So given the issues of the lightness of being going across a bridge on foot or bike, how many people can fit on a light rail service and the little people of middle earth underground
images of Simeon Brown and Pee Wee Hermon (spot the difference)
The giant in the National Party caucus who is mentor to SB, Christopher Penk (who now takes a support role, so as to not take away mana from the team leader).
might need to be resized to be less like Sam Whitelock alongside John Key in a locker room.
all kudos to Eli for making her protest funny and well targeted and managed with grace (quite a feat). I don’t have too much of a problem with things being thrown at politicians so long as no one gets hurt.
She belongs to the group that also views the bashing of a 70 year old woman wanting to attend an event with PP with apparent unconcern, I have not seen anything expressing concern by Shaneel Lal or Max Tweedie. Let alone Hipkins. As we know the lovely trans people over weighed any concern from Marama when she was approached for comment.
The 70 year old woman has now got a fractured skull.
I actually think Elis is a poser & tipping sauce over someone is all jolly hockey sticks and all that it did lead to quite a few injuries in the group wanting to speak and the cancellation of PP event in Auckland and Wellington. If NZ Police had been there and doing their job they would not have allowed this person so close. Thankfully PP security were able to get her away.
It is also reverberating around the world and many people think it is lawlessness.
Head of Ukrainian security and defence to Russian cities – we're coming.
"Ukrainian swarm" "named after Matias Rust" – dozens of models, thousands of drones. Attack UAVs in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a flight range of more than 3,000 km. 1987, Red Square, Moscow, plane, Rust.
"Chapman's latest bid for publicity is straight out of the right-wing playbook as examined in Histories of Hate: hammering a cultural issue until you force people to take a side, all the while creating media attention and bringing sympathetic people to your cause. As the book makes clear, our radical-right does not disappear, it only changes target. When the 2019 Christchurch Mosque shootings finally rendered Islamophobia unacceptable in mainstream New Zealand culture, the radical right here pivoted, importing grievance culture from the US and the UK in the form of transphobia."
But as Gen Z are so on the ball regards ‘woke’, sex and gender, and in a few years time the issue will be over and done with, and today’s trans opponents will be viewed like the anti gay marriage and adoption warriors from the past.
“A series of VICE Voices surveys, conducted in 2019, shows many younger people share Preece’s views on gender: 41% of the survey’s respondents (all Gen Z) said they identified as “neutral on the spectrum of masculinity and femininity”. Fifty-five percent also said gender labels don’t help them “define who they truly are”, and 62% “felt strongly that people should be able to use any identity label with which they feel comfortable”.
Attitudes around gender were already changing from Baby Boomers to millennials, but as Gen Z has grown up, they’ve helped facilitate even larger cultural and social shifts in these notions. It’s not that younger people are no longer identifying as cisgender or male or female – rather, they’re less likely to take for granted that gender is binary. These views have helped some young people find their voices, and also opened a dialogue about the complexities of gender identity across generations.”
"Attitudes around gender were already changing from Baby Boomers to millennials, but as Gen Z has grown up, they’ve helped facilitate even larger cultural and social shifts in these notions. It’s not that younger people are no longer identifying as cisgender or male or female – rather, they’re less likely to take for granted that gender is binary."
Gender expression has always been broad.
Sex, however, is binary and immutable.
We are confusing children by conflating the two.
Ignore the "PURE EVIL" and just watch the video.
Does this seem leading in any way? A sales pitch for body modification?
Nothing irrational about knowing the numbers are only going to get better for trans rights and you're just chewing up time 'til the inevitable arrives.
So are they going to be able to change so we have more than man/woman?
Or are you as confused as they are with the difference between sex & gender?
If they are as confused as you seem to be it does not give me very great hope.
But I guess changing mammalian biology and beating evolution would be something. Perhaps not progress more like the pictures of the mad professor in a lab with sticky out hair and bubbling chemical beakers.
It's the future so who knows what they'll have when they're calling the shots and making the rules, there could be loads of options but I'm sure there'll be plenty of consultation before they vote on it.
Those young people in the video are free to express themselves in any way they like, but it is is their best interest to know that sex is binary and immutable.
Eg. The women taking testosterone needs to understand that while it may give secondary sex characteristics, in a female body testosterone has different impacts than in a male body. It can affect heart health, act as a strong mood enhancer (euphoria?), induce a change of behaviour – which can include an increase in aggression or violence. It is terotegenic which means that if contraception is not used during hetersexual sex, any fetus from an unplanned pregnancy is exposed to harmful medication. It can atrophy female genitalia to the degree that sexual activity can rupture the vaginal wall. Pain associated with such atrophy can be so severe that surgeries are offered as pain relief, hysterectomies and ooferectomies ensuring the sterislation that testosterone use alone might not have achieved.
The man who had undergone GRS, said that they CHANGED his male sex organ to a female one. This is untrue. He has inverted his penis to create a visual facsimile of a vagina that leads nowhere. As opposed to a functioning part of a reproductive system, he has a wound that he must keep from healing by the use of manual dilation. To stop his body from completing its natural tendency to close the wound, this task must be maintained regularly. The vagina in a woman is self-lubricating and to self-cleaning. This is also not the case with a facsimile. Urinary infections are also commonplace, and can lead to kidney issues and renal conditions. The lack of testosterone on a male body, brings its own impacts on health, increased likelihood of heart attacks, depression, loss of energy and libido.
The young woman referring to her vulva with shame, deploys the use of a packer to simulate the presence of a penis. If she decides and goes through with a phalloplasty, she too will have a non-functioning appendage attached to her body for purely aesthetic reasons. It will come at the cost of stripping layers of fat, skin, muscle and tissue from the forearm usually in order to create a faux penis that cannot get erect by sexual stimulation, but may be raised by mechanical means. If they choose to involve surgery to rearrange their urethra or clitoris, their likelihood of needing revision surgery and/or ongoing healthcare treatment for urinary issues, kidney infections etc rises exponentially.
The "euphoria" reference to double mastectomy surgery when speaking to a child with no wider frame of reference is irresponsible and a sales pitch. Adults know that all surgeries come with risks both probable and unforeseen. A child hears "it's like flying" and says "I want that".
Wouldn't we all?
So, for these earnest young people, acknowledging sex is binary and immutable, which means that it matters in some significant ways in life, would be to their benefit.
This acknowledgement does not prohibit them from behaving or expressing themselves in any way, but it will improve their well-being and health outcomes.
The VICE Guide to 2030 is powered by VICE Voices, an international community of more than 30,000 VICE readers who volunteer to help us learn more about the state of the world by answering surveys. Unless otherwise noted, the statistics in The VICE Guide to 2030 are informed by four VICE Voices surveys that were circulated to US and UK readers throughout 2019, each of which engaged approximately 500 respondents. To become a member of the VICE Voices community, visit Voices.Vice.com.
Since the quality of your quoted research has been called into question over self-selection bias – it is up to you to find something more reliable to replace it.
Or just admit that it's a puff PR piece, not serious research.
The way this pretend arena does debate, I'm now not confident to post anything more than the type of comments I have today, but get the sysop to level the playing field and enable an open exchange and we'll call it game on.
Whoosh went the underlying site issue as to why debate on this topic has been so perverted and corrupt to become no more than a self serving, meaningless back slappy hit out.
I'll commit when balance returns and impartiality is again a trusted, best practice rule, but do know I really, really want you and the other handful of posters to wait for me.
Someone let me know when lprent transitions and gets some balls.
Well I've been immersed in critiquing the trans stuff and if you read some SM you would think they all believed the trans stuff …..yet the ones I know range from yawn, not interested, to I don't like it, to some of their speakers or aims are good/bad to, Ok if they have to do this I won't stop them.
A children’s television programme to promote body positivity, and which features naked adults answering kids’ questions, has become controversial before it has even aired, with politicians joining in the fray. The programme is based on the Danish Ultra smider tøjet (Ultra strips down) which is now in its second season. The show, called Gewoon Bloot (simply naked) in the Netherlands, consists of a number of adults of all shapes and sizes answering questions from children aged 10 to12 on subjects like being ashamed of certain body parts or shaving versus waxing. Social media have shown reactions from ‘disgusting to ‘educational’ and politicians too have been vocal.
The Netherlands are at present getting critiqued on the "healthcare" promoted on this programme. The lack of evidence is becoming more and more of a concern.
Fierce debate about puberty inhibitors and male/female hormones: "What you are doing is an experiment on children"
There is a polarized debate among doctors about the use of puberty inhibitors and male or female hormones in children with gender dysphoria. Due to uncertainties about safety and effectiveness, Sweden, Finland and England are becoming more cautious about hormone treatments in young people. According to the Gender Team of UZ Gent, the treatment can help many young people.
As there are two posts above yours with links in them it is helpful to identify which one you are talking about.
I think you have had problems before and perhaps have a look at your virus checker or the parental guidance feature, if you have one. You may have them set too high.
