For the edification of those with an uncommon gift for pandering to libertarian misunderstandings about law.
In 1987 someone noted that the Treaty provided for a shared form of governance, iwi chieftainship on their lands and a Crown managed settlement. However when the settlers determined that the premier and not governor would act with Crown power, the Treaty was betrayed and iwi lost their chieftainship over their lands.
Unable to undo the loss of lands (apart from some token compensation), government had to note that co-governance over iwi land, water and sea taonga was all that was left, if the Treaty was not to become a nullity.
The case of Mike Smith is not however one made in this orbit, it is one made as to the global environment and responsible action by corporations. It does not even connect to the nations Paris Accord obligations.
Yet a libertarian forecasts some parliamentary alacrity in response to a case proceeding in the courts. Is it because the corporations need government protection? No, as the case will not succeed. So it is going to be cited as a pretext to protect corporations from litigation – that is, limit legal protection of the common good.
And it will be part of a much wider agenda to reduce restraint in corporate activity, and to place constraints on the Waitangi Tribunal, remove references to the Treaty in legislation, and possibly to criminalise protest as has happened over the Tasman.
This is what a lot of us were trying to say when the so called "Gay Conversion" Bill went through Parliament.
“Yet when we wade beyond the messy definitional quagmires, we find that the phrase “conversion therapy” is only coherent when applied to sexual orientation rather than gender identity. The consequence of this semantic ambiguity means that most people do not understand that in order to oppose gay conversion therapy, one must be opposed to a ban on “trans conversion therapy”.
The thing is the diversity in male and female, is in part nature and in part nurture (including adaption or coping by the individual). The difference in psycho-sexual development is not entirely singular or linear – thus then ….
For one thing, it is patently obvious that not all of those seen as of the effeminate boys or masculine girls spectrum (for many it is just acting where they have talent artistic boy or athletic girl or where a parent is mentoring) will be homosexual.
In fact most homosexuals will not be identifiable as children, not by others, nor even by themselves.
Argue your position, but your narrative needs a lot of cleaning up to be useful.
It's not the GC lefties that have a problem with gender non-conformity. We're the ones arguing that it's ok to be gender non-conforming and that one doesn't have to have invasive surgery or life long drugs.
"One can have questions about the gender transitioning of children and teens without relating that to sex and sexuality attraction."
SPC- its not GC people who are conflating conversion therapy, with sexual orientation.
Since the vast majority of children/adolescents receiving ‘’affirmation therapy’/’gender transition’ ); in gender clinics are autistic or lesbians, or both.
How is it not conversation therapy, pretending that your the opposite gender (‘affirmation therapy’/’gender transition’), trying to hide born female and same sex-attracted, based on your sexual orientation.
Where as before in conversation therapy: being gay and pretend that your are not because you’ve been ‘healed’ with shock 'therapy' from your same-sex sexual orientation.
Visubversa – too late for NZ – the anti conversion bill- promoted with full gusto by ActionStation Aotearoa,
But in the end all the political parties supported the bill which supports (with medical intervention if desired):
assisting an individual who is undergoing, or considering undergoing, a gender transition;
assisting an individual to express their gender identity;
Better know as 'affirmation therapy'.
As a young women with masculine traits or feminine boy, changing your gender to fit in…must be an attractive proposal.
IOW children who are likely to grow up gay are being “fixed” by medical practitioners to better conform with stereotypical heterosexual paradigms.
Transing the gay child away and NZ did exactly that.
Every time you say "gender" I just see "restrictive sexist stereotypes" We spent decades trying to break those down so that people who did not wish to so constrain themselves, could do it without social stigma. People can dress and present as they feel comfortable without having to poison themselves with "off brand" drugs used for chemical castration, or mutilate healthy bodies with surgical procedures with high complication rates.
Also without requiring the rest of us to go along with the homophobic belief systems involved in "gender identity".
The question, should anyone need to change their "gender" to fit in? Just be gender queer/non binary/fluid/bi whatever.
Let's look at the old way of the transsexual era
The old way, birth sex and those who wished to identify with another gender different to their birth sex went through a managed process – a health issue. Their dysmorphia being dysphoria.
Of course since 1980 the DSM of Mental Disorders (industry managing approved public behaviour) went apologetic for past homophobia – well sort of.
