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MENZ ISSUES

MENZ Issues: news and discussion about New Zealand men, fathers, family law, divorce, courts, protests, gender politics, and male health.

Fri 20th October 2006

Violence and our teenagers

Filed under: General — Julie @ 10:15 am

So, while we sit back and watch our country turn into a COMPLETE frenzy over women being safe from even a hard word, we need to ask ourselves “Do our youth have a hope for a future?”

My 2 eyes and ears have been watching and hearing some really disturbing facts.

Over the last week I have been discussing with young males aged 15, 16, and 17 the implications of them taping kitchen knives to their calves when going out to the city to listen to a band or to the plaza to watch a movie. I do understand why they are doing this and I do not misunderstand the fear they feel. I mean, it has become life threateneing for our young men to leave home on an outing especially at night . But I can’t help but see the innocence in their eyes and wonder if they could even use a knife to lunge into another human being’s body.

There is no way it would be easy to cut someone but then they are starting by explaining to each other that you need to stab and twist else the perpertrator will get back up even with the knife lodged inside them.

Do you know that these are good boys. They are not the one’s whose father’s are involved in gangs but have father’s and mother’s who would love to give luxuries but can only afford the bare essentials. These young guys are the kids getting the high marks at school, love sports and can cook and clean, wash they own clothes, clean their rooms, read books, are computer savvy and more. They are the next generation of University students, polititions and parents.

But today they live in fear and the adults don’t seem to care. The fear is not just from gangsters in their colors parading the streets looking for victims or driving around in their cars looking to jump one or a few unsuspecting young males but it is the females who males normally wouldn’t fear because they are not supposed to be able to harm as bad as a male. But these women have no fear, no consequenses to keep them accountalbe and they have knives in their bags ready and waiting for the opportune moment. And the boys know they are powerless to the females.

Only last week I sat at a train station with around 20 other adults listening to 3 teenage girls in high school uniforms loudly discussing how they punch and kick males and one had stabbed a young man, got caught but with no real consequense. How ugly these girls looked to me but then to them it was all one big joke and nothing to be ashamed of for they were proud and it was as if they had no shame to carry on infront of all the adults.

Just for a moment I will tell of even the younger generation. While sitting at the library, I saw and heard a lovely librarian female walk up to a 9 year old boy who was using the computer and asked if he needed some help. He turned to her and said, “You can’t assualt me.”

Little does this young man know of his future from 3 years on.

What is going on??????

Thu 19th October 2006

Tax Free Volunteers.

Filed under: General — Downunder @ 12:35 am

Mr Dunne released a discussion document setting out options, including a possible initiative to recognise the work of volunteers by giving them a tax rebate as well.

The document suggests rewarding volunteers for their time by setting a nominal hourly rate which they could use to claim a tax rebate.

Link:

Family Violence Courts.

Filed under: General — Downunder @ 12:10 am

Link to Bad News.

Hit the link, scroll down to legal issues, listen, pray, then imagine the goal posts fading into the distance.

Yes they have done it again, the girls have changed the rules.

Wed 18th October 2006

Above the bottom line.

Filed under: General — Downunder @ 2:20 pm

For some reason I can’t make comments on Menz, so I will post this, because I it is important to teach society what the individual reality is. It was intended as a comment to the bottom line.

I remember writing a comment a while back to this effect. When you look at what a person describes, ask yourself where it happened. In the home, in a lawyer’s office, in the family court, at a Police Station, an IRD admin review and so on. The operative word here is isolated: without an audience, in secret, away from the public eye, without a process of accountability. It is an invisible wall in society that is as real as the Berlin wall, and probably twice as effective, because it is transparent but so many people still can’t see through it.

Feminism has hidden its foot soldiers in the noblest of professions. We just have trouble accepting that the people we would normally trust can often be a ruthless enemy.

Tue 17th October 2006

Men’s rights sites blocked

Filed under: General — Julie @ 9:31 am

If you ever get a chance to use any of the public library’s computers around New Zealand that are free for public use you will notice that you can research anything on women’s rights and have access to any site but men’s right’s sites are being blocked as inappropriate.

I wonder where else this is happening?

Mon 16th October 2006

Dalziel and Women’s Refuge

Filed under: Domestic Violence,General — Downunder @ 8:28 pm

Scoop article

quoting Dalziel

I understand that you are also very close to concluding (or recently have concluded) a two-year contract with the Ministry of Social Development, which will give you certainty about ongoing core funding. The challenge though is to ensure that funding levels remain realistic over time.

