Greg Bond
@docgregb.bsky.social
Squeaky wheel.
Older, but still not right.
🩺 🚲 ☕️ 🚉 🏙️
📍Pōneke, Aotearoa NZ
Older, but still not right.
🩺 🚲 ☕️ 🚉 🏙️
📍Pōneke, Aotearoa NZ
Reposted by Greg Bond
Luxon thinks we need a "mature conversation" about selling state assets... But I don't think he really means that, because a mature conversation would look at the history of failure and the shortsighted focus on profit ahead of public interest.
He wants a conversation where we agree with him.
He wants a conversation where we agree with him.
November 10, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Luxon thinks we need a "mature conversation" about selling state assets... But I don't think he really means that, because a mature conversation would look at the history of failure and the shortsighted focus on profit ahead of public interest.
He wants a conversation where we agree with him.
He wants a conversation where we agree with him.
Ok sure, let’s have a mature conversation about it.
But that conversation must include the myriad failures of past experience, the increased costs that profiteering imposes on service users, & the loss of accountability.
Not sure he really wants that conversation.
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
But that conversation must include the myriad failures of past experience, the increased costs that profiteering imposes on service users, & the loss of accountability.
Not sure he really wants that conversation.
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
NZ needs to have a ‘mature conversation’ about selling state assets, PM says
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has indicated asset sales could be included in National’s manifesto for the 2026 election.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 10, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Ok sure, let’s have a mature conversation about it.
But that conversation must include the myriad failures of past experience, the increased costs that profiteering imposes on service users, & the loss of accountability.
Not sure he really wants that conversation.
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
But that conversation must include the myriad failures of past experience, the increased costs that profiteering imposes on service users, & the loss of accountability.
Not sure he really wants that conversation.
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
Oh fuck.
Not these reverse-Midas vultures circling around their ever obliging political prey again.
No.
No.
No.
Not these reverse-Midas vultures circling around their ever obliging political prey again.
No.
No.
No.
The outsourcing firm tells the Government it is uniquely positioned, and its services could be of great value
Prisons operator Serco eyes NZ's public health infrastructure needs
newsroom.co.nz
November 8, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Oh fuck.
Not these reverse-Midas vultures circling around their ever obliging political prey again.
No.
No.
No.
Not these reverse-Midas vultures circling around their ever obliging political prey again.
No.
No.
No.
Been back (for the first time since moving back to NZ) to ki Paekākā Wellington Botanic Garden.
It did not disappoint.
It did not disappoint.
November 8, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Been back (for the first time since moving back to NZ) to ki Paekākā Wellington Botanic Garden.
It did not disappoint.
It did not disappoint.
This *could* work in NZ.
But that’d mean caring about our tamariki eating well, spending money on their wellbeing, & giving them time at school to do it.
All of which are anathema to our current slop-serving, landlord-favouring, curriculum-trashing govt.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
But that’d mean caring about our tamariki eating well, spending money on their wellbeing, & giving them time at school to do it.
All of which are anathema to our current slop-serving, landlord-favouring, curriculum-trashing govt.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘If there’s a free alternative, I’ll eat healthily’: how Sweden devised brilliant school meals
A pilot scheme where students eat nutritious breakfasts using donated surplus food builds on the ‘folkhem’ welfare model to boost health and sustainability
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:08 AM
This *could* work in NZ.
But that’d mean caring about our tamariki eating well, spending money on their wellbeing, & giving them time at school to do it.
All of which are anathema to our current slop-serving, landlord-favouring, curriculum-trashing govt.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
But that’d mean caring about our tamariki eating well, spending money on their wellbeing, & giving them time at school to do it.
All of which are anathema to our current slop-serving, landlord-favouring, curriculum-trashing govt.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Greg Bond
The Spectator are confused.
It's not going to be cost free.
Billionaires are going to pay more.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
It's not going to be cost free.
Billionaires are going to pay more.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 8:57 AM
The Spectator are confused.
