Kay in the End Times 🏳️‍🌈 💗💜💙📚

a group of people are dancing in front of a crowd with the words celebrate in the corner Alt: a couple of people in costumes are dancing in front of a crowd with the words celebrate in the corner

I did! Lovely to see @violetblue.bsky.social's photos + a few friends but there were so many more on the march + in the crowd! Like the days when Wellingtonians didn't organize socialing, we'd just meet on rallies, parades, at film festivals and at the local market.
🎪🌮🌯🍦
Newtown Festival tomorrow!

Wellington Pride Parade - Saturday 8 March 2025 Celebrate Wellington's iconic culture and diversity and show your support for the Rainbow and Takatāpui communities.

I was in #WellingtonPrideParade today for #WellingtonPride festival. I'm now scouring other people's feeds to see what I missed.
🏳️‍🌈🚶👯‍♂️
Watching from the sidelines viewers could see the whole parade! I had good chats but only saw a small part of the splendour! 🎇
www.wellingtonprideparade.co.nz

Wellington Pride 2026 Explore this photo album by Violet Blue on Flickr!

I started a #WellingtonPride album here: www.flickr.com/photos/viole...

And yes that's a double-decker bus in a Progress Pride flag paint job! And a matching bus stop 🥰 #Pride #Aotearoa #NewZealand

Selfie style photo of two people. One person is a stunning drag queen in a black wig, space-age wing 80s red sunglasses, many bangle necklaces, red lips and a glitter beard in a glossy sequin turquoise strappy dress, purple leopard print leggings, and riot grrrl docs. The selfie taker is in a pink visor that says "protect the dolls," heart-shaped rainbow glasses, and a white shirt with a trans pride flag that says PROUD. I am holding a fake jazzercise dumbell covered in trans pride color bling. This is our serious photo.

Selfie style photo of two people. One person is a stunning drag queen in a black wig, space-age wing 80s red sunglasses, many bangle necklaces, red lips and a glitter beard in a glossy sequin turquoise strappy dress, purple leopard print leggings, and riot grrrl docs. The selfie taker is in a pink visor that says "protect the dolls," heart-shaped rainbow glasses, and a white shirt with a trans pride flag that says PROUD. I am holding a fake jazzercise dumbell covered in trans pride color bling. We have broken character and are grinning like hams because we had a blast today.

I had the honor of marching in #WellingtonPride today side by side with legend @queenoliviaiii.com #Aotearoa #NewZealand #Pride

Went into town for Wellington Pride. Was the first time I've went down since I got here. Was a really good parade.
#Wellingtonpride #wlg #pride #nz #newzealand

So if we want to know why dialysis is being rationed, there's a clear answer: it's so the 311 richest families in the country can enjoy one of the lowest effective tax rates in the world. We're killing people in order to make the ultra-rich ultra-richer

In fact, the 'deficit' in the health system that National wants to 'reduce' is about $1.7 billion a year ... the difference between the tax that the 311 richest families actually pay and the tax they should equitably pay

The report looked at the 311 richest families in AoNZ and estimated - based on the records held - how much wealth they had, and how much tax they paid. The results are pretty interesting: on average, each of those families has about $276 million in assets and pays about 9% tax

High-wealth individuals research project

It all starts with a short visit to the lovely folks at IRD, who in 2021 started a research project about high-wealth individuals and how much tax they actually pay. One of the outputs from that work was a report in 2023, that was pretty damning

www.ird.govt.nz/hwi-research...

Cutting dialysis just to save a couple of dollars is truly toxic behaviour. But let's ask ourselves the question: where did the money that used to be available to keep people alive actually go?

A short thread.

#nzpol

I finished The Shabti by Megaera Lorentz (sp?). Enjoyable historical with fake and real psychics and some Egyptology. A low key nonspicy MM love story with men 40+ too ❤.

Also read YA by Colin Meloy, The Stars Wandered Darkly. Mildly scary + well written. Ending is a bit abrupt tho.
🥏📚 🛸📖📚

It costs over $200,000 per inmate per year to keep people in prison. Community based soluntions would be so much cheaper and better for almost everyone!

Maybe not better for owners of a private prison in NZ, Serco.
#NZpol

If Iran resists, the global economy will pay Western governments, including Australia and New Zealand, have backed US and Israeli strikes on Iran. But the decision risks economic catastrophe, regional escalation and the further erosion of intern...

Eugene Doyle: “Western governments, including Australia and New Zealand, have backed US and Israeli strikes on Iran. But the decision risks economic catastrophe, regional escalation and the further erosion of international law.”

johnmenadue.com/post/2026/03...

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones blasts Christchurch City Council's ocean sewage plan Mayor Phil Mauger has floated the idea of pumping sewage into the ocean to lessen the stench from the city's damaged treatment plant.

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones blasts Christchurch City Council's ocean sewage plan

He's not wrong about pollution risks but it's ironic he doesn't understand the same risks with his Drill baby drill approach to mining and deep sea dredging in Taranaki!
#NZpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Gloriavale leavers' lawyer calls for NZ Minister Louise Upston to resign after being 'duped' by Gloriavale leaders.
#NZpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon 'absolutely not' considering standing down The Prime Minister told Newstalk ZB all of his ministers were telling him they back him.

