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thecatswhiskers.bsky.social
The Cat's Whiskers
@thecatswhiskers.bsky.social
1.4K followers 1.1K following 8.3K posts
I’m a makipai, so don’t tell ngā ngeru. #NZPol #History #Culture #Museums #Leadership #Co-governance #Movies #Fashion #Climate and anything else that takes my fancy.
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thecatswhiskers.bsky.social
The Cat's Whiskers @thecatswhiskers.bsky.social · Nov 19
Astonishing turnout
Reposted by The Cat's Whiskers
greenbirdo.bsky.social
Simeon Brown has extreme opinions. He was president of an anti abortion group at uni and voted against same sex marriage. Why is he the minister of everybody's health when he obviously doesn't like women or LGBTQ+? He should be the minister for mens health!
#nzpol
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Govt halts new puberty blockers prescriptions for gender-affirming care
Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March says the government is "buying into imported culture wars" .
www.rnz.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by The Cat's Whiskers
commentsandopi2.bsky.social
Yeah. This and the social media ban to come. Along with the war on Te Tiriti, workers, health, and education really show that National is well aligned with its coalition partners
#nzpol
November 19, 2025 at 10:16 AM
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alans-world.bsky.social
I fear Sophie is exactly right here - this is part of an *actual* 'capital flight' we're not getting honest answers to (instead, journos, even when they state obvious shit such as, and I'm paraphrasing ofc: 'BRO! You just swept $640M under the carpet, WTF?!', you get screaming from the Minister).
sophieactual.mitsuko.nz sophie malice @sophieactual.mitsuko.nz · 6h
and where's the IREX wharf and terminal infrastructure in that bill, Winston?

oh, coming out of the Health budget is it

#nzpol
November 19, 2025 at 10:30 AM
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2covet.bsky.social
#nzpol
musicalchairs.bsky.social Musical Chairs @musicalchairs.bsky.social · 15h
Reminder of why rents are reducing. I mean it's good that they are, but it's just because people can't afford to pay more and our population growth is slowing right down. Rents rise in lockstep with wages.
November 19, 2025 at 10:48 AM
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wittyeti.bsky.social
"Funding spent on infrastructure would be recovered over the life of the new ferries and infrastructure, through port fees paid from Interislander revenue."

Is that also paying off the original ferries? They couldn't have done that with the original ferries? Is Winnie away with the ferries?

#nzpol
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 11:54 AM
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greenbirdo.bsky.social
Massive petition delivered to parliament with support from major health #unions. Their demands are clear. Fully staffed shifts (I.e. Hire more staff --> pay them -->treat them with respect). More rural health funding. More funding for Māori health.
#nzpol #workers

