Review: Fighting to Choose by Alison McCulloch

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 pm, May 8th, 2013 - 61 comments
Categories: abortion, books, feminism, history - Tags:

I struggle to find a properly punchy intro to this review.  Because all I really want to say is, if you have an interest in the history of the reproductive rights struggle in New Zealand, read this book.

If you don’t have an interest in the history of the reproductive rights struggle in New Zealand, also read this book.  Because you’ll develop one.

Abortion has a long and dramatic history in NZ, but it’s not a history we talk about, or remember.  And remembering that history is vital to our continuing push for reproductive rights today.  We need to know how we’ve gotten into this bizarre situation, with a law passed in 1977 which makes pregnant people jump through hoops but functions just well enough that most people carry on under the misapprehension that we have abortion on demand.

Just check out Jami-Lee Ross’ speech on the third reading of the marriage equality bill, when he referred to abortion being legalised.  It isn’t.

Why it isn’t, and who decided it wouldn’t be, and how activists fought hard for it to be, is what this book’s about.  Alison McCulloch, Pulitzer-winning journo and general badass, lays it all out, plain and simple, and being pretty damn even-handed towards the antichoice movement in the process.

This book was a joy to read … and it made me angry.  Angry at chickenshit politicians who folded at the first threat of Catholic voters’ ire.  Angry at a Royal Commission who dared to produce an incoherent, inconsistent report which controls people’s lives to this day, who let antichoicers derail an important moment in our societal debate on reproductive rights.  Angry at the condescension shown toward New Zealand people, particularly women, to this day.

Angry that we still have to fight for this.

But you know, it’s a good anger.  A motivating anger.

And now I’ve added “release helium balloons into the House of Representatives” to my bucket list.

Overall rating: five out of five speculums.

Fighting to Choose is available online from the Victoria University Press.

An abridged excerpt from Chapter Four, covering the opening of the Auckland Medical Aid Trust clinic in 1974, is up on Werewolf.

Prochoicing on the Prochoice Highway

Alison McCulloch is taking the book on tour.  Follow the Prochoice Highway for more information.

Videos from the launch, via the ALRANZ blog.

61 comments on “Review: Fighting to Choose by Alison McCulloch ”

  1. karol 1

    And still many just don’t want to talk about the problems of NZ current conservative abortion law. Meanwhile large numbers of women have to go through degrading hoops to get abortions.

    • pictishmonster 1.1

      Agreed. In her interview with Kim Hill, McCulloch attributed this weird passivity to fear that the situation could get worse if we rocked the boat. But I wonder if that is still true. Is it possible to get accurate polling data on the issue?

      Anyway, she also made the point that if we’re not moving forward we’re moving backward by default – there’s no such thing as standing still. I think that’s true.

    • Populuxe1 1.2

      That rather depends on what sort of abortion you’re talking about. Levonelle-1, the “morning after pill” can be bought over the counter at a pharmacy – I’d hardly call that jumping through hoops.
      In terms of medical abortion, I think there does need to be an amendment to The Crimes Act 1961 to decriminalise termination, but we all know that there is a tacit understanding medical termination doesn’t usually require much beyond the usual consultation for informed consent as per The Health and Disability Commissioners Act 1994 and The Code of Health and Disability
      Services Consumers Rights 1996 based on a consensus that the The Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977 be interpreted very loosely. Basically no woman in New Zealand today is going to be refused an abortion in the first twenty weeks. When was the last time a woman died of a backyard abotion? That’s the foremost issue – protecting women’s lives and reproductive health. I would be very surprised if a single woman in this country has been denied an abortion in the last thirty years.

      • QoT 1.2.1

        I would be very surprised if a single woman in this country has been denied an abortion in the last thirty years.

        Gosh, if only the world worked entirely according to things which would “very much surprise” you, Populuxe. Unfortunately, in this universe, I’m really, really over you shitting all over my thread assuming your half-baked opinions and “I know lots of women so I must be an expert” should rule the day.

  2. kiwi_prometheus 2

    New Zealanders don’t support abortion on demand,and rightly so.

    I guess you crazy Feminists are all hyped up after the successful propaganda campaign to trash marriage, and think you got another ‘win’ coming up.

    • fender 2.1

      You sound like one of those deconstructed kiwis_. Better go get a recon.

      • kiwi_prometheus 2.1.1

        You sound like one of those Social Constructivists that infest the Sociology and Literature Uni Depts.

        Deconstructing social constructionists is fun!

    • joe90 2.2

      I guess you crazy Feminists are all hyped up after the successful propaganda campaign to trash marriage, and think you got another ‘win’ coming up.

      Spotted

      • ghostrider888 2.2.1

        “her” -ga-tory

      • kiwi_prometheus 2.2.2

        Linking to your favourite Feminist propaganda site, joe.

        • ghostrider888 2.2.2.1

          btw, all things being equal, I Flew you some Modern Love yesterday. Thought it might suit your school of thought.

      • QoT 2.2.3

        Well played! But unfortunately you only get points for k_p’s misogynist antichoice views, his deep-seated loathing of women has long been recognised around these parts.

    • QoT 2.3

      Next we’re coming FOR YOUR PENIS.

  3. kiwi_prometheus 3

    At least not all Feminist have been brain washed into the Abortion On Demand stance:

    “the original feminists — understood that the rights of women cannot be built on the broken backs of unborn children. Anthony called abortion “child murder.” Paul, author of the original 1923 Equal Rights Amendment, said that “abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women”… it was the neo-feminists of the 1960s and ’70s who asked women to prize abortion as the pathway to equality.”

    http://ideas.time.com/2013/01/03/viewpoint-pro-life-and-feminism-arent-mutually-exclusive/

    • Roy 3.1

      I would be surprised if any women ‘prize’ abortion, and I suspect that few if any find it an easy option.

      • kiwi_prometheus 3.1.1

        Its exactly what the neo feminists have done, they are obsessed with Abortion On Demand.

        • fender 3.1.1.1

          No I think they just want full control of their own bodies.

          Imagine if you were deprived of being in control of your own body, how would you react if say you were not allowed to perform your favourite pastime of jerking off ?

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 3.1.1.1.1

            Every sperm is sacred.

          • kiwi_prometheus 3.1.1.1.2

            “No I think they just want full control of their own bodies.”

            Well that has to be balanced by the right to life of the baby.

            Feminasties like the narcissist QofT are peddling an extremist postion.

            [QoT: You have been warned on more than enough occasions not to attack authors. Final warning for this post as at 7:04pm.]

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 3.1.1.1.2.1

              That has to be balanced by your duty to provide good strong sperm and we’re going to make sure you abide by it, sonny.

              Now get your hands off it and get down on your knees and pray for forgiveness for the insects you have killed, deprived of the gift of life. For the butchers meat on your table, deprived of the gift of life, for the seed you have spilled, for the unbelievable bullshit you construct around QoT.

              • kiwi_prometheus

                “for the unbelievable bullshit you construct around QoT.”

                LOL, you are a Feminist unic.

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                  I’m a knucklehead, and you’re an ill-mannered misogynist. What of it?

                  • kiwi_prometheus

                    You are an obedient minion, NO ONE on here dares to contradict the Feminasties and their dogma.

                    [lprent: Go too far down that track and I’ll start demonstrating how much my “feminist” partner, mother, sister, nieces, female relatives of all types mean to me and whom you insult (not to mention me) whenever you’re here with mindless dreck. Fuck “femanasties”. What you have to worry about is a pissed off sysop declaring a personal vendetta on your dickless wonderment.

                    I’ll show you what nasty really means – you misogynist cretin. ]

                    • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                      For the night is dark and full of terrors.

                    • NickS

                      …pissed off sysop..

                      lulz

                      For those who don’t quite understand why this is a bad thing, sysops on websites can see everything you’ve submitted to their website bar your password(s). And generally they have contacts to anti-spam groups, so your details may make their way into a spam blacklist, leading to all sorts of fun across the net.

                      This on top of the usual editing of luser content via disem-vowl-ment, post moderation, luser harassment and final application of the ban-hammer once the luser hath been suitably mocked.

                      (see http://bofh.ntk.net/BOFH/index.php for $fun)

    • Murray Olsen 3.2

      Only a century behind now. That’s progress, I suppose.

  4. kiwi_prometheus 4

    Knucklehead: “For the night is dark and full of terrors.”

    Are you aware of the Feminist belief that E=mc2 is a “sexed equation”, along the same lines as Karol’s hilarious, psuedo intellectual, copy cat number about “the sexing of politics”?

    Yes that’s right, the speed of light has been “privileged” apparently thanks to the “Patriarchy”.

    Or the Feminist belief that Newtons Laws of Physics is a “rape manual”.

    So becareful talking about “night” and “dark”, Knucklehead, or you may find yourself accused by the feminasties of an anti Feminist, privileging, “othering”, heterosexists MAN sin!

    [QoT: A further warning: any future arguments which are uncited and clearly copy-pasted from your favourite men’s rights whinesite (I’m picking you for a Spearhead kinda guy) are being edited, because I’m not having my posts derailed by your shit-flinging trollery any more.]

    • Populuxe1 4.1

      “Are you aware of the Feminist belief that E=mc2 is a “sexed equation”” – I think you are going to have to cite that, and in any case, relying on fringe nonsense isn’t making you look less like a mysogynistic buffoon.

    • karol 4.2

      Please do tell me what I was copying with my p-suede intellectualism. I have never heard of this “E=mc2, sexed equation” before. Do please explain the theory & why it is wrong. Sounds interesting.

      And also please explain what it has to do with abortion law reform.

      • QoT 4.2.1

        Googling raises an argument by Lucy Irigaray, which has clearly become a meme in misogynist / MRA / whinging douchebag circles because it aligns very neatly with their own sexism (i.e. they all think women are stupid and inconstant, and Irigaray pointing out (possibly, I’m not wasting time doing k_p’s citation work for him) that science which privileges “hard” things over “fluid” things reflects this sexist approach cuts too close to the bone.)

        • karol 4.2.1.1

          Oh. OK. Got it.

          In my experience, when I ask k_p to explain his points/abuse/theoretical understanding in any detail/depth, he disappears.

          PS: issues to do with female bodies and reproductive systems are fluid as, and often a cause for squeamishness for those wanting their politics focused on solids.

          • QoT 4.2.1.1.1

            Oh yes. It’s another reason I do quick Googles on his bullshit, as soon as freerepublic.com shows up in the top 5 results it confirms it’s his usual unoriginal material.

            • karol 4.2.1.1.1.1

              He also has a rather quaint notion that all feminists are into abstract theory and of those that are, they are all in agreement and into the same theory – anyone with a knowledge of feminism and/or philosophical theories would know that is so not how it is.

              Especially, when 2nd wave feminism was in full swing, it was more about women’s actual life experiences. I think in the mid-late 70s, when the campaign was under way for abortion in NZ, most feminists would never have heard of a French psychoanalytic theorist like Irigaray.

              It was, and still is (as far as I’m aware) about what happens when safe abortions are not available to all women. In the 70s it was much more about women coming out and telling their own stories of dealing with pregnancies and abortions.

              I imagine it’s still hard for a lot of women to talk publicly about such things.

              But k_p’s preference seems to be to go on about abstract theory, and avoid dealing with people’s actual life experiences.

              • felix

                Oh so you’re an actual-life realitist. How do you reconcile that with your post-bullshit philosophy?

                /in before k_p

                • karol

                  Ah, well I’d turn to (some say) post-structuralist Foucault (himself he didn’t really accept that label).

                  Thought it was a good thing his later theories were a little different from his earlier ones – why work on theory all your life just to keep repeating the same things.

                  And no matter how abstract his theories, the HIV/AIDS got him in the end. And he said some interesting things about fist-fucking…. but little about abortion.

              • Rhinocrates

                But k_p’s preference seems to be to go on about abstract theory

                Well, he “goes on” about it, but he never actually engages with it, let alone real life experience as you say.

                How about just pulling the plug on him? Redbaiter, Dad4Justice, kiwi_procrustes etc need not be dealt with on their own supposed terms – surely the proper arena is psychiatry rather than ideology?

                Their ilk might be amusing at a distance, but their persistent derailing actively blocks real discussion, and I worry that k-p’s aggression prevents some people who might have something constructive to add from contributing – as it is surely meant to.

                Old proverb: “Who defines the terms wins the argument”.

                • karol

                  Yes, it does usually derail.

                  I’d much rather discuss why our conservative abortion law is still standing and not yet been updated.

