Rodney Hide: One law for Tamaki, another for the party of October 7

"Bash the Jews. Cut their heads off."

A man shouted that at a pro-Palestinian protest in Auckland in July 2014. It's on video. Dr David Cumin and historian Paul Moon reported to the Herald that the Human Rights Commission didn't think it worth investigating, let alone prosecuting. Its reasoning, as they reported it: no violence followed, so it didn't incite anything.

Remember that reasoning. It's about to become very selective.

Matua Kahurangi: If a man did this to an 11-year-old girl, he’d be locked up for years

This is absolutely sickening. A 35-year-old Auckland primary school teacher, Tamlyn Estee May, groomed an 11-year-old boy: sent him multiple nude and explicit photos of herself (”Don’t tell anyone, this is just for you”), told him they’d “make a good couple,” kissed him after wrestling, held his hand on “dates,” and spent the night sleeping in the same bed with him at his father’s house. She pleaded guilty to grooming for sexual conduct and indecency with a boy under 12 - offences that carry up to 3 and 10 years in prison.

Simon O'Connor: Do as I say, not as I do

How did we reach a moment where a Prime Minister saying she wanted to punch another MP in the face is seen as acceptable by many?

I’m not sure about you, but it is hard reconcile the words of Jacinda Ardern who on one hand said she wanted to punch a political colleague in the face and yet on the other is discussing wanting a different type of politics, one based around kindness and decency. This contradiction has more recently come to light during an interview with UK talk show host, Graham Norton.

Matua Kahurangi: One rule for some protesters, another for the rest

Authorities shut down the March for New Zealand protest

It seems in New Zealand these days, it’s perfectly fine to protest, so long as your cause is one that officials and the media approve of. If you’re waving a Palestinian flag, blocking streets, or storming through university campuses, you’ll likely be praised for your passion and your right to be heard. But if your protest happens to be about mass immigration, government overreach, or anything that challenges the political narrative, suddenly it’s a problem.

David Farrar: Will Labour go into coalition with a party that accused it of genocide?

Liam Hehir notes:

Imagine if somebody repeatedly accused you of genocide. Would you want them in government with you? Would you be offended at the suggestion? Or would you tacitly concede the high ground to them?

For Chris Hipkins and Labour, this isn’t a thought experiment.

Simon O'Connor: Double standards

As humans, I think we can intuitively identify double standards and sadly, we are surrounded by many in society. Our young are beginning to call this out, but are the adults in the room?

I recently was giving a talk to a large group of young people, taking their questions and thoughts on a wide range of topics from cultural to political, ethical to philosophical. It was thoroughly enjoyable and the nature of their questions gives me hope for the future.

Peter Williams: Racism's Double Standards

Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world

The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney born but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, a monkey.

Public opinion, as expressed through media – public and social – is supportive of the NRL taking a strong stand on racial abuse. Some say the ban isn’t long enough.