Latest news with #McIvor
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
SI-wide first XV competition in works
South Island first XV rugby appears poised to level up. In a joint statement from the South Island boys' secondary principals, the schools confirmed they are "engaged in positive conversations about how we can collaborate more effectively to raise achievement and strengthen engagement for our students". That includes a radical revamp of the first XV structures. Under the proposal, up to eight schools from Canterbury and Tasman would join five schools from Otago and Southland to compete in a new competition. The three Dunedin boys' schools — King's, Otago Boys' and John McGlashan — as well as Southland Boys' and Waitaki Boys' would leave the Southern Secondary Schools Rugby Championship and join the new super grade. The co-educational schools such as Dunstan High School, which achieved a memorable victory against Otago Boys' at the weekend, would effectively be locked out. King's rector Nick McIvor confirmed his school's involvement in the breakaway competition. "That is what we are wanting to happen, absolutely," he said. "I'm one of a group of 12 principals who started a conversation around that in the latter part of last year to find out how we could connect to build our strength in curriculum, arts and sport. "As part of that, we've been exploring ways to create a new and exciting first XV competition for our boys to play. "The intention is to start next year." It is an ambitious plan that will add a lot more cost and involve more travelling. McIvor said they were still exploring options around attracting additional community and business support to help resource the competition. "We are aware there are challenges in terms of just the geography, travel and other things connected to a new competition that goes as far as the top of the South Island for us. "But we really believe it is worth it because it offers such an exciting prospect for us. "By heading north and being able to play the likes of the boys' schools in Christchurch ... it is just an added opportunity and it is expanding our rugby through a new challenge." Those opportunities will not be spread evenly, though. The co-educational schools are not invited. McIvor said there would still be some crossover games and the co-educational schools would still be eligible to qualify for the National First XV finals. Dunstan principal Andrew King had not responded to an interview request by the deadline. However, the best rugby players would be hard pressed to get noticed toiling away for a co-educational school in what would effectively be a second-tier competition. The temptation to move schools for rugby would seemingly increase along with the gap between the different school rugby programmes. McIvor said there were many reasons for moving schools and sport was only one. "I have to emphasise that this just isn't about the rugby. What we are looking to do is connect our schools for the strength of boys' education. "We were very careful to get a wide view on what this could become. We have a model that we have seen in action successfully, which is the Super 8 in the North Island. "We've consulted with those involved in that for years and have seen how that has developed into a truly impressive cross connection between schools ... in everything from chess through to every imaginable sport and the arts as well." Otago Secondary Schools Rugby Council chairman Greg Heller said, while he had been kept informed by the Otago schools involved in the proposed breakway competition, it was hard to comment until more details came to light.
Hamilton Spectator
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
New book offers an easy-to-read primer on Indigenous Rights
(ANNews) – 'This book is not intended for lawyers,' begins author Bruce McIvor in his new book Indigenous Rights in One Minute: What You Need to Know to Talk Reconciliation. 'It's meant for non-lawyers interested in Canada's commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and how to make it a reality' (10). Dr. Bruce McIvor is uniquely equipped to help demystify the misconceptions or misunderstandings surrounding historical legal structures and policies after a distinguished career as an academic and jurist. He states in his biography posted on the First People's Law website: 'I was focused on working for social justice through an academic career in history until I began working in the law on what I expected to be a temporary basis. My work introduced me to a world of principled, high quality legal advocacy that led me back to university for a law degree and, eventually, to establish First Peoples Law.' McIvor is a partner in their Vancouver office and continues to be a strong voice for informative bridgebuilding between communities. His bio elaborates: 'First Peoples Law combines my passions for law, history and social justice. Most importantly, it allows me to work with other committed professionals in supporting Indigenous Peoples' ongoing struggle for respect and justice.' Sometimes it takes a lawyer to help demystify the intricacies of legal president, and that is what McIvor's 2025 publication seeks to do. 