Hey Free Speech Union, Simon O’Connor is being muzzled
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9:05 am, June 28th, 2022 - 41 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, feminism, human rights, national, nicola willis, same old national -
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Christopher Luxon’s attempt to cauterise the abortion issue is not working out as intended.
Fresh from the weekend’s drama where three different statements were released within a short time he has acted to muzzle Simon O’Connor, whose “It’s a good day” post disappeared from social media but not before it had been screenshotted. O’Connor has since been unavailable for comment.
Other National caucus members are mostly very silent on the issue apart from Nicola Willis who has unbelievably tried to blame Labour for National’s predicament saying that Labour had created needless anxiety. The only anxiety I can detect is from within National’s ranks as they attempt to hide the fact that some of their MPs have some pretty fundamentalist Christian beliefs.
But former National MP Alfred Ngaro, who has strong conservative christian beliefs, has criticised National for not allowing MPs to express their views.
From Michael Neilson at the Herald:
Former National MP Alfred Ngaro says MPs should be able to speak their minds on abortion after party leader Christopher Luxon effectively gagged his caucus airing views on the Roe v Wade decision.
National’s socially conservative MPs have gone to ground after MP Simon O’Connor was forced to take down social media posts leader Christopher Luxon has called “triumphalist” and causing offence.
The US Supreme Court decision on Friday to overturn Roe v Wade and allow states to ban abortions has raised conversations here, particularly given Luxon is himself an Evangelical Christian opposed to the right to an abortion.
O’Connor posted “today is a good day” with love hearts on social media soon after the US ruling was announced.
Ngaro was quoted as saying:
As I understand it, there is no party position on these conscience issues. It is purely an individual position that caucus members take.
And you will see a number of [current MPs] voted against this, like myself when I was there.”
O’Connor’s views have received some prominence over time. He is the MP who said at the end of the debate on Abortion Law Reform in 2020 “Mihi vindicta: ego retribuam, dicit Dominus (Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord).” He said at the time that saying it would probably get him into trouble and boy was he right.
There are a number of National MPs with strongly held anti abortion views. These are the people who put up amendments such as this one which would force women to tell the state how many abortions they have had.
So much for National being a broad church. And as I said yesterday you have to wonder what is going on in Luxon’s head. How can he believe that abortion is murder but decide not to do anything about it because it is bad for the polls?
The population should be allowed to hear exactly what our MPs are thinking and planning. Democracy functions better when we know what our MPs are thinking and believe in, and what they may do if their party gains power.
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- Community voice to help shape immigration policyMigrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today. “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...19 hours ago
- State Highway 3 project to deliver safer journeys, better travel connections for TaranakiConstruction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...22 hours ago
- Ginny Andersen appointed as Minister of PolicePrime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...2 days ago
- Government confirms vital roading reconnectionsSix further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...2 days ago
- Foreign Minister Mahuta to meet with China’s new Foreign MinisterForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...2 days ago
- Education Ministers from across the Pacific gather in AotearoaEducation Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...2 days ago
- State Highway 5 reopens between Napier and Taupō following Cyclone GabrielleA vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...2 days ago
- Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recoveryInternal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...3 days ago
- Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability servicesThe Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...5 days ago
- Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao – new Chair and memberMinister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...5 days ago
- Scholarships honouring Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion announcedFifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today. The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...5 days ago
- Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High CourtHigh Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...5 days ago
- NZ still well placed to meet global challengesThe economy has continued to show its resilience despite today’s GDP figures showing a modest decline in the December quarter, leaving the Government well positioned to help New Zealanders face cost of living pressures in a challenging global environment. “The economy had grown strongly in the two quarters before this ...5 days ago
- Western Ring Route CompleteAucklanders now have more ways to get around as Transport Minister Michael Wood opened the direct State Highway 1 (SH1) to State Highway 18 (SH18) underpass today, marking the completion of the 48-kilometre Western Ring Route (WRR). “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more ...5 days ago
- Briefings to Incoming MinistersThis section contains briefings received by incoming ministers following changes to Cabinet in January. Some information may have been withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Where information has been withheld that is indicated within the document. ...5 days ago
