Full of hope patriotism and propaganda, very little connection to what's actually happening on the ground. Without going into detail I will cut to the chase and offer a $100 bet that Russia is and will decisively win this Special Military Operation which is to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, all bets to be held by a neutral party, so come on all you armchair experts put some money where your mouths are ..
@ Tony….Good on you…let's see who will put their money where their mouth is…in my experience of these Liberal Imperialists, I think you will find most of them are just so much all hot air and very little else.
btw, a joint statement from Russian and Ukrainian socialists points the finger
Although the majority of the left has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the left camp’s unity is still lacking. We would like to address those on the left who still stick to “a plague on both houses” position that views the war as an inter-imperialist war.
It is high time the left woke up and carried out a “concrete analysis of the concrete situation” instead of reproducing worn-out frameworks from the Cold War. Overlooking Russian imperialism is a terrible mistake for the left. It is Putin, not NATO, who is waging war on Ukraine. That is why it is essential to shift our focus from Western imperialism to Putin’s aggressive imperialism, which has an ideological and political basis in addition to an economic one.
That is why it is essential to shift our focus from Western imperialism to Putin’s aggressive imperialism, which has an ideological and political basis in addition to an economic one.
I think many countries would be quite surprised to find western imperialism is not aggressive and is devoid of politics and ideology.
Modern Imperialism not only involves the expansion of multinational corporations but the spreading of the dominant nation’s political ideology. America has made no secret of the latter.
Adrian, regardless of the background history between the Ukraine and Russia, the facts remain that the Ukraine is a (however imperfect) democracy, while Russia is a dictatorship where opposition to the government line can be quite detrimental to your health, and Putin/Russia needlessly invaded another country and has, apparently, committed some quite horrendous and, it seems, unnecessary crimes in doing so.
My backing is for David against Goliath!
But I'm not crass enough to put money on human suffering, Tony.
TV, I am betting on the outcome of a situation that has been the subject of the most intense propaganda programme I have ever witnessed and the truth must be searched for, I am willing to put my money where my mouth is, most on here are as Adrian said full of hot air and have only MSM as their source of information, when you say "Putin needlessly invaded another Country" that shows me you have done no research into the whole story, I am happy to share independent intelligent well researched journalists ex Military strategists and academics informed views if you want to educate yourself ..
Cheers Adrian T, no takers so far from here, however I have already collected 2 x $100 wagers that President Putin would be assassinated by his own staff by the 6th April and one of the punters is still so convinced it's going to happen I have given him until May the 6th and we have another $100 on it .. I have enjoyed reading your comments and laugh at the pile on when the tribe doesn't like something you say, they rush to shoot the messenger and ignore the story.
Discussing with another commentator the lack of adequate mental health provision in NZ, and the damage done by the failure of recognising the distinct and particular needs of the transgender community, I'm reposting some links I put in a couple of days ago on Open Mike (if that's OK by the moderators).
The update since this comment is that Norway has now also indicated that it will join the following countries in recommending quality therapy for the transgender community as their reviews of present methods of medication and surgery show net harm, instead of the expected benefits.
We have multiple examples historically and recently of iatrogenic harm done to people from unqualified or non-scrutinised medical treatments.
People asking for good clinical evidence for medical interventions – are often dismissed as transphobic – but really should be everyone.
Links below are particularly pertaining to the medical response for children and young people.
But here in NZ, we were late to the party, and it was only 2020 when the curriculum guidelines for Relationships and Sex Education were created and slapped on as an addition to the TKI – from the Ministry of Education.
For those unaware, the TKI guidelines set out the curriculum for all primary and secondary students in NZ. They specify what learning outcomes are needed, to meet curriculum requirements. Curriculum resources can therefore be created by teachers, schools or purchased from third-party organisations.
Guidelines can be found here on this page for both primary and secondary students as a pdf download.
There is a lot to unpick – and justifiably critique in these documents – but the one relevant to this point can be found in both documents (Pg 30 of Yrs 1-8 guide):
In science, ākonga can:
• consider variations in puberty, including the role of hormone blockers
This means that every child within the NZ education system is introduced to the idea – (and due to the diversity of curriculum that can be taught we have no idea how) – that puberty is something that can reasonably be avoided, and puberty blockers are the method to do so.
Our Ministry of Health follows "gender affirming health care" for transgender NZers, including children. (Without getting into details, note that "gender affirming healthcare" is a pre-determined diagnosis and treatment, not equal to quality healthcare).
For young people where these feelings continue into puberty or emerge during puberty, particularly if associated with distress, it is important to see a health professional. Puberty blockers are a medication that can be used to halt the physical changes of an unwanted puberty.
Blockers are a safe and fully reversible medicine that may be used from early puberty through to later adolescence to help ease distress and allow time to fully explore gender health options.
Service providers that can help access blockers include:
paediatric services
youth health services
endocrinologists
primary health care teams.
Late to the party, and staying for the hangover. NZ education normalises the idea of delayed puberty, while offering – without reserve – off-label medications that have no robust clinical evidence of benefit.
In fact, the countries above, that have reviewed evidence have found that the net result is harm.
If any of this bothers you, write to both the Ministry of Educaation and the Ministry of Health, asking them what evidential base did they use as reference for these TKI outcomes, and current medical response.
If your concern is for high-quality appropriate care for transgender youth, then you should be bothered. The likelihood of iatrogenic harm from the current approach is high, and the evidence of that occurring is starting to accumulate and be collected.
Forgot to add, Florida state, in contradiction of Federal guidelines, has also concluded after review that therapy is the best response in terms of outcomes.
Link to Independent article below, in which the first link is the pdf issued by Florida state, that outlines their reasoning.
