Samira Taghavi writes on why some lawyers are quitting the criminal bar:

After seeing my friend’s LinkedIn post, I rang her. We spoke, we compared notes and we asked the question I always hate: are women less kind than men to other women in the law?

I want the answer to be no. Often it is. But not always – and the “not always” is costing us big time.

It is costing us juniors who are leaving criminal law because they do not want a life built around fear, humiliation and impossible choices. I myself have already lost a junior I will dearly miss. That is a loss for her, for her future clients and for the system.

This is not a “men versus women “issue. Most judges – women and men – are measured, decent and fair. This is about power and culture. As the old line goes, if you want to know someone, give them power. If what follows that gift is interruption, point-scoring or process bent to convenience, that is not firmness: it is misuse.

It is an interesting insight, and one I have experienced also. Now please note the plural of ancedote is anecdotes, not data.

I haven’t had a boss for over 20 years, but before that I had a few. In my experience female bosses were both the best and the worst that I had. The male bosses tended to be more around the median. The bad female bosses seemed to be insecure and thought they had to constantly prove they were the boss by imposing stupid rules etc. The great female bosses were supportive, flexible, clear etc.

She first asked orally and was told to file a formal application closer to sentencing. She did exactly that – using the same standard form that had been accepted elsewhere for months – and a retired female judge (sitting) declined it. With VMR refused and every avenue closed off, she ultimately instructed an agent. Not because she lacked commitment, but because in that moment – with a newborn recently out of NICU – she did not have the reserves to keep fighting a refusal that should never have been necessary.

A separate matter shows the same pattern from another angle. My friend sought an adjournment of a trial date because of her post-birth circumstances. A female Crown prosecutor opposed the application; the adjournment was declined. Only later – when the matter came before a male judge – was the adjournment finally granted, with understanding and sympathy. The contrast speaks for itself.

From both the court and the Crown, too many emails read as if a newborn’s survival and a mother’s recovery were mere diary entries. What should have been hours spent cuddling a fragile baby became hours drafting memoranda, chasing consents and explaining ­– yet again – why counsel of choice and continuity matter in a criminal case.

I suggest those judges and prosecutors take two messages on board: continuity of counsel is not a luxury item and motherhood is not a scheduling inconvenience.

Both messages seem very reasonable.

The NZ Initiative has a research note out on how fiscal policy needs to work with monetary policy. They comment:

This analysis does not dispute that the RBNZ’s high interest rates were the proximate cause of the downturn. However, it argues the Bank had little choice. It was confronted with the insidious threat of inflation expectations breaking free from their anchor, a development that would risk a return to the deficit-spending stagflation of the 1970s and early 1980s. After all, following December 2023 changes, the Monetary Policy Committee’s single operational objective is price stability – 1-3 percent, with a focus on the 2 percent midpoint.

More critically, this note contends that the government’s own fiscal choices – particularly its decision to implement tax cuts without more than offsetting spending reductions while the RBNZ was still fighting inflation – created a policy misalignment. The fiscal policy stance remained stimulatory, begging the question of the political will to sustain a tighter monetary policy. It is a story of two ships passing in the night: monetary policy to raise interest rates to cool an overheated economy while fiscal policy was still pouring fuel on the fire by heavy borrowing. 

I think the tax cuts were the right thing to do – both economically and politically. Families needed tax relief. But I agree with the Initiative that they should have been offset with greater spending reductions.

The left lie and claim this is an austerity government. It is simply and completely wrong. The Government is spending more than Grant Robertson was promising to spend in his last budget.

Cutting spending is politically difficult with such a hostile media. The very modest reduction in public service staff levels was greeted with 100s of negative stories. The misinformation was so great that most of the public think the government cut 15,000 jobs rather than around 1,500.

But by failing to do greater spending cuts in late 2023, early 2024, this has contributed to interest rates not falling as quickly as they might have otherwise.

Stuff reports:

ABC will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show in the wake of criticism over his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, officials with the network said on Monday.

“We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” said a statement from the network.

ABC suspended Kimmel indefinitely after comments he made about Kirk, who was killed September 10, in a monologue.

