Timothy Gassin
@timothygassin.bsky.social
Historian, former Chair of Oz Kiwi, and student of Hokkien/Taiwanese.
A Melbournian living in Wellington.
A Melbournian living in Wellington.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Very disappointing to see such political interference in the curriculum. Whatever one might think about aspects of the existing curriculum (and I certainly have my own criticisms of it), it must be remembered that many individuals and communities gave their time and expertise in its development.
Don't see the new Aotearoa NZ histories curriculum online yet. But Act are already crowing about having gutted it.
community.scoop.co.nz/2025/10/new-...
community.scoop.co.nz/2025/10/new-...
Community Scoop » New Curriculum Takes Politics Out Of History
community.scoop.co.nz
October 28, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Very disappointing to see such political interference in the curriculum. Whatever one might think about aspects of the existing curriculum (and I certainly have my own criticisms of it), it must be remembered that many individuals and communities gave their time and expertise in its development.
"our future top taxpayers take their talents offshore, in search of stimulating jobs where they won’t constantly be interrupted by restructure and redundancies."
This is a real and significant issue for NZ that comes on top of the fact that wages are uncompetitive with those paid in Aus. #nzpol
This is a real and significant issue for NZ that comes on top of the fact that wages are uncompetitive with those paid in Aus. #nzpol
Govt policy has produced an educational 'polycrisis'
Opinion from the University of Auckland: Young people are leaving NZ, there is a severe teacher shortage and declining student attendance, and also financial challenges just to maintain the buildings ...
newsroom.co.nz
October 23, 2025 at 11:52 PM
"our future top taxpayers take their talents offshore, in search of stimulating jobs where they won’t constantly be interrupted by restructure and redundancies."
This is a real and significant issue for NZ that comes on top of the fact that wages are uncompetitive with those paid in Aus. #nzpol
This is a real and significant issue for NZ that comes on top of the fact that wages are uncompetitive with those paid in Aus. #nzpol
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Imagine on the day 100,000 public servants strike the news is telling people you are getting an $8100 rates break
Look. What I say to you is this.
It's strike day to stop the destruction of your health and education systems. I have the best news! An individual boost if over $8,000!
Remember my law change resulting in tax free capital gain on a flat I sold? My 10% pay rise?
Add a $8,000 rates cut!
#nzpol
It's strike day to stop the destruction of your health and education systems. I have the best news! An individual boost if over $8,000!
Remember my law change resulting in tax free capital gain on a flat I sold? My 10% pay rise?
Add a $8,000 rates cut!
#nzpol
October 22, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Imagine on the day 100,000 public servants strike the news is telling people you are getting an $8100 rates break
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
This is the way.
The South Korean Ministry of Defense has awarded medals of merit to 11 officers for disobeying direct orders of superiors during the martial law fiasco, orders that they deemed to be contrary to the constitution and endangerment to democracy.
www.chosun.com/english/nati...
www.chosun.com/english/nati...
National Defense Ministry Honors 11 Soldiers for Refusing Illegal Orders
National Defense Ministry Honors 11 Soldiers for Refusing Illegal Orders Honored for rejecting illegal orders during martial law, Marine death probe
www.chosun.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:48 PM
This is the way.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Roche is the living embodiment of that Upton Sinclair quote “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
(In this case the 600K part time salary pays for A LOT of not understanding.)
(In this case the 600K part time salary pays for A LOT of not understanding.)
Does the highly paid Brian Roche not understand how inflation works?
Inflation rates are always historic - the prices have already gone up. Workers are already paying those prices.
When the rate drops - prices don’t go down, they just rise more slowly.
#nzpol
Inflation rates are always historic - the prices have already gone up. Workers are already paying those prices.
When the rate drops - prices don’t go down, they just rise more slowly.
#nzpol
October 22, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Roche is the living embodiment of that Upton Sinclair quote “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
(In this case the 600K part time salary pays for A LOT of not understanding.)
(In this case the 600K part time salary pays for A LOT of not understanding.)
The Public Service Commissioner frankly needs to shut up. He has a role in negotiations, but he should not be giving public commentary on what is ultimately a dispute between public sector workers and ministers (who made the decisions that resulted in the paltry offers on the table).