As you may know, Florida has also regulated for appropriate age teaching regarding sex and education in public schools. Misnomered as "Don't Say Gay" bill.
They had the same issue, as we have here, where schools were instructing young students that puberty blockers were a reasonable and perfectly safe option for them without clinical evidence that this is true.
In the interest of being pedantic, replace "good" with 'informed' and I then fully agree with you.
There are good people who are uninformed, but you have provided information that may get them to widen their knowledge and give them another perspective.
Late to the party, and staying for the hangover. Very good…okay if I borrow that?
I see the trans thing as a (very significant) part of a wider crisis we are going through where it is demanded of us that we accept without question the pronouncements of the Establishment. However bizarre, nonsensical and downright unscientific they may be.
We are being told by Government and the media that 'This' Is So…and anyone who doesn't 100% believe 'This', is clearly transphobic, anti-vax, scientifically illiterate etc.etc. (Insert whichever slur fits.)
I am trying to figure out who the mentally distressed are. Are they those who go along with the bullshit (that people can change sex and the Covid vaccines are 'effective' etc. ) and the rational part of their brains are rebelling, or are they those of us who call out the bullshit when we see it… and the distress is caused by the Establishment's derision.?
I fear this batshit crazy is going to persist for some time here in Godzone.
(Thanks for those links btw. Many other nations are accepting that some policies and protocols might have have been in error and are making definite attempts to rectify and move forward.)
Iatrogenic harm is something I have personal experience with, as I know you do.
So I have a learned response to question what evidence is provided regarding outcomes and the expected harms. Providing quality information in that regard is necessary for true informed consent. Otherwise, it is a tickbox exercise only, which renders the process harmful rather than neutral, because it pretends to provide a standard of care that it doesn't.
That doesn't mean that I expect all information to be 100% conclusive, I actually believe that to be impossible.
I do expect it to withstand scrutiny, and be able to say "The long-term effects of this are unknown…" or "Data is unavailable in regards…".
As soon as certainty is paired with a new medication, treatment or device my interest is piqued.
“Late to the party, and staying for the hangover. Very good…okay if I borrow that?”
Feel free to use whatever you want.
(The alcoholic theme may or may not be a reflection of my younger days. )
I am bothered about what this "Relationships" stuff is teaching Gay and Lesbian kids also. Tells us that we are "same gender" attracted – not "same sex" attracted. As a Lesbian – attracted to women (as in "adult human females" – rather than "anybody who says they are") I find this offensively homophobic. I don't see any definition of "Homosexual" in the Glossary.
This language appropriation has consequences in regards to discussion and public discourse. If "Transwomen are Women", then the word women has been appropriated to included men. Discussion of women right's and the impact of being a woman in terms of both biological sex and the impact of that on societal expectations becomes a minefield.
I noticed that those trying to maintain those discussions, then moved on to using female, but that also is being considered by many advocates of gender ideology to be transphobic. So, I returned to using women to describe women.
Lesbians were at the forefront of noticing that gay support organisations were shifting language and definitions to obscure original meanings, and eradicate the understood same-sex attraction definition.
The consequence of teaching children that attraction is gender based, and anything other is discriminatory, is that we are essentially saying that a healthy sexual orientation is bisexual – and only bisexual.
The organisations that the Ministry of Education refers the teaching profession to for classroom resources and curriculum, if they do refer to lesbian or homosexual, define it as "same gender attracted" rather than "same sex attracted".
There's a number of links you have to get through to get to this. But you end up with a pdf link.
Rainbow Youth – the most visible of the support organisations for young NZers, and also referred to as a resource by the Ministry of Health – does not use the word ‘lesbian’ at all on its website, and ‘homosexual’ only appears in their submissions to select committee. (Note: I haven’t checked this for a few weeks, so may have changed).
"A resource, focused on pornography within the broader context of Relationships and Sexuality Education, is for all educators, including teachers. The activities, reflective questions, and additional materials are designed to ensure flexibility for educators. Parents and whanau: You can 'browse as guest' and find the public version using the search tools…"
Haven't had a good look around yet. The resource keeps taking a while to load.
Regarding Relationships and Sexuality, I think the provision of guidance that allows external organisations and individuals to provide varying and ideological perspectives on sexuality, is the wrong approach.
I would much prefer the Ministry of Education compiled and published their own curriculum to be used, so that teaching staff provided the same information to all students, and transparency was given to parents and caregivers on what that information is.
Also, coming to the view that not only should biological development of childhood and puberty be covered, but the full timeline of biological sex from birth to death should be included in secondary school teaching.
This will result in a universal understanding of some of the basic common health concerns relating to sex, as children grow into adults. Eg. issues regarding infertility, endimetriosis, breast cancer, prostate cancer, menopause etc. Parents/caregivers of the same sex can be invited to attend sessions to fill in some of the knowledge that the occasional public campaigns endeavour to fill. In particular, this may be of worth to English as a second language NZers. A colloborative effort between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.
Continuing the talk about language appropriation, the self-named Human Rights Campaign organisation, has put out a wonderful resource for those who are finding it hard to keep up with language, The Safer Sex Guide for Trans Bodies:
I saw a clip of someone wearing a full body suit/mask in Sidney walking the streets. Creepiest shit i have ever seen. But as in Germany and Australia , coming soon to a non gendered pissoir soon enough, thanks current government. This could not have happened without them. s/
All of us who knew that this was the latest iteration of the "men's rights" movement and that it was all about the removal of boundaries. They draped it in a rainbow flag, but it was all about men's access to women's spaces and women's bodies. Anything that women had fought for or utilised has been fetishised for their enjoyment. This includes even mass murder. After years of demanding to have access to the memorial to these women murdered because they were women, Trans Rights Activists have succeeded in invading the annual commemoration to talk about themselves. https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/tributes-to-victims-on-32nd-anniversary-of-montreal-s-polytechnique-mass-shooting-1.5694861
Well. there were those of us bwho were aware that removing boundaries without discussion, may invite those for whom those boundaries were intended too keep out in, alongside the welcoming rainbow flags.