Kimmel said “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk” and that “the MAGA gang” was “desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

What Kimmel said was wrong and highly offensive. There is zero evidence that the assassin was MAGA. It is a bizarre misinformation campaign that he repeated on a major broadcast channel.

So yes he should suffer consequences for such appalling judgment. But I don’t think those consequences should be his show is cancelled for ever. You shouldn’t lose your career for a mistake. A short suspension seems appropriate.

The Herald reports:

The Green Party’s chief of staff, Eliza Prestidge-Oldfield, has resigned in the latest shake-up for the party in what has been a term of turmoil.

In a statement, Greens co-leader Marama Davidson said Prestidge-Oldfield had “decided to step away from the chief of staff position to focus on her health, wellbeing and her whānau”.

Always a good thing to focus on whanau and health.

Anyway I have a solution for the Greens. They need a new Chief of Staff. Who could be better than someone who has already done the job, has also accomplished great things in (local) government, and has a track record of driving a unified team.

The perfect job for Tory Whanau!

The Herald reports:

He laments the poor relationship the CTU has with the current National-led Government compared to the John Key-led National Government.

The CTU used to meet regularly with Key, Finance Minister Bill English and Workplace Minister Michael Woodhouse. …

“We never meet with the Prime Minister. We’ve asked to. We’ve never met with the Minister of Finance. We’ve asked to.”

There is a reason for that – and it is all their own fault.

Of course, the frosty relationship might have something to do with the position the CTU took at the last election.

It didn’t exactly tell its members to vote for Labour, the Greens or Te Pāti Māori, but it campaigned against National in a very public way.

It placed a sinister-looking front-page attack ad in the New Zealand Herald, and on billboards targeting leader Christopher Luxon.

They ran a personal smear campaign against Luxon, and then cry that he won’;’t meet with them. Why would he?

There is a difference between advocating on policies, and personally denigrating a party leader.

Take Business NZ. Of course they much prefer the policies of a National-Led Government to a Labour-led one. And they will campaign assertively on issues that affect them such as Fair Pay Agreements and Capital Gains Tax.

But never do you see Business NZ run campaigns such as the CTU did. In fact Business NZ generally spends almost nothing during an election campaign, while the CTU goes all in.

This is why Business NZ does not get shut out. When the CTU runs a smear campaign against the opposition leader, of course it will affect your relationship in government.

Stuff reports:

Senior ministers are emphatically rejecting claims from Māori, including actress Keisha Castle-Hughes, that Māori should be eligible for citizenship to Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Waitangi Tribunal held an urgent hearing into the issue of citizenship, with many overseas-born Māori saying it is unfair and unconstitutional that Māori are being denied citizenship to the country they whakapapa to.

I will be amazed if the Waitangi Tribunal doesn’t agree with the claimants, as they have long since left behind any pretence of not being an activist body. But they will be terribly wrong.

What Castle-Hughes and others are arguing for is literally two standards of citizenship – a superior one for those with a Maori ancestor and an inferior one for everyone else.

There is a case to be made that citizenship eligibility should be extended to having a NZ citizen as a grandparent, not just a parent. But that must apply for everyone.

But there is a larger issue – people eligible for NZ citizenship do not take it up. If Castle-Hughes had bothered to become a NZ citizen in the last 30 years, she would not have a problem now.

But to be fair to her, there is little reason to do so. NZ is almost unique in that we give permanent residents almost all the rights of citizens. This means many people living here never apply to become NZ citizens. I want them to do so. I think citizenship is vitally important to a country, and promotes unity. As many of our residents as possible should be citizens.

One change I advocate is that we should restrict voting in elections to NZ citizens (grandfathering in all current residents who are not citizens). This is common to almost all other developed countries. We should proactively promote citizenship through publicity campaigns.

The Herald reports:

A TVNZ-commissioned review of TVNZ’s news coverage has identified only “minor” issues – and “no evidence of systemic bias or lack of impartiality in 1News’reporting”, according to a TVNZ summary of the report.