- Teaming up for a stronger, more resilient FijiAotearoa New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta reaffirmed her commitment to working together with the new Government of Fiji on issues of shared importance, including on the prioritisation of climate change and sustainability, at a meeting today, in Nadi. Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand’s close relationship is underpinned by the Duavata ...6 days ago
- Investment in blue highway a lifeline for regional economies and cyclone recoveryThe Government is delivering a coastal shipping lifeline for businesses, residents and the primary sector in the cyclone-stricken regions of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced today. The Rangitata vessel has been chartered for an emergency coastal shipping route between Gisborne and Napier, with potential for ...6 days ago
- Next steps developing clean energy for NZThe Government will progress to the next stage of the NZ Battery Project, looking at the viability of pumped hydro as well as an alternative, multi-technology approach as part of the Government’s long term-plan to build a resilient, affordable, secure and decarbonised energy system in New Zealand, Energy and Resources ...6 days ago
- Statement from the Prime Minister on Stuart NashThis morning I was made aware of a media interview in which Minister Stuart Nash criticised a decision of the Court and said he had contacted the Police Commissioner to suggest the Police appeal the decision. The phone call took place in 2021 when he was not the Police Minister. ...7 days ago
- CPTPP Trade Ministers coming to AucklandThe Government’s sharp focus on trade continues with Aotearoa New Zealand set to host Trade Ministers and delegations from 10 Asia Pacific economies at a meeting of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission members in July, Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor announced today. “New Zealand ...7 days ago
- Govt approves $25 million extension for cyclone-affected businesses$25 million boost to support more businesses with clean-up in cyclone affected regions, taking total business support to more than $50 million Demand for grants has been strong, with estimates showing applications will exceed the initial $25 million business support package Grants of up to a maximum of $40,000 per ...7 days ago
- More than 160,000 new Kiwis to call NZ home80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visas applications have been processed – three months ahead of schedule Residence granted to 160,000 people 84,000 of 85,000 applications have been approved Over 160,000 people have become New Zealand residents now that 80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visa (2021RV) applications have been ...7 days ago
- Scholarships propel Kiwi students to NASAThe Government continues to invest in New Zealand’s burgeoning space industry, today announcing five scholarships for Kiwi Students to undertake internships at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash congratulated Michaela Dobson (University of Auckland), Leah Albrow (University of Canterbury) and Jack Naish, Celine Jane ...7 days ago
- New Zealand to attend regional security meeting in AustraliaThe Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques travels to Melbourne, Australia today to represent New Zealand at the fourth Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Security. “The Government is committed to reducing the threat of terrorism ...7 days ago
- Health and safety action plan for portsThe health and safety practices at our nation’s ports will be improved as part of a new industry-wide action plan, Workplace Relations and Safety, and Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced. “Following the tragic death of two port workers in Auckland and Lyttelton last year, I asked the Port Health ...7 days ago
- Bikes and scooters to be exempt from FBTBikes, electric bikes and scooters will be added to the types of transport exempted from fringe benefit tax under changes proposed today. Revenue Minister David Parker said the change would allow bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, electric scooters, and micro-mobility share services to be exempt from fringe benefit tax where they ...1 week ago
- Foreign Affairs Minister to reaffirm our close relationship with FijiForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will hold bilateral meetings with Fiji this week. The visit will be her first to the country since the election of the new coalition Government led by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sitiveni Rabuka. The visit will be an opportunity to meet kanohi ki ...1 week ago
- New legislation to streamline Cyclone recoveryThe Government is introducing the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill to ensure the recovery and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle is streamlined and efficient with unnecessary red tape removed. The legislation is similar to legislation passed following the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes that modifies existing legislation in order to remove constraints ...1 week ago
- Cost of living package: More bread and butter support for Kiwi familiesApproximately 1.4 million people will benefit from increases to rates and thresholds for social assistance to help with the cost of living Superannuation to increase by over $100 a pay for a couple Main benefits to increase by the rate of inflation, meaning a family on a benefit with children ...1 week ago
- Freeing up more government bandwidth and money to focus on the cost of living$1 billion in savings which will be reallocated to support New Zealanders with the cost of living A range of transport programmes deferred so Waka Kotahi can focus on post Cyclone road recovery Speed limit reduction programme significantly narrowed to focus on the most dangerous one per cent of state ...1 week ago
- State of National Emergency to end for Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s BayThe remaining state of national emergency over the Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay regions will end on Tuesday 14 March, Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced today. Minister McAnulty gave notice of a national transition period over these regions, which will come into effect immediately following the end of the ...1 week ago
