You’ve articulated the same things that are worrying me. They may not try to repeal the legislation but I’m waiting for Brown to start talking about “targeted help” or the other synonyms for “we want to make it as hard as possible to access reproductive healthcare but we’re trying to sneak it through and hope the wahine of this country don’t notice us tanking their rights”.
I was at Auckland uni at the same time as him, and was honoured to meet Dame Margaret Sparrow when she came to speak. The conduct of the Pro-Life club at that time was absolutely disgusting, I'm sure you might know the worst part of how they acted but I've certainly never forgotten and have hated him ever since. Horrifying to see how he's risen through the ranks.
I’m hoping to find people who witnessed the incident that I assume you’re referring to. It was originally in the piece. He denies it but I have been told it absolutely happened. The more people I know who can say they witnessed it the more protected I am to share it. I will also be passing it on to a journalist who has the protections I don’t.
A bizarre and dangerous appointment. I’d lay bets that Luxon privately shares similar views, given his ties to The Upper Room. The only reason there won’t be evidence is he was head of a large corporate and not able to comment.
Thanks Emily for bringing this to our attention. You have created a very comprehensive discussion piece. I wonder what the views of the women in the National Party are on this issue? AS Dame Margaret says - we have to be hypervigilant on this issue - along with all the others!!
If only it was a ‘dark past’. It’s an incredibly public in-the-light past and Luxon has selected him for Health Minister because of that track record, not despite it.
Thank you so much for writing this and speaking with these wāhine, Emily.
Absolutely but also I wrote that before I took out some allegations that are very dark indeed. I will still be covering those bits once I can ensure I can support the people involved.
Thank you Emily! Such important mahi, Dame Margaret is such an inspiration, as are all the women working in this space ❤️ pretty scary to think what they, and women accessing abortions, could be exposed to if Brown gets his way.
Thank you Emily. Once again you have articulated matters clearly and succinctly.
I have just re-read a couple of articles from 2023 about Simon O'Connor - how he lost Tamaki to Brooke van Velden. He posted that the overturning of Roe v. Wade was a 'great day'. The post was taken down very quickly but a women's golf group were not impressed. They rallied support for van Velden and O'Connor lost what was regarded as a safe seat for National. Oh, and he was too far down the list to get into parliament.
What Dame Margaret said about his arrogance, the lack of qualifications or knowledge, quoting inaccurate non scientific information, and the need to put himself at the forefront and get on the telly, is so, so telling. To be at university and have loads of information available, but be unwilling to become informed on all sides of an issue, arrogance is the perfect word for it.
There really does need to be a button other than "like", maybe a "Oh shit! you are scaring the hell outa me but can't disagree with what you're saying" kind of button.
You have hit the nail on the head with "If you believed babies were being murdered and it was within your power to stop it - what kind of person wouldn’t stop it?" for Luxon, Brown etc. to say they're fine with the current legislation is revolting if you think about what they supposedly believe. I say supposedly because I reckon it's more about controlling women than saving babies cos their type don't seem to give a shit about them once they're born, at least if they are born to "bottom feeders" (or Palestinians).
Absolutely- if it was about saving babies our international diplomats/foreign minister would have been incredibly vocal about ending the genocide in Gaza. Our healthcare system would be fully funded and midwives, doctors etc would be getting the pay and safe hours they deserve. Charities like KidsCan would be closing their doors because they were no longer needed. We’d have much better parental leave entitlements for all parents/caregivers.
Dame Margaret is so amazing. I remember seeing her speak at a rally for the legalization of abortion at parliament. It was an honour. I marched twice that year while pregnant with my much wanted baby. Thanks for writing this. We all need to remain vigilant. It saddens me that Dame Margaret has battled for so long on this and is seeing step backwards.
Quick question, why do they all HATE us? I honestly can’t cope right now. We’re all just trying to get on with our lives, yet these BULLSHIT men keep trying to inflict their BULLSHIT ideologies on us! Can’t they just watch the cricket and BE QUIET!
I can still remember hearing an interview with Luxon on RNZ when National were doing the whole ‘ he’s the new John Key’ thing when Luxon was chatting merrily about his faith and his anti abortion stance. Obviously they got him to tone it down since then but it was pretty bloody shocking!
You’ve articulated the same things that are worrying me. They may not try to repeal the legislation but I’m waiting for Brown to start talking about “targeted help” or the other synonyms for “we want to make it as hard as possible to access reproductive healthcare but we’re trying to sneak it through and hope the wahine of this country don’t notice us tanking their rights”.
Absolutely Ellen
Ugh. He’s as scary as David Seymour, why can’t these white guys just fuck off!
Love your mahi Emily!
