Men who have been sexually active with someone who they are not married to can voluntarily register. If they do, they will be notified if the potential child is being put up for adoption or if the mother is looking to terminate the father’s parental rights.

The full story is here

FEATURE: Nation’s single fathers are not getting enough help

By Loa Iok-sin
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, Aug 08, 2007, Page 4 For many single fathers, “Happy Fathers’ Day” is a wish rather than a reality, as the social resources that could help to alleviate the economic and psychological pressures they face every day are unavailable to them.

“There are as many as 740,000 single-parent households nationwide, of which 40 percent to 45 percent are single-father families,” said Chu Chien-fung (???), president of Single Parent Association of Taiwan, citing statistics by the Ministry of the Interior and Taipei City’s Department of Social Welfare during an interview on Monday.

Chu is a single father himself.

“The numbers are from last year, but the figures are from three years ago. I think it must have gone up since,” he said.

In Taichung, a citywide survey conducted last year by the Child Welfare League Foundation with elementary students in the fifth and the sixth grades found 120,000 single-father families in the city alone, Taichung City Shiang Ching Family Center director Wu Ying-chi (???) said.

The center was created by the foundation and Taichung City.

Although the number of single fathers is high, the help available to them is small.

“The government’s single-parent services are available only through women’s welfare departments,” Wu said.

The full story is here.

I’ve just listened to a [sorry, this item is no longer available from radionz – Admin] http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/aft/aft-20070807-1607-The_Panel_part_1-064.mpx podcast of Dr Vivian Roberts talking about child abuse to Jim Moira on ‘The Panel’, broadcast on National Radio, Wednesday 8th August. Viv is a general practitioner in Hawkes Bay and a Fathers Coalition representative. He claims, very persuasively and with an excellent use of statistical data, that the bias against fathers in the NZ Family Court contributes to child abuse.
Photo: Dr Viv Roberts.

With him on ‘The Panel’ was Julia Hartley Moore private investigator and author of the recent best selling book “Suddenly Single”. She also had some interesting insights:

…little children are given a lawyer and often those lawyers become very biased on one side – very much pro one or the other – and we often find out they turn out to be very pro the mother – and then when you go to court it’s like the child’s lawyer is second chairing for her lawyer… there’s a lot of fathers who get a raw deal.

When Dr Roberts demonstrated how “Violence against men is often hidden”, Hartley Moore immediately agreed. The interview [a 12MB download for those of you on dial-up – right click and save the whole file before trying to listen] is well worth listening to.

There are a whole bunch of videos made by Rd Viv Roberts about MEN SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION on Noelle Papillon’s site.

The BBC reported that “A Romanian man sets himself on fire in Bucharest in a desperate bid to get custody of his son who is living in Spain.”

They showed a picture here.

Unfortunety it doesn’t give us any more information. “Get custody” may in reality mean; to have a meaningful relationship.? The average wage in Romania is 130 euros a month. A flight from Bucharest to Madrid on a budget airline is 342 euros. That does not include accommodation, food, transport,etc. Ask yourself: How many times will this father be able to see his child – if ever?

Many NZ men will know how he feels. In New Zealand 4 men of child rearing age die every week. In 2004 207 males between the ages of 25 and 55 killed themselves. This was actually a reduction from previous years. But don’t expect any media or public persona to be concerned about it.

many of you will be aware of Dr Viv Roberts research in the area which shows the links between the so called Family Court’s decisions and the male suicide rate. He has even shown the link between regional male suicides to particularly biased judge’s court rooms.

About 5+ years ago Jim Anderton as leader of the Alliance was on the same flight as me. I knew his daughter comitted suicide so I wondered if this guy was aware of some of the leading causes of suicide in New Zealand. When we went to collected our bags I asked him what is views on shared parenting were. He had no idea what I was talking about. I explained. He obviously still had no clue about the issues and thought the laws were just fine.

I think that was the point I realised just how backward a country New Zealand has become.

