Gwynn Compton
@gwynncompton.bsky.social
Former local govt councillor, current govt relations and policy guy, writes about local government at www.localaotearoa.nz, overly enthusiastic runner. 🏃♂️👟
If we didn’t have bad luck etc etc… still no luck applying for teaching roles, we have to replace one of our cars because it’s finally failed a WOF so catastrophically it’s not worth fixing, and the builder across the road just damaged our fence by scrapping his van along it… 🤦♂️
November 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
If we didn’t have bad luck etc etc… still no luck applying for teaching roles, we have to replace one of our cars because it’s finally failed a WOF so catastrophically it’s not worth fixing, and the builder across the road just damaged our fence by scrapping his van along it… 🤦♂️
First time I’ve had to abort a run due to lightning. ⛈️ Saw one flash a 1km into my run and didn’t think much of it. Saw the second a bit closer and decided to check the lightning map. Were both just off Kāpiti Island which was about 5km from where I was, so turned a did a shorter loop
close to home.
close to home.
November 27, 2025 at 4:26 PM
First time I’ve had to abort a run due to lightning. ⛈️ Saw one flash a 1km into my run and didn’t think much of it. Saw the second a bit closer and decided to check the lightning map. Were both just off Kāpiti Island which was about 5km from where I was, so turned a did a shorter loop
close to home.
close to home.
Reposted by Gwynn Compton
The Coalition keeps saying it isn’t going to force council amalgamations, but its new local government proposal funnels regions straight towards them, with the Local Government Minister having the final say. 👇
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/coalition-...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/coalition-...
Coalition lays groundwork for local government amalgamations
In what may become the most consequential restructuring of local government since the 1989 reforms, the National-led Coalition Government has taken the first formal step towards large-scale council am...
localaotearoa.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:18 AM
The Coalition keeps saying it isn’t going to force council amalgamations, but its new local government proposal funnels regions straight towards them, with the Local Government Minister having the final say. 👇
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/coalition-...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/coalition-...
Oh joy... our Honda has failed its WOF and the cost to fix is worth more than the car is... so question is whether we buy a replacement car or try to go a couple of months with just the one vehicle... only bright side is that given the time of year we could probably get away with one car till Jan...
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Oh joy... our Honda has failed its WOF and the cost to fix is worth more than the car is... so question is whether we buy a replacement car or try to go a couple of months with just the one vehicle... only bright side is that given the time of year we could probably get away with one car till Jan...
Reposted by Gwynn Compton
Big changes are coming for local government. “Radical simplification” might be overselling things, but shifting to a single-tier of local government is still the biggest change since 1989.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/oversold-o...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/oversold-o...
Oversold or not, a shake-up is coming for local government
In the biggest hint yet that time is about to be called on the existence of regional councils , Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has repeatedly told media over the last two days that the Government ha...
localaotearoa.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Big changes are coming for local government. “Radical simplification” might be overselling things, but shifting to a single-tier of local government is still the biggest change since 1989.
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/oversold-o...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/oversold-o...
Reposted by Gwynn Compton
For thirty years I worked in the post-Soviet successor states in Central Asia and observed over and over again precisely the cycle that Bill Kristol describes. Corruption leads to authoritarianism, directly. The path is utterly predictable.
November 17, 2025 at 12:02 AM
For thirty years I worked in the post-Soviet successor states in Central Asia and observed over and over again precisely the cycle that Bill Kristol describes. Corruption leads to authoritarianism, directly. The path is utterly predictable.
Had a flying visit to Havelock North today for a job interview 👨🏫
November 17, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Had a flying visit to Havelock North today for a job interview 👨🏫
Have my first teaching job interview pencilled in for next week... 🤞
November 13, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Have my first teaching job interview pencilled in for next week... 🤞
Reposted by Gwynn Compton
Mark Mitchell on RNZ Morning Report saying "just a few bad apples, rest of the Police are all goods". But the IPCA doesn't really seem to agree with this assessment?
November 11, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Mark Mitchell on RNZ Morning Report saying "just a few bad apples, rest of the Police are all goods". But the IPCA doesn't really seem to agree with this assessment?
House is turning into a casualty ward. I’m recovering from my tooth extraction and oldest boy didn’t make it past school drop off as he has this weird cough that is horrendous in the mornings and is playing up something chronic today.
November 11, 2025 at 7:57 PM
House is turning into a casualty ward. I’m recovering from my tooth extraction and oldest boy didn’t make it past school drop off as he has this weird cough that is horrendous in the mornings and is playing up something chronic today.
I think the funniest thing about Luxon talking about asset sales is that he appears to be under the illusion that he has political capital to spend on the idea.
November 11, 2025 at 7:00 AM
I think the funniest thing about Luxon talking about asset sales is that he appears to be under the illusion that he has political capital to spend on the idea.
Very weird feeling getting a molar taken out. Felt like the dentist was trying to yank out a screw. Anaesthetic was so strong and plentiful that I didn’t even realised he’d manage to pop it out. Took the tooth home just so I can glare at the thing that’s caused so much angst.
November 11, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Very weird feeling getting a molar taken out. Felt like the dentist was trying to yank out a screw. Anaesthetic was so strong and plentiful that I didn’t even realised he’d manage to pop it out. Took the tooth home just so I can glare at the thing that’s caused so much angst.
Never noticed on Kāpiti Coast District Council's flood mapping project portal they have this cool tool showing the extent of housing development over the past century. Demonstrates how Kāpiti has grown over the decades.
