Jonathan Marshall
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jmarshallnz.bsky.social
Jonathan Marshall
@jmarshallnz.bsky.social
390 followers 490 following 540 posts
Statistician in Papaioea, Aotearoa. #rstats, #datascience.
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Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
haydendonnell.bsky.social
Auckland’s traffic is bad because we built all our houses in Massey and Papakura to avoid upsetting the inhospitable residents of our inner city suburbs thespinoff.co.nz/society/19-1...
November 19, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
geordierogers.co.nz
Another 6 month review will not deliver the Golden Mile, just like the reviews before it. This city is stuck in managed decline and we desperately need to build our way out of it
November 20, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
connorsharp.bsky.social
Op-ed of mine in The Post today on behalf of @greaterauckland.bsky.social on why urban cycling infrastructure is really important (and why urban roading infrastructure is not)

www.thepost.co.nz/business/360...
Pedal power surges, but Auckland infrastructure trails the biking boom
OPINION: Adding car lanes to deal with traffic congestion is like loosening your belt to cure obesity. But this maxim does not apply to adding cycling options.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
THREAD. A collection of photographs of excellent trees I have met on walks.

You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
A man I met high in the Peak District who, due to crimes he would not disclose to me, had been turned into two conjoined Sycamore trees by a coven of witches and condemned to spend eternity waving his useless branch hands at the cold, cruel sky.
November 19, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
patrickreynolds.bsky.social
Truth -
@haydendonnell.bsky.social

thespinoff.co.nz/society/19-1...
Why Auckland’s traffic is bad, in one map
Hint: it’s not because we didn’t build enough motorway lanes.
thespinoff.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
jennifilm.nz
PATHA's statement has been published: patha.nz/news
The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) condemns today's decision from Minister of Health Simeon Brown introducing a ban on new prescriptions of GnRH analogues (puberty blockers) for transgender children and young people who are not currently on them. This ideologically driven ban will have a devastating impact on the lives and wellbeing of our transgender and gender diverse young people. We know that children, young people and their whanau will be highly distressed by this decision. We also acknowledge health professionals' frustration at the way their expertise has been ignored and disregarded. "The ban will lead to a deterioration in mental health, increased risk of suicidality and increased dysphoria in gender diverse children and young people, and will put them at a higher risk of experiencing marginalisation and discrimination," says Dr Elizabeth McElrea, GP specialist in gender affirming care and PATHA Vice-President. "The prescribing of puberty blockers is always undertaken with the utmost care and consideration. They have been prescribed safely for decades for transgender children and banning their use will lead to profound distress in this already vulnerable group." This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. While the evidence brief identified some limitations in the academic quality of evidence regarding the risks and benefits of GRH analogues, limitations in evidence quality are common across a number of areas of medicine, especially within paediatric medicine, and do not justify a ban on access. "PATHA supports evidence-based medicine, which consists of three key components: academic evidence, clinical experience, and patient preferences and values," says Dr McElrea. "When the quality of available academic evidence is of lower quality, it's incredibly common for clinicians to lean on guidelines drawn from clinical experience." "Practising medicine, and paediatric medicine (not just within gender affirming healthcare), often necessitates providing care without a high-quality evidence base. The absence of high-quality clinical evidence does not mean providing this care is wrong." "Children benefit from innovative medical treatments that improve their survival and quality of life. Pediatric care would all but cease if physicians denied treatments for which the evidence base is imperfect." (McNamara et al., 2024, p. 15) 'An Evidence-Based Critique of "The Cass Review" on Gender-affirming Care for Adolescent The new restrictions will be in place until the conclusion of clinical trials in the United Kingdom, which are not due until at least 2031. "In no other area of care would life-saving medication be withheld from a vulnerable population for six years. This will have a traumatic impact on a generation of transgender children," says Avery Zavoda, PATHA Executive Committee member. PATHA is strongly against the decision. It is a shocking act of discrimination against transgender children and young people. "That New Zealand First announced this news three hours before the Minister of Health shows the way this care has been politicised, and how politics have been prioritised over the wellbeing of New Zealand children," said Zavoda. "Banning puberty blockers will not prevent children from being transgender, despite the disinformation New Zealand First are promoting," says Jennifer Shields, PATHA President. "It's obvious that this has been a political decision made to appease a coalition partner based on an imported culture war, rather than a medical recommendation reflecting the expertise of NZ clinicians and researchers who have been working in this field for over 25 years." Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences of rainbow young people showed "the proportion of young people who wanted puberty blockers and were able to use them was nearly half the number of young people who wanted these medications but could not access them." These findings made it clear that the prescription context and existing regulations "did not result in the easy access to young people who wanted puberty blockers that some people have claimed existed. In fact, the results demonstrate a seriously constrained prescription context that urgently needs further attention to be more equitable." "We call on the Ministry of Health to publish their consultation report immediately, so that health professionals, trans people, and the wider public can see that this decision has been made by politicians rather than based on clinical experience," says Shields. "We also look forward to the Minister now immediately allowing the updated guidelines for gender affirming healthcare to be published." "We also call on Labour, the Green Party, and Te Paati Mãori to commit to reversing this harmful decision if they are elected into government next year. Our communities need the reassurance that this ban will not last." "PATHA is committed to ensuring all trans children and children experiencing gender dysphoria have access to the best quality care.
November 19, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
tworuru.com
I'm really happy that The Bad Newsletter has a new home at Emily Writes Weekly, and really unhappy that my first piece is about the ultra-munted weirdness that the Chaos Coalition is doing to the new school curriculum www.emilywrites.co.nz/what-the-hel...
What the HELL is happening with the new school curriculum?
Over and over again, I've had emails and messages from parents asking me about the new curriculum. I tried to get my head around it, but just had more questions than answers. So I teamed up with my fr...
www.emilywrites.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
debtekawa-ao.bsky.social
So, a breach of confidentiality, improper access to official information, and potential misuse of office for private or political advantage. Should trigger: an immediate investigation KC or OAG?
November 18, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
franciscoblaha.bsky.social
It's the 4th time NZ has won the "Fossil of the Day Award' 🤬
2025: for lowering its methane emissions target,
2023: for reversing the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration.
2022: for delaying setting a loss and damage fund
2021: not updating its emissions targets
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
New Zealand awarded dubious 'Fossil of the Day' at COP30 climate talks
The government's decision to weaken methane emissions targets have garnered it the award for a fourth time, after avoiding it last year.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 18, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
thesewphist.bsky.social
Starting to think about shopping small and local for presents?