Unlike the Millennials – who came of age during the Great Recession – this new generation was in line to inherit a strong economy with record-low unemployment. That has all changed now, as COVID-19 has reshaped the country’s social, political and economic landscape. Instead of looking ahead to a world of opportunities, Gen Z now peers into an uncertain future.
It's like the climate and ecology crises don't exist.
For example, members of Gen Z are more likely than older generations to look to government to solve problems, rather than businesses and individuals. Fully seven-in-ten Gen Zers say the government should do more to solve problems, while 29% say government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals. A somewhat smaller share of Millennials (64%) say government should do more to solve problems, and this view is even less prevalent among older generations (53% of Gen Xers, 49% of Boomers and 39% of Silents).
For the most part, however, Gen Zers and Millennials share similar views on issues facing the country. These younger generations are more likely than their older counterparts to say the earth is getting warmer due to human activity: 54% of Gen Z and 56% of Millennials say this, compared with smaller shares of Gen Xers, Boomers and Silents (48%, 45% and 38%, respectively).
I'm gone for a bit to give the site a chance to clean up it's act and see if it's worth saving and becoming a decent place worthy of a purposeful return, but did want to say those are informative links, and thanks for posting them.
From a link in your piece, which adds data to fuel how much generational growth gen z are undertaking, we find some more good numbers.
"Gen Zers are more likely than Millennials to say they know someone who prefers that others use gender-neutral pronouns to refer to them: 35% say this is the case, compared with a quarter of Millennials. Among each older generation, the share saying this drops: 16% of Gen Xers, 12% of Boomers and just 7% of Silents say this.
The youngest generation is also the most likely to say forms or online profiles that ask about a person’s gender should include options other than “man” or “woman.” Roughly six-in-ten Gen Zers (59%) hold this view, compared with half of Millennials and four-in-ten or fewer Gen Xers, Boomers and Silents.
These findings seem to speak more to exposure than to viewpoint, as roughly equal shares of Gen Zers and Millennials say society should be more accepting of people who don’t identify as either a man or a woman."
I can’t remember what I believed, if anything, when I was 20.
I’m extremely grateful [not the right word!] that I’m well past 20.
The next generations can sort out their shit on top of the shitheap that we created and left for them. As generations did before us. It keeps piling on and we keep telling them what is best for them (I won’t link to a very very recent comment here). The patronising arrogance is breathtaking and shocking in its absence of self-awareness and self-reflection.
I was told, countless times. Sometimes I listened, sometimes I didn’t. We live & learn best through experience, not through self-help podcasts or Sunday morning sermons. Devloping critical thinking skills helps a lot but is not sufficient. Good observational skills help too. And knowing who you are …
Well what I am seeing is a generation where nobody has had the courage to say "no" to them.
I have no problem respecting the human rights and dignity of anyone, regardless of their physical characteristics. But what we saw at Albert Park this weekend was just a shameless lack of boundaries and character. Some people here want to blame men for this. From my point of view that so called pro-trans mob were neither women nor men – rather dangerous children in adult bodies.
This isn't progress – it is degeneracy. But you know – let the wonderful little darlings have their own way – right?
Nobody is allowed to say “No” to anybody. We all have to accept everybody’s behaviour & actions (morals or lack thereof), appearance, personal identity, personal views & beliefs (even they are in conflict with facts), personal choices (ethics or lack thereof), et cetera. This is the neoliberal dogma of our times. There’s no authority that’s accepted and acceptable – each makes up their own set of rules and to Hell with everyone else. Authorities that used to deserve our individual and collective respect are now fair game, including, and especially Government. Welcome to our newfound personal freedom and the Liberation of the Individual.
on top of the shitheap that we created and left for them.
I wonder where I might find the oldest authentic example of young people whining about how terrible the world is? Because I think I just found the youngest.
Decolonise the power and resources out, devolve the bureaucracy and get out of the way” was how Associate Housing Minister Marama Davidson described what she believed should be the Government approach to dealing with the Māori housing crisis.
“We have been made houseless and decolonisation and re-indigenisation will pull us through that.”
Davidson also linked housing to her Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence ministerial role, noting “housing is one of the biggest prevention violence mahi we can do”.
And how is Labour enacting this perspective?
Megan Woods
The role of Government to work with Māori was also highlighted by Housing Minister Megan Woods, though she cautioned “there is no single quick or easy fix”.
“Our role as Government is to work with Māori, in genuine partnership … another way of saying give us the money and we’ll get on and do it.”
Woods cited a number of achievements, including a $730m investment in Māori housing – “the largest ever investment in Māori housing we’ve seen in this country” – plus a boost to trades and apprenticeship places.
“We are putting our money where our mouth is with Māori in the driving seat,” Woods said, noting that $730m investment included a commitment to build 1000 houses. “I’m delighted to say, we’re about to hit the target of over 1000 houses being contracted.”
Woods noted that Kāinga Ora had been partnering with Māori groups and “daring to do something, build state houses”
Willie Jackson
Minister of Maori Development Willie Jackson also addressed the conference, saying they were “a Government that understands that Māori have the solutions … in their own communities”.
Minister of Māori Development Willie Jackson wa also clear on the Government’s role to “create space for Māori”.
“A focus on Māori-led solutions enables Māori and the Crown to better identify local solutions,” he said.
“Maori were clear, we wanted the Government to create space for Māori.”
He also said Government was working to remove systemic barriers he said had stymied iwi developing on their own land.
Tama Potaka
remove the funding maze … we get the housing framework right .. where we spend needs to count … streamline access to finance … stop undermining landlords … stop Kāinga Ora competing with iwi for land acquisitions.
"As the first trans person to win any award at the annual ceremony since it was first held in 2010, Lal was celebrated on Thursday for their work in getting the harmful therapy – which attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity – banned in Aotearoa."
Dunno that Lal deserved it. He is not a transgender person; just a lost soul. Rainbow Labour circa 2004 has been pushing for the ban on conversion therapy. Lal was just another brick in the (stone)wall before it was banned. Utterly undeserved.
" Lal was celebrated on Thursday for their work in getting the harmful therapy – which attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity – banned in Aotearoa"
On the assumptive notion that fundamentalist Christian gay conversion therapy was rife in NZ, Shaneel Lal promoted and advocated for a bill that diminished the likelihood of high-quality exploratory therapy, and criminalised those who might query an individual's declaration.
The gay-conversion narrative was a Trojan horse Lal et al. had to build (assisted with Funding on Air) in order to equate harmful sexual orientation conversion practices with any form – however insignificant, gentle or appropriate -of querying someone's gender identity.
Those most likely to do this – parents – have effectively been legislated into silence.
Therapists – while excluded in legislation – will either universally affirm or most likely not choose clients where their exploratory therapy may lead to accusations of conversion.
This HRC support service was set up obstensibly to deal with the many victims, but acts as a further reminder that unless you affirm immediately, there is a fast-track framework to deal with your heresy.
The $2.2m taxpayer-funded complaints centre set up by the Human Rights Commission for receiving complaints about ‘conversion therapy’ has admitted that there have been no formal complaints about ‘conversion therapy’ since the new law was passed, despitesignificantadvertising about its services.
One enquiry was about activity that has happened since 18 August 2022 when the CP Act came fully into force. This enquiry was a complaint about unwanted and offensive leaflets left in letterboxes that included a range of material including disinformation about vaccines, discriminatory and incorrect information about transgender people… no enquiries have been made about either non-affirming medical care or coercive gender transition practices… there have been no referrals from the Commission to Police or to the Health and Disability Commissioner.
There comes a realisation that the existing systems that could be expected to allow concerns and impacts to be discussed and considered without bias – are not available. Furthermore, they actively work to suppress speech and demonise speakers.
Once you reach that point, you realise how embedded the suppression is, and understand why engagement with by the usual democratic methods were unable to stop the behemoth.
It's not only a concern for this issue, but for any not approved by those not valuing free speech in a democratic society.
I am amazed that you seem to have no reservations about this person even after seeing how they hustled their mates to Albert park to disrupt the PP event. One result was that women who were there were unable to continue and now one is receiving treatment for a fractured skull after being bashed.
Actually I am amazed that 'poor'* young person has not be able to indulge in a little self reflection as a result of what happened at Albert Park.
in the way of accessing normal emotions about shame, thoughtfulness & recognition that one may not have been correct this time.
I actually don't think I have seem anything so crass as to give young NZer of the year to someone who caused such havoc & went along with such hate at Albert Park. I guess it is for for his work prior to this. In other spheres it is not unknown for there to be a rethink by judges when the candidate does not live up to the nomination between the time of being nominated and the presentation of the award.
Don't know who is up against the Topp Twins but from a personal admiration point of view for all they have done for women and song, TV I have admiration. I am also admiring of the stance they took when they both had breast cancer. Their up beat updates would have been encouraging for many others. They have some good competition though…..
