Helen Clark farewelled by UN
Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
Social issues
human rights
Motels are full of homeless so now what?
Ordinary people are priced out of home ownership and increasingly out of renting, the state-housing safety net has been deliberately run down, and now the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff is full. National leaps into action – by asking the Salvation Army for ideas…
Bid for Helen (for Women’s Refuge)
A rescued portrait of Helen Clark is raising money for Women’s Refuge via TradeMe.
MSD and our privacy
National’s plans for our privacy and access to social services are a perfect cocktail of over-reach and incompetence.
NZ is number one – for domestic violence
It’s great that the government is planning some action on this shameful situation. It’s a pity that they are treating the consequences, not the underlying social problems that contribute so much to the causes, and it’s a pity that it’s taken so long.
What are we America now?
Last night ONE News had an important exclusive on Syrian-born Kiwis who say they are being subjected to “intrusive and unnecessary searches” at our border, including demands to pass over social media passwords. This needs an investigation, and if some officers are crossing the line, it needs to be dealt with quickly.
Call to teach consent in schools
Yesterday evening saw a well attended rally at Parliament to protest rape culture in NZ, and call for the teaching of consent in schools.
RIP Murray Ball
The gender pay gap – grandstanding but no action
A new report has some really interesting findings on the gender pay gap. Paula Bennett engaged in a bit of grandstanding, but it rings completely hollow given National’s history on the issue.
Happy International Women’s Day.
Social investment meets the surveillance state
First they came for the budgeting services. Now we know that every social service agency has to provide clients’ private personal data to […]
Free speech vs hate speech
Auckland Uni is in a difficult position – a classic dilemma with two important principles at stake.
Win for sanity in Hager vs Westpac
The Privacy Commission issues a ruling that should not have been unnecessary.
Living wage rises to $20.20 an hour
The living wage rises, and an odd argument for abolishing the minimum wage.
Auckland: Stop Niki’s Eviction!
Time to take action against the destruction of communities and privatisation of social housing.
We Are All ‘Identarian’ Now
There has been an unfortunate trend developing in recent weeks, of negatively labelling people who dare to have a different opinion on equality to the labeller, as identarian. This description is something to be appreciated in these times when dark forces appear to be on the rise again.
Russia’s ‘traditional family values’
Constructive and positive ‘conservative’ organisations everywhere should be outraged at the way the use of ‘traditional family values’ gets corrupted, and they should be doing more to speak out against it.
“Middle East leftovers”
Compassionate conservatism in action. No wonder English was so tame in his criticism of Trump’s Muslim ban.
A PM but not a leader
Bill English has failed his first test of real leadership. Compare and contrast, English and Little’s responses to the Muslim ban.
Update: The image is Emmerson’s take in The Herald.
Americans Killed By Terrorists since 9/11.
Killed in the USA?
NRT: Embarrassing
I/S at No Right Turn writes on a political refugee – from Australia.
Will English speak up on Trump’s ban?
World leaders are condemning Trump’s Muslim ban. What does the PM of our country have to say on the matter?
Petition for medicinal cannabis
Good to see that Nikki Kaye is doing so well after her cancer scare. Also good to see her changing her mind on an important issue. Please sign the petition to allow doctors to prescribe medicinal cannabis.
Trump’s global gag law on abortion
“Donald Trump signs anti-abortion executive order surrounded by men”
Sit-in Occupation to Stop Niki’s Eviction Tuesday 24th January
“These are the people’s assets” – Ioela ‘Niki’ Rauti.
State houses are being given to developers, and people are being evicted from their homes.
Briefing Papers: And so this is Christmas…
Alicia Sudden reflects on Christmas at The Briefing Papers: “Yet this brief annual window excludes the elephant in the room: that this poverty is a consequence of our welfare system failing to provide the support it was intended to.”
A warning from post-truth Turkey
A Turkish journalist writes about the “post-truth” collapse of human rights in Turkey, and warns “western” readers that the same thing is happening to them.
Tolley needs to apologise
Kim Hill had an astounding and outstanding interview with Anne Tolley this morning on RNZ. The 7.30 news was delayed 12 minutes as […]
RNZ on suppressed child abuse report
RNZ this morning describes a 2011 report by the Chief Human Rights Commissioner on historical child abuse in NZ. “It was never published because, she says, the Attorney General Chris Finlayson did not like its recommendations.”
Standing Rock update
The Standing Rock water protection movement continues in the face of increasing state violence.
International Days of Prayer and Action with Standing Rock
What we know is coming largely from outside the mainstream. Which is how it should be.
Why we need to stand with Standing Rock
For seven months the next movement of social and environmental justice and resistance has been growing. We should be paying attention.
NZ Human Rights Commission Open Letter to NZ Rugby Union on respecting women
The Human Rights Commission is calling on New Zealanders to sign the open letter to New Zealand Rugby, which asks them to seek support in addressing their internal culture issues.
Supported autonomy
Philip Patston writes about the important difference between autonomy and independence.
Last chance to sign the equal pay petition
New Zealand’s record is shameful. It is long past time or equal pay. You can sign the petition here.
Toby Morris: TA’s Story
Illustrator and commentator Toby Morris has animated TA’s story: “What do you want most in the world,” John Campbell asks TA, who has been living in a van with her family since February. “A library.”
New Zealand’s most shameful secret: ‘We have normalised child poverty’
Fuck the whole “Brighter Future” New Zealand.