Michael Wood, MP, remarks at the Commemoration for Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Welcome to everyone. Acknowledge: Rabbi Friedler, Auckland Hebrew Congregation, representatives from across the Auckland Jewish community; Former MPs: Chris Carter, Chris Finlayson and Alfred Ngaro; and Representatives of faith and Interfaith organisations. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Henry Sacks was the Chief…
The Strange Case of Herr Huber “Watch me kill Nazis, Dad”. That was my youngest son, probably about 8 or 9 years old at the time, desperately wanting his old man to witness his gaming prowess and thinking the fact he was mowing down Nazis might…
We want to call out antisemitism, so why won’t they let us? As a very public Free Speech advocate (I am a Spokesperson for the Free Speech Coalition) I took claims that people would be silenced by Wellington City Council’s proposed adoption of the IHRA’s (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) working definition of…
Unity jarred by antisemitism Quite a number of political commentators and activists seized the opportunity to push their own particular agendas. And, as is so often the case, antisemitism reared its head.
Why won’t NZ’s anti-racism chief condemn Corbyn’s racism? Professor Paul Hunt, the new NZ Human Rights Chief Commissioner, was interviewed on Radio New Zealand’s Saturday Morning show with Kim Hill. Hunt was on to peddle potential new hate speech laws; the HRC had long sought such laws to…
Trust us. We, the people, know hate when we see it A common backdoor argument against free speech is that platforms (media and speaking engagements) aren’t shared equitably. If more space was offered to far-Left views, some argue, middle NZ would finally “woke up and see the light” and would positively…
Martyn Bradbury drops a bombshell: there is no Israeli apartheid Public discourse has never proved more of a minefield. We’re in the bright and shiny new age of “wokeness” in which good faith arguments have been swapped out for name-calling, smears and gaslighting. Why just the other day I found…
Amnesty International has lost its moral way Amnesty International has unveiled a new campaign to pressure digital tourism companies such as Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb and TripAdvisor to delist properties held by Israelis living in the West Bank, and calling on governments to pass legislation that would result…
Anti-Israel obsessive Malcolm Evans still spreading hate in Northland Age In 2003 cartoonist Malcolm Evans was sacked from the NZ Herald amidst some controversy. His single-tracked focus on Israel, and the vitriolic and offensive nature of some of his cartoons, had led to accusations of antisemitism. He was warned by…
In the End, Israel will still be here The world should hang its head in shame. Deep shame. Embarrassing shame. Penetrating shame. The kind of shame that should cause them to have sleepless nights, as they try to explain to their kids about the day they supported evil….
Hanukkah in the Bays 2018 In a break with tradition, Hanukkah in Auckland was held this year at Okahu Bay, courtesy of local iwi Ngati Whatua. A large crowd gathered to enjoy a joyful celebration of music, dance, food and friendship. Ngati Whatua opened the…
The outsiders The world moves in mysterious ways. A few days after Robert Bowers ranted online about the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society (HIAS) and went on a shooting spree at a Pittsburgh synagogue, my mother discovered passenger records online relating to her…
When hate speech gets a free pass Earlier this year, prominent New Zealanders went to some lengths to demonstrate their opposition to hate speech. Two controversial Canadian speakers were coming into town and were possibly going to say things that, in the words of Auckland’s mayor Phil…