        • Populuxe1 4.2.1.2

          To be fair, Irigaray did talk a lot of crap about the sciences that actual scientists of both genders would find hysterically funny.

          • QoT 4.2.1.2.1

            Many people talk a lot of crap about many things, yet I still don’t feel the slightest need “to be fair” where k_p’s incessant derailing is involved.

            • Populuxe1 4.2.1.2.1.1

              I was speaking for myself because I value fairness. You can do whatever you like.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 4.3

      Yes! I’ll be so upset I’ll cry all the way to the dairy.

  5. Murray Olsen 5

    I certainly thought access to abortion was better than it is. I don’t really know where I got that impression, except maybe from being out of touch with the issue.

    • Populuxe1 5.1

      It is actually easy to access – the issue here would appear to be the letter of the law, not its interpretation by doctors.

      • QoT 5.1.1

        No, it isn’t, Populuxe. Yes, a number of pregnant people are able to access abortion, but we’ve literally only just got to a situation where, for example, people from Invercargill don’t have to travel to Christchurch to get abortions.

        Considering the time involved (and that’s if you have a smooth ride with all five practitioners you have to see), the money to see doctors and travel and get childcare … it really isn’t “easy”, and saying it is just because some lucky people have managed to make our shitty system work isn’t helpful.

        • karol 5.1.1.1

          It seems to me that another problem with the law in NZ as it stands, that, women get abortions now as a result of the goodwill of the medical authorities. That sort of goodwill could be removed. Our current government pressures public services to provide less and less, and to find ways to deny services to more and more people. I think it needs to be inscribed into the law that abortions be available to those women who want them.

          • Populuxe1 5.1.1.1.1

            Given that it was National’s office or Eugenics and Paula Benefit that came up with the idea of free contraception for beneficiaries, I doubt they will be doing that for termination any time soon. But yes, it is shameful that abortion is still criminalised in the letter of the law, and that needs to be changed.

        • Populuxe1 5.1.1.2

          Five practicioners?! The Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977 says TWO! Which can usually be acomplished at the same clinic.Yes, it is good news that there has been since 2011 a termination clinic in Invercargill, however as I don’t imagine being seen entering such an establishment in a small and somewhat traditional community is all that desirable for many of the local women either, I imagine many of them will continue to go to Lyndhurst Hospital for the anonymity – it’s the stigma that needs to be tackled as much as the law. Stop with the “some lucky people” crap, though, unless you can provide me evidence of the overwhelming majority of New Zealand women being refused termination, not being able to get them within a reasonable timeframe, or recieving an unsafe backyard termination out of desperation. Ireland is a shitty system, the US has multiple shitty systems (intravaginal probes for fuck’s sake), we have a system that certainly needs impovement, but is far from shitty. I have held the hands of enough female friends over the years to know what bullshit that is.

          • Pascal's bookie 5.1.1.2.1

            So unless it’s an “overwhelming majority of New Zealand women ” it ain’t no thing?

            • Populuxe1 5.1.1.2.1.1

              No, I was leaving a little room for the possibility of some insane Catholic doctor or something not giving a referral as a one off. There are always exceptions and outliers in every system, no matter how perfect. Try not to be obtuse.

              • Pascal's bookie

                Really?

                You don’t have to scroll up very far to see that what you ended up writing was:

                Stop with the “some lucky people” crap, though, unless you can provide me evidence of the overwhelming majority of New Zealand women being refused termination, not being able to get them within a reasonable timeframe, or recieving an unsafe backyard termination out of desperation. Ireland is a shitty system, the US has multiple shitty systems (intravaginal probes for fuck’s sake), we have a system that certainly needs impovement, but is far from shitty.

                I don’t see how it’s ‘obtuse’ to think you were saying that unless there is an “overwhelming majority of New Zealand women” affected then the system is “far from shitty”.

                In fact, I think you’d have to be pretty obtuse to think that your comment doesn’t directly imply that it’s not a shitty system even if there are many women who do not have easy access to local providers should they choose to use it.