NZ PM Luxon 'absolutely not' considering standing down. He says all of the National Ministers back him too. Maybe gratitude for him appointing them to their positions?

Likely, other National MPs weren't asked. Poll speaks to voters' views.
#NZpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Analysis: What would it take for Christopher Luxon to quit as prime minister? Analysis - One of Luxon's weaknesses has been his inability to take feedback. Another is his complete lack of self-doubt, writes Jo Moir.

What would it take for Luxon to quit as NZ Prime Minister?

A flaw of Luxon is his inability to take feedback. Not even from his mentor John Key. Another flaw is Luxon's complete lack of self-doubt. He won't read focus group reports that say he's the problem.
👀🍿
#NZpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Social Development Minister says nothing suggests Gloriavale children unsafe following visit Louise Upston visited Gloriavale on 30 January where she met Overseeing Shepherd Stephen Standfast, senior leaders and other Gloriavale members.

Minister Upston says nothing suggests Gloriavale children unsafe.

Commonsense says otherwise.
#NZpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Visitors won't see abuse or culture silencing kids
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Is abuse leader Temple back at Gloriavale yet?
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

'I am not happy with that number': Willis reacts to PM Luxon's dire new poll The poor rating follows weeks of criticism of Christopher Luxon’s leadership.

'Asked if Luxon was the right person for the leadership, [Deputy Willis] said, “he has the backing of the National Party caucus”.

She didn’t believe there would be a coup before the election.'
#NzPol

Amnesty International calls for corporations to take responsibility for social media harm A select committee has released its report after an inquiry into social media harm for young people.

Misinformation in RNZ link header "Amnesty backs select committee on social media rules for U16s"

Amnesty International NZ opposes a social media ban for under-16-year-olds, because it does not address the root causes of harm.

Yes to other recommendations.
#NZpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Former MP Jackie Blue quits National to join Opportunity party Jackie Blue says she can't stay by what the government has done to low-paid workers.

"The Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025 was a hatchet job on 180,000 workers and is representative of a political system that lacks the courage and foresight New Zealand urgently needs."

#nzpol

‘That was the atomic bomb for me’ - Former Nat MP quits party, joins TOP She’s been a paid-up National Party member for nearly 25 years and was one of its MPs for eight years. But scrapping and replacing pay equity laws was the “atomic bomb”.

She’s been a paid-up National Party member for nearly 25 years and was one of its MPs for eight years. But scrapping and replacing pay equity laws was the “atomic bomb” which prompted her to quit and join The Opportunity Party. Now she’s a mentor to its leader. #nzpol
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...

U.S. Troops Were Told Iran War Is for “Armageddon,” Return of Jesus Advocacy group reports commanders giving similar messages at more than 30 installations in every branch of the military

When the US Secretary of Defense believes in a skewed religious mandate for attacks on Middle Eastern countries, is there any hope for this increasingly violent war to end?
#USpol #USpolitics #EndTimes
jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/us-troops-...

Another disgraceful action from the government. Again, the government has undermined the role of the courts, changed the law retrospectively, and ignored submissions against it.

Shame on the select committee members who were well aware of the harm the bill would cause and still voted for it. #nzpol

My submission on the bill the government has just rammed through Parliament.

It is a shameful piece of legislation that shreds constitutional norms, rewards illegal behaviour, breeds a culture of bureaucratic impunity, and imposes made-up debts on some of society's most vulnerable. #nzpol

What is it with National women? Both Paula Bennett and Louise Upston got state support when they were sole parents but forgot that when they became Ministers in charge of MSD! Why do they bash beneficiaries? Ruth Richardson and Nicola Willis are just as bad!
#NZpol
www.stuff.co.nz/national/pol...

Police told Kelly Wilkinson to ‘cool off’ and give estranged husband ‘a break’ days before he burned her to death, inquest hears Wilkinson was turned away by police while seeking help four days before she was murdered, Queensland coroner’s court told

Queensland cops should be charged as accessories to murder!

CW distressing story about avoidable death in 2021
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Government passes retrospective law codifying debt for beneficiaries The Government has passed a controversial law that will codify more than $63 million in debt owed by beneficiaries with ACC claims.

Hateful. #NzPol

She's celebrated rebrand of previous online tools and apps that haven't made much difference in the past. The so-called "new-screening" for employers seems limited.

I'm not an MSD UE beneficiary client but I had no difficulty signing up to ChamberWorks.
#NZpol
chamberworks.nz/skills-and-s...

Government passes retrospective law codifying debt for beneficiaries The Government has passed a controversial law that will codify more than $63 million in debt owed by beneficiaries with ACC claims.

NZ Govt continues cruel attacks on beneficiaries. Law passed so MSD can claw back payments to beneficiaries waiting on ACC assessment for injuries sustained as teens or to survivors of abuse. MSD claws back disability allowance and winter energy payment too
#NZpol
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...