Kyle Matthews
@kylermatthews.bsky.social
Research fellow at He Whenua Taurikura. Research the far right, Atlas network, free speech/hate speech, and radical social movements across the political spectrum. He/him. https://people.wgtn.ac.nz/kyle.matthews
It says a lot about violence in society that there's an academic journal entitled 'Journal of School Violence', which has been producing quarterly issues since 2002, including a crap-ton of articles about mass school shootings.
November 17, 2025 at 11:11 PM
It says a lot about violence in society that there's an academic journal entitled 'Journal of School Violence', which has been producing quarterly issues since 2002, including a crap-ton of articles about mass school shootings.
Diane Stone (2007) talks about right-wing think tanks as a 'garbage can' - that no matter what the problem society is facing or the evidence about it, the same old solution (deregulation, deuniversalisation, neoliberalisation, asset sales) get pulled out of the garbage can and applied.
Same tired old ghoul formula...
1. Define a problem.
2. Add some numbers and smart sounding stuff.
3. Draw the long bow on some reckons.
4. Conclude with the same old 'solutions'... deregulation, reducing universal services, sell assets to offshore investors.
1. Define a problem.
2. Add some numbers and smart sounding stuff.
3. Draw the long bow on some reckons.
4. Conclude with the same old 'solutions'... deregulation, reducing universal services, sell assets to offshore investors.
November 17, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Diane Stone (2007) talks about right-wing think tanks as a 'garbage can' - that no matter what the problem society is facing or the evidence about it, the same old solution (deregulation, deuniversalisation, neoliberalisation, asset sales) get pulled out of the garbage can and applied.
A thread from someone who has done a little research into police culture about the revelations yesterday about the police’s shockingly corrupt handling of a woman’s complaints about the Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming (www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...).
Revealed: The senior cops who exposed the Jevon McSkimming police 'cover-up'
The watchdog that found serious misconduct at the highest levels of police also commended the work of several police staff who stood up. Here's who they are.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 11, 2025 at 10:05 PM
A thread from someone who has done a little research into police culture about the revelations yesterday about the police’s shockingly corrupt handling of a woman’s complaints about the Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming (www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...).
Reposted by Kyle Matthews
Staff at NZ universities will now have to deal with govt mandated free speech complaints process designed to facilitate far right agitprop infiltrating campus spaces and threatening our academic freedom under the guise of protecting it.
www.beehive.govt.nz/release/ensu...
www.beehive.govt.nz/release/ensu...
www.beehive.govt.nz
November 11, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Staff at NZ universities will now have to deal with govt mandated free speech complaints process designed to facilitate far right agitprop infiltrating campus spaces and threatening our academic freedom under the guise of protecting it.
www.beehive.govt.nz/release/ensu...
www.beehive.govt.nz/release/ensu...
This definitely seems like a win relative to where it could have gone: www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
Lobbyist-turned-firearms minister lifts lid on gun law overhaul
Gun lobbyist-turned-firearms minister Nicole McKee has lifted the lid on her plans Arms Act rewrite - but it’s much less radical than her critics anticipated.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 11, 2025 at 4:03 AM
This definitely seems like a win relative to where it could have gone: www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
Not surprising after the more substantial Australian part of her down under tour was denied. No great loss her not coming to Aotearoa as well. www.stuff.co.nz/culture/3608...
Candace Owens still ‘very keen’ to come to New Zealand despite venue saying her January event is cancelled
The controversial American commentator was due to host an event in Auckland in January.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 11, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Not surprising after the more substantial Australian part of her down under tour was denied. No great loss her not coming to Aotearoa as well. www.stuff.co.nz/culture/3608...
I have written about this piece of artivism a couple of times (eg here: wagingnonviolence.org/rs/2024/03/m...), and spoken about it at international conferences. It remains one of Aotearoa's more successful, and challenging, activist actions, in recent times. I tautoko Te Waka Hourua's mahi.
November 11, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I have written about this piece of artivism a couple of times (eg here: wagingnonviolence.org/rs/2024/03/m...), and spoken about it at international conferences. It remains one of Aotearoa's more successful, and challenging, activist actions, in recent times. I tautoko Te Waka Hourua's mahi.
Reposted by Kyle Matthews
If you'd told me that a speaker at the Free Speech Union conference would call for banning non-Christian public expressions of faith to an applauding crowd, I would have said yes, obviously that is going to happen newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/10/t...
November 9, 2025 at 8:30 PM
If you'd told me that a speaker at the Free Speech Union conference would call for banning non-Christian public expressions of faith to an applauding crowd, I would have said yes, obviously that is going to happen newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/10/t...
I met with Liam a few weeks ago. This is good reading by him.
