The Green Party on the Mosque murders

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, March 29th, 2019 - 194 comments
Categories: act, Christchurch Attack, david seymour, greens, immigration, marama davidson, racism, racism - Tags:

I have a really soft spot for the Green Party.  If it was not for tribal hard wiring of my genetic makeup I could quite possibly be a member of the  Green Party.

Their analysis of the environmental catastrophe that we are facing and their determination to do something about it resonate.

Which is why I struggle with the treatment of the Green Party by the Daily Blog.

Theoretically TDB should be to the left of the Standard.  We are relatively middle of the road with a left tinge.

But TDB tends to be negative in its commentary about the Green Party.  Maybe Martyn Bradbury is spending too much time with Sean Plunkett and Damien Grant. 

Maybe Chris Trotter is blogging too much on Whaleoil.

Whatever it is I don’t get it.

Trotter’s latest effort is to get stuck into Marama Davidson and Golriz Ghahraman about what I am not sure.

He starts off with a historical lesson about the Alliance.

He complains about what he says was Jim Anderton’s craven surrender to the right post 9/11.

My honest impression is that Anderton was never really a left winger and the breakup was caused by personality difficulties of which Afghanistan was merely the last straw. Anderton was opposed to Rogernomics, good on him, but he started off being an alternative leader to and to the right of David Lange.  When Lange was dragged to the right by his so called friends Anderton tacked left.

Trotter then says this:

Why is any of this relevant to the Greens? Because, in the aftermath of another terrorist attack, this time against the Muslim community of Christchurch, New Zealand, another radical faction, in another small but highly successful progressive party, again appears determined to compromise another Labour Prime Minister’s domestic and international responses to an appalling terrorist outrage.

Davidson and Ghahraman need to ask themselves what the reaction of their parliamentary colleagues is likely to be if it becomes clear that their determination to leverage-off the Christchurch Mosque Shootings to unleash an uncompromising anti-racist campaign encompassing the whole of Pakeha New Zealand, is met with a strong enough push-back to jeopardise the Greens chances of remaining in Parliament after 2020? Will the other members of the Green Caucus meekly accept that two of their number must be permitted follow the dictates of the consciences, regardless of the damage they are inflicting on their party? Or, will they attempt to stop them?

So are Marama and Golriz really attempting to leverage off the Christchurch Mosque Shootings to unleash an uncompromising anti-racist campaign encompassing the whole of Pakeha New Zealand?

Well Marama said this:

I found out this morning, that a Pākeha man asked a kura kaupapa group of kids to stop singing the anthem in te reo on Friday, while they were sharing their aroha and grief at a mosque. This kura had been visiting the mosque every day, with love and waiata.

We can be a land that does not foster this type of ignorance and racism. Tamariki should feel absolute pride in sharing their reo, especially when using it to build bridges with other communities. I know that the Muslim community have been nothing but grateful for all the tikanga that Māori have used to show aroha directly to them.

We need everyone – Pakeha, tangata whenua, Pacific, Asian and all communities of colour, people across all faith groups – to create a nation free of this fear of different languages and customs and world views. We have to share and connect and build relationships with each other. And with the love rippling around the country right now, I have been encouraged by those who have started to reflect, and are feeling an urge to help dismantle those oppressions. I hope we can take that love, and can learn to listen.

This racism, this bigotry, has always been us.

But it doesn’t have to be.

Speaking as a pakeha male I was not insulted or upset by what Marama said.

Ghahraman said this:

White supremacy was not seen as a pressing threat, even as some in the Muslim community were.

Although this man happened to have not been born in New Zealand, we do need to acknowledge the truth that his ideology does exist in pockets here. Our ethnic communities, refugees, and tangata whenua have been telling us this for years. They’ve been reporting this for years.

I know it as my daily truth as a politician. I receive all the barrage of hate online. I receive the threats – the death threats, the rape threats, and the threats of gun violence, online.”

Every minority in New Zealand knows this as a little bit of our truth. So now we have to pause and listen.”

So she was talking about white supremacy, pockets of opposition, not white people per se.

Identifying one insensitive person or a clique should not be treated as attacking a whole race.

Just ask David Seymour.

He came up with these stirring words:

We are bound together by a common humanity. All our lives have inherent value and we each have inalienable rights and freedoms. That’s why an attack on those rights and freedoms is an attack on all of us. But the most dangerous long-term threat is being dehumanised and made mere members of a group in the name of identity politics.

Wonderful words.  All I can say in response is why did his party dog whistle so strongly on the UN convention of Migrant rights and against immigrants?

And if you need proof:

The Daily Blog and Trotter would be better placed identifying those who are opposed to our multicultural heterogeneous society.  And they are not the Greens. 

194 comments on “The Green Party on the Mosque murders ”

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  1. Incognito 1
    29 March 2019 at 7:53 am

    When the shoe fits and you look an in the mirror and you don’t like the appearance there are a number of things you can do.

    1) Stop looking in the mirror.

    2) Blame the mirror.

    3) Try a different shoe.

    • Macro 1.1
      29 March 2019 at 7:57 am

      All very wise, incognito. But in this case the shoe doesn’t fit.

      • Incognito 1.1.1
        29 March 2019 at 8:03 am

        How can you tell? You can only speak for yourself, can’t you? Trotter may say that the shoe doesn’t fit him but that’s as far as he can realistically go. The worst thing to do would be to take him at his word and ‘confirm’ that the shoe doesn’t fit on your (as in the general “your”) foot either and absolve you from any introspection for ingrown biases and prejudices.

        • Macro 1.1.1.1
          29 March 2019 at 8:55 am

          hmmmm
          Now you have really lost me completely.
          I thought I understood what you were implying above – now I have no idea. Far too nuanced for my little brain.
          All I can say is that I completely agree with what Mickey has written, and am in full agreement with both Marama and Gloriz.
          I wonder sometimes about Chris T. Just where he is coming from, and his obvious dislike of the Green Party. Perhaps we are too left of centre for him, and as a consequence too focused on humanitarian, and social issues; when all we should be doing, is being the yapping dogs for “green” stuff?

          • marty mars 1.1.1.1.1
            29 March 2019 at 11:49 am

            + 1 yep I agree.

          • KJT 1.1.1.1.2
            29 March 2019 at 4:18 pm

            Agree.
            Maybe it is just Labour tribalism on Trotters part.

            Micky, comes across as tribal Labour also, but he has the grace to acknowledge the principled stance, of the Green MP’s.

            Maybe it is just sour grapes, as the “Chardonnay socialists” have their lack of real progressive achievements exposed, by these two intelligent and effective, young ladies.

          • Incognito 1.1.1.1.3
            29 March 2019 at 11:05 pm

            My apologies. I’m also in agreement with the OP.

            Let’s forget about the shoe – my bad to use the metaphor and misinterpreting your comment.

            What Davidson and Ghahraman are doing is holding up a mirror [oops, another metaphor]. However, some people (Pākeha) might be reading Trotter and reject the suggestion that we all have (those) ingrown prejudices exactly because he refuses to look into the mirror. For these people it is easier to follow Trotter’s example or his words rather, than to do the hard introspective examination [not a euphemism]. Echo chamber stuff without critical independent thinking but lazy following and parroting of other’s thoughts and ideas.

            This is one difference between a public intellectual and a commentator, for example: the first will invite or challenge you to do your own thinking and form your own opinion whilst the second will only give you their opinion and invite you to accept this as your own or outright reject it. There is little option for a middle ground or synthesis of opposing views or ideas. It’s the usual binary stuff that fits so well with tribal and partisan discourse and politics but that won’t get us anywhere.

            I hope this is clearer 🙂

          • fustercluck 1.1.1.1.4
            30 March 2019 at 10:52 am

            Perhaps it is the constant conflation of “racism” with other forms of discrimination. Islam is a religion, not a race. There are Muslims of every single race on the planet. My understanding of the shooter’s motivations suggests that the issues in his mind were more associated with religion and culture than they were with race. This is a very important distinction. It undermines the assertion that white supremacy was a primary motivating factor and forces one to ask why religious/cultural differences would be a motivating factor. A much more complex question that requires a more nuanced response.

            • Macro 1.1.1.1.4.1
              30 March 2019 at 11:30 am

              I’m not so sure.
              I haven’t read any of what the perpetrator said as such, but I have read this:
              https://www.vox.com/2019/3/18/18267682/new-zealand-christchurch-shooter-manifesto-online-extremism

              This is a discussion as to what it might be about and what was the purpose of the document he released. In it J.M. Berger, the author of a book called “Extremism” and a research fellow at the VOX-Pol Network of Excellence, a research organization that studies extremism online says this:

              Jen Kirby
              So, if I understand this right, this manifesto is specifically designed to broadcast a message to others in the white supremacist community?

              J.M. Berger
              It clearly signals that this is a white supremacist attack. It’s anti-Muslim, anti-immigration. These are overlapping categories this person is pushing out.

              We’re meant to understand that this attack was done for that purpose, and not simply out of mental illness or as a random act of violence. As such, we have to be careful about how we contextualize it. What we don’t want to do is let this guy’s talking points play out in the 24/7 news cycle.

            • Serenity 1.1.1.1.4.2
              30 March 2019 at 5:03 pm

              Incorrect fustercluck. It is well known that Islam is a political ideology in the guise of a religion. It is imperative that people understand that. The duality of Islam has fooled people for centuries but education and understanding of Islam is imperative if we want to live in peaceful diversity because much of the west have been fooled into not understanding Islam’s world ambitions.

