There is a ‘thing’ happening in political editorials in #nzpol where suddenly we seemed to have switched from ‘the election is going to be very close’ to ‘National with Act will win’. It’s quite marked & startling given that NZ media is using the same polls to flip the narrative I don’t want to name the media stations as it’s been mostly junior #nzpol reporters who have been covering politics over the holiday weekend while Act’s party is on but we need a bit more editorial oversight please because calling outcomes has a voter suppression effect

Last time I was phoned by media while on holiday it was when Jacinda Ardern was put forward as leader - I recall media saying it will be disaster won’t it? I couldn’t have disagreed more- as PM Ardern gave it everything, & made it look easy-it’s not #nzpol newshub.co.nz/home/politics/… Ardern often made leading look effortless but the effort is enormous- expect misogyny now in comments about her ‘not hacking the pace’ etc-Frankly she set the pace & we will need more leaders like her, who can cope with disasters in a changing climate/pandemic/war/economic stress

The case of a far right extremist provocatively standing for school board election in a diverse multicultural school isn’t about winning an election it’s about mainstreaming hate, creating publicity & disruption-a huge challenge for liberal democracies & tolerant societies #nzpol There was an incisive analysis of the challenge by NZ chair of the Federation of Islamic Associations Absur Rassaq on @NZMorningReport I got the feeling his sharp analysis was far beyond what RNZ editorial had anticipated-but we need media editors on board rnz.co.nz/national/progr…

I found this a very tough listen. A long way to go to understand the legal and political responsbilities we have to future generations in #nzpol -in the future we will look back at the stand Mike Smith is taking and celebrate his and the Iwi Council's vision but its a hard battle

https://twitter.com/Niamh_OFlynn/status/1558965507260579840

case resumes at 2.15pm after a lunch break- I need a mental health/despair break but you can listen here n-tech.co.nz/Supremecourt1.… I suggest viewing between the fingers of both hands -or follow @GeoffMcLay1 (🙏) -HT @openpolicynz, but non lawyers might need a few interp notes

In my view what is most significant about the #nzpol PM’s comments today on the NZ #GeorgeFloydProtests isn’t the comment that NZ may move to L1 soon after cabinet (yes this defuses opposition) it was the progressive political confidence with which she tackled the key issues 1/3 She made 3 important comments 1) she acknowledged the ‘horrifying’ nature of unfolding events in the USA, 2) she acknowledged the urgency that youth especially feel about that situation & the connection with experiences of racism/ extremismin NZ & concern about arming police 2/3

Well I truly did not expect that. Attending a Friday night lecture on the anthropocene (yes my life is that sad) and an elderly man stood up to ask a question. Forgive me but he looked like so many elderly men who have stood up to correct me about climate change & why it’s a hoax He began, ‘as an elderly man I look at the rise of the #metoo generation of women finding their voice to speak against decades of abuse, & I look at the likes of Pell & those who defend him & I listen to the children striking against what it is my generation of men have done’