Nexus Issue 20

Section

It was September 1893 when New Zealand women achieved suffrage, a world first as we like to boast. It was 1955 when Rosa Parks got on that bus. In June 1963 JFK declared civil rights an issue of morality. The 60s and 70s brought second wave feminism and the controversial pro-choice stance. 1994 drew an end to Apartheid, and the 2008 American elections meant democrats were either backing a woman, or a black man. The black man got in.

Imagine being alive during the heyday of any one of these movements. I bet most of you with your twenty first century knowledge and ethical standards would say you would have backed the underdogs 100%. I’d like to think I would’ve too. We’re good folk. But here’s a thought… instead, imagine being one of the many people who fought tooth and nail against these civil rights movements. You just didn’t like it one bit. It was weird, unnatural, and you believe in the status quo! Who are these people to mess with the natural order of things?

You could be a white male in the 1800s, treating women like personal property. You could be another white male in 1955 ordering Miss Parks to give you her seat. You could be a rich white society girl who looks down her nose at her black maid. Or one of those particular people demanding the state has control over what a woman does with her body. Do you really want to be one of these people? One small-minded person who yearns to deny another human being their rights, simply because they go about their day a little differently to you? Of course not.

Now wind it back to 2012. The issue at hand is marriage equality and whether or not same-sex couples can be legally allowed to marry. I. am. all. for. it. Our generation is, for the most part, open-minded and accepting. But there are still a shitload of people out there who think they have a right to dictate how others live their personal, private, not-affecting-anyone-else-in-a-negative-way lives.

You can throw religion around as much as you like, and “but I’m concerned for the children!” but you my friend, are full of shit. I don’t care how many people I offend today, it’s getting ridiculous. In 50 years, history students will relegate these people to the same category as those pitiful white men who looked upon their dark skinned peers as lesser beings. You are to gay people, what that bus driver was to Rosa Parks. A fool.

So. To conclude, this week is Pride Week. Seven days dedicated to our LGBT community, and this year it is certainly interesting! We have a bunch of content ready for your open-minded eyes and while I do expect a bit of hate-mail from some secluded corners of our mostly inclusive campus, I do believe this issue will be received on good terms.

On that note, Nexus loves you all, no matter who you bang.

Have a beautiful week.

Alix

3

18 God doesn’t hate fags, that’s the churches job / 20 Marriage Equality / 22 That’s So Gay! / 24 WaQuY / Cover art by Hoss Aneece

11 C-ball offers some

pointers to fix the All Whites

20 Logan discusses

that it’s time for marriage equality

22 Murray evaluates

whether using the word ‘gay’ is acceptable in today’s society

Nexus is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA). THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE VIEWS OF NEXUS MAGAZINE, THE WSU, APN, THE EDITOR, ANY OF OUR ADVERTISERS, OR ANYONE ELSE IN PARTICULAR.

Nexus Ground Floor Student Union Building Gate One University of Waikato Knighton Road Hamilton.

3 Editorial / 5 How Saph Sees It / 6 News / 10 Left Vs. Right / 11 Sports Thoughts / 12 Lettuce / 14 Puzzles / 15 8 Ball and Horoscopes / 16 Mr. Minty Fish / 17 Auteur House / 26 Gay Pride Week Timetable / 28 Reviews / 32 Cereal and Verbiage / 34 Advocacy 35 AGM / 36 Tangata Tumeke / 38 Gig Guide / 39 Out and About /

Editors: Alix Higby and Sean Goulding / Managing Editor: James Raffan (james@nexusmag.co.nz) / Music Editor: HP / Feature Editor: Julia Gabel / Design: Katrina McIntosh (design@nexusmag.co.nz) / Illustration: Hoss Aneece (http://happiestpageever.tumblr.com/) / Advertising: Tony Arkell (ads@nexusmag.co.nz) Contributors: President Sapphire Gillard, Mr. Minty Fish, Dr Richard Swainson, Kylie from YWRC, HP, C-Ball, Skippy, Daniel Farrell, Pseudonym, DC, Kevin Pryor, Jess Molina, Amber the Advocate, Priscilla Ngatai, Murray Riches, Logan Reynolds, Libby Kissick, Nick Marryatt, Mackenzie McCarty (writing for www.waikatoindependent.co.nz) and the glorious indestructable 8 ball.

Isn’t it fantastic to be a student?

Well after you get over eating noodles 24/7, borrowing money to buy noodles, and having only noodles, it’s pretty fantastic. This week is one of those fantastic weeks.

We have so many things happening that you could be a part of. It’s Pride Week, Suffrage Day, Noho Marae and Awareness for Organ Donation. These four fantastic topics should both entertain and inform you.

Pride week itself is huge. There will be stalls on the green each day and the ASKEW Ball on Saturday night! We’re going to do morning tea in the Women’s Space on Friday for Suffrage Day so come and hang out (10am). If you’re an international student or have never stayed on a Marae, I’d encourage you to come to Noho Marae. It’s a fantastic event that is run every year and you will love the food – it’s not two minute noodles. It’s one of my favourite overnight trips.

If there is one thing I wish I had done more of while at University, it would be pay attention to the chalking and actually go to random things. You’d be surprised at how many events and activities are happening right under your nose. Facebook is fantastic (and annoying) when it comes to keeping informed. Make sure you check out the WSU page and each of the club pages too.

While I know a number of you will be in catch up mode, due to the two week teaching recess magically becoming a holiday (how on earth did that happen?), I hope you have time to enjoy the festivities. Not to mention I hope you’re all up to date enough so next week you’re ready to attend the WSU AGM. Put this date in your diary: 26 September 2012 – WSU AGM in LG01 during cultural hour (1-2pm).

PS: If you’re bored it’s your own fault!