It wasn’t the justification I was pointing out it was the 2 year funding contract from the government. What also concerns me is that the new charities commission having the power to deregister charities for political intent. If you don’t suit the politics of the day we will deregister you, if you suit the politics of the day we will fund you.

Men’s emergency housing available for 3 weeks

Filed under: General — Julie @ 3:07 pm

It just so happens that I am renting 2 houses for the next 3 weeks and 1 of them is empty. (we can furnish if need be)
So, if anyone knows someone who finds themselves served with domestic violence papers because their partner has decided they want you/them out instantly or you have to get away for a break give me a call.

Also if you want to come to Auckland for the ‘Child Support Seminar’ on October 29th 2006 and need somewhere to stay give me a call. 025 224 1548 or [email protected]

House available from 17th October to 6th November 2006.

Sat 14th October 2006

What Would the Duke Say?

Filed under: General — Intrepid @ 7:46 pm

From: F4J (US)
Written By: Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post
Presented By: Kurt Anderson
Via: The Honor Network

Father’s Rights Dad Protest for 4 days a top Liverpool Landmark

A CAMPAIGNER for fathers’ rights had his lone protest on top of a prominent Liverpool landmark.

The man, believed to be in his 40s, scaled the 133ft Wellington column at the end of William Brown Street, close to Lime Street, and unfurled protest banners underneath the bronze statue of the Duke of Wellington.

It is not known how he managed to scale the column, which stands on a pedestal incorporating records of the Iron Duke’s battles. Police kept a low-key presence at the site throughout the day and set up a small cordon around the monument, close to some of the city’s most historic buildings.

A Merseyside police spokesman said: “Officers are communicating with the man, who it is believed is making a personal protest concerning his immediate family.

“The protest is not affecting traffic, and we will continue to ensure public safety in the immediate area around the column.”

4 Days Later

The 44-year-old man came down from the Wellington column and was arrested by police on suspicion of criminal damage. He was taken to a police station where he will be interviewed today.

The man, from the Walton area, had kept a vigil on top of the 133ft column near Lime Street since Sunday morning. He unfurled banners underneath the bronze statue of the Duke of Wellington, in what was believed to be a protest over fathers’ rights.

A spokesman for Merseyside police said the man had been examined and did not require hospital treatment.

The New Zealand Families Commission’s role

Filed under: General — Downunder @ 1:16 am

From the Families Commission website:

The Commission is a unique organisation that gives New Zealand families an independent voice. Through the evidence we gain from research, and by listening to families themselves, we strive to give New Zealand families a voice.

Commission responds to new research on smacking

Section 59 must be repealed,” says the Chief Commissioner of the Families Commission, Rajen Prasad.

From the Families Commission Act 2003:

Obligation to obtain views of specified groups
Section 13. Mechanisms for obtaining views of specified groups

In the exercise and performance of its powers and functions, the Commission must maintain mechanisms (for example, by appointing advisory committees or forming consultation forums) to ensure that there are at all times readily accessible to it the views

[Examples] d. of groups that represent families, or 1 or more kinds of family members, and of groups that have a particular interest in families or in any 1 or more matters related to the Commission’s functions.

Dunnes Diaster comes to life!

A small consolation – at least Rajen Prasad isn’t the Auditor General.

Thu 12th October 2006

Divorce Should Be Outlawed Says British Expert

Filed under: Domestic Violence,General — Downunder @ 11:36 pm

Psychiatrist and social commentator Thedore Dalrymple has spent a lifetime working with the dregs of British society — violent criminals and the politicians he believes are responsible for many of the failings of modern society.

Less than 24 hours after arriving in New Zealand this week, he had already opened a Pandora’s box of moral and social outrage by suggesting divorce should be outlawed except on the grounds of violence, infidelity or “failure to keep one’s responsibilities”. Tax breaks should be offered to married couples in order to reassert the power of the family and a “sexual revolution” was responsible for soaring domestic violence.

In a 1998 essay, What Causes Crime (published in his book, Life at the Bottom), Dalrymple ponders the causes of New Zealand’s post-1950s surge in crime. Examining several high-profile cases he concluded of the Peter Ellis sexual abuse affair that “a New Zealand court has given credence to accusations that even the Spanish Inquisition might have found preposterous.”

“There are areas in Britain where fatherhood is completely unknown other than in a biological sense. Children are growing up in loveless environments in which they regard all human relationships as a means to an end for their personal gratification of the moment. That is a recipe for a very unpleasant life,” says Dalrymple.

