iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 17h

We’re back in NZ but still on holiday as we figured (correctly) that we’d need time to get over jet lag. Got out and did some grocery shopping then treated ourselves to a nice lunch … Spotted this sign which made me laugh (thanks Black Cottage Cafe, Coatesville)

Chalk board with a drawing of a child hugging a kitten and the words “UNATTENDED CHILDREN WILL BE GIVEN A SHOT OF ESPRESSO AND A KITTEN” written above.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Waiting for the final flight home (Hong Kong to Auckland). It’s been an epic bucket list trip over the last 4 weeks but I’m also looking forward to being home. Singapore, France (Paris, Migennes, Joigny, Villeneuve-sur-Yonne, Sens, Auxerre), Spain (Santander) and Rome have all been great!

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Another epic day today. Spanish Steps, Trevi fountain, Pantheon and the wonderful St. Peter’s. My pics don’t do them justice! Finished with drinks in a rooftop cocktail bar so here’s pics from there

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I’m not sure about the area our Rome hotel is in. It’s got a history of knife attacks. Apparently some bloke called Julius was stabbed across the road & Will Shakespeare says his last words were “et tu Brute” …

View form the hotel with some Roman ruins visible across the road

Julius Caesar was stabbed by the senators here (outside my hotel)

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

We made it to Rome … it’s hot and busy! (And it’s past peak season )

The Coliseum … Rome. Against a clear blue sky.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

😂 S and I were in Auxerre, France a couple of days ago and commented on the fact we hadn’t seen any Ford Rangers (ubiquitous in NZ) and def no US trucks - they wouldn’t fit up many of the streets. (30 secs after this discussion 2 Rangers drove past … but they were the only ones seen)

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

We’ve been looking at Google Reviews from time to time while on holiday. This store is close to us and all the recent reviews are scathing! I’ve never seen a shop get reviewed like this … (Looks like it went down hill when it changed hands 2 or 3 years ago) maps.google.com?q=La%20Huert...

maps.google.com

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Reposted by Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON

Andy McKay @korimakoecology.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I don't have a problem with this decision. There are more than 50 bird species in AoNZ with a higher threat status than kororā. They get priority. Limited resources means triaging is critical. I get that kororā are cute, but that shouldn't drive conservation decisions.

1news.co.nz

Kaikōura’s little penguins left off bird flu vaccine list

The Kaikōura Wildlife Centre Trust and local councils have called for the little penguin / kororā to be included in the Department of Conservation’s H5N1 vaccination programme.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

😂 we are arrived in Santander, Spain yesterday afternoon after 2 weeks in France … and I keep wanting to reply to people in my VERY limited French rather than the few words of Spanish I have …

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The late medieval town of Auxerre is amazing

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

😂 just walked past this shop @dallasbarnett.com Soooo many knives, katana, epees

Small portion of the window display of a shop in Auxerre, France

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

😂 Neither S nor I are Maori but we listened to Waiata last night to remind us of home. (While sitting on the canal boat in Gurgy, France )

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

She’s a bit hot today! Heading for 31 degrees

Our home for the last few days - tied up waiting for the lock keeper to come let us through (after his lunch break)

The lock we are waiting to go through on the Joigny Derivation (cuts out a shallow part of the Yonne)

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The epic Singapore/France/Santander/Rome trip is living up to my hopes! We got on the canal boat in Migennes this afternoon, they let us loose after a quick “drive the boat around to ensure you’re not an idiot”. We’ve gone through 3 locks to Joigny for the evening.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

It’s been a good day. Notre Dam, Eiffel Tower, River Seine and then having a pre-dinner wine while looking out to this The epic trip is living up to what I had hoped.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Just been wandering around Paris so here’s a pic of the Eiffel Tower … And got to thinking about bed taxes aka tourist tax - I’d happily paid a little over NZ $10 per night for the two of us while in Paris. Bed taxes are appropriate - dunno why the National Party has rules them out

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Does this count has “I’ve seen the Eiffel Tower”? (Look closely - this picture is from the plane as we came in to land tonight)

Paris city lights at night as seen out a plane window.

