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Weekly Media Roundup

May 18, 2017 at 4:48 PM

Political roundup: Questions raised by Alfred Ngaro's speech

Is it corruption for a Government to use taxpayer resources to silence its critics? This has been among the questions raised by Cabinet minister Alfred Ngaro's threat to turn off the financial tap to NGOs that are too critical of the National Government.

People in glass houses shouldn’t speak out of turn

Don't expect any apologies or contrition from the National Party on housing - a new, muscularly aggressive defence of its most vulnerable policy area has emerged at its Auckland conference.

The associate housing minister Alfred Ngaro led the charge in a presentation laced with political menace against those who question National's performance on housing.

Alfred Ngaro’s heartfelt apology: what he said and what he meant

The associate housing minister has issued a statement of regret after Newsroom caught him spraying threats at non-government service providers including Willie Jackson and the Salvation Army. Here we speculate on how it might read after a good dousing in truth serum.

Audrey Young: Ngaro comments warrant the offer of a resignation

The stupidity of Alfred Ngaro's judgment at the weekend was so gross it warranted at least his offer of a resignation from the cabinet to Prime Minister Bill English.

None was forthcoming, English confirmed at his post cabinet press conference.

But it was clear from English's response that he was not looking for a resignation from Ngaro.

Prime Minister Bill English to review Minister Alfred Ngaro's decisions after funding threat

Prime Minister Bill English says he will review any decisions made by Associate Social Housing Minister Alfred Ngaro to make sure they were not politically motivated.

Ngaro apologised to the Prime Minister yesterday after threatening to cut funding to Labour candidate Willie Jackson's Manukau Urban Maori Authority.

What does the law say about Alfred Ngaro’s dumbass threats?

Lawyer Andrew Geddis looks into what should happen if associate housing minister Alfred Ngaro were ever to actually do what he threatened over the weekend.

Gagging orders for community organisations not the NZ way

OPINION: Alfred Ngaro has an unusual profile for a National Party cabinet minister. As a Pasifika MP with a self-declared working class background and an interest in social justice, he wouldn't seem out of place in the Labour Party's ranks.

However, the Associate Housing Minister sounded authoritarian, perhaps menacing, even a little bit Trumpian, as he threatened that people who criticise the Government might lose taxpayer funding for the work they do in the community.

Jobs at MSD could be at risk following data review

Jobs could be on the line following a highly critical report into how the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) stores client information.

In March this year, the ministry announced community groups, such as Women's Refuge, would have to hand over people's personal data if they wished to get funding.

Some data was stored in a temporary IT system, but that was shut down in April following a privacy breach in which one ministry contractor was able see information sent in by another.

This bill aims to make work a safe place for victims of domestic violence

Submissions close tomorrow for the Domestic Violence Victims' Protection Bill. But how will it work? And can employers afford it?

Judge breaks down reading 'harrowing' child abuse case

Injuries sustained by a 5-year-old boy were so horrific a judge broke down in tears as she addressed court during the sentencing of the man that inflicted them.

The 5-year-old boy "will suffer forever" the judge told the courtroom, and has to wear a helmet every day because of the abuse he endured.

Troy Jackson, 31, was jailed for six years and two months at the Manukau District Court last month.

NZ ranked near bottom on children's rights

A European advocacy group has ranked New Zealand 158th out of 165 countries on children's rights.

Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft said the ranking was "a wake-up call" for New Zealand to protect children better from abuse and neglect and to give children a say on new laws and policies.

"There is a startlingly weak commitment in New Zealand to factoring in children's voices into our policymaking," he said.

Uniform approach to family violence

Family violence is an issue people need to think about every day and not just on White Ribbon Day.

That is the message from Whanganui hospital staff who have been wearing black and white anti violence shirts every Friday as part of their work uniform.

Domestic abuse survivor launches yoga business

She still remembers the promise she made to herself.

Three years ago Nichola Jones vowed to piece her life together after walking out of an abusive relationship.

