The Jackal


25 Apr 2025

Nicola Willis To Blame For Family Boost Debacle

Nicola Willis, National’s supposed Finance Minister, has delivered another policy failure with the Family Boost scheme, a childcare rebate that was big on promises but has been very small on delivery. Only 56,000 families have signed up, a far cry from the 130,000 Willis personally championed in National’s campaign. This isn’t just a misstep, it’s a Willis-orchestrated disaster, and she knew it was doomed from the outset.

Family Boost, a 25% rebate on early childhood education costs for families earning up to $180,000, capped at a measly $75 a week, was Willis’ brainchild. She sold it as a cost-of-living lifeline, funded by axing Labour’s “wasteful” consultant spending. Yet, economists warned her directly: the numbers didn’t add up, and the policy’s design was a mess. Willis ignored them, betting her reputation on a flashy promise to mask National’s thin policy slate. The result? A predictable flop that’s left families high and dry.

 

Yesterday, RNZ reported:

Fewer than 50 families to get National's full tax package, says CTU

Fewer than 50 families are likely to receive National's full $252 fortnightly tax break, based on the FamilyBoost scheme's lower than expected uptake, The Council of Trade Unions says.

The revelation comes as a result of figures showing just 249 families have consistently been receiving the full $75-a-week FamilyBoost rebate for ECE costs, a key plank of National's tax cuts package.


Why did it crash? Willis’ policy is a bureaucratic quagmire. Families must wrestle with IRD’s convoluted system, uploading receipts and navigating red tape National had promised to cut...time and effort most families can’t spare while working numerous jobs for not enough pay in a cost-of-living crisis. Willis blames the IRD for misjudging uptake, assuming families would flock to her scheme despite its paltry payout. The income cap, her attempt at looking inclusive, missed the mark for low-income families and barely helped the middle class. It’s Willis’ signature move: over promise and under deliver, then dodge and blame someone else...just this time she can't blame Labour.

Economists’ warnings, dismissed by Willis as naysaying, have proven spot-on. She knew the policy was shaky but pushed it to score political points, prioritising optics over outcomes. The $400 million supposedly saved from consultants was her talking point, but Family Boost’s failure exposes her true focus: tax breaks for the rich, not relief for struggling families.

Willis’ arrogance is staggering. She’s tried to scapegoat IRD for the low uptake, but this is her mess. The 74,000 families she promised to help are now collateral damage in her quest for headlines. Meanwhile, National’s broader agenda of slashing public services, rolling back environmental protections, and cozying up to corporates, is full steam ahead. Family Boost is a microcosm of Willis’ tenure: big talk, shoddy execution, and a refusal to own the fallout.

Kiwi families deserved better than Willis’ half-baked scheme. Real childcare solutions, like affordable access and systemic investment, were never on her radar. Instead, she’s left parents scrambling while she spins excuses. Willis needs to take responsibility and step down. She cannot possibly pretend to be the Minister of Finance with this type of mess on her hands.

Published by the Jackal



24 Apr 2025

Lifting The Lid On Cult Corruption

John Campbell’s Under His Command, a five-part TVNZ+ investigation series starting today, rips the veil off Destiny Church, exposing the rot festering under Brian Tamaki’s self-proclaimed apostolic throne. This isn’t just a church; it’s a fiefdom, built on fear, manipulation, and a trail of scandals that make your stomach churn. Campbell, with his trademark tenacity, dives into the heart of this cultish empire, and what he uncovers should have every New Zealander questioning how Tamaki’s operation has dodged accountability for so long.

Let’s start with the pedophile scandals. Destiny Church has been rocked by allegations of sexual abuse, with a disciple charged in 2024 for sexually assaulting teenagers in a South Auckland Destiny Church youth group. Tamaki’s response? Minimise and deflect, claiming he didn’t even know the guy, despite numerous photos showing him anointing and being friends with the accused.

