Petition on Slater’s hate speech
Social issues
racism
International investment in Auckland housing
Phil Twyford’s recent announcement on Auckland’s housing crisis raises important issues concerning the inflow of overseas capital into our housing market. But should it have depersonalised the argument?
Amazing Grace
Barack Obama sings the spiritual Amazing Grace during the eulogy for Clementa Pinckney, one of those killed by a racist gunman in Charleston. Not completely in tune, but he hits the right note. As his Presidency winds down, Obama has one last opportunity to move the American mindset. The rule of the gun must end.
I hope Ngati Whatua have a really good Mokopuna day
According to some Ngati Whatua wanting to use Okahu Bay for a Mokopuna day has created something of a crisis. Maybe not for us or anyone who is reasonable but for the rednecks and the rabid right.
Revolutionary Spain, Revolutionary Syria, and the Bastards We Vote For.
It seems that just as the 30’s offered the chance to turn dreams into reality, Syria is offering that chance up to ‘the left’ today. Suddenly, for me, the recent travel bans and the passport confiscation laws etc make sense since we are potentially looking at an international influx of non-nutters and non- psychopaths as happened during the Spanish Revolution of the 30s.
rising poverty amongst asians
a new report shows that poverty related illnesses are growing at a rapid rate for asian children, and so are other poverty indicators. some of this is related to a more settled population, but we also need to talk about racism.
The cost of terrorist rhetoric
When John Key takes to the media to over-hype the risks of ISIS terrorism to NZ, there is a cost.
Myths of Waitangi Day – & Hikoi
The ratings driven MSM beat up dramas and conflict in relation to Waitangi Day – they continue to circulate myths about the Day. Morgan Godfery has blogged about those myths. Meanwhile, the hikoi to protect our seas and land continues. [update: Rachel Smalley]
I guess this just shows the Right doesn’t have a monopoly on arseholes
The other day, I wrote a piece on Poto Williams’ selection to be Labour’s candidate in the Christchurch East by-election. I promptly had to ban a commenter who assumed her selection was due to a quota – ie. a woman Cook Islander can’t possibly win on her own merit. Unfortunately, it seems The Standard sets higher, um, standards than The Herald, which published a similar argument by Damien Rogers today.
Why the Pakeha Party is great news for the Left
The ‘Pakeha Party’ has the most Facebook followers of any New Zealand political movement (excepting John Key’s page) That’s in one day of publicity. They’re seriously talking about forming an actual political party. Should we be worried about this apparent reactionary force? Nah. The creation of a ‘Pakeha Party’ would be good news.
Envy
The mantra of the ‘Pakeha Party’ is ‘If Maori get it, we want it to [sic]! No matter WHAT it is
(Yes, they still haven’t fixed the spelling error in their fucken motto)
Well, let’s have a look at what ‘Maori get’.
What “terrorism” means
Glen Greenwald says the word terrorism has almost exclusively become reserved for violence by Muslims.
I reckon replace “Muslims” with “non-white” and you’re getting closer.
The invisible commissioner?
Recent ignorance of Maori custom and Kiwi culture, both at home and abroad, invited a response from newly minted Race Relations Commissioner Susan Devoy. So far – nothing…
Councillor Bruce Wilson: racist and incompetent
Councillor Bruce Wilson thinks it’s a “joke” to say we should sterilise Maaori women who smoke. If you don’t think he should resign for his racism, let’s consider if he should resign for being too ignorant to function.
Greens announce non-racist policy; 3News decides to make it racist
Yet again, Patrick Gower digs deep to find a story where there really isn’t one.
ImperatorFish: A special thank-you to Richard Prosser
Scott thinks Richard Prosser’s done us a favour.
Just get the f*ck out
Prosser, just f*cken resign. There’s no place for the likes of you. You’ve been elected purely to make up numbers for Peters. And you couldn’t even do that without being a disgusting bigot. You’re not the only rightwinger playing up race fears. Hooton claims Indonesia will invade due to climate change. Key tells scary stories of made-up boat people. But you’re the worst. Just go.
John Key discovers the usefulness of Yellow Peril
Bad jobs numbers and a succession of collapses of major businesses weighing your government down? You need: distraction! How about an old classic from the New Zealand politician’s playbook – the Yellow Peril! Passed on by Seddon and Peters, Yellow Peril’s now being wielded by John Key as he talks of vague, unsubstantiated threats that boatloads of Indonesians are heading for our shores.