I have just been graciously allowed the privilege to post to this web site. I have been thinking of several topical things I could post about but dismissed each one as being rather tangential. Then I discovered that the Labour party backed by the Greens is once again slipping in yet more regulation designed to limit freedom of speech and freedom of thought. I decided I better get on and have my say while I can still do so.

I am referring to the so called “Electoral Finance Bill” which the government is sneaking into law while our useless media fails to inform us. This Bill proposes that during an election year, anyone who wishes to express an opinion about the government or any party’s polices must first register and also can not spend more than $60,000 expressing that view. In simple language it is a compulsory register of government critics.

(more…)

Last night I watched the first few minutes of the American TV drama ‘Nip/Tuck’.

I watch the beginnings of these dramas because I am fascinated by the increasing weirdness of the plots, and also because they seem to be a reliable indicator of what the public currently wants to see. I could continue about the inferred state of the public mind, but that’s another story.

This particular storyline was the familiar maniacal man who rapes in large numbers, mutilates his female victims by carving their faces and is pursued by a valiant beautiful young woman in her 20’s, who barks orders at sub-ordinate bumbling policemen twice her age and tracks down the killer. So far the resemblance to reality is stunning. But then something unexpected happens.

The heroine’s first interview with a lesbian suspect is distinguished by her pressing the suspect to account for her past – and the woman blurts out “I wasn’t one of those feminazis…”

It’s the first time I have heard one of our words used on mainstream TV. It is significant.

Having words of our own serve two very important purposes. The first is to give expression to ideas that currently have no form in the minds of the public at large. As soon as a word like ‘feminazi’ enters the public dialogue, you no longer need to argue that they exist. Your opponent cannot say ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’ when the word is on everybody’s lips. You can progress your argument beyond denial to the next step.

The second point is that words of our own making are like marked fish that we have released into the ocean. If we start catching these fish elsewhere, we know the environment is not fatal to them. When our words come back to us, we know the ideas behind them are starting to thrive.

I look forward now to hearing words like misandry, MRA, mangina and phrases like ‘marriage strike’,MGTOW echoing back through the media. As I write this, every one of these words has been underlined as a spelling error. I look forward to that stopping as well.

Every word is a victory.

I am just putting this out there so others get a feel for what is going on and for the lesson that I have learnt and the support and how to get it and how you will not get it.

As we all know NZ is a small country and when you are considering moving in the political scene you become known and labelled pretty quickly. The same goes for the community trust scene.

Our meeting did come over strong to be anti feminist. That name/label ‘Anti-feminist’ is a very dangerous label and anyone with it is going to hit brick walls and the doors will shut fast one after another. This is what I am being told from a few good and worthwhile bigger palyers.

Most people are aware there needs to be change in NZ for males and women’s support is going to be a big asset. There are women already out there who deal with the violence on males and there are politicians and women in high places that are supportive. But it is not their job to make it work as they already have jobs that keep them busy full-time and in overtime with other commitments on projects.

It seems that some males here are barred from entering political offices (hehehe, that’s funny) and such and just the sheer mention of their name is enough to have you cut off at the knees. (so to speak) This is pretty much how it is in any business which does suck really. But it is a reality that has to be dealt with.

Anyhow, it seems that I personally have not cut myself out completely from the support of others but I am being looked at wearily and I can’t afford to make any mistakes.

So, basically, I am not going anti feminist because that is not going to achieve what I want.

However, I am aware that other groups who are anti feminist will still achieve what it is they are wanting. The two cannot combine unless it is sure there is control. These are the wise words that I have been given and I am not ignoring them.

However, there is a couple of males that I think CAN mellow out enough to work with prominent groups and politicians and the people so I am not cutting anyone out. Just so you know, we are making a committee as an arm of Auckland Single Parent’s Trust for fathers and their children. This has a 5 year plan to achieve a National Body for males and a Men’s Affairs in parliament.

Just putting this out there for anyone else who is wanting to learn from my lesson so as to make sure we achieve what we set out to do and don’t end up with wasting our time for the next so many years. I am aware many males may not agree with the way I do things and that is OK. But at least this way, we all understand.

