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617 suicides – The real reason we never want to mention suicide in NZ

Suicide stats were quietly  released this week.

Like a cultural scab we no longer pick at because the shame is too great and the weeping wound too painful to even acknowledge…

Suicide remains a huge concern

“Today’s release of our national suspected suicide statistics reflects the many thousands of New Zealanders grieving a loved one to suspected suicide at this time,” Shaun Robinson, chief executive of the MHF, says. 

“These 617 people are more than just numbers – they were someone’s mother, father, daughter, son, sister, brother, life partner, whānau member, colleague or friend. It’s important to keep these people affected by the death of a loved one at the front of our minds today, and every day.  

“If you know someone who is grieving, now could be a good time to reach out to them, to have a kōrero and to offer any support they might need. 

“If you are grieving – and there is no timeframe for grief – I strongly encourage you to access Aoake te Rā, a free support service for people bereaved by suicide.” 

The data released today by the Office of the Chief Coroner shows a suspected suicide rate of 11.2 people per every 100,000, compared with 10.4 people per every 100,000 last year.  

 

The horror of our suicide rate gives us a glimpse behind the ‘she’ll be right’ facade of our culture and the dark torment of an alpha male macho mental landscape that is terribly fragile.

Our under funded social infrastructure, our ‘me first’ consumerism, our 30 years of neoliberal mythology, our disconnection from one another, our untreated pain, our lack of hope from grinding poverty in a first world country, our damaged masculinity, the intergenerational consequences of colonialism, our unspoken rage culture, our inability to express emotion beyond anger – all of this demands questions we don’t want to hear as a society and the shame of suicide continues to hide and smother any healing.

In a society that has no religious faith and all the cultural maturity of a can of coke, the bonds which keep us attached are frail and disconnected. In our fetishisation of individualism we have lost the central part of the human condition –  connection.

We have traded in our interwoven threads of whanau, friendship and kin for a race where no one wins.

The reason we can’t talk about suicide is because we can’t stand to talk about the dark treacle of self hate and loneliness at the core of consumer culture. We don’t dare confront the hollowness of our existence on these far flung crags of rock for fear of what we will reveal about ourselves.

Damaged individuals competing for a self identity too fragile for the storms and tempests of life.

Thanks to neoliberalism, we are further from each other than ever before.

Look at the manner in which our suicide rates jumped after the neoliberal reforms of the 1980s, where we moved away from the communal towards the individual…

…we huddle frightened on these lonely rocks at the end of the world and slowly one by one slip off into the swallowing dark. Until we are prepared to confront many of the individualism-over-all myths and rebuild our tattered communities, our suicide rate will remain reminding us of our whispered deceptions.

We refuse to ask the why of suicide because we are too frightened to know the answer is a reflection of the shallow and lonely community we have become. Instead we reel off a list of phone numbers whenever we dare mention suicide as if that means a fucking thing.

We are broken and no one wants to admit that.

 

 

Increasingly having independent opinion in a mainstream media environment which mostly echo one another has become more important than ever, so if you value having an independent voice – please donate here.

3 Buck Chuck *ucks West Coast

Dismay as West Coast school lunches set to be made in Hamilton

Next year’s West Coast school lunches will be made in Hamilton and shipped to the coast, the Ministry of Education says.

Local suppliers were told last week that their Ka Ora, Ka Ako, healthy school lunch contracts would not be renewed.

From 2025, lunches will instead be supplied by School Lunch Collective, led by international company Compass Group, nationwide.

Ministry of Education operations and integration hautū (leader) Sean Teddy said all meals would be made in Hamilton and shipped to regional kitchens nationwide, where they would be stored, heated if needed, and delivered to schools.

The locations of the 29 kitchens were still being finalised, he said.

On Friday, local principals expressed dismay about the change. They were unsure how it would work or what extra work it would mean for staff.

We are literally taking out ion the mouth of hungry children to stuff the pockets of the richest.

The biggest element of this story has been hidden and glossed over here.

Exactly.

The food is now processed shit from corporations with appalling track record in food service provision…

We know that the largest school lunch providers, Libelle and Compass, have lost significant numbers of schools in the past year, due to performance issues – with schools opting to go with alternative providers.

…plus we are killing off 75 local food suppliers at a time when we have rising unemployment…

‘Massive blow’: 75 suppliers lose school lunch contracts

Thousands of jobs are on the line as 75 suppliers will lose their school lunch contracts at the end of the year.A consortium led by global catering giant Compass Group won the contract to deliver free school lunches to 176,000 students under a new model.The consortium, which includes Libelle and Gilmours, will deliver lunches or ingredients to schools at $3 a pop, down from up to $8.69 under the current model.Suppliers who have missed out on the contract say the new model is a “massive blow” to their business.

…which in turn kills off the local element of the school food programme, the ability for parents to help out and become engaged, the use of local farms and food grown at school as part of the process.

You know, all the community element that makes this programme so important.

What we have had replaced is shit food from corporations with shit records at providing food.

David Seymour has managed to take a great policy and fuck it up.

The greatest audacity here?

We’ve had to cut these food programmes because this Government needed $2.9billion for Landlords tax loopholes.

We took out of the mouth of children to put into the pockets of the rich.

Our children, living in a land of milk and honey, deserve better than this!

 

Increasingly having independent opinion in a mainstream media environment which mostly echo one another has become more important than ever, so if you value having an independent voice – please donate here.

Education Minister Erica Stanford’s claims about Māori fact checked as lies

OUCH!

NZ minister’s justification for axing Maori language program misleads

AAP FACTCHECK – A claim by a New Zealand government minister that an evaluation of a Maori language program found no evidence it impacted student progress or achievement is misleading.

