Robbie
@robbiemackay.nz
Software engineer, musician, greenie, anarchist. He/they
Reposted by Robbie
🤘 KICK IT 🤘 The Bird of the Year is the Black Robin/Karure, coming in like a tiny wrecking ball to smash the competition.
Thread Project premium screenprinted tees in unisex and fitted sizes S-5XL.
Pre-order this tee NOW: pepperraccoon.com
#birds #boty #kikorangi
Thread Project premium screenprinted tees in unisex and fitted sizes S-5XL.
Pre-order this tee NOW: pepperraccoon.com
#birds #boty #kikorangi
September 29, 2026 at 9:14 PM
🤘 KICK IT 🤘 The Bird of the Year is the Black Robin/Karure, coming in like a tiny wrecking ball to smash the competition.
Thread Project premium screenprinted tees in unisex and fitted sizes S-5XL.
Pre-order this tee NOW: pepperraccoon.com
#birds #boty #kikorangi
Thread Project premium screenprinted tees in unisex and fitted sizes S-5XL.
Pre-order this tee NOW: pepperraccoon.com
#birds #boty #kikorangi
Reposted by Robbie
Looking at national (split retail), Labour (split wholesale) and Green (state ownership to force competition) supermarket policies, and just thinking "why not all?"
Obviously, we should look at the benefits of each intervention, but I'm for really fucking over the cartel. Payback time.
Obviously, we should look at the benefits of each intervention, but I'm for really fucking over the cartel. Payback time.
September 20, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Looking at national (split retail), Labour (split wholesale) and Green (state ownership to force competition) supermarket policies, and just thinking "why not all?"
Obviously, we should look at the benefits of each intervention, but I'm for really fucking over the cartel. Payback time.
Obviously, we should look at the benefits of each intervention, but I'm for really fucking over the cartel. Payback time.
Reposted by Robbie
Enough funding for a proper maintenance schedule: it's what keeps engine fires out of fire engines.
Sound on 🔊 Thorndon’s aerial appliance towed away after catching fire—leaving the capital city relying on just a single working high-reach truck. #NZPol
September 20, 2026 at 6:12 AM
Enough funding for a proper maintenance schedule: it's what keeps engine fires out of fire engines.
Reposted by Robbie
'The Green Party is pledging to restore city centre vibrancy by ensuring market rent reviews for small businesses can lower rents, and letting councils run rental auctions for spaces that have been empty for longer than 12 months.' #NzPol
Greens announce reforms to lower commercial rents, fill empty shops
The Green Party is pledging to restore city centre vibrancy by ensuring market rent reviews for small businesses can lower rents, and letting councils run rental auctions for spaces that have been emp...
www.rnz.co.nz
September 19, 2026 at 11:31 PM
'The Green Party is pledging to restore city centre vibrancy by ensuring market rent reviews for small businesses can lower rents, and letting councils run rental auctions for spaces that have been empty for longer than 12 months.' #NzPol
Reposted by Robbie
Also, backed by a lot of research, and what I would call common sense!
#nzpol, this could be a message to New Zealand too, we used to be this way, many of us pretend we still are.
September 12, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Also, backed by a lot of research, and what I would call common sense!
Reposted by Robbie
The Living Wage is now $29.90 per hour.
The Living Wage is calculated using the latest data and is the income that enables workers and their families to live with dignity, afford the basic essentials and participate as citizens in society.
The new rate applies from 1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2027.
#nzpol
The Living Wage is calculated using the latest data and is the income that enables workers and their families to live with dignity, afford the basic essentials and participate as citizens in society.
The new rate applies from 1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2027.
#nzpol
September 10, 2026 at 6:29 AM
The Living Wage is now $29.90 per hour.
The Living Wage is calculated using the latest data and is the income that enables workers and their families to live with dignity, afford the basic essentials and participate as citizens in society.
The new rate applies from 1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2027.
#nzpol
The Living Wage is calculated using the latest data and is the income that enables workers and their families to live with dignity, afford the basic essentials and participate as citizens in society.
The new rate applies from 1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2027.
#nzpol
Reposted by Robbie
#StationNews: Auckland Transport has confirmed the names of the new robot cleaners for the City Rail Link stations.
Robot Downer Junior
Fat Freddy's Mop
Meryl Sweep
Robot Downer Junior
Fat Freddy's Mop
Meryl Sweep
September 10, 2026 at 5:02 AM
#StationNews: Auckland Transport has confirmed the names of the new robot cleaners for the City Rail Link stations.
Robot Downer Junior
Fat Freddy's Mop
Meryl Sweep
Robot Downer Junior
Fat Freddy's Mop
Meryl Sweep
Reposted by Robbie
“The youngest surviving chick from the berry-fuelled bacchanalia has reached 150 days old…this fuck season has officially brought 90 kākāpō into the world.” Brilliant from @haydendonnell.bsky.social as always 💚🦜
thespinoff.co.nz/science/08-0...?
thespinoff.co.nz/science/08-0...?
