Google her comments on refugees, retroactively making Dumbledore gay (there was no real indication he was), suggesting Hermione could be black in the stage play (she isn't)
Unfortunately they turned on her very quickly even the young trio of actors that owe her their careers, that they'll never have to work again turned on her as well
ok, please link to something so I know what you are on about. Atm you just look like you are running conservative talking points, and repeating yourself.
So you might actually want to be a bit more detailed in your defense of Men acting Women roles.
It's a Travesty:
Travesty came into English in the mid-17th century from the French travestir and the Italian travestire (“to disguise”), which in turn came from the Latin word vestire (“to dress”). The English word was used as an adjective, noun, and verb, and was unusual in that all three parts of speech appear to have begun being used in print at about the same time.
The adjective (meaning “made ridiculous; burlesque”) tended to be used in conjunction with French loan words, or with French words inserted into English. This adjectival travesty was little used after the 18th century, and tended to be employed postpositively (coming after the word it modified).
There's a clear case for this when portraying real life people and/or historical stories. We'd have to clear up that whole matter of the white Jesus as well.
But other than that, it's an act of creativity to push the boundaries, and stories and culture evolve. Taking identity politics too far is a risk, but the principle is sound.
Its disrespectful to the fans of the source material, the people who made it popular, and when you move too far from the source material it sucks.
Why, because the message is all thats important.
You want proof, check out the last couple of seasons of Game Of Thrones.
You want more proof, check out the Marvel movie universe before and after Disney or Star Wars before and after Disney or the Marvel tv series, hell check out Ghostbusters 1984 v Ghostbusters 2016
You want a prediction, over a billion dollars will be spent on the Lord Of The Rings tv series and it will suck, it will suck massive cave troll balls, it'll look pretty but it won't be Lord Of The Rings
'Taking identity politics too far is a risk, but the principle is sound.'
No it isn't. Those who follow identity politics cannot create, they can only subvert.
I stopped watching GoT after it decided to spend extending scenes graphically showing people being tortured for no good plot reason.
I understand what you are saying about honouring the source material (I had all sorts of problems with the Xena Warrior Princess series), but wasn't that some random dude photoshopping a white head onto the Black Panther's body? It wasn't JKR or someone making a white version of the films.
JKR outing one of her characters as gay isn't moving too far from the source material.
You want more proof, check out the Marvel movie universe before and after Disney or Star Wars before and after Disney or the Marvel tv series, hell check out Ghostbusters 1984 v Ghostbusters 2016
Spooks could be a considered a remake (kind of) of The Professionals. It was improved for not having 1970s sexism embedded, and having female characters that were actual characters, not cardboard cutouts. Actually maybe Strike Back is a better example of a remake of The Professionals. Two central bloke characters, didn't stop them having strongly developed female characters.
I like modern Marvel films, so I can't help you there. Daniel Craig's Bond is a far better set of films than most of what came before bar the early ones, but not because it replicated the early ones, or even was faithful to the books. Bond in the books was an arsehole. You could make that movie, I doubt you could make a whole series of them. I'm ok with a black Bond next, or a white one.
I haven't seen any of the LotR films, because I like the books too much lol.
'Taking identity politics too far is a risk, but the principle is sound.'
No it isn't. Those who follow identity politics cannot create, they can only subvert.
The weird thing about your argument here is that JKR is standing up for old fashioned social justice, she's not doing identity politics in the way you mean it, and she certainly hasn't been appeasing the wokesters. Have you not been paying attention? She gets rape and death threats from gender activists. They publish her home address on twitter. They post graphic trans porn into her threads where she's talking to kids about her children's books. This is not someone who appeases.
I don't think I have been so angry as reading Newhubs headline and take on this issue. The whole emphasis is on J K Rowling being "hateful".
A women who has been raped i.e. penetrated by a male bodied person with a penis, without her consent and now is being told she has been raped by a women. Calling it gaslighting doesn't do it justice. Its an outrage. Talk about denying reality
JK Rowling has once again prompted outrage with her commentary on transgender people, this time attacking a new Scottish policy that will see rapists recorded as women if they identify as female, even if they have male genitalia.
that's the first paragraph and is going to peak a few people though.
Peak gender ideology would be good. I don't think we can blame trans people for the Scottish police being misogynistic. I'd put the blame more with the SNP, who are full of non-trans people and pushing such changes hard.
No it won't. As of now, to many really don't give a fuck that Non Males are being harmed. And fwiw, it seems that many get a little excited by the fact that they can belittle, demean, bully and intimidate and even rape Non Males, and these Non Males must not consider their own well being, no they must obey, bend their whole self and affirm the rapist as a Woman.
This has nothing to do with empowering Transpeople, or helping children find their way into their own bodies and into their own lifes.
This is a co-ordinated attack on Non Males ( we have lost our rights already), and a push to get them to become obedient little things. So they let men compete them out of their sports, they let man masturbate in women shelters and hosptital wards, they let men run rape shelters and hiring volunteers that 'identify as women' and call non males who would like to be looked after by non males 'bigotted and transphobic', they let men rape Non Males into pregnancies in prisons, they let men wear woman costume on boards for sake of diversity and equity, and men have nothing to say cause it don't affect them, cause the Non males in their lifes, their non male children, their non male birthing parent, their non male spouse all don't count even as humans in their eyes, and should they get harmed in the future by this well, tough luck i guess.
And what we can witness in the UK – all of it, Canada, US, OZ, will now also come to NZ.
Non Males, are they even human? And what better way to scold a women then to mock her publicly and call her a scold. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scold
And again, just for clarities sake, I do not joke about this one bit.
An informative contrast, huh? Luxie ain't pulling centrists, just pulling back defectors to the right. Still, early days. Although I'm interested to note comments from a few here who have watched him performing in parliament, suggesting they are underwhelmed. I wonder if Nat supporters are too.