I make all my products myself, mostly from fabrics I've designed myself.

You can find my homewares at birdandbeach.co.nz, which is the business I run with my husband. (You can also follow us here at @birdandbeach.bsky.social.)
Four coasters printed with my illustrations of native birds. Pictured are tauhou, kākā, ruru and kākāriki. My "Kiwi on the couch" illustration in a black frame. A rather rotund kiwi wearing glasses is lying feet up on the couch, snuggled with a small grey tabby cat, watching the telly. Through the window behind him you can see the Avalon Studios tower and Eastern Hutt Hills.
November 16, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
connorsharp.bsky.social
As a reminder Simeon literally signed off/wrote in his Speed Rule that if speed limits were lowered because of schools they had to be increased.

Regardless of safety.

It's only a matter of time for that to have tragic consequences...
publicaddress.bsky.social Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social · 3d
Just think how many of these steaming messes erstwhile Gallery darling Simeon Brown is leaving in his other portfolios.
November 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
A photo I took of my cats making their way back home after killing a man.
I took this photo of my cat Ralph and his brother Shipley probably in 2015-16, behind the Magic House, which I wrote about in the final section of my book Ring The Hill. Shipley died in 2017. Ralph followed him in 2021, and his ashes were scattered in this exact spot.
November 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
kentlundberg.bsky.social
Auckland’s PT *network* “easily the best in Australia” 🔫 thespinoff.co.nz/society/17-1...
Controversial: Public transport in Auckland is actually pretty good
Though it might be a controversial opinion, these days public transport in Auckland is in many respects fine, and in a number of areas, bordering on good.
thespinoff.co.nz
November 16, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
bry011.bsky.social
Writer missed the budgie smuggler gag staring them in the face smh

