Aotearoa / New Zealand

New Zealand singer Daphne Walker has died, aged 94.

Walker was best known for songs likes ‘Haere Mai (Everything is Kapai)’ popular in the 1950s.

A former Inland Revenue employee has lost her bid to claim unjustified disadvantage and constructive dismissal after making comments other workers found offensive.

She posted [on intranet]: "This is awesome but a shame it took so long coming. And interesting, now that men can menstruate, free period products are available in IR bathrooms."

Massof's manager, Leah Galbraith, became aware when the comment was reported to her by IR's rainbow network, which said some people were offended and upset.

Galbraith met Massof to discuss the comments and set expectations for the future.

She filed a statement of problem with the Employment Relations Authority saying she had been unjustifiably disadvantaged in her employment and Inland Revenue had not acted in good faith.

She then resigned.

"Insofar as Ms Massof complains that IR's provision of free sanitary products by IR in the bathrooms was an unjustified disadvantage, this claim cannot be made out. The provision of free product to all staff with no requirement for use or engagement by staff cannot be categorised as a disadvantage, much less an unjustified one."

With the cost of living soaring, many Kiwi families are struggling to afford healthy food. Countries like Canada and the UK don’t tax basic groceries, and it's time New Zealand followed suit. Removing GST—or offering a rebate—on meat and vegetables would ease financial pressure, improve access to nutrition, and support better long-term health for all New Zealanders. Let’s push for tax policy that puts people’s wellbeing first. Sign the petition and help make real change happen.

All the problems that we have with traffic congestion, rents going up every year, and all the other crap - it won't be fixed by politics. I also don't believe that the fertility crisis can be solved by paying women to have children. My GP disagrees, he still thinks that financial incentives can play a role, but I believe it's a spiritual sickness rather than a financial problem.

Likewise, with housing, rent and mass immigration, these aren't issues that can be fixed with a discussion about government policy. Maybe in 10 or 20 years the situation will slightly improve but I won't hold my breath.

New Zealanders are obsessed with being part of the group, they are too scared to have their own opinions, that's why progress is so slow. It isn't "tall poppy syndrome" or "she'll be right". New Zealanders are just not willing to say no to the fake solutions offered by Parliament and the media.

On NZ reddit, users described the New Zealand mentality, that we prefer to avoid talking about the hard topics, and we wait on the other person to bring them up, then we only go further if the other person goes further.

Literally a nation of sheep that rely on someone else to start and steer the conversation on their behalf. Only chiming in when it's "safe" to do so.

Redditors seem to have a big problem with Americans talking in a loud voice, but that's just how some people enjoy themselves. I often talk far too loud, my voice just carries, don't know why! My voice just defaults to loud and I have to make a conscious effort to talk quietly or just be really relaxed to be quiet. Most people have to make a conscious effort to talk in a loud voice, but naturally they talk quietly.

New Zealanders are too meek, and they are also disorganised. They want someone else to speak out, but when someone does speak out, then everyone will crucify them and say they're weird or that they've gone too far, or one part of their idea isn't good, so the whole thing must be thrown out and forgotten. So what's the point in trying to lead by example? There are heaps of wimps on reddit who post all the right stuff - hate for the greed that's strangled our economy. But these reddit users are too hopeless to start a movement, unless it's just a group that has a monthly meeting, where they take ideas, and then plan the next meeting.

I had thought about making regular videos for www.rumble.com but I also realise that people aren't ready for that yet. There's a potential audience of millennialls, zoomers and alphas who would agree with most of what I say, but then I face an uphill battle to promote videos. If I made a single video on my Rumble account and posted it to reddit, it'd get banned in about 15 minutes for some bullshit rule, like "self promotion". I'm not monetising anything, in fact my channels and social media accounts are not licensed in any way. I deliberately choose the most "copy left" option available.

People aren't ready to hear the truth and if I start making videos on Rumble I won't post it anywhere but a pure free speech website like Gab Social. If I say something bad about Indian Uber drivers and suggest that we should boycott Uber Eats (because they're taking unfair cuts from restaurants and reducing profit), then there's always a risk that someone will cry racism. If it isn't that, then there's some hard-ass who thinks I'm a commie and that I'm anti-business or just plain lazy, and they'll attack me personally while praising low wage and zero hour contracts as "freedom".

I'm sick of hearing about how this-or-that political party will save the country "IF ONLY THEY COULD GET IN AGAIN FOR ONE MORE TERM!!!!!1"

Stop worshipping these political figures and dumb binary concepts of socialism versus capitalism, and think about what you can personally achieve for the health of the country. Taking sides and arguing about government policy or historical factions is so dull and boring. Think of yourself as more than a "brand ambassador" for some worthless political party. If you have any courage then use it. Tell people what you really think, and don't get into the Chris versus Chris rubbish, trust me it's a dead end.

New Zealanders are their own worst enemy.

"Early on in my morality I realised that things were going to get tough...

That should be mayorality

Tripe said cutting food scrape collections saved Whanganui 1.1 percent on rates.

Food scraps. They repeat the same mistake throughout the article.

It reads like something that was written with voice dictation and not checked for errors, it's frankly embarrassing. And it's something I've been noticing more and more.

This is quite fascinating actually, I had no idea there was such a thing as a planked waka.

I'd love to see a reconstruction of this one day, it sounds like an extremely capable craft.

For those that can't watch the video, please excuse this AI summary:

Summary: 'Flash flood' devastates small community in Motueka Valley | RNZ

A long-time resident of the Motueka Valley reflects on the devastating effects of a flash flood, describing it as one of many they've witnessed over the years. They highlight several key concerns:

• Forestry Slash and Silt: The flood brought down large amounts of forestry slash and silt from nearby hills. Much of the damage is attributed to pine plantations on unstable granite terrain, which the speaker criticizes as an unwise land-use decision.

• Environmental Impact: The flood caused significant damage—depositing half a meter of silt across properties, destroying roads, and sending debris into the Motueka River and eventually out to sea. The speaker estimates that hundreds of tons of soil were washed away, which is impossible to fully measure.

• Log Jams: Massive log jams formed upstream, some as large as 200 meters long, consisting of large-diameter logs—not just pine slash—raising serious concerns about future flooding and blockages.

• Community Impact: One flood-created dam—about 3 meters high—broke and sent water and debris into homes, school carparks, and the main road. High water flow continued through the night, worsening the damage.

• Concerns About Forestry Practices: The speaker distinguishes between local forestry workers—described as kind and helpful—and the decision-makers, who are criticized for poor forestry planning and repeated mistakes.

• Call for Change: Despite the destruction, the speaker urges for calm and thoughtful decision-making rather than anger. They advocate for peaceful, future-oriented solutions to address these complex environmental and land management issues.

The video underscores the emotional and environmental toll of poor forestry practices and extreme weather, calling attention to the need for sustainable land use in vulnerable areas like Motueka Valley.

cross-posted from: https://toast.ooo/post/8396304

OK WE'RE ACTUALLY LIVE NOW

a little hiccup at the start but we're here

Last weeks thread here

Welcome to this week’s casual kōrero thread!

This post will be pinned in this community so you can always find it, and will stay for about a week until replaced by the next one.

It’s for talking about anything that might not justify a full post. For example:

• Something interesting that happened to you
• Something humourous that happened to you
• Something frustrating that happened to you
• A quick question
• A request for recommendations
• Pictures of your pet
• A picture of a cloud that kind of looks like an elephant
• Anything else, there are no rules (except the rule)

So how’s it going?

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/32753121

Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior (1985)

Wed Jul 10, 1985

Image: The Rainbow Warrior in Marsden Wharf in Auckland Harbour after the bombing by French secret service agents. © Greenpeace / John Miller [greenpeace.org]

On this day in 1985, the French government, in an act of state-sponsored terror, bombed the Greenpeace-operated boat Rainbow Warrior, which was en route to protest a nuclear weapons test planned by the French state. The bombing, later found to be personally ordered by French President François Mitterrand, killed a freelance photographer on board named Fernando Pereira.

France had been testing nuclear weapons on the Mururoa Atoll in French Polynesia since 1966. In 1985 eight South Pacific countries, including New Zealand and Australia, signed a treaty declaring the region a nuclear-free zone.

Since being acquired by Greenpeace in 1977, Rainbow Warrior was active in supporting a number of anti-nuclear testing campaigns during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including relocating 300 Marshall Islanders from Rongelap Atoll, which had been polluted by radioactive fallout by past American nuclear tests.

For the 1985 tests, Greenpeace intended to monitor the impact of nuclear tests and place protesters on the island to observe the blasts. Three undercover French agents were on board, however, and they attached two limpet mines to Rainbow Warrior and detonated them ten minutes apart, sinking the ship.

France initially denied responsibility, but two of the French agents were captured by New Zealand Police and charged with arson, conspiracy to commit arson, willful damage, and murder.

The resulting scandal led to the resignation of the French Defence Minister Charles Hernu, while the two agents pleaded guilty to manslaughter and were sentenced to ten years in prison. They spent a little over two years confined to the French island of Hao before being freed by the French government.

In 1987, after international pressure, France paid $8.16m to Greenpeace in damages, which helped finance another ship. It also paid compensation to the Pereira family, making reparation payments of 650,000 francs to Pereira's wife, 1.5 million francs to his two children, and 75,000 francs to each of his parents.

• Date: 1985-07-10
• Learn More: www.greenpeace.org, en.wikipedia.org, www.zinnedproject.org.
• Tags: #Terrorism, #Protests.
• Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org

Archived

The Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Auckland had requested the removal of the documentary Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Seas from the Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand, the festival organizers confirmed on Saturday, July 5.

In a statement [...] Doc Edge Festival confirmed it had received a formal request from the Chinese consulate, which claimed the film was “rife with disinformation and false propaganda” and served as “a political tool for the Philippines.”

The Chinese government urged the festival not to screen the film “in the interest of public accountability and China–New Zealand relations,” citing New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon’s recent visit to China.

Doc Edge Festival rejected China’s request and stood by its “independence and curatorial freedom.”

“Doc Edge stands by our kaupapa (principles) and the festival’s independence and curatorial freedom,” the organizers said.

“We are, however, happy to present the perspective of the Chinese Consulate-General in the interest of transparency and fairness. We encourage audiences to seek out their own sources, view the film, and engage in open conversation and dialogue,” it added.

On Thursday, July 3, the Filipino documentary bagged the Tides of Change award in the Doc Edge Festival.

Earlier, the Doc Edge Festival had referred to the documentary as “a banned film that must be seen.”

Just two days before the Puregold Cinepanalo 2025 film festival was set to open on March 14, the documentary was pulled from the lineup. It was originally slated to be one of the festival’s eight featured films.

The documentary directed by Baby Ruth Villarama follows the struggles of Filipino fisherfolk, the Philippine Coast Guard, as well as some Navy personnel, in delivering food and aid to communities, all while defending the tensions that arise in the waters.

The Doc Edge Festival is an Oscar-qualifying film festival that was established in 2005. For 20 years, it has dedicated itself to spotlighting excellence in documentary storytelling.

[...]

New Zealand is among the many countries that have consistently supported the Philippines in calling China out for harassing Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea. In late April 2025, Manila and Wellington signed a Status of the Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) which makes it easier for the militaries of either countries to access each others’ territories for exercises, disaster response, or other defense reasons.

The company plans to extract DNA from moa bones and use gene editing to modify "living birds to resemble the extinct South Island giant moa".