The evaluation didn’t look at the program’s impact on student progress and achievement. Rather, its focus was the administration of the program and the impact it had on participating teachers, which it found to be overwhelmingly positive.

Education Minister Erica Stanford made the claim in a government press release, announcing that $30 million of funding for the Te Ahu o te Reo Maori language program would be redirected towards resources for teaching maths.

“An evaluation of the program found no evidence it directly impacted progress and achievement for students,” Ms Stanford said. “The review also couldn’t quantify what impact the programme had on te reo Maori [Maori language] use in the classroom.”

Ms Stanford made similar comments during interviews on the funding decision with 1News and RNZ, and told the NZ Herald she gave “a lot of weight” to the evaluation report when deciding to cut the “poorly performing” program’s funding.

The claim was also repeated by Associate Education Minister David Seymour in a post on X.

However, the evaluation report mentioned did not set out to determine whether the program had any effect on student progress or achievement, or on Maori language use within the classroom.

AAP is the Australian Associated Press and their FactCheck is considered the best in the South Pacific,  they have looked at the claims used by Stanford to justify the cut of $30million from Māori language programs and have found her justifications to be false!

AAP FactCheck asked Ms Stanford for evidence to support her claim that the report “found no evidence” of the program affecting student achievement or Maori language use in the classroom.

A spokesperson for Ms Stanford replied that the report “does not have” any evidence, adding: “Which is why the minister said it found no evidence of such things.”

While Ms Stanford is correct that the report does not have any evidence, it is misleading to say the evaluation “did not find” evidence because that was not what was sought, i.e. in the pre-agreed scope of the report.

THE VERDICT

Misleading – The claim is accurate in parts but information has also been presented incorrectly, out of context or omitted.

Isn’t it incredible that we need Australian Fact Checkers to tell us this Government is lying because our own Media is so weak and underfunded?

This Government is lying about the reasons they are slashing budgets and Kiwis are blind to what is really happening.

 

Increasingly having independent opinion in a mainstream media environment which mostly echo one another has become more important than ever, so if you value having an independent voice – please donate here.

Commonwealth takes bold step to protect freedom of expression

David Robie also blogs at Café Pacific

This from Talamua Media and Pacific Media Watch:

The Commonwealth Heads of Government has adopted the Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media in Good Governance at their summit meeting in Apia, Samoa.

These Principles highlight the importance of freedom of expression and media freedom to democracy.  They state that Commonwealth governments “should consider repealing or amending laws which unduly restrict the right to freedom of expression”.

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association last week called on states to take practical and effective steps to end arbitrary and excessive restrictions on free expression. The Commonwealth as a whole must audit progress and engage with civil society to ensure that these Principles are implemented in reality.

Freedom of expression is not just a right in itself — it is the foundation that allows us to exercise and defend all other human rights, and is safeguarded under international law.

However, as we know all too well, this right is under threat.

According to UNESCO, in Commonwealth countries alone, 178 journalists were killed between 2006 and 2020. Furthermore, the impunity rate for the killings of journalists during that same time is 96 percent — which is notably higher than the global impunity rate of 87 percent.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has documented 547 journalists imprisoned globally as of the end of 2023, with legal harassment often used as a tool to stifle dissent and investigative reporting.

Restrictive, colonial-era laws
Many Commonwealth countries still maintain restrictive, colonial-era laws that curtail free expression, suppress diverse voices, and inhibit the transparency that is essential for democracy.

In the Commonwealth:

  • 41 countries continue to criminalise defamation; 48 countries still retain laws related to sedition; and
  • 37 still have blasphemy or blasphemy-like laws.
Who Controls The Narrative cover
Who Controls The Narrative? cover. Image: APR screenshot

These details are set out in a soon to be released report by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) and the Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA), with other Commonwealth partners, entitled Who Controls the Narrative? Legal Restrictions on Freedom of Expression in the Commonwealth.

“These laws, often enforced through criminal sanctions, have a chilling effect on activists, journalists, iand others who fear retaliation for speaking truth to power”, said William Horsley of the Commonwealth Journalists Association.

“This has led to an alarming rise in self-censorship and a decline in the independent and dissenting voices that are vital for holding governments accountable.”

Civil society response
The Principles were first put forward by a group of civil society organisations in response to  a general deterioration in legal protections and the working environment for journalists.

The CJA convened other civil society organisations, including the CHRI, Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, before Commonwealth member states reviewed and adopted the Principles in the form which was adopted by heads of government at the 2024 CHOGM.

States are “urged to take concrete and meaningful steps to implement them within their domestic frameworks, as set out in the CHOGM Samoa Communiqué“.

The joint report Who Controls the Narrative? Legal Restrictions on Freedom of Expression in the Commonwealth reveals the increasing use of criminal law provisions, including those related to defamation, sedition, blasphemy, and national security, to restrict freedom of expression and media freedom within the Commonwealth.

The report is the product of extensive collaboration between Commonwealth partners, legal experts, academics, human rights advocates, and media professionals, and provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal frameworks governing freedom of expression and outlines clear pathways for reform.

In addition to analysing legal restrictions on free speech in Commonwealth states, the report puts forward actionable recommendations for reform.

These include regional and national-level proposals, as well as broader Commonwealth-wide recommendations aimed at strengthening legal frameworks, promoting judicial independence, encouraging media pluralism, and enhancing international accountability mechanisms.

Reforms essential
These reforms are essential for establishing an environment where free expression can thrive, allowing individuals to speak without fear of reprisal.

“While many member states share a colonial legal legacy that includes repressive laws still in effect today, they also share a commitment to democratic governance and the rule of law as set out in the Commonwealth Charter,” said Sneh Aurora, director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.

