Associate Justice Minister David Seymour says all New Zealanders will now be able to have their say on the Treaty Principles Bill after it passed its first reading and was sent to the Justice Committee to be considered.
“I look forward to seeing what Kiwis have to say on the Bill over the six month select committee process,” said Seymour.
“The select committee process will finally democratise the debate over the Treaty which has until this point been dominated by a small number of judges, senior public servants, academics, and politicians.
“Parliament introduced the concept of the Treaty principles into law in 1975 but did not define them. As a result, the courts and the Waitangi Tribunal have been able to develop principles that have been used to justify actions that are contrary to the principle of equal rights. Those actions include co-governance in the delivery of public services, ethnic quotas in public institutions, and consultation based on background.
“The principles of the Treaty are not going away. Either Parliament can define them, or the courts will continue to meddle in this area of critical political and constitutional importance. The purpose of the Treaty Principles Bill is for Parliament to define the principles of the Treaty, provide certainty and clarity, and promote a national conversation about their place in our constitutional arrangements.
“The Bill will not alter or amend the Treaty itself. It will be used to assist with the interpretation of legislation where Treaty principles would normally be considered relevant, in addition to legislation that refers to Treaty principles directly.
“Far from being a divisive document, the Treaty is a powerful guide for New Zealand’s future, establishing that all New Zealanders have equal rights, and that the government has a duty to protect those rights.
“I believe all New Zealanders deserve tino rangatiratanga – the right to self-determination. That all human beings are alike in dignity. The Treaty Principles Bill would give all New Zealanders equality before the law, so that we can go forward as one people with one set of rights.
“I am looking forward to this important national conversation about the place of the Treaty in our constitutional arrangements.”
Labour’s Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson was ejected from Parliament after calling ACT leader David Seymour a “liar” during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill.
Jackson criticised the bill, describing it as a “six-month hate-tour” and accusing Seymour of promoting “misinformation”.
He asserted that Māori would resist any redefinition of their relationship with the Crown, pledging ongoing protests if the bill moved forward.
Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee requested Jackson withdraw his remark, but Jackson refused, leading to his ejection.
Seymour’s bill proposes replacing existing Treaty principles with ones that reflect equal rights for all New Zealanders.
National and NZ First will support the bill only to move it to a select committee for public input.
PM Christopher Luxon has criticised the bill as “overly simplistic”, while National’s Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka expressed concerns it failed to ensure “equal opportunity” for Māori.
President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Florida Senator Marco Rubio as secretary of state, positioning a strong advocate of hardline policies toward China in his cabinet.
Trump described Rubio as “a strong advocate for our nation, a true friend to our allies, and a fearless warrior who will never back down to our adversaries.”
Rubio said he was “honored by the trust President Trump has placed in me” and vowed to “work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda.”
Known for his hawkish stance, particularly on China, Rubio has previously supported interventionist policies that diverge from Trump’s “America First” approach.
In the past, Rubio backed the 2003 invasion of Iraq and military aid to Syrian anti-government forces, positions Trump once criticised. Recently, however, Rubio’s stance on Ukraine has moved closer to Trump’s, advocating for an end to the conflict and calling it a “stalemate” in need of a “negotiated settlement.”
Rubio and Trump share a hardline approach toward China, with Rubio advocating for a ban on Huawei sales and a commitment to support Taiwan, declaring in 2022 that China’s rise is “without a doubt the singular geopolitical issue of the 21st century.”
Alongside Rubio, Trump also nominated Representative Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Gaetz has been outspoken against current Attorney General Merrick Garland, accusing him of “weaponising” the justice system and defending January 6 protesters as “political prisoners.” Gaetz’s appointment suggests a strong conservative tilt in Trump’s new administration.
Police can now release the names of those who died in the crash involving a train and a car on Peachgrove Road, Hamilton on Wednesday 13 November.
All three were in the car, and their names were:
William Brown, aged 46, of Huntly.
Shylin Huirana-Osborne, aged 26, of Hamilton.
Sione Nusipepa, aged 23, of Huntly.
“Police extend our condolences to their whanau and loved ones.”
Two others who were in the car remain in Waikato Hospital.
“Police would like to thank all members of the public who responded and assisted with this tragic incident.
“The full circumstances are still under investigation, and as part of our enquiries Police would like to speak with all members of the public who assisted.
“In particular, Police would like to speak to the occupants of a vehicle that was stopped at the crossing barrier arm when Police arrived on the scene.