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/53e3...
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/53e3...
November 10, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Never noticed on Kāpiti Coast District Council's flood mapping project portal they have this cool tool showing the extent of housing development over the past century. Demonstrates how Kāpiti has grown over the decades.
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/53e3...
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/53e3...
Reposted by Gwynn Compton
Falsifying evidence seems like the kind of thing that should disqualify you from doing a job where being trustworthy is a key requirement #nzpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Over 100 police officers investigated after 30,000 breath tests falsified
Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael Johnson says the numbers are "incredibly disappointing and concerning".
www.rnz.co.nz
October 31, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Falsifying evidence seems like the kind of thing that should disqualify you from doing a job where being trustworthy is a key requirement #nzpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
At 42, nearly done retraining for a new career, and I’m somehow back at “need experience to get the job, need the job to get experience.” Feels like déjà vu, just now with a mortgage, back pain, and less hair. 🫠
October 31, 2025 at 4:32 AM
At 42, nearly done retraining for a new career, and I’m somehow back at “need experience to get the job, need the job to get experience.” Feels like déjà vu, just now with a mortgage, back pain, and less hair. 🫠
Between you and me, if I were a freshly elected mayor who had just called out the toxic behaviour towards my predecessor, I wouldn't then go and reward one of the central figures in creating that toxicity by making them chair of an influential subcommittee... 🤦♂️
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Wellington's new mayor Andrew Little says Tory Whanau faced 'toxic behaviour'
In a speech to supporters on Saturday night, Little said Whanau had shown courage during her time as mayor.
www.rnz.co.nz
October 29, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Between you and me, if I were a freshly elected mayor who had just called out the toxic behaviour towards my predecessor, I wouldn't then go and reward one of the central figures in creating that toxicity by making them chair of an influential subcommittee... 🤦♂️
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Four job rejections in and I feel like I'm right back where I was 12 months ago despite being on track to have completely retrained in five weeks time, with glowing marks and recommendations, into a professional that's meant to have a huge shortage of staff... 😞
October 29, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Four job rejections in and I feel like I'm right back where I was 12 months ago despite being on track to have completely retrained in five weeks time, with glowing marks and recommendations, into a professional that's meant to have a huge shortage of staff... 😞
What I love most about this story is that you can almost sense Luxon's press team in their response hoping nobody asks him questions in person so he doesn't deliver another "I'm wealthy and sorted" foot in mouth moment
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/prime-min...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/prime-min...
PM secures $8100 rates cut on luxury Waiheke holiday home
Ninety per cent of property owners who challenged valuations are waiting for decisions.
www.nzherald.co.nz
October 23, 2025 at 5:11 AM
What I love most about this story is that you can almost sense Luxon's press team in their response hoping nobody asks him questions in person so he doesn't deliver another "I'm wealthy and sorted" foot in mouth moment
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/prime-min...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/prime-min...
The way the house is creaking and watching the TV aerial on the roof re-orient itself with each gust, I really just want to put a pillow over my head and go to sleep until the storm has finished.
October 23, 2025 at 3:39 AM
The way the house is creaking and watching the TV aerial on the roof re-orient itself with each gust, I really just want to put a pillow over my head and go to sleep until the storm has finished.
That wind went from nothing when I woke up at 5:30am to gales really quickly. Going to be a wild day if it gets as bad as is forecast with the warnings…
October 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
That wind went from nothing when I woke up at 5:30am to gales really quickly. Going to be a wild day if it gets as bad as is forecast with the warnings…
Reposted by Gwynn Compton
Feeling a sense of supercity déjà vu? Wellington’s push for a single unitary council is back for another round. 🥊
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/wellington...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/wellington...
Wellington's endless amalgamation debate: here we go again...
Voters in Porirua and Lower Hutt have opened the door for a possible unitary council for the Wellington region - a move that reignites one of local government’s most persistent and divisive debates.
localaotearoa.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Feeling a sense of supercity déjà vu? Wellington’s push for a single unitary council is back for another round. 🥊
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/wellington...
localaotearoa.substack.com/p/wellington...
I think we can safely conclude that Waikanae Beach’s NIMBYs have completely jumped the shark 🙄🦈
October 17, 2025 at 9:39 PM
I think we can safely conclude that Waikanae Beach’s NIMBYs have completely jumped the shark 🙄🦈
The photographer who took this snap understood the brief!
Tick, tick, tick. 6pm and still no final results for Kaipara District Council, which had been promised by late afternoon. A cynic might think council leadership was delaying the declaration of results it doesn’t like. @newsroom.co.nz newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/17/k...
Kaipara's embarrassing mayor, his heir and the spare
Opinion: 'He's clinging on to his last day in power. I am hoping that after today, he will be consigned to the dustbin of history.' – Peter Linnell, local resident
newsroom.co.nz
October 17, 2025 at 5:33 AM
The photographer who took this snap understood the brief!
If you’re going to make a case about how important local government is, maybe making your myth busting point about a service that plenty of councils let private contractors do instead of delivering themselves isn’t the endorsement of councils existence you think it is 🤦♂️
October 17, 2025 at 5:31 AM
If you’re going to make a case about how important local government is, maybe making your myth busting point about a service that plenty of councils let private contractors do instead of delivering themselves isn’t the endorsement of councils existence you think it is 🤦♂️
Me after I get a triple bogey on the 18th:
Vulgar graffiti on the northwestern cycle path, yet more evidence this city has descended into lawlessness
October 16, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Me after I get a triple bogey on the 18th: