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Welly wahine (salty_kiwi on X)

@wellywahine.bsky.social
1.1K followers 894 following 251 posts

Tūhoe. Health law & policy in Aotearoa NZ - Te Tiriti, mental health & hauora Māori. No TERFs. Gardener & bird lover. Opinions my own.

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Welly wahine (salty_kiwi on X) @wellywahine.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Wow
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Welly wahine (salty_kiwi on X) @wellywahine.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Right when the debate was first scheduled Bishop was worried about it interfering with Budget week. He said this on Friday the 16th www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
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Timothy Gassin @timothygassin.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Govts failing to accept Waitangi Tribunal recommendations or ensure legislation complies with BORA is nothing new. What is different about this govt is that it again and again openly says it doesn't care about findings against it and makes no attempts at all to address the concerns raised. #nzpol
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Ed Hyde @edhyde.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Please consider signing this petition. Urgency is massively misused in AoNZ, perfectly & jaw-droppingly demonstrated this week by the current government.
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Eddie Clark @dreddieclark.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Meanwhile, on the other issue pushed by its coalition partner National is hoping slips through while everyone is distracted, the cab paper & consultation response for the reg standards Bill has been released in the wake of its approval for introduction. Remarkably, it is LESS popular than the TPB.
The Ministry received approximately 23,000 submissions and worked with a specialist consultancy to quantitatively assess support and opposition to the proposed Bill. This analysis showed that 20,108 submissions (around 88 per cent) opposed the proposed Bill, 76 submissions (0.33 per cent) supported or partially supported it, and the remaining 2,637 submissions (almost 12 per cent) did not have a clear position2.
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WomenAotearoaNZ @weavinghouse.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
“Mōrena to everyone except Stephen Rainbow. Please make a complaint about Rainbow using the form I've linked. Once they receive a certain number of complaints it becomes an issue that they must investigate..” ~ @wellywahine.bsky.social Here: tikatangata.org.nz//resources-a...
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chilledthehat.bsky.social @chilledthehat.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
As a Jewish kiwi (albeit completely lapsed), I will clearly say that I couldn't agree with you more. Rancid Rainbow should have been fired yesterday.
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Sassy Little Hobbit @sassypolitico.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
I am informed that HRC have a duty to act if they received 7 or more complaints about a topic so if any of you have capacity you can do so here: infoline@hrc.co.nz
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Sassy Little Hobbit @sassypolitico.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
As a Muslim kiwi I will clearly say that the NZ chief human rights commissioner is a threat to our lives here in Aotearoa New Zealand and his reported words in the media are is basically inciting violence against a community that has already paid with their lives because of racism like his.
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Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Also, Standing Orders don’t address the point but speak to permissible languages.
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Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Curious question. What legislative instrument, if any, designates our country's name as "New Zealand"? 🤔
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Joanna Kidman @joannakidman.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Was it Rima Nakhle who just made that incredibly ungracious and rather spiteful comment to Dr Ganesh Nana?
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kyle @kyledchurch.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
RNZ syndicating barely veiled pro-Musk 'analysis' that for some strange reason pushes this 'immigration' line without attributing it to the far-right figures who manufactured it... I don't know who is making the editorial decisions, but this is fifth column, shit
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Amyville Hoyrror @amyhoy.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
stop using substack
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Dr. Tom Frieden @drtomfrieden.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) has provided real-time data and analysis about disease outbreaks and emerging health threats without a break every week since 1960. Until today.
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Nick Young @nickofnz.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Pressure is working! The Treaty Principles Bill continues to dog National despite Luxon's efforts to shirk responsibility for letting it get this far. Luxon has now ruled out a referendum should ACT get to the coalition negotiations again #ToitūTeTiriti
rnz.co.nz
Treaty referendum ruled out under Luxon's watch
The Treaty Principles Bill continues to dog the National Party despite Luxon's repeated efforts to communicate the legislation will not go beyond second reading.