The "church" banned the pedophile only after police got involved, and Tamaki had the gall to slam the cops for not acting fast enough. Multiple victims, years of alleged abuse, and yet Tamaki plays an innocent shepherd who knew nothing. Yeah right! This isn’t just negligence; it’s a pattern. Back in 2010, Tamaki’s “spiritual father,” US preacher Eddie Long, faced lawsuits for coercing teenage boys into sexual relationships. Tamaki called it “shocking” but stayed cozy with Long. Smells like a cover-up culture to me.


Today, 1 News reported:

John Campbell on Destiny Church: ‘I’ve never encountered so much fear’

Today John Campbell launches Under His Command, a five-part TVNZ+ investigation into Destiny Church and the women who live in its shadows.

For more than 25 years Destiny Church and its controversial leader Brian Tamaki have occupied a small, if loud, fundamentalist corner of New Zealand’s religious culture.

But recently, the church has made fresh headlines due to its active stance against the LGBTQI community, with members of its Man Up division (and other Destiny offshoots) targeting rainbow events and most notably storming the Drag Story Hour at a West Auckland public library in February, resulting in injuries to the public and seven Destiny arrests.

…

She also talked about Destiny’s use of haka against the LGBTQI community – and how utterly inappropriate it is to weaponise the haka in such a harmful way.

One former insider, the only man I spoke to, said “rage is Tamaki’s marketing tool”. I’ve watched hours of Brian Tamaki sermons – the incendiary tone, the homophobia, the transphobia, the xenophobia, it’s staggering and it’s not healthy, it’s not good for your heart to be assailed with that.

 

Then there’s the question of legality. Tamaki’s empire thrives on tax-exempt status, raking in tithes while he lives it large in a Drury mansion he conveniently doesn’t own. His Freedoms New Zealand political party and anti-vaxx crusades, including threats to blow up mobile vaccination clinics in 2021, and numerous threats and covert actions against the LGBTQ+ community, skirt the edges of incitement. Yet, despite arrests and bail breaches, he's never been truly held to account.

From dodging Covid protest charges in 2024 to getting off Scott free for getting people beaten up at children's reading events, Brian Tamaki appears to be performing miracles in avoiding accountability. How does a man who leads a religious cult linked to violent Pride protests keep slipping past the law? Is it charisma, connections, or just a system too timid to take on a gangster in bishop’s robes? Tamaki’s no pastor; he’s a thug in a suit, running Destiny like a mafia don. His Man Up crew, decked out in patches and roaring on motorbikes, looks more like a criminal gang rather than an actual ministry.


Campbell’s excellent series captures the fear insiders feel...testimony to Tamaki’s iron grip. He’s not just fleecing followers; he’s bullying them into submission, all while preaching “family values.” His rhetoric, like blaming cyclones on gay rights, fuels hate, yet he cloaks it in scripture. Campbell’s investigation is a wake-up call. Destiny Church isn’t a quirky outlier; it’s a dangerous disinformation machine profiting off misery. The real scandal? That Tamaki’s still preaching, still dodging, still inciting. When will the justice system stop letting this conman hide behind a cross?

Published by the Jackal



Winston Peters Has Lost The Plot

The political petrified piece of wood, aka Winston Peters, who refuses to retire gracefully, has had an eventful couple of weeks peddling transphobia, pushing bigoted policies, undertaking his unrelenting war on wokeness and slinging vile accusations like calling Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick a “groomer”.

At 80, the hypocritical NZ First leader’s latest antics don't just raise issues with the old dogs morality, they raise serious questions about his grip on reality. Is this the calculated cynicism of a populist relic, or has the man completely lost the plot? Either way, his behaviour is a toxic stain on our political landscape.

Let’s start with the unrepentant transphobia. Peters’ recent NZ First member’s bill, aiming to legally define “woman” and “man” as the only two sexes that should be recognised, isn’t just a dog whistle...it’s a god damn foghorn. He claims it’s about “focusing on the facts of biology,” but let’s be real: it’s a deliberate attack on trans rights, dressed up as some sort of common sense mantra that is wearing extremely thin.

This isn’t about clarity; it’s about erasing identities to appease a shrinking, fear-mongering base of hateful bigots. His homophobic rhetoric echoes the worst of global culture wars just to get attention, fanning flames of division while ignoring the real issues, like the cost of living crisis, homelessness or unmitigated climate change disasters, serious problems that threaten people's very existence and deserve our full and undivided attention. Swarbrick often raises these topics Peters wishes to ignore, which is perhaps why he feels so threatened by her.

Then there’s NZ First's, and other right wing reprobates, attacks on Benjamin Doyle, implying predatory behavior by the embattled Green MP, which set the stage for vile online conspiracies. Swarbrick, defending Doyle, became collateral damage in this hateful narrative, with Peters’ actions amplifying tropes that paint rainbow communities as threats to children.

This isn’t just reckless, it’s a highly dangerous lie, as evidenced by the numerous death threats Doyle has faced. When Destiny Church's goons attacked Drag Story Time last month, it was fueled by the same rhetoric and hatred Peters is now stoking. Is this the legacy he wants to be remembered for? To get people who don't fit the mold beaten up, or perhaps even killed?


Peters’ sanity is further called into question by his obsession with media control. His recent RNZ interview was a showcase of unhinged bullying, where he attacked host Corin Dann and said he was going to slash RNZ’s funding. This isn’t a new thing for Peters, who has a history of threatening mainstream media when they don’t toe his line. In 2017, he openly mused about “reining in” journalists; now, he’s openly questioning RNZ’s public funding, a move Labour’s Chris Hipkins rightly called “censorship.” 

 

There's even legislation that explicitly bars ministers from meddling in funding of this sort, yet Peters threatens with apparent impunity, knowing his veiled threats have a chilling effect on free speech. And where is stand in Prime Minister David Seymour in all this? All he can say is that it's not really up to Peters, but the government will look at RNZ's funding allocation sometime in the future. Not exactly backing the mainstream medias right to report the truth there, Seymour.

Winston Peters is an outdated politician fighting off irrelevance through fear and division. His archaic policies reveal a staggering lack of self-awareness and awareness of what century he's living in, so much so that he now appears to be entirely senile. His attacks on Swarbrick, Doyle, and well-respected reporters within the MSM, because they don’t kowtow to his every whim, isn’t leadership; it’s a clear sign of a cornered dinosaur throwing tantrums. The only person who thinks it’s not a good time for Winston Peters to retire is Winston bloody Peters.

Published by the Jackal



23 Apr 2025

Is Mark Mitchell a racist?

The National Party’s Minister of Police, Corrections, and Ethnic Communities (irony alert) has stumbled into yet another racist quagmire, proving that when it comes to bigotry, the right wing’s playbook is as predictable as it is vile. This time, Mitchell’s office reposted an Instagram reel falsely claiming that Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke’s ancestors were Chinese and “yellow Vikings.” Yes, you read that right...a grotesque mash-up of anti-Māori and anti-Chinese racism that Mitchell’s team thought was a great share. His office issued a half-hearted apology after the backlash, but the damage was done.
 

On Tuesday, RNZ reported:

Police Minister's office apologises to Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke

Police Minister Mark Mitchell's office has apologised to Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke after reposting a reel on Instagram that falsely claimed the Te Pāti Māori MP’s ancestors came from China and "were yellow Vikings".

When contacted by 1News about the repost, a spokesperson for the Minister said it was "an honest mistake".



This isn’t just a one-off “whoopsie” from a bumbling minister. It’s a window into the National Party’s broader pattern of dog-whistle politics and systemic bias. Mitchell, a former cop turned private security contractor, has a history of policies and rhetoric that disproportionately target Māori. Take his 2023 clash with “They’re Our Whānau,” who protested National’s anti-gang laws. Their spokesperson, Matilda Kahotea, accused Mitchell of “arrogant” and “intimidating” conduct, claiming his anti-gang stance was a thinly veiled attack on Māori communities. Mitchell’s response? He doubled down, dismissing their concerns and labeling them a “gang hikoi.”

