New front opens up on political correctness

"A new front appears to be opening up in the war against political correctness," says the National Party MP for Coromandel, Sandra Goudie.

"If New Zealanders thought the 'taniwha' that held up a highway was bad news, political correctness is set to reach new lows and it could impact on the management of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

Mrs Goudie is commenting on minutes she has obtained from the December 10 meeting of the Hauraki Gulf Forum where the concept of 'Matauranga Maori' was given formal backing.

"The definition for 'Matauranga Maori' was given as all those things visible and invisible in the universe.

"All future projects undertaken by the Hauraki Gulf Forum will now have to give regard to the concept. It was noted that public funding is also available for 'Matauranga Maori'.

"Why is the taxpayer now expected to fund research based on a minority group's spiritual beliefs?

"The Hauraki Gulf Forum already faces an uphill battle to win a share of limited resources. Often participating councils are reluctant to commit scarce ratepayer dollars.

"Now those councils have been given another good reason to question whether it's a wise use of money.

"How can effective decision making take place when those calling the shots are expected to consider 'all things visible and invisible in the universe'?

"The politically correct landscape was already cluttered, now it's beyond a joke," says Mrs Goudie.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>