Labour gets educational

Arts degrees a bad choice

Last Sunday, Labour leader David Shearer announced his education policy, the first major announcement he has made as leader. The two main points to the announcement are Labour would give breakfast to students at decile 1-3 schools and extending the reading recovery program.

The University of Waikato’s Professor Jacqueline Rowarth has said that studying Arts at university is a bad option, and students should be pushed toward science based subjects.

Ngati Porou East Coast Principals’ Association chairwoman Sue Ngarimu-Goldsmith said of the breakfasts in lower decile schools, “Not all of these children would require a meal. There are already breakfast programmes in place to support children with those needs.” She also went on to point out that adequately feeding a child was a parental responsibility.

There has not been complete support for the extension of reading recovery either. Massey University College of Education Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor James Chapman said “Mr Shearer claims Reading Recovery is the ‘gold standard intervention’ and that it is a ‘proven success’.

Neither claim is true.”

Wellington students support marriage equality The Victoria University of Wellington Students Association passed a resolution at a Special General Meeting on Wednesday to support Louisa Wall’s Marriage Equality.

A tweet from VUWSA’s twitter account said “VUWSA proudly and explicitly support Louisa Wall’s Marriage Equality Bill!”

When Nexus asked VUWSA what the margin for the vote was, VUWSA Communications Coordinator, Caroline Robertson, said “the[re] was not [a] motion for the vote to be cast, so a voice vote was held and there was a resounding ‘Yes’ from members present.” She went on to say “We needed to have a quorum of 100 members for the SGM to commence and we had over 150 present. This was the largest attendance at an AGM or SGM in a number of years.”

Professor Rowarth said that farming was the dawn of civilisation, but people seem to have lost their way. She said, “It seems to me that in a time of plenty, arts and culture have thrived, but we’ve lost our way with science.’’

She also went on to say that we shouldn’t ignore arts and culture, but this should be an outside work activity rather than a job itself. People are less likely to be happy in an arts based profession, she said. “We all want our children to be happy: that means encouraging them in to careers where they will be valued and can make a difference.’’

World’s best media photography hits Hamilton The World Press Photo exhibition tour has come to Hamilton, at Wintec’s The Atrium.

The exhibition travels around the world, showing the best media photography of the previous 12 months. The some 200 photographs are selected by a panel of international judges from over 100,000 submitted images.

The overall winning photo is by Spanish photographer, Samuel Aranda, taken in Yemen on assignment for The New York Times. The picture is of a woman holding her wounded son in her arms, inside a mosque used as a field hospital by demonstrators against the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, during clashes in Sanaa, Yemen on 15 October 2011.

The tour is in Hamilton now until September 29th, 10am - 5pm daily. Admission is $5, or you can get a 2 for 1 deal with student ID. The tour moves to Napier from the 4th 28th October.

Infections rise as students

thinking about things like their ability to have children in the future, so the fears around chlamydia’s impact on the female reproductive system weren’t hitting home.

forget safe sex lessons

“I think it’s possibly just not understanding how serious it is – unwanted pregnancy and fertility loss are not what students are thinking about.”

by Mackenzie McCarty, writing for www. waikatoindependent.co.nz Waikato sexual health experts say “fatigue” around safe sex is leading to a rise in previously rare infections.

A University of Otago survey published in the New Zealand Medical Journal shows that only about half (54 per cent) of respondents used a condom the last time they had sex and around 5 per cent had experienced an unintended pregnancy. Waikato University student health doctor Ken Johnson said interest in sexual health had lapsed in the years since HIV was a limelight issue.

“I think the drama of, ‘I might catch something I might die of’, has gone. There’s a bit of fatigue around the issue of sexual health.”

“If you turn on the TV, there’s stuff about male sexual dysfunction and women getting cervical screening done. There’s nothing about getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases.”

Family Planning chief executive Jackie Edmond said the issue was the result of a number of different factors.

“I think it’s an unfortunate sort of mix.

“We continue to have inadequate sexual education in schools and there are issues around young women feeling comfortable in initiating condom use.”

However, he said a disturbing resurgence in the number of previously rare STIs like gonorrhoea and syphilis might push young people to get tested.

“It’s a harder sell when you’re talking about chlamydia – it’s not such an immediate consequence. It’s sad to say, but it’s these sort of things that will bring sexual health back into focus.”

Waikato University Student Union president Sapphire Gillard agreed, saying many students weren’t actively

Waikato DHB sexual health manager Kitty Flannery said the importance of safe sex and STI testing needed to become a media priority.

She said alcohol was another major contributing factor – a statement backed by survey results showing 32 per cent had been drinking the last time they had sex.

The study, which questioned nearly 3000 New Zealand students aged 17-26, is the first of its kind since 1991.

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Amazeballs? Fuck you Mr Collins.

A few months ago we had some fun with the douchebags at Mirriam-Webster, but Collins dictionary had to take it that one step further. We were willing to give them some leeway with “LOCOG” but Amazeballs? Seriously?

That isn’t even the worst one. “Mummy Porn” defined as a common term for novels such as Fifty Shades of Grey.

Not only should the phrase not be in the dictionary, but if it has to be then get the definition right. Short news conducted an informal poll to discover that 95% of men we spoke to believe Mummy Porn to be: a series of films we started watching in our late teens and sometimes still enjoy, that are about 95 minutes in length but condensed to around seven minutes in actual viewing time, and usually begin with a young teenage male going around to a friends house to pick up a dvd only to discover his friends mum is lonely and….

Sexless Orgies: Not in my future According to a Wellington study the country now has around 40,000 Asexuals. We won’t dispute that random guess. The same researcher also believes that if more people buy his book they will come out to their own Asexuality. We are also going to let this slide because reading Snooki’s book almost did make me Asexual, so it’s entirely possible. The same research group has organised monthly “Sexless Orgies” that focus on non sexual touching and comfort. We get the principle, but don’t call it that. Orgies involve sex. If it doesn’t involve sex its emotional contact, naptime at kindergarten, foreplay, or for some catholic priests all of the above.