We need to talk about Chesterton's Fence, and become as familiar with it as we did with the Overton Window.
"There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.”
Thanks for that Poission. I'm not religious myself, but follow and agree with some of the points made.
Interestingly, this sentence "Now it is not unnatural that this unnatural separation, between sex and fruitfulness, which even the Pagans would have thought a perversion, has been accompanied with a similar separation and perversion about the nature of the love of the land." seems to relate to a theme that's come up several times lately, regarding the removal of the material body from discussions about sex, and replacing it with more of a focus on the hedonistic and pleasurable aspects of it. As this becomes more common, further exploration of the diversity of sexual acts are introduced. Not necessarily a problem, unless it makes it's way into standard education for children and young people.
(Which appears to have happened in the UK, which resulted in my first experience of watching a Benjamin Boyce video, where he lightly touches on this topic after a Family Sex Show was cancelled at several venues after complaints were made about safeguarding.)
None of us have consented. This is Alex Drummond – identifies as a woman and a lesbian, No surgery, no hormones, does not even have to shave off the beard. Stonewall sends Alex around schools to talk about diversity and inclusion and Alex tells kids that this is what a lesbian looks like.
This continual pushing against boundaries, brings to mind the open letter sent to Madison Metropolitan School District in 2020 about their transphobic bathroom policy written by a teacher of 23 years:
I don't want to discourage anyone from reading the full(some) complaint (that makes no mention of the risk assessments part of safeguarding) but here is the introduction – in their own words:
"The leadership of Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is currently enacting a transphobic policy. And yes, it’s about bathrooms. It’s ALWAYS about bathrooms.
Here are the facts:
The policy our leadership is enacting is to require that staff and students use different bathrooms. I know, that doesn’t seem transphobic on the face of it. Our leadership wants to push the idea that it’s just a clarification of existing expectations. They want us to believe that it’s not transphobic, it’s just about safety and about “listening to all stakeholders”. And if that were true, this would not be a problem."
Now, in someone else's words, who understands the place risk assessment has in quality safeguarding policies:
US — Madison, Wisconsin. In January 2020, a male teacher penned an open letter in Our Lives, an LGBT Madison newsletter, accusing the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) of transphobia because the district encouraged adult staff to use staff washrooms, not those designated for children. Vica Steel who was previously named Mark Busenbark and currently identifies as a woman, wants to continue using the girls’ washroom directly across from the science teacher’s second-floor classroom, rather than an “all-gender” bathroom further away on the first floor.
…An Allis parent, (whose) child reported feeling uncomfortable using a children’s bathroom while an adult staff member was also using that same bathroom, contacted MMSD central office to inquire about what district practice was regarding adults using children’s bathrooms …
While staff members are able to use adult washrooms in the school “based on the gender with which they identify”, LeMonds indicated it is a best practice for adults to use a different bathroom than students “for safety purposes”.
Kim Hill interviewed Bill Browder this morning. He's living in seclusion for the same reason as Salman Rushdie (perpetual threat of assassination and/or kidnapping) but has to protect his wife & family simultaneously too.
Surprisingly, I managed the 48 mins without a moment of boredom. Most unusual. I liked his verbal style: fast, precise, low-key – yet always clear and direct.
They deployed useful-idiot theory for the Trump/Putin negotiations (in respect to the 2016 campaign meeting & offer of dirt on Hillary). Putin wanted Trump to ditch the Magnitsky Act. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnitsky_Act]
Most interesting bit was his explanation for why the goons who beat Magnitsky to death in prison put on the official form that they had used rubber truncheons on him: same as for Nazi goons under Himmler (to protect themselves against higher goons) – they had to create a bureaucratic record that they'd followed their orders properly.
For instance he said "Putin got 50%" of the Russian oligarchs billions for protecting them. How does he know this?
He also came across as money hungry to a point where, by the end, I was thinking he was getting his just deserts having to live his life as though he and his family were under threat of Russian violence at all times. When you dance with the devil…..
A Mount Maunganui museum dedicated to the military history of white minority-ruled Rhodesia that’s been likened to “celebrating the holocaust” is being used as a venue for Anzac commemorations this weekend…
A spokesperson for the government’s Department of Internal Affairs said the department had not received any complaints relating to the Rhodesian Services Association’s eligibility for registration under the Charities Act 2005.
However a letter sighted by Stuff dated 2010 from the Charities Commission refers to a complaint lodged with the commission regarding the charitable status of the Rhodesian Services Association, leading the commission to investigate “whether the Association was engaging in some form of public advocacy, advocating racial discrimination, or extolling the past racially based Rhodesian regime.”.
Hugh Bomford, spokesperson for the Lion and Tusk museum, run by the Rhodesian Services Association… said the museum is funded through membership, trading, donation and fundraising.
There have been recent concerns about white supremacy activity in Tauranga following the distribution of leaflets throughout the city.
Police said that they are aware of this and while they understand it may be offensive, it does not constitute a criminal offence.
It seems likely that the DIA will soon be getting a few complaints about the Rhodesian Services Association (including their cooption of the RSA TLA on ANZAC Day). From myself and my whanau if no one else.
