Aotearoa / New Zealand

I only just found out that we have a carillion, was anyone else completely unaware this existed?

Shane Christie, the former Māori All Blacks player who had wanted his brain to be studied after suffering from the effects of multiple concussions, has died aged 39.

New Zealand faces the "most challenging national security environment of recent times", the country's intelligence agency said in an annual risk assessment.

Key drivers of the deteriorating threat environment were less stable relationships between states, deepening polarisation and growing grievances.

Though several states seek to manipulate New Zealand's government and society, China remains the "most active", the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service said.

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New Zealand's spy agency specifically accused China's United Front Work Department of engaging in foreign interference to build influence outside of China.

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China is a "particularly assertive and powerful actor", seeking to extend and embed its influence across the region, the report said.

"It has demonstrated both a willingness and capability to undertake intelligence activity that targets New Zealand's national interests."

Without naming countries, the intelligence service highlighted the routine use of "transnational repression" by foreign states, often by co-opting people to collect information about someone within their own diaspora living in New Zealand.

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I hate lawyers so much its unreal. This student took Auckland Transport to court for building a raised pedestrian crossing next to the beach without considering the impact on drivers and he fucking won.

Taupo seems to be short of Marmite. Is this just an us problem?

Last weeks thread here

Welcome to this week’s casual kōrero thread!

This post will be pinned in this community so you can always find it, and will stay for about a week until replaced by the next one.

It’s for talking about anything that might not justify a full post. For example:

• Something interesting that happened to you
• Something humourous that happened to you
• Something frustrating that happened to you
• A quick question
• A request for recommendations
• Pictures of your pet
• A picture of a cloud that kind of looks like an elephant
• Anything else, there are no rules (except the rule)

So how’s it going?