Hong Kong Police helping China bring order with a shoot now public safety policy.
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The Daily Blog Open Mic – Tuesday – 12th November 2019
Announce protest actions, general chit chat or give your opinion on issues we haven’t covered for the day.
Moderation rules are more lenient for this section, but try and play nicely.
EDITORS NOTE: – By the way, here’s a list of shit that will get your comment dumped. Sexist language, homophobic language, racist language, anti-muslim hate, transphobic language, Chemtrails, 9/11 truthers, climate deniers, anti-fluoride fanatics, anti-vaxxer lunatics and ANYONE that links to fucking infowar.
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Our Seas Our Future applaud Zero Carbon Bill but more needed
Our Seas Our Future (OSOF) is supporting the passage of the Zero Carbon Bill in Parliament on Thursday. The new legislation will provide a framework for carbon neutrality and commit New Zealand to net-zero emissions by 2050.
“We welcome the passing of this significant legislation that is both a positive step and milestone towards carbon neutrality for New Zealand,” says Noel Jhinku, Trustee of OSOF.
“We’re even more pleased to hear the Bill passed on a nearly united front, 119 votes to one. Cross-party support, as well as central and local government action, is critical in our fight against climate change.”
OSOF has been an active voice in addressing the global climate crisis through its Climate Action Now brand, and overall mission to protect New Zealand’s coastal and marine ecosystems.
“Climate change poses a fundamental threat to our entire ecosystem including rising sea levels, extreme weather patterns, coastal flooding and ocean acidification,” says Mr Jhinku.
The Bill’s set target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (except biogenic methane) to net-zero by 2050 is positive but more action is required. Per capita, New Zealand has the largest methane emission rate (0.6 tonnes per person, per year) and it’s also the largest contributor to New Zealand’s national greenhouse gas emissions. The Bill only requires methane emissions to be reduced by 10% by 2030 and by between 25 – 50% by 2050.
“Despite the Bill being a landmark framework for climate action, its net-zero framework for greenhouse gases excludes methane emissions. If we want to have a better future for ourselves and future generations, we need to ensure that we’re considering the true impact of all emissions and our activities on sea and land,” says Mr Jhinku.
“We hope this Bill is the first of many, and that we can continue to lead along the path of meaningful climate action.”
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Contextual hearing: Witness list and evidence summaries – Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry
The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry Contextual hearing returns for its final day today 10.00am at the Rydges hotel in Auckland. Commissioners will hear from three witnesses. Witness evidence summaries are outlined below.
After witness speak, their full evidence, along with footage of them speaking, willavailable for download here.
The hearing is being live-streamed at: www.abuseincare.org.nz/public-hearings/live-stream/
The Contextual hearing is open to media and the public.
Mike Ledingham
Mr Ledingham will give evidence about the abuse he and his two brothers experienced at the hands of a priest while students at St Joseph’s Catholic School in Onehunga (as detailed more fully in the published book “The Catholic Boys”). He will outline the effects of the abuse on him and his brothers, the impacts on his life, choices and opportunities, and the response of the Catholic Church when they were notified of the abuse against the three brothers in 2002. Mr Ledingham will ask the Royal Commission to hold the Catholic Church accountable and suggests some recommendations the Royal Commission could consider.
Emeritus Professor Des Cahill and Dr Peter Wilkinson
Professor Cahill and Dr Wilkinson will address the following issues in their presentation:
1. A summary of the various international Government-sponsored and Church-sponsored inquiries into child sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other religious groups since 1985 when the first such inquiry was held in the US, and the care and safeguarding initiatives that resulted, as well as their findings and recommendations;
2. A summary of Volume 16, Books 1 – 3 of the Report of the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse which dealt with religious institutions, especially the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Orthodox Jewish community, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. This includes addressing how the care mechanisms failed where the needs of religious personnel were placed ahead of those of the victims;
3. An explanatory roadmap to understanding the very complex phenomenon of clerical sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults and the various constellations of intersecting variables that have led to clerical sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. This includes governance structures, such as diocesan autonomy, as well as highlighting the selection of candidates for priesthood, issues relating to seminary training, and the inculcation of clericalism;
4. Prevalence data into clerical sexual abuse, drawing on Australian, German and US data sources, as well as sexual abuse in other religious institutions, especially in the Anglican Church, the Salvation Army and amongst the Jehovah’s Witnesses;