Update: This was the best kākāpō fuck season ever
The world may be burning but at least the world’s fattest parrot has been boning.
thespinoff.co.nz
September 8, 2026 at 2:41 AM
“The youngest surviving chick from the berry-fuelled bacchanalia has reached 150 days old…this fuck season has officially brought 90 kākāpō into the world.” Brilliant from @haydendonnell.bsky.social as always 💚🦜
thespinoff.co.nz/science/08-0...?
thespinoff.co.nz/science/08-0...?
Reposted by Robbie
Not enough beds. So a man died. Due to decades of sinking-lid funding to meet the 30-30 debt & spending rule that both National and Labour still adhere to. Greens/Opportunity should refuse to form Govts with National/Labour until the Public Finance Act is repealed. www.rnz.co.nz/news/health/...
Health NZ Wairarapa breached code over ICU transfer failure, commissioner finds
A man presented to his GP with severe abdominal pain after collapsing at work on January 25, 2022.
www.rnz.co.nz
September 7, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Not enough beds. So a man died. Due to decades of sinking-lid funding to meet the 30-30 debt & spending rule that both National and Labour still adhere to. Greens/Opportunity should refuse to form Govts with National/Labour until the Public Finance Act is repealed. www.rnz.co.nz/news/health/...
Reposted by Robbie
I wished that this site existed, so I spent the last week building it.
Track which way an MP votes on various issues across their whole time in Parliament:
hotair.nz
Track which way an MP votes on various issues across their whole time in Parliament:
hotair.nz
Hot Air
Hot Air links every New Zealand MP to what they've actually said and how they've actually voted in Parliament — built from the official Hansard record, so you can look past the press release and see the voting history for yourself.
hotair.nz
September 7, 2026 at 9:00 AM
I wished that this site existed, so I spent the last week building it.
Track which way an MP votes on various issues across their whole time in Parliament:
hotair.nz
Track which way an MP votes on various issues across their whole time in Parliament:
hotair.nz
Busy morning putting out Greens billboards. As you can see we are now a little tired
September 5, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Busy morning putting out Greens billboards. As you can see we are now a little tired
Reposted by Robbie
First sentence is why I lost my mind an hour ago and started this too long 🧵. What kind of swivel-eyed fuckwit adds up all the gross debt of all the different NZ sectors? The vast majority of this debt is what we all owe to each other Liam! Cancel it all out and you get $200bn. Why? [18/n]
August 30, 2026 at 12:34 AM
First sentence is why I lost my mind an hour ago and started this too long 🧵. What kind of swivel-eyed fuckwit adds up all the gross debt of all the different NZ sectors? The vast majority of this debt is what we all owe to each other Liam! Cancel it all out and you get $200bn. Why? [18/n]
Reposted by Robbie
Anyone in the media going to remind the Nats that it was them that raised student loan repayments to 12% from 10% in 2013?
Or are they just going to let that slide, like how Nats scrapped free flu vaccinations from under 12s, but it's back for under 5s just in time for election campaigning?
#nzpol
Or are they just going to let that slide, like how Nats scrapped free flu vaccinations from under 12s, but it's back for under 5s just in time for election campaigning?
#nzpol
August 30, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Anyone in the media going to remind the Nats that it was them that raised student loan repayments to 12% from 10% in 2013?
Or are they just going to let that slide, like how Nats scrapped free flu vaccinations from under 12s, but it's back for under 5s just in time for election campaigning?
#nzpol
Or are they just going to let that slide, like how Nats scrapped free flu vaccinations from under 12s, but it's back for under 5s just in time for election campaigning?
#nzpol
Reposted by Robbie
Wayne Brown has many negatives against his leadership but he actually does understand this shit and is at least trying to scrap for it.
Auckland Mayor is absolutely Tika on urban form, productivity, and how to fix them both:
August 29, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Wayne Brown has many negatives against his leadership but he actually does understand this shit and is at least trying to scrap for it.
Reposted by Robbie
Made a little video of something I’m cooking up…sound on for good jams
August 28, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Made a little video of something I’m cooking up…sound on for good jams
Reposted by Robbie
WATCH THIS VIDEO BEFORE YOU CROSS MOLESWORTH STREET 🚶♀️🚶♂️
August 27, 2026 at 7:10 PM
WATCH THIS VIDEO BEFORE YOU CROSS MOLESWORTH STREET 🚶♀️🚶♂️
Reposted by Robbie
This week's photodump (most of these from a walk from Johnston's Hill through the Skyline & Otari to Crofton Downs.
(From the "you learn something new every day" files; no idea tuna (NZ eels) has such beautiful blue eyes)
(From the "you learn something new every day" files; no idea tuna (NZ eels) has such beautiful blue eyes)
August 22, 2026 at 12:18 AM
This week's photodump (most of these from a walk from Johnston's Hill through the Skyline & Otari to Crofton Downs.
