Where Marama went wrong …
"You’re proving Marama correct, white cis males are driving hatred of trans people" was levelled against someone on this forum who likes to troll … funnily enough Posie Parker (to my knowledge) isn't a "white cis-male", and neither do I have a problem with "LGBTQ and the whole bloody alphabet" people - and I'm white, male, and cis.
I once had a discussion with a black guy from the States who was quite racist in his comments, against both white and Asian people - and when challenged stated that "Only white people can be racist!" - oh the irony of that.
When I hear what Marama said and how others try to "protect" her then I have to think of that black guy. Marama didn't make a mistake, it wasn't due to the bike, she simply spoke unguarded from the heart - and what she said was racist.
It would have been better to own up to the fact that EVERYONE is SOMETHING based on our history and experiences. Racism is build in because it is the "fear of the unknown" - you will ALWAYS fear a stranger more than someone you know (just ask yourself if you would leave your wallet with them), whether it is justified or not (and the vast majority of sexual assaults is actually done by people you know).
The question is not whether someone is racist or not, the question is how they face it. For example in a small village in Germany the asylum seekers were treated with suspicion - so they organised a meeting in the town hall that was very well attended, broke the ice, and made "strangers" simply human. The more you understand other people and races, the less racist you become. When you realise that that nice guy you like to talk with is gay then homophobia starts looking silly.
Marama (and her supporters) had the chance to put this simple fact at the center of the discussion - instead they chose to dig their heels in, make excuses, and went on the attack. Not the mark of a leader, and not smart at all: the "vast majority" of abuse is committed by "white cis males"? First off: the murder statistic they showed as evidence is a 70% male, 30% female split - that's roughly 2:1. Not exactly what I would call a "vast majority" (especially as men seem to prefer bashing someone's head in or shooting them which is hard to pass off as a natural death, while poisoning which can be hard to detect is the favourite method used by women). And if you want to know how "white" males are doing - then you need to analyse it as a proportion of the population (eg compare the numbers of murders committed by white / black / Maori / Pacific / Asian etc men in proportion to their number in the population) - you might find something that isn't quite politically correct but puts the emphasis on the fact that social deprivation increases stress which causes more violence.
See for example www.stuff.co.nz...
Which brings me back to something that I noticed back in 1999 - New Zealanders like to put emphasis on "race" when they should simply deal with the problem. If back then they would have said "We need to help the poor get out of poverty" then nobody would have objected even if the policy would have helped Maori the most - instead they said "We need to help the Maori to get out of poverty" (eg free Health Mobile for Maori, allowed to study Medicine if 1/8th Maori, etc) which drove a wedge into New Zealand (instead of bringing them together as “Kiwis” with an appreciation of the different cultural contributions like it is in Europe) and made race a much more important factor. Unsurprisingly the Maori formed their own party, and nowadays you have election posters showing "Maori" with a check mark - should you really vote for someone because of his or her race? That has echoes of Apartheid in South Africa (I never thought I'd agree with Winston Peters but he lambasted that policy because it "stole" Maori pride and depicted them as people who can't do it on their own if just given a fair chance).
And what Marama is doing is exactly the same - put race into the discussion about violence against women. That is stupid and counter-productive. It detracts from what the problem is: abuse of others. And as Posie Parker and many religious groups ("conversion therapy" anyone?) show - it is not just males, never mind white or cis.
Stop abuse - and keep your “culture wars” to yourself.
P.S. Marama has history on that method: www.stuff.co.nz...
The Gospel’s Relevance Today**
The Gospel, meaning ‘good news’, is the cornerstone of the message contained in the Bible’s first four books—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. While these records were written approximately 2,000 years ago, a natural question arises: why is this Gospel still relevant and vital for us today? This analysis seeks to explore what the Bible itself defines as the Gospel and to understand its enduring significance.
**Defining the Gospel: Core Biblical References**
The Gospel is not a vague concept; Scripture provides clear descriptions of its content and focus.
* **The Gospel of the Kingdom:** In Matthew 4:23, as Jesus begins his ministry, he is described as “preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” This immediately establishes that the good news is centrally about a kingdom—the Kingdom of God. His accompanying miracles served to validate the authority of this message.
* **The Gospel of Jesus Christ:** Mark 1:1 opens with, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Here, “Christ” is a title meaning ‘anointed one’. Thus, the good news is intrinsically about Jesus: his identity as the Anointed One and his unique status as the Son of God.
* **The Gospel of God’s Grace:** In Acts 20:24, the Apostle Paul speaks of his mission to “testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Grace signifies an undeserved gift. This reveals that the Gospel involves a gift from God, offered not because it is merited, but out of His benevolence.
* **The Gospel of Salvation and Peace:** Romans 1:16 declares the Gospel is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile (Greek). Furthermore, Romans 10:15 calls it the “gospel of peace,” pointing to a future state of peace brought about by this message.
* **The Gospel Summarised:** 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 provides a foundational summary. Paul reminds believers of the gospel he preached, “by which also you are saved.” He then states its core historical facts: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” The Gospel is therefore rooted in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus.
In synthesis, the Gospel is the good news of **salvation and future peace in the Kingdom of God**, made possible by **the grace of God** and **the obedient sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ**, and offered to all who believe.
**Old Testament Foundations: The Gospel Preached to Abraham**
A crucial question is whether the Gospel is confined to the New Testament. Scripture shows its foundations were laid much earlier. Galatians 3:8 states explicitly that “the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’”
This reference points back to Genesis 12:1-3, where God made profound promises to Abraham: to make him a great nation, to bless those who blessed him, and that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” These promises—later reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob—form the bedrock of the Gospel hope. The good news of salvation through Christ is the fulfillment of how **all nations** would be blessed through Abraham’s “seed.”
**The Gospel’s Personal Relevance: Good News for You Today**
How does this ancient message become “good news for you” today? The application is clearly outlined in Galatians 3.
* **Access through Faith in Christ:** Galatians 3:26 declares, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” The promise made to Abraham is now extended to anyone with faith in Jesus.
* **The Role of Baptism:** Verse 27 explains, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptism is the God-appointed act of faith that identifies a believer with Christ’s death and resurrection.
* **Unity and Inheritance:** Verses 28-29 reveal the glorious outcome: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Through the Gospel, all barriers are removed; believers become spiritual descendants of Abraham and heirs to the promises of the Kingdom.
This Gospel was once a mystery hidden in God’s purpose (Ephesians 3:3-9). Now, it has been revealed: the unsearchable riches of Christ, offering salvation to all who heed the call, believe the message, and are baptised into him.
**Conclusion: An Enduring and Open Invitation**
The Gospel is far more than a historical account; it is the living, powerful good news of God’s plan for salvation. It is rooted in promises to Abraham, accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and open to all people without distinction. It offers a tangible hope—the hope of resurrection, peace, and an inheritance in the coming Kingdom of God. This is why the Gospel remains profoundly relevant. It is an invitation to listen, believe, and stand firm in this hope, linking our lives today to the eternal purpose of God.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.5% Human-centred experience and communication
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14.8% Critical thinking
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29.6% Resilience and adaptability
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3.1% Other - I will share below!
Wills and Luxon are screwing the country to please the oil and gas industry.
Today the smart investment is in battery peaker plants in combination with solar and wind, or with any other renewable generation capacity during low demand times.
Gas is expensive and will get more so over time.
Let's not forget that Nicola Willis' dad is a big time oil and gas investor, lobbyist, and industry insider.
Maybe this should be posted in ‚Crime & Safety‘?
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