Kent Duston
@kentduston.bsky.social
Walking the fine line between cool and dorky in Aotearoa New Zealand. Also: left-leaning neurodiverse ADHD Boomer, tangata Tiriti, LGBTQIA+ ally, spending my professional life working on wellbeing - and Toitū te Tiriti, dammit
This is fascinating. If you want to attack an LLM and bypass its security controls, use poetry
Looks like LLMs are *very* vulnerable to attack via poetic allusion: "curated poetic prompts yielded high attack-success rates (ASR), with some providers exceeding 90% ..."
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
November 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
This is fascinating. If you want to attack an LLM and bypass its security controls, use poetry
@musicalchairs.bsky.social - someone has been reading your skeets
PhD student looks at the lie behind the political line: 'NZ can't afford it' #economy #health #payequity #education #infrastructure #publicservices #jobs #Neoliberalism #austerity #AtlasNetwork #nzpol
www.thepost.co.nz/business/360...
www.thepost.co.nz/business/360...
PhD student looks at the lie behind the political line: ‘NZ can’t afford it’
University of Otago student Morgan Edwards believes Kiwis need to understand more about our monetary system and push back harder against public service cuts and other government spending decisions.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 21, 2025 at 5:13 PM
@musicalchairs.bsky.social - someone has been reading your skeets
Rod Emmerson nails it again.
Once the Christmas season is out of the way, perhaps Secret Santa can be repurposed to run a sweepstake to guess the date of the repeal of the Regulatory Standards Act
#nzpol
Once the Christmas season is out of the way, perhaps Secret Santa can be repurposed to run a sweepstake to guess the date of the repeal of the Regulatory Standards Act
#nzpol
November 19, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Rod Emmerson nails it again.
Once the Christmas season is out of the way, perhaps Secret Santa can be repurposed to run a sweepstake to guess the date of the repeal of the Regulatory Standards Act
#nzpol
Once the Christmas season is out of the way, perhaps Secret Santa can be repurposed to run a sweepstake to guess the date of the repeal of the Regulatory Standards Act
#nzpol
This has real “let’s only build the Auckland harbour bridge half the size we need to save a couple of dollars” energy about it
TL;DR: we're paying $45 million more to get smaller boats. Also, the regime isn't funding as much landside stuff, leaving it for a future government to pay for www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
New Cook Strait ferries won't cost more than $2b, Rail Minister vows
Peters says taxpayers have saved $2.3 billion while still getting the ferries and infrastructure they want.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 4:33 AM
This has real “let’s only build the Auckland harbour bridge half the size we need to save a couple of dollars” energy about it
I think it’s safe to say those 240 families didn’t use their intergenerational wealth to buy nicely renovated villas in Grey Lynn. And so it’s equally safe to say their lives will be made worse as a result of these actions
#nzpol
#nzpol
November 18, 2025 at 11:54 PM
I think it’s safe to say those 240 families didn’t use their intergenerational wealth to buy nicely renovated villas in Grey Lynn. And so it’s equally safe to say their lives will be made worse as a result of these actions
#nzpol
#nzpol
CBA boss says repaying ‘excessive fees’ to low-income customers could be seen as taking shareholder money
CBA boss says repaying ‘excessive fees’ to low-income customers could be seen as taking shareholder money
The Commonwealth Bank – which reported a record cash profit of $10.3bn in the most recent financial year – charged $270m in ‘excessive fees’ over five years
The head of Australia’s biggest and most profitable bank says reimbursing hundreds of millions of dollars in fees to its lower income customers would be an “appropriation” of shareholder money.
The Commonwealth Bank’s chief executive, Mat Comyn, mounted a fierce defence of charging fees according to its terms and conditions during a parliamentary committee hearing in Canberra on Tuesday morning, Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Business always says it needs certainty in order to invest. And here’s the Greens providing exactly the certainty requested - which should send a clear signal to mining companies to not bother investing
#nzpol
#nzpol
Good stuff!
Coal, gold, and seabed mining projects consented under the fast-track law would be halted if the Greens get their way in a future government.
The party says it’s putting the industry “on notice”.
#nzpol
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
Coal, gold, and seabed mining projects consented under the fast-track law would be halted if the Greens get their way in a future government.
The party says it’s putting the industry “on notice”.
#nzpol
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
Greens vow to kill off seven fast-track mining projects
Coal, gold, and seabed mining projects consented under the fast-track law would be halted if the Greens get their way in a future government.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Business always says it needs certainty in order to invest. And here’s the Greens providing exactly the certainty requested - which should send a clear signal to mining companies to not bother investing
#nzpol
#nzpol
I love the social media commentators saying the government has a perception problem rather than a shit-at-managing-the-economy problem
#nzpol
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/17/g...
