Istanbul 2016
A man squeezes a thick line of translucent yellow adhesive into a plastic bag, places it over his face, and inhales into the deep recesses of his lungs. As he lurches about in a glue-fueled frenzy, a woman in a…
Recent Posts
On seclusion rooms
After Kirsty Johnston revealed two weeks ago that Miramar Central School had repeatedly locked children – including an 11 year-old boy with autism – in dark, cupboard-sized room as a punishment, the story developed quickly. ¶ It emerged that many other schools were…
Music: Friends of Bill
The occasions when Bill Direen recruits some friends to explore his remarkable catalogue always have the feel of a gathering of initiates and oddballs. There are often unusual people present, but perhaps we're all strange. ¶ This year, Saturday night's show…
Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache: How Music Came Out!
Martin Aston’s just-released Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache: How Music Came Out is one of those books that seems to have been a long time coming. It is a history of the popular music which has been produced by…
Four thoughts on polling in Wellington’s mayoral election
(Disclosure at the outset: Polity’s clients include Justin Lester’s campaign.) ¶ As readers know, Justin Lester won Wellington’s mayoralty over Nick Leggett by 56% to 44% on the final STV count, with turnout up around five points to 45%. ¶ Now that…
A big week for medical cannabis
I noted on Friday that the week marked by the presentation of Rose Renton's medical cannabis petition to Parliament and the passing of Helen Kelly, the woman who changed the debate, would be capped with an small, significant announcement about…
"The Ministry is interfering at Hogwarts"
"The Ministry is interfering at Hogwarts," says Hermione Grainger in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The occasion? An address by Dolores Umbridge, Ministry of Magic employee (and new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher) to Harry's school,…
Friday Music! Special Records
If music is important in your life, you probably have a special record. You may have more than one, especially if you're a DJ. BaseFM asked its considerable fleet of DJs to choose just one, write about why it mattered…
Helen
Helen Kelly didn't take her medical cannabis before we came to see her last Friday. ¶ She explained that she wanted to be articulate for the interview she was doing for a Radio New Zealand series I'm making. I can only…
Rise of the Censor Bots Parts 1 and 2
You may have noticed that I haven't posted much on Public Address lately – that's because I've just started a big, cool project that has been taking me away from my desk. On top of that, I have an interesting but…
Music: Shayne Carter – you gotta have soul
Most of this somewhat delayed music post is the following interview Alexander Bisley conducted with Shayne Carter about his new album, Offsider, and life and music in general. I'm very grateful to Alexander for the work – RB. ¶ ––– ¶ Dimmer’s There My…
Wonder Bi
Recently the head writer of the Wonder Woman comic outed her. She’s bi, he said. Duh, I thought. Who didn’t know that? ¶ Lots of people, apparently. The comments on that article are Quite Something. And yes, I know they’re Stuff…
Our Mental Health System: Let’s have a sensible discussion
Our mental health system has been the focus of much attention of late, as have the mental health services that operate under this system. It’s long past time we had an informed discussion as a nation about mental health, so…
Friday Music: After the King's Arms
No one should be at all surprised at this week's news that the King's Arms property has been put up for sale. That was the clear implication of the pub and its carpark being designated as a Special Housing Area…
The stark reality: New Zealand no longer has a functioning Mental Health Service
Last week Auckland lost eight acute psychiatric beds. They were closed because staffing levels at the North Shore Unit, He Puna Waiora were so low that it was not possible to staff the unit safely. Funding shortfalls have meant it…
Help a kid have a heavy blanket
In an autism family you have to get good at adapting to your child. You find ways of speaking, acting and presenting ideas that recognise your child's experience of the world. Sometimes what works might seem unusual. ¶ Dr Temple Grandin's…
A different and interesting brain
If I was not in my wheelchair when I was a very young child, I would sometimes launch myself off whatever I was sitting on and end up in a heap on the ground. I used to think if I…
Christchurch: We're not "apathetic", just busy rebuilding
This year’s local body elections are as weird as Christchurch life in general. ¶ Incumbent Mayor, Lianne Dalziel will romp back in with a few bites on the bum from challenger, John Minto. Four incumbent Councillors and a smattering of Community…
Friday Music: Getting Festive
Splore's first lineup announcement was made this week – and in keeping with the 2017 theme of "Family Reunion", it's headed by some notable returns. Dub Pistols are back after a cracking show this year, the Ragga Twins just can't stay…
Trump's Dummkopfs
While the world holds its breath over a prodigious narrowing of the polls in the US Presidential election campaign, it's hard not to wonder sometimes about who these people are. His prospective voters, I mean. Who can merrily ignore his…
When can we talk about the money?
The disability community is changing it up. We’re having a rally at Parliament today to let the government know that it must invest in inclusive education. ¶ This action has not been taken lightly. Like most of the community sector, our…
The Paralympics and visibility
Last week my friend’s 12-year-old son asked her if she’d seen the amazing opening ceremony in Rio and he wasn’t talking about the Olympics: he was talking about extreme wheelchair athlete Aaron Fotheringham’s spectacular stunt jump through exploding fireworks. ¶ Like…
Confessions of an Uber Driver III: How do I rate?
You've just finished your Uber ride. By the general standards of taxi rides, it was very good. ¶ The driver came fast, the car was newish and in good condition and tidy inside. The driver was courteous and asked how you…
Excited for Auckland!
As my social media attests, I was pretty excited when I got home from last night's Orcon IRL: Vote Auckland event. Not just because we'd defied the elements to put on another swingin' conscious party (emergency action to empty overloaded…
There in half the time: trying out a Mercury e-bike
Let history record that my first ride on an e-bike was home into a stinging westerly squall. And that I was duly soaked. ¶ I've been trying out electric bikes as part of a deal with Mercury, whose campaign has, I…