              Which is why Europe is in a dark place it is at present. Aided by the UN which is now comprised of 30% Islamic Nations Islam is making its presence felt all over the world and not in a good way. I would hate to see this safe haven overwhelmed by this ideology that is virtually the opposite of everything we hold dear.

      • left_forward 1.1.2
        29 March 2019 at 8:12 am

        Metaphorically speaking?
        I’m getting lost (literally).

      • AB 1.1.3
        29 March 2019 at 8:21 am

        Trotter knows the shoe fits (more or less).
        He’s just concerned that if you point it out, it will enrage so many people that you won’t get the chance to change what he considers to be more important parts of the wardrobe. A lot of his stuff, although beautifully written, comes down to nothing more than political tactics.

        • Anne 1.1.3.1
          29 March 2019 at 6:26 pm

          A lot of his stuff, although beautifully written, comes down to nothing more than political tactics.

          Yes, beautiful and impressive but when you analyse it… it’s often hard to know what the hell he’s on about. 🙁

  2. left_forward 2
    29 March 2019 at 8:09 am

    Very good MS. You are so right (I mean left – whatever!).
    I am not so hard wired and have been a Green supporter since the beginning and I am very proud of our MPs right now.

  3. Siobhan 3
    29 March 2019 at 8:32 am

    Is it not a case of Martyn holding the party he supports (apparently) to account?

    Good on him, I say.

    Maybe if the supporters of Labour were more open to honest critiquing of our Party /Policies /Delivery…and actual aims*, we might actually turn this ship round.

    And I don’t mean me and the other party poopers from the Left, I mean actual true beige centrists…who seem perfectly happy to celebrate advertising slogans and pr coups without looking at the actual reality of their fellow citizens
    or The Planet (ffs)
    for whom ‘Let’s Just Do this’ is not really making any real difference…after all, Labour is still seen, rightly or wrongly, as the Party for the struggling worker, family, community, , and by extension..Mother Earth …maybe if being centrist no longer holds to those values Labour should rebrand itself entirely, and just be upfront about its aims.

    *Top issues that come to mind would be Carbon Trading nonsense, emission targets, Free Trade Policies, and (of course)the ‘Housing Market’..the number of people I meet who voted for Labour thinking they wouldn’t sign the TTP/CPTPP or thought their working class kids would be able to buy a Kiwi Build,
    who now find that they were helping bring in more middle class kids onto the ladder, presumably to ensure future buyers for when the baby boomers downsize..
    (lets hope the struggling masses are still shit scared enough of National to turn up to the next election–maybe that could be the starting point for next elections campaign slogan)

    • SPC 3.1
      29 March 2019 at 4:30 pm

      He supports the Green Party by saying it purge the party of all the “woke people” (concerned about things that do not bother an old white “cis gendered” :male) or fall below 5% support.

  4. xanthe 4
    29 March 2019 at 8:41 am

    All racism is racism and leads to violence, The greens need to hang their heads in shame and shut up untill they have renounced polarisation as a campaign tool.

    • JanM 4.1
      29 March 2019 at 9:02 am

      Explain what you think is racism in what they are saying.

      • xanthe 4.1.1
        29 March 2019 at 1:53 pm

        Do you not agree that polarisation has been a primary campaign tool of the greens since MMP?

        Do you not see the connection?

        The greens must remain silent now and look inwards!

        • KJT 4.1.1.1
          29 March 2019 at 4:28 pm

          Asking for the opposite of polarisation, is polarisation?

          Cognitive dissonance?

        • SPC 4.1.1.2
          29 March 2019 at 5:05 pm

          The good old days of silence when there was FPP and “assimilation” of newer waves of white migrants and there as no Maori in public places except marae.

          And it was of guilt and shame not to conform.

    • left_forward 4.2
      29 March 2019 at 9:39 am

      Huh? Try a little harder to explain how you reached this conclusion.

    • marty mars 4.3
      29 March 2019 at 11:48 am

      Nah

    • KJT 4.4
      29 March 2019 at 4:26 pm

      It seems to me, they are doing the opposite.

      As someone said above. If the shoe fits?

      Asking people to examine their own prejudice, and they didn’t just talk about white people, can be one of the good things that come of this.

      • Incognito 4.4.1
        29 March 2019 at 11:14 pm

        Well said; that’s what I tried to convey but I couldn’t do up the shoe lazes and tripped over.

    • SPC 4.5
      29 March 2019 at 4:33 pm

      It’s impossible to stand up for those who pay tax on their work income without offending those who earn their money via CG.

      Its impossible to stand up for the victims of racism and injustice without offending those who could not care less.

  5. Rosemary McDonald 5
    29 March 2019 at 9:15 am

    This is what is being talked about…not your diluted version MS…and has provoked much discussion in our family.

    https://twitter.com/MaramaDavidson/status/1106832873372303360

    • JanM 5.1
      29 March 2019 at 9:21 am

      She speaks the truth and we will not move ahead as a nation until we acknowledge this truth and work towards a healing that is far from complete. Much of the failure to heal is the result of denial and self righteousness

    • marty mars 5.2
      29 March 2019 at 11:46 am

      Thanks Rosemary I can’t wait to watch these, though I’ll save them up for later I think.

    • KJT 5.3
      29 March 2019 at 4:31 pm

      All true. What is your problem.

      I identify as an old white Pakeha. I wasn’t bought up in Maori culture, though I find it a comfortable fit.

      I have no problem with Marama and Golriz.

      In fact, I am very proud of them.

      • Rosemary McDonald 5.3.1
        29 March 2019 at 5:00 pm

        “What is your problem.”

        ? I don’t understand. I merely posted the link to Marama’s speech becasue that is what MS’s post is about….Bradbury’s reaction to that speech and Golriz’s.

        I didn’t say whether I agreed with her speech or not…just that it provoked much discussion in my family.

  6. I feel love 6
    29 March 2019 at 9:23 am

    Pakeha male here and I’m not offended either. If others don’t want to reflect on their inbuilt ingrained racism then no one is forcing you. I for one don’t consider myself racist yet now I shut any casual racism down, it’s the least I can do.

  7. RedLogix 7
    29 March 2019 at 9:42 am

    If on the other hand I described Christianity as a ‘race’, any criticism of it as ‘racism’, anyone who expressed a problem with the history of the Churches a ‘bigot’, or atheists as ‘supremacists’ …. I think you would all rightly fall about laughing.

    • vto 7.1
      29 March 2019 at 9:49 am

      yep

      has been and seems like always will be one of the main failings of the ‘left’

      if the ‘left’ could just find a way to deal with things without going down these routes they would go much much further with their positives….

      • left_forward 7.1.1
        29 March 2019 at 10:04 am

        We will progress p.t.o., only when we accept our past and who we are.
        It is perhaps you who needs to find a way of ‘dealing’ with things.

        • vto 7.1.1.1
          29 March 2019 at 10:09 am

          yeah, thanks for your opinion, I’ll just pop it in my back pocket for when I might need it one day

          anything to say on the actual point?

          • RedLogix 7.1.1.1.1
            29 March 2019 at 10:12 am

            We’ve been dealing with ‘our past’ since David Lange was PM. It’s worth asking how much longer it will take.

            • Maggie 7.1.1.1.1.1
              29 March 2019 at 1:38 pm

              That’s a worthy question, RedLogix. How much longer will it take for those afraid of mirrors to to take a good hard look? Change requires the appropriate amount of pain. Too little and there’s no impetus; ignorance and arrogance continue, too much and it paralyses.

              • RedLogix …
                29 March 2019 at 1:49 pm

                A nice allusion; yet this hall of mirrors has the whole of human history endlessly bouncing around in it. Yes it’s worth a serious visit, and to return informed and sobered.

                But some people don’t want to return.

                • Maggie …
                  29 March 2019 at 2:09 pm

                  That’s the human burden; to acknowledge our screw-ups and try to not repeat them. No need for sack cloth and ashes, just a little humility and a desire to want to do better.

                  I don’t understand why people take these things so personally. We don’t choose our culture, we’re born into it, raised according to it, conditioned to accept it and rewarded for compliance. There’s no shame in admitting we were taught wrong. It only becomes shameful when its ugly truth is exposed and we choose to continue on the same path.

                  Thank goodness we have younger generations who point to the shit stains whilst we blindly swear we wiped our arses.

              • Incognito …
                29 March 2019 at 11:32 pm

                Change requires the appropriate amount of pain.

                Change is a natural process. You probably know the meaning of the word apoptosis: the death of cells, which occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism’s growth or development. It plays an important role in the development of the embryo, for example.

                For socio-psychological change or development, it is important that we shed some ideas to make room for new ones. The pain comes from our resistance to let go of old ideas; human suffering is not caused by change but by resistance to it.

            • KJT 7.1.1.1.1.2
              29 March 2019 at 4:37 pm

              We will have “dealt with our past” when Maori do not lead in the statistics of poverty and deprivation.

              There is a long way to go, yet.

              We don’t even have to address it on the basis of ethnicity.
              Just make sure we have genuinely unbiased, equality of opportunity.

    • left_forward 7.2
      29 March 2019 at 9:52 am

      Probably wouldn’t think it was very funny, but how does whatever point you are making relate to Micky’s article?