“Please update us online now or call 105, using the reference number 241113/1537.”
A message for Dr Shane Reti, Minister of Health, PM Chris Luxon and Judith Collins, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation.
The media gauge and reflect what is going on in the collective consciousness of the nation. Up until recently there was a prevalent consensus among the vast majority of government representatives, health professionals, the media and the population at large that Covid vaccines must be beneficial. As the lasting effects of early injuries from Covid vaccines, the serious longer term illnesses, the large numbers involved and the published research on vaccine outcomes are becoming more obvious, some among the overseas media are beginning to sound the alarm.
A single death of a young person is a tragedy, whatever the cause, but repeated and unprecedented numbers of deaths are more than an unfortunate statistic. They are a red flag. Some papers are beginning to realise the need to look deeper under the surface. Until now the Washington Post has been a bastion of pro-biotech liberal reporting. An opinion piece on November 11th headlines “The U.S. could soon face a threat ‘more powerful’ than nuclear weapons”. It reports:
“Researchers around the globe are tinkering with viruses far deadlier than Covid-19”.
The article acknowledges the likely source of Covid-19 in the Wuhan lab and points to the proliferation of biotechnology research around the world, some of which is closely linked to the search for bioweapons that can be targeted at specific ethnicities. Describing this as “a new frontier of global catastrophe”, the article acknowledges 27 million deaths as a result of the Wuhan leak, but inexplicably clings to the all but discredited hope that novel vaccines and intelligent regulation might avert looming man-made disaster.
Our conclusion: the Post appears to be on the verge of waking up. This opinion might be confirmed by another WP opinion piece printed the next day “RFK Jr.’s views on fluoride aren’t as crazy as you might think”. The article covers the published research on the dangers of water fluoridation including its effects on children’s IQ. The endorsement doesn’t stretch to Kennedy’s views on vaccine safety, but the writing is on the wall. Newspapers have to start taking recently published data into account. Historical faith in medicine and medics on its own without the support of current data and scientific analysis can be very misleading.
The danger associated with biotechnology research programmes is just not one more problem to add to a mountain of problems competing for our attention. As the Post article began to admit, biotechnology has risen to the top of the list.
There is no credible evidence that adverse effects of gene editing can be contained.
How this works in practice is amply illustrated by the recent approval by the FDA of FluMist, a live-attenuated nasal influenza vaccine which can be administered at home. A Substack article concludes its live viral formulation and the ease of transmission through respiratory droplets could place millions of people at risk:
“FluMist recipients are advised to avoid close contact with immunocompromised individuals for at least 21 days due to viral shedding. Although this precaution targets individuals with immunocompromised household members, the risk extends far beyond the home. Millions of Americans, including those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune disorders, and other chronic conditions, are immunocompromised and thus highly susceptible to even attenuated viral strains.”
In one foul swoop this kind of technology takes away any right of medical choice from whole populations. This is because FluMist relies on technology which is not a million miles away from bioweapon airborne delivery research. This demonstrates the cross over interactions with deliberately uncontainable bioweapon technologies being developed in the virtually unregulated biotech research environment.
An article in the UK Daily Mail on 8th November reports “South Carolina town residents lock down homes after 43 monkeys escape from a bioresearch lab”. The lab was doing research on deadly infectious diseases and vaccines. Apparently, test monkeys have escaped on multiple occasions over the last ten years. As we have reported previously, this is not unusual. Review articles report biotech lab accidents are the norm around the world affecting as many as 45% of researchers and technicians, not the exception. It is as if the human race has entered into a deadly pact of assured mutual destruction.
In fact, there is a growing volume of published scientific research analysing the extent and prevalence of the adverse effects of Covid vaccines that should be reported by the media. Here in NZ, we are probably the least informed among nations. It is long past time to wake up.
A study in Circulation entitled “Clinical and Histopathological Characteristics of Patients With Myocarditis After mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination” investigated the mechanisms of myocardial injury and concluded: “Our histological examination of patients with myocarditis after mRNA Covid vaccination revealed varying degrees of cardiomyocyte [the muscle associated with the heart’s contraction] injury, ranging from pronounced to absent, along with various types of myocarditis.”
So how common is post-vaccine myocarditis?