Art or Just a Greasy lady on a Pole The New York High Court have a big decision to make in the next few weeks, as the lawyer for an Albany strip club claims that his client should be eligible to the same tax write offs and incentives as any live art gallery or performance piece. When you think about it, if visiting Hush Hush is patronising the Arts then a couple of the Computing and Mathematical Sciences Lecturers will have bankrolled creative New Zealand for the better part of the next decade.

Legal Drugs are coming back to a pet store near you..

Scientists have announced plans to start testing legal highs on animals to establish their safety for human consumption. This has got the anti animal testing people all up in arms and divided the actual animal community on the issue. Ducks seem cool with it, but cats don’t do drugs because why would they want to lay round the house all day eating and doing fuck all?

Three things: 1) Costume hire places have reported sales of animal costumes have gone through the roof since the story broke.

2) Why test on animals when we have a whole faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

3) Let’s have a real, mature, discussion about legalising actual pot. Less harmful to rats and already market tested.

That is all.

Haiku

News Company offered free sex with car wash Malaysian car wash Offers loyalty rewards With brothel next door

James Cameron’s Digital Domain files for bankruptcy Their profit margins About as tangible as Tupac hologram

Miley Cyrus in strip club row Hollywood strip club Eighty-two year old gets nude Miley throws first punch

“Wild women” key to longevity, says 103year-old The key to long life?

“Women, whisky before bed,” My fucking hero

U N I V ER S I T Y OF WAI KATO N EW S, EVENTS AND NOTICE S

B Semester exams

Agriculture, Science, Art

The B Semester exam timetable is now online – timetable.waikato.ac.nz/exams.

Please check your exam timetable carefully.

Special arrangements If you have a learning or physical disability, you may apply for Special Examination Arrangements by 28 September – see www.waikato.ac.nz/sasd/examinations/ exams1.shtml for more information.

Sitting exams at another time If, because of exceptional circumstances, you can’t sit an exam at the scheduled time or place, you may apply to sit it at another time or location. You shouldn’t make any arrangements until your application is approved – there is a $50 administration fee and if your application is approved, you’ll have to cover all related costs. Your application form must be received at the Assessment and Graduation Office (Student Centre or Gateway Building downstairs reception) by Friday 28 September. Go to www.waikato.ac.nz/sasd/examinations/ exams2.shtml for more information.

Tauranga students Applications may be handed in at the Maharaia building on the Windermere campus. If you’re worried about clashes with your BOP Polytechnic exams, please contact Anne-Marie Kell, email amkell@ waikato.ac.nz, Level 4, Bongard Centre.

Questions? Email exams@waikato.ac.nz or phone 07 838 4466 ext 8018.

Th3sis in 3 entries Entries for the 2012 Th3sis in 3 competition close 5pm, Friday 21 September. The criteria has been refined this year - for more information and to enter visit www. waikato.ac.nz/sasd/postgraduate/th3sis/

www.waikato.ac.nz

Professor of Agribusiness Jacqueline Rowarth will present a public lecture, Agriculture, Science and the Arts, 6pm, Tuesday 18 September at the Academy.

She will discuss how the thriving arts and culture sector may have negative repercussions for the science and food production industries, and how we can encourage science – without neglecting the arts – for the benefit of our graduates, economy and future generations.

Reducing anxiety Worried about exams? These one-hour intensive workshops are designed to provide a better understanding of what anxiety is and how to make it work better for you – instead of against you – in both the lead up to exams and in the exam room itself.

Hamilton workshops Wednesday 10 October, 12-1pm Thursday 11 October, 1-2pm Wednesday 17 October, 1-2pm Wednesday 24 October, 12-1pm Thursday 25 October, 12-1pm

Tauranga workshops Friday 12 October 12-1pm and 1:30-2:30pm Registration is essential and all workshops are limited to 10 participants. To register, email your name, student ID number and phone number to betheaw@waikato. ac.nz. Your registration will be confirmed and you will be advised of the venue.

www.facebook.com/WaikatoUniversity

Defence Force on campus The NZ Defence Force will be on campus Wednesday 19 September, from 1-2pm in S.1.04. They’re recruiting officers and pilots, and looking for upcoming and recent graduates in the arts, social sciences, science, management and engineering.

If you’re interested, come along to hear about career options, training programmes and recruitment processes.

Share ideas with mayor Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker will be hosting a ‘Mayor Outside the Square’ forum on campus next week, to hear your ideas about Hamilton. Come along – 12:30-1:30pm, Wednesday 19 September on the Village Green. www.hamilton.co.nz/mayorinthesquare.

Doctoral workshops During October a workshop series for doctoral candidates will be offered. There will be something for candidates at all stages. Visit www.waikato.ac.nz/sasd/ postgraduate/workshops.shtml to find out more. Places are limited and you must register your attendance.

Council election

Nominations are now open for the 2013 student member of the University Council. Interested? Know someone who’d do a good job? All enrolled students are eligible to nominate and be nominated. Find out more at www.waikato.ac.nz/about/corporate/ student-member

www.twitter.com/waikato

exclusive to Chrisitans. I’m not one, but I still believe that it’s wrong to murder, steal, and so on. Many other religions, like Jews and Muslims, share many “Christian” values. I think they would be offended at the suggestion those values are exclusively Christian. And of course, many Christians (and Jews, etc.) have no problem with gay marriage.

Nexus encourages debate and discussion on almost any topic and welcomes your letters.

Relevant, intelligent and well-worded letters are preferable, and we also enjoy good humour.

Right of reply will generally be accepted provided we have space.

