It’s a glorious day in my part of New Zealand. Spring has sprung! There’s still a nip in the air, but who cares when the sun is shining and there are clear blue skies as far as the eye can see. There are a lot of tweets today, but I’m sure you won’t mind.

New Zealand has an election one month from today. It’s been pretty exciting by our standards. The leaders of three parties have resigned in the last month, throwing the result wide open. The new leader of the Labour party, Jacinda Adern, has seen them rise sharply in the polls. However, the resignation of the co-leader of the Greens, Materia Turei, due to a scandal has lost them a lot of support. That support has mainly gone to Labour. Labour and the Greens will be coalition partners in forming a government if they win enough seats.

The third leader to resign just in the last few days was Peter Dunne of United Future. He only had one seat, but that seat was very important in keeping the current government, led by the National party, in power. National’s other coalition partners are two other small parties – the Maori Party and ACT.

The likely result of all this is that Winston Peters. leader of the New Zealand First party, will be king or queen maker after the election. He only has 9.5% support, and frankly it always amazes me that anyone votes for him at all. With every other political party, whether I agree with their policies or not, I can see why people support them. Not so NZ First. Winston Peters is one of those politicians who gets votes by appealing to the worst in people. Fear of immigrants, for example, is something he always campaigns on.

However, there are likely to be a few changes before now and next month. The smaller parties often poll well in the lead up, but then people end up not voting for them when they get into the polling booth.

Here are the latest poll results (via Stuff):

But on to the important stuff – cats!

Cat Tweets

I’ve seen this look too …

You’ve heard of a ship in a bottle – now try it with a kitten …

 

Everyone who’s ever been cat staff knows this problem …

Dog Tweets

What’s going on here?

 

Other Animals Tweets

Not a sign I ever thought I’d see …

 

Scenic Tweets

Some cool engineering going on here …

Architecture Tweets

Absolutely gorgeous!

 

Art Tweets

First world issues …

Political Tweets

What would I do without Ann German? This is hilarious!!!

 

Perhaps it’s an attempt to stop drug addiction?

(Also from Ann German.)

 

Ann German sent me this too. The gerrymandering that goes on all over the US is disgusting. Both parties do it, though the GOP has done more. It’s one of several things about the US electoral system that needs to change.

 

Interesting …

 

Remember when Donald Trump said, “I nominate the best people”? Here’s another one of his “best people” …

Eclipse Tweets

Here’s a new view of the eclipse!

 

Funny Tweets

Translation problems!

 

You have to wonder about the person who thought this was a good idea …

 

I hope this guy has a sense of humour, because he’s never going to stop hearing about it …

 

Enough said …

 

Some kids are smart …

 

And some aren’t …

 

And some are really, really cute … (Via Ann German.)

Human Rights Tweets

Imagine what sort of man takes the job of driving the streets to find women who don’t fit his religion’s notion of “modest”.

 

White is the colour of resistance in the US too …


This is why it’s important to stand up for what’s right. Silence is compliance. (Via Ann German.)


 

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