They say that time passes quickly when you’re having fun and whether or not that is true, I
can’t believe that we are already into the month of August. Spring is just around the corner.

Family Policy

My new party, Future New Zealand, will continue to place family policy high on our list of priorities. With that in mind I devoted my speech to Parliament in the General Debate on Wednesday the 18th of July to those issues. Our policy will centre around three critical success factors for strong and successful families. These are marriage; the presence of a father in the home; and parenting education. No political party in Parliament currently has a comprehensive detailed policy directed at the strengthening and building of strong marriages or keeping fathers with their children.

Back in 2003 when United Future established the Families Commission, I had high hopes that it would advance work in these areas. Sadly however, from day one, the Commission reported to a Labour Cabinet Minister, initially Steve Maharey and in latter days, David Benson-Pope until his sacking from Cabinet last week! I have learnt a lesson from that experience and in 2008, Future New Zealand will commit in advance to Ministerial control over the Families Commission (if we are in a position to do so).

Marriage in particular will be a distinctiveness for Future New Zealand. The Prime Minister does not support the institution of marriage and John Key, although personally committed to marriage, probably won’t go there for a number of reasons. In particular, I sense he has bought into the false dichotomy that to be pro-marriage is to be anti-all other kinds of family arrangements e.g. solo mums, de facto couples etc. However that is unnecessary. Future New Zealand will make it clear that we will support all family arrangements when it comes to tax and welfare etc. We are for all New Zealanders and their families and therefore seek to ensure the highest and best for all, but especially for children. It is because marriage is “the highest and best” that it will be central to our policy positioning.

www.futurenz.org.nz

Kiwi Families, in association with Kiwibank and Stihl Shop, wants to find out and is running a nationwide competition to find an inspirational role model.

The Father of the Year Award will be announced for Father’s Day and the winner will be rewarded with a $5,000 Kiwibank account, $3,000 worth of power tools from the Stihl Shop and a $500 Prezzy Card from NZ Post. There are also a host of other prizes for the 10 finalists.

www.kiwifamilies.co.nz

Here’s what’s happening in Britain these days. (Posted recently on Heretical Sex:

One of my friends was a victim of domestic violence for years, at the hands of his violent wife. The final straw came when she stabbed him and he was seriously injured. Fortunately he recovered, and he was divorced. He told me how he called a domestic violence helpline, and was told that they had nothing to offer to men. Domestic violence, apparently, is something that men do to women.

So he eventually set up his own domestic violence helpline. He published his phone number and address, and that is when the trouble really began. Every night in the small hours, a car load of women used to come to his house and scream abuse at him. He used to wake up in the morning to find that they had daubed the front of his house with graffiti reading things like ‘Rapist’ and ‘Paedophile’. He was eventually forced to close his helpline down and retire.

Radical feminists insist that the domestic violence issue is their territory, and no-one else is allowed to intrude. Check out this video on YouTube, of radical feminists disrupting a conference about Battered Men.

Darryl Ward put a notice up on pauls_news to vote for fathers.

The Anglican church is asking what we need to do to stop the bad record of child abuse. One of the offered solutions is to stop forcing fathers out of children’s lives. Great to see they are getting the message. A vote from you would be another voice. And the more voices, the better people hear.

This is what I wrote on a few sites but it seems that only 30 males or pro-males contributed to it. What is wrong here is that males won’t speak up????? Yet you have the opportunity if you want it.

Come on guys even if you are MTGOW can’t you support FRA? Make your voice heard. Now others are stepping up to make your word less but the church needs to hear from you. Please vote. 33 people in the MRA and MRM is pathetic.

http://justice.anglican.org.nz/

For those who are on right now, James Coleman on Radio Live is taking calls on whether Judy Turner’s new members Bill, which allows for Court ordered Paternity testing for fathers.

0800 723 465? if you want to ring and put your points of view forward.