    • arkie 7.3
      29 March 2019 at 10:14 am

      If you had instead said white people is a ‘race’, criticism of white people is ‘racism’, anyone who expresses a problem with the history of white colonisation as a ‘bigot’ or called, for example, the Tino Rangatiratanga movement ‘supremacists’ or the Waitangi Tribunal as a ‘land grab’ … you would be equivocating, deliberately missing the point and it would also be an ahistorical denying of reality.
      LOL

      • RedLogix 7.3.1
        29 March 2019 at 10:16 am

        Just as well I didn’t say that then …

        • arkie 7.3.1.1
          29 March 2019 at 10:20 am

          You don’t like it? I thought we were merely doing cryptically pointed/pointless hypotheticals.

          • RedLogix 7.3.1.1.1
            29 March 2019 at 10:35 am

            OK so lets circle back to the point; is Islam a race? Does this mean anyone who does not accept it’s legitimacy is a ‘racist’? Does expressing concerns about Islam’s history and social practices equal ‘bigoted Islamophobia’? Does pointing out the fundamental incompatibilities between Western society and Islam mean ‘white supremacy’?

            Because these definitions are neither cryptic nor hypothetical.

            • left_forward 7.3.1.1.1.1
              29 March 2019 at 10:38 am

              No, indeed this is less cryptic.
              I’ll give it a go – although I did ask you to explain how whatever you are trying to say relates to Micky’s article – asking questions is not always an effective way of responding.

              1) No
              2) No, but maybe a little arrogant?
              3) Could be, particularly if they don’t know much about Islam and they are being all faux knowledgable about it.
              4) Not necessarily so – they would need to think that white people were supreme to be a white supremacist.

              • RedLogix …
                29 March 2019 at 10:46 am

                So maybe then we could stop misusing these words.

                • marty mars …
                  29 March 2019 at 11:11 am

                  White supremacist is good and I tack on race and religion haters too. That seems to catch everyone.

                • left_forward …
                  29 March 2019 at 11:12 am

                  They are pretty descriptive of certain human foibles and aspirations in the right context – off the top of my head –

                  They draw attention to self-deception
                  The ask for self-reflection
                  They seek awareness
                  They try to disarm hate
                  They hope for a better, more caring and equitable society
                  They yearn for compassion and love

            • arkie 7.3.1.1.1.2
              29 March 2019 at 1:56 pm

              Does expressing concerns about Islam’s history and social practices equal ‘bigoted Islamophobia’?

              First off, this is tautology, Islamophobia is a bigotry; but more importantly, it depends on what the concerns expressed are. Are you legitimately concerned that Sharia Law would be enacted in the ‘west’ and that you would be subject to it? Does Islam scare you?

              Does pointing out the fundamental incompatibilities between Western society and Islam mean ‘white supremacy’?

              Isn’t one of the principles of ‘Western society’ secularity? This question of yours is interesting in that it implies that all of the worlds 1.8 billion Muslims, including those that live in ‘Western’ countries, are excluded from ‘Western society’ by dint of your assessment of the incompatabilities of their beliefs.

              • RedLogix …
                29 March 2019 at 2:34 pm

                First off, this is tautology, Islamophobia is a bigotry

                Oh I see what you did there. LOL

                Are you legitimately concerned that Sharia Law would be enacted in the ‘west’ and that you would be subject to it? Does Islam scare you?

                Millions of liberal Muslims and ex-Muslims have come to the West to escape sharia law and Islamic rule. Most of them want to live in relative freedom from it. Still there is a real minority of hard-liners who do want to import their legal customs and impose them on all Muslims resident in the West.

                While there is little prospect of medieval horrors like stoning homosexuals, adulterers, or ‘apostates’ to death being implemented in the West (and is legal only in about 10 Islamic countries at present) there are many other aspects which are problematic. Where sharia poses genuine dilemmas for secular countries with big Muslim minorities is not in the realm of retribution but in its application to family matters such as divorce, inheritance and custody.

                Practices around polygamy, first cousin marriage, age of consent and divorce are very different. When legal principles clash with a quite different social norms, the results are inevitably messy. Islamic rules on religiously mixed marriages have harsh consequences for mixed couples. Islam prohibits Muslim women from marrying non-Muslim men (the reverse, however, does not apply).

                My view is simple, you move to another country you obey it’s laws. Period.

                Isn’t one of the principles of ‘Western society’ secularity?

                Separation of State and Church is a largely western idea that permits us to tolerate a wide range of community spiritual practice, without it necessarily spilling into the political arena. Exceptions such as Northern Ireland are vivid demonstrations of why this is a generally good idea.

                Islam by contrast struggles with the idea of secularisation; and the briefest of glimpses across the Middle East reveals deep and dangerous sectarian divisions, fueling much of the violence.

                The West certainly has it’s own problems, I see no merit in adding this one to the list.

                • arkie …
                  29 March 2019 at 2:55 pm

                  My view is simple, you move to another country you obey it’s laws. Period.

                  Right, and you think that the presence of a ‘real minority of hard-liners’ are breaking ‘western’ laws and that therefore means that ‘islam is incompatable with Western society’.?

                  Practices around polygamy, first cousin marriage, age of consent and divorce are very different. When legal principles clash with a quite different social norms, the results are inevitably messy.

                  It may interest you to know the first cousin marriages are not illegal in New Zealand. What say you of the incompatibility of hard-line Xtian sects such as the Cooperites?

                  The West certainly has it’s own problems, I see no merit in adding this one to the list.

                  Understood. However your response to the problems of white supremacy and the history of colonisation is to make broadbrush complaints about all Muslims?

                  • RedLogix …
                    29 March 2019 at 3:48 pm

                    It may interest you to know the first cousin marriages are not illegal in New Zealand.

                    But widely frowned upon and not common. The rules around consanguinity are defined differently in every culture and religion, but the west has settled on a system that is well understood to have a sound genetic basis.

                • Stuart Munro. …
                  29 March 2019 at 3:04 pm

                  One of the big ones remains usury, which Islam still forbids, just as Christians and Jews used to.

                  • RedLogix …
                    29 March 2019 at 4:20 pm

                    I think that was one of my first comments here back in 2007. Of all the relatively few things the major religions say about how a society might organise itself economically … the one thing they all have in common is either a ban, or tight limits on the lending of money.

                    Very cool you’ve noticed that 🙂

                    • Stuart Munro. …
                      29 March 2019 at 5:06 pm

                      Yeah – I taught a couple Muslims in Christchurch 20 odd years ago, we talked about pretty much everything. Lovely guys, an Algerian and an Afghan. One of the reasons I didn’t get too culture shocked teaching in Saudi – though I missed the Korean samgyupsal big time.

                    • Maggie …
                      29 March 2019 at 11:01 pm

                      Thanks for the links, RedLogix, makes for interesting reading. I haven’t dug deep into Islam, mostly because I don’t want to and yet I think I need to.

                      You said:
                      “How confusing is it to be told that all the worlds problem are caused by oppressive patriarchal, bigoted, white supremacist males (in societies where in fact women have more equality and opportunity than ever before in human history), while at the same time Islam is the gentle religion of peace, love, harmony and equality that we must embrace without limits.”

                      I’m a bit tired and I’m probably reading you comment all wrong because it sounds like you said women should be grateful because we have it better than our predecessors. I really value direct communication and am open to be challenged on anything I say. But I can also be blunt AF and sometimes that means people take me wrong. I’d like to think I’ve been clear in my comments that I don’t think men are the source of all evil nor do I think the patriarchal systems of our society are the cause of all wrong.

                • KJT …
                  29 March 2019 at 3:19 pm

                  Redlogix.

                  I am no supporter of religion. I like the old Greek gods myself. They were much more fun.

                  But, my friends are Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Farsi and probably a few others. Some even believe in capitalism!
                  All decent people who just want to bring up their families in peace, and support the same for everyone else. They are fitting into New Zealand culture, just fine.
                  The capitalists seem to have the most problems with Kiwi ideals of fairness, equal opportunity and honesty.
                  Like Christians, most Muslims abandoned the more intolerant and anti social teachings, long ago.

                  Note that both the legendary founders, of Christianity and Islam, were re markedly progressive advocates of human rights, compared with their contemporaries.

                  The most repressive and murderous Governments in our area, are secular.

                  Fanatics exist in all cultures. Are we not talking about Neo Nazi’s here.

                  Your constant apologia for Western capitalism is getting tiresome.

                  Are you totally oblivious to the fact, that most of the shambles in the middle East, was caused by the West. Little to do with Islam.

                  Iran, for example, is a theocracy as a reaction to the repressive Dictatorship of the Shah. A Dictator installed in typical Western fashion when the Democratic Government, in the 50’s, tried to look after Iranians, instead of US oil companies.

                  The same is happening in Christian South America. Initially to make bananas cheap for US , growers.

                  As for Northern Ireland religion, is a marker for the English invaders, that sets them apart from the earlier Irish invaders.
                  If they were not different religions they would have simply used another distinguishing characteristic.

              • Maggie …
                29 March 2019 at 2:37 pm

                “Isn’t one of the principles of ‘Western society’ secularity? This question of yours is interesting in that it implies that all of the worlds 1.8 billion Muslims, including those that live in ‘Western’ countries, are excluded from ‘Western society’ by dint of your assessment of the incompatabilities of their beliefs.”

                I could be wrong but it sounds like you’re bending rhetoric to expose cracks when you use phrases like “excluded from Western society”. Muslims themselves believe Islam is incompatible with Western societies’ culture. That incompatibility doesn’t mean it needs to be exclusionary, just that co-existence requires greater tolerance and (possible) more complicated solutions.

                • arkie …
                  29 March 2019 at 3:01 pm

                  Muslims themselves believe Islam is incompatible with Western societies’ culture.

                  I’m sure that’s news to some Muslims.

                  That incompatibility doesn’t mean it needs to be exclusionary, just that co-existence requires greater tolerance and (possible) more complicated solutions.

                  That’s probably not best served by making sweeping statements about the religious beliefs of 1.8 billion people.

                  • marty mars …
                    29 March 2019 at 3:39 pm

                    + 1

                  • Maggie …
                    29 March 2019 at 9:31 pm

                    I never make comments in absolute terms. (see what I did there 🙂 )

                    I shouldn’t have to spell out that it isn’t ALL Muslims.

                    Islam is such a diverse religion with Sunni and Shia have different opinions on whether hadith should be considered a divine revelation, which in turn causes disputes over interpretation and implementation of shariah and fiqh laws. Given that Muslims don’t read the Qur’an like christians read the bible they are then dependent on the scholars decisions through hadiths, tafsirs and sira. Anyone with a minute understanding of Islam would know any statement about Muslims and their faith isn’t going to be in absolute terms.

                    And I stand by my statement that the religious rituals and rules of Islam conflict with Western society which is why we see the disparity in work force numbers for Muslims. Only the most liberal of Muslims are going to be ok with a woman working alone with men or not complying with the set times of calls to prayer.

                    As I said above, these conflicts don’t have to make integration impossible. We’ve seen first hand that Muslims shape their lives around their religious obligations to make it work and that’s to their credit.

            • marty mars 7.3.1.1.1.3
              29 March 2019 at 2:22 pm

              “Does pointing out the fundamental incompatibilities between Western society and Islam mean ‘white supremacy’?”

              Yes imo.

              • RedLogix …
                29 March 2019 at 2:51 pm

                While various Islamic countries like Iran have in recent times enacted secular laws around the age of consent compatible with modern practice, sharia law itself specifies no minimum age.

                And indeed this is the case in Saudi and at least 5 other countries that adhere to strict, traditional versions of Islamic law. Child marriage is common in Saudi, Yemen, Nigeria, Afghanistan … and even in other countries like Turkey, where conservative Islamic communities often just ignore the law.

                How compatible with your view of the world is child rape marty?

                • arkie …
                  29 March 2019 at 3:05 pm

                  How compatible with your view of the world is child rape

                  Graham Capill, Cardinal Pell and many others thought it was compatible (until they were convicted by ‘Western’ laws), so does this mean Christianity is ‘incompatible with Western society?’

                  • RedLogix …
                    29 March 2019 at 3:26 pm

                    As I said below to McF; the mistake they all made was believing they were not subject to secular law.

                    • arkie …
                      29 March 2019 at 3:35 pm

                      And it is your contention that all Muslims also believe they are not subject to secular law. That is also a mistake.

                    • RedLogix …
                      29 March 2019 at 4:12 pm

                      As I said above, millions of moderate Muslims and ex-Muslims came to the West to escape Sharia law. They’re quietly appalled at the prospect of it being re-imposed on them, but cannot speak for the very real fear of being labeled ‘takifir’. As rule these people are perfectly happy to obey the secular law of the land.

                      But what most Westerners miss, because we’ve largely discarded it, is that in Islam religious law is fundamentally inseparable from the faith itself. As I’ve said elsewhere, Islam, in a very broad sense, is more comparable with Judaism, rather than Christianity which arose essentially as a reform movement within the context of Christ being a Jew.

                      Indeed Christ himself said: “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

                      https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-17.htm

                    • arkie …
                      29 March 2019 at 4:30 pm

                      You haven’t seen that Islam also requires believers to obey the law of the land?

                      So Christ said that he came to accomplish the purpose of the laws of Moses and the writings of the prophets. ‘Accomplishing the purpose’ of them is to do what? It doesn’t sound much like reform to me.

                      These Mosaic laws (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) include all the kosher laws such as not eating shrimp or shellfish, not wearing mixed fabrics and stoning your rebellious child to death.

                      It’s interesting to note that there are a wide variety of interpretations of the application of these laws to Christians. Now for some levity I will quote my favourite Christian, Ned Flanders, during a crisis of faith;

                      Why me, Lord? Where have I gone wrong?
                      I’ve always been nice to people. I don’t drink or dance or swear.
                      I’ve even kept kosher just to be on the safe side.
                      I’ve done everything the Bible says!
                      Even the stuff that contradicts the other stuff!
                      What more could I do?

                    • RedLogix …
                      29 March 2019 at 4:51 pm

                      When we read the Mosaic Laws we can read both an eternal and a temporal purpose being expressed in them.

                      We can read for instance the Ten Commandments and are struck by their enduring wisdom; yet the details of kosher food strike us moderns as an ephemeral distraction. We can see how some of the laws and punishments may have made sense in a different era, but our minds cannot embrace them in ours.

                      There is a good line I read somewhere recently’ “The past is a another country, they do things differently there”.

                      What Jews and Muslims do have in common is a much stronger historic connection with their respective legal systems; a connection that the fundamentalists among then passionately wish to resurrect. While ultra-Orthodox Jews are a small minority, sadly within the major power centres of Islam, fundamentalist sects such as the Wahhabi’s wield considerable influence.

                      By contrast modern Christianity has a much more diffuse sense of ecclesiastical law, having for the some part translated into, and then replaced it with secular Western law. This is not to argue that the Western canon is the best or final possible system, quite the contrary there are many obvious flaws and we constantly agitate toward reform … but the idea that it’s somehow compatible with a legal system intended to be useful in a medieval society 1400 years ago really hasn’t been well though through.

                      And certainly not one that your average Westerner has been asked about either.

                    • arkie …
                      29 March 2019 at 5:08 pm

                      The enduring wisdom of Thou shalt have no other gods before me?
                      Of Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image?
                      Of Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain?
                      Of Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy?

                      Those are just the first four!
                      Of the ten commandments only three of them have an equivalent in ‘western’ law. So sure, they’re fine for those who believe but not ‘Western’ society as a whole.

                      It is my contention that condemnation of Islam as ‘incompatible’ with ‘Western society’ is more than a little self-fulfilling. It disallows the potential of a similar transformation like that of Christianity. It excludes any of the 1.8 billion Muslim voices from participating in a secular ‘Western’ society.

                    • McFlock …
                      29 March 2019 at 5:17 pm

                      The nub of the matter seems to be that you’re holding two different standards on the followers of Islam vs the followers of Christianity. Part of the problem with the world is that yes, there are fundamentalists in Christian society just as there are fundamentalists of every religion.

                      Even if half the shit about Mike Pence is true, that’s a religious nutter they made VP of the USA. That means the fundamentalist bloc is a significant voting bloc in some parts of “Western” society. We have our own groups here – Brethren come to mind. And the gullible fools who follow Tamaki.

                      And on the flipside, most Muslims are pretty mellow people, just like most Christians. The books are pretty equivalent to each other when it comes to getting medieval on each other, but most followers are pretty equivalent when it comes to just trying to get along in the world.

                      Some parts of the world are more restrictive than others, but the same can be said for Christianity. And the religious rules are always interpreted in accordance with the local cultural rules. Sometimes a religion is used to maintain the local power structures (Russian Orthodox resurgence comes to mind), or is a refuge and recruiting tool for opponents of occupation, repression and colonisation (the overthrow of the Shah). The few who might want to see “Sharia law” imposed in NZ are the same few of a different creed who marched for “enough is enough” and want homosexuality made illegal again.

                      And most NZers are happy to just say “fuck off” to both.

                    • RedLogix …
                      29 March 2019 at 5:51 pm

                      @McFlock

                      I think that is my point, the West has firmly said ‘fuck off’ to the regressive fundamentalist strand of Christianity (and Judaism for that matter); but seems quite unwilling to do so when the same craziness comes with the label ‘Islam’.

                      And it’s an especially troubling silence when we have evidence like the truly vile crimes of ISIS on downward, or the homophobic legislation of Brunei, taking place in real time. You can’t seriously imagine Mike Pence is actually comparable?

                    • McFlock …
                      29 March 2019 at 5:56 pm

                      I think that is my point, the West has firmly said ‘fuck off’ to the regressive fundamentalist strand of Christianity (and Judaism for that matter); but seems quite unwilling to do so when the same craziness comes with the label ‘Islam’.

                      Really? Do you think that the SIS are trying to recruit Exclusive Brethren members to become informers in case that lot go next-level loopy?

                    • arkie …
                      29 March 2019 at 6:44 pm

                      @Red

                      And it’s an especially troubling silence when we have evidence like the truly vile crimes of ISIS on downward, or the homophobic legislation of Brunei, taking place in real time. You can’t seriously imagine Mike Pence is actually comparable?

                      Perhaps people prefer to try to do something about that which is ‘closer to home’.
                      Within ‘Western society’ Mike Pence is entirely comparable.
                      The Hysterical Professor himself says in the 6th tenent:

                      Set your house in perfect order before you criticise the world

                • marty mars …
                  29 March 2019 at 3:11 pm

                  If you think rape of children has anything to do with religion then you are dimmer than I thought.

