Paul Thistoll
@pault.bsky.social
Human Rights Defender / Founder of Rights Aotearoa @rightsaotearoa.bsky.social || he/him || Proud alumnus of London Business School || ❤️Food & Wine || Trans rights are human rights || paul@rightsaotearoa.nz
Pinned
Paul Thistoll
@pault.bsky.social
· Oct 17
There are three main ways you can help my work with Rights Aotearoa:
First, you can tip me coffee money directly at:
Paul Thistoll
03-0547-0039160-001
(I can't tell you how important these little coffee tips are to my emotional morale - they really keep me going!)
First, you can tip me coffee money directly at:
Paul Thistoll
03-0547-0039160-001
(I can't tell you how important these little coffee tips are to my emotional morale - they really keep me going!)
Someone on the interweb just accused me of not knowing anything about the law! Fun times on Xmas day!
December 24, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Someone on the interweb just accused me of not knowing anything about the law! Fun times on Xmas day!
Thankful to be spending Xmas with Lola’s family.
Turkey, duck and more!
Embarrassed by the riches of our dinner when so many are doing it tough.
Turkey, duck and more!
Embarrassed by the riches of our dinner when so many are doing it tough.
December 24, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Thankful to be spending Xmas with Lola’s family.
Turkey, duck and more!
Embarrassed by the riches of our dinner when so many are doing it tough.
Turkey, duck and more!
Embarrassed by the riches of our dinner when so many are doing it tough.
Merry Xmas everybody 🍾🥂🍾!
December 24, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Merry Xmas everybody 🍾🥂🍾!
Reposted by Paul Thistoll
Soooo. I am the new co chair for Wairarapa Branch of Te Pāti Māori. We want to make sure our voice is at the table and no one ever speaks on our behalf again without talking for us.
Especially as we have Papawai, which housed almost 400 people for the Māori Parliament.
Especially as we have Papawai, which housed almost 400 people for the Māori Parliament.
a cartoon character wearing a mask and a cape is standing on a ledge with lightning behind him
ALT: a cartoon character wearing a mask and a cape is standing on a ledge with lightning behind him
media.tenor.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Soooo. I am the new co chair for Wairarapa Branch of Te Pāti Māori. We want to make sure our voice is at the table and no one ever speaks on our behalf again without talking for us.
Especially as we have Papawai, which housed almost 400 people for the Māori Parliament.
Especially as we have Papawai, which housed almost 400 people for the Māori Parliament.
Holy moly it’s leaked.
60 Minutes Inside CECOT segment
December 22, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Holy moly it’s leaked.
Starting to relax! :-)
December 22, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Starting to relax! :-)
Reposted by Paul Thistoll
Imagine going after the Sikh community of all people. They have more integrity in their pinky finger that the entire church of Tamaki.
a woman in a pink dress is saying i said what i said
ALT: a woman in a pink dress is saying i said what i said
media.tenor.com
December 21, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Imagine going after the Sikh community of all people. They have more integrity in their pinky finger that the entire church of Tamaki.
Come on surely Nz is going to declare
December 21, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Come on surely Nz is going to declare
Drinking Last Shephard Shiraz and watching the cricket with Lola!
December 21, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Drinking Last Shephard Shiraz and watching the cricket with Lola!
Gendall J's decision at para 101 agrees with me about why I took the Judicial Review. It was to ensure the integrity of the appointment process in the future.
The Chief Human Rights Commissioner is one of the most important roles in NZ, and the appointee should be knowledgeable about human rights.
The Chief Human Rights Commissioner is one of the most important roles in NZ, and the appointee should be knowledgeable about human rights.
![[101]
I agree with the applicant that the declaration sought here would serve a real purpose in ensuring that future recommendations for the position of human rights commissioners proceed lawfully. When potential appointees for such positions occupy an important public office intended to help ensure the human rights of New Zealander’s are upheld and promoted, there is a clear and substantial public interest in having errors in their appointment publicly declared.
Conclusion
[102]
The judicial review application is granted.