I am also very pleased that Sir Mark Dunajtschik has one an award. He has donated money for buildings all around Wellington and he and his partner financed the Wellington Children’s Hospital. And he is an allround great character.
I really dislike this whole fawning over the rainbow community. Would you be waxing lyrical if a woman won young NZer or NZer of the year.
I have no idea what you are talking about. I don't 'fawn' over anybody. Never have and never would. I think you need to reflect a bit on your attitude Shanreagh.
I think it is pretty clear to understand. The ability of a community to self reflect is an indication of our maturity as a nation. I have been pro trans rights until they started to want to infringe on my rights as a woman. I will probably continue to be pro trans except in those areas such as safe spaces etc.
I feel that the trans community did themselves no favours by the display on Saturday and since we have had barrage of uncritical admiration while many overseas commentators are agog at what happened & NZ's inability to reflect and condemn where necessary. Violence is no way to get ahead.
I had thought that Shaneel Lal may have been a person capable of self reflection either by disqualifying himself or mentioning his sorrow at what had happened and desire to work together to make sure it did not happen again. That would be fantastic leadership.
The fawning I was mentioning is from people who have swallowed the happy & hard done by transworld myth and now want to give away women's sex based rights as well. I did not say you were part of this.
So my self reflection is as above:
I am pro trans rights as everyone deserves to live happy, fulfilled and peaceful lives
The trans rights that I support are those that respect the sex based ability to have safe spaces for women, including the ability to play sport in a fair way
The problem, Robert, is that it is male voices who are amplifying the rhetoric against females from speaking out. When it comes to KJKM, the majority of talking heads were men. It was men saying she shouldnt talk. It is men who are making the oft baseless claims that she is advocating for violence against transgender women. Who are transgender women? Men.
the voices of actual females are being silenced and diminished, not to mention demonised.
if you’re a TRAsh, then really you should just sit to the sidelines and let the queers sort this one out. Unless you would put your hand on your heart and say that if you are a heterosexual male, you would sleep with a man who identifies as a woman (and has a penis) as that is what Men are saying lesbians should do.
In the absence of an authority that we can all agree to subject to – it’s gone or on its way out – the only way is collectively and by mutual agreement. Fracturing into separate groups, down to the single individual, each with their own set of rules & rights is a sure recipe for dictatorship. That’s why social cohesion and strong communities are vital. That’s the reason why any action, deliberate or accidental, that endangers social cohesion must be resisted & rejected in the strongest possible ways.
Very well put Incognito. I especially like this part.
Fracturing into separate groups, down to the single individual, each with their own set of rules & rights is a sure recipe for dictatorship. That’s why social cohesion and strong communities are vital. That’s the reason why any action, deliberate or accidental, that endangers social cohesion must be resisted & rejected in the strongest possible ways.
You are framing it as if there has been a problem in identifying trans rights. There has not been.
Where the problem seems to be is that in considering issues we have not allowed ourselves to think of the rights of others. I find it concerning that despite all the writing here on the TS that you are asking these questions.
We elect people to parliament to advocate on the issues that affect us all as people. These people gather themselves into parties.
There are some issues that are, or should be universal, (to give us a hand the UN has made declarations). In NZ we also have overarching legislation such as the Bill of Rights and the Human Rights act, Health & Disability Act
Then there are the rights to give sentient beings such as freedom from cruelty
Are you saying the Trans community did not have an input in the No Debate campaign around self ID?
"I have been pro trans rights until they started to want to infringe on my rights as a woman. I will probably continue to be pro trans except in those areas such as safe spaces etc."
Shanreagh – No one reading your comments over the past three days on TS would believe that you are pro Trans rights.
And frankly to suggest otherwise means that you have lapsed into the binary thinking of:
trans rights good, women's rights bad.
Have you been following the issue on TS over the last three years?
I regret you have not been able to see the nuance. In my writing I have been at pains to disregard the tosh as I see it and to focus on the reality.
I was thinking it was a worthy cause like the homosexual law reform when even my elderly parents were saying all people should be able to live their lives in happy & fulfilled way as long as they did not infringe on the rights of others to live theirs similarly.
There is a quote attributed to Queen Victoria about sexual choice that goes along the lines of 'they can do anything they want as long as it doesn't frighten the horses'.
My paraphrasing of this is that they can have any rights they want as long as the giving of these rights does not affect my sex based rights as a women.
That I call out the rubbish that has been spouted in the the No Debate issue and about the so called peaceful protest on 25/3 does not mean I do not support human/civil rights for the trans community.
Women's rights and the rights of children ie safeguarding are the rights that affect me most. It is not a big ask to ensure that these are protected is it?
Did you think that women's rights and the safeguarding of rights is not important?
PS the violence and use of the thugs veto at anti womens rights protest on 25/3 is something we as people should be very concerned with.
The fawning I was mentioning is from people who have swallowed the happy & hard done by transworld myth and now want to give away women's sex based rights as well. I did not say you were part of this.
I apologise. I thought you directed that comment to me.
I also said to Molly a couple of days ago… something to the effect that when you get down to the nitty gritty of this subject we probably agree about far more then we disagree. I firmly believe that is true.
Now I may be a little biased, because I have a close relative who is a member of the rainbow community. Indeed she is also gender critical and has been since birth. However she was professionally identified as female and she identifies herself as such so no problem there. Suffice to say she's a cracker of a young woman and we are proud of her. She is highly regarded by everyone who knows her including her police colleagues.
So, in the light of the above I get angry when labels are attached to individuals whose only crime is they have a slightly different gender orientation.
"Now I may be a little biased, because I have a close relative who is a member of the rainbow community. Indeed she is also gender critical and has been since birth. However she was professionally identified as female and she identifies herself as such so no problem there. Suffice to say she's a cracker of a young woman and we are proud of her. She is highly regarded by everyone who knows her including her police colleagues.
So, in the light of the above I get angry when labels are attached to individuals whose only crime is they have a slightly different gender orientation."
I'm sorry to tell you this Anne, but these two paragraphs show a complete misunderstanding of the issues being discussed.
You are against an interpretation that exists in your head, which is not an accurate reflection of the concerns that have been raised on TS many times.
I'm sorry to tell you this Anne, but these two paragraphs show a complete misunderstanding of the issues being discussed.
That may be your interpretation Molly but all I was doing was admitting (if that is the right word) that there is a family member whose condition may not be directly associated with the "issues being discussed", but there are relatable circumstances – and how that might affect my conclusions.
I'm starting to feel like The Al1en @ 6.1.7.2 when he says:
I'm gone for a bit to give the site a chance to clean up it's act and see if it's worth saving…
It'd be an improvement to the quality of discourse, if people took time to read before contributing.
You have been informed before about how lesbians like your niece have also been detrimentally affected, yet you show no signs of having read those responses.
But rhat's just my perspective.
You carry on reiterating but not refining your contribution, and you will likely continue to get repetitious answers. Just a cause and effect, rather than directed personal criticism.
Hi Molly. You (and others) may find this op piece interesting. It is written by trans woman Jessica Triff and addresses the more toxic side of trans activism.
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In the 1980s and early 1990s when I wrote about Argentine and South American authoritarianism, I borrowed the phrase “cultura del miedo” (culture of fear) from Juan Corradi, Guillermo O’Donnell, Norberto Lechner and others to characterise the social anomaly that exists in a country ruled by a state terror regime ...
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...
Chris Bishop has unveiled plans for new roads in Tauranga, Auckland and Northland that will cost up to a combined $10 billion. Photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short from Aotearoa political economy around housing, poverty and climate in the week to Saturday, April 26:Chris Bishop ploughed ahead this week with spending ...
Unless you've been living under a rock, you would have noticed that New Zealand’s government, under the guise of economic stewardship, is tightening the screws on its citizens, and using debt as a tool of control. This isn’t just a conspiracy theory whispered in pub corners...it’s backed by hard data ...
The budget runup is far from easy.Budget 2025 day is Thursday 22 May. About a month earlier in a normal year, the macroeconomic forecasts would be completed (the fiscal ones would still be tidying up) and the main policy decisions would have been made (but there would still be a ...
On 25 April 2021, I published an internal all-staff Anzac Day message. I did so as the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, which is responsible for Australia’s civil defence, and its resilience in ...
You’ve likely noticed that the disgraced blogger of Whale Oil Beef Hooked infamy, Cameron Slater, is still slithering around the internet, peddling his bile on a shiny new blogsite calling itself The Good Oil. If you thought bankruptcy, defamation rulings, and a near-fatal health scare would teach this idiot a ...
The Atlas Network, a sprawling web of libertarian think tanks funded by fossil fuel barons and corporate elites, has sunk its claws into New Zealand’s political landscape. At the forefront of this insidious influence is David Seymour, the ACT Party leader, whose ties to Atlas run deep.With the National Party’s ...
Nicola Willis, National’s supposed Finance Minister, has delivered another policy failure with the Family Boost scheme, a childcare rebate that was big on promises but has been very small on delivery. Only 56,000 families have signed up, a far cry from the 130,000 Willis personally championed in National’s campaign. This ...
