Far right Canadian activist wants to come to New Zealand to insult local communities

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:08 pm, July 6th, 2018 - 292 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, clickbait, Deep stuff, gender, Globalisation, human rights, immigration, International, Politics, scoundrels, sexism - Tags:

Lauren Southern wants to come to New Zealand to give a speech on August 3 which will no doubt insult various communities.

Should we let her in?

She appears to have a certain way of conducting her business as a self confessed journalist and vlogger. She goes places, says really controversial stuff, hopes to pick a fight, claims to be a victim and then leaves.

Her views are pretty extreme. She once said that Adolf Hitler “was just an SJW [social justice warrior] who happened to get freaky amounts of power”.

For instance here she is picking a fight at an anti facist protest in London. It was all filmed in detail.

The overwhelming impression that I received after watching it was that she was only after clicks.

And here she is insulting a group of women protesting against rape culture. Her lack of understanding and sensitivity is mind boggling.

Attempts by some of the participants to educate her were wasted.

She was recently banned from entering the United Kingdom. From the Independent:

Canadian far-right activist Lauren Southern has been detained in Calais and banned from entering the UK.

Ms Southern, who worked for far right Canadian site The Rebel Media, was held by Border Force in Coquelles on Monday.

A Home Office spokesperson told The Independent: “Border Force has the power to refuse entry to an individual if it is considered that his or her presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good.”

Ms Southern, who supported a seaborne mission seeking to hamper the rescue of refugees, claimed British authorities had told her she was “officially banned from UK for racism” after being detained.

“They just locked me out and said ‘au revoir’… Officially banned from UK for ‘racism’.. Doing fine though, all the cool people are being banned anyway,” the ultra-conservative provocateur said on Twitter.

It appears the authorities were heeding warnings given by the anti racism movement. Again from the Independent:

Dr Joe Mulhall, a senior researcher for anti-racism campaign Hope not Hate, raised concerns about Ms Southern’s activism.

“We’ve been watching Lauren Southern for some time, and she has gradually become more and more extreme in her outbursts and associations,” he told The Independent in a statement.

“The decision to refuse her entry came after she distributed racist material in Luton on a recent visit to the UK.

“In our State of Hate 2018 report released earlier this month, we warned that one of the major threats we would witness this year was the linking-up between Stephen Lennon (Tommy Robinson) with North American far-right alternative media personalities such as Southern and the far-right Generation Identity (GI) movement in Europe. This has seen an unholy alliance start to come together particularly over social media but also in the offline space.

The local Muslim community oppose her being granted permission to visit. From Radio New Zealand:

Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux are best known for their far-right alternative views on everything from feminism, gender and immigration to Islam.

Earlier this year, Ms Southern was banned by from entering the UK on the grounds of her involvement “in the distribution of racist material in Luton”, according to the BBC.

The Islamic community voiced their opposition to the visit last month.

New Zealand Federation of Islam Associations president Hazim Arafeh said it had written letters to the Immigration Minister, Minister for Ethnic Communities and the Human Rights Commission asking for Lauren Southern to be denied entry.

“[She] abuses her right of freedom of speech. She’s just going to give a talk in which she’s just going to insult all of us,” Mr Arafeh said.

“I don’t think insulting Muslims comes under free speech, that’s an abuse of freedom of speech.

“I’m talking on behalf of 50,000 to 60,000 Muslims in New Zealand who are going to face a very hard time by all the comments she is going to make.”

The proposed venue for her speech is the Bruce Mason Centre in Auckland, an Auckland Council owned venue.

My personal view? Freedom of speech does not require us to let her in to insult local communities. And Auckland Council should cancel her booking.

If you want to do something there is a petition you can sign.

Update: Auckland Council and Phil Goff pulled the booking and the speech has been cancelled.

292 comments on “Far right Canadian activist wants to come to New Zealand to insult local communities ”

Comments are now closed

Ovid 1

6 July 2018 at 12:14 pm

Having been excluded from the UK, Southern fails the good character requirements for entry to NZ. She would need positive approval from the Minister of Immigration to get a visa. So really what the Minister is being asked is to do nothing.
- mickysavage 1.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 12:17 pm
  
  Thanks Ovid. Hopefully this will be an easy decision.
  
  There is the other speaker Stefan Molyneux who may not be caught by this. I have not had a chance to look at his background although judging by his twitter feed he is similar to Southern.
- Baba Yaga 1.2
  
  6 July 2018 at 12:44 pm
  
  The only threat Lauren poses to NZ is from the far left nutbars who will resort to violence to try to disrupt her appearances.
  - Sabine 1.2.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 1:26 pm
    
    how dare people be intolerant of her intolerance. Oh my.
    - Baba Yaga 1.2.1.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 5:28 pm
      
      Indeed. Intolerance is an important part of a society progressing.
  - Tricledrown 1.2.2
    
    6 July 2018 at 2:44 pm
    
    Baby Gaga hopefully you get detained on your next overseas trip.
    - Sanctuary 1.2.2.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 2:52 pm
      
      And waterboarded. It isn’t torture you know, just enhanced interrogation.
      - NZJester 1.2.2.1.1
        
        7 July 2018 at 3:23 pm
        
        It depends on who you and who you do it too. The US helped in the prosecution of foreign nationals who used it against their people listing it as torture in the charges. But when they used it themselves it was suddenly reclassified as enhanced interrogation.
        
        If they let that legal argument fly the next, you will have rapists claiming what they where doing was just enhanced hugging and not rape.
        
        But both are actually also a form of psychological and not just physical torture inflicted on people.
    - Baba Yaga 1.2.2.2
      
      6 July 2018 at 5:27 pm
      
      You wont have long to wait. Off to Vanuatu for a week tomorrow. Watch the papers.
      - woodart 1.2.2.2.1
        
        7 July 2018 at 3:13 pm
        
        dont forget to talk down to the locals….
- Draco T Bastard 1.3
  
  6 July 2018 at 1:37 pm
  
  She seems to fail on 2 of those conditions:
  
  – have ever been removed, excluded or deported from any country.
  – are likely to be a threat to public order
  
  And possibly on:
  
  – are likely to be a risk to the public interest.
  
  Which means that she should be stopped at the gate and told to leave.
  - Gosman 1.3.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 2:28 pm
    
    Why is she likely to be a threat to public order?
    - Draco T Bastard 1.3.1.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 2:30 pm
      
      By increasing hate and divisiveness in society by what she says and does.
      
      BTW, failing on the first means that she can’t come here any way.
      - Gosman 1.3.1.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 3:34 pm
        
        I personally find your views hateful and divisive. It doesn’t mean you should be banned from spreading your views around though.
        
        humma 1.3.1.1.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 4:50 pm
        
        Yeah I find Draco’s views hateful as well. But i bet Draco does not care about that at all.
        That said, I will protect Draco’s right to spread his hateful views and think the more people speak the better. Hiding speech, as abhorrent as it may be to some, is a recipe for disaster.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        6 July 2018 at 6:24 pm
        
        Care to describe what makes my views hateful?
        
        R.P Mcmurphy …
        
        6 July 2018 at 9:14 pm
        
        thats trumpspeak from the goebbels playbook.
        
        Gosman …
        
        7 July 2018 at 6:38 am
        
        You denigrate a section of society and label them essentially parasites. You call for them to be eliminated. That is hateful in my view.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        7 July 2018 at 11:07 am
        
        You denigrate a section of society and label them essentially parasites.
        
        Capitalists are parasites and calling them what they are isn’t hateful.
        
        You call for them to be eliminated.
        
        Legislated out of existence. The people would still live.
        
        That is hateful in my view.
        
        And your view is meaningless. It has neither logic nor facts to back it up.
        
        David Mac …
        
        7 July 2018 at 2:36 pm
        
        Parasites provide no benefit to their hosts. Without capitalists I’d have no shelter, shoes, food, transport or internet.
        
        I’m quite grateful for Jennian Homes, Hannahs, Watties, Toyota and Slingshot.
        
        How do you fill those needs in your life Draco? Buy their internet and then use it to slag them off. Pay their rent and then once they’re out of earshot name them: “Bludger”. You’re as deep into this capitalist thing as we all are and I guess you aren’t going somewhere else soon.
        
        Parasites and bludgers come in all stripes, dirt poor and filthy rich. The discerning factor is the value of the contribution we make to the society that supports us.
        
        The bone of contention is the subjective nature of value. One man’s asset is another man’s liability.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        7 July 2018 at 5:59 pm
        
        Without capitalists I’d have no shelter, shoes, food, transport or internet.
        
        We had shelter and food long before we had capitalism.
        
        The discerning factor is the value of the contribution we make to the society that supports us.
        
        Capitalists add none at all. They just bludge off of the work of the rest of us.
        
        You’re as deep into this capitalist thing as we all are and I guess you aren’t going somewhere else soon.
        
        It’s impossible to live outside of society. All I can do is try to change it by highlighting how capitalists bludge upon the rest of us and produce poverty.
        
        Andy []
        
        8 July 2018 at 8:30 am
        
        I am a self employed IT contractor. I am therefore a capitalist and a parasite according to you
        
        marty mars …
        
        8 July 2018 at 9:45 am
        
        Draco has spelled it out clearly from his perspective. If you are a capitalist then you are a parasite – not sure why you want to ask rhetorical questions except as a prelude to outrage.
        
        I suppose you may change his mind – lol yeah nah not a hope in hell thank the Gods.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        8 July 2018 at 9:55 pm
        
        I am a self employed IT contractor. I am therefore a capitalist and a parasite according to you
        
        Actually, what you are is an ignoramus.
        
        You’re incorrectly equating capitalist with entrepreneur. As a self-employed person you’re the latter and not necessarily the former.
        
        Now, it’s very easy for an entrepreneur to become a capitalist and thus a parasite. All that they’d need to do is to employ someone else in their business and profit from that person’s work.
        
        Shareholding, the epitome of capitalism, is pure bludging.
        
        Rob …
        
        7 July 2018 at 1:12 pm
        
        Pity we don’t have time travel as these trolls could catch abus to the 1930’s Germany and live their dreams
        
        Paul Campbell 1.3.1.1.1.2
        
        6 July 2018 at 8:29 pm
        
        I think there’s a simple difference NZ residents are guaranteed free speech by the BORA, foreign nazis are not – we don’t have to let them in.
        
        Our own nazis on other hand have every right to make their viewpoints known in public, as do we to show up and tell people what we think of them
        
        WILD KATIPO 1.3.1.1.1.3
        
        6 July 2018 at 10:43 pm
        
        You don’t give a shit about any of that , Gosman.
        
        That woman got her arse kicked in England. You don’t mess with the English , mate – Hitler tried and look what happened to him. And the English are ALL races . Just like the woman who got under her skin.
        
        English pride.
        
        Cockney Rejects- Oi! Oi! Oi! – YouTube
        Video for oi oi oi music you tube▶ 3:19
    - cleangreen 1.3.1.2
      
      7 July 2018 at 2:48 pm
      
      Gosman;
      “is she likely to be a threat to public order?”
      
      It doesnt’ really matter now so I hear the organisers are about to cal off the visit to NZ now.
      
      I beieve in the freedom of speech and that incuded those who often offend me and others.
      
      But they have a human right to speak of their concerns,
      
      I would be happy if she caome to give her views as she is entitled to do and I if offended can speak my mind then also.
      
      Fredom of speech is a human right and was what our fallen solders died to preserve our right to do so.
      
      The people who want to stop her will use “Incitement to imminent lawless action”
      
      But when many folks in Ackland and other places arond NZ marched against TPPA and caused lawlessness by blocking roads interestingly the national Government used the poice to force an end to their freedom of speech and assembly, as they did when many ralliied against Banks in that famouus movement “take back wall street”.
      
      So if she incited public lawless action again cant the government then use the police as they are using it all the time now?
      - Draco T Bastard 1.3.1.2.1
        
        7 July 2018 at 11:43 pm
        
        But when many folks in Ackland and other places arond NZ marched against TPPA and caused lawlessness…
        
        Protesting isn’t lawlessness.
        
        Rioting, on the other hand, is.
        
        From what I’ve seen she’d be attempting to induce rioting.
  - alwyn 1.3.2
    
    6 July 2018 at 4:43 pm
    
    “have ever been removed, excluded or deported from any country.”.
    Do other countries have such draconian conditions as this?
    If they commonly do I guess that Marama Davidson isn’t going to be doing very much travelling in the future.
    Wasn’t she removed from Israel after her trip on the good ship Band of Fools?
    - Draco T Bastard 1.3.2.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 6:31 pm
      
      Do other countries have such draconian conditions as this?
      
      Yes, as a matter of fact – they do. Here’s a reasonably full list of exclusions.
      
      Wasn’t she removed from Israel after her trip on the good ship Band of Fools?
      
      I believe she didn’t even try to enter Israel but Palestine.
      - Muttonbird 1.3.2.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 8:49 pm
        
        It’s convenient for Israel apologists to call it Israel when it suits them and Palestine when it suits them.
    - Tricledrown 1.3.2.2
      
      6 July 2018 at 8:43 pm
      
      Alwynger Marama she’s got guts than you will ever have.
      Hitler practiced ethnic cleansing like Netenyahu does.
      He began his war on Jews initially by extraordinary diting Jews to Israel even though his mother was part Jewish.
      The reason why I believe was to bring the Arabs back to his side after the British had promised Palestine to both after ww1.
      Now we have the ghetto like conditions in gaza strip just like Warsaw days.
  - Andy 1.3.3
    
    7 July 2018 at 8:39 pm
    
    But it completely fine for the Canterbury Museum to feature an “art” exhibition displaying a T shirt stating “Jesus is a c@@t”?
    
    How exactly is that advancing society ?
    
    I’m pretty sure it is quite reasonable to question Sharia Law, FGM and “Asian grooming gangs”, but not according to the government and the left
    - Draco T Bastard 1.3.3.1
      
      7 July 2018 at 11:48 pm
      
      But it completely fine for the Canterbury Museum to feature an “art” exhibition displaying a T shirt stating “Jesus is a c@@t”?
      
      Wouldn’t that depend upon context of the art?
      
      I’m pretty sure it is quite reasonable to question Sharia Law, FGM and “Asian grooming gangs”, but not according to the government and the left
      
      It would be the majority of parties in the present government that actually question those things. National, on the other hand, appeared to try to bribe one of those countries that’s hard on Sharia Law to sign an FTA and ignoring all those questions in their pursuit of profit.
- Andy 1.4
  
  6 July 2018 at 4:46 pm
  
  She was held under UK terrorism laws in Calais for running a stall in Luton handing out leaflets claiming “Allah is Gay”
  
  Obviously a serious threat to national security
  - Stuart Munro 1.4.1
    
    7 July 2018 at 3:22 pm
    
    Fomenting religious violence is indeed a threat.
    - Andy 1.4.1.1
      
      7 July 2018 at 3:27 pm
      
      Yes, insulting “The Religion of Peace” could be seen as a threat, as it adherents are likely to kill you
    - Richard Christie 1.4.1.2
      
      9 July 2018 at 11:31 am
      
      Fomenting religious violence is indeed a threat.
      
      It’s just what religions do, it’s part of their DNA. For some reason we seem to tolerate the practice.
Tuppence Shrewsbury 2

6 July 2018 at 12:29 pm

Fighting stupidity and racism with controversy, air time and banning of ideas. Feels like the war on drugs all over again
marty mars 3

6 July 2018 at 12:32 pm

No we don’t need that hater here – got enough of our own.
Gosman 4

6 July 2018 at 12:33 pm

Why is insulting Muslims not included in free speech?
- mickysavage 4.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 12:37 pm
  
  Free speech is not the absolute right to say anything. Besides she is asking for the privilege to come here and I don’t think we should extend that privilege to her.
  - Gosman 4.1.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 12:40 pm
    
    Agreed, incitement to violence isn’t included. However insulting people is generally regarded as free speech otherwise politics would be impossible.
  - Gosman 4.1.2
    
    6 July 2018 at 12:43 pm
    
    I am really interested in exploring this topic MS.
    
    This blog for example contains many insults against people who do not share a particular World view that many here hold. These insults can get quite nasty but we are all adults and this is the internet after all. But if Muslims can’t be insulted then why should anyone be allowed to insult anyone?
    - McFlock 4.1.2.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 1:13 pm
      
      I think “insult” was an extremely polite description.
      
      Either way, the insults here are usually directed at specific individuals or groups that have a choice about their political beliefs, off the top of my head.
      - Gosman 4.1.2.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 1:14 pm
        
        Are you stating Muslims don’t have a choice about their particular belief or do you think religious beliefs deserve special protection above political beliefs?
        
        McFlock 4.1.2.1.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 1:37 pm
        
        I pretty much get why a lot of people have political beliefs, as I have some of my own. They are generally a matter of choice.
        
        I have no idea why someone would choose one magic book over another. To me, a religious person appears to have as much choice about it as they do their sexuality. If I were afflicted by irrational faith, I fear I might become religious, too. But I don’t think I’ll ever be a tory.
        
        Gosman …
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:18 pm
        
        By stating that you are insulting (some) religious people.
        
        McFlock …
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:38 pm
        
        Do you mean “insult” as in “cause offence”, or “insult” as in “promote a fear of genocide against whites”? Because I might have done the former, but apparently Southern does the latter.
        
        Gosman …
        
        6 July 2018 at 3:53 pm
        
        You can define insult however you like. The fact is if we don’t think people should be insulted for their religious beliefs you’ve failed to do that.
        
        McFlock …
        
        6 July 2018 at 4:22 pm
        
        So, to be clear, your argument in favour of hate speech is an absolute, all-encompassing definition of “insult” so you can argue equivalence between risking lives by blocking rescue ships and calling scripture “magic books”.
        
        Do you have a choice about your religious beliefs?
        
        Gosman []
        
        6 July 2018 at 5:23 pm
        
        Yes you have a choice
        
        McFlock …
        
        6 July 2018 at 5:26 pm
        
        I’m not so sure about that.
        
        I’m really not sure one can avoid having a firm, inexplicable conviction that a particular flavour of religion exists, even if it’s merely a social construct from birth.
        
        It’s certainly make life easier for a lot of people. Might have stopped someone I know from killing themselves, too.
        
        Gosman []
        
        6 July 2018 at 6:17 pm
        
        Unless you think people are born in to a religion (i.e. believe from birth) then it’s a choice.
        
        Baba Yaga …
        
        6 July 2018 at 5:36 pm
        
        “…your argument in favour of hate speech is an absolute, ”
        
        And there it is folks. The shift from discussing an ‘insult’ to introducing this nebulous concept of ‘hate speech’. Beautiful sleight of hand.
        
        McFlock …
        
        6 July 2018 at 5:45 pm
        
        BY, thanks for demonstrating my point.
        
        As I said at the start, “insult” is a very polite term for some of this person’s shenanigans. But because you pricks pretend that regurgitating fears of ethnic “replacement” is the same as calling someone a poo-head, any criticism or sanction might seem remarkably disproportionate.
        
        Gosman []
        
        6 July 2018 at 6:21 pm
        
        The problem for you McFlock is defining hate speech is fine when it is controlled by your side but it inevitably falls in to the hands of the other side
        
        McFlock …
        
        7 July 2018 at 12:10 am
        
        Perils of democracy. You got a better system?
        
        Gosman []
        
        7 July 2018 at 6:54 am
        
        Yes. Ensuring individual rights are codified in constitutional law so they aren’t subject to the vagracies of democratic politics.
        
        McFlock …
        
        7 July 2018 at 6:30 pm
        
        That just means humans write them once, rather than tweaking them when 18th century punctuation puts assault rifles in the street.
        
        Andy …
        
        7 July 2018 at 8:41 pm
        
        Muslims don’t get much of a choice as they might be killed if they leave Islam, but that is OK with the left, apparently
        
        Jenny 4.1.2.1.1.2
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:03 pm
        
        Gosman
        6 July 2018 at 1:14 pm
        Are you stating Muslims don’t have a choice about their particular belief or do you think religious beliefs deserve special protection above political beliefs?
        
        Gosman, you obviously don’t believe in freedom of religion, or freedom from harrassment for practicing the religion of your choice. Therefore you don’t believe in free speech. On those grounds, I would ban you from entering New Zealand.
        
        Gosman …
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:17 pm
        
        Ummm… freedom of religion does not equate with freedom from criticism for belonging to that particular religion.
        
        Do you think freedom of political association means people should be free from criticism for their particular political association?
        
        Tricledrown …
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:49 pm
        
        Gosman the world isn’t as simple as your simple mind.
        Perhaps you could work for Trump and become his ambassador to the middle East.
        
        cleangreen …
        
        7 July 2018 at 3:10 pm
        
        Trckledrown 100% beautiful hit there.
        
        Some of Gossie is right though as we need to draw the lines in public behaviour as now wesee that the Seurity review just released contests that the Chinese ‘have strong influenence in our regions’ now because of their mass imigration and financial investments so so need now to draft rules so these new mass imagagants have a guide to work with.
        
        Sam would apply if we get a large muslim imigration and if the political power shifts to more muslim persuassion we may then find our whole system becomes vastly diffent where women are banned and men are losing hands or fingers for their infidelity to islam.
        
        Scary times for sure here if borders are thrown open.
        
        JohnSelway …
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:56 pm
        
        Freedom of religion doesn’t include the freedom not to be insulted or made fun of. My rights don’t end where your beliefs begin.
        
        If people didn’t want their beliefs made fun of they shouldn’t have such silly beliefs.
        
        Anyway – if there is no reason to deny her entry then let her in and we can mock and protest her silly beliefs
    - Andy 4.1.2.2
      
      6 July 2018 at 4:50 pm
      
      It’s worth noting here that the Canterbury Museum ran an “art” exhibition that featured a Tee Shirt stating “Jesus is a C-Word” and a picture of a Nun pleasuring herself on the other side
      
      Te Papa had an exhibit featuring a Virgin Mary figurine draped in a condom
      
      Most Christians shrug this off, but when someone tries a mild and meek “social experiment” in Luton, a Muslim stronghold, she gets banned from the UK on terrorism charges.
      - McFlock 4.1.2.2.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 5:09 pm
        
        She wasn’t banned on terrorism charges.
        She claimed to have been questioned, at least in part, under the UK Terrorism Act of 2000.
        
        Probably asking her whether she was going to shill for the EDL or NF while she was there.
        
        Andy 4.1.2.2.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 6:00 pm
        
        She has no connections with the EDL and I’m not even sure if the National Front still exists
        
        She was questioned at Calais under the auspices of the terrorism act
        
        McFlock …
        
        6 July 2018 at 6:10 pm
        
        Gosh, glad you could clear that up for the border guards. They wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they didn’t ask the question.
        
        And given the nature of some far right extremists, the terrorism act questions might well have been reasonable.
        
        But as it was, she was not “banned from the UK on terrorism charges”. That’s you lot hyping up the importance of someone who was simply barred because they’re a horrible person, not because they’re a suspected terrorist.
  - One Two 4.1.3
    
    6 July 2018 at 1:37 pm
    
    You don’t understand what free speech is then, MS…
    
    It is the absolute right to say anything….
    
    Geez…come on…
    
    Consequences are another conversation…
    - Draco T Bastard 4.1.3.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 1:47 pm
      
      It is the absolute right to say anything…
      
      Nobody has that right:
      
      The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic. […] The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent.
      
      Consequences are another conversation…
      
      And not just the consequences to her but to our society because of the increased divisiveness that she will cause in it.
      - One Two 4.1.3.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 1:56 pm
        
        Every human being has ‘that right’…
        
        Figure it out Draco…seriously…it’s not difficult…
        
        Draco T Bastard 4.1.3.1.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:07 pm
        
        It’s not difficult.
        
        You’re obviously having difficulty with it though.
        
        There’s a very good reason why we have laws against hate speech. A reason that you fail to understand.
        
        One Two …
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:16 pm
        
        Laws do not take away the ability of any human being to communicate any message they so choose, using whichever natural or man made mechanism they have access to…
        
        Figure it out Draco…
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:26 pm
        
        Just because they can doesn’t give the right and the law (and basic logic) tells us that there must be limits to what people can say.
        
        Gosman …
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:29 pm
        
        Only in extreme circumstances Draco. I personally find your views dangerous and a threat to my view of public order. Do you want people like me to restrict your rights to spreed you particular viewpoint?
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:35 pm
        
        I personally find your views dangerous and a threat to my view of public order.
        
        Your view of public order is inconsequential.
        
        Nothing I say here or anywhere else will cause anyone else to riot. Hopefully they’ll get round to changing the political system away from the failed capitalist paradigm.
        
        One Two …
        
        6 July 2018 at 4:32 pm
        
        You’ve figured it out…well done…
        
        But you’re still confused about what ‘rights’ actually are…
        
        Unless in your mind relieving another human being of communication is ‘acceptable’…then you appear to be clueless…
        
        The laws that you seem to believe, are ‘rights’…are nothing of the sort…
        
        Basic logic you say…
        
        Nope…
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        6 July 2018 at 6:23 pm
        
        But you’re still confused about what ‘rights’ actually are…
        
        Nope. That would be you.
        
        You still have NFI as to why rights need to be limited.
        
        One Two []
        
        6 July 2018 at 9:56 pm
        
        Rights…limitations…need to have limits…laws…for public safety you say…
        
        That is a completely different discussion…which still does not stop people saying anything they want, using any method they can communicate with…
        
        You can’t forecably stop people talking and communicating by removing their voice box, arms/legs etc, Draco…locked up in a cell miles from another human being…still talking…still speaking freely…free speech can’t be taken from human beings…not by other human beings…impossible without mutilation or death…
        
        It’s your fantasty world where digital currency is not run by private enterprise and ‘law’ can turn a human being into a mute…
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        6 July 2018 at 11:02 pm
        
        You can’t forecably stop people talking and communicating by removing their voice box, arms/legs etc,
        
        And where did I say anything like that?
        
        Oh, that’s right, I didn’t.
        
        You’re just making shit up to suit yourself which makes you a troll.
        
        One Two []
        
        6 July 2018 at 11:41 pm
        
        Not you specifically, Draco…the wider context…
        
        Keep believing written words on paper, enforced by actors in costumes can stop human beings communicating any message they so choose…no matter how vile the content…
        
        And every human being you believe can be shut down by ‘laws’ will continue … exactly as they are…
        
        JohnSelway …
        
        7 July 2018 at 8:10 am
        
        Draco’s authoritarian streak slips out again.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        7 July 2018 at 6:15 pm
        
        Keep believing written words on paper, enforced by actors in costumes can stop human beings communicating any message they so choose…no matter how vile the content…
        
        And this is you making shit up. I’ve never said that laws stop people doing shit. In fact, I’ve the exact opposite even on this site (about 10 years ago).
        
        The laws define the rights that people have. That’s all. And broadcasting hate speech isn’t one of them. You go round broadcasting hate speech and you will end up with criminal charges.
        
        Having the ability to broadcast doesn’t give you the right. Same as having a car that can do 320km/h doesn’t give a driver the right to do 320km/h.
        