I'll second that.
Beautifully stated..
🤣
I was at Auckland uni at the same time as him, and was honoured to meet Dame Margaret Sparrow when she came to speak. The conduct of the Pro-Life club at that time was absolutely disgusting, I'm sure you might know the worst part of how they acted but I've certainly never forgotten and have hated him ever since. Horrifying to see how he's risen through the ranks.
I’m hoping to find people who witnessed the incident that I assume you’re referring to. It was originally in the piece. He denies it but I have been told it absolutely happened. The more people I know who can say they witnessed it the more protected I am to share it. I will also be passing it on to a journalist who has the protections I don’t.
A bizarre and dangerous appointment. I’d lay bets that Luxon privately shares similar views, given his ties to The Upper Room. The only reason there won’t be evidence is he was head of a large corporate and not able to comment.
💯💯
Thanks Emily for bringing this to our attention. You have created a very comprehensive discussion piece. I wonder what the views of the women in the National Party are on this issue? AS Dame Margaret says - we have to be hypervigilant on this issue - along with all the others!!
If only it was a ‘dark past’. It’s an incredibly public in-the-light past and Luxon has selected him for Health Minister because of that track record, not despite it.
Thank you so much for writing this and speaking with these wāhine, Emily.
Absolutely but also I wrote that before I took out some allegations that are very dark indeed. I will still be covering those bits once I can ensure I can support the people involved.
Good work there, keep raising the alarm as needed. Let them know they are being watched, let those who need the medical care know it is available
Thank you Emily! Such important mahi, Dame Margaret is such an inspiration, as are all the women working in this space ❤️ pretty scary to think what they, and women accessing abortions, could be exposed to if Brown gets his way.
She’s incredible! It was such a joy to get to spend time with her. I have videos I’ll be sharing on The Weekly ❤️
The fact that they have no one better than him in the party to appoint as Health Minister says so much about the National Party’s dearth of talent.
Thank you Emily. Once again you have articulated matters clearly and succinctly.
I have just re-read a couple of articles from 2023 about Simon O'Connor - how he lost Tamaki to Brooke van Velden. He posted that the overturning of Roe v. Wade was a 'great day'. The post was taken down very quickly but a women's golf group were not impressed. They rallied support for van Velden and O'Connor lost what was regarded as a safe seat for National. Oh, and he was too far down the list to get into parliament.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129099355/nationals-simon-oconnor-says-roe-v-wade-post-was-causing-spiralling-distress
Now, I wonder if the voters of Pakuranga electorate know of their sitting MP's 'dark past'.
What Dame Margaret said about his arrogance, the lack of qualifications or knowledge, quoting inaccurate non scientific information, and the need to put himself at the forefront and get on the telly, is so, so telling. To be at university and have loads of information available, but be unwilling to become informed on all sides of an issue, arrogance is the perfect word for it.
There really does need to be a button other than "like", maybe a "Oh shit! you are scaring the hell outa me but can't disagree with what you're saying" kind of button.
You have hit the nail on the head with "If you believed babies were being murdered and it was within your power to stop it - what kind of person wouldn’t stop it?" for Luxon, Brown etc. to say they're fine with the current legislation is revolting if you think about what they supposedly believe. I say supposedly because I reckon it's more about controlling women than saving babies cos their type don't seem to give a shit about them once they're born, at least if they are born to "bottom feeders" (or Palestinians).
Absolutely- if it was about saving babies our international diplomats/foreign minister would have been incredibly vocal about ending the genocide in Gaza. Our healthcare system would be fully funded and midwives, doctors etc would be getting the pay and safe hours they deserve. Charities like KidsCan would be closing their doors because they were no longer needed. We’d have much better parental leave entitlements for all parents/caregivers.
Dame Margaret is so amazing. I remember seeing her speak at a rally for the legalization of abortion at parliament. It was an honour. I marched twice that year while pregnant with my much wanted baby. Thanks for writing this. We all need to remain vigilant. It saddens me that Dame Margaret has battled for so long on this and is seeing step backwards.
Just sent this to my Dad, who like a lot of his generation I’m sure, admire Brown for being a smart young go getter who’s a bit quirky.
Quick question, why do they all HATE us? I honestly can’t cope right now. We’re all just trying to get on with our lives, yet these BULLSHIT men keep trying to inflict their BULLSHIT ideologies on us! Can’t they just watch the cricket and BE QUIET!
I can still remember hearing an interview with Luxon on RNZ when National were doing the whole ‘ he’s the new John Key’ thing when Luxon was chatting merrily about his faith and his anti abortion stance. Obviously they got him to tone it down since then but it was pretty bloody shocking!