This article was first published on 7 February 2025. In January, I crossed the milestone of 24 years of service in two militaries—the British and Australian armies. It is fair to say that I am ...
He shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.Age shall not weary him, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morningI will remember him.My mate Keith died yesterday, peacefully in the early hours. My dear friend in Rotorua, whom I’ve been ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: on news New Zealand abstained from a vote on a global shipping levy on climate emissions and downgraded the importance ...
Hi,In case you missed it, New Zealand icon Lorde has a new single out. It’s called “What Was That”, and has a very low key music video that was filmed around her impromptu performance in New York’s Washington Square Park. When police shut down the initial popup, one of my ...
A strategy of denial is now the cornerstone concept for Australia’s National Defence Strategy. The term’s use as an overarching guide to defence policy, however, has led to some confusion on what it actually means ...
The IMF’s twice-yearly World Economic Outlook and Fiscal Monitor publications have come out in the last couple of days. If there is gloom in the GDP numbers (eg this chart for the advanced countries, and we don’t score a lot better on the comparable one for the 2019 to ...
For a while, it looked like the government had unfucked the ETS, at least insofar as unit settings were concerned. They had to be forced into it by a court case, but at least it got done, and when National came to power, it learned the lesson (and then fucked ...
The argument over US officials’ misuse of secure but non-governmental messaging platform Signal falls into two camps. Either it is a gross error that undermines national security, or it is a bit of a blunder ...
Cost of living ~1/3 of Kiwis needed help with food as cost of living pressures continue to increase - turning to friends, family, food banks or Work and Income in the past year, to find food. 40% of Kiwis also said they felt schemes offered little or no benefit, according ...
Hi,Perhaps in 2025 it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the CEO and owner of Voyager Internet — the major sponsor of the New Zealand Media Awards — has taken to sharing a variety of Anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish conspiracy theories to his 1.2 million followers.This included sharing a post from ...
In the sprint to deepen Australia-India defence cooperation, navy links have shot ahead of ties between the two countries’ air forces and armies. That’s largely a good thing: maritime security is at the heart of ...
'Cause you and me, were meant to be,Walking free, in harmony,One fine day, we'll fly away,Don't you know that Rome wasn't built in a day?Songwriters: Paul David Godfrey / Ross Godfrey / Skye Edwards.I was half expecting to see photos this morning of National Party supporters with wads of cotton ...
The PSA says a settlement with Health New Zealand over the agency’s proposed restructure of its Data and Digital and Pacific Health teams has saved around 200 roles from being cut. A third of New Zealanders have needed help accessing food in the past year, according to Consumer NZ, and ...
John Campbell’s Under His Command, a five-part TVNZ+ investigation series starting today, rips the veil off Destiny Church, exposing the rot festering under Brian Tamaki’s self-proclaimed apostolic throne. This isn’t just a church; it’s a fiefdom, built on fear, manipulation, and a trail of scandals that make your stomach churn. ...
Some argue we still have time, since quantum computing capable of breaking today’s encryption is a decade or more away. But breakthrough capabilities, especially in domains tied to strategic advantage, rarely follow predictable timelines. Just ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Pearl Marvell(Photo credit: Pearl Marvell. Image credit: Samantha Harrington. Dollar bill vector image: by pch.vector on Freepik) Igrew up knowing that when you had extra money, you put it under a bed, stashed it in a book or a clock, or, ...
The political petrified piece of wood, Winston Peters, who refuses to retire gracefully, has had an eventful couple of weeks peddling transphobia, pushing bigoted policies, undertaking his unrelenting war on wokeness and slinging vile accusations like calling Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick a “groomer”.At 80, the hypocritical NZ First leader’s latest ...
It's raining in Cockermouth and we're following our host up the stairs. We’re telling her it’s a lovely building and she’s explaining that it used to be a pub and a nightclub and a backpackers, but no more.There were floods in 2009 and 2015 along the main street, huge floods, ...
A recurring aspect of the Trump tariff coverage is that it normalises – or even sanctifies – a status quo that in many respects has been a disaster for working class families. No doubt, Donald Trump is an uncertainty machine that is tanking the stock market and the growth prospects ...
The National Party’s Minister of Police, Corrections, and Ethnic Communities (irony alert) has stumbled into yet another racist quagmire, proving that when it comes to bigotry, the right wing’s playbook is as predictable as it is vile. This time, Mitchell’s office reposted an Instagram reel falsely claiming that Te Pāti ...
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...
In a world crying out for empathy, J.K. Rowling has once again proven she’s more interested in stoking division than building bridges. The once-beloved author of Harry Potter has cemented her place as this week’s Arsehole of the Week, a title earned through her relentless, tone-deaf crusade against transgender rights. ...
Health security is often seen as a peripheral security domain, and as a problem that is difficult to address. These perceptions weaken our capacity to respond to borderless threats. With the wind back of Covid-19 ...
Would our political parties pass muster under the Fair Trading Act?WHAT IF OUR POLITICAL PARTIES were subject to the Fair Trading Act? What if they, like the nation’s businesses, were prohibited from misleading their consumers – i.e. the voters – about the nature, characteristics, suitability, or quantity of the products ...
Rod EmmersonThank you to my subscribers and readers - you make it all possible. Tui.Subscribe nowSix updates today from around the world and locally here in Aoteaora New Zealand -1. RFK Jnr’s Autism CrusadeAmerica plans to create a registry of people with autism in the United States. RFK Jr’s department ...
We see it often enough. A democracy deals with an authoritarian state, and those who oppose concessions cite the lesson of Munich 1938: make none to dictators; take a firm stand. And so we hear ...
370 perioperative nurses working at Auckland City Hospital, Starship Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre will strike for two hours on 1 May – the same day senior doctors are striking. This is part of nationwide events to mark May Day on 1 May, including rallies outside public hospitals, organised by ...
Character protections for Auckland’s villas have stymied past development. Now moves afoot to strip character protection from a bunch of inner-city villas. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories shortest from our political economy on Wednesday, April 23:Special Character Areas designed to protect villas are stopping 20,000 sites near Auckland’s ...
Artificial intelligence is poised to significantly transform the Indo-Pacific maritime security landscape. It offers unprecedented situational awareness, decision-making speed and operational flexibility. But without clear rules, shared norms and mechanisms for risk reduction, AI could ...
For what is a man, what has he got?If not himself, then he has naughtTo say the things he truly feelsAnd not the words of one who kneelsThe record showsI took the blowsAnd did it my wayLyrics: Paul Anka.Morena folks, before we discuss Winston’s latest salvo in NZ First’s War ...
Britain once risked a reputation as the weak link in the trilateral AUKUS partnership. But now the appointment of an empowered senior official to drive the project forward and a new burst of British parliamentary ...
Australia’s ability to produce basic metals, including copper, lead, zinc, nickel and construction steel, is in jeopardy, with ageing plants struggling against Chinese competition. The multinational commodities company Trafigura has put its Australian operations under ...
There have been recent PPP debacles, both in New Zealand (think Transmission Gully) and globally, with numerous examples across both Australia and Britain of failed projects and extensive litigation by government agencies seeking redress for the failures.Rob Campbell is one of New Zealand’s sharpest critics of PPPs noting that; "There ...
On Twitter on Saturday I indicated that there had been a mistake in my post from last Thursday in which I attempted to step through the Reserve Bank Funding Agreement issues. Making mistakes (there are two) is annoying and I don’t fully understand how I did it (probably too much ...
Indonesia’s armed forces still have a lot of work to do in making proper use of drones. Two major challenges are pilot training and achieving interoperability between the services. Another is overcoming a predilection for ...
The StrategistBy Sandy Juda Pratama, Curie Maharani and Gautama Adi Kusuma
As a living breathing human being, you’ve likely seen the heart-wrenching images from Gaza...homes reduced to rubble, children burnt to cinders, families displaced, and a death toll that’s beyond comprehension. What is going on in Gaza is most definitely a genocide, the suffering is real, and it’s easy to feel ...
Donald Trump, who has called the Chair of the Federal Reserve “a major loser”. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories shortest from our political economy on Tuesday, April 22:US markets slump after Donald Trump threatens the Fed’s independence. China warns its trading partners not to side with the US. Trump says some ...
Last night, the news came through that Pope Francis had passed away at 7:35 am in Rome on Monday, the 21st of April, following a reported stroke and heart failure. Pope Francis. Photo: AP.Despite his obvious ill health, it still came as a shock, following so soon after the Easter ...
The 2024 Independent Intelligence Review found the NIC to be highly capable and performing well. So, it is not a surprise that most of the 67 recommendations are incremental adjustments and small but nevertheless important ...
This is a re-post from The Climate BrinkThe world has made real progress toward tacking climate change in recent years, with spending on clean energy technologies skyrocketing from hundreds of billions to trillions of dollars globally over the past decade, and global CO2 emissions plateauing.This has contributed to a reassessment of ...
