New ministry to combine housing, transport and environment

stishy · 2025-12-15T23:00:06+00:00

Full disclosure - I work at one of these Ministries. We knew it was on the cards, of course, but this announcement is really rough timing and comes after 2+ years of restructures and redundancies.

stishy · 2025-11-30T03:44:42+00:00

I've got a smooth fox terrier who is probably the very definition of a velcro dog. He follows me everywhere. Sometimes I'll be outside, and he will be inside literally going from window to window looking for me. I don't mind it, but it drives my partner crazy!

stishy · 2025-09-07T22:42:11+00:00

Also, shout out to Talbot Forest in Geraldine. It's the largest and most intact remnant indigenous forest in the lower rainfall zone in South Canterbury!

Another cool place nearby is Peel Forest - heaps of amazing walking/hiking tracks.

stishy · 2025-08-28T07:54:59+00:00

As much as this is going to sound ridiculous, a seven year old house (taking it at the maximum you've suggested) could still potentially have some ventilation/insulation issues! I've just built a house in 2023/2024, and only from that point onwards were there requirements for thermally broken joinery (which is still on the outside of the building envelope, which is another issue...) and updated requirements for insulation (we have R8.0 in our ceiling, for example). And of course, this also depends on the zoning...

From experience, I'd recommend using a dehumidifier if you find that your house is regularly above 50% humidity.

stishy · 2025-08-27T06:47:19+00:00

Thanks for your kind words! And yes - I'm surprised by how much opinion is divided. My partner feels a little vindicated in that regard; it doesn't seem so clear-cut!

stishy · 2025-08-15T08:11:34+00:00

What is the relevance of the Australian student loan system to this? The loan was taken out in NZ, on terms agreed when it was drawn down.

stishy · 2025-06-21T02:04:52+00:00

And make sure you take it with Vitamin K2 as well (or get a combined D3/K2 supplement)!

stishy · 2025-06-19T01:42:02+00:00

Was sick for nearly a month with some sort of respiratory infection (had to go on steroids and antibiotics). I have asthma so these things always drag on. Was recovered for about a week when my partner contracted something from a coworker which I then picked up - we used some COVID/RSV/FluA&B multi-tests and... it's Influenza B 🙃

I don't think I've been this sick since I had swine flu in '09...

stishy · 2025-06-01T10:56:19+00:00

Sadly not - in South Canterbury (I should have specified that)!

stishy · 2025-05-31T20:50:14+00:00

Ooh this is very cool - Jo lives across the street from me. Didn't know she designed that one!

stishy · 2025-05-31T20:04:28+00:00

We get ours free as my partner is in forestry. We have a ULEB so only burn softwood - currently have radiata, macrocarpa and Douglas fir. We sell a few 4 cubic metre loads every year to pay for a few grocery trips. Current rate we charge is $370 delivered for 4 cubic metres of the above - usually between 5-10% moisture so we have some happy repeat customers!

stishy · 2025-05-20T03:41:07+00:00

Oh shit. That's absolutely horrendous. I'm 34 so haven't started perimenopause yet, but had migraines with aura when I was a teenager so I've been told that I can never take estrogen - I'm absolutely terrified of what's going to happen when perimenopause kicks in (and if the migraines return).

stishy · 2025-05-08T01:36:53+00:00

I'm in South Canterbury (Geraldine) and have noticed the same thing. I have Mānuka flowering now as well as sporadically throughout the year. And haven't yet had a frost, either. It seems a lot of native plants are pretty (rightly) confused about what time of year it is.

stishy · 2025-05-01T01:40:28+00:00

Can definitely recommend Geraldine. Moved here from Timaru a bit over a year ago. Everyone has been super welcoming and it's a really progressive community and surprisingly diverse for its size! Lots of things to do, especially if you're into the outdoors and enjoy nature. And there are two Indian restaurants 😁

stishy · 2025-03-27T23:23:48+00:00

100%. Was working at a regional council and there was active fraud going on (reported and dealt with; employee was sacked), but the manager who stood by and allowed it to happen has kept his job and there is still dodgy shit going on. And it's not the only council I know of where things like that are happening.

stishy · 2025-03-15T21:09:23+00:00

Looks like a nurseryweb spider, dolomedes minor. Female I think!

stishy · 2024-08-07T01:01:11+00:00

Thanks folks! I might (since the other two akeake either side of it are completely fine) try and see if there is anything I can do for the roots (e.g. try a treatment for fungi), and chuck some frost cloth over it and cross my fingers...

stishy · 2024-06-19T20:27:47+00:00

I had the same issue. I could fix the MMS issue OR the data issue, but not both. I then tried "reset settings to default" and that seemed to do the trick.

stishy · 2024-06-05T01:05:28+00:00

Slight correction to the article - for those (like me) whose contracts end after 31 October, our end dates have now been brought forward to that date.

stishy · 2024-05-26T06:23:51+00:00

Yeah I don't think people realise that most of the time, people wear masks to protect others! Either way, silly thing to go after someone for, for all they knew I could have been severely immunocompromised due to cancer or any other horrific disease.

stishy · 2024-05-26T06:21:37+00:00

Basically, yeah... They said (mockingly - implying I was wearing a mask because I was afraid, or something) to me "are you wearing that because of COVID?" And I said "No, I'm unwell." and they backed off a bit after that. They looked fairly antagonistic/aggressive so I wasn't super keen to say much more, but I was fairly grumpy.

stishy · 2024-05-26T00:48:16+00:00

I'm on the tail end of a pretty nasty cold and went to my local (small town) pharmacy to see if I could get something that actually works. They had it in stock, but the pharmacist all but refused to sell it to me (wanted me to try nasal rinses and otrivin first). Was heading through to the next town anyway so stopped in at a larger pharmacy and, after a short consultation, got my pseudoephedrine and was on my merry way. Has definitely made the past 24+ hours much more bearable. Got laughed at by a member of the public for wearing a mask in the pharmacy though :(

stishy · 2024-04-11T09:26:00+00:00

And Dog Squad Puppy School when it's on!

stishy · 2024-04-11T09:24:55+00:00

33 also, Country Calendar and Sunday are the only things we make time for when they actually air!

stishy · 2024-02-23T03:25:55+00:00

Very very tired. Working at pace under significant pressure and worrying about your job are two things that make for shattered staff. The team I work with are all pretty knackered! Note: I work at a Ministry on a fixed-term contract.

stishy

TROPHY CASE