Book of the Week: Michele A’Court reviews ‘Brave’ by Rose McGowan

Michele A’Court grapples with an uncomfortable truth about the Rose McGowan memoir – it’s a diatribe that tells us how to think. It is a tricky thing to review a memoir, particularly one as dark as this. What you want to do is talk about the book – the writing, the storytelling, the structure and … Read more

On the Rag: In which we are all pregnant (with emotion for Jacinda)

Listen to Alex Casey, Leonie Hayden and Michele A’Court tackle the past month in women, news and popular culture. It’s a whole new year and the On the Rag team are back in the sweaty boardroom of dreams to blast the fans at full noise and dissect the first month of 2018. How incredible was … Read more

Rene Naufahu’s statement shows he still hasn’t learned much

After being sentenced for indecent assault, the actor issued a statement that seemed noticeably short on self-awareness and genuine contrition, writes Madeleine Holden. Last week, once-prominent New Zealand actor Rene Naufahu was sentenced to a year of home detention for six charges of indecent assault against young women who attended his acting classes. The court … Read more

Rene Naufahu and the Groundhog Day nature of sexual offending cases

Following local actor Rene Naufahu’s guilty plea to charges of indecent assault, Madeleine Holden looks at the pattern that occurs when prominent men are accused of sexual abuse, and the role that both the media and the public play in perpetuating rape culture.  Lee Rene Naufahu, of “ambulance driver Sam from Shortland Street” fame, pled … Read more