Andy McKay
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korimakoecology.bsky.social
Andy McKay
@korimakoecology.bsky.social
1K followers 2.3K following 1.9K posts
Aotearoa based Restoration/Applied Ecologist.

Skateboarding, punk rock and plants.

iNaturalist enthusiast https://inaturalist.nz/observations?place_id=any&user_id=andymckay&verifiable=any
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korimakoecology.bsky.social
Hell yeah brother
Vinyl cover of Skeptics III.
November 27, 2025 at 1:40 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
And from @maxrashbrooke.bsky.social June 2024 thespinoff.co.nz/politics/05-...
Recently, though, research by the Financial Times has found British and American millennials bucking that trend. Historically, a typical 35-year-old was already just five percentage points less conservative than the whole-population average, and becoming more conservative over time. People in that age group today, however, are roughly 15 points less conservative than the average – and showing no signs of shifting right. This makes them, the Financial Times declared, “by far the least conservative 35-year-olds in recorded history”. And, given what four decades of economic conservatism has bequeathed them – gaping inequalities, runaway climate change, insecure jobs and homes – no-one should have expected anything else.
November 27, 2025 at 12:26 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
We're also the most educated and well-travelled generation and reality has a left wing bias.
View New Zealand's New Zealand NZ: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Upper Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative from 1981 to 2015 in the chart: View New Zealand's New Zealand NZ: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Upper Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Female: % Cumulative from 1981 to 2015 in the chart:
November 27, 2025 at 12:16 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
A sign that says "Food scraps and paper only." In tiny writing below it says "This bin gets throwen (sic) over the side so no plastic, glass etc. cheers kunts (sic)"
November 26, 2025 at 7:37 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
We have strayed too far from God.
A stupid looking brown boot with a toe that has a sole at 90 degrees to the actual sole retailing for $3,901.
November 26, 2025 at 6:18 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
@memycoffeenbonsai.bsky.social I was actually thinking of you when I was up there today have you ever tried to bonsai pōkākā (Elaeocarpus hookerianus)? I found this very stunted one that looks reasonably old, but is in an exposed spot and would be getting constantly wind blasted.
Pōkākā with juvenile leaves. Miniature pōkākā in sub-alpine environment.
November 23, 2025 at 8:45 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
View from the tops.
Panorama shot of sub-alpine Aotearoa New Zealand bush and scrub. Looking out towards the ocean with blue sky's and a few clouds.
November 23, 2025 at 8:27 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
A few pics from today from up Kāpiti's Mount Maunganui.
Olearia arborescens, common tree daisy. Small white flowers with yellow centres with green leaves in the background. Dracophyllum filifolium. Long skinny vertical pointing leaves in green and brown. Hymenophyllum nephrophyllum. Kidney fern. A green fern in the shape of a kidney surrounded by brown sporangia. It looks like a Venus fly trap. Kōtukutuku. Fuchsia excorticata. The tree this area is named after. A striking pink/purple flower hanging vertically.
November 23, 2025 at 8:23 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
I'm not sure what species of digger bee as they were moving too fast to get a good look. One of these ones. www.fortheloveofbees.co.nz/ngaro-huruhuru
A poster showing the native bees of New Zealand.
November 23, 2025 at 4:48 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
Native bee burrows in hard clay.
Native bee burrows in hard clay covered in moss and rimu leaves. Native bees flying over dead rimu leaves on the ground. A native bee sitting on a dead rimu leaf on top of mossy ground.
November 23, 2025 at 4:44 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
This is what native bee habitat looks like in Aotearoa New Zealand. Not an introduced wildflower in sight.
November 23, 2025 at 4:41 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
Lol, what?

Not food for the people then?

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
"The majority of people attending this aren't the kind of people that usually go to a protest, they're Conservative right wingers," he said. "You're actively targeting the biggest hobby they have in their life, where most of the time, their most expensive asset next to their house is a boat."
November 22, 2025 at 8:25 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
People love the idea of importing overseas wild flower meadows into New Zealand (for the bees) but what they really want is a manicured flower garden. Most people see photos like this and tell us we need to mow it.

Mostly exotic species but high plant diversity and supports domestic honeybees.
Clover, plantain, buttercup, small-flowered catch fly and grasses. Plantain, pig root, small-flowered catch fly, clover, catsear and grasses. Pig root. Cats ear etc
November 22, 2025 at 5:19 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
Shaun Lee has some useful info here. Government position seems like creating a whole bunch of trouble for minimum benefit. blog.shaunlee.co.nz/ring-net-fis...
Commercial ring net fishers in the Hauraki Gulf catch an average of $26,588 worth of fish in the proposed protected areas, which is only 6.8% of their total Gulf catch (averaging $366,213 annually). In weight, this equates to 17,616 kg or 12.5% of their total catch. This demonstrates that the proposed protected areas account for a small percentage of their overall income, especially considering these fishers also operate on Auckland’s west coast. The average annual catch from the proposed protected areas is 17,616 kg worth $26,588, which is small compared to the natural variability in catch outside these areas. For example, the catch outside protected areas fluctuates by 35,103 kg and $141,801 across years, far exceeding the potential loss from protection.
November 22, 2025 at 5:03 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
Maximum 6 metre tinny fishing between Autumn and Winter only targeting kāhawai, grey mullet and trevally, selling to local markets vs a $100K plus Surtees stacked with $1000+ rods and reels targeting snapper and kingfish.

