ghost
@ghostlylake.bsky.social
Reposted by ghost
The more I realise how common stupidity is, the more I understand election results
February 7, 2026 at 2:54 AM
The more I realise how common stupidity is, the more I understand election results
Reposted by ghost
Just a reminder: the reason the Auckland Harbour Bridge was under-specced with only four lanes and needed the clip-ons added within a decade was because of the very first National government. These people haven’t changed one iota in 60 years
#nzpol
#nzpol
February 7, 2026 at 6:48 AM
Just a reminder: the reason the Auckland Harbour Bridge was under-specced with only four lanes and needed the clip-ons added within a decade was because of the very first National government. These people haven’t changed one iota in 60 years
#nzpol
#nzpol
Reposted by ghost
Fun fact.
Until August 2025, 33% of the interislander fleet were rail enabled.
Between August 2025 and unspecified 2029 date, 0% of the interislander fleet will be rail enabled.
The iRex boats would have ensure 100% of the interislander fleet were rail enabled.
Until August 2025, 33% of the interislander fleet were rail enabled.
Between August 2025 and unspecified 2029 date, 0% of the interislander fleet will be rail enabled.
The iRex boats would have ensure 100% of the interislander fleet were rail enabled.
February 7, 2026 at 5:54 AM
Fun fact.
Until August 2025, 33% of the interislander fleet were rail enabled.
Between August 2025 and unspecified 2029 date, 0% of the interislander fleet will be rail enabled.
The iRex boats would have ensure 100% of the interislander fleet were rail enabled.
Until August 2025, 33% of the interislander fleet were rail enabled.
Between August 2025 and unspecified 2029 date, 0% of the interislander fleet will be rail enabled.
The iRex boats would have ensure 100% of the interislander fleet were rail enabled.
Reposted by ghost
C O C taking the country backwards one step at a time
February 7, 2026 at 3:41 AM
C O C taking the country backwards one step at a time
Reposted by ghost
True story: I lived in Auckland in the mid-80s, and the city was talking about light rail and a second harbour bridge. I moved away and came back in the 2020s, and the city is still talking about light rail and a second harbour bridge
February 7, 2026 at 6:52 AM
True story: I lived in Auckland in the mid-80s, and the city was talking about light rail and a second harbour bridge. I moved away and came back in the 2020s, and the city is still talking about light rail and a second harbour bridge
Reposted by ghost
PPS: you know why I know I'm right about this fucking thing? The CRL. It's cost more than planned, taken longer, but the benefits are so manifestly obvious that it couldn't be scrapped (and they'd already got digging before this lot got in).
Also this govt is shit scared of losing Auckland.
Also this govt is shit scared of losing Auckland.
February 7, 2026 at 5:10 AM
PPS: you know why I know I'm right about this fucking thing? The CRL. It's cost more than planned, taken longer, but the benefits are so manifestly obvious that it couldn't be scrapped (and they'd already got digging before this lot got in).
Also this govt is shit scared of losing Auckland.
Also this govt is shit scared of losing Auckland.
Reposted by ghost
Anyway I've said it before, for half of what the government is obsessively pouring into asphalt for the upper North Island, you could build 100 years of infrastructure for the entire fucking country not just it's god damned trucking companies - bsky.app/profile/oldm...
A fraction of this would actually fix our quite fucked rail network, upgrade our passenger and freight ports, and massively reduce the number of trucks on NZ roads - reducing the need to repair and replace them. Hell, we could even throw in some transit to city for all our international airports.
The Government’s transport plans for the coming 20 years will cost more than a quarter of a trillion dollars, the Transport Ministry says.
February 7, 2026 at 5:07 AM
Anyway I've said it before, for half of what the government is obsessively pouring into asphalt for the upper North Island, you could build 100 years of infrastructure for the entire fucking country not just it's god damned trucking companies - bsky.app/profile/oldm...
Reposted by ghost
See also:
Dunedin Hospital, another incredibly important and necessary infrastructure project that was supposed to deliver a brand new bigger hospital for 400k+ Otago and Southlanders. Due to cuts, the new hospital will have FEWER BEDS THAN THE ONE IT IS REPLACING.
Saves money though so its good.
Dunedin Hospital, another incredibly important and necessary infrastructure project that was supposed to deliver a brand new bigger hospital for 400k+ Otago and Southlanders. Due to cuts, the new hospital will have FEWER BEDS THAN THE ONE IT IS REPLACING.
Saves money though so its good.
February 7, 2026 at 5:05 AM
See also:
Dunedin Hospital, another incredibly important and necessary infrastructure project that was supposed to deliver a brand new bigger hospital for 400k+ Otago and Southlanders. Due to cuts, the new hospital will have FEWER BEDS THAN THE ONE IT IS REPLACING.
Saves money though so its good.
Dunedin Hospital, another incredibly important and necessary infrastructure project that was supposed to deliver a brand new bigger hospital for 400k+ Otago and Southlanders. Due to cuts, the new hospital will have FEWER BEDS THAN THE ONE IT IS REPLACING.
Saves money though so its good.