(From the "you learn something new every day" files; no idea tuna (NZ eels) has such beautiful blue eyes)
(From the "you learn something new every day" files; no idea tuna (NZ eels) has such beautiful blue eyes)
Reposted by Robbie
Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga this could be you! Blasting past a solar array at 240km/h (the array is literally plugged directly into the overhead train lines, best I could tell).
August 23, 2026 at 6:49 AM
Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga this could be you! Blasting past a solar array at 240km/h (the array is literally plugged directly into the overhead train lines, best I could tell).
Reposted by Robbie
🤦♀️
Counterpoint: we could spend some fucking money, build infrastructure, fund the services people need (health, education, social support, etc) and become a country where nice things are allowed and everyone has a safe, warm home and enough to eat.
#nzpol
Counterpoint: we could spend some fucking money, build infrastructure, fund the services people need (health, education, social support, etc) and become a country where nice things are allowed and everyone has a safe, warm home and enough to eat.
#nzpol
Labour releases fiscal strategy, promises to slash debt
Labour releases fiscal strategy, promises to slash debt
Labour has released their fiscal strategy for the election, promising to get back to surplus by 2029/30, slash debt and set up an independent Parliamentary Budget Office, if elected.
www.rnz.co.nz
August 23, 2026 at 2:53 AM
🤦♀️
Counterpoint: we could spend some fucking money, build infrastructure, fund the services people need (health, education, social support, etc) and become a country where nice things are allowed and everyone has a safe, warm home and enough to eat.
#nzpol
Counterpoint: we could spend some fucking money, build infrastructure, fund the services people need (health, education, social support, etc) and become a country where nice things are allowed and everyone has a safe, warm home and enough to eat.
#nzpol
Reposted by Robbie
There are somewhere between 73-77 nations with a higher dept to GDP ratio than New Zealand.
The OECD average is 110%
New Zealand's is 51%
Labour 'we will concentrate on debt this election'
I miss Jim Anderton & Norm Kirk
The OECD average is 110%
New Zealand's is 51%
Labour 'we will concentrate on debt this election'
I miss Jim Anderton & Norm Kirk
August 23, 2026 at 12:59 AM
There are somewhere between 73-77 nations with a higher dept to GDP ratio than New Zealand.
The OECD average is 110%
New Zealand's is 51%
Labour 'we will concentrate on debt this election'
I miss Jim Anderton & Norm Kirk
The OECD average is 110%
New Zealand's is 51%
Labour 'we will concentrate on debt this election'
I miss Jim Anderton & Norm Kirk
Reposted by Robbie
Can we piss off with this “slashing debt” bullshit? We’re not a broke country. Our debt levels are far from unserviceable.
We are, however, a country with serious deficit in infrastructure maintenance. Why can’t we address that? It’s far cheaper than continuously kicking the can down the road.
We are, however, a country with serious deficit in infrastructure maintenance. Why can’t we address that? It’s far cheaper than continuously kicking the can down the road.
Labour releases fiscal strategy, promises to slash debt
Labour releases fiscal strategy, promises to slash debt
Labour has released their fiscal strategy for the election, promising to get back to surplus by 2029/30, slash debt and set up an independent Parliamentary Budget Office, if elected.
www.rnz.co.nz
August 22, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Can we piss off with this “slashing debt” bullshit? We’re not a broke country. Our debt levels are far from unserviceable.
We are, however, a country with serious deficit in infrastructure maintenance. Why can’t we address that? It’s far cheaper than continuously kicking the can down the road.
We are, however, a country with serious deficit in infrastructure maintenance. Why can’t we address that? It’s far cheaper than continuously kicking the can down the road.
Reposted by Robbie
Cameras on cats monitoring everything but no privacy impact assessment?
Curious.
Curious.
'Extended surveillance': Motorist takes AT to court over parking cameras and $85 in fines
AT withdrew four parking tickets after a man challenged its mobile camera footage.
www.nzherald.co.nz
August 22, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Cameras on cats monitoring everything but no privacy impact assessment?
Curious.
Curious.
Reposted by Robbie
Great piece by @tfwelch.com
We are shit at infrastructure
Even if we build it, it's really expensive, glacially slow, crap (sometimes all three)
What infrastructure we do have is piss poorly maintained
#nzpol
We are shit at infrastructure
Even if we build it, it's really expensive, glacially slow, crap (sometimes all three)
What infrastructure we do have is piss poorly maintained
#nzpol
Another Auckland harbour crossing study, right on schedule
Comment: There’s something almost admirable about the predictability and longevity of the process around the Auckland second harbour crossing, writes Auckland University's Dr Timothy F Welch
newsroom.co.nz
August 22, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Great piece by @tfwelch.com
We are shit at infrastructure
Even if we build it, it's really expensive, glacially slow, crap (sometimes all three)
What infrastructure we do have is piss poorly maintained
#nzpol
We are shit at infrastructure
Even if we build it, it's really expensive, glacially slow, crap (sometimes all three)
What infrastructure we do have is piss poorly maintained
#nzpol