Govt open to further changes to crack down on AI deepfake porn
The Government is open to exploring ways it can further crack down on the creation and distribution of non-consensual AI generated, deepfake porn.
It comes after Act MP Laura McClure addressed the House last month, warning of the increased prevalence of explicit deepfake content, using an AI nude photo
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Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Changes To Fish & Game Continue Coalition's Handover Of Power To Polluters
Press Release – Choose Clean Water Choose Clean Water spokesperson Tom Kay says the changes announced today are clearly designed to remove Fish & Games ability to advocate for the health of rivers. Changes announced to Fish & Game this morning are another move in the Coalition Government's handover of power to intensive farming and other polluting commercial interests, and will result in the further degradation of our rivers and freshwater, say freshwater campaigners. Choose Clean Water spokesperson Tom Kay says the changes announced today are clearly designed to remove Fish & Game's ability to advocate for the health of rivers. 'Fish & Game has used its statutory purpose as a strong advocate for the health of rivers across New Zealand, and as such has helped protect numerous rivers from pollution and degradation.' 'There are some things about the system that do need fixing, but this is not only about that—this is the Coalition Govt taking advantage of an opportunity to reduce Fish & Game's influence over polluters.' 'When environmental groups, local community groups, or iwi can't afford to legally challenge a damaging activity or poorly made decision, Fish & Game is often there to ensure waterways are protected—working on behalf of their members to protect habitat for fish. But this Government is trying to stop that.' The Coalition has stated that Fish & Game's advocacy functions will be 'revised' so regional Fish & Game Councils will only be able to take court action in relation to advocacy if explicitly approved by the New Zealand Fish & Game Council or the Minister and within a new restricted advocacy policy. This morning's press release from Minister for Hunting and Fishing James Meager on the changes states they will restrict the organisation's ability to undertake court proceedings and require 'Fish & Game councils to better consider the interests of other stakeholders such as farmers and the aviation sector in decision-making'. 'It's telling that the Government has said specifically that it wants Fish & Game to better consider farming interests. Why not public health interests? Why not the interests of future generations? Why not the myriad of other commercial interests that operate in our communities? This demonstrates that this decision is another example of the Government enabling more pollution in rivers, lakes, and drinking water sources, and the handing of more power over our water to polluting commercial interests like intensive farming.' 'We know how detrimental the influence of Ministers can be over the statutory purposes of agencies like the Department of Conservation to protect our environment, for example. This is another case of Ministers being given the power to step in and stop actions that would protect our environment.' Fish & Game led the processes to secure many Water Conservation Orders —similar to National Parks—for our rivers, protecting them for anglers and the public alike to enjoy. In 2002 they launched a large campaign against 'Dirty Dairying' and the conversion of land into intensive agriculture, particularly in the South Island. More recently, Fish & Game took up a legal challenge against ongoing extreme pollution of Southland's waterways where dairy interests were wrongly claiming 'there is no evidence of diffuse discharges from farming activities, either individually or cumulatively, causing adverse effects, including significant adverse effects on aquatic life'. 'Proponents of damaging, intensive agriculture and other major polluters are all over this Government's decisions. This decision stinks of undue influence.'
