iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Oh sheeeeeet, I haven’t been on Bluesky enough to see I missed Secret Santa this year :-( darn it.

Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

I finally got to meet @alicetps.bsky.social in Vancouver - we have been following each other on social media for years. I gifted her a copy of the poetry anthology that my work is featured in. I’m currently in Canada on a research trip for my Masters programme.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

@kawaiicon.bsky.social - trying to buy tickets on the 3pm mark and it is showing this error message :-(

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Just my 3-6 monthly check in. I am still alive. Working. Doing my Masters (still).

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

I have to LOL at the racist a-hole who called me a 'black c**t,' 'ni***r,' ‘Māori scum' & that I 'should get a job & stop bludging off the government' on my way to my early morning Hyrox class. He got the Māori part right, but I ain’t scum. Also I have a job & probably earn way more than he does.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Did I just hallucinate seeing a video of Elon doing the n*zi salute at Trump’s inauguration? If so, both of my dead grandfathers - one who was in the Māori Battalion and the other in the air force during WW2 - would like a word with him…

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

I started pentesting - as an actual paid job - back in 2003. Security back then was, um, lacking. I mainly did OT/ICS environments back then & they were E A S Y. Security now? Well hackers have to use basically witchcraft and a vulnerable human. Mainly the vulnerable human, as they are easy to trick

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

I decided to check and see how much these cybersecurity bootcamps done by the Institute of Data - in collaboration with either AUT or the University of Canterbury - charge. $15,000 for a 12 week programme which lies about its success rate with graduates getting jobs. Daylight robbery.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

Anyone using pimecrolimus for their facial psoriasis? Back on it after a 11 year hiatus, as a viral infection over Xmas ignited a massive psoriasis flare up on my face, especially on my eyelids and neck. My skin has gone from oily to dry as a the Sahara desert in one week.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Wanting to show how CareHQ prioritise online GP consults - going through Southern Cross? Longer wait & next appointment is next Wednesday. If I book through my registered GP portal - which I will have to pay for compared to free w/ Southern Cross - there is an appointment available for today at 1pm

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

All of the work stuff that I said was a January problem in December is now a January problem 😂😂😂

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

I just realised I didn’t see any bags of chocolate coins at The Warehouse this year. I usually buy a heap for my son. They only had singular giant chocolate coins instead. Y NO CHOCCY COINS!?

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

I reviewed the 1 year goals I set in July 2023 & the top goal was to get a role as a Security Architect with my desired salary. I achieved that goal in Feb 2024 I’m now setting my goals for 2025 & 3-5 year goals - the main is graduating with my Masters, fingers crossed, will happen the end of 2026

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Xmas lunch: strawbs, Xmas mince pie, blueberries, cherries, crackers, chorizo, goat cheese, epicure cheddar cheese, brie and some stinky blue cheese.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Forgot to mention I got into the Masters programme I applied for. I start the programme in February.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

My work buddy for today - Lucy loves it when I work from home. She is actibg as quality assurance on the third party risk assessment questionnaires I am currently updating + reviewing before they are sent out to vendors.

Photo of a silver tabby cat, sitting on the lap of Denise, looking like a loaf of bread. Denise is wearing Tweety Bird PJs.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

I set up a Mastodon, but didn’t like it, so I hang out on here and on Threads. P.S. I am on Threads under the same username. I’m even verified over there so you know it is me.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

I woke up this morning and realised I didn’t add the golden syrup to the fudge mixture when I was cooking it. I was trying to figure out last night why it didn’t taste exactly like Russian fudge. I will make another batch tonight after work.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

Russian fudge has been made! I used the Edmonds recipe from the 70s & used a sugar thermometer to make sure it got to soft ball stage (114 degrees celsius). Doubled the recipe. I’m enjoying the remnants in the pot as a snack, while the fudge is cooling in a tray. My son is very happy to have fudge!

Photo of a pot with the remnants of Russian fudge in it.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

A bit of weird request, but does anyone have a copy of the Edmonds cookbook - and the edition being one printed in the 80s or early 90s - and if you do, can you pretty please DM me or reply to this thread with photos for the Russian fudge recipe? I don’t trust the recipe up on the Edmonds website.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

I’m hoping to find out the outcome of my Masters application soon. I submitted four research proposals, which cover information security management, information security regulatory compliance, digital identity verification and data sovereignty - all from a Māori/indigenous perspective.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

LOL, gotta love my ADHD brain and its ability to procrastinate: applications for a Masters programme I want to get into close tonight, so um, I am power writing my personal statement and CV… 😂😂😂

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

I recently turned 40, bought my first pair of Docs since 1998 and went to see Heilung & Eivor on Saturday. My forties so far are going well!

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

Anyone who isn’t going to ChCon? I decided in the end not to go - too much stuff to do at work for our new managed network. Also massive thanks to the organisers for refunding my money back; I emailed in asking if I could transfer my ticket to someone else, but they just refunded.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

I got my 8th spicy cough jabberino booster over the weekend. Pharmacist who jabbed me said I was the first person she has stabbed for their 8th booster. Do I get a prize?

