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SMC

@smcross.bsky.social
701 followers 914 following 82 posts

She/her. Ally. Academic advisor in Auckland. Born in the UK. Love travel, reading, cats, my family and friends @scrossannz formerly on X

PostsRepliesMedia
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Jennifer @jennifilm.nz · 08/10/2026
Perfect response from Chlöe Swarbrick and the @greens.org.nz.
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SMC @smcross.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
elliotcrossan.substack.com/p/four-reaso...
elliotcrossan.substack.com
Four Reasons Why the NZ Greens Are Surging
Factors favouring the Greens include a clear, bold vision, popular leaders, a weak Labour Party, and global demand for change on the left. But can the party’s momentum continue with a month to go?
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Lucy Hamilton @lucyham.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Just a reminder that bad actors are using anti trans campaigning as a wedge to divide us. commoncausefoundation.org/why-does-big...
commoncausefoundation.org
Why does big oil bankroll the anti-trans movement? - CC Foundation
The media organisation Atmos recently highlighted research that showed the extent of fossil fuel funding for organisations that campaign against trans rights in the US.  Why would big oil bankroll the...
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
This inspired me to track down some numbers on just how stingy NZ's overseas aid is. Hipkins even had the cheek to ask other countries for financial aid after Cyclone Gabriel. #nzpol bsky.app/profile/open...
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SMC @smcross.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
elliotcrossan.substack.com/p/election-2...
elliotcrossan.substack.com
Election 2026: Welcome to the Unpopularity Contest
When politics becomes a contest over who is the least unpopular, it is a sign of a system in decay. But are there signs of hope for the NZ left in the 2026 general election?
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CEO Johnny Cans @oldmatecans.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The answer to "what is a woman" when NZ first give it the big one is "someone who you thought wasn't worth equal pay for equal work".
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Lyndon Hood @lyndonhood.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Is someone going to do an end of term summary of how the coalition agreements went because I for one would love to see the bit about 'evidence based policy'
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CEO Johnny Cans @oldmatecans.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
ACT and NZF offering ICE for NZ and it's described as "a specialist unit for dealing with overstayers" so dawn raids 3.0
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Tony from Welly @tonywelly.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
They should put one of these at No.10 Downing Street
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Yours in negritude, Ryan K. Smith @mewefree.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Two people tried to enter a screening of The Odyssey without buying tickets after hiding inside a miniature model of the Trojan Horse. 😂😂😂
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SMC @smcross.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Brilliant
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SMC @smcross.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
open.substack.com/pub/elliotcr...
open.substack.com
Wealth, Weather, Winston and Willis
Budget 2026, the rise of oligarchy and the best government money can buy
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Suzi and Rose @suzirose.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
I too am a cisgender, heterosexual woman who has signed to show support for all individuals and their rights to identify as they wish.
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SMC @smcross.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Please sign if you’re able and live in NZ! This is a harmful populist bill which distracts from the issues which are currently important to NZ. our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/e-...
our.actionstation.org.nz
E Tū E Kī: They Don’t Speak for Us - Block the Definition of Woman Bill
The Government is progressing a Bill through Parliament that aims to limit the rights of transgender, non-binary, and intersex New Zealanders in the name of cis women, by defining “man” and “woman” (a...
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D Jukic She/her @dejanajuk.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
“We’re making it clear: transgender women are women, and we stand alongside them. They don’t speak for us - this Bill is not in our name” #nzpol This cause is close to my heart - please sign and share everywhere : our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/e-...