I am put in mind of this NRT piece from yesterday:
The BORA's affirmation of the right to freedom of expression means that it is phenomenally difficult to prosecute for inciting racial disharmony, and this is only the second-ever case. But the penalty for that is only three months, so the bulk of his sentence (12 months' home detention and 300 hours of community work) was due to knowingly making an objectionable publication. Which I guess shows the opponents of a specific hate speech law the existing alternative: rather than risking three months in jail, they can risk 14 years, and be tainted by an offence normally reserved for child pornographers.
Thanks for the links Joe90. I don't spend much time on Twitter so wouldn't have thought of looking there myself. Though admittedly I do glance at Te Taipo and the disinformation project every so often since the Wellington occupation(/ inept coup attempt).
The second link didn't take me to a specific article, more a Google search in which the most relevant piece was about Don Brash in 2017. I didn't read it in full. Was that what you intended to link to?
Seem's like the Charities Commission should have a more robust system of dealing with complaints, and publishing decisions. In this era of technology, it should be a fundamental automatic process.
Scott Hamilton, always seems to be ahead of the ball in these situations.
I hope that those that do complain, are responded to in detail and that the Charities Commission not only publishes the complaints but the decision making process that leads to their response.
I waver between the balance between knowing where such possibilities for racial extremism are, against sending them underground or onto the dark net where they are fully hidden.
I don't support the use of the venue for Anzac though, seems a bad judgement call on the part of the Ministry of Defence.
It's been great fun seeing Keir Starmer do the slow roast of Boris Johnson.
Even if her survives the Parliamentary inquiry he will have holed the Conservatives below the waterline. Great to see Starmer finally harvesting the results of all those carefully set Parliamentary questions.
President Xi Jinping speaks wise words at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022, a thread outlining 10 major observations & messages from the speech. Actions mean more, but I live in hope.
He requests the international community to cooperate to keep global peace & warns against unilateralism, Cold War mentality & hegemonic tendencies & ambitions of the old order:
“We need to work together to maintain peace and stability in the world….The Cold War mentality
would only wreck the global peace framework, hegemonism and power politics would only endanger world peace, and bloc confrontation would only exacerbate security challenges in the 21st century.
“Keep walking and one will not be daunted by a thousand miles; make constant efforts and one will not be intimidated by a thousand tasks.”
Al-Aqsa is Islam's third-holiest site, and the most sacred site in Judaism where it is known as the Temple Mount. Police fired tear gas and rubber-tipped bullets at stone-throwing Palestinian youths, and later used drones to spray tear gas from the air, an AFP photographer said.
After midday prayers, some worshippers chanted "incitement" and tried to damage a security post, police said. More than 200 people, mostly Palestinians, have been hurt in clashes in and around Al-Aqsa in the past week. Palestinians have been outraged by massive Israeli police deployment and repeated visits by Jews to the holy site.
By long-standing convention, Jews are allowed to visit under certain conditions but are not allowed to pray there. Palestinian worshipper Alaa al-Haddad said Israel was restricting access to Al-Aqsa, and that this had created "tensions that lead to clashes", with hundreds of people arrested in recent days."It's all because the occupation forces are regularly storming the holy Al-Aqsa mosque," Haddad said.
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Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Genterwocky After a hard days marching, Sir Doocey calls in at the Village Tavern For a pint of ale and a pork pie. The grim villagers stare at him. “Do not be travelling on the forest road,” warns a crusty old beak. “And why is that, antique peasant?” Grins Sir ...
Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
MONDAY I lined up the latest round of civil servants from city hall against the wall, and signalled for the firing squad to drop their rifles. I stepped up onto a wooden crate to look at the office workers in the eye. But that didn’t feel right, so I found ...
Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
After a long and illustrious career as a goal kicker, Dan Carter’s favourite way to unwind is… kicking goals. Why can’t he get enough of it? And what it’s like to watch him do it for an hour straight? A semicircle of people wielding cameras and phones has formed in ...
Dame Susan Devoy takes us through her life in television, including late night ER debriefs, her proudest CTI moment and the show she watches in secret. Quite aside from her four world champion squash titles, Dame Susan Devoy will likely go down in history as one of the best Celebrity ...
Hera Lindsay Bird reveals the best places in Ōtepoti to score more for your apocalypse-prep book hoard.Sometimes I get the feeling I’ve been killed in a car crash, and this second half of my life is just the brain unspooling itself, like one of those episodes of a hospital ...
ThreeNow’s new murder mystery series takes us on a dark, damp journey into the Australian wilderness.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. High Country is ThreeNow’s new Australian eight-part crime drama, set in a remote part of the Victorian highlands. It tells ...
Introducing a new way to read The Spinoff every weekend. After nearly 10 years of being an online magazine, we’re finally embracing the weekend liftout. Despite our best efforts to convince you otherwise, writers and editors at The Spinoff don’t work weekend. It is through the sheer power of technology ...
Tip one: let yourself be nurtured by this big old man. Tip two: don’t ask him to adopt you. So, you’ve arrived at your first session with a new therapist. He tells you to make yourself comfortable and you opt for the tweed armchair, hoping it makes you look like ...
I didn’t know books could open you back up; that there were books that stayed with you, where reading was like a chemical event. I knew nothing.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Not too long ago, I was listening to the American ...
Former Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has already started training for the Enhanced games, though says he won’t start taking performance enhancing substances until about nine months out from the competition. The Australian world champion was the first athlete to be announced by Enhanced, but he says the organisation has had ...
Everyone thinks he’s dead. Every day they expect his body to be washed up along the coast. Most likely up Karitane way, the way the tide’s running. But nobody’ll be too surprised if his body’s never found. Even in death he wouldn’t have wished for such attention. He would have ...
