A big thank you to all who spoke out and generously supported Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash after vice chancellor Jan Thomas declared he could not address students at Massey University.
On Tuesday, Thomas stopped an event in which Don was to speak on his time in Parliament.
Thomas cited security concerns as a reason to ban Don. But she also cited Don’s leadership of Hobson's Pledge “and views he and its supporters espoused in relation to Maori wards on councils was clearly of concern to many staff, particularly Maori staff”.
Earlier, Thomas asserted that debate on Maori wards “came dangerously close to hate speech, mobilised in large part by the Hobson's Pledge network”.
A free-speech debate that Don appeared in at Auckland University on Thursday showed the extent of security concerns that were likely – a small gaggle of noisy hecklers who proved Don’s point, which was that his opponents preferred to shut down debate instead of engaging with the issues.
Columnist Karl du Fresne wrote that he believes the Left targets Don “not because he holds extreme views, but for precisely the opposite reason: a large number of New Zealanders agree with him. That makes him a potent threat”.
ACT bill would end Maori seats
Hobson’s Pledge applauds ACT leader David Seymour’s proposed private member’s bill that would see 20 MPs slashed from Parliament, including the Maori seats, and the number of electorates reduced to 54.
The bill would reduce the size of Parliament to 100 (from 120), reduce the size of the executive to 20 (from 31, including ministers outside Cabinet and parliamentary under-secretaries), and reduce the number of electorates to 54 (from 71).
Such a revamp would disestablish the Maori seats.
Each prospective MP would also have to stand in an electorate - whether they were list or electorate MPs.
If they lost in the electorate, they could still get into Parliament on the list, but they would have an established electorate office, and would be expected to actively help people within their electorate.
It's refreshing to see an MP appear to walk the talk on the Maori seats and Parliament size.
Treatyist charter aims to control research
A group that used to be known as the Royal Society of New Zealand is setting up a Treaty-based charter in a bid to control research in New Zealand.
Research is understood to mean the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
Treatyism has become a quasi-religious dogma that has been carefully separated from scientific inquiry.
The group of academic virtue signallers, known as Royal Society Te Aparangi, believes that it is “important that New Zealand develops its own charter to include elements specific to the context of Aotearoa, such as setting out how researchers should meet their responsibilities under the Treaty of Waitangi”.
This group has roped in Universities New Zealand, Science New Zealand, Independent Research Association New Zealand, the Health Research Council of New Zealand, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
A Treaty-based research charter would further change universities and research institutes from bastions of free and critical thought to restrictive environments subject to an indoctrination filter
See https://royalsociety.org.nz/news/national-research-charter-for-aotearoa-being-developed/
Taniwha surfaces in Christchurch
The taniwha has surfaced in the Christchurch district, this time seeking a share of whopping consenting costs for a nine-metre long two-metre high retaining wall.
A Banks Peninsula couple wants to build a concrete block wall along a bare earth bank which was dug out during earthquake rebuild work.
The couple, who live on Governors Bay Rd, say they are "sickened" by consenting costs of about $20,000 – the same amount as budgeted for the wall's construction.
Their project will also need iwi approval, including a processing cost of $800, because their property is within the area of the Mahaanui Iwi Management Plan Silent Files and Kaitorete Spit cultural zone in the Christchurch District Plan.
A silent file area is an area given protection because it contains significant wahi tapu (sacred places) or wahi taonga (treasured possessions). The area is larger than the wahi tapu to ensure the exact location of the sacred place remains secret or "silent".
Frequently asked questions
- What is Hobson's Pledge?
- What are the issues we're facing today?
- Who are the people behind Hobson's Pledge Trust?
- What are our campaigns?
Join the debate on Facebook. You may visit this page at https://www.facebook.com/hobsonspledge/
Visit our website at http://www.hobsonspledge.nz/
Grow the movement. Forward this email to your friends and family
Donate. Visit https://hobsonspledge.nationbuilder.com/donate
Buy a book. Visit http://www.hobsonspledge.nz/resources