New Member’s Bill will create certainty for families United Future today announces a new Member’s Bill that will allow the Courts to order DNA testing, to confirm or otherwise the parentage of a child in question. It is the Family Proceedings (Paternity Orders and Parentage Tests) Amendment Bill. “This Bill will finally allow father and child the opportunity to know for sure if they are father and child or unrelated, in cases when parentage is in question,” says Judy Turner MP, who is sponsoring the bill.

There’s an excellent opinion piece by the Hawaiian Libertarian here, where he proposes a way in which each of us can change the attitudes of the women in our own lives. Do this, and we then start creating a climate that is then ready to hear and deal justly with the issues that are of importance to us.

Attempt to improve breast feeders’ rights

http://www.tv3.co.nz

Labour MP Steve Chadwick has drawn up legislation which will make it illegal to ask someone not to breastfeed.

The passage of this legislation could be quite interesting. Lets look at some of the other considerations that need to be taken into account, in particular the breast feedees rights.

You may be aware that some women should not breast feed. Their breast milk is so weak that when they are feeding, although they are producing sufficient quantity of milk, the quality of the milk is so low; they are effectively starving their child. This initially would be detected by a plunket nurse through failure to increase weight. If not, the baby’s condition will deteriorate to a semi comatose state through malnutrition. Yes this is a condition that even our own Star Ship hospital has seen.

If the State is going to take breast feeding into the legislative path other issues will need to be considered.

Firstly the quality of the breast milk. Should women have to past a breast milk quality test to ensure that the child is not abused by legal breast feeding in public.

Should women be certified to breast feed in public?
Look at the situation where you know that your partner should not be breast feeding but feeding formula, but just wants to be like her friends and feed in public.

Should there be a defence for a father to stop legal breast feeding in the interests of the child, or does he have to report this to cyps. ?

Should cyps have a register of women not authorised to provide breast milk to their baby.

In certain cases ie mothers known to be taking drugs or women inclined not to look after themselves who have border line results for breast milk quality have weekly tests for breast milk quality and drug contamination.

Should women who have drug contamination in their breast milk have their benefit reduced by the cost of formula and given formula vouchers to ensure the baby is feed.

If you are breast feeding in private the state has to rely on the integrity of the individuals involved. If you are breast feeding in public by law then the state has to take total responsibility for the wellbeing of the child.

Seems there could be more to this bill than meets the eye.

New research suggests a single joint of cannabis damages the lungs as much as smoking five cigarettes in one go.

The study, carried out by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, found the drug forces the lungs to work harder by obstructing air flow and causes chest tightness and wheezing.

The study found that of the 339 people tested, only those who smoked tobacco suffered from the lung disease emphysema, but cannabis use still stopped the lungs working properly.

further….

Using marijuana increases the risk of one day developing a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia, according to a study that provides some of the strongest evidence yet linking the drug to a mental disorder.

Marijuana is one the most commonly used illegal substances in many countries with up to 20 percent of young people in places like Britain reporting either some use or heavy use, British researchers said, citing government statistics.

All women to be questioned about abuse when go to hospital

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/index.cfm?c_id=146

Whilst in hospital women will be asked these three questions to see if she may have been abused:

* Has anybody hurt or threatened you?
* Have you ever felt controlled or always criticised?
* Have you been asked to do anything sexual that you didn’t wat to do?

Health Minister Pete Hodgson and other ministers are expected to announce the radical move tomorrow in an attempt to clamp down on the country’s appalling record of child abuse and other domestic violence.

Health Minister Pete Hodgson, is cheap today, cheaper than yesterday. He will only let hospital staff ask women three questions. If we throw some more cash as this we could have another three questions.

– Did you get pregnant just to get the DPB.
– Did you drink alcohol or take drugs during your pregnancy.
– Did you become depressed after your abortion and get pregnant again.

What would your other three questions be from the increased funding for the health system?

Southern Star Chariatable Trust presents a “Kids In Show Seats” benefit in aid of Radio Lollipop.

Auckland Single Parent’s Trust has received a number of free tickets for this event which we have heard are worth $30.00 each to the general public.

Date: 11th August 2007

Times: 10 am, 1 pm and 4pm.
We have tickets for all 3 shows so we need to know what time you would like to choose to go. We have many so dont be shy.