Hi,I’ve been having a peaceful month of what I’d call “existential dread”, even more aware than usual that — at some point — this all ends.It was very specifically triggered by watching Pantheon, an animated sci-fi show that I’m filing away with all-time greats like Six Feet Under, Watchmen and ...
Once the formalities of honouring the late Pope wrap up in two to three weeks time, the conclave of Cardinals will go into seclusion. Some 253 of the current College of Cardinals can take part in the debate over choosing the next Pope, but only 138 of them are below ...
The National Party government is doubling down on a grim, regressive vision for the future: more prisons, more prisoners, and a society fractured by policies that punish rather than heal. This isn’t just a misstep; it’s a deliberate lurch toward a dystopian future where incarceration is the answer to every ...
The audacity of Don Brash never ceases to amaze. The former National Party and Hobson’s Pledge mouthpiece has now sunk his claws into NZME, the media giant behind the New Zealand Herald and half of our commercial radio stations. Don Brash has snapped up shares in NZME, aligning himself with ...
A listing of 28 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 13, 2025 thru Sat, April 19, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. The formatting is a ...
The Green Party has renewed its call for the Government to ban the use, supply, and manufacture of engineered stone products, as the CTU launches a petition for the implementation of a full ban. ...
Te Pāti Māori are appalled by Cabinet's decision to agree to 15 recommendations to the Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector following the regulatory review by the Ministry of Regulation. We emphasise the need to prioritise tamariki Māori in Early Childhood Education, conducted by education experts- not economists. “Our mokopuna deserve ...
The Government must support Northland hapū who have resorted to rakes and buckets to try to control a devastating invasive seaweed that threatens the local economy and environment. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill that would ensure the biological definition of a woman and man are defined in law. “This is not about being anti-anyone or anti-anything. This is about ensuring we as a country focus on the facts of biology and protect the ...
After stonewalling requests for information on boot camps, the Government has now offered up a blog post right before Easter weekend rather than provide clarity on the pilot. ...
More people could be harmed if Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey does not guarantee to protect patients and workers as the Police withdraw from supporting mental health call outs. ...
The Green Party recognises the extension of visa allowances for our Pacific whānau as a step in the right direction but continues to call for a Pacific Visa Waiver. ...
The Government yesterday released its annual child poverty statistics, and by its own admission, more tamariki across Aotearoa are now living in material hardship. ...
Today, Te Pāti Māori join the motu in celebration as the Treaty Principles Bill is voted down at its second reading. “From the beginning, this Bill was never welcome in this House,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi. “Our response to the first reading was one of protest: protesting ...
The Green Party is proud to have voted down the Coalition Government’s Treaty Principles Bill, an archaic piece of legislation that sought to attack the nation’s founding agreement. ...
A Member’s Bill in the name of Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter which aims to stop coal mining, the Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill, has been pulled from Parliament’s ‘biscuit tin’ today. ...
Labour MP Kieran McAnulty’s Members Bill to make the law simpler and fairer for businesses operating on Easter, Anzac and Christmas Days has passed its first reading after a conscience vote in Parliament. ...
Nicola Willis continues to sit on her hands amid a global economic crisis, leaving the Reserve Bank to act for New Zealanders who are worried about their jobs, mortgages, and KiwiSaver. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As we enter the final days of campaigning, Labor leads with its nose in front on most polls, but the devil is in the detail of particular seats. To help get a read ...
Communities in Vanuatu are learning to grow climate resilient crops, 18 months after Cyclone Lola devastated the country. The category 5 storm struck in October 2023, generating wind speeds of up to 215 kmph, which destroyed homes, schools, plantations, and left at least four people dead. It was all ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government has dug out last-minute savings of more than A$7 billion, to ensure its election commitments are more than offset in every year of the forward estimates. Its costings, released Monday, include savings ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Bartos, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra The federal budget will be stronger than suggested in last month’s budget, according to Treasurer Jim Chalmers who released Labor’s costings on Monday. Many of the policies included in the costings were already detailed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Bartos, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra With the May 3 federal election less than a week away, voters have only just received Labor’s costings and are yet to hear from the Coalition. At the 2022 election, the costings were not ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University WPixz/Shutterstock An antidepressant containing a form of the drug ketamine has been added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), making it much cheaper for the estimated 30,000 Australians with treatment-resistant depression. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Muller, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne In front of a crowd of party faithful last weekend, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton referred to the ABC, Guardian Australia and other news platforms as “hate media”. The language ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mohan Yellishetty, Professor, Co-Founder, Critical Minerals Consortium, and Australia-India Critical Minerals Research Hub, Monash University RHJPhtotos/Shutterstock The world needs huge quantities of critical minerals to make batteries, electric vehicles, wind turbines, mobile phones, computers and advanced weaponry. Many of these ...
PodTalk.live After a successful beta-launch this month, PodTalk.live has now called for people to register as foundation members — it’s free to join the post and podcast social platform. The foundation membership soft-launch is a great opportunity for founders to help shape a brand new, vibrant, algorithm-free, info discussion and ...
"This is an abandonment of Pharmac’s commitment to the health of Māori and another breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi," said Janice Panoho, Te Kaihautū Māori for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Angus, Professor of Digital Communication, Director of QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology In the lead-up to the 2025 Australian federal election, political advertising is seemingly everywhere. We’ve been mapping the often invisible world of digital political advertising ...
This Aussie kids’ TV juggernaut has always packed an emotional punch, and the live stage show was no exception – giving one toddler and her mother a valuable lesson in dealing with disappointment. As a parent, a neat game to play is to think about which of your many failures ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Bartos, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra With the May 3 federal election less than a week away, voters still have little reliable information on the costs of Labor or Coalition policies. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has said Labor’s policy costings will ...
We have three exciting new roles! The Spinoff is advertising for three new roles – one permanent and two fixed term opportunities. This is an opportunity for three creative people in vastly different areas to join our small team. Video journalistThe Spinoff has been funded by NZ On Air ...
As New Zealanders marked Anzac Day, Italians commemorated 80 years since the country was liberated from fascism. Have celebrations changed in the shadow of Italy’s first postwar far-right government? Nina Hall writes from Bologna. For Italians, April 25 is very different to New Zealand’s Anzac Day. It’s the day to ...
As Shortland Street’s mysterious new ‘Back in Black’ season starts tonight, Tara Ward explains exactly what’s going on in Ferndale. What’s all this then? Back in Black is the name of Shortland Street’s new mini-season, which begins tonight. In 2025, the long-running soap is dividing the year into four “mini-seasons”, ...
Approved building firms, plumbers, and drainlayers will now be able to sign off their own work, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced. ...
From 1 July, teachers will save up to $550 when applying for registration or renewing their practising certificate, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced. ...
Silicosis is a debilitating disease that cannot be cured. The evidence is clear that the only solution is to stop workers from being required to process engineered stone, which exposes them to the dangerous silica dust. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Hoyer, Senior Researcher, Historian and Complexity Scientist, University of Toronto Canada is, by nearly any measure, a large, advanced, prosperous nation. A founding member of the G7, Canada is one of the world’s most “advanced economies,” ranking fourth in the Organization ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Lakin, Lecturer, Clark University Memory and politics are inherently intertwined and can never be fully separated in post-atrocity and post-genocidal contexts. They are also dynamic and ever-changing. The interplay between memory and politics is, therefore, prone to manipulation, exaggeration or misuse ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeffrey Fields, Professor of the Practice of International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences A mural on the outer walls of the former US embassy in Tehran depicts two men in negotiation.Majid Saeedi/Getty Images Negotiators from Iran and ...
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What if you’re not bad with money, you’re just working with outdated software? If you’ve ever thought, “why can’t I just stick to a budget?”, congratulations. You’re just like the other 90% of us.Our brains were wired for survival in a hunter-gatherer world, which means they start throwing up ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Chung, PhD Candidate, National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, The University of Queensland Stenko Vlad/Shutterstock E-cigarettes or vapes were originally designed to deliver nicotine in a smokeless form. But in recent years, vapes have been used to deliver other ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryoush Habibi, Professor and Head, Centre for Green and Smart Energy Systems, Edith Cowan University EV batteries are made of hundreds of smaller cells.IM Imagery/Shutterstock Around the world, more and more electric vehicles are hitting the road. Last year, more than ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kristian Ramsden, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide Apple TV In the second episode of Apple TV’s The Studio (2025–) – a sharp satirical take on contemporary Hollywood – newly-appointed studio head Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) visits the set of one of ...
David Taylor, head of English at Northcote College, outlines why he will refuse to teach the latest draft of the English curriculum. “I’ll look no more, / Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight / Topple down headlong.” (King Lear, Act 4, Scene 6)Since 2007, New Zealand schools ...