Strikers' demands 'a mystery', government's top negotiator says
The Public Service Commissioner says it's regrettable major strike action is going ahead, because he's always been available to negotiate.
www.rnz.co.nz
October 22, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The Public Service Commissioner frankly needs to shut up. He has a role in negotiations, but he should not be giving public commentary on what is ultimately a dispute between public sector workers and ministers (who made the decisions that resulted in the paltry offers on the table).
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
The ʻjust reporting what was said’ paradigm leaves them completely vulnerable to manipulation. People can argue whether by intent, by design, or by accident but regardless of nuances and causal links, the entire system is not fit for purpose.
October 19, 2025 at 8:12 AM
The ʻjust reporting what was said’ paradigm leaves them completely vulnerable to manipulation. People can argue whether by intent, by design, or by accident but regardless of nuances and causal links, the entire system is not fit for purpose.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
The NZ political reporting culture has been so focused for so long on masterful gambits, they are unable to contextualise blatant lying and deception as bad and dangerous qualities in leadership situations.
October 19, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The NZ political reporting culture has been so focused for so long on masterful gambits, they are unable to contextualise blatant lying and deception as bad and dangerous qualities in leadership situations.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Genuinely horrifying malevolence. NZ is being pulled into violence and complicity in Trump administration crimes. We didn’t ask for this and it’s not in our name.
October 21, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Genuinely horrifying malevolence. NZ is being pulled into violence and complicity in Trump administration crimes. We didn’t ask for this and it’s not in our name.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
1. Refuse unlawful, corrupt demands
2. Visibly bolster the rule of law
3. Unite in opposition
4. Harness economic power
5. Preempt electoral manipulation
6. Organize your community
7. Shape the story
8. Build bridges and democratic alternatives
9. Document abuses, protect people, reinforce truth
1/2
2. Visibly bolster the rule of law
3. Unite in opposition
4. Harness economic power
5. Preempt electoral manipulation
6. Organize your community
7. Shape the story
8. Build bridges and democratic alternatives
9. Document abuses, protect people, reinforce truth
1/2
10 effective things citizens can do to make change in addition to attending a protest - https://theconversation.com/10-effective-things-citizens-can-do-to-make-change-in-addition-to-attending-a-protest-266432 - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news
10 effective things citizens can do to make change in addition to attending a protest
Once a democracy starts to erode, it can be difficult to reverse the trend. What does it take for democracies to bounce back from periods of autocratic rule?
theconversation.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:10 AM
1. Refuse unlawful, corrupt demands
2. Visibly bolster the rule of law
3. Unite in opposition
4. Harness economic power
5. Preempt electoral manipulation
6. Organize your community
7. Shape the story
8. Build bridges and democratic alternatives
9. Document abuses, protect people, reinforce truth
1/2
2. Visibly bolster the rule of law
3. Unite in opposition
4. Harness economic power
5. Preempt electoral manipulation
6. Organize your community
7. Shape the story
8. Build bridges and democratic alternatives
9. Document abuses, protect people, reinforce truth
1/2
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
We have someone with no education knowledge or experience who has decided to be more than the Minister of Education and become the ministry, and media in this country have swallowed it whole.
They have let our kids down and should be ashamed.
They have let our kids down and should be ashamed.
October 21, 2025 at 8:56 AM
We have someone with no education knowledge or experience who has decided to be more than the Minister of Education and become the ministry, and media in this country have swallowed it whole.
They have let our kids down and should be ashamed.
They have let our kids down and should be ashamed.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
The Public Service Commission should take care to protect the political neutrality of the public service. That is their first responsibility
October 21, 2025 at 1:15 AM
The Public Service Commission should take care to protect the political neutrality of the public service. That is their first responsibility
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
#nzpol I never thought that I would see the day when the Public Service Commission was used as an attack arm of the government. National Party polling must be telling them how popular the strikes are, and how unpopular they are. They are afraid.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Public Service Commission's ads targeting strike 'absolutely unbelievable' - Labour
Public Service Commission defends use of social media ads about public sector negotiations.
www.rnz.co.nz
October 21, 2025 at 3:10 AM
#nzpol I never thought that I would see the day when the Public Service Commission was used as an attack arm of the government. National Party polling must be telling them how popular the strikes are, and how unpopular they are. They are afraid.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
The ads placed by the Public Service Commission are astonishingly inappropriate and undermine confidence in the political neutrality of public service leadership. #nzpol
Public Service Commission's ads targeting strike 'absolutely unbelievable' - Labour
Public Service Commission defends use of social media ads about public sector negotiations.
www.rnz.co.nz
October 21, 2025 at 7:38 AM
The ads placed by the Public Service Commission are astonishingly inappropriate and undermine confidence in the political neutrality of public service leadership. #nzpol
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
So much of this govt's strike messaging is 'these selfish ingrates are paid well & don't have the moral right to strike' which is so far beyond believable reality that it's just a weird choice. If they just said 'no money left soz', they'd get more public sympathy than for this Evil Mr Burns stuff.