[103]
I make the declaration that the Decision was unlawful because:
(a)
the Minister applied the incorrect legal test; and
(b)
the Minister failed to take into account relevant considerations.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:b7y7isv72z6ku7rtpu7zvfzy/bafkreiabfhn6kako3ufwvxqnsfxqsaxkxudhsk6etaj2g73nfjl5tf2u4y@jpeg)
December 21, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Gendall J's decision at para 101 agrees with me about why I took the Judicial Review. It was to ensure the integrity of the appointment process in the future.
The Chief Human Rights Commissioner is one of the most important roles in NZ, and the appointee should be knowledgeable about human rights.
The Chief Human Rights Commissioner is one of the most important roles in NZ, and the appointee should be knowledgeable about human rights.
« À la recherche du temps perdu » — bientôt disponible
The atomic ensemble time scale at the NIST Boulder campus has failed.
December 20, 2025 at 11:28 PM
« À la recherche du temps perdu » — bientôt disponible
Interesting - will this affect anything?
🚨THE ATOMIC ENSEMBLE TIME SCALE AT THE NIST BOULDER CAMPUS HAS FAILED🚨
THE HYDROGEN MASER CLOCKS ARE APPROACHING THEIR BACKUP LIMIT!
AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
(now w/alt text)
Trump take standards.
THE HYDROGEN MASER CLOCKS ARE APPROACHING THEIR BACKUP LIMIT!
AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
(now w/alt text)
Trump take standards.
December 20, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Interesting - will this affect anything?
The Sikh religion and wider culture will unambiguously:
- feed you when you are hungry
- give you clothes/blankets when you are cold
- shelter you when you are homeless
- organise a doctor when you are sick
Their selfless generosity is legion.
Brian Tamaki is really out-of-line and dangerous.
- feed you when you are hungry
- give you clothes/blankets when you are cold
- shelter you when you are homeless
- organise a doctor when you are sick
Their selfless generosity is legion.
Brian Tamaki is really out-of-line and dangerous.
December 20, 2025 at 11:13 PM
The Sikh religion and wider culture will unambiguously:
- feed you when you are hungry
- give you clothes/blankets when you are cold
- shelter you when you are homeless
- organise a doctor when you are sick
Their selfless generosity is legion.
Brian Tamaki is really out-of-line and dangerous.
- feed you when you are hungry
- give you clothes/blankets when you are cold
- shelter you when you are homeless
- organise a doctor when you are sick
Their selfless generosity is legion.
Brian Tamaki is really out-of-line and dangerous.
LMAO! We all have our cable drawer.
December 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
LMAO! We all have our cable drawer.
Reposted by Paul Thistoll
The theme of the week is: courts telling the govt they have to actually consider evidence before making policy decisions, not just pretend to consider it and then do whatever the fuck the minister wants to do anyway
Much to think about
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Much to think about
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Supreme Court finds government must consider climate change when offering oil and gas tenders
The country's highest court says climate change is "a pressing concern" when it comes to oil exploration - but Shane Jones says it must not triumph over energy security.
www.rnz.co.nz
December 19, 2025 at 4:18 AM
The theme of the week is: courts telling the govt they have to actually consider evidence before making policy decisions, not just pretend to consider it and then do whatever the fuck the minister wants to do anyway
Much to think about
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Much to think about
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Btw, in my opinion Jen is one of the best people in all our fair little country.
An amazing person, advocate, and fighter for human rights. An absolutely first class mind and intellect too.
Every conversation with her is a delight and I wish her a very restful holiday.
An amazing person, advocate, and fighter for human rights. An absolutely first class mind and intellect too.
Every conversation with her is a delight and I wish her a very restful holiday.
Even though it’s unenforceable, as of today it is illegal to prescribe puberty blockers to a trans child in Aotearoa. We now know that the Ministry recommended against this, that no one asked for it, and no one thought it was a good idea except for cabinet. This ban is a stain on our history.
December 19, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Btw, in my opinion Jen is one of the best people in all our fair little country.
An amazing person, advocate, and fighter for human rights. An absolutely first class mind and intellect too.
Every conversation with her is a delight and I wish her a very restful holiday.
An amazing person, advocate, and fighter for human rights. An absolutely first class mind and intellect too.
