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6:00 am, April 8th, 2026 - 17 comments
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Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
Has trump got the ability to nuke Iran?
If he does he will definitely end up in the Hague at some point !!!
Unfortunately Mad King Trump and Kaptain Amerika Hesgeth have sacked/retired many (most?) rational US Military Commanders…to enable possible further insanity.
Its a worry…
Anyone who thinks of Ol' JD Vance as an alternative ? Fuck no…
Very dangerous people. NZ needs to Stand Up !
Israel has the nuclear weapons and has far less restraint than the United States to use them. I think there's a pretty good chance that the will now.
The last person who believed that Persia would be destroyed in a forthcoming war was the king of Babylon. We know what happened then.
The Macedonian united the Greeks and went to Persepolis.
Heard of the Muslim conquest of Persia in 651CE?
After them came
The outcome of the one against Persia was predicted by the Delphic Oracle, which was the reason for Nebacanezza's optimism, albeit that the Oracle had hedged her bets on which empire would be destroyed. This is the war that Donald seems to be emulating.
The PM is facing another crisis
Someone has a private members before the house.
Bishop thinks it a distraction, but the social conservative Luxon (see sexuality in schools programme) finds Peters useful.
Leading from the front Luxon said confidently
*Non pregnant people, are not women?
https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360981201/coalition-partners-hold-deciding-votes-nz-firsts-gender-bill
The NZ Post article is paywalled.
I think the Bill is aimed at getting NZF votes, and does not show enough consideration of the issues involved. It certainly is not a considered attempt to improve the lot of females.
To me the main problem is sex self ID, and it is gender identity that lacks a stable and verifiable definition as it all depends on self declaration.
It's also a problem that self-ID has been promoted as being more significant than biologically verifiable reality. eg Stats NZ uses it as the default characteristic for data gathering, whereas it should be the more stable and verifiable category of sex.
If anything, I think there should be a clear legal biologically-anchored definition of sex (male/female) that is distinct from gender or gender ID. Gender ID if you dig into how it's used, rests on sex-based stereotypes, norms, behaviours and expectations ie of each sex.
I would prefer that the focus be on keeping biological definitions of sex as foundational, and focusing more on protecting gender expression against discrimination, harassment etc.: ie behaviour, personal presentation (clothes mannerisms etc), as well as surgeries undergone and hormones taken that can alter appearance somewhat, and DSDs.
RNZ reports that the Bill would negatively impact Intersex people.
Actually Intersex is a dated term, and, medically and by a large number of advocates, has been replaced by the term Differences of Sex Development (DSD). I think DSD should be given specific mention in any human rights law focused on sex as a protected category.
DSD is a variation from usual sex development and can and should be medically identified. It is often identified at birth, or at puberty. This is because people with DSDs most often require or can choose some specific kinds of medical attention. They make up fewer than 0.02% of the population, and except for perhaps an infinitesimally small portion of that group are scientifically identifiably males or females.
These days the term Intersex is largely used politically, and it's meaning has stretched by some trans IDed people self IDing as Intersex.
I would prefer any law protecting people from discrimination on the basis of sex to include gender expression as part of that protection. And I suggest DSD also gets a specific mention in any such law, because people with DSDs can have variations in some sex characteristics.
In 2025 Peters said of the members bill
Luxon is on the same song sheet with his language this year.
It must be pretty legal, or Peter Dunne would have said something.
Scene setting
Before 2023 – there was the managed regime (Family Court, transition etc). That was influenced by inclusion within society era for same sex people and their relationships, including "transsexual", now called "transgender". That went on to include acceptance of gender expression. From there to self identity without state involvement. But this does cause issues for the state and within society.
The recent walk back from this in the UK is well-known, as is that by the GOP in USA, first in Red states and then by the federal administration since 2024.
The C of C seem set to follow. It is for those who voted otherwise in 2023 to explain why.
Separating out biological sex and gender identity would be one way they could go.
(gender expression is so broad within each sex category)
(of course there is gender fluid, non binary, bi-gender as well)(then there are socialite clubbers – both straight and gay both doing transvestite).
But the issue remains most fraught who seek acceptance as other than their biological sex, so even if the C of C want to do a 20th C wind back (despite the 1980 DSM) they will have to consider the transsexual/transgender people for whom the pre 2023 managed regime was developed.
Yes. It's become over-reach in NZ, while other countries, including some European ones, are winding back from things like puberty blockers, self ID of minors etc, and looking more closely at outcomes of 'gender affirming care.
SDC:
Separating out biological sex and gender identity would be one way they could go.
(gender expression is so broad within each sex category)
Yes, but gender ID is too broad now as well, as you indicate. And, in fact, gender expression really is covered by protecting against discrimination by sex. It would be making it more explicit.
I would prefer the older language of transsexual and transvestitie as they have more clarity.
A big problem I can see with putting the political slogan "adult human female/male" into law is to do with the legal age of "adult". eg is a female of legally minor age who becomes pregnant, an "adult human female"?
Puberty is an extended period, which young people go through at slightly different ages, and many young people are going through it now at an earlier age than has happened historically. Is a pregnant 13 year old female neurologically mature enough to make "adult" decisions? And at 12-13 years old they may not yet be physically capable of sustaining a healthy pregnancy.
Those d—-d enshittificators* never give up:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/591645/controversial-hawke-s-bay-dam-project-gets-18m-loan-from-government
*Well it's a word now.
Does anyone ever compare the preliminary job forecasts with the numbers of jobs that are actually created? (Similarly optimistic forecasts are made when taxpayer money is thrown at feel-good events like the America's Cup).
Did the dam promoters make a donation to a political party before the last election, and if so, which one?
Just in: Iran wins war.
The threat
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98kn1zlxr1o
Trump now says the threat is suspended two weeks provided the Strait of Hormuz opens.
President Donald Trump said he'd agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than two hours before his deadline to destroy a "whole civilisation".
Trump is realising peace by cease-fire.
Iran says
https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/07/world/live-news/iran-war-trump-us-israel?post-id=cmnp8b6kb0001356sct0yez8e
https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/07/world/live-news/iran-war-trump-us-israel?post-id=cmnp8ppvt0000356t1bpphlmo
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/07/world/live-news/iran-war-trump-us-israel
The IRGC claims its survival is Iran’s victory.
So Trump will now be awarded the Nobel Prize for bringing Peace to the Middle East
Pakistan for the Nobel Peace Prize!!