Reposted by ghost
Were Kiwirail perfect? Nope. Will Ferry Holdings Inc and all the other shit that's been set up to fix it do better? Also nope. Over the time it takes to do everything iRex was meant to, will it cost more but take years and years longer. Yep. It will end up being cheaper to do it once, correctly.
February 7, 2026 at 5:05 AM
Were Kiwirail perfect? Nope. Will Ferry Holdings Inc and all the other shit that's been set up to fix it do better? Also nope. Over the time it takes to do everything iRex was meant to, will it cost more but take years and years longer. Yep. It will end up being cheaper to do it once, correctly.
Reposted by ghost
The numbers staggering, the complete fucking failure to understand the consequences a disaster, the clear political revenge undertaken by Winston on the preceding Government and the economic incompetence of Nicola Willis in "cancel thing save money" baby mode - how this isn't being screamed about.
February 7, 2026 at 4:55 AM
The numbers staggering, the complete fucking failure to understand the consequences a disaster, the clear political revenge undertaken by Winston on the preceding Government and the economic incompetence of Nicola Willis in "cancel thing save money" baby mode - how this isn't being screamed about.
Reposted by ghost
To save $2 billion dollars. Or LESS THAN THE money the Government wants to spend on about 7km of highway upgrades in Auckland, "which has investment envelope of between NZ$3.7 billion to $4.1 billion"
ARE YOU SMOKING CRACK WINSTON.
infrastructurepipeline.org/project/east...
ARE YOU SMOKING CRACK WINSTON.
infrastructurepipeline.org/project/east...
East West Link - Infrastructure Pipeline
The East West Link will improve access into and out of the Onehunga-Penrose area, particularly to and frmo SH1 and SH20.
infrastructurepipeline.org
February 7, 2026 at 4:53 AM
To save $2 billion dollars. Or LESS THAN THE money the Government wants to spend on about 7km of highway upgrades in Auckland, "which has investment envelope of between NZ$3.7 billion to $4.1 billion"
ARE YOU SMOKING CRACK WINSTON.
infrastructurepipeline.org/project/east...
ARE YOU SMOKING CRACK WINSTON.
infrastructurepipeline.org/project/east...
Reposted by ghost
Not to mention the other $450 million already spent on iRex, the civil engineering contractors dockside who got told to stop after they'd got onsite in 2023, the jobs that cost as tradies and engineers fucked off, the economic impact of fucking with the $44 billion dollar annual trade route?
February 7, 2026 at 4:53 AM
Not to mention the other $450 million already spent on iRex, the civil engineering contractors dockside who got told to stop after they'd got onsite in 2023, the jobs that cost as tradies and engineers fucked off, the economic impact of fucking with the $44 billion dollar annual trade route?
Reposted by ghost
Winston talking about "gold standard" when what it meant was due to port infrastructure works there needed to be a temporary terminal for rail freight so there'd be minimal interruption for CARRYING RAIL FREIGHT BETWEEN OUR TWO BIGGEST ISLANDS. His solution, NO RAIL FREIGHT FOR THREE YEARS.
February 7, 2026 at 4:48 AM
Winston talking about "gold standard" when what it meant was due to port infrastructure works there needed to be a temporary terminal for rail freight so there'd be minimal interruption for CARRYING RAIL FREIGHT BETWEEN OUR TWO BIGGEST ISLANDS. His solution, NO RAIL FREIGHT FOR THREE YEARS.
Reposted by ghost
This is my being annoyed specialist subject because the "savings" the government keep banging on about are
- worse infrastructure
- taking longer to build
- costs more for less
- will require more disruption
- doesn't do the whole job
Its a classic political fuck up of a project.
- worse infrastructure
- taking longer to build
- costs more for less
- will require more disruption
- doesn't do the whole job
Its a classic political fuck up of a project.
February 7, 2026 at 4:45 AM
This is my being annoyed specialist subject because the "savings" the government keep banging on about are
- worse infrastructure
- taking longer to build
- costs more for less
- will require more disruption
- doesn't do the whole job
Its a classic political fuck up of a project.
- worse infrastructure
- taking longer to build
- costs more for less
- will require more disruption
- doesn't do the whole job
Its a classic political fuck up of a project.
Reposted by ghost
This means instead of a project to do The Whole Fucking Thing starting in 2023 and running to 2027-ish, the ports will be plagued with construction sites and closures and all that shit into the 2030's now.
Absolutely fucking insane
Absolutely fucking insane
February 7, 2026 at 4:43 AM
This means instead of a project to do The Whole Fucking Thing starting in 2023 and running to 2027-ish, the ports will be plagued with construction sites and closures and all that shit into the 2030's now.
Absolutely fucking insane
Absolutely fucking insane
Reposted by ghost
They have also promised the project won't go over $2 billion. That's because they're not doing everything iRex would have done, are trying to stretch out end of use life infrastructure, and there's eventually going to be a big bill to Do The Fucking Work That Needs Doing in later years.
February 7, 2026 at 4:43 AM
They have also promised the project won't go over $2 billion. That's because they're not doing everything iRex would have done, are trying to stretch out end of use life infrastructure, and there's eventually going to be a big bill to Do The Fucking Work That Needs Doing in later years.