Every conversation with her is a delight and I wish her a very restful holiday.
Reposted by Paul Thistoll
Even though it’s unenforceable, as of today it is illegal to prescribe puberty blockers to a trans child in Aotearoa. We now know that the Ministry recommended against this, that no one asked for it, and no one thought it was a good idea except for cabinet. This ban is a stain on our history.
December 18, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Even though it’s unenforceable, as of today it is illegal to prescribe puberty blockers to a trans child in Aotearoa. We now know that the Ministry recommended against this, that no one asked for it, and no one thought it was a good idea except for cabinet. This ban is a stain on our history.
Given there is a fair probability the minister will appeal I think I will not make any more public comment!
I am going to sign off now mostly until after new years!
Once again, thank you all for your wonderful support!
I am going to sign off now mostly until after new years!
Once again, thank you all for your wonderful support!
December 19, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Given there is a fair probability the minister will appeal I think I will not make any more public comment!
I am going to sign off now mostly until after new years!
Once again, thank you all for your wonderful support!
I am going to sign off now mostly until after new years!
Once again, thank you all for your wonderful support!
I have had *many* messages of well-wishes and support from some real luminaries in the legal and human rights world since the judgment.
It has really humbled me.
I promise you all that I will redouble my efforts in 2026 to promote, defend, and uphold universal human rights.
It has really humbled me.
I promise you all that I will redouble my efforts in 2026 to promote, defend, and uphold universal human rights.
December 18, 2025 at 8:39 PM
I have had *many* messages of well-wishes and support from some real luminaries in the legal and human rights world since the judgment.
It has really humbled me.
I promise you all that I will redouble my efforts in 2026 to promote, defend, and uphold universal human rights.
It has really humbled me.
I promise you all that I will redouble my efforts in 2026 to promote, defend, and uphold universal human rights.
Good commentary on the decision from the No Right Turn Blog.
norightturn.blogspot.com/2025/12/unla...
norightturn.blogspot.com/2025/12/unla...
Unlawful appointments
Last year, the regime sabotaged the Human Rights Commission by appointing a pair of terfs and hatemongers as chief human rights commissione...
norightturn.blogspot.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Good commentary on the decision from the No Right Turn Blog.
norightturn.blogspot.com/2025/12/unla...
norightturn.blogspot.com/2025/12/unla...
Reposted by Paul Thistoll
Paul’s had an amazing bit of success today. If you’d like to show your appreciation, details are👇
There are three main ways you can help my work with Rights Aotearoa:
First, you can tip me coffee money directly at:
Paul Thistoll
03-0547-0039160-001
(I can't tell you how important these little coffee tips are to my emotional morale - they really keep me going!)
First, you can tip me coffee money directly at:
Paul Thistoll
03-0547-0039160-001
(I can't tell you how important these little coffee tips are to my emotional morale - they really keep me going!)
December 18, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Paul’s had an amazing bit of success today. If you’d like to show your appreciation, details are👇
Has anyone called Gendall J an "activist judge" yet?
![[101] I agree with the applicant that the declaration sought here would serve a real purpose in ensuring that future recommendations for the position of human rights commissioners proceed lawfully. When potential appointees for such positions occupy an important public office intended to help ensure the human rights of New Zealander’s are upheld and promoted, there is a clear and substantial public interest in having errors in their appointment publicly declared. Conclusion [102] The judicial review application is granted. [103] I make the declaration that the Decision was unlawful because: (a) (b) the Minister applied the incorrect legal test; and the Minister failed to take into account relevant considerations. [104] The issue of costs is reserved. I encourage the parties to agree on any issue of costs that might arise. If that is not possible, the applicant is to file a memorandum on costs no longer than five pages within 30 working days of the date of this judgment, with the respondent to file a memorandum in response within a further 10 working days of receipt of the applicant’s costs memorandum. The Court will then decide the costs issues.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:b7y7isv72z6ku7rtpu7zvfzy/bafkreiejxsssvwd7e3gbtjsrqinyh63jrn75ppz7t6cvqpxddb65nucel4@jpeg)
December 18, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Has anyone called Gendall J an "activist judge" yet?
