Latest news with #Pasifika
Otago Daily Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Jackson accuses govt of rigging next election
By Craig McCulloch of RNZ Labour MP Willie Jackson has accused the government of trying to rig next year's election through its move to block people from being able to enrol for 12 days before voting day. The claim - made during Parliament's general debate today - goes further than Labour's official position which has been that electoral changes would make it harder to vote. Jackson also used his speech to criticise Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour as the "biggest dropkick of all" following Seymour's use of the term to disparage late enrollers. "I don't know what's more offensive," Jackson told MPs. "The gerrymandering of our voting rules to rig the election, or the deputy prime minister referring to 600,000 people as dropkicks." Seymour last week told reporters he was "sick of dropkicks that can't get themselves organised to follow the law". More than 600,000 people enrolled or updated their enrolment details after writ day in 2023, including 110,000 on election day itself. In a fiery speech today, Jackson poured contempt on the "disgraceful, rotten, useless government", accusing it of actively suppressing the vote and "vandalising democratic participation". He pointed to official advice which noted that young people, Māori, Pasifika and Asian communities would be disproportionately affected by the changes. "It's racist disenfranchisement," Jackson said. "It's a breach of democracy... this government risks being accused of rigging the next election." Jackson commended Attorney-General Judith Collins as "one of the most principled National Party members" for standing up to her "weak and useless leader" by warning that the voting changes breached human rights. "She's had the courage to call these voter suppression powers what they are: discriminatory." Jackson concluded his speech by taking at aim at Seymour, calling on him to apologise for his "disgraceful" description of some voters as dropkicks. "He's the most dangerous politician of the last generation... not only a disgrace as the deputy prime minister, but surely the biggest dropkick of all." Ministers brush off Jackson comments Speaking to RNZ, Seymour laughed off Jackson's description of him as a dropkick: "To be honest, I was always an open side flanker. Didn't really do a big drop kick, although, on a good day, I could nail one from just outside the 22." Seymour said Jackson's claims were "wrong and insane" but he could not help but like the man because "you know he doesn't mean it". "He's more a figure of fun for me," Seymour said. "Although I do worry a little bit about - you know - a man of his age - the old ticker can give out if he hyperventilates too much at work in the House." In a statement to RNZ, a spokesperson for Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said Jackson was prone to "hyperbole and mangling of the facts". "People are not being disenfranchised, they are merely being required to enrol," the spokesperson said. The government's legislation banning same-day voter enrolment passed its first reading in Parliament on Tuesday and will now be considered by select committee. During the debate, Goldsmith told MPs the change was required because the increasing number of special votes was delaying the final vote count. "The final vote count used to take two weeks. Last election, it took three," Goldsmith said. "The advice I received is that if we leave things as they are, it could well take even longer in future elections." Goldsmith flatly rejected the claim that people were being disenfranchised, saying the 110,000 people who updated their details on election day in 2023 only did so because they had been told they could. "The message will be different this election. People will be told they need to be enrolled well before voting starts. It's not that hard, and people are capable of doing these things." Justice officials, however, recommended against the move and warned it could result in lower turnout and reduce confidence in the electoral system. "Its impact on reducing special votes is uncertain, while its impact on democratic participation could be significant," officials said. The move has also been criticised by the Chief Human Rights Commissioner and electoral law experts Andrew Geddis and Graeme Edgeler. Since 2019, voters have been able to turn up to the booth at any time during the advance voting period and enrol at the same time, as well as on election day, with their vote being counted as a special vote.
