a duck puppet is wearing a mask and a jacket . ALT: a duck puppet is wearing a mask and a jacket .

It’s giving me big Howard vibes..

Last night I dreamt that @hankgreen.bsky.social took me down to the bottom of the ocean to show me underwater volcanoes.

Then later, sold me a sculpture that he crafted, from the back of a gift shop van.

I have no idea what this dream means or why I was blessed with it. But I’ll take it.

I pay taxes that contribute to no-cost and subsidised education and healthcare for all New Zealanders. Even if I don't always use these services, I'm proud that my taxes help provide them to those who need them most, as part of their fundamental rights.

I can't imagine how much worse his quality of life would have been if, in addition to the constant pain he was in, while also facing his own mortality and saying goodbye to his family, he had to worry about health insurance, mounting bills and the debt he’d leave behind.

When my dad was admitted to hospital last year with RSV, only then to be diagnosed with terminal cancer, he spent those final 12 days in hospital, receiving constant care.

Privatising healthcare or education, and removing the core benefits that distinguish New Zealand from other countries would not serve the people that the government have sworn to serve and to protect.