Niamh Hollis-Locke
@niamhvh-l.bsky.social
Poet, writer, editor, too many hobbies-haver, etc. Shortlisted Ginkgo Prize, Heroines Prize. Writing a book (very slowly).
UK born, Aotearoa-based, holder of slightly too many English degrees. Enjoys a good walk.
https://linktr.ee/nh_l
UK born, Aotearoa-based, holder of slightly too many English degrees. Enjoys a good walk.
https://linktr.ee/nh_l
Pinned
Niamh Hollis-Locke
@niamhvh-l.bsky.social
· Mar 21
Some big news which I'm excited to share - I've been selected as one of the recipients of the 2025 @nzsa.bsky.social mentorship programme! 📚💌 With the support of an established author, I'll be spending the rest of the year finishing a children's fantasy-fiction novel!
authors.org.nz/event/nzsa-m...
authors.org.nz/event/nzsa-m...
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
No one in Wellington wants extra fucking tunnels. We want decent public transport and quite a few of us want safe cycleways.
November 17, 2025 at 1:52 AM
No one in Wellington wants extra fucking tunnels. We want decent public transport and quite a few of us want safe cycleways.
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
It's actually great the Ockhams have adopted a zero-tolerance approach to generative AI in book production, and a shame these authors are casualties of their publisher trying to save a buck. (Incidentally I think both the covers are garbage.)
A new ruling on AI means the Ockhams are in the strange position of judging a book by its cover
Ockhams dump AI books from awards
newsroom.co.nz
November 16, 2025 at 7:37 PM
It's actually great the Ockhams have adopted a zero-tolerance approach to generative AI in book production, and a shame these authors are casualties of their publisher trying to save a buck. (Incidentally I think both the covers are garbage.)
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
$4 BILLION to save 'up to 10 minutes' during peak traffic. Fucking hell - imagine what that $4B could do for housing, education, health, etc, in Aotearoa.
November 16, 2025 at 11:33 PM
$4 BILLION to save 'up to 10 minutes' during peak traffic. Fucking hell - imagine what that $4B could do for housing, education, health, etc, in Aotearoa.
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
The fucking irony of someone with “fix your hearts or die” in their bio making fun of the loss of a disabled elder to an infection after years of pleading for people to help keep her safe.
You know your hero David Lynch died alone because nobody cared to protect him from COVID, either?
You know your hero David Lynch died alone because nobody cared to protect him from COVID, either?
November 16, 2025 at 3:17 AM
The fucking irony of someone with “fix your hearts or die” in their bio making fun of the loss of a disabled elder to an infection after years of pleading for people to help keep her safe.
You know your hero David Lynch died alone because nobody cared to protect him from COVID, either?
You know your hero David Lynch died alone because nobody cared to protect him from COVID, either?
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art, the art of words.
November 11, 2025 at 10:15 PM
We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art, the art of words.
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
It's fucking horrific, but the McSkimming case is very much beyond 'bad apple' territory into "how many others did McSkimming enable" and I'd be unsurprised if it reached beyond just the police as well, given the kompromat potential over him.
November 11, 2025 at 5:10 AM
It's fucking horrific, but the McSkimming case is very much beyond 'bad apple' territory into "how many others did McSkimming enable" and I'd be unsurprised if it reached beyond just the police as well, given the kompromat potential over him.
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
Christchurch's playground elephant: demure, unassuming, shaped like a friend
Oamaru's playground elephant: ready for the next Punic war
Oamaru's playground elephant: ready for the next Punic war
November 11, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Christchurch's playground elephant: demure, unassuming, shaped like a friend
Oamaru's playground elephant: ready for the next Punic war
Oamaru's playground elephant: ready for the next Punic war
That quake last night was decent! Haven't moved for a doorway like that in a few years. Good reminder to refresh the emergency water - very aware that we've got holes in our emergency supplies though (lacking vital things like a means to heat food/water...)
November 6, 2025 at 8:28 PM
That quake last night was decent! Haven't moved for a doorway like that in a few years. Good reminder to refresh the emergency water - very aware that we've got holes in our emergency supplies though (lacking vital things like a means to heat food/water...)
This is so lovely 💌 Title is great bait though
November 6, 2025 at 8:18 PM
This is so lovely 💌 Title is great bait though
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
"Europeans recognize his vision about free public transit and universal childcare. We expect our governments to make these kinds of services accessible to all of us,” said Verbeek. “We pay higher taxes and get civilized societies in return."
Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’
Critics of New York City’s mayor-elect have said his pledges of free bus service and universal childcare are unrealistic, but in Europe it’s a given
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
"Europeans recognize his vision about free public transit and universal childcare. We expect our governments to make these kinds of services accessible to all of us,” said Verbeek. “We pay higher taxes and get civilized societies in return."
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
Yes, also when you are meeting an artist at an opening, or a musician at a concert, an author at a book event, etc., you're meeting their public persona, which is (usually) a distinct and modulated version of themselves. Not fake! But designed to help them get through being the focus of attention.
I own several works by an artist who's work I really like. I finally made it to an opening and met him, and... we had nothing to say to each other. Like at all. I've rarely had that blank of a conversation.
Not naming names, he's a fine person. You just can't click with everyone.
Not naming names, he's a fine person. You just can't click with everyone.
November 6, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Yes, also when you are meeting an artist at an opening, or a musician at a concert, an author at a book event, etc., you're meeting their public persona, which is (usually) a distinct and modulated version of themselves. Not fake! But designed to help them get through being the focus of attention.
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
Not only is Tom Hanks protecting his own health, by masking up he’s protecting everyone else on public transit.
Many people taking the subway don’t have paid time off.