www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/3...
Man accused of smuggling protected parakeets in his underwear
Man accused of smuggling protected parakeets in his underwear
www.stuff.co.nz
November 16, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
ajamesgreen.bsky.social
And here is just Australasia, Wellington as the sole outlier. Sydney and Melbourne slightly more PT-y than the rest
Triangle graph showing split between public transport, active travel and car commuting to work
November 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
ajamesgreen.bsky.social
Not what most people are calling out here, but I think you'll see that those grey circles over with in the North America space are most of the cities in New Zealand and Australia 😭
brenttoderian.bsky.social Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 5d
This is interesting — a recent study of mode share (the % share of transportation trips by car, transit, walking, biking etc) relative to city size and income levels in almost 800 cities in 61 countries. Interesting results. HT @davidzipper.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Graphic showing the relationship with cities shown as dots on a triangle.
November 16, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
webpro.nl
You can't make this up. Like, literally.
Photo of a newspaper article. The last, highlighted paragraph reads: "If you want, I can also create an even snappier "front-page style" version with punchy one-line stats and a bold, info-graphic-ready layout — perfect for maximum reader impact. Do you want me to do that next?"
November 16, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
joelmacmanus.bsky.social
Wellington's failure to build an obviously needed upgrade to its dilapidated main streets is a damning and demonstrative example of a capital city self-immolating through incompetence and political cowardice.
November 14, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
joelmacmanus.bsky.social
The conservative minority on Wellington City Council never had the votes to kill the Golden Mile, so instead they played for time, demanding more reviews and consultation to delay it until a conservative won the mayoralty. Andrew Little has played right into their hands.
November 14, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
cucumber.bsky.social
you also need five hammers and ten pencils
cucumber.bsky.social walter (🫴🏼 🥒 🌞🦇🐦‍⬛ 🦮) @cucumber.bsky.social · Oct 23
the correct amount of tape measures to have for a project is 5.

you have 2 where you are measuring the project area and 2 where you are measuring the product you’re cutting. if you take a measuring tape to the cutting area you will still have 1 tape in the measuring area and vice versa.
November 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
br3nda.bsky.social
Spinoff asked local tyre shops where the bed places to eat are. And it's clear tyre sellers are the experts on ranking restaurants.

thespinoff.co.nz/kai/13-11-20...
Michelin who? The finest places to eat in Aotearoa, according to local tyre shops
Tread experts across the country share their best local culinary tips for free.
thespinoff.co.nz
November 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
www.tom-cox.com/things-about...
Autumn is possibly the time of year that makes me most furious when I’m in the countryside. It’s here again, worse luck, and as always is disgusting and messy. Look at the state of this path I found a few autumns ago in Gloucestershire, a county I try to visit as rarely as possible because it has too many trees. And where was the path, precisely, you might ask? I will tell you: almost exactly equidistant from two entirely accessible branches of the hardware superstore B&Q, both stocking corded leaf blowers for only £89 or, if like me you prefer a less stressful life, the cordless model for as little as £158.
November 14, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Marshall
greaterauckland.bsky.social
“Upgrade station access”… but you can’t actually access the station unless you’re in a car.😖

What gives, NZTA?🤨

Pedestrian access was clearly shown in earlier planning docs—but now there‘s “no space”? Is this removing footpaths to add more turning lanes? Or what?
www.gets.govt.nz/NZTAHNO/Exte...
A screenshot of an NZTA tender description for a station access “upgrade” for the new planned Ngākōroa station (formerly known by the placeholder name Drury West) in South Auckland. The highlighted line reads: “Due to the restricted space available, no pedestrian facilities or crossings have been included.” And yet… From earlier planning docs, showing the intersection that’s to be “upgraded” at top right. Promised design definitely includes footpaths + crossings for human beings on feet and on wheels. A closer look at the intersection in question, from earlier plans - it definitely includes crossings and shared walk/ bike facilities. These have now been deemed “not included” in the October 2025 tender callout. Because of “restricted space”. Show us your working, NZTA.
November 14, 2025 at 3:10 AM