The final Cass Report was released yesterday. Four years in the making, it's a damning indictment of the affirmation only model of health care for children with gender dysphoria in the UK's GIDS clinic.
A lot of commentary and complexities in what Hillary Cass has revealed. This one stands out and should make people pause and think about what has really been going on.
It's previously been reported that GIDS refused to share data with the initial work Cass did, then it turns out that they hadn't actually been collecting it. That's the data that would have showed if their treatment model, including puberty blockers was working. Once the Cass review got up and running, this happened,
Amid all today's noise, please don't let this important story get lost: Hilary Cass says the adult gender clinics conspired, for ideological reasons, to prevent her doing follow-up studies for outcomes of the children passing through the Tavistock. The whole scandal in microcosm
Hilary Cass was actively impeded from doing a follow-up study of Tavistock children by adult gender clinics who wouldn’t co-operate. She believes this stunning refusal was co-ordinated and ideologically driven. All credit to @ameliagentleman in the Guardian for this revelation
It was “unbelievably disappointing” that the research study she had hoped to conduct to look at the outcomes of 9,000 former Tavistock patients had been blocked by the adult gender clinics, who refused to contact former patients for permission on her behalf.
The former health secretary Sajid Javid had changed legislation to allow researchers to link pre- and post-transition NHS numbers, but the research had to be abandoned when all but one of the adult clinics refused to cooperate, Cass said.
“I do think it was coordinated. It seemed to me to be ideologically driven,” she said. “There was no substantive reason for it. So I can only really conclude that it was because they didn’t feel that it was the right thing to do to try and nail down this data.”
And yet the NZ parliament has recently passed legislation that is likely to criminalize any parents or medical professionals who are unwilling to endorse medicalization of a child's gender dysphoria, because that would be "conversion therapy". Jacinda Ardern herself acknowledged that such prosecutions could happen under the new legislation.
Every single Labour, Green and Maaori Party MP voted for this legislation, as did "libertarian" David Seymour, who apparently believed that a 13-yr old girl can give informed consent to life-changing and irreversible procedures.
According to this article below, Te Whatu Ora "commissioned the Professional Association of Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) to update the national guidelines and referral pathways for gender-affirming healthcare." If that's true, it's cause for great concern. Why did Te Whatu Ora commission an activist body to guide clinical practice? The article itself is rather poor journalism, in that it fails to challenge PATHA's misleading claim that the Cass Review "ignores the consensus of major medical bodies around the world and lacks relevance in an Aotearoa context". Is PATHA really unaware that Sweden and France have also recently halted the uncritical application of "gender-affirming care" (such as Orwellian term)? And what exactly is meant by "an Aotearoan context"?
Yes, sadly I fear that Visubversa is right. I'm aware that most of the Nats also supported the bill – including all of their current front bench apart from Shane Reti. And unfortunately, two of the eight who had the courage to oppose the bill are no longer in parliament.
The one aspect of politicians that may work in favour, is their chameleon ability to change position as the political background changes.
Public awareness changes the political background.
What is required here is immense effort, and care must be taken to ensure those harmed by this medical treatment – have high-quality care and support delivered to them.
As substantive – and harder to dismiss – evidence comes to public awareness, insurance companies may play a big part in stopping harmful procedures as they will not insure doctors or surgeons, or pay for treatments via health insurance.
Does anyone know if NZ doctors carry a liability insurance, or is this completely covered by ACC?
If so, asking ACC what their exposure is may be worth investigating.
It sounds like ACC will shield doctors from most (but not all) of the damage here in NZ. Whereas in Australia, where they don't have ACC, one insurance company has recently dropped coverage for doctors who carry out "gender affirming care":
Then I might get on with a letter to Minister for ACC, Hon Matt Doocey, and an OIA for Dr Tracey Batten as Chair and David Hunt as Deputy Chair to the Board of ACC to see what mechanism they can use to change the identified harmful practices we are still doing here in NZ.
Matt Doocey worked at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and the Northern School of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy as Assistant Director of Education and Training, not afaik in GIDS the service that was doing GA health care w young people
Molly – you and others may be interested that Doucey's work with Tavistock has been/is under discussion in the last 24 hours on "X" aka Twitter under a post by Stephen Franks (weka's tweet posted in her comment above is in this thread:)
"Have I missed the NZ journalist demands from Matt Doocey MP our most prominent local connection with Tavistock etc for his response to the Cass review? Surely it’s relevant that our Minister of Mental Health, and our Minister of Youth, was proud of being a former operative in what has been confirmed to be an unscientific and barbaric chop industry. Has he recanted? Pretty important in a country that has reportedly been using the life-ruining drugs even more than the UK. Our weak and Trudeau-trendy rulers voted unanimously for the ludicrous self-identification law. They voted their contempt for free speech with the ban on what Tavistock and its sinister collaborators branded ‘conversion therapy’. Are those who still don’t know what is a woman still controlling the puberty blocker drug spout?
