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.
That Old Geelong Grammarians tie must be one of the most worn items in His Majesty's wardrobe.
He has worn it regularly on his visits to Australia and when dealing with Australian affairs for decades.
He has worn it regularly on his visits to Australia and when dealing with Australian affairs for decades.
September 29, 2025 at 1:31 AM
That Old Geelong Grammarians tie must be one of the most worn items in His Majesty's wardrobe.
He has worn it regularly on his visits to Australia and when dealing with Australian affairs for decades.
He has worn it regularly on his visits to Australia and when dealing with Australian affairs for decades.
It is good to see the Public Health Advisory Committee putting out a substantial report looking at the broader determinants of health.
I emphasised the need to use such a broader lens when considering health outcomes in the conclusion of my report for the Waitangi Tribunal several years ago.
I emphasised the need to use such a broader lens when considering health outcomes in the conclusion of my report for the Waitangi Tribunal several years ago.
August 21, 2025 at 10:32 PM
It is good to see the Public Health Advisory Committee putting out a substantial report looking at the broader determinants of health.
I emphasised the need to use such a broader lens when considering health outcomes in the conclusion of my report for the Waitangi Tribunal several years ago.
I emphasised the need to use such a broader lens when considering health outcomes in the conclusion of my report for the Waitangi Tribunal several years ago.
- multiple uncompetitive markets in which prices are inexplicably higher than in comparable countries
- limited, unreliable, and expensive public transport
- failing infrastructure from years of underinvestment
- run-down, but expensive rental housing stock
- limited, unreliable, and expensive public transport
- failing infrastructure from years of underinvestment
- run-down, but expensive rental housing stock
August 21, 2025 at 8:26 AM
- multiple uncompetitive markets in which prices are inexplicably higher than in comparable countries
- limited, unreliable, and expensive public transport
- failing infrastructure from years of underinvestment
- run-down, but expensive rental housing stock
- limited, unreliable, and expensive public transport
- failing infrastructure from years of underinvestment
- run-down, but expensive rental housing stock
From a couple of books on my own shelf: The Australian Carpenter (1950 reprint, first published 1948) and Carpentry in New Zealand (1958). Expected standards in the US were almost certainly the same.
August 19, 2025 at 11:07 PM
From a couple of books on my own shelf: The Australian Carpenter (1950 reprint, first published 1948) and Carpentry in New Zealand (1958). Expected standards in the US were almost certainly the same.
It may seem a bit pedantic, but this is another stylistic crime in the Oval Office. What are Phillips head screws doing in an early-20th-century neo-Georgian room?
August 19, 2025 at 10:43 PM
It may seem a bit pedantic, but this is another stylistic crime in the Oval Office. What are Phillips head screws doing in an early-20th-century neo-Georgian room?
The houses of National PMs say much about a party that seems increasingly out of touch and unconcerned by the hardships faced by society's most vulnerable. Muldoon's modest home stands in stark contrast to Key's mansion and Luxon's large property portfolio.
August 8, 2025 at 11:37 PM
The houses of National PMs say much about a party that seems increasingly out of touch and unconcerned by the hardships faced by society's most vulnerable. Muldoon's modest home stands in stark contrast to Key's mansion and Luxon's large property portfolio.
During my time on the Waitangi Tribunal staff, I joked that, by the language of MoJ at the time, the rangatira who signed the Treaty were Hobson's customers. The complete inappropriateness of "customers" in relation to Treaty claimants, those facing criminal prosecution, and many others was ...
August 1, 2025 at 11:08 PM
During my time on the Waitangi Tribunal staff, I joked that, by the language of MoJ at the time, the rangatira who signed the Treaty were Hobson's customers. The complete inappropriateness of "customers" in relation to Treaty claimants, those facing criminal prosecution, and many others was ...
For Bezalel Smotrich every possible action by others becomes yet another justification for ethnic cleansing and the annexation of the West Bank and Gaza.
July 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
For Bezalel Smotrich every possible action by others becomes yet another justification for ethnic cleansing and the annexation of the West Bank and Gaza.
Today is the second anniversary of the commencement of the new pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders in Australia. By the end of 2024, over 75,000 NZers had lodged applications for Australian citizenship and over 50,000 of those applications had already been approved. #auspol #nzpol
July 1, 2025 at 8:27 AM
The Democrats are really mounting a strong resistance to Trump dragging the US into yet another Middle East war. 🤦♂️
Do the Americans never learn???
Do the Americans never learn???
June 22, 2025 at 12:33 AM
The Democrats are really mounting a strong resistance to Trump dragging the US into yet another Middle East war. 🤦♂️
Do the Americans never learn???
Do the Americans never learn???
I know the word simply means "leader", but I couldn't help but find it a bit amusing/jarring to see Luxon and Xi described as "Führer" in this post. #nzpol
June 21, 2025 at 12:57 AM
I know the word simply means "leader", but I couldn't help but find it a bit amusing/jarring to see Luxon and Xi described as "Führer" in this post. #nzpol
I have a couple of books removed from the National Library in a previous cull that were subsequently sold by Hard to Find Books - the same booksellers to whom NLNZ refused to sell the remainder of the International Collection, opting instead to pay to have it pulped.