Council members voted 21 to 4 in favour of Ahluwalia returning to the Laucala campus following a much-awaited meeting in Vanuatu this week. It comes as USP and its two unions — the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Henry, Professor & Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University Shutterstock Following an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a raft of measures to tackle the problem ...
Analysis - A poll showing the opposition is more popular than the government raises questions, politicians go through their 'trial by pay rise' and a Green MP loses her cool in the debating chamber. ...
The entire stretch of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast will be subject to a joint customary marine title for two hapū, and extending up to four miles out to sea. A High Court judge has found the two groups, who during the case settled a dispute over boundaries for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hall, Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University A longstanding feud between TikTok and Universal Music Group seems to have finally reached an end, with both parties signing a deal that will see Universal-backed music returned to the social media ...
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Here's a video (24 mins) for Tsmithfield – Ukraine has already won the war!
Full of hope and patriotism – but perhaps not too far off the mark.
Good stuff
Full of hope patriotism and propaganda, very little connection to what's actually happening on the ground. Without going into detail I will cut to the chase and offer a $100 bet that Russia is and will decisively win this Special Military Operation which is to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, all bets to be held by a neutral party, so come on all you armchair experts put some money where your mouths are ..
@ Tony….Good on you…let's see who will put their money where their mouth is…in my experience of these Liberal Imperialists, I think you will find most of them are just so much all hot air and very little else.
"these liberal imperialists" – wow what a try-hard. Do you have a beret and a Che t-shirt?
And can't see me pants, too?
btw, a joint statement from Russian and Ukrainian socialists points the finger
Although the majority of the left has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the left camp’s unity is still lacking. We would like to address those on the left who still stick to “a plague on both houses” position that views the war as an inter-imperialist war.
It is high time the left woke up and carried out a “concrete analysis of the concrete situation” instead of reproducing worn-out frameworks from the Cold War. Overlooking Russian imperialism is a terrible mistake for the left. It is Putin, not NATO, who is waging war on Ukraine. That is why it is essential to shift our focus from Western imperialism to Putin’s aggressive imperialism, which has an ideological and political basis in addition to an economic one.
https://lefteast.org/against-russian-imperialism/
I think many countries would be quite surprised to find western imperialism is not aggressive and is devoid of politics and ideology.
Modern Imperialism not only involves the expansion of multinational corporations but the spreading of the dominant nation’s political ideology. America has made no secret of the latter.
Adrian, regardless of the background history between the Ukraine and Russia, the facts remain that the Ukraine is a (however imperfect) democracy, while Russia is a dictatorship where opposition to the government line can be quite detrimental to your health, and Putin/Russia needlessly invaded another country and has, apparently, committed some quite horrendous and, it seems, unnecessary crimes in doing so.
My backing is for David against Goliath!
But I'm not crass enough to put money on human suffering, Tony.
TV, I am betting on the outcome of a situation that has been the subject of the most intense propaganda programme I have ever witnessed and the truth must be searched for, I am willing to put my money where my mouth is, most on here are as Adrian said full of hot air and have only MSM as their source of information, when you say "Putin needlessly invaded another Country" that shows me you have done no research into the whole story, I am happy to share independent intelligent well researched journalists ex Military strategists and academics informed views if you want to educate yourself ..
Cheers Adrian T, no takers so far from here, however I have already collected 2 x $100 wagers that President Putin would be assassinated by his own staff by the 6th April and one of the punters is still so convinced it's going to happen I have given him until May the 6th and we have another $100 on it .. I have enjoyed reading your comments and laugh at the pile on when the tribe doesn't like something you say, they rush to shoot the messenger and ignore the story.
It's just a game, a money-making opportunity, that's all! Such a callous disregard for human suffering because it's 'over there,' far away from NZ.
I find your attitude appalling!
Discussing with another commentator the lack of adequate mental health provision in NZ, and the damage done by the failure of recognising the distinct and particular needs of the transgender community, I'm reposting some links I put in a couple of days ago on Open Mike (if that's OK by the moderators).
The update since this comment is that Norway has now also indicated that it will join the following countries in recommending quality therapy for the transgender community as their reviews of present methods of medication and surgery show net harm, instead of the expected benefits.
We have multiple examples historically and recently of iatrogenic harm done to people from unqualified or non-scrutinised medical treatments.
People asking for good clinical evidence for medical interventions – are often dismissed as transphobic – but really should be everyone.
Links below are particularly pertaining to the medical response for children and young people.
Netherlands; https://www.voorzij.nl/more-research-is-urgently-needed-into-transgender-care-for-young-people-where-does-the-large-increase-of-children-come-from/
Finland; https://segm.org/Finland_deviates_from_WPATH_prioritizing_psychotherapy_no_surgery_for_minors
Sweden; https://segm.org/segm-summary-sweden-prioritizes-therapy-curbs-hormones-for-gender-dysphoric-youth
France; https://segm.org/France-cautions-regarding-puberty-blockers-and-cross-sex-hormones-for-youth
the UK in the form of the Interim Cass Review; https://cass.independent-review.uk/publications/interim-report/
But here in NZ, we were late to the party, and it was only 2020 when the curriculum guidelines for Relationships and Sex Education were created and slapped on as an addition to the TKI – from the Ministry of Education.
For those unaware, the TKI guidelines set out the curriculum for all primary and secondary students in NZ. They specify what learning outcomes are needed, to meet curriculum requirements. Curriculum resources can therefore be created by teachers, schools or purchased from third-party organisations.
https://hpe.tki.org.nz/guidelines-and-policies/relationships-and-sexuality-education/
Guidelines can be found here on this page for both primary and secondary students as a pdf download.