                • Populuxe1

                  In case you hadn’t noticed, dipshit, ANY medical services are hard to obtain in rural centres – nothing termination specific there – anything more complicated than a broken leg usually requires referral to a main centre DHB. In which case it’s the whole NZ medical system that needs the overhaul. It would have to be a pretty fucking unusual and extremely rare situation in which a woman was not able to get a termination, however I like to be precise in my language hence I leave room for outliers – that’s basic statistics. However I am still waiting for a single example of a woman in New Zealand not being able to get an abortion in the last twenty years. I know there is plenty of room for improvement, but this isn’t Ireland where for years you had to fly to London, and just recently a woman DIED because she was refused an abortion. Nor is this the US where some states demand you have a big ultrasound scanner inserted in your vagina so they can show you da widdle fingers and toes etc. The morning after pill is available OVER THE COUNTER. Using language that only a small minority are “lucky” enough to be able to get a termination is bullshit. The law, however, does need rewording, decriminalising termination like a civilised country – a technicality.

                  • Pascal's bookie

                    None of which explains the what you actually said.

                    And QoT did not use “language that only a small minority are “lucky” enough to be able to get a termination”. That’s just another reading misinterpretaion on your part.

                    Check the context, before launching jihad.

                    And no one owes you a single example of anything.

                    And the fact that other places are worse, does not imply that people are wrong to call ours bad, or not good enough, or that it needs change.

                    And if that’s not what you are saying, if your disagreement with QoT, karol, and everyone else is so very minor, then why all the heated aggression? What’s the point of all this Pop?

                    Oh, and Invercargill has a population of over 50,000, it’s not Taihape, ffs.

                    • Populuxe1

                      “None of which explains the what you actually said.”

                      I suppose not if you are going to deliberately ignore it.

                      “And QoT did not use “language that only a small minority are “lucky” enough to be able to get a termination”. That’s just another reading misinterpretaion on your part.”

                      How else is one to interpret phrases like “it really isn’t “easy”, and saying it is just because some lucky people have managed to make our shitty system work isn’t helpful.”?

                      “Check the context, before launching jihad.”

                      What jihad? And apparently unlike you, I do check context.

                      “And no one owes you a single example of anything.”

                      Yes they do or else I can continue to call bullshit. It’s called the burden of proof if you are going to claim something. You might as well say no one owes anyone an abortion. Stupid stupid thing to say.

                      “And the fact that other places are worse, does not imply that people are wrong to call ours bad, or not good enough, or that it needs change.”

                      Only if you really don’t care anything about accurate communication of an idea.

                      “And if that’s not what you are saying, if your disagreement with QoT, karol, and everyone else is so very minor, then why all the heated aggression? What’s the point of all this Pop?”

                      Minor doesn’t make it any less valid, and I think it is pretty important if something as important as the availability of termination in this country is being misrepresented. It’s bad enough when the Pro Life scum do it. And what heated aggression exactly? How do you get that from words on a screen – not enough smileys and lols?

                      “Oh, and Invercargill has a population of over 50,000, it’s not Taihape, ffs.”

                      Good for you for googling, but do a bit more googling – Southalnd hospital has 180 beds to cater to the Southland population of 107,000 and only deals with acute medical, surgical and orthopaedics, an Intensive Care Unit, 24 hour emergency department, paediatrics, maternity plus rehabilitation and therapy services.”

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      Really, you think demanding evidence that an overwhelming majority can’t access abortion services easily, is being precise in language to account for outliers?

          • QoT 5.1.1.2.2

            Five practicioners?! The Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977 says TWO! Which can usually be acomplished at the same clinic.

            Surprise surprise, despite your protestations to the contrary you don’t actually know what the fuck you’re talking about! Good job that this isn’t the 1980s and you can look these things up on the internet.

    • QoT 5.2

      Well, it’s not something you really have to know about until you really, really have to know about it, if you catch my drift.

      • Populuxe1 5.2.1

        This isn’t the 1980s. You can look it up on the internet http://www.abortion.gen.nz/index.html

        • QoT 5.2.1.1

          Yes, Populuxe, and while I realise you’re perfect and know everything about abortion everywhere, most people don’t even have to think about it as a political issue so won’t be actively seeking out information on it. Because they’re not as awesome as you.

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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago
  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    3 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    4 days ago
  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    4 days ago
  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago
  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    5 days ago
  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago
  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    6 days ago
  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    6 days ago
  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago
  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    6 days ago
  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    6 days ago
  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    6 days ago
  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago
  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    7 days ago
  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    39 mins ago
  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
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