It's not going to be cost free.
Billionaires are going to pay more.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
It's not going to be cost free.
Billionaires are going to pay more.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
AI hallucinating yet more garbage aside, I could get on board with these new “rules”, especially having proper penalties for shit driving.
Though the curfew for Boomers does seem a wee bit harsh
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Though the curfew for Boomers does seem a wee bit harsh
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
November 5, 2025 at 7:18 AM
AI hallucinating yet more garbage aside, I could get on board with these new “rules”, especially having proper penalties for shit driving.
Though the curfew for Boomers does seem a wee bit harsh
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Though the curfew for Boomers does seem a wee bit harsh
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Planning a trip out to the Hutt from Welly for a course this week.
So dismal that our public transport (electric trains in the case of this journey) fares have been hiked so much that it’s now nearly double the cost of driving a diesel or petrol SUV there.
Rotten government with rotten priorities.
So dismal that our public transport (electric trains in the case of this journey) fares have been hiked so much that it’s now nearly double the cost of driving a diesel or petrol SUV there.
Rotten government with rotten priorities.
November 5, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Planning a trip out to the Hutt from Welly for a course this week.
So dismal that our public transport (electric trains in the case of this journey) fares have been hiked so much that it’s now nearly double the cost of driving a diesel or petrol SUV there.
Rotten government with rotten priorities.
So dismal that our public transport (electric trains in the case of this journey) fares have been hiked so much that it’s now nearly double the cost of driving a diesel or petrol SUV there.
Rotten government with rotten priorities.
Good and well described point.
I think we’ve currently got the worst of both worlds going on in terms of public / private healthcare provision.
In that context, anyone stepping up to fill gaps in provision (however they’re funded) is doing a good thing.
1/
I think we’ve currently got the worst of both worlds going on in terms of public / private healthcare provision.
In that context, anyone stepping up to fill gaps in provision (however they’re funded) is doing a good thing.
1/
Watching the anti-private sector healthcare crowd at the moment. Once again, you are erasing the reality that kaupapa Māori and hauora/pae ora provision is often non-state, and sometimes for-profit, that is reinvested in the community.
November 2, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Good and well described point.
I think we’ve currently got the worst of both worlds going on in terms of public / private healthcare provision.
In that context, anyone stepping up to fill gaps in provision (however they’re funded) is doing a good thing.
1/
I think we’ve currently got the worst of both worlds going on in terms of public / private healthcare provision.
In that context, anyone stepping up to fill gaps in provision (however they’re funded) is doing a good thing.
1/
I cannot wrap my noodle around this either.
If you want to run a school, you should go find a building, with a yard, and set it up yourself.
And charge people who want to use it accordingly.
Good luck to you.
Enough of the hostile takeover nonsense. Enough of charter schools getting state funding.
If you want to run a school, you should go find a building, with a yard, and set it up yourself.
And charge people who want to use it accordingly.
Good luck to you.
Enough of the hostile takeover nonsense. Enough of charter schools getting state funding.
A hostile takeover attempt against a fucking public school is insane looking-glass-world crap dystopia shit
Anyone who warned about this sort of carryon before the election would have been mocked, but here the fuck we are
www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/30/b...
Anyone who warned about this sort of carryon before the election would have been mocked, but here the fuck we are
www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/30/b...
'Battle lines drawn': Group behind attempted charter school takeover
A trust behind a plan to change a public school to a charter school against its will says it is facing abuse.
www.1news.co.nz
October 31, 2025 at 11:29 AM
I cannot wrap my noodle around this either.
If you want to run a school, you should go find a building, with a yard, and set it up yourself.
And charge people who want to use it accordingly.
Good luck to you.
Enough of the hostile takeover nonsense. Enough of charter schools getting state funding.
If you want to run a school, you should go find a building, with a yard, and set it up yourself.
And charge people who want to use it accordingly.
Good luck to you.
Enough of the hostile takeover nonsense. Enough of charter schools getting state funding.