To put in simpler terms, a person with gender dysphoria is not mentally ill; they are dissatisfied with the gender assigned at their birth. A person with body dysmorphia has a disorder in which they perceive their body or face as “ugly,” “fat,” or otherwise unattractive despite medical or personal reassurances.
The question, should anyone need to change their "gender" to fit in? Just be gender queer/non binary/fluid/bi whatever.
Except there are pressures in society to not be gender non conforming. Conservatives want binary gender roles that match sex. Liberal genderists want gender roles, for those to transcend and replace sex, and people to be able to choose which ones they want (gender or sex).
It's the gender critical feminists that are saying fuck gender roles, let people be who they are. But that requires societal and system change.
Many people have no problem with people not gender conforming, not just gender critical feminists … .
Society is allowing, not requiring, people to identify (or be as they choose without any identification non binary/gender fluid etc), as they will.
The specific issue is really one of continuance of sex based identity and rights – as per women's safety, group gathering (including fair competition in sports etc).
Society is allowing, not requiring, people to identify (or be as they choose without any identification non binary/gender fluid etc), as they will.
There are significant pressures on young GNC women especially lesbians to transition to TM.
Where have all the lesbian bars and other spaces gone?
Why are there men (TRAs and MRAs) abusing GC women online? Why is it a thing to call GC women ugly or saying that trans women are better women than women?
Your own comment rendered a large number of GNC people invsible. "gender queer/non binary/fluid/bi whatever" is rainbow, gender identity ideology language. It doesn't cover lots of people who are simply not in the middle of the gender role bell curve.
So no, society isn't simply allowing. If it were, women wouldn't be losing their sex based rights and children wouldn't be on a path of social and medical transition.
The value of the GCF political analysis here is that we are pointing out that GII is a regressive ideology that wants to uphold gender roles. It's not a position of allowing everyone to be how they are. Many of the old sexisms have simple transferred. Men can be sexist legitimately if they are queer.
Your own comment rendered a large number of GNC people invsible. "gender queer/non binary/fluid/bi whatever" is rainbow, gender identity ideology language. It doesn't cover lots of people who are simply not in the middle of the gender role bell curve.
From someone who has an opinion on the lack of status of transgender women as women, that is an interesting observation.
So no, society isn't simply allowing.
The purity of the GCF as the only true arbiter is coming through a bit, which takes one back to the day of the joke about the most marginalised should lead feminist groups – not someone white and heterosexual, but someone of CRT and queer theory. And here we are in 2024.
The value of the GCF political analysis here is that we are pointing out that GII is a regressive ideology that wants to uphold gender roles
GCF as the only true feminists, yet most historic feminist organisations have not come to this conclusion. But I get that GCF have formed new ones, and GC LGB have left historic organisations as well over the issue – taking a sex based first line.
I get Gender Inequality Index for GII, how are you using it here?
There are significant pressures on young GNC women especially lesbians to transition to TM.
I doubt the modern society catering to "GI" would impact much on an adult lesbian, more a social media impact on younger ones (or parents) and then a risk of system reinforcement (depending on the the organisational culture around them).
Where have all the lesbian bars and other spaces gone?
All gay bars are in decline, greater public place acceptance? It is the right to have lesbian places – online or otherwise that remains the issue.
From someone who has an opinion on the lack of status of transgender women as women, that is an interesting observation.
I don't know what your implication is there, care to explain?
The purity of the GCF as the only true arbiter is coming through a bit…
I don't know where you get that from. You certainly aren't getting it from me. I pointed out the differences between three political positions (conservative, GII, GCF) because it's useful to understand those political and how each related to gender roles and stereoptypes. It's not about purity, I was challenging your idea that GII is allowing people to be whatever they want.
GCT as the only true feminists…
Again, I don't know where you are getting this idea from, it's not coming from me.
yet most historic feminist organisations have not come to this conclusion.
So? GCF arose because liberal feminism adopted gender identity ideology, and then GII and No Debate made it incredibly hard for mainstream feminist organisations to be gender critical.
But I get that GCF have formed new ones, and GC LGB have left historic organisations as well over the issue – taking a sex based first line.
Yes, although it's sex matters and societally enforced gender roles suck.
I get Gender Inequality Index for GII, how are you using it here?
Gender identity ideology. I use it rather than TRA because I think the issue is the ideology not transness/gender non conformity.