Re questioning by some as to why Doucey is a National MP etc, Doucey is in fact part of the Carter family which includes David Carter, former Speaker of the House – his uncle. From Wikipedia:
Doucey's Wikipedia entry also records that his qualifications as follows (although note "citation needed")
Doocey worked in mental health and healthcare management in both New Zealand and the UK. He studied Counselling Psychology at Weltech, has a BSc (Hons) in Social Policy, an MA in Healthcare Management from Kingston University in London and an MSc in Global Politics from Birkbeck, University of London.[citation needed]
I'm heartened that the new Minister of Health (Reti) voted against the inclusion of gender identity in the "Conversion Practices" legislation. So if PATHA's review is predictably ideological, maybe he will quash it – if he doesn't, he will get a letter from me.
Public health expert and Otago University emeritus professor Charlotte Paul said Pharmac data showed New Zealand children aged 12 to 17 were being prescribed puberty blockers at *10 times the rate* as children in the UK.
Referral guidelines allowed for children as young as eight or nine to get blockers, she said.
I see red flag after red flag in that article. People still saying that PB are "safe and reversible". PATHA "not responding". Parent reports saying that PB made their kids mental health worse.
Incoming medical scandal. It will be bigger here because we always overdo stupid overseas trends to prove we're part of the world.
Apparently, PATHA was contracted to conduct and author the review…
"Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, which was responsible for clinical care and guidance, had commissioned the Professional Association of Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) to update the national guidelines and referral pathways for gender-affirming healthcare."
I look forward to a totally ideology-free and evidence-based review of the available evidence, and also hope that one day I will gain the ability to shoot laser beams out of my eyes and lightning bolts out of my arse.
One of these outcomes is considerably more likely than the other.
The findings of the review were deeply concerning. It concluded that clinical guidelines globally used to treat gender-questioning children and adolescents were crafted in violation of international standards for guideline development. These guidelines recommended medical interventions for minors despite insufficient evidence, particularly regarding long-term treatment outcomes in adolescents. Additionally, they relied on other guidelines that recommended medical treatments as the basis for making similar recommendations.
PATHA – Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa
references WPATH SOC8 in their guidelines:
"We recommend healthcare providers refer to the latest Standards of Care version 8 (SOC-8), released by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), for guidance for working with transgender children and adolescents.2"
– Page 5 Primary Care Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy Initiation Guidelines (2023 – Aotearoa New Zealand)
A small number of "scientists" (e.g. Jack Turban) publish garbage-tier statistically dubious work in journals where they either directly know the reviewers or editorial team or know their ideological stance.
That work gets picked up by the PATHAs of the world, further inflating the influence of said "scientists".. ("my work has been cited by International Bodies and used to create Important Guidelines!!")
The "scientists" on the basis of Being Used to Create Important Guidelines then publish further garbage-tier science, which then inflates their importance further, which lends them further credibility that the PATHAs of the world then cite to show that their guidelines are based on credible "science"
The "No debate" means that no contrary opinion ever enters the citation merry-go-round.
It's not the kind of merry-go-round that kids play on. It's the kind of merry-go-round that plays with kids.
"Endocrinologist Dr. Will Malone, who is one of several doctors raising the alarm on this issue, said, “It is misleading to state as fact that ‘puberty blockers are reversible’. No one knows if the physical and psychological impacts of halting normal puberty are reversible.” Research conducted by Dr. Malone and Dr. Michael Laidlaw found that after two years of pubertal suppression, up to a third of children aged 12 – 15 years old were found to have abnormally low bone density. Moreover, further research conducted by Dr. Michael Biggs found that after two years of ‘puberty blocking’ medications, bone density in a significant number of children “declined to a level that should trigger clinical concern”. In the study, Biggs cites an example of a patient at the Tavistock clinic who began taking endocrine disruptors at the age of 12 and experienced four broken bones by the age of 16."
For a shorter 6 min video expressing an overview of the concerns visit Gluck's Twitter post:
I agree, preaching to the converted but please keep on preaching.
What bugs me about all this is how obvious the problem is. So many politicos will be like "I'm so surprised! Nobody could have known! I trusted the science!" and that's because politicians consume science like they are at a salad bar. Yeah, I'll have the croutons, but not the coleslaw. Don't like the coleslaw. I'll pretend it does not exist.
Unfortunately Chloe Swarbrick is a prime example of this.
I enjoy the exchange of info here too, @That_guy, but also post knowing that there may be some who retain intellectual curiosity, and will start to look into the issue because others have posted some starting points to investigate.
It all just demonstrates that this is an ideology – a form of quasi religious belief which leads its "true believers" to defy any requirements that they feel are against their accepted dogma.
They have moved from "no debate" to obstruction, obfuscation and the abuse of power.
"Thousands of kids have been harmed by this ideology, along with many, many adults. Those of us who have been shunned, lost jobs, friends and reputations as a result of accusations of bigotry and transphobia are, of course, secondary victims. And as for those who have played it safe? Inevitably, they will now stay silent or pretend that the evidence of harm contained in the Cass Report is a shocking revelation. The truth, of course, is that the evidence has been there all along. To those new converts now pretending otherwise: we see you."
while you are doing that, I would encourage you to read the first hand accounts of detransitioners. They are the ones most badly damaged as young people. Let me know if you would like some links.
try this first hand account of medical/surgical transition and detransition from Ritchie/TullipR on twitter, written in 2022 when was 35. He started transitioning at 26. Not sure when he started detransitioning, maybe 3 years ago or longer.
I want to tell everyone what they took from us, what irreversible really means, and what that reality looks like for us. No one told me any of what I’m going to tell you now.
