Seventeen countries and eight tech companies have in Paris agreed on a text designed to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online, in the wake of the terrorist attacks at two Christchurch mosques, an atrocity which was both planned online and livestreamed on Facebook. Below, the full text. A free, open and secure internet is a … Read more
Communities with a first-hand view of racism had warned authorities of threats ahead of the mosque attacks in Christchurch. Gaurav Sharma speaks about how this knowledge has turned his grief into anger, in a new edition of the For Auckland podcast. “I can’t tell you how angry I am,” says Gaurav Sharma, editor-in-chief of the Auckland-based Multicultural … Read more
Psychologically distressed survivors of the Christchurch terror attacks can’t get ACC help. Can a government which says it’s prioritising mental health continue with this ACC model? This post was originally published by RNZ. Yama Nabi’s father had been killed, he had seen dead bodies, wounded children and a river of blood. He was traumatised and unable … Read more
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Indifference from major players looms over Christchurch call summit, big changes coming for NCEA, and Peters savages Fonterra’s decision to sell Tip-Top. The Prime Minister is in the spotlight at the Christchurch Call summit on stopping extremism spreading on social media in Paris. It comes at an … Read more
In response to a tough decade for the people of Christchurch, Mike Rehu proposes a name change. Headlines scream around the world: The Christchurch earthquakes. The Christchurch shooting massacre. The largest city in the South Island has had a rough decade. It has been a literal rocky road that has scoured the emotions of residents. … Read more
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Negative reaction to government’s welfare report response, deep concern for Victim Support-held money, and a closer look at Panuku and Auckland CCOs. There’s significant disquiet over the small scale of the government’s response to the Welfare working group’s report. When the Welfare Expert Advisory Group report was … Read more
People too traumatised by the Christchurch mosque attacks to work want to know why Victim Support is holding onto millions donated to the city’s Muslim community while they struggle, write Veronica Schmidt and Max Towle for RNZ. Yama Nabi is a butcher, but these days he struggles with the sight of animal blood. It sends … Read more
The decisions made by NZ’s media organisations over how to cover the trial of the alleged Christchurch mosque shooter have come in for international criticism. But do they really understand what they’re talking about? It’s a strange thing when every major media organisation in a country decides to sing from the same song sheet. When … Read more
Paula Simpson dissects why the most privileged group in our society also appears to be the angriest. In the wake of the Christchurch shootings, social media is awash with articles. And in the comments under each article there are incredibly angry people. And they seem to mostly be white men. Before the hate starts: no, … Read more
ISIS and a junior defence minister in the Sri Lankan government have asserted the terrorist attacks on churches and hotels were a response to the attack on mosques in Christchurch on 15 March. The claims need to be treated with scepticism, writes security analyst Paul Buchanan in this post originally published at RNZ Having been defeated … Read more
In the weeks after the Christchurch we’ve seen those who continue to seek profit from hate. But we’ve also seen an awakening of sorts, and that is where the hope is, writes Anjum Rahman We barely had time to take a breath from the tragedy in our own country, when another happened in Sri Lanka. In … Read more
A month ago the ABC published an open letter to Jacinda Ardern from Summer Joyan, a 13-year-old Australian Muslim. Ardern replied personally. Here, Summer Joyan writes on the impact of the Christchurch attack, and the NZ prime minister’s response, in her country. I recently wrote an open letter to Jacinda Ardern. I wrote to her … Read more
Jacinda Ardern will head to Paris next month to co-host a forum devoted to an accord on ‘eliminating terrorist and violent extremist content online’. What could such a pledge look like, and what could it usefully achieve, asks Jordan Carter of InternetNZ. Jacinda Ardern this morning announced that New Zealand and France are working together … Read more
A year ago Chamanthie Sinhalage was in Sri Lanka, where she had travelled from New Zealand for her wedding. Today, she is coming to terms with a horrific terrorist attack in her birth country, just a few weeks after the atrocity in Christchurch. Last month, as the scale of the Christchurch mosque shootings started to … Read more