I laughed when I read this, as it was a couple of hours after watching 1 News where they had a vox pop with a 10 year old girl criticising the Government for not yet recognising a Palestinian State.

The New Zealand Government has shown it has a truly independent foreign policy by not following traditional allies Australia, Canada and the UK in recognising a Palestinian State at this time.

This is, in my opinion, the correct decision. For a state to be recognised you need to be able to identify who the Government is, and what the territory is. Neither of these apply at the moment.

Winston Peters said:

“With a war raging, Hamas remaining the de facto government of Gaza, and no clarity on next steps, too many questions remain about the future State of Palestine for it to be prudent for New Zealand to announce recognition at this time,” Mr Peters says. 

“We are also concerned that a focus on recognition, in the current circumstances, could complicate efforts to secure a ceasefire by pushing Israel and Hamas into even more intransigent positions.”

New Zealand continues to call out all actions being taken by both Israel and Hamas which prolong the conflict, prevent a political solution, and seek to extinguish the viability of a Palestinian state, Mr Peters says.

“New Zealand has long been a staunch advocate of the two-state solution and a defender of Palestinians’ right to self-determination,” Mr Peters says. 

“What is needed now more than ever is dialogue, diplomacy and leadership – not further conflict and extremism. 

“New Zealanders are shocked by the harrowing images of famine in Gaza, revolted by the grossly disproportionate military action from the Israeli Government and disturbed by Israeli rhetoric and actions aimed at dismantling future prospects for a Palestinian state. 

I support a two state solution, and I do despair at elements in the current Israeli Government that do not. The talk of separating East Jerusalem from the rest the West Bank through settlements is deeply deeply bad. In fact I don’t support any settlements constructed in the disputed territories. I also agree that the Israeli military action is now disproportionate. It wasn’t initially. It wasn’t even for the first year or so. But it is now. I note 62% of Israeli Jews support a deal where in exchange for the remaining hostages, the IDF withdraws totally from Gaza. Also 53% of Israeli Jews are against Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip. I am not Israeli but my views are in the majority there – I want the war to end in exchange for the hostages being released, and for there to be no permanent occupation of Gaza.

Penny Tucker is retiring off the Orakei Local Board. Instead of a valedictory she has written a letter to her children. I think it is a great summing up of why people should get involved with their local council, or board, so am republishing it here. Hope you don’t mind Penny!

Dear Lucy, Zara and Violet.

Your Great Grandmother on my side loved Auckland. She wasn’t popular at the best of times and her her civic endeavours hardly endeared her to officialdom. She petitioned hard to double the size of the harbour bridge when it was initially conceived and was told by the blokes in charge to back off. She thought that a lack of cohesive planning in the city’s development would lead to aesthetic and social disconnects. My generation, she said, would be left to pick up the pieces.

As President of the Auckland Historic Places Trust, she fought to keep the trams and the proximate land they used. She thought both would be valuable assets in due course. So passionate about history was your Great Grandmother that when she and some mates founded MOTAT, they nicked whole cottages to put in it. She was not someone you could invite for tea without having a sound house and contents insurance policy.

If she’d had a personal motto, it would have been ‘don’t be a bystander.’ Stand by she did not.

I know you thought my standing for the Local Board was a rather incongruous decision. How wrong you were. Look at what you’ve gained. How many young adults, confined in a car with their mama, get to hear valuable insights into cliffs, berms, bus stops, bike lanes, cats, parks, rubbish, rubbishy developments, poorly sequenced lights, inadequate signage, crossings, people cross about crossings, crime, swans, asbestos, drains, dogs, playgrounds and inconceivably bad traffic management.

Those minutes stuck in traffic fly by, just like cars on Kepa Rd used to before we buggered it up.

Being a bystander never fixed anything.

It is often quite little things that impact quality of life in our neighbourhoods. It’s a stand of trees which grow into a point of pause on a daily walk. It’s watching a kid read the wind and go about in a sailboat at the Landing for the first time. It’s a bench near a beach where familiar faces and some passing new ones register the beauty of sitting by the tide. It’s hearing the rubbish truck and knowing that the red bin real estate is about to be freed up for another week. It’s a park where kids squeal with pleasure and even adults not connected to them look up from their phones for a second.