October 21, 2025 at 6:58 AM
So much of this govt's strike messaging is 'these selfish ingrates are paid well & don't have the moral right to strike' which is so far beyond believable reality that it's just a weird choice. If they just said 'no money left soz', they'd get more public sympathy than for this Evil Mr Burns stuff.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
The National playbook:
1) tank the economy and deliberately drive up unemployment,
2) blame and shame the newly unemployed for their situation,
3) punish beneficiaries and drive them further into poverty,
4) rinse and repeat.
#nzpol
1) tank the economy and deliberately drive up unemployment,
2) blame and shame the newly unemployed for their situation,
3) punish beneficiaries and drive them further into poverty,
4) rinse and repeat.
#nzpol
New benefit sanctions will help beneficiaries find jobs, says Social Development Minister Louise Upston
Those failing an obligation for the first time will either have to do job-search activities or attend employment-related training courses.
www.rnz.co.nz
October 19, 2025 at 6:02 AM
The National playbook:
1) tank the economy and deliberately drive up unemployment,
2) blame and shame the newly unemployed for their situation,
3) punish beneficiaries and drive them further into poverty,
4) rinse and repeat.
#nzpol
1) tank the economy and deliberately drive up unemployment,
2) blame and shame the newly unemployed for their situation,
3) punish beneficiaries and drive them further into poverty,
4) rinse and repeat.
#nzpol
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Your regular reminder that unions represent PEOPLE. They are simply the voice of the PEOPLE they represent.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Attack them and you’re attacking the people they represent.
It’s pretty simple.
#nzpol
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Attack them and you’re attacking the people they represent.
It’s pretty simple.
#nzpol
October 18, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Your regular reminder that unions represent PEOPLE. They are simply the voice of the PEOPLE they represent.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Attack them and you’re attacking the people they represent.
It’s pretty simple.
#nzpol
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Attack them and you’re attacking the people they represent.
It’s pretty simple.
#nzpol
Unsurprisingly, the Archdiocese of Sydney is backing the schism.
Many Australian Anglicans will be thinking 'good riddance'!
Many Australian Anglicans will be thinking 'good riddance'!
October 18, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Unsurprisingly, the Archdiocese of Sydney is backing the schism.
Many Australian Anglicans will be thinking 'good riddance'!
Many Australian Anglicans will be thinking 'good riddance'!
The multiple abuse scandals and cover-ups that have happened in Anglican churches around the world were apparently seen as no barrier to remaining in communion, but the appointment of a woman as archbishop is seen as beyond the pale and requires a schism.
October 18, 2025 at 10:56 PM
The multiple abuse scandals and cover-ups that have happened in Anglican churches around the world were apparently seen as no barrier to remaining in communion, but the appointment of a woman as archbishop is seen as beyond the pale and requires a schism.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
More than a million dollars is at stake. The sum would destroy a young family.
Vindictive. Vicious. Small. I suspect Reynolds would relish the prospect.
What reputation? Reynolds has done this to herself.
Free read.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21849/...
Vindictive. Vicious. Small. I suspect Reynolds would relish the prospect.
What reputation? Reynolds has done this to herself.
Free read.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21849/...
Linda Reynolds’ latest move
Imagine that a young woman is raped in your office. You are a minister and she is the most junior member of your staff. In the footage you see later, she is too drunk to put on her shoes. She walks ba...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
October 17, 2025 at 8:22 PM
More than a million dollars is at stake. The sum would destroy a young family.
Vindictive. Vicious. Small. I suspect Reynolds would relish the prospect.
What reputation? Reynolds has done this to herself.
Free read.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21849/...
Vindictive. Vicious. Small. I suspect Reynolds would relish the prospect.
What reputation? Reynolds has done this to herself.
Free read.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21849/...