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Gender recognition: woke-ism or human rights?

Written By: - Date published: 6:31 am, March 20th, 2023 - 259 comments

This debate is about every teenager, anywhere in the world, questioning their gender and sexual identity. This is about the person who after years of suffering, at some point in their lives decides they wish to identify as having a gender identity different to that of their birth.

Peters to Pence on the Pacific – a return to colonialism?

Written By: - Date published: 9:38 pm, January 14th, 2019 - 120 comments

Winston Peters went to Washington last December to see US VP Mike Pence and invited the US to engage more in the South-West Pacific without informing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Patrick Smellie described this apparent oversight as “deeply worrying.” Even more worrying is what Peters said when he was there.

Rally Against Racism in Auckland Tonight

Written By: - Date published: 9:21 am, August 3rd, 2018 - 190 comments

There are various protests against the visit of the two Canadian hate speakers in Auckland tonight.

BREAKING NEWS: The owner of the proposed venue, Eden Terrace’s Powerstation, has apparently pulled the plug on the event. And the event organiser’s website says tickets will be refunded.

PLEASE NOTE: The organised protests are still on. Celebrate at Aotea Square at 5.30!

 

Julie Anne Genter: Working for Women’s Rights on the World Stage

Written By: - Date published: 6:08 am, March 27th, 2018 - 71 comments

The Minister for Women on her recent trip with the NZ delegation to the UN.

Climate change is not an accident

Written By: - Date published: 6:23 am, February 22nd, 2018 - 110 comments

Snippets from the first day of the 2nd Pacific Climate Change Conference and Cyclone Gita.

Campaigning westie style …

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, October 6th, 2016 - 12 comments

The Matafai aiga from West Auckland show how to campaign.

New Powers to Ministers to screw Iwi

Written By: - Date published: 10:19 am, July 2nd, 2015 - 25 comments

The Social Housing Reform (Transaction Mandate) Bill allows designated Ministers to sell off state houses. Currently Housing New Zealand has no such power. Interestingly however this Government could introduce a Bill with criteria to enable sales to be signed off by the CE of Housing New Zealand but instead they are seeking that power for themselves. But within it there is a fishhook for iwi. UPDATE: comment from Turei and response from Bennett

And now for the real news…

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, March 21st, 2014 - 15 comments

Rockstar economy”?   Let’s hear it for another chorus of,”There is no depression in New Zealand”!  Demographia reports on absolute food and housing poverty for too many Kiwis.  Simon Collins reports on the ethnic inequality gaps & high rates of Maori imprisonment.

Closing the Gaps – Education & work

Written By: - Date published: 10:10 am, March 17th, 2014 - 8 comments

Simon Collins article on reducing inequalities for Māori & Pacific people. Māori and Pacific youth have become significantly disadvantaged in employment.  However, the article supports charter schools, without examining how such neoliberal intitatives are ultimately damaging for Māori & Pacific people.

UN to NZ Human Rights – ‘can do better’

Written By: - Date published: 10:05 am, February 3rd, 2014 - 20 comments

A draft UN report on human rights shows NZ has been slacking off.  The government is glossing over its failings: eg on domestic violence, child protection, poverty, ethnic inequalities, discrimination, disability rights, government abuse of urgency. Collins focuses on punishment, surveillance.

Polity: Turnout in the referendum

Written By: - Date published: 3:57 pm, December 16th, 2013 - 72 comments

Rob Salmond at Polity has had a look at the effectiveness of National’s deliberate strategy to discriminate against Maori and Pasifika in the asset sales referendum. National chose a postal ballot for the referendum knowing it would disproportionately disenfranchise Maori and Pasifika communities. I hope they’re proud of themselves. Here is a chart of turnout […]

Kris Faafoi on Broadcasting

Written By: - Date published: 10:38 am, September 30th, 2013 - 16 comments

On The Nation Kris Faafoi laid out the bare bones of Labour’s policy on public broadcasting: strengthening public broadcasting across a range of platforms; continuing funding for NZOnAir to commercial broadcasters; balancing commercial & public service broadcasting; a new youth oriented public radio station. [Update: boycotting RNZ – you know why]

Beyond the MSM? You Bet!

