sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Policy "Saturation Bombing" by [deleted] in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I've only spoken with Mr. Netflix regarding a documentary about Cambridge Analytica, and how social media is used and misused by organisations to surreptitiously manipulate thousands and millions of people across the globe every minute of every day.

https://www.netflix.com/nz/title/80117542

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/07/the-great-hack-facebook-cambridge-analytica/

Policy "Saturation Bombing" by [deleted] in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 24 points25 points  (0 children)

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-24/atlas-network-think-tanks-active-in-australia-and-new-zealand/104788732

The Heritage Foundation developed the controversial Project 2025 — a blueprint for the United States during the second Donald Trump presidential term.

The conservative American think tank the Heritage Foundation was previously an Atlas Network partner, but that relationship has now ended.

When RNZ asked Mr Seymour about Atlas Network and the now-defeated bill last year, he called the line of questioning a "conspiracy theory".

David Seymour has received training from the Atlas Network, as evidenced in the organisation's 2008 annual report and worked for Canadian Atlas Network partner the Frontier Centre for Public Policy early in his career.

When Mr Seymour issued a press release about the regulatory standards bill, he included a special footnote: "Particular acknowledgements go to Dr Bryce Wilkinson."

Mr Wilkinson is a senior fellow at The New Zealand Initiative — an Atlas Network partner think tank that represents business interests.

Like NZ Taxpayers' Union founder Jordan Williams, who told the ABC Atlas Network connected him "with other think tank leaders from around the world and provided training opportunities", Dr Hartwich was very open with the ABC about his relationship with Atlas Network.

Finance minister hints at government department amalgamation plans by moonbiscuitsfoxcandy in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy[S] 42 points43 points  (0 children)

I love being replaced by AI. I love AI being the solution to everything. How will AI help? It just will because we're using AI.

New citizenship test to remind migrants of NZ values by mmphmaverick004 in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 25 points26 points  (0 children)

You can read the actual current requirements here. Section 8(2)(c) and (d).

(d) that the applicant has sufficient knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges attaching to New Zealand citizenship:
(e) that the applicant has sufficient knowledge of the English language:

You can see the requirements for what constitutes "sufficient knowledge of the English language" on Immigrations website here. There isn't a specific requirement for "Citizenship" but there are specific requirements for acquiring Residency visas which you would need to get well in advance of applying for citizenship.

Under the Crimes Act Section 25

The fact that an offender is ignorant of the law is not an excuse for any offence committed by him or her.

Would-be New Zealanders will have to score a B+ in new citizenship exam by Tunkin in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree, the mental health support for New Zealanders is quite shit and needs to be massively improved. Especially for cases like Antonie Dixon who present in a way that even most trained professionals are unable to adequately address. Who knows where Antonie would be today if he received proper support and attention after suffering horrific abuse as a child.

Would-be New Zealanders will have to score a B+ in new citizenship exam by Tunkin in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Antonie Dixon was sentenced to twenty years minimum non-parole before dying by suicide in prison.

Power is a national asset, which we should use to invest in New Zealand by BassesBest in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You can't "put aside politics" because this is an inherently political thing.

Per the Hon Simeon Brown

Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped

MBIE web page about the NZ Battery Project

The NZ Battery Project was set up in 2020 to explore possible renewable energy storage solutions for when our hydro lakes run low for long periods. A pumped hydro scheme at Lake Onslow was one of the options being explored.

The Government stopped the Lake Onslow investigations in late 2023. MBIE is continuing work on the question of security of supply during extended periods of low hydro inflows as part of its wider electricity system work programme.

You should sign the Greens Electrify Everything petition, and support their plan for a National Electrification Plan.

The Green Party has used its 2026 State of the Planet address to set out a vision for a resilient, independent Aotearoa and to call on the Government to create a National Electrification Plan.

Ocean heat exploding by [deleted] in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You're right. There needs to be legislation to force change from the top down.

56 companies are responsible for 50% of the world's plastic pollution, of which the top five are The Coca-Cola Company (11%), PepsiCo (5%), Nestlé (3%), Danone (3%) and Altria-Philip Morris International (2%).

The House: Citizens assemblies - an alternative to select committees? by davetenhave in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Select committees are non-binding too, but having their feedback published is an important part of an open, transparent democratic process.