5. A reflection on the New Zealand context and the similarities and differences with comparable nations; and
6. The possible ways forward based on a survey of recommendations made to date.
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Call for urgent inquiry into Oranga Tamariki staff – Whanau First
Government department Oranga Tamariki’s investigation of its own failings in a single child uplift in Hawke’s Bay is classic evidence of the need for an urgent inquiry into the performances of its staff, according to family wellbeing group Whanau First.
The group, which was in the process of being formed at the time of the independent emergence of details of the May 6 events at the Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital I Hastings, says the failures for which Oranga Tamariki Grainne Moss has apologised are far from isolated.
“There are hundreds, if not thousands, across all of New Zealand, who are due not only apologies but also redress for the way they and their families have been treated and the irreparable damage that has been done,” said spokesperson Louise Hutchinson.
“We believe there is a culture of deceit and dishonesty across the more entrenched staff if the department and that along with repairing the damage there is a need to establish how this culture developed, and why,” she said.
“One single apology is not going to change anything, she said. “What needs to change, right now, is that the staff of this outfit need to know they will be held accountable for their statements and actions, that they cannot just say and do as they like.”
“There are indications in this very single case that staff acted to mislead the court. Perjury if you like, maximum penalty seven years in jail.”
Ms Hutchinson said: “It would be ridiculous to assume this is isolated. It is common practice, and we have no doubt this would be exposed by even the most meagre of inquiries. The Government has a substantial amount to lose if it does not move to deal with this straight away.”
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OASIS on the Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill
Terrorism Suppression Bill
The Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill will turn on its head the idea of ‘innocent until proven guilty’. The ramming of the Bill through parliament is yet another dog whistle to the mantra of terrorism. This time the terror is the fear of people coming from overseas who may have been involved in terrorist-related activities overseas. If terrorism related activity is suspected but there is not enough evidence to charge someone, the person could instead be subject to ‘Control Orders’.
Decisions about Control Orders could be reached and made in secret and without criminal level of guilt.
Control Orders will be extremely intrusive. People could have their day-to-day life curtailed or even be detained without any charge. Orders can ‘include limits on movement, communications with others, disclosing or receiving information, use of technology, buying or selling property, and engaging in specific activities in respect of their work, and recreation. They can further include requirements to report to the police regularly, submit to electronic monitoring, and to allow police to monitor/search their house, workplace, equipment, internet usage etc.(1)’ Control Orders could also last up to six years. It is worth noting that Control Orders could be a lot more invasive than any bail or parole conditions that the ‘justice system’ currently have at their disposal.
The Orders will be punishment without even the pretense of a trial.
Control Orders will be extremely difficult to challenge. The evidence used to support the Control Order will be heard in secret. The suspected person will have a special security-cleared state appointed advocate who will be able to hear the evidence and argue on behalf of the suspected person and any lawyer they may have. The Green Party says it was the insertion of an ‘advocate’ in the Bill that allowed them to support the Bill at its first reading on 24th October.
National does not support the Bill, they want it to be stronger. They want the age to be dropped to 14.
When Andrew Little announced the Bill just a few weeks ago, he said it was needed because of the “likelihood a New Zealand passport holder from that region [Syria] will come back to New Zealand or will want to come back to New Zealand is rising by the day.” [2] Specifically, the government is arguing that the Bill is urgent because since the Kurdish people have had to prioritise defending themselves against Turkey rather than guarding ISIS prisoners, Mark Taylor may be able to return to NZ. (It’s a whole other argument about why the Kurds got stuck with a whole lot of foreign fighters and why countries like NZ didn’t step up and assist the Kurds from the start by repatriating any NZ citizens).