This is a quote from Blinken on his ‘visit’ to Indonesia during his SEA tour. This is typical double standard hype from US bullies talking about freedoms of a region far from Uncle Sams’ own borders.
“Let me be clear: the goal of defending the rules-based order is not to keep any country down. Rather, it's to protect the right of all countries to choose their own path, free from coercion and intimidation."
The unsatisfying answer is that the concept is used in official discourse to mean many different things, and they’re not always complementary.
Although the term “rules-based international order” was only coined after the Cold War, Canberra typically dates it to the aftermath of the Second World War and the institutions and norms – centred on the UN – that were established then. It is often credited with having delivered 70 years of peace and security.
"With the flick of a hand, she'll switch to another questioner. She's trained the media to raise their hands which allows her to rattle off the order in which the questions are to be asked. If you're working to a deadline, which if you have to go on-air in radio is constant, it's of no consequence to Ardern, television takes precedence."
However, one person said the gift had a hidden message behind it, writing: "Sending a good-humoured gift to Barry does not exonerate her of her one-eyed bias and desire to control others for her own wishes … it just highlights how aware she is that's she's doing it."
Vaccine apartheid describes the stark inequalities in access to Covid vaccines between rich countries and the rest of the world. It is sustained by a handful of rich countries whose populations now have broad access to vaccines, but are refusing to support a temporary relaxation of WTO intellectual property rules on covid vaccines and technologies (the so-called “TRIPS Waiver”) that would extend that access to poorer countries.
The emergence of Omicron has meant the postponement of the WTO Ministerial meeting, in which developing countries were planning to advance negotiations on the TRIPS Waiver.
On Monday, 33 local and international groups wrote to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, calling on the New Zealand Government to make support for a TRIPS Waiver a pre-requisite of its bilateral trade negotiations with the United Kingdom and European Union.
Covid vaccine profits have minted at least nine new billionaires since the pandemic began, and the vaccine manufacturers know implicitly that rich countries have deeper pockets than low-income countries.
NZ is going to convert its infrastructure to low carbon in the next couple of decades….it is going to repair its water infrastructure after decades of neglect….it is going to replace its substandard housing stock….
…but it cant complete an approved design 27km motorway in seven years (and counting)
The Free Speech Union NZ in its latest podcast has put the spotlight on the curtailing of speech, and the victimisation of marginalised workers – by both employers and some of Kiwiland's bureaucrats.
Whitmore talks to unionist, political commentator, and FSU member Matt McCarten about his two planned summer campaigns aimed at giving exploited workers a voice.
Matt asks FSU members to support a petition that will shine a light on the exploitation of migrant workers, many of whom are silenced by their abusers by unnecessary suppression laws.
Matt also in this podcasts lifts the lid on the long-lived culture of bullying in parliament by MPs, and says he intends to name & shame them in an upcoming campaign of exposures.
JKR's tweet, and the essay she wrote for reference, for those trying to figure out what is going on. The Times link for those paywalled https://archive.md/wydND
Here's what JKR is saying (because quite a few people seem to not be getting it). As I understand it,
Scottish police are going to record the sex of male rapists as female if the rapist so chooses
The Scottish government is trying to bring in gender identity self-ID law
In Scotland, there is no charge of rape that can be applied to women. Rape is a male crime only and can only be commited by someone with a penis)
Allowing male rapists to be recorded as women will change the stats, and will accelerate the social engineering framing that people rape (not men) and/or that women do it too.
Other possible changes are:
that people working in the justice system will be required to refer to the male rapist as a woman (she/her) women will be required
that women who have been raped may be required to refer to the male rapist in court as she/her
Self-ID means that male prisoners are more able to identify as female to be housed in women's prisons. Women prisoners in various parts of the world have already been raped because of this policy. I don't know what the Scottish prison service policy is for men with sexual offences. Anyone?
It's institutional gaslighting, which is why JKR quotes George Orwell's 1984 in the tweet.
This is on the left. The Scottish government parties pushing self-ID law are the SNP and the Green Party.
Those parties have obviously been taken over by the young PC, Woke Idiot, & straight out Weirdo fringe. That's the only way to explain what has happened to previously sensible parties. Without support from members on the inside these policies surely couldn't be driven through?
overtaken by woke, and i would like to see a list of industrial type donors to the labour party and that includes medical research, pharmaceutical research. And can you explain the Green Parties involvment?
And i really would like to see that. In Germany two men – fully entire men, who are married as men, have fathered children, have not undergone any changes other then wearing female frocks – or female costume if you so like, have been elected on the Non Male role of the Green Party. Can you see that happening here? Can you see a male in a frock, lippy and heels – but otherwise entire male – challenge Marama Davidson for the role as Non Male leader, winning and thus you now have two males leading hte party? Because i can.
As a Green Women in Germany said, before we ever reached parity we are being replaced by men.
Essentially the Green Party in Germany has now men on the women list telling non males how to women correctly.
I saw a tweet about the German situation today, let me see if I can find it.
NZ GP is looking at changing how co-leaders are selected. I've heard the idea of a rule that at least one leader has to be a woman. Whether that means female or not, I'm unclear. If they try that before the next election, expect fireworks. I think it would damage the party, and I’m not sure if they are that stupid.
Obviously the self-ID legislation changes things too. Cross-dressers apply here.
The wording in the GP constitution uses the term 'female'. They don't define what that means (lol, written in a more gentle time). Do you know what the German Greens constitution says?
How do you explain Labour then? Who just passed the same legislation in NZ
Most Kiwis haven't a clue what just happened, what it was all about, what objections there were, and how those objections were completely ignored by the PC, Woke Idiot, & straight out Weirdo fringe members of the Select Committee.
I think exactly the same is true of Labour MPs. It just wasn't on their radar as important for debate.
The Bill has been on the books for a number of years. It was delayed during the last term because they tried to sneak the self-ID in the back door and women found out and objected and then Tracey Martin put it on hold. Sometime in all that Louisa Wall went to a public meeting and called gender critical feminists TERFS, for which she got a lot of negative attention including in the MSM.