“The Commonwealth has the potential to lead by example in promoting freedom of expression through legal reform, ensuring that criminal laws are not misused to silence dissent.

“The Principles provide an important opportunity for Commonwealth governments to bring their national laws in line with international human rights laws.”

Republished with permission from Talamua Online.

Political Caption Competition

Shane Jones talking to an empty stage with an audience of one

The Daily Blog Open Mic – 31st October 2024

Announce protest actions, general chit chat or give your opinion on issues we haven’t covered for the day.

The Editor doesn’t moderate this blog,  3 volunteers do, they are very lenient to provide you a free speech space but if it’s just deranged abuse or putting words in bloggers mouths to have a pointless argument, we don’t bother publishing.

All in all, TDB gives punters a very, very, very wide space to comment in but we won’t bother with out right lies or gleeful malice. We leave that to the Herald comment section.

EDITORS NOTE: – By the way, here’s a list of shit that will get your comment dumped. Sexist abuse, homophobic abuse, racist abuse, anti-muslim abuse, transphobic abuse, Chemtrails, 9/11 truthers, Qanon lunacy, climate deniers, anti-fluoride fanatics, anti-vaxxer lunatics, 5G conspiracy theories, the virus is a bioweapon, some weird bullshit about the UN taking over the world  and ANYONE that links to fucking infowar.

Israeli UNRWA Ban Will Deepen Palestinian Humanitarian Catastrophe – MSF Australia

The Israeli Knesset’s ban on UNRWA’s operations voted on 28 October represents a devastating blow to Palestinian life. It will further undermine people’s survival prospects in Gaza and heavily impact communities in the West Bank.

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) denounces this legislation, which represents an inhumane ban on vital humanitarian aid. The Knesset’s vote is propelling Palestinians towards an even deeper humanitarian crisis. It is imperative that the world acts to safeguard Palestinians’ fundamental rights. Immediate international intervention is needed to pressure Israel to allow unhindered access to humanitarian aid, implement a ceasefire and bring to an end the current campaign of destruction in Gaza.

“UNRWA is a lifeline for Palestinians,” says Christopher Lockyear, MSF Secretary General. “If implemented, the ban on UNRWA’s activities would have catastrophic implications on the dire humanitarian situation of Palestinians living in Gaza, as well as in the West Bank, now and for generations to come. We strongly condemn this decision, which is the culmination of a long-running campaign against the organisation.”

The newly voted legislation will make it almost impossible for UNRWA to work in Gaza or the West Bank; coordination with Israeli authorities will be impeded and entrance permits to either of the occupied territories will be denied, and essentially blocking delivery of UNRWA aid into and within Gaza. UNRWA handles almost all the distribution of UN aid coming into the strip.

UNRWA is the largest health provider in Gaza, with over half of Gazans relying on UNWRA for essential healthcare services, including for the treatment of chronic diseases, maternal and child heath, and vaccinations; each day UNWRA’s health teams provide over 15,000 consultations in the Gaza Strip. The ban of its activities threatens to create a vast gap in services within an already largely destroyed health system in Gaza – directly and indirectly endangering the lives of Palestinians. Without urgent action, more Gazans could die from preventable diseases and displacement-related conditions.

The impact of UNRWA’s ban will extend beyond Gaza. Critical services, including refugee camp management, health services, education, and social programmes across the West Bank are also at risk of destabilisation under this legislation. This legislation sets a grave precedent for other conflict situations where governments may wish to eliminate an inconvenient United Nations presence.

For months, international leaders and organisations, including MSF, have raised warnings about the disastrous potential of these newly adopted bills. Yet Israel has chosen to press forward with measures that will undermine vital assistance, endangering Palestinian lives and intensifying the collective punishment they face.

This vote adds to the endless physical and bureaucratic impediments imposed by Israel to limit the amount of aid reaching Gaza, and blatantly contradicts Israel’s claims that it is facilitating humanitarian assistance into the Strip.

Report Of The Special Rapporteur On The Situation Of Human Rights In The Palestinian Territories Occupied Since 1967 – United Nations

Genocide as colonial erasure

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, examines the unfolding horrors in the occupied Palestinian territory. While the wholesale destruction of Gaza continues unabated, other parts of the land have not been spared.

The violence that Israel has unleashed against the Palestinians post-7 October is not happening in a vacuum, but is part of a long-term intentional, systematic, State-organized forced displacement and replacement of the Palestinians. This trajectory risks causing irreparable prejudice to the very existence of the Palestinian people in Palestine. Member States must intervene now to prevent new atrocities that will further scar human history.

Introduction

  1. In March 2024, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, concluded that there were reasonable grounds to believe that Israel had committed acts of genocide in Gaza.[1] In the present report, the Special Rapporteur expands the analysis of the post – 7 October 2023 violence against Gaza, which has spread to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. She focuses on genocidal intent, contextualising the situation within a decades-long process of territorial expansion and ethnic cleansing aimed at liquidating the Palestinian presence in Palestine. She suggests that genocide should be seen as integral and instrumental to the aim of full Israeli colonization of Palestinian land while removing as many Palestinians as possible.
  2. The present report is based on legal research and analysis, interviews with victims and witnesses, including in Jordan and Egypt, open-source information and input from experts and civil-society organizations. The Special Rapporteur, still refused access to the occupied Palestinian territory, stresses that Israel has no authority to bar fact-finding mechanisms from the territory that it illegally occupies. The persistent denial of access to United Nations mechanisms and investigators of the International Criminal Court (ICC) may constitute obstruction of justice, in defiance of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order that Israel allow international investigators to enter Gaza and take measures to ensure the preservation of evidence. [2]
  3. While the scale and nature of the ongoing Israeli assault against the Palestinians vary by area, the totality of the Israeli acts of destruction directed against the totality of the Palestinian people, with the aim of conquering the totality of the land of Palestine, is clearly identifiable. Patterns of violence against the group as a whole warrant the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention) in order to cease, prevent and punish genocide in the whole of the occupied Palestinian territory

1] A/HRC/55/73, para. 7.