I doubt the modern society catering to "GI" would impact much on an adult lesbian, more a social media impact on younger ones (or parents) and then a risk of system reinforcement (depending on the the organisational culture around them).
That's ironic, I think I'll let Visubversa respond to that one.
"Where have all the lesbian bars and other spaces gone?"
All gay bars are in decline, greater public place acceptance?
Do you know what happens to lesbians when they stand up in society and say they want their own spaces without trans identified males? They get call bigots and nazis and genderists try to get them cancelled (personally, organisationally including things like funding and venues). So no, it's not greater public acceptance.
And gay men get treated differently than lesbians, because we live in a sexist society and GII is reinforcing that.
You said in an earlier comment,
The specific issue is really one of continuance of sex based identity and rights – as per women's safety, group gathering (including fair competition in sports etc).
This is true, but it's not the whole truth. The reason women's sex based rights are at risk is because of good old fashioned sexism and misogyny, and because liberal feminists took the position that women could escape that by sex denial.
But all of that is underpinned by the systems we use to run society being based in sex/gender stereotypes. This is why GCFs (and previously feminists generally) focus on sex roles. They are fundamentally bad for women.
SPC – Can you explain to me ‘non-binary’?
Why is it that if a young women declares a ‘non-binary’ status they will go for the removing of their heathy breasts.
What part of medical training provided you with the knowledge that a ‘non-binary’ has no breast?
Are yo also aware that in Victoria, Au lesbian are not allowed to have their own public gatherings ?
“LGB Alliance Australia writes to express our support for the application by the Lesbian
Action Group for a temporary five-year exemption under the Sex Discrimination Act: ‘For a lesbians born female only event to celebrate International Lesbian Day’ at the Victorian Pride Centre.” https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/lgb_alliance_0.pdf
Russia could attack a Nato country in as little as three years, according to Denmark’s defence minister, in the latest and starkest warning from a western official about Moscow’s appetite for confrontation beyond its war in Ukraine. Troels Lund Poulsen joined colleagues from Sweden, the UK, Romania, Germany and others in sounding the alarm about Russia’s increased defence spending potential leading to direct confrontation with Nato, which would test the alliance’s collective defence pledge known as Article 5. “It cannot be ruled out that within a three- to five-year period, Russia will test Article 5 and Nato’s solidarity. That was not Nato’s assessment in 2023. This is new information that is coming to the fore now,” Poulsen told Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper.
So how are the USA’s known plans for regime change going – China expired (1949-till on the UNSC).
North Korea (1950-), Cuba (1961-), Iran (1953 tick, 1979-), Indonesia (1960’s) Iraq (1990-2003 tick), Afghanistan (2001 tick but did a Vietnam style walk away)
and Russia (2022- invasion of Ukraine) – no, maybe …
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Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
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The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
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Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
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The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission. “Jon Kroll has been an ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households. Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive ...
Two new appointed members and one reappointed member of the Employment Relations Authority have been announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today. “I’m pleased to announce the new appointed members Helen van Druten and Matthew Piper to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and welcome them to ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Understanding Te Tiriti by Roimata Smail (Wai Ako Press, $25) No better time to get ...
The committee has published this list to inform the public about its work, and to give clarity to submitters who have contacted the committee asking if they will be invited to make an oral submission. ...
Alex Casey and Gabi Lardies dissect their Laneway 2025 experience. Gabi Lardies: Hi Alex :))))))) Congratulations on not getting sunburnt. Everyone I talked to at Laneway yesterday was braving the sun for one thing. Charli XCX. How was your brat experience?Alex Casey: We will talk about the rest of ...
The US President's suggestion, which sparked enormous debate globally, has been labelled as a threat, not a proposal, by the Federation of Islamic Associations. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Interior Architecture, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Interior of Auckland South Men’s Prison.Getty Images Prisons are not colourful places. Typically, they are grey or some variation of a monochrome colour scheme. But increasingly, ...
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Are we too modest when it comes to celebrating our putrid plant life?She’s beauty. She’s grace. She smells like a decaying corpse and lurks in the backrooms of Auckland Zoo, wallowing tragically in a bucket. In recent weeks an Australian corpse plant named Putricia has captured the noses and ...