- Government delivers on Dawn Raids commitmentThe Government is today delivering on one of its commitments as part of the New Zealand Government’s Dawn Raids apology, welcoming a cohort of emerging Pacific leaders to Aotearoa New Zealand participating in the He Manawa Tītī Scholarship Programme. This cohort will participate in a bespoke leadership training programme that ...1 week ago
- New plan to increase productivity and high wage jobs across advanced manufacturing sectorIndustry Transformation Plan to transform advanced manufacturing through increased productivity and higher-skilled, higher-wage jobs into a globally-competitive low-emissions sector. Co-created and co-owned by business, unions and workers, government, Māori, Pacific peoples and wider stakeholders. A plan to accelerate the growth and transformation of New Zealand’s advanced manufacturing sector was launched ...1 week ago
- Aotearoa New Zealand supports Pacific countries to combat animal disease New Zealand will provide support for Pacific countries to prevent the spread of harmful animal diseases, Associate Minister of Agriculture Meka Whaitiri said. The Associate Minister is attending a meeting of Pacific Ministers during the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry in Nadi, Fiji. “Highly contagious diseases such as African ...2 weeks ago
- Government delivers better public transport for ChristchurchThe Public Transport Futures project will deliver approximately: 100 more buses providing a greater number of seats to a greater number of locations at a higher frequency Over 470 more bus shelters to support a more enjoyable travel experience Almost 200 real time display units providing accurate information on bus ...2 weeks ago
- Sympathy cards and the lessons of birds
An author on the death of a baby and "a calm respectful grace" The normal world was out there. The clocks and the jobs and the traffic and the mortgages and the death. Especially the death. Death in suburbia means funerals with piped fake Celtic music despite the fact ...2 hours ago - The long road to Paris' rebound
One of New Zealand’s brightest young netball talents, Paris Lokotui has returned to the court 10 months after a knee reconstruction. Now she hopes her tough journey back paves a better way for other Māori and Pasifika players. Paris Lokotui remembers the moment time stood still. The 21-year-old was playing ...2 hours ago - Cyclone Gabrielle: Why many in Muriwai can't move on
A month on from Cyclone Gabrielle, many residents in Muriwai are still living in limbo, unable to return to their homes "I can't look back because it's too sad. I can't look forward because it is too daunting." Kat Corbett's Muriwai home remains out-of-bounds more than a month after ...2 hours ago - TOP and the not terribly Teal Deal
TOP leader Raf Manji talks to Nikki Mandow about going teal, and the opportunity for a party that’s pro-business and pro-environment ...2 hours ago - Govt should explain why it rejected our advice – Climate Commission
The Climate Change Commission's chair says the Government's decisions to ignore its advice could weaken the country's most important climate policy. ...2 hours ago - Central Otago subdivision buyers lose the plot
A wave of council rule rewrites drives section buyers to give up and look elsewhere ...2 hours ago - Beware of coconut oil salesmen
Coconut plantations are far from being ‘natural’ environments, coconut oil is high in saturated fats, and, despite the advertising, most of the global supply of coconut oil doesn’t come from the Pacific Islands either Opinion: Coconut oil has gained a halo as a natural health product, with claims it can ...2 hours ago - New Orleans’ lesson on fallible flood defences: Let's not ‘build back better’
Post-cyclone, where we rebuild and where we don't is the first challenge ...2 hours ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 22 March
Loading...(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...3 hours ago - Daily crossword, Wednesday 22 March
...3 hours ago - Some Pacific nations ‘won’t survive’ if NZ and world drop the climate ball
By Hamish Cardwell, RNZ News senior journalist There is “is much to win by trying” to take action on climate change — that is a key finding in a major new international climate report the UN chief is calling a “survival guide for humanity”. It is something of a mic ...9 hours ago - Hipkins and Luxon hit the road: A taste of campaign 2023
A pōwhiri, a pie, and a grilling from primary school kids: Today was the day the boy from the Hutt who grew up to be prime minister went home for a visit. ...12 hours ago - How can Australia pay $368 billion for new submarines? Some of the money will be created from thin a...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Australia’s decision to buy three nuclear-powered submarines and build another eight is so expensive that, for the A$268 billion to $368 billion price tag, we could give a million dollars ...13 hours ago
- Australia’s 116 new coal, oil and gas projects equate to 215 new coal power stationsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Denniss, Adjunct Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Australia has 116 new coal, oil and gas projects in the pipeline. If they all proceed as planned, an extra 1.4 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases would be released into ...14 hours ago
- Chris Hipkins and Justin Trudeau discuss 'shared priorities'Prime Minister Chris Hipkins spoke with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau this afternoon. ...14 hours ago
- Public Sector Managers Growing At Twice The Rate Of Frontline Workers
Figures unearthed by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union reveal that the growth in public sector managers is almost twice that of frontline social, health and education workers. Since 2017, the frontline workforce for social services, health and education ...14 hours ago - What Australia could learn from New Zealand about Indigenous representationSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic O’Sullivan, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University A referendum will be held later this year to enshrine a First Nations’ Voice to Parliament into the Australian constitution. ...15 hours ago
