Food security in New Zealand
The Standard regular commenter Macro takes a look at the state of food security in NZ
Social issues
human rights
Good Witches Hunting
With the publishing of another misogynistic cartoon, it’s time to ask who were the witches and why are so many men still afraid of them?
Respecting our Rights and the New Zealand Constitution
The Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister teased a little bit of constitutional change yesterday. Let’s look at what that could actually mean, and how it could upon up old laws for review by Parliament.
Rimutaka Prison.
Who are the bigger criminals?
Updated.
The Humanity.
Thoughtless thugs. Killers.
Women’s March Speech.
Sometimes, someone just knocks it out the park. Viola Davis just knocked it out the park. (h/t Carolyn_nth)
NRT on submitting on the End of Life Choice Bill
“If you care about the bill, I encourage you to speak up about it.”
Take abortion out of the Crimes Act
Abortion is still a crime in NZ. It’s time to change the law so that women don’t have to lie about their mental health to get the health care they need.
#WeAreBeneficiaries fundraiser
Artist activist group We are Beneficiaries are writing a report to share the stories they’ve been collecting from beneficiaires with the new Ministers to help make a case for change.
“Such inexcusable neglect”
The Auckland housing crisis in graph form.
The NZ Government passes Health Homes Guarantee Act
“Every New Zealander deserves a warm, healthy home to live in, and the Health Homes Guarantee Act will help ensure that”
Thank-you Golriz
ffs NZ, get a grip. Then have a think about fairness and what kind of society we want.
Australia supports same sex marriage
Australian electors have voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing same sex marriages.
Beneficiary for life: the joys of permanent disability in present day NZ
What happens to long term beneficiaries who can’t increase their income with paid work?
Justice for Teina Pora
Andrew Little has announced that the Government will increase the payout to Teina Pora by adjusting for inflation and by paying costs on Pora’s successful judicial review of the previous Government’s decision.
Labour Day
Extra sweet this year.
Industrial dairying and blue babies
When you run an economy that sees harm to babies as acceptable risks that can be mitigated, then you are approaching society’s end game.
If it’s not gay, it’s not gay
The Rainbow Youth video that went viral.
Today is the last day to enroll – and you should
Today is the last day you can enroll to vote in the election. Historically far too many people in the 18-24 age group have not enrolled. The same again would suit the Nats very well indeed.
Update: Newsroom: “A record turnout of early voters suggests a youthquake in action – and the polls might be wrong.”
Update: If you are trying to enrol and the queues are long, here are the other ways you can do it, including online!
Update: you can enrol up until midnight Friday online, and then vote at a polling station on Saturday. Details here.
Race Relations Commissioner calls on UN to to support inquiry into the abuse of children in state care
Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy has called on the UN to tell the government to hold an independent inquiry into the abuse of children and people with disabilities in state care. (Some of us were wrong about Devoy!)
No Right Turn: Dealing with ghost homes
“we want houses to be homes for people to live in, not gold bars for the rich”
The Catholic Church is urging its parishoners to vote
The catholic bishops of Aotearoa have released a pamphlet urging parishoners to vote. And apart from conservative positions on euthenasia and drug liberalisation the policies they support have a decidedly progressive bent.
#IamMetiria
If you know that feeling of dread when you get a WINZ letter, or if you’ve had roiling anxiety from being ‘called in’ for a WINZ interview, or sighed with relief when the letter from WINZ turns out to be a replacement community services card, then follow #IamMetiria. And if you just don’t recognise those, then you might want to follow #IamMetiria to find out why others do…
Nat / ACT don’t think poor people should have kids
ACT’s David Seymour thinks that poor people shouldn’t be allowed to have kids. If that sounds familiar it should – the Nats have said more or less the same thing over the years.
Why no inquiry into abuse in state care?
As we celebrate Parliament’s apology for historical convictions for homosexuality, it surely raises the question of why the government is so hardheartedly against an inquiry into historical abuse.
Manus Island operator seeking to buy and manage Housing Corporation Homes
The Government is seeking to sell 2,500 Christchurch Housing Corporation homes. The shortlist of potential purchasers includes an Australian company recently successfully sued for human rights breaches of refugees on Manus Island.
The Nation on housing
The Nation did good work on the housing crisis yesterday. This is the Brighter Future that Bill English warned of in 2010.
Signals
The politics of the Grenfell Tower fire.
When immigration means exploitation
Those arguing for unrestricted immigration are – wittingly or unwittingly – fueling higher levels of exploitation in NZ.
Fabian seminar tonight: What would a people’s Budget look like?
Something to check out if you are in Auckland tonight, the CTU’s Bill Rosenberg discusses the budget. He will “examine the Government’s priorities and look at what needs to be done”.
UN calls for investigation into Operation Burnham
Well well. What will you do now Bill?
An appropriate apology and an issue that needs fixing
The Ministry of Social Development illegally penalised a woman who refused to name the rapist father of her child. The case shines a spotlight on an issue that needs fixing.
NRT: A constitutional change
I/S at No Right Turn writes: “The Court has ruled that the High Court was right to declare that National’s 2010 prisoner voting restrictions (the ones which were so shabby and shoddily passed that they brought Parliament into disrepute) were inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act“
The other conference
Richard Harman on the Politik blog: “Overall, to use a favourite Government saying, it was an ‘untidy’ weekend capped by a flat speech from English which saw delegates ignore placards they’d been given to wave when he finished speaking.” The B-team is missing John Key.
Pencilsword on renting
Pencilsword does brilliant analysis and commentary in cartoon form. Go check out the latest on the invisible rental crisis…
Squatters’ rights
You know things are bad when MPs start thinking squatting is a viable option.