They don’t have the good healthcare someone like Hanks can afford.
Masking is community care.
Many people taking the subway don’t have paid time off.
They don’t have the good healthcare someone like Hanks can afford.
Masking is community care.
When asked by Stephen Colbert why he was wearing a mask in public, Tom Hanks said..
“I’ve had Covid enough in my life I don’t need to do that again. I’m wearing this for health reasons”
More celebrities need to speak out like this.
“I’ve had Covid enough in my life I don’t need to do that again. I’m wearing this for health reasons”
More celebrities need to speak out like this.
November 5, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Not only is Tom Hanks protecting his own health, by masking up he’s protecting everyone else on public transit.
Many people taking the subway don’t have paid time off.
They don’t have the good healthcare someone like Hanks can afford.
Masking is community care.
Many people taking the subway don’t have paid time off.
They don’t have the good healthcare someone like Hanks can afford.
Masking is community care.
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
Discussion of lots of people being on long term sick leave since 2019 without mentioning covid is like talking about wwii without mentioning bombs or guns. And yet....
November 5, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Discussion of lots of people being on long term sick leave since 2019 without mentioning covid is like talking about wwii without mentioning bombs or guns. And yet....
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
the Cuomintang has lost the mandate of heaven
November 5, 2025 at 4:07 AM
the Cuomintang has lost the mandate of heaven
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
Here's another bit of conventional wisdom Zohran completely blew away: His speech was at well above a 10th-grade level. It was complex, erudite, punctuated by deep and fluent references. You don't have to condescend to voters with baby talk! Part of re-establishing norms is speaking like an adult.
November 5, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Here's another bit of conventional wisdom Zohran completely blew away: His speech was at well above a 10th-grade level. It was complex, erudite, punctuated by deep and fluent references. You don't have to condescend to voters with baby talk! Part of re-establishing norms is speaking like an adult.
Reader, I was wrong. I now have a very good cup of earl grey tea to go with my chocolate, thus making the day even better
Cheney died, my favourite band played live for the first time in about 8 years, NYC elected a 34 year-old socialist for mayor, the sun is out in Wellington, and I have hazelnut chocolate. Very few ways this day could improve much more
Cheney was so evil that him dying actually lifted a curse
November 5, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Reader, I was wrong. I now have a very good cup of earl grey tea to go with my chocolate, thus making the day even better
Cheney died, my favourite band played live for the first time in about 8 years, NYC elected a 34 year-old socialist for mayor, the sun is out in Wellington, and I have hazelnut chocolate. Very few ways this day could improve much more
Cheney was so evil that him dying actually lifted a curse
November 5, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Cheney died, my favourite band played live for the first time in about 8 years, NYC elected a 34 year-old socialist for mayor, the sun is out in Wellington, and I have hazelnut chocolate. Very few ways this day could improve much more
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
Don't forget that Zohran Mamdani spent his entire campaign standing proudly beside the trans community. He went to trans rights rallies just to show support. He proudly waved trans rights flags without hesitation. He refused to back down in support of trans rights. That makes me happy.
November 5, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Don't forget that Zohran Mamdani spent his entire campaign standing proudly beside the trans community. He went to trans rights rallies just to show support. He proudly waved trans rights flags without hesitation. He refused to back down in support of trans rights. That makes me happy.
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
Okay now nz labour stop looking at uk labour and look at Mamdani instead of
November 5, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Okay now nz labour stop looking at uk labour and look at Mamdani instead of
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
Except it is relevant, even down in New Zealand. The far right have been pushing hard, and other parties continue to move right to keep the middle voters. When people like Mamdani win a major election like this, it shows the Dem/Labour/etc parties that you can win without pandering to fascists.
Obvs the mayoral race for NYC is irrelevant to us but don't let that stop you enjoying plenty of the world's worst individuals being mad as hell about it if Mamdani wins
November 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Except it is relevant, even down in New Zealand. The far right have been pushing hard, and other parties continue to move right to keep the middle voters. When people like Mamdani win a major election like this, it shows the Dem/Labour/etc parties that you can win without pandering to fascists.
Finally some good news out of the States
First NYC results are in: That's already 819,165 votes.
Mamdani: 51.5%
Cuomo: 40%
Sliwa: 8%.
(That's roughly 40% of the vote.)
Mamdani: 51.5%
Cuomo: 40%
Sliwa: 8%.
(That's roughly 40% of the vote.)
November 5, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Finally some good news out of the States
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
I think I have discovered why young republican men cannot get a date
A moment of silence, please, for the "young men are all MAGA now" narrative.
(Source: www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...)
(Source: www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...)
November 5, 2025 at 1:51 AM
I think I have discovered why young republican men cannot get a date
Compulsively refreshing all of my live-results tabs on a loop every 30 seconds, and I'm not even from the US
NYC polls close in 10 minutes. nauseously optimistic.
November 5, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Compulsively refreshing all of my live-results tabs on a loop every 30 seconds, and I'm not even from the US
Oh it's happening
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
Concern on share markets as The Big Short's Michael Burry bets against top AI stocks
Michael Burry, who rose to fame in theThe Big Short after predicting the housing market would collapse, has placed a new bet.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 4, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Oh it's happening
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
Reposted by Niamh Hollis-Locke
Husband came home from his after school meeting saying the new social studies curriculum isn't a curriculum, it's just a list of subjects to be covered with no broader themes, guaranteed to make kids find the humanities pointless. "I've never felt more like my job doesn't matter"
November 3, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Husband came home from his after school meeting saying the new social studies curriculum isn't a curriculum, it's just a list of subjects to be covered with no broader themes, guaranteed to make kids find the humanities pointless. "I've never felt more like my job doesn't matter"