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Parua Sarah @paruasarah.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Good graph to see how the US doesn't work. They spend way more public money on health than we do with far less coverage. www.statista.com/statistics/2...
statista.com
Public and private per capita health expenditure by country 2023 | Statista
In terms of public and private health spending per capita varied significantly among all OECD countries. The U.S. was among the highest spenders globally.
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Welly wahine (salty_kiwi on X) @wellywahine.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Incredible that David Seymour made zero mention of Māori in the part of his speech subtitled “NZ’s origin story: A nation of immigrants”, but still managed to make plenty of digs at Māori in the part about the mediocre “tribe.” I refuse to get used to this nasty, divisive and racist rhetoric.
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Welly wahine (salty_kiwi on X) @wellywahine.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
This government: access to abortion won’t change under us Also this government: Under the HNZ restructures, we’re downsizing the team who oversee the operational side of abortion services nationwide, to a barely-existent 0.5FTE
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Riley Black 🏳️‍⚧️ 🦖 @restingdinoface.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Sexual binary? Nah, it never existed in the first place.
scientificamerican.com
Here's Why Human Sex Is Not Binary
Ova don’t make a woman, and sperm don’t make a man
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Welly wahine (salty_kiwi on X) @wellywahine.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Oh ffs. If anyone thinks the private health system provides all the services that the public system does, or that having to negotiate with your insurance company to get ANY service is a better alternative, I have a bridge to sell you.
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Welly wahine (salty_kiwi on X) @wellywahine.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Kia ora e hoa mā. I'm looking for some quotes (by Māori, not by 'early European observers') about what Māori society was like in the pre-colonial era. Does anyone know of any good ones?
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🌈Dr. Frizzle @swilua.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
the biologists made a bunch of noises. "We don't know how to tell you this," they said. "But see, we don't know for sure." I was like HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW And one of them was like, "No one has really bothered to study human women."
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Moon-Watcher @bobsmyusername.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Who made this 🤣
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Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
They are complicit.
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Formerly Richard Mayhew @dmaanderson.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Vaccines are stunning
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Sarah Shulist (she/her) @sarahling.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
And where the “heart” cannot be reached, the ideological statement always goes to the benefit of the doubt - if we don’t know, we must not convict. It becomes a very effective discursive tool for racism, because the assumption is that meaning requires the mediation of intent, rather than just form
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Sarah Shulist (she/her) @sarahling.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
I often come back to Jane Hill’s excellent book “The Everyday Language of White Racism” and her point that “folk” ideologies of racism emphasize a nebulous, unknowable, and always somehow not racist underlying essence of actions. Here we are again.
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Pip @pipinotautahi.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Something we need to do in Aotearoa. The tobacco tax cut was theft FROM US. The landlord tax cut was theft FROM US Children get slop so the rich can get richer? We can stop this bullshit, the coalition are already on the ropes in the polls.
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Mountain Tui @mountaintui.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
If anyone's interested, I did a quick write up/profile of some of the new Waitangi Tribunal appointees under this government #Maori #Kiwi
mountaintui.substack.com
Clearing the Decks: Government replaces half of the Waitangi Tribunal
This Friday afternoon, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced an overhaul of the Waitangi Tribunal.
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Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa @sanjanah.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
In short, Crump's writing over many years indicates attitudes on, & perceptions of Māori, to put it mildly, very much at odds with the Tribunal's raison d'être. There is *zero evidence* in the study of Crump's output that he can or will advance, in any meaningful way, the Tribunal's role, & work.
Philip Crump’s appointment to the Waitangi Tribunal
Crump was appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal . Crump maintained a Substack, and tweeted under the account Thomas Cranmer . The monicker Cranmer was outed as Philip Crump late 2023 .  

Studied 1,140 tweets going back to 14 May 2023.

•	The tweets demonstrate consistent scepticism and criticism of government initiatives related to Māori affairs and co-governance. The author questions the implementation of Māori concepts and principles across various government departments and institutions, viewing them as ideologically driven rather than practical or evidence-based.
•	There is particular criticism of funding and governance arrangements involving Māori organisations and leaders, with suggestions of conflicts of interest and questionable use of public funds. The author frequently highlights costs associated with Māori programmes and questions their value for money and effectiveness.
