ACTivate

ACTivate - Good News Alert! Historic Use of Parliamentary Rule to Usher in Modern Day Slavery Bill. How will it work?( 0:25:12)

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After years of false starts, Labour and National have teamed up to co-sponsor a bill requiring companies to investigate their supply chains for risks of forced labour. Listen to Rebekah Armstrong, Head of Advocacy and Justice at World Vision New Zealand explain why this political cooperation is momentous, how the new law will work, and the difference it will make to businesses, consumers and victims/survivors. Also, Take Action re Iran protests. Sign a petition calling on the international community to urgently act to stop further protest bloodshed in Iran: https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/end-protest-massacres-in-iran/
Published: 16/02/2026 9:30:00 p.m.

ACTivate - The Sea is Rising in Tuvalu and Kiribati Jeopardising Fresh Water, Food, Housing and Health. The People are Facing a Difficult Choice: to Stay or Go. But Where Can They Go? The NZ Government Needs to Offer Refuge. ( 0:27:24)

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Listen to Campaigns Manager, David Vega talk about Amnesty Aotearoa's new report titled: “Navigating injustice: Climate displacement from the Pacific Islands of Tuvalu and Kiribati to Aotearoa New Zealand".   The report shows how existing migration pathways are not an answer to the humanitarian needs of people seeking safety from the impacts of climate change and disasters. They are labour-focussed – making them arbitrary and discriminatory. Amnesty Aoteroa is calling on the NZ Government to establish a rights-based humanitarian visa to allow Pacific People most impacted by climate change to move to or continue living in NZ. Because, we're all in this together.
Published: 19/01/2026 9:30:00 p.m.

ACTivate - 15 Dec 2025( 0:29:33)

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ACTivate is a monthly show brought to you by the Christchurch branch of Amnesty International Aotearoa/New Zealand, an organisation dedicated to campaigning for human rights.
Published: 15/12/2025 9:30:00 p.m.

ACTivate - Is Violent Online Abuse of Female Politicians Damaging Democracy? Listen to Dr Cassandra Mudgway from the University of Canterbury talk about "Polls and Trolls" and Why NZ Needs Urgent Legal Reform to Protect Women in Politics. ( 0:28:42)

Episode Information
It's White Ribbon Day this month and election year is looming, so what better way to stand up against violence towards women by listening to this engaging conversation on harmful online misogyny. Then pick up a pen and write to your local MP on reforming the law. You'll hear Dr Mudgway explain that violent gender-based online abuse is significantly harming female politicians, changing the way they campaign, what hot button topics they avoid speaking about in public and the length of time they stay in the job. New Zealand needs a tougher response. Dr Mudgway recommends an online safety regulator with enforcement powers, regulating tech companies and codes of conduct around elections.
Published: 17/11/2025 9:30:00 p.m.

ACTivate - Economist Paul Dalziel on the Regulatory Standards Bill Part 2: More Red Tape Not Less, Time Consuming and Costly for No Quantifiable Benefit to People and Planet ( 0:20:12)

Episode Information
Listen to part 2 of Catherine's interview with wellbeing economist Paul Dalziel who explains that the RSB will make it more difficult to pass legislation that seeks a proportionate reduction of individual property rights for a major contribution to the public good, for example some climate change policies. Paul argues the bill will increase red tape, slow down law making and won't make New Zealand more prosperous. His view is that there is nothing in the bill that is visionary about raising the wellbeing of future generations. Paul's takeaway message is that we should look to the Welsh, "Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015" as an alternative way to design regulatory standards, "the way to frame it should be about the wellbeing of future generations based on widespread consultation and input from experts to...create consensus rather than adopting a narrow libertarian property rights framework that... will constrain the future path of Parliament twisted into a certain direction."
Published: 20/10/2025 9:30:00 p.m.

ACTivate - The Regulatory Standards Bill: What is it and Why does it Matter? Listen to Wellbeing Economist Paul Dalziel Unpack this Concerning Bill. ( 0:25:45)

Episode Information
Despite first appearances this proposed legislation is anything but boring. If passed, it will become deeply important to how we "do" legislation in NZ. Economist and Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa researcher Paul Dalziel joins Catherine to delve into: What is regulation? What is the aim of this bill? Will it achieve it? And is there even a problem in the first place that justifies the estimated 20 million dollar price tag? Paul explains that the Bill is unnecessary, unfit for purpose and narrow. When setting standards there should be expert input, broad consensus and wide public consultation, none of which occurred satisfactorily in this case. Paul's opinion, shared by many other leading academics, is that this legislation will distort the parliamentary process towards an ACT party point of view due to its narrow focus on private property rights, which is not healthy for the general debate we want to have in parliament. He comments it is concerning that other important principles are not in the Bill, like the rights of future generations for example, and we talk about the glaring absence of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Essential listening for anyone wanting to learn more about this controversial Bill that experts like Sir Geoffrey Palmer has said, "is the strangest piece of NZ legislation he has ever seen." And listen out for part 2 of this interview in October's edition.
Published: 15/09/2025 9:30:00 p.m.

