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pault.bsky.social
Paul Thistoll
@pault.bsky.social
2.5K followers 4.3K following 840 posts
Human Rights Defender / Founder of Rights Aotearoa @rightsaotearoa.bsky.social || he/him || Proud alumnus of London Business School || ❤️Food & Wine || Trans rights are human rights
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pault.bsky.social
This is a very well deserved glass of wine
November 9, 2025 at 4:53 AM
pault.bsky.social
Yes! And hair
November 8, 2025 at 8:54 PM
pault.bsky.social
Today's reading - to remind myself of some of his key arguments.
The cover of Jeremy Waldron's seminal book "The Harm In Hate Speech".
November 7, 2025 at 11:20 PM
pault.bsky.social
DDHQ have called it.

We are all Citizens of New York tonight!
Decision Desk HQ @DecisionDeskHQ · 6m Decision Desk HQ projects Zohran Mamdani to win the New York City Mayor election. #DecisionMade: 9:03 pm ET Follow live results on our website.
November 5, 2025 at 2:11 AM
pault.bsky.social
Oh exciting news from The Clerk of The House.

Discriminatory petitions will not be hosted. See screenshot with alt/text below.

Will use s21 of the HRA for guidance. I just wrote to remind him of the Crown Law 2006 opinion! :-)

@drdeanknight.bsky.social
The sessional order gives the Clerk the power to refuse to host a petition where they are satisfied that the content of the petition is highly discriminatory. The new rule applies to existing petitions as well as new ones. We are in the process of reviewing all petitions currently hosted on the Parliament website, in light of the sessional order. The petition that gave rise to our original discussing (calling for Muslims to be removed from NZ) would not be hosted on the website if it were presented today. Before the sessional order expires, I will report on its use to the Standing Orders Committee which could consider making it a permanent Standing Order. Electronic petitions with highly discriminatory content The following sessional order was adopted: 1 Electronic petitions with highly discriminatory content (1) The Clerk may refuse to host an electronic petition on the Parliament website if they are satisfied that the content of the petition is highly discriminatory. (2) Before refusing to host a petition under paragraph (1), the Clerk must— (a) take account of whether the content of the petition is threatening, abusive, or insulting to a group of people by reason of any of the prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Human Rights Act 1993, and (b) consult the Petitions Committee. (3) Standing Order 371 is read accordingly. 2 Functions of Petitions Committee (1) The functions of the Petitions Committee include responding to consultation by the Clerk under Rule 1, or by the Speaker under Standing Order 372(2). (2) Standing Order 378 is read accordingly. 3 Application to electronic petitions already hosted on Parliament website Rule 1 applies to electronic petitions already hosted on the Parliament website when this sessional order is adopted. 4 Expiry This sessional order expires 6 months after the date on which it is adopted.
November 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
pault.bsky.social
The day after Dr Melissa Derby appeared on TVNZ Q+A program, she had a call with a FSU council member.

The Commission won't meet with me—even though I run a leading Human Rights NGO, but it seems she will take the FSU phone calls because they have *concerns*.

(From an OIA request)
8.36am, 6 October – Race Relation Commissioner’s recollection of phone call with FSU council member FSU said there was concern and confusion about my statements on Q+A, and that some people had interpreted my comments as me calling for blasphemy laws. I said I didn't, and that I was referring to expanding existing protections to include groups not currently included in the legislation. I said I hadn't called for change to or made any comment about existing thresholds. FSU said they were going to put out a press release and asked if I would like to comment. I said yes, that I would like to clarify my comments, and that I would come back to them after speaking with the HRC comms team.
November 4, 2025 at 5:08 AM
pault.bsky.social
NZ First have announced a new member's bill.

The big question is which member's bill did they pull from the biscuit tin lottery?