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Labour MP Willie Jackson accuses government of rigging next election
Willie Jackson said "the gerrymandering of our voting rules to rig the election" was offensive. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Labour MP Willie Jackson has accused the government of trying to rig next year's election through its move to block people from being able to enrol for 12 days before voting day . The claim - made during Parliament's general debate on Wednesday - goes further than Labour's official position which has been that electoral changes would make it harder to vote. Jackson also used his speech to criticise Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour as the "biggest dropkick of all" following Seymour's use of the term to disparage late enrollers. "I don't know what's more offensive," Jackson told MPs. "The gerrymandering of our voting rules to rig the election, or the deputy prime minister referring to 600,000 people as dropkicks." Seymour last week told reporters he was "sick of dropkicks that can't get themselves organised to follow the law". More than 600,000 people enrolled or updated their enrolment details after writ day in 2023, including 110,000 on election day itself. In a fiery speech on Wednesday, Jackson poured contempt on the "disgraceful, rotten, useless government", accusing it of actively suppressing the vote and "vandalising democratic participation". He pointed to official advice which noted that young people, Māori, Pasifika and Asian communities would be disproportionately affected by the changes. "It's racist disenfranchisement," Jackson said. "It's a breach of democracy... this government risks being accused of rigging the next election." Jackson commended Attorney-General Judith Collins as "one of the most principled National Party members" for standing up to her "weak and useless leader" by warning that the voting changes breached human rights. "She's had the courage to call these voter suppression powers what they are: discriminatory." Jackson concluded his speech by taking at aim at Seymour, calling on him to apologise for his "disgraceful" description of some voters as dropkicks. "He's the most dangerous politician of the last generation... not only a disgrace as the deputy prime minister, but surely the biggest dropkick of all." Speaking to RNZ, Seymour laughed off Jackson's description of him as a dropkick: "To be honest, I was always an open side flanker. Didn't really do a big drop kick, although, on a good day, I could nail one from just outside the 22." Seymour said Jackson's claims were "wrong and insane" but he could not help but like the man because "you know he doesn't mean it". "He's more a figure of fun for me," Seymour said. "Although I do worry a little bit about - you know - a man of his age - the old ticker can give out if he hyperventilates too much at work in the House." In a statement to RNZ, a spokesperson for Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said Jackson was prone to "hyperbole and mangling of the facts". "People are not being disenfranchised, they are merely being required to enrol," the spokesperson said. The government's legislation banning same-day voter enrolment passed its first reading in Parliament on Tuesday and will now be considered by select committee. During the debate, Goldsmith told MPs the change was required because the increasing number of special votes was delaying the final vote count. "The final vote count used to take two weeks. Last election, it took three," Goldsmith said. "The advice I received is that if we leave things as they are, it could well take even longer in future elections." Goldsmith flatly rejected the claim that people were being disenfranchised, saying the 110,000 people who updated their details on election day in 2023 only did so because they had been told they could. "The message will be different this election. People will be told they need to be enrolled well before voting starts. It's not that hard, and people are capable of doing these things." Justice officials, however, recommended against the move and warned it could result in lower turnout and reduce confidence in the electoral system. "Its impact on reducing special votes is uncertain, while its impact on democratic participation could be significant," officials said. The move has also been criticised by the Chief Human Rights Commissioner and electoral law experts Andrew Geddis and Graeme Edgeler. Since 2019, voters have been able to turn up to the booth at any time during the advance voting period and enrol at the same time, as well as on election day, with their vote being counted as a special vote. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
15 hours ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Dr Shane Reti: No quotas for Pacific students at new medical school
By 'Alakihihifo Vailala , PMN Photo: Supplied / Google Maps The newly-established medical school at Waikato University, the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine, will not implement specific quotas for Pacific students, according to the Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. But he says that the academic institution, which will begin in 2028, will prioritise under-represented communities. In an interview on Pacific Mornings , Reti says, "What they have indicated is that as part of the selection process, even though they may not have targeted pathways or quotas per se, that the selection process will take into account those areas where we are under-represented, underweighted, where we have vulnerable populations as part of that selection process. Dr Shane Reti says the academic institution, which will begin in 2028, will prioritise under-represented communities. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro "But they have indicated in this first instance that there won't be quotas per se." His comments follow the government's announcement of the new medical school at the University of Waikato. The third medical school in the country will receive $82.85 million in government funding and over $150m from the university, most of which comes from philanthropic donations. "What I would like to see are the graduates focused and directed as much as possible towards where we have need, and those areas where we have need are general practice, rural environments," Reti says. "And then within those areas, of course, we have needs for Pasifika, we have needs for Māori, we have a range of other needs." According to the Ministry of Health, Pacific people make up 2.6 per cent, or 522, of all doctors in New Zealand. This represents a threefold increase since 2005, when there were around 131 Pacific doctors. In a related initiative, Reti announced a $4m contribution to assist Fiji in addressing a severe HIV outbreak. He says the funding will mainly support educational initiatives and boost diagnostic capabilities. "Our contribution will help them with what some would say is the most important component to HIV, that is, the education component, which will have a close association with drug use through the Pacific." Reti's comments followed discussions after the recent Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers' meeting in Suva, which he described as action-oriented, with clear objectives aimed at tackling regional challenges. The meeting also focused on preparations for the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders' summit in Honiara later this year. Reflecting on cultural milestones, Reti celebrated New Zealand's first-ever Bislama Language Week in Papamoa, coinciding with Vanuatu's 45th independence celebrations. He praised the significance of cultural recognition and community engagement, sharing his experiences during a diplomatic mission to Vanuatu with Foreign Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters. "I've had the privilege of standing on the new wharf at Vanuatu on a diplomatic mission that I've had with Minister Peters," Reti says. "I've had the privilege of standing underneath the roof of the women's market and had the privilege of standing in the talking circle beside the Parliament, and so they were able to get a further sense of, oh, he's actually been in our home. "He's been in our place. He gets us. So it was just a wonderful event, and very excited for them." -This article was first published by PMN .