- Taoist rituals via video call and Tarot readings over WeChat: China’s spiritual market is going di...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Haoyang Zhai, PhD Candidate, The University of Melbourne Alexander Schimmeck/Unsplash Since its inception in 1921, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has officially promoted an atheist and materialist ideology. But belief systems in China are making a comeback – and ...15 hours ago
- Scott Robertson appointed the next All Black coach (after the current one)
Scott Robertson has been announced successor to Ian Foster as head coach of the All Blacks, completing a controversial and highly idiosyncratic appointment process. He will assume the role in 2024, following the world cup at the end of this year. The contract for the breakdancing current coach of the ...15 hours ago - Concerns Expressed For Anti-Trans Activist Plans For New Zealand VisitMulticultural New Zealand (MNZ) has expressed concern about events scheduled to take place in Auckland and Wellington on March 25th and 26th, respectively. The events will feature British anti-transgender activist, Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull. MNZ is ...15 hours ago
- Race Relations Day To Focus On Empowering Inspirational Leadership From YouthRace Relations Day is celebrated annually in New Zealand on March 21st to promote and celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and harmony among different cultural, ethnic, and religious groups. As part of Race Relations Day 2023, Multicultural New Zealand ...15 hours ago
- Mayor Wayne Brown’s Comments Concerning Says Library AssociationAuckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s suggestion to make council budget cuts by reducing staffing hours and replacing librarians and library assistants with volunteers is concerning says New Zealand’s library association. “Limiting access to the valued ...15 hours ago
- Google and Microsoft are bringing AI to Word, Excel, Gmail and more. It could boost productivity for...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mohiuddin Ahmed, Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock Google and Microsoft are on a mission to remove the drudgery from computing, by bringing next-generation AI tools as add-ons to existing services. On March 16, Microsoft announced an ...16 hours ago
- Wayne Brown’s interviews since being elected mayor, rankedThe Auckland mayor’s decision to keep the media at arm’s length makes every interview he does grant a rare and exciting event, like a new Avatar movie. Stewart Sowman-Lund ranks them all from least to most exciting. Wayne Brown has a well-reported lack of affection for the media. In his ...16 hours ago
- Papuan liberation group calls for more ‘serious’ global efforts to end violenceTabloid Jubi in Jayapura The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has called on the international community to “pay serious attention” to the escalated violence happening in West Papua. Head of ULMWP’s legal and human rights bureau, Daniel Randongkir, said that since the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) ...17 hours ago
- IPCC report: world must cut emissions and urgently adapt to climate realitiesANALYSIS: By Bronwyn Hayward, University of Canterbury This decade is the critical moment for making deep, rapid cuts to emissions, and acting to protect people from dangerous climate impacts we can no longer avoid, according to the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The synthesis report ...17 hours ago
- Labour now leads National across five pollsAcross five of the latest polls for which results are published, Labour now has an edge over National. A new Talbot Mills poll, as reported by the Herald, has Labour up four points to 37%, with National down two points to 34%. The results, which draw on fieldwork across the first ...17 hours ago
- WWF Calls For The Government To Accelerate Action To Phase-out Fossil Fuels, Slash Emissions, And Re...Statement from Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, WWF-New Zealand CEO Today's IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Synthesis Report (AR6) highlights that an accelerated phase-out of fossil fuels is the best way to avoid the planet overshooting 1.5°C and risking total climate ...17 hours ago
- A day in the life of a children’s librarianThe first in a two-part series revealing insights into the working life of a librarian. For privacy reasons, all names – including place names – have been changed. Te Whare Pukapuka o Poutama is a composite library. It’s 9.30AM on a mid-January Monday, high summer, school holidays. Kaitiaki Pukapuka ...17 hours ago
- Our mysterious night parrot has terrible vision – but we discovered it might be able to hear like...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elen Shute, Researcher, Flinders University One bird bucks the stereotype of Australia’s raucous parrots – the mysterious and critically endangered night parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis). Rather than flying around in noisy flocks or eating fruit in trees, the night parrot roosts all day ...18 hours ago
- No, gamblers don’t ‘need’ cash. Our research isn’t an argument against cashless gaming refor...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sally Gainsbury, Deputy Director, Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Sydney shutterstock The Perottett government’s promise to introduce mandatory “cashless gambling” in New South Wales by 2028 – something for which anti-gambling activists and public-health ...18 hours ago
- Funding For Roads At Lowest Levels In A DecadeLocal Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is warning that the state of our roads could be the next infrastructure crisis if the Government does not adequately fund maintenance costs. LGNZ commissioned a report by one of the country’s leading economists, Brad ...18 hours ago
- Police Minister Ginny Andersen vows to focus on community safetyGinny Andersen, who was named in the role yesterday, says she will be working every day to make sure New Zealanders feel safer. ...18 hours ago
- Consumer Pulse: Kiwis Tighten Spend As They Face Financial StressToday Canstar is proud to release its second Consumer Pulse report, which delves into the financial worries, hopes and dreams of more than 20,000 New Zealanders over the past two years. The report, released annually, tracks Kiwis’ finances and reveals ...18 hours ago
