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notices and features - Date published:
5:30 pm, April 3rd, 2023 - 34 comments
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The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
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This seems to me to be in error, both in law and in history.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/vaticans-rejection-of-racist-doctrine-justifying-colonisation-not-enough-advocate/UI6NQK2TNNHBZHGYLNNA6N4XWU/
The "Doctrine of discovery" (now repudiated by the Pope) – had little, if anything, to do with Great Britain and the colonization of NZ.
England (and later Great Britain) specifically repudiated the Pope's right to dispense lands to Catholic countries (Spain and Portugal), and instead relied on a combination of colonial charters, outright occupation/dispossession, and conquest.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_doctrine
Not arguing that the British were in any sense 'right'.
But that the Doctrine of Discovery had little to do with British, and later NZ law. [Which is why we're writing in English, right now (colonizing power), and not Dutch – vide Abel Tasman – the first European to 'discover' NZ]
Indeed
The Greens have released their initial party list. And kudos to them for being the only party which allows members a say – so it will go to the membership for validation.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/131678385/green-party-releases-initial-election-list-elizabeth-kerekere-jumps-to-four
For those more up to date with the Green MP/candidate relative standing than I am – any surprises?
Obviously gaps created by the departure of Logie and Sage.
Hee a racist at 1, amazing
I'm genuinely surprised Efeso Collins didn't rank higher and closer to an electable position. The Greens have generally struggled to engage with Pasifika voters despite the fact their policies should really resonate with them.
That said, the party has had a long-established tradition of promoting people who have done their time over latecomers (no matter their credentials) who jump in at the end of the process.
It gets them a reasonably ideologically coherent caucus that aligns with the wishes of membership, but makes it super hard for genuine political talent to be anywhere close to electable. Teanau Tuiono is probably the only recent exception, and he got turned down by the Palmerston North branch the first time he tried to find an electorate to run for in 2017.
Someone is taking the piss
"A big part of the problem is pay. Last year, 57 percent of surveyed staff said higher pay would have the most impact on their work satisfaction."
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/underpaid-council-staff-leave-in-droves
"Annual inflation hit 7.2 percent last year yet some staff – those who haven’t had their pay frozen – had to swallow a 3 percent pay increase.
Baxendale also got a 3 percent pay rise, or $16,000, taking her salary to $549,000. (Before he quit earlier this year, Auckland Council boss Jim Stabback, in charge of more than 7000 staff, earned $630,000.)"
We need to fire the bureaucrat who made this ruling, strip them of their citizenship and then send them to north Korea.
Just scummy
https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/131575689/a-disabled-mans-wheelchair-was-stolen-now-hes-not-eligible-for-a-replacement
I read this, and was utterly appalled (but not surprised). Government 'services' take every opportunity to try and re-evaluate even the smallest change in condition, to result in a reduction of services.
Seriously, they must spend 10x as much on paper-shuffling to achieve each tiny reduction, than it would cost to just deliver the service.
And, the glee with which they announce their findings is utterly despicable.
Delighted to see Hipkins announcing a thorough review into regulating the position of lobbyists in NZ. Due back in 2024 – it will be a new government (as in, it will be after the electon) who will need to be held accountable for implementing some (I hope) significant changes.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/131680915/prime-minister-chris-hipkins-announces-crackdown-on-lobbying-at-parliament
There was a distinctly sour tone from Phil O'Reilly over the announcement on The Panel this afternoon – which makes me think that Hipkins has definitely got it right.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/audio/2018884454/the-panel-with-verity-johnson-and-phil-o-reilly-part-1
Despite the media conflating the lobbyists issue with the self-implosion which is Stuart Nash's inability to understand the cabinet manual – these are two completely separate issues.
Another flip flop from Hipkins.
It is great news and certainly a start.
The cynic in me can't but help wonder if there had been some polling done recently. Afterall, it ain't gonna make a bigger difference to the cost of living than a Container Return Scheme.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/lobbying/486382/prime-minister-s-chief-of-staff-andrew-kirton-led-lobbying-firm-that-fought-against-reforms-now-binned-by-chris-hipkins
That went well.
It's excruciating. Take heart, that this evolutionary biologist can define 'woman'.
"When women weren't allowed to vote, no-one questioned what a woman was".
https://twitter.com/gcraven10/status/1642812183875649537
Yeah, you beat me to posting that.
I would have thought "biological female" would have been a simple answer.