However, no new law should be created for people like Mark Taylor. Existing surveillance laws and policing powers should be sufficient to allow police to monitor & prosecute anyone like Mark Taylor. And in fact there already is an arrest warrant out for Taylor. [3]
Further, despite the mess of the current Terrorism Suppression Act 2002 it does have one clause that should cover Mark Taylor. Part 2 Clause 13 states that:
(1) A person commits an offence who participates in a group or organisation for the purpose stated in subsection (2), knowing that or being reckless as to whether the group or organisation is—(a) a designated terrorist entity; or
(b) an entity that carries out, or participates in the carrying out of, 1 or more terrorist acts.
And the punishment can be a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.
Surely, if the government really believed there was an issue with Mark Taylor, he could be arrested at the border and charged with participation.
But Mark Taylor is a divergence from the real issue. The real issue is the regular ramping up of the fear of terror, the threat of terror held over our heads to ensure the constant strengthening of state powers. This time it will lead to the introduction of Control Orders. And once more the people who will be disproportionately affected by them will be people with family connections from specific parts of the world and those most targeted will be refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.
Control Orders must be stopped.
During the early debates about the Bill Andrew Little said he was “feeling ‘dicked around’ by National” [4] but this Bill and the speed at which it is being rammed through is dicking us all around.
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A Live export ship has covertly berthed at Timaru Port – SAFE
A live export vessel has covertly berthed at Timaru Port, bringing this year’s shipments of live animals up to a total of eight.
Livestock carrier Brahman Express berthed at Timaru Port on Thursday night. The ship came to the attention of animal rights organisation SAFE on this morning. The ship isn’t listed on the Timaru Port website, which normally has the Port’s full shipping schedule publicly published. It is not yet known how many animals the vessel intends to export or to what destination.
SAFE Campaigns Officer Mona Oliver says it is clear that live export companies see the writing on the wall for their business.
“New Zealand is facing a gold rush of sorts for live animal exports,” says Miss Oliver.
“Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor ordered a review of the trade in June, and has indicated he favours a conditional ban on live exports. These companies are fearful that their brutal trade is coming to an end and are rushing to get animals out of the country. These exports must be stopped while the review is underway.”
“The ports that are used to export live animals are leaving livestock carriers off their public shipping schedule. Caring Kiwis are opposed to the live export trade and the industry knows it.”
This year, live export corporations have exported more cows than in all of 2018. This included a consignment of 3,383 cows aboard the Yangtze Fortune in September. This was immediately after the same ship was rejected from exporting 5,000 cows from Australia, following a biosecurity breach and subsequent investigation into the exporter.
“The Ministry for Primary Industries has frustrated any attempt to get information about these shipments. On multiple occasions, it has refused to confirm who the exporters are and has delayed responses to our Official Information Act requests to find out when these shipments are happening.”
“Between MPI and the ports refraining from publishing livestock carriers on their shipping schedules, it has become easier for livestock carriers to quietly stock their ships with animals and ship them away with barely anyone noticing.”
“Minister O’Connor knows about the suffering of New Zealand animals overseas. It is time for him to act and end this cruel trade.”
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Government Living Wage: If Not Now Then When? – Living Wage Aotearoa
The Living Wage West team met today with the Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni at her electorate office in Glen Eden West Auckland. The team want the Government to deliver on the commitment of candidates at the 2017 election to:
“support and promote changing government procurement policies to ensure that all contracted workers, who are delivering a regular and ongoing service to the core public service, move to the Living Wage within the next term of government.”
The Government currently employs thousands of contractors as cleaners, security guards and catering staff, who work at core public service Government agency offices around the country. Paying them a Living Wage would make a massive difference in their lives and to the local economies where they live.
Minister Sepuloni heard from Tala Taiamoni, a cleaning supervisor at St Cuthbert’s School who said “These cleaners are carrying a vaccuum cleaner on their backs for more than 40 hours per week, working multiple jobs to put food on the table. I know of one worker who had to give up her children because she couldn’t afford to support them”.
The Living Wage West team were disappointed to hear from Minister Sepuloni that the timetable for introducing a Living Wage for Government employed contractors has not yet been set, but that the commitment was that it would be delivered in the current Parliamentary term. Minister Sepuloni stated that an all of Government policy regarding a Living Wage for Government contracted workers is currently being developed.