                • McFlock …
                  29 March 2019 at 3:12 pm

                  And Christianity forbids homosexuality, yet this “incompatibility” doesn’t seem to have led to too much anarchy.

                  And NZ law says you’re not allowed to stone anyone to death for breaking any of the rules in Leviticus, but that incompatibility hasn’t led to too many problems.

                  How compatible with your view of the world is killing someone for converting to another religion, RL?

                  • RedLogix …
                    29 March 2019 at 3:24 pm

                    For the simple reason that Christian Churches explicitly give precedence to secular law. They may well have views on the law, and may wish to lobby via the democratic system to represent their interests … but they do not have a separate system that they wish to implement. On top of this there is a clear understanding in most non-fundie Churches that the legal system in the Old Testament belonged to an entirely different age.

                    Indeed this is precisely where the Catholic Church came adrift with it’s own problems; there is no question that at some level there was a residual idea that the clergy were not entirely answerable to the laws of the land, and that the Church could get away with dealing with child abusers ‘in it’s own way’. Turned out to be a very bad idea.

                    How compatible with your view of the world is killing someone for converting to another religion, RL?

                    Interesting question McF. You are indeed getting warm.

                    • McFlock …
                      29 March 2019 at 3:30 pm

                      Yeah the bible has a lot of shit like that in it.

                      The bit about Christian churches and legal precedence is interesting. Anglicanism is an arm of the state. Protestantism is “fuck you I’ll do what I want”. Catholicism is “oh, you’re a state? How quaint, but this is Church business”. The Catholic response to rapist clergy was not a residual idea, it was longstanding active practise. Not the only church to do it, but the one that had done it consistently for over a thousand years. Not an appendix, but a liver – in constant use all that time.

                    • arkie …
                      29 March 2019 at 3:30 pm

                      So here is the equivalent teaching in Islam:

                      Muslims are generally obliged to abide by the laws of the land and the country they live in, whether it is a Islamic state (al-khilafa), Muslim countries, or non-Muslim countries such as those in the west, as long as they are not ordered to practice something that is against Shariah. If they are forced by the law to commit a sin, then in such a case, it will not just be unnecessary to abide by the law, rather impermissible.

                      Some Muslims are under the impression that it is permissible to violate the laws of countries that are not an Islamic state (al-Khilafa), which is totally incorrect. Muslims must adhere to the laws of any country they live in, whether in the west or the east, as long as the law is not in contradiction with one’s religion.

                      Sayyiduna Abd Allah ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “It is necessary upon a Muslim to listen to and obey the ruler, as long as one is not ordered to carry out a sin. If he is commanded to commit a sin, then there is no adherence and obedience.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 2796 & Sunan Tirmidhi)

                      Still incompatible with ‘Western society’?

                  • Psycho Milt …
                    29 March 2019 at 3:51 pm

                    Still incompatible with ‘Western society’?

                    Yep. Any religion that lays out a legislative programme and declares that rejecting the religion is a crime can’t be compatible with ‘Western society’ – not the ones of the last couple of hundred years, at least. Its followers may make excellent friends and fellow citizens, but that doesn’t make the religion itself any better.

                    • McFlock …
                      29 March 2019 at 3:56 pm

                      Religion is religion is religion.

                      Most of them get pissy at apostacy and people who refuse to convert. Christianity is no better or worse than any other in that regard.

                    • arkie …
                      29 March 2019 at 4:05 pm

                      In fact:

                      Temporal penalties for Christian apostates have fallen into disuse in the modern era.

                      One might argue that it is the secularisation of ‘Western society’ that mellowed the practice of religion. Surely, it’s this secularism that makes it incompatible with all religions not just Islam in particular? Or a more positive corollary; it’s secularism that makes ‘Western society’ compatible with all faiths (and non-believers), all who can work together.

                    • Sabine …
                      29 March 2019 at 6:04 pm

                      you might want to have a read of this then

                      https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/3/27/1845550/-Neil-Gorsuch-says-no-one-can-sue-to-stop-government-establishing-religion?utm_campaign=trending

                      cause this is what is happening in the US atm. One day a time. but its ok, they are not ‘muslim’ ey?

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      29 March 2019 at 6:39 pm

                      Religion is religion is religion.

                      And politics is politics is politics. Differences between items in the same categories do count for something.

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      29 March 2019 at 6:41 pm

                      Surely, it’s this secularism that makes it incompatible with all religions not just Islam in particular?

                      I’m the wrong person to ask – to me, all religions are shit, it’s just that some of them are shittier than others.

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      29 March 2019 at 6:43 pm

                      but its ok, they are not ‘muslim’ ey?

                      I have no opinion on Muslims, so it’s not clear what your point is.

                    • McFlock …
                      29 March 2019 at 10:38 pm

                      I don’t think there are significant differences between most of the world’s religions. They are all mostly made of people just trying to get along, and they all have fringe minorities wanting to kill non-believers (usually as a reaction to decidedly non-religious socioeconomic and political conditions).

                      The details that are most important to religious people have no direct worldly impact. The details most important to politically active people are often the ones with the most severe worldly impact.

                • KJT …
                  29 March 2019 at 6:10 pm

                  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_the_United_States

                  Doesn’t seem that the Christian, “secular” State of the USA, is much better.
                  Have a look at the age of consent, in France.

          • left_forward 7.3.1.1.2
            29 March 2019 at 10:36 am

            haha – very good.

    • Maggie 7.4
      29 March 2019 at 1:47 pm

      A semantic argument seems a bit lazy for you Red. It’s always tricky when words refer to different things but we have context for clarity and it’s worked well for other topics like ‘sex’.

      • RedLogix 7.4.1
        29 March 2019 at 1:58 pm

        I accept it was a truncated and blunt argument, but the exact meaning of powerful words is important. And lazy or not, no-one has directly addressed it.

        And as I said on another thread this morning, it’s striking how many on the left have for decades denigrated, sneered at and mocked Christianity (and religion in general) with impunity … but suddenly regard Islam as beyond all reproach. There’s your context.

        • Rosemary McDonald 7.4.1.1
          29 March 2019 at 2:15 pm

          But, but….Jesus was a Lefty!!!!

          https://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2010/12/jesus-god-tax-christ-health

          “Conservatives claim Christ as one of their own. But he was the unemployed son of two asylum-seekers with all the personal traits of a modern revolutionary. ”

          Certainly not new….but well worth reminding ourselves there is an Old Book and a New Book.

          That fella Jesus changed everything….

          • KJT 7.4.1.1.1
            29 March 2019 at 3:24 pm

            Both religions founders were way out on the left field, at the time.

            Imagine.

            Overturning bankers tables!
            Refraining from stoning adulterers.

            The right of women to divorce.
            Marrying your brothers widow, so her, and her children didn’t starve. Social welfare.

            • RedLogix 7.4.1.1.1.1
              29 March 2019 at 4:25 pm

              And that the very early Labour Party meetings in this country were often held in Baptist Church halls …

              • KJT …
                29 March 2019 at 8:42 pm

                Helen Clarks introduction meeting,was held in Balmoral Presbyterian church hall.

                • RedLogix …
                  29 March 2019 at 9:21 pm

                  And at the same time all the great communist revolutions of the 20th century openly set about expunging religion, supplanting it with a new loyalty to their utopian ideologies and demi-god leaders. Or that that post-modernism, the intellectual foundation of the far left cynically reduces the notion of the Divine to that of an ‘imaginary sky fairy’.

                  • KJT …
                    31 March 2019 at 12:28 am

                    Doesn’t most of your commenting on this thread amount to, “my (Christian) sky fairy is better than the (Muslim) sky fairy”?

                    Which reaches to the heart of my animosity to organized religion, even though a lot of good people i like are religious.

                    Inherent in every faith is the notion that their faith is “the one true faith” and that somehow makes them better than others.

                    No faith is any better, or worse, than any other in this regard.

                    Fortunately, for most people, religion is only part of their lives.

                    Children bought up in fundamentalist families have been shown to have less empathy than non religious children, for one.

                    Religion has always been used by the powerful to keep the majority content with their rulers. Promising they will be the wealthy, in heaven, if they behave themselves.

                    The Soviets made the mistake of trying force, just like the Catholic church.
                    They would have done better with democracy, but then, Oligarchs of every political stripe, don’t believe in giving us a say over our own future.

                    • RedLogix …
                      31 March 2019 at 5:03 am

                      Doesn’t most of your commenting on this thread amount to, “my (Christian) sky fairy is better than the (Muslim) sky fairy”?

                      Most mature believers of all the monotheistic faiths recognise that they all share a common conception of the Divine, and that at core we are all talking about the same thing. Any student of comparative religion will tell you there is a solid continuity throughout the the Abrahamic religions, from Zoroaster onward.

                      And indeed if you speak with any Islamic clergy they will explicitly agree with this statement. It’s one of the things the Quran is quite unambiguous about. From there it’s not hard to extend this idea to embrace the great historic Eastern religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.

                      The nature of God is not the important distinction here; the innate limitations of the human mind makes trying to capture and define God a futile and ultimately hubris inducing task.

                      (A crude analogy would be to think about a goldfish in a bowl, in the same room as say John von Neumann giving a lecture. This fish may well have the capacity to know something is going on, but completely lacks the capacity to understand the lecture.)

                      The important distinction lies here:

                      https://www.whyislam.org/muhammad/muhammad-the-final-prophet-of-god-pbuh/

                      The core doctrine of the Islamic clergy is that Muhammad is the greatest and final Prophet of God for all time. This is not an understanding largely confined to fundamentalists and zealots as it is in say Judaism and Christianity, it is a tenet of faith hard-coded into it’s DNA.