![Choose Clean Water - Latest News [Page 1]](/_next/image?url=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.scoop.co.nz%2Fstories%2Fimages%2F1908%2Fscoop_image.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Scoop
6 hours ago
- Scoop
Choose Clean Water - Latest News [Page 1]
Changes To Fish & Game Continue Coalition's Handover Of Power To Polluters Choose Clean Water spokesperson Tom Kay says the changes announced today are clearly designed to remove Fish & Game's ability to advocate for the health of rivers. More >> 'Don't Be Fooled': Govt's Freshwater Reforms Means More Pollution In Your Water & Commercial Control Of Public Resources Friday, 30 May 2025, 7:30 pm | Choose Clean Water Choose Clean Water says it's important for the public to make submissions on the changes (these can be made until 27 July 2025) but it's just as important for the public to contact MPs and Ministers directly to voice their opposition. More >> National Direction Changes Expected To Advance Dangerous ACT Ideology At Expense Of The Health Of NZers And Environment Monday, 26 May 2025, 3:04 pm | Choose Clean Water Choose Clean Water says the cabinet paper's prioritising of 'the enjoyment of private property rights' in public policy is straight out of an extreme libertarian ideology and becomes incoherent and dangerous when applied to communities' needs ... More >> Farm Model Weakness Proves Strength Of Input Controls To Save Rivers Wednesday, 11 August 2021, 4:57 pm | Choose Clean Water Freshwater campaigners say the independent review of farm modelling tool, 'Overseer', released today has found profound weaknesses with the tool and in doing so has proved the strength of Government and regional councils turning to greater control of inputs ... More >> Government Must Stand Strong On Freshwater Reform For All New Zealanders Wednesday, 14 July 2021, 1:52 pm | Choose Clean Water Campaigners say the Government must stand strong against pressure from some in the agricultural sector to weaken freshwater reforms, following the release today of the Government's consultation document on freshwater farm plans and fencing rules. ... More >> Wairarapa Water Ltd.'s Bad Science And Poor Process A Warning Bell For All Monday, 21 December 2020, 1:31 pm | Choose Clean Water Freshwater campaigners say Wairarapa iwi Rangitāne o Wairarapa statement released today highlighting their concerns around Wairarapa Water Ltd's 'rushed time frames and incorrect information' is an important warning bell for the public and politicians. ... More >> Fish & Game Endangers Its Vital Public Role By Moving Closer To Federated Farmers Friday, 27 November 2020, 3:49 pm | Choose Clean Water Freshwater Campaigners Say The NZ Fish And Game Council Is Endangering Its Vital Public Role In The Protection Of Rivers And Lakes If It Moves Closer To Federated Farmers, Following Today's Announcement On The Two Organisations' Intention To ... More >> Water Campaigners Welcome Greens' Focus On Nitrogen Pollution Saturday, 12 September 2020, 12:16 pm | Choose Clean Water Water campaigners are welcoming the Greens' focus on nitrogen pollution in the party's 'Farming for the future' policy released today. 'Excessive nitrogen in our waterways is impacting the health of people, rivers and lakes, and wildlife ... More >> Water Storage Should Not Be Prioritised Over Waste & Drinking Water Infrastructure Thursday, 11 June 2020, 5:03 pm | Choose Clean Water The Government should be putting public health first in its post-Covid spending, freshwater campaigners say, prioritising waste and drinking water infrastructure over water storage Campaigners from Choose Clean Water were disappointed to learn ... More >> Crucial Policy Missing From Government's Water Announcement, Say Campaigners Thursday, 28 May 2020, 12:16 pm | Choose Clean Water Freshwater campaigners are frustrated the Government has delayed a crucial decision on nitrogen pollution for a further 12 months until after the election. 'We have urged the Government many times to put in place clear and unequivocal limits for ... More >> Strong Water Rules Essential As New Report Shows Most NZ Rivers Polluted Thursday, 16 April 2020, 12:39 pm | Choose Clean Water A government report released today shows most New Zealand rivers are polluted, highlighting why strong water rules are urgently needed, say freshwater campaigners. The report shows most of our waterways are under stress and many are severely impacted. In our ... More >> Industry Lobbyists And Politicians – Don't Exploit Covid-19 Crisis To Push Long-held Agendas Monday, 23 March 2020, 11:18 am | Choose Clean Water It is irresponsible and dishonest for agricultural industry lobbyists and opportunistic politicians to exploit the Covid-19 crisis for their unrelated political agendas, say freshwater campaign group Choose Clean Water. Federated Farmers have called for ... More >> 'Don't Fail Us On