'Whether you're completely new to Indigenous rights, have a basic understanding, want a refresher on key principles or are hoping to win an argument with a friend, family member or co-worker, I hope you find Indigenous Rights in One Minute useful and informative. Most of all, I hope you find it simple and easy to read' (11). Indeed, universal accessibility informs the structure and organization of the book, and the same conversational tone carries throughout McIvor's explanation of historical contexts and sensitive discussions of colonial abuse and trauma. In fact, McIvor's explanations are straightforward enough that extremely raw and painful topics seem intellectually manageable. When unpacking the significance of what 'Land Back' refers to, McIvor diplomatically, and concisely provides the core information that a reader would need to then begin further investigations on their own. 'The Land Back movement requires Canadians to recognize the fundamental lie at the basis of the Canadian state – the lie that colonizers have simply claimed Indigenous land as their own and relegated Indigenous people to making a claim for their own land. Land Back is also about forging new relationships between Indigenous nations and the Crown that create space for Indigenous people to exercise their inherent rights and responsibilities to make decisions about their lands and benefit from them' (104). McIvor's structuring of the book is less of a page-turner, and more of an essential reference tool that every Canadian home should have. Instead of a traditional segmenting of topics into chapters, he has organized material by themes and provides brief explanations for key terms and legal structures using accessible language without embellishment. Literally, each of his entries can be read in close to a minute. 'The brief summaries in this book no more than scratch the surface on complicated issues' (205) yet make it possible for readers to better navigate their basic understanding of important, and often intimidating material. This is an innovative strategy for engaging diverse audiences from a spectrum of the demographic pool. The straightforward and almost conversational tone means that newcomers to Canada working on acclimating themselves with the country, and who may be experiencing language obstacles, can access this vital information to gain a more nuanced understanding of the new society they find themselves integrating into. In fact, this might be a great book to provide people before taking their citizenship tests. Indigenous Rights in One Minute: What You Need to Know to Talk Reconciliation, is an excellent resource for the already socially conscious, and those who may previously have been a bit bashful about their lack of knowledge. It is the sort of essential resource book that will establish itself as a necessity in every Canadian home. Just as the Elements of Style can still be found on any writer's bookshelf, this is a tool for engagement that should be made use of in daily life to make more informed comments and decisions and better navigate social interactions with sensitivity and compassion. Pick up a copy today, and the next time someone brings up something that is unfamiliar, let McIvor spell out the basics, in just around a minute.
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe spat is a 'Westminster bubble story'
The public spat between Nigel Farage and one of his sidelined MPs is a "Westminster bubble story" and no-one mentions it on the street, a Reform UK councillor has Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, was suspended from the party over allegations of making verbal threats and workplace county councillor Jaymey McIvor admitted the infighting was a distraction but claimed the party was still "united".Lowe has denied the claims against him. Speaking to BBC Politics East, McIvor said: "Nigel Farage has been absolutely right; it is an unfortunate distraction that no-one would like to have happened."McIvor is the only Reform member at Essex County Council - representing Ongar and Rural - having left the Conservative Party last there being no local elections in Essex this year, McIvor said he campaigned every weekend, including most recently in Waltham Abbey."Not one person mentioned it to me," he said."I believe it is a Westminster bubble story, so everyone is excited about it on Twitter."He continued: "We absolutely are a united party and I don't buy the suggestion that we're not at all."McIvor said the party was handling the allegation in a "very professional way". Terry Jermy, who is the Labour MP for South West Norfolk, was also on the Politics East panel on Sunday and pointed out there were now only five Reform MPs."And now they are falling out with each other," he said."The people I really feel sorry for here are the people of Great Yarmouth and Clacton [which is Farage's constituency in Essex]." Local elections in the East of England are taking place in Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Bool, Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire, admitted that Reform "attracted" attention at the general election."What they did is they actually delivered Labour into government," she said."They are a protest party - they are very chaotic." Reform has reported Lowe to police over alleged threats of physical violence against party chairman Zia 67-year-old is sitting as an independent MP while an inquiry is carried said there was "zero credible evidence" against him and claimed he was suspended in response to him previously criticising Farage in an interview. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