No doubt, the intrepid @catespice.bsky.social with her NZ First member's bill tracker will tell us asap.
NZ First Introduces Bill to Ban Public Sales of Fireworks New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill that will ban the public sale and use of fireworks across New Zealand. The taxpayer should not be spending millions on something that drastically impacts pets, causes the inevitable fires, and causes havoc for our emergency services. Enough is enough. The abuse and misuse of fireworks has far outgrown any of the benefits. This is not about being ‘nanny state’, this is about bringing some common-sense into what is a desperately needed conversation about the future of fireworks in our community. Many major retailers have already stopped selling fireworks long ago, and there have been calls from across the country to put a stop to the sale of fireworks completely. The “Fireworks Prohibition Legislation Bill” will stop the retail sale, manufacture, and importation of fireworks for public use. It will still allow approved public displays to continue. This Bill is a response to what is a hugely predictable and preventable costs for ACC, the huge costs of emergency service call outs, and most importantly stopping the effects reckless use of fireworks has on farm animals and family pets. New Zealand has come to a point where we seriously need to have this conversation and debate.
November 4, 2025 at 3:20 AM
pault.bsky.social
My email to Reuben Davidson.
ēnā koe Reuben, I understand the Free Speech Union has written to you. I write briefly to provide Rights Aotearoa's perspective as New Zealand's leading human rights organisation focused on transgender, non-binary, and intersex rights. We draw your attention to paragraph 9 of their letter, which states: "Whether the views that individuals bring to us are minority perspectives or not, and whichever political party chooses to take this up as an issue, are immaterial to us. We maintain a position of content neutrality, and do not choose to take on, or not, cases or campaigns, on the basis of their particular perspective. We advocate for individuals to be able to freely express themselves in accordance with their human rights, as determined by the Human Rights Act 1990, regardless of their political persuasions. In the university context, we advocate for the specific rights to academic freedom that academics and students are guaranteed by the Education and Training Act 2020." It is demonstrably clear that the Free Speech Union is a major advocacy organisation aligned with anti-transgender groups. Their facilitation of Helen Joyce's speaking tour in New Zealand—featuring an author whose work explicitly argues against transgender rights and who advocates for restricting transgender people's access to healthcare, legal recognition, public participation, and even existence—makes their ideological position unambiguous. True content neutrality would require defending transgender people's freedom of expression with equal vigour—including when trans students are erased from educational curricula, when trans academics face harassment or institutional barriers, and when trans people's rights under the Human Rights Act 1993 (not 1990, as FSU incorrectly cites) are violated. The FSU's conspicuous silence on these matters reveals that its claimed "neutrality" is, in practice, highly selective advocacy for particular viewpoints.
October 29, 2025 at 11:52 PM
pault.bsky.social
The FSU are deceitful liars.

On the left is a quote from a letter they sent to Reuben Davidson today.

The right is a post on X.

They are incompatible statements.

I also note there is no HRA 1990.

The HRC states that the Crown Law 2006 is valid; therefore, the HRA 1993 applies to trans people.
Whether the views that individuals bring to us are minority perspectives or not, and whichever political party chooses to take this up as an issue, are immaterial to us. We maintain a position of content neutrality, and do not choose to take on, or not, cases or campaigns, on the basis of their particular perspective. We advocate for individuals to be able to freely express themselves in accordance with their human rights, as determined by the Human Rights Act 1990, regardless of their political persuasions. In the university context, we advocate for the specific rights to academic freedom that academics and students are guaranteed by the Education and Training Act 2020. FSU transphobic post
October 29, 2025 at 11:22 PM
pault.bsky.social
From InsideOut Facebook.

The draft RSE curriculum is completely cis-heteronormative.
When the draft framework was released earlier this year with only brief references to sexual orientation and intersex experiences and nothing about gender diversity there was concern about erasure of our community. But this draft curriculum is far worse than we'd hoped, removing every single reference to sexual orientation, gender identity outside of gender stereotypes, and intersex.
October 29, 2025 at 6:21 AM
pault.bsky.social
New glasses to replace my broken ones just arrived!

So ecstatic!
October 28, 2025 at 1:01 AM
pault.bsky.social
Queer Endurance in Defiance is organising a protest to let Helen Joyce and the FSU know that transphobia is unwelcome.

Helen Joyce is a piece of sh*t human being who is being platformed by the pieces of sh*t at the free speech union, including Stephen Franks, their Chairman.
GO PROTEST! PEACEFULLY!
Queer Speech For Trans Rights Join Queer Endurance in Defiance in letting Helen Joyce & the FSU know transphobia is unwelcome. 5:45 PM 5 November Parliament Grounds
October 27, 2025 at 4:53 AM
pault.bsky.social
I would like to publicly state that Rights Aotearoa intends to undertake significantly more work on the rights of people with innate variations of sex characteristics in the future.

Intersex rights are human rights.

Intersex Awareness Week starts tomorrow

(Pic taken from Burnett Foundation Fbook)
Intersex rights are human rights - Intersex Awareness Week October 26 - november 1
October 26, 2025 at 9:45 PM
pault.bsky.social
This is Beethoven pushing the sonata form to its conceptual limits.
mvt 4, op 106 first two pages mvt 4, op 106 first two pages
October 26, 2025 at 5:54 AM
pault.bsky.social
This is Beethoven letting loose:
beethoven piano sonata no 29 in b flat major mvt 2
October 26, 2025 at 5:51 AM
pault.bsky.social
This is one of Beethoven's most exciting development sections.
Beethoven op 106, beginning of development fughetta. Beethoven op 106, beginning of development fughetta.
October 26, 2025 at 5:42 AM
pault.bsky.social
This passage makes me happy every time I listen to it.
Beethoven op 53 movement no 3 bars 239-251
October 26, 2025 at 5:32 AM
pault.bsky.social
Breaking news: Stephen Franks, the Chairperson of the FSU, doesn't believe NZBORA s14 applies to people under 16. Also, the chair of the FSU can hardly disagree with himself - it's nonsensical.

