Ele Ludemann: Proving problem of auto pay rises

A union official displays both racism and sexism:

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Public Service Association to sack its Acting National Secretary after she publicly suggested women, Māori, & Pasifika people are incapable of high-performance and should therefore have pay increases automatically applied.

David Farrar: Royal Society tells Asian and European male researchers to stuff off

Taxpayers are funding 20 Future Leader Fellowships. Each one is worth over $800,000 so we are talking over $16 million from taxpayers.

MBIE has delegated decisions on who gets them to the Royal Society of NZ. And their criteria are:

Greg Clydesdale: What is the Most Discriminatory Organisation in NZ?

If we are to give an award to the most discriminatory award in New Zealand, one organisation proudly stands at the head of the pack.  For decade after decade, this organisation has consistently discriminated against one segment of the population – That organisation is no other than the Department of Conservation, and the population it discriminates against is the disabled with some flow over to the elderly.

I can provide a lot of evidence why D.O.C deserve this award, but I will begin with a personal experience.  Many years ago, I had a telephone conversation with a staff member at D.O.C in which I said I wanted greater access for elderly on our mountains.

Denis Hall: Well folks - those days are gone.

About a month ago- I went with my family - to visit a branch of my family that I hold in high regard and affection.

The man of the house is the one I am closest to - and I really do respect him and his achievements - and his opinions. Our conversation was as usual amicable - and enjoyable. No fishhooks to speak of.

However - in the course of the discussion through the few hours we were there - he made a comment - or perhaps a statement - that shocked me to the core - and I'm sure that as he made it he knew - that knowing me - it was going to have an impact on my state of mind.

Peter Williams: Sorry whitey, we can't help you

For the first this winter we have what’s known as the Community Pharmacy Minor Ailments Service.

Basically this means that if you have something not too serious wrong with you, like a skin infection or a tummy upset, you can go the chemist and they can give you some prescription medicine for it without having to go the doctor.

It’s a good idea, except that it discriminates against non-Māori and non-Pacific aged 14 and over.

Henry Armstrong: In Defence of “Old White Men”- the New Enemy Within?

                                 

In 2018, a Minister of the Crown and New Zealand Member of Parliament, Julie Anne Genter, herself a relatively-recent migrant to New Zealand, addressed a group of ten-year-olds at a Christchurch primary school. She  decried the presence of “old, white men” (or OWMs) on the boards of New Zealand organisations and demanded they “move aside”. 

Why this Minister in the Ardern-led government should not only comment on such an issue to kiddies who probably had no idea at all what a board (of trustees, directors or advisors) actually do, but  make such comments to such an audience? Most youngsters present would undoubtedly have much-loved older uncles or granddads who fitted this description. So, in the young mind, “old white men” were suddenly painted by this Minister as some sort of “enemy” to be removed and replaced by younger, more able and preferably female, board members.

Fiona Mackenzie: More on Council Absurdities

We apparently live in an enlightened era – one in which discrimination on any grounds is forbidden. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment tell us that we can’t hire (or choose not to hire) someone just because of their age, sex or sexual orientation, race, colour or ethnicity, religious or ethical beliefs, disability, marital or family status, or political opinions. To do so would be illegal. If one of these attributes (or lack of) was a necessity of the job, an employer would need to be prepared to prove it in court. Similarly, for landlords offering rental accommodation, it is unlawful to discriminate.

Thus it’s ironic that the public service entity, the Auckland City Council, has the gall to ask a potential supplier whether they consider their organisation to be a “Maori business”. This question is found in the online application for those applying for Council contracts. It is #5 in a list of standard questions on compliance certification, insurance, services, turnover and number of employees.

Fiona Mackenzie: Monkey Business in the Town Hall

Strict Maori powhiri protocol was imposed on Auckland Council’s inauguration last Tuesday (29th Oct). Women councillors were directed into the back row behind all their male colleagues, then to the end of the line-up for the hongi. One councillor said she was “shoved” into the back, while another explained that the women simply followed each other. It’s hard to imagine these strong, assertive women willingly being so meek and submissive – especially as their ranks contain at least one ex-MP, two ex-mayors and a deputy mayor.  Wherever the truth lies, the appearance of discrimination and rudeness towards our democratically-elected councillors (and, by inference, all women) was shocking.

Whoever was responsible is obviously unaware that: 1) sexual discrimination is illegal in New Zealand workplaces and government, and 2) in politics, one must be seen to be doing the right thing.