I have decided to move on from political blogging so I can put more time into personal interests.
I started this blog in 2011 and have put up about 18,500 posts, so about two thousand posts a year on average over none years. I have mostly enjoyed doing this but it has taken up a lot of time. It also takes time monitoring comments.
At times it was like having a second full time job, albeit unpaid, but I have scaled things back over the last few months. I decided to move on a while ago but chose to hang in until after the election.
For a variety of reasons I now want to prioritise my spare time on other things.
I’ll be leaving Your NZ up for now at least. There are a number of reference posts on certain matters that I have done as a service to the public that I want to leave online. Posts from years ago keep coming up in reading stats.
I may post on things occasionally, but I will no longer do regular or daily posts.
I have enjoyed a lot of what I’ve done here, and appreciate the contributions of many commenters, some of whom have been participating here for years. Thanks very much for your input.
To be honest I have kept things going over the last year or so more for others than for myself, but I have decided to now concentrate on new and neglected interests.
I had hoped to contribute to our democracy and promote informed discussion and more positive politics. In reality this has really been just a drop in the political ocean.
I am happy to have had a go at taking part, but I feel now is the time for me to do other things.
Cheers
John J Harrison
/ 19th October 2020Pete, good for you.
You are only here once, life is not a dress rehearsal.
In the short time I have been here on your blog I have always been impressed with your input and sourcing of background information for us all to comment on.
Better still I have found you to be exemplary in fairness.
I still have no clue as to your political leanings.
Whatever you choose to do, enjoy yourself and stay well.
Kitty Catkin
/ 20th October 2020Lock the door and swallow the key so that Pete can’t get out !!!
Kitty Catkin
/ 20th October 2020Well, unlike the PDTs, I don’t want him to go !
Kitty Catkin
/ 21st October 2020Unlike the 6 PDTs…why are they bothering to be here ?
Alan Wilkinson
/ 19th October 2020Thanks for everything, Pete, and all the best for your new interests. It’s been a pleasure and you will be missed.
lurcher1948
/ 19th October 2020Have fun with your future interests,it has been a pleasure to post here PG
NOEL
/ 19th October 2020Thank you for the opportunity.
Gerrit
/ 19th October 2020All the best Pete, thanks for the opportunity, much appreciated.
nzautoimmune
/ 19th October 2020Thanks for your service Pete. I always found YourNZ the most rational and measured of non-pro political blogs out there. Stay awesome.
MacSlernz
/ 19th October 2020Thank you Pete. You have run a good, fair blog. All the best for the future.
Blazer
/ 19th October 2020‘Il faut cultiver …le jardin’-Voltaire.
merci.
Kitty Catkin
/ 19th October 2020‘Il faut cultiver notre jardin’ tu veux dire. (Candide)
Ce n’est pas un vrai jardin, bien entendu.
Blazer
/ 19th October 2020Did you have to …look that up!
Kitty Catkin
/ 20th October 2020Of course not. I have read Candide and have a copy of it.
Kitty Catkin
/ 20th October 2020Of course not. I have read Candide and have a copy.
Kitty Catkin
/ 21st October 2020Les raisins sont aigres for sept personnes !
Kiwi Dave
/ 19th October 2020Thank you Pete. Your fairness and patience in dealing with some of the extremists and nutters is greatly admired. May you enjoy your new endeavors.
Jack
/ 19th October 2020I expressed gratitude to you several times past for your willingness to include my testimony about church abuse – again, thanks Pete. Testimonies like mine are a pain and you were often patient with my views.
But my final thanks could not be genuine without hoping you will hold true to your tagline for my comment now: It’s the individual Christian in a challenged society who loses out politically. In general, Kiwis don’t like to hear about the cross. Even church people tend to take offence when reminded to cherish the cross.
You seem to be a fellow who gives his best Pete. Your blog is unique and special, I think people will miss it.
Cheers and God speed, Thanks!
Kitty Catkin
/ 19th October 2020You just don’t ‘get it’, do you ?
Kitty Catkin
/ 20th October 2020It’s not the cross that offends people, it is the way that you interpret it and harangue people about it. Church people are unlikely to take offence at the cross being mentioned; it’s central to Christianity. But no one likes sanctimonious lecturing and hectoring, especially when it’s done in such an intrusive way and they are abused for being in a cult.
Siena Denton (@fury12)
/ 19th October 2020May I take this opportunity to thank you for your postings that I have enjoyed reading since I have subscribed to them I wholeheartedly agree with autoimmune “YourNZ the most rational and measured of non-pro political blogs out there” I may not have commented but I have endeavoured to read each one and found myself in agreeance with your views All the very best in your new endeavours
duperez
/ 19th October 2020A number are moving on. Some like David Carter will take knighthoods with them.
