Reforming law in relation to hate speech offences is also on the agenda.

If the hate speech law passes, offenders will face a larger maximum sentence than if they were found guilty of rioting, assaulting a child or providing explosives to commit a crime!

Child-abuse

The Transforming Justice Foundation's petition focused on ensuring witnesses give evidence in child abuse cases.

Scott Guthrie led the petition. He says the silence around the 2006 deaths of 11-week old twins Chris and Cru Kahui show why the law needs changing to ensure witnesses give evidence.

The family initially did not cooperate with police investigations.

Although the twins' father was charged with murder, he was later acquitted. No other charges were laid.

Guthrie's petition asks the House of Representatives to:

"amend the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 to remove the right to refrain from making any statement for persons who are arrested or detained on charges relating to child abuse."

When presenting the 4548-signature petition to the Justice Select Committee, Guthrie said refraining from making a statement, or the right to silence, allows people to keep quiet when questioned by police.

Nor can a defendant be compelled to be a witness in the prosecution of any criminal law.

These rights shouldn't be allowed for any witness to cases involving child abuse, violence, or death, he argued.

If we can remove the right to silence in some cases of serious fraud, surely we can look at that for child abuse, he said.

Religious freedoms

In the petition she led for the Barnabas Fund, the Fund's Chief Executive's Steph Johnston told the Justice Committee that protecting religious freedoms needs reviewing as New Zealand becomes more secular.

"People who have chosen a form of religion must not be marginalised or disadvantaged," she said.

Johnston's 4872-signatory petition seeks a formal government review of two issues:

• how well the seven fundamental aspects of freedom of religion are being protected in New Zealand today and
• whether any group, for example, Christians, may be falling through the cracks and their rights neglected, sidelined or undermined."

Adoption

Christian Newman's petition asks Parliament to "amend the Adoption Act 1955 to simplify and speed up the process for adoption".

Newman spoke to the Justice Committee about his 32,239-signature petition that covers a range of issues including amending the Act to:

• enable male-same-sex couples' eligibility to in vitro fertilisation treatment funding
• allow intending parents' legal rights to be automatically updated at the point the child is born
• include a child's right from birth to know their parents, birth and biological, and to recognise the rights of children to know their genetic origins.

Hate speech

Parliament has released details of a Cabinet Paper about hate speech law reforms.

The paper proposes hate speech offences be moved from the Human Rights Act to the Crimes Act.

Penalties could see offenders facing three years' imprisonment.

Protections against incitement and hate speech would be extended to include rainbow communities, religious minorities and those targeted for age or disability.

Source

• Newsroom
• RNZ
• Image: Wikipedia

But as a result of MPs' horse trading, it's the public who may decide - in a referendum.

MPs have voted by 76 to 44 to send the End of Life Choice Bill to a select committee.

First, the committee will hear submissions from the public but it won't have the final say.

New Zealand First has agreed with the bill's sponsor to let the public decide in a binding referendum.

So Act's David Seymour has agreed to add the referendum to the bill.

In return, New Zealand First will vote as a block in favour of the bill even while some of its members oppose euthanasia.

Other parties will let their MPs vote according to their conscience.

Polls show a high level of public support for euthanasia.

While this is the third attempt to pass such a law, big splits in opinions have always emerged.

The previous unsuccessful attempts happened in 2003 and 1995.

The prime minister says she would support the bill while it has safeguards to protect the vulnerable.

Jacinda Ardern says she believes people should have choice.

National Party, Bill English, opposes the bill.

He says, "We're creating an exemption from the criminal law against killing."

Meanwhile one of his MPs, Chris Bishop, says Parliament has a "once in a generation" chance to uphold human dignity.

The bill would let New Zealanders aged 18 and over choose to end their life through assisted suicide.

They would need to be within 6 months of death from a terminal illness or be suffering a grievous and untreatable illness.

Two doctors would still need to assess the patient's condition and confirm his or her ability to give informed consent.

A specialist in the illness would also examine the case.

A referendum would take place at the next election if MPs pass the bill.

Sources:

• Stuff
• NZ Herald
• NZ Herald
• Radio NZ
• Image: Stuff

Francis made the comments during a press conference to journalists during a 46 minute in-flight journey on the way home from a three day trip to Turkey.

"The Synod is a path, it is a journey, firstly.

"Secondly the synod is not a Parliament. It's a protected space in which the Holy Spirit may speak," the pontiff said when asked about the phrasing of the synod's controversial mid-term report regarding homosexuals.

Covering off the variety of opinion expressed in the media, Francis said differing opinions meant there were contrasting things said.