It's inconceivable that the Labour caucus are unaware of this Bill and the controversy around it.
Instead, MPs either support self-ID because of an ideological commitment to gender ideology (deep or superficial), or they're too afraid to speak out (people lose their careers over this).
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this. I do know that consensus does not mean that you have to listen to a tiny minority prattle on endlessly with opinion that is contrary to what the party stands for. The Greens have stood for trans rights since forever. They have been using self ID for internal purposes since before i joined in 1999. The idea for the petition that led to this bill was supported by Jan Logie as far back as 2013. The policy in this area was well established through the usual democratic processes.
I don't really know what you expected? If a small group had wanted to 'debate' gay marriage or the existence of Climate Change would you expect the party to put the process gearbox into neutral and have a rethink?
my understanding is that members tried to talk about the issues for women and were stopped. Also the piece that got removed from the GP newsletter, and how that was done.
I don't really know what you expected? If a small group had wanted to 'debate' gay marriage or the existence of Climate Change would you expect the party to put the process gearbox into neutral and have a rethink?
Yawn. You are ok with women's rights being removed and so choose to misrepresent what the gender critical position is. Gay marriage didn't require the removal of the rights of other groups.
Lol climate change deniers, there are people out there arguing that biological sex doesn't exist and was invented by western colonialists, and that trans women have periods. Don't come 'science!' at me.
or they’re too afraid to speak out (people lose their careers over this).
That’d be my pick. That that did bother to look into it would’ve just flagged it away as not worth the aggravation – not worth dying in a ditch over when it was being pushed by a teeny minority of weirdos & their stony-faced supporters.
It’s quite weird how the msm kept right away from the debate too. Wokism has now reached so far into our society no one wants to be publicly accused of being bigoted & attacked by whack jobs & SJWs.
That’s the only explanation that makes sense to me, weka, becsuse this legislation creates a nonsensical situation that has very bad ramifications for biological women, and genuine trans women and trans men.
Too many young Wokists & SJWs don’t yet have sufficient life experience to know that their vocal, passionate idealism is based on woolly thinking & they exhibit a complete inability to foresee the negative consequences of this legislation that others clearly can, Anker.
Rather than think about those, they seem to just put their fingers in their ears & double down making even more loud, vacuous, but unfortunately effective, noise about bigots & TERFS.
When the shit hits the fan – as it eventually will – a few of them will probably realise how foolish they were & just fade into embarrassed obscurity. Damage done.
SJWs are the people that make gains for everyone who is basically not white and male and wealthy. If you throw all that out of the Labour Party that just leaves Grant Robertson.
Yes, they certainly have their place in the scheme of things, & they do achieve gains for (or at least keep the pressure on the pollies to cater for) all those left behind, utterly crushed, by the neoliberal steamroller.
But, imo, they are also the ones who can be too easily persuaded by stronger minds & wills that those opposing the gender self-ID legislation are motivated solely by negative motives or at least that their concerns are overblown & the threats they foreseee will never come to pass.
And they’re also likely to be the ones who get onto social media & criticise & disparage or attack opponents of the legislation. Like I did at that age, they know they are right even though they actually know stuff all & often don’t even check out what’s happened overseas.
Baby, be the class clownI'll be the beauty queen in tearsIt's a new art form, showin' people how little we care (yeah)We're so happy, even when we're smilin' out of fearLet's go down to the tennis court and talk it up like, yeah (yeah)Songwriters: Joel Little / Ella Yelich O ...
Open access notables Why Misinformation Must Not Be Ignored, Ecker et al., American Psychologist:Recent academic debate has seen the emergence of the claim that misinformation is not a significant societal problem. We argue that the arguments used to support this minimizing position are flawed, particularly if interpreted (e.g., by policymakers or the public) as suggesting ...
What I’ve Been Doing: I buried a close family member.What I’ve Been Watching: Andor, Jack Reacher, Xmas movies.What I’ve Been Reflecting On: The Usefulness of Writing and the Worthiness of Doing So — especially as things become more transparent on their own.I also hate competing on any day, and if ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by John Wihbey. A version of this article first appeared on Yale Climate Connections on Nov. 11, 2008. (Image credits: The White House, Jonathan Cutrer / CC BY 2.0; President Jimmy Carter, Trikosko/Library of Congress; Solar dedication, Bill Fitz-Patrick / Jimmy Carter Library; Solar ...
Morena folks,We’re having a good break, recharging the batteries. Hope you’re enjoying the holiday period. I’m not feeling terribly inspired by much at the moment, I’m afraid—not from a writing point of view, anyway.So, today, we’re travelling back in time. You’ll have to imagine the wavy lines and sci-fi sound ...
Completed reads for 2024: Oration on the Dignity of Man, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola A Platonic Discourse Upon Love, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola Of Being and Unity, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola The Life of Pico della Mirandola, by Giovanni Francesco Pico Three Letters Written by Pico ...
Welcome to 2025, Aotearoa. Well… what can one really say? 2024 was a story of a bad beginning, an infernal middle and an indescribably farcical end. But to chart a course for a real future, it does pay to know where we’ve been… so we know where we need ...
Welcome to the official half-way point of the 2020s. Anyway, as per my New Years tradition, here’s where A Phuulish Fellow’s blog traffic came from in 2024: United States United Kingdom New Zealand Canada Sweden Australia Germany Spain Brazil Finland The top four are the same as 2023, ...
Completed reads for December: Be A Wolf!, by Brian Strickland The Magic Flute [libretto], by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Emanuel Schikaneder The Invisible Eye, by Erckmann-Chatrian The Owl’s Ear, by Erckmann-Chatrian The Waters of Death, by Erckmann-Chatrian The Spider, by Hanns Heinz Ewers Who Knows?, by Guy de Maupassant ...
Well, it’s the last day of the year, so it’s time for a quick wrap-up of the most important things that happened in 2024 for urbanism and transport in our city. A huge thank you to everyone who has visited the blog and supported us in our mission to make ...