Other contributors to the community deserving no less acknowledgement of freely given efforts and dedication wont.
Thank you, and all the best to you and your whanau.
david in aus
/ 19th October 2020Thanks Pete. You have been a fantastic host. Enjoy the things you haven’t time for.
MaureenW
/ 19th October 2020I will really miss your Blog Pete, thank you for the time you have invested in creating one of the best blogs around. I always enjoy it whether I’m commenting or just checking pulses on how different ones see things. It’s always interesting, fair and well run, all credit to you.
lurcher1948
/ 19th October 2020PG im coming back,a bombshell has gone off in NZ politics and you dont want to be in the swirl of history and change…maybe wait a month or two and leave your mark THEN move on…its like climbing Everest and not taking pictures walking up to the summit BECAUSE…my thoughts
Fight4nz
/ 19th October 2020You have tried walking away before. Let’s hope it sticks this time!
Exceptional blog, will leave a major gap where reason and balance reside.
All the best 👍
Griff.
/ 19th October 2020Thanks Pete.
Enjoyed my time here and sad to see you close the blog.
I guess this is the end of “Griff” as well because there is no where else I can be bothered with commenting on in NZ .
Alan Wilkinson
/ 19th October 2020Me too, Griff, other than the occasional one on Bob Jones’ or Kiwiblog. I guess I’ll get more jobs done.
Kimbo
/ 20th October 2020And as per above, that would be a shame if it happened, Alan.
No matter what the topic I always searched out your comments because, irrespective of whether I agreed, they were forthright, considered and worthwhile.
Thanks for your wisdom, which I’ve enjoyed since some 10 years ago on John Minto’s Stuff column.
Cheers,
Kimbo
Alan Wilkinson
/ 20th October 2020Thanks Kimbo. Sometimes your length exceeds my attention span but you are a diligent contributor usually with a relevant point to make.
Kimbo
/ 20th October 2020That would be a pity, Griff. You may be a god-forsaken pagan 😳😂, but I’ve always valued your opinions including and especially those outside the mainstream including when we used to joust some 6 or so years ago on Kiwiblog.
Cheers,
Kimbo
Kimbo
/ 19th October 2020Thanks, Pete
Fight4nz
/ 20th October 2020Thought I’d put my toe in the water of finding another blog. Oh dear.
Didn’t bother looking at Kiwiblog, the Standard or Whale Oil having an idea what is there, I clicked on YSB. Al, turns out loony is definitely not the preserve of lefties. You don’t know how lucky you are.
Any suggestions anyone?
Alan Wilkinson
/ 20th October 2020That’s why we came here.
lurcher1948
/ 20th October 2020Hi PG just checking on you,there are a lot of scary rightwing blogs out there,you are a safe harbour and there are ships out in the tempest,shine a beacon
Kitty Catkin
/ 20th October 2020I hope that your dogs weren’t mean enough to laugh at the poor wee dog who scored 0/120 on the dog talent show last night.
J Bloggs
/ 20th October 2020Thanks for all your hard work over the years, Pete. While I may not have agreed with everything and everyone on here, I have found this blog has been one of the most pleasant places to discuss NZ politics and society. In these days of online hyper-partizanship this will be very sorely missed.
All the best in your future endeavors
Pickled Possum
/ 24th October 2020Kia ora Pete
Thank you for all the hard work you do behind the scenes.
I found your blog safe with my particular korero.
I also found Parti on your blog and we have now been the best flatmates eva!!!!
for nearly 5 years. All because your blog lets people speak freely and openly.
Bit of swearing going on here now and then but we are all grown-ups.
I also met up with Geeza and Al and had the most wonderful time with them.
Can you imagine how good Al was not to wrestle Parti to the floor hahaha
No! Al was the perfect gentleman Gezza played music and fished.
I am going to miss Miss and Blazer’s chitty chat
A reader and a writer going at it
over comprehension and spelling.
Bit of Humour … they could be married for all we know.
Thanks to all you ole fellas for keeping politics in NZ real.
I’ve got lots of things to do also so …. the garden .. climate change .. nga mokopuna
making rongoa…learning karakia …lists goes on
ka kite ano
Pete, I Hope part of your destressing involves a 4.20.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th October 2020Lovely, Possum. All the best to you and yours from me and Mrs Al.
Kitty Catkin
/ 25th October 2020Married to BLAZER ???? What a hideous thought.
I was married to a very intelligent, highly literate man, the idea of replacing him with Blazer is appalling.