                      And this applies at not only at the level of personal faith, but vigorously expresses itself at the legal and political level. It’s what ISIS was doing .. restoring a glorious Caliphate. And most Muslims have no fundamental objection to that objective, which is why criticism of it’s truly appalling methods and crimes has been so relatively muted across the Islamic world.

                    • KJT []
                      31 March 2019 at 5:50 am

                      “muted across the Islamic world”.
                      You don’t know many Muslims, do you?

                      Still tying yourself in knots, to claim your religion is better than the other.

                      I could give you example after example of bad, and good, things done by followers of any religion.
                      Christian countries that insist young women’s lives are less valuable, than an unborn circle of unviable cells, for example.

                      Meanwhile good people in all religions, and secularists as well, would rather we stopped arguing about who is better, “othering” again, and simply tried to follow the basic tenent of any religion. Treat others as you like to be treated. Which I fully support.

                    • RedLogix …
                      31 March 2019 at 6:32 am

                      You don’t know many Muslims, do you?

                      That is so funny. Really you keep making assumptions about me that are quite wrong. You even get the proposition that I am a Christian wrong.

                      Of course the Middle Eastern govts directly impacted by ISIS’s territorial ambitions went all out to oppose the existential threat, and credit to them for doing so. And your average moderate Muslim in West Sydney is deeply unimpressed by these atrocities like this:

                      https://www.alternet.org/2017/09/how-isis-wives-helped-their-husbands-rape-yazidi-sex-slaves/

                      But the fact is that ISIS has got at least something to do with Islam and the only way to counter it is to repudiate and excoriate the Caliphate concept of Islam. To say that there is nothing Islamic about ISIS is tantamount to taking an ostrich approach. The concept and prophecy of the Caliphate is the key element of ISIS’s ideology. It emanates from the Hadiths of Muhammad. Even the modus operandi of ISIS such as that of Convert, pay tax, or die originates from them.

                      To outright deny this despite this indisputable caliphate doctrine is a willful ignorance which facilitates radical Islam. This denial gives credence to the untenable and fallacious theory of “legitimate grievances” that diverts attention from ISIS’s barbarism and Islamist expansionism and indirectly paints a sympathetic picture of these savages. It offers only one solution; that the “West is Evil and responsible for terrorism due to its foreign policy”.

                      There is absolutely no doubt in the notion that majority of Muslims are peaceful and are vehemently opposed to ISIS. But unfortunately, they are often profoundly oblivious to the bellicose and hateful texts in the Quran and hadiths of the prophet Mohammad. These words served a purpose during the turbulent and dangerous medieval era of Islam … but have no more place in the modern world than the Mosaic laws in Leviticus does.

                      ISIS represents a crisis of legitimacy within Islam that is every bit as dire as the Nazi’s, the Marxists, or the events of 15/3. Pretending otherwise and remaining silent on this is to become directly complicit in the crime.

                    • KJT []
                      31 March 2019 at 9:20 am

                      Or the US invading Iraq, to prove they had a big dick, eh?

          • Rae 7.4.1.1.2
            29 March 2019 at 5:29 pm

            I “discovered” the leftiness of the person we call Jesus after exploring the http://www.politicalcompass.org and doing the test. It came as no surprise then to see that Jesus would have been quite comfortable in the libertarian left of the spectrum. Great source of much delight to me, given the huge following he has with right wing conservatives, his polar opposite.

        • Maggie 7.4.1.2
          29 March 2019 at 2:26 pm

          Oh Islam is NOT beyond reproach, not now, not ever. Yes, there’s going to be a massive over-correction for a bit where everyone is super sensitive about being perceived as hostile to Muslims but take comfort in the fact that ‘wee webbles wobble but they don’t fall down’. From the straining to the left will come a more centralised settlement just like correcting anything bent one must yank it in the opposite direction.

          I’ve decided to bite my tongue (about Islam) as I’ve never done before simply because I’m aware how raw and reactive people will be and I can be lazy in my language, using Muslim for Islam, as you’ve seen me do. But I think it’s a little bit of an over-reach to assume that the leaning left is the new centre.

          • Rosemary McDonald 7.4.1.2.1
            29 March 2019 at 4:03 pm

            “Oh Islam is NOT beyond reproach,…”

            Neither is christianity or judaism.

            The fundamentalists amoung them all have this thing about covering women’s hair. What is that about? The closer you are to the Big Fella the less able you are to restrain your baser sexual impulses around bareheaded females?

            Let’s face it Maggie…most of this organised religion shit is about power and control. And ensuring the penised ones have all of both.

            Cue…..

            • Rae 7.4.1.2.1.1
              29 March 2019 at 5:34 pm

              Yup, dead right and probably based somewhere back in the dim darks as a means for males to be sure they have sired the children they are raising. We have DNA testing for that now.

              • Maggie …
                29 March 2019 at 8:50 pm

                I don’t think it was about kids, more about control. If you go way way back you’ll find diversity in the gender dynamic.

                A woman’s beauty has for the longest time been a commodity men have controlled. Babylonians, for example, gathered all girls of marriageable age in the square and sold off the most attractive to the highest bidder. The money raised was offered as a ‘dowry’ to encourage the sale of the less attractive.
                The Nasamones males used wives in common and at the marriage ceremony, the bride was passed round among the male guests where gifts were given to her in exchange for sex.
                Women of the Auses tribe were also common property; when a child was fully grown, the men held a meeting and judged by its looks to whom it belonged.
                And women of the Gindanes wore leather bands round their ankles, one for each man they’d slept with. Women with the most bands were held in high esteem by society because she had been loved by so many.

                In all those cases a woman’s worth was decided by men and even now, when pregnancy can be avoided and paternity proven, women are still encouraged to be sexually attractive but expected to be physically chaste, still judged as sluts if they have a lot of sexual partners. Organised religion just made the process easier by allowing men to point to the sky and say “…because God said so” and abdicate all responsibility for what they were doing.

                • Rae …
                  30 March 2019 at 9:39 am

                  Most control of females by males, be it human or a pride of lions is to ensure the continuation of the male’s genes. We are no less subject to it that any other species on the planet, we just do it our way.
                  I honestly think if we can dig down to root causes of some of the actions we take, that seem almost to be beyond our control sometimes, we might just find ourselves a way to exist on this planet in a harmonious manner.
                  The choice of the best looking females all trails back to gene continuation, I believe, making sure yours get the best opportunity.
                  Makes you feel kind of insignificant and not all that special in this world once you realise we are subject to primal instincts to a greater or lesser extent as everything else.
                  We aren’t all that special, could end up being one of the shortest living species ever to dominate the planet at the rate we are going, and we most definitely should stop thinking we own the planet.

            • Maggie 7.4.1.2.1.2
              29 March 2019 at 8:20 pm

              I knew I liked you for a reason Rosemary.

              If I must choose a label then atheist will do although I have a foot in the anti-theist camp too. Where I draw the line is that I believe everyone has the inalienable right to think whatever they like. But IMO ALL religions are man-made and whilst initially used to make sense of things in nature they didn’t understand it fast became the preferred method of control as populations grew larger.

              Fundamentalists can kiss my arse. I’ll cover my hair when they line up for a testicle examination before going to church…
              Deuteronomy 23.1 “A man whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off may never join the assembly of the Lord”

              • Rae …
                30 March 2019 at 9:48 am

                Religions, I have always thought, did not encourage birth control, dead opposite in fact, without a procession of adherents they were stuffed, and those that were in control would see their easy way of life disappear before them.
                Religion, I reckon is right up there as a contributor to our overpopulation of the world. (And I reckon it is that that is the root cause of all the ructions today and what looks very much to me as the human race readying itself for another slaughter fest, war).
                Notice how, in countries that have emancipated women, the birth rate drops way lower than replacement even. Work back from that and you see where populations have high birth rates it should come as no surprise that women have little control of their lives and fertility.

                • Rosemary McDonald …
                  30 March 2019 at 10:27 am

                  “Notice how, in countries that have emancipated women, the birth rate drops way lower than replacement even. ”

                  Hah! Take a gander at Brazil. Average of six babies per woman until the late s1960s. Now….birthrate barely replacement.

                  https://www.npr.org/2012/01/15/145133220/brazils-falling-birth-rate-a-new-way-of-thinking

                  You will never guess the major cited reason.

                  • KJT …
                    31 March 2019 at 6:00 am

                    Interesting. It has long been noted that wherever women have more social and economic autonomy, the birth rate has dropped.

                    Something all those right wingers panicking about young brown women, “breeding for a living” should note.
                    If it is a much of a problem, as they claim, they would be trying to give them better options.

    • SPC 7.5
      29 March 2019 at 4:52 pm

      The term, racism, for Islamophobia, comes from the objection to Moslem migration.

      It is similar to German objection to the Jews for not being European, by race and “Christian nation religion”. Which has become called anti-Semtism.

      The same term could be used for Arab Moslems (another semitic language and religious group) – but other Moslems are not Arabs, so the more general term racism for objection to the presence of Moslem migrants in historically “European race and Christian religious majority” nations.

      One could note how hard it is to find any nation, apart from those in Europe or settled by Europeans, that has a Christian majority population.

      But then it is also hard to find any nation without a Christian population that allows Christians to migrate into it (or one Christians would want to migrate to).