Water, PM': Togs, Towels And A Serious Message At Parliament Today Monday, 2 March 2020, 7:38 am | Choose Clean Water A group of young freshwater campaigners are getting their togs on, grabbing a towel and heading to parliament at rush hour this morning with a message to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern; 'Don't fail us on water.' The group, from the student-established ... More >> 'Strong Water Rules Now': Campaigners Remind PM Of Clean River Promises Outside Parliament Today Tuesday, 11 February 2020, 6:59 am | Choose Clean Water Freshwater campaigners will be outside parliament today with large banners reminding the Prime Minister of her party's 2017 pre-election promises to clean up the country's rivers. The group from Choose Clean Water, a student-established campaign to strengthen ... More >> Stats NZ shows urban & rural NZers agree on water pollution Wednesday, 2 October 2019, 3:00 pm | Choose Clean Water Results of the General Social Survey highlighted today by Stats NZ today show that urban and rural New Zealanders agree on freshwater pollution, say freshwater campaigners. 'Information on the General Social Survey 2018 released today by Stats NZ today ... More >> Freshwater policy holds potential if Gov resists pressure Thursday, 5 September 2019, 11:03 am | Choose Clean Water Freshwater campaigners welcome the release of Action for healthy waterways policy discussion documents today saying they hold great potential to deliver on the Government's election promise. However, it is clear there is intense pressure from dairy lobbyists ... More >> Dairy-led water accords do nothing to stop intensification Monday, 2 September 2019, 4:22 pm | Choose Clean Water Dairy industry-led water accords have done nothing to stop intensification over the last decades, which has led to the decline of the health of the country's rivers and lakes, say freshwater campaigners. And there is no commitment from dairy leaders ... More >> An 'action plan' with no action and a fatal flaw Tuesday, 5 June 2018, 4:20 pm | Choose Clean Water An 'action plan' with no action and a fatal flaw: Why agricultural leaders continue to fail New Zealand's rivers and their industry For immediate use 4pm Tuesday, 5 June 2018 Choose Clean Water NZ The Good Farming Practice: Action Plan for Water ... More >>
Otago Daily Times
6 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Te Pāti Māori stand down confirmed
Parliament has confirmed the unprecedented punishments proposed for Te Pāti Māori MPs who performed a haka in protest against the Treaty Principles Bill. Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi will be suspended for 21 days, and MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke suspended for seven days, taking effect immediately. Opposition parties tried to reject the recommendation, but did not have the numbers to vote it down. The heated debate to consider the proposed punishment came to an end just before Parliament was due to rise. Waititi moved to close the debate and no party disagreed, ending the possibility of it carrying on in the next sitting week. Leader of the House Chris Bishop - the only National MP who spoke - kicked off the debate earlier in the afternoon saying it was "regrettable" some MPs did not vote on the Budget two weeks ago. Bishop had called a vote ahead of Budget Day to suspend the privileges report debate to ensure the Te Pāti Māori MPs could take part in the Budget, but not all of them turned up. The debate was robust and rowdy with both the deputy speaker Barbara Kuriger and temporary speaker Tangi Utikare repeatedly having to ask MPs to quieten down. Tākuta Ferris spoke first for Te Pāti Māori saying the haka was a "signal of humanity" and a "raw human connection". He said Māori had faced acts of violence for too long and would not be silenced by "ignorance or bigotry". "Is this really us in 2025, Aotearoa New Zealand?" he asked the House. "Everyone can see the racism." He said the Privileges Committee's recommendations were not without precedent, noting the fact Labour MP Peeni Henare, who also participated in the haka, didn't face suspension. Henare attended the committee and apologised, which contributed to his lesser sanction. MP Parmjeet Parmar - a member of the Committee - was first to speak on behalf of ACT, and referenced the hand gesture - or "finger gun" - that Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer made in the direction of ACT MPs during the haka. Parmar told the House debate could be used to disagree on ideas and issues, and there wasn't a place for intimidating physical gestures. Greens co-leader Marama Davidson said New Zealand's Parliament could lead the world in terms of involving the indigenous people. She said the Green Party strongly rejected the committee's recommendations and proposed their amendment of removing suspensions, and asked the Te Pāti