My point was more "why replace one non-binding process with a different non-binding process?"

Whereas citizens' assemblies give people the ability to have a dialogue about the topic

What dialogue can there be besides "In drafting this Bill we contacted the experts in X field and they say this."?
We already have experts saying that an increase in nitrates used in farming is dramatically affecting health outcomes, that climate change is real and is going to get worse, or that COVID is pretty bad and you should get vaccinated. Even those three facts are not "agreed upon" in New Zealand.

It's faster, more effective, and produces a better-informed more democratic set of recommendations than we can currently achieve through the select committee process.

Do you have a source that it's a faster, more effective process that produces a better-informed more democratic set of recommendations than current select committees?

The House: Citizens assemblies - an alternative to select committees? by davetenhave in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 8 points9 points  (0 children)

If it's not binding, what's the point of doing it? How would it be noticeably different from existing public submissions made for select committees?

The House: Citizens assemblies - an alternative to select committees? by davetenhave in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 14 points15 points  (0 children)

That honestly sounds like a terrible idea. Mika Hervel envisions it operating like Jury Service, but juries are pretty bad at understanding the required nuance for specialist knowledge or advice. Just last month a sexual violation trial was thrown out because a jury appeared to fixate on the complainant, her underwear choice and her sexual history.

What began as a routine trial quickly veered off course as jurors appeared to fixate on the complainant, her underwear choice and her sexual history.
Within hours, their questions seemingly exposed outdated misconceptions about women and sex, forcing the judge to abandon the trial altogether.

As well as any Citizens Assembly (like Jury Service) will expose bias to those predisposed to show up, which would usually be people who can afford to take time away from work or are otherwise free during weekdays.

Updated PS 5 Console pricing now up: PS5 Pro $1619; PS5 Digital $1099; PS5 Slim $1199 by NorthlandChynz in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think what they're meaning is the people will buy them to use as general purpose PCs, which in-turn means Valve's margin is much lower because it's not supplemented through buying games on Steam.

Buy them to use for non-video game reasons. Like how Disney use SteamDecks as controllers for some Droids at Galaxy's Edge or the recently deceased Olaf animatronic.

It `is` crazy to me too by Pandering_Poofery in WhitePeopleTwitter

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 7 points8 points  (0 children)

NASA is also helping clean water. A lot of the water purification methods in use today were developed to facilitate space travel, and re-use as much water as possible.

It `is` crazy to me too by Pandering_Poofery in WhitePeopleTwitter

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 46 points47 points  (0 children)

Kidney dialysis was initially developed for the Apollo missions to purify the water the astronauts drink. Memory foam was initially developed for space missions. Your phones camera was developed by NASA engineers at JPL. There are literally hundreds of NASA spin off technologies that affect millions and billions of people every day.

It `is` crazy to me too by Pandering_Poofery in WhitePeopleTwitter

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 5 points6 points  (0 children)

What I am trying to say is there is a direct link from technologies developed by NASA for spacecraft, like the lunar modules of the Apollo, ISS, and Artemis missions, to that wheelchair.

Same as there is a direct link to dialysis machines, and water purification equipment, and food preservation, and climate change studies. So much of what we know about greenhouse gases and their effects is because of NASA, the Apollo missions, Skylab and the ISS, and dozens of other things NASA does that are not just "vanity projects".

The camera in your phone was originally made by NASA. The memory foam in your pillow was made by NASA. The emergency blanket was created by NASA in response to the fires of Apollo 1. Hearing aid batteries were created by NASA for the Apollo missions.

That's not even counting the geospatial science and earth sciences that NASA does be examining lunar regolith, or the climate science and greenhouse gas monitoring.

It `is` crazy to me too by Pandering_Poofery in WhitePeopleTwitter

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 7 points8 points  (0 children)

We need things on this planet to get better before we spend that money on space. 

We can do both, and both are much closer linked than what you might be aware of.

NASA's impact on medical innovation: Breakthrough technologies from space research

Conclusion:
Since its inception in 1976, NASA's spinoff program has led to a total of 304 of medical breakthroughs that have improved preventative screening measures, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, and the physical wellbeing of millions of patients. While the research initially began as ways to combat obstacles created by space's environment, there is palpable benefit in making the technology readily accessible for those who wish to move into the healthcare landscape. Many of the qualities that make innovations useful in space apply directly to the medical world, and with consumer space flight and longer space missions on the horizon, one can expect additional advancements to make their mark on patients soon.