  8. Gabby 8
    29 March 2019 at 9:45 am

    I’m curious as to who this pakeha man at the mosque was and what authority he thought he held in that situation.

  9. vto 9
    29 March 2019 at 9:52 am

    Marama “This land we are standing on is land we were violently removed from to uphold the same agenda that killed the people in the Mosques yesterday.”

    jesus christ

    no wonder the greens are pilloried so often, they are their own worst enemies

    • left_forward 9.1
      29 March 2019 at 9:59 am

      You don’t think there is anything in it pto?
      One group (or individual) violently claiming rights and domination over another, based on the so-called superiority of a ‘white’ race – is there no scrap of recognition of similarity here?
      Are you in denial of our shared colonial history?

      • vto 9.1.1
        29 March 2019 at 10:04 am

        No. Negligible to the point of insignificance. Loaded question.

        • left_forward 9.1.1.1
          29 March 2019 at 10:07 am

          Not as loaded as your statement – just trying to suggest that you reflect rather than react.

          • vto 9.1.1.1.1
            29 March 2019 at 10:14 am

            Sorry, which statement was loaded?

            this one? – “jesus christ”

            Or this one? – “no wonder the greens are pilloried so often, they are their own worst enemies”

    • marty mars 9.2
      29 March 2019 at 10:25 am

      The history of the land doesn’t lie – pity you’re in denial.

    • Macro 9.3
      29 March 2019 at 11:45 am

      https://nzhistory.govt.nz/taranaki-war-erupts-after-shots-exchanged-at-waitara
      https://nzhistory.govt.nz/occupation-pacifist-settlement-at-parihaka
      https://nzhistory.govt.nz/british-forces-invade-the-waikato

      Need I go on?

      Face up to it. This land was “settled” by just the same sort of” white supremacy” cods wallop reasoning that underlaid the chch tragedy – and it still lingers today – that is why we have on here, supposedly rational folks, condoning the otherwise bigotry of the Canadian idiots smart guy.

      • vto 9.3.1
        29 March 2019 at 11:49 am

        Disagree. It was surely settled in many lowly ways as described I agree, but I do not agree with the link to the mosque massacres to anything remotely like the extent suggested. Miles off. Just my opinion.

        • Macro 9.3.1.1
          29 March 2019 at 1:34 pm

          Well if you want a body count it is estimated that 2254 Māori were killed
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Wars
          Added to that – they had their lands confiscated, their women raped, and those captured were forced into enslaved labour (or haven’t you read how Dunedin was built?)
          And it persists today. Māori represent 50+% of our prison population, Their lands are even today, still being confiscated to build “Roads of National Significance”. The majority of Māori are represented socio-economically in the bottom half of our society, and they find it very hard to have any voice in our local governments.
          This is what is called for want of a better term “institutionalised racism”
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutional_racism
          Here is an stark example taken from the US – but it applies equally here when we take into account all the above factors I have mentioned*:

          “When white terrorists bomb a black church and kill five black children, that is an act of individual racism, widely deplored by most segments of the society. But when in that same city – Birmingham, Alabama – five hundred black babies die each year because of the lack of power, food, shelter and medical facilities, and thousands more are destroyed and maimed physically, emotionally and intellectually because of conditions of poverty and discrimination in the black community, that is a function of institutional racism. When a black family moves into a home in a white neighborhood and is stoned, burned or routed out, they are victims of an overt act of individual racism which most people will condemn. But it is institutional racism that keeps black people locked in dilapidated slum tenements, subject to the daily prey of exploitative slumlords, merchants, loan sharks and discriminatory real estate agents. The society either pretends it does not know of this latter situation, or is in fact incapable of doing anything meaningful about it.”[3][4]

          * I’m sure marty could list a lot more.

  10. marty mars 10
    29 March 2019 at 10:32 am

    The older paler maler dudes are on the backlash. What about us they preen, we’re the real victims sob sob, dont blame us we done nothing.

    It is good that these sad members of our society are being called out by other men. Men standing up against these whingers, men who know themselves or at least are still trying to grow, men who are mature and kind in their thinking. Thank you to those men.

    • vto 10.1
      29 March 2019 at 10:35 am

      “But the most dangerous long-term threat is being dehumanised and made mere members of a group in the name of identity politics.”

      • left_forward 10.1.1
        29 March 2019 at 10:55 am

        You quoting someone?
        Does this relate to something that mm said?

        • Rosemary McDonald 10.1.1.1
          29 March 2019 at 11:02 am

          vto is quoting from MS’ post which quotes David Seymour.

          (Grrrrrrr..I wish fffolks would a) provide a link to the source of the quote and b) read the post you’re commenting about.)

          vto didn’t need to provide a link as vto is quoting from the post.

          Here endeth the daily display of my OCD. Maybe.

          • left_forward 10.1.1.1.1
            29 March 2019 at 11:18 am

            Cheers. I must have glanced past the David Seymour bit – sorry to wind up your OCD Rosemary. 🙂
            I was mostly concerned about why someone would repeat a quote and then not say anything about it – if they had, then I may have been reminded of the context and not put my foot in it.

            • Rosemary McDonald 10.1.1.1.1.1
              29 March 2019 at 11:24 am

              “Not sure why someone would repeat a quote from the post and then not say anything about it.”

              Sometimes, (and I do this myself) once you’ve quoted, further words are superfluous.

              • vto …
                29 March 2019 at 11:40 am

                Exactly. My Seymour nailed that one and any addition would have only diluted

              • left_forward …
                29 March 2019 at 11:57 am

                Not convinced – it may imply –
                1) you agree wholeheartedly with it
                2) What do you mean?
                3) Yeah, maybe

                This is all about communication – call me old fashioned – but I would prefer that the commenter makes some effort to assist the reader to understand what they are on about.

      • marty mars 10.1.2
        29 March 2019 at 11:05 am

        That’s right vto. For too long the way that paler older mener people think has been the default ‘normal’ . Now that thinking is not tolerated and some can’t stand their ivory towers being toppled – “but what about what I think” they swoon, “hear me” they entreat – and all some people are saying is no, wait your turn, let others be heard. Shock horror the revolution is here!!!!!!!

        • RedLogix 10.1.2.1
          29 March 2019 at 11:09 am

          So what you’re saying is that all the white people should step aside and let everyone else have a turn. That sounds nice. Do you think our PM should set the example?

          • marty mars 10.1.2.1.1
            29 March 2019 at 11:37 am

            Yes still battling away eh lol what a dork.

            • RedLogix 10.1.2.1.1.1
              29 March 2019 at 11:52 am

              So you don’t like being egregiously misrepresented either … I would have thought with all that empathy and inclusiveness you keep telling us about, you might have gotten to this understanding a lot sooner.

              But good we finally got there.

              • marty mars …
                29 March 2019 at 2:10 pm

                I said yes. Those who identify as ‘white’ should shut up and do some listening and Jacinda has led so that others can follow and pick up the work – other MP’s from other groups, religions, ethnicities, sexualities, abilities, ages and parties should continue what Jacinda has started and I see that happening from the Greens.

                • Rosemary McDonald …
                  29 March 2019 at 2:22 pm

                  “Those who identify as ‘white’ should shut up and do some listening…”

                  Could you please define ‘white’?

                  • arkie …
                    29 March 2019 at 2:36 pm

                    Someone who is not a person of colour? That is what the term means; it’s arbitrary and has changed over time but throughout the existence of the term it has been used to define hierarchy.

                    the history of modern racist domination has been bound up with the history of how European peoples defined themselves (and sometimes some other peoples) as members of a superior ‘white race’.

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

                  • marty mars …
                    29 March 2019 at 2:39 pm

                    “White privilege (or white skin privilege) is the societal privilege that benefits people whom society identifies as white in some countries, beyond what is commonly experienced by non-white people under the same social, political, or economic circumstances.”

                    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_privilege

                    Sums it up as well as any explanation for me and some good depth on that wiki page.

                    Edit – snap arkie – am enjoying your comments – Kia kaha

                    • Rosemary McDonald …
                      29 March 2019 at 3:57 pm

                      Thanks for that…but…ingrate that I am…I was asking for your definition of ‘white’.

                      If you see a person and they fit your definition of ‘white’ do you automatically assume they are privileged…by virtue of their whiteness?

                    • marty mars …
                      29 March 2019 at 6:26 pm

                      Skin pigmentation is a proxy for the privileges of being white in many ways imo. This is inherent within the system because of who created the system. It says nothing about bigotry, prejudice or hate. Those are learned skills not related to an inherited gene for pigmentation. Some of the most non racist people I’ve ever known are ‘white’ and through no fault of their own receive privilege because of their skin colour. People of colour lose privileges arbitrarily for the same reason. That’s our society.

                    • KJT []
                      31 March 2019 at 6:34 am

                      Very apparent to me.
                      All my first cousins are brown skinned. My skin is white.
                      We see the difference in treatment, all the time.
                      Even more marked when dealing with people like WINZ. I put on the suit and tie, and a boarding school accent, and they suddenly find all sorts of extra help for the same brown youngsters, they have been treating like shit, when they go there on their own.

                    • RedLogix …
                      29 March 2019 at 7:04 pm

                      The hard truth is that all numerically dominant ethnicity/cultures set up their society to suit themselves; it would be very odd if they didn’t. Indeed you could argue this is the very bedrock of what we think culture is, the opportunity for a people to be they want be, in a place they want live, with a sense of continuity and cohesiveness.