A couple of things stand out:
A couple of things stand out:
June 12, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I have a couple of books removed from the National Library in a previous cull that were subsequently sold by Hard to Find Books - the same booksellers to whom NLNZ refused to sell the remainder of the International Collection, opting instead to pay to have it pulped.
A couple of things stand out:
A couple of things stand out:
From the same film - hard not to see the parallels with the direction the US is going today.
June 10, 2025 at 8:52 AM
From the same film - hard not to see the parallels with the direction the US is going today.
and bizarrely also those who use the term "lunar new year".
June 10, 2025 at 6:36 AM
and bizarrely also those who use the term "lunar new year".
The hostility is not only for Taiwan though, apparently extending also to those who would criticise PRC actions in Tibet and Xinjiang ...
June 10, 2025 at 6:36 AM
The hostility is not only for Taiwan though, apparently extending also to those who would criticise PRC actions in Tibet and Xinjiang ...
He certainly seems pretty consistent in saying NZ is a province of the PRC and blaming all tensions on the US.
June 10, 2025 at 6:36 AM
He certainly seems pretty consistent in saying NZ is a province of the PRC and blaming all tensions on the US.
You can add some trade unionists to the list of those who seem stuck in their thinking.
Here is one of the elders of the NZ trade union movement suggesting that visiting Taiwan is amongst the more disgraceful things an MP could do.
Here is one of the elders of the NZ trade union movement suggesting that visiting Taiwan is amongst the more disgraceful things an MP could do.
June 10, 2025 at 6:36 AM
You can add some trade unionists to the list of those who seem stuck in their thinking.
Here is one of the elders of the NZ trade union movement suggesting that visiting Taiwan is amongst the more disgraceful things an MP could do.
Here is one of the elders of the NZ trade union movement suggesting that visiting Taiwan is amongst the more disgraceful things an MP could do.
Another gem from one of the authors of the open letter re NZ's relationship to China.
Of course, it is Taiwan that is responsible for the destruction of the rule of law and limited democracy that HK had! 🤦♂️
It's scary that people like this have occupied senior positions in MFAT. #nzpol
Of course, it is Taiwan that is responsible for the destruction of the rule of law and limited democracy that HK had! 🤦♂️
It's scary that people like this have occupied senior positions in MFAT. #nzpol
June 8, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Another gem from one of the authors of the open letter re NZ's relationship to China.
Of course, it is Taiwan that is responsible for the destruction of the rule of law and limited democracy that HK had! 🤦♂️
It's scary that people like this have occupied senior positions in MFAT. #nzpol
Of course, it is Taiwan that is responsible for the destruction of the rule of law and limited democracy that HK had! 🤦♂️
It's scary that people like this have occupied senior positions in MFAT. #nzpol
From a bit over a month ago, but relevant to the recent open letter from Clark et al.
It is quite bizarre to state that backbench MPs travelling to Taiwan amounts to "unfortunate rhetoric & action".
How does it serve NZ interests to be ignorant of Taiwan and its people? #nzpol
It is quite bizarre to state that backbench MPs travelling to Taiwan amounts to "unfortunate rhetoric & action".
How does it serve NZ interests to be ignorant of Taiwan and its people? #nzpol
June 8, 2025 at 10:13 PM
From a bit over a month ago, but relevant to the recent open letter from Clark et al.
It is quite bizarre to state that backbench MPs travelling to Taiwan amounts to "unfortunate rhetoric & action".
How does it serve NZ interests to be ignorant of Taiwan and its people? #nzpol
It is quite bizarre to state that backbench MPs travelling to Taiwan amounts to "unfortunate rhetoric & action".
How does it serve NZ interests to be ignorant of Taiwan and its people? #nzpol
Sometimes people end up believing the most ridiculous things, such as an ex-minister here stating it is impossible to express anything with exactness using Chinese characters. Apparently we are to believe that the much celebrated 5000 years of Chinese civilisation was built on vagueness!
June 5, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Sometimes people end up believing the most ridiculous things, such as an ex-minister here stating it is impossible to express anything with exactness using Chinese characters. Apparently we are to believe that the much celebrated 5000 years of Chinese civilisation was built on vagueness!
The open letter from Clark, Palmer, Brash, et al. regarding NZ's relationship with China is seriously misguided, parrotting the PRC's "one China principle" rather than NZ's more nuanced "one China policy" that acknowledges the PRC's views re Taiwan without indicating NZ agrees with them. #nzpol
June 5, 2025 at 9:18 PM
The open letter from Clark, Palmer, Brash, et al. regarding NZ's relationship with China is seriously misguided, parrotting the PRC's "one China principle" rather than NZ's more nuanced "one China policy" that acknowledges the PRC's views re Taiwan without indicating NZ agrees with them. #nzpol
June 4, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Actually, they did. He was a little lower in the credits (which appear to by order of appearance). Apparently, it was the only time in his career he actually played a Canadian!
June 1, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Actually, they did. He was a little lower in the credits (which appear to by order of appearance). Apparently, it was the only time in his career he actually played a Canadian!
Here is Tawera Moana playing "George, the Indian" alongside Leslie Howard.
May 30, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Here is Tawera Moana playing "George, the Indian" alongside Leslie Howard.