[2] Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), Order, 26 January 2024, I.C.J. Reports 2024, para. 86 (5); and Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), Request for the Modification of the Order of 28 March 2024, Order, 24 May 2024, I.C.J. Reports 2024, para. 57 (2) (c).

The Report can be read in full in English here: https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/279/68/pdf/n2427968.pdf

It is available in all UN official languages: http://undocs.org/A/79/384

How Much Is Social Media Controlling You? – University of Canterbury

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury lecturer Dr Kseniia Zahrai is the winner of the Early Career Researcher category in the Aotearoa Business and Economics Research Translation Competition for her research, Either You Control Social Media or Social Media Controls You.

“It’s not just in how much time we spend online, but in how social media exploits unconscious psychological triggers that fuel impulsive behaviour,” Dr Zahrai says.

Dr Zahrai and her research team recruited 389 social media users aged 18-44 for their study. “We found that users’ implicit attitudes, leading to fast, automatic reactions, are primarily responsible for their impulsive engagement with social media. Unlike explicit, deliberate thoughts, these unconscious attitudes often bypass conscious reasoning, leading to mindless scrolling and affecting user wellbeing.”

Dr Zahrai cited a participant’s statement: ‘It is something I do unconsciously, and I don’t think how it takes me away from the rest of my life’ as an example and says that “even high self-control isn’t always enough to resist, especially for users with positive implicit attitudes toward social media.”

“Former president of Facebook, Sean Parker, famously warned that ‘social media exploits human vulnerabilities.’ Our research adds to this concern by examining how deeply embedded, non-conscious attitudes drive excessive social media use – more so than most conscious efforts to control our habits,” she says.

“While time spent on social media is important, the way people are using it is also critical. Users can benefit from the use of social media by applying mindfulness techniques, reducing potential harm to wellbeing.”

She offers some practical advice for how to affect this change. “By shifting the focus to mindful, intentional engagement through minimising triggers, curating feeds with meaningful content, and setting intention-based goals, users can begin to rewire their unconscious behaviours.”

Dr Zahrai says artificial intelligence (AI) can also help users understand and change their behaviours. “With advanced analytics, AI can identify usage patterns and trigger points that users may not consciously recognise. AI-powered systems can also provide personalised self-control strategies, tailored to each user’s behavioural profile.”

The study’s findings emphasise the need for deeper digital literacy and awareness of how platforms can exploit user behaviour.

“Policymakers must ensure transparency in social media algorithms and protect vulnerable users, especially children and adolescents, from potential harm,” Dr Zahrai says.

The study, co-authored by Professor Ekant Veer, Professor Paul Ballantine, Associate Professor Herb de Vries, and Professor Girish Prayag is unmistakable in its message that ethical engagement matters, “Brands that focus on creating valuable, mindful interactions with users, rather than exploiting automatic reactions, will build lasting relationships with their audiences and enhance customer loyalty.”

Hurdles to democracy too great in NZ’s most undemocratic election – More for You, Better for Auckland

Following a record low turnout of 9.39% of eligible voters, the leadership of Entrust, New Zealand’s largest community energy trust, will once again remain unchanged. This confirms the incumbents repeatedly choose to run the elections to benefit themselves, not Aucklanders, say challengers from the independent More for You, Better for Auckland ticket.

This was, once again, a short postal election, minimally advertised, and characterised by multiple barriers to voting and a lack of coverage of the critical election issues.

 

“We knew challenging the National party backed C&R for the Entrust leadership would be difficult, given the low turnout and the timing of the Entrust dividend payout just before the election started. However, the hurdles to democracy were just too great – and the extent to which C&R control the election process to their advantage was even more shocking than we’d imagined,” says Patrick Reynolds, spokesperson for the independent progressive group who came together to challenge C&R’s three-decade grip on Entrust.

 

The result is not unexpected but should alarm everyone who cares about democracy, the cost of power, and the energy independence and resilience of our largest city.  We will, therefore, be considering what legal and legislative options are available to modernise the election” said Mr Reynolds

 

Voter turnout this year fell to just 9.39%, even lower than the previous record low turnout of 9.64% in 2021. C&R has known for many decades that the voting system they run is not fit for purpose. And yet, they have taken no steps to update the 1993 Entrust Trust Deed, ensuring they continue to “win” New Zealand’s least democratic election.

 

Entrust is the only community energy trust using a postal vote for its triennial election of trustees. It’s also the only one that pays a dividend just before voting gets underway. Moreover:

 

  • C&R allocates zero budget to promote or advertise the Entrust Election.

  • C&R provides no visible information about the Election on the Entrust website – only a link that is hidden behind a screen-sized advertisement for the Entrust dividend.

  • C&R allocates over $1.3m to distributing and advertising this dividend, just before voting starts – and only advertise their candidacy in the context of the dividend.

  • C&R has maintained a 16-day postal voting period, despite shrinking postal services –  resulting in voting papers not arriving until up to 6 days after voting started.

