Andy McKay
@korimakoecology.bsky.social
Aotearoa based Restoration/Applied Ecologist.
Skateboarding, punk rock and plants.
iNaturalist enthusiast https://inaturalist.nz/observations?place_id=any&user_id=andymckay&verifiable=any
Skateboarding, punk rock and plants.
iNaturalist enthusiast https://inaturalist.nz/observations?place_id=any&user_id=andymckay&verifiable=any
Reposted by Andy McKay
Boards Chair here - before our BOT passed a motion affirming our commitment to Te Tiriti, I received emails from parents and teachers urging the board on.
The union never said a word.
Amazing that reaffirming a commitment to Te Tiriti is viewed as "anti-govt" (his words)
The union never said a word.
Amazing that reaffirming a commitment to Te Tiriti is viewed as "anti-govt" (his words)
November 27, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Boards Chair here - before our BOT passed a motion affirming our commitment to Te Tiriti, I received emails from parents and teachers urging the board on.
The union never said a word.
Amazing that reaffirming a commitment to Te Tiriti is viewed as "anti-govt" (his words)
The union never said a word.
Amazing that reaffirming a commitment to Te Tiriti is viewed as "anti-govt" (his words)
Mince is now averaging $23.17 per kilo, meaning it is slightly more expensive than lamb chops, which sat at $22.27.
But hey at least we gave landlords $2.9 billion in tax cuts.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
But hey at least we gave landlords $2.9 billion in tax cuts.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Habits may change as price of beef mince soars by 18%
The average price of a one-kilogram pack of beef mince climbed 18 percent since the start of the year.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Mince is now averaging $23.17 per kilo, meaning it is slightly more expensive than lamb chops, which sat at $22.27.
But hey at least we gave landlords $2.9 billion in tax cuts.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
But hey at least we gave landlords $2.9 billion in tax cuts.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Has anyone had any experience setting up a social/environmental investment fund? The funding landscape is diabolical at the moment and I have little faith that we will see anything meaningful in the biodiversity credits space anytime soon. Seems like we should just start funding ourselves.
November 27, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Has anyone had any experience setting up a social/environmental investment fund? The funding landscape is diabolical at the moment and I have little faith that we will see anything meaningful in the biodiversity credits space anytime soon. Seems like we should just start funding ourselves.
Except that any benefit from lower mortgage rates is immediately eaten up by higher food costs, power costs and rates rises.
Finance minister urges banks to make people feel richer so they will vote for her www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Finance Minister urges banks to slash home loan rates after latest OCR cut
Banks began dropping their floating rates on Wednesday after the Reserve Bank cut the OCR by 25 basis points to 2.25 percent.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Except that any benefit from lower mortgage rates is immediately eaten up by higher food costs, power costs and rates rises.
Reposted by Andy McKay
Stolen off @darienfenton.bsky.social FB
National are in line to produce the worst economic returns for a Govt term, even worse than the Bolger/Richardson disastrous govt.
Austerity does not work. End of. #NZPol
National are in line to produce the worst economic returns for a Govt term, even worse than the Bolger/Richardson disastrous govt.
Austerity does not work. End of. #NZPol
November 27, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Stolen off @darienfenton.bsky.social FB
National are in line to produce the worst economic returns for a Govt term, even worse than the Bolger/Richardson disastrous govt.
Austerity does not work. End of. #NZPol
National are in line to produce the worst economic returns for a Govt term, even worse than the Bolger/Richardson disastrous govt.
Austerity does not work. End of. #NZPol
“A beehive is as natural as a pasture of grazing sheep.” Why beekeeping is causing a huge problem for wild bees – according to scientists.
A dramatic rise in the number of managed beehives is negatively impacting wild pollinating insects.
www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...
A dramatic rise in the number of managed beehives is negatively impacting wild pollinating insects.
www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...
“A beehive is as natural as a pasture of grazing sheep.” Why beekeeping is causing a huge problem for wild bees – according to scientists | Discover Wildlife
A dramatic rise in the number of managed beehives is negatively impacting wild pollinating insects
www.discoverwildlife.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:16 AM
“A beehive is as natural as a pasture of grazing sheep.” Why beekeeping is causing a huge problem for wild bees – according to scientists.