Written By: - Date published: 10:18 am, September 20th, 2013 - 221 comments

David Cunliffe spoke to the Left base in the Daily Blog Live interview last night: economy, tax, employment, GCSB, TPPA & more.  He raises hopes for a new, post GFC social democratic vision. But he spoke to those with economic & policy knowledge. His nods towards better social security, away from bennie bashing, need fleshing out.

Hone in the House

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, December 15th, 2012 - 75 comments

Mana has established a clear identity, as shown in Hone’s adjournment speech.  Based in practice and activism. For all people, especially those on low incomes.  A voice for Maori, Pasifika people and children. The Maori Party’s future is in question. What’s the future for Mana and Hone?

2 storms and a rocket

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, December 14th, 2012 - 42 comments

With the GFC, changing climate and resource depletion, the struggles of the powerless get over-looked.  Asia-Pacific has been described as the focal point of a new cold war. Storms in Samoa and the Philippines, a rocket launch from North Korea. How should we respond?

Advocacy activism in precarious times

Written By: - Date published: 5:31 pm, December 11th, 2012 - 25 comments

In these troubling times, it was uplifting to see the flax-roots, practical and collaborative action at the Onehunga Recession Busting rally for beneficiaries today.  Volunteers in front of the WINZ office in Onehunga Mall, are giving support and assistance to those most in need.

English’s days numbered

Written By: - Date published: 10:26 am, January 6th, 2011 - 54 comments

What’s to stop a government minister taking taxpayer money and giving it to, say, a family friend or a political slush fund? In theory, lots. There’s a formal budget-formation process through the ministeries and Cabinet, the Budget then has to be approved by Parliament, and the PM would sack any minister who tried such blatant corruption. Wouldn’t he?

Inquiry needed into English-Peda scandal

Written By: - Date published: 9:54 am, December 24th, 2010 - 32 comments

The day before Christmas, in what will surely be a forlorn attempt to bury the story, Bill English’s office has finally relented after months of resistance and released under the OIA papers on how the unknown Pacific Economic Development Agency was awarded a $4.8 million blank cheque in the Budget. This looks serious.

Pressured plonkers pull the plug on PEDA pingers

Written By: - Date published: 9:40 am, August 21st, 2010 - 10 comments

Quite suddenly, the government has pulled the plug on the contraversial $4.8 million in uncontested funding it awarded to the previously unknown Pacific Economic Development Agency in this year’s Budget.

It all stinks to high heaven.

Who is JR?

Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, June 17th, 2010 - 53 comments

More information is emerging about PEDA director Anthony Joseph Pereira (aka. JR Pereira). His connections with National, especially English, are deep and go back to before the last election. The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs warned of “risks for ministers” in dealing with PEDA. The government’s refusal to give straight answers is just making the situation worse.

Questions mount on PEDA

Written By: - Date published: 12:10 am, June 16th, 2010 - 45 comments

Details on PEDA are still very thin but it is increasingly looking like public money has been hijacked to help the political prospects of National’s Pacific Islanders. The service delivery aspect of the Pacific Island Affairs Ministry seems set to be turned over to this private organisation. The lack of honest answers from the minister only deepens the suspicion that something very dodgy is afoot.

Samoa Relief Concert

Written By: - Date published: 10:56 pm, October 6th, 2009 - 4 comments

Pulling together

Written By: - Date published: 10:41 pm, September 30th, 2009 - 1 comment

I think I can safely speak on behalf of all of the Standard when I offer my condolences to those who have lost family and friends in today’s tsunami. We forget sometimes that we are a pacific island nation but the grief that is being felt throughout New Zealand tonight reminds us exactly how much […]

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