Māori MPs be censured instead. Davidson said The House had evolved in the past - such as the inclusion of sign language and breast-feeding in The House. She said the Greens were challenging the rules, and did not need an apology from Te Pāti Māori. NZ First leader Winston Peters said Te Pāti Māori and the Green Party speeches so far showed "no sincerity, saying countless haka had taken place in Parliament but only after first consulting the Speaker. "They told the media they were going to do it, but they didn't tell the Speaker did they? "The Māori party are a bunch of extremists," Peters said, "New Zealand has had enough of them". Peters was made to apologise after taking aim at Waititi, calling him "the one in the cowboy hat" with "scribbles on his face". He continued afterward, describing Waititi as possessing "anti western values". Labour's Willie Jackson congratulated Te Pāti Māori for the "greatest exhibition of our culture in The House in my lifetime". Jackson said the Treaty bill was a great threat, and was met by a great haka performance. He was glad the ACT Party was intimidated, saying that was the whole point of doing the haka. He also called for a bit of compromise from Te Pāti Māori - encouraging them to say sorry - but reiterated Labour's view the sanctions were out of proportion with past indiscretions in the House. Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said the debate "would be a joke if it wasn't so serious". "Get an absolute grip", she said to the House, arguing the prime minister "is personally responsible" if The House proceeds with the committee's proposed sanctions. She accused National's James Meager of "pointing a finger gun" at her - the same gesture coalition MPs had criticised Ngarewa-Packer for during her haka - the Speaker accepted he had not intended to, Swarbrick said it was an example where the interpretation can be in the eye of the beholder. She said if the government could "pick a punishment out of thin air" that was "not a democracy", putting New Zealand in very dangerous territory. An emotional Maipi-Clarke said she had been silent on the issue for a long time, the party's voices in haka having sent shockwaves around the world. She questioned whether that was why the MPs were being punished. "Since when did being proud of your culture make you racist?" "We will never be silenced, and we will never be lost," she said, calling the Treaty Principles bill was a "dishonourable vote". She had apologised to the Speaker and accepted the consequence laid down on the day, but refused to apologise. She listed other incidents in Parliament that resulted in no punishment. Maipi-Clarke called for the Treaty of Waitangi to be recognised in the Constitution Act, and for MPs to be required to honour it by law. "The pathway forward has never been so clear," she said. ACT's Nicole McKee said there were excuses being made for "bad behaviour", that The House was for making laws and having discussions, and "this is not about the haka, this is about process". She told The House she had heard no good ideas from the Te Pāti Māori, who she said resorted to intimidation when they did not get their way, but the MPs needed to "grow up" and learn to debate issues. She hoped 21 days would give them plenty of time to think about their behaviour. Labour MP and former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe started by saying there are "no winners in this debate", and it was clear to him it was the government, not the Parliament, handing out the punishments. He said the proposed sanctions set a precedent for future penalties, and governments may use it as a way to punish opposition, imploring National to think twice. He also said an apology from Te Pāti Māori would "go a long way", saying they had a "huge opportunity" to have a legacy in The House, but it was their choice - and while many would agree with the party there were rules and "you can't have it both ways". Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said there had been many instances of misinterpretations of the haka in The House and said it was unclear why they were being punished, "is it about the haka... is about the gun gestures?" "Not one committee member has explained to us where 21 days came from," he said. Waititi took aim at Peters over his comments targeting his hat and "scribbles" on his face. He said the haka was an elevation of indigenous voice and the proposed punishment was a "warning shot from the colonial state that cannot stomach" defiance. Waititi said that throughout history when Māori did not play ball, the "coloniser government" reached for extreme sanctions, ending with a plea to voters: "make this a one-term government, enrol, vote". He brought out a noose to represent Māori wrongfully put to death in the past, saying "interpretation is a feeling, it is not a fact ... you've traded a noose for legislation".
