iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The book that @tofeklund.bsky.social and I wrote is available for pre-order, and will be out early next year. Really pleased to get to do some cool research into all things queer comics www.bloomsbury.com/uk/queer-com...

bloomsbury.com

233

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Tara @taracomics.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Vote takahē for Bird of the Year: www.birdoftheyear.org.nz#voting

097

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Tara @taracomics.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Sorry, not sorry for the fart joke. #birdoftheyear

102

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Tara @taracomics.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Voting for Bird of the Year has opened. Please vote takahē and share the adventures of takahē far and wide! www.birdoftheyear.org.nz#voting #birdoftheyear2026 #boty26.

Titipounamu cheerleading for takahē: Go takahē, go takahē, go!

Takahē: What's all this?
Titipounamu: Have you ever considered running for Bird of the Year?

Takahē: I'd rather not. But thank you.
Titipounamu: Oh.

Takahē: If it makes you feel better, I think everyone gets entered automatically. You could campaign for yourself.
Titipounamu: Joint ticket it is!

22512

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Have you voted for Takahē yet? Always delighted by @taracomics.bsky.social comics - Titipounamu knows all the tricks for getting humans on board: taracomics.substack.com/p/the-view?r...

taracomics.substack.com

The view

The takahē is currently coming fifth.

0154

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Community archives! You can contribute to the collation of the Garrett Street memories via their archives/submissions: museumofgarrett.com and their boosted: www.thearts.co.nz/boosted/proj...

museumofgarrett.com

The Museum of Garrett Street

0103

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Join @taracomics.bsky.social’s comic about Takahē’s quest for bird of the year. In the latest installment Titipounamu meets Hoiho taracomics.substack.com/p/you-got-this

taracomics.substack.com

You got this

Titipounamu is the bravest bird

083

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Best mail is queer comics mail! Got the full set of beautiful new queer zine 'Framing Mulled Lives' stories of older gay men in nz by @donchooinz.bsky.social

Sam smiling as he holds the whole set. Queer comic art framed on the wall behind sam

0131

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Tara @taracomics.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Takahē is not just a bird that needs your vote on the upcoming Bird of the Year competition, it's a magazine in which I have a non-takahē themed comic.

11810

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Tara @taracomics.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Why does titipounamu want takahē to win? #birdoftheyear taracomics.substack.com/p/choice?r=2...

0115

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Cheeky titipounamu, lovely takahē - your weekly dose of loveliness from @taracomics.bsky.social : open.substack.com/pub/taracomi...

taracomics.substack.com

Hiding

Titipounamu and takahē meet again

021

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Same Same but Different - Aotearoa's queer writers festival is this week. Check out their incredible programme, love to celebrate queer writing excellence: samesamebutdifferent.co.nz/2026-program...

samesamebutdifferent.co.nz

2026 Programme – Samesame But Different

061

Reposted by Sam Orchard

leaflemming.bsky.social @leaflemming.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

This week in TAKAHE FOR BIRD OF THE YEAR, a previous #BOTY winner stops by to discuss lunch, and possibly kill our hero.

taracomics.substack.com

Lunch

I'm sure everything will be fine

042

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Tara @taracomics.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

What is strategy, anyway? My unofficial campaign for the takahē to win Bird of the Year continues. open.substack.com/pub/taracomi...

162

Reposted by Sam Orchard

leaflemming.bsky.social @leaflemming.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

In the grand tradition of getting the worm, it's time for some early Bird of the Year campaigning. IN COMIC STRIP FORM. (This will be an ongoing series). #BOTY taracomics.substack.com/p/go-takahe-go

taracomics.substack.com

Go takahē, go!

An unofficial Bird of the Year campaign

092

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Dr Bex @drbex.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

The Govt wants to give itself more power over disabled people’s medical information. Buried in a new welfare “modernisation” Bill are provisions allowing MSD to require medical examinations “at any time” while expanding automated decision-making #nzpol Read more: open.substack.com/pub/drbex/p/...

open.substack.com

The Government wants more power over Disabled People’s Medical Information

A Bill about Automated Decision Making has some buried hooks for disabled and/or unwell persons

148348

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Michael Brown @jingajik.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Hot off the press: "NZ Zines: Punk to Present" Just picked this up at the launch at the Engine Room, Massey University. The first history of zines in NZ. Congrats to author Bryce Galloway -

1262

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Michael Brown @jingajik.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Bananamelia: Adventures in Digital Music Archiving In February, @amamelia.bsky.social and I spoke at #FACT2026 about our project to preserve her electronica production. Check out the video 👇👇 our part starts 19.40m in, after Jessica Walthew's overview of digipres issues. youtu.be/yo8pr_sLTNg?...

youtu.be

Jessica Walthew, Michael Brown & Amelia Berry | Challenges for Collecting Digital Media

YouTube video by ACMI – Your museum of screen culture

062

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Sascha Stronach🏳️‍⚧️, The Sunforge out now @understatesmen.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

haven't re-upped this thing in a minute. Check it out. go.bsky.app/VaypaqC

go.bsky.app

Trans SF/F Writers

Join the conversation

06850

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Michael Brown @jingajik.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

A juicy new blog about the history and posters of Garage Collective (aka @anrchivist.bsky.social), including numerous music gig examples from the 2000s New Zealand scene, including A Low Hum. Some beautiful artwork here from the archive at the Turnbull Library. natlib.govt.nz/blog/posts/g...