Politicians from the coalition government received a frosty reception at Waitangi this year, but Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says the pōwhiri that received so much attention was just one part of many events throughout the week. ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerrie Sadiq, Professor of Taxation, QUT Business School, and ARC Future Fellow, Queensland University of Technology The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released a discussion paper this week on investment tax breaks. The study looks at whether tax incentives, such as instant ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naomi Zouwer, Visual Artist and Lecturer in Teacher Education, University of Canberra Galleries and art museums can be intimidating and alienating even for adults. Imagine it from a child’s point of view. Stern security guards in uniforms stationed the doors, bags checked, ...
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Political aspects of Waitangi week may be moved in 2026, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell for The Bulletin.To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Celebration and on-the-ground politics For the third year in a row, I have returned from Waitangi full of food and deep regrets about not ...
Arriving at Ōnuku Marae, it was easy to see why Prime Minister Christopher Luxon chose the venue to mark Waitangi Day.Kayakers paddled around Akaroa Harbour under clear blue skies, with the marae barely a stone’s throw from the shore.Luxon’s decision to skip traditional events at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds this ...
Thanks to increased operating costs and new fare structures, many public transport users in Auckland are now paying more for trains, buses and ferries. Shanti Mathias explains what’s behind the changes. Schools are back around the country, but in Auckland, kids aren’t the only ones to have returned to a ...
In a special Waitangi edition of Gone By Lunchtime, Ātea editor Liam Rātana and politics reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith recap a politically charged few days at the Treaty Grounds. Our Waitangi 2025 coverage is possible because of the 13,000-plus Spinoff members who regularly pay to support our work. If you aren’t a member ...
Analysis: Waitangi Day belongs to Māori first, as mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga take centre stage.Our Waitangi 2025 coverage is possible because of the 13,000-plus Spinoff members who regularly pay to support our work. If you aren’t a member yet, now is the time.Walking around the treaty grounds, te reo Māori ...
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Val Smith reckons if you knew her in her 20s, she’d be the last woman you’d imagine taking up lawn bowls.Yet here she is, three decades later, retiring from the international game after playing an astounding 667 internationals for the BlackJacks.One of the true greats in New Zealand bowls history, ...
For the edification of those with an uncommon gift for pandering to libertarian misunderstandings about law.
In 1987 someone noted that the Treaty provided for a shared form of governance, iwi chieftainship on their lands and a Crown managed settlement. However when the settlers determined that the premier and not governor would act with Crown power, the Treaty was betrayed and iwi lost their chieftainship over their lands.
Unable to undo the loss of lands (apart from some token compensation), government had to note that co-governance over iwi land, water and sea taonga was all that was left, if the Treaty was not to become a nullity.
The case of Mike Smith is not however one made in this orbit, it is one made as to the global environment and responsible action by corporations. It does not even connect to the nations Paris Accord obligations.
Yet a libertarian forecasts some parliamentary alacrity in response to a case proceeding in the courts. Is it because the corporations need government protection? No, as the case will not succeed. So it is going to be cited as a pretext to protect corporations from litigation – that is, limit legal protection of the common good.
And it will be part of a much wider agenda to reduce restraint in corporate activity, and to place constraints on the Waitangi Tribunal, remove references to the Treaty in legislation, and possibly to criminalise protest as has happened over the Tasman.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350173571/we-need-better-judges-writes-damien-grant
National-under-Key tested the waters with criminalising protest by setting an exclusion-zone-for-protest around oil exploration vessels.
This is what a lot of us were trying to say when the so called "Gay Conversion" Bill went through Parliament.
“Yet when we wade beyond the messy definitional quagmires, we find that the phrase “conversion therapy” is only coherent when applied to sexual orientation rather than gender identity. The consequence of this semantic ambiguity means that most people do not understand that in order to oppose gay conversion therapy, one must be opposed to a ban on “trans conversion therapy”.
https://andrewdoyle.substack.com/p/the-new-gay-conversion-therapy?utm_source=cross-post&publication_id=825968&post_id=141553041&utm_campaign=945289&isFreemail=true&r=87dih&utm_medium=email
The thing is the diversity in male and female, is in part nature and in part nurture (including adaption or coping by the individual). The difference in psycho-sexual development is not entirely singular or linear – thus then ….
For one thing, it is patently obvious that not all of those seen as of the effeminate boys or masculine girls spectrum (for many it is just acting where they have talent artistic boy or athletic girl or where a parent is mentoring) will be homosexual.
In fact most homosexuals will not be identifiable as children, not by others, nor even by themselves.