Leave your office, run past your funeralLeave your home, car, leave your pulpitJoin us in the streets where weJoin us in the streets where weDon't belong, don't belongHere under the starsThrowing light…Song: Jeffery BuckleyToday, I’ll discuss the standout politicians of the last 12 months. Each party will receive three awards, ...
Hi,A lot’s happened this year in the world of Webworm, and as 2024 comes to an end I thought I’d look back at a few of the things that popped. Maybe you missed them, or you might want to revisit some of these essay and podcast episodes over your break ...
Hi,I wanted to share this piece by film editor Dan Kircher about what cinema has been up to in 2024.Dan edited my documentary Mister Organ, as well as this year’s excellent crowd-pleasing Bookworm.Dan adores movies. He gets the language of cinema, he knows what he loves, and writes accordingly. And ...
Without delving into personal details but in order to give readers a sense of the year that was, I thought I would offer the study in contrasts that are Xmas 2023 and Xmas 2024: Xmas 2023 in Starship Children’s Hospital (after third of four surgeries). Even opening presents was an ...
Heavy disclaimer: Alpha/beta/omega dynamics is a popular trope that’s used in a wide range of stories and my thoughts on it do not apply to all cases. I’m most familiar with it through the lens of male-focused fanfic, typically m/m but sometimes also featuring m/f and that’s the situation I’m ...
Hi,Webworm has been pretty heavy this year — mainly because the world is pretty heavy. But as we sprint (or limp, you choose) through the final days of 2024, I wanted to keep Webworm a little lighter.So today I wanted to look at one of the biggest and weirdest elements ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 22, 2024 thru Sat, December 28, 2024. This week's roundup is the second one published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, ...
We’ll have a climate change ChristmasFrom now until foreverWarming our hearts and mindsAnd planet all togetherSpirits high and oceans higherChestnuts roast on wildfiresIf coal is on your wishlistMerry Climate Change ChristmasSong by Ian McConnellReindeer emissions are not something I’d thought about in terms of climate change. I guess some significant ...
KP continues to putt-putt along as a tiny niche blog that offers a NZ perspective on international affairs with a few observations about NZ domestic politics thrown in. In 2024 there was also some personal posts given that my son was in the last four months of a nine month ...
I can see very wellThere's a boat on the reef with a broken backAnd I can see it very wellThere's a joke and I know it very wellIt's one of those that I told you long agoTake my word I'm a madman, don't you knowSongwriters: Bernie Taupin / Elton JohnIt ...
.Acknowledgement: Tim PrebbleThanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..With each passing day of bad headlines, squandering tax revenue to enrich the rich, deep cuts to our social services and a government struggling to keep the lipstick on its neo-liberal pig ...
This is from the 36th Parallel social media account (as brief food for thought). We know that Trump is ahistorical at best but he seems to think that he is Teddy Roosevelt and can use the threat of invoking the Monroe Doctrine and “Big Stick” gunboat diplomacy against Panama and ...
Don't you cry tonightI still love you, babyAnd don't you cry tonightDon't you cry tonightThere's a heaven above you, babyAnd don't you cry tonightSong: Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin“Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so”, said possibly the greatest philosopher ever to walk this earth, Douglas Adams.We have entered the ...
Because you're magicYou're magic people to meSong: Dave Para/Molly Para.Morena all, I hope you had a good day yesterday, however you spent it. Today, a few words about our celebration and a look at the various messages from our politicians.A Rockel XmasChristmas morning was spent with the five of us ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). 2024 has been a series of bad news for climate change. From scorching global temperatures leading to devastating ...
Ríu Ríu ChíuRíu Ríu Chíu is a Spanish Christmas song from the 16th Century. The traditional carol would likely have passed unnoticed by the English-speaking world had the made-for-television American band The Monkees not performed the song as part of their special Christmas show back in 1967. The show's ...
Dunedin’s summer thus far has been warm and humid… and it looks like we’re in for a grey Christmas. But it is now officially Christmas Day in this time zone, so never mind. This year, I’ve stumbled across an Old English version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: It has a population of just under 3.5 million inhabitants, produces nearly 550,000 tons of beef per year, and boasts a glorious soccer reputation with two World ...
Morena all,In my paywalled newsletter yesterday, I signed off for Christmas and wished readers well, but I thought I’d send everyone a quick note this morning.This hasn’t been a good year for our small country. The divisions caused by the Treaty Principles Bill, the cuts to our public sector, increased ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30 am include:Kāinga Ora is quietly planning to sell over $1 billion worth of state-owned land under 300 state homes in Auckland’s wealthiest suburbs, including around Bastion Point, to give the Government more fiscal room to pay for tax cuts and reduce borrowing.A ...
Hi,It’s my birthday on Christmas Day, and I have a favour to ask.A birthday wish.I would love you to share one Webworm story you’ve liked this year.The simple fact is: apart from paying for a Webworm membership (thank you!), sharing and telling others about this place is the most important ...
The last few days have been a bit too much of a whirl for me to manage a fresh edition each day. It's been that kind of year. Hope you don't mind.I’ve been coming around to thinking that it doesn't really matter if you don't have something to say every ...
The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it awaySongwriter: Twiggy Ramirez Read more ...
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Are we heading ...
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...
Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment:Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...
Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...
String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...
The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...
Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says people with diabetes and other painful conditions will benefit from a significant new qualification to boost training in foot care. “It sounds simple, but quality and regular foot and nail care is vital in preventing potentially serious complications from diabetes, like blisters or sores, which can take a long time to heal ...
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see Pharmac continue to increase availability of medicines for Kiwis with the government’s largest ever investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the government,” says Mr Seymour. “When this government assumed ...
Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora e mua - Those who lead give sight to those who follow, those who follow give life to those who lead. Māori recipients in the New Year 2025 Honours list show comprehensive dedication to improving communities across the motu that ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is wishing all New Zealanders a great holiday season as Kiwis prepare for gatherings with friends and families to see in the New Year. It is a great time of year to remind everyone to stay fire safe over the summer. “I know ...
From 1 January 2025, first-time tertiary learners will have access to a new Fees Free entitlement of up to $12,000 for their final year of provider-based study or final two years of work-based learning, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Targeting funding to the final year of study ...
“As we head into one of the busiest times of the year for Police, and family violence and sexual violence response services, it’s a good time to remind everyone what to do if they experience violence or are worried about others,” Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence ...
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ary Hoffmann, Professor, School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne Drosophila melanogaster.Deep Scope/Shutterstock The common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), more correctly called the vinegar fly, is a frequent visitor to ripe fruit in households around the world, where ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, researching Greco-Roman antiquity, The University of Melbourne Imagine a summer holiday at a seaside resort, with days spent sunbathing, reading books, exploring nature and chatting with friends. Sounds like it could be anywhere in Australia or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Francesca Storey, Deputy Director Te Tātai Hauora o Hine – National Centre for Women’s Health Research Aotearoa, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington After committing to a global plan to eliminate cervical cancer, New Zealand is lagging behind Australia and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Myron Zalucki, Professor in Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland Kathy Reid, CC BY-SA Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) appear to be declining not just in North America but also in Australiasia. Could this be a consequence of global change, including ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Skyllas-Kazacos, Professor Emeritus, School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW Sydney As more and more solar and wind energy enters Australia’s grid, we will need ways to store it for later. We can store electricity in several different ways, from pumped hydroelectric ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Interior Architecture, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington View of Kororāreka in the Bay of Islands, 1845, by George Thomas Clayton.via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY New Zealand’s first jail was a simple affair, just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Noor Gillani, Digital Culture Editor Shutterstock You’re standing at the centre of an expansive art gallery, overwhelmed by what’s in front of you: panel after panel of stupendous works – densely-written labels affixed next to each piece. These labels may offer ...
Dame Tariana Turia has died aged 80 in Whangaehu overnight.The founder and former co-leader of Te Pāti Māori suffered a stroke earlier this week and was said not to have long left.A press release from Te Ranga Tupua said she had died in the early hours of Friday morning. “A mother ...
An $80 million subantarctic pest eradication project is being backed by a high-profile conservation charity targeting wealthy individuals.Since it was established in 2000, NZ Nature Fund has raised $5 million for project-specific conservation work, including $1.2 million over the past year. Projects, often managed by the Department of Conservation (DoC), ...
Opinion: When it was first published in 2016, JD Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy was hailed by Britain’s Sunday Times as “the political book of the year”. The Independent described it as “an insight into Trump and Brexit”.Hillbilly Elegy is an autobiographical account of Vance’s life, growing up in a poor, white ...
Sport is a place where ‘real’ fans are often assumed to be men. Global research tells us that female fans of live men’s sport often face misogynistic and homophobic environments that include swearing, drunkenness and yelling negative comments and abuse at opponents and referees. In men’s sport, a quick skim through ...
Summer reissue: Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.A famous poet once said to ...
Summer reissue: Alex Casey talks a stroll through headlines detailing hundreds of beached kiwifruit, dozens of mailbox sausages and one giant mystery ham. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up ...
Summer reissue: Hera Lindsay Bird on her Bildungsroman.The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.I would never have gone to Germany if it wasn’t ...
Summer reissue: When we insert ourselves into the lives of animals, we become complicit in their fates.The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.Before ...
Summer reissue: With specialist mental health services in ‘chaos’, people who need help end up in destructive cycles and prison. Experts say there are solutions, but is political will and leadership lacking? The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of ...
By Cheerieann Wilson in Suva Fiji’s Office of the President has confirmed that the Tribunal’s report on allegations of misconduct against suspended Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde does not need to be made public at this stage. The tribunal, chaired by Justice Anare Tuilevuka with Justices Chaitanya Lakshman and ...
By Anish Chand in Suva Virgin Australia has confirmed a “serious security incident” with its flight crew members who were in Fiji on New Year’s Day. Virgin Australia’s chief operating officer Stuart Aggs said the incident took place on Tuesday night – New Year’s Eve The crew members were in ...
Pacific Media Watch The New York-based global media watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned a decision by the Palestinian Authority to suspend Al Jazeera’s operations in the West Bank and called for it to be reversed “immediately”. “Governments resort to censoring news outlets when they have something to hide,” ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk An emergency 231 million euro (NZ$428 million) French aid package for New Caledonia has been reduced by one third because of the French Pacific territory’s current political crisis. The initial French package was endorsed in early December 2024, in an 11th-hour ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Researcher, Historian, Australian Catholic University Stone statue of Saint Isidore of Seville at the National Library of Spain.WH_Pics/Shutterstock In a world where information flows freely, it’s easy to forget that, for centuries, knowledge was much harder to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Swee-Hoon Chuah, Professor of Behavioural Economics, Tasmanian Behavioural Lab, University of Tasmania Shutterstock Chances are that the end of the year has made you assess some of your 2024 New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you, like us, bought a home spin bike ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Fuller, Clinical Trials Director, Department of Endocrinology, RPA Hospital, University of Sydney Allgo/Unsplash As we enter a new year armed with resolutions to improve our lives, there’s a good chance we’ll also be carrying something less helpful: extra kilos. At ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University ijimino, Shutterstock Parasite, zombie, leech – these words are often used to describe people in unkind ways. Many of us recoil when ticks, tapeworms, fleas, ...
Summer reissue: As tens of thousands showed their support for the hīkoi to parliament, the organisers were busy behind the scenes ensuring things run smoothly. For many, this was their first time leading a kaupapa of this scale – and it wasn’t all easy.The Spinoff needs to double the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rod McNaughton, Professor of Entrepreneurship, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Startups have always been at the forefront of innovation. But factors such as artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability and decentralisation are set to reshape industries in 2025. Businesses are defined as startups ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Hazel, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Shutterstock According to Britannica, “art” can be described as something “consciously created through an expression of skill or imagination” – whereas Wikipedia defines it more narrowly as a ...