A paper published in the journal Radiology entitled “Assessment of Myocardial 18F-FDG Uptake at PET/CT in Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2–vaccinated and Nonvaccinated Patients” reports that myocardial injury following Covid vaccination is far more common than previously thought. PET scans of 700 subjects showed vaccine recipients with no immediate adverse symptoms still have a measurable degree of myocardial dysfunction. It concluded “When compared with non-vaccinated patients, asymptomatic patients who received their second vaccination 1–180 days prior to imaging showed increased myocardial 18F-FDG uptake on PET/CT scans”
What does this mean in practical terms? Myocarditis affects the ability of the heart to pump blood. It is associated with fatigue at the lower end and chest pain, shortness of breath and irregular heartbeat at the higher end. Heart failure is the most severe outcome. The official NZ figures for ED admissions with chest pain (20,000 in 2023 among under 40s) that we reported in our article “Staggering New Data From Health New Zealand and Others”, demonstrate this is not something that can be ignored any longer. The longer term effects of vaccine induced myocardial injury are now becoming apparent in the general population.
So why are we still being kept in the dark here in NZ by the government, media and medical authorities, despite the published research and official Health NZ figures being released under OIA? It is a big question. Lawyer Sue Grey requested clarification under OIA from Dr. Shane Reti, NZ Minister of Health asking:
“What questions have you asked your officials and what advice have you been given about the ongoing effectiveness and ineffectiveness of covid vaccines and the ongoing costs of vaccine injuries?”
The reply from Reti’s office contained three very confusing sentences that need unpacking. It said:
“The Minister of Health is subject to the Official Information Act for information he holds in his capacity as Minister. Any information held in any other capacity is not official information. On this basis we are refusing your request.”
In other words Dr Reti, the man responsible to protect public health, has not engaged in any official correspondence nor sought expert advice about Covid vaccine safety since taking office one year ago. He is not officially up to date about the recent Covid vaccine safety research findings just cited above (and the many others published during the last year). However the reply leaves open the possibility, if not certainty, that the Minister knows about such things unofficially.
It is but a short step to conclude that the Minister and his office wish to retain a degree of plausible deniability should it ever come to the attention of the NZ public in general that Covid vaccines are in fact ineffective and very dangerous, especially so for young people, yet are still being recommended for use. He is, in the tradition of Pontius Pilate, trying to wash his hands of responsibility.
He can’t however, along with PM Chris Luxon and Judith Collins, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, wash his hands of the plan to add insult to injury by deregulating biotechnology experimentation and approving the release and sale of unlabelled genetically modified organisms. To reiterate the Washington Post’s warning, this will help open a new frontier of global catastrophe.
No one, including Dr. Reti and all of his silent advisors, has any idea how to recall or mitigate the genetic fallout associated with the escape of Covid-19 or the global roll out of Covid-19 vaccines, or any other genetically modified organism for that matter. Yet they are rubber stamping an open season of biotechnology experimentation and pretending to innocence.
The Hatchard Report has some time honoured advice for Dr. Reti and his silent advisors. It comes down through ages from from William Shakespeare
“This above all, to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man”
Those holding positions of responsibility in the field of public health have a duty of care to face the truth, speak the truth and act to uphold the truth. No amount of legal obfuscation or protestations of innocence can excuse this responsibility.
Guy Hatchard PhD was formerly a senior manager at Genetic ID a global food testing and safety company (now known as FoodChain ID). You can subscribe to his websites HatchardReport.com and GLOBE.GLOBAL for regular updates by email.
Five people are before the court following further phases of Operation Leith, a sub operation of Operation Avon, the investigation into the drug supply activities of the Comancheros.
Operation Leith was a joint investigation between the South Island National Organised Crime Group and the Dunedin and Invercargill Organised Crime Units, with support from numerous specialist squads, including the local Armed Offenders Squads.
Four men and a woman, aged from 35 to 63 were arrested in the recent series of search warrants over the last three days. They are not members of the Comancheros, however were integral parts of their drug supply network.
They are facing charges of methamphetamine supply and participating in organised criminal group offences. Police have also seized two homemade tasers and several electronic devices.
This brings the total number of people arrested and charged in relation to Operation Avon and Leith to 31.
Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves, Acting Southern District Criminal Investigations Manager says numerous reports indicate the supply of illicit drugs into Invercargill and Dunedin has been significantly disrupted by recent Police enforcement.
“Community members have approached our teams to express their praise for the recent arrests and results.”
“The termination of Operation Leith is a clear message to gang members, their associates and anyone dealing drugs in Southern District that we will track you down and hold you to account for your offending.
