It's so disappointing when women, who have fought so hard for the vote, equal opportunity in the work place, control of their own body, are in many cases, still happy to hang on to the coattails of horrible men. For what? The reflective illusion of power? Jacinda Ardern showed that women can be strong and just leaders. What a disgraceful male mouthpiece Brooke van Velden is.
Nick this is all so absolutely true as we experience one of the most depressing times I can remember. We have a Govt that is doing nothing innovative or constructive and instead one that is seeking to destroy the positive and enhance the negative across so many aspects of our lives. The temerity of that Act woman who claims they are creating a less divisive country when it is clear the opposite will happen would be funny if it weren’t so serious. When statistics for Māori and Paifika people are the same across the board then we will have a country we can be really proud of.
Agreed, and so obvious when every policy was to remove a good one brought in by the previous government. I just hope it is obvious to the people not served by this government.
They are so removed from reality. Their version of equality is firmly bedded in the basis of 'other'. For Luxon & co, they are isolated from the 'other' by money and privilege. Seymour creates a world based on a theoretical word play, a thought exercise where reality is a debate and a thesaurus, the 'other' is the opposing debating team. Winston and NZ First, by their very name stand on a platform of paranoia that assumes the 'others' are out to get them. They are not a government of the people, they are an unholy alliance of greedy, nihilistic, moat diggers
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant Nick!! So many salient points in this.
How utterly naive of Brook to suggest the Act path will be anything other than divisive!Its laughable! Its crazy! Has that woman been living under a rock??!!
Sadly, this all resonates. As a Health professional of 37 years predominantly in management and then the last 15 in health governance, I witnessed the inherent racism toward Maori, noted and cringed at the high and static negative statistics, but was finally feeling - 'Yaye - Te Aka Whai Ora, (Māori Health Authority) increased Te Reo use, greater understanding of Te Ao Māori, recognition of the need to train Māori into professions to improve those stats - and generally a large recognised and positive shift for our country, everyone is going to benefit. (Not just Māori). As the first Māori female Mayor (many say I don't look Māori) and (aside from Georgina Beyer of course), it wasn't long before a wealthy, white, arrogant farmer (who hadn't been to any of my Council meetings in the 12 years I'd been in there) put his hand up and said - hey our community of many wealthy white farmers don't want to pay that much rates, and anyhow you females should be in the kitchen, behind the sink with your aprons on (true that's what he said) - I'm gonna 'Stop all Rate Rises'!. Like the voters of this new government, you can guess the outcome. - I certainly learnt about the not so nice side of humanity during that period, and absolutely relate to all you are saying. Thanks Nick.
When I look at the Van Velden woman I see a person colonised by white male Eurocentric hegemony. She is young enough to be my daughter which is horrifying because it means that whatever gains have been made to redress the imbalance of racial, social, financial, medical, educational opportunities or access for those disadvantaged groups in my life time has been completely misinterpreted by a person who is now (as a result of the vagaries of MMP) in a position to unpick what meagre gains have been made. Her ignorance is breathtaking as is her arrogance to think that she has a mandate (Ms 8.6%!!!!) to implement such retrograde steps. Van Velden’s political stance is evidence itself of privilege that she has convinced herself is hers by birthright.
People, but politicians especially, who choose to misinterpret the two concepts of equality and equity are at best ignorant (which in the case of ACT MP’s should immediately bar them from any responsible public employment position) and at worse are wilfully choosing employ public ignorance to inflame their followers in a distortion of truth that is designed to place fear that they are in danger of losing something that was never theirs by right in the first place.
Both ACT and ‘Winston First’ are guilty of selling a lie as truth thereby exploiting a mostly indolent and ignorant section of society into believing that either party has something valuable to offer them.
And National is the lame, inexperienced ‘ringmaster’ that has become the conduit for such vile policies to be enacted.
My real fear is that the narrative of New Zealand as a progressive egalitarian society slowly picking its way through enlightened social change is no more than a facade that hides an endemic conservatism which continues to foster racism, misogyny and a bugger thy neighbour approach in all facets of our lives.
Thanks Mike. Endemic conservatism is alive and well in the rural areas I frequent. I get really annoyed at media who peddle the line that the Covid restrictions 'divided' the country. There is always division, but in recent times, I thought the fabric of our society was strengthening around holding us together, letting people know those old ways of thinking and behaving were no longer acceptable. People CHOOSE to be how they are, and the fabric is not just stretched and tattered, it being wilfully and deliberately torn and shredded. I am afraid of which history is about to be repeated
Well said Nick. But I think the lot who have grabbed all the toys don't really care that the "have-nots" have so much less. I hear an evil laugh as they look down at those Losers. The indifference is built in to the Right Wing Parties. So what to do about it? United we stand.
Thank you, Nick. As usual, you are on point. I'm a relief teacher at daycare. The hardest things we try to teach small children are "sharing" and "fairness". Usually by 4 years the cry will go up: "that's not fair". It is a hard lesson to learn, and needs constant reminders. It seems we are hard wired to grab all we can and go "mine". And we can see that primitive behaviour at work in this new confederacy of dunces who have taken the Treasury benches. It's reflected in the less thoughtful section of society who cling to what they have and don't want to share even the things they don't need or have no interest in.
Thanks for another thought provoking piece Nick and the link to E-Tangata which got me reading some amazingly helpful articles from a Te Ao Maori lens - including this one which helped lift my downcast mood since watching the 3 horsemen of the apocalypse burn our collective whare down: https://e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-analysis/a-culture-war-te-ao-maori-is-ready/
Bang on Nick, your last 2 paragraphs sum it up. Back to the 1950's social policy when I was going to school. Those Maori, good sheep shearers, great mates at the pub (6 o clock swill era), great at a party, sing play the guitar all night but marry my daughter/son? Never.
Thank you Nick, this government will be remembered as the government who catered for the rich and powerful. Assimilation was the policy after the signing of Te Tiriti, a way to quietly control Māori, the land and the language. Children were punished for speaking te reo in schools and Māori needs were denied as the white man enforced control and power. We moved so much under the Ardern government towards a fairer society and negotiating ways to improve Māori health, housing, education and employment. All this will be undone and many will suffer,all for the power and pride of three white males.
Well said Nick. The government of the threes stooges (GOTS) has set NZ back 50 years. That Brooke van Velden has totally forgotten or ignored that the only reason she is where she is is because women before her stood up and fought for women's rights and equality.
Sadly, younger women have no idea how things used to be. I don't think Brooke has forgotten, I think she never knew, and doesn't understand that she is standing on the the shoulders of brave women. Not a student of history obviously.
Your last two paragraphs encapsulate the whole - thank you so much Nick! Long may you be steadfast on our behalf!! Also enjoyed and endorsed the thoughtful comments of the respondents above!👍👍
In the blogs and comments, there is little attention focused on Criminal Cultural reports - another of Seymour's "get rid of" targets. This is worth reading to see the whole picture of this incredibly important issue.
It's so disappointing when women, who have fought so hard for the vote, equal opportunity in the work place, control of their own body, are in many cases, still happy to hang on to the coattails of horrible men. For what? The reflective illusion of power? Jacinda Ardern showed that women can be strong and just leaders. What a disgraceful male mouthpiece Brooke van Velden is.
Nick this is all so absolutely true as we experience one of the most depressing times I can remember. We have a Govt that is doing nothing innovative or constructive and instead one that is seeking to destroy the positive and enhance the negative across so many aspects of our lives. The temerity of that Act woman who claims they are creating a less divisive country when it is clear the opposite will happen would be funny if it weren’t so serious. When statistics for Māori and Paifika people are the same across the board then we will have a country we can be really proud of.
Agreed, and so obvious when every policy was to remove a good one brought in by the previous government. I just hope it is obvious to the people not served by this government.
They are so removed from reality. Their version of equality is firmly bedded in the basis of 'other'. For Luxon & co, they are isolated from the 'other' by money and privilege. Seymour creates a world based on a theoretical word play, a thought exercise where reality is a debate and a thesaurus, the 'other' is the opposing debating team. Winston and NZ First, by their very name stand on a platform of paranoia that assumes the 'others' are out to get them. They are not a government of the people, they are an unholy alliance of greedy, nihilistic, moat diggers
Unholy.... yes, greedy.... yes, nihilistic.... yes and moat diggers!!! Absolutely.
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant Nick!! So many salient points in this.
How utterly naive of Brook to suggest the Act path will be anything other than divisive!Its laughable! Its crazy! Has that woman been living under a rock??!!
Already people are girding their loins!
Nick, you have absolutely nailed it. This is what I saw, read and heard. Heartbreaking, and soul destroyingly so. Thank you for calling it out.
You're very welcome Lyn, needs to be said.
Sadly, this all resonates. As a Health professional of 37 years predominantly in management and then the last 15 in health governance, I witnessed the inherent racism toward Maori, noted and cringed at the high and static negative statistics, but was finally feeling - 'Yaye - Te Aka Whai Ora, (Māori Health Authority) increased Te Reo use, greater understanding of Te Ao Māori, recognition of the need to train Māori into professions to improve those stats - and generally a large recognised and positive shift for our country, everyone is going to benefit. (Not just Māori). As the first Māori female Mayor (many say I don't look Māori) and (aside from Georgina Beyer of course), it wasn't long before a wealthy, white, arrogant farmer (who hadn't been to any of my Council meetings in the 12 years I'd been in there) put his hand up and said - hey our community of many wealthy white farmers don't want to pay that much rates, and anyhow you females should be in the kitchen, behind the sink with your aprons on (true that's what he said) - I'm gonna 'Stop all Rate Rises'!. Like the voters of this new government, you can guess the outcome. - I certainly learnt about the not so nice side of humanity during that period, and absolutely relate to all you are saying. Thanks Nick.
When I look at the Van Velden woman I see a person colonised by white male Eurocentric hegemony. She is young enough to be my daughter which is horrifying because it means that whatever gains have been made to redress the imbalance of racial, social, financial, medical, educational opportunities or access for those disadvantaged groups in my life time has been completely misinterpreted by a person who is now (as a result of the vagaries of MMP) in a position to unpick what meagre gains have been made. Her ignorance is breathtaking as is her arrogance to think that she has a mandate (Ms 8.6%!!!!) to implement such retrograde steps. Van Velden’s political stance is evidence itself of privilege that she has convinced herself is hers by birthright.
People, but politicians especially, who choose to misinterpret the two concepts of equality and equity are at best ignorant (which in the case of ACT MP’s should immediately bar them from any responsible public employment position) and at worse are wilfully choosing employ public ignorance to inflame their followers in a distortion of truth that is designed to place fear that they are in danger of losing something that was never theirs by right in the first place.
Both ACT and ‘Winston First’ are guilty of selling a lie as truth thereby exploiting a mostly indolent and ignorant section of society into believing that either party has something valuable to offer them.
And National is the lame, inexperienced ‘ringmaster’ that has become the conduit for such vile policies to be enacted.
My real fear is that the narrative of New Zealand as a progressive egalitarian society slowly picking its way through enlightened social change is no more than a facade that hides an endemic conservatism which continues to foster racism, misogyny and a bugger thy neighbour approach in all facets of our lives.
Thanks Mike. Endemic conservatism is alive and well in the rural areas I frequent. I get really annoyed at media who peddle the line that the Covid restrictions 'divided' the country. There is always division, but in recent times, I thought the fabric of our society was strengthening around holding us together, letting people know those old ways of thinking and behaving were no longer acceptable. People CHOOSE to be how they are, and the fabric is not just stretched and tattered, it being wilfully and deliberately torn and shredded. I am afraid of which history is about to be repeated
Well said Nick. But I think the lot who have grabbed all the toys don't really care that the "have-nots" have so much less. I hear an evil laugh as they look down at those Losers. The indifference is built in to the Right Wing Parties. So what to do about it? United we stand.
Thank you, Nick. As usual, you are on point. I'm a relief teacher at daycare. The hardest things we try to teach small children are "sharing" and "fairness". Usually by 4 years the cry will go up: "that's not fair". It is a hard lesson to learn, and needs constant reminders. It seems we are hard wired to grab all we can and go "mine". And we can see that primitive behaviour at work in this new confederacy of dunces who have taken the Treasury benches. It's reflected in the less thoughtful section of society who cling to what they have and don't want to share even the things they don't need or have no interest in.
Thanks for another thought provoking piece Nick and the link to E-Tangata which got me reading some amazingly helpful articles from a Te Ao Maori lens - including this one which helped lift my downcast mood since watching the 3 horsemen of the apocalypse burn our collective whare down: https://e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-analysis/a-culture-war-te-ao-maori-is-ready/
Bang on Nick, your last 2 paragraphs sum it up. Back to the 1950's social policy when I was going to school. Those Maori, good sheep shearers, great mates at the pub (6 o clock swill era), great at a party, sing play the guitar all night but marry my daughter/son? Never.
Thank you Nick, this government will be remembered as the government who catered for the rich and powerful. Assimilation was the policy after the signing of Te Tiriti, a way to quietly control Māori, the land and the language. Children were punished for speaking te reo in schools and Māori needs were denied as the white man enforced control and power. We moved so much under the Ardern government towards a fairer society and negotiating ways to improve Māori health, housing, education and employment. All this will be undone and many will suffer,all for the power and pride of three white males.
Well said Nick. The government of the threes stooges (GOTS) has set NZ back 50 years. That Brooke van Velden has totally forgotten or ignored that the only reason she is where she is is because women before her stood up and fought for women's rights and equality.
Sadly, younger women have no idea how things used to be. I don't think Brooke has forgotten, I think she never knew, and doesn't understand that she is standing on the the shoulders of brave women. Not a student of history obviously.
Your last two paragraphs encapsulate the whole - thank you so much Nick! Long may you be steadfast on our behalf!! Also enjoyed and endorsed the thoughtful comments of the respondents above!👍👍
Time for Affirmative Action we can all take, 'letter to the editor' of your favorite newspaper.
In the blogs and comments, there is little attention focused on Criminal Cultural reports - another of Seymour's "get rid of" targets. This is worth reading to see the whole picture of this incredibly important issue.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/cultural-reports-can-mean-big-discounts-off-an-offenders-sentence-but-are-they-really-needed/3QPWPUK4KEANP2ZU5OGVBMJ54M/
Also today's https://e-tangata.co.nz/ is a must read.
.