The National Party’s racism isn’t just Mitchell’s pet project...it’s a team effort. In 2023, during the election campaign. Māori leaders, including Naida Glavish, condemned the “unacceptable levels of racism” from right-wing candidates pushing to dismantle Māori-focused policies like the Māori Health Authority. National, while not fully endorsing ACT’s extremism, refused to rule out rolling back these initiatives. This is the same party that, under Mitchell’s watch, has championed “boot camps” for youth offenders, policies that disproportionately harm Māori youth.

And then there’s the right’s bizarre obsession with hating young, successful women...especially those who challenge their worldview. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, a rising star at 22, embodies everything the National Party's old guard fears: a fierce, articulate Māori woman and left-wing MP to be reckoned with. Mitchell’s attack on her heritage wasn’t just racist; it was a calculated jab at a young woman daring to succeed. Look at how they’ve treated other young female MPs like Chlöe Swarbrick...constantly undermining their credibility while propping up their own stale, pale, male candidates.

Mitchell’s latest gaffe, combined with National’s track record, paints a clear picture: this is a party comfortable leaning into racism when it suits their base. From dismissing systemic bias in policing (despite Police Commissioner Andrew Coster’s acknowledging it) to amplifying divisive rhetoric, Mitchell and National are playing a dangerous game. New Zealand deserves better than a government that vilifies its indigenous people and sneers at young women leading the charge for change. Mitchell’s apology might close this chapter, but the book on National’s bigotry is far from finished.

Published by the Jackal



J.K. Rowling - Arsehole of the Week

In a world crying out for empathy, J.K. Rowling has once again proven she’s more interested in stoking division than building bridges. The once-beloved author of Harry Potter has cemented her place as this week’s Arsehole of the Week, a title earned through her relentless, tone-deaf crusade against transgender rights. While her books taught us about courage and standing up to bigotry, Rowling’s real-world actions betray those lessons, leaving a trail of disillusionment for her once numerous fans.

Let’s rewind. Rowling’s descent into transphobia began years ago, but her recent antics on X—where she’s doubled down on misgendering trans people and dismissing their lived realities—have plumbed new depths. In April 2025, she’s still at it, firing off posts that mock trans identities and frame their existence as a threat to women’s safety. Her rhetoric isn’t just harmful; it’s dangerously reductive, painting trans women as predators while ignoring the overwhelming evidence that they’re far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. Stats from New Zealand’s own Transgender Health Survey (2023) show trans individuals face disproportionate rates of assault and discrimination—43% reported physical or sexual violence in the past year—yet Rowling’s selective outrage conveniently sidesteps this.

Adding fuel to this fire, recent anti-trans rulings, like the UK’s High Court decision in March 2025 to uphold a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, have emboldened Rowling’s stance. This ruling, which dismissed evidence from global health bodies like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, has been weaponized by transphobes to justify exclusionary policies. Far from protecting anyone, it’s sparked a surge in hate, with X posts showing a 30% (per data from the Anti-Defamation League) spike in anti-trans slurs in the UK since the stupid verdict was handed down. Rowling’s refusal to condemn this hatred, while amplifying narratives that dehumanize trans people, makes her complicity clear. Equating trans inclusion with danger isn’t just wrong...it’s a deliberate choice to fan the flames of bigotry, ignoring the difficulties trans youth face, who now face even greater barriers to acceptance and care.

What’s galling is her platform. With millions of views, Rowling could champion inclusivity, yet she chooses to wield her money and influence like a bludgeon. Her defenders cry “free speech,” but this isn’t about her right to speak—it’s about her trying to feel superior by using a megaphone to vilify a marginalized group. The Harry Potter fandom, once a haven for misfits, now grapples with her legacy. Fans in Aotearoa, from Wellington’s cosplay meetups to Dunedin’s book clubs, have voiced their heartbreak on X, with hashtags like #TransRightsAreHumanRights trending in response to her divisive outbursts.

