The Auckland City Fire Station was closed on Friday when possible asbestos contamination was identified.

www.rnz.co.nz

2 3

Reposted by UrbanAKL

Byron C Clark @byroncclark.bsky.social · 2d

Crossing a six lane road full of mostly single occupant cars to catch a bus that only goes once an hour so will soon standing room only, and thinking "well, I guess we just keep voting for this"

3 6 49

Reposted by UrbanAKL

Jolisa Gracewood @nzdodo.bsky.social · 2d

That feeling when the special votes tip your local board back towards favouring kid-friendly and bike-friendly streets…

A mashup of the sickos meme and classic Calvin & Hobbes, showing Calvin’s dad all togged up for one of his character-building bike rides, looking back through the window and saying “Yes hahaha yes.”

4 20 130

Reposted by UrbanAKL

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 3d

It’s pronounced cyclist.

440 3.7K 22K

Reposted by UrbanAKL

Nick Young @nickofnz.bsky.social · 3d

Mind blowing.

The Luxon Government has confirmed it will rewrite NZ’s once bipartisan climate change law to dilute methane reduction targets and PERMANENTLY exclude dairy from the Emissions Trading Scheme – a move Greenpeace says amounts to full-blown climate denial.
#nzpol

15 110 210

Reposted by UrbanAKL

Damian Light @damianlight.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you Botany! ❤️

Progress results show that I've been returned to the Howick Local Board as one of the two representatives for Botany. Thank you to locals for your vote of confidence in me.

2 1 6

UrbanAKL @urbanakl.bsky.social · 4d

Good to hear that Mayor re-elect Wayne Brown is still considering surface-level light rain in Auckland.

@haydendonnell.bsky.social

Excerpt from The Spinoff's live blog on the 2025 Local Elections results: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/11-10-2025/local-elections-live-decision-day-2025

4

Reposted by UrbanAKL

Connor Sharp @connorsharp.bsky.social · 4d

I cant even tell you the number of public interest (and interesting) stories about the local election that journos wanted to do, but couldn't because of editors..

Shout out those that did do coverage, esp The Spinoff

Patrick Reynolds for a greater Auckland @patrickreynolds.bsky.social · 4d

Well done media, you achieved this brilliantly, your campaign to nearly completely ignore AKL’s local elections has flowed on to its inevitable outcome. Accelerating your own irrelevance simultaneously -> www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Auckland records lowest turnout in local elections

“Vote today or let someone else choose Auckland's representatives for you,” Aucklanders are told, with local body elections entering the home straight.

www.thepost.co.nz

3 35 85

Reposted by UrbanAKL

Patrick Reynolds for a greater Auckland @patrickreynolds.bsky.social · 4d

Well done media, you achieved this brilliantly, your campaign to nearly completely ignore AKL’s local elections has flowed on to its inevitable outcome. Accelerating your own irrelevance simultaneously -> www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Auckland records lowest turnout in local elections

“Vote today or let someone else choose Auckland's representatives for you,” Aucklanders are told, with local body elections entering the home straight.

www.thepost.co.nz

4 20 63

UrbanAKL @urbanakl.bsky.social · 4d

Auckland's local democracy is looking bright prior to polls closing today.

/s

#nzpol

Screenshot of Auckland Council election daily vote tallies - published by the Spinoff: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/11-10-2025/local-elections-live-decision-day-2025

1 3

Reposted by UrbanAKL

Richard Hills @richardhills.bsky.social · 4d

STAY in line if you’re special voting, if you get in line before 12 noon, the elections team need to let you vote. Every other box will be sealed shut at 12.

So you’ve got 20 minutes to get to a library or Woolworths or Warehouse to drop your vote in.

1 27 86

Reposted by UrbanAKL

the Juice Media @thejuicemedia.com · 5d

The Government of New Zealand has made a new tourism ad and it's surprsingly honest and informative!

Honest Government Ad | Visit New Zealand!

YouTube video by thejuicemedia

www.youtube.com

51 430 860

UrbanAKL @urbanakl.bsky.social · 5d

I count five sentences of fluff, just to highlight that:

"the Greens' director of communications... announced he was resigning from his role to take a break..."

Is shitting on the Greens more profitable than actual scandals from the coalition govt?

#Nzpol

RNZ News Feeds @rnzrss.bsky.social · 5d

Green Party loses another staffer

The party's director of communications has resigned.

www.rnz.co.nz

1 8 27