The Ministry of Social Development said in a report this was because it could not cope with workloads, which included work relating to changes to the Jobseeker benefit. ...
So given the issues of the lightness of being going across a bridge on foot or bike, how many people can fit on a light rail service and the little people of middle earth underground
images of Simeon Brown and Pee Wee Hermon (spot the difference)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/second-auckland-harbour-crossing-mayor-wayne-brown-wants-light-rail-port-land-to-be-considered-first/BNGJW4M3W5CDFIGB5YEAYQ7IJI/
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Pee+Wee+Hermon+and+Simeon+Brown
(click on view all its uncanny).
The giant in the National Party caucus who is mentor to SB, Christopher Penk (who now takes a support role, so as to not take away mana from the team leader).
might need to be resized to be less like Sam Whitelock alongside John Key in a locker room.
Simeon should talk to Simon about a transport plan, its time to think big, not talk about what National did in the last term.
all kudos to Eli for making her protest funny and well targeted and managed with grace (quite a feat). I don’t have too much of a problem with things being thrown at politicians so long as no one gets hurt.
Aaaah but people were hurt.
She belongs to the group that also views the bashing of a 70 year old woman wanting to attend an event with PP with apparent unconcern, I have not seen anything expressing concern by Shaneel Lal or Max Tweedie. Let alone Hipkins. As we know the lovely trans people over weighed any concern from Marama when she was approached for comment.
The 70 year old woman has now got a fractured skull.
I actually think Elis is a poser & tipping sauce over someone is all jolly hockey sticks and all that it did lead to quite a few injuries in the group wanting to speak and the cancellation of PP event in Auckland and Wellington. If NZ Police had been there and doing their job they would not have allowed this person so close. Thankfully PP security were able to get her away.
It is also reverberating around the world and many people think it is lawlessness.
Not my words. I just changed the name of the thrower.
But I absolutely echo the sentiment.
Gender critical feminist Mary Harrington pointing out why professional class women have a vested interest in removing sex from law.
https://twitter.com/triggerpod/status/1641048493484564480?s=20
Incredible.
https://twitter.com/wekatweets/status/1641224925905305600?s=20
Head of Ukrainian security and defence to Russian cities – we're coming.
"Ukrainian swarm" "named after Matias Rust" – dozens of models, thousands of drones. Attack UAVs in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a flight range of more than 3,000 km. 1987, Red Square, Moscow, plane, Rust.
https://twitter.com/OleksiyDanilov/status/1641019167766634496
A pitch for the new con votes.
https://twitter.com/ColeyTangerina/status/1640471548162359297
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2303/S00213/greg-fleming-selected-as-nationals-candidate-in-maungakiekie.htm
A bit like this book which probes the links between far right hate groups and them backing anti transgender rights.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/book-of-the-week-terfs-and-other-haters
"Chapman's latest bid for publicity is straight out of the right-wing playbook as examined in Histories of Hate: hammering a cultural issue until you force people to take a side, all the while creating media attention and bringing sympathetic people to your cause. As the book makes clear, our radical-right does not disappear, it only changes target. When the 2019 Christchurch Mosque shootings finally rendered Islamophobia unacceptable in mainstream New Zealand culture, the radical right here pivoted, importing grievance culture from the US and the UK in the form of transphobia."
But as Gen Z are so on the ball regards ‘woke’, sex and gender, and in a few years time the issue will be over and done with, and today’s trans opponents will be viewed like the anti gay marriage and adoption warriors from the past.
“A series of VICE Voices surveys, conducted in 2019, shows many younger people share Preece’s views on gender: 41% of the survey’s respondents (all Gen Z) said they identified as “neutral on the spectrum of masculinity and femininity”. Fifty-five percent also said gender labels don’t help them “define who they truly are”, and 62% “felt strongly that people should be able to use any identity label with which they feel comfortable”.
Attitudes around gender were already changing from Baby Boomers to millennials, but as Gen Z has grown up, they’ve helped facilitate even larger cultural and social shifts in these notions. It’s not that younger people are no longer identifying as cisgender or male or female – rather, they’re less likely to take for granted that gender is binary. These views have helped some young people find their voices, and also opened a dialogue about the complexities of gender identity across generations.”
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230327-how-young-people-are-shaking-off-gender-binaries
Young New Zealander of the year:
Congratulations to Shaneel Lal.
Lets hope the Topp twins win New Zealander(s) of the year.
What a huge boost for the rainbow community that would be.
Gender expression has always been broad.
Sex, however, is binary and immutable.
We are confusing children by conflating the two.
Ignore the "PURE EVIL" and just watch the video.
Does this seem leading in any way? A sales pitch for body modification?
https://twitter.com/PearceAlan1962/status/1641133236024639491?s=20
Don't ask me, ask the kids at the vanguard of the movement that's already won, after all, they're deciding the future they’ll live in.
Ah, that's the difference.
I expect sense from the responsible adults in the room.
I'll ask one of them.
"Sex, however, is binary and immutable."
Not according to the majority of those Gen Z kids in that poll.
Like I wrote, with those numbers, minus a pied piper for the ages, it's a fight already lost.
Best use all your power while you can 'cause I suspect referendums and votes won't be too kind in your future.
NB: "responsible adults ".
Obviously should have added "rational" as well.
Nothing irrational about knowing the numbers are only going to get better for trans rights and you're just chewing up time 'til the inevitable arrives.
Sex, however, is binary and immutable.
Again, and it’s the real deal clincher – Not according to the majority of those Gen Z kids in that poll.
A decade, more or less, and it’s over, Rover.
@The Al1en
"A decade, more or less, and it’s over, Rover."
Regardless of whatever is over – sex will remain binary and immutable.
Until that is understood, those kids are adrift.
This is nothing to do with trans rights.
It's acknowledging reality.
(Unless, of course, trans rights means we deny reality).
So are they going to be able to change so we have more than man/woman?
Or are you as confused as they are with the difference between sex & gender?
If they are as confused as you seem to be it does not give me very great hope.
But I guess changing mammalian biology and beating evolution would be something. Perhaps not progress more like the pictures of the mad professor in a lab with sticky out hair and bubbling chemical beakers.
It's the future so who knows what they'll have when they're calling the shots and making the rules, there could be loads of options but I'm sure there'll be plenty of consultation before they vote on it.
@The Al1en
Those young people in the video are free to express themselves in any way they like, but it is is their best interest to know that sex is binary and immutable.
Eg. The women taking testosterone needs to understand that while it may give secondary sex characteristics, in a female body testosterone has different impacts than in a male body. It can affect heart health, act as a strong mood enhancer (euphoria?), induce a change of behaviour – which can include an increase in aggression or violence. It is terotegenic which means that if contraception is not used during hetersexual sex, any fetus from an unplanned pregnancy is exposed to harmful medication. It can atrophy female genitalia to the degree that sexual activity can rupture the vaginal wall. Pain associated with such atrophy can be so severe that surgeries are offered as pain relief, hysterectomies and ooferectomies ensuring the sterislation that testosterone use alone might not have achieved.
The man who had undergone GRS, said that they CHANGED his male sex organ to a female one. This is untrue. He has inverted his penis to create a visual facsimile of a vagina that leads nowhere. As opposed to a functioning part of a reproductive system, he has a wound that he must keep from healing by the use of manual dilation. To stop his body from completing its natural tendency to close the wound, this task must be maintained regularly. The vagina in a woman is self-lubricating and to self-cleaning. This is also not the case with a facsimile. Urinary infections are also commonplace, and can lead to kidney issues and renal conditions. The lack of testosterone on a male body, brings its own impacts on health, increased likelihood of heart attacks, depression, loss of energy and libido.
The young woman referring to her vulva with shame, deploys the use of a packer to simulate the presence of a penis. If she decides and goes through with a phalloplasty, she too will have a non-functioning appendage attached to her body for purely aesthetic reasons. It will come at the cost of stripping layers of fat, skin, muscle and tissue from the forearm usually in order to create a faux penis that cannot get erect by sexual stimulation, but may be raised by mechanical means. If they choose to involve surgery to rearrange their urethra or clitoris, their likelihood of needing revision surgery and/or ongoing healthcare treatment for urinary issues, kidney infections etc rises exponentially.
The "euphoria" reference to double mastectomy surgery when speaking to a child with no wider frame of reference is irresponsible and a sales pitch. Adults know that all surgeries come with risks both probable and unforeseen. A child hears "it's like flying" and says "I want that".
Wouldn't we all?
So, for these earnest young people, acknowledging sex is binary and immutable, which means that it matters in some significant ways in life, would be to their benefit.
This acknowledgement does not prohibit them from behaving or expressing themselves in any way, but it will improve their well-being and health outcomes.
Hardly a representative sample:
https://2030.vice.com/identity
It basically looks like a PR company.
This kind of self-selected survey is really not worth the paper it's written on (or the pixels on the screen).
Please poll 2,000 gen z kids and let me know your results.
All 2,000 gen z kids might answer otherwise.