  • C&R held the 2024 Entrust AGM 2 hours after the cut-off for posting votes, ensuring the electorate was not fully informed about a number of serious issues that were raised at Entrust’s only public meeting

 

The one “innovation” C&R introduced this year was “rubbish bin” ballot boxes, made available at 10 Woolworth supermarkets for the entire Entrust District. As candidate Paul Young said as voting got underway ‘“When I was first sent a photo of the ballot box in a Woolworth supermarket, I thought it must be a joke to use an orange rubbish bin. The Aucklanders I am speaking to are very surprised that Entrust would be so disrespectful to democracy. This is yet another disincentive to vote, if the ballot box doesn’t look like an official drop-off point for important voting documents.

 

“They are also hard to find, as there are only 10 ballot boxes for the whole of the Entrust district – and no Entrust map of the locations.”

 

Despite the many hurdles to participating in the Entrust election, including the cost of campaigning across such a large area, More for You, Better for Auckland was determined to offer Aucklanders a positive alternative.

 

“I’m really proud of More for You, Better for Auckland’s campaign,” says Patrick Reynolds. “Within a very short timeframe, we brought together a strong line-up of candidates. We presented voters with future-focused and expert-backed policies that respond to all the energy threats and opportunities of our age. The response to our volunteer-led campaign was positive and energising.”

 

“You have to ask: how pathetic would the turnout have been, had we not publicised the election and the issues?

 

“With more future-focused strategic leadership of Vector, as envisioned by More for You, Better for Auckland, Aucklanders could continue to enjoy the annual dividend plus solar-powered resilient community hubs, cheaper power, and reduced levels of energy poverty. Above all, Aucklanders deserve an Entrust that runs transparent and fair elections, and that is accountable to the community.”

 

A huge thank you to everyone who stood up in all the various ways to support the More for You, Better for Auckland campaign. We are really heartened to have gathered so much support across a wide network and to have shone a light on what’s possible for Auckland.  It’s now in C&R’s hands to run an election that makes this a fair and honest contest of ideas.

Global Privacy Authorities Issue Follow-up Joint Statement On Data Scraping After Industry Engagement – Office of the Privacy Commissioner

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner and several global counterparts are highlighting how social media companies can better protect personal information, as concerns grow about mass scraping of personal information within social media platforms, including to support artificial intelligence systems.

“Mass data scraping poses significant risks to individuals’ fundamental right to privacy,” said Canadian Commissioner Philippe Dufresne. “Personal information, even when it is publicly accessible, is subject to privacy laws and must be adequately protected. This initiative highlights the importance of collaboration between data protection authorities and with industry.”

Commissioner Dufresne, New Zealand Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster and their counterparts engaged with some of the world’s largest social media companies after issuing a joint statement on data scraping last year. As a result of this engagement, they have now issued a follow-up statement laying out additional takeaways for industry.

The joint statement that was issued last year (https://privacy.org.nz/publications/statements-media-releases/new-zealand-part-of-global-effort-on-data-scraping/) outlines key privacy risks associated with data scraping – the automated extraction of data from the web, including social media platforms and other websites that host publicly accessible personal information. This follow-up joint statement provides additional guidance to help companies ensure that personal information of their users is protected from unlawful scraping.

Last year, data protection authorities called on industry to identify and implement controls to protect against, monitor for, and respond to data scraping activities on their platforms, including by taking steps to detect bots and block IP addresses when data scraping activity is identified, among other measures.

This follow-up joint statement lays out further expectations, including that organisations:

  • Comply with privacy and data protection laws when using personal information, including from their own platforms, to develop artificial intelligence (AI) large language models.
  • Deploy a combination of safeguarding measures and regularly review and update them to keep pace with advances in scraping techniques and technologies.
  • Ensure that permissible data scraping for commercial or socially beneficial purposes is done lawfully and in accordance with strict contractual terms.

After the first statement was signed by members of the Global Privacy Assembly’s International Enforcement Working Group in 2023, it was sent to the parent companies of YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, LinkedIn, Weibo, and X (the platform formerly known as Twitter). This led to constructive dialogue between data protection authorities and several of these social media companies, as well as with the Mitigating Unauthorized Scraping Alliance (https://antiscrapingalliance.org/), an organisation that aims to combat unauthorized data scraping.

The discussions between industry representatives and data protection authorities enabled all parties to further examine issues related to data scraping. This resulted in a deepened understanding by data protection authorities of the challenges that organizations face in protecting against unlawful scraping, including increasingly sophisticated scrapers, ever-evolving advances in scraping technology, and differentiating scrapers from authorised users.

Generally, social media companies indicated to data protection authorities that they have implemented many of the measures that were identified in the initial statement, as well as further measures that can form part of a dynamic multi-layered approach to better protecting against unlawful data scraping. Some of the additional measures that are presented in the follow-up joint statement include using platform design elements that make it harder to scrape data using automation, safeguards that leverage artificial intelligence, and lower cost solutions that small and medium-sized enterprises could use to meet their safeguarding obligations.

Industrial Action Escalates As NZDF Refuses To Budge On Zero Pay Rise – PSA

The stubborn refusal of NZDF to lift pay for civilian workers will spark another round of industrial action by PSA members beginning next week.

Further bargaining for a new collective agreement has failed to budge NZDF from its zero-increase position. As a result, members have voted overwhelmingly to reject the offer and to escalate industrial action. The current industrial action legally must end on Thursday.

“NZDF is insulting the thousands of dedicated civilian workers who, like the men and women in uniform, are keeping our country safe from threats, but in the eyes of NZDF are second class citizens who don’t deserve a pay rise,” said Duane Leo, National Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“This stubborn refusal to increase the zero-pay rise offer shows how little NZDF respects and values its civilian workers who like many are doing it tough in a cost-of-living crisis. It leaves our members with no choice but to send another strong message that this position is unacceptable.”

