Search results for 'Historical society'

On Friday 3 September, a terrorist attack took place at a LynMall supermarket in New Lynn, Auckland. The attacker stabbed six people and injured one before being shot and killed by Police. It was quickly revealed that the person was a known supporter of the Islamic State and was under long-term Police surveillance. Following the event, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that she wants the Government's Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill, which was brought in following the 2019 Christchurch terror attacks, to be passed no later than by the end of the month. 

As part of an ongoing investigation into New Zealand’s counter-terrorism strategy, News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston wanted to look into some of the issues that have been raised about the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill. She spoke to Professor Richard Jackson, Director of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Otago, about some of the problems he says the Bill has. Professor Jackson, along with other experts on terrorism, are concerned that the Bill is being passed too quickly and that more research and time is needed to properly address terrorism in New Zealand's legislation. 

Jemima and Professor Jackson touch on the restrictions terrorism legislation places on human rights, the difficulty to determine a person's intention, protecting minority groups against the deep racial biases that exist in New Zealand society, and whether it is possible to appropriately define terrorism.

Ultimately, Professor Jackson is concerned that the Bill is being rushed through the legislation process. He says that in times of public distress, the Government moves quickly to make laws as a way to show that the state cares about its people and has done something to address the issue at hand. However, Professor Jackson warns that rushed legislation doesn't consider all the evidence and runs the risk of negatively impacting certain minority communities and increasing grievance amongst those most likley to turn to extremism. 

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a neural-disability caused by prenatal alcohol exposure which can affect memory, intellectual ability, and emotional regulation.

The Ministry of Health estimates that between three to five percent of the population in Aotearoa are affected by FASD, with around 1800 to 3000 babies being born with FASD each year.

The government has recently announced it will be establishing new guidelines to help health professionals diagnose FASD, a programme to support families, and launching a FASD prevention campaign.

First, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Care Action Network (FASD-CAN) Chairperson, Leigh Henderson. FASD-CAN is a non-profit, incorporated society made up of parents, caregivers, extended whānau and professionals. She spoke to Henderson about how the government can better support those with FASD.She started off the interview asking Henderson what difference she believes the government’s proposed initiatives will make?

She also spoke to Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Director of the FASD Centre Aotearoa, Dr Valerie McGinn. The FASD Centre Aotearoa assesses and helps with the management of children, young people, and adults with FASD. She started off the interview asking for her thoughts on the government’s announcement. 

To hear from a person with FASD, she spoke to Byron, a young adult with FASD, about his experience and what support he would like to see from the government.

And she spoke to leader of Kick Back Make Change, a non-profit organisation serving rangatahi experiencing homelessness, about support needed for young people experiencing homelessness who have disabilities including FASD.

The jury is out, the jug is on - all the newness from Uppington Downs.....