Fish for the people eh.
5 Restrictions and conditions apply to authorised personsThe restrictions and conditions set out in regulations 6 to 8 apply to personsauthorised to undertake ring net fishing in accordance with section 23 of theAct.6 Period when ring net fishing may be undertakenAn authorised person undertaking ring net fishing may do so only in the periodstarting on 1 March and ending on 31 August of each year.7 Species of fish that may be targetedAn authorised person undertaking ring net fishing may target only the follow‐ing species of fish:(a) (b) (c) kahawai:grey mullet:trevally.8 Other restrictions and conditions that applyAn authorised person undertaking ring net fishing—(a) (b) (c) (d) may use only 1 fishing vessel at any one time; andmust not use a fishing vessel that exceeds 6 metres in total length; andmust remain within the vicinity of the ring net while it is in operation;andmust ensure that the Director-General’s written authorisation givenunder section 23 of the Act is—(i) kept on board the fishing vessel; and22025/233Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection (RingNet Fishing) Regulations 2025 r 8(ii) maintained in a legible condition; and(iii) produced for inspection immediately on the request of a ranger.
November 22, 2025 at 4:59 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
So when is this magical time that Elon starts saving people and not killing them?
Clarifying Elon Musk's Role in the USAID Cuts and Resulting Deaths Yes, based on extensive reporting, expert analyses, and public discourse, Elon Musk bears partial but substantial responsibility for the ~600,000 excess deaths (including ~400,000 children) linked to the 2025 USAID cuts as of November 2025. This isn't about pinning everything on one person—it's a chain of policy decisions involving the Trump administration, Congress, and DOGE—but Musk's leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) made him a driving force in accelerating and executing the dismantling. Critics like Bill Gates, Nicholas Kristof, and Sen. Bernie Sanders have explicitly called him out for this, while Musk has denied any deaths occurred.
November 22, 2025 at 3:45 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
NZ Sport Fishing Council numbers below. Rec fishing is awesome and I love doing it but I'm under no illusion that I am magically saving money.
Species Trip-related spending per kg of skin-off fillets Fishing equipment spending per kg of skin-off fillets Big equipment spending per kg of skin-off fillets Total spending per kg of skin-off fillets Hapuku/Bass $45 $64 $60 $169 Snapper $75 $77 $73 $226 Kingfish $42 $176 $154 $371 Kahawai $129 $165 $147 $441 Trevally $197 $322 $362 $881 Blue Cod $187 $351 $389 $927
November 22, 2025 at 12:09 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
If we are serious about prioritising feeding New Zealanders, but only 12% of the pop are recreational fishers, while 72% of consumers purchase commercially caught fish at least once a month, why would we lock species up for a minority who can afford to run a boat? www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/...
Protest vehicle driving with a poster saying "Prioritise feeding New Zealanders." Protest vehicle with a flag saying 600,000 Kiwis Fish Our Voice 2019 data from the MPI Economic Intelligence Unit showing that 72% is survey respondents purchase seafood at least once a month.
November 21, 2025 at 11:20 PM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
Man I love tūī at this time of year with their harakeke pollen masks.
Ā tūī covered in orange/yellow pollen.
November 21, 2025 at 1:35 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
Man this whole album goes so hard.
Prodigy - The Fat Of The Land An aggressive looking crab at the beach.
November 19, 2025 at 8:59 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
...the meeting ended he emailed the group. He had found piharau. We jumped into vehicles to go see them. So cool! 2/2 🌏
Male piharau/lamprey in a lack fish bin. Unsexed younger piharau/lamprey in a black fish bin trying to escape.
November 18, 2025 at 5:16 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
Quite good
Ōtaki river mouth at sunset. Kāpiti Island is in distance.
November 16, 2025 at 8:18 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
The māhoe in the centre of the photo was there before we started. It was slowly getting choked by bindweed and morning glory.
Damage to māhoe from bindweed.
November 16, 2025 at 2:02 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
January 2020 November 2025.

Looking North towards the Waikākāriki Stream bridge.
A stream covered by morning glory, nasturtium and blackberry. There is a gravel footpath on the RHS. The same point of view 5 years later. No morning glory and the native vegetation is dominating.
November 16, 2025 at 1:59 AM
korimakoecology.bsky.social
February 2022 vs November 2022.

Looking up the Waikākāriki Stream.
A stream with steep banks. Most of the vegetation has been sprayed and is brown and dead. The same stream covered in growth. Both natives and lots of weeds.
November 16, 2025 at 1:56 AM