PSA members are already working to rule and refusing overtime and callouts (unless life preserving services as required). Members will now initiate further industrial action on top of this beginning 9am Thursday 6 November. Kauri Point (Auckland) members, who load and unload ships, will join them on 20 November. This may include a refusal to work in certain circumstances and an escalation of actions. The action ends on 31 January.

“NZDF doesn’t seem to care that its refusal to budge on pay for civilian staff will keep undermining morale. Workloads are already increasing through its current voluntary redundancy programme as it seeks to cut $30m from spending. Forced redundancies may also follow.

“All this will prompt more to consider leaving at a time when the Defence Force is facing critical worker shortages.

“The Government promised no impacts on the frontline from its spending cuts.

“Make no mistake, these cuts will impact the ability of NZDF to deliver on its stated mission to ‘secure the country against external threats’. There is nothing more frontline than that. We urge NZDF to reconsider,” said Duane Leo.

Upcoming Online Gambling Regulation in New Zealand – Current Status, Plans, and Safe Options

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The New Zealand government is planning to regulate online gambling, with a new system expected to be ready by early 2026. This plan aims to solve problems with the current unregulated market, protect players better, and reduce gambling-related harm. Let’s look at what’s planned and where it is currently safe to gamble online.

The Current Status

For years, online gambling in New Zealand has mostly been unregulated, with many people using offshore websites. Now, the government wants to regulate online casinos for the first time, marking a big change under the new National Party-led government.

The government has agreed to a plan to regulate online casinos that will help protect players, collect taxes, and reduce harm. Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden said that they will introduce a licensing system. Online casino operators will have to meet certain rules before they can offer services to New Zealanders. This plan is not intended to make people gamble more but to ensure licensed operators follow rules that protect players and pay taxes.

Key Features of the New Regulation

The New Zealand government will regulate online casinos through a licensing system run by the Department of Internal Affairs. Only a few licenses will be given out by auction, and each license will last three years. Operators must follow strict rules to protect players and reduce harm.

Key points of the plan include:

  • Licenses through auction: A limited number of licenses will be given out through auctions. Operators must meet requirements before they can offer their services.
  • Age limit: Only people aged 18 or older will be allowed to gamble online.
  • Limited gambling options: Licensed operators will only be allowed to offer online casino games. Sports betting and lottery games will not be allowed. This is to keep online gambling limited and reduce risks.
  • Advertising rules: Licensed operators will be allowed to advertise, but with strict limits. Currently, licensed operators cannot advertise at all. Sponsorships by online casinos will still be banned.
  • Public input: The public will get a chance to give feedback during the Select Committee process. This will allow New Zealanders to help shape the final regulations.
  • Player protections: The main goal of the regulation is not to increase gambling but to ensure licensed operators follow rules that protect players and reduce harm.

Minister van Velden said that the plan is to protect players and make it fair for licensed operators while making it illegal for unlicensed operators to target New Zealand players.

Industry Support and Market Response

The plans have been welcomed by many in the industry. SkyCity Entertainment Group, New Zealand’s only local casino operator, supports the government’s decision. SkyCity’s CEO, Jason Walbridge, said that regulating the number of licenses and advertising is important to reduce gambling harm and protect players. He also said that it will help keep money in New Zealand instead of going to offshore operators.

The government’s plan matches SkyCity’s belief that online gambling should be regulated to protect players and benefit the community through tax revenue. SkyCity believes that the new licensing system will give them a fair chance to compete with offshore operators, helping to bring gambling revenue back to New Zealand.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Regulating online casinos is a big change, and it will take time to put the new rules in place. The Department of Internal Affairs will have to enforce the rules carefully, including the introduction of licenses and limits on advertising.

One of the challenges will be to balance the market so that it benefits everyone while keeping players safe. SkyCity hopes that the new rules will make things fairer because offshore operators have avoided rules and taxes, which has hurt the local industry.

Another issue that still needs to be addressed is the possibility of taxing offshore gambling. This was mentioned before the recent elections, and the idea is to make it fair for local operators while collecting tax money that has been lost to unregulated markets. Minister van Velden did not provide details about this yet, but it is expected to come up in the future.

Where is it Safe to Gamble Now?

Until the new system is ready, it is important for New Zealanders to be careful about where they gamble. While there will be licensed options in the future, most current options are offshore operators. It is generally safer to use well-known and reputable online casinos that are licensed in places like the United Kingdom or Malta, as they have strict rules to protect players. For More information about online casinos operating in New Zealand visit this extended guide.

Until New Zealand’s new regulations are in place, make sure to check if an online casino has a recognized license before using it. For example, SkyCity’s online casino is run through a Malta-based subsidiary, which provides some level of protection because Malta has strong gambling regulations.



Best Casino Resource for Players in New Zealand

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Deciding upon an ideal online casino is by no means an easy endeavor, which is especially so for those new to betting in New Zealand. But that is where BetKiwi comes in to help put things in order. This website offers you all the details you need to know about different gambling sites, helping you find the ones with the best bonuses, most popular casino games, and convenient payment options. Therefore, regardless of your experience level—BetKiwi’s tips are of great value.

In this article, you will learn all about BetKiwi and why it is the best casino guide for New Zealand. Let’s get started. 

About BetKiwi and Its Reputation

We know you’ve heard of websites that review casinos, but trust us when we say BetKiwi is unlike most others. The platform’s story began in November 2022 when it was officially launched, after long and extensive research and content preparation. At first, it started with a focus on online casino and casino games, but that changed when the team behind this site added the sportsbook section a few months later. And this soon led to the birth of the Learning Hub – a place dedicated to player education, and the addition of six expert writers to the team.

