New Zealand Listener Issue 47 2019

Racism is often a matter of tone and nuance, and there are few better examples of insidious “othering” than Shane Jones’ rebuke to the Indian community. Calling the Indian migrants protesting at Immigration NZ’s tougher (now softened) line on partnership visas “activists” indulging in “rhetoric”, the Regional Economic Development Minister said: “You have no legitimate expectations in my view to bring your whole village to New Zealand, and if you don’t like it and you’re threatening to go home – catch the next flight home.” Jones can be an engaging politician, but here he is a master of carefully weaponised words. He lands a low blow, but affects that it’s just Jonesy being Jonesy. Make no mistake, this was a crafted dog whistle aimed at shoring up his New Zealand First Party’s…

By coincidence, when I read the cover story about direct-to-consumer drug advertising (“As seen on TV”, November 9), I had just finished a thought-provoking booklet entitled New Zealand’s Greatest Doctor, Ulric Williams of Wanganui, by Brenda Sampson. Williams, who died in 1971, aged 81, was a controversial doctor who had studied at Cambridge and Edinburgh universities but eventually rejected orthodox medicine in favour of natural methods of maintaining good health based on “what we put in our mouths, the exercise we give our legs and the thoughts we hold in our minds”. He warned against reliance on drugs that provide a “quick-fix” remedy for acute symptoms but that suppress the body’s natural healing ability and eventually lead to chronic disease. “People have eaten themselves into a state of affluent malnutrition on the…

Kath Jones, Waikanae FINALISTS Nurse: “Don’t look so worried, Boris – it’s not a truth serum.” – Paul Dodgshun, Alexandra Nurse: “This is probably not the first time you’ve felt a bit of a prick.” – John Slater, Auckland Nurse: “You’re now vaccinated against foot-in-mouth.” – Nozz Fletcher, Picton Boris Johnson: “An injection of credibility will be most helpful.” – Chris Brown Caption: How to succeed at needling a politician. – Ellie Henderson, Motueka Johnson: “Don’t worry, jab away. I’ve been dealing with pricks for years.” – Dean Donoghue, Papamoa Beach Caption: A dejected Johnson has his “Gone By November” tattoo removed. – Steve Godsiff, Timaru Nurse: “You’re so thick-skinned, Boris, we’re having to use the elephant gun.” – John Stribling, Wellington…

“Some of your mums have never yelled at you for using their fabric scissors on non-fabrics, and it shows.”– actress Alice Brine“It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.”– writer John Steinbeck“I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I’m in a Cabinet meeting.”– former US president Ronald Reagan“The climate doesn’t need awards.”– Greta Thunberg on rejecting an environmental prize“Topped flat white and Shortland St. That’s as big as it gets in NZ.”– Jemaine Clement on Wellington Paranormal trending on Twitter“Don’t get upset about stuff. Just laugh. We’ll all be dead soon. Hope that helps.” – comedian Ricky Gervais“Humility is not thinking less of…

“[The investor] said, ‘I lifted up the casket and took a photo of him. He was looking less healthy than usual, but it was him’.” NZ Herald, 25/9/19 Standing outside St Gerard’s tall wooden doors on rusted hinges is a small group of people, impatiently waiting to enter. Dominion Post, 1/11/19 It had already dawned on Sage that a main plank of the Government’s climate action plan – the planting of an extra 500 million trees – might, in parallel, grow a new industry … NZ Listener, 12/10/19 Chandeliers hung overhead as models romped purposefully down the elaborate carpet accompanied by a grand piano. Viva, 18/9/19 The car also crashed through neighbouring sewing shop Stitch ‘N Time, spreading sewing machines and pastries throughout the store. Press, 10/9/19 LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND: Entries must describe New…

1. True or false? Breeding sheep with goats can produce live offspring. ❑ True❑ False 2. Who is the highest-paid New Zealand athlete? ❑ Scott Dixon❑ Lydia Ko❑ Steven Adams❑ Winston Reid 3. What kind of creature is a solitaire? ❑ Bird❑ Reptile❑ Mammal❑ Amphibian 4. Which of the Williams sisters has won more Grand Slam singles titles? ❑ Serena❑ Venus 5. Which of these words has a similar meaning to “opprobrious”? ❑ Moribund❑ Benevolent❑ Disgraceful❑ Unnatural 6. Which play features a central character named Professor Henry Higgins? ❑ Pygmalion❑ Angels in America❑ The Crucible❑ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 7. Which band recorded a memorable theme song for the 1980 film Flash Gordon? ❑ Genesis❑ Queen❑ Blue Öyster Cult❑ The Who 8. Which of these countries is not landlocked? ❑ Afghanistan❑ Bolivia❑ Austria❑ Bulgaria 9. Which of these words does not refer to a…