        Gosman …
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:27 pm
        
        Hate speech should only be banned if there is a specific call to act in a violent or illegal way.
        
        left_forward …
        
        6 July 2018 at 4:09 pm
        
        … and Gosman, violence is the intention of hate speech.
        
        Gosman …
        
        6 July 2018 at 5:25 pm
        
        Incitement to violence is different to hate speech
        
        McFlock …
        
        6 July 2018 at 5:28 pm
        
        Depends on how loud the dogwhistles are.
        
        Gosman []
        
        6 July 2018 at 6:22 pm
        
        Who defines the volume Mcflock?
        
        McFlock …
        
        7 July 2018 at 12:06 am
        
        Courts and the legislature.
      - Baba Yaga 4.1.3.1.2
        
        6 July 2018 at 5:40 pm
        
        Dietrich Bonhoeffer caused increased divisiveness when he opposed the Nazi’s. They dealt with him, didn’t they.
- R.P Mcmurphy 4.2
  
  6 July 2018 at 9:16 pm
  
  if you don tknow that then you are a complete ignoramus.
cricklewood 5

6 July 2018 at 12:37 pm

I say let her in. She can be damned by her own words. Banning her is counter productive and will further entrench bigotry.
- Wensleydale 5.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 1:20 pm
  
  Best plan would be to let her in (free speech, no matter how repugnant), and then send Jeremy Wells, Matt Heath and Mikey Havoc to troll her. No one’s accused of trying to gag professional shit-stirrers, and everyone gets a good laugh out of it. The best weapon against this sort of thing is merciless, concentrated ridicule.
  - UncookedSelachimorpha 5.1.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 8:56 pm
    
    “The best weapon against this sort of thing is merciless, concentrated ridicule.”
    
    100% agree – and making it even funnier – those types of people usually have zero humour about themselves or their own god-awful views.
  - Andy 5.1.2
    
    8 July 2018 at 9:43 am
    
    Light weights from NZ media would have no chance against Southern
    
    At least she gets off her butt and goes to dangerous places unlike our Twitter following media
- Anne 5.2
  
  6 July 2018 at 3:27 pm
  
  I hope she’s banned. It’s a point of victory for these creeps to be able to roam the world spreading hatred and disorder and unfortunately there are too many gullible people around who will follow them. Don’t give them the opportunity in the first place.
  
  Out of curiosity were they invited to come here by anyone and if so by whom?
  - Gosman 5.2.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 3:33 pm
    
    Why do you want to know? Do you want to ban them as well?
    - Anne 5.2.1.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 3:58 pm
      
      Curiosity my dear Gosman. Curiosity.
    - R.P Mcmurphy 5.2.1.2
      
      6 July 2018 at 9:17 pm
      
      you should be banned gossy but they seem to let you hang around though I dont know what for?
  - Andy 5.2.2
    
    6 July 2018 at 4:53 pm
    
    Recently, a Muslim Iman in the UK was discussing whether gays should be thrown off buildings, burned alive, or have a wall dropped on them, or a combination of all three
    
    I don’t recall any action being taken against this gentleman, but if you criticise him, you are guilty of “hate speech”, as we see with Lauren Southern, Tommy Robinson etc
    - Paul Campbell 5.2.2.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 8:35 pm
      
      Sure, I’ll call him on it that’s hate speech … but then so is burning catholics in effigy every November
  - Andy 5.2.3
    
    7 July 2018 at 8:46 pm
    
    The vast majority of YouTube channels of a political bent are conservative or libertarian
    If those on the left want to engage in society they could use the same platform of free speech and open discussion rather than banning people that they disagree with. If their ideas are so repulsive then I’m sure the public would see this
- Ad 5.3
  
  6 July 2018 at 4:48 pm
  
  With you on that one.
  
  We rarely have exposure to the anti-immigration debates occurring worldwide, and it’s time we did.
  
  We should model free speech and strong debate as the alternative to violent conflict, and let the quality of her ideas stand or fall on their merits.
Carolyn_Nth 6

6 July 2018 at 12:41 pm

From the reports it sounds like Southern is just out to get headlines by creating public disorder. I would ban her from entering NZ as she’s likely to cause public disorder.
- Andy 6.1
  
  7 July 2018 at 8:47 pm
  
  Because a bunch of leftist thugs would rock up, that is true
- MikeS 6.2
  
  7 July 2018 at 8:55 pm
  
  “…likely to cause public disorder.”
  
  Rubbish. She’s not even far right like so many have described her she’s just conservative.
  
  I challenge anyone on this site to offer up a concrete example of Lauren Southern saying anything racist or trying to stir up hatred or cause public disorder, etc…
  
  I’m very much left wing economically and some of my thoughts on tax and inequality, etc would probably be considered by some as rabid far left! . But on these sorts of cultural or social issues, the ‘so-called left’ (because I don’t believe it is a majority of the left) shoot themselves in the foot and even drive people to sympathize with opposing views.
  
  Banning someone from speaking simply because you disagree with their views or choose to be offended by what they say is the absolute worst way to go about things. Not only does it make more people seek out the opinions you ban because they want to know what is so bad that it gets banned, but it often creates a backlash when people discover just how tame the banned ideas and opinions actually are.
  
  The ‘left’ likes to talk full throttle about diversity, but not when it comes to diversity of ideas or opinions. Banning people or shutting people down from speaking is pathetically weak and only makes the other side stronger. The best and only way to defeat ideas and opinions you disagree with is to stand up and offer better ones, not to bury your head in the sand and pretend differing ideas don’t exist.
  
  Why anyone would ever be afraid of letting someone with opposing views speak bewilders me. Banning speakers (especially those who aren’t really that offensive, if at all,) is simply pandering to vocal minorities. Of course we’ve (you’ve) been happy to let real hate speech peddlers such as Bilal Phillips and Sheikh Khalid Yasin into the country to pedal their real hate.
  
  Banning speakers because you don’t like their opinions is tyrannical and authoritarian. The Left used to fight heart and soul against tyranny, what is happening to us???
Baba Yaga 7

6 July 2018 at 12:42 pm

“I don’t think insulting Muslims comes under free speech, that’s an abuse of freedom of speech.”

Of course insulting muslims is free speech. Insulting any group is free speech. No-one has a right not to be insulted. No one. Calling for someone to be physically harmed is an abuse of free speech. Calling for an entire people group to be annihilated, now that’s an abuse of free speech (https://www.jihadwatch.org/2017/07/california-imam-calls-on-muslims-to-kill-and-annihilate-jews).
- Gosman 7.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 12:47 pm
  
  Agreed Baba Yaga. Muslims seem to get preferential treatment by some members of the left for some reason. I’m not sure why.
  - Baba Yaga 7.1.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 12:53 pm
    
    http://www.sedaa.org/2017/09/unholy-alliance-why-do-left-wing-americans-support-right-wing-muslims/
  - Stuart Munro 7.1.2
    
    6 July 2018 at 2:28 pm
    
    It’s an old principle, the freedom of religion.
    
    Because corporations are not religious, religious rights are among those RWNJ routinely seek to overthrow. The Left supports their victims.
    - Gosman 7.1.2.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 3:55 pm
      
      It actually isn’t an old principle. In fact until quite recently the majority of the World did not have it. In some places (i.e. most of the Muslim majority World) they still don’t.
      - Stuart Munro 7.1.2.1.1
        
        7 July 2018 at 3:28 pm
        
        It is old – throughout reformation Europe it was acknowledged as a desirable thing long before it was guaranteed by any constitution.
        
        But like most RWNJ you have no idea of the importance of the institutions that you so ignorantly set out to destroy.
  - cleangreen 7.1.3
    
    7 July 2018 at 3:12 pm
    
    True also here.
    “Muslims seem to get preferential treatment by some members of the left for some reason.”
  - Andy 7.1.4
    
    7 July 2018 at 8:49 pm
    
    The prophet Mohammed personally beheaded 600 Jews in one day according to Hadith. Seems an exaggeration but def a role model for young Muslims
PaulMartinson 8

6 July 2018 at 12:44 pm

Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux are quite nauseating and provocative in their ideas ..but so what. Why can’t someone be able to express their views in a public setting . They both seem disturbingly obsessed with the concept of ‘white people’ who ever they are. And personally find their science illiterate ideas offensive to the extreme, but would rather see them put in position of having to explain them, than have them silenced this way.
The people we should be most concerned about are those trying to silence views of others that appose their own and have folk banned. That is a very disturbing development in society. It’s as though we have a new form of Sturmabteilung …C21 brown shirts that openly wish to suppress free speech for their own political reasons, and do it with impunity.
- mickysavage 8.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 12:46 pm
  
  She is clearly free to say what she wants. And thanks to the world wide web we have instantaneous access to her thoughts. But we don’t have to let her in to say these things.
  - Gosman 8.1.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 12:48 pm
    
    Who is ‘We’? Are you deciding who I can and can’t listen to in person?
    - mickysavage 8.1.1.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 12:50 pm
      
      New Zealand Inc. There is no absolute right for people to be allowed to come here.
      - Gosman 8.1.1.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 1:16 pm
        
        There is no such thing as NZ Inc. You just made the term up. Again do you think YOU have the right to decide who I can listen to in person?
        
        Draco T Bastard 8.1.1.1.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 1:52 pm
        
        You can listen to whomever you like.
        
        Our law, as written, doesn’t let you listen to people live in NZ if they’re not of Good Character.
        
        Gosman …
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:20 pm
        
        Do YOU get to decide who is of good character or is there some sort of checklist?
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:25 pm
        
        There’s a Good Character check list written in to law. She fails on at least two.
        
        marty mars …
        
        6 July 2018 at 3:17 pm
        
        Nice mate. The facts will set him free.
        
        Andy …
        
        7 July 2018 at 8:50 pm
        
        That rules out most of NZ parliament then
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        7 July 2018 at 11:39 pm
        
        Every single MP in National in fact.
        
        But they’re already here.
        
        mickysavage 8.1.1.1.1.2
        
        6 July 2018 at 4:26 pm
        
        No but I was hoping that my elected Minister of Immigration who has the right to decide who comes into the country would decide that she should not.
        
        And I was hoping Auckland Council would withdraw the booking and they have.
        
        R.P Mcmurphy 8.1.1.1.1.3
        
        6 July 2018 at 9:19 pm
        
        No John Keys made it up. thank god he sloped off before the lynch mob got him!
      - Andy 8.1.1.1.2
        
        6 July 2018 at 4:54 pm
        
        Ms Southern is a master troll
        
        Banning her from NZ will get her much more publicity. Streisand effect.
        
        Draco T Bastard 8.1.1.1.2.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 6:32 pm
        
        Good – she needs all the exposure she can get.
        
        Perhaps then she’ll understand just how horrible she is.
        
        marty mars …
        
        8 July 2018 at 9:56 am
        
        Yep and hopefully her shit will be seen for what it is – a fly trap.
      - Andy 8.1.1.1.3
        
        7 July 2018 at 2:44 pm
        
        Nigel Farage is coming to NZ this year. Are we going to ban him too?
        
        Incognito 8.1.1.1.3.1
        
        7 July 2018 at 4:37 pm
        
        Has he been denied entry into the UK?
        
        Andy …
        
        7 July 2018 at 8:51 pm
        
        He is a UK citizen so no, obviously
        
        Incognito …
        
        7 July 2018 at 9:37 pm
        
        Well then, you’ve answered your own question, haven’t you?
        
        Andy …
        
        8 July 2018 at 9:47 am
        
        We also banned Ayaan Hirsi Ali
        
        I’m pretty sure we can ban Nigel Farage on some vague “hate speech” justification
        
        Incognito …
        
        8 July 2018 at 2:46 pm
        
        Aren’t Nigel and Winston good mates? Surely, that’s enough reason to ban him from entry 😉
        
        Carolyn_Nth …
        
        8 July 2018 at 3:03 pm
        
        I should think there’s no reason to refuse entry to Farage to NZ. And if he wants to speak to the public, he can do so without using publicly owned or supported venues.
        
        Anyway, Nigel seems to win battles and cause chaos. He seems to have vacated UK right wing organisations now Brexit is causing so many problems for May’s government. So he must being doing world tours to find support elsewhere. He’s a bit of a Trump supporter now.
        
        Incognito …
        
        8 July 2018 at 3:10 pm
        
        Surely, we can find something on him so that he’d fail the ‘good character test’? Does he ‘shop’ at Harrods by any chance? Now, that would qualify him as an unsavoury character 😉
        
        Carolyn_Nth …
        
        8 July 2018 at 3:17 pm
        
        Ah. Farage seems unsavoury to me, but he’s careful to stay within certain kinds of boundaries that won’t scare the horses – he supports Trump and has made some nasty comments about gays and Jewish peoplE, which makes him unsavoury to me – these views do not help towards a humane society.
        
        However, apart from that, he has past his use-by date. Brexit mostly won because of the likes of Boris getting behind it. Now Farage seems to be travelling the world looking for a constituency. I don’t think any Trump cheerleader will get a very big following in NZ.
        
        Incognito …
        
        8 July 2018 at 3:45 pm
        
        I think Farage like many men and women past their use-by date is vying for attention rather than a constituency. I think he’s quite smart and outspoken. He’d make a good columnist for Granny Herald and there may even be a spot for him on DWTS. That said, some of these people from yesterday can still pack a punch …
        
        Gabby 8.1.1.1.3.2
        
        8 July 2018 at 9:52 am
        
        Who’s ‘gay’ and/or ‘trans’ according to Nige?
  - PaulMartinson 8.1.2
    
    6 July 2018 at 2:02 pm
    
    “But we don’t have to let her in to say these things.” ‘we’? Can I remind that in a democracy you don’t speak for me or anyone else but yourself. Perhaps you should consider what happened in 1939 when a group self righteous ‘brown shirts’ said essentially the same thing about socialists, artists and more …with whom they disagreed politically.
    - Draco T Bastard 8.1.2.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 6:43 pm
      
      Can I remind that in a democracy you don’t speak for me or anyone else but yourself.
      