However, he observed, everything was summed up in the midterm report.

"The substantial part remains but everything had to be reduced. Everything. Everything. Everything. And what remained of the substantial part was what became the final relatio.

"But it isn't over," he said, reminding journalists that the final document of the 2014 is the starting point for the 2015 synod.

"It's (the synod) a path.... (and) you can't take (the) opinion of one person or draft. The Synod has to be seen in its totality," he explained.

"Also, I don't agree - and this is a personal opinion which I don't want to impose - but I don't agree with saying that 'Today, this Father said this,' or 'Today, this Father said this...if someone wants to say something, let them say what was said but not who said it. Why? Because, I repeat, the synod is not a parliament, it's a protected ecclesial space."

He concluded by saying the Holy Spirit works through the group.

Sources

• CNA
• Inage: CNA

He is asking MPs for their feedback on the prayer which could replace the existing one adopted in 1962.

MPs have been told the choice is between the existing prayer, which is 70 words long, and the 82 word proposed alternative.

No amendments will be allowed. Read thre proposed prayer

According to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference website, the statement is written for Catholics to read and reflect upon.

It begins with a quote from Pope Francis: "The goal of economics and politics is to serve humanity, beginning with the poorest and most vulnerable, wherever they may be, even in their mothers' wombs."

But the bishops were quick to say that neither themselves nor the Church would tell people who to vote for.

"Catholic teaching advises us on how to think about who to vote for. This takes a bit more work, and a lot more thinking and talking," the statement explained.

The bishops said that no political party or platform represents the totality of the Church's teaching.

They acknowledged that sometimes voters might feel they are faced with having to choose between important issues, for example, prioritising a politician's or a party's position on euthanasia or poverty.

"Catholic teaching does not trade off the well-being of vulnerable groups of people against one another," the statement argued.

"We seek political outcomes that protect the lives and wellbeing of all vulnerable people."

The bishops said there is a "special responsibility to engage with the political party that we intend to support in an election, and to speak up for the poor and the vulnerable through the whole political cycle".

"This means challenging all politicians and political parties, especially the one for whom you decide to vote."

The statement went on to address the following issues: People living in poverty; People living with pain, illness or approaching the end of their lives; Unborn children; Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants; People in prison; People without a vote;

It concluded with an exhortation: "Question, discuss, debate, pray, be involved, and speak out for the poor and vulnerable among us as you decide how to cast your vote."

New Zealand's General Election is on September 20.

Source

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference
• Image: elections.org.nz

The Grey Lynn School children grilled National, Labour, Green and Internet Party politicians and independent MP Brendan Horan at the launch of a "tick4kids" campaign to bring children's issues to the fore in the election.

Jack, aged 11, asked them if they would consider having a student government that primary school children could be part of. All except Mr Horan said they would. Continue reading

Her pakeha friends ask if the traditional role of women in the powhiri is sexist.

"I just try to explain that females have their own type of mana. Traditionally Maori really revered their women, and looked after their women, and I guess it's about maintaining that kind of whakaaro."

That view is a stark contrast to some older women.

Parliament could change its protocol to allow women to speak in Maori welcome ceremonies after complaints from some female MPs who felt the current tikanga belittled their status.

The Speaker of the House, David Carter, is in the process of reviewing parliamentary protocol after two senior female Labour MPs raised the red flag last year in July.

During a powhiri for Youth Parliament, Labour MPs Maryan Street and Annette King were made to move from the front row of seats or paepae, which is the orators bench usually reserved for men.

Street believes it sent the wrong message to the youth MPs, and says it was time for Parliament to develop its own kawa [protocol].

"This isn't how I want young people to see Parliament. I want them to see Parliament as a place of equals, and this kawa doesn't reflect that".

Suggestions by MPs include making provisions for women to speak in welcome ceremonies, and allowing high ranking female MPs to sit in the front seats or paepae. Continue reading.

Source: The Wireless

Image: RNZ

In seeking the review Speaker, David Carter, says he wants to "modernise" the protocols making them acceptable to a diversified Parliament.

The review was prompted by Parliament's longest serving woman MP, Annette King and her Labour colleague Maryan Street who were asked to move from the front bench during a powhiri at the start of the Youth Parliament several months ago.

The NZ Herald reports that Mrs King and Ms Street came in late and when they sat on the front row alongside the Speaker, they were asked to shift by Kura Moeahu, who assists Parliament's kaumatua, Rose White-Tahuparae.

David Carter said he thought the event embarrassing to the two women, and said he had also received feedback from other MP's.

Sources

• NZ Herald
• TV3 News