our.actionstation.org.nz
E Tū E Kī: They Don’t Speak for Us - Block the Definition of Woman Bill
The Government is progressing a Bill through Parliament that aims to limit the rights of transgender, non-binary, and intersex New Zealanders in the name of cis women, by defining “man” and “woman” (a...
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swirlOsquirrel @swirlosquirrel.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
The Danish gov’t has installed floating platforms planted with wildflowers and native vegetation in the harbors and canals of Copenhagen, to create urban habitat sanctuaries for birds, bees, pollinators, insects, and even some aquatic life. #FlowersOfBluesky #InnovativeSolutions💡
Goose chilling among the flowers
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Jennifer @jennifilm.nz · 21/05/2026
Aotearoa, once again we have the benefit of being able to watch what happens overseas. This is where the NZF bill wants to take us.
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Huia Sue @huiasue.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
#WinstonPeters is, in many ways, New Zealand's Nigel #Farage. They have both built enduring careers by curating grievance. This is politically effective. It is also corrosive. #nzpol #AtlasNetwork open.substack.com/pub/bryanbru...
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SomersetWhovian 💙 🇺🇦 @clairecopperman.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Can anyone who lives within striking distance of Thames Ditton help give an elderly cat a loving home? #CatsOfBluesky
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Foxes @foxylustygrover.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
The main thing I remember about Covid lockdowns as an Aucklander is that I am not dead #NZPol
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JAS & Ten regen @jasandten.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
i wonder if Chris Hipkins is paying attention to how badly moving to the right is going for UK Labour. grovelling to people who won't ever vote for him while ignoring those who might is not a winning strategy. #ukpol #nzpol
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Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Please sir, my first past the post electoral system, it is very sick.
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Mini-Trump does Trump stuff.
theguardian.com
Nigel Farage’s income since being elected MP has hit £2m, analysis shows
Reform UK leader has registered wide range of financial interests on top of his Commons salary since July 2024
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
The elections in the UK yesterday are so far showing Two Englands with a gulf between them - and maybe by the end Four Britains. A Disunited Kingdom. In areas that voted heavily for Brexit, Reform got 41%. Everywhere else they got an average of 10%.
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SomersetWhovian 💙 🇺🇦 @clairecopperman.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
After the depressing results today, a rare instance of hope. Ian reminds us that support for Reform is actually declining compared with 2025: a Farage government isn't inevitable, but we need to fight with all we can to make sure it doesn't happen.
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Jimnauseum @jwgagne.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
How about a TV that automatically cuts the volume by half during the commercials and back to full when the show comes back. Now THAT would be a SmartTV. 🧠 📺
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Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
I'm just back from six days in Melbourne. The state govt has made all public transport free for a second month, and halved fuel excise on petrol and diesel for three months. There's also a steady stream of public messaging about saving fuel for the common good. Feels like they're taking it seriously
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MeatMechSuit @meatmechsuit.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
This is straight-up disaster capitalism. Using a crisis to remove regulations that protect public infrastructure whilst enriching donors.
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Hayley @writagal.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Remember that time Jacinda Ardern pulled out of Mike Hosking’s show and he (and others) proceeded to have an absolute meltdown about it for weeks. Weird that the Luxon situation this week hasn’t warranted a breaking news banner and a similar level of vile commentary, wonder what the difference is🤔🫠
claimed she had cancelled her weekly slot with him because she's running scared, "she hates a hard question, she hates fact, she hates accountability, she hates not being fawned over" 