- Australia’s electric vehicle numbers doubled last year. What’s the impact of charging them on a ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thara Philip, E-Mobility Doctoral Researcher, The University of Queensland The number of electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia doubled in 2022 and Tesla’s Model 3 emerged as the best-selling mid-size car, the first time an EV has held this title. Despite these headlines, ...18 hours ago
- A Greyhound Will Face Full Tail Amputation Following A Race Meeting In ChristchurchSAFE is again urging the Government to ban greyhound racing sooner rather than later, following a raft of severe injures in Christchurch yesterday. Sugar rose suffered a severe tail injury yesterday at Addington raceway. Her tail was partially amputated ...18 hours ago
- PM Chris Hipkins speaks to media after visiting his old primary schoolPrime Minister Chris Hipkins is speaking to media following a visit to his old primary school. ...19 hours ago
- Industry Lobbying Influence A Major Brake On Government Action – GreenpeaceIn the wake of revelations that Chris Hipkins' chief of staff, Andrew Kirton, lobbied against the Container Return Scheme on behalf of the liquor industry shortly before the scheme was scrapped by the Prime Minister, Greenpeace is calling for the scheme ...19 hours ago
- Why peace negotiations haven’t gained any traction in the Ukraine war – and how the stalemate co...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Komesaroff, Professor of Medicine, Monash University Libkos/AP/AAP A year after Russia’s invasion, Ukraine is in ruins. At least 8,000 civilians have died, with millions displaced. Generations of infrastructure have been destroyed. Large tracts of the environment and agricultural land ...19 hours ago
- Watch live: PM Chris Hipkins speaks to media after visiting his old primary schoolPrime Minister Chris Hipkins is speaking to media following a visit to his old primary school. ...19 hours ago
- The Opportunities Party Announces A $1.5b Investment In Our Future Generations With The Teal DealThe Opportunities Party have proposed a new Teal Deal between taxpayers and young Kiwis - which includes fully-funded healthcare and public transport, and a Kiwisaver kickstarter in exchange for national civic service. Raf Manji, Leader of The Opportunities ...19 hours ago
- Why is it so hard to combine biking with public transport in Auckland?There are plenty of practical ways the city could make multi-modal transport more accessible – but have they all been consigned to the too-hard basket? How can Auckland start mitigating its impact on the climate crisis? Our biggest city’s sustainable solution must start with transport, its number one source of ...19 hours ago
- Parliament Must Seize Chance To Unlock Natural Health Products’ Billion-dollar PotentialLong overdue legislation to unlock the economic and export potential of natural health products must not accidentally add more red tape that harms the growing sector and consumers, industry body Natural Health Products New Zealand told Members of ...20 hours ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Shining a bright light on lobbyists in politicsAnalysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: Shining a bright light on lobbyists in politics Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Four out of the five people who have held the top role of Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff since 2017 have been lobbyists. That’s a fact that should worry anyone who ...20 hours ago
- Chernobyl was history’s worst nuclear disaster. Now it’s teaching geologists about the history o...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Fougerouse, Research Fellow, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences and The Institute for Geoscience Research (TIGeR), Curtin University Shutterstock Thirty-seven years ago, on April 26 1986, the reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant suffered a catastrophic meltdown. In ...20 hours ago
- NZ Chiropractors Voice Opposition To Therapeutic Products BillThe New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association (NZCA) will today (21st March 2023) tell Parliament’s Health Select Committee that the profession opposes the proposed Therapeutic Products Bill in its entirety in its present form and in particular its ...20 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Multiple options for avoiding worst of climate breakdownThe final Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on the climate crisis came out this morning. The report contains no new science but is a summary of eight years of research by hundreds of scientists and the last three IPCC reports published in August 2021, February and April 2022 ...20 hours ago
- Police accept IPCA report into incident at Tauranga CourtBay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson: Police accept the findings by the Independent Police Conduct Authority into an incident involving an officer who tasered a man in the cells at Tauranga District Court in February 2019. ...21 hours ago
- Womad review: Summer finally gets a festival worth shouting aboutFew festivals have escaped the summer of 2023 unscathed. Before the sun blessed Womad with a rare guest appearance, the Taranaki festival got a drenching too. According to my pink and blue wristband, we were partying like it was “2022”. That was the first sign that things haven’t been going ...21 hours ago
- https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2303/S00159/.htm...21 hours ago
- PVA To Appear At The Health Select Committee Today To Express ‘Grave Concern’ About Therapeutic ...Patient Voice Aotearoa’s Dr Malcolm Mulholland will today at 3.30 appear before the Health Select Committee to voice opposition to parts of the Therapeutic Products Bill on behalf of Kiwi patients. “The Bill threatens to obstruct access to unfunded ...21 hours ago
- Banking Union Calls For Levy On Bank ProfitsFIRST Union, the union for bank workers across New Zealand, is supporting calls for an immediate inquiry into bank profits and proposing a levy on excess profits to fund the establishment of a Ministry of Green Works . The March 2023 KPMG Financial ...21 hours ago