Reposted by ghost
The new ferries will cost $596 million and be smaller than the two ferries that were cancelled at a fixed price of $550 million.
That cancellation cost $222 million.
So really the two new smaller ferries have cost $818 million.
And will be three years late.
That cancellation cost $222 million.
So really the two new smaller ferries have cost $818 million.
And will be three years late.
February 7, 2026 at 4:40 AM
The new ferries will cost $596 million and be smaller than the two ferries that were cancelled at a fixed price of $550 million.
That cancellation cost $222 million.
So really the two new smaller ferries have cost $818 million.
And will be three years late.
That cancellation cost $222 million.
So really the two new smaller ferries have cost $818 million.
And will be three years late.
Reposted by ghost
IT'S FEBRUARY 2026.
THE RAIL ENABLED HYUNDAI FERRIES FOR I REX WERE MEANT TO ARRIVE BY NOW.
Instead we have no rail enabled ferries, the two we have are clunky as fuck, and there will be no replacement ferries until 2029 at the earliest.
THE RAIL ENABLED HYUNDAI FERRIES FOR I REX WERE MEANT TO ARRIVE BY NOW.
Instead we have no rail enabled ferries, the two we have are clunky as fuck, and there will be no replacement ferries until 2029 at the earliest.
February 7, 2026 at 3:19 AM
IT'S FEBRUARY 2026.
THE RAIL ENABLED HYUNDAI FERRIES FOR I REX WERE MEANT TO ARRIVE BY NOW.
Instead we have no rail enabled ferries, the two we have are clunky as fuck, and there will be no replacement ferries until 2029 at the earliest.
THE RAIL ENABLED HYUNDAI FERRIES FOR I REX WERE MEANT TO ARRIVE BY NOW.
Instead we have no rail enabled ferries, the two we have are clunky as fuck, and there will be no replacement ferries until 2029 at the earliest.
Reposted by ghost
Any media org that lets the current government talk about the unemployment rate like it's something they didn't expressly engineer is failing at their job.
(Source: thespinoff.co.nz/business/16-...)
(Source: thespinoff.co.nz/business/16-...)
February 4, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Any media org that lets the current government talk about the unemployment rate like it's something they didn't expressly engineer is failing at their job.
(Source: thespinoff.co.nz/business/16-...)
(Source: thespinoff.co.nz/business/16-...)
Reposted by ghost
I always thought very rich men were probably horrible and incompetent, but it turns out that they are in fact worse than I thought and truly, it is so depressing
February 6, 2026 at 1:23 AM
I always thought very rich men were probably horrible and incompetent, but it turns out that they are in fact worse than I thought and truly, it is so depressing
Reposted by ghost
Just as racists in the US want to ban black and indigenous histories, the racists currently governing Aotearoa are doing the same. If you think the Luxon govt is a world away from Trump and MAGA, you are wildly wrong. They are cut from the same cloth of white resentment and corporate greed.
‘Tiriti’ was mentioned 36 times.
'In the final version of the curriculum, just released, it’s not mentioned at all…
'Cleaver says it’s inaccurate to say that the science of learning has replaced Te Tiriti… “The curriculum is underpinned by the science of learning…'
newsroom.co.nz/2024/11/19/p...
'In the final version of the curriculum, just released, it’s not mentioned at all…
'Cleaver says it’s inaccurate to say that the science of learning has replaced Te Tiriti… “The curriculum is underpinned by the science of learning…'
newsroom.co.nz/2024/11/19/p...
Pupils join hīkoi as te Tiriti is removed from curriculum framework
New English and maths curriculum documents remove all mention of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, worrying teachers.
newsroom.co.nz
July 22, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Just as racists in the US want to ban black and indigenous histories, the racists currently governing Aotearoa are doing the same. If you think the Luxon govt is a world away from Trump and MAGA, you are wildly wrong. They are cut from the same cloth of white resentment and corporate greed.
Reposted by ghost
Grimes Slaps ‘I Bought This Before Elon Went Crazy’ Sticker On Child
March 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Grimes Slaps ‘I Bought This Before Elon Went Crazy’ Sticker On Child
Reposted by ghost
Trump Locks Bathroom Door So Elon Musk Can’t Follow Him In
theonion.com/trump-locks-...
theonion.com/trump-locks-...
November 19, 2024 at 4:56 PM
Trump Locks Bathroom Door So Elon Musk Can’t Follow Him In
theonion.com/trump-locks-...
theonion.com/trump-locks-...
Reposted by ghost
Fuck this government and fuck the way they are telling anyone in a "government" job to be "politically neutral" when they themselves are so right wing that they attempting to diminish Māori rights on our very own whenua
November 18, 2024 at 5:58 PM
Fuck this government and fuck the way they are telling anyone in a "government" job to be "politically neutral" when they themselves are so right wing that they attempting to diminish Māori rights on our very own whenua
Reposted by ghost
This is a good time to remember the police said they were expecting 10,000, it's about time the officials stopped underestimating the feeling around this
November 17, 2024 at 3:51 AM
This is a good time to remember the police said they were expecting 10,000, it's about time the officials stopped underestimating the feeling around this