Sex, however, is binary and immutable.
It's not me you need to be convincing.
Since the quality of your quoted research has been called into question over self-selection bias – it is up to you to find something more reliable to replace it.
Or just admit that it's a puff PR piece, not serious research.
The way this pretend arena does debate, I'm now not confident to post anything more than the type of comments I have today, but get the sysop to level the playing field and enable an open exchange and we'll call it game on.
Yep. See that data quality isn't your forte.
We'll just leave it at that.
Rubbish 'survey', rubbish data = rubbish conclusions.
When you've actually got something with some level of robustness, bring it back and I'll be happy to discuss.
Fair fight or not at all. It's an lesson futility otherwise.
Sure thing. Put up some quality data and I'm happy to debate.
The *only* thing I've called you on is that a self-selected 'survey' is valueless as anything other than an opinion piece.
You can't use the 'data' to describe trends or shifting opinions in any meaningful way.
Whoosh went the underlying site issue as to why debate on this topic has been so perverted and corrupt to become no more than a self serving, meaningless back slappy hit out.
I'll commit when balance returns and impartiality is again a trusted, best practice rule, but do know I really, really want you and the other handful of posters to wait for me.
Someone let me know when lprent transitions and gets some balls.
lol
Yes self selection is a criticism of some of the political polls. These limitations would apply to all polling done in this way.
Even gen Z are not hive mind.
Having quite a bit to do with them, I'd say especially Gen Z are not a hive mind.
It's the Gen Zs on tiktok that are pushing back against gender ideology.
Well I've been immersed in critiquing the trans stuff and if you read some SM you would think they all believed the trans stuff …..yet the ones I know range from yawn, not interested, to I don't like it, to some of their speakers or aims are good/bad to, Ok if they have to do this I won't stop them.
The article seemed to talk about gender not sex.
There is a difference you know.
Damn Dutchies and their body-positivity.
A children’s television programme to promote body positivity, and which features naked adults answering kids’ questions, has become controversial before it has even aired, with politicians joining in the fray. The programme is based on the Danish Ultra smider tøjet (Ultra strips down) which is now in its second season. The show, called Gewoon Bloot (simply naked) in the Netherlands, consists of a number of adults of all shapes and sizes answering questions from children aged 10 to12 on subjects like being ashamed of certain body parts or shaving versus waxing. Social media have shown reactions from ‘disgusting to ‘educational’ and politicians too have been vocal.
https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/03/kids-tv-show-featuring-nude-adults-gets-politicians-hot-and-bothered/
https://nl-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Open_en_Bloot?_x_tr_sl=nl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc
The Netherlands are at present getting critiqued on the "healthcare" promoted on this programme. The lack of evidence is becoming more and more of a concern.
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/03/26/puberteitsremmers-en-mannelijke-vrouwelijke-hormonen-wat-jullie/
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As there are two posts above yours with links in them it is helpful to identify which one you are talking about.
I think you have had problems before and perhaps have a look at your virus checker or the parental guidance feature, if you have one. You may have them set too high.
Clearly a reply to the post 6.1 (8.34pm) by Al1en.
Well even more with links to chose from.
Still helpful to be more specific. And what do all the mentions about censored mean? Is it a quiz?
Test – line by line
Sure, they will have no problem filling out a census form.
1a Birth Sex M/F
1b Identify in accord with or transgender Y/N
So the part of my post that was censored is now clear.
Test.
2a Gender ID (sounds like some want gender neutral as an option)
2b Gender Expression – this appears to the probelm area as to my original post
I wrote some might use appears as …. (cisgender)….. despite gender neutral feels
3a Sexuality
3b current status (relationship type)
I would also expect more in the non binary than now, but there are issues about self ID and women's safety unresolved).
The word cisgender in the middle of that line was the culprit. Certainly does not seem like a parental setting …
https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/05/14/on-the-cusp-of-adulthood-and-facing-an-uncertain-future-what-we-know-about-gen-z-so-far-2/
It's like the climate and ecology crises don't exist.
Let's hope they vote and act then.
I'm gone for a bit to give the site a chance to clean up it's act and see if it's worth saving and becoming a decent place worthy of a purposeful return, but did want to say those are informative links, and thanks for posting them.
From a link in your piece, which adds data to fuel how much generational growth gen z are undertaking, we find some more good numbers.
https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2019/01/17/generation-z-looks-a-lot-like-millennials-on-key-social-and-political-issues/
"Gen Zers are more likely than Millennials to say they know someone who prefers that others use gender-neutral pronouns to refer to them: 35% say this is the case, compared with a quarter of Millennials. Among each older generation, the share saying this drops: 16% of Gen Xers, 12% of Boomers and just 7% of Silents say this.
The youngest generation is also the most likely to say forms or online profiles that ask about a person’s gender should include options other than “man” or “woman.” Roughly six-in-ten Gen Zers (59%) hold this view, compared with half of Millennials and four-in-ten or fewer Gen Xers, Boomers and Silents.
These findings seem to speak more to exposure than to viewpoint, as roughly equal shares of Gen Zers and Millennials say society should be more accepting of people who don’t identify as either a man or a woman."
And this is the same generation reporting massive rises in mental health issues?
Life is short.
But long enough to understand that most of what you believed when you were 20 was bunk,
I can’t remember what I believed, if anything, when I was 20.
I’m extremely grateful [not the right word!] that I’m well past 20.
The next generations can sort out their shit on top of the shitheap that we created and left for them. As generations did before us. It keeps piling on and we keep telling them what is best for them (I won’t link to a very very recent comment here). The patronising arrogance is breathtaking and shocking in its absence of self-awareness and self-reflection.
Personally I look back and wish I had been told what was best for me in a more timely and assertive manner.
I was told, countless times. Sometimes I listened, sometimes I didn’t. We live & learn best through experience, not through self-help podcasts or Sunday morning sermons. Devloping critical thinking skills helps a lot but is not sufficient. Good observational skills help too. And knowing who you are …
Well what I am seeing is a generation where nobody has had the courage to say "no" to them.
I have no problem respecting the human rights and dignity of anyone, regardless of their physical characteristics. But what we saw at Albert Park this weekend was just a shameless lack of boundaries and character. Some people here want to blame men for this. From my point of view that so called pro-trans mob were neither women nor men – rather dangerous children in adult bodies.
This isn't progress – it is degeneracy. But you know – let the wonderful little darlings have their own way – right?
Nobody is allowed to say “No” to anybody. We all have to accept everybody’s behaviour & actions (morals or lack thereof), appearance, personal identity, personal views & beliefs (even they are in conflict with facts), personal choices (ethics or lack thereof), et cetera. This is the neoliberal dogma of our times. There’s no authority that’s accepted and acceptable – each makes up their own set of rules and to Hell with everyone else. Authorities that used to deserve our individual and collective respect are now fair game, including, and especially Government. Welcome to our newfound personal freedom and the Liberation of the Individual.
https://history.stackexchange.com/questions/28169/what-is-the-oldest-authentic-example-of-people-complaining-about-modern-times-an
Really?
I wonder where I might find the oldest authentic example of young people whining about how terrible the world is? Because I think I just found the youngest.
You must be referring to yourself. Never mind, people interested in intelligent debate are a dying breed and will be taken over by Chatbots soon.
National Māori Housing Conference
Marama Davidson
And how is Labour enacting this perspective?
Megan Woods
Willie Jackson
Tama Potaka
So expect stuff all help from NACT.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/131650986/get-out-of-the-way-the-ministerial-message-on-governments-role-to-help-solve-mori-housing-crisis
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/300843445/young-new-zealander-of-the-year-first-trans-recipient-in-awards-13year-history
"As the first trans person to win any award at the annual ceremony since it was first held in 2010, Lal was celebrated on Thursday for their work in getting the harmful therapy – which attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity – banned in Aotearoa."
Dunno that Lal deserved it. He is not a transgender person; just a lost soul. Rainbow Labour circa 2004 has been pushing for the ban on conversion therapy. Lal was just another brick in the (stone)wall before it was banned. Utterly undeserved.
" Lal was celebrated on Thursday for their work in getting the harmful therapy – which attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity – banned in Aotearoa"
On the assumptive notion that fundamentalist Christian gay conversion therapy was rife in NZ, Shaneel Lal promoted and advocated for a bill that diminished the likelihood of high-quality exploratory therapy, and criminalised those who might query an individual's declaration.
The gay-conversion narrative was a Trojan horse Lal et al. had to build (assisted with Funding on Air) in order to equate harmful sexual orientation conversion practices with any form – however insignificant, gentle or appropriate -of querying someone's gender identity.
Those most likely to do this – parents – have effectively been legislated into silence.
Therapists – while excluded in legislation – will either universally affirm or most likely not choose clients where their exploratory therapy may lead to accusations of conversion.