- Prime Minister Chris Hipkins responds to revelations chief of staff led lobbying firmPrime Minister Chris Hipkins says there is a need for "transparency and vigilance" around lobbyists and their relationships with politicians. ...21 hours ago
- IPCC report: the world must cut emissions and urgently adapt to the new climate realitiesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn Hayward, Professor of Politics, University of Canterbury Earth Negotiations Bulletin, CC BY-ND This decade is the critical moment for making deep, rapid cuts to emissions, and acting to protect people from dangerous climate impacts we can no longer avoid, ...22 hours ago
- Why isn’t cervical screening free for everyone?There is a growing campaign to remove the costs associated with cervical screening in Aotearoa. Alex Casey explains. What’s all this then? In July, Aotearoa is getting a big shiny new cervical screening programme after years and years and years of delays. The dreaded three-yearly smear test will be exchanged ...22 hours ago
- Satellites and space junk may make dark night skies brighter, hindering astronomy and hiding stars f...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Heim, PhD researcher, University of Southern Queensland ESA Since time immemorial, humans around the world have gazed up in wonder at the night sky. The starry night sky has not only inspired countless works of music, art and poetry, ...23 hours ago
- Labor is odds-on for a narrow victory in NSW election, but it is far from a sure betSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andy Marks, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Strategy, Government and Alliances, Western Sydney University Bianca de Marchi/AAP A gambler would probably feel the odds favour a Labor win at the upcoming New South Wales election. But, as Scott Morrison proved in 2019, underdog ...23 hours ago
- How bad is vaping and should it be banned?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lee, Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne), Curtin University nery zarate/unsplash, CC BY-SA Vaping regularly makes headlines, with some campaigning to make e-cigarettes more available to help smokers quit, while others are keen to see vaping products ...23 hours ago
- NZ universities are not normal Crown institutions – they shouldn’t be ‘Tiriti-led’Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic O’Sullivan, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University Shutterstock As part of its aspiration to be “Tiriti-led”, the University of Otago has embarked on a consultation ...23 hours ago
- Gen Z grew up in a world filled with ugly fashion – no wonder they love their CrocsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emily Brayshaw, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney 1MilliDollars/Unsplash In 2017, Julia Hobbs of British Vogue declared Crocs “have an unrivalled ability to repel onlookers and induce sneers”. But over the two decades since the notoriously ugly shoes were ...23 hours ago
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I totally understand why Luxon is getting a relatively free ride in the media on this, and by extension the reluctance of the media to door stop O'Connor on his views. The "respectable" MSM is reflexively radically centrist and pro-establishment and one of their shibboleths and one of the glories of NZ politics is an indifference to the details of our elected representatives private arrangements.
We should remain utterly uninterested in the morals, sexual orientation, etc etc of politicians and judge them on their policies.
However no one made Simon O'Connor tweet out his pleasure at the overturning of abortion rights in the USA and it is a matter of public interest that a big faction in National's caucus are far to the illiberal Evangelical right of mainstream NZ opinion.
The the Free Speech Union is just another opportunist astroturf outfit of chancers, snake oil merchants and ideological misfits who are primarily concerned they’ll be held to account for their own social media seditious demagoguery than they are with actual free speech.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/how-mps-voted-on-abortion-law-reform/WV4JCWZTSB4PFZFHTFUTDFUC64/
Has the Upper Room released a statement on their position?
They Did. If you sinned and became pregnant, abortion is wrong and should be banned. However, if you are wealthy enough to be able to afford to fly somewhere for an abortion then your wealth is sign of God's love and forgiveness so that's OK.
You know, when you think about it prosperity Evangelical Christianity is complete heresy – 100% paganism in it's philosophy. Jesus's big idea was that we are all equal in the eyes of God and on our works we are judged. The pagan Greeks and the Romans were of the view that if you were wealthy enough to afford expensive sacrifices to the Gods, you could buy their favour and get to heaven. This prosperity Christianity is just a rather more selfish riff on that. Wealth itself guarantees paradise, no need to invest in an expensive bull to sacrifice.
Like conservatism is now a mis-label for radical reaction and fascism, so prosperity Christianity is a misnomer for simple paganist beliefs.
Yes, and it's Missionary!
They was asking for it.
'Debate'
Demand the debate!
very good
If there is one assault on free speech I'd be fine with, it would be to ban the Orwellian use of "He's entitled to his view" (and it is usually a "he").
What it actually means is "I've told him to shut up now".
Simon O'Connor is "entitled to his view", says his leader. Yeah, nah.
"He is the MP who said "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” He said at the time that saying it would probably get him into trouble and boy was he right."
But only now. It was completely ignored at the time. Imagine the media reaction if Hone Harawira said "Vengeance is mine, I will repay". Headlines would scream. For O'Connor, there was nothing.
Also in a Parliamentary debate, Chloe Swarbrick did not say anything about "vengeance". She simply said "OK, boomer". Sh*t hit fan. Compare and contrast.
Yep. The MSM media has gone silent today on this. Typical
Good news! Simon is unmuzzled.
Bad news! He stands by what he said. He's pro-life, so it was a good day, whereas Luxon is pro-life, so it was a bad day. WTF?