Venue: Logan Cambell Centre, ASB showgrounds, Greenlane Rd West, Auckland

Tickets are limited so please let us know ASAP.

And BTW, the tickets are for one adult and one child under 8 years of age.

[email protected]

Here’s something worth supporting – a parenting website with a link to “Dad’s Corner” right near the top! Although there haven’t been many dads active on their discussion board so far, it could develop into a useful resource.

Hi John,

I’ve just located you through a Google search, whilst looking for men’s support groups.

I’m not sure if you’ve heard of our website, www.kiwifamilies.co.nz, but since its launch in October last year it’s become the most comprehensive parenting website in New Zealand.

Whilst we have thousands of visitors on site every month, the majority of these are mums. We would very much like to welcome more dads onto the site, and have developed Dad’s Corner with this purpose in mind.

If you follow this link, you will find a new chat room set up just for New Zealand fathers

I’m fronting Dad’s Corner, and would be most grateful if you could let the members of your group know that this online chat and support service is now available. Here Dad’s can share their experiences, joys and frustrations and find support and advice from other fathers throughout the country.

Look forward to seeing you on site.

Best wishes, Ian

Should the age of criminal responsibility be lowered to 12?

Stuff poll.

Yes (3890 votes, 81.1%)

No (906 votes, 18.9%)

Can’t anyone remember what you where doing when you where 12 years old, when you where in form one. You really did have an understanding of the ways of the world, in total control of ever decision you made, and every mistake you made. You weren’t relying on your teachers and parents for guidance and help.

You pathetic people. Childhood should be the abundance of your blessings, not the condemnation of your failings. What is New Zealand — a country of savagery and ignorance.

If these children do not know the difference between right and wrong its your problem – it doesn’t matter if they are your children or not you need to decide who owns them – the parents or the state. When you have decided that, then decide who you support, it is either the parents or the state.

Think carefully because you are decideing the fate of the next generation.

Hell Pizza’s general manager Colin Mellar says he has had a combination of complaints about the magazine.

I have been watching this for a while, and I am no prude, but these guys are over the line.

These people are not on my menu any more.

I will be buying pizza elsewhere.

What do you think?

Article in the Herald: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=322&objectid=10452857? (link option not working)

“But there are also surveys that show women and men are equally likely to be perpetrators and victims of violence in intimate relationships…

Women’s Refuge’s Henare gives a swift response to such statistics. “The question is about fear. Does she fear her husband? A woman is beaten by man for years, then one day she picks up an iron and says: ‘If you touch me one more time, I’m going to put this into your skull’. She is taking a stand the only way she knows how. Does he fear her? I suspect not.”

Unbelievable. Does she really believe that the? reports like the Dunedin longitudinal study are actually describing what she suggests?

Cancer test ‘may save many lives’

link http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6911677.stm

Hi All,

For those with an interest in Mens Health it could well be worth your while considering standing for the DHB elections.

District Health Boards (DHBs) provide (or fund the provision of) health and disability services to 21 districts covering New Zealand. DHBs are governed by boards, which consist of up to 11 members: seven elected by the public every three years, and up to four appointed by the Minister of Health.

The next DHB elections will be held in October 2007, at the same time as local authority elections. DHB elections are conducted by independent electoral officers who are appointed by the boards. The DHB’s electoral officer must be the electoral officer for one of the territorial authorities in the DHB’s district.

Check out the Ministry of Health DHB election page for further details.

Regards

Scrap

I have for some time been thinking about a couple of software projects that could help the Men’s Rights Movement.

They are:

1) A website that allows you to nominate Advertising, TV Drama, News presentation that is anti-male, or conversely, male-friendly. Visitors to the site could vote for whichever they found most offensive, or most agreeable. The net result would be a poll, ranked from worst offender down, and another poll ranked from most supportive down. The aim would be to then promote the site so that companies and media are well aware of how half the population perceives them.

2) A web-site that allows you to nominate a specific action you plan to take for fund-raising purposes. (more…)