This, from OUSA's President, is very good and warrants reading:
"For decades, governments of every stripe have treated universities as businesses to be managed rather than institutions of learning and curiosity. ... Students are rebranded as customers, research, degrees and graduates as outputs."
"For decades, governments of every stripe have treated universities as businesses to be managed rather than institutions of learning and curiosity. ... Students are rebranded as customers, research, degrees and graduates as outputs."
We’ve forgotten what universities are for
November 10, 2025 at 5:25 AM
I met with Liam a few weeks ago. This is good reading by him.
Reposted by Kyle Matthews
At every turn, the Government has opted for whatever would actually lead to more pollution and a warmer world – even if it costs more, jeopardises NZ’s reputation, overturns a campaign promise or clashes with the Government’s other priorities.
The long retreat:
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
The long retreat:
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
Govt's climate strategy: Let it burn
Comment: The Government has relentlessly pursued policies that boost climate pollution – even if they cost more or jeopardise NZ's reputation, Marc Daalder writes
newsroom.co.nz
November 6, 2025 at 7:22 PM
At every turn, the Government has opted for whatever would actually lead to more pollution and a warmer world – even if it costs more, jeopardises NZ’s reputation, overturns a campaign promise or clashes with the Government’s other priorities.
The long retreat:
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
The long retreat:
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
Reposted by Kyle Matthews
I'm sure it's totally coincidental that the AoNZ government's changes to the Marsden Fund have been followed by successful applications led by female investigators dropping from 55% to 33%, and successful applications led by Māori investigators dropping from 13% to 5%. 🫠 🧪
Information on the 2025 Marsden Fund round
Information about the number of funded proposals in the 2025 Marsden Fund round broken down by research area and institution, also including gender and ethnicity data
www.royalsociety.org.nz
November 5, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I'm sure it's totally coincidental that the AoNZ government's changes to the Marsden Fund have been followed by successful applications led by female investigators dropping from 55% to 33%, and successful applications led by Māori investigators dropping from 13% to 5%. 🫠 🧪
The Zero Carbon Act was a significant step forward in Aotearoa's obligations to respond to the threat of climate change. The non-parliamentary drivers of the Act, Generation Zero, particularly focused on how to make the legislation survive elections and changes of government. It's very moderate.
November 6, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The Zero Carbon Act was a significant step forward in Aotearoa's obligations to respond to the threat of climate change. The non-parliamentary drivers of the Act, Generation Zero, particularly focused on how to make the legislation survive elections and changes of government. It's very moderate.
I recently submitted on Aotearoa's fuel security plan, suggesting a focus on energy security, not fuel security. Unsurprisingly my ideas have been ignored as the government doubles down on securing access to fossil fuels, worsening the climate crisis: www.beehive.govt.nz/release/fuel...
www.beehive.govt.nz
November 5, 2025 at 12:57 AM
I recently submitted on Aotearoa's fuel security plan, suggesting a focus on energy security, not fuel security. Unsurprisingly my ideas have been ignored as the government doubles down on securing access to fossil fuels, worsening the climate crisis: www.beehive.govt.nz/release/fuel...
UK govt keeps chipping away on protest rights, limiting the ability to have 'repeat protests' even if organised by different organisations: www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/govern...
Government's repeat protest restrictions worse than feared - Liberty
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk
November 4, 2025 at 9:46 PM
UK govt keeps chipping away on protest rights, limiting the ability to have 'repeat protests' even if organised by different organisations: www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/govern...
The museum is really bad, the reenactment group is fucked up: www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
Museum’s attempt to show ‘both sides’ of World War II ‘uncomfortable’
At Geraldine’s Military Museum, amid the tanks and machinery of war, a display aims to show “the other side” of the conflict.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 3, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The museum is really bad, the reenactment group is fucked up: www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
Oral submission today to the Justice Select Committee in opposition to moves to amend the Summary Offences Act by making it a crime to have disruptive protests outside private residences. I did it from outside the Indonesian embassy, a private residence! From 13:30: vimeo.com/1132983672?f...
2025/11/3 - Justice [Part 2]
Monday 3 November 2025 | Justice Summary Offences (Demonstrations Near Residential Premises) Amendment Bill Submitters
vimeo.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Oral submission today to the Justice Select Committee in opposition to moves to amend the Summary Offences Act by making it a crime to have disruptive protests outside private residences. I did it from outside the Indonesian embassy, a private residence! From 13:30: vimeo.com/1132983672?f...
A damning indictment by Bryce Edwards of the Act Party's transition from (at least claiming to) represent free markets in the interests of consumers and taxpayers, to representing corporates in parliament: theintegrityinstitute.substack.com/p/integrity-...