Yes, it really is that clear:
O'Connor speaks to the Herald
He's apologising to the National Party caucus, so all is well!
We can rest easy.
It wasn't his view that was the problem, it was the comments!!
Comments.
It's insane. O'Connor is going to apologise to caucus, because ….. because he said something that roused the public?
The apology is an exercise in pathetic hypocritical posturing so that 'unity' and the 'leader' will be massaged.
O’Connor says he has not been gagged. Right, just castrated.
It's also incredibly incompetent political leadership (lack of).
The US Supreme Court decision was leaked on May 3, and made headlines all over the world. Eight weeks ago.
At that point Luxon should have said to his caucus "Well, we know Roe v Wade is coming, and it's going to be a huge story, and the questions for us are inevitable. So here's our response when it happens …"
Either he was too stupid to anticipate the bleeding obvious, or he did and his MPs ignored him. Both are bad signs for his leadership.
No, it was far more serious, he was cancelled!
O'Connor said,
So there you have it. This is not an important matter. We must learn to accept we are subordinate to men and stop making a fuss about it. There are far more important matters to focus on.
If people had started to think Christopher Luxon was benign, remember what he said
"We will overturn all their legislation".
He warned us…. sad for him that this highlights social health and criminal portions of that threat.
People hear what they hope will be overturned, and do not consider what other rights they might lose in the loss of legislation.
The question now has to be asked… who or what does he serve? Voters should know.
One thing we have learned discussion of contentious issues is not favoured over the goal of becoming PM.
His slogans need discussion and the effects of sunlight.
Especially "Progess" and "Doing well". We need them fleshed out and discussed, as he clearly does not want discussion to get in the way of his personal progress.
Luxon's comment referred to tax and levies…… but… where would he stop???
And Three Waters
Exactly, say what you mean and mean what you say. For example, is he going to give all healthcare workers a pay-cut, in real dollar terms?
''So much for National being a broad church. And as I said yesterday you have to wonder what is going on in Luxon’s head. How can he believe that abortion is murder but decide not to do anything about it because it is bad for the polls?''
That's not a hard question to answer: What can he do about it? Nothing. But let's say he does take action to ban abortions and is successful. Given our constitutional processes are nothing like the States, Luxon would be a one hit wonder, and Labour would reverse that decision once they were back in power with a clear majority.
Maybe Luxon now believes everyone has a right to free choice ( except his own MPs)?
As I've grown older and now perceive how precious life is, I've grown from being liberal on abortion issues, to more anti abortion, mainly based on the controversy around late term abortions.
But I would never ever consider stopping women from having the right to choose.
The thing that worries me more is what's going on in Luxon's head when it comes to political strategies? This issue gifted him a golden opportunity to promote National as a broad church party, and to be decisive when dealing with the media and Labour. He failed on all fronts
Your faux concern for free speech is duly noted lol
How can he believe that abortion is murder but decide not to do anything about it because it is bad for the polls?''
How is it that the PM can want a capital gains tax but refuse to implement one on the basis that it might cost Labour some votes? (She previously blamed NZF for not being able to get a cgt across the line.) I must admit I do love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning.
Usually almost entirely from the National caucus in my experience.
Dithering idiots – at least according to almost every Act supporter or libertarian that I have ever talked to. Act supporters may be kind of stupid because they don’t look towards the completely obvious downstream consequences of their policies. 3 strikes comes to mind. Completely stupid deregulation being another.
But they usually don’t dither hypocrisy everywhere like National MPs usually do.
At least up until the point where you start talking to them about a almost complete lack of transparency on their donation systems and structure. Same when looking at the question of the Taxpayers ‘Union’ that most of them seem to like.
I always wonder why ACT didn't use their time in power to stop school zoning in Epsom.
Pretty obvious – probably because their constituents get a considerable 'in-zone' un-taxed capital gain. It would have probably impacted Act’s ability to raise donations.
It would be a case of political and personal expediency (and probably personal greed) overriding their rather warped ideology.
Sort of like Clarence Thomas and his significiant omission of what decisions that he'd like to over turn in his drive towards mid-19th century constitutional purity.
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/27/roe-v-wade-gay-connecticut-supreme-court-justice-calls-out-clarence-thomas.html
Simon O Connor is not having his free speech muzzled as you claim Mickey. He has been told by his leader to toe the party line. But nowhere is he saying “changed my mind guys, I am all for abortion”. He states he is pro life and we all know that that means he is against abortion. Guess what? He is allowed to be. He is a Catholic and that is part of his religious belief. He’s very clear he will not bring in a private members bill.
it’s clear to me that labour eg Grant Robinson are using the US situation to try and score votes in NZ as they are doing badly in the polls. They are just politicking.
fascinating to see left wingers stand up for abortion, but treat women with vitriol and contempt when they are arguing for the right to have women only change rooms, sporting competitions, hospital wards, refuges and prisons.
Spot on, Anker.