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Juha Saarinen @juha.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-adv... There won't be anything much left in the sea soon with this attitude.

nzherald.co.nz

100% of fishers inspected at Whananaki break fishing rules

Northland fisheries officers undertook three patrols over five days.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

It’s not quite a visit to Singapore without a visit to the Merlion (Marina Bay Sands across the river). And Clark Quay with the contrast between the colonial buildings and the high rises Bit hot for this New Zealander though 😂

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Here’s a video from Sunday as we made our way through Whangaparaoa Passage (Tiri Channel) onboard Hibiscus Rescue 1. 😂 we had a bit of water in the bow and over the roof. That’s me on the helm (right). Judicious use of the throttle and engine trim was needed.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

😂 I’ve done a lot of travel for work so I’ve seen these popup notifications a LOT but this is the first one I’ve been excited to see for several years (We’re off to Singapore then Europe for a month - departing tomorrow)

Notification from the Air NZ app that check-in is now open for our holiday!

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

😅Actually I've just remembered I first signed up for a mobile contract with BellSouth NZ during the 1998 Auckland power outage so I've had the same number for 28 years! I had to get a mobile for work at short notice, walked into a Telecom store ready to buy a phone/sign a contract.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Here's a couple of Coastguard Hibiscus fundraising things ... Z Good in the Hood: this year we've been selected as one of the charities at Z Silverdale: www.coastguardhibiscus.org.nz/post/good-in...

coastguardhibiscus.org.nz

Good In The Hood - Z Silverdale

Coastguard Hibiscus is proud to be part of the Z Good in the Hood programme at Z Silverdale.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Kate's article is well worth a read. I have collected a few scallops in my time and have seen the decline first hand. It became harder so I just stopped collecting them before the closures were proposed (as did others in my group of friends).

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Vote for Rachel and the $20k from Westfield Albany will help my Coastguard unit with training expenses (mostly fuel) etc. over a couple of years.

🚨 Voting is officially open! 🚨

Meet Rachel Hessey, one of our incredible Coastguard Hibiscus volunteers, and a finalist for Westfield Local Heroes 2026 at Westfield Albany!

Rachel gives up countless hours keeping boaties and our coastal community safe.

Now she's in the running to bring home a $20,000 grant for Coastguard Hibiscus, to help us keep doing what we do best, saving lives on the water.

All it takes is one vote. Cast yours now and share with your friends and whānau, every vote counts!

Voting closes 20 September, so get in quick and back the people who are always there when it matters most.

Vote here: https://www.westfield.co.nz/albany/news/4x0VKxXjM2LdGaaxqHbHJd/local-heroes-2026

#westfieldlocalheroes #coastguardhibiscus

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Tonight’s view … Melbourne CBD from Southbank

Melbourne CBD skyline from Southbank.

Yarra River in the foreground and the Flinders station and the town hall across the river

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I’ve agreed to help out with running the 2027 annual Spearfishing NZ Catfish Cull in Lake Taupo (13 Feb). Catfish are an invasive pest so this is a way spearos can help. Register here: spearfishingnz.netlify.app/catfish

Spears Ready?

The Rosemergy Catfish Cull is SNZ's annual freshwater pest removal event held at Motuoapa on Lake Taupō. Catfish are an invasive pest species that damage the lake's ecosystem — the cull is a practical kaitiakitanga event that combines competitive spearfishing with meaningful environmental action.

Hawaiian slings and pole spears only are permitted, keeping the event true to traditional freediving spearfishing. All fish harvested are removed from the lake, contributing directly to the health of the Taupō fishery.

Shore diving — fully accessible to all, no boat required

Early Bird pricing available this year

The top placing in each division of the Cull earns a spot on the NZ Freshwater Worlds team at Beaver Lake in 2028

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

1. Westfield Albany have selected Rachel as a finalist in their “Local Heroes” promotion. She’s one of Coastguard Hibiscus skippers (and ex President), works tirelessly in the unit & community - making a difference every day! Not only has she saved lives but also www.westfield.co.nz/albany/news/...

westfield.co.nz

Vote for your 2026 Westfield Local Hero

Cast your vote to award $30k worth of grants

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Bill Bennett @billbennett.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

I’ve said this before and will say it again. If you think social media is so toxic that it damages 16-year-olds then it damages everyone. You don’t magically become immune on your 17th birthday. Either ban it for everyone or not at all.

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SteveH @sghendricks.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Sitting at the airport waiting for my flight (Auckland to Melbourne) and I hear something unusual… A guy is calmly playing a ukulele a few seats away. It’s very relaxing.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

These stats are a worry. So many boaties in NZ don’t seem to be aware (or care) about people in the water around them and what the consequences can be. 70 near misses captured so far (most of which haven’t been reported to Harbourmasters etc. so officially didn’t happen) #scuba #diving #marine

Underwater shot of a spearfisher returning to the surface

Spearfishing NZ post:

70 reports in. Here's what they're telling us, and why we need yours.