Integrity Briefing: The Act Party’s journey from market freedom to corporate capture
This is the fifth instalment in a series exploring a simple but uncomfortable premise: New Zealand is off the rails.
theintegrityinstitute.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:58 AM
A damning indictment by Bryce Edwards of the Act Party's transition from (at least claiming to) represent free markets in the interests of consumers and taxpayers, to representing corporates in parliament: theintegrityinstitute.substack.com/p/integrity-...
Reposted by Kyle Matthews
Now that NZ dairy farmers are set to get a windfall, perhaps the current government can ask they get back to doing all we can to mitigate methane emissions?
It’s perhaps the biggest "putting it back into the community" they could offer.
It’s perhaps the biggest "putting it back into the community" they could offer.
If climate policy had a “best buy,” it might be methane cuts
Global methane mitigation has a benefit–cost ratio >6:1, even before accounting for near-term climate feedbacks
A strong case: it’s among the most efficient levers in climate policy
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Global methane mitigation has a benefit–cost ratio >6:1, even before accounting for near-term climate feedbacks
A strong case: it’s among the most efficient levers in climate policy
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Global methane action pays for itself at least six times over
We provide a comprehensive assessment of the economic benefits and costs of global methane emissions abatement, anchored on the Global Methane Pledge. We use an integrated assessment model to estimate...
www.science.org
November 2, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Now that NZ dairy farmers are set to get a windfall, perhaps the current government can ask they get back to doing all we can to mitigate methane emissions?
It’s perhaps the biggest "putting it back into the community" they could offer.
It’s perhaps the biggest "putting it back into the community" they could offer.
This took place when we were in Europe last year - protesters cleared of Stonehenge action.
November 2, 2025 at 9:03 AM
This took place when we were in Europe last year - protesters cleared of Stonehenge action.
Ayling and his projects are so weird. Talking about ‘western civilisation’ and trying to pretend he’s not talking about whiteness. www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz
October 31, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Ayling and his projects are so weird. Talking about ‘western civilisation’ and trying to pretend he’s not talking about whiteness. www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
We really need to let go of this "ooh NZ was mentioned in the international media, go us!" thing sometimes.
We're famous. But in the wrong way. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Iran, Russia and the New Zealand insurer that kept their sanctioned oil flowing
A dark fleet of tankers carried tens of billions of dollars of Iranian and Russian oil to Asia, evading Western sanctions. Reuters found the ships were connected by one thing: a small insurance company in New Zealand, run by a British family.
www.reuters.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:40 AM
We really need to let go of this "ooh NZ was mentioned in the international media, go us!" thing sometimes.
Reposted by Kyle Matthews
BREAKING
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that Norway must assess the global climate impacts of oil and gas before opening new oil fields in order to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Meanwhile, Luxon is all 'drill baby drill', as if it doesn't matter!
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that Norway must assess the global climate impacts of oil and gas before opening new oil fields in order to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Meanwhile, Luxon is all 'drill baby drill', as if it doesn't matter!
European human rights court sets climate limits for the oil industry - Greenpeace International
Today, The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that Norway must assess the global climate impacts of oil and gas before opening new oil fields on the Norwegian continental shelf in order ...
www.greenpeace.org
October 28, 2025 at 11:02 AM
BREAKING
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that Norway must assess the global climate impacts of oil and gas before opening new oil fields in order to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Meanwhile, Luxon is all 'drill baby drill', as if it doesn't matter!
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that Norway must assess the global climate impacts of oil and gas before opening new oil fields in order to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Meanwhile, Luxon is all 'drill baby drill', as if it doesn't matter!
Reposted by Kyle Matthews
First things first: come and get your flowers @newsroom.co.nz ... Always giving us the news that matters. Wee thread below.
'Coordinated, largely online campaigns' make it harder for politicians to consider good-faith submissions on laws
Tighter rules may be needed to stem flow of public submissions, MP says
newsroom.co.nz
October 23, 2025 at 7:18 PM
First things first: come and get your flowers @newsroom.co.nz ... Always giving us the news that matters. Wee thread below.
Reposted by Kyle Matthews
The phrase "Western Civilisation" is just white supremacy in a poorly-fitting tuxedo. It presents the absurd idea of a grand unifying tradition which encompasses the Vikings, the Romans, the Ancient Greeks and a bunch of Enlightenment dudes in wigs, but is also somehow completely heterosexual
i say 'crypto fascist' because he continuously has to justify and pretend to be *not fascist* whenever writing or guesting, even on the more rightwing media outlets
as below - the reason people claim that is because it's been more frequently true every year for the last 2 decades
as below - the reason people claim that is because it's been more frequently true every year for the last 2 decades
October 23, 2025 at 4:45 AM
The phrase "Western Civilisation" is just white supremacy in a poorly-fitting tuxedo. It presents the absurd idea of a grand unifying tradition which encompasses the Vikings, the Romans, the Ancient Greeks and a bunch of Enlightenment dudes in wigs, but is also somehow completely heterosexual