A dramatic rise in the number of managed beehives is negatively impacting wild pollinating insects.
www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...
A dramatic rise in the number of managed beehives is negatively impacting wild pollinating insects.
www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...
Reposted by Andy McKay
'American Samoa is a showcase of a wealthy nation's tendency to outsource the burdens of environmental conservation. The asymmetric imposition of the will of the powerful to use the less privileged as sacrificial zones for virtue-signalling policies'
www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/11...
www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/11...
The Disproportionate Socioeconomic burden in conservation borne by an unrecognised SIDS still under colonial rule — Francisco Blaha
I have written about colonialism and neo-colonialism in fisheries, and my wor k, either directly by the influences of former colonial countries or via the imposition of standards, either regulato...
www.franciscoblaha.info
November 26, 2025 at 9:54 PM
'American Samoa is a showcase of a wealthy nation's tendency to outsource the burdens of environmental conservation. The asymmetric imposition of the will of the powerful to use the less privileged as sacrificial zones for virtue-signalling policies'
www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/11...
www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/11...
Reposted by Andy McKay
Yes to restoring the shabby bits!
This morning @ecolsocaus.bsky.social #ESA2025 James Brazill-Boast shares the impact that private land conservation can have.
60% of Australia = privately owned!
🌏
He highlights we need to move away from the idea that conservation only protects 'jewels', to one where we also restore the shabby bits.
60% of Australia = privately owned!
🌏
He highlights we need to move away from the idea that conservation only protects 'jewels', to one where we also restore the shabby bits.
November 26, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Yes to restoring the shabby bits!
Reposted by Andy McKay
On Monday, we begin our urgent hearing in the Wellington High Court, where we will be challenging the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries’ emergency set-net fishing closure. Why? We argue that the closure is inadequate to protect the critically endangered northern hoiho population.
#hoiho #penguins
#hoiho #penguins
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Reposted by Andy McKay
We grew up being told "you'll get more conservative as you age" but it turns out becoming more conservative isn't about aging it's about accruing wealth, which we didn't do as we aged because for most of us home ownership was out of reach
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
Millennials are the first generation to move left as they age, rewriting the rules of Australian politics | RNZ News
The trend has surprised the experts behind the study.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 10:58 PM
We grew up being told "you'll get more conservative as you age" but it turns out becoming more conservative isn't about aging it's about accruing wealth, which we didn't do as we aged because for most of us home ownership was out of reach
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
Reposted by Andy McKay
Captures the mood of much of the country under this government - bleak, with a sense that everything is broken, that there is no opportunity for young people to get ahead, and that the government simply doesn't care.
‘I love my country. I don’t want to leave’: readers reflect on the exodus from New Zealand
As people continue to move away in record numbers, readers share their reasons for leaving and contemplate life in New Zealand
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Captures the mood of much of the country under this government - bleak, with a sense that everything is broken, that there is no opportunity for young people to get ahead, and that the government simply doesn't care.
Regional council overhaul an attempt to narrow Māori influence, yet again, expert warns www.teaonews.co.nz/2025/11/26/r...
Regional council overhaul an attempt to narrow Māori influence, yet again, expert warns
A Māori scholar warns abolishing regional councils for mayor-led boards will erode Māori environmental influence, deregulate protections, and favor private interests amid scant consultation.
www.teaonews.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Regional council overhaul an attempt to narrow Māori influence, yet again, expert warns www.teaonews.co.nz/2025/11/26/r...
