Rupert Brackenbury

he/him. Business Analyst. Frustrated Writer. Civil Servant. OPINIONS ARE MINE ALONE (& quite possibly wrong)
Formerly https://mastodon.lol/@RupertBBare

https://rupert-brackenbury.squarespace.com/

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npub1sq7aramfchp487zarcjt5pj8uc09l5qnzdd03axcn4c046hcg9zqsqhrya

NIP-05 Address

RupertBBare@mastodon-nz.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsgq0w37a5uts6nlpw3uf96qer7v8jl6qf3xkhc7nvf6u86atuyz3qpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0ds7egk2h

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relay.damus.io

nos.lol

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npub1sq7aramfchp487zarcjt5pj8uc09l5qnzdd03axcn4c046hcg9zqsqhrya

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Last Notes

2026-08-12 02:47:37 UTC

Don't they look tired
#NZPol
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/117/080/242/151/505/993/original/d90f108a5eae0468.jpg

2026-07-13 23:34:49 UTC

A reminder of The #PaulHenry cycle for #nzpol:
- Do something so stupid &/or offensive you get fired
- Get rehired to a new role becuse you attract controversy
- Do something so stupid &/or offensive you get fired
- Get rehired to a new role becuse you attract controversy
- Do something so stupid &/or offensive you get fired
- Get rehired to a new role becuse you attract controversy
- Do something so stup...

2026-07-08 09:12:22 UTC

You know how you can just use any old oil in your car? Well, I've been using semisoft butter and now my Nissan smells like popcorn.
Just a little #LifeHack for you there.

2026-07-01 22:05:13 UTC

Keep unemployment & housing costs high, while keeping benefits low therefore more emergency housing needed... But you said you'd reduce emergency housing so you let homelessness go up... But people get upset so you tell police to just "Move them along" all day... But then...
#RNZ #nzpol
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/651934/third-of-those-declined-emergency-housing-not-offered-any-alternative

2026-06-30 00:21:51 UTC

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@nprofile…fh5u this is literally the National Party's Climate Change policy: "Its real but... *shrug*"

2026-06-29 23:59:13 UTC

Its perfectly reasonable to disagree with #NZGreens policy, but when people say they should "stick to environmental issues" & "not rule out working with the right" what they mean is "I don't like environmental destruction, but I love its causes"
#nzpol

2026-06-29 23:34:17 UTC

#BrianTamaki recording himself: "We should do violent terrorism!"
#NZPolice: "You're gun license is cancelled."
Tamaki still recording himself: "They're just going after me because I said i support violent terrorism! Also i have an unlicensed gun."
Absolute genius legal strategy there Brian.
#nzpol

2026-06-23 02:23:05 UTC

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@nprofile…vvev it aure seems that way doesn't it?

2026-06-22 22:52:14 UTC

#Greens want a wealth tax.
#National have said its "Lunacy".
So, #Labour have compromised and sided with National?
I know this is politics, but I fear #Labour are still trying to appeal to some imaginary "centre" who hate tax but love govt. spending
#NZPol

2026-06-22 01:52:33 UTC

I love the online calculators that come out in #election years so I can check which parties will leave me better off (#Labour, #Greens, #OpportunityParty) & which will force me to eat my pets in a Mad Max style apocalypse (#National, #ACT)
Try https://yourtax.nz
#nzpol

2026-06-15 23:14:04 UTC

I suppose a lot of my politics comes down to "If we want things to be better, we have to actually pay for it" a stance that seemingky puts me at odds with ~60% of #NZ voters
#nzpol

2026-06-08 01:35:56 UTC

I wrote a short story about a cat who doesn't like people, the very opposite of my cat, who can't get enough of us:
https://rupert-brackenbury.squarespace.com/blog/ophelia
#cats #flashfiction #writers #nz
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/116/711/913/382/310/291/original/6c7414b3931eda8f.jpg

2026-05-25 19:43:26 UTC

From #RNZ: Apparently NZers believe #National is "good at economy" but #Labour is better at... all the things that make up the economy?
#NZPol
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/116/636/904/246/299/672/original/9c2a762179e394a8.jpg

2026-05-19 19:48:17 UTC

We all know #PublicService cuts won't help, that things will get worse, that it will ultimately cost us more. We can prove it, but #National & #Act don't care.
They believe the Earth is flat & will respond accordingly. #nzpol

2026-05-07 03:02:15 UTC

I would believe our current Govt's plan is to guarantee the outcome of the fuel crisis is felt after the next election, so they can blame it on #NZLabour, relying on our short memories to achieve their long term goal of reinforcing the fallacy that "#National are good with money"
But, realistically, does anyone in the current government have a plan?
#nzpol #coalitionofchaos

2026-05-06 22:18:18 UTC

Does #RichardDawkins Dream of Fighting Electric Swans?
(Has this been done already?)