I have no sensation in my crotch region at all. You could stab me with a knife and I wouldn't know. The entire area is numb, like it's shell shocked and unable to comprehend what happened, even 4 years on.
I tore a sutra 4 days post recovery, they promised to address it, i begged them in emails to fix it, they scorned me instead. Years later, I have what looks like a chunk of missing flesh next to my neo-vagina, it literally looks like someone hacked at me. They still wont fix it
No one told me that the base area of your penis is left, it can't be removed – meaning you're left with a literal stump inside that twitches. When you take Testosterone and your libido returns, you wake up with morning wood, without the tree. I wish this was a joke
And if you do take testosterone after being post op, you run the risk of internal hair in the neo-vagina. Imagine dealing with internal hair growth after everything? What a choice… be healthy on Testosterone and a freak, or remain a sexless eunuch.
And thats something that will never come back and one of the reason why i got surgery. My sex drive died about 6 months on HRT and at the time I was glad to be rid of it, but now 10 years later, Im realising what im missing out on and what I won't get back.
Because even if i had a sex drive, my neo vagina is so narrow and small, i wouldn't even be able to have sex if i wanted too. And when I do use a small dilator, I have random pockets of sensation that only seem to pick up pain, rather than pleasure.
Any pleasure I do get comes from the Prostate that was moved forward and wrapped in glands from the penis, meaning anal sex isnt possible and can risk further damage.
Then theres the dreams. I dream often, that I have both sets of genitals, in the dream I'm distressed I have both, why both I think? I tell myself to wake up because I know its just a dream. And I awaken into a living nightmare.
In those moments of amnesia as I would wake, I would reach down to my crotch area expecting something that was there for 3 decades, and it's not. My heart skips a beat, every single damn time.
Then theres the act of going to the toilet. It takes me about 10 minutes to empty my bladder, it's extremely slow, painful and because it dribbles no matter how much i relax, it will then just go all over that entire area, leaving me soaken.
So after cleaning myself up, I will find moments later that my underwear is wet – no matter how much I wiped, it slowly drips out for the best part of an hour. I never knew at 35 I ran the risk like smelling like piss everywhere I went.
Now i get to the point where im detransitioned and the realisation that this is permanent is catching up with me. During transition, I was obsessive and deeply unwell, I cannot believe they were allowed to do this to me, even after all the red flags.
I wasn't even asked if I wanted to freeze sperm or want kids. In my obsessive, deeply unwell state they just nodded along and didnt tell me the realities, what life would be like.
And finally, theres dilation, which is like some sort of demonic ceremony where you impale yourself for 20 agonising minutes to remind you of your own stupidity.
This isn't even the half of it. And this isn't regret either, this is grief and anger. Fuck everyone who let this happen.
@Robert Guyton – A strange response. What do you think you are contributing here – other than a exposure of some of your less savoury personality traits?
visubversa, posted this: "Thousands of kids have been harmed by this ideology, along with many, many adults.".
weka's response – for those who have kept up with the discussion – identifies two well-funded organisations that completely failed at child safeguarding.
If you care about the iatrogenic harm that has been identified, and is still being facilitated in NZ via the same guidelines, then you could instead look into this further instead of playing schoolboy games while the grownups talk.
Response from InsideOut (the org that goes into schools etc to preach about being in the wrong bodyetc)
"We categorically reject any calls to restrict access to gender affirming care in Aotearoa, following the release of the Cass Review in the U.K. earlier this week.
The Cass Review is a biased, unethical, methodologically flawed and politically motivated review that disregards a strong evidence base in support of affirming models of trans healthcare. It ignores the consensus of major medical bodies around the world and lacks relevance in an Aotearoa context."
And more denialof NZ’s PATHA on the evidence in the Cass resport:
"In a written statement, PATHA president Jennifer Shields [NZ] said the Cass Review "ignores the consensus of major medical bodies around the world and lacks relevance in an Aotearoa context".
"The final Cass Review did not include trans or non-binary experts or clinicians experienced in providing gender affirming care in its decision-making, conclusions, or findings. Instead, a number of people involved in the review and the advisory group previously advocated for bans on gender affirming care in the United States, and have promoted non-affirming 'gender exploratory therapy', which is considered a conversion practice."
"Dr Cass is clear that standards in this field have been woefully subpar, with children given treatments that lacked any evidence base. This might be excused temporarily, given that this is a fast-developing field, but what is inexcusable is that there has been no attempt to build an evidence base, and indeed Dr Cass’s own attempts to build one were “thwarted” by the adult and child NHS gender services. The most important overarching point in her report is that the standard of care for gender-distressed children has fallen far short of what this vulnerable population needs and deserves. "
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Mike Grimshaw writes – At a time when universities are understandably nervous regarding the establishment of the University Advisory Group (UAG) and the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) it may seem strange – or even fool-hardy – to state that there are long-standing issues in the tertiary sector ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – A lack of perspective can make something quite large or important seem small or irrelevant. Against a backdrop of high-profile, negative statistics it is easy to overlook the positive. For instance, the fact that 64 percent of Maori are employed is rarely reported. For ...