RNZ News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 30 July
Timoci Tavatavanawai and Emoni Narawa. Photo: Kerry Marshall / A number of All Blacks with Pasifika heritage will be in action for their provincial teams when the National Provincial Championship (NPC) kicks off this week. Queen Victoria School alumni from Fiji, Emoni Narawa and Timoci Tavatavanawai, will be on opposite ends when Bay of Plenty meets Tasman in Tauranga on Sunday. Narawa joins fellow All Black and Samoan heritage player Pasilio Tosi in the Bay of Plenty squad, while Tavatavanawai is contracted to Tasman. A number of Manu Samoa and 'Ikale Tahi reps are also expected to be in action during the NPC. Samoan-Tongan Phillip Fatialofa is set to play for New Zealand's Futsal Whites at the Continental Futsal Championship in Thailand. Oceania Football says the player is set to make his debut for Aotearoa, with the team scheduled to meet Chinese Taipei on Thursday in their first game. Fatialofa says his selection is a dream come true. With a Samoan dad and a part-Tongan mother, the 21-year-old grew up playing football in Wellington and represented Samoa at the OFC Under-19 Men's Championship in 2023. The Futsal Whites meet Thailand on Friday in their second pool game. The 'Ikale Tahi rugby squad started their preparation for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup in Auckland at the weekend. Head coach Tevita Tuifua said the camp brought players together for the first time this year. Missing were some players who are currently committed to the NPC in New Zealand. Former All Black Salesi Piutau and France-based Ben Tameifuna are two of the senior players in the squad who were present at the camp. Around 400 RSE workers in the Bay of Plenty area will compete at the second annual RSE Sports Festival in Mount Manganui on 23 August. Led by the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, with support from BOP Volleyball and BOP Football, the day is a collaboration between the kiwifruit industry and the local sporting groups to provide a day off the tools for hard working RSE workers. Bay of Plenty Rugby manager Ati Aaifou-Olive said the RSE Sports Festival is a new way in which the sport can give RSE workers a positive experience while in New Zealand. In 2024, 11 packhouses entered 39 teams, featuring 350 RSE workers from Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Tonga at the event.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
New med school to save $50m a year, govt claims
Nearly $2billion could be saved by 2042 if a new medical school to train rural doctors is created in Hamilton, the detailed business case for the project says. Made public at 6.45pm yesterday, a document dump including the business case reveals the cost of producing GPs at a new medical school at the University of Waikato would be $50million a year cheaper than doing it through existing medical schools. It was announced on Monday the government had decided to approve the country's third medical school, to be built in Hamilton. Over 16 years from 2026 to 2042 the total cost of medical education at Waikato, including capital costs that include building a new school, would be $9.1b, it says. It would cost $10.9b over the same period to increase the intake of students at existing medical schools and $10.2b if a new medical training programme focused on rural health, jointly run by the universities of Otago and Auckland was established. The Waikato option would also be the cheapest for the Crown in terms of its ongoing contribution to operating costs at $37.2m a year, compared with $45.5m a year for increasing intake at existing medical schools. But there are concerns the actual costs are still unknown. Green MP Francisco Hernandez said the government's decision to "dump" the business case after work hours on a Friday was "deeply insulting to the public". "This is not the actions of a government that is confident in the business case — and judging from what I've read so far they're right to not be," he said. Rather than engaging in good faith with Otago and Auckland universities and running an open process for a new graduate programme, the government had "deliberately stacked the deck to produce the outcome they want". "The cost benefit analysis also assumes no further cost escalations — and with the Minister [of Health] refusing to rule out further funding — we just don't know how deep the government's blank cheque will extend to back this flawed proposal," Mr Hernandez said. "Finally, the cost benefit analysis fails to even consider the issue of [the] benefits of training more Māori or Pasifika doctors — perhaps because [Waikato University] vice-chancellor [Neil] Quigley has reportedly ruled out a programme like [Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme] to boost Māori and Pasifika doctors and the government has failed to make that a condition of this handout." Dunedin MP Rachel Brooking said the Waikato medical school was pitched to the National Party as a "present" to them when in office. "Decisions about the future of New Zealand's medical workforce should be made on more robust grounds," she said. "It's important we take the time to analyse the business case before commenting, which we will do in due course." Taieri MP Ingrid Leary said she was not surprised information was redacted from the business case. "I've got numerous official information documents that are heavily redacted and I'm concerned but not surprised that this remains the pattern [of the government]." She said she felt it had been shown the new medical school was "effectively a done deal" well before the public announcement, due to the government's coalition agreements. "The timing of the release of critical documents on a significant issue is deeply cynical and, along with the heavy redactions, makes me wonder what the National government is trying to hide?"