Letters should be kept to a maximum of 250 words. You may hide behind a nom-de-plume but you must tell us your real name (which will not be published unless requested).

Letter of the week is picked on the basis of our feelings, not the persuasion of its content for which we don’t have opinions on.

Disclaimer: letters published contain the opinion of the writer and the writer alone.

Nexus publications take no responsibility for the content or opinions so expressed. By submitting your letter you give consent to its publication in Nexus and subsequent public scrutiny. Letters are the authors own work and Nexus will not edit to compensate for lack of intelligence or coherency.

Nexus reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish any letter which breaches any law, is defamatory to any person, or contains threats of violence or hate speech.

Send your lettuce through to lettuce@nexusmag.co.nz

Dear To be honest,

1010

I agree that New Zealand hasn’t formally stated we have to state religion. We also haven’t formally stated that we do. That, plus our stance on religious diversity seems to to imply we don’t have one. You can’t claim that we are by de facto, simply because of past Christian values, or because the majority of people in New Zealand are Christian. Yes, those values do exist in our society, but that doesn’t make it a Christian society. The majority of the population is white, but would would claim we are a white society?

Because I think we are so much more that that. Yes, the majority of society is white, but that’s different than it being a white society. Secondly, “Christian” values aren’t

Maybe I didn’t make my point clear the first time; you can’t effectively quote a Bible passage in defence of marriage, when a couple of verses later it talks about how divorce is wrong. You can’t latch on to the point about a man and a woman, and then ignore the part about it being wrong to divorce. Very well if you say divorce is wrong too, then we can debate more, but you just said that you don’t have a problem with divorce. So really, if you’re willing to interpret that verse differently, then you should be open to the idea of the man and woman bit being differently interpreted, too. It’s similar to how people used the Bible to justify slavery back in the day. Look what happened there. By the way, Mark (and Matthew, and other writers) were quoting Genesis with those verses. Would you accept everything Genesis says as true?

You say that marriage is becoming a “legal” thing rather than a Christian one; don’t forget the Jews and Muslims and other religions and cultures that believe in marriage when you say that. The point is, marriage means things to a lot of people. Gays included. Therefore, there needs to be a legal aspect to marriage, to define it in secular terms, so that those different cultures and beliefs can co-exist. As a Christian, I assume you believe (as the Bible says) that you should love your neighbour. Well, those people with their differing beliefs are your neighbours. Why not respect them enough to let them do what they want. It won’t affect your rights to believe what you want. I don’t really care if you believe gay marriage is wrong, as long as you allow it regardless. Fine if you don’t want your Church to administer gay ceremonies. I probably wouldn’t want to get married there anyway. Gay marriage is not going destroy society. That’s just scaremongering.

Similarly, gay marriage is not going to lead to people marrying goats or rocks, or whatever else. Marriage is about consenting adults entering in to a partnership. A goat can’t give its consent, much in the same way a rock can’t.

So that’s a pretty big issue for that argument. Those things also don’t have any civil rights, whereas gays do; they have pretty much everything apart from marriage (and joint adoption). So no, the next step after gay marriage isn’t people marrying pets. That’s hundreds of steps after, and I think society will probably stop walking before it gets there.

Just maybe.

All the best, Luke.

This is a compassionate heart felt appeal to find a woman I shared five minutes of passion with last wednesday the 12th of September. She stole my heart, my virginity, and my wallet. It was a wild and windy night, the sky was cloudless, and a full moon shone brightly illuminating the university lakes. It was 11pm, and I was walking back to Student Village after a quiet evening at House Bar. As I rounded a corner I saw her; a blonde beauty standing by the edge of the mirky waters. Our eyes locked, and without a word she called me hither. We lay down upon a grassy knoll and let our passions take over, and then she was gone. I have all but given up on finding this mystery woman, although I never saw her face I am adamant I would recognize the back of her head. If you are reading this, my love, please come forward. I have no intention of pursuing a relationship, I simply need my ID back before next wednesday.

Regards, Your scorned lover.

Students of Waikato, what the fuck is wrong with you?

Every wednesday at House Bar is ‘Skint’ night for students, put on by Nexus Mag, House, and Fevah FM, but for some strange reason there is a real lack of students! $5 beers, wines, ciders, and pizzas, with 2 for 1 cocktails. Its not as cheap as drinking at home, but unlike your scummy flat there are actually girls there. They aren’t as easy as redtube, but they’re close.

So why not try your luck? Don’t get shown up by other universities, get out and display some first class weeknight intoxication. See you all wednesday.

Yours truly, Wednesday Warrior.

Dear university, I will not miss you.

Sincerely, Everyone.

Wednesday

pply.

! Conditions a

t ribs for $25 all you can ea

LEFT vs RIGHT

S

o the government is continuing its campaign to beat up the poorest people in our society by deciding that people who have a warrant out for their arrest will not receive any benefits.

The first and most obvious problem with this is that our entire justice system is based upon the idea that people are innocent until they are proven guilty in court in front of a jury of their peers. Just because the police have an arrest warrant and are looking for somebody doesn’t mean that person has done anything wrong and it definitely doesn’t mean they will be found guilty when they are brought before the law. So why does the government think it is alright to punish these people, because this is quite clearly a punishment.

Secondly it isn’t just punishing the people that the police are looking for, quite often they will have families including children that will be depending on this benefit for their livelihood. These kids probably already have it fairly rough, the police are looking for their caregivers and since they are depending on the benefit they wouldn’t have a lot of things to distract themselves with. To this government that is a perfect opportunity to make someone’s life even more miserable.

Then there is the whole pointlessness of this exercise, Paula Bennett thinks it will cost a minimum of $139,000 per year. That is the cost of paying people to check records between outstanding arrest warrants and benefit records then stop paying the benefits, yes, it will lose us money.