“Police will work tirelessly to target drug offending and work with our partners to reduce the harm caused by destructive drug dealing behaviour in our communities. This behaviour negatively impacts every single person in our community, it does not discriminate, and it will not be tolerated.
“I would like to thank the many members of the community who report this type of offending and I encourage you to keep reporting to us via 105 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers.
“I would also like to acknowledge the excellent work of the Southern District Organised Crime Unit and the South Island National Organised Crime Group. These results are testament to their hard work and determination to make our communities safer,” Detective Inspector Reeves says.
The Guardian announced it would cease posting on X, labelling it a “toxic media platform” for fostering “far-right conspiracy theories and racism.”
The British newspaper, known for its liberal woke stance, explained that while X had once served as a valuable tool for promoting journalism, its association with harmful content and Musk’s influence over political discourse had ultimately outweighed its benefits.
In a statement to readers, The Guardian said that its decision had been deliberated for some time, saying, “the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives, and that resources could be better used promoting our journalism elsewhere.”
Musk’s ownership of the platform and its role in the recent U.S. presidential election reportedly solidified the newspaper’s decision to depart, with The Guardian claiming Musk “used the site’s influence to shape political discourse.”
With over 80 accounts and approximately 27 million followers on X, The Guardian clarified that while its journalists would still use the platform for news gathering, the newspaper itself would no longer be active. Additionally, X embeds will continue to appear in articles to support coverage.
Conservative voices on X criticised the exit with some accusing the newspaper of avoiding open discourse. Commentator Paul Joseph Watson remarked, “The Guardian didn’t have a problem with the previous Twitter regime censoring the Hunter Biden laptop story to ‘shape political discourse’ and interfere in an election. Elon allows free speech, and they have a tantrum.”
In a rain-shortened ODI opener in Dambulla a Black Caps side featuring debutants Mitchell Hay, Nathan Smith, and Tim Robinson, fell short against Sri Lanka, losing by 45 runs (DLS).
Sri Lanka set a formidable 324/5 in 49.2 overs, led by Kusal Mendis’s 143 and Avishka Fernando’s 100.
Despite a revised target of 221 from 27 overs, New Zealand’s promising start faded as Sri Lankan spinners dismantled their top order, with the visitors ending on 175/9.
Michael Bracewell’s valiant 34 wasn’t enough as New Zealand’s lack of experience showed. The teams meet again on Sunday night for the second ODI.
The top official will be asked to reach a peace settlement “in short order,” a source told the network.
US President-elect Donald Trump will appoint a special envoy to lead negotiations on resolving the Ukraine conflict, Fox News reported on Wednesday. Trump had previously said he would speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future.
“You’re going to see a very senior special envoy, someone with a lot of credibility, who will be given a task to find a resolution, to get to a peace settlement,” an anonymous source told Fox, adding: “You’re going to see that in short order.”
In the week since he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump has announced a flurry of names that he intends to appoint to senior cabinet and advisory positions. The incoming president announced earlier this week that he would appoint real estate developer Steven Witkoff as his special envoy to the Middle East, saying Witkoff would be “an unrelenting voice for peace” in the region.
Throughout his campaign, Trump repeatedly promised to end the Ukraine conflict “in 24 hours” if elected. He has not explained how he would do this, although he has claimed that he would use his “great relationship” with Putin, and with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, to broker a peace deal.
Trump spoke to Zelensky last week, and told NBC News that he would likely speak to Putin in the near future. Putin congratulated Trump on his electoral victory last Thursday, telling reporters that he was ready to speak to the president-elect.
While the Kremlin has repeatedly downplayed suggestions that Trump could easily end the conflict with Kiev, Putin said Trump’s statements on the matter “deserve attention, at the very least.”
It is unclear what kind of resolution Trump will push for in the conflict. On the campaign trail, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance suggested that a ceasefire could be declared and a demilitarized zone established along the current 1,300km front line, with Ukraine being denied NATO membership. According to a Wall Street Journal report last week, Trump’s advisers support some version of this plan, and are encouraging the president-elect to present it to Zelensky and Putin.
Moscow maintains that any settlement must begin with Ukraine ceasing military operations and acknowledging the “territorial reality” that it will never regain control of the Russian regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye, as well as Crimea. In addition, the Kremlin insists that the goals of its military operation – which include Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification – will be achieved.