      And our ‘democratic’ system has put in place rules that will deny her access.
      
      Remember, in a democracy the rules are what the majority agree to.
      
      Don’t agree with those rules? Fine – petition to get them changed. That is also democratic.
      - PaulMartinson 8.1.2.1.1
        
        7 July 2018 at 2:22 pm
        
        To Draco T Bastard,
        I’m not aware the majority of NZers agree with banning free speech. You do obviously…..but that only indicates an intolerance for dissenting voices . Banning criticism and mockery of any religion is plain wrong. These rights are the essence of out democracy. If it weren’t for them there would have been no protestant reformation in the C17 for example.
        
        Draco T Bastard 8.1.2.1.1.1
        
        7 July 2018 at 6:09 pm
        
        I’m not aware the majority of NZers agree with banning free speech.
        
        We haven’t. In fact, it’s guaranteed in the BoRA. We’ve put in place rules that only allow those with Good Character to enter NZ.
        
        You do obviously…..but that only indicates an intolerance for dissenting voices .
        
        And that’s just BS.
        
        Banning criticism and mockery of any religion is plain wrong.
        
        I criticise religions all the bloody time. They’re really stupid idea. I just don’t do it using hate speech.
        
        These rights are the essence of out democracy.
        
        There’s all sorts of rights and laws that make up the essence of our society including limits to those rights.
        
        If it weren’t for them there would have been no protestant reformation in the C17 for example.
        
        You really need to check your history:
        
        Today, people in the United Kingdom live in a democracy, with laws made by a Parliament that they have elected. This has not always been the case:
        
        At the start of the Middle Ages, England was ruled by a king. The institution which came to be called Parliament was just beginning.
        
        In the 17th century, war broke out between king and Parliament, ending in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. This established a constitutional monarchy, which is a ‘king-controlled-by-parliament’.
        
        The 19th century saw a reform of Parliament in 1832, and a number of acts of Parliament giving the vote to a greater number of people.
        
        However, Britain did not become a democracy until the Representation of the People Acts of 1918 and 1928 gave the vote to all men and women over the age of 21.
        
        Yeah, England and the UK weren’t even pretending to be a democracy in the 17th century. They did have a major revolution that probably set the stage for them to become one a few centuries later.
    - mickysavage 8.1.2.2
      
      6 July 2018 at 7:57 pm
      
      “But we don’t have to let her in to say these things.” ‘we’? Can I remind that in a democracy you don’t speak for me or anyone else but yourself. Perhaps you should consider what happened in 1939 when a group self righteous ‘brown shirts’ said essentially the same thing about socialists, artists and more …with whom they disagreed politically.
      
      Godwinned …
      
      Think of it this way. It is not a case of someone being deprived of freedom of speech. It is a case of the interruption of someone’s business opportunity.
  - Andy 8.1.3
    
    6 July 2018 at 4:34 pm
    
    “She” is legally a man in her home country of Canada.
    
    Please try not to misgender Lauren Southern (sarc)
    
    Actually LS was banned from the UK on terrorism charges. She had set up a stall in Luton giving away LBGT leaflets claiming Allah is Gay
    
    This was in response to a Vice article stating Jesus is Gay, which of course is completely fine
    
    The UK is now locking up political prisoners based on very flimsy charges. I don’t really want to NZ go down that path
    - Nic the NZer 8.1.3.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 6:51 pm
      
      Do try to make some sense Andy. Distributing leaflets claiming Allah is Gay in no way meets the UK’s definition of terrorism.
      
      Also a travel ban is quite a different thing to locking somebody up.
      - Andy 8.1.3.1.1
        
        7 July 2018 at 2:48 pm
        
        southern was banned from the UK under the unspoken adherence to Sharia, namely that one shouldn’t criticise the Religion of Peace
        
        Presumably that is also true for NZ now . Fine to have art exhibitions featuring “Jesus is a C” though
        
        marty mars 8.1.3.1.1.1
        
        8 July 2018 at 3:32 pm
        
        Rubbish. That isn’t true – youve made that up to fit your bigotry imo.
    - mickysavage 8.1.3.2
      
      6 July 2018 at 8:00 pm
      
      She went over there to pick a fight and film it. Excuse me if I have no sympathy for her or if I object in this being described as a freedom of speech issue.
- esoteric pineapples 8.2
  
  6 July 2018 at 4:37 pm
  
  I’m with you Paul. Shutting people up poses far more dangers than letting them speak.
  - cleangreen 8.2.1
    
    7 July 2018 at 3:15 pm
    
    I join you on this EP.
    “Shutting people up poses far more dangers than letting them speak”
    
    Yes they become ‘martyrs’ as history has often shown us..
Rozgonz 9

6 July 2018 at 12:48 pm

Hilarious, I knew her visit would get under you lefties skin. Why don’t you just ignore her, don’t give her any airtime. She’s just trying to wind you up and you have taken the bait, hook line and sinker
- JessNZ 9.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 4:07 pm
  
  I’d say the same thing about every single one of Gosman’s posts!
  
  But I’d decline the application for the visit based on our duly-agreed laws and avoid the media (and possibly real-world) shitstorm that benefits nobody in NZ, even the people who may agree with her opinions.
  - Andy 9.1.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 4:36 pm
    
    Southern has been to many dangerous places that most journalists would shy away from. So yes, the media here wouldn’t want “her type” here
    - JessNZ 9.1.1.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 6:04 pm
      
      So much deliberate misunderstanding in one reply 😀
      - Andy 9.1.1.1.1
        
        7 July 2018 at 2:49 pm
        
        So much misunderstanding?
        
        Perhaps you could expand instead of huffing and puffing
- mickysavage 9.2
  
  6 July 2018 at 8:01 pm
  
  Because we don’t have to let her into the country?
- Gabby 9.3
  
  8 July 2018 at 9:55 am
  
  Then she’ll be as happy as you clearly are rozzers.
David Mac 10

6 July 2018 at 12:50 pm

Those wasting an evening and their money to listen to someone share solutions that are fueled by hatred will get what they deserve.

Provided she doesn’t break our laws I say let her harp on. I’m interested in what those juxtaposed to my own view have to say, just reinforces my feelings.

The audience she will attract already harbour views aligned with hers, whether she fills the Bruce Mason Centre or not will have little bearing on where their heads are at.
tsmithfield 11

6 July 2018 at 12:51 pm

What I say below isn’t an indication that I agree with her specific point of view. But rather her right to have it and promote it.

Firstly, I don’t see how this was racist as religion is not a race. It is an ideology.

Secondly, Here is what she got kicked out of Britain for:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxjH5hZYTbQ

All she was doing was demonstrating the contradiction between how Christianity is treated. (Where it is common for academics etc to make provocative statements that Christians would find offensive without extreme reactions from Christians) compared to how Muslims behave when confronted with similar information (Allah is a gay god).

People in the LGBT community should be offended at the response that Muslims had in this in video about the proposal that Allah is a gay god btw. But this perspective seems to be glossed over and accepted by the left so far as Islam is concerned when it wouldn’t be in other contexts.

This incident was entirely about confronting people with concepts that challenged their world view, nothing about causing personal offence.

So, entirely a free speech issue IMO.
- mickysavage 11.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 1:20 pm
  
  But it is a question of entry to our country not free speech.
  
  The video you link to confirms that her modus operandii is to go around the world and hope to make a public spectacle of herself.
  
  She is clearly doing this for the clicks, which I am regrettably adding to.
  
  And I would have to disagree with you about her motivation. You can see from her action in the other two videos that she was happy to start skirmishes with the left and with feminists. She just wanted to pick a fight.
  - tsmithfield 11.1.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 2:21 pm
    
    See my comment below that I don’t agree with what she specifically did.
    
    However, what she did wasn’t that different to a stunt that Greenpeace might pull. I likely wouldn’t agree with that either but support the broad right of people to protest and make a point.
    
    In Southern’s case she is protesting against an ideology that is very restrictive on the rights of women and gays etc. In most other contexts we would support the stand she takes. But Islam seems to get a pass on this for some reason.
    - mickysavage 11.1.1.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 8:03 pm
      
      “what she did wasn’t that different to a stunt that Greenpeace might pull. ”
      
      But it was completely different. She goes for the edge of the political spectrum as part of her business model. She clearly does this for the clicks.
      
      By comparison Greenpeace is motivated by the best of intentions …
  - Gosman 11.1.2
    
    6 July 2018 at 2:24 pm
    
    Why would she being denied entry to the country MS? The only reason would be that she has unpleasant views which she might share with NZers.
    - McFlock 11.1.2.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 2:43 pm
      
      Visiting here is a privilege, not a right. What good is she to the country?
      - Gosman 11.1.2.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 3:49 pm
        
        Some citizens of the country think she is useful. The question you are not answering is why YOU get to decide they are wrong and YOU (and people like you) are right.
        
        left_forward 11.1.2.1.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 4:13 pm
        
        Hey man stop shouting, it’s piercing.
        
        McFlock 11.1.2.1.1.2
        
        6 July 2018 at 4:24 pm
        
        I don’t get to decide anything. Draco’s already clearly and repeatedly told you who makes the decision and on what basis.
        
        If you’re still asking the question, you must be an idiot or a liar.
Bill 12

6 July 2018 at 1:00 pm

A kind of ‘B’ Grade Katie Hopkins then?

I suspect people like her have simply found a very unpleasant but effective way to ego trip.

Let her turn up.

If halls or auditoriums are empty, she’ll pack up and shut up. But…well, I suspect there are enough people would give her oxygen by trying to shut her down.

What’s with the money grubbing fucks who run or rent out the Bruce Mason Centre though? You think they’d promote an evening by solid left wing/socialist/ anarchist speakers who were sharing their thoughts for free?

No. Of course they wouldn’t.
- esoteric pineapples 12.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 4:41 pm
  
  “I suspect people like her have simply found a very unpleasant but effective way to ego trip.”
  
  I came across her videos by chance a while ago – the ones dealing with what is happening to white South Africans – and I didn’t get that feeling at all. I felt she was quite sincere in her motivation. I felt that she tends to attract shallow racist personalities, but didn’t feel that she fitted that description herself.
indiana 13

6 July 2018 at 1:05 pm

Oddly we never see the same group of people rushing to set up a petition to block a person such as the one in this article:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86784089/auckland-imam-permanently-stood-down-after-antisemitic-speeches

I’m not sure if that person is a NZ citizen, if he is then would we also demand that Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux would be blocked from applying for NZ citizenship? Because, once you are a citizen, then you can freely go about insulting anyone.
- tsmithfield 13.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 1:12 pm
  
  Exactly. There at least needs to be consistency in the way people are treated.
- McFlock 13.2
  
  6 July 2018 at 1:42 pm
  
  Well, yes, once you’re allowed into the country then there are no immigration blocks to your speech. You just get stood down when the HRC hears what you’re saying.
  
  Or should we deport citizens, now?
  - Draco T Bastard 13.2.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 1:57 pm
    
    Not everyone in the country and spouting hate speech is a citizen. Those people should be deported as they don’t fit the Good Character test for Permanent Residence or even getting a visa.
    - McFlock 13.2.1.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 2:41 pm
      
      Visa revocation ok, but I reckon if they go bizarro-evil after permanent residency, we’ve already made the call and they might have cut ties on that basis.
tsmithfield 14

6 July 2018 at 1:07 pm

Yes. Personally, I don’t agree with what she did because the reaction was quite predictable. I don’t think she needed to do that to know there would be a reaction.

However, the broad concept of challenging religious ideas, and making people feel uncomfortable about their behaviour is legitimate freedom of speech. Not racism.
Alfie 15

6 July 2018 at 1:23 pm

Mickey… you may want to modify your link to the petition. The current link goes to a “You have successfully signed the petition” page.

[Will do thanks – MS]
Jenny 16

6 July 2018 at 1:53 pm

I call on the New Zealand authorities and the acting Prime Minister to deprive this hate monger of her right to come here.

To give fascists and racists a platform to openly state their views, on the grounds of free speech is a false equivalence.

If you illegally deprive someone of their liberty by kidnapping them, society retains the right to deprive you of your liberty by imprisonment.

In my opinion the principle is the same, if you practice hate speech you give up the right to free speech.

Racism and hate speech is not free speech, it is an abuse of free speech, because its purpose is to incite violence and deprive others of their freedom.

Freedom of speech, freedom of choice, freedom of religion, political views, racial equality are all the target of hate speech., The purpose is to deprive others of these rights, To advocate the removal of these rights from others, means you do not deserve them your self.

Do we defend the right for neo-nazis and racists to parade in Chartlottsville or do we oppose them?

Do we oppose the right of the blackshirt fascists to bolster their movement by marching down Cable Street as they did in England?

Or do we allow the Brown Shirts to march unopposed and grow as they did in Germany?

The children stand at the gate by Lene’s yard. Suddenly they hear: tromp, tromp — tromp tromp — Hey hey hey! Hitler Youth! Heil, heil heil!

Hurray, Hitler Youth! Let’s follow them! They are marching past: tromp, tromp, right, left

http://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/textbook05.htm
- Gosman 16.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 2:25 pm
  
  Who gets to decide if it is hate speech or not?
  - You_Fool 16.1.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 2:43 pm
    
    Me? Can I? Please?
    
