Today I sent the following letter to the NZ Herald:

In your article: ‘Man who released Davis images says election spending the reason‘ published on September 24 2006, you reported: “Mr Bird, 62, has been associated with the men’s rights group Menz”.

MENZ is not about “men’s rights”, and it is not a group.

The website at MENZ.org.nz, owned and administrated by myself, with the aim of ‘promoting a clearer understanding of men’s experience’.

Most men involved with gender politics in NZ will have contributed something to the site, or will have been mentioned by others over the last ten years, but there are no formal associations with any person or organisation.

For the record, I strongly disagree with Chuck Bird’s views on homosexuality. I am sure the majority of men active in the NZ men’s movement will be distressed and angry to have been portrayed as supporting this position.

As this has always been a divisive issue within men’s organisations, I actively discourage discussion of this subject on the website.

Incidentally, I have hugged and kissed men most of my life. As a secure heterosexual, I don’t see why anyone should imagine this to be sexually arousing.

John Potter