Summer reissue: Married at First Sight superfan Tara Ward charges down the aisle to meet this season’s brightest star.It is a Thursday afternoon, and I am staring deep into Lucinda Light’s eyes. It feels like my own personal version of the eye gazing task on Married At First Sight ...
Comment: Some people make long lists of things they want to do. When my partner Solly and I decided we wanted to get married, just five days before I flew out on tour with the Black Ferns and he flew out to play for Biarritz, I said, ‘well, how many ...
Opinion: I recently had a wonderful meal with Bariz Shah and his wife Saba, together with their two pre-school children. I had to admit that I hadn’t read Bariz’s book Beyond Hope yet, but after talking about their life over dinner, I knew I had to read it.Imagine arriving in Auckland ...
Summer reissue: It’s a quarter of a century since the nation was stopped in its tracks by a dog saying the word ‘bugger’. This is the complete history of Buggermania – the ad, the controversy, and the enduring legacy. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we ...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10304299/Police-Scotland-slammed-identify-rapists-female.html
I wonder if JK Rowling regrets bending the knee to the woke left
When did she do that?
Shes actually very woke herself.
Google her comments on refugees, retroactively making Dumbledore gay (there was no real indication he was), suggesting Hermione could be black in the stage play (she isn't)
Unfortunately they turned on her very quickly even the young trio of actors that owe her their careers, that they'll never have to work again turned on her as well
Are you confusing woke with progressive?
The HP characters aren't real people PR, they can be anything she wants them to be (within the story).
It's woke because she changed the characters after they'd been written, once she'd made her giant pile of cash (and good on her for that)
There's a good chance that her books wouldn't have sold as many had one of the major characters been gay
But to appease to the woke, twitter crowd she changed Dumbledores sexuality (or confirmed it)
Still didn't save her from an attempted cancelling
sounds to me like you are trying to make out that liberal social values = woke.
Outrageous! Get back in the closet Dumbledore.
She wants to change the character that's her business but pandering to the woke crowd didn't save her so I wonder if she regrets it
Or as a billionaire she doesn't care
ok, please link to something so I know what you are on about. Atm you just look like you are running conservative talking points, and repeating yourself.
A black person could play Hermione, just like boys used to play girls parts in Shakespeare, they're fucking actors, acting.
Good.
If a movie is ever made about Jacinda Ardern you'd have no issue if someone like Max Key played her?
Hermione isn't a real person PR.
it would not matter to be honest.
If men can be women, then any men can pretend to be a women in theatre, movies etc, as it was until the early 17 century.
https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/the-first-actresses/first_actresses_exhibition/first-actresses-explore
So yeah, if some entrepreneurial male would want to act Jacinda Ardern, or any other women that would be totally acceptable. Real person or not.
Fine.
How about now?
https://64.media.tumblr.com/5a265d6f6aacbe5196a77088754ef07c/tumblr_p4clwbP5591spgfueo1_1280.jpg
JKR didn't write The Black Panther. So, nothing on her then, why should I consider your point anything other than general anti-leftist?
Men played women parts because Non Males were literally not allowed to act.
https://nctheatre.com/blog/women-theatre-historical-look#:~:text=Women%20were%20not%20allowed%20to,So%20what%20about%20the%20Romans%3F
in the seventeen century thousands of boys were castrated to sing in high pitched voices as women were not allowed to sing in Opera and the likes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castrato#:~:text=A%20castrato%20(Italian%2C%20plural%3A,condition%2C%20never%20reaches%20sexual%20maturity.
first women to 'officially' act was also a mistress or a women of a certain reputation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Hughes
So you might actually want to be a bit more detailed in your defense of Men acting Women roles.
It's a Travesty:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/its-a-travesty-word-history-definition#:~:text=Travesty%20came%20into%20English%20in,(%E2%80%9Cto%20dress%E2%80%9D).&text=Being%20the%20First%20Book%20of%20Virgils%20Aeneis%20in%20English%2C%20Burl%C3%A9sque.
If its just actors acting why not follow the source material as much as possible?
There's a clear case for this when portraying real life people and/or historical stories. We'd have to clear up that whole matter of the white Jesus as well.
But other than that, it's an act of creativity to push the boundaries, and stories and culture evolve. Taking identity politics too far is a risk, but the principle is sound.
No it isn't.
Its disrespectful to the fans of the source material, the people who made it popular, and when you move too far from the source material it sucks.
Why, because the message is all thats important.
You want proof, check out the last couple of seasons of Game Of Thrones.
You want more proof, check out the Marvel movie universe before and after Disney or Star Wars before and after Disney or the Marvel tv series, hell check out Ghostbusters 1984 v Ghostbusters 2016
You want a prediction, over a billion dollars will be spent on the Lord Of The Rings tv series and it will suck, it will suck massive cave troll balls, it'll look pretty but it won't be Lord Of The Rings
'Taking identity politics too far is a risk, but the principle is sound.'
No it isn't. Those who follow identity politics cannot create, they can only subvert.
I stopped watching GoT after it decided to spend extending scenes graphically showing people being tortured for no good plot reason.
I understand what you are saying about honouring the source material (I had all sorts of problems with the Xena Warrior Princess series), but wasn't that some random dude photoshopping a white head onto the Black Panther's body? It wasn't JKR or someone making a white version of the films.
JKR outing one of her characters as gay isn't moving too far from the source material.
Spooks could be a considered a remake (kind of) of The Professionals. It was improved for not having 1970s sexism embedded, and having female characters that were actual characters, not cardboard cutouts. Actually maybe Strike Back is a better example of a remake of The Professionals. Two central bloke characters, didn't stop them having strongly developed female characters.
