Paul_BarlowNZ
@paulbarlownz.bsky.social
Former Hamiltonian now living in Tāmaki Makaurau. Views are my own and don’t represent any company or client. Yeah, I probably am that guy you saw on Tik Tok.
I guess it’s time to update the CV to include Award Winning Podcaster!
I need to say a huge thanks to everyone who voted for me for this - it was a real shock and a genuinely pleasant surprise :)
I need to say a huge thanks to everyone who voted for me for this - it was a real shock and a genuinely pleasant surprise :)
November 20, 2025 at 2:39 AM
I guess it’s time to update the CV to include Award Winning Podcaster!
I need to say a huge thanks to everyone who voted for me for this - it was a real shock and a genuinely pleasant surprise :)
I need to say a huge thanks to everyone who voted for me for this - it was a real shock and a genuinely pleasant surprise :)
What on earth is up with Farmers Christmas ornaments this year? Popped into one yesterday to kill time and found bedazzled broccoli, french fries, beer cans and a triceratops stuck in a donut. I’m not sure I see the logic behind them. Merry Christmas here’s a broccoli that shiny! 🤷🏼♂️
November 16, 2025 at 7:08 PM
What on earth is up with Farmers Christmas ornaments this year? Popped into one yesterday to kill time and found bedazzled broccoli, french fries, beer cans and a triceratops stuck in a donut. I’m not sure I see the logic behind them. Merry Christmas here’s a broccoli that shiny! 🤷🏼♂️
When I was in Manilla a couple of months back I fell in love with this Death Star looking Ikea lamp - finally had an electrician (Dad, who is a registered sparky) install it today in the studio! And it looks so good!
Sometimes a little joy can do wonders for the soul!
Sometimes a little joy can do wonders for the soul!
November 3, 2025 at 7:40 AM
When I was in Manilla a couple of months back I fell in love with this Death Star looking Ikea lamp - finally had an electrician (Dad, who is a registered sparky) install it today in the studio! And it looks so good!
Sometimes a little joy can do wonders for the soul!
Sometimes a little joy can do wonders for the soul!
Ok, purely unscientific random question. I noticed during the local election there seemed to be some places that called this a speed bump and others that called it a speed lump. I’m curious what you call it and which part of the country you’re from?
October 31, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Ok, purely unscientific random question. I noticed during the local election there seemed to be some places that called this a speed bump and others that called it a speed lump. I’m curious what you call it and which part of the country you’re from?
September 2025 polling data from Reid showed more kiwis support the type of CGT announced today than oppose it. And it’s far enough out from the election that voters will be able to see how it works while the party full of landlords profiting under current settings cry about it.
October 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
September 2025 polling data from Reid showed more kiwis support the type of CGT announced today than oppose it. And it’s far enough out from the election that voters will be able to see how it works while the party full of landlords profiting under current settings cry about it.
Bit of a crowd today in Auckland for #oct23strike action! One estimate I heard was 15 to 20 thousand people!
October 23, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Bit of a crowd today in Auckland for #oct23strike action! One estimate I heard was 15 to 20 thousand people!
Had one last trip to the Waikato before the new Council gets in Wednesday - then HCC will have a pathologically lying conspiracy theorist, someone who kept misrepresenting themselves as a lawyer, and someone who gave out not drink coke straws as a marketing gimmick on it. That’s democracy for you 🤷🏼♂️
October 19, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Had one last trip to the Waikato before the new Council gets in Wednesday - then HCC will have a pathologically lying conspiracy theorist, someone who kept misrepresenting themselves as a lawyer, and someone who gave out not drink coke straws as a marketing gimmick on it. That’s democracy for you 🤷🏼♂️
This tweet is 10 years old to the day - feel free to save it and use it as you see the local election results get finalised and see who won, who promised impossible things like low rates and maintained services, fixing all the potholes and downplaying climate change impacts and road safety features.
October 17, 2025 at 1:28 AM
This tweet is 10 years old to the day - feel free to save it and use it as you see the local election results get finalised and see who won, who promised impossible things like low rates and maintained services, fixing all the potholes and downplaying climate change impacts and road safety features.
I really hate seeing MAGA bullshit being dragged into our government. It’s been two years to the day since the General Election - we have one more (ish) to go until we can flush this kind of stuff out of our government, cause we don’t want to go down that path.
October 14, 2025 at 8:51 AM
I really hate seeing MAGA bullshit being dragged into our government. It’s been two years to the day since the General Election - we have one more (ish) to go until we can flush this kind of stuff out of our government, cause we don’t want to go down that path.
Forced to take a day off due to lines work from Vector - so I did some adulting and went and got tomato plants and did some gardening because sometimes we all need a mental timeline cleanse!
October 13, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Forced to take a day off due to lines work from Vector - so I did some adulting and went and got tomato plants and did some gardening because sometimes we all need a mental timeline cleanse!
Shocker, VFF out here celebrating because low turnout let them get in in way too many places.