Reposted by Andy McKay
This is a good summary of some of the issues with NZ's proposed school science curriculum. I spend a lot of time thinking about what science actually is, and how to communicate that to non-scientists, and this summarizes many of those issues simply:
NZ’s draft science curriculum favours rote learning over critical thinking
Critical thinking is an essential skill students should be encouraged to develop as part of their science learning. NZ’s draft science curriculum fails the test.
theconversation.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:37 AM
This is a good summary of some of the issues with NZ's proposed school science curriculum. I spend a lot of time thinking about what science actually is, and how to communicate that to non-scientists, and this summarizes many of those issues simply:
Reposted by Andy McKay
A useful overview by Professor Sarah Joseph (from November last year) on how the social media minimum age obligation might violate the implied freedom of political communication in the Constitution:
November 26, 2025 at 3:50 AM
A useful overview by Professor Sarah Joseph (from November last year) on how the social media minimum age obligation might violate the implied freedom of political communication in the Constitution:
So our only local emergency doctor just announced they will no longer allow free emergency visits for 0-17 year olds. It's going to cost $59 per visit.
How are families already pushed
to the brink supposed to afford this? All it does is push kids into stretched hospital emergency rooms.
#nzpol
How are families already pushed
to the brink supposed to afford this? All it does is push kids into stretched hospital emergency rooms.
#nzpol
November 26, 2025 at 9:07 AM
So our only local emergency doctor just announced they will no longer allow free emergency visits for 0-17 year olds. It's going to cost $59 per visit.
How are families already pushed
to the brink supposed to afford this? All it does is push kids into stretched hospital emergency rooms.
#nzpol
How are families already pushed
to the brink supposed to afford this? All it does is push kids into stretched hospital emergency rooms.
#nzpol
So cool! Another freshwater species on my bucket list. www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ...
Fish thought to be lost from Auckland's wetlands found after decade of searching
The black mudfish hadn't been seen in Auckland's wetlands since 2014 - but that all changes a couple of months ago.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 8:57 AM
So cool! Another freshwater species on my bucket list. www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ...
Reposted by Andy McKay
Still seeing conservation ecologists using the ‘precautionary principle’ as a catch all to constrain new ideas
As the climate crisis takes hold, we are going to have to try novel approaches to conservation
And some of that will involve taking risks
As the climate crisis takes hold, we are going to have to try novel approaches to conservation
And some of that will involve taking risks
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Still seeing conservation ecologists using the ‘precautionary principle’ as a catch all to constrain new ideas
As the climate crisis takes hold, we are going to have to try novel approaches to conservation
And some of that will involve taking risks
As the climate crisis takes hold, we are going to have to try novel approaches to conservation
And some of that will involve taking risks
We have strayed too far from God.
November 26, 2025 at 6:18 AM
We have strayed too far from God.
Reposted by Andy McKay
my takeaway from climate week nyc is that "climate storytelling" is a little too much "we must reimagine our deepest souls in relationship to mother nature and the moral abyss of the polycrisis into which we must now stare" and not enough "ok but get a heat pump"
September 28, 2025 at 6:52 PM
my takeaway from climate week nyc is that "climate storytelling" is a little too much "we must reimagine our deepest souls in relationship to mother nature and the moral abyss of the polycrisis into which we must now stare" and not enough "ok but get a heat pump"
Reposted by Andy McKay
The more I think about this, the more it really, really, REALLY bothers me
We've reached a point where a text-based reference fabrication engine - comfortably the most effective machine liar we've ever invented - is being pushed by an ultra-polluting tech company and accepted by climate scientists
We've reached a point where a text-based reference fabrication engine - comfortably the most effective machine liar we've ever invented - is being pushed by an ultra-polluting tech company and accepted by climate scientists
Deeply absurd. This Google PDF published on a blog (arxiv, not peer reviewed) claims an LLM is "PhD level" but in most cases the MAJORITY of reference URLs were invalid or inaccessible.
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
November 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The more I think about this, the more it really, really, REALLY bothers me
We've reached a point where a text-based reference fabrication engine - comfortably the most effective machine liar we've ever invented - is being pushed by an ultra-polluting tech company and accepted by climate scientists
We've reached a point where a text-based reference fabrication engine - comfortably the most effective machine liar we've ever invented - is being pushed by an ultra-polluting tech company and accepted by climate scientists
Reposted by Andy McKay
Apart from the hated RMA functions, it ignores all other regional tasks eg biosecurity, maritime, flood protection. It's incredibly stupid.
November 25, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Apart from the hated RMA functions, it ignores all other regional tasks eg biosecurity, maritime, flood protection. It's incredibly stupid.