www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
200kg of signatures: Huge petition to fix 'broken' health system presented to Parliament
Organisers says it is New Zealand's longest petition ever.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 12:46 PM
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supergoofnz.bsky.social
#NZpol
jennifilm.nz Jennifer @jennifilm.nz · 8h
PATHA's statement has been published: patha.nz/news
The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) condemns today's decision from Minister of Health Simeon Brown introducing a ban on new prescriptions of GnRH analogues (puberty blockers) for transgender children and young people who are not currently on them. This ideologically driven ban will have a devastating impact on the lives and wellbeing of our transgender and gender diverse young people. We know that children, young people and their whanau will be highly distressed by this decision. We also acknowledge health professionals' frustration at the way their expertise has been ignored and disregarded. "The ban will lead to a deterioration in mental health, increased risk of suicidality and increased dysphoria in gender diverse children and young people, and will put them at a higher risk of experiencing marginalisation and discrimination," says Dr Elizabeth McElrea, GP specialist in gender affirming care and PATHA Vice-President. "The prescribing of puberty blockers is always undertaken with the utmost care and consideration. They have been prescribed safely for decades for transgender children and banning their use will lead to profound distress in this already vulnerable group." This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. While the evidence brief identified some limitations in the academic quality of evidence regarding the risks and benefits of GRH analogues, limitations in evidence quality are common across a number of areas of medicine, especially within paediatric medicine, and do not justify a ban on access. "PATHA supports evidence-based medicine, which consists of three key components: academic evidence, clinical experience, and patient preferences and values," says Dr McElrea. "When the quality of available academic evidence is of lower quality, it's incredibly common for clinicians to lean on guidelines drawn from clinical experience." "Practising medicine, and paediatric medicine (not just within gender affirming healthcare), often necessitates providing care without a high-quality evidence base. The absence of high-quality clinical evidence does not mean providing this care is wrong." "Children benefit from innovative medical treatments that improve their survival and quality of life. Pediatric care would all but cease if physicians denied treatments for which the evidence base is imperfect." (McNamara et al., 2024, p. 15) 'An Evidence-Based Critique of "The Cass Review" on Gender-affirming Care for Adolescent The new restrictions will be in place until the conclusion of clinical trials in the United Kingdom, which are not due until at least 2031. "In no other area of care would life-saving medication be withheld from a vulnerable population for six years. This will have a traumatic impact on a generation of transgender children," says Avery Zavoda, PATHA Executive Committee member. PATHA is strongly against the decision. It is a shocking act of discrimination against transgender children and young people. "That New Zealand First announced this news three hours before the Minister of Health shows the way this care has been politicised, and how politics have been prioritised over the wellbeing of New Zealand children," said Zavoda. "Banning puberty blockers will not prevent children from being transgender, despite the disinformation New Zealand First are promoting," says Jennifer Shields, PATHA President. "It's obvious that this has been a political decision made to appease a coalition partner based on an imported culture war, rather than a medical recommendation reflecting the expertise of NZ clinicians and researchers who have been working in this field for over 25 years." Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences of rainbow young people showed "the proportion of young people who wanted puberty blockers and were able to use them was nearly half the number of young people who wanted these medications but could not access them." These findings made it clear that the prescription context and existing regulations "did not result in the easy access to young people who wanted puberty blockers that some people have claimed existed. In fact, the results demonstrate a seriously constrained prescription context that urgently needs further attention to be more equitable." "We call on the Ministry of Health to publish their consultation report immediately, so that health professionals, trans people, and the wider public can see that this decision has been made by politicians rather than based on clinical experience," says Shields. "We also look forward to the Minister now immediately allowing the updated guidelines for gender affirming healthcare to be published." "We also call on Labour, the Green Party, and Te Paati Mãori to commit to reversing this harmful decision if they are elected into government next year. Our communities need the reassurance that this ban will not last." "PATHA is committed to ensuring all trans children and children experiencing gender dysphoria have access to the best quality care.
November 19, 2025 at 1:35 PM
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bernardchickey.bsky.social
FYI I’ve opened this one up for full public reading, listening and sharing after requests from paying subscribers. Their support allows me to do this kind of public interest journalism on Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty in public. #nzpol
Wednesday's Chorus: Churn claims Police target
Govt to fail to hire extra 500 Police officers after 212 go to Australia; PM says prison pop'n rise of 1,967 to record-high 10,860 "a good thing"; Govt rejects 402 of 642 Auckland housing pleas in Aug
thekaka.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:58 PM
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bewarethefish.bsky.social
Not Andrew Little hyping up National Government transport nonsense two days in a row 🙄

Did he forget that his Labour Party mates had already planned for better ships delivered sooner? This is the cheap and dirty downgrade mate.

And no alt text on his images 🙄
andrewlittlenz.bsky.social Andrew Little @andrewlittlenz.bsky.social · 14h
📣📣📣 ANNOUNCEMENT: More investment for Wellington! The government's announcement of some upgrades to the Wellington Interislander dock, along with confirming the two new rail-enabled ferries, will cement Wellington's role as the main sea connection to the South Island for decades to come 🛳️
November 19, 2025 at 11:13 AM
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notjustdna.bsky.social
#NZpol Wow, Casey Costello’s announcement, 'Puberty Blockers Banned For Children', at NZ First is a demented, ideological rant 😠 Complete with passages in bold font.

It’s the sort of stuff I expect from anti-vaccine campaigners who’ve moved well past reason. (An area I’ve followed for a long time.)
November 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM
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jennykaynz.bsky.social
In 1919 Germany, Dr Magnus Hirschfeld opened the Institute for Sexual Science (ISS). Dr Hirschfeld and colleagues performed gender affirming surgeries and supported transgender patients in 1920s and 1930s.