‘I swallowed my fear because I’m a teacher. And it’s my job to protect the children in my care and school at all costs,’ writes Margie Askin-Jarden, deputy principal of a school in Ōtautahi Christchurch. I didn’t plan on becoming a teacher. I wanted to be an educational psychologist. I dutifully completed my university degree, … Read more
There is a ‘climate of fear’ and a rising white supremacist movement on campus, say a group of students at the University of Auckland. Don Rowe reports. Students at the University of Auckland met last night to discuss what they say is a growing white supremacist movement on campus, and their concerns the university is dragging … Read more
News that the family of a Christchurch mosque shooting victim is struggling financially has reignited controversy about how the millions raised in the wake of the tragedy are being spent. But, as professional fundraiser Jemma Balmer argues, are we asking the wrong questions? Grief and solidarity swept New Zealand in the days following the mosque … Read more
Neighbours of New Zealand’s biggest shooting range say they’re victims of targeted harassment, including Nazi symbols scrawled on a resident’s property. Police, they say, have not taken their concerns seriously. The Auckland Shooting Club, in response, says it’s being ‘victimised’. Don Rowe reports. Update 11/4 8am – Auckland Shooting Club president Chris Gee has resigned. … Read more
When we arrived to live in New Zealand we were shocked to discover how tolerant many people were of flagrant expression of neo-Nazism, writes Anke Richter When we migrated to New Zealand 16 years ago as a family, many things were different to our old life. Bus drivers were friendly. “North facing” meant sunny and … Read more
Ten days after the terrorist shooting in two Christchurch mosques took 50 lives, Jacinda Ardern speaks to Toby Manhire in her Beehive office. ‘I’ll show you something,” says Jacinda Ardern. We are sitting on sofas in her office on the ninth floor of the Beehive. It is just 10 days since a terrorist attack in Christchurch … Read more
When hope seems all but lost, Juliet Speedy finds solace in the kitchen. When my stepfather was suddenly diagnosed with lung cancer, he lost his appetite. I made him casseroles, lasagnes, stews. He attempted small mouthfuls but couldn’t eat much. Then, one day I made him a lemon posset. He loved the sweet easy texture … Read more
Following a terrorist attack targeting NZ’s Muslim community, Scott Morrison has been keen to hug his NZ counterpart, and talked of a ‘bright stream of light to come from the darkness’. Until he overhauls Australia’s immigration and deportation policy, it’s nothing but platitude, writes Janet McAllister Ostensibly, the Aussies were there to support the Kiwis, … Read more
The current discourse around Muslim women is narrow-minded and short-sighted, writes Nidha Khan. There are Kiwi-Muslims still grieving. There are Kiwi-Muslims still numb, upset, scared, angry, and emotionally exhausted. And, in such a time, it is deeply upsetting and unsettling for commentators like Heather du Plessis-Allan to re-ignite narrow-minded conversations about how wearing the hijab … Read more
As powerful as the national outpouring of solidarity has been following the Christchurch attacks, it’s not enough on its own. Tony Blackett of Amnesty International NZ offers some ways you can take further action against racism. If the last couple weeks have shown us anything, it’s that now, more than ever, we need the human … Read more
Duncan Garner has described the Canterbury Crusaders’ name change as ‘white man’s guilt’, but Catherine Delahunty argues that guilt and discomfort are a necessary part of moving forward as a more inclusive society. The Christchurch attack has highlighted how a racist society operates when challenged by white supremacist terrorism. The strong thread of decency and … Read more
CEO Mark Zuckerberg was silent for weeks following the attacks, yet the world has refused to let this story go. Here is a summary of three extraordinary weeks for Facebook. It’s now three weeks since Christchurch, and those directly impacted are preparing to face the accused in court this morning, still incredibly raw. Haji Daoud … Read more
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Christchurch mosque attack accused to appear in court, threats made against Muslim prayer for ANZAC service, and tense hearings on gun law reforms. The police have confirmed they will be charging the man accused of carrying out the Christchurch mosque attack over every single person killed. The NZ … Read more
Alex Casey, Leonie Hayden, Michèle A’Court and Mahvash Ali tackle the past month in women, with thanks to our friends at The Women’s Bookshop. For our March episode we have brought in an extra special guest to reflect on the month in New Zealand that was. Mahvash Ali is a producer for The Project NZ, and describes … Read more
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