Her spirit was broken and it took a long time to fix it, she said.

Family Court 'broken and dangerous' - lobby group

The Family Court is failing to protect women and a Royal Commission of Inquiry is needed, a group pushing for changes to the court says.

The Backbone Collective said the Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams' dismissal of its report on what it said was the failure of the court to protect women and children was "hugely disappointing."

'Snitches get stitches' culture in youth centres - report

Claims of fight clubs and staff punching young people at a youth justice residence are detailed in a new report by the Children's Commissioner.

The commissioner, Judge Andrew Becroft, said while the latest State of Care report found no evidence of systemic abuse of young people in either youth justice or care and protection residences, he was worried by an undercurrent of violence and bullying and wants more inspections of the centres.

Labour promises a nurse in every secondary school

An emotional Jacinda Ardern has spoken about her grief at losing a childhood friend to suicide.

Speaking to Labour's election year congress, Ardern put youth mental health on the political agenda, with a promise to place a nurse into every public secondary school. Schools will also get the support of a GP.

Abuse doesn’t always look like black eyes and bruised ribs

I always thought I would be the kind of woman who wouldn’t put up with abuse in a relationship. I always thought I was smarter than that. That I had a better sense of myself than that.

But I wasn’t and I didn’t. And here’s why.

Murdered Kiwi woman Tara Brown's legacy lives on

Natalie Hinton faces the unenviable task of telling her five-year-old grand-daughter what happened to her mum when she's old enough.

"I'm not looking forward to it. What child should have to be told that story about her Mum…. and her Dad?"

The 51-year-old is the mother of Tara Brown - a young woman who was brutally killed by her ex-partner in 2015 - and for the first time on New Zealand television she has shared her heartbreaking story with Three's The Hui.

‘A masterclass in butt covering’: Mike King’s letter quitting suicide prevention panel

Mental health campaigner Mike King has quit the panel shaping strategy for suicide prevention in NZ, saying ‘It would be funny if people weren’t dying’. Below, his resignation letter in full.

Manawatu community calls to stamp out domestic violence

Community groups are calling for people to step up and stop family violence in Manawatu.

About 40 people took part in workshops about family violence on Thursday as part of a violence education day, run by the Manawatu Abuse Intervention Network (MAIN).

MAIN co-ordinator Gail Wood said the day was about informing the public and encouraging them to do something about the violence in their own community.

Detective speaks out about reality of depression - and anti-depressants - for police

It's rare to hear from police officers about the mental demands of the job. But now, a detective with New Zealand Police has spoken out about the reality of depression and the management of staff who regularly experience trauma up close.

Police seek to retry Malcolm Rewa for Susan Burdett homicide

The police plan to prosecute Malcolm Rewa for the murder of Susan Burdett.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush said in a statement that Solicitor-General Una Jagose will apply to the High Court to retry Malcolm Rewa for Burdett's 1992 murder.

Prison for indecent assault on former partner to 'check for infidelity

A man who defied a trespass order and indecently assaulted his former partner to "check for infidelity" has been sentenced to imprisonment.

Joshua Peter Whitham was sentenced in the Nelson District Court on Wednesday having pleaded guilty to indecent assault, wilful trespass, burglary, theft and driving while disqualified.

What poverty looks like: Meet the Sikaleti brothers

Kiwi children living in poverty face time on the sideline because their parents and caregivers cannot afford to have them play club sport.

Brothers Tulaniu Sikaleti, 11, and Sikaleti Sikaleti, 13, are keen sportsmen, but they will not join their friends at Canterbury's Leeston Rugby Club this year.

Mum Lufilufi Sitagata sacrificed paying the $200 club rugby subs and buying new rugby boots to free up money for food, school uniforms and petrol.

Inequality study: 'Vicious circle' as top protect their position

A new international study has found that inequality makes people at the top increasingly hard-hearted towards those lower down the ladder.

It found inequality created a "vicious circle" in which privileged people strived to protect their comparative advantage.