The Minister stated that Ministry for Social Development staff will be working with Government contractors to ensure that contracted workers are receiving any additional supplementary financial support to which they might be entitled. The Living Wage West team think it is disappointing that Government money will be spent to support workers via the benefit system rather than by directly paying them a Living Wage.
Minister Sepuloni stated that the Ministers responsible for Living Wage policy in Government are Hipkins, Twyford and Robertson and that she will be “encouraging them to push this along”.
The Living Wage West team held a rally at the Glen Eden WINZ office immediately following the meeting with Minister Sepuloni at which they demanded the rapid introduction of a Living Wage for Government contractors.
The Living Wage has been independently calculated at $21.15 per hour for 2019 and represents the amount that workers need in order to survive and participate in society. Many cities around the world, including London and 20% of UK councils have adopted the Living Wage. Council adoption in these cities has led the way to many businesses also stepping up to pay the Living Wage and enhance the overall economy.
Living Wage West spokesperson, Fala Haulangi says the impact of the living wage is huge. “People want to live, not just exist. Having to do two low paid jobs just to feed your family means that you can’t enjoy a social life or get involved in community activities, you just don’t have the time and energy. Earning a living wage puts more spending power back into the local economy, which benefits everyone. Workers don’t want to have to rely on addition Government handouts, they tell us they want to set a good example to their children by being self reliant.“
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Ambulance unions concern over St John Ambulance funding
NZAA/AWUNZ, the unions with the majority of ambulance officers in New Zealand, have today expressed their concerns at the delay in releasing short-term funding promised in the May Budget for the St John Ambulance Service.
Following a union briefing by management yesterday, the unions were advised St John is still waiting for confirmation of when the first stage of the promised funds will be received.
The growth and demand on the service has meant that the current funding model has fallen short of meeting the costs of providing the service that the taxpayers of NZ should be able to expect to continue without the uncertainty of funding, the unions said. The demands on the staff on a 24/7 basis are demanding enough without worrying about the potential for financial headwinds being insufficient funds to secure the wellbeing of the public. The service has been under pressure for some time and St John and the unions have made this clear to Government. The public are often confused as to why there are delays to services, while at the same time, the demands are exceeding the current financial model.
The unions’ spokespersons said officers who commit to the service, particularly new entrants, having spent in excess of $25,000 to secure degrees to be even eligible to apply, need to know that committing to serve the community through St John comes with a degree of security of employment.
The unions said it would be unacceptable to have to look at closing ambulance stations as a last resort and appreciates St John is committed to maintaining support in metro and rural stations but needs the Government’s support to preserve this crucial service.
NZAA and AWUNZ do not feel it is appropriate that the Government/Ministry of Health should be placing ambulance officers and the public in this predicament.
The unions said given St John and the unions’ efforts at engaging with the Government they remained optimistic the short term funding would be released before Christmas and hoped Government would take St John’s funding request seriously in the upcoming May budget.
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Changes in Gambling Laws in New Zealand- Not Restrictive as in Sweden
In New Zealand, the gambling law has been extremely lenient. Just recently, the lawmakers decided to make some changes. Let’s have a closer look at their new wagering regulations.
New Zealand Online Gambling Regulations
According to the gambling law in New Zealand, it’s illegal for any betting provider based in the country to offer betting services to the citizens. This is quite strange as anyone caught going against this law risks being heavily fined or even being jailed for some years.
Interestingly, the New Zealand law doesn’t prohibit its citizens from online gambling in companies based in other countries. The government doesn’t have the power to control companies offering internet gambling. Currently, the most thriving European gambling sites are accessible in the country. Making betting to grow very fast while else, these companies are not paying taxes. This is the main reason why New Zealand lawmakers are working hard to face-lift online Gambling industry. However, there are online sites giving clients the best services in the country including https://www.casinopro.se/nya-casinon/ that operates in Sweden under the Swedish laws perfectly normal.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, players are now involved in online betting more than ever before while else, the government is unable to control the growing industry. This is the reason for the now heavily campaigned call for a change in the law. that operates in Sweden under the swedish laws.
New Zealand New Official Betting Ad Laws
After working hard to regulate the online gambling market, the lawmakers managed to make some changes to land-based betting markets. In April this year, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) broad casted the new set laws and released a code changing the previous betting ad laws in the country.
ASA consulted both the media firms and advertising agencies. The lawmakers actively worked hard to minimize the rates of addiction among its citizens. Gambling operators are not allowed to target any person below 19 years. Besides, they should ensure the time and locality of ads is not targeting individuals below the required age. Lastly, the operators are not supposed to release ads promoting betting as a way to ease financial burdens.
The ASA CEO Mr. Hilary Souter stated that it is the work of ASA to review and update the codes. The new Gambling Advertising code will help to support responsible betting promotion to clients.
Will The New Gambling Ad Laws Cause Major Gambling Effects in the Country?
As mentioned earlier, online betting is becoming very popular in the country. However, the new law doesn’t apply to the internet gambling activities in the country, but it’s only subjected to land-based firms.
This law proves that New Zealand lawmakers are now taking betting rules more serious. A few days after the new establishment, one popular casino company announced its intention to launch one of the biggest bonus casinos in the betting industry. Seemingly, there might be an announcement of a new set of rules on the internet wagering soon.
Just as many nations globally are working hard to revamp their advertising boundaries; New Zealand is also working to ensure there is no underage betting in the country. Fair enough, compared to Sweden, New Zealand advertisement laws are not that restraining. However, only time will tell how operational the laws will be.
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Voter Engagement: What Drives New Zealanders to the Polls?
With a general election looming in the next year or so, ensuring that people exercise their democratic rights at the ballot box is of critical importance. Historically, voter turnout in New Zealand stands above the levels seen in similar countries, with a full 85% of adults voting in the 2014 General Election, New Zealand was able to boast a turnout that dwarfs the levels of engagement seen in countries such as the UK, US, and Germany, for example. Australia, meanwhile, enjoys greater levels of voter engagement than New Zealand, with figures regularly surpassing 90%. This is largely related to the fact that voting is mandatory for all Australians, and a failure to show up at the ballot box can be punished with a fine. While we don’t have the same laws in New Zealand (although voter registration has been mandatory for years), one could argue that the county’s recent turnout figures are a cause for celebration and a sign of a thriving democracy in action.
However, nothing should be taken for granted. The high levels of engagement seen in 2014 are by no means guaranteed to be replicated in the next election, as previous elections and referenda with much lower turnout levels have demonstrated. It’s worth considering what issues actually prompt New Zealanders up off their sofas and down to the voting booth. Only by understanding this, will future campaigners be able to mobilize the vote for the issues they care about.
An effective way to examine the issues and framings of issues that drive voters to the polls is to look at New Zealand’s long history of referenda. The country has held dozens in its history, to the extent where it is widely considered to be a country that is much keener on plebiscites than the rest of the world. Turnout is historically very high, and the results are very often decisive, with the winning result almost invariably won by a vast majority.
One of the earliest referendums was the 1949 referendum on betting, in which voters were asked whether to legalize betting on horse races. The result was a decisive 68% in favor, following an energetic Yes campaign that involved thousands of people. The vote is considered to have opened up floodgates for New Zealand’s liberal gambling legislation, which still enjoys widespread support today. Nowadays, the focus on gambling in New Zealand has moved away from the racing track and towards the digital realm, with dozens of online slots and casino game vendors now operating in the country. The variety and the wide popularity of options to play online shows that liberal gambling laws are a (perhaps surprising) issue that voters care about.
This isn’t the only example of a referendum illustrating the hot-button issues that mobilize voters. The 1997 referendum to make retirement savings schemes compulsory was defeated by an unprecedented 91.8% ‘No’ vote, which sent a strong message to politicians that pensions and pensioner care are at the top of the list for voter priorities. However, the willingness of politicians to overlook such messages risks imperiling democratic participation in the future. One particularly disappointing example is the 2013 asset sales referendum, in which the public was asked whether the government should be allowed to partially privatize the big four state-owned energy companies. Despite more than 3 million voters turning up on polling day to deliver a resounding ‘No’ vote, the government ignored the result of the referendum, declaring that their victory in the recent general election was proof that they had a mandate to push ahead with the sale. However, privatization of the utility sector was not on the ballot during that election, leaving some voters doubting how much their vote really counts.
The Future Impact of Voting
Whilst the government’s blasé response to the result clearly didn’t have a negative impact on engagement during the General Election the following year, it’s clear that New Zealand’s faith in referenda was shaken. The next time a plebiscite was held, this time to change the national flag, voter turnout numbers were among the lowest in modern history, with just under 2 million people showing up to the polls. Of course, this turnout was also reflective of the fact that republicanism is simply not a priority for voters, and hasn’t been for a very long time. Politicians have staked their careers on this issue and have had to step out of politics because of their misjudgment. Even former PM John Key still suffers from a tainted legacy for the amount of time, energy, and resources his government poured into the flag debate.
So what will animate voters in the next general election, due to take place within a year? The history of referenda shows that the public historically prefers as little government interference in their lives as possible. But recently emerged issues have changed the tone, with polls suggesting that the public expects the government to intervene strongly in a number of areas largely concerning social issues. The first of these by a wide margin is the cost-of-living crisis. New Zealanders rank housing and transport costs as the most important issues facing the country and expect the government to do more to expand infrastructure and build hundreds of thousands of new homes, particularly around Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
Other issues of major concern include security and safety, given the tragic events of the past year. New Zealanders also rank healthcare as a top priority, a fact that has not changed since polling was first conducted in the country over a century ago. How candidates frame these issues in a way that speaks to the public’s concerns and anxieties will be crucial for ensuring high levels of democratic participation. It has been a turbulent few years for NZ, so the stakes will certainly be high. Those who try to hone in on fringe issues to capture a decent vote share will likely be disappointed in the next election, given the unanimity New Zealanders share on so many issues.
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Grave concerns for native dolphin extinction – Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
Leading global authority on whale and dolphin conservation warns New Zealand government of its grave concerns for native dolphin extinction
Today leading international charity, Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), warned the New Zealand government that if there are not immediate moves to phase out destructive fishing methods, native Māui dolphins are destined for extinction.
Some of the world’s smallest dolphins, Māui, are critically endangered and heading towards extinction with fewer than 60 remaining. Their close cousin, the Hector’s dolphin is classed as ‘nationally vulnerable’. National WDC spokesperson, New Zealand marine biologist Philippa Brakes, says that the international organisation has grave fears for these dolphins, who are found only in New Zealand waters.
In light of the serious human-threat to New Zealand dolphins, today WDC launches its nationwide campaign and call to action, #SaveNZDolphins. The charity has partnered with ActionStation, an independent community campaigning organisation, on a petition calling for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her government to take immediate action for these dolphins.
Today and tomorrow WDC is publishing a full page advertisement in the Dominion Post newspaper, and its online platform, to raise government and public awareness of these dolphins’ desperate plight.
“Unless set net and trawl fishing practices are immediately phased out to the 100 metre depth contour nationwide, these very special dolphins will continue to die, and could eventually disappear completely.
“If an environmentally-conscious nation such as New Zealand can’t save its own native dolphin species what hope is there for the rest of the country’s biodiversity?” says Brakes.
Brakes says while the global charity welcomes the current review of New Zealand’s Threat Management Plan, which is supposed to protect the dolphins, it believes the current proposals are woefully inadequate and will not prevent Māui dolphins from extinction.
“We are alarmed that the proposed regulations allow for up to 50 Hector’s Dolphins to be caught in nets annually on the East Coast of the South Island. This is unacceptable and unsustainable.
“Having worked in the international conservation arena for several decades, it is obvious to me that New Zealand’s important reputation as a leader in environmental issues could be on the line if the government does not take decisive action and transition the country away from destructive fishing methods within Māui and Hector’s dolphin habitats.
“In addition to sustainability issues, there are significant animal welfare concerns with these dolphins becoming trapped in nets. Like humans, marine mammals can’t breathe underwater. When Māui and Hector’s dolphins get entangled in nets they start to panic, many endure terrible wounds and even broken bones trying to escape. When they can’t struggle anymore, rather than drown, the evidence shows that they actually close their blowhole and suffocate; dying a slow painful death,” says Brakes.
“The New Zealand government needs to step up now to protect these critically endangered, endemic mammals and develop a fair solution for fishers”.
Additional Information:
· WDC works with governments throughout the world to ensure laws are toughened to stop dolphins dying as a result of fishery operations.
· The Department of Conservation lists the Hector’s dolphin as a nationally vulnerable species and the Māui dolphin as a critically endangered species. Both Māui and Hector’s are also listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species as critically endangered and endangered, respectively.
· Māui and Hector’s dolphins are endemic to New Zealand, this is only place on earth these dolphins can be found.
· Māui are declining at around 3-4% a year, and likely not to recover unless human-caused deaths decrease by 75%.
· In the 1970s there were around 50,000 Hector’s dolphins, now not much more than 10,000 remain, and for Māui Dolphins, there were around 2,000, now fewer than 60 left.
· Around 110 to 150 Hector’s and Māui dolphins die in set nets every year and a similar number in trawls.
· Right now Māui and Hector’s dolphins are protected from set nets in only 30% of their habitat and from trawl nets in less than 10%.
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8pm TONIGHT – Pub Politics: Click here for livestream
Live from the Chapel Bar on Ponsonby Rd, 8pm TONIGHT – Climate crisis or climate hoax with:
National Party Climate Change Spokesperson – Scott Simpson
Leader of TOP – Geoff Simmons
School Strike 4 Climate Auckland coordinator – Luke Wijohn
Magic Talk Host – Peter Williams
Hosted by Bomber Bradbury & live-streamed on The Daily Blog
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Pub Politics 8pm TONIGHT: Climate Change or Climate Hoax?
Live from the Chapel Bar on Ponsonby Rd, 8pm TONIGHT – Climate crisis or climate hoax with:
National Party Climate Change Spokesperson – Scott Simpson
Leader of TOP – Geoff Simmons
School Strike 4 Climate Auckland coordinator – Luke Wijohn
Magic Talk Host – Peter Williams
Hosted by Bomber Bradbury & live-streamed on The Daily Blog
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Citizens vs the Rogue Deep State
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Blogger Martyn Bradbury has won his case against unreasonable search and surveillance against the NZ Police; and subsequent Police attempts to produce evidence in secrecy, in a closed Court.
His case highlights a disturbing growing trend in Aotearoa New Zealand for State power to be used against anyone who has “run foul” of The Establishment:
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- 2009: An attack by then Welfare Minister, Paula Bennett, against two solo-mothers who criticised National’s social welfare policies. Ms Bennett released personal information pertaining to the two women’s financial circumstances to silence their criticism. Ms Bennett’s actions were deemed to have been a breach of their privacy.
- 2011: Police searched several media offices during the “Teapot Tapes” controversy. Radio NZ’s Don Rood said Radio NZ would refuse to hand over any material that might compromise anonymous sources.
- 2014: The illegal search and seizure of Nicky Hager’s property as retribution for his investigation into the close links between a far-right blogger and the National Party. Police were attempting to uncover the identity of the whistle-blower known as “Rawshark”. The search (and seizure of property) of Mr Hager’s home was later deemed unlawful.
- 2017: The leaking of Winston Peters’ superannuation details as part of a patently obvious political dirty tricks campaign. Senior civil servants passed on details to then-Ministers Paula Bennett and Anne Tolley – the latter admitting in Court to disclosing those details to others. Mr Peters’ case was then leaked to the media prior to the 2017 General Election, ostensibly to destroy his political career and his party’s chances for re-election. The case is currently on-going.
This illustrates why so many New Zealanders – including the dogged John Campbell through his former programme, ‘Campbell Live’ – were 100% justified in opposing increasing the surveillance powers of the GCSB, SIS, Police, and god knows who else.
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The abuse of State agencies’ power – already considerable – showed how warranted our fears were. And still are.
It is why I made a submission in 2013 to the Justice Select committee on the GCSB Bill (which would permit surveillance of New Zealanders in our own country) should not only stop – but that the powers of the GCSB should be re-set to those of 1977. Then a full public enquiry held to determine what, if any, changes really needed to be made.
I still believe this more than ever to be necessary.
Secondly, the so-called Police apology to Martyn Bradbury is notable for an appalling part of their statement;
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“Police apologise for the stress and other psychological harm caused to you by virtue of YOUR INVOLVEMENT in this investigation.” [My emphasis.]
That is insulting phaseology and is a sly suggestion that blame continues to lie with Martyn Bradbury. It strongly suggests that Police hierarchy have yet to fully comprehend the nature of their abuse of power.
Additionally, there was also financial and reputational harm caused to Martyn by Police abuse of their power. It is now clear that he was denied bank loans as a direct consequence of improper Police activity.
The appropriate phrasing should have been;
“Police apologise for the financial, reputational, stress, and other psychological harm caused to you by virtue of our over-zealous actions that inappropriately involved you in our investigation.”
That phrasing would be accepting responsibility. The original wording barely achieves that.
Lastly, someone authorised this illegal activity. Those individual(s) are still in positions of authority within the New Zealand Police. They still wield power – unbridled power.
I find that troubling in the extreme.
There must be resignation(s) from the Police force. Someone must be held to account.
Just as the rest of us are, under the law.
Famous Last Words
From Parliament, on 27 March 2003, when the Government Communications Security Bureau Bill was being debated;
“This is a good bill. I do not accept the criticism of those who speak against it, that somehow it means that information about people will be gathered improperly…” – Peter Dunne, then-MP and leader of the United Future Party, speaking on behalf of a Bill to extend the power of the GCSB
Media Reporting
Perhaps even more shameful than Police behaviour has been that of the Fourth Estate reporting this issue to the public. Search engine checks (and confirmation by Martyn Bradbury) have both confirmed that only the NZ Herald and Magic Talk radio have reported the outcome of this case and the Police backdown and apology. The Herald article is pay-walled and consequently of little use to non-subscribers.
The Police abuse of power and the gross invasion of Martyn Bradbury’s private life could happen to any of us. But you wouldn’t know it going by the Total Media Blackout at TVNZ, Mediaworks/TV3, Fairfax/Stuff, and even sadly – Radio NZ.
Perhaps if TV3, TVNZ, et al, had reported less of the gruesome details of two current murder court cases, the public of Aotearoa New Zealand might be more informed on one of the most important civil rights cases in recent years.
Imagine if every mainstream media devoted the same scrutiny and reporting of Martyn Bradbury’s civil rights case against the police as they did to Grace Millane’s drinking on the night leading up to her demise.
We might be a very well-informed nation indeed. Sadly that is not the reality.
We have been let down badly by those empowered to preserve the law, and by those we entrust to speak truth to power. The media are supposedly tasked to shine a light on events that are of crucial importance to society; to the people; and to every individual.The freedom of the Fourth Estate is critical, they keep telling us, as a bulwark against State excess; to promote openness; and to hold those in power accountable.
They utterly failed us.
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“The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance.”
– John Philpot Curran (24 July 1750 – 14 October 1817)
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References
The Daily Blog: 5 years and finally justice – NZ Police formally apologise & settle for breaching my civil rights
The Daily Blog: My case against a secret NZ Police investigation that breached my privacy and my civil rights
The Daily Blog: Kafka’s Shadow – My hearing against NZ Police & secret trials
Fairfax/Stuff media: Paula Bennett accused of Muldoon-style bullying
Fairfax/Stuff media: Bennett won’t rule out releasing beneficiary details
NZ Herald: TV3 searched over teapot tape
Fairfax/Stuff media: Radio NZ hands over ‘tea tape’ interview
Radio NZ: Anne Tolley admits ‘outburst’ in Winston Peters superannuation case
Mediaworks/Newshub: Police accessed blogger’s bank records unlawfully – report
Parliament: Hansards – Government Communications Security Bureau Bill – Third Reading
NZ Herald: ‘Bomber’ Bradbury gets apology from police after exploit used to access bank records, driving him to the edge
Previous related blogposts
The GCSB Act – Tracy Watkins gets it right
The secret closed trials of Soviet Russia. (And Aotearoa New Zealand)
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This blogpost will be re-published in five days on “Frankly Speaking“. Reader’s comments may be left here (The Daily Blog) or there (Frankly Speaking).
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