Rowling’s arguments lean on a tired brand of feminism that pits women’s rights against trans inclusion, as if the two can’t coexist. This zero-sum game ignores the work of Kiwi activists like Trans Liberation, who’ve shown that gender-affirming care and women’s safety aren’t mutually exclusive. Her refusal to engage with these nuances (or with the trans community directly) reveals a stubbornness that’s less about principle and more about ego. When challenged, she retreats into victimhood, claiming she’s “canceled,” while her books still rake in millions and her poisonous voice drowns out those she targets.

The irony? Rowling’s own stories celebrated outsiders—muggle-borns, werewolves, house-elves—yet she can’t extend that compassion to trans people. Her hypocrisy is a slap in the face to every kid who found solace in Hogwarts while grappling with their identity. Here in New Zealand, Rowling’s views feel like a relic of a less enlightened era, a throwback to a time before LGBTQ+ rights were recognized as human rights.

So, J.K. Rowling, take a bow as our Arsehole of the Week. Your words have consequences, and they’re not magical or even all that interesting. Instead, they’re cruel and bigoted. Maybe it’s time to reread your own books and remember what it means to fight for the marginalized, not against them.

Published by the Jackal



22 Apr 2025

Help Stop the Gaza Genocide Through Activism

As a living breathing human being, you’ve likely seen the heart-wrenching images from Gaza...homes reduced to rubble, children burnt to cinders, families displaced, and a death toll that’s beyond comprehension. What is going on in Gaza is most definitely a genocide, the suffering is real, and it’s easy to feel helpless. But here’s the truth: you, the average person, have more power than you think to help stop this crisis of humanity. From grassroots activism, economic pressure, and political advocacy, let’s break down how ordinary people can step up and make a difference.

First off, let’s talk grassroots activism. You don’t need a PhD to amplify Gaza’s plight. Start with your phone or PC…and the internet which is a goldmine for sharing verified info from groups like Amnesty International and other Palestinian voices on the ground. Post a video, share a thread, or create an infographic that cuts through the noise. But don’t stop at the screen. Get out there! Join a protest, organize a vigil, or host a community hui to talk about what’s happening. Movements like Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) show how collective action can shake things up.


Today, Aljazeera reported:

 
Before he died, Pope Francis called for peace in Gaza. Will anyone listen?

Amid international indifference to the continuing genocide in Palestine, the Pope used his last address to call for a ceasefire.

Pope Francis died today at the age of 88 following a prolonged illness. Just yesterday, in his Easter Sunday address in Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church chose to express his “closeness to the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel, and to all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people”.

He went on to state that he was “think[ing] of the people of Gaza, and its Christian community in particular, where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation” – a toned-down reference, of course, to Israel’s ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, which has officially killed more than 51,200 Palestinians since October 2023.

 

We need to hit them where it hurts: their wallets. Economic pressure is your secret weapon. BDS has a hit list of companies tied to the conflict, like Hewlett-Packard, which supplies tech to Israeli forces. Boycott these brands. Check your KiwiSaver or pension fund. Does it invest in dodgy companies? Demand divestment or swap providers. Even small choices, like buying from businesses that back Palestinian rights or donating to Gaza charities, add up. It’s like refusing to buy from a dodgy fish-and-chip shop...enough of us say no, and they’ll feel the pinch.

Then there’s political advocacy. Governments aren’t untouchable; they’re swayed by people like you. Fire off an email to your MP demanding humanitarian aid for Gaza or an arms embargo. Ask them to put pressure on Israeli and United States diplomats to end the atrocities. Groups like Jewish Voice for Peace have templates to make it easy. Better yet, vote for candidates who give a damn about human rights and international law. Sign petitions on Change.org or join advocacy crews like CODEPINK to keep the pressure on. It’s not glamorous, but it’s like turning up to a council meeting...your voice matters when it’s heard.

Look, it’s not all smooth sailing. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a tangled mess, and misinformation can make your head spin. Plus, you might cop flak for speaking out. Stay sharp—read up on Palestinian perspectives, Israeli peace activists, and UN reports. Link arms with others, whether it’s a local activist group or an online crew, to keep the fire burning. History’s got our back here: ordinary people helped topple apartheid in South Africa showing that people power can work.