    Also am I allowed to follow you around and verbally abuse you at all times, call you names and insult your parentage? You can’t complain about that cause it is my free speech right? No matter what I say, or what leaflets I hand out… right?
    - Gosman 16.1.1.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 3:56 pm
      
      If you like. Unless you damage my reputation by speaking or writing untruths. Then I get to sue you. Do you see how this works now?
      - You_Fool 16.1.1.1.1
        
        9 July 2018 at 7:21 am
        
        Can I record my time and cut it to not show where I do slander you and abuse you and then claim that is the truth because I have a video of the incident…
        
        You realise that is what these people are doing right?
    - Andy 16.1.1.2
      
      8 July 2018 at 9:53 am
      
      Being anti rape and anti FGM is now considered “hateful” by the left
- Jenny 16.2
  
  6 July 2018 at 2:43 pm
  
  Germany is everywhere where we march in brown shirts and sing our songs, that is Germany.
  
  Heini and Lene
  
  “Is Germany everywhere?” Heini asks. — Father says: “Germany is everywhere where real German people are together…..
  
  …..Germany is everywhere that happens, no matter how far away from here. And where German boys and girls obey their parents and work hard in school, that is also Germany. Where the Hitler Youth play and sing and do their duty, and where girls dressed in brown use their hands to show their love for their Führer and help their people, that is also Germany. Where German soldiers conduct exercises, where we march in brown shirts and sing our songs, that is Germany.
  
  http://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/textbook05.htm
  
  No pasarán
- Andy 16.3
  
  7 July 2018 at 8:59 pm
  
  I support a lot of work that Lauren southern does particularly the Farmland documentary
  
  I am a UK immigrant with NZ citizenship
  
  Would you like to deport me? I’d be happy to share my contact details with you and you can doxx me and intimidate my family
  
  It would be my pleasure
  - joe90 16.3.1
    
    7 July 2018 at 9:32 pm
    
    the Farmland documentary
    
    Why are you angry?
    
    Apartheid ended!
    
    ~Fin~
    /
You_Fool 17

6 July 2018 at 2:23 pm

I think the term “Don’t Feed The Trolls” applies to this person… She is just a click-bait troll…
- Draco T Bastard 17.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 2:28 pm
  
  And so are all the RWNJs in this thread.
  - You_Fool 17.1.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 2:38 pm
    
    Well, yeah… they mostly seem to be in it for the l0lz and not to actually debate ideas…
    - tsmithfield 17.1.1.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 2:53 pm
      
      Let me ask Draco and you if you would speak against ideologies that have been shown to be highly repressive to the rights of women and gays?
      - You_Fool 17.1.1.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 2:57 pm
        
        I am against anything the represses the rights of anyone….
        
        Note this troll isn’t really protesting anything, any more than me yelling at random people is protesting anything…
        
        tsmithfield 17.1.1.1.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 3:07 pm
        
        To the degree that Lauren Southern is also against a specific ideology that holds those views, would it be fair to say that you agree with her so far as that goes?
        
        McFlock …
        
        6 July 2018 at 3:11 pm
        
        Well, no she’s not.
        
        She’s basically saying we should fear all Christians because on denomination covered up child abuse by its members (well, multiple denominations, but probably not all). When you’d probably find that most members of even that denomination were appalled by the behaviour.
        
        tsmithfield …
        
        6 July 2018 at 3:23 pm
        
        In the particular stunt she pulled, only those with intolerent views would have reacted to her.
        
        Similar to how someone speaking against child abuse in the Catholic church would receive support and agreement from those in the church not involved in the behaviour and only cause upset with those who were in agreement with that behaviour.
        
        McFlock …
        
        6 July 2018 at 3:40 pm
        
        she’s only ever pulled one stunt? lol
        
        But in a broader sense, too, you’re full of shit. Blocking a ship that’s going to search for and rescue people in the sea, or blaming Syrian refugees for a shooting, or ranting that your ethnicity and culture is being “replaced”, these aren’t merely criticising a narrow aspect of a particular faith, it’s tarring everyone in that faith with the same brush.
        
        tsmithfield …
        
        6 July 2018 at 4:24 pm
        
        Blocking a ship that’s going to search for and rescue people in the sea”
        
        That actually sounds quite similar to the way Australia treats refugees, so perhaps we should be boycotting Australia.
        
        All the rest is merely her expressing her views.
        
        The best way to counter that speech is to provide counter examples, arguments, and stats to refute her position.
        
        The more she states her views, the more opportunity there is for them to be countered and for her to be discredited. Suppressing her views only feeds her cause.
        
        McFlock …
        
        6 July 2018 at 4:37 pm
        
        What ships do the aussies block?
        
        What you’re avoiding is the fact that racism isn’t rational. One can’t counter that with examples, argument or stats. Any more than one can counter AGW deniers. They want to bog people down in muddy waters of example vs counter vs statistic. If the waters are clear, there’s only one rational position. If they’re muddy, nobody knows where to go. And look at all the people they’re debating with and pwning in their heavily edited videos…
        
        But more importantly, sometimes the worst thing one can do is validate an abhorrent position with respect.
        
        tsmithfield …
        
        6 July 2018 at 4:50 pm
        
        What Australia does isn’t exactly the same, but it is of the same ilk. Such as this where fairly extreme measures were taken to stop refugees reaching Australia:
        
        http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-09/abf-denies-sinking-indonesian-asylum-seeker-boat/7232010
        
        So far as the rest goes, don’t you think it might be a tactic for Southern to provoke bans etc to increase her profile, and enlist support on the basis of perceived injustice on infringement of her right to freedom of speech.
        
        So far as racism goes, I think it is conflating issues. I don’t think it would bother her particularly what colour skin the people were.
        
        If there were hordes of white people arriving as refugees in similar numbers I suspect she would think pretty much the same about those as she does about the current refugees.
        
        McFlock …
        
        6 July 2018 at 5:01 pm
        
        rescuing people and then scuttling their craft isn’t the same as stopping other people rescue them.
        
        Of course she wants a reaction. The question is whether respecting her views (and I’m not going to get into a semantic debate about which exact flavour of fuckwittedness she has) would do more harm than just not actively supporting her by giving her a visa in the first place.
        
        tsmithfield …
        
        6 July 2018 at 5:07 pm
        
        I would think the long term detention of refugees in squalor conditions without any hope for the future is worse. It is killing them slowly and torturing them at the same time.
        
        So, I don’t think Australia is any more virtuous than Southern, yet we keep up relations with them.
        
        McFlock …
        
        6 July 2018 at 5:11 pm
        
        Yup. We’re not perfect.
        
        So we should give her a platform because we’re imperfect in other areas? How does that work? In for a penny of bigotry, in for a pound?
    - Gosman 17.1.1.2
      
      6 July 2018 at 3:48 pm
      
      What ideas do you want to debate here?
      - R.P Mcmurphy 17.1.1.2.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 9:21 pm
        
        anything you like. start the ball rolling.
        
        Gosman 17.1.1.2.1.1
        
        7 July 2018 at 1:55 am
        
        How about freedom of speech then?
SPC 18

6 July 2018 at 2:49 pm

No right turn, as usual determines on principle and favours free speech.
AsleepWhileWalking 19

6 July 2018 at 3:50 pm

I watched her piece on getting into the Whitehouse press gallery. Seemed interesting and made some good points.

Other than that don’t know her work and don’t have time to watch. Won’t be going in any case.
Carolyn_Nth 20

6 July 2018 at 4:08 pm

The venue managers have now cancelled the event.

Newshub 3 hours ago.

An ‘alt right’ speaking event planned to be held in Auckland has been cancelled by the venue operators.

That comes as Mayor Phil Goff sent a clear message that the pair are not welcome at Auckland Council venues.

“I just think we’ve got no obligation at all – in a city that’s multicultural, inclusive, embraces people of all faiths and ethnicities – to provide a venue for hate speech by people that want to abuse and insult others, either their faith or their ethnicity,” Mr Goff told Newshub.
…
Auckland Live, which runs the Bruce Mason Centre where the event was scheduled to take place, said the event was cancelled due to “security concerns” around the “health and safety” of the presenters, staff and patrons of the event.
…
Canadian Lauren Southern was banned from entering the United Kingdom after displaying flyers reading “Allah is a Gay God” and “Allah is trans”. She claims the flyers were part of a stunt proving Islam is homophobic.

In a trailer for the speaking event, Ms Southern asks whether Australia will continue to be a “victim of multiculturalism”.

“Do you want to retain your culture? Do you want to retain your borders? Family? Identity? Or will the boats keep coming?” she asks.

Stefan Molyneux also shares his views in lengthy internet videos, including arguing race is tied to IQ and reportedly saying women are to blame for violent men because adults are informed by “dysfunctional early childhood experiences, which are all run by women”.

There would be precedent for not allowing the pair entry. Musicians Odd Future was denied entry to New Zealand in 2014, after the group was deemed “a potential threat to public order”.

As Ms Southern has already been denied entry to the United Kingdom, she is not eligible for a New Zealand visa unless she is granted permission specifically.

Immigation Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said Immigration NZ [INZ] is looking into the matter.

“I am advised that INZ is aware of the two Canadian nationals referred to and is assessing whether any action needs to be taken under the Immigration Act and Immigration Instructions.”
- Bill 20.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 4:34 pm
  
  I’d like to think that the simple act of hitting, or threatening to hit the bastards where it hurts (in the pocket) is what lies behind the Bruce Mason Centre cancellation.
  
  But given the nonsense from Goff (wouldn’t butter melt in his mouth?) and the noises from Galloway, I suspect it’s all down to far messier stuff.
- Andy 20.2
  
  6 July 2018 at 4:39 pm
  
  Actually Molyneux’s arguments about race and IQ are based on peer-reviewed science. Jordan Peterson holds similar views.
  
  At least NZ will be a quiet place with none of these “far right” extremists coming in. However, when a large number of Kiwis hold similar libertarian views. you might want to be careful
  
  They might be everywhere… even commenting here……. Wooooo scary
  - McFlock 20.2.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 4:45 pm
    
    “When”. Lol.
  - Bill 20.2.2
    
    6 July 2018 at 5:09 pm
    
    Whatever Molyneux’s views on race and IQ may be, they aren’t based on “peer reviewed science” any more than than (say) Steven arsehole Spielberg’s “Empire of the Sun” was based on J G Ballard’s childhood experiences – ie, – a fuck of a lot of twisted bastardising going on.
  - Carolyn_Nth 20.2.3
    
    6 July 2018 at 5:12 pm
    
    Do tell about this “peer reviewed science”.
    
    Peterson, for instance, has had his veneer of scholarship pulled apart by some knowledgeable people:
    
    Here – by a feminist philospher
    
    And here – to mention just two learned people who have argued against Peterson’s bullshit and pseudo-science.
    
    What’s more important is why such people are getting a following – there’s a major struggle going on – the neoliberal consensus is crumbling.
    - mikes 20.2.3.1
      
      7 July 2018 at 9:25 pm
      
      “…pulled apart by some knowledgeable people:….. a feminist philosopher”
      Kate Manne – Hahahahahaha.
      
      Below is Peterson’s letter to Manne regarding that article.
      
      https://jordanbpeterson.com/uncategorized/response-to-vox-feminist-philosopher-dr-kate-manne-of-cornell/
      
      Harrison Fluss – absolute joke pretending to be intellectual – see this link in regards to the article you shared..
      
      https://medium.com/@hugonewman/jacobin-magazines-bullshit-a31deaf921c8
      
      Peterson often explains in great detail why he thinks he is getting such a massive following, you should read some of his material or listen to some of his lectures. But you won’t, because you no doubt think he is some sort of far right nazi, which he is quite clearly not and he is very vocal about his dislike and disgust of the far right.
tsmithfield 21

6 July 2018 at 4:08 pm

But what she did (with respect to illegal migrants) is not really that different to what our “civilised” neighbour Australia has done with respect to migrants.

So, while I strongly disagree with the action, it wasn’t that much different to the behaviour of a sovereign nation we happily engage with. So, if we are going to stop her from coming to NZ should we also be boycotting Australia?

So far as speech goes, it is merely her speaking her view and challenging the status-quo.

I am sure there are viewpoints you support where you would applaud similar behaviour from an activist. So, freedom of speech cuts both ways.
Hum 22

6 July 2018 at 4:09 pm

I don’t support this woman’s ridiculous views but I support her right to express them. We need to be very careful as a society if we are to start suppressing points of view that we disagree with.
- R.P Mcmurphy 22.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 9:23 pm
  
  she can always write a letter to the editor.
  - cleangreen 22.1.1
    
    7 July 2018 at 3:20 pm
    
    Good luck there RPM.
    
    Editors are corporates, so they will not invite free speech will they?
millsy 23

6 July 2018 at 4:12 pm

We will have a Handmaid’s Tale style dystopia imposed in the west if the likes of Petersen and Southern are allowed to flourish. They want to strip women, blacks and gays of their hard work rights, and they need to be stopped.
- Carolyn_Nth 23.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 4:48 pm
  
  I do think there is a major struggle going on right now between social and economic conservatives, and progressives.
  
  There’s a backlash coming from conservatives against the gains made by social progressives. They have taken some confidence from Trump winning the presidency.
  
  There’s an article by Jamelle Bouie on Slate, saying Trump is “leading the Republican charge to preserve a shrinking white majority”.
  
  Getting bogged down in a debate about free speech is a red herring.
  
  This struggle is about the current challenges to the wealthy elites and those with social and cultural status and privileges, and attempts by them and their supporters to maintain their power and privilege. Like Trump their “free speech” can play fast and loose with the truth. They aim to influence rather than spread evidence-based information and arguments.
- chris73 23.2
  
  6 July 2018 at 7:22 pm
  
  Got any links to support your views?
  
  https://www.youtube.com/user/JordanPetersonVideos/featured
  
  He’s got thousands of hours on his youtube channel so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find or did you just hear something from someone and decided to believe it?
- MikeS 23.3
  
  7 July 2018 at 9:29 pm
  
  What absolute rubbish. You clearly have no idea what any of the people mentioned even have opinions on.
  