Argue your position, but your narrative needs a lot of cleaning up to be useful.
hmm, what do you think visubversa was saying?
It's not the GC lefties that have a problem with gender non-conformity. We're the ones arguing that it's ok to be gender non-conforming and that one doesn't have to have invasive surgery or life long drugs.
Being non gender conforming as a child is not synonymous with being homosexual. Most adult homosexuals are gender conforming.
yes, but what does that have to do with visubversa's comment?
Because of the conflation of "gender transition" with gay conversion therapy.
One can have questions about the gender transitioning of children and teens without relating that to sex and sexuality attraction.
"One can have questions about the gender transitioning of children and teens without relating that to sex and sexuality attraction."
SPC- its not GC people who are conflating conversion therapy, with sexual orientation.
Since the vast majority of children/adolescents receiving ‘’affirmation therapy’/’gender transition’ ); in gender clinics are autistic or lesbians, or both.
How is it not conversation therapy, pretending that your the opposite gender (‘affirmation therapy’/’gender transition’), trying to hide born female and same sex-attracted, based on your sexual orientation.
Where as before in conversation therapy: being gay and pretend that your are not because you’ve been ‘healed’ with shock 'therapy' from your same-sex sexual orientation.
Puberty blockers? Gay Teens aren't sick!
Visubversa – too late for NZ – the anti conversion bill- promoted with full gusto by ActionStation Aotearoa,
But in the end all the political parties supported the bill which supports (with medical intervention if desired):
Better know as 'affirmation therapy'.
As a young women with masculine traits or feminine boy, changing your gender to fit in…must be an attractive proposal.
IOW children who are likely to grow up gay are being “fixed” by medical practitioners to better conform with stereotypical heterosexual paradigms.
Transing the gay child away and NZ did exactly that.
Every time you say "gender" I just see "restrictive sexist stereotypes" We spent decades trying to break those down so that people who did not wish to so constrain themselves, could do it without social stigma. People can dress and present as they feel comfortable without having to poison themselves with "off brand" drugs used for chemical castration, or mutilate healthy bodies with surgical procedures with high complication rates.
Also without requiring the rest of us to go along with the homophobic belief systems involved in "gender identity".
The question, should anyone need to change their "gender" to fit in? Just be gender queer/non binary/fluid/bi whatever.
Let's look at the old way of the transsexual era
The old way, birth sex and those who wished to identify with another gender different to their birth sex went through a managed process – a health issue. Their dysmorphia being dysphoria.
Of course since 1980 the DSM of Mental Disorders (industry managing approved public behaviour) went apologetic for past homophobia – well sort of.
https://www.montenido.com/transgender-anorexia-dysphoria-vs-dysmorphia/
Except there are pressures in society to not be gender non conforming. Conservatives want binary gender roles that match sex. Liberal genderists want gender roles, for those to transcend and replace sex, and people to be able to choose which ones they want (gender or sex).
It's the gender critical feminists that are saying fuck gender roles, let people be who they are. But that requires societal and system change.
Many people have no problem with people not gender conforming, not just gender critical feminists … .
Society is allowing, not requiring, people to identify (or be as they choose without any identification non binary/gender fluid etc), as they will.
The specific issue is really one of continuance of sex based identity and rights – as per women's safety, group gathering (including fair competition in sports etc).
There are significant pressures on young GNC women especially lesbians to transition to TM.
Where have all the lesbian bars and other spaces gone?
Why are there men (TRAs and MRAs) abusing GC women online? Why is it a thing to call GC women ugly or saying that trans women are better women than women?
Your own comment rendered a large number of GNC people invsible. "gender queer/non binary/fluid/bi whatever" is rainbow, gender identity ideology language. It doesn't cover lots of people who are simply not in the middle of the gender role bell curve.
So no, society isn't simply allowing. If it were, women wouldn't be losing their sex based rights and children wouldn't be on a path of social and medical transition.
The value of the GCF political analysis here is that we are pointing out that GII is a regressive ideology that wants to uphold gender roles. It's not a position of allowing everyone to be how they are. Many of the old sexisms have simple transferred. Men can be sexist legitimately if they are queer.
From someone who has an opinion on the lack of status of transgender women as women, that is an interesting observation.
The purity of the GCF as the only true arbiter is coming through a bit, which takes one back to the day of the joke about the most marginalised should lead feminist groups – not someone white and heterosexual, but someone of CRT and queer theory. And here we are in 2024.