It’s knowing that someone is worried about water getting to where it should be. And is dealing with water where it should not be. It’s getting kids safely to school via walking or actual buses. It’s a waka with mana and memories carved into it back home in its own sheltered place on the edge of the sea. It’s the hope that someone will advocate for your house and your rights. Because what you see out of your window may be right there or far away but it is an achingly important component of how you view the world around you.

It’s a library full of mystery and activity for all ages. Sports fields where dirt and dings are badges of honour. It’s investing our resources back into our community and swatting away other Boards swooping in to thieve them in the manner of aggravating seagulls in Mission Bay. It’s a broken street light being fixed to cast a pool of comforting clarity in a palette of shadows.

Actually, it’s just life

What’s my hope for the Board? As with most families, our Board is idiosyncratic. A product of our democracy and the offices and institutions that support it. Sadly, there’s a distinct shortage of Ancient Greeks on social media platforms to whom we can address complaints. Thus, we have to muddle on. I hope our Board will continue to be an environment where perspectives, not the people airing them, are criticised. Where our critics feel they are treated with as much legitimacy as our collaborators. I hope people are treated with empathy and respect.

So that’s really it, daughters of mine. As always, I have been extremely grateful for your help. Not many kids have been dispatched to check forged dog signs in parks, put hundreds of poppies into an ANZAC Day crosses, take photos, deliver things here there and everywhere and to form a generational bridge at quiz nights. You are part of the team and I am proud of you.

I am often struck by how blessed I am to have a husband as long suffering as the one I managed to corral and I pass no judgement on him for going all the way to Saudi Arabia to avoid this presentation.

Also, if Auckland is about to be made more vibrant by the CRL, I am made more joyful by my KRL – that’s Kirstine, Rebecca and Lisa, my hoodies.

I never cease to be impressed by the passion, smarts and sheer energy our Councillor and Deputy Mayor brings to a tricky role. I know never to blow off a call from Desley because, like a draught in an old kauri villa, thinking you can ignore it isn’t even close to a management strategy. I am deeply appreciative of the staff and the teams at Council we work with and I hope I have not been too much of a pain. Actually, I probably have been. Sorry AT.

Last but most important, how good are our Orakei Local Board constituents? Those who participate, contribute ideas, support our projects, inspire and own initiatives, provide feedback (couple of honourable exceptions there) and make our communities the best in Auckland. We have the best iwi by far in the form of Ngāti Whatua Orakei. Their leadership from the prow or tauihu perched on a high point on our coastline is, in my view, a beacon of leadership in our city. We are so, so strong when we work together.

Bottom line. Don’t ever be a passenger in civic life if you actually expect to end up in a place you want to be. And don’t forget to tag off.

Ut Serviamus.

Karin Horen is standing for the Takapuna Local Board. As you can see she was on the “A fresh approach” ticket.

But they have dropped her suddenly.

Why?

Because Karin is Jewish. She was born in Israel and like all Israeli citizens served in her youth in the IDF, over 30 years ago. She has lived in New Zealand since 2009 and is incredibly active in the community. She is a breast cancer survivor, having had it twice. She has kids who have Maori, English and Jewish heritage. She has set up charities. She is an author. She teaches resilience.

But she has been dumped from her ticket. Because she is Jewish. Because like 95% of Jews she is a Zionist (that simply means she supports the existence of Israel as a Jewish state).

A member of her local body team explains why they dumped her:

This afternoon I had a meeting with a senior advisor at the Auckland Council. The security team at the council have significant safety concerns for myself, as well as you and other candidates due to the ‘free Palestine’ groups. These groups are internationally funded and have radical members due to the high emotive topic and have lost their rationality. They are focused on targeting their actions on specific people and events, and are highly unpredictable. They have monitored a lot of ‘chatter’ on their networks about you and upcoming events. I have also had a call with Mel, who has had a similar conversation with Auckland Council security.