  A “Handmaids Tale style dystopia ” already exists, it’s called ISIL, or Saudi Arabia, or one of many similar cultures / countries that believe women to be sub human and that gays should be killed.
Andy 24

6 July 2018 at 4:16 pm

All this “far right” BS is getting very tiresome.

It’s just a label used to discredit anyone who doesn’t go along with the globalist corporate agenda
- McFlock 24.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 4:25 pm
  
  Not at all. Some of them are far left, as well.
- Carolyn_Nth 24.2
  
  6 July 2018 at 4:31 pm
  
  Exactly how are Southern and Molyneux opposing “the globalist corporate agenda”?
  
  Southern is a right wing libertarian and they tend to support international free trade. They do seem to be “globalist” in the way they are travelling the world to spread their views.
  
  And Southern has spent most of her time attacking NGOs, not corporates. She has opposed feminists and LGBTI+ people – these are not groups supporting international corporates.
  - Andy 24.2.1
    
    6 July 2018 at 4:41 pm
    
    She is part of the so-called Identitarian movement which is in favour of closed borders, or at least anti-open borders, and maintaining the cultural traditions of European countries.
    
    In other words, pretty much like most Kiwis
    - millsy 24.2.1.1
      
      6 July 2018 at 5:12 pm
      
      No, she wants homosexuals strung up with piano wire, casual sex made illegal, and schools to stop teaching evolution.
      - Andy 24.2.1.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 6:04 pm
        
        I’m not sure if you are actually serious
        
        I’ll just assume that you are mentally ill Millsy,
        
        millsy 24.2.1.1.1.1
        
        6 July 2018 at 6:21 pm
        
        I am serious. Ironically the Islamic nation’s she hates so much caters for her reactionary social conservatism with laws against pre maritial sex, homosexuality, restrictions on women’s rights, etc.
        
        Andy …
        
        6 July 2018 at 7:06 pm
        
        Millsy, I have watched many videos from Lauren Southern and nowhere have I seen her have “reactionary” views that you suggest.
        She has interviewed Trans people on her Youtube channel, and her trolling in Luton with the “Allah is Gay” thing was done with Caolan Robertson, who is a gay man
        
        So I don’t really know here you get your information from
        
        OK I get it that she is a “troll” in the sense that she is trying to provoke discussion and reaction’
        This is a problem, apparently
      - chris73 24.2.1.1.2
        
        6 July 2018 at 7:26 pm
        
        Again Millsy got any proof of what you say? Here’s her youtube channel:
        
        https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCla6APLHX6W3FeNLc8PYuvg
        
        see if you can find anything or, ideally, STFU
        
        joe90 24.2.1.1.2.1
        
        7 July 2018 at 1:20 pm
        
        Here she is saying young women delaying marriage and engaging in pre-marital sex leads to unhappiness and that they squander the advantages they have in securing their future because it, pre-marital sex, undermines the ability of women to successfully pair bond.
        
        https://youtu.be/oxHIftZVfrQ
        
        Gosman …
        
        8 July 2018 at 6:34 am
        
        That seems like a view that most mainstream religious people share.
    - Carolyn_Nth 24.2.1.2
      
      6 July 2018 at 5:14 pm
      
      there are some on the left that do want more border restrictions. But Southern and Molyneux go further than that and have a very racial slant to that.
- Gabby 24.3
  
  8 July 2018 at 10:12 am
  
  A bit like the ‘farleft’ bullshit andies.
esoteric pineapples 25

6 July 2018 at 4:33 pm

I’ve watched some of her videos on what is happening to white South Africans – particularly the poor ones and farmers – and felt she presented a pretty strong case for the injustice that is taking place against them where no-one else seems to be speaking up for them.
- AsleepWhileWalking 25.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 5:29 pm
  
  Thanks, might check that out
  - cleangreen 25.1.1
    
    7 July 2018 at 3:22 pm
    
    Thanks EP
    
    I to will review her points as there is always been “two sides to every story”
Sabine 26

6 July 2018 at 5:12 pm

The wannabe Nazi Richard Spencer was denied further travel within Europe on a stop over in Poland.

“He has to return to the United States”

hahahahahahaha

https://thinkprogress.org/richard-spencer-is-effectively-barred-from-europe-30b18131d272/

Poor things, so white and no one wants them.
AsleepWhileWalking 27

6 July 2018 at 5:27 pm

Goff just banned them.

Pity. I like Stefan even if I disagree. Always thought provoking.
Sanctuary 28

6 July 2018 at 5:37 pm

Deftly torpedoed by Phil Goff.
- JessNZ 28.1
  
  7 July 2018 at 12:05 pm
  
  If you want to feel disturbed, go check out the comments on Phil Goff’s FB page post where he starts ‘Auckland Council venues shouldn’t be used to stir up ethnic or religious tensions.’
  
  One, to me, says
  ‘Too little, too late.
  
  The awakening continues, and you hysterical leftist mental patients best beware, we WILL absolutely retake the reins of power, and WILL absolutely treat you and your degenerate, depraved ilk, in the exact same manner as you treat us.
  
  The pendulum swings, NOTHING can stop it.
  
  Enjoy while you can.
  
  Tick tock.’
patricia bremner 29

6 July 2018 at 6:04 pm

Just another RW troll we don’t need here.
- Andy 29.1
  
  8 July 2018 at 10:31 am
  
  There are actually two of them . I notice how the left always pick on the women though
RedBaronCV 30

6 July 2018 at 7:43 pm

Is she self funding or is someone else footing the bill. And if so who?
It’s not cheap to come here and hire the Bruce Mason centre and then the required security etc etc. And from my brief glimpse above it looks like a change of operating style. in the past she seems to have gone to a demo and mouthed off – and got a reaction she filmed.
Standing a a stage making the same sort of remarks is a very different scenario – particularly if the audience is small and friendly. On the other hand if she did give a speech we could well wind up with social media photos of all who support her views publicly available.
- Carolyn_Nth 30.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 8:29 pm
  
  The promoter who was organising the Auckland event is David Pellowe. Curiously, he’s not interested in rtying for a non-council venue in Auckland. Probably feeds off the cancellation of the event to make political mileage out of it.
  
  He’s an Aussie, and is described in this article anarchobase about Pellowe bringing Southern and Molyneux to Australia.
  
  As noted, the tour is being organised by ‘Axiomatic Events’, a new project behind which sits Queensland businessman and Media Guy (‘Hunni Promotional Media’) Dave Pellowe. A concerned Christian citizen, Pellowe, both via his now-deleted blog ‘The Philtheist’ and still-extant Twitter accounts (Dave Pellowe and VozMayoria/Voice of the Majority), expresses fairly conventional ‘AltLite’ views: he’s pro-Christian and anti-Muslim; pro-Trump and anti-abortion; a climate change denialist and a friend of the corporate sector. He’s also a former candidate for the Family First Party, running for the seat of Logan in the Queensland state election in 2015 (when he scored 1,098 votes or 4.1%)
  
  Pellowe has a website and a youtube channel
  
  He’s anti-marriage equality, and anti Palestinian. “The truth about Gaza” is about how awful Hamas and Palestinians are.
  - Gabby 30.1.1
    
    8 July 2018 at 10:15 am
    
    I wonder what views master Pillow holds on Hobson’s Lemon-scented.
- Incognito 30.2
  
  7 July 2018 at 12:22 pm
  
  On the other hand if she did give a speech we could well wind up with social media photos of all who support her views publicly available.
  
  I see, guilty by association, as ruled by an armchair-based Facebook & Twitter lynch mob viewing photos online and drawing their verdicts. FFS!
weston 31

6 July 2018 at 8:01 pm

I thought we championed free speech here in nz ?IM astounded that the mere idea of two individuals speaking from a stage in auckland could cause so much fear and righteous indignation .Surely ideas surreptitiously entered into our psyches by huge corporations or media giants or villainous pr companies or equally villainous intelligence agencies …..are infinitely more dangerous ??
- Alan 31.1
  
  6 July 2018 at 8:08 pm
  
  second that
- mickysavage 31.2
  
  6 July 2018 at 8:10 pm
  
  Their ideas are free to make they way through the WWW. Why should we allow them into the country. Besides it is not expression of free speech, it is a lost business opportunity.
  - Nick J 31.2.1
    
    8 July 2018 at 8:40 pm
    
    So Mickeysavage, you are happy to decide who should be allowed in to say what. That’s a mighty fine and dandy position for anyone to hold. Now imagine Gosman for example holding that power. Would that be acceptable?Are you by dint of your political persuasions a better candidate for decision on who comes, speaks etc than Gos?
- Gabby 31.3
  
  8 July 2018 at 10:17 am
  
  What gave you that idea westy? The jihadists on every street corner preaching death to the infidels?
corodale 32

6 July 2018 at 8:37 pm

Divide and conqueur in action, bring it on!
More exciting than work and mortgage.
Expect we have enough adults in our community to help supervise these kids peacefully, that they may express their past trauma is a healthy fashion.
Gentle conflict to potentially release the tention, in a theraputic sense.
Macro 33

6 July 2018 at 8:54 pm

Well we banned Randy Mandy.
Rice-Davies also toured Spain, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore but was banned from entering New Zealand as a result of a complaint from the Girl Guides.
http://spartacus-educational.com/SPYdavies.htm
Sabine 34

6 July 2018 at 9:32 pm

I think the chick is just confused.

she wants to be racist but does not want to be a ‘feminist’ even tho she would like to have some of the rights ‘feminists’ have fought for, such as the right to not marry in order to have a meal ticket, such as sex without marriage, and sex without child bearing. But other then that she just wants to be racist, cause being white is so special, and being a youtube alt-right racists beats working any day. .

https://www.salon.com/2017/12/04/alt-right-women-are-upset-that-alt-right-men-are-treating-them-terribly/

Quote :”I am not trying to sell the idea that myself, as a 22-year-old, needs to be married right now for the sake of traditionalism and not being a degenerate,” Southern said in a YouTube video. “What is also just completely shocking to me is the utter lack of understanding of nuance.”
Southern said that women should be able to choose their own life path and not be attacked for it, which sounds like what women have been shouting for a few decades now.” Quote end.

https://mic.com/articles/186675/the-women-of-the-alt-right-are-speaking-out-against-misogyny-theyd-prefer-absolute-patriarchy#.z2SugSrrX

Quote: “I’m not going to get married at 22 years old just so that I won’t be called a degenerate on the internet,” nationalist figurehead Lauren Southern said in a recent video addressing her harassers.”Quote end.

Sadly the blokes don’t think so? 🙂

Quote: “They’re tricking a lot of men into thinking they’re the ideal, traditional woman when they’re no different than the skank I can find in any nightclub here,” Roosh V, a famous rape apologist blogger, said in a YouTube video posted Dec. 4. “In fact, in some cases, they are worse.”Quote end.

Sorry my dear, you are dabbling in white patriarchy and sadly these guys that adhere to this outdated form of society really do like their women uneducated, bare feet and pregnant in the kitchen fixing sandwiches. 🙂 Cause you – women – need to out breed the ‘undesirables’ – you know the ones not white.

I suggest she acquaint herself with the quiverfull movement and realize that this is her future if they get their say 🙂

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiverfull

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gothard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19_Kids_and_Counting
- marty mars 34.1
  
  7 July 2018 at 4:30 pm
  
  + 1
  
  Thanks Sabine – I now know what quiverfull means.
Pat 35

7 July 2018 at 12:41 am

The world used to be flat….what happened?

http://www.eastonbh.ac.nz/2014/08/the-right-to-dissent-by-jack-shallcrass/
Blazer 36

7 July 2018 at 7:41 am

Those that had never heard of her like me,now have.
A win for her ‘brand awareness’.
Robert Guyton 37

7 July 2018 at 8:09 am

Goff – “I just think we’ve got no obligation at all…”
Correct. He does just think that. And he gets to decide. It’s a mayoral thing, deciding. ‘parently.
justpassingthru 38

7 July 2018 at 8:21 am

Of course Goff has the right to ban her from a council-owned building. She’ll just find somewhere else. It just proves how much of a far-Left organisation Auckland Council is.
- Gabby 38.1
  
  7 July 2018 at 12:22 pm
  
  The giveaway for me was how much money the council is taking from millionaire property developers and spending on street beggars justpassingwind, now that’s far-Left I thought to myself.
Nick J 39

7 July 2018 at 8:42 am

Let her come and express herself, judgement of her opinions is over to the listener. Buggered if I want anyone telling me who or what I can listen to, that’s the thin end of the authoritarian wedge.

On that note it seems ever more clear to me that the Left in particular have adopted a closed mindset that does not tolerate anything other than their views to be expressed, socially, politically or publically. It’s Orwellian, I don’t need Phil Goff to protect me or make me safe from malign opinions. Time to grow up, harden up and start thinking.
- MikeS 39.1
  
  7 July 2018 at 9:36 pm
  
  Exactly right. As stated in an earlier post, the so called left shout from the rooftops about how great and important diversity is. But when it comes to diversity of ideas or opinions, not so much.
Jenny 40

7 July 2018 at 9:58 am

Breaking News:

A white person has not been let into the country.
Blazer 41

7 July 2018 at 12:20 pm

My understanding is she cancelled her trip.
Has not been barred from entering NZ.
- Incognito 41.1
  
  7 July 2018 at 12:26 pm
  
  Pellowe said Lauren Southern had been denied an automatic entry visa to New Zealand because she had been denied entry to the United Kingdom, but lawyers had been working on securing one.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/105302179/controversial-canadian-speaker-denied-visa-as-auckland-agency-cancels-booking?rm=m
  - Jenny 41.1.1
    
    7 July 2018 at 3:31 pm
    
    Sanity prevails
    
    Politics is pressure
    
    What is interesting to me, is that pressure was coming on Lauren Southern from all sides, until it just became too much.
    