Then consider the fact that beneficiaries have to come in and meet with WINZ staff all the time anyway. If they are on the run from the police they probably wont show up for a meeting with government officials and will probably lose their benefit anyway. If they do show up the police might get a clue or two on where to find them.

This whole exercise is so clearly pointless and just designed to make the government more popular at the expense of beneficiaries and the tax payer, it just makes me rage.

This week we talk benefits and warrants for arrest, and whether one should affect the other.

N

ational want to cut benefits to those who are evading arrest. That’s what we’re talking about this week. When writing this, I generally like to try and figure out what the other person is going to say so I can try and respond. This week, I can’t do that, because I cannot think of a reasonable argument for why this shouldn’t happen. Let’s go with a very basic cost-benefit analysis then. What are the benefits from this policy? Firstly, we’re disincentivising a life of crime. If you need to be on a benefit to live, that being cut has to be a pretty powerful incentive. These people are going to be less likely to get into crime in the first place, because they know the consequences. No one can be stupid enough to think that committing crime is a good idea when that can remove your only way to survive. If the benefit being cut doesn’t concern you that much, you shouldn’t be getting the benefit anyway, because you’re clearly in a position where you don’t need it.

What are the costs from this policy? Obviously, it does mean there will be more people in prisons, because people who end up having their benefits cut will end up making themselves known eventually. These people will end up being arrested and, presumably end up in prison. Some people would suggest that’s an issue because it means our already full prisons will be more full. That doesn’t make sense to me, given if you’re a criminal, there’s a place you should be, and it’s not out in public committing more crime.

What are the benefits to giving the welfare assistance to those with outstanding warrants? If anything, I guess you could say that at least the state is supporting people who need assistance. Weak argument, but an argument all the same. What are the costs of giving welfare assistance to those with outstanding warrants? This one is obvious.

This is an example of the state funding crime. If someone is committing crime, they often need money in order to get resources to commit that crime. If they’re on the benefit, there’s a good chance their funding for that is the benefit, and if it’s not, surely they should be using that money to live rather than state assistance?

We need to remember that welfare isn’t supposed to be a lifestyle. It’s supposed to be a helping hand to those who need it. If this policy doesn’t stop someone committing crime, they either shouldn’t be on welfare to begin with because they don’t need it, or shouldn’t be on welfare because they should be in prison instead.

Sports Thoughts IF IT AINT ALL WHITE, IT’S PROBABLY ALL RIGHT

By C-Ball It seems as though nationwide interest in the All Whites is on the slide back down, after they tasted an exponential rise in popularity after not winning a single game at that FIFA World Cup back in 2010. The sporting public must be finally managing to swallow the pure and simple truth that draws are not cool no matter what the sport – exccluding Russian Roulette.

However, this hasn’t stopped that crafty, steaming piece of shit that is the New Zealand media going to great lengths to hype Football up as much as they can in the hope that some people didn’t witness how badly the All Whites got murdered at the Olympic Games. Apparently, the absence of draws in recent All Whites performances are worrying, because they’ve had to go about ‘strengthening their resolve’, changing their attitude, and pretty much using every other bullshit cliché in the book used to pacify pissed off and disenchanted fans.

But that’s sweet, because I’ve got a few handy tips that I think can help the All Whites, Wellington Phoenix and New Zealand Football in general return to their boring, draw resulting best.

KEY 1 TO FUTURE SUCCESSHire Graham Henry as coach. It doesn’t matter that he won’t know jack shit about the technical side of the game, because as far as I’m concerned there is only really one player in the team who does and that is Ryan Nelsen. Since the ill fated Kingz and Knights franchises, I struggle to see how our professional football players have gotten any better. The only thing they are doing differently now is managing to lure more overseas based players into the team for international matches. So

hire Graham Henry. It won’t make the team any better, but you saw the furore created over him helping Argentina. That shit sells papers.

That shit gets the public interested, and allows the media to jump on even more pointless and inane ideas, then run with them. Oh my god he gave all of the All Black secrets to another country. How will we ever win again now that opposition knows.. nothing at all? There’s a new coach in charge dickheads. I’d hope that means new set plays, new tactics and a whole different game plan. No team operates on the same formula for long. Winning is about creativity, and modifying what is working so that others are never prepared.

KEY 2 TO FUTURE SUCCESS– Pay Steve Matai as much money as he wants to come play football for New Zealand. Once again, like Graham Henry it doesn’t matter that he won’t know jack shit about the sport, because he will make up for that with actually giving those pussies on the field a reason to roll around on the ground clutching their ankle. There is nothing worse than the dive and the theatrics.

Matai is uncompromising, currently possessing the NRL’s worst judiciary record since 2007 with 13 charges, 10 bans, and a total of 20 weeks missed through suspension. Look at that guy lying on the ground crying about his poor ankle that no one came close to, and then look at Matai, who’s rap sheet reads ‘six careless high tackles, two reckless high tackles, two dangerous contact charges, one contrary conduct charge and one striking charge.’ I just heard the collective thump of every soccer player in the country sitting the fuck down in fear of what Matai would bring to this boring sport of

who can be the biggest weiner. Not have – be. New Zealand Football will have to work around Matai’s current commitments though. I heard they are shooting the Expendables 3, where the cast is just Matai alone stomping the tits off a million Tyrannosaurus Rex’s before taking a dump on Michael Bay’s front door step.

KEY 3 TO FUTURE SUCCESS – This is where New Zealand Football needs to be extremely clever. My advice is for every future Wellington Phoenix and All Whites game played on our shores, schedule the games so that they coincide with Netball matches. That way, they are assured of pulling in a huge audience. No one in their right mind is going to sit down on the couch, turn on the television for a bit of sport and choose Netball over Football. I’d love to say it’d be close, but I’d be lying and in all fairness I dislike Netball even more than I do the ankle clutching wimps. With both Netball and Football on at the same time, audience ratings will rise for soccer, and plummet for Netball.