#nzpol
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/17/g...
Government performance rating hits new low in survey
The Labour Party gets the public's nod for best at handling the economy, ahead of National, in the latest Ipsos survey of the country's concerns
newsroom.co.nz
November 16, 2025 at 8:25 PM
I love the social media commentators saying the government has a perception problem rather than a shit-at-managing-the-economy problem
#nzpol
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/17/g...
#nzpol
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/17/g...
This skeet deserves a place in the advertising hall of fame
There is an amber weather warning. That means you need to stay inside with a book all weekend.
If you haven't got a book... we're open for another hour and a half, and currently not under water.
If you haven't got a book... we're open for another hour and a half, and currently not under water.
November 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM
This skeet deserves a place in the advertising hall of fame
Pointed, vicious, and 100% accurate
November 14, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Pointed, vicious, and 100% accurate
Everyone tells me that unicorns are incredibly rare, yet here we are, looking out across the expansive plains of male police entitlement and thinking about how incredibly rare these cases apparently are, and all I see is wall to wall fucking unicorns
Another of those oh so rare bad apples.
"Questions to the IPCA at the time noted that it was understood the officer had been stood down pending an investigation into his alleged inappropriate behaviour with female officers."
NOTE: female officerS, plural
Yet the investigation has gone nowhere after THREE YEARS!!!
NOTE: female officerS, plural
Yet the investigation has gone nowhere after THREE YEARS!!!
November 14, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Everyone tells me that unicorns are incredibly rare, yet here we are, looking out across the expansive plains of male police entitlement and thinking about how incredibly rare these cases apparently are, and all I see is wall to wall fucking unicorns
The Govt's rationing speclialist (aka MSD) is overheating trying to constrain benefit spending, but the number of people on a working-age benefit continues to sail way above forecasts. We are watching a permanently scarring event here. Grim.
November 14, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Perhaps Labour might care to look at Zohran Mamdani’s decisive socialist victory over Andrew Cuomo and compare it to their current polling position, and then ask themselves whether their incremental centrist mediocrity is really the winning strategy they seem to think it is
#nzpol
#nzpol
Realistically, given the margin of error in this poll and the effect of overhangs, all we can really say is that, right now, the next election is too close to call.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Coalition would hold power but Labour gains points after capital gains tax - poll
But coalition parties would still have a majority, according to a new Curia-Taxpayers Union poll,
www.rnz.co.nz
November 12, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Perhaps Labour might care to look at Zohran Mamdani’s decisive socialist victory over Andrew Cuomo and compare it to their current polling position, and then ask themselves whether their incremental centrist mediocrity is really the winning strategy they seem to think it is
#nzpol
#nzpol
Professor Geddis totally nails the issue … if the government is intent on tough-on-crime tribalism, then these scandals about Police tribalism are the inevitable result
#nzpol
#nzpol
The fundamental problem this Government has in responding to the McSkimming coverup report is that it's broader law 'n order programme relies on having an enforcement arm that exhibits these sorts of characteristics ... no "soft" policing that second-guesses its actions + does "what is needed".
November 11, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Professor Geddis totally nails the issue … if the government is intent on tough-on-crime tribalism, then these scandals about Police tribalism are the inevitable result
#nzpol
#nzpol
November 8, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I love the juxtaposition in this headline - banking parasites increase their profits by 13% in the middle of the worst recession in a generation whilst actual businesses go to the wall
#nzpol
#nzpol
November 3, 2025 at 1:57 AM
I love the juxtaposition in this headline - banking parasites increase their profits by 13% in the middle of the worst recession in a generation whilst actual businesses go to the wall
#nzpol
#nzpol
This isn’t really about how much Auckland gets from Wellington compared to the rest of the country - it’s about the fact that about 91% of the total tax take goes to central government and only 9% stays with local government. We have one of the most centralized systems in the world
#nzpol
#nzpol
Giant baby who is also mayor of Auckland wants the government to pay the city its due respect.
The city that gets all the funding, has the most MPs, pays tiny rates compared to the rest of the country.
Auckland gets its due. A super majority of Kiwis don’t live in Auckland. Get a grip Wayne.
The city that gets all the funding, has the most MPs, pays tiny rates compared to the rest of the country.
Auckland gets its due. A super majority of Kiwis don’t live in Auckland. Get a grip Wayne.