Hint: it does! And it shows that the FSU are philosophically bankrupt.
Stephen Franks @franks_lawyer · 7m I disagree with @NZFreeSpeech on this. We cannot know whether it will ‘do more harm than good’ till important details are developed. The most reasonable fears of harm are based on understandable anxiety about misuse of identification capacities some think will be needed for enforcement. It is wildly premature to get hysterical about those risks. The major platforms probably already have enough info about age and id for practical enforcement. The law does not have to be watertight. Leakage is unlikely to matter any more in this sphere than leakage in alcohol access age restrictions. Speculating about the balance of risks benefits and harms from restricting kids’ platform access is largely fanciful until the opt out and opt in features are finalised. The Free Speech Union has no better foundation for estimating that balance at this time than any parent or voter. Quote 🗣 Free Speech Union ✊ @NZFreeSpeech · 1h Censorship by compliance: Free Speech Union warns under-16 bill risks more harm than good The Free Speech Union warns that the Members’ Bill to age-gate social media would do more harm than good. The effect of social media on
October 24, 2025 at 2:15 AM
pault.bsky.social
X post of judith collins "Excellent meeting with Dr Sebastian Gorka"
October 23, 2025 at 9:33 PM
pault.bsky.social
Of course, the strikes are politically motivated!

Unions are political organisations designed to promote and defend workers' rights.

It's literally what they do!!!!!
Nz National Party X post: Today's planned strikes are unnecessary and politically motivated by the union. Workers' pay claims will only be settled by negotiation, and the Government is ready to talk.
October 22, 2025 at 8:29 PM
pault.bsky.social
Good statement from Hipkins.
Statement from Rt Hon Chris Hipkins about today's strikes.
October 22, 2025 at 7:55 PM
pault.bsky.social
Everyone, there is a Red Warning for wind for tomorrow in Wellington and the south Wairarapa - image attached below.
trong Wind Warning - Red Period: 10hrs from 8am - 6pm Thu, 23 Oct Area: Wellington, and Wairarapa south of Carterton Forecast: Severe gale northwesterlies with damaging gusts of 140 km/h in exposed places. Impact: Threat to life from flying items and falling trees. Destructive winds will cause widespread damage including powerlines and roofs, with dangerous driving conditions and significant disruption to transport and power supply. Action: Stay indoors or seek sturdy shelter away from trees. Avoid travel. Be ready for power and communication outages. Preparedness advice. Issued: 9:59am Wed 22 Oct Next update: 9:00pm Wed 22 Oct Action advice supplied by the National Emergency Management Agency.
October 21, 2025 at 9:21 PM
pault.bsky.social
Just FYI, team.

If you see "Coalition Advancing Scientific Care" (CASC) anywhere, it's a new conversion-therapy promotion organisation in Australia.

Disregard anything they do.

Obviously, Jan - from Genspect, who also promote conversion therapy - is excited about it, so she doesn't feel so alone.
Jan Rivers post - Gender Healthcare summit in Australia held yesterday.
October 19, 2025 at 2:54 AM
pault.bsky.social
Damien Grant blaming feminism for falling fertility rates is lazy analysis masquerading as contrarian insight. Women's rights didn't "end humanity"—they freed half the population from compulsory reproduction.
The unintentional consequences of feminism; the end of humanity
October 19, 2025 at 12:06 AM
pault.bsky.social
Just a friendly reminder, this whole thing about the BSA is about the BSA standard no 4 (shown below).

The Platform wants to be free from this to be able to broadcast 'edgy' (read: hateful) content that denigrates groups of ppl.

McGimpsey says the quiet part out loud (screenshot)
Standard 4 - Discrimination and Denigration Broadcast content should not encourage discrimination against, or denigration of, any section of the community on account of sex, sexual orientation, race, age, disability, occupational status or as a consequence of legitimate expression of religion, culture or political belief. Guidelines 4.1 ‘Discrimination’ is defined as encouraging the different treatment of the members of a particular section of the community, to their detriment. ‘Denigration’ is defined as devaluing the reputation of a particular section of the community. 4.2 The importance of freedom of expression means: A high level of condemnation, often with an element of malice or nastiness, will usually be necessary to find a broadcast encouraged discrimination or denigration in breach of the standard. Broadcast content which has the effect of reinforcing or embedding negative stereotypes may also be considered. This standard is not intended to prevent the broadcast of material that is: factual a genuine expression of serious comment, analysis or opinion legitimate humour, drama or satire. William McGimpsey🇳🇿 @TheZeitgeistNZ There are two main issues with the Broadcasting Standards Authority attack on The Platform. The first is whether a broadcaster ought to be able to say something like “Tikanga is mumbo jumbo”…and obviously they should. We fix this by removing Standard 4 from the Broadcasting Standards Code which contains rules around censoring racism, sexism and homophobia. The second is whether the BSA should have jurisdiction over online media at all. Again, I think no. The Broadcasting Standards Code is completely inappropriate for regulating the more participatory types of media found online - imagine if people could complain to the BSA about your tweets being inaccurate or unbalanced: it would destroy the whole medium.
October 17, 2025 at 8:27 PM