Link to complete article on Scoop.

Chris Trotter – A poor excuse for villainy

Theodore Dalrymple is right about the modern welfare state — it is chock full of moral hazards. It does offer a range of perverse incentives to the unfortunate human beings caught up in its bureaucratic coils. And, at its heart, there really is a howling ethical void.

Dunne’s Double Standard

Filed under: Child Support,General — Scrap_The_CSA @ 8:39 pm

Media Release
Parents for Children
12 Oct 2006
For Immediate Release


Dunne’s Double Standard


“It’s one rule for Child Support Taxpayers and another for Peter Dunne and United Future.” is how Mark Shipman, of Parents for Children, describes Peter Dunne’s United Future Party repaying only $5000 of the $63,800 dollars misspent by United Future during the 2005 election.

“Mr Dunne has been the driving force behind the Child Support Amendment Bill (No 4). It seems he is unhappy for United Future to meet its responsibility to repay misspent election monies, but is quiet keen to grant greater powers to IRD to pursue parents who are in “debt” to the Crown.” observed Mark.
“Mr Dunne, Associate Revenue Minister, is happy to use the full force of the Crown to pursue parents who, often through no fault on their part, owe a “Child Support Tax debt” to the Crown. Mr Dunne, United Future Leader, is busy trying to weasel United Future out of repaying misspent election monies owed to the Crown. It’s obviously do as I say, not as I do.” concluded Mark
For further information contact
Mark Shipman 021982222
?

Parents for Children is a national organisation seeking legislative change to enable parents who have separated to continue parenting and supporting their children.
This requires:
1. Presumptive shared parenting
2. A fair and reasonable child support system
Parents for Children advocates that the best outcome for children of separated parents is ongoing equal sharing of parental rights and responsibility by both parents.

Do we have a few casualties?

Filed under: General — Julie @ 7:34 pm

This post is for those working in community groups in New Zealand. Please be aware that there are a number of young men that out of fear that the Family Court is anti-men are fighting young women with lawyers and through the FC proceedure of counselling and then mediation.

I think it is wonderful these young males feel comfortable enough to stand up and demand access to their children and want to continue being a major part as a father but be-aware that some of them have not had their names on the birth certificates and are now becoming liable for many years of child support.

Nothing to alarm them about but please just walk them through back pay of average $25,000 for 4-5 years (plus penalties) and $80 a week for the next so many years.

It might be a good idea to invite the other partner to a discussion outside the law. Remember, the fear of feminism may not be prevalent in their relationship.

Wed 11th October 2006

Fertile Women Dress To Impress

Filed under: General — Downunder @ 2:05 pm

Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

Women dress to impress when they are at their most fertile, US researchers said recently in a study they say shows that signs of human ovulation may not be as mysterious as some scientists believe.

Article Link

Child Victims of Delinquent Parents.

Filed under: Child Support,General — Downunder @ 11:45 am

The Just Cause, of Judith Collins. Hold your breath, lean forward, can you smell the campaign.

Scoop:9.10.06

Stuff 10.10.06

stuff 11.10.06

Scoop: 13.10.06

Whats happening overseas…..

The Bobby Brown Case.

Is this where we are headed.

Mon 9th October 2006

Round 5

Filed under: General — Downunder @ 12:00 pm

You can understand what they mean by box on……

To: “Margaret Denny”
Subject: Re: Child Support OIA
CC:
Date: Mon, 09 Oct 2006 12:54:38 +1300
Status: normal
From: [email protected]
Reply-to: [email protected]

No, that was not the question I asked. That was how the
question was rewritten. It is petty people that make
politics a silly game.

Bevan Berg.
Republic if NZ Party. (more…)

Sun 8th October 2006

Canadian Tories Hammer Feminists In Pocket Book

Filed under: General — Intrepid @ 11:03 pm

From: BC Fathers (Canada)
Presenter: Dick Freeman
Author: Norma Greenway
News Service: Can Way
Via: The Honor Network

Women’s Groups Fear Tories will cut Funding of Militant Feminist Hate Groups

(Rights group forced to close, other organizations could follow as money dries up)

OTTAWA – A leading Canadian women’s rights group has been forced to close its office for lack of money and other federally financed organizations fear a similar fate as the Conservative government zeroes in on a promise to cut spending by $1 billion this fiscal year.

The prospect cheers Gwen Landolt, vice-presi¬dent of the pro-life, pro-family conservative lobby group REAL Women Canada and a fierce critic of federal funding of “feminist” and other special inter¬est groups.