Earlier this year, the Herald ran a series of articles amounting to a sustained campaign against raised pedestrian crossings, by reporter Bernard Orsman. A key part of that campaign concerned the raised crossings being installed as part of the Pt Chevalier to Westmere project, with at least 10 articles over ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 19 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm on Monday.Parliament is not sitting this week. It resumes next week for a two-week sitting session up to and ...
Hi,Thanks to all the beautiful Worms who came to the LA Webworm popup on Saturday.It was a way to celebrate the online store we launched last week — and it was super special.As I talk about a lot, I really value our community here — and it was a BLAST ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 5, 2024 thru Sat, May 11, 2024. (Unfortunate) Story of the week "Grief that stops at despair is an ending that I and many others, most notably ...
Last night the largest solar storm in decades resulted in Aurorae being seen across Aotearoa, causing many to ask why?Why was the sky pink? What was all this stuff about the power grid? Have we, as so many have wondered since the election, reached the end of days?I had a ...
We have been on the road in England, squeezing down narrow lanes, flying up the M6, loving hedgerows and villages and cathedrals, liking the 21st century less.There have been moments when it’s felt like a movie trope. The pub in Exford, lovely seventeenth century bar, almost more dogs than people, ...
There’s a solar-storm on at the moment, and since the South Island is having a day and night with clear skies, that means Aurorae. I have just got back from a midnight visit to Tunnel Beach – southwards-looking over the Sea, and without the light pollution. Quite a few others ...
Michael Bassett writes – I’m not sure that it’s much comfort to anyone to know that the post-Covid surge in violent crimes, gang activity, ram raids, random shootings, thuggery and stabbings is occurring in other countries as well as New Zealand. These days, wagging school, out-of-control welfare and ...
Oliver Hartwich writes – Cast your mind back to mid-December. A new Prime Minister had just been sworn in, the new Government started its 100-day programme, and Christmas was only days away.Amid all the haste, a report landed that would have deserved our attention.I am talking about the ...
TL;DR: An unseasonally early icy blast at the same time as some long-overdue maintenance almost caused Aotearoa-NZ’s electricity system to black out this week. That’s because a quadropoly of gentailers1 have prioritised paying dividends from their rising profits and adding debt over investing in 1.5 GigaWatts of new wind farms ...
Hi,Before we crack into today’s Webworm, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that Israel is pushing into Rafah. Over 100,000 Palestinians are now attempting to flee the one place that was deemed “safe”.Trouble is, the place they’re fleeing to is already destroyed. Total annihilation is the end goal here.“Israel is ...
‘It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. I am quite sure that it is figures which show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.’ GoetheI was struck at a recent conference on equity for the elderly, how many presenters implicitly relied upon Statistics New Zealand. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveReporting on defence spending late last year, RNZ said the coalition government will have to make some tough calls this term to help the force address staff shortages and ageing infrastructure. “These are huge, huge amounts of government spending. It’s a significant proportion of the government’s ...
The Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...
The Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...
The Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...
“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...
The Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
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. ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...
Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
“The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office. “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk, and Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist The suspected ringleaders of the unrest in New Caledonia have been placed in home detention and the social network TikTok has been banned as French security forces struggle to restore law and order. The French ...
Dr. Eric Chuah who stood for a centrist NZ political party in the October 2023 NZ Elections for Maungakiekie Auckland will stand as a candidate for Tauranga City Council Ward of Matua-=Otumoetai and Mayor of Tauranga. ...
If you can’t get to the comedy fest, let us bring the comedy fest to you. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. The New Zealand International Comedy Festival is in full swing at the moment, with a veritable smorgasboard of comedy treats ...
A new poll commissioned by Unions Wellington shows an overwhelming majority of Wellingtonians oppose the Council’s plan to sell the 34% public stake in Wellington Airport. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aruna Sathanapally, Chief Executive, Grattan Institute, Grattan Institute A central focus of this week’s budget is the treasury’s forecast for inflation. By this time next year, inflation is projected to be back within the Reserve Bank’s 2-3% target range. Inflation has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yolanda van Heezik, Professor of Ecology, University of Otago Getty Images Cities across Aotearoa New Zealand are trying to solve a housing crisis, with increasing residential density a key solution. But not everyone is happy about the resulting loss of natural ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Reeve, Deputy Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute WDG Photo/Shutterstock For years, the electricity sector has been the poster child for emissions cuts in Australia. The sector achieved a stunning 26% drop in emissions over the past 15 ...
It’s often the last thing people want to do, but asking someone if they’re having suicidal thoughts is a critical first step to helping them. Content warning: this story discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. For a list of resources that can help if you or someone you know is feeling ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy J. Ralph, Associate Professor, Macquarie University The pyramids at Giza, like dozens of others, are located several kilometres west of the current path of the Nile.Alex Cimbal / Shutterstock The largest field of pyramids in Egypt – consisting of 31 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Diepstraten, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute ABO PHOTOGRAPHY/Shutterstock Receiving a cancer diagnosis is life-changing and can cause a range of concerns about ongoing health. Fear of cancer returning is one ...
Winston Peters has been on tour around the Pacific while two unrelated crises unfolded, explains Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Two separate ...
This is the Mount Everest of artificial meatcraft.Ah, bacon. Pig’s gold. Toast’s consolation. Dawn’s savoury embrace. If meat was a currency, bacon would be the Benjamin Franklin. Or if you’re feeling patriotic, the Lord Rutherford. When it comes to fake bacon, the obvious question is: why bother? In the ...