Nailed it.
The Left / progressives / whatever else we’re call ourselves need to collectively sort ourselves out & speak much, much more frequently as one.
Not on every topic.
Not all of the time.
But certainly on stuff that matters to everybody, especially those ‘not interested in Politics’ people.
The Left / progressives / whatever else we’re call ourselves need to collectively sort ourselves out & speak much, much more frequently as one.
Not on every topic.
Not all of the time.
But certainly on stuff that matters to everybody, especially those ‘not interested in Politics’ people.
Now the Right in NZ are organised, with very well funded think tanks, initiatives, media platforms and seem to be working together on the same goals (Atlas)
The Left have a raft of single issue groups, trying to do comms while also doing frontline advocacy. All with little cohesion or strategy.
The Left have a raft of single issue groups, trying to do comms while also doing frontline advocacy. All with little cohesion or strategy.
October 29, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Nailed it.
The Left / progressives / whatever else we’re call ourselves need to collectively sort ourselves out & speak much, much more frequently as one.
Not on every topic.
Not all of the time.
But certainly on stuff that matters to everybody, especially those ‘not interested in Politics’ people.
The Left / progressives / whatever else we’re call ourselves need to collectively sort ourselves out & speak much, much more frequently as one.
Not on every topic.
Not all of the time.
But certainly on stuff that matters to everybody, especially those ‘not interested in Politics’ people.
Not being in the least bit surprised by this does not make it any less heartbreaking.
Or rage-inducing when we see our business and political leaders throwing caution, and science, to the wind for their own short-term personal or political gain.
How dare they.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Or rage-inducing when we see our business and political leaders throwing caution, and science, to the wind for their own short-term personal or political gain.
How dare they.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Change course now’: humanity has missed 1.5C climate target, says UN head
Exclusive: ‘Devastating consequences’ now inevitable but emissions cuts still vital, says António Guterres in sole interview before Cop30
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Not being in the least bit surprised by this does not make it any less heartbreaking.
Or rage-inducing when we see our business and political leaders throwing caution, and science, to the wind for their own short-term personal or political gain.
How dare they.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Or rage-inducing when we see our business and political leaders throwing caution, and science, to the wind for their own short-term personal or political gain.
How dare they.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Greg Bond
“Climate change isn’t suddenly going to slow down and ‘match our speed’; it isn’t going to wait for us, it is so far ahead of us and lapping us like a kid in bike shorts setting a new record at cross-country.” Read more: yeehawtheboys.substack.com/p/breaking-l...
October 28, 2025 at 4:15 AM
“Climate change isn’t suddenly going to slow down and ‘match our speed’; it isn’t going to wait for us, it is so far ahead of us and lapping us like a kid in bike shorts setting a new record at cross-country.” Read more: yeehawtheboys.substack.com/p/breaking-l...
Pūkaha (Mt Bruce) wildlife centre is always a great place to visit with / without the kids, even when it tries to rain.
October 26, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Pūkaha (Mt Bruce) wildlife centre is always a great place to visit with / without the kids, even when it tries to rain.
Reposted by Greg Bond
Subsidise e-bikes and home batteries !
Australia news live: home battery subsidy helped add 50% to capacity in four months as Labor hails ‘solar nation’
Australia news live: home battery subsidy helped add 50% to capacity in four months as Labor hails ‘solar nation’
Follow the day’s news live
*
Australia must ‘step up to prevent catastrophic and preventable loss of life’ amid Trump cuts, former CDC boss says
*
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
And welcome to another Sunday Guardian live blog.
Climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen has declared Australia a “solar nation” after 100,000 households and small businesses have signed up to a government program to help install home batteries. The government says there has been a 50% jump in home battery capacity within four months of the program starting. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Subsidise e-bikes and home batteries !
This graphic is mortifying.
We (NZ) are starting at the bottom of the heap for housing supply, and going backwards by further reducing it.
The day we kick the “housing is an investment” delusion cannot come soon enough.
