Yadana
@yadana.bsky.social
World-class procrastinator. Governance/music/sport/community enthusiast. Trying to minimise Anthropocene meltdown. Eats rice with hands.
2nd term GWRC councillor
2nd term GWRC councillor
Local government itself knows it needs reform - it’s been bandied about for most of my lifetime. But given this government’s record on environment, constitution, te tiriti, democracy, public transport, fiscal discipline and localism - the signs are not good.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
'Serious shake-up' of local government imminent
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told National party members there would be a "very serious shake-up coming" to local government.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Local government itself knows it needs reform - it’s been bandied about for most of my lifetime. But given this government’s record on environment, constitution, te tiriti, democracy, public transport, fiscal discipline and localism - the signs are not good.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
In my very narrow Venn diagram of local government , radio and all things music - here’s an interesting development in student/college/independent radio.
College radio stations are seeing a surge in student interest.
Stations that once struggled to fill airtime are now overflowing with student DJs.
I spoke to 7 college radio stations across the U.S. to understand what is driving the revival:
emwhitenoise.substack.com/p/gen-zs-col...
Stations that once struggled to fill airtime are now overflowing with student DJs.
I spoke to 7 college radio stations across the U.S. to understand what is driving the revival:
emwhitenoise.substack.com/p/gen-zs-col...
November 24, 2025 at 2:06 AM
In my very narrow Venn diagram of local government , radio and all things music - here’s an interesting development in student/college/independent radio.
Delays irrespective of reasoning cost money and time. The net result for the Golden Mile will be a more expensive for less. And when it finally happens…we will all love it and wonder why we didn’t do it sooner
Another 6 month review will not deliver the Golden Mile, just like the reviews before it. This city is stuck in managed decline and we desperately need to build our way out of it
November 20, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Delays irrespective of reasoning cost money and time. The net result for the Golden Mile will be a more expensive for less. And when it finally happens…we will all love it and wonder why we didn’t do it sooner
Reposted by Yadana
As we head into Matariki, I was reminded how important the arts are to Wellington's cultural and economic wellbeing. It's super important we support creatives - you can read more about this in my op-ed!
www.thepost.co.nz/culture/3607...
www.thepost.co.nz/culture/3607...
Matariki and the value of art
OPINION: We need to continue investing in the arts if we want jobs, economic benefits and strong communities ‒ and yes, that means central government, too.
www.thepost.co.nz
June 19, 2025 at 1:33 AM
As we head into Matariki, I was reminded how important the arts are to Wellington's cultural and economic wellbeing. It's super important we support creatives - you can read more about this in my op-ed!
www.thepost.co.nz/culture/3607...
www.thepost.co.nz/culture/3607...
Just an FYI from council land. The current government’s proposed direction will not stop the degradation of waterways and in some cases make things worse.
Wade in the water while you can
Wade in the water while you can
The Regulatory Standards Bill creates an expectation that if governments act in the public interest, they would have to pay out corporations whose 'property rights' are affected. In short, corporations could demand compensation any time the government tries to protect people or the planet.
June 19, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Just an FYI from council land. The current government’s proposed direction will not stop the degradation of waterways and in some cases make things worse.
Wade in the water while you can
Wade in the water while you can
All we need is some paint and political will to deliver what Pōneke’s PT users deserve.
Only us Greens are going hard on making our city a modern 21st Century place to live.
Only us Greens are going hard on making our city a modern 21st Century place to live.
Your Wellington Greens are committing to delivering a faster and more efficient bus network with bus lanes, stop improvements, and priority lights all the way from Seatoun to the Railway station
June 17, 2025 at 3:30 AM
All we need is some paint and political will to deliver what Pōneke’s PT users deserve.
Only us Greens are going hard on making our city a modern 21st Century place to live.
Only us Greens are going hard on making our city a modern 21st Century place to live.
Reposted by Yadana
The first known detention by the US Marines in their recent Los Angeles deployment is of... a US Army veteran on his way to an office at the Department of Veteran Affairs building. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
Exclusive: US Marines carry out first known detention of civilian in Los Angeles, video shows
Marines deployed to Los Angeles carried out the detention of a civilian on Friday, the U.S. military confirmed after being presented with Reuters images, in the first known detention by active-duty troops deployed there by President Donald Trump.
www.reuters.com
June 13, 2025 at 11:22 PM
The first known detention by the US Marines in their recent Los Angeles deployment is of... a US Army veteran on his way to an office at the Department of Veteran Affairs building. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
In the face of current government reform and incoherent investment choices I can’t help but feel the deep intergenerational vandalism we’re going to have to recover from. Don’t forget the power you have to make a better world.
June 12, 2025 at 3:08 AM
In the face of current government reform and incoherent investment choices I can’t help but feel the deep intergenerational vandalism we’re going to have to recover from. Don’t forget the power you have to make a better world.