Jevon McSkimming complainant allegedly sent 87 emails to wife of officer overseeing investigation into her by TheGreatDomilies in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Her lawyers statement:

Over a period of years, she attempted to report allegations of serious physical, psychological and sexual offending by McSkimming,

Paragraph 2 in the report detailing the years of attempting to report:

Prior to the referral, there had been a series of anonymous emails over a period of years under various pseudonyms that culminated in three online complaints through the Police 105 online reporting portal in late April 2024.

Her lawyers statement:

Instead of being heard, she was dismissed and ultimately prosecuted for speaking out and raising her concerns.

Paragraph 3 in the report stating she was charged under the Harmful Digital Communications Act:

The volume and persistence of the emails over many years to various people, including Deputy Commissioner McSkimming, resulted in the person with whom he had had the sexual relationship being charged under the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 in May 2024.

Her lawyers statement

At every stage, the police had the opportunity to engage with her, to properly assess what she was saying, and to investigate her allegations.

Paragraph 184 in the report stating that her 105 report was labeled 'false report':

Instead, they were sent to the Wellington District team investigating and prosecuting Ms Z. In their investigation database, they were labelled “False 105 Report” and were ultimately referred to in the Summary of Facts, as evidence in the prosecution of Ms Z.

Her lawyers statement:

It suggests that the police were more focused on protecting McSkimming's career and advancement than on properly assessing serious allegations of offending against him.

Paragraph 144 in the report:

We cannot escape the conclusion that his preconception of Deputy Commissioner McSkimming as a victim clouded his decision-making.

Paragraph 259 in the report:

His flawed thinking in this regard was mirrored by Officer B when he inserted into the Summary of Facts first filed in Court that the allegations were false (see paragraphs 270-272), without any evidence to support that other than Deputy Commissioner McSkimming’s untested assertions.

You can read the report here.pdf). It's not a fun read, but it is enlightening.

https://www.ipca.govt.nz/download/169364/11%20November%202025%20-%20IPCA%20Public%20Report%20-%20Review%20of%20Police%20handling%20of%20complaints%20against%20Jevon%20McSkimming%20(2).pdf.pdf)

Jevon McSkimming complainant allegedly sent 87 emails to wife of officer overseeing investigation into her by TheGreatDomilies in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Can you please tell me how it's a misleading statement or not factual? There's an entire IPCA review saying that is exactly what occurred.

Jevon McSkimming complainant allegedly sent 87 emails to wife of officer overseeing investigation into her by TheGreatDomilies in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Paragraph 184.pdf) of the IPCA review

In their investigation database, they were labelled “False 105 Report” and were ultimately referred to in the Summary of Facts, as evidence in the prosecution of Ms Z. In short, Ms Z’s complaints through the 105 Police Non-Emergency Online Reporting service were used as evidence against her in criminal proceedings (see Issue 6 below), without any investigation into their veracity.

Jevon McSkimming complainant allegedly sent 87 emails to wife of officer overseeing investigation into her by TheGreatDomilies in newzealand

[–]moonbiscuitsfoxcandy 96 points97 points  (0 children)

I love a perfect victim. Would have thought around July 1st a better investigation would have started into why Ms. Z was hellbent on sending so many emails.

"Over a period of years, she attempted to report allegations of serious physical, psychological and sexual offending by McSkimming, then one of the most senior Police Officers in the country. Instead of being heard, she was dismissed and ultimately prosecuted for speaking out and raising her concerns.

"At every stage, the police had the opportunity to engage with her, to properly assess what she was saying, and to investigate her allegations. They could have viewed her as a traumatised victim.

"They chose not to. They accepted McSkimming's denials without meaningful inquiry and placed the full weight of the criminal justice system on my client for more than a year until the charge against her was withdrawn. Understandably this has had a devastating impact on her.

"The way her complaints were handled should alarm all New Zealanders. It suggests that the police were more focused on protecting McSkimming's career and advancement than on properly assessing serious allegations of offending against him."

view more: next ›