This HRC support service was set up obstensibly to deal with the many victims, but acts as a further reminder that unless you affirm immediately, there is a fast-track framework to deal with your heresy.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2303/S00117/hrc-struggles-for-conversion-therapy-complaints.htm
My first email was from a friend overseas who is absolutely agog and very concerned that NZ is celebrating a person who is anti women's rights.
The twitter feed leapt into action saying
'The young NZer of 2023 had been awarded to anti free speech advocate Shaneel Lal.'
We seem to have moved into a parallel universe away from rational thinkers and i don't like it. I fear for my rights as a woman.
There comes a realisation that the existing systems that could be expected to allow concerns and impacts to be discussed and considered without bias – are not available. Furthermore, they actively work to suppress speech and demonise speakers.
Once you reach that point, you realise how embedded the suppression is, and understand why engagement with by the usual democratic methods were unable to stop the behemoth.
It's not only a concern for this issue, but for any not approved by those not valuing free speech in a democratic society.
Young New Zealander of the year:
Congratulations to Shaneel Lal.
Lets hope the Topp twins win New Zealander(s) of the year.
What a huge boost for the rainbow community if they took out both.
Sorry duplicate. Having a few problems with computer.
I am amazed that you seem to have no reservations about this person even after seeing how they hustled their mates to Albert park to disrupt the PP event. One result was that women who were there were unable to continue and now one is receiving treatment for a fractured skull after being bashed.
Actually I am amazed that 'poor'* young person has not be able to indulge in a little self reflection as a result of what happened at Albert Park.
I actually don't think I have seem anything so crass as to give young NZer of the year to someone who caused such havoc & went along with such hate at Albert Park. I guess it is for for his work prior to this. In other spheres it is not unknown for there to be a rethink by judges when the candidate does not live up to the nomination between the time of being nominated and the presentation of the award.
Don't know who is up against the Topp Twins but from a personal admiration point of view for all they have done for women and song, TV I have admiration. I am also admiring of the stance they took when they both had breast cancer. Their up beat updates would have been encouraging for many others. They have some good competition though…..
I am also very pleased that Sir Mark Dunajtschik has one an award. He has donated money for buildings all around Wellington and he and his partner financed the Wellington Children’s Hospital. And he is an allround great character.
I really dislike this whole fawning over the rainbow community. Would you be waxing lyrical if a woman won young NZer or NZer of the year.
I have no idea what you are talking about. I don't 'fawn' over anybody. Never have and never would. I think you need to reflect a bit on your attitude Shanreagh.
I think it is pretty clear to understand. The ability of a community to self reflect is an indication of our maturity as a nation. I have been pro trans rights until they started to want to infringe on my rights as a woman. I will probably continue to be pro trans except in those areas such as safe spaces etc.
I feel that the trans community did themselves no favours by the display on Saturday and since we have had barrage of uncritical admiration while many overseas commentators are agog at what happened & NZ's inability to reflect and condemn where necessary. Violence is no way to get ahead.
I had thought that Shaneel Lal may have been a person capable of self reflection either by disqualifying himself or mentioning his sorrow at what had happened and desire to work together to make sure it did not happen again. That would be fantastic leadership.
The fawning I was mentioning is from people who have swallowed the happy & hard done by transworld myth and now want to give away women's sex based rights as well. I did not say you were part of this.
So my self reflection is as above:
Who, I wonder, ought to define "trans rights"?
I'm guessing women ought to be the decision-makers around the rights of women, yes?
Men, it follows, ought to define men's rights.
Minority groups of all stripes?
Children?
Animals?
It gets tricky, fast!
The problem, Robert, is that it is male voices who are amplifying the rhetoric against females from speaking out. When it comes to KJKM, the majority of talking heads were men. It was men saying she shouldnt talk. It is men who are making the oft baseless claims that she is advocating for violence against transgender women. Who are transgender women? Men.
the voices of actual females are being silenced and diminished, not to mention demonised.
if you’re a TRAsh, then really you should just sit to the sidelines and let the queers sort this one out. Unless you would put your hand on your heart and say that if you are a heterosexual male, you would sleep with a man who identifies as a woman (and has a penis) as that is what Men are saying lesbians should do.
Who or what defines any rights?
In the absence of an authority that we can all agree to subject to – it’s gone or on its way out – the only way is collectively and by mutual agreement. Fracturing into separate groups, down to the single individual, each with their own set of rules & rights is a sure recipe for dictatorship. That’s why social cohesion and strong communities are vital. That’s the reason why any action, deliberate or accidental, that endangers social cohesion must be resisted & rejected in the strongest possible ways.
Very well put Incognito. I especially like this part.
This is naive thinking Robert.
You are framing it as if there has been a problem in identifying trans rights. There has not been.
Where the problem seems to be is that in considering issues we have not allowed ourselves to think of the rights of others. I find it concerning that despite all the writing here on the TS that you are asking these questions.
We elect people to parliament to advocate on the issues that affect us all as people. These people gather themselves into parties.
There are some issues that are, or should be universal, (to give us a hand the UN has made declarations). In NZ we also have overarching legislation such as the Bill of Rights and the Human Rights act, Health & Disability Act
Then there are the rights to give sentient beings such as freedom from cruelty
Are you saying the Trans community did not have an input in the No Debate campaign around self ID?
"I have been pro trans rights until they started to want to infringe on my rights as a woman. I will probably continue to be pro trans except in those areas such as safe spaces etc."
Shanreagh – No one reading your comments over the past three days on TS would believe that you are pro Trans rights.
And yet I am.
And frankly to suggest otherwise means that you have lapsed into the binary thinking of:
trans rights good, women's rights bad.
Have you been following the issue on TS over the last three years?
I regret you have not been able to see the nuance. In my writing I have been at pains to disregard the tosh as I see it and to focus on the reality.
I was thinking it was a worthy cause like the homosexual law reform when even my elderly parents were saying all people should be able to live their lives in happy & fulfilled way as long as they did not infringe on the rights of others to live theirs similarly.
There is a quote attributed to Queen Victoria about sexual choice that goes along the lines of 'they can do anything they want as long as it doesn't frighten the horses'.
My paraphrasing of this is that they can have any rights they want as long as the giving of these rights does not affect my sex based rights as a women.
That I call out the rubbish that has been spouted in the the No Debate issue and about the so called peaceful protest on 25/3 does not mean I do not support human/civil rights for the trans community.
Women's rights and the rights of children ie safeguarding are the rights that affect me most. It is not a big ask to ensure that these are protected is it?
Did you think that women's rights and the safeguarding of rights is not important?
PS the violence and use of the thugs veto at anti womens rights protest on 25/3 is something we as people should be very concerned with.
I apologise. I thought you directed that comment to me.
I also said to Molly a couple of days ago… something to the effect that when you get down to the nitty gritty of this subject we probably agree about far more then we disagree. I firmly believe that is true.
Now I may be a little biased, because I have a close relative who is a member of the rainbow community. Indeed she is also gender critical and has been since birth. However she was professionally identified as female and she identifies herself as such so no problem there. Suffice to say she's a cracker of a young woman and we are proud of her. She is highly regarded by everyone who knows her including her police colleagues.
So, in the light of the above I get angry when labels are attached to individuals whose only crime is they have a slightly different gender orientation.
"Now I may be a little biased, because I have a close relative who is a member of the rainbow community. Indeed she is also gender critical and has been since birth. However she was professionally identified as female and she identifies herself as such so no problem there. Suffice to say she's a cracker of a young woman and we are proud of her. She is highly regarded by everyone who knows her including her police colleagues.
So, in the light of the above I get angry when labels are attached to individuals whose only crime is they have a slightly different gender orientation."
I'm sorry to tell you this Anne, but these two paragraphs show a complete misunderstanding of the issues being discussed.
You are against an interpretation that exists in your head, which is not an accurate reflection of the concerns that have been raised on TS many times.
That may be your interpretation Molly but all I was doing was admitting (if that is the right word) that there is a family member whose condition may not be directly associated with the "issues being discussed", but there are relatable circumstances – and how that might affect my conclusions.
I'm starting to feel like The Al1en @ 6.1.7.2 when he says:
It'd be an improvement to the quality of discourse, if people took time to read before contributing.
You have been informed before about how lesbians like your niece have also been detrimentally affected, yet you show no signs of having read those responses.
But rhat's just my perspective.
You carry on reiterating but not refining your contribution, and you will likely continue to get repetitious answers. Just a cause and effect, rather than directed personal criticism.
Hi Molly. You (and others) may find this op piece interesting. It is written by trans woman Jessica Triff and addresses the more toxic side of trans activism.
Trans rights? Yes. Toxic, in-your-face activism? No | CBC News
Thanks. Good read from a transsexual author.
Many acknowledge that transsexuals that were mostly accommodated have also been adversely affected.
My focus at present it to ensure single-sex provisions are protected before discussing some accommodations again.
I also note that some women would have self-excluded or negatively affected by that previous accommodation.
What does this mean? Are you going to do some comments now yo can see the links?