We are all Latino now
Rabid Republican partisan Bill O’Reilly lamented the demise of “the white establishment” on Fox News. Take away the bitterness, prejudice, and racism, and O’Reilly is correct about some of the facts. Obama was elected by “minorities”, as predicted the Latino vote was particularly significant. Will an all white ticket win the presidential election ever again?
Turn off turnout – National’s 2014 strategy?
Depress turnout among low-income voters by changing the enrolment rules – it’s an old right-wing trick. The Republicans are doing it in the US – it looks like National may try it on here. They should not succeed.
Structural discrimination
Structural discrimination is alive and well in NZ. It makes nonsense of all the right-wing “one law for all” and beneficiary bashing rhetoric.
Are we this racist?
A day after a Sunday Star Times piece about how racism is getting worse in New Zealand comes the apparent proof.
Farrar shills for NZ’s most racist academic
Remember Greg Clydesdale? He caused quite a fuss in 2008 when the Dom uncritically ran a frontpage story based on his “research” that concluded Pacific Islanders are a drain on a society who are, amongst other sins, crowding ‘our’ beaches. Well, he’s back, spouting more anti-immigrant trash, and Farrar’s blowing the dog-whistle for him.
Cheeky darkie Holmes at it again
In which racist Paul Holmes parades his prejudices. Again.
Free speech hate speech
The free speech / hate speech boundary is always a difficult call. I’m glad to live in a country that tries to err on the side of the former. Even so, the latest bullshit from the “Right Wing Resistance” really rankles.
Lhaws’ lhabours lhost
Michael Lhaws has done more to hurt ethnic relations in this country than, arguably, anyone else in the past decade. He chose the most racially divided city in the land and cynically exploited those divisions to get the attention his pathetic ego craves. Now, one of his greatest ‘achievements’ has been ruled illegal.
Lessons in hatred and tolerance
There are some ugly things going on in England at the moment, with PM David Cameron feeding an already eager fire of anger directed at Muslims. Meanwhile in Egypt thousands of Muslims acted as human shields to protect Christians from terrorist attack. “It is up to the press to report these positive stories and not exaggerate the sway that extremists hold over the global Muslim community.”
3 time loser wins
In a surprise to no-one, John Key has appointed 3 time election loser Hekia Parata to replace the latest of his corrupt ministers to walk the plank – Pansy Wong. I’m hoping Parata will be less of a disgrace than Wong. It wouldn’t be hard, she would just have to actually try to answer questions in the House and actually do something about the wage gaps.
I’ve had a gut’s full too, Hone
I get Hone Harawira’s anger over National’s pandering to rednecks over the Foreshore and Seabed new legislation. That was the same anger that led to the Maori Party being formed in the first place (ironic that they’re voting for the new law). But I can’t abide by the racist language and actions he resorts to.
Paul Henry’s jokes about women, deaf people and infant deaths, proudly brought to you by TVNZ
Here’s a compilation from TV7’s Russell Brown from April this year, highlighting the value for money taxpayers get from paying Breakfast Bigot Paul […]
Analysing Henry’s ‘apology’, TVNZ & Key’s mishandling
We’ve had a lot of coverage of the issue of TVNZ’s bigoted host but I want to chip in with a few points: Paul Henry’s ‘apology’ is in fact a calculated dog whistle to bigots, the blame for Henry goes to a deeper rot in TVNZ, and we have seen prove positive of John Key’s complete inability to lead and stand up for what’s right.
NZ’s new racist international image, proudly brought to you by TVNZ
Here’s some of the international coverage of New Zealand that Paul Henry’s racist outburst against our Governor General Anand Satyanand has sparked. In […]
Sack Paul Henry – protests at TVNZ
Join the protests this evening outside TVNZ in both Auckland and Wellington calling for Paul Henry to be sacked.
AUCKLAND: 5pm, TVNZ HQ, 100 Victoria Street West
WELLINGTON: 5pm, TVNZ, 86 Lambton Quay
Quick thoughts on Henry’s “apology”
So he’s apologised to the Governor General personally but not to the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who he has described as […]