Reposted by Yadana
New Zealand has one of the world’s largest ocean territories and that carries significant responsibility, but our government is failing in its duty of care.
#unoc #banbottomtrawling #protecttheoceans
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
#unoc #banbottomtrawling #protecttheoceans
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
New Zealand is failing to protect its vast ocean resources. We owe it to the world to act | Helen Clark and Kayla Kingdon-Bebb
Less than 1% of our country’s seas are highly protected and the damaging practice of bottom-trawling must be restricted
www.theguardian.com
June 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
New Zealand has one of the world’s largest ocean territories and that carries significant responsibility, but our government is failing in its duty of care.
#unoc #banbottomtrawling #protecttheoceans
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
#unoc #banbottomtrawling #protecttheoceans
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
I can’t wait until we unlock the potential of PT for Saturday morning sport. It’s time for our transport networks to break out of 20th century patterns of work and play
The increase in Wellington’s weekend bus use is remarkable. Saturday is up 31% from 2019. Sunday is up 45%. In this period we increased our off peak discount and boosted off peak frequency, reducing drivers’ inconvenient split shifts. Still loads of untapped potential for off peak travel I reckon.
June 6, 2025 at 5:33 AM
I can’t wait until we unlock the potential of PT for Saturday morning sport. It’s time for our transport networks to break out of 20th century patterns of work and play
Our regional council has already approved fare capping, integrated ticketing and debit card payment - this isn’t new PT policy. It’s just that we’re at the behest of the govts national ticketing system. Wellington deserves what Auckland PT users already have. We shouldn’t have to wait longer
June 4, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Our regional council has already approved fare capping, integrated ticketing and debit card payment - this isn’t new PT policy. It’s just that we’re at the behest of the govts national ticketing system. Wellington deserves what Auckland PT users already have. We shouldn’t have to wait longer
Reposted by Yadana
I was there on Thursday night and Stan Walker's performance was vivid, vibrant and meaningful, the high point of the evening. That's why people were on their feet. Chris Bishop's behaviour was thin-skinned, disrespectful and sad. www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
'What a load of crap': Chris Bishop caught 'ranting' during Stan Walker's Aotearoa Music Awards performance
Renowned musician Don McGlashan confronted the Cabinet minister over his comments at the event on Thursday night.
www.rnz.co.nz
May 30, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I was there on Thursday night and Stan Walker's performance was vivid, vibrant and meaningful, the high point of the evening. That's why people were on their feet. Chris Bishop's behaviour was thin-skinned, disrespectful and sad. www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Yadana
These comments by the PM are once again a blatant punching down on Wellington, where groundbreaking, transformative projects are already underway. Perhaps he should look at his own policy choices – like the recent decision to slash pay for women on low incomes.
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
The Post
www.thepost.co.nz
May 27, 2025 at 11:58 PM
These comments by the PM are once again a blatant punching down on Wellington, where groundbreaking, transformative projects are already underway. Perhaps he should look at his own policy choices – like the recent decision to slash pay for women on low incomes.
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Reposted by Yadana
Any candidate talking about 0% rates increases is either being completely naive or misleading the public. That will almost certainly lead to cancelling important infrastructure projects AND community services. We’ve been forced into this due to underinvestment from previous councils & governments.
Local councils and the battle for money
Local councils have more effect on our daily lives than policies from the Beehive. But more than half of eligible voters fail to have their say on who represents them.
www.rnz.co.nz
May 25, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Any candidate talking about 0% rates increases is either being completely naive or misleading the public. That will almost certainly lead to cancelling important infrastructure projects AND community services. We’ve been forced into this due to underinvestment from previous councils & governments.
Reposted by Yadana
"The Government knows there’s nothing similar between household borrowing and government borrowing. But it also knows that you don’t know that. (Because no one ever explains this properly.) So why use this metaphor if it’s so misleading?"
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
Verity Johnson: ‘Running the country like a household’ is a political con
OPINION: Government knows there’s nothing similar between household borrowing and government borrowing. But it also knows that you don’t know that.
www.stuff.co.nz
May 24, 2025 at 5:57 AM
"The Government knows there’s nothing similar between household borrowing and government borrowing. But it also knows that you don’t know that. (Because no one ever explains this properly.) So why use this metaphor if it’s so misleading?"
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
Given this government’s assault on te taiao. I’m beginning to wonder if they EVER watched any David Attenborough shows and who would ever want to wield power in a way that would disappoint him.
May 20, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Given this government’s assault on te taiao. I’m beginning to wonder if they EVER watched any David Attenborough shows and who would ever want to wield power in a way that would disappoint him.
Finally this government is Choo Choo choosing rail.