They have recommended that I be extra vigilant when walking around the streets. They have asked to pass this on to you, too to be extra vigilant and to keep yourself safe. This news today has been very upsetting to our family members. 

They are particularly concerned with your attendance at the two upcoming meet the candidates events – The Rose Centre on Sunday and Milford on Tuesday. Additional security measures will need to be put in place if you attend. They asked if you can please advise the venues ASAP if you are attending. Our advice continues to be that you don’t attend. 

These heightened safety concerns are on top of recent vandalism of our signs outside a members business and a huge amount of negative emails and messages, and damage to personal and political relationships over the last few weeks.

Due to these reasons, and the need to keep myself, my family and others safe from these groups, unfortunately, the A Fresh Approach Team will no longer be able to be associated with yourself running for local board. I also request that you remove all ‘A Fresh Approach’ branding from your social media/advertising immediately.

We have met with Kimberly and Lewis about this change and we will also meet with Scott and Karleen when possible as they are overseas.

This is our worst-case scenario, but unfortunately, today’s information has dramatically changed the way forward. This is now more than the election; our safety has been compromised. 

I also want to acknowledge how upsetting this is. It’s upsetting for all of us, but I can only imagine how it must feel for you. At the end of the day, this is low-level politics and a lowly paid role, and the safety of ourselves and our families is the most important thing.

We recommend you develop a plan to ensure yourself and your family are safe and have a plan to engage with Police if anything occurs. 

Is this the New Zealand we want? Is this what it has come to? That a Jewish New Zealander faces so many threats that her own ticket dump her for their own safety?

I’m disgusted – with those making the threats, and with her team dumping her in the face of them. Think what a message this sends to Jewish New Zealanders – you are not safe, you are not welcome.

The war in Gaza is terrible. Reasonable people can disagree on how to end it. It has nothing to do with the Takapuna Local Board.

Would we run an intimidation campaign against a Chinese New Zealander because we dislike what the Chinese Government has done to the Uyghurs? Would we run an intimidation campaign against a Muslim New Zealander from Turkey because we dislike what Turkey has done to the Kurds? No.

This is simply shameful.

The Free Speech Union voting guide for local candidates is here. Candidates who responded are scored out of 40 for their commitment to free speech.

The Taxpayers’ Union also has a voting guide where you can see how candidates stand on restricting rates increases, improving transparency of council expenditure and opposing unelected appointments onto most council committees.

Readers may also find useful the manifesto for ACT Local candidates. They pledge:

1. Keep rates low
2. Ending the war on cars
3. Scrapping race based policies such as race based procurement policies
4. Guaranteeing free speech

The Herald reports:

Hundreds of pages of highly confidential Wellington City Council documents – including termination agreements, a sexual harassment claim, and staff pay details – ended up in the hands of a local man who bought an old mayoral office desk at a dump.

The council has launched an investigation and notified the Privacy Commissioner after being alerted to the situation by the Herald, while a former mayor is demanding answers from officials. 

“It’s appalling, I’m appalled,” Dame Fran Wilde said.

Fellow former Wellington mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast said it is a “diabolical situation on a number of fronts”.

The failure to check the desk was empty is bad, and embarrassing. But what really gets me is this part:

When first contacted by the Herald about Morgan’s post, a council spokesman said officials did not believe it to be legitimate, saying it was likely social media “mischief”, and encouraged the Herald to come back when it had found evidence.

The Herald then tracked down Morgan, who provided our newsroom with the confidential cache.

The officials should be ashamed. Rather than immediately reaching out to Morgan (who had actually contacted the Council), they dismissed it and told the Herald to do their job, and get proof.

The Herald reports:

The Elephant is a new online video series that tackles the conversations New Zealanders often avoid. It dives into big, uncomfortable questions, looking beyond the echo chambers in search of a fearless and honest debate. This week in the opening episode, hosts Miriama Kamo and Mark Crysell talk to two prominent politicians about being publicly shamed.

Former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman and Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau have spoken openly about the shame they have experienced – and how they have helped each other – after their respective shoplifting and public drinking scandals.