2026-05-05 01:13:54 UTC

Honestly, I don't have strong opinions on #localgovt, but the hypocrisy of acting like #ThreeWaters was an imminent threat to democracy, then forcing their own agenda on councils is making me crazy.
#nzpol #NACTional

2026-04-29 21:36:01 UTC

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Likewise if you think Luxon, who has never shown anything but deference to power, was just "challenging the advice" #nzpol

2026-04-29 21:31:17 UTC

If you believe #WinstonPeters "made a mistake" releasing emails that distance him from an unpopular PM, then I have a second harbour bridge to sell you.
#nzpol

2026-04-27 02:26:13 UTC

What is this bullshit?
#RNZ: "law professor concerned US '#leftwing #terrorism' on the rise" https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/593497/waikato-law-professor-concerned-us-left-wing-terror-attacks-on-the-rise-after-washington-shooting
#uspol #nzpol #fuckery

2026-03-24 00:22:43 UTC

When #NicolaWilis says "Beneficiaries don't need to drive to work" I assume they'll be dropping all the appointments you need to make to qualify for a benefit?
#nzpol

2026-03-24 00:20:38 UTC

#NicolaWillis taking food out of a child's lunchbox & giving it to someone who owns 5 houses: "WE'RE DOING THIS FOR YOUR FUTURE!"
#NZPOL

2026-03-10 01:11:16 UTC

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@nprofile…fh5u oh no! Not the economy! That thing #National keep telling us is more important than human lives

2026-03-02 23:56:24 UTC

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@nprofile…gtt6 "Let me be clear....let me be clear...let me...let be met...met let...errrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeee... ... PeeEm.exe has encountered a fatal error and must close."

2026-02-21 22:38:42 UTC

They have increased homelessness & now they're trying to hide it before the #election
#Government announces #homeless move-on orders - for all town centres, not just #Auckland https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/587562/government-announces-homeless-move-on-orders-for-all-town-centres-not-just-auckland
#national #rnz #classwar #nzpol

2026-02-19 03:38:35 UTC

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@nprofile…yzxf I think Seymour convinces Luxon *he* thought of it, then Luxo calls Willis and talks for 30 minutes about "realigning our sales strategy with the core values of stakeholders", Willis then texts Bishop "Big guy says we're privatizing the military now, you figure it out"

2026-02-19 02:47:59 UTC

I wonder what it's like being #ChrisBishop? You wake up every morning, check your text messages to find out what you believe that day, then work backwards from there
#NZPol #NactionalFirst #CoalitionOfChaos

2026-02-09 21:29:12 UTC

"We can't afford to build a port for the cook straight ferry, but we can build one for the #NaturalGas no one wants to use" is a wild stance for a govt. that claims to accept the reality of #ClimateChange
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/prime-minister-christopher-luxon-holds-post-cabinet-press-conference/T32FZHEFLJEYBM3DBCBXJGJICQ/
#National #NACTional #NZFIRST #nzpol

2026-02-01 20:13:34 UTC

Once again we see #National using a party with only 6% support (#NZFirst) to justify screwing over 100% of us
#ShaneJones shut down #NZ involvement in 'road map' away from #fossilfuels https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/585632/shane-jones-shut-down-nz-involvement-in-road-map-away-from-fossil-fuels
#nzpol #climatechange #NACTional

2026-01-29 00:02:29 UTC

"#BrookeVanVelden supports #slavery" would be a more accurate headline
#National and #Labour MPs team up to get slavery bill heard after #ACT objects https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/585319/watch-national-and-labour-mps-team-up-to-get-slavery-bill-heard-after-act-objects
#nzpol

2026-01-26 22:03:44 UTC

I'm so fucking exhausted
#nzpol
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/115/963/654/215/937/714/original/c58fc6333b9f3578.jpg

2026-01-12 01:49:51 UTC

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@nprofile…vvev glad you enjoyed it!