Nazis burnt it all down. They mustn't win.
#NZpol
blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/magnus-hirsc...
Magnus Hirschfeld and the Institute for Sexual Science - Science Museum Blog
To mark LGBT+ History Month and its theme of medicine, we explore the life and work of doctor Magnus Hirschfeld, a researcher of sexuality and gender in the early twentieth century.
blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 9:13 AM
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sarah4ilam.bsky.social
I barely know how to express how sad and angry I am at the politicisation of essential healthcare for trans kids.
Just - this election can’t come soon enough. And when it does, we need to fight as if lives depend on it - because for some, that’s the literal truth.
#nzpol 🏳️‍⚧️
November 19, 2025 at 9:16 AM
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2covet.bsky.social
#nzpol
benakl.bsky.social Ben Ross @benakl.bsky.social · 11h
So we are paying $46m more for smaller ferries that will be delivered 4-5 years later than IREX, but still have no idea on port-side costs apart from NACT1 continuing the Kiwi-way tradition of do absolutely minimum rather than properly invest in a 100 year asset....
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 6:59 AM
Reposted by The Cat's Whiskers
akwomenscentre.bsky.social
We did it team! Parliament finally passed the anti-stalking bill tonight. Thanks to all of you that helped this campaign in many different ways! #NZpol
Fear of reprisals if stalkers warned without target's knowledge
An anti-stalking advocate says a proposed new law has a worrying caveat in which stalkers can be warned by police, without the victim first being notified.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 9:24 AM
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publicaddress.bsky.social
Maybe don't keep announcing unaffordable trophy roads if you can't pay for them. Just a thought.
November 19, 2025 at 2:00 AM
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mshooper.bsky.social
WARNING: This story includes content that may be disturbing to some readers

Refuge organisations shocked at increase in women needing to escape abuse
#nzpol
Refuge organisations shocked at increase in women needing to escape abuse
Family violence service provider Shine says it has seen a 58 percent increase in women needing to use their refuges over the past financial year.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 8:11 AM
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cassiemph.bsky.social
They illegally blocked a best practices document the government commissioned from experts and then disregarded it.
mikeythenurse.bsky.social Mikey Brenndorfer XVX @mikeythenurse.bsky.social · 11h
Zero surprises that the brainless transphobic health minister in NZ ignored all expert advice and evidence and banned puberty blockers for trans youth. Literal blood on his hands.

www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-...
www.beehive.govt.nz
November 19, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Reposted by The Cat's Whiskers
ninjakitty.bsky.social
The stopping of puberty blockers for our rangatahi is solely a POLITICAL move made by people uninformed and unqualified to make such a decision #nzpol
November 19, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Reposted by The Cat's Whiskers
jennifilm.nz
Karen Chhour is quoted in this piece actively promoting conversion practices, after previously comparing gender affirming care to torture at Lake Alice. This coalition is evil. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Govt halts new puberty blockers prescriptions for gender-affirming care
Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March says the government is "buying into imported culture wars" .
www.rnz.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Reposted by The Cat's Whiskers
drjulieb.bsky.social
Don’t forget the extra costs that go along with maintaining the current ferries past their expected lifespan, the cost to the economy of retiring one of them without a replacement, and the cost of losing institutional knowledge of staff leaving the country because we’re down a boat for years
benakl.bsky.social Ben Ross @benakl.bsky.social · 11h
So we are paying $46m more for smaller ferries that will be delivered 4-5 years later than IREX, but still have no idea on port-side costs apart from NACT1 continuing the Kiwi-way tradition of do absolutely minimum rather than properly invest in a 100 year asset....
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 7:32 AM
Reposted by The Cat's Whiskers
sckitupbttrcp.bsky.social
Hey trans-folk, non-binary and takatapui peeps I see you, we see you. Your value as a human being isn't contingent on your genitals or karyotypes matching your gender. Ignore the TERFs & bigoted cockwombles if you can, take time out if you need. Our society is enriched cause you're you.

#nzpol
November 19, 2025 at 7:56 AM
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juliefairey.bsky.social
The cruelty is a feature. It’s not ok. We must must must protect trans kids #TransRightsAreHumanRights
November 19, 2025 at 8:25 AM
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jennykaynz.bsky.social
Loving article from a parent of a (trans) kid in Aotearoa NZ how they feel about threat of a ban on puberty blockers.

If you love your child, regardless of gender, wouldn't you want them to have medical care that's right for them? Most MPs aren't doctors.
#NZpol
thespinoff.co.nz/politics/15-...
‘She knew before she could read’: The reality of raising a trans child
A parent shares their experience and fears as public submissions are sought on the use of puberty blockers for gender-affirming care.
thespinoff.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 7:18 AM
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tairawhitidoc.bsky.social
It’s the time of the year (Summer) when the Pōhutukawa trees (also called New Zealand Christmas Trees) begin to bloom. Most bloom brilliant red flowers but this gorgeous beast blooms bright yellow.
This is how it looked this afternoon. 💛
November 19, 2025 at 4:16 AM
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sassypolitico.bsky.social
You got ultra religious people as Ministers and a fringe minority party full of conspiracy theorists and this is what you get. They are in a symbiotic relationship based on hating queer people.
November 19, 2025 at 7:14 AM