    This speaks well of New Zealanders.
  - Andy 41.1.2
    
    8 July 2018 at 10:29 am
    
    The border police in the UK asked her if she was a “Christian extremist” and how she felt about crashing cars into people
    
    It’s a growing problem and I thing the Methodist’s are worst, although I’d watch out for those pesky Amish and their hordes and carts too. Can’t be too careful these days
cleangreen 42

7 July 2018 at 3:28 pm

Yes it looks like we are in a PC PC PC PC PC PC out of control world now and we really should be worried about the other global issiues that now confrant us all like….

WORLD
-Global heat wave
-Climate change will be catastrophic
-Global financial meltdown
-Trump trade war with China
-America invading Venezuela
- Jenny 42.1
  
  7 July 2018 at 7:13 pm
  
  Everything is related.
  
  The rise of the Far Right is in part a reaction to the issues you mention. Just as rise of fascism was a reaction to the Great Depression.
  
  The purpose of these ‘reactionaries’ is to delay or prevent any progressive action to confront any of these sorts of problems.
  
  To your list I will add another but related list…
  
  -Climate change, denial
  -Scapegoating of minorities
  -Austerity
  -Sexism
  -Racism
  -Nationalism
  -Militarism
  -War
  
  The second list is a list of all the things that the Far Right champion.
  
  You may agree, or not maybe, that it complements the first list
  - Andy 42.1.1
    
    8 July 2018 at 10:07 am
    
    I am anti rape . Does that make me Far Right?
    - marty mars 42.1.1.1
      
      8 July 2018 at 10:19 am
      
      Lol are you for real? What a knob.
      - Andy 42.1.1.1.1
        
        8 July 2018 at 10:26 am
        
        1500 girls were raped in Rotherham England by “Asian grooming gangs” yet the police and media were silent . People who spoke up were labelled “far right”
        
        My question stands. Is it better to let your daughters be raped because it is politically correct to do so, or is it better to speak up and risk being labelled Far Right?
        
        marty mars 42.1.1.1.1.1
        
        8 July 2018 at 10:34 am
        
        Fuck off you wanker – clear enough for ya.
DS 43

7 July 2018 at 3:48 pm

It’s a bit moot now, but I’m a tad uncomfortable with denying these nutters entry. Yes, they are nutters, and truly vile people, but letting them in and then protesting them strikes me as a much better solution. We aren’t fascists, even if they are. As it is, they’re going to thrive on martyrdom.

Also note that the dangers of “incitement” is the justification for New Zealand’s archaic blasphemy law (you know, the one the Government wants to repeal – surely we on the Left want to consign that sort of thing to history?).
Jenny 44

7 July 2018 at 3:49 pm

Everything is related
joe90 45

7 July 2018 at 3:52 pm

Hates immigrants but thinks he should be able to go wherever TF he likes.

White nationalist leader Richard Spencer was reportedly stopped by authorities in Europe this week while attempting to travel to address young white nationalists.

Spencer seemingly confirmed the incident Thursday on Twitter, sharing a Swedish-language tweet from another “alt-right” supporter saying that Spencer had been banned in Europe because of his views.

[…]

The Associated Press reported last year that Spencer had been banned from entering 26 European countries. Those countries, which include Poland and Sweden, are part of Europe’s visa-free Schengen area.

Spencer said at the time that he would try to challenge the ban, which is in place for five years, according to the AP.

“I’m being treated like a criminal by the Polish government. It’s just insane,” Spencer said at the time. “I haven’t done anything. What are they accusing me of?”

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/395745-richard-spencer-confirms-ban-on-traveling-to-european-countries
Adam Skinner 46

7 July 2018 at 6:30 pm

I’m glad there are other Kiwi’s like me who are appalled that we have politicians, protest groups and the New Zealand Federation of Islam Associations telling others who they can listen to. I’m a Lauren Southern fan and I wouldn’t be if she were racist or bigot that the media label her. I’ve watched many of her YouTube videos and have not seen a single example of her being racist or bigoted. I’ve have heard her say that Western style democracies are superior to others when it comes to human rights, religious tolerance, Justice and equality, and I’ve yet to hear a credible argument proving her wrong. She describes herself as a conservative but still she is described as far-right in the media without them ever saying what the far-right actually stand for or what makes Ms Southern part of it. If being a nationalist is the only criteria I have to say I always support NZ in sport and are proud when a Kiwi does something good internationally but I voted Labour in the last election, not really a far-right party whatever that is. I noticed they used to accuse Dr Jordan Peterson of being far-right but this has changed somewhat since he became internationally well known and has given so many interviews and talks that the far-right accusation is seen as the rubbish it is. I suggest that those wishing to know the truth about Ms Southern watch her videos and podcasts for themselves rather than listen to the bias views put forward by people who disagree with what she says and argue she is a bad person rather than disputing her facts and arguments or debating her on the issues.
I am very sad that NZ is following Britain and Canada in stopping people from speaking and accusing folks of hate speech because they don’t like the facts being presented. It has lead to real injustice and loss of freedoms elsewhere and we should fight against it here in NZ.
- Incognito 46.1
  
  7 July 2018 at 9:47 pm
  
  I’m glad there are other Kiwi’s like me who are appalled that we have politicians, protest groups and the New Zealand Federation of Islam Associations telling others who they can listen to.
  
  I’d be appalled too if it were not for the fact that nobody has told others whom they can listen to. You appear to be twisting the facts and your last paragraph is only slightly more accurate.
- Andy 46.2
  
  8 July 2018 at 10:05 am
  
  Hear hear.
  
  Jordan Peterson is a self described classical liberal Yet has been described as Alt Right and Far Right
  
  Ridiculous. The left have long since lost the plot
greywarshark 47

7 July 2018 at 6:35 pm

There’s no such thing as ‘free’ speech. There are all sorts of controls on what is reasonable to say to people. People who think that limiting free speech would be bad, talk in theories and open the way to bullies dogging people they have decided they disagree with. Those people might be wanting an abortion which should be a private affair, wanting to use euthanasia or find out about it, which should be a private affair, or just interfering and trying to change others actions. How far should one go in this behaviour?

In turn the free speech promoters need to take serious thought about their own attempt to oppress others by their actions, while they attempt to deny those others the right to behave and express their thoughts in a reasonable way.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/361324/self-styled-nz-baptist-pastor-facing-deportation-from-australia
What is the Pillar Baptist Church?
The Pillar Baptist Church opened at Goodna, west of Brisbane, within the past 12 months.
It is not affiliated with the mainstream Baptist denomination, including the Queensland Baptists or Australian Baptist Ministries.

The church has declared it is anti-abortion, anti-gay and anti-Islam.
Mr Robertson posts sermons on social media and has also released a “documentary” critical of the Mormon faith.
On the church’s website, Mr Robertson describes his church as a New Testament Independent Fundamental Baptist Church.

“Our church is a friendly group of believers who have a strong desire for truthful biblical preaching, that isn’t watered down or compromised,” the website says.

Mr Robertson had already sparked controversy in New Zealand by saying people in gay marriages should be shot, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern should “get in the kitchen where women belong”.
He was rebuked by Baptist Churches of New Zealand in 2014, who said he had never been affiliated with their denomination.
“The NZ Baptist churches have been demeaned by his vitriol, leaving many of our Baptist church members and pastors wrongly implicated by Robertson’s actions,” the church said.

New Zealand police reportedly launched an investigation into Mr Robertson but dropped the case on the basis there was no evidence to suggest he had committed any crimes.

Who is this man? Why does he think he has the right to harrass and frighten Muslims? Why is he more important to the world than others, and his judgments reign supreme? Why should bears be drained of their bile when there are people like this roaming free in our society? Why go to Australia and bring our country into disrepute, and enable them to bridle sensitively about it, when they have their Manus Island disgrace ongoing? What has taken him to Queensland to do this? And why can’t Baptists sue him for using their name, bringing their ‘brand’ and reputation into disrepute? Surely churches know that one of Jesus’ forecasts that people will worship false gods and wrongly preach in his name, and use religion to make money, is increasing in our materialistic society.
cleangreen 48

7 July 2018 at 9:16 pm

Yes greywarshark,

The truth is that the politicians expect us to believe ‘we have free speech, but in reality we do not.

We saw many cases when our people protested with our voices the government of the day would shut our people down when the poiotical climate got to sticky didn’t they.

We need a free speech tv network as best as the TVNZ 7 was; – remenmber when we had this ‘free speech’ channel until National closed it down?.

Labour need to construct their own commercial free balanced channel as they in the last Labour Government did, and have another ‘mark two’ TVNZ 7.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVNZ_7

TVNZ 7 was a commercial-free New Zealand 24-hour news and information channel on Freeview digital television platform It was produced by Television New Zealand, which received Government funding to launch two additional channels.

The channel went to air just after 10 am on 25 March 2008 with a looped preview reel. The channel was officially launched at noon on 30 March 2008 with a special “kingmaker” political debate held within the Parliament building and featuring most of the elected minor party leaders.
It featured TVNZ News Now updates every hour from 6 am to 11 pm, with a specialised rolling 10-minute bulletin ‘zone’ between 8 am and 9 am, throughout which six bulletins were aired. TVNZ 7 also featured an hour-long bulletin, TVNZ News at 8, at 8 pm each night. It was hosted on weeknights by Greg Boyed and on weekends by Miriama Kamo.

While it was originally reported to be a ‘rolling news channel’, similar to Sky News and CNN Headline News, Eric Kearley, head of TVNZ’s Digital Launch team, stated about 70% of the schedule would be “factual variety” programming – a mix of local and overseas documentaries, and programmes that discuss current events and sport, with the remaining 30% being the news updates. A full schedule was released on 28 February 2008.

The channel was relaunched on 1 March 2011, it was officially announced that TVNZ 7 cease broadcast in June 2012. This was confirmed when Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman stated on behalf of the government that they would not extend further funding for the channel due to low ratings. This was despite viewing figures that suggested half of all households with Freeview at the time were watching TVNZ7 – around 700,000 people – and not the 207,000 claimed by Coleman. In March 2012, Television New Zealand confirmed this decision and announced there would be no eleventh-hour reprieve for TVNZ7.
Name (Required) 49

8 July 2018 at 3:09 am

“[She] abuses her right of freedom of speech. She’s just going to give a talk in which she’s just going to insult all of us,” Mr Arafeh said.

Well I guess we will never know now will we.

“I don’t think insulting Muslims comes under free speech, that’s an abuse of freedom of speech.”

Mr Arafeh, with respect, one should be free to speak their criticisms as they see fit. If you feel insulted by their words you are free to do so. You are free to rebut their criticisms. I am sure Ms Southern would be happy to meet with you to address your concerns.

If free speech is going to be truly free then nothing can be beyond critique. To make Islam some how exempt from analysis or mockery is not fair to all the other religions who have learned to live with a little tongue in cheek.

I’m disappointed that our civic venues have been closed to people with ideas that might hurt some peoples feelings.
Name (Required) 50

8 July 2018 at 3:19 am

Far right Canadian activist wants to come to New Zealand to insult local communities

Bullshit journalism. If this is “The Standard”, then may the one true god help us all
Ned 51

9 July 2018 at 9:40 am

Anybody who bothers finding out about Lauren Southern or Stefan Molyneux would realize they are NOT FAR RIGHT in their political beliefs literally everything they talk about is backed up by the actual truth its a really sad day when New Zealand becomes afraid of the literal truth and this whole incident is extremely embarrassing to our countries reputation internationally…Really folks are laughing at us for being liberal morons right now.
Craig Y 52

11 July 2018 at 5:29 pm

If anyone wants to sign this Change.org petition against Southern’s visit here, go right ahead. It currently has 2885 signatures, more than twice as many as a pro-visit petition on the same website: https://www.change.org/p/immigration-new-zealand-stop-lauren-southern-from-entering-new-zealand
Delia 53

12 July 2018 at 12:18 am

If she is cancelling her trip, why are we talking about her?

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NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...

NZCTUBy Stella Whitfield

4 days ago
Wednesday 18 December

The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

4 days ago
Can the government change its mind on the ferries?

The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

4 days ago
Notes from Afar: Will Luxon Attend Waitangi Day? And Opposition Calls Out Nicola Willis for “C...

Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

4 days ago
Member’s morning

Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

4 days ago
Going Backwards

We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

4 days ago
Blaming Treasury & Labour, Willis looks for even more Austerity

Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

4 days ago
December-24 AT Board Meeting

Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...

Greater AucklandBy Matt L

4 days ago
The Making of a Mental Health Rockstar

Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

4 days ago
It could have been worse

Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

4 days ago
The Deep Divisions of Local Government

The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

4 days ago
Willis’ austerity strategy just isn’t working

Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

5 days ago
Sabin 33 #7 – Are solar projects hurting farmers and rural communities?

On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...

Skeptical Science

5 days ago
Join us for a pop-up Hoon at 5pm on HYEFU

Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

5 days ago
‘Ideas Worth Saving’: A Call for Papers

Some years ago, I found myself pondering the power of literature to endure. Or at least the power of some of it to endure, while the rest vanishes in mere decades: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/look-on-my-works-ye-mighty-and-despair-the-literary-future/. I have similarly had fun with the subject in some of my short stories, such as Another Alexandria ...

