mastodon 4.7.2I like to think that my 45 years of reporting on technology and business has left me sceptical rather than cynical but the behaviour of some tech companies is such that sometimes readers might be better served by the latter approach.
See my New Zealand telecommunications and tech news website at https://billbennett.co.nz
My wife, daughter and granddaughter have travelled to Mordor to grapple with the Eye of Kea. Pretty certain I know who will get to assemble the furniture.
This is not my area of expertise, but I can read and I can do arithmetic, from what I read and the numbers I see, it's clear to me that supplies of oil products are almost certainly going to run out unless the Iran war wraps up now. It strikes me that our government is in denial.
Today was my worst ever run rate at a Repair Cafe, almost everything that came across my table was unrepairable. Also noted how much busier the Cafe is now the economy is ticking down again.
I’m so hungry I could eat a butter chicken tsunami
I'm not sure how to articulate this thought in a way that is inoffensive, but I sometimes wonder if being an Act party member or voter is a sign of metal illness.
These kind of numbers are often publicised, but does anyone ever actually follow up to see if Microsoft delivers on its huge promises? I used to do this when working as a staff journalist and found the numbers never even remotely stacked up.
I have written a series of neutral, basic backgrounders on New Zealand telecommunications that won’t trouble non-technical readers. Hope you find them useful.
Here’s the one on submarine cables:
https://billbennett.co.nz/submarine-cables-in-new-zealand/
The fact that my iPhone autocorrects block cheese to bloke cheese when I type out my shopping list is evidence that AI is not entirely rubbish.
I’d like to see these two settle their differences with a duel:
When I buy beer or wine at the supermarket or bottle store, I always make a point of showing the person at the till my age identification even though I'm in my 60s.
While there is some similar resistance in New Zealand, it's not at the same scale.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/03/ai-datacentres-australia-opposition
My team, Chelsea, is going such through a terrible patch that I thought I might at least get enjoyment out of seeing Tottenham relegated, but I really don't. It's just a sadder, more dysfunctional, hide-behind-the-sofa mess than our sad dysfunctional mess.
Internet exchange points in New Zealand: https://billbennett.co.nz/internet-exchange-points-new-zealand/
How internet exchange points work in New Zealand, including their role in keeping traffic local, improving performance and how networks interconnect.
Network and cyber security in New Zealand: https://billbennett.co.nz/network-and-cyber-security-in-new-zealand/
A brief guide to network and cybersecurity in New Zealand, covering threats, defences and how telcos and agencies protect critical infrastructure.
If you didn't see it first thing this morning, here is today's newsletter:
ISPANZ accuses mobile carriers of blocking MVNO access to satellite texting. 2degrees gains market share and TDL updates broadband disclosure rules.
https://billbennett.co.nz/mvno-satellite-2degrees-market-share-broadband-code/
If you missed it, here’s Friday‘s newsletter.
https://billbennett.co.nz/tuanz-digital-priorities-report-2026/
Tuanz report: Networks built, value missing: https://billbennett.co.nz/tuanz-digital-priorities-report-2026/
New Zealand's digital leaders tell Tuanz Digital Priorities Report that our nation needs to do more with the communications infrastructure. ComCom Fibre IM Review. One NZ signs API agreement with Vodafone.
MVNOs call for regulatory action on satellite texting: https://billbennett.co.nz/mvno-satellite-2degrees-market-share-broadband-code/
ISPANZ accuses mobile carriers of blocking MVNO access to satellite texting. 2degrees gains market share and TDL updates broadband disclosure rules.
Today's newsletter for people who had something else to do at 7:30 am.
https://billbennett.co.nz/tuanz-digital-priorities-report-2026/
