Parua Sarah
LightNews LightNews
banner
paruasarah.bsky.social
Parua Sarah
@paruasarah.bsky.social
220 followers 230 following 390 posts
Writer of murder mysteries, technical writer, gardener.
Living in a small beach town in the North of New Zealand.
sarahhorth.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
paruasarah.bsky.social
Best takedown of Luxon's kiwisaver policy. Robert MacCulloch calls the policy a comms lie and the PM a plagiarist. Tell us how you really feel, Robert 😆 #nzpol
Low income earners biggest losers in Kiwisaver changes - economics expert www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
Low income earners biggest losers in Kiwisaver changes - economics expert
The biggest losers in National's bid to super size Kiwisaver are low income earners and small businesses according to an economics expert. If re-elected National is proposing to raise Kiwisaver contri...
www.rnz.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 4:18 AM
paruasarah.bsky.social
Timeline cleanse: duckling invasion this morning!
An image looking down at 5 ducklings at climbing around a human's gumboots, with mama duck looking on.
September 28, 2025 at 7:40 AM
paruasarah.bsky.social
Well worth the depressing read. @clrenney.bsky.social gives clear budget analysis #nzpol
open.substack.com/pub/craigren...
The Reverse Robin Hood Budget
Do you feel back on track yet?
open.substack.com
May 24, 2025 at 8:24 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
It's that time of year! Feijoas are back, baby! #kikorangi 🌱🇳🇿
A feijoa in its deliciousness cut open New baby feijoa tree full of fruit.
February 28, 2025 at 9:52 AM
paruasarah.bsky.social
We planted our mostly nz native windbreak, mostly following the miyawaki forest method, and it's growing so fast. Close to 3x as fast as the trees planted on their own! This section is a bit over a year old and started as tiny seedlings. #tinyforest #miyawaki 🌱🇳🇿 #nzgardening
Nz native plant windbreaker about 4 to 5 feet tall, including manuka, kowhai. Whau, five fingers Nz native plant windbreaker some plants over 5 feet tall, including manuka, kowhai. Whau, flax, pohutukawa Nz native plant windbreaker some plants over 5 feet tall, including manuka, kowhai. Whau, flax, pohutukawa
December 21, 2024 at 2:33 AM
Reposted by Parua Sarah
domesticanimal.bsky.social
PM Christopher Luxon promised to “supercharge” the EV network. So, how’s that working out?
Let me draw you a picture.
My Stuff #cartoon today #NZpol #EVs #ClimateTargets #ZeroCarbon
Cartoon. Two drawings. The left one shows PM Christopher Luxon flying in under a lightning bolt balloon, waving two flags that read “EV chargers” and shouting “Woohoo!”. 2023 written underneath. The other shows Luxon landed, balloon deflated, holding a flag that says “Petrol” and he’s muttering “Woohoo” Underneath it says 2024.
December 17, 2024 at 6:50 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
Managed to very the teenager out of his cave on this beautifully sunny day. It feels like AoNZ summer with the flowering pohutukawa. #kikorangi #aonz
A teenager paddling a kayak from the perspective of another kayaker. Flowering pohutukawa with a very blue sky above
December 7, 2024 at 3:03 AM
paruasarah.bsky.social
A great Saturday morning open to everyone to read/ listen. Bernard nails it as usual! "the Government is playing for time with vague, handwavey and gaslighty comments about both meeting the targets and not doing anything..."
#nzpol #climatechange
open.substack.com/pub/thekaka/...
My Saturday Soliloquy for Dec 7
Six things that mattered this week: Luxon's austerity strategy; Reneging on Paris; Evidence-light NZ Inc; 'Break up the gentailers'; 'We won't borrow to build'; Homelessness worsens.
open.substack.com
December 6, 2024 at 7:51 PM
Reposted by Parua Sarah
anothermike100.bsky.social
New Zealand drug buying agency, Pharmac is planning to stop funding Estradot HRT patches. The planned alternative is universally regarded as shit by medical professionals. Please take a few seconds to sign this petition.

www.change.org/p/mandate-go...
Sign the Petition
Mandate Government Funding for keeping ESTRADOT HRT Patches funded for Menopausal Women
www.change.org
November 28, 2024 at 10:09 AM
paruasarah.bsky.social
Green mulch! I've been so happy with my Tithonia (Mexican sunflower) as a green mulch-grows aggressively and is easy to chop up, easy to propigate, and gives me so much leaf matter. Only issue is, it grows so well it feels a bit like a triffid, ready to take over. 🌱
A close up of a tithonia plant
November 23, 2024 at 9:21 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
My strawberries are taking off! There's something so magical about plants giving you food!

#kikorangi 🌱
A giant strawberry held in a hand with plants in the background.
November 23, 2024 at 2:02 AM
Reposted by Parua Sarah
jasandten.bsky.social
another way to show support for Hīkoi mō te Tiriti is to vote in the Stuff poll. you can be sure they're monitoring all the clicks they get on anything Hīkoi-related and we need to show them it's important - and drown out the noes.

#ToituTeTiriti #kikorangi #nzpol

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3503...
Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz
November 13, 2024 at 3:34 AM
paruasarah.bsky.social
So many inspiring speeches in Whangārei today!