From illegal milk to sprinkler bans and airplane ticket scams, Tyrone Barugh is on a one-man mission through New Zealand’s most obscure legal loopholes. I’m deep undercover, investigating Wellington’s criminal underworld. Inside this store, I’ve been told there is a million-dollar trade in illicit substances. A man dressed in black ...
NONFICTION 1 The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) A free copy of this amazing story of a woman who operated behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France was up for grabs this past fortnight. Readers were asked to share a story of wartime bravery, ...
It’s been a recess week at Parliament, which might indicate slim pickings for conversation topics for the Raw Politics team. But things are never dull in politics, especially with a new Government keen to follow through on its law and order promises, and a NZ First minister who wants to ...
Dear Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Defence, and Hon Christopher Penk, Associate Minister of Defence I have written to you, to attempt to give you an insight into the incredible hardship of being an NZDF family. Whilst I cannot speak on behalf of serving personnel, I can speak from my ...
Analysis: What a difference a year makes. In mid 2023, Wayne Brown the Auckland Mayor was a politician diminished by a calamitous response to the region’s Anniversary Weekend storm emergency and later forced against his preference into a half sale only of the city’s airport shares. His demeanour among his ...
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New Zealand’s drug legislation hasn’t been overhauled in nearly 50 years, in spite of a recommendation from the Law Commission in 2011 to do so. Our Misuse of Drugs Act was passed in 1975 and is based on a United Nations framework set in 1961. Now a new organisation, Harm ...
Asia Pacific Report An open letter to The New Zealand Herald has challenged a full page Zionist advertisement this week for failing to acknowledge the “terrible injustices” suffered by the Palestinian people in Israel’s seven-month genocidal war on Gaza. In the latest of several international reports that have condemned genocide ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When he was opposition leader, Bill Shorten faced Coalition criticism for attacking “the top end of town”, a phrase he used in his 2019 budget reply. Now Peter Dutton is finding the line “billions of ...
By Adam Burns, RNZ News reporter Worried New Caledonian expats in Aotearoa admit they are “terrified” for friends and family amid ongoing violence and civil unrest in the French Pacific territory. The death toll remained at four tonight, and hundreds have been injured after electoral changes sparked widespread rioting by ...
French President Emmanuel Macron has declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia after several days of civil unrest in the capital. Four people are dead due to the unrest and violence in the capital, Nouméa. France TV reports that a 22-year-old gendarme who had been seriously wounded has become ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland This week’s budget was Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ third and – for practical purposes – final for the current parliamentary term. Even if the 2025 election is delayed long enough to give ...
They held a noisy but peaceful demonstration against the ongoing genocide being carried out by the State of Israel, condemning the Israeli ambassador who was hosting an invitation-only event to celebrate the establishment of the State of Israel. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bridget Haire, Senior lecturer, public health ethics, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Bowonpat Sakaew/Shutterstock HIV prevention was allocated A$43.9 million over three years in this week’s federal budget. Some $26m of this is for “PrEP” for people without access to ...
Karen Chhour wants Oranga Tamiriki to establish more partnerships with Māori, despite introducing a bill to Parliament removing their obligation to do so. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bridget Haire, Senior lecturer, public health ethics, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Bowonpat Sakaew/Shutterstock HIV prevention was allocated A$43.9 million over three years in this week’s federal budget. Some $26m of this is for “PrEP” for people without access to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole George, Associate Professor in Peace and Conflict Studies, The University of Queensland New Caledonia’s capital city, Noumea, has endured widespread violent rioting over the past 48 hours. This crisis intensified rapidly, taking local authorities by surprise. Peaceful protests had been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brad Elphinstone, Lecturer in psychology., Swinburne University of Technology A DNA sequence.Gio.tto/Shutterstock Should you be denied life insurance or have to pay extra if you have a genetic risk for certain diseases? Should insurance companies even have access to your genetic ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Nicholls, Senior research associate, University of Sydney Barely a day has gone by this month without politicians or commentators talking about online harms. There have been multiple high-profile examples spurring on the conversation. There was the circulation of videos of Bishop ...
With less than six months to go, it’s time to start paying attention to what could be the most consequential election of our lifetimes. It’s less than half a year until election day in the United States, which makes this a good opportunity to review what’s happened thus far in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ryan Storr, Research fellow, Swinburne University of Technology The topic of homophobia in sport has recently made headlines in Australia, with a series of homophobic incidents involving men’s AFL players. These homophobic incidents are usually well-reported in news media, but research ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ryan Storr, Research fellow, Swinburne University of Technology The topic of homophobia in sport has recently made headlines in Australia, with a series of homophobic incidents involving men’s AFL players. These homophobic incidents are usually well-reported in news media, but research ...
Asia Pacific Report France has declared a state of emergency on the Pacific territory of New Caledonia — New Zealand’s closest neighbour — after four people, including a police officer, have been killed in pro-independence riots over voting changes that further marginalise indigenous Kanaks, news agencies report. The move came ...
The biggest winner from the 2024 Ockham book awards talks to Madeleine Chapman about her fascination with stages of life, advocating for the arts, and what’s next. Last night, at a not-as-long-as-expected ceremony at Q Theatre in downtown Auckland, Emily Perkins won the Big Prize for the second time. Her ...