“It’s simply an abuse of taxpayers’ money to fund only one ideology,” Landolt said in an interview.

Suspense over how much, if any, money will flow to women’s and other groups should end within the next week or so when the government tells Canadians what programs it plans to curb or kill to meet its budget commitment.

Opposition MPs accuse the government of using the spending review to dismantle by “stealth” the 30-year-old agency known as Status of Women Canada, which, among other things, hands out almost $11 million a year to groups committed to promoting gender equality and the full participation of women in society.

Bev Oda, minister responsible for the status of women, is playing her cards close to her chest, refus¬ing requests for interviews and sidestepping direct questions about possible funding cuts. Agency offi¬cials also have not returned repeated phone calls.

Under heated questioning in the House of Com¬mons this week, Oda said the government is com¬mitted to taking “dramatic” action to improve the lives of women.

But she also said money had been wasted on social and cultural groups in the past, and the gov¬ernment was determined to ensure it gets put to the best use in the future.

NDP MP Irene Mathyssen, the party’s status of women critic, said the government’s foot dragging on hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of pend¬ing funding applications from women’s group’s means programs are being cut one by one.

“We are raising the alarm,” Mathyssen said in an interview. “This government clearly has no interest in the status of women.”

The Ottawa-based National Association of Women and the Law NAWL, which has sought yearly finding of about $350AE to finance its advo¬cacy and research activities on such issues as equal pay for work of equal value, was forced to shutdown earlier this month – and lay off its two paid employees – after it ran out of funds.

NAWL treasurer Alison Dewar said the group, which is still paying rent on its office, hopes to reopen if it gets federal funding.

Landolt said the Harper government should kill Status of Women Canada.

“It [the agency] is based on the whole concept that women are victims of a patriarchal society,” Landolt said. “Nobody really believes that anymore. Its time has passed.”

Child Support Forum

Filed under: Child Support,General — Downunder @ 10:02 pm

Hosted by Project Re-Union.

Tackling the Child Support Issue.
Sunday 29th Oct 10.00am to 3.00pm

Guest Speaker Dr Viv Roberts.

Remuera Bridge Club.
273 Remuera Rd,
Auckland.
Entry $10.00 Donation.

Sat 7th October 2006

Ouch, that hurt….

Filed under: General — Downunder @ 11:43 pm

Smacking children not so harmful – study

Smacking children does not necessarily make them more likely to become aggressive and antisocial, new local research shows.

Research by the Dunedin multidisciplinary health and development study shows children who are smacked lightly with an open hand on the bottom, hand or leg do much the same in later life as those who are not smacked, The New Zealand Herald reported today.

from stuff.

We must take all the steps we can to foster healthy, positive relationships within our families. This includes ending our tradition of smacking our children. Section 59 must be repealed,” says the Chief Commissioner of the Families Commission, Rajen Prasad.

SCOOP Article

Fri 6th October 2006

FROM THE CRADLE TO THE JAIL

Filed under: General,Law & Courts — Downunder @ 9:45 pm

British psychiatrist Theodore Dalrymple is in New Zealand in October to speak to concerned groups and leaders about how policy decisions contribute to our country’s appalling crime rate. He has seen the growth of a dispirited, crime-ridden underclass in Britain and believes NZ is following a similar downward path, as a result of policies that have given us squalor in the midst of extreme wealth.

Dalrymple’s views are formed from many hard years of experience as a prison and hospital psychiatrist dealing with criminals, the impoverished communities and dysfunctional families they came from.

Public meetings:

NAPIER

Friday 13th October in Napier at the Century Theatre from 6:00 – 8:00pm. Tickets $10 from the Century Theatre 06 835 7781

TAURANGA

Tuesday 17th October in Tauranga at the Baycourt Exhibition Room from 1:00 – 5:00pm.

AUCKLAND

Wednesday 18th October at the Centennial Theatre at Auckland Grammar School at 7:30pm.

Dear Mr Copeland.

Filed under: General — Downunder @ 8:40 pm

Gordon Copeland
List MP
Responsibilities
Economics & Business
Finance; Revenue; Customs; Public Trust; Economic Development; Industry & Regional Development; Small Business; Commerce; State Owned Enterprises; Labour & Immigration;

—– Original Message —–
From: Bevan Berg
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2006 9:29 PM
Subject: United Future Revenue Spokesmen.