                      That wiki page is really only written in the narrow Anglosphere geographic context in which it could make sense, but globally it’s a nonsense. Try working in any large non-western country like China and get back to me about the ‘white privilege’ you encounter there.

                    • marty mars …
                      29 March 2019 at 8:26 pm

                      Sure red whatever.

                    • RedLogix …
                      29 March 2019 at 8:43 pm

                      There are more middle class people in India than there are in the USA. Add in China and there are more middle class people than there are white people altogether.

                      You need to update some of your assumptions. Or get out more.

                    • KJT []
                      31 March 2019 at 6:43 am

                      If we were Hindi, in India, we would be opposing the cast system, and in China the impost of Mandarin. My Asian relations find they can no longer communicate with younger people in China as the regional dialects are dying out.
                      Muslim women have their own battles with male supremacy.

                      But, we are not there. We are here!

                    • marty mars …
                      30 March 2019 at 12:10 am

                      Grow up.

                    • RedLogix …
                      30 March 2019 at 6:36 am

                      That in the USA, where the political term ‘white privilege’ comes from, the ethnic group with the highest median in come are … Asians.

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

                      perhaps most surprising is that, by many measures, the most-educated immigrant group in the U.S. isn’t East Asians. It’s Africans.

                      https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2015-10-13/it-isn-t-just-asian-immigrants-who-excel-in-the-u-s-

                      You need to update your assumptions.

                    • KJT []
                      31 March 2019 at 6:45 am

                      Have a look at how so many Maori do better in Australia, while Aboriginals are still disadvantaged.

                    • marty mars …
                      30 March 2019 at 3:00 pm

                      so insecure, all the bullshit unraveling, the fakery exposed, the bigotry and prejudice stood up to. Lost man flounders. Go to a support group red you need real help. This country will be unrecognisable to you soon. Yay.

                    • RedLogix …
                      31 March 2019 at 6:45 am

                      Even more marked when dealing with people like WINZ. I put on the suit and tie, and a boarding school accent, and they suddenly find all sorts of extra help for the same brown youngsters, they have been treating like shit, when they go there on their own.

                      And when I accompany my sight and hearing impaired brother to WINZ, then suddenly I find all sorts of extra help for the same white skinned person they have been treating like shit.

                      Are you sure it’s only skin pigmentation that’s the issue?

                      Have a look at how so many Maori do better in Australia, while Aboriginals are still disadvantaged.

                      Odd because when I said the exact same thing to marty some time back he utterly blew up on me.

                      But again, maybe skin pigmentation hasn’t got as much to do with it as you assert.

                    • KJT []
                      31 March 2019 at 7:03 am

                      So. My direct experience, doesn’t count.

                      I notice you didn’t address the observation, about the very different treatment my brown skinned cousins get, compared to me.

                      Marty has had different experiences from me. We are not required to think the same.

                      Certainly we are not arrogant enough to think we represent all Maori, all males or all Pakeha. Like everyone I can only speak from my own experience.

                    • KJT []
                      31 March 2019 at 7:39 am

                      I think he blew up at you because of the perspective, and what you were trying to justify..
                      Maori in Australia do not get the same stereotyping, as they do in New Zealand. So it is an escape from prejudice.

                    • RedLogix …
                      31 March 2019 at 7:10 am

                      There may be many reasons why WINZ treats people like shit; irrational racial prejudice may well be one of them. But to suggest it’s the only reason (especially from an organisation that employs many non-white people) isn’t reasonable.

                    • KJT []
                      31 March 2019 at 7:41 am

                      Yeah! there is also bene bashing. Prejudice, and supremacy, takes many forms.

                      And. You know about the victims of prejudice, internalising the hate directed at them. And being meaner to their own in consequence. A motivation for much homophobia for example.

                    • RedLogix …
                      31 March 2019 at 9:48 am

                      @KJT

                      And when you think about it what this demonstrates is that the stereotyping is not necessarily about irrational prejudices around skin colour. Most modern people have gotten past that. The real problems arise in the context of behaviour; which is a much harder conversation to have.

                      In many ways I’ve found Australia a lot more accepting of ethnic differences than many places I’ve worked. No matter who you are, if you turn up, work hard, play hard and engage with people with an open hand, you’ll be accepted for who you are. They can be blunt, but at least you always know where you stand with them.

                      Sure they’ll give you endless shit for at least two generations; it’s when they stop doing it you have to start worrying. 🙂

          • JanM 10.1.2.1.2
            29 March 2019 at 12:04 pm

            What do you hope to achieve by being deliberately obtuse?

        • vto 10.1.2.2
          29 March 2019 at 11:20 am

          True it has been I agree it has been the default ‘normal’…

          .. and best we don’t continue it. With anyone.

          Perhaps this is where some of the world’s best ever, such as Ghandi and Mandela come in with the approaches they took..

          as opposed to the approach of some of the world’s worst ever, such as Mugabe.

          Are you a Mandela? Or a Mugabe?

          This is the fulcrum I think

          • marty mars 10.1.2.2.1
            29 March 2019 at 11:41 am

            Allowing other voices, other experiences and other ways of thinking would be enlightening for many paler older mener men. Takes the burden of always being right, always having to have the answers, always having to try and look alpha, away. Whew. The pressure reduces – violence reduces, suicide reduces and love increases, acceptance increases, connection increases. That’s the society I want.

        • Stuart Munro. 10.1.2.3
          29 March 2019 at 11:36 am

          Yeah, you know I think I’ll stick with the UN on that one:

          Article 21.
          Everyone has the right to take part in the government of their country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

          There are plenty of injustices around, neither yours nor mine has the right to claim primacy.

        • JanM 10.1.2.4
          29 March 2019 at 12:03 pm

          + 100%

  11. Higherstandard 11
    29 March 2019 at 11:01 am

  12. esoteric pineapples 12
    29 March 2019 at 11:15 am

    The Green Party are the Kurds of New Zealand politics – everyone attacks them and their only friend is the mountains

    • Higherstandard 12.1
      29 March 2019 at 2:22 pm

      I think someone has been playing around with your keyboard.

    • esoteric pineapples 12.2
      29 March 2019 at 3:08 pm

      Nope – the Greens are constantly attacked from all sides. It’s like everyone has a gripe with them for one reason or another – too left, not left enough, too idealistic, not idealistic enough, too compromising, not making enough compromises. And like the Kurds, Green Party members have a strong affinity with the mountains

      • Incognito 12.2.1
        29 March 2019 at 11:51 pm

        The Greens are like Icelanders when everybody ‘kindly’ suggests that they stick to hugging trees when there are no trees in Iceland.

  13. Dennis Frank 13
    29 March 2019 at 12:00 pm

    Having supported the multicultural ethos for 55 years, I share your stance on this. Concern about the Greens being all over the park is a thing, however, and I get why Trotter feels the need to make his point.

    I try to avoid commenting on wokery, but agree that your citations from the two women seem worthy of support – they express valid concerns, widely-held. Passionate political advocacy based on principled political positions is what we expect. I support their right to deliver it and see no obvious problem with their framing. They are acting in accord with their conscience, and it seems to fit the political context appropriately.

    Trotter is making a technical political point, signalling the likely effect on the future of the government. He’s guessing. His rationale is sound, the analogy seems suitable, but I suspect times have changed enough that things won’t actually work out the way he fears they will.

    As regards the bomber’s editorial policy, it goes whichever way the wind is blowing. A few months back I was impressed by how firmly he was supporting the Greens. Grumpy old man syndrome takes quite a while to embed, so it makes sense for him to get an early start. 😎

  14. SPC 14
    29 March 2019 at 4:22 pm

    Like many aging white middle class privilege males both CT and MB are no longer credible voices on the left. Trotter even opposes a CGT.

    I’ve stopped posting on the Daily Blog because Bradbury refuses to post any criticism of his attacks on the woke Greens – he uses the term woke the way those on HUAC, like Nixon, used the term UnAmerican as a pejoritive to marginalise. It’s become habitual to him now, much like hate speech is to a racist.

    It’s the language of power and privilege, attacking those who stand up for others. Little wonder right wing radio finds him so convenient.

    • Muttonbird 14.1
      29 March 2019 at 11:21 pm

      Scathing on Bradbury, but true.

      He’s fallen into the trap of having to be controversial in order to be relevant. Only he’s neither in the eyes of his new right wing audience.

    • Muttonbird 14.2
      30 March 2019 at 12:08 am

      And Trotter having aligned with the free speech coalition stands with the right wing against Davidson’s and Ghahraman’s criticisms of the power structures of the West.

      The white right wing are being a bit shifty here – they’re framing themselves as another innocent party who are just as prey to racism and hate speech in this country as anyone else. This of course is ridiculous.

      Having had the blow torch put upon them for their casual, embedded and previously accepted racism, they seek to wriggle out quietly hoping no one will notice.

      Don’t let them because they’ll just go back to their old ways.

  15. SHG 15
    29 March 2019 at 5:56 pm

    All I can say in response is why did his party dog whistle so strongly on the UN convention of Migrant rights and against immigrants?

    And if you need proof: (img)

    Try as I might I can’t connect these things.

  16. Lionel 16
    29 March 2019 at 11:46 pm

    I rarely read anything Trotter writes i starting going off him when he was praising Key all the time.He might have been a lefty once but not anymore

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    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

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