With funding ending for Archives New Zealand’s digitisation programme, Hera Lindsay Bird shares a taste of what’s being lost – because history isn’t just about the big-ticket items. On Tuesday morning the PSA held a snap protest outside the National Library in Wellington, urging the government to continue funding the ...
“North Korea would better serve its people by meaningfully re-engaging with the international community through diplomacy rather than threats” says Mr Peters. ...
Following comments from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in yesterday’s pre-budget speech that not adjusting tax brackets for inflation each year is “lazy”, the Taxpayers’ Union is releasing a new poll that reveals that the vast majority of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wendy Marie Cumming-Potvin, Associate Professor/ Director of Research (School of Education), Murdoch University Shutterstock Despite social change, LGBTQI+ people still face discrimination at school and in the community. Language for diverse genders and sexualities is continually changing. LGBTQI+ allyship is part ...
Should I tell her before I see someone else? Invent a story about being stuck overseas? Grow my hair long? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzHello Hera,I’ve been seeing my hairdresser for about 12 years, making this one of the longest relationships of my adult life (longer than my ...
More than 25 environmental and community groups have published an Open Letter calling on Parliament to honour Te Tiriti and protect the environment. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jakob Weis, Postdoctoral research associate, University of Tasmania Dust storm blowing off the Australian east coast over the South Pacific.Jeff Schmaltz/NASA GSFC, Author provided The Southern Ocean, a region critical to Earth’s climate, hosts vast blooms of microscopic ocean plants known ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Dew, Professor of Sociology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Getty Images One in three of us will develop cancer at some point in our lives. But survival rates have improved to the point that two-thirds of those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mona Nikidehaghani, Senior Lecturer in Accounting, University of Wollongong Many Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late last year. Now a draft NDIS reform ...
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James, you will be missed.
totally. More than most.
James, he will be missed, a man of integrity and well informed on the things he stood for. Wishing him well in his next chapter
I credit j.shaw with getting the green party to where it is now..
..having the credibility to be within biting distance of labour..and being a credible opposition voice..in their own right..and ready for power..
I have said previously that shaw has been playing a long game..in building that credibility/trust..and I stand by that..
He was the right person for that time/role..and he succeeded in that/his task…
Much respect to him…
The final Cass Report was released yesterday. Four years in the making, it's a damning indictment of the affirmation only model of health care for children with gender dysphoria in the UK's GIDS clinic.
A lot of commentary and complexities in what Hillary Cass has revealed. This one stands out and should make people pause and think about what has really been going on.
It's previously been reported that GIDS refused to share data with the initial work Cass did, then it turns out that they hadn't actually been collecting it. That's the data that would have showed if their treatment model, including puberty blockers was working. Once the Cass review got up and running, this happened,
https://twitter.com/simonjedge/status/1778000213149377015
https://twitter.com/simonjedge/status/1777983256224210993
From the Guardian piece,
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/10/children-are-being-used-as-a-football-hilary-cass-on-her-review-of-gender-identity-services
that's a medical scandal in its own right.
And yet the NZ parliament has recently passed legislation that is likely to criminalize any parents or medical professionals who are unwilling to endorse medicalization of a child's gender dysphoria, because that would be "conversion therapy". Jacinda Ardern herself acknowledged that such prosecutions could happen under the new legislation.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/08/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-doesn-t-rule-out-parents-facing-charges-under-conversion-therapy-ban.html
Every single Labour, Green and Maaori Party MP voted for this legislation, as did "libertarian" David Seymour, who apparently believed that a 13-yr old girl can give informed consent to life-changing and irreversible procedures.
According to this article below, Te Whatu Ora "commissioned the Professional Association of Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) to update the national guidelines and referral pathways for gender-affirming healthcare." If that's true, it's cause for great concern. Why did Te Whatu Ora commission an activist body to guide clinical practice? The article itself is rather poor journalism, in that it fails to challenge PATHA's misleading claim that the Cass Review "ignores the consensus of major medical bodies around the world and lacks relevance in an Aotearoa context". Is PATHA really unaware that Sweden and France have also recently halted the uncritical application of "gender-affirming care" (such as Orwellian term)? And what exactly is meant by "an Aotearoan context"?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/514044/ministry-of-health-taking-the-time-to-get-it-right-on-puberty-blockers
NZ has a much higher rate of prescribing PBs than the UK I think.
the scandal will reach here eventually. But as Visubversa says below, we will go through a lot of denial and blocking first.
Most of the National MPs also voted for the bill.
Yes, sadly I fear that Visubversa is right. I'm aware that most of the Nats also supported the bill – including all of their current front bench apart from Shane Reti. And unfortunately, two of the eight who had the courage to oppose the bill are no longer in parliament.
The one aspect of politicians that may work in favour, is their chameleon ability to change position as the political background changes.
Public awareness changes the political background.
What is required here is immense effort, and care must be taken to ensure those harmed by this medical treatment – have high-quality care and support delivered to them.
As substantive – and harder to dismiss – evidence comes to public awareness, insurance companies may play a big part in stopping harmful procedures as they will not insure doctors or surgeons, or pay for treatments via health insurance.
Does anyone know if NZ doctors carry a liability insurance, or is this completely covered by ACC?