Talk about two birds with one stone.

Then ANZ might spend that 900 million profit they’ve made so far this year on some better than the Netball Championship. Anytime a bank earns that much profit should create a number of questions amongst the public. But this is New Zealand guys, and I heard marmite is running low on supply. We have bigger things to worry about, right?

Entertainment Someone said to me recently, “hey 8 ball what do you think about gay people wanting to get married?” Let me speak on this once and never again. Gay, straight or transgendered, I don’t care about any of you. Get married don’t get married, at the end of the day you all still taste the same when I kill you and boil you in soup.

Except lesbians, for some reason lesbians always require more salt.

Eight Ball Can You Calculate The speed of Dark?

Yes it’s exactly 299792458 m/s or the same constant as the speed of light in a vacuum, because darkness is just the absence of light. The speed the light moves away creates darkness. Didn’t expect that answer did you? Well I’m wicked smart. That’s how you destroy galaxies.

Am I an idiot for drinking away my two week break? My sources say no. You should never apologise for drinking away two solid weeks provided at the end of them you still have your wallet, mobile phone, keys and the ability to urinate without the fire of a thousand suns.

If that’s the case then you have just had a yet another university experience to scrapbook.

Will I Still Pass the year even tho I have done no work? Reply Hazy Concentrate and ask again. Try rephrasing slightly and you may get the answer you seek without me. For instance: I’m a FASS student Will I Still Pass the year even tho I have done no work? Yes. Should I wear lacey panties to impress my boyfriend? Very Doubtful. Wear lacey panties if YOU want to wear them. At best they are a nice surprise, at worst they are an obstacle standing in the way of why men are down there in the first place. It’s like when you get a burger at McDonalds and it comes in a box rather than wrapped up in paper. It’s a little nicer but ultimately it means nothing, and you wont waste your time thinking about it while the burger gets cold.

Send your questions through to 8ball@nexusmag.co.nz

Aries: You are destined for a life of pain, heartache, sadness and misery…sorry not you this other person who looks a lot like you. I could swear you were twins.

Taurus: You are destined for greatness…sorry not you this other person who looks a lot like you.

I could swear you were twins.

Gemini: What is up with bright green hipster pants? You’re in University now for god sakes.

Cancer: Five weeks to go then study leave, then exams. Time to start making a list of all the people who can kiss your ass!

Leo: You both have to piss in the fountain at the same time, that is the only way you can switch bodies back. Now let me invent an arbitrary deadline to do it in……

Virgo: Take a ride on the reading. If you pass go collect $200, but not from Nexus. We don’t have $200, ink is expensive man.

Libra: You will finally understand what it means to walk in another person’s shoes; you will also understand how easy it is to become a shoe thief.

Scorpio: You will contemplate making a major life decision this week; you won’t actually make one though. Those decisions are best left for beautiful, talented people with employment prospects.

Sagittarius: Just tell him, what’s the worst that could happen?

Capricorn: “They say that misery loves company, we can build a factory and make misery” song lyrics from the 90s make better horoscopes than “To the windows, to the walls till the sweat drips…”

Aquarius: So she said no. Time to go home and watch some Mummy Porn.

Pisces: You failed to defeat the dragon lord, go back three horoscopes.

Face of the week - make me into Chris Colfer

Puzzles Complete the puzzle page, bring it and show us, and you’ll go in the draw to win some fabulous free stuff!

SUDOKU

GAY PRIDE Word Find GAY PRIDE GENDERQUEER SAFESEX DRAGQUEEN HOMOSEXUAL LESBIAN PANSEXUAL MARRIAGEEQUALITY RAINBOW TRANSEXUAL TRANSGENDER BISEXUAL LADYBOY LEGALISELOVE

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Opinion

A nod to lettuce. Being nice to each other is not a ‘Christian value.’ It’s a human value. If you’re only nice to people because “God said I had to,” then it’s nothing personal, but you’re tacky and I hate you.

What’s up sluts.

VOTE FOR AARON. Too late? Oh. Thus are the downfalls of procrastination.

Let me tell you 3 short tales.

The tale of the controlling girlfriend and how nothing she does is helping her relationship and her boyfriend wants to dump her and she has no idea because she’s such a cunt and her friends think she’s lovely but she’s not; she’s emotionally and mentally abusive and her boyfriend could do better; will do better; has done better so shaaaaaaaaaaaaame.

Yeah. So once upon a time, this girl was a thing; is still a thing. Word to the wary; if you think you are losing someone; forcing them to be with you WILL NEVER HAS NEVER helped. They may still be with you but they are more than likely being forced into resenting you more with every check of their Facebook, with every stalk through their phone, with every post town interrogation. You’ve essentially taken something that loves you and abused it to a point where it is too weak and too broken to leave. You are no longer in a relationship with that person anymore than a drug is in a relationship with their addict. He’s there because he literally does not think he has the ability to leave. Sort your shit out. You’ve broken a human being; this isn’t about you anymore; this is about them. You are a crazy ass bitch.

Hypothetically.

The tale of the guy that’s so paranoid that he is literally reading this right now in a pedo-sweat because he’s so sure this is about him and doesn’t know what to do about it so instead of ever talking to whoever he has imagined is against him, he just lashes out like a crazy person and corners you in town to ask what your friends; who have never met him; are saying behind his back.

Here’s a hint. We’re talking about the fact that you’re crazy. Why? Because you’re crazy. Were we talking about you before you started being the crazy guy asking us why we were talking about you? No; but now we are definitely talking about you because you’ve been accosting us in town asking what we say when we are ‘talking about you.’ You are a Grade A crazy person. Here’s a word from our sponsors.

Bane: “Kid is fucking crazy.”

The Joker: ”He is legit crazy.”

Angelina Jolie: “If he was a povo black kid, I wouldn’t adopt him; because he’s fucking crazy.”

Hypothetically.

The tale of the classic dry bitch that has no good yarns and uses a ridiculous tone of voice so that she can appear as sweet and innocent as humanly although she lives alone and everyone knows that she likes the dick. It is literally painful to hold a conversation with you.

Hypothetically.

Accurate Someone tweeted me and asked me to stop swearing last week. I promised that I would dedicate a swear-free sentence to them.

Hello. Thank you for your concern. I shall endeavour to do so (that’s a lie) and appreciate your feedback. Done.

There is nothing more basic than people that answer swearing questions with “I don’t fucking swear.” Stop being basic bitches. No one likes a basic bitch.

Ok lovers. I shall leave you with that for the week. Keep tweeting at me (I say as though I’ve had more than 3 followers). Keep your uteruses clean so that one day science may place a ‘perfect baby’ in there because love is dead and ladies are independent and all that shit the feminists keep asking me to say.

I love each of you. Well... again; not so much you; but your friend’s pretty hot.

Stay safe. What’s 3+2? AIDS MMF.xx P.S. Tell me your life stories. @mrmintyfish mmf@nexusmag.co.nz P.P.S. There’s a guy in your class that is secretly masturbating to the image of being emotionally broken by a crazy bitch. He’s wearing a green shirt. Just look away, he’ll be done soon and he only cries for a few minutes after so pretend you didn’t see anything. Just maybe don’t use that seat ever again. Or burn it.

P.P.P.S. Ok ,seriously? You need to stop trying to find him. Can’t a creepy guy in a green tshirt masturbate over mental abuse in a public lecture without being disturbed?

“Take this Waltz” played at Lido Cinemas a month or so back. It was essential viewing for any interested in contemporary art cinema or just engaging human drama, a simple story impeccably told, a romance of sorts in which a woman in her early 30s is divided over whether to leave her loving, dependable if somewhat dull husband for the thrilling charms of a bad boy who has moved in across the road.

There was wit, wisdom and eroticism to spare.

A solid cast helped to anchor the material credibly in the minutia of everyday life. Relative unknown Luke Kirby was sharp and sexy as the “other man” whilst Seth Rogen pared back the usual comedic schtick and gave an actual performance as the cuddly hubby keener on practical jokes than bedroom gymnastics.

Both were put in the shade though by the haunting work of a leading actress who combines the luminosity of a real star with an always accessible, girlnext-door quality. The film belonged to Michelle Williams.

It’s a subjective call but I can’t think of a better American actress working today who is under the age of 40. After paying her dues as a child performer and television teen Williams has blossomed into Hollywood’s preeminent leading lady. Well, thinking Hollywood’s best option at least, for there are thankfully few blockbusters on her CV. Auteur House stocks just under half of Williams’ output to date. I’ve yet to catch-up with all of them – Wim Wenders’ “Land of Plenty” and Lukas Moodysson’s “Mammoth”

are noteworthy titles still to be viewed - but what follows is a top ten selection, in ascending order of merit.

connection was more successful, at least in the short term, and both were Oscar nominated.

10. “I’m Not There” (2007) Todd Haynes’ oblique take on the life and times of Bob Dylan is a challenging watch and not for all tastes. Williams plays Andy Warhol muse and sometime Dylan lover Edie Sedgwick.

5. Meek’s Cutoff (2010) Kelly Reichart’s ground-breaking revisionist western had its budget slashed midway through production, necessitating a script re-write and extremely open ending. Yet has there ever been a more realistic portrayal of the wagon-train experience? Williams is note perfect as the pioneering woman with a lot more gumption and logic than any of the menfolk.

9. Dick (1999) Perhaps it fails to reach its full potential as either comedy or satire but this retelling of the Watergate scandal from the point of view to two air headed teenagers is quirkily charming. Williams holds her own with then bigger contemporary, Kirsten Dundst.

8. Synecdoche, New York (2008) Charlie Kaufman’s dour mediation on the artist’s lot in society is his version of Dennis Potter’s Singing Detective - complex and blatantly autobiographical - but isn’t always a lot of fun. Williams is dowdy and depressed as the writer’s second wife yet still registers in a stellar cast.

7. The Station Agent (2003) Williams has a small part in this wonderful, independent dramedy about a dwarf befriending two equally unhappy social outcasts. As the librarian love interest she makes her screen time count.

6. Brokeback Mountain (2005) In all the hoopla about this “gay cowboy film” the fine supporting work of its female cast was often overlooked. Williams is heartbreaking as Heath Ledger’s neglected wife. Their off-screen

4. My Week with Marilyn (2011) Outside of a couple misconceived attempts to recreated too wellknown musical numbers, Williams is completely convincing as Marilyn Monroe in this sweet, unpretentious true story set during the making of “The Prince and the Showgirl”.

3. Take this Waltz (2011) As above.

2. Blue Valentine (2010) The disintegration of a marriage is contrasted with flashbacks depicting the couple’s courtship. Williams matches Ryan Gosling note for note and the results are emotionally devastating.

1. Wendy & Lucy (2008) This straightforward tragedy about an impoverished young woman and her dog has echos of the Italian neo-realist classic Umberto D yet Kelly Reichart has such a feel for the plight of the misunderstood and the downtrodden that there’s no contrivance or hint of homage. Screen acting seldom gets as good as Williams is here. One of the films of the century.

I’m always a bit astonished when I hear people using the word gay as a synonym for crappy, un-cool, or stupid. For me, it’s such a random and out of context word to use.

What makes it gay? Does it actually have anything to do with sexuality when people say it?

Well the people I hear using the word would assure me it doesn’t. Whenever I question someone on the use of such a phrase the common response goes something like this “oh you know what I mean... I’m not talking about actual gay people... I just mean its real lame... it’s actually got nothing to do with being gay...”

