An international law expert says New Zealand is no longer aligned with international counterparts on illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank.

The UK is the latest among a dozen countries - including France, Spain and Canada - to sanction the settlements over the 'ethnic cleansing' of Palestinians.

Waikato University's Al Gillespie says our approach towards Palestine is more conservative.

"The defence that we have is that we are targeting those that are involved with the most extreme violence, but we're now out of step with like-minded countries. I imagine part of it's got to do with the fear of what Mr Trump would do if we joined that list." 

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An international law expert says New Zealand is no longer aligned with international counterparts on illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank.
The UK is the latest among a dozen countries - including France, Spain and Canada - to sanction the settlements over the 'ethnic cleansing' of Palestinians.
Waikato University's Al Gillespie says our approach towards Palestine is more conservative.
"The defence that we have is that we are targeting those that are involved with the most extreme violence, but we're now out of step with like-minded countries. I imagine part of it's got to do with the fear of what Mr Trump would do if we joined that list."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Al Gillespie: Waikato University law professor on the UK Government's new sanctions on West Bank settlements

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8d858482-2e0e-4546-8778-b4c0006b5e32/transcript

The One News Thomas Mead demolition derby this week has been on the MSD. It's led their news.

Thomas has breathlessly reported after an inquiry under the Official Information Act revealed a number of rejections of Special Needs Grants for urgent and essential emergency costs. The inquiry found these rejections were increasing, and more than 8000 people were declined on the basis food was deemed 'non-essential'.

The ministry says this was caused by an administrative error in which the wrong option had been selected but it maintains this did not mean the underlying decision was incorrect.

Now, I have no idea what that means. Did they make a mistake or were they not incorrect? I don't know. But whatever.

Thomas Mead has been hunting down anyone who will demand that MSD or the minister apologise. But the minister and MSD are flatly refusing.

Frankly, it got a bit farcical, with the head of MSD dancing on the head of a pin and refusing to say sorry. It was a word salad. His mouth was flapping, but nothing was being said.

Now look, I get why MSD doesn't like the bad news. I get that those refusals affected only 0.094 percent of claimants, which is a small number. However, it's still 8000 people and 8000 families affected. They were affected because they were unable to get grants for food, a basic necessity.

Those 8000 people over six years, while a small minority, deserve an apology.

The refusal by the minister and the department just perpetuates the story that they are heartless and don't care about the poor and the hungry. That perception will last longer than any perception of ineptitude this case has created.

And yes, it's all about ineptitude. You can apologise for that while you're at it, thank you very much.

Meanwhile, the minister, Louise Upston, pointed out that MSD processes more than 350,000 claims a year successfully.

But Louise, that's the real shame.

Six percent of New Zealanders need government help to afford food and that's nothing to be proud of.

LISTEN ABOVE

The One News Thomas Mead demolition derby this week has been on the MSD. It's led their news.
Thomas has breathlessly reported after an inquiry under the Official Information Act revealed a number of rejections of Special Needs Grants for urgent and essential emergency costs. The inquiry found these rejections were increasing, and more than 8000 people were declined on the basis food was deemed 'non-essential'.
The ministry says this was caused by an administrative error in which the wrong option had been selected but it maintains this did not mean the underlying decision was incorrect.
Now, I have no idea what that means. Did they make a mistake or were they not incorrect? I don't know. But whatever.
Thomas Mead has been hunting down anyone who will demand that MSD or the minister apologise. But the minister and MSD are flatly refusing.
Frankly, it got a bit farcical, with the head of MSD dancing on the head of a pin and refusing to say sorry. It was a word salad. His mouth was flapping, but nothing was being said.
Now look, I get why MSD doesn't like the bad news. I get that those refusals affected only 0.094 percent of claimants, which is a small number. However, it's still 8000 people and 8000 families affected. They were affected because they were unable to get grants for food, a basic necessity.
Those 8000 people over six years, while a small minority, deserve an apology.
The refusal by the minister and the department just perpetuates the story that they are heartless and don't care about the poor and the hungry. That perception will last longer than any perception of ineptitude this case has created.
And yes, it's all about ineptitude. You can apologise for that while you're at it, thank you very much.
Meanwhile, the minister, Louise Upston, pointed out that MSD processes more than 350,000 claims a year successfully.
But Louise, that's the real shame.
Six percent of New Zealanders need government help to afford food and that's nothing to be proud of.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Andrew Dickens: These MSD stats are nothing to be proud of

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7f7db9c3-7abc-4f62-af9a-b4c00076517d/transcript

Anger at residential fast-track developers spilled over at an Auckland Council meeting, with many residents voicing disapproval with these proposals. 

Councillors voted unanimously to investigate ways to tell those planning such projects that they aren’t wanted.

Auckland Council planning committee chair Richard Hills says these projects are putting a lot of pressure on communities - and their budgets. 

"And also, the stresses on their roads and highways and the current council assets are quite extreme."  

LISTEN ABOVE

Anger at residential fast-track developers spilled over at an Auckland Council meeting, with many residents voicing disapproval with these proposals.&nbsp;
Councillors voted unanimously to investigate ways to tell those planning such projects that they aren’t wanted.
Auckland Council planning committee chair Richard Hills says these projects are putting a lot of pressure on communities - and their budgets.&nbsp;
"And also, the stresses on their roads and highways and the current council assets are quite extreme."&nbsp;&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Richard Hills: Auckland Councillor on the growing backlash to fast-track developments in Auckland

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/15b92a97-d297-4ec6-aa02-b4c000744da6/transcript

The country’s 10 mobile speed camera trailers have been vandalised at least 18 times since they were rolled out last September, according to new reports. 

Data shows that these cameras were graffitied 11 times, the trailers have been damaged at least six times - and there's been one incident of the tyres on a camera trailer getting slashed.

Head of Driving Regulation at NZTA, Chris Rodley, says these camera trailers are deployed to make the roads safer and they've got an important job to do.

"It is a real nuisance having the vandalism, but it's not affecting the deployment schedules too much. They're usually out for a day or two." 

LISTEN ABOVE

 

The country’s 10 mobile speed camera trailers have been vandalised at least 18 times since they were rolled out last September, according to new reports.&nbsp;
Data shows that these cameras were graffitied 11 times, the trailers have been damaged at least six times - and there's been one incident of the tyres on a camera trailer getting slashed.
Head of Driving Regulation at NZTA, Chris Rodley, says these camera trailers are deployed to make the roads safer and they've got an important job to do.
"It is a real nuisance having the vandalism, but it's not affecting the deployment schedules too much. They're usually out for a day or two."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE
&nbsp;

Chris Rodley: Head of Driving Regulation at NZTA on the mobile speed cameras getting vandalised following initial rollout

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8c698c39-38e0-4029-b6e7-b4c0006630f9/transcript

Al Gillespie: Waikato University law professor on the UK Government's new sanctions on West Bank settlements

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