❣The Great Realisation❣ It's perfect💖
Kiwi poet Tomos Robertson (aka Tom Foolery) and the fairytale video that's gone viral - it's FANTASTIC!!!
www.youtube.com...
&
www.nzherald.co.nz...
Here's the poem in its text form for those who want it:
''Tell me the one about the virus again, then I'll go to bed.
'But my boy, you're growing weary, sleepy thoughts about your head.
'Please! That one's my favourite. I promise just once more.
'Okay, snuggle down my boy, though I know you know full well
the story starts before then, in a world I once dwelled
'It was a world of waste and wonder, of poverty and plenty
back before we understood why hindsight's 2020
'You see the people came up with companies to trade across all lands.
But they swelled and got bigger than we could ever have planned
'We'd always had our wants, but now it got so quick.
You could have everything you dreamed of in a day and with a click.
'We noticed families had stopped talking. That's not to say they never spoke.
But the meaning must have melted and the work life balance broke.
'And the children's eyes got squarer and every toddler had a phone. They filtered out the imperfections but amidst the noise, they felt alone.
'And every day the sky grew thicker, til we couldn't see the stars. So we flew in planes to find them while down below we filled our cars.
'We'd drive around all day in circles. We'd forgotten how to run. We swapped the grass for tarmac, shrunk the parks till there were none.
'We filled the sea with plastic because our waste was never capped. Until each day when you went fishing, you'd pull them out already wrapped.
'And while we drank and smoked and gambled, our leaders taught us why,
it's best to not upset the lobbies, more convenient to die.
'But then in 2020, a new virus came our way.
The government reacted and told us all to hide away.
'But while we were all hidden, amidst the fear and all the while, the people dusted off their instincts, they remembered how to smile.
'They started clapping to say thank you, and calling up their mums.
'And while the cars keys were gathering dust, they would look forward to their runs.
'And with the sky less full of voyagers, the earth began to breathe. And the beaches brought new wildlife that scattered off into the seas.
'Some people started dancing, some were singing, some were baking. We'd grown so used to bad news but some good news was in the making.
'And so when we found the cure and were allowed to go outside, we all preferred the world we found to the one we'd left behind.
'Old habits became extinct, and they made way for the new. And every simple act of kindness was now given its due.
'But why did it take a virus to bring the people back together?' “Well, sometimes, you got to get sick, my boy, before you start feeling better.”
'Now lie down, and dream of tomorrow, and all the things that we can do.
And who knows, if you dream hard enough, maybe some of them will come true.
'We now call it the Great Realisation, and yes, since then there have been many.
'But that's the story of how it started, and why hindsight's 2020.'
Poll: Should complete designs be shared with the public, or should the community help shape the designs from the start?
The Post recently shared an opinion piece on the Harbour Crossing and why a more democratic approach might be needed 🚗🚲👟
While most decisions sit within the political arena, many organisations—like NZTA—manage long-term projects that go beyond party lines. Politics can sometimes disrupt progress, and the next Harbour Crossing is a big decision that will affect all Aucklanders.
We’d love your thoughts: Should near-complete, shovel-ready designs be shared with the public, or should the community have a hand in shaping the designs from the start?
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80.5% Community feedback and transparency is needed.
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19.5% No. This would be impossible in practice.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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54.3% Human-centred experience and communication
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13.8% Critical thinking
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29.3% Resilience and adaptability
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2.6% Other - I will share below!
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