But, it looks like Chippy is happy for me (a male) to call myself a female tomorrow and wander into the women's changing sheds.
adult human female is the most accurate answer. Child human female is a girl. Biological female could be any number of animal species. Biological female also implies that there are non-biological females (there aren't). Even so biological female is close enough and is in the right ballpark, as opposed to whatever planet Hipkins is on.
Embarrassing. Why can't he say:
There's a scientific (biological) definition that is very clear; a self-ID (similar to a personal religious) definition that people declare for themselves, and a legal definition that is still emerging as we speak. As PM, I have to respect each of these definitions in context etc etc etc.
Self ID is more the non binary area (which does not change sex category on the birth certificate – because legislation now allows a legal identity different to birth sex.
It's not so much the legal definition that is in the process of emerging, but how society facilitates gender ID different to original birth sex.
Not that simple a question.
Most would forget when answering that some of those born biological females, now identify as men.
One limited answer answer is those born biological females of adult age who identify as women.
But, if one excluded those who no longer identify as women, does one include those born male who now identify as women?
The problem for a Prime Minister answering is this
What does New Zealand law say?
And remember the legislation related to birth certificate rules was passed unanimously by everyone in parliament – LGTM and NACT.
He can hardly answer in a way inconsistent with New Zealand law – where a persons identity as man or woman is not fixed to the biological sex definition.
Other New Zealanders still have freedom of speech/conscience etc and their own opinions – such as the decriminalisation of ecstasy and marijuana is overdue.
It is a simple question.
What makes it difficult is pandering to someones idea of their identity. That and seeking re-election.
A woman is primary, their identity is secondary to that. Same with men. How or indeed what they identify as is secondary.
Which would mean a person, born male or female but who by the time of becoming an adult no longer does so and has medically transitioned is in your eyes
a man (albeit without a penis, but with breasts and full of female hormones)
a woman (albeit without breasts and via testosterone presents as male)
They are a man who identifes as as female
or a woman who identifies as a male
Sex plus identity/gender
Sex is immutable (ie unchanging) no matter how many hormones are placed in the human body, so they cannot chnage from being a male to being a female.
An archaeologist examining the disinterred bones of a man identifying as a a female will see a male skeleton. They will test the DNA and find male DNA in every single cell.
Birth sex in terms of chromosomes and related sexual development, sure is a biological reality.
But society/nation state is now including all, by their current gender ID. For the great majority that is in accord with (and would remain so) their birth sex.
Thus the inclusion of transgender women and men in another category to their birth sex.
Phil O'Reilly = old man shouts at clouds. Another symbol of the wasted majority Arden had focused on amalgamating what they lacked the bollocks to fix separately.
"Sometimes the voice of people has to be louder than the voice of the judges."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/487243/national-claims-judges-ignoring-police-bail-objections
Those are Trumpian overtones from Mark Mitchell.
Mitchell should invite Ruth Richardson in to advise him. I have no doubt her legacy is one of the root causes of so much that upsets him. The cretin won't see it though.
Ghislaine Maxwell was locked up quick smart. About time the men who facilitated Epstein get theirs.
https://twitter.com/LuciaOC_/status/1642114408867414017
The U.S. Virgin Islands sued JPMorgan late last year in a Manhattan federal court, saying the bank facilitated Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking and abuse by allowing the late financier to remain a client and helping him send money to his victims. The civil lawsuit alleges that JPMorgan received referrals of high-value business opportunities from Epstein and turned a blind eye to his activities. The bank has said it didn’t know about Epstein’s alleged crimes and can’t be held liable.
https://archive.li/R9RZu
Useful but still does not get to the heart of the matter. Who funded Epstein's hedge fund? Given the man's very unlikely background there is no way in hell this massive fund – that was the entire basis of his influence – was an authentic, organic entity.
Find out who created Epstein's hedge fund and you discover it's real purpose. It has always been my sense it was a massive sting.
The money might be good, so what’s the catch?
Answer; employment conditions.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/487266/recruitment-specialist-warns-new-zealand-nurses-may-end-up-worse-off-in-australia
@ Robert Guyton, well done!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/131677146/environment-southland-commits-to-reducing-emissions-to-netzero-by-2050
Robert
[Please fix the typo in your username, thanks – Incognito]
Mod note
Paraphrasing Peter Gluckman’s recent comments, things […] that polarise people, and evoke strong emotions such as fear, make them more prone to becoming (more) polarised. He says that strong emotions are a barrier to constructive convos and fruitful debate that may lead to mutual understanding and consensus.
https://humanist.nz/newsletter/april-2023/
Just strayed onto a You Tube of interview Liz Gunn with Winston Peters.
I didn't watch it all but in case someone else would like to: