‘We need someone asking what is being done about racist hatred’, says head of African Communities Forum. An African community group is redoubling demands for the urgent appointment of a Race Relations Commissioner following the terrorist attack in Christchurch that has left 50 people dead. The position has been empty for over nine months since … Read more
The terrorist attacks that tore through the Muslim community in Christchurch also exposed ugly truths about New Zealand. By Toby Morris
After the terrorist atrocity in Christchurch, supporters including Sikhs are rallying around the Muslim community to ensure bodies can be buried as quickly as possible. Madeleine Chapman reports from Christchurch On Sunday morning the roads were reopened. The mound of flowers at the corner of Deans Ave and Riccarton Rd, perched as close as the … Read more
For more than five years, Muslim representatives knocked on every door we could, we spoke at every possible forum. We pointed to the rise of vitriol and the rise of the alt-right in New Zealand, writes Anjum Rahman of the Islamic Women’s Council of NZ How does a heart break? Does it shatter into a million … Read more
Faisal Halabi – an Arab, a Muslim, and a New Zealander – reckons with what all those identities mean for him. I’m sitting in my London flat, thinking about the distance between myself and New Zealand. It’s just over 18,000km. I’m also thinking about the distances between the different identities I’ve balanced growing up in New Zealand: … Read more
Thousands across the country have been gathering this weekend for the victims and families of the Christchurch terror attacks. At Auckland’s Aotea Square vigil on Saturday, words of love and triumph were preached, as were reminders of New Zealand’s xenophobic past. “Look at this place, it’s completely empty,” my taxi driver remarks as we drive … Read more
Most gun owners in NZ are law abiding, safety conscious people. But laws that are easy to bypass enabled the appalling tragedy of the Christchurch mosque shootings. A firearm owner writes. New Zealand has long been a country associated with firearms. From our history as a rugged wild paradise where life was focused on hunting … Read more
Christchurch seemed like a place where nothing happened, writes Guyon Espiner for RNZ. Now, an offshore horror has wormed its way in – or perhaps it was here all along. If you dug a hole from Paris and kept on digging right through to the other side of the world you would end up in Christchurch. … Read more
Today it seems in some ways another age, but on Friday young people from around New Zealand and around the world rallied together to demand action on climate change. Sonya Nagels met some of the strikers in Auckland. Scarlett, 15 “This is our home, and without it, none of it – school, NCEA – none of it … Read more
In the wake of the Christchurch mosque attacks, a survivor from the 1996 Dunblane school massacre living in New Zealand has some constructive advice for the media and the public. I live in New Zealand now, but 23 years ago this week I was an 11-year-old at primary school in Dunblane. To be more precise, … Read more
A day that began with the hope of the climate march ended with the despair of a massacre, writes James Dann from Christchurch. I want to say it started like an other day, but it didn’t. It was grey and wet. By the time school climate strike kicked off, the rain had stopped, and the … Read more
A 28 year old man was charged with murder after an unprecedented terror attack in a city still patching itself together. Madeleine Chapman reports from Christchurch She had made the coffee strong because she figured the police officers stationed at the end of her street didn’t sleep much last night. She was right. Two hours, … Read more
Our mosques and communities have always been heavily scrutinised for signs of extremism. But as a Muslim New Zealander, my question is this: what was put in place to protect us from terrorists, writes Sohail Din A sentiment of devastation and disgust today pervades the New Zealand Muslim community, as it does all New Zealanders. … Read more
The prime minister has just delivered an update to media from the Beehive on the security situation following the mosque terror attacks in Christchurch. Here is the text of her statement. A total now of 49 people have been killed – work is under way to confirm their identities as quickly as possible. Forty-one people … Read more
New Zealanders were furious with news organisations that broadcast video and manifesto related to the atrocity in Christchurch. But what about the online giants which made it all accessible? I’m sitting in a hotel room in Singapore, having just left Facebook’s APAC HQ, about to attend a news conference organised by Google, thinking about Christchurch. … Read more
A Friday night meeting in response to the Christchurch shootings discussed demonstrations and plans to stand guard outside New Zealand mosques for Friday prayers. Alex Braae reports. Within hours of the devastating acts of terrorism in Christchurch, plans were already being made in Auckland for a staunch response. At least 49 people were killed in … Read more
A global day of action from young people is under way in New Zealand. We’ll be updating throughout the day here – send us your pics and observations for publication: info@thespinoff.co.nz. For everything you need to know about today’s planned events, go here. 2:50pm: The Spinoff has just been sent a photo taken during Nicola Willis’s … Read more
As part of a day of #schoolstrike4climate, demonstrations by young people calling for action on climate change, thousands of New Zealand students are expected to skip classes tomorrow. What’s going on, and where? What and when? Rallies and marches are planned around the country, kicking off a day of action around the world. In Auckland, … Read more
Fellow kids, are you going on strike for climate change tomorrow? Here are some top tips from seasoned protesting pros. On Friday March 15, school kids around the world will be walking out of classrooms and taking to the streets to march against government inaction on climate change. For many of them, climate change is … Read more
This week, and pretty much all the time, young people are putting to shame the aged moaners among us, says Emily Writes I’m of the opinion that generally children are better than adults. This week has thoroughly cemented this view for me and it’s only Thursday morning. I don’t know what it is about becoming … Read more
Based on the podcast of the same name, Alex Casey, Michele A’Court and Leonie Hayden set out to jelly wrestle with every issue under the sun. First up: periods. The Spinoff apologises for an error in the above video: Jill Brinsdon was the first female creative director in New Zealand, rather than the first female … Read more
How did Conscious Light, a ‘documentary’ on cult leader Adi Da, end up getting shown at a public library? Anke Richter goes down the rabbit hole. Give me a cult doco like Holy Hell, The Family or Wild Wild Country any day. I’d happily pay a lot more than the small koha they ask you … Read more
We should be proud young people in New Zealand have the courage to demonstrate their commitment to addressing climate change, and welcome their passion, writes the children’s commissioner, Andrew Becroft The children and young people taking part in Friday’s climate strike are not adults-in-waiting whose views don’t yet count. They don’t need adult permission to … Read more
An Auckland secondary school teacher posted some thoughts on the climate strike. They were smart and pithy thoughts, so with permission, we’re republishing below. Here’s why you’re all wrong about the student “strike” about climate change that may or may not be happening. Firstly, they should all be encouraged to go on the protest. Secondly, … Read more
Take urgent action on climate change or face mass, worldwide death – that’s the stark message of a new global protest movement that calls itself Extinction Rebellion, who have recently become active in New Zealand. Alex Braae reports on a demonstration the Auckland chapter undertook, and the increasing alarm being caused by climate inaction. What … Read more
Long term abuse and grooming happened to me and I waited two decades to take it to court. I can talk about this now when others can’t, because I was lucky, writes Amanda Thompson The Leaving Neverland documentary is out and I can’t watch it. Good luck to you amateur sleuths who will be glued … Read more
The Auckland City Mission is in the midst of a $90 million redevelopment. Gareth Shute, once a volunteer at the Mission, talks with long-serving staff member Wilf Holt about how the Mission has developed over the past two decades and what lies ahead for this nearly 100-year old institution. Back in 1999, I was a … Read more
How important is accessibility when it comes to enjoying and appreciating our art? Sam Brooks reviews Blanc de Blanc and The Magic Flute, both part of the Auckland Arts Festival. Accessibility means a range of different things when it comes to art. The first thing that might come to mind is the physical accessibility; how accessible is … Read more
There are at least as many bi and pansexual people in the world as lesbians and gay men combined, at least according to surveys of western countries. But bisexuality is poorly understood – leaving bi and pansexual people feeling that their sexuality is invisible or invalid. Episode 1 of the new season of RNZ’s BANG! podcast … Read more