There is a lot to unpick – and justifiably critique in these documents – but the one relevant to this point can be found in both documents (Pg 30 of Yrs 1-8 guide):
This means that every child within the NZ education system is introduced to the idea – (and due to the diversity of curriculum that can be taught we have no idea how) – that puberty is something that can reasonably be avoided, and puberty blockers are the method to do so.
Our Ministry of Health follows "gender affirming health care" for transgender NZers, including children. (Without getting into details, note that "gender affirming healthcare" is a pre-determined diagnosis and treatment, not equal to quality healthcare).
https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/transgender-new-zealanders/transgender-new-zealanders-children-and-young-people
Late to the party, and staying for the hangover. NZ education normalises the idea of delayed puberty, while offering – without reserve – off-label medications that have no robust clinical evidence of benefit.
In fact, the countries above, that have reviewed evidence have found that the net result is harm.
If any of this bothers you, write to both the Ministry of Educaation and the Ministry of Health, asking them what evidential base did they use as reference for these TKI outcomes, and current medical response.
If your concern is for high-quality appropriate care for transgender youth, then you should be bothered. The likelihood of iatrogenic harm from the current approach is high, and the evidence of that occurring is starting to accumulate and be collected.
Forgot to add, Florida state, in contradiction of Federal guidelines, has also concluded after review that therapy is the best response in terms of outcomes.
Link to Independent article below, in which the first link is the pdf issued by Florida state, that outlines their reasoning.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/florida-transgender-healthcare-desantis-b2061804.html
As you may know, Florida has also regulated for appropriate age teaching regarding sex and education in public schools. Misnomered as "Don't Say Gay" bill.
They had the same issue, as we have here, where schools were instructing young students that puberty blockers were a reasonable and perfectly safe option for them without clinical evidence that this is true.
Even in America – with its for profit health system and its proliferation of "gender clinics" – good people are fighting back. https://lgbausa.org/2022/03/the-medicalization-of-gender-nonconforming-youth-a-statement-on-where-we-stand/?fbclid=IwAR2H76_xwbhkexcI_qxd_nIpqRdEC1U5tys82IWRkSsUd7GG2o8NwjZ8BmQ
In the interest of being pedantic, replace "good" with 'informed' and I then fully agree with you.
There are good people who are uninformed, but you have provided information that may get them to widen their knowledge and give them another perspective.
Late to the party, and staying for the hangover. Very good…okay if I borrow that?
I see the trans thing as a (very significant) part of a wider crisis we are going through where it is demanded of us that we accept without question the pronouncements of the Establishment. However bizarre, nonsensical and downright unscientific they may be.
We are being told by Government and the media that 'This' Is So…and anyone who doesn't 100% believe 'This', is clearly transphobic, anti-vax, scientifically illiterate etc.etc. (Insert whichever slur fits.)
I am trying to figure out who the mentally distressed are. Are they those who go along with the bullshit (that people can change sex and the Covid vaccines are 'effective' etc. ) and the rational part of their brains are rebelling, or are they those of us who call out the bullshit when we see it… and the distress is caused by the Establishment's derision.?
I fear this batshit crazy is going to persist for some time here in Godzone.
(Thanks for those links btw. Many other nations are accepting that some policies and protocols might have have been in error and are making definite attempts to rectify and move forward.)
Iatrogenic harm is something I have personal experience with, as I know you do.
So I have a learned response to question what evidence is provided regarding outcomes and the expected harms. Providing quality information in that regard is necessary for true informed consent. Otherwise, it is a tickbox exercise only, which renders the process harmful rather than neutral, because it pretends to provide a standard of care that it doesn't.
That doesn't mean that I expect all information to be 100% conclusive, I actually believe that to be impossible.
I do expect it to withstand scrutiny, and be able to say "The long-term effects of this are unknown…" or "Data is unavailable in regards…".
As soon as certainty is paired with a new medication, treatment or device my interest is piqued.
“Late to the party, and staying for the hangover. Very good…okay if I borrow that?”
Feel free to use whatever you want.
(The alcoholic theme may or may not be a reflection of my younger days. )
I am bothered about what this "Relationships" stuff is teaching Gay and Lesbian kids also. Tells us that we are "same gender" attracted – not "same sex" attracted. As a Lesbian – attracted to women (as in "adult human females" – rather than "anybody who says they are") I find this offensively homophobic. I don't see any definition of "Homosexual" in the Glossary.
This language appropriation has consequences in regards to discussion and public discourse. If "Transwomen are Women", then the word women has been appropriated to included men. Discussion of women right's and the impact of being a woman in terms of both biological sex and the impact of that on societal expectations becomes a minefield.
I noticed that those trying to maintain those discussions, then moved on to using female, but that also is being considered by many advocates of gender ideology to be transphobic. So, I returned to using women to describe women.
Lesbians were at the forefront of noticing that gay support organisations were shifting language and definitions to obscure original meanings, and eradicate the understood same-sex attraction definition.
The consequence of teaching children that attraction is gender based, and anything other is discriminatory, is that we are essentially saying that a healthy sexual orientation is bisexual – and only bisexual.
The organisations that the Ministry of Education refers the teaching profession to for classroom resources and curriculum, if they do refer to lesbian or homosexual, define it as "same gender attracted" rather than "same sex attracted".
There's a number of links you have to get through to get to this. But you end up with a pdf link.
https://healtheducation.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/m-nzhea-seg-teaching-and-learning-resources-for-sexuality-education.pdf
Rainbow Youth – the most visible of the support organisations for young NZers, and also referred to as a resource by the Ministry of Health – does not use the word ‘lesbian’ at all on its website, and ‘homosexual’ only appears in their submissions to select committee. (Note: I haven’t checked this for a few weeks, so may have changed).