I like modern Marvel films, so I can't help you there. Daniel Craig's Bond is a far better set of films than most of what came before bar the early ones, but not because it replicated the early ones, or even was faithful to the books. Bond in the books was an arsehole. You could make that movie, I doubt you could make a whole series of them. I'm ok with a black Bond next, or a white one.
I haven't seen any of the LotR films, because I like the books too much lol.
The weird thing about your argument here is that JKR is standing up for old fashioned social justice, she's not doing identity politics in the way you mean it, and she certainly hasn't been appeasing the wokesters. Have you not been paying attention? She gets rape and death threats from gender activists. They publish her home address on twitter. They post graphic trans porn into her threads where she's talking to kids about her children's books. This is not someone who appeases.
Yes Pukish Rogue, it defies belief. Women with penises………..pinch me I must be dreaming……
It's ok because its a women's penis
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2021/12/jk-rowling-s-latest-hurtful-hateful-transgender-tweet-prompts-outrage-from-harry-potter-fans.html
But look how it is reported in NZ. No wonder it flies under the radar!
this one here is quite a good take on it.
https://elizamondegreen.substack.com/p/jk-rowling-lures-trans-activists
Thanks Sabine.
I don't think I have been so angry as reading Newhubs headline and take on this issue. The whole emphasis is on J K Rowling being "hateful".
A women who has been raped i.e. penetrated by a male bodied person with a penis, without her consent and now is being told she has been raped by a women. Calling it gaslighting doesn't do it justice. Its an outrage. Talk about denying reality
NZ has a long way to go 🙁
JKR does not know her place, so clearly she must be hateful.
Jane Clare Jones on fire this morning (as per normal ❤️🔥)
https://twitter.com/janeclarejones/status/1470804372917751810
Misogyny is a Volkssport and must be protected by all costs.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/women/misogyny-hate-crime-women-violence-b1819145.html
that's the first paragraph and is going to peak a few people though.
Hopefully it will peak people Weka. Surely this is when many people will hit peak trans………….
Peak gender ideology would be good. I don't think we can blame trans people for the Scottish police being misogynistic. I'd put the blame more with the SNP, who are full of non-trans people and pushing such changes hard.
No it won't. As of now, to many really don't give a fuck that Non Males are being harmed. And fwiw, it seems that many get a little excited by the fact that they can belittle, demean, bully and intimidate and even rape Non Males, and these Non Males must not consider their own well being, no they must obey, bend their whole self and affirm the rapist as a Woman.
This has nothing to do with empowering Transpeople, or helping children find their way into their own bodies and into their own lifes.
This is a co-ordinated attack on Non Males ( we have lost our rights already), and a push to get them to become obedient little things. So they let men compete them out of their sports, they let man masturbate in women shelters and hosptital wards, they let men run rape shelters and hiring volunteers that 'identify as women' and call non males who would like to be looked after by non males 'bigotted and transphobic', they let men rape Non Males into pregnancies in prisons, they let men wear woman costume on boards for sake of diversity and equity, and men have nothing to say cause it don't affect them, cause the Non males in their lifes, their non male children, their non male birthing parent, their non male spouse all don't count even as humans in their eyes, and should they get harmed in the future by this well, tough luck i guess.
And what we can witness in the UK – all of it, Canada, US, OZ, will now also come to NZ.
Non Males, are they even human? And what better way to scold a women then to mock her publicly and call her a scold.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scold
And again, just for clarities sake, I do not joke about this one bit.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/25/jacinda-ardern-loses-ground-to-national-party-but-remains-on-track-to-win-new-zealand-election
Chris Luxon takes National up 5% by taking support off Seymour and ACT.
An informative contrast, huh? Luxie ain't pulling centrists, just pulling back defectors to the right. Still, early days. Although I'm interested to note comments from a few here who have watched him performing in parliament, suggesting they are underwhelmed. I wonder if Nat supporters are too.
the latest poll shows that Natz supporters are just relieved …the CARusher' has been….crushed.
This is a quote from Blinken on his ‘visit’ to Indonesia during his SEA tour. This is typical double standard hype from US bullies talking about freedoms of a region far from Uncle Sams’ own borders.
“Let me be clear: the goal of defending the rules-based order is not to keep any country down. Rather, it's to protect the right of all countries to choose their own path, free from coercion and intimidation."
Whoes rule based order?
Laughable isn't it!
Like Bush…'they're jealous of our freedom and …democracy'….so we will have to bomb them back to the…Stone Age.
Sorta like a security-blanket to a two-year-old, y'know?
Poor old Barry. The PM's so mean to him.
Ardern should realise that Bazza's deadlines should be top…priority.
vaccine apartheid
Report from a unionist:
Equity principle vs realpolitik + economics…
class Aotearoa /NZ act…
https://youtu.be/6HBpvfQ2-Q4
Trudat 👍
NZ is going to convert its infrastructure to low carbon in the next couple of decades….it is going to repair its water infrastructure after decades of neglect….it is going to replace its substandard housing stock….
…but it cant complete an approved design 27km motorway in seven years (and counting)
If your flying around NZ, please stay safe, be vigilant, respect others, wear a mask and scan.
Lean to fly by Foo Fighters. A pre Covid funny music video (1999).
Good song, couldn't make that music video today though
The Free Speech Union NZ in its latest podcast has put the spotlight on the curtailing of speech, and the victimisation of marginalised workers – by both employers and some of Kiwiland's bureaucrats.
Whitmore talks to unionist, political commentator, and FSU member Matt McCarten about his two planned summer campaigns aimed at giving exploited workers a voice.
Matt asks FSU members to support a petition that will shine a light on the exploitation of migrant workers, many of whom are silenced by their abusers by unnecessary suppression laws.