If so, asking ACC what their exposure is may be worth investigating.
Molly I think this document sheds some light on your question:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://nzmii.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NZMP-INF002-C2-Doctor-in-Training-Fact-Sheet-03.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjBk5H5l7uFAxUdjGMGHTorDT8QFnoECBIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2FUI0mFrlFlzxRwD2iWay8
It sounds like ACC will shield doctors from most (but not all) of the damage here in NZ. Whereas in Australia, where they don't have ACC, one insurance company has recently dropped coverage for doctors who carry out "gender affirming care":
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-13/qld-medical-insurer-drops-cover-private-doctors-gender-dysphoria/102592298
Thank you, Dolomedes III.
Then I might get on with a letter to Minister for ACC, Hon Matt Doocey, and an OIA for Dr Tracey Batten as Chair and David Hunt as Deputy Chair to the Board of ACC to see what mechanism they can use to change the identified harmful practices we are still doing here in NZ.
(On the list for the weekend…)
Matt Doocey worked at the Tavistock and is proud of it.
Likely you already knew that but there it is.
Ah yes, one of the "liberal" Nats.
Worked at the Trust as an educator, we don't know if he worked in the GIDS clinic itself.
@Dolomedes Erica Stanford is just as bad.
https://twitter.com/wekatweets/status/1778281731847766182
(in the interests of accuracy).
No, I did not. Thank you for that information.
@weka
Thanks for the link
Matt Doocey's own words, in Hansard:
"I used to work for the Tavistock Clinic in London."
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/51HansS_20150506_00001648/doocey-matt-social-security-clothing-allowances-for
I am not sure he is qualified to work in the GIDS clinic itself, his qualifications seem to be in political science mostly.
Molly – you and others may be interested that Doucey's work with Tavistock has been/is under discussion in the last 24 hours on "X" aka Twitter under a post by Stephen Franks (weka's tweet posted in her comment above is in this thread:)
https://twitter.com/franks_lawyer
Re questioning by some as to why Doucey is a National MP etc, Doucey is in fact part of the Carter family which includes David Carter, former Speaker of the House – his uncle. From Wikipedia:
Doucey's Wikipedia entry also records that his qualifications as follows (although note "citation needed")
To answer Frank's question about journos I suspect most of them have drink the Koo Aid too and don't see anything to question.
some will be wanting to keep their careers too.
I'm heartened that the new Minister of Health (Reti) voted against the inclusion of gender identity in the "Conversion Practices" legislation. So if PATHA's review is predictably ideological, maybe he will quash it – if he doesn't, he will get a letter from me.
Thank you Molly for those heartening words of wisdom.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/04/government-won-t-say-if-it-will-follow-britain-s-move-to-ban-routine-use-of-puberty-blockers.html
I see red flag after red flag in that article. People still saying that PB are "safe and reversible". PATHA "not responding". Parent reports saying that PB made their kids mental health worse.
Incoming medical scandal. It will be bigger here because we always overdo stupid overseas trends to prove we're part of the world.
The "review" of puberty blockers initiated by the outgoing government – is due out next week:
https://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/news-items/mental-health-and-wellbeing-inform-evidence-brief-puberty-blockers
Apparently, PATHA was contracted to conduct and author the review…
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/514044/ministry-of-health-taking-the-time-to-get-it-right-on-puberty-blockers
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
I look forward to a totally ideology-free and evidence-based review of the available evidence, and also hope that one day I will gain the ability to shoot laser beams out of my eyes and lightning bolts out of my arse.
One of these outcomes is considerably more likely than the other.
Christina Buttons has just posted an article about the circular "citation cartel" when it comes to referencing for "affirmation only" healthcare.
Worth the read, which clearly identifies what many have previously understood and tried to draw attention to.
https://www.buttonslives.news/p/new-systematic-review-exposes-deceptive
PATHA – Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa
references WPATH SOC8 in their guidelines:
– Page 5 Primary Care Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy Initiation Guidelines (2023 – Aotearoa New Zealand)
https://patha.nz/Guidelines
A small number of "scientists" (e.g. Jack Turban) publish garbage-tier statistically dubious work in journals where they either directly know the reviewers or editorial team or know their ideological stance.
That work gets picked up by the PATHAs of the world, further inflating the influence of said "scientists".. ("my work has been cited by International Bodies and used to create Important Guidelines!!")
The "scientists" on the basis of Being Used to Create Important Guidelines then publish further garbage-tier science, which then inflates their importance further, which lends them further credibility that the PATHAs of the world then cite to show that their guidelines are based on credible "science"
The "No debate" means that no contrary opinion ever enters the citation merry-go-round.
It's not the kind of merry-go-round that kids play on. It's the kind of merry-go-round that plays with kids.
The evidence of harm has been around for decades, but ignored.
Genevieve Gluck posted this in 2021, linking to news stories from 2001:
https://genevievegluck.substack.com/p/puberty-blockers-and-the-medical
For a shorter 6 min video expressing an overview of the concerns visit Gluck's Twitter post:
https://x.com/WomenReadWomen/status/1644332569641762816
I agree, preaching to the converted but please keep on preaching.
What bugs me about all this is how obvious the problem is. So many politicos will be like "I'm so surprised! Nobody could have known! I trusted the science!" and that's because politicians consume science like they are at a salad bar. Yeah, I'll have the croutons, but not the coleslaw. Don't like the coleslaw. I'll pretend it does not exist.