I get Ardern is upset, I would be upset as well.
But then I haven't made my name huffing, puffing, and wringing my hands saying nothing apart from 'Be Kind!

graces. That's her. In magazines you get to dictate the copy and approve the photo. That's her. Complete control, air brush away the reality and fact.

The Prime Minister, famous for kindness or at least pretending to be, turns out to be nothing of the sort.Barry Soper: Media-shy PM turns her back on Hosking's tough questions

You have to be better than what Ardern is. 30 years of Prime Ministers have shown it.

Mike's Minute: Ardern can't stand up to scrutiny

Mike Hosking lashes out at Jacinda Ardern as she quits weekly Newstalk ZB slot
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CEO Johnny Cans @oldmatecans.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
If the PM is ducking media spots, the opposition should be throwing their hands high and asking if they can come on TV and talk about the stuff the PM is too scared to.
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Andrew R _ @andrewr4.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
theguardian.com
Christopher Luxon shoots the messenger as nightmare New Zealand election scenario hangs over him | Claire Robinson
An increasingly unpopular prime minister scolded the media after surviving a tense caucus vote. It was a masterclass – just not in the art of leadership
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Binkenstein @binkenstein.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Man, I hope Luxon gets the same response after cancelling regular TVNZ interviews as Ardern did after cancelling regular interviews with Mike Hosking. #nzpol www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politic...
newstalkzb.co.nz
PM, Soper clash after she cancels weekly Hosking interview
The Prime Minister has rejected a suggestion she's picking and choosing favourable media and topics after cancelling her regular slot with Newstalk ZB's Mi
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Ben Ross @benakl.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Lets rotate Week 1 of every month Chloe or Marama Week 2: Barbara Edmonds Week Three: TPM including Hana Clarke Week 4: A Lemon to represent Luxon
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Byron C Clark @byroncclark.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
With the list out today, for Aotearoa New Zealand to get get it's first Palestinian Member of Parliament the Green Party would need to get 14.4% of the vote newsroom.co.nz/2026/04/10/p...
newsroom.co.nz
Palestinian candidate says her people's values are peace and dignity
Green Party candidate Yasmine Serhan has a long shot at becoming NZ's first Palestinian MP, writes Fox Meyer.
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Virginia Cattell @virgcatt.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Ahem
Melbourne Town Hall Station sign - FREE TRAVEL DURING APRIL, ACROSS VICTORIA
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MeatMechSuit @meatmechsuit.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
This bill is not designed to pass, it is purely to drum up hate against trans people. Utter fuckers. #nzpol
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Craig M. Ranapia @craigmranapia.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Anyone shocked that Winston Peters is leaning hard into transphobic attention/vote-seeking bullshit, keep in mind that he's the only MP who's been around long enough to vote against Homosexual Law Reform in 1986, the Human Rights Amendment Act in 1993 and marriage equality in 2013, #nzpol
media.tenor.com
a woman with glasses says that guy is the worst on peacock
Alt: a woman with glasses says that guy is the worst on peacock
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Peter Ashford @peterashford.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Have you noticed that the government are more concerned with not looking like Labour handling a crisis than handling the crisis? #nzpol
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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 15/03/2026
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kyle @kyledchurch.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
"misinformation" is giving a little bit of a benefit of the doubt these days NZ media are actively engaging in *disinformation* on multiple fronts, no reason to think that they aren't actively doing that with covid as well - especially given the amplification of coalition lies about the review
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Anne500 @anne500.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
This cause is important for all young New Zealanders- please sign: our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/br...
our.actionstation.org.nz
Bring back Tiriti-based, inclusive Relationships & Sexuality Education in schools
The importance of effective violence prevention cannot be overstated: for example, around a third of women in Aotearoa NZ have experienced sexual violence [8] and many more experience non-sexual relat...
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Hayley @writagal.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
This was last updated 26 Feb because lack of government funding doesn’t allow for more frequent reporting, but you can see we’re in a new Covid wave. Anecdotally, three separate people today mentioned they were WFH because they had it, or knew someone with it. Politicians/NZ media, please push: 🧵
SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater and Reported COVID-
19 Case Numbers - National, last 6 months, on linear scale (NZ)SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater and Reported COVID-
19 Case Numbers
Auckland, last 6 months, on linear scale (NZ)
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Idiot/Savant @norightturnnz.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Be interesting to see similar maths for Auckland - Wellington (or Picton - Christchurch)
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Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
This is amazing. www.getyourfuckingmoneyback.com
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Political people love to debate who the worst modern PM in modern times was but it's unquestionably Cameron. 10 years ago this week he gambled the prosperity and fragile unity of the UK on a referendum on an issue that most people didn't even understand to placate back benchers and fucked us all.
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Sue Bradford @suebra.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Kia ora folks - a slight correction to my earlier post about the Social Security Bill supported by Labour which claws back grants already made to welfare claimants. There is a select cttee process. Submissions were called for on Wed 18 Feb & close Fri 20 Feb. Democracy anyone? #nzpol
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Michael Bain @mikejbain.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Great news. Well done to the Clerk of the House. #nzpol www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
stuff.co.nz
NZ Parliament announces it will no longer post on X
Clerk of the House David Wilson made the decision as he could no longer support the platform.
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Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Name them shame them
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