New Zealand Listener Issue 14 2019

The little signs among the banks of flowers said, “This is not New Zealand.” We all knew the intent of the words. They meant that the horrifying acts of carnage committed against Muslims in Christchurch were not the New Zealand we recognise. They meant, “We thought we were better than this.” We were wrong. For some, there’s comfort that the man charged with murder is Australian. And yet the attack happened here, against New Zealand citizens and visitors. “They are us,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said movingly of the Muslim community. Unfortunately, in the same way, this terrorist act is ours. Most of us no longer remember who committed atrocities in Paris, Delhi or London. Christchurch has just been added to that ignominious list, and the whole world noticed. At home and…

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” – Martin Luther King“If someone does bad to you, make sure you do good to them.” – Christchurch shooting survivor Farid Ahmed“I worked for a chap once who said these [social-media giants] are all coin-operated – as soon as you stop putting the coins in, they have to react and the only way to tackle them is to fine them.”– technology commentator Paul Brislen on Facebook“This reaffirms what we have always maintained: that terrorism does not have a religion.” – Pakistan President Imran Khan“Aroha mai, aroha atu – Love received, love given.” – Māori proverb“As-salāmu alaykum – peace be upon you.” – Arabic greeting“Cut flowers don’t grow, but this bed beyond the gardens has blossomed…

We thought we were immune to the kind of violence visited upon the worshippers in the Christchurch mosques. Apparently not. March 15 is a sad day in our history and it seems we will now be sucked deeper into the madness of Orwellian surveillance and all it implies. The outpouring of love and sympathy towards the Muslim community has been wonderful to behold. Let us also spare a thought for the grief and suffering of the Muslim people in the lands where they came from. It is easy to ignore the daily suffering of those in far-off places resulting from the incessant bombing of their territory by the US and other global powers. It is easy to denounce evildoers, be they lone rangers or militant groups. It is far more difficult to…

Inspired by true events, and starring Academy Award winner Dame Judi Dench, RED JOAN is based on the book of the same name. The year is 2000 and Joan Stanley is living in contented retirement in suburbia at the turn of the millennium. Her tranquil life is suddenly disrupted when she’s arrested by MI5 and accused of providing intelligence to Communist Russia. Cut to 1938, when Joan is a Cambridge physics student who falls for young communist and begins to see the world in a new light. Working at a top-secret nuclear research facility during World War II, Joan comes to the realisation that the planet is on the brink of destruction. Confronted with an impossible question – what price would you pay for peace? The Listener has 10 double passes and 10 books…

She said several students had been left on the side of the road for three days at the start of the school year. NZ Herald, 5/3/19 Super value, every week Kahlua or Malibu $34.99 each or 2 for $31.99 Otago Daily Times, 16/11/18 “There are so many members now that it’s pretty much like, lift up any corner of the mat and you’d find a wee kid under there.” Hamilton Press, 19/9/18 The highlights reel consists of … two arrests for breach of peach … Taupo Times, 15/1/19 Three bedrooms, two living areas, big kitchen with skullery and built-in wine fridge. NZ Herald, 9/2/19 On Monday, after setting up a roadshow in the St John ambulance premises on Johnston St in Waihi for the day, two hooded men stormed the building around 1.30pm. Waikato Times, 6/9/18 LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND: Entries must…

Rachel Templeton FINALISTS Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge: “Scull, scull, scull!” – Paul Kelly, Palmerston North William: “I clearly told the driver ‘Windsor Castle’. How was I to know it was the name of a pub?” – Dean Donoghue, Papamoa Beach Kate: “Darling, you have such incredible pulling power.” – Kath Jones, Waikanae Prince William, Duke of Cambridge: “Unsteady lies the head poured by the Crown.” – Mike Lynch, Upper Hutt Kate: “Off with its head!” – Rex McGregor, Auckland William: “The barman swears this will put hairs on one’s head.” – Alison Green…