In the @1NewsNZ sports universe, apparently the A League and the Wellington Phoenix do not exist. A long segment on northern hemisphere sports tonight with no NZ connection but nothing/nada about the Nix. Looking good for next weekend though @Domestar – at Auckland, New Zealand

Ahhhhhhh.. a country that values cycling and respects cyclists.

Professor Steve Vertovec launching new Oxford book on Superdiversity at a conference at the University of Birmingham. He is joined by co-editors Fran Meissner and Nando Sigona and several authors. Fifteen years after the term was introduced, it is explored anew

Someone has a sense of the absurd at PaperPlus in Havelock North. The Economist alongside a NZ magazine peddling some of the more puzzling Covid conspiracy myths on offer. The shop assistant was not prepared to discuss why it would sell such a publication.

The Pearls of the Island Foundation hosted an excellent seminar on hate speech. The seminar was closed by Farid Ahmed who delivered his message that love trumps ( yes, deliberate use of that word) hate. It is a message worth repeating again... and again

Exploring stories at the Academy of Military Culture in Beijing with Humanities and Social Science colleagues,the VC and Richard Taylor.What stories are told and who tells them?And how can stories contribute to understanding and change,especially for a group like the homeless?

A celebration of our Massey Pasifika students. Future leaders and innovators in Aotearoa and other parts of the Pacific. With almost half of all Pasifika in NZ under 20 yrs of age, education is the key to the future success for all of us. Go Tali and Maatusi

The top planning students from Massey are given the PNCC prizes from Tangi Utikere and Sheryl Bryant. The relationship and prizes have been going for 30 years. April Bennett’s wero to the students was to have the courage to cast a new net. I agree!!!

The launch of Co-Lab at Massey University’s Manawatu campus. This is designed to encourage student innovation and a student voice. And the emphasis on change - inside and outside the University - seems critical for the 21st century.

Kate Raworth (Doughnut Economics) talking to Massey University’s Thomas Nash and MP Chloe Swarbrick, Unity Books in Wellington. Are moral norms tipping and is a transformation of economic values and approaches possible? And Chloe asks who would trust politicians to achieve this?

Sir Kim Workman giving the Robson lecture at the Napier Pilot City Trust “Unity Day 2019”. What an inspiring speech about the challenges of indifference to our society and why we should all turn our faces to the mosque

Great to be at the launch of a book on Parkinson’s by Ann Andrews and Jennifer Dann on World Parkinson’s Day at ParliamentThere was even a flash dance -and the Minister Hon Carmel Sepuloni joined in.

Tyla Nathan-Wong won the Māori sports person award at the North Harbour sports awards. She is a member of the winning Women’s 7s team. Tyla is a Massey student. Congratulations. Bevan Catley from Massey giving the award

Had to listen to some speeches before we get to the fun stuff - the outstanding athletes from the North Shore who have been awarded Excellence Awards. Inspiring stories and some great athletes, coaches and administrators.

The handover of the directorship of Metropolis International from Dr Howard Duncan to moi. A conversation about the last 22 years. A great conference in Sydney. Now to Ottawa in June 2019.

Launching some great new visuals on super diversity in Auckland (and Vancouver and Sydney) at the Metropolis conference in Sydney. Funded by Max Planck and led by Steve Vertovec. Here Dan Hiebert (UBC) getting very excited by possibilities

On a panel on Syrian war refugees at the Metropolis conference in Sydney. Just listening to fellow speakers from Australia and Europe, NZ’s response has been modest- even miserly - compared to others. Surely we can do better in the face of such need.