2026-01-12 01:03:45 UTC

Happy New Year: I put a new piece of #flashfiction up on my site. I hope you enjoy this brief #horror story of hangovers & tentacles:
https://rupert-brackenbury.squarespace.com/blog/the-catch
#writing #writer #fiction #nzwriter #nztwits

2026-01-07 20:10:16 UTC

I don't know who first said it, but the #adage "I have graves to piss on that haven't been dug yet" has don't more for my #mentalhealth than any #selfhelp book

2025-12-23 01:38:09 UTC

Surely "#Trump class" is an oxymoron?
#PleaseTipYourWaitress #uspol #nzpol #Fuckery
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/115/766/311/838/925/795/original/de2ec0add6f81a69.jpg

2025-12-17 21:57:19 UTC

"...one member reported walking past the construction site where they yelled out to him calling him Jevon & asking him if he'd interfered with animals recently."
I'm sorry this happened but that is just objectively funny.
#NZ #Police officers spat at, called paedophiles in wake of #JevonMcSkimming scandal https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/582170/police-officers-spat-at-called-paedophiles-in-wake-of-jevon-mcskimming-scandal #RNZ #NZPOL

2025-12-08 20:37:28 UTC

Our government might not belive in #climatechange but it seems to be showing up in our #GoogleTrends for #2025 #nzpol
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/115/685/854/635/561/131/original/7191f35355dfbd89.png

2025-12-03 20:35:58 UTC

There is no reason for this except pure, destructive stupidity. The next time someone loses a house, or their life, in a storm or wildfire, Simon Watts & all of cabinet should be considered responsible
#NZ Government rejects all of #ClimateChange Commission's emissions target recommendations https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/580824/government-rejects-all-of-climate-change-commission-s-emissions-target-recommendations
#RNZ #nact #nzpol

2025-12-01 22:50:57 UTC

[#DavidSeymour getting fired for poisoning a customer:]
"My boss is a 'frequent flyer' with HR, complaining about quite a range of my behaviours, as they have the right to do, but I think people need that context."
Parents horrified children ate mouldy mince in government-funded #SchoolLunches
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/580553/parents-horrified-children-ate-mouldy-mince-in-government-funded-school-lunches
#RNZ #NactionalFirst #nzpol

2025-11-29 22:04:22 UTC

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@nprofile…p7rx My actual thoughts were "Isn't it nice to live somewhere where a young couple feel safe to make me uncomfortable with an inappropriate public display of affection, no matter what their sexual orientation is"

2025-11-29 01:57:38 UTC

I hope the lesbian couple in front of me in the #kmart queue realise I'm not homophobic, I just hate young people experiencing joy
#nztwits

2025-11-17 21:33:12 UTC

I'm sure this is a sign of a well managed economy.
#nzpol #costofliving
https://o.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/115/567/171/665/542/315/original/25081eaa30cb3e76.jpg

2025-11-17 20:25:02 UTC

I dont want to know about #Hipkins getting married. I don't want to see #Luxon in his pajamas. It's like when you were a kid and ran into your teacher at the supermarket.
#NZPol

2025-10-29 20:02:50 UTC

I hate to lose my leftist street-cred, but from what I've seen, voters seem quite positive about ##Labour's #CGT, so maybe it's not total failure?
#NZPOL

2025-10-21 01:33:16 UTC

It's appalling that this government is pulling out all stops to try and crush workers, but at least it demonstrates how scared they are
#nzpol

2025-10-15 21:55:30 UTC

#MovieIdea: A heist movie in which it's only possible to hack the #NZ government during the 1 minute a year when everyone is under their desk for the #ShakeOut #earthquake drill
#nztwits #aotearoa

2025-10-14 01:12:17 UTC

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This is why the 3rd largest Party in Govt (#NZGreens) are "extremists" but the 4th largest (#ACT) are a mainstream political movement that must be taken seriously. #nzpol

2025-10-14 01:08:13 UTC

For no reason at all, it's worth remembering that #NZ is so inherently rightwing, that when left-bloc politicians fuck up, it is seen as undermining their whole party.
A standard conservatives are almost never held to.
#NZpol

2025-10-09 01:22:20 UTC

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@nprofile…4aq7 I agree. As someone with a B.A. I don't like the claim that her lack of formal education should disqualify her, when her behavior and track record are more than enough to disqualify her.
(There's a 'qualification'/'disqualify' pun to be made here, but I need more coffee first)