GCF as the only true feminists, yet most historic feminist organisations have not come to this conclusion. But I get that GCF have formed new ones, and GC LGB have left historic organisations as well over the issue – taking a sex based first line.
I get Gender Inequality Index for GII, how are you using it here?
I doubt the modern society catering to "GI" would impact much on an adult lesbian, more a social media impact on younger ones (or parents) and then a risk of system reinforcement (depending on the the organisational culture around them).
All gay bars are in decline, greater public place acceptance? It is the right to have lesbian places – online or otherwise that remains the issue.
I don't know what your implication is there, care to explain?
I don't know where you get that from. You certainly aren't getting it from me. I pointed out the differences between three political positions (conservative, GII, GCF) because it's useful to understand those political and how each related to gender roles and stereoptypes. It's not about purity, I was challenging your idea that GII is allowing people to be whatever they want.
Again, I don't know where you are getting this idea from, it's not coming from me.
So? GCF arose because liberal feminism adopted gender identity ideology, and then GII and No Debate made it incredibly hard for mainstream feminist organisations to be gender critical.
Yes, although it's sex matters and societally enforced gender roles suck.
Gender identity ideology. I use it rather than TRA because I think the issue is the ideology not transness/gender non conformity.
That's ironic, I think I'll let Visubversa respond to that one.
Do you know what happens to lesbians when they stand up in society and say they want their own spaces without trans identified males? They get call bigots and nazis and genderists try to get them cancelled (personally, organisationally including things like funding and venues). So no, it's not greater public acceptance.
And gay men get treated differently than lesbians, because we live in a sexist society and GII is reinforcing that.
You said in an earlier comment,
This is true, but it's not the whole truth. The reason women's sex based rights are at risk is because of good old fashioned sexism and misogyny, and because liberal feminists took the position that women could escape that by sex denial.
But all of that is underpinned by the systems we use to run society being based in sex/gender stereotypes. This is why GCFs (and previously feminists generally) focus on sex roles. They are fundamentally bad for women.
SPC – Can you explain to me ‘non-binary’?
Why is it that if a young women declares a ‘non-binary’ status they will go for the removing of their heathy breasts.
What part of medical training provided you with the knowledge that a ‘non-binary’ has no breast?
Are yo also aware that in Victoria, Au lesbian are not allowed to have their own public gatherings ?
“LGB Alliance Australia writes to express our support for the application by the Lesbian
Action Group for a temporary five-year exemption under the Sex Discrimination Act: ‘For a lesbians born female only event to celebrate International Lesbian Day’ at the Victorian Pride Centre.”
https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/lgb_alliance_0.pdf
When you appease murderous thugs.
//
Russia could attack a Nato country in as little as three years, according to Denmark’s defence minister, in the latest and starkest warning from a western official about Moscow’s appetite for confrontation beyond its war in Ukraine. Troels Lund Poulsen joined colleagues from Sweden, the UK, Romania, Germany and others in sounding the alarm about Russia’s increased defence spending potential leading to direct confrontation with Nato, which would test the alliance’s collective defence pledge known as Article 5. “It cannot be ruled out that within a three- to five-year period, Russia will test Article 5 and Nato’s solidarity. That was not Nato’s assessment in 2023. This is new information that is coming to the fore now,” Poulsen told Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper.
https://archive.li/4V5n9 (ft)
A truly alarming interview of Louise Upston on welfare.
All I can say is GHU [God Help Us]
When confronted by 2 pieces of evidence, she completely ignored them!
Her clear intention is to put the boot into beneficiaries – at the same time as her government is giving tax breaks to landlords!
Immoral!
Paula and Muriel were published in the Herald to prepare the NACT way.
If this situation was replicated anywhere other than Israel it would be regime change time.
But it’s Israel.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/508908/israel-gaza-war-warnings-mount-as-israel-plans-rafah-offensive
From the river to the sea…
So how are the USA’s known plans for regime change going – China expired (1949-till on the UNSC).
North Korea (1950-), Cuba (1961-), Iran (1953 tick, 1979-), Indonesia (1960’s) Iraq (1990-2003 tick), Afghanistan (2001 tick but did a Vietnam style walk away)
and Russia (2022- invasion of Ukraine) – no, maybe …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_regime_change