You know what?  BetKiwi is designed to be your trusted online source for anything related to casinos and sportsbooks in New Zealand. The site has honest, in-depth reviews, guides, and advice to help you choose the best sites, bonus deals, games, and the most convenient payment methods.

Moreover, you don’t have to worry about the accuracy or impartiality of BetKiwi’s information. The platform has a solid reputation among the New Zealand gambling community, and its team has years of unmatched expertise and experience in the gaming world. We found their reviews to be unbiased, transparent, factual, and up-to-date.

User Experience

The first thing you look out for when checking out a website is its design and functionality, and we have to give it to BetKiwi. They really did a thing with the design of their website, and it’s evident they did all with the user in mind. The site is clean, simple, and easy to navigate, and the layout allows you to quickly find any information you need. Everything is in order and there’s a search bar to make navigation easier.

The team behind BetKiwi clearly understands what New Zealand players want and need, and the website reflects just that.

Key Features of BetKiwi

When we checked out the BetKiwi.co.nz website, we couldn’t help but be envious of the platform’s users. Why? BetKiwi offers more than your regular run-of-the-mill review sites. 

This site is packed with useful tools and features that help players find what they need quickly and without hassle. From all the features we saw, the following stood out to us the most:

  1. Online casino varieties
  2. Casino game guides
  3. Bonuses comparisons
  4. Mobile-friendly gaming
  5. Payment options for New Zealanders
  6. Sports betting section
  7. Top-tier security and privacy

Online Casino Varieties

First, anyone in need of online casino recommendations can visit this segment of the website. BetKiwi understands the need for variety, and offers a list of online casinos separated into different categories. Here, users can find categories like fastest payout casinos, minimum deposit casinos, VPN casinos, safe casinos, NZD casinos, and several others. Isn’t that impressive?

Casino Game Guides

What is an online casino review platform without a guide to interesting casino game titles? BetKiwi offers expert insight on all types of games from popular options like online pokies to table games, such as roulette and blackjack. These guides explain how to play, what odds to expect, and which strategies to employ to improve your chances of winning. 

Bonuses Comparisons

Bonuses are one of the top reasons why players visit casino review sites. These players wish to know the sites that offer the best bonus offers and BetKiwi does a great job of comparing bonus deals across different casinos and provides vital information about them, including wagering requirements, minimum bets, max bonus conversions, validity time, etc. 

The site lists gambling platforms that offer no-deposit bonuses, free spins, welcome offers, zero-wagering offers, seasonal deals, and others. So, whichever one you prefer, you can quickly find the best deal.

Mobile-Friendly Gaming

As most players use their phones to gamble, BetKiwi created a section dedicated to mobile casinos. This part of the website reviews and recommends casinos that are optimised for mobile devices, including iOS and Android, which is useful for players who want to game on the go.

In this section, you will find detailed information about mobile casinos’ loading speed, graphics, user friendliness, and potential lags or other issues. 

Payment Options for New Zealanders

We have to say, BetKiwi understands its target audience and that’s why it doesn’t leave out the payment system out of its evaluations. The platform provides extensive information on casinos that accept options like Paysafe, POLi, e-wallets, Apple Pay, credit cards, and bank transfers. BetKiwi’s payment method experts also cover fees, payout times, and other critical information that help NZ players make an informed decision.

BetKiwi focuses on fast-payout casinos and the gambling sites that payout in under an hour, which many players prefer. This feature makes it easier for users to filter casinos based on preferences.

Special Casino Feature

Are you someone who prefers other niche and live-dealer games? With BetKiwi, you won’t have to feel left out because it provides review sections for scratch cards, keno, bingo, and several others.

Sports Betting Section

BetKiwi also caters to gamblers interested in sports betting. The site publishes reviews of popular New Zealand sportsbooks, and guides Kiwi players on how to bet on rugby, football, e-sports, etc. So, if you enjoy both casino gaming and sports betting, BetKiwi is the perfect resource for both. Talk about being all-inclusive.

Top-Tier Security and Privacy

Lastly, a big concern for any online gambler is security. To address this, BetKiwi makes it a point to only recommend licensed and regulated casinos. It prioritises player safety, too, by ensuring all the listed casinos use encryption to protect personal and financial data. 

The Team of Experts Behind BetKiwi’s Great Content

We were curious to know who is responsible for the great content quality on the website, so we went searching. We discovered that the site’s content is written, edited, and reviewed by an experienced team of experts, each specialising in different areas of gambling. 

At the time of writing this article, BetKiwi has eight people on its team and if you are interested in finding more about them, we’ve covered the most active authors:

  • Dudley Nader: Dudley is a casino game expert who specialises in baccarat, poker, and blackjack. He has a unique background in statistics, which has made him a top casino specialist in his decade-long gambling career. Dudley understands game mechanics, strategies, and probabilities, and he has dedicated himself to helping players understand the intricacies of these casino games as well.
  • Tessie Williamson: Do you want to know all about casino bonus offers and promos? Well, according to BetKiwi, Tessie is your go-to expert. Just like her colleagues, she has also spent more than 10 years helping players find the best bonus deals. And if you need more clarification on wagering requirements and whatnot, she’s more than qualified to help.
  • Dominic Greenholt: Dominic is attracted to money—just like any of us—and this drove him to becoming BetKiwi’s payment method expert. Before getting involved in the online gambling scene, he earned a degree in Financial Management, so he has in-depth knowledge of the safest, fastest and most convenient methods for NZ players. 
  • Wayne Goodchild: For several years now, Wayne has been all about online gambling news and sites. Although he was once an English teacher, Wayne now focuses his time on New Zealand casinos, talking about their payments and table games. 
  • Heather Gartland: 20 years and counting of industry experience as a writer and editor is no small feat. So we have to give it to Heather who is the head of content at BetKiwi. Her job is to edit, proofread, and fact-check to ensure authenticity and high standards, and it’s evident she’s done a good job so far. 