2025-10-08 20:35:32 UTC

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@nprofile…4aq7 the National Doom Loop: Deliberately break the public option - Use the broken public option to justify privatization - Use privatization to justify breaking the public option - Repeat ad infinitum

2025-10-07 00:20:59 UTC

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@nprofile…4aq7 NZF supporters *just* used death threats to force a Green MP to resign

2025-10-06 23:48:09 UTC

#National loves to sow #CultureWar bullshit but as soon as they have to reap it they run for the hills. Shall we list every link between the #CoalitionOfChaos & the actions of their supporters/donors/allies?
#NicolaWillis urges #NZGreens to 'call off' protesters outside #WinstonPeters' home https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/575205/nicola-willis-urges-greens-to-call-off-protesters-outside-winston-peters-home
#nzpol

2025-10-01 20:12:32 UTC

Sad to hear about #JaneGoodall, I heard her speak at the Michael Fowler Centre in #Wellington once and her stories about chimps and humans were so moving, I started to tear up. She will be greatly missed #NZTwits #NZ

2025-09-29 22:38:35 UTC

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@nprofile…4aq7 He thinks he can make Hipkins look bad by forcing him to publicly denounce an unpopular industry that is quickly becoming obsolete. He may as well ask for bipartisan support of Floppy disks & Telegraph wires

2025-08-27 22:44:12 UTC

At what point will #NZ politicians admit we are not dealing with a "trade partner" or an "ally" but a hostile #fascist government? Will it be before they kill a NZ citizen in a concentration camp?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/571318/what-continuous-vetting-means-for-kiwis-in-the-us
#nzpol #uspol #ethniccleansing

2025-06-14 21:33:17 UTC

People will say #NZ news-media isn't biased "like the US" & still accept the narrative that #ACT (with 11 seats) suggesting we dismantle the government is "democracy" but the #NZGreens (with 15 seats) proposing a #wealthtax is "Unpopular Extremist lunacy"
#NZPol

2025-05-19 23:34:52 UTC

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@nprofile…6t6n Its as though he's just kept keeps walking forward his whole life and people kept opening doors. So when he gets the slightest pushback, he becomes totally lost

2025-05-07 21:54:48 UTC

This #PayEquity legislation is a perfect example of how, when #National say "Hardworking Everyday New Zealanders" they mean "our donors"
#NactionalFirst #nzpol

2025-01-29 21:15:39 UTC

#NZPol
https://mastodon.nz/system/media_attachments/files/113/913/709/492/977/572/original/f9f367b23e21150b.jpg

2024-11-25 20:07:19 UTC

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@nprofile…sxdw the answer is probably "both".
National have long wanted ACT policy, but understood how unpopular a sudden shift to the far right would be.
Luxon isn't good enough at capital-P-Politics to negotiate a coalition deal & he's too out of touch with the public to understand what they want

2024-11-18 23:37:58 UTC

Huge crowd around parliament
#hikoimotetiriti #NZPol #Wellington
https://mastodon.nz/system/media_attachments/files/113/506/577/894/239/766/original/da085db6873436c2.jpg

2024-11-18 22:25:45 UTC

They're almost at Parliament, the protest stretches for miles!
#hikoiMoTetTiriti #nzpol #Wellington
https://mastodon.nz/system/media_attachments/files/113/506/294/644/037/559/original/af8d1b8b3214ec02.jpg

2024-05-30 01:08:11 UTC

How can we, as a country, be ok with this?
"Official admits new school lunch model unlikely to be as nutritious due to cost:" https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/518227/official-admits-new-school-lunch-model-unlikely-to-be-as-nutritious-due-to-cost
#RNZ #nactionalfirst #nzpol

2024-05-28 01:32:54 UTC

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@npub1x74…0z8t yes, I just saw a story about India approaching the heat limit of human survivability and having read the book this is terrifying news

2024-05-17 01:39:16 UTC

When you realise "#EWOK" is an #anagram of #WOKE
#meme #shitpost #starwars
https://mastodon.nz/system/media_attachments/files/112/453/868/653/046/374/original/26da4836e0057232.jpg

2024-03-12 21:13:56 UTC

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@npub1sk4…d83s do your characters have names, either canonically or just in your brain?