Meantime, instead of highways costing billions, build some homes maybe?
Please?
We (NZ) are starting at the bottom of the heap for housing supply, and going backwards by further reducing it.
The day we kick the “housing is an investment” delusion cannot come soon enough.
Meantime, instead of highways costing billions, build some homes maybe?
Please?
Of all the housing charts not made by MMI, this one is my favourite. It shows how, despite rhetoric, housing shortages aren't a global phenomenon, but they do seem to be an Anglo-American one.
October 24, 2025 at 8:41 AM
This graphic is mortifying.
We (NZ) are starting at the bottom of the heap for housing supply, and going backwards by further reducing it.
The day we kick the “housing is an investment” delusion cannot come soon enough.
Meantime, instead of highways costing billions, build some homes maybe?
Please?
We (NZ) are starting at the bottom of the heap for housing supply, and going backwards by further reducing it.
The day we kick the “housing is an investment” delusion cannot come soon enough.
Meantime, instead of highways costing billions, build some homes maybe?
Please?
Interesting read; and it appears we’re on track for yet more regulatory capture by industry interests.
Worryingly there’s no mention of reducing domestic aviation by e.g. building a modern railway network to run intercity trains.
Flights like AKL - TRG shouldn’t exist.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-...
Worryingly there’s no mention of reducing domestic aviation by e.g. building a modern railway network to run intercity trains.
Flights like AKL - TRG shouldn’t exist.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-...
NZ’s government wants tourism to drive economic growth – but how will it deal with aviation emissions?
Globally, passenger traffic is projected to grow by 3.8 percent annually over the next 20 years. In New Zealand, this optimism is reflected in Jetstar's expansion plans for its domestic and trans-Tasm...
www.rnz.co.nz
October 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Interesting read; and it appears we’re on track for yet more regulatory capture by industry interests.
Worryingly there’s no mention of reducing domestic aviation by e.g. building a modern railway network to run intercity trains.
Flights like AKL - TRG shouldn’t exist.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-...
Worryingly there’s no mention of reducing domestic aviation by e.g. building a modern railway network to run intercity trains.
Flights like AKL - TRG shouldn’t exist.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-...
Reposted by Greg Bond
Comment of the day (so far):
"I would rather have a smaller road on my way to a high-class hospital." 🎯
"I would rather have a smaller road on my way to a high-class hospital." 🎯
"They know they can’t deliver all of these projects, but they want to pretend they still can. It seems that whatever the question, this government’s answer is 'More RoNS'. But more RoNs will bankrupt the nation."
In today's post, Matt Lowrie gets real on the costs of Roads of National Significance.
In today's post, Matt Lowrie gets real on the costs of Roads of National Significance.
Reality bites: RoNS will bankrupt the nation - Greater Auckland
The government’s Yesterday’s funding announcement on preparatory work includes this for the East West link: Funding of $102m to progress design, consenting and route protection. Hamilton Southern Link...
www.greaterauckland.org.nz
October 20, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Comment of the day (so far):
"I would rather have a smaller road on my way to a high-class hospital." 🎯
"I would rather have a smaller road on my way to a high-class hospital." 🎯
Reposted by Greg Bond
So the Prime Ministers new attack on teachers is their 12 weeks of school holidays which we all know many teachers work through.
Regardless. NZ Parliament has 20+ weeks of recess each year including a far longer summer break than most professions including teaching!!!
Regardless. NZ Parliament has 20+ weeks of recess each year including a far longer summer break than most professions including teaching!!!
October 20, 2025 at 7:28 PM
So the Prime Ministers new attack on teachers is their 12 weeks of school holidays which we all know many teachers work through.
Regardless. NZ Parliament has 20+ weeks of recess each year including a far longer summer break than most professions including teaching!!!
Regardless. NZ Parliament has 20+ weeks of recess each year including a far longer summer break than most professions including teaching!!!