Planned Parenthood has moved on from issues to do with reproduction and their method of providing easy and unscrutinised access to hormones is widely shared on transitioner forums.
It takes a while to go through all links, and some are only available to registered users.
As is the information regarding this which seems to have been added on 13 April 2022:
Haven't had a good look around yet. The resource keeps taking a while to load.
Regarding Relationships and Sexuality, I think the provision of guidance that allows external organisations and individuals to provide varying and ideological perspectives on sexuality, is the wrong approach.
I would much prefer the Ministry of Education compiled and published their own curriculum to be used, so that teaching staff provided the same information to all students, and transparency was given to parents and caregivers on what that information is.
Also, coming to the view that not only should biological development of childhood and puberty be covered, but the full timeline of biological sex from birth to death should be included in secondary school teaching.
This will result in a universal understanding of some of the basic common health concerns relating to sex, as children grow into adults. Eg. issues regarding infertility, endimetriosis, breast cancer, prostate cancer, menopause etc. Parents/caregivers of the same sex can be invited to attend sessions to fill in some of the knowledge that the occasional public campaigns endeavour to fill. In particular, this may be of worth to English as a second language NZers. A colloborative effort between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.
Continuing the talk about language appropriation, the self-named Human Rights Campaign organisation, has put out a wonderful resource for those who are finding it hard to keep up with language, The Safer Sex Guide for Trans Bodies:
https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/Trans_Safer_Sex_Guide_FINAL.pdf
Do you remember (baby) last September… when women were foolishly complaining about the cover of the Lancet with "bodies with vaginas" quote?
Well, we've moved on from there.
Bodies with vaginas, are not the bodies with vaginas of yesterday.
However, the dicks of today are the same as the dicks of yesterday.
Just keeps getting better and better,
https://twitter.com/hatpinwoman/status/1517515059945222144?s=21
https://twitter.com/hatpinwoman/status/1517517624195883010?s=21
if it’s a sexual fetish, doing it publicly involves other people who haven’t consented.
I saw a clip of someone wearing a full body suit/mask in Sidney walking the streets. Creepiest shit i have ever seen. But as in Germany and Australia , coming soon to a non gendered pissoir soon enough, thanks current government. This could not have happened without them. s/
These new woman are something. Aren't they?
Who would have thought #NoDebate would lead to this kind of boundary pushing?
All of us who knew that this was the latest iteration of the "men's rights" movement and that it was all about the removal of boundaries. They draped it in a rainbow flag, but it was all about men's access to women's spaces and women's bodies. Anything that women had fought for or utilised has been fetishised for their enjoyment. This includes even mass murder. After years of demanding to have access to the memorial to these women murdered because they were women, Trans Rights Activists have succeeded in invading the annual commemoration to talk about themselves. https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/tributes-to-victims-on-32nd-anniversary-of-montreal-s-polytechnique-mass-shooting-1.5694861
Well. there were those of us bwho were aware that removing boundaries without discussion, may invite those for whom those boundaries were intended too keep out in, alongside the welcoming rainbow flags.
We need to talk about Chesterton's Fence, and become as familiar with it as we did with the Overton Window.
Chesterton was a thinker well ahead of his time.
https://twitter.com/GKCdaily/status/1412944776861818880
Thanks, Poission. That seems very appropriate.
Do you know what context this quote was made in?
Its from an essay [ sex and property] that also has analogous arguments,that relate to the forthcoming dystopian regimes that were appearing.
https://www.chesterton.org/sex-and-property/
Thanks for that Poission. I'm not religious myself, but follow and agree with some of the points made.
Interestingly, this sentence "Now it is not unnatural that this unnatural separation, between sex and fruitfulness, which even the Pagans would have thought a perversion, has been accompanied with a similar separation and perversion about the nature of the love of the land." seems to relate to a theme that's come up several times lately, regarding the removal of the material body from discussions about sex, and replacing it with more of a focus on the hedonistic and pleasurable aspects of it. As this becomes more common, further exploration of the diversity of sexual acts are introduced. Not necessarily a problem, unless it makes it's way into standard education for children and young people.
(Which appears to have happened in the UK, which resulted in my first experience of watching a Benjamin Boyce video, where he lightly touches on this topic after a Family Sex Show was cancelled at several venues after complaints were made about safeguarding.)
https://youtu.be/q9mF8DHwU8U
lol, all of us? 🙂
Now that I think of it… I'm pretty sure I was on the Us bus with you.
But people kept wanting to send us to Coventry because of the loud team sing-a-long.
People do as people see fit. We were/are in good company on that bus to Coventry. Maybe we should meet for lunch one day?
I'll get the t-shirts…
https://twitter.com/TheFamousArtBR/status/1517244619905548291
I want us all in a restaurant with phones on the table and lots of laughter.
name the place and a date…….
Sounds like a plan!
I'm not up to getting together, but what about something like this?
https://twitter.com/JKRsBarmyBooks/status/1518123802093359108
(and totally support others getting together!)
First book is Joyce's Trans.
To both. Book club to start.
https://twitter.com/jkrsbarmybooks/status/1518634962647457793?s=21
None of us have consented. This is Alex Drummond – identifies as a woman and a lesbian, No surgery, no hormones, does not even have to shave off the beard. Stonewall sends Alex around schools to talk about diversity and inclusion and Alex tells kids that this is what a lesbian looks like.
do you think he's AGP?
The most splendid Magdalene Berns.