#ToitūteTiritihīkoi
Hīkoi activation crowd at Whangārei
November 11, 2024 at 10:22 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
Swedish author Fredrik Backman talks about creative anxiety and writer's block. Just 4 minutes long but it made my day 😄 #writingcommunity💙📚
youtu.be/NSuSyZ92Cjg?...
Fredrik Backman on Creative Anxiety and Procrastination
At the Simon & Schuster centennial, author Fredrik Backman discusses the highs and lows of being an author, from attempting to get along with the voices in your brain, to the hidden joys of jet lag. Learn more about Fredrik's book, THE WINNERS: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Winners/Fredrik-Backman/Beartown-Series/9781982112806 Celebrate our 100th anniversary with us: https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/simon-and-schuster-100th-anniversary Watch more author highlights ►►https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-71r3OWGsTGaKXZIrM2GHRsLfdGkDU5I&si=keFF0VaGUrw37v1U
youtu.be
May 17, 2024 at 8:40 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
I really appreciated the writing in this dystopian book (not a YA novel). As a skimmer of overly detailed descriptions, I found myself having to go back as the writing was sparse and deliberate. There's a core mystery, PNW-setting, and plenty of character-driven storyline. Well worth a read. 💙📚
Cover of the novel, Poster Girl, by Veronica Roth
April 26, 2024 at 10:52 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
A bit late, yesterday's WIP Snips word: Bring
When you're interviewing neighbors about a missing girl and you bring some banter.
#WIPSnips #writingcommunity #authors
Quote from the WIP book, The Damp Zone “All I could see were the penises they had instead of heads.” She smiled, showing a row of uneven teeth. Hazel made a production of bringing out her notebook. “Peens for heads,” she drawled as she wrote. The woman let out a huge barking laugh and stuck out her hand. “I like you. Tanya Brown, born and bred Seattle.”
April 12, 2024 at 10:16 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
#pukapuka 📚💙
Just picked this up on sale at the Warehouse. Will review soon.
Book cover: under the weather
April 12, 2024 at 4:22 AM
paruasarah.bsky.social
When you ask your mentor for help with a murder case. #WIPSnips #writingcommunity #murdermystery #climatefiction
Quote from The Damp Zone novel: "Afternoon, Tommy, you old codger.” Hazel leaned into his shirt, inhaling the smell of damp wool and cloves. He pulled back, his eyes crinkling into a smile, and turned to Oscar, his arm still around Hazel’s shoulders. “Thank God you guys showed up, gives me a break from my taskmaster. I’m a fucking terrible carpenter. What I wouldn’t give to go back to murder and mayhem and hire someone else to do the fixing.” “We could help with that,” Hazel said.
April 10, 2024 at 9:09 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
Sanity: "There's very good reasons why we still want parents to keep their kids home if their kids have got the flu, or a cold, or Covid... other kids get sick, teachers get sick, then other parents get sick and it has a flow on consequence for everybody," he said.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Chris Hipkins says sick children shouldn't be at school
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says sending children who are unwell to school has consequences for everyone.
www.rnz.co.nz
April 9, 2024 at 10:54 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
When your bad guy starts on one of his rants, it's hard to not to be sceptical.
#WIPSnips #writingcommunity #climatefiction #authors
Exerpt of the WIP book The Damp Zone: “You’ll be the example, the Eve.” What the hell was he talking about? “If I marry you.” “Not if. When.” He patted her hand. “The other choice is not good. Providing sex as a utility isn’t a fun place to be. You doubt me, and yes, I suspect this seems strange to you. We traditionalists  see the world more clearly. You will come to see my view is true.”
April 9, 2024 at 9:41 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity Thought I'd join in with my WIP Cli-fi mystery. Backstory with a glance:
Grey box reads "As they walked down the wide front stairs, Hazel glanced over to the mural covering the apartment building in front. Dozens of faded eyes looked back from the cubist-style artwork, painted as a memorial to the people they had lost during the influenza pandemic of 2035 and 2036."
April 9, 2024 at 1:44 AM
paruasarah.bsky.social
💙📚 Interesting murder mystery. The format is unusual: a collection of written evidence being reviewed by young lawyery types. Good puzzle, but missed having an emotional connection with an investigator-protagonist striving for justice. A busman's holiday as I often search docs for info for my job!
April 7, 2024 at 10:28 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
So these kids "push through" and come to school with snot or a cough. So my kid gets the cough, but his symptoms are worse, then I get it... Have we learnt nothing? www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Students' tips for high attendance: 'Push through' minor illnesses to come to school
As the government announces a crackdown on truancy, students with high attendance rates say they ignore coughs and runny noses and go to class.
www.rnz.co.nz
April 7, 2024 at 8:05 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
Can't imagine Act voters would like being fined 3k to visit relatives half a world away, what with them being libertarians.
#nzpol
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/education...
Sickness-related school absences to be targeted under government plan
David Seymour questions a spike in health-related school absences.
www.nzherald.co.nz
April 3, 2024 at 6:56 PM
paruasarah.bsky.social
How to stir up a hornet's nest: "New Zealand First doesn't seem to have much influence at all over what's happening, so it does make us question who is running the country and making the decisions moving forward." Carmel Sepuloni

www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

#nzpol
April 2, 2024 at 9:27 PM