Matt also in this podcasts lifts the lid on the long-lived culture of bullying in parliament by MPs, and says he intends to name & shame them in an upcoming campaign of exposures.
https://freespeech.buzzsprout.com/370355/9716044-special-report-matt-mccarten-s-summer-of-justice
JKR's tweet, and the essay she wrote for reference, for those trying to figure out what is going on. The Times link for those paywalled https://archive.md/wydND
https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1470092815506063365
J.K. Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues
https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/
Here's what JKR is saying (because quite a few people seem to not be getting it). As I understand it,
This is on the left. The Scottish government parties pushing self-ID law are the SNP and the Green Party.
Those parties have obviously been taken over by the young PC, Woke Idiot, & straight out Weirdo fringe. That's the only way to explain what has happened to previously sensible parties. Without support from members on the inside these policies surely couldn't be driven through?
How do you explain Labour then? Who just passed the same legislation in NZ
overtaken by woke, and i would like to see a list of industrial type donors to the labour party and that includes medical research, pharmaceutical research. And can you explain the Green Parties involvment?
And i really would like to see that. In Germany two men – fully entire men, who are married as men, have fathered children, have not undergone any changes other then wearing female frocks – or female costume if you so like, have been elected on the Non Male role of the Green Party. Can you see that happening here? Can you see a male in a frock, lippy and heels – but otherwise entire male – challenge Marama Davidson for the role as Non Male leader, winning and thus you now have two males leading hte party? Because i can.
As a Green Women in Germany said, before we ever reached parity we are being replaced by men.
Essentially the Green Party in Germany has now men on the women list telling non males how to women correctly.
I saw a tweet about the German situation today, let me see if I can find it.
NZ GP is looking at changing how co-leaders are selected. I've heard the idea of a rule that at least one leader has to be a woman. Whether that means female or not, I'm unclear. If they try that before the next election, expect fireworks. I think it would damage the party, and I’m not sure if they are that stupid.
Obviously the self-ID legislation changes things too. Cross-dressers apply here.
The wording in the GP constitution uses the term 'female'. They don't define what that means (lol, written in a more gentle time). Do you know what the German Greens constitution says?
https://twitter.com/V_Feuerstein/status/1470813411445465097
English translation
https://twitter.com/bf4frauen/status/1470810991713824770
How do you explain Labour then? Who just passed the same legislation in NZ
Most Kiwis haven't a clue what just happened, what it was all about, what objections there were, and how those objections were completely ignored by the PC, Woke Idiot, & straight out Weirdo fringe members of the Select Committee.
I think exactly the same is true of Labour MPs. It just wasn't on their radar as important for debate.
The Bill has been on the books for a number of years. It was delayed during the last term because they tried to sneak the self-ID in the back door and women found out and objected and then Tracey Martin put it on hold. Sometime in all that Louisa Wall went to a public meeting and called gender critical feminists TERFS, for which she got a lot of negative attention including in the MSM.
It's inconceivable that the Labour caucus are unaware of this Bill and the controversy around it.
Instead, MPs either support self-ID because of an ideological commitment to gender ideology (deep or superficial), or they're too afraid to speak out (people lose their careers over this).
I don't know what happened in Labour, but the Greens actively blocked debate within the party by members, it just wasn't allowed to progress.
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this. I do know that consensus does not mean that you have to listen to a tiny minority prattle on endlessly with opinion that is contrary to what the party stands for. The Greens have stood for trans rights since forever. They have been using self ID for internal purposes since before i joined in 1999. The idea for the petition that led to this bill was supported by Jan Logie as far back as 2013. The policy in this area was well established through the usual democratic processes.
I don't really know what you expected? If a small group had wanted to 'debate' gay marriage or the existence of Climate Change would you expect the party to put the process gearbox into neutral and have a rethink?
my understanding is that members tried to talk about the issues for women and were stopped. Also the piece that got removed from the GP newsletter, and how that was done.
Yawn. You are ok with women's rights being removed and so choose to misrepresent what the gender critical position is. Gay marriage didn't require the removal of the rights of other groups.
Lol climate change deniers, there are people out there arguing that biological sex doesn't exist and was invented by western colonialists, and that trans women have periods. Don't come 'science!' at me.
or they’re too afraid to speak out (people lose their careers over this).
That’d be my pick. That that did bother to look into it would’ve just flagged it away as not worth the aggravation – not worth dying in a ditch over when it was being pushed by a teeny minority of weirdos & their stony-faced supporters.
It’s quite weird how the msm kept right away from the debate too. Wokism has now reached so far into our society no one wants to be publicly accused of being bigoted & attacked by whack jobs & SJWs.
That’s the only explanation that makes sense to me, weka, becsuse this legislation creates a nonsensical situation that has very bad ramifications for biological women, and genuine trans women and trans men.
🙄 *That THOSE that did bother
100% Geeza. Cheers.
Too many young Wokists & SJWs don’t yet have sufficient life experience to know that their vocal, passionate idealism is based on woolly thinking & they exhibit a complete inability to foresee the negative consequences of this legislation that others clearly can, Anker.
Rather than think about those, they seem to just put their fingers in their ears & double down making even more loud, vacuous, but unfortunately effective, noise about bigots & TERFS.
When the shit hits the fan – as it eventually will – a few of them will probably realise how foolish they were & just fade into embarrassed obscurity. Damage done.
SJWs are the people that make gains for everyone who is basically not white and male and wealthy. If you throw all that out of the Labour Party that just leaves Grant Robertson.
@ weka
Yes, they certainly have their place in the scheme of things, & they do achieve gains for (or at least keep the pressure on the pollies to cater for) all those left behind, utterly crushed, by the neoliberal steamroller.
But, imo, they are also the ones who can be too easily persuaded by stronger minds & wills that those opposing the gender self-ID legislation are motivated solely by negative motives or at least that their concerns are overblown & the threats they foreseee will never come to pass.
And they’re also likely to be the ones who get onto social media & criticise & disparage or attack opponents of the legislation. Like I did at that age, they know they are right even though they actually know stuff all & often don’t even check out what’s happened overseas.
This is how it’s done, whole thread by clicking through
https://twitter.com/notplay65894531/status/1470784648196337665?s=21