They pick two Green Party politicians, who get sympathethic coverage.

Why did they not approach Andrew Falloon, Aaron Gilmore, David Garrett, Todd Barclay etc etc. None of them ever got the taxpayer funded softly softly approach?

I’m not against the principle of people should not endure shame for mistakes they make. I’m very much in favour. But why do media only ever extend that to politicians from the left?

The key statistic for NZ education vs the world – is that we have the highest gap between students who do well and those who do not.

These gaps exist within schools by ethnicity. E.g. For Auckland Grammar School 47% of their Maori students get UE, 77% of their European students get that qualification and 84% of their Asian students.

The gaps also exist MASSIVELY between schools.

This is how things look for the top 100 high schools vs the bottom 100.

Top 100 schools

L2 NCEA for Leavers 95%

L3 NCEA for Leavers 85%

UE for Leavers 77%

Retention to 17YO 95%

Transition to Degree Level Study 60%

Bottom 100 schools

L2 NCEA for Leavers 58%

L3 NCEA for Leavers 28%

UE for Leavers 9.8%

Retention to 17YO 60%

Transition to Degree Level Study 5%

You see … it seems positive to change the NZ Curriculum.

It seems positive to suggest changes to the NZ qualification system but it is likely that qualifications achievement will go backwards for marginalised children.

We need a comprehensive plan to address the needs of truly struggling schools/students.

(Please contact me for the full data-process I do on the LEAVERS data for every NZ High School.)

Alwyn Poole
[email protected]

On my Patreon, I share exclusive polling data on NZ First supporters views and what this could mean for NZ First if they hold the balance of power post election.

The Post reports:

New Zealand has the ninth-highest minimum wage in the world when the pay rates are adjusted for their purchasing power, according to an international study.

Yet people insist it is too low. The more useful measure is the ratio of the minimum wage to the median wage, and this is what the current data is:

1. NZ 68.7%
2. France 62.5%
3. UK 61.1%
4. Australia 53.9%
5. Spain 53.4%
6. Germany 50.6%
7. Ireland 50.1%
8. Canada 49.9%
9. Greece 48.5%
10. Netherlands 48.3%
11. US 25%

To stop the minimum wage being an annual lotto draw, I would pass a law setting it at say 65% of the median wage. That would still be higher than all our peers, but means the focus will be on lifting wages through productivity, not through legislation.

When Chris Bishop announced a review of the conditions for Eden Park to host events, I did wonder if he did it purely to annoy Helen Clark. Probably, not but he has succeeded reports The Post:

It comes as former prime minister Helen Clark, who lives near the venue, has questioned why the Government is looking to boost Eden Park’s capacity to hold live events given the venue hasn’t managed to reach its existing concert quota.

The answer to this is obvious.

“These shows can only take place on certain days of the week, can only have a maximum duration of five hours, have to be finished by 11pm on weekdays, and can host no more than four concerts in a four-week period,” Bishop said on Monday.

So the argument against is weak.

“The current limits and conditions were not only imposed for local environmental impacts, but also for the wider commuting public, as major events at the park impact many roads, including most directly Sandringham Rd which is a major arterial route,” she said over text.

“Whether events are at Eden Park or elsewhere, the economic impact for Auckland is the same. The most appropriate stance for the Government would to be venue-neutral in its desire to attract events.”

Again a silly response. The issue isn’t whether an event is held at Mt Smart or Eden Park. It is about whether the events come to Auckland at all.

This graph from DPMC shows a very significant drop in persistent and serious youth offending. The Government’s aim was for a 15% drop over four years, and they have already had a 14% drop in 12 months.

NZ First announced:

The New Zealand First Caucus is proud to announce the unanimous election of Shane Jones as the Party’s Deputy Leader. …

Throughout this term Shane has already been seen, and reported on, as the ‘de facto Deputy Leader’.  This is due to the standing he has within caucus and the leadership he has shown not only in his portfolios but within the wider membership.

I, like everyone, thought he was the Deputy Leader. I have described him as such. But it seems he wasn’t. That in fact there hasn’t been a Deputy Leader for the last five years!