Two weeks ago we asked you to tell us about near-misses with boats while you were in the water. 70 of you did. From 10 regions and 66 different spots around the country.

The picture is already ugly:

🚩 9 out of 10 had a dive flag up. Flag on the float, flag on the boat, up and visible. Clearly not the case for "divers need to be more visible."

⚠️ In 79% of cases, the boat never reacted at all. Didn't slow. Didn't turn. In most of these, the skipper probably never even knew.

📏 76% came within 10 metres. Nearly half within 5. Nine of you had a boat pass within 2 metres. Ten reports involved actual contact — with a diver or their gear. Two people were hurt.

📵 And here's the number that matters most: 63% were never reported to anyone. Just 3 of the 70 ever reached a harbourmaster, council or Maritime NZ.

The most common reason people gave for not reporting? "Nothing would come of it."

That's exactly the problem. Every official dataset only contains the incidents that got

at's exactly the problem. Every official dataset only contains the incidents that got reported, so on paper this looks rare. We know it isn't. Every single one of us has a story. The official record just doesn't have them.

That's what this survey fixes. Aggregated and anonymised, it will go to regional harbourmasters, Maritime New Zealand, councils and media, as evidence that boats doing more than 5 knots within 200m of shore is a systemic, under-reported risk. Not bad luck. Not isolated. A pattern.

Right now the Hauraki Gulf leads with 26 reports, then Coromandel & Mercury Bay, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Northland. If your patch isn't on that list, it's not because it's safe, it's likely because nobody's reported it yet.

Takes about 3 minutes. Completely anonymous. No membership needed swimmers, surfers, scubies, kayakers, spearos, anyone who's been in the water.

Even if it was years ago. Even if you "didn't think it was serious enough." Even if you never got the boat's name. Especially then, "no vessel details" was the second most common reason people stayed quiet, and we've built the form so you don't need them.

👉 spearfishingnz.netlify.app/near-miss

spearfishingnz.netlify.app/near-miss

The 70 who've already reported have made a start. Let's make this undeniable.

Dive safe. Dive with a decent dive flag and always look after your buddy. 🤿

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Coastguard Hibiscus will be doing some live flare training 7:30pm on Tuesday night at Stanmore Bay, Whangaparaoa. Flares will likely be visible from much of the coastline (especially the parachute flares). Our Training Officer has organised this with police etc. so they know.

Flare training graphic showing someone setting off. Handheld flare on the left and Hibiscus Rescue 1 on the right

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

I imagine I’ll be blocked shortly. The holier than thou ignorance of these sorts of posts is frustrating

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Rod Emmerson @rodemmerson.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

In today’s Weekend Herald

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Tania Roxborogh @taniaroxborogh.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I suspect few of my pocket pals on here are landlords but I thought I would ask: my 82 year old mum is in desperate need of a house - no luck with applications. She currently lives in Torbay. She can pay up to 650 per week. At least 2 bedrooms needed. She's a keen gardener. She has a mini poodle.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Go along to this talk if you are at all interested in dive medicine and the work Simon and his group released recently. Sadly I'll be away then so cannot make it.

Post in the Auckland Freediving Club Facebook group that reads:
There's a super exciting talk coming up 🤩 Dr Simon Mitchell will present on the recent leading-edge freediving study in Dominica where they took blood samples at 80m of William Trubridge MNZM and two other freedivers. They were surprised by the findings!
The talk is at the
Global Dive Club Night
Monday, 28 September (after Pool Nats)
Start 6pm with nibbles, speaker 7pm
Let me know if you're going so I can let the Global Dive know about extra numbers.
Here's the mini docu showing the study, the amazing dive conditions in Dominica, and the epic Inkfish yachts https://youtu.be/bB0d2Wz0HQ8?si=cbjfc2RRoPj6s6vj

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Genesis are surveying their clients with solar panels installed. The survey is very focused on battery plan structure (managed/unmanaged, special event feed etc.). It got me thinking more about the opportunity that domestic grid-connected batteries represent from a regional resilience POV.

Screenshot of a portion of an email from Genesis NZ that reads:
Kia ora,
We recently invited you to participate in a survey and it is still available for you to complete.

We’re looking at how Genesis can better understand and support customers with solar panels. Your feedback will help us learn about your setup and your interest in future battery plans and products.

As solar customers are still a relatively small group, your views are especially valuable. Whether your motivation is saving money, reducing environmental impact, gaining more control over your energy use, or something else, we’d love to understand what matters most to you.