•	The tweets show concern about what the author sees as "co-governance by stealth," suggesting there is implementation of Māori governance structures happening without proper public scrutiny or mandate. This is evident in comments about parallel management structures being implemented across government agencies.
•	Crump (as Cranmer)  appears particularly critical of incorporating Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) into various institutions, questioning its relevance and cost-effectiveness. This is seen in comments about the science curriculum and other institutional changes.
What are the potential tensions that arise as a consequence of Crump’s tweets on Māori, and Māori related issues, and his appointment to the Waitangi Tribunal?

•	Crump (as Cranmer) consistently criticises government spending on Māori initiatives and co-governance arrangements, viewing them as ideologically driven rather than practical. This contrasts with the Waitangi Tribunal's established role in investigating, and making recommendations on Crown actions that affect…•	The Tribunal recognises the importance of Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and cultural practices in government institutions, as evidenced by its landmark Wai 262 claim report . In contrast, Crump appears dismissive of incorporating Māori concepts and knowledge into institutions, questioning both the cost and relevance.
•	Where the Tribunal emphasises the importance of Crown consultation with Māori on matters affecting them (as shown in recent claims regarding health, language and child welfare policies), Crump's Twitter/X commentary suggests resistance to what he sees as special treatment or excessive accommodation of Māori interests in government policy and spending.
•	The Tribunal operates from a position that recognises the Treaty as a founding document requiring active protection of Māori rights and interests. Crump's tweets studied suggests a preference for minimal differentiation in government services, and policies based on Treaty obligations.
It's worth noting that while Crump (as Cranmer) often focused on financial accountability and governance issues, the Tribunal's mandate extends beyond these considerations to examine broader Treaty principles and obligations. This fundamental difference in scope, and purpose creates an inherent tension between Crump's criticism of specific implementations and the Tribunal's broader role in upholding Treaty principles.

Thomas Cranmer’s articles
Crump, as Cranmer, published to Substack a larger number of articles dealing with Māori-related matters, including the Treaty, Three Waters, and Co-Governance . All of this content however is pay-walled.
However, a number of his columns on Substack were re-featured on the Basset, Brash, & Hide website  (which is, parenthetically, strongly defined by content, and commentary targeting, and often vehemently decrying aspects of or the Crown’s stronger emphasis on Māori culture, community, history, policies, health, self-determination, land, and the Treaty). 
Nine articles by Cru…Potential tensions, and divergences with the Tribunal can be identified in a few ways. 
Framing: Cranmer's articles (which were originally posted to Substack) consistently frame Māori involvement in governance, and policy as problematic, and potentially detrimental to Aotearoa New Zealand’s interests. his is particularly evident in his coverage of Three Waters, where he characterises the governance structure as "the Tainui model" that "benefits the tribal elite at the expense of Māoridom as a whole." This framing suggests that co-governance arrangements create hierarchies within Māori communities rather than facilitating genuine partnership as envisioned by the Treaty. This contrasts sharply with the Waitangi Tribunal's established role of investigating Treaty breaches and supporting reconciliation between Māori and the Crown.
Treatment of consultation: While the Waitangi Tribunal emphasises the importance of proper consultation with Māori as Treaty partners, Cranmer often dismisses or minimises (need for, and importance of) consultation processes. In his coverage of Three Waters, he presents Māori consultation requirements as bureaucratic obstacles rather than fundamental Treaty obligations. This is particularly evident when he describes Te Mana o te Wai statements as having "unbridled nature" and being potentially harmful to infrastructure development.
Perspectives on governance: The Waitangi Tribunal operates from a position that recognises the Treaty as a founding document establishing a partnership between Māori, and the Crown. In contrast, Cranmer's articles consistently present Māori involvement in governance as a modern political imposition rather than a Treaty right. This is particularly evident in his criticism of co-governance arrangements, which he frames as "complicated and untested" rather than as expressions of Treaty partnership.
Economic framing: Cranmer's articles predominantly focus on financial, and economic risks, often presenting Māori governance involvement as a complicating factor that increases these risks. This differs markedly from the Waitangi Tribunal's holistic approach, which considers cultural, social, and spiritual aspects alongside economic factors when examining Treaty issues.