Camp A Low Hum 2008, designed by Austria-based illustrator Michael Hacker and screen-printed by Jared Davidson (Garage Collective). Ref: Eph-D-FESTIVAL-ALH-2008-01 Alexander Turnbull Library.

0114

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

K. O'Neill nominated for another Eisner! comicbookclublive.com/2026/05/14/e...

comicbookclublive.com

040

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Lily and Generoso (plasticgrapes) @plasticgrapes.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

For those of us who love comics, this is a grand idea to have a space where sequential art can be created as well as loaned and archived! We just kicked in to The New York Working Cartoon Library and if you afford to donate a few bucks, this is a very good thing!

167

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Michael Brown @jingajik.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

"Feijoas": The story of a new Library of Congress subject heading natlib.govt.nz/blog/posts/f...

Feijoa, by Charles Fryet. iNaturalistNZ — Mātaki Taiao. CC BY-NC 4.0.

0159

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Also - super interesting project: Folio - Stories of Australian Comics www.youtube.com/watch?v=orSH...

youtube.com

Folio: Stories of Australian comics

YouTube video by Creative Australia

010

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

This is such a cool collection- check it out

051

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Swords | The Webcomic @swordscomic.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

This is tonight, btw

1735

Reposted by Sam Orchard

BUGANZ83 @tanugago.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Dammm half of these sold within 24 hours. Y'all are amazing 😧😍 Thank you to those from Bluesky who made purchases. I fucking appreciate you. Das crazy and unexpected!! I am so grateful. 🙏🏽❤️❤️❤️ www.fafswag.nz/mketi/illust...

fafswag.nz

ILLUSTRATIONS — Limited Edition - Illustrated A3 Art Prints | Buganz83 — FAFSWAG

163

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Sharon Murdoch @domesticanimal.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Olivia Twist and the School Lunches. A Dickensian tale for our times. My Stuff #cartoon today #NZpol #children

Cartoon. Title: “Twist” Image in two frames. First frame: a girl with other children in the background, holding a tray of mince meat, with a green growth on top that spells “MOULD”. She’s saying, “Please, Sir, I don’t want any more” In the second frame David Seymour’s surprised eyes, and saying “WHAT! You refuse to eat your greens?!”

212954

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Awkwardly, as soon as I quit making comics like this... things happened and I made another comic. Blame the people who decided to ban new prescriptions of puberty blockers. Part 1: www.roostertailscomic.com/.../blockers... Part 2: www.roostertailscomic.com/.../blockers...

roostertailscomic.com

Blockers Banned Part 1 - Rooster Tails

Oh. So. Ummm... I am officially winding this blog down. I did a little post about it and then there was an announcement about banning new prescriptions for puberty blockers. So - before this site's ho...

1116

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Inspired by @dylanhorrocks.bsky.social's 'Lonely Fun' zine - @taracomics.bsky.social has another RPG for you to enjoy taracomics.substack.com/p/the-myster...

taracomics.substack.com

The Mystery Note

A lyric game in comic form

153

Reposted by Sam Orchard

tailstrike 🆓🇵🇸 @tailstrike.xyz · 19/11/2025

The studies they are choosing to ignore France: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... Australia: statements.qld.gov.au/statements/1... and www.saxinstitute.org.au/resource/evi... USA: publications.aap.org/pediatrics/a... From:

thespinoff.co.nz

Puberty blockers banned: The reality of raising a trans child in 2025

A parent shares their experience and fears as public submissions are sought on the use of puberty blockers for gender-affirming care.

3109

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Jennifer @jennifilm.nz · 19/11/2025

PATHA's statement has been published: patha.nz/news

The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) condemns today's decision from Minister of Health Simeon Brown introducing a ban on new prescriptions of GnRH analogues (puberty blockers) for transgender children and young people who are not currently on them. This ideologically driven ban will have a devastating impact on the lives and wellbeing of our transgender and gender diverse young people.
We know that children, young people and their whanau will be highly distressed by this decision.
We also acknowledge health professionals' frustration at the way their expertise has been ignored and disregarded.
"The ban will lead to a deterioration in mental health, increased risk of suicidality and increased dysphoria in gender diverse children and young people, and will put them at a higher risk of experiencing marginalisation and discrimination," says Dr Elizabeth McElrea, GP specialist in gender affirming care and PATHA Vice-President. "The prescribing of puberty blockers is always undertaken with the utmost care and consideration. They have been prescribed safely for decades for transgender children and banning their use will lead to profound distress in this already vulnerable
group."
This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care.

