by Simon O'Connor

Hello everyone. A short Substack to wrap up the year and to wish you all a Merry Christmas and enjoyable summer ahead (or to my northern hemisphere followers, an equally happy and relaxing winter).

I am very grateful to all my readers and subscribers. I love writing and as I have probably mentioned before, I find it quite cathartic. It is humbling to know that thousands read my ramblings, and I very much appreciate all the feedback people send me – it is one of the reasons I have remained committed to having this as a free and open publication. This said, I am also flattered by the many who choose to donate freely – to each of you, thank you.

My new treehouse recording studio – where all my podcasts, live shows, and online radio interviews happen. All wired up including Starlink – it’s been a fun new space to work from.

We’ve also done an enormous amount of travel internationally this year. From England to Ireland, France to the US states of New York, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Texas. I’ve also visited Israel and the Gaza envelope, attended a conference in Japan, as well as events in Australia and of course, here in New Zealand. Next year is already shaping up to be the same, but I will just say, it’s wonderful to meet new people, engage new ideas, and also step out of what can often be a very narrow New Zealand bubble.

For the curious, my most popular Substack for 2025 was a piece I wrote challenging the prevailing, Hamas-sympathetic, narrative here in New Zealand – drawing on my impressions after visiting Israel, the various October 7th massacre sites, and the wider Gaza envelope.

My thanks again to you all for being part of On Point – for your reading, your comments, your generosity, critiques, and encouragement. Can I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year – may it be a time of peace and joy, fun and laughs, and a chance to unwind and refresh.

See you in 2026. Merry Christmas.

Originally published at On Point.