Incredible good news for PÅneke Wellington and Aotearoa NZ
The Capital Kiwi project has achieve a key milestone - all kiwi in the project area (the hills of western Wellington) are now properly āfree-rangeā - living without tracking transmitters. Ten years in the project has achieved a 90%+ survival rate for kiwi chicks - in the wild. This is truly astonishing.
Read more about the milestone at The Spinoff, and have a look at the YouTube video showing the last transmitters being removed.
This is just one part of the wider efforts across PÅneke Wellington to enable our native birds and wildlife to flourish once again.
I highly recommend donating to support this outstanding project: Donate
Thinking about La Bola Negra
Thinking about: La bola negra šæ
I went to see āLa Bola Negraā - the Black Ball - at the New Zealand International Film Festival. It was one of the closing night films - along with Coward - also an amazing film about which Iāll have more to say.
I havenāt been able to stop thinking about āLa Bola Negraā. Its epic scope, its amazing cinematography, genuinely moving performances, and a script to die for. But most of all, its relevance to todayās world, where hate and violence towards gay and queer people is once again on the rise. This story out of the Spanish Civil War couldnāt be more relevant, and connects us to the loss and suffering of queer people in that era.
It is so vital that these stories are told and heard. The loss of Lorca and so many other gay and queer people, the literal and figurative burying of their stories, the heartache and violence - all need to be recovered, remembered and drive us to action.
When this movie comes out in cinemas, go and see it. Then think and talk about what it is saying, and act.
Reading "The Disappearers"
Currently reading: The Disappearers: A Novel by Marlon James š
Iāve started reading Booker-Prize winning author Marlon Jamesā latest novel, which is also longlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize.
The reviews have been laudatory, and I concur, even though Iām only half way through the novel. This story draws you in and and never lets you go. I knew from the reviews that something terrible was coming, and this sense of foreboding only got worse as I came to know and empathise with the characters. When the full horror hit, it was devastating. Iām now in the middle stages of the story, and my jaw is still dropping as events unfold.
This novel is raw, true and powerful. It refuses to flinch away from the reality facing so many gay and queer people across the world, where intolerance and hatred are on the rise. The first part of the novel is set in Jamaica in 1988 - when I was 18 and living in equally homophobic Malaysia - but horrifyingly this story is increasingly relevant and vital today.
This is such an important novel, and has already made such an impact on me I couldnāt wait till the end to post about it. Iāll be back when Iāve finished - or as the New York Times review said - when the story finishes meā¦.
Farewell to my dear Aunt Jenni.
It was so wonderful to be able to spend time with you and the family in Wanaka.
Hereās to your bright eyes.
Spending locally
This is a ludicrous amount of money for a website - but I’m more outraged this wasn’t spent within the Wellington region. Its time for our local councils to focus more on spending locally.