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 02/08/2024

According to JKR’s f**ked up logic, she also isn’t a female because she has microchimerism from having a son - her body literally has small amounts of her son’s cells in her body which have XY chromosomes. Also I have had a son and have his XY cells in my body, so I guess I am no longer a woman.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 17/07/2024

Doing my obligatory 3 month post dump. Work is good & life is good. I’ve now been on HRT for nearly 8 months and it has been wonderful not dealing with hot flushes. Found out I still have PCOS & it doesn’t disappear when you are menopausal - I make enough testosterone to fail a WADA drug test 😂

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 03/04/2024

Last ADHD mind vomit until I post again in 3 months time: my mother passed a little over two weeks ago. I didn’t go to her funeral due to the abuse from her towards me as a child + have not spoken to her for 19 years. It has been a weird time - started my new job, then got told she passed away.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 03/04/2024

Oh one more thing - I officially started my Te Reo Māori re-learning journey through my iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in Feb. 8 weeks completed. Starting right from the beginning. Lots I still remember, but a lot I don’t know. Extra special as learning it in my iwi’s dialect.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 03/04/2024

I’m still alive. Have moved to a new job. Have started training for my next ultra. Parenting is hard. Trans rights matter. Free Palestine. Eat your greens.

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Reposted by Denise - High Calibre Māori

Katya @nzkatya.bsky.social · 20/02/2024

Extract from Efeso Collins' maiden speech where he talks about poverty and the failure of neoliberalsim.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 20/02/2024

Coming out of my Bluesky hiatus to give my condolences to Efeso’s whānau, friends and work colleagues. I have had the absolute privilege to work with Efeso over the years on various community initiatives. He had a heart of gold and worked tirelessly for the South Auckland community. RIP Efeso 😢

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 19/12/2023

Past 2 weeks have been a fucking shit show w/ P1/P2s coming out of my butt. A person who follows me knows one of these P2s. Have to make it to 4pm & then I’m free for Xmas! Also means more of me on here, 'coz I won’t be having a nervous breakdown over Zscaler shitting itself for the umpteenth time.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 06/12/2023

Hey infosec peeps, what is the shit/goss with EC-Council? Have been asked to author a full course for a cert, but a bit hesitant to accept because of things I hear about them.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 05/12/2023

I’ve been on my HRT patches for a week now - had to wait for final clearance from the doctors running a clinical trial I am part of. Holy shit, the mental clarity that hit me after being on the patches for 2 days was a shock. My sleep score has been in the 90s since starting - usually I get a 20% 😂

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 05/12/2023

I am thanking past Denise for panic buying the good 3M N95 masks when I did, because they come in handy when your children get Covid for the umpteenth time. Also thanking past Denise for panic buying a really good air purifier and a lifetime supply of hand sanitiser.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 05/12/2023

The Son has Covid (again) - 5th time for him. Because he is under 16 (he is 14), he can’t get a booster. The last two times he got Covid, it hit him so hard with post-Covid fatigue. THEY SHOULD ALLOW KIDS HIS AGE TO GET A BOOSTER. Not fair for his immune system to be going through this again 😡😡😡

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 24/11/2023

Spent most of the first day of CHCon doing a goddamn Splunk deployment 😣😣😣😣 at least tomorrow I can attend most of the talks.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 23/11/2023

Ppl on HRT - whether it’s for menopause or gender affirmation - can you please tell me your experience w/ Mylan Estradiol patches? Keep on reading bad things about them. Estradot - 25mcg ones - aren’t in stock in NZ & won’t be until sometime next month. Do I hold off until Estradot is available?

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Reposted by Denise - High Calibre Māori

Adria @adriaandthepriors.bsky.social · 23/11/2023

This is the best bit of advice I’ve seen on the internet 😂

My younger brother is trans. My parents have been horrendous about deadnaming and misgendering him. At Thanksgiving, I used an air horn to correct them. I fixed a 2-3 year long problem in two seconds. 10/10 would recommend this training method.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 23/11/2023

I finally got approval this week to go on HRT. Finally. I’m 39 and have been menopausal/perimenopausal since I was 31. Final-all-clear from the breast specialist. 25mcg of oestradiol goodness every three days! Hopefully this helps me feel heaps better.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 16/11/2023

I’ve been trying out the Beauty of Joseon Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ sunscreen & it slaps. Cosmetically elegant formula. Not heavy. Hydrates. Also in 1st equal place for sunscreen that slaps is Cetaphil Sun Kids SPF50+ liposomal sunscreen - stays on for hours & doesn’t breakdown when you sweat.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 09/11/2023

I won the Cybersecurity Champion Award at the 2023 NZ Women In Security Awards 😊

Photo of my Cybersecurity Champion Award plaque thing.

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Denise - High Calibre Māori @highcalibremaori.bsky.social · 09/11/2023

Currently the NZ Women In Security Awards - I am a finalist in two categories: Cybersecurity Champion and Harakeke Achievement Award.

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