Dear Mr Copeland,
Having visited your United Future website I see you are spokesman for Revenue. As your portfolio includes child support I would be grateful if you would give me your opinion on the new child support legislation before parliament. In particular you might like to address two issues.
1. What impact do you think the new legislation will have on Small Business (also part of your portfolio.)
2. What effect is the new legislation likely to have on families and children.

While you are reading this you are probably thinking this is already on the MENZ website and you would be right. If there is no reply in the comments, readers will be well aware that you did not reply to me.

Bevan Berg.

Mr Berg please get your facts straight

Filed under: General — UF @ 3:26 pm

I would normally post this response in the comments section, but as Mr Berg believes his request for an official information act (OIA) application is worth two posts itself, it is appropriate I post this separately.
Mr Berg has been alleging that the Minister of Revenue, has been ‘deliberately withholding’ the information for his request.
“Today 4 October 2006, I asked Mr. Dunne if he is deliberately withholding this official information, and to explain why. Mr. Dunne’s behaviour is shameful, and reflects badly on his United Future Colleagues. I will also be asking his colleagues to explain their leader’s behaviour.”
You state that your application was received on the 7th of September.? On October 4th you were jumping up and down claiming it has been withheld.? But by my count, 20 working days after September 7 is October 5th, and so it would have been due to be released yesterday.
Before you start making accusations, it would be best if you informed yourself of the facts.? For example, OIA requests are given 20 working days to be processed; I assume you thought it was 20 calendar days.? IRD, I am advised, ? always releases? OIA information on the 20th day after application.
Finally, your email to United MPs is pointless – the distinction between parliamentary service and Ministerial is clear.? While acting as Minister, Mr Dunne ceases to be acting as a United MP, but as a Minister of the Crown.? Accordingly, United MPs do not interfere with the Minister’s work.
I hope you are now enjoying the information that you requested, as I assume it was given to you Yesterday as that would be the 20th day, as allowed for in the Official Information Act.
So Mr Berg, would you now admit that you were wrong about the Minister ‘deliberately withholding’ the info, and perhaps write an apology ‘press release’ like you apparently tried to do with your false accusatory statements?

Gordon Copeland, MP.

NZ Family Court 25th Anniversary Protest

Filed under: Law & Courts — JohnPotter @ 3:20 pm

Members of the Republican Party, with the assistance of Santa, Spiderman and a wizard who looked remarkably similar to Jim Bailey layed a commemorative wreath outside the Auckland Family Court in Albert St today.
Republicans lay wreath at Auckland Family Court

As I arrived, Court security staff were telling the protesters to move off the front steps.

Protesters being moved from Family Court steps
(more…)

Thu 5th October 2006

Our Elderly are in Danger.

Filed under: General,Law & Courts — Downunder @ 2:29 pm

Media Release, Republican Party: Our Elderly are in Danger.

As Christmas approaches our elderly especially those in Manukau City need to take extreme care when venturing out for Christmas shopping expeditions.

Many who read this site have lost their children, but for those who still have elderly parents, relatives and even neighbours, this is something we can all participate in over the next three months.

It is men and the male role model that are responsible for social discipline, not the police force. Let’s do a little crime prevention of our own here.

Wed 4th October 2006

25 Years of Family Court Chaos.

Filed under: Law & Courts — Downunder @ 10:43 pm

Republican Party Press Release. Extract:

The Republican Party will be laying a commemorative wreath outside the Auckland Family Court in Albert St at 1.00 pm on Friday 6th October 2006, said Family spokesman Jim Bagnall.

Ask, Ask, and Ask again.

Filed under: General — Downunder @ 1:50 pm

Republicans Media Statement

—– Original Message —–
From: Bevan Berg
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 2:38 PM
Subject: Official Information.

Dear Gordon,

During the term of the last administration, I requested official information about child support collection from both Mr. Cullen as minister of Revenue and Mr. Cunliffe as minister for child support. Neither of these ministers supplied the information requested.

During the term of this administration Mr. Dunne has held the Revenue portfolio and two requests for the same information have been made: first on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 and the second on Thursday, September 07, 2006.

Today 4 October 2006, I asked Mr. Dunne if he is deliberately withholding this official information, and to explain why.

Mr. Dunne’s behaviour is shameful, and reflects badly on his United Future Colleagues. I will also be asking his colleagues to explain their leader’s behaviour.

I look forward to your response.

Bevan Berg
Republic of NZ Party.

—– Original Message —–
From: Bevan Berg
To: Judy Turner
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 2:36 PM
Subject: Revenue Portfolio.

(more…)

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