A Phuulish FellowBy strda221

5 days ago
Corrections is torturing prisoners again

In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

5 days ago
HYEFU and BPS data shows New Zealand is way off track

New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

5 days ago
“Better economic management”

At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

5 days ago
Shameless, clueless

AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

5 days ago
Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

5 days ago
Crazy ’bout a Sharp-dressed Man

Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

5 days ago
How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson In this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...

Skeptical Science

5 days ago
8% ACT Party Creates One Ring To Rule Them All

In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour 1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

5 days ago
When austerity worsens public debt & cuts GDP

Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

5 days ago
Govt to double number of toll roads

On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...

Greater AucklandBy Matt L

5 days ago
Luxon’s pre-emptive strike

The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

5 days ago
Gordon Campbell On The Coalition’s Empty Gestures, And Abortion Refusal As The New Slavery

This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

5 days ago
More public service contempt of parliament

Back in 2023 the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties raised concerns about the inherent conflict of interest involved in public service agencies supporting parliamentary select committees. Our parliament is run on a shoestring, so depends on the public service for advice. But public service agencies work for Ministers, not ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

6 days ago
If There Is A God

And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

6 days ago
A Lipstick Government

Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

6 days ago
NZCTU open letter to Treasury on undue restrictions on restricted briefings

Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

6 days ago
Why you won’t hear me advocate for electric cars

This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate. I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...

Greater AucklandBy Guest Post

6 days ago
Coalition forced to back down on tolling Pahiatua track

A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

6 days ago
Thank You

Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

6 days ago
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50

A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...

Skeptical Science

6 days ago
Making Gravy

I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

7 days ago
Nothing here but the shadows

Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

1 week ago
The United Right: the FSU’s Continued Efforts to Undermine Academia

The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

1 week ago
Showing the Americans how to do it

Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

1 week ago
2 Men, 1 Haircut

Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

1 week ago
Chris Penk’s Hate Parade

What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

1 week ago
Tell me a story

All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago
As Our Power Lessens: Accepted

2024 is now officially my best-ever year for short stories. My 1,850-word dark fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens, has been accepted for the upcoming solstice edition of Eternal Haunted Summer (https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/), thereby making that six published short stories for the calendar year. As always, see the Bibliography page for ...

A Phuulish FellowBy strda221

1 week ago
Six years of work wasted – Holidays Act reform now years away

Brooke van Velden has wasted six years of work from businesses, unions, and government by binning planned Holidays Act reforms, said Acting CTU President Rachel Mackintosh in response to today’s announcement from Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety. “The Minister has cynically kicked the can on Holiday Act reform even ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

1 week ago
Come Undone?

Words, playing me deja vuLike a radio tune, I swear I've heard beforeChill, is it something real?Or the magic I'm feeding off your fingersWho do you need?Who do you love?When you come undoneSongwriters: John Taylor / Simon Le Bon / Nick Rhodes / Warren Cuccurullo.When this three-way coalition was being ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago

National’s Greatest Misses 2023-4

National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step

Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
Release: National buries 1019 planned homes

It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab

The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...

Labour Blog

3 days ago
Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom

The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...

Greens

3 days ago
Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession

The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...

Labour Blog

3 days ago
Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis

Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...

Labour Blog

4 days ago
ECE no place to cut corners

The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...

Greens

4 days ago
Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders

A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...

Labour Blog

4 days ago
Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects

Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects

The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...

Greens

5 days ago
Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity

The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...

Greens

5 days ago
Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less

The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis

With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’

Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...

Māori Party

5 days ago
Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again

For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards

The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...

Greens

5 days ago
Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes

All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again

The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...

Greens

6 days ago
Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers

The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...

Labour Blog

6 days ago
Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex

The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...

Greens

6 days ago
Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty

The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat

The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction

New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day

The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families

Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas

Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation

Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker

The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
One year on, still no progress on new ferries

Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more

After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban

The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare

After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh

In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation

The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech

Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...

NZ First Press Release

2 weeks ago
Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre

Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan

Today, the Green Party of Aotearoa proudly unveils its new Emissions Reduction Plan–He Ara Anamata–a blueprint reimagining our collective future. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago

PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
New intelligence oversight appointments

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
New housing developments able to progress more quickly

Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Actions to speed up air travel delivering results

The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua

The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions

The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants

The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas

People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Appointments to the ENZ board

Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ

The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
More gangs added to Gangs Act list

Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Judicial appointment announced

Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
GDP data highlights importance of growth

The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Strengthening Free Speech in Universities

Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Launch of Emergency Cellular Priority Service

Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge

State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge

The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Government boosts support for avian influenza response

The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Levelling the playing field for media advertising

Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Inspector-General of Defence appointed

Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses

The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Hawke’s Bay Expressway moving at pace

Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land

The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient

Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Diverse skills in community trust appointments

A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit

The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
A busy year in the House

It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Consultation opens on working with engineered stone

“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments

Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
New appointments to the Charities Registration Board

Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Building consent processing times improve

More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Faster access to support through Innovation Fund

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response

New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis

The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup

Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading

The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading

Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Gene Technology Bill passes first reading

New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
New Zealand ratifies AANZFTA Upgrade

New Zealand has ratified the Upgrade to the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), Minister for Trade Todd McClay announced today. “ASEAN which is comprised of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, is New Zealand’s fourth largest trading partner in two-way trade – ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago

A final Ode to .. King Luxon

Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...

NewsroomBy Victor Billot

1 hour ago
A hater and an enthusiast review The Royal Free by Carl Shuker

Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...

The SpinoffBy Claire Mabey

3 hours ago
Survive to 25 (December, that is)

Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...

The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell

3 hours ago
All I want for Christmas is modern day slavery legislation

Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...

The SpinoffBy Shanti Mathias

3 hours ago
Israeli-American historian describes attacks on Gaza as ‘war of annihilation’

Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

5 hours ago
NZ govt plans to make ‘heavy handed’ change to free speech rules for universities

The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

5 hours ago
Caitlin Johnstone: Where does the aggression really begin?

Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...

Evening ReportBy David Robie

8 hours ago
OECD Report Highlights That More Is Needed

This report reflects that gap in our dealings overseas, and it shows that legislators, the public sector and businesses need to walk the talk. ...

Scoop politics

17 hours ago
Government quietly scraps waste minimisation policies

The government has quietly cancelled plans to improve recycling and roll out a kerbside food scraps composting scheme. ...

Radio NZ – political

17 hours ago
MEAA welcomes News MAP funding ‘leg up’ for Australian journalism

Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

18 hours ago
Transmission Gully partnership breakdown will not hurt future public-private partnerships, Infrastru...

The roads partnership unravelled under a confidential settlement this week, meaning NZTA will now finish off what it had said was incomplete work. ...

Radio NZ – political

23 hours ago
Funding cuts to charity particularly felt over Christmas period

The number of people seeking help from Lifeline is expected to increase by 10 to 20 percent over Christmas. ...

Radio NZ – political

1 day ago
Nelson Hospital conditions ‘unbearable’ – staff

One worker says the building is decrepit and falling down around them. ...

Radio NZ – political

1 day ago
The Secret Diary of .. Luxon at Xmas

MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...

NewsroomBy Steve Braunias

1 day ago
Stand by for cricket’s Smash Palace

It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...

NewsroomBy Aiden McLaughlin

1 day ago
Early-onset dementia under the microscope

Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...

NewsroomBy Shruti Sharma and Dr Brigid Ryan

1 day ago
Keeping the pirates at bay: Should the Australian ‘Blocking Order’ case prompt a discussion in N...

Piracy is a reality of modern life – but copyright law has struggled to play catch-up for as long as the entertainment industry has existed. As far back as 1988, the House of Lords criticised copyright law’s conflict with the reality of human behaviour in the context of burning cassette ...

NewsroomBy Tania Goatley and Oscar Zambuto

1 day ago
‘We were as famous as Tom Cruise’: Craig Parker on 90s Shortland St fandom

As he makes a surprise return to Shortland Street, actor Craig Parker takes us through his life in television. Craig Parker has been a fixture on television in Aotearoa for nearly four decades. He had starring roles in iconic local series like Gloss, Mercy Peak and Diplomatic Immunity, featured in ...

The SpinoffBy My Life in TV

1 day ago
‘I prioritise the mission, not my health’: Adam McGrath’s perfect weekend playlist

The Ōtautahi musician shares the 10 tracks he loves to spin, including the folk classic that cured him of a ‘case of the give-ups’. When singer-songwriter Adam McGrath returns to Kumeu’s Auckland Folk Festival from January 24-27, he’s not planning on simply idling his way through – he wants the late ...

The SpinoffBy Weekend playlist

1 day ago
The rescue dog bringing joy to Christchurch retirement homes

Alex Casey spends an afternoon on the job with River, the rescue dog on a mission to spread joy to Ōtautahi rest homes. Almost everyone says it is never enough time. But River the rescue dog, a jet black huntaway border collie cross, has to keep a tight pace to ...

The SpinoffBy Alex Casey

1 day ago
Fiji pro-Palestine nativity scene exposes Gaza as ‘hell on earth’ at Christmas

Asia Pacific Report Fiji activists have recreated the nativity scene at a solidarity for Palestine gathering in Fiji’s capital Suva just days before Christmas. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network recreated the scene at the FWCC compound — a baby Jesus figurine lies amidst the ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

1 day ago
Vanuatu quake: ‘Our shop was flattened like a deck of cards’

By 1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver and 1News reporters A number of Kiwis have been successfully evacuated from Vanuatu after a devastating earthquake shook the Pacific island nation earlier this week. The death toll was still unclear, though at least 14 people were killed according to an earlier statement from ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

1 day ago
How diplomats have broken the law in NZ – and what happened next

A handful of foreign diplomats have misbehaved during their time here - and not all of them have been brought to justice. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Swim schools report sinking enrolments as downturn deepens

Being able to swim is often considered a life skill, but tough economic times are forcing many families to pull their children out of lessons. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
‘There will be deaths because of this’ – Warning over Health NZ IT cuts

A West Coast IT worker is warning patients will die as Health New Zealand aims to slash its data and digital staff. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Polytech sales possible but unlikely when Te Pūkenga disestablished – minister

In a surprise move, the sale of polytechnics will be on the table when the national institute of technology Te Pūkenga is disestablished. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Parliament’s final sitting day an insight into party factions

On Parliament's last day of the year, there was a rare glimpse of the factions within the major parties. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Former Labour MP, North Shore mayor Ann Hartley dies

Former Labour MP and mayor of Auckland's North Shore City Ann Hartley has died. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
The closest thing Australian cartooning had to a prophet: the sometimes celebrated, sometimes contro...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Scully, Professor in Modern History, University of New England Bunker. Image courtesy of Michael Leunig, CC BY-NC-SA Michael Leunig – who died in the early hours of Thursday December 19, surrounded by “his children, loved ones, and sunflowers” – was the ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 days ago
Labour moves Speaker from the ‘nice’ to ‘naughty’ list

Last week's fights with the Speaker over the Fast Track schedule may have changed the tone in Parliament. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Govt ends pilot programme for Māori and Pacific, sparking outrage

The Government announced the end of the programme that allowed Māori and Pacific people to acess bowel cancer screening at 50-years-old. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Parliament fits an extra morning into final sitting day

The House - On Parliament's last day of the year, there was the rare occurrence of a personal (conscience) vote on selling booze over the Easter weekend. While it didn't have the numbers to pass, it was a chance to get a rare glimpse of the fact ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
The Friday Poem: ‘Bejeweled log’ by Holly Fletcher

A new poem by Holly Fletcher. bejeweled log i was dreaming about wasps / wee darlings that followed me / ducking under objects / that i was fated to pickup / my fingers seeking / and meeting with tiny proboscis’s / but instead / i wake up / roll sideways ...

The SpinoffBy Holly Fletcher

2 days ago
Sunglasses don’t just look good – they’re good for you too. Here’s how to choose the right p...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne Versta/Shutterstock Australians are exposed to some of the highest levels of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world. While we ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 days ago
How does franchising work?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Terry, Professor of Business Regulation, University of Sydney Michael von Aichberger/Shutterstock Even if you’ve no idea how the business model underpinning franchises works, there’s a good chance you’ve spent money at one. Franchising is essentially a strategy for cloning ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 days ago
The one episode of Shortland Street you need to watch this year

If something big is going to happen in Ferndale, it’s going to happen at Christmas. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If there’s one episode of Shortland Street you should watch each year, it’s the annual Christmas cliffhanger. The final episode of ...

The SpinoffBy Tara Ward

2 days ago
As China expands its cyber espionage and sabotage operations, how will the Trump administration resp...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William A. Stoltz, Lecturer and expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University US President-elect Donald Trump has named most of the members of his proposed cabinet. However, he’s yet to reveal key appointees to America’s powerful cyber warfare and intelligence institutions. ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 days ago
The Unity Books bestseller chart for 2024

Announcing the top 10 books of the the year at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Faber & Faber, $37) The phenomenal Irish writer is the unsurprising chart topper for 2024 with her fourth novel that, much like her first ...

The SpinoffBy The Spinoff Review of Books

2 days ago
Government confirms plan to dismantle Te Pūkenga, re-establish polytechs

The government has confirmed its plan to break up Te Pūkenga / New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology and re-establish independent polytechnics. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
AI can’t do your Christmas shopping just yet – but next year might be different

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Whittle, Director, Data61 Ganjalex / Shutterstock I’m a computer scientist and a bad Christmas shopper. Over the weekend, I wondered whether AI systems might be able to help me out. Could I just prompt ChatGPT to pick a personalised ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 days ago

Far right Canadian activist wants to come to New Zealand to insult local communities

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