I know it might feel like it, but you’re not powerless. Share, protest, boycott, vote, and keep at it. Every action...big or small...builds a movement for peace that can’t be ignored. Let’s stand with Gaza and show the world what everyday people can do. Ka whawhai tonu mātou. Let’s keep fighting the good fight.

Below is a curated list of relevant links to help you stop the genocide in Gaza:

Economic Pressure

BDS - Boycott Targets List
Link: https://bdsmovement.net/get-involved/what-to-boycott
Description: BDS lists specific companies, like Hewlett-Packard (HP), targeted for boycotts due to their ties to Israeli forces. This resource helps readers follow your advice to boycott brands and check investments like KiwiSaver funds. 

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) - Investigate Database
Link: https://investigate.afsc.org/
Description: AFSC’s database identifies companies profiting from the occupation, useful for divestment campaigns. It supports your suggestion to check pension funds and demand divestment from complicit companies. 

Ethical Consumer - Boycott List
Link: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalcampaigns/boycotts
Description: Ethical Consumer details boycott campaigns, including BDS calls against HP and others. It offers alternatives to complicit brands, aligning with your advice to make small, impactful economic choices. 

Care4Gaza - Donation Support
Link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/careforgaza 

Description: Care4Gaza is a grassroots initiative for donating to Gaza aid, as mentioned in X posts. It supports your call to fund charities helping Palestinians directly. 

Don’t Buy Into Occupation - European Financial Institutions
Link: https://dontbuyintooccupation.org/
Description: This coalition tracks European investments in companies tied to Israeli settlements, offering a model for New Zealand readers to investigate KiwiSaver or pension fund complicity, as you suggest.

Political Advocacy

Jewish Voice for Peace - Advocacy Templates
Link: https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/take-action/
Description: JVP provides email templates and advocacy tools to contact elected officials, aligning with your suggestion to email MPs for humanitarian aid or arms embargoes. 

CODEPINK - Advocacy Campaigns
Link: https://www.codepink.org/palestine
Description: CODEPINK offers petitions, advocacy guides, and campaigns to pressure governments on Gaza, supporting your call to join groups like them for political impact. 

Change.org - Petitions for Gaza
Link: https://www.change.org/petitions?selected_sorts=most_signatures&q=gaza
Description: Change.org hosts petitions demanding humanitarian aid and ceasefires in Gaza, making it easy for readers to sign and share, as you recommend. Ensure petitions are from reputable organizers. 

Amnesty International - Take Action for Palestine
Link: https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/demand-a-ceasefire-by-all-parties-to-end-civilian-suffering/
Description: Amnesty offers advocacy actions like petitions and letters to pressure governments, supporting your advice to demand action on international law violations. 

UN Reports - Human Rights in Palestine
Link: https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/palestine
Description: The UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights provides reports on Gaza, offering credible sources for readers to stay informed and advocate based on international law, as you suggest.

Additional Context and Staying Informed

Al Jazeera - Gaza Coverage
Link: https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/gaza/
Description: Al Jazeera offers up-to-date reporting on Gaza, including BDS and protests, helping readers verify information and counter misinformation, as you advise.

Electronic Intifada - Palestinian Perspectives
Link: https://electronicintifada.net/
Description: This platform amplifies Palestinian voices and covers grassroots activism, aligning with your call to read Palestinian perspectives for a fuller understanding.

Middle East Eye - Genocide Claims and Analysis
Link: https://www.middleeasteye.net/
Description: Middle East Eye covers claims of genocide in Gaza, as noted in X posts, providing context for your blog’s stance and helping readers stay sharp on the issue. 

The Intercept - Israeli Peace Activists
Link: https://theintercept.com/
Description: The Intercept often features Israeli peace activists and critical perspectives on the conflict, supporting your advice to explore diverse voices, including those within Israel. 

South Africa Anti-Apartheid Movement - Historical Context
Link: https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/anti-apartheid-movement-aam
Description: South African History Online details the anti-apartheid movement, providing historical context for your comparison to BDS and people power toppling oppressive systems.

Published by the Jackal