I doubt very much that the PM or other senior Labour MPs would be silly enough to bring this up during the election campaign. Mere reference to the pregnant and vulnerable Charlotte Bellis, and Chris Hipkins’ smear of her, should be enough to end any further discussion. Fortunately the Taliban didn’t reject Bellis in her hour of need. 🙂
[Stop diverting – Incognito]
Mod note
"Guess what? He is allowed to be."
He may be "allowed to be" but he's not allowed to say so = muzzled = suppression of his freedom to speak.
Odd, coming from National. You'd think they would be strong on freedom of speech.
Seems not.
Yes, most of those wailing about the effects on women today were refusing to even say what a woman was a couple of days ago.
"most of those"
Citation needed.
Not muzzled by media or public. His very Christian overlord Luxon told him to withdraw his comment. If he want to stay he must be a good boy and obey Luxon. Don’t be fooled Luxon is a danger to democracy support him at your peril.
The reversal of Roe v Wade is a disgusting reversal of civil rights.
However if we're going to keep it 100 let's be real, our foreign affairs minister Nanaia Mahuta voted to criminalize women in 2020 by voting against abortion reform so when Mahuta posted her condemnation about R V W being overturned she's nothing but a hypocrite.
Two other cabinet ministers and the next speaker of the house are also anti abortion.
Should they stay in the party? It's pretty much the same cast of characters who voted against gay marriage reform.
It's just seven years ago that Labour members and union members were telling every media outlet that would listen how grossed out they were by Grant being gay.
So if labour's gonna make a big deal about civil rights issues and attacking national for being a broad church on this issue labour needs to walk the walk and get rid of anti abortion most like
Nanaia Mahuta (cabinet minister)
Damien O'Connor (cabinet minister/voted against gay marriage)
Meka Whaitiri (cabinet minister)
Adrian Rurawhe (speaker of the house)
Greg O'Connor
Jenny Salesa
Jamie Strange
Rino Tirikatene (voted against gay marriage)
Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki
Ohh and William Sio for voting against Gay marriage too.
Time for these people to go.
How's Nanaia going to promote women's rights when she voted to criminalize women and diverges from the vast majority of kiwis on this?
How's Damien O'Connor gonna uphold and promote human rights principles on LGBT and women rights issues with our trading partners when he doesn't support them and doesn't share the views of most kiwis on these issues.
You wanna pro life speaker of the house ? Ya got one!
Simons comments are so disgraceful and cringe but those in glass houses.
Those labour mps aren't fit for purpose and Damien O'Connor and Nanaia Mahuta and Adrien should be retiring immediately.
Labour long ago abandoned economic justice for social liberalism, if it can't even be social liberal and has social conservatives like Mahuta and O'Connor representing us on the world stage … what does the party stand for??
Cabinet collective responsibility requires that once a decision is made, cabinet ministers support it. Nanaia Mahuta MP might have voted in a particular way in a conscience vote in Parliament, but the Minister of Foreign Affairs is required to advocate for government policy whether that squares with the individual MP's personal views or not. Likewise Damien O'Connor as Minister of Trade.
"Simons comments are so disgraceful and cringe but those in glass houses."
Is that us commenters here on TS?
Are we in a glass house?
Or should we be free to criticise Simons?
(From memory, that is: his statement has been vanished.
Corey at 14, don't forget it is a conscience vote. So differing views are represented.
The concern here is having the current situation going back to what it was.
Many are looking at what was said ahead of the change in the USA.
It is not that people are different that's the problem, it is using undue influence, silent and secretively making small tweaks which can have huge impacts on women's lives.
Those Labour ministers were representative of conservative views of their upbringing or electorate, but many are modifying and being more progressive.
For once I agree with Blade. Christopher Luxon could have illustrated Broad Church inclusion… he failed and has created anxiety with his many takes.
One benefit from all this pressure on Luxon/National is that in just a few days the current law has been effectively solidified. Nicola Willis (on social media) has today added her personal guarantee that the law will not be changed. Nothing is fixed, of course (she's a politician) but with every 'on the record' statement another battle is won.
It is easy to forget that before 2017 abortion was in the "too hard basket", Seriously. Too hard. The status quo was a disgrace, but successive governments left it alone.
Ardern gets her share of flak, some of it fair, but her leadership on abortion is her legacy and it's a thousand times more important than a failed referendum on a tea towel flag.
The reality of the terrible state we're in is encapsulated in a Herald headline today.
"Luxon looks like a PM after shooting down MP's abortion post." That's what it takes?
An MP with a genuinely held belief, on a matter of principle, apologises to caucus for having a genuinely held belief on that matter of principle and expressing it.
I guess that looks like leadership to some. In the old fashioned parlance I suppose leadership was taking someone out the back of the shelter shed and giving them the bash.
I admit I didn't go behind the wall to read the piece. Oh, it was from Richard Prebble.