October 11, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Shocker, VFF out here celebrating because low turnout let them get in in way too many places.
These people are going to vote - and they’re going to vote for the worst candidates possible. So encourage everyone to vote for decent people before midday tomorrow!
October 10, 2025 at 5:20 AM
These people are going to vote - and they’re going to vote for the worst candidates possible. So encourage everyone to vote for decent people before midday tomorrow!
A thread of some of the “lovely” comments I’ve had this election from some really keen voters
October 10, 2025 at 5:20 AM
A thread of some of the “lovely” comments I’ve had this election from some really keen voters
I’ve done my vote - no VFF members, no hard right talking heads, no one who used racebaiting dog whistles or seemingly faked qualifications, or anyone who signed the TPU pledge.
If you’re posting it then it NEEDS to be in the mailbox by Tuesday or Midday Saturday for drop boxes & Special votes!
If you’re posting it then it NEEDS to be in the mailbox by Tuesday or Midday Saturday for drop boxes & Special votes!
October 4, 2025 at 10:53 PM
I’ve done my vote - no VFF members, no hard right talking heads, no one who used racebaiting dog whistles or seemingly faked qualifications, or anyone who signed the TPU pledge.
If you’re posting it then it NEEDS to be in the mailbox by Tuesday or Midday Saturday for drop boxes & Special votes!
If you’re posting it then it NEEDS to be in the mailbox by Tuesday or Midday Saturday for drop boxes & Special votes!
Hope someone in the coalition saw the numbers for today’s Pay Equity March - cause they need to realise what they did was not popular.
September 20, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Hope someone in the coalition saw the numbers for today’s Pay Equity March - cause they need to realise what they did was not popular.
Fascinating analysis from an elected official who claimed he should be able to use ablist slurs against a woman because of his belief she was plotting a “20 minute city” where everyone’s locked up and made to eat bugs in the town he lives in which takes 15 minutes to cross.
August 31, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Fascinating analysis from an elected official who claimed he should be able to use ablist slurs against a woman because of his belief she was plotting a “20 minute city” where everyone’s locked up and made to eat bugs in the town he lives in which takes 15 minutes to cross.
So much for the “moderate” member of the coalition - here’s Tauranga MP and Bed Leg aficionado Sam Uffendell accepting a petition and praising the work of well known disinfo peddler (and the next potential NZFirst MP) Kirstin Murfitt. Actions like this legitimise their beliefs to the wider public.
August 20, 2025 at 6:29 AM
So much for the “moderate” member of the coalition - here’s Tauranga MP and Bed Leg aficionado Sam Uffendell accepting a petition and praising the work of well known disinfo peddler (and the next potential NZFirst MP) Kirstin Murfitt. Actions like this legitimise their beliefs to the wider public.
I do like the new City Rail Link building but, and I say this as a self confessed nerd, it does feel a little Borg Cube-ish to me.
July 22, 2025 at 10:50 AM
I do like the new City Rail Link building but, and I say this as a self confessed nerd, it does feel a little Borg Cube-ish to me.
Need a quick guide into how to safely decide who to vote for this election?
Then here’s a handy guide - like an airline safety plan. Watch out for candidates pushing specific ideologies based on pseudo law and organisations known to spread disinformation. They won’t help your community.
Then here’s a handy guide - like an airline safety plan. Watch out for candidates pushing specific ideologies based on pseudo law and organisations known to spread disinformation. They won’t help your community.
July 20, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Need a quick guide into how to safely decide who to vote for this election?
Then here’s a handy guide - like an airline safety plan. Watch out for candidates pushing specific ideologies based on pseudo law and organisations known to spread disinformation. They won’t help your community.
Then here’s a handy guide - like an airline safety plan. Watch out for candidates pushing specific ideologies based on pseudo law and organisations known to spread disinformation. They won’t help your community.
Who would have thunk it!
July 18, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Who would have thunk it!
Yes, it’s an area far larger than just the council area she’s in that she is coordinating and mobilising people around.
July 16, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Yes, it’s an area far larger than just the council area she’s in that she is coordinating and mobilising people around.
In the immortal words written by Hamiltonian legend Richard O’Brien - I’m going home!
Next stop - Tāmaki Makaurau!
Next stop - Tāmaki Makaurau!
July 15, 2025 at 9:38 PM
In the immortal words written by Hamiltonian legend Richard O’Brien - I’m going home!
Next stop - Tāmaki Makaurau!
Next stop - Tāmaki Makaurau!
Remember you need to be registered to vote by AUGUST 1 If you are planning to vote in this year’s local body elections. And that it’s next to impossible to fire a Councillor once they’re elected so sitting out an election seems like a big risk right now…
July 10, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Remember you need to be registered to vote by AUGUST 1 If you are planning to vote in this year’s local body elections. And that it’s next to impossible to fire a Councillor once they’re elected so sitting out an election seems like a big risk right now…