This new $143m covers the next two years of maintenance and renewals of the Crown’s rail assets. Having two years of certainty should help lift some of the speed restrictions KiwiRail has put on the network due to the state of its assets while giving rail partners time to agree a new funding model.
Budget 2025: $600m for upgrading rail network
Wellington and Auckland will see $140 million to replace and upgrade their metropolitan rail.
www.rnz.co.nz
May 19, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Finally this government is Choo Choo choosing rail.
With @misswhanau.bsky.social stepping back from the mayoral contest. Can we just reflect on the reality that she worked in and what she managed to achieve
April 28, 2025 at 11:46 PM
With @misswhanau.bsky.social stepping back from the mayoral contest. Can we just reflect on the reality that she worked in and what she managed to achieve
Reposted by Yadana
Tory Whanau has delivered record investment in water infrastructure, freed up record amounts of space for new homes in the inner city and installed a record number of bus and bike improvements. In all these areas Tory has delivered more than any Wellington mayor in recent history, possibly ever. 1/
April 28, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Tory Whanau has delivered record investment in water infrastructure, freed up record amounts of space for new homes in the inner city and installed a record number of bus and bike improvements. In all these areas Tory has delivered more than any Wellington mayor in recent history, possibly ever. 1/
Reposted by Yadana
Hey guys just wondering how many bills NZ First has put in the tin to help with this issue where women are getting harassed? #nzpol
www.1news.co.nz/2025/04/08/i...
www.1news.co.nz/2025/04/08/i...
'It broke me': Female councillors on 'horrifying' online abuse
Twenty local body politicians from around the country told Breakfast they had been the target of online harassment and threats.
www.1news.co.nz
April 22, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Hey guys just wondering how many bills NZ First has put in the tin to help with this issue where women are getting harassed? #nzpol
www.1news.co.nz/2025/04/08/i...
www.1news.co.nz/2025/04/08/i...
Reposted by Yadana
James Cameron seems to have fallen into the trap that because he didn’t have it his way there was no consultation. The fact is that there was mass consultation (1800+ submissions), and we made a significant number of changes to respond to it. www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3605...
James Cameron hits out at Wellington cycle ways
The film director alluded to a lack of consultation on Wellington’s controversial cycle ways, but what are the facts?
www.stuff.co.nz
February 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM
James Cameron seems to have fallen into the trap that because he didn’t have it his way there was no consultation. The fact is that there was mass consultation (1800+ submissions), and we made a significant number of changes to respond to it. www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3605...
Reposted by Yadana
WTF, the entire parliament.nz site is down with a 502 error.
Most likely due to people trying to submit against the Treaty Bill (or less likely a DDoS attack)
#nzpol
Most likely due to people trying to submit against the Treaty Bill (or less likely a DDoS attack)
#nzpol
January 7, 2025 at 9:33 AM
WTF, the entire parliament.nz site is down with a 502 error.
Most likely due to people trying to submit against the Treaty Bill (or less likely a DDoS attack)
#nzpol
Most likely due to people trying to submit against the Treaty Bill (or less likely a DDoS attack)
#nzpol
Intergenerational PT adventures for the win
November 29, 2024 at 1:49 AM
Intergenerational PT adventures for the win
In which, once again, our transport minister fundamentally misunderstands his responsibility to oversee a network of different transportation modes in favour of the most expensive, difficult to maintain, least healthy one. 🤦🏻♀️
The government has proposed targets to increase the share of public transport costs from fares (and other revenue like advertising, which is small and not scalable). Our target equates to a 71% fare hike. Our only other option is even more cost cutting, which just cuts patronage and fare revenue. 1/
Bus and train fares may surge by up to 70% to meet NZTA targets
It comes as the New Zealand Transport Agency tells councils to hit higher revenue targets.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 27, 2024 at 10:35 AM
In which, once again, our transport minister fundamentally misunderstands his responsibility to oversee a network of different transportation modes in favour of the most expensive, difficult to maintain, least healthy one. 🤦🏻♀️
Worth keeping in mind before the Spotify Wrapped brain melt season happens. BTW deleting Spotify has not ruined my music listening life and it won’t ruin yours
The music industry is in crisis
Grassroots venues are closing and government is intervening in UK with a levy on stadium & arena gigs
Most of your favourite musicians have day jobs. Many acts pay their bills from their merch sales rather than their streaming income.
Meanwhile…
Grassroots venues are closing and government is intervening in UK with a levy on stadium & arena gigs
Most of your favourite musicians have day jobs. Many acts pay their bills from their merch sales rather than their streaming income.
Meanwhile…
November 25, 2024 at 9:25 PM
Worth keeping in mind before the Spotify Wrapped brain melt season happens. BTW deleting Spotify has not ruined my music listening life and it won’t ruin yours