But yes, yes he is. And he clearly enjoys the power to make women feel uncomfortable around him, and imo that is why he does it.
Absolutely.
ah yes, I'd forgotten about that.
I miss the fabulous Magdalen Burns. She's so on form there.
This continual pushing against boundaries, brings to mind the open letter sent to Madison Metropolitan School District in 2020 about their transphobic bathroom policy written by a teacher of 23 years:
https://ourlivesmadison.com/article/open-letter-from-vica-steel-madison-metropolitan-school-district-is-currently-enacting-a-transphobic-policy/
I don't want to discourage anyone from reading the full(some) complaint (that makes no mention of the risk assessments part of safeguarding) but here is the introduction – in their own words:
Now, in someone else's words, who understands the place risk assessment has in quality safeguarding policies:
https://www.womenarehuman.com/male-teacher-now-transgender-demands-access-to-washroom-for-elementary-school-girls/
Comments?
Who would possibly not want this person in the same bathroom as their 13yo daughter? This is Vica Steel.
Elementary school ages in the US are approx five to eleven years old.
Kim Hill interviewed Bill Browder this morning. He's living in seclusion for the same reason as Salman Rushdie (perpetual threat of assassination and/or kidnapping) but has to protect his wife & family simultaneously too.
Surprisingly, I managed the 48 mins without a moment of boredom. Most unusual. I liked his verbal style: fast, precise, low-key – yet always clear and direct.
They deployed useful-idiot theory for the Trump/Putin negotiations (in respect to the 2016 campaign meeting & offer of dirt on Hillary). Putin wanted Trump to ditch the Magnitsky Act. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnitsky_Act]
Most interesting bit was his explanation for why the goons who beat Magnitsky to death in prison put on the official form that they had used rubber truncheons on him: same as for Nazi goons under Himmler (to protect themselves against higher goons) – they had to create a bureaucratic record that they'd followed their orders properly.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018839233/bill-browder-the-man-high-on-putin-s-hit-list
I found him interesting but too glib Dennis.
For instance he said "Putin got 50%" of the Russian oligarchs billions for protecting them. How does he know this?
He also came across as money hungry to a point where, by the end, I was thinking he was getting his just deserts having to live his life as though he and his family were under threat of Russian violence at all times. When you dance with the devil…..
This is simply despicable:
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/300570733/kiwi-seaside-town-hosts-rhodesian-museum-where-a-racist-regimes-war-is-honoured
It seems likely that the DIA will soon be getting a few complaints about the Rhodesian Services Association (including their cooption of the RSA TLA on ANZAC Day). From myself and my whanau if no one else.
I am put in mind of this NRT piece from yesterday:
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-conviction-for-hate-speech.html?m=1
Historian Scott Hamilton has had an eye on these fuckers.
https://twitter.com/search?q=from%3A%40SikotiHamiltonR%20rhodesia&src=typed_query
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=rhodesia+site%3Areadingthemaps.blogspot.com
Thanks for the links Joe90. I don't spend much time on Twitter so wouldn't have thought of looking there myself. Though admittedly I do glance at Te Taipo and the disinformation project every so often since the Wellington occupation(/ inept coup attempt).
The second link didn't take me to a specific article, more a Google search in which the most relevant piece was about Don Brash in 2017. I didn't read it in full. Was that what you intended to link to?
Just noting that Scott's been writing about Rhodesians in NZ and their connections since 2009.
That's an informative Stuff article.
Seem's like the Charities Commission should have a more robust system of dealing with complaints, and publishing decisions. In this era of technology, it should be a fundamental automatic process.
Scott Hamilton, always seems to be ahead of the ball in these situations.
I hope that those that do complain, are responded to in detail and that the Charities Commission not only publishes the complaints but the decision making process that leads to their response.
I waver between the balance between knowing where such possibilities for racial extremism are, against sending them underground or onto the dark net where they are fully hidden.
I don't support the use of the venue for Anzac though, seems a bad judgement call on the part of the Ministry of Defence.
It's been great fun seeing Keir Starmer do the slow roast of Boris Johnson.
Even if her survives the Parliamentary inquiry he will have holed the Conservatives below the waterline. Great to see Starmer finally harvesting the results of all those carefully set Parliamentary questions.
(14) Labour Produced Strategic Masterstroke in Trapping Boris Johnson – YouTube
President Xi Jinping speaks wise words at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022, a thread outlining 10 major observations & messages from the speech. Actions mean more, but I live in hope.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1517095829147996165.html
What Government services are currently underfunded?
IDF gotta IDF.
https://twitter.com/nirhasson/status/1515602981722501124
Al-Aqsa is Islam's third-holiest site, and the most sacred site in Judaism where it is known as the Temple Mount. Police fired tear gas and rubber-tipped bullets at stone-throwing Palestinian youths, and later used drones to spray tear gas from the air, an AFP photographer said.
After midday prayers, some worshippers chanted "incitement" and tried to damage a security post, police said. More than 200 people, mostly Palestinians, have been hurt in clashes in and around Al-Aqsa in the past week. Palestinians have been outraged by massive Israeli police deployment and repeated visits by Jews to the holy site.
By long-standing convention, Jews are allowed to visit under certain conditions but are not allowed to pray there. Palestinian worshipper Alaa al-Haddad said Israel was restricting access to Al-Aqsa, and that this had created "tensions that lead to clashes", with hundreds of people arrested in recent days."It's all because the occupation forces are regularly storming the holy Al-Aqsa mosque," Haddad said.
https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20220422-scores-of-palestinians-wounded-in-clashes-with-israeli-police-at-jerusalem-s-al-aqsa-mosque-compound