ACTivate - Help Keep our Young New Zealanders Safe Online - join Amnesty Aotearoa's Online Harm Campaign calling for Regulation ( 0:26:26)

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Listen to Lisa Woods, Amnesty's Movement building and Advocacy Director tell us that if the government is serious about addressing the real harms young people face online, banning under 16s is not the solution. Regulating tech companies is. Lisa tells us how the proposed ban misdirects attention from the systemic drivers of online harm and places the burden of online safety on young people and parents. Instead the burden needs to be firmly on the social media companies to ensure user safety, just like for other products we consume. As Parliament's inquiry into the online harm encountered by young New Zealanders is under way, now is the time to campaign for a digital environment that is safe, inclusive and empowering. The government needs to stop social media companies putting profit before the health and wellbeing of our young people. For Amnesty's research into Meta's algorithms and Myanmar military atrocities , go to: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/09/myanmar-facebooks-systems-promoted-violence-against-rohingya-meta-owes-reparations-new-report/ Also listen out for petitions to sign: https://www.change.org/p/please-tell-gao-zhisheng-s-family-if-he-s-still-alive-453-signatures-submitted-to-date?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=750cd900-981a-11eb-8f9f-172775255d73 https://amnesty.org.nz/make-community-sponsorship-of-refugees-programme-permanent/
Published: 18/08/2025 5:54:12 p.m.

ACTivate - Gaza: Is it Genocide? Professor of Peace Studies, Dr Richard Jackson says: Yes It Is and explains What Can Be Done. ( 0:29:6)

Episode Information
Listen to part 2 of Catherine's interview with Professor Richard Jackson from Otago University (Part 1, 16 June) where he lays out the case for genocide and discusses how international institutions lack teeth, but explains that we, the people, are not helpess - there has never been a greater protest movement than right now, "we have a lot more power than we think... if we all diligently protest...and practice Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), this can have an effect".
Published: 21/07/2025 9:30:00 p.m.

ACTivate - The Otago Declaration on the Situation in Palestine": How staff, students and graduates at Otago University are taking a stand for the people of Palestine ( 0:24:4)

Episode Information
Listen to Dr Richard Jackson, Professor of Peace studies, explain how hundreds of members of Otago University have signed a declaration recognising that Israel is: committing a genocide against the Palestinian nation, operating a system of apartheid and committing scholasticide. Hear about academic boycotts against Israeli institutions and the devastating effects of scholasticide for future generations of Palestinians. "It doesn't matter if the institute you're a part of doesn't want to do something, you can do it yourself...we the people can make our own declaration, we can take our own stand and outline our own values and priorities." "Right at this moment (the situation in Palestine) is the big issue, it's the moral test of our time." And, later in the show, listen out for good news about pay equity - Former National MP Marilyn Waring is assembling a "people's select committee" to hear the evidence Parliament should have heard on recent pay equity changes.
Published: 16/06/2025 9:00:00 p.m.

ACTivate - If I was Prime Minister: Instances and Experiences of Rangatahi in the Aotearoa New Zealand justice system. ( 0:27:57)

Episode Information
This month Catherine speaks with Anna Cusack, Advocacy and Policy Manager at Amnesty International Aotearoa about fresh new research sharing stories of young people's experiences in the criminal justice system. Youth offending doesn’t occur in a vacuum. Many concerns as well as opportunities were raised; from poverty, hunger, homelessness, family-life hardship and disengagement from school to peers and the importance of relationships. The research was initiated after the last election campaign, where political rhetoric and media reports on ram raids often failed to include experiences and insights from the young people involved. Read a summary of the report here: https://amnesty.org.nz/rangatahi-justice-system-summary/ Read these amazing resources referred to by Anna: https://nwo.org.nz/resources/report-of-matike-mai-aotearoa-the-independent-working-group-on-constitutional-transformation/ https://www.inaiatonunei.nz/resource-documents Take action and sign this petition to halt the execution of Pakhshan Azizi: https://amnesty.org.nz/pakhshan-azizi/ Protest against the Government amending the Equity Pay Act under urgency: https://union.org.nz/pay-equity-events/
Published: 19/05/2025 9:30:00 p.m.

ACTivate - Meet Jacqui Dillon, Amnesty Aotearoa's new Executive Director ( 0:26:21)

Episode Information
Catherine chats with Jacqui Dillon 8 weeks into her role as Kaiwhakahaere Matua. As the international winds of uncertainty blow over the world, Jacqui grounds us by speaking about ripples of change, cultural shifts, and people power. Jacqui shares her vision for humanity as part of Amnesty's 60th birthday celebrations (https://amnesty.org.nz/60th-bday/). And guess what? Jacqui is also a psychotherapist; hear how that work connects with human rights and global systems.
Published: 21/04/2025 9:30:00 p.m.

ACTivate - Why Dr Ellen Joan Ford is on a mission to change the 9-5 - a revolution for parents, workplaces and the world ( 0:28:7)

Episode Information
Our current system is a mismatch in schedules and a mismatch with what makes a healthy human. Let's change it together - because our wellbeing depends on it. Catherine celebrates International Women's Day by speaking with Dr Ellen Joan Ford, military veteran, esteemed academic, Kiwibank local hero of the year for 2023 and author of #WorkSchoolHours - a Revolution for Parents, Workplaces and the World. And no, this is definitely NOT about work less for a pay cut! Ellen advocates for a set of principles not dogmatic rules; outputs not hours, flexibility and autonomy, and above all - value people and what they care about outside of work so they can thrive. Ellen is terrifyingly ambitious about changing the working world for the better, starting with parents. Get a copy of the E-BOOK #WorkSchoolHours for FREE. Use code: ACTIVATE100 https://www.ellenjoanford.com/shop/p/workschoolhours-e-book Get 50% off the self-paced online courses. Use code: ACTIVATE50 Edition for parents / individuals https://www.ellenjoanford.com/course/workschoolhours-online-course-parents Edition for people leaders https://www.ellenjoanford.com/course/workschoolhours-online-course-people-leaders
Published: 17/03/2025 9:30:00 p.m.

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