Customer Support

So, here’s the thing: regardless of how well a website works, some users will still need answers to questions and queries. And this is one of the key strengths of the platform. BetKiwi categorises customer assistance depending on the nature of your query with dedicated customer support email addresses for General Questions, Editorial Information, Customer Support, Permissions and Licensing, and Media Relations.

Alternatively, you can simply fill out the website’s online contact form. However, one thing we noticed is that it’s only queries through the contact form that get immediate response. The other options usually take between 24 to 48 hours, which may be discouraging to users who require immediate action. 

What Real-Life NZ Users Have to Say

BetKiwi isn’t just about dry reviews; it also incorporates real user experiences. So, if you don’t believe all we’ve said so far, maybe you’ll believe when you hear some players’ real life experiences:

  1. “BetKiwi’s casino guide helped me find the perfect online casino for my needs. Now, I can enjoy all my favourite games in one place.” — Noach Collins, Christchurch
  2. “As a crypto fan, I was glad to find a trusted gambling site using BetKiwi’s reviews on the best crypto-friendly casinos in New Zealand.” —Oscar Henderson, Hamilton
  3. “Although I was a novice to the online gambling scene, BetKiwi made it easy for me to find a safe, beginner-friendly sports betting platform.” — Newcomer

Lastly, here is a testimonial from our experience:

“I wanted to find fast payout casinos that I could withdraw from the same day, and I was impressed. It literally took me under a minute to find this on BetKiwi.”

Responsible Gambling

The last thing we have to say about the BetKiwi.co.nz website is that it does well in promoting responsible gambling practices. In our opinion, this proves that they are truly a transparent website that is focused on the wellbeing of their users.

The site features a section dedicated to responsible gambling practices, resources, and expert advice. To ensure a safe and enjoyable gambling experience, BetKiwi encourages New Zealand players to set account limits, deposit limits, and if needed – to ask for self-exclusion. If that doesn’t work, this platform urges gamblers to seek professional help by calling the national helpline number.

Final Review

All in all, we can only agree that BetKiwi is a valuable resource for Kiwi players who want to enjoy gambling with peace of mind. The platform makes it easier to explore the world of online casinos and sports betting sites through a trusted and unbiased lens. To conclude, we think that BetKiwi is a review site that every new or experienced New Zealand gambler can benefit from. 



Differentiate The Marketing For Cyber Security Companies, Generating More Leads

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In the ever-changing world of the cybersecurity industry, a strong product or service is only the beginning; A marketing strategy is important. Because of the importance of trust, experience, and technology in Marketing For Cyber ​​Security Companies, traditional marketing methods are often inferior. How can you attract attention and start a productive sales conversation in a place where accuracy and safety matter? In this article, we will see the importance of selling to cybersecurity firms and how B2C ​​can help them grow their online business.

 

Crucial Approach to Marketing For Cyber Security Companies

 

Writing Content

Informing, educating, and constructing trust are the number one objectives of your material on the subject of  Marketing For Cyber Security Companies. It is critical to create thorough materials, which include case studies, blogs, and whitepapers, that talk about modern-day threats and their answers. Instead of concentrating on popular subjects, it is more fruitful to have a look at unique troubles like ransomware prevention, cloud security, or records law compliance. High-quality content material needs to also be search engine optimized (SEO) to attract capability clients who are actively searching out particular keywords and phrases. In addition to raising attention, this tactic positions your enterprise as a thought leader.

 

Email Promotion

Although e-mail remains a quick tool, it is important to customize the method when Marketing For Cyber Security Companies. Make sure you are imparting pertinent content material by segmenting your e-mail lists in keeping with industries, jobs, and particular ache points. Instead of just sending out primary commercial emails, focus on providing cost within the shape of useful recommendations, security updates, and educational insights.

 

Pay-Per-Click or PPC

Visual and video commercials have to establish credibility and exhibit their know-how. Remember to spotlight your achievements through the use of consumer success stories, certifications, or third-party endorsements. Using assertive, engaging language and keeping the content concentrated on solutions for precise cybersecurity problems to increase conversions.

 

Sponsored Advertising

One of the high-quality strategies for Marketing For Cyber Security Companies can be the use of sponsored commercials. Sponsored commercials are unique due to the fact they may advertise and offer pertinent content to the target market immediately, enhancing your corporation’s reputation and generating strong relationships with feasible clients. Even though this type of advertising may be greater highly-priced than other strategies, it has the advantage of ensuring that a huge variety of potential customers are contacted, making it one of the most powerful gadgets when applied nicely.

 

Wrap Up

Your website is your company’s online presence, so make sure it’s built to convert visitors into leads. Innovative and specially created advertising strategies for Marketing For Cyber Security Companies, including specific services and products, are essential. You might improve the efficacy of your marketing and advertising strategy and produce more excellent leads for your cybersecurity employer by determining your target market and implementing the appropriate generation. Using the income funnel through a variety of channels, companies can gradually cultivate relationships with potential customers. 

 

Wellington Branch Stopwork Meeting 4 November 2024 – MUNZ

To all members of the Wellington Branch, please be advised the next SWM is scheduled for Monday 4th November.

Time: 10-12pm
Venue: National Office, 220 Willis St, Level 1, Conference Room.

Your attendance is welcome, hope to see you there.

In Unity,

Fiona Mansell (Fee)
Maritime Union of New Zealand
Wellington Branch Secretary