This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. While the evidence brief identified some limitations in the academic quality of evidence regarding the risks and benefits of GRH analogues, limitations in evidence quality are common across a number of areas of medicine, especially within paediatric medicine, and do not justify a ban on access.
"PATHA supports evidence-based medicine, which consists of three key components: academic evidence, clinical experience, and patient preferences and values," says Dr McElrea. "When the quality of available academic evidence is of lower quality, it's incredibly common for clinicians to lean on guidelines drawn from clinical experience."
"Practising medicine, and paediatric medicine (not just within gender affirming healthcare), often necessitates providing care without a high-quality evidence base. The absence of high-quality clinical evidence does not mean providing this care is wrong."
"Children benefit from innovative medical treatments that improve their survival and quality of life. Pediatric care would all but cease if physicians denied treatments for which the evidence base is imperfect." (McNamara et al., 2024, p. 15) 'An Evidence-Based Critique of "The Cass Review" on Gender-affirming Care for Adolescent

The new restrictions will be in place until the conclusion of clinical trials in the United Kingdom, which are not due until at least 2031.
"In no other area of care would life-saving medication be withheld from a vulnerable population for six years. This will have a traumatic impact on a generation of transgender children," says Avery Zavoda, PATHA Executive Committee member.
PATHA is strongly against the decision. It is a shocking act of discrimination against transgender children and young people.
"That New Zealand First announced this news three hours before the Minister of Health shows the way this care has been politicised, and how politics have been prioritised over the wellbeing of New Zealand children," said Zavoda.
"Banning puberty blockers will not prevent children from being transgender, despite the disinformation New Zealand First are promoting," says Jennifer Shields, PATHA President. "It's obvious that this has been a political decision made to appease a coalition partner based on an imported culture war, rather than a medical recommendation reflecting the expertise of NZ clinicians and researchers who have been working in this field for over 25 years."
Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences

Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences of rainbow young people showed "the proportion of young people who wanted puberty blockers and were able to use them was nearly half the number of young people who wanted these medications but could not access them." These findings made it clear
that the prescription context and existing regulations "did not result in the easy access to young people who wanted puberty blockers that some people have claimed existed. In fact, the results demonstrate a seriously constrained prescription context that urgently needs further attention to be more equitable."
"We call on the Ministry of Health to publish their consultation report immediately, so that health professionals, trans people, and the wider public can see that this decision has been made by politicians rather than based on clinical experience," says Shields. "We also look forward to the Minister now immediately allowing the updated guidelines for gender affirming healthcare to be published."
"We also call on Labour, the Green Party, and Te Paati Mãori to commit to reversing this harmful decision if they are elected into government next year. Our communities need the reassurance that this ban will not last."
"PATHA is committed to ensuring all trans children and children experiencing gender dysphoria have access to the best quality care.

010275

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

We have been so lucky to have Gwenne Bregeon, a comics researcher all the way from France, interning at the Cartoon and Comics Archive, and finding wonderful things - here's a blog post that covers some of her discoveries: natlib.govt.nz/blog/posts/a...

natlib.govt.nz

020

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

Just letting you all know that I'll be shutting down Rooster Tails in the coming months. I want to do some different creative stuff, and I have been wrestling with this strip for a while. So. I'm retiring Rooster Tails. You can read more here: www.patreon.com/posts/142559...

patreon.com

Time to go. | Sam Orchard

Get more from Sam Orchard on Patreon

4314

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

If you wanna come say hello and see what we do at the National Library of New Zealand - feel free to come along to this: natlib.govt.nz/events/natio... I'll be there with some cool cartoons and comics

natlib.govt.nz

0197

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Chantalle Smith @chaneyz85.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

The National Library is 60 years old... come along to their open day to celebrate If you book for a back-of-house tour you may even get me as your tour guide 😊 natlib.govt.nz/events/natio...

natlib.govt.nz

45317

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

If you want to do a fun family friendly school holiday thing, then I'd highly recommend this: www.facebook.com/share/1BZi7z...

facebook.com

Redirecting...

010

Reposted by Sam Orchard

Sharon Murdoch @domesticanimal.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

New Zealand prevaricates on whether to recognise Palestine as a state, or not. My Stuff #cartoon today #NZpol #Palestine #Gaza

Cartoon. Image shows NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Gaza’s ruins, talking to a gaunt woman, huddled with her two children. He’s saying, “New Zealand is a very principled nation. We won’t be rushed”

7287112

Sam Orchard @samorchard.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Sorry! I've been unwell - so have some catching up to do with this list... incoming updates ahoy

000

Reposted by Sam Orchard

The Sapling @thesaplingnz.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Mō te Rāpare nei, te rā tuawhā o Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, e whakanui ana mātou i tētahi rangatira nui whakaharahara: pānuihia tēnei Whakatauira nō Te Whaea o te Motu: Whina Cooper me Te Hīkoi Roa mō Te Manatika. shorturl.at/YjzQ1

132