As a thank you, you’ll be entered into a draw to win one of five $200 Prezzy® cards or e-gift cards when you complete the survey.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

This post is … wrong. We (NZ) grow mussels to sell for human consumption. They need clean water for this.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Given recent news I expect some of these seats will be sold this afternoon ... #nzpol

A screenshot of Air NZ flights / seats Auckland to Wellington currently available for Wednesday morning ...

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cha0s @anatolkirichenko.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Dude works for a company that sells AI to business. Dude used AI to book gym class because it's a chore. AI escapes, goes rogue, kicks off others on the wait list. Artificial Assistants for the artificial #auspol abc.net.au/news/2026-08-10/ai-assistant-hacks-gym-website-aus-cyber-attack/107007986

abc.net.au

How a simple request for AI to book a gym class exposed a major threat

When Andrew asked his AI personal assistant to book him a spot in a gym class, he had no idea he would accidentally initiate an autonomous cyber attack.

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Paul Le Comte 🇳🇿🇨🇦📷 @paullecomtephoto.nz · 10/08/2026

The Arts amounts to about 4.5-5% of the NZ economy directly responsible for about $11-14b in economic activity. National & Goldsmith are (once again) economic vandals, taking arts heathens as read.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Opened BlueSky on my work laptop and it thinks I'm in Australia ... (yes, we use VPNs for work )

Screenshot of the BlueSky "Age Assurance" message as it thinks I'm in Australia (I'm in New Zealand)

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

S got a Panthers jersey out at half time Up the Wahs

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Now the English is an official language of New Zealand I expect all posts to use your, you're, there, their and they're correctly.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board and Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Iwi Trust Board have put a proposal to Fisheries NZ for changes to the regs around crayfish take around Aotea/Great Barrier. Have a read and make a submission (personally I'm broadly in support) www.mpi.govt.nz/consultation...

A portion of the cover page of the Fisheries NZ consultation doc.

Picture of a crayfish, aka rock lobster, in a rock crevice and below that the title:
"Proposed local rock lobster management measures for Aotea Great Barrier Island
A proposal from the Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board and Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Iwi Trust Board "

The Local Board and the Iwi Trust Board, who have been supported by the Aotea Ahu Moana Project, have requested these measures because Aotea residents and mana whenua1 are concerned that both commercial and recreational rock lobster fishing effort will increasingly be displaced from the closed areas of CRA 1 (east coast of Northland2) and CRA 2 (inner Hauraki Gulf3 and Hauraki Gulf High Protection Areas4) to Aotea and that this will lead to the localised depletion of rock lobster at Aotea (Figures 1 and 2).
The Local Board and the Iwi Trust Board have made it clear to FNZ that their aim in requesting these measures is not to prevent rock lobster fishing at Aotea. Instead, they want to develop appropriate local management measures that will ensure enduring sustainability for commercial, recreational, and customary fishers.
In their request to the Minister, the Local Board and the Iwi Trust Board have proposed the following Aotea specific management measures that would apply to spiny rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) and packhorse rock lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi):
a) Establish six recreational-only areas where commercial rock lobster fishing would be prohibited (Figure 3),
b) Reduce the daily limit for recreational fishers,
c) Introduce an accumulation limit for recreational fishers, with the limit set at a single day’s catch. This would prevent recreational fishers from accumulating multiple days catch.
d) Introduce a maximum legal size for both commercial and recreational fishers, and e) Introduce a closed season for both commercial and recreational fishers to coincide with autumn and winter mating seasons of these species.
The Local Board and the Iwi Trust Board have proposed that these measures be implemented within a boundary one nautical mile from Aotea (Figure 3). The proposed measures are described in more detail below and in Table 1.

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Paul Brislen @brislen.nz · 04/08/2026

You can’t include links in text messages or emails any longer. Service providers all need to stop doing this. Father who thought parking fine text was a scam angry at Ministry of Justice warnings www.rnz.co.nz/news/communi...

rnz.co.nz

Father who thought parking fine text was a scam angry at Ministry of Justice warnings

An Auckland father of three is angry the Ministry of Justice threatened his pregnant wife with arrest over a parking fine.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Goat Island does get absolutely chokka on a summer weekend! I'm kind of OK with paid parking there but it's also a huge change from when I first visited frequently (late '80s) www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ...

rnz.co.nz

Paid parking will be introduced Auckland's popular marine reserve Goat Island in Leigh, the Department of Conservation (DOC) says.

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Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

We're splurging on a bucket list trip to Singapore (3 days), France, Spain and Italy (i.e. Europe for a month). Any recommendations on eSIMs to use? We've got at least a week away from wifi options while in France (self-drive canal boat!) so I guess a fairly decent data pack would be useful.

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