Semantics, and language: While the Waitangi Tribunal's documents demonstrate careful consideration of both Māori, and Crown perspectives, Cranmer's writing often employs language that creates a sense of opposition between Māori interests, and what he presents as general public interests. His repeated use of phrases like "tribal elite" and references to "complicated and novel governance structure" reveals a consistently skeptical framing of Māori involvement in governance. The way each approaches the concept of sovereignty also differs markedly. The Waitangi Tribunal's 2014 finding that Ngāpuhi chiefs never ceded sovereignty when signing the Treaty represents a careful examination of historical evidence, and Māori understanding of the agreement. Cranmer's articles, by contrast, tend to frame contemporary expressions of Māori authority as potentially threatening to effective governance, and financial stability.
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Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa @sanjanah.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
And while I'm not accusing MP Tama Potaka of being a neo-nazi or subscribing to violent extremist ideology, this appointment does however vastly strengthen what's very clearly a design to undermine New Zealand's democratic firmament led by the country's leading disinformation, & far-right networks.
Aiding a far-right playbook?
Considering research into the far-right’s machinations in Aotearoa New Zealand, including the subscription to, sophisticated signalling, and the sustained, strategic spread of Martin Sellner’s ideology , the appointment of individuals like Crump to the Waitangi Tribunal aligns precisely with the far-right's strategy of institutional capture and cultural transformation as outlined in both the domestic podcast hosts' theory and Sellner's metapolitical approach. 
The placement of individuals who have demonstrated consistent scepticism towards Treaty principles, Māori knowledge systems, and co-governance arrangements into institutions specifically designed to protect these elements represents a sophisticated application of what Sellner terms "normalisation" and "connectable provocation" - gradually shifting acceptable discourse while maintaining a veneer of legitimacy. 
This institutional hollowing out mirrors the far-right playbook's emphasis on gaining control of bureaucratic and administrative positions rather than just elected offices, with the goal of influencing policy implementation and decision-making processes from within. 
This is particularly concerning in the context of the Waitangi Tribunal, which serves as a foundational institution for upholding Treaty principles and facilitating reconciliation between Māori, and the Crown - its undermining from within through strategic appointments aligns with the far-right's documented approach of gradually eroding democratic norms, and institutions through the manipulation of public discourse, and infiltration of power structures.
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Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa @sanjanah.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
This excellent post by @mountaintui.bsky.social has some vital background on Philip Crump, recently appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal. Studied his tweets, & some of his Substack columns dealing with Māori-related issues yesterday, to determine how t/his appointment would impact the Tribunal.
From popular blogger to founding editor of ZB Plus, Philip Crump has quickly established himself as a heavy hitting political commentator and journalist able to break news and influence the discussions of the day. Named by LawFuel as a power lawyer, Crump emerged as an influential blogger, media critic and independent journalist behind the increasingly popular, conservative blog, Cranmer's Substack writing under the nom de plume, Thomas Cranmer.
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David Slack @davidslack.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
As the changes keep coming, Simeon Brown replaces Lester Levy with Leo Molloy
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Welly wahine (salty_kiwi on X) @wellywahine.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
Changing the Minister of Health from Reti to Simeon Brown doesn’t bode well for Māori health. Reti was bad but Simeon is undoubtedly worse.
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Welly wahine (salty_kiwi on X) @wellywahine.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
I feel sick. First we had former ACT party leader Richard Prebble, now we have Ron Mark (who campaigns on his opposition to 3W) and “conservative blogger” and ZM pundit Philip Crump. Why TF is Stuff calling this a refresh when it’s clearly intended to destroy the institution?
stuff.co.nz
Minister overhauls Waitangi Tribunal membership
Tama Potaka has appointed a political pundit to the Tribunal, as he replaces half of its members.
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Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
Hard to overstate just how much of the tech industry’s horrifically dystopian present grew right out of its transparently misogynistic past
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Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa @sanjanah.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
Meta Deletes Trans and Nonbinary Messenger Themes www.404media.co/meta-deletes...