Unfortunately Chloe Swarbrick is a prime example of this.
I enjoy the exchange of info here too, @That_guy, but also post knowing that there may be some who retain intellectual curiosity, and will start to look into the issue because others have posted some starting points to investigate.
Forever the optimist…
It all just demonstrates that this is an ideology – a form of quasi religious belief which leads its "true believers" to defy any requirements that they feel are against their accepted dogma.
They have moved from "no debate" to obstruction, obfuscation and the abuse of power.
Ducking for cover.
https://unherd.com/2024/04/the-cass-reports-cowardly-converts/
"Thousands of kids have been harmed by this ideology, along with many, many adults. Those of us who have been shunned, lost jobs, friends and reputations as a result of accusations of bigotry and transphobia are, of course, secondary victims. And as for those who have played it safe? Inevitably, they will now stay silent or pretend that the evidence of harm contained in the Cass Report is a shocking revelation. The truth, of course, is that the evidence has been there all along. To those new converts now pretending otherwise: we see you."
reverse ferret from Stonewall apparently. Also Mermaids doing some substantial spin.
Visubversa cites ducks, weka; ferrets and mermaids.
And it's not yet 9.
wait until you get your head around what is really going on. Then you too can choose which side you are on, or if you want to swap sides.
Swap sides?
Now?
I could end up on the wrong side!
🙂
that doesn’t seem to have bothered you so far 😛
I'm maintaining a watching brief.
while you are doing that, I would encourage you to read the first hand accounts of detransitioners. They are the ones most badly damaged as young people. Let me know if you would like some links.
I already read Unherd 🙂
try this first hand account of medical/surgical transition and detransition from Ritchie/TullipR on twitter, written in 2022 when was 35. He started transitioning at 26. Not sure when he started detransitioning, maybe 3 years ago or longer.
https://twitter.com/TullipR/status/1536422533230206976
Thanks (I think), weka.
That is some grim reading.
These are the real casualties in this culture war.
Like others, I trust the PTB wake up to the harmful ideological mindsets at play here.
@Robert Guyton – A strange response. What do you think you are contributing here – other than a exposure of some of your less savoury personality traits?
visubversa, posted this: "Thousands of kids have been harmed by this ideology, along with many, many adults.".
weka's response – for those who have kept up with the discussion – identifies two well-funded organisations that completely failed at child safeguarding.
If you care about the iatrogenic harm that has been identified, and is still being facilitated in NZ via the same guidelines, then you could instead look into this further instead of playing schoolboy games while the grownups talk.
Molly, myob.
Bob, fyoa.
"Bob"
Bobdobalina, Mr Bob Dobalina?
This issue should concern all the adults in NZ, Robert.
You're either one of them, or you are not.
Response from InsideOut (the org that goes into schools etc to preach about being in the wrong bodyetc)
"We categorically reject any calls to restrict access to gender affirming care in Aotearoa, following the release of the Cass Review in the U.K. earlier this week.
The Cass Review is a biased, unethical, methodologically flawed and politically motivated review that disregards a strong evidence base in support of affirming models of trans healthcare. It ignores the consensus of major medical bodies around the world and lacks relevance in an Aotearoa context."
(words in bold done by myself)
https://www.facebook.com/insideoutkoaro/posts/pfbid0VSjpfJxxiUNs3ACmH4N9gtG8vsejEbvQVkqcU2LGWMNnwyJMNSvxo9zURHvp7vSZl
And more denialof NZ’s PATHA on the evidence in the Cass resport:
"In a written statement, PATHA president Jennifer Shields [NZ] said the Cass Review "ignores the consensus of major medical bodies around the world and lacks relevance in an Aotearoa context".
"The final Cass Review did not include trans or non-binary experts or clinicians experienced in providing gender affirming care in its decision-making, conclusions, or findings. Instead, a number of people involved in the review and the advisory group previously advocated for bans on gender affirming care in the United States, and have promoted non-affirming 'gender exploratory therapy', which is considered a conversion practice."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/514044/ministry-of-health-taking-the-time-to-get-it-right-on-puberty-blockers
From the Cass report
"Dr Cass is clear that standards in this field have been woefully subpar, with children given treatments that lacked any evidence base. This might be excused temporarily, given that this is a fast-developing field, but what is inexcusable is that there has been no attempt to build an evidence base, and indeed Dr Cass’s own attempts to build one were “thwarted” by the adult and child NHS gender services. The most important overarching point in her report is that the standard of care for gender-distressed children has fallen far short of what this vulnerable population needs and deserves. "
https://sex-matters.org/posts/updates/the-cass-review-is-a-damning-indictment-of-what-the-nhs-has-been-doing-to-children/
InsideOUT are partly funded by Te Whatu Ora and Ministry of Youth Development
https://insideout.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/InsideOUT-Annual-Report-2021-22.pdf
Such is the extent of activist capture of NZ institutions.
Hush Robert, the adults are talking
Nothing dismissive and arrogant about that, gsays!
Good times!
Test
Either you ain't weka or weka's changed their icon
that was me not logged in. Trying to test the cursor bug in the desktop version on the phone.
Infiltrator! I see you!
sneaky weka 😁