November 2, 2025 at 2:08 AM
This isn’t really about how much Auckland gets from Wellington compared to the rest of the country - it’s about the fact that about 91% of the total tax take goes to central government and only 9% stays with local government. We have one of the most centralized systems in the world
#nzpol
#nzpol
November 1, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I’ve just been told I shouldn’t leap to conclusions. The Lambo could have belonged to a dairy farmer or a banker or a power company executive or a slum landlord or a lobbyist or just anyone really
This is a complete tragedy for the supermarket owner whose third-most favorite Lambo went up in flames
Again, if the herald were consistent, this would be: “PETROL Lamborghini supercar goes up in flames…”
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/lamborghi...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/lamborghi...
November 1, 2025 at 4:39 AM
I’ve just been told I shouldn’t leap to conclusions. The Lambo could have belonged to a dairy farmer or a banker or a power company executive or a slum landlord or a lobbyist or just anyone really
This is a complete tragedy for the supermarket owner whose third-most favorite Lambo went up in flames
Again, if the herald were consistent, this would be: “PETROL Lamborghini supercar goes up in flames…”
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/lamborghi...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/lamborghi...
Watch: Dramatic scenes as Lamborghini supercar goes up in flames on busy Akl street
No one was injured, though the blaze briefly closed parts of Remuera Rd.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 1, 2025 at 4:30 AM
This is a complete tragedy for the supermarket owner whose third-most favorite Lambo went up in flames
Really looking forward to the inevitable taxpayer-funded bank bailouts here in AoNZ, where we give dodgy bankers billions of dollars to compensate them for their risk management failures
#nzpol
#nzpol
Probably a good time not to hold a Mortage right now
BREAKING 🚨: U.S. Banks
U.S. Banks are now sitting on $395 Billion in unrealized losses as of Q2 2025 👀
U.S. Banks are now sitting on $395 Billion in unrealized losses as of Q2 2025 👀
October 31, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Really looking forward to the inevitable taxpayer-funded bank bailouts here in AoNZ, where we give dodgy bankers billions of dollars to compensate them for their risk management failures
#nzpol
#nzpol
Gotta love a banger of a headline that says exactly what we’re all thinking
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Stupidity and royal self-entitlement sank Andrew, and it may not be over yet
Indulged by his mother and ignored for too long by his siblings, it is behaviour like Andrew’s that could ultimately kill the monarchy
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Gotta love a banger of a headline that says exactly what we’re all thinking
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Translation: any further drops in the OCR won’t flow through to borrowers because ANZ will crank its already-excessive margins even higher as it enriches its Australian shareholders
#nzpol
www.interest.co.nz/property/135...
#nzpol
www.interest.co.nz/property/135...
ANZ says it's time to start thinking about fixing mortgages as interest rates near the bottom of the cycle
ANZ's economists expect interest rates to bottom out late this year/early next year, suggesting borrowers need to start thinking about fixing mortgages to lock in lower rates
www.interest.co.nz
October 31, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Translation: any further drops in the OCR won’t flow through to borrowers because ANZ will crank its already-excessive margins even higher as it enriches its Australian shareholders
#nzpol
www.interest.co.nz/property/135...
#nzpol
www.interest.co.nz/property/135...
The $2.34 billion a year handed out in subsidies to landlords doesn’t apply to other businesses either, so maybe these princesses should stop whining
#nzpol
#nzpol
Labour’s capital gains tax would not be a problem if it applied to all capital gains, but it doesn’t and will have unintended consequences, property investors say.
Property investors: We’re being singled out by Labour’s capital gains tax proposal
Labour’s capital gains tax would not be a problem if it applied to all capital gains, but it doesn’t and will have unintended consequences, property investors say.
dlvr.it
October 31, 2025 at 12:51 AM
The $2.34 billion a year handed out in subsidies to landlords doesn’t apply to other businesses either, so maybe these princesses should stop whining
#nzpol
#nzpol
It’d be lovely if “investment” in property was actually a business. But actual businesses are regulated and run by professionals and pay tax and aren’t subsidized by taxpayers, unlike these wasteful activities
#nzpol
#nzpol
Luxon: Property speculation like business & can build wealth #nzpol #newzealand
Luxon: Property speculation like business & can build wealth
YouTube video by Mountain Tui
www.youtube.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:54 PM
It’d be lovely if “investment” in property was actually a business. But actual businesses are regulated and run by professionals and pay tax and aren’t subsidized by taxpayers, unlike these wasteful activities
#nzpol
#nzpol