Reposted by Greg Bond
Now, don't ask 'where will we find the money', Govt creates $ with votes. Ask instead, where will we find the resources? Do we need fewer people doing bullshit jobs and more well-trained kiwis teaching and doctoring? Well, put up wages and design some taxes to rebalance the economy ffs! [Ends]
October 19, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Now, don't ask 'where will we find the money', Govt creates $ with votes. Ask instead, where will we find the resources? Do we need fewer people doing bullshit jobs and more well-trained kiwis teaching and doctoring? Well, put up wages and design some taxes to rebalance the economy ffs! [Ends]
Dreadful use of the ministerial letterhead paper if you ask me. Demeaning her own Office.
This government has lost its way and any credibility it may have had - all they have left is using their platforms to spout empty rhetoric and make snide comments.
This government has lost its way and any credibility it may have had - all they have left is using their platforms to spout empty rhetoric and make snide comments.
A new release is available from Hon Judith Collins KC.
Open letter to the people of New Zealand
To the patients, students and families affected by this week’s planned strike,
www.beehive.govt.nz
October 19, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Dreadful use of the ministerial letterhead paper if you ask me. Demeaning her own Office.
This government has lost its way and any credibility it may have had - all they have left is using their platforms to spout empty rhetoric and make snide comments.
This government has lost its way and any credibility it may have had - all they have left is using their platforms to spout empty rhetoric and make snide comments.
Reposted by Greg Bond
Support the strike 23-Oct-2025 substack.com/home/post/p-... #nzpol
October 18, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Support the strike 23-Oct-2025 substack.com/home/post/p-... #nzpol
Reposted by Greg Bond
Adopt this simple rule to be a ghoul: Assets, whether they be financial, physical, human, or natural, exist only and always to provide a return to capital.
Public ownership of assets is a breach of this golden ghoul rule and an abhorrence. Amen.
Public ownership of assets is a breach of this golden ghoul rule and an abhorrence. Amen.
October 16, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Adopt this simple rule to be a ghoul: Assets, whether they be financial, physical, human, or natural, exist only and always to provide a return to capital.
Public ownership of assets is a breach of this golden ghoul rule and an abhorrence. Amen.
Public ownership of assets is a breach of this golden ghoul rule and an abhorrence. Amen.
Does spouting nonsense not cross any ethical lines for a government minister, as in Mr. Brown’s case it appears he believes it to be a prerequisite.
“he said he had been advised by Health NZ that the average salary for a senior doctor was $325,000”
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
“he said he had been advised by Health NZ that the average salary for a senior doctor was $325,000”
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Simeon Brown accuses doctors of crossing 'ethical line' with mega strike
There were audible cries of disbelief during Simeon Brown's speech to senior doctors today.
www.rnz.co.nz
October 16, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Does spouting nonsense not cross any ethical lines for a government minister, as in Mr. Brown’s case it appears he believes it to be a prerequisite.
“he said he had been advised by Health NZ that the average salary for a senior doctor was $325,000”
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
“he said he had been advised by Health NZ that the average salary for a senior doctor was $325,000”
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Surely these young people should “juSt gO wHerE THe joBS ARe!”
Seriously, if this is the economic environment, a hiring downturn, then the govt kneecapping young people by removing their entitlement to benefits just seems unbelievably crass.
Seriously, if this is the economic environment, a hiring downturn, then the govt kneecapping young people by removing their entitlement to benefits just seems unbelievably crass.
Holiday work pulling pints or flipping burgers is increasingly hard to come by amid a hiring downturn and increased rivalry.
Death of the summer job: A rite of passage slipping out of teenagers’ reach
newsroom.co.nz
October 14, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Surely these young people should “juSt gO wHerE THe joBS ARe!”
Seriously, if this is the economic environment, a hiring downturn, then the govt kneecapping young people by removing their entitlement to benefits just seems unbelievably crass.
Seriously, if this is the economic environment, a hiring downturn, then the govt kneecapping young people by removing their entitlement to benefits just seems unbelievably crass.