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Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa @sanjanah.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
And yet more examples from @sambiddle.com
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Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa @sanjanah.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
What’s permissible on Meta now. Importantly, and though not mentioned in article, likely that even on appeal, this content will never be actioned since it’s now official policy to allow this speech. | Inside Meta’s dehumanizing new speech policies for trans people www.platformer.news/meta-new-tra...
In an answer to the question “Do insults about mental illness and abnormality violate when targeting people on the basis of gender or sexual orientation?” Meta now answers “no.” It gave the following examples of posts that do not violate its policies:
Non-violating: "Boys are weird."
Non-violating: "Trans people aren't real. They're mentally ill."
Non-violating: "Gays are not normal."
Non-violating: "Women are crazy."
Non-violating: "Trans people are freaks."And in a follow-up questions about whether denying that a protected class violates the hateful content policy, Meta also answers no. It gave these as examples of posts that are now allowed on Facebook and Instagram:

"There's no such thing as trans children."
"God created two genders, 'transgender' people are not a real thing."
"This whole nonbinary thing is made up. Those people don't exist, they're just in need of some therapy."
"A trans woman isn't a woman, it's a pathetic confused man."
"A trans person isn't a he or she, it's an it."
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Welly wahine (salty_kiwi on X) @wellywahine.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
There’s nothing organised or strategic about the staffing cuts within Health NZ. They’re just slashing staff, hoping to figure out what work it’s possible to keep doing later. www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3605...
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Alison G, blower of bubbles @alisonlpg.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
The latest job cuts proposed by Te Whatu Ora (a week before the affected roles go on mandatory leave for 2-3 weeks) involves cutting the central maternity team from 6 (previously 15 or so) people to 1. One. One person to oversee our maternity system. www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
rnz.co.nz
Overloaded maternity system facing job and service cuts
Health NZ has proposed getting rid of the national maternity and early years programme Starting Well, and 25 fulltime roles will be cut from Health NZ's funding team.
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Welly wahine (salty_kiwi on X) @wellywahine.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
Help please. I found a notifiable weed in Belmont Regional Park. Who do I report it to?
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Sarah Pallett @sarah4ilam.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Absolute CORKER of a speech in the urgent debate from @barbedmonds.bsky.social on the genuinely shocking HYEFU - which shows that the govt has ripped away relief for families to give money to their mates. We TOLD the Minister that tax cuts were unaffordable, and sure enough - they are. #nzpol
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Hayley @writagal.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
“The power he gives himself is extraordinary in its scope and potential.” One of the scariest, accurate and bluntly clear articles written to date about David Seymour, in my opinion. This needs to be widely read - and the content widely reported in the media. open.substack.com/pub/mountain...
open.substack.com
8% ACT Party Creates One Ring To Rule Them All
A Quick Read
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Pat Brittenden @patbrittenden.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
#BHN So let me get this right…a $13b gap in their projections as they give $14b in tax breaks and $3b in landlord benefits Who’s going to tell her? #nzpol
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Tory Whanau @misswhanau.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽 #nzpol
To create a city for us, and the future, we have to invest in the city's infrastructure, transport, housing and climate resilience.
And we must also invest in the so called nice to haves like arts, culture, te ao mãori and nature
- all the good things that make Wellington the city we love.
Without these things, we lose our soul - and that's not a city I would want to lead.
Today at the last council meeting of the year we did just that - approving our amended plan and setting out a roadmap for our city's future.
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Welly wahine (salty_kiwi on X) @wellywahine.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Um… isn’t the “crisis hotline” for “perceived threats” in the US called 911? But sure, create a special bypass for the ultra rich. Hard to believe this a genuine response to the frustration of extreme wealth inequality causing differential access to basic services 🤦🏻‍♀️
kenklippenstein.com
New Crisis Hotline for CEOs?
Governor of New York wants to protect CEOs
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Jennifer @jennifilm.nz · 27/11/2024
It's also incredibly clear that the Government and Ministry do not feel they are engaged in discrimination by exploring restrictions for one population that do not apply to the rest - I look forward to that confidence being challenged in a court.
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