If you’re one of the vast majority of people under 25 in New Zealand, then this explanation probably makes perfect sense to you. I guess there was a stage in my life when it reflected my own thinking too. I mean, we all went to high school, so it’s probably safe to say most of us used that phrase at least once a minute at some stage in our lives, to describe absolutely everything we didn’t like, right?

But does the commonness of the phrase ‘gay’ as a synonym to (insert any negative adjective you can think of here) make it harmless and acceptable? Well, I want to tell you, as someone who has sat on both sides of that discussion, the answer is definitely no!

Let me bring you into Brad’s shoes for just a moment to help me explain why I think this. Imagine you, Brad*, are at the movies. You’ve just walked into the Cinema when you see a bunch of your mates coming out of the movie you’re just on your way to see. So you walk up them and you say “Hey guys, how was the movie?”

But actually the movie wasn’t that great, so one guy replies “Oh, hey bro... um yea to be honest it was totally Brad.”

And then your other mate chips in, “Yea man, it was like the Bradest movie I’ve ever seen... that guy with the gun, he was totally Brad.” And then the first guy is all like “Oh sorry Brad, I don’t mean Brad as in you, I just mean Brad as in Brad... He was majorly Brad!” Then the second guy chips in again – “Yea bro, don’t even waste your money on that Brad-as film...”

How do you think Brad is feeling about himself right now?

I mean, like they said, they’re not talking about him, they’re just talking about Brad... Oh wait, but he’s Brad – so what does that mean about him?

My guess is, Brad might smile along and even join in saying how ‘Brad’ everything is. But if we looked beyond the surface level we would see that Brad is starting to internalise some very powerful messages about who he is and how people see him. He would come to understand that every time he introduces himself people are going to think that is soo wired because all they know about ‘Brad’s’ is that they are real un-cool. As well as that, he’s going to be

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aware that the use of the word Brad as a negative adjective didn’t come from nowhere: imbedded in this popular slang is a potent message about what the world thinks of Brad’s like him. Maybe his mates use that slang because they have seen how clumsy Brad is or maybe their parents have told them to watch out for Brad’s: they’re all social misfits and non-hopers.

However the slang has come to be developed, the important thing is it sends a very clear message about how we value the Brad’s in our society. So, my point is, like a name, being gay is a core part of my identity. It’s a word I have had to learn to own and wear like a name as I have come out. That has been incredibly difficult, and for a long time totally impossible.

Going through high-school, all I knew about being gay was that it was the worst possible thing you could be. Being gay meant you were at the absolute bottom of the social ladder; if you wanted to make someone feel small or stink about themselves all you had to do was suggest they were one of them. Even if they weren’t, the mere association was enough to undermine their self-worth. That might sound trivial, but it’s actually pretty potent stuff... just imagine what that message means to a 14 year old boy who is slowly coming to realise that he is not really that into chicks.

I still remember the first time I told someone I was gay. I was so tormented and anxious I felt sick in the pit of my stomach.

But the funny thing was, it wasn’t revealing the fact that I liked guys that filed me with terror; rather it was the idea of owning the term ‘gay’. A word I only knew to mean dirty and derogatory things. It wasn’t a word I wanted to be associated with at all! In fact, to the young, fresh out of high-school, me there was nothing about the word gay that could possibly be celebrated.

It has taken a long time, but I have learnt to celebrate my gay identity. And that has meant rejecting all those dirty associations with a word that is so close to my being.

However, I’m always really astonished when people persist to use the term in a negative way. They are never trying to insult me directly, but they are chipping away at my identity in a subtle, yet powerful, way.

This pride week I want to encourage you to reflect on the language you use. Maybe you could commit to finding a new word to use every 3 seconds? I promise you, once you rid yourself of that nasty and disempowering habit you will start to hear people using it and think “What the fuck man, are you like 12?”

With love, Murray *If your name’s not Brad** you can slot your own name in there for added effect ** If your name is Brad don’t feel bad – I used Brad cos Brad’s a hot name! It’s certainly cooler than Murray .

Projected in a Hamilton East backyard, a collection of liberal-minded folks found themselves watching the buildup to the first reading of the marriage equality bill. With an air of cautious optimism, we drank beer and exchanged light conversation as the conscience vote drew nearer.

Louisa Wall took centre-stage and spoke eloquently, graciously, while Winston copped out by insisting the fairest way forward was to have the majority decide the rights of the minority. Those who spoke in opposition to the bill avoided spouting vitriol (miraculous), but received jeers from my gathering anyway, punctuating the unusually emotive nature of this issue. Su’a William Sio gave a speech betraying core Labour principles, and I noted with some interest that half of our gathering was heterosexual - people were supportive simply because legislating against love undermined some of the central values they carried; fairness, equality of opportunity, and the importance of celebrating love. And because, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’.

The ayes had it, 80-40 in our favour, and I was damn proud. New Zealand, the country with a legacy of standing up for justice, seemed braced to do it again. From the early establishment of women’s suffrage (by international standards), to setting up a reliable welfare system, and becoming nuclear-free, we have always prided ourselves on being a progressive nation. It’s not always true, of course. Like all national mythologies, it has its limits.

I sometimes wonder if we’d be making such promising progress in our little piece of the world if Obama hadn’t taken the political risk to verbalise his support for the issue. Regardless, it’s awesome to hear the majority of Aotearoa is backing the more forward-thinking and principled side of the argument.

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There are, of course, people who wish to derail the efforts of organisations like LegaliseLove, and none have been so vocal as Colin Craig. For the record, I don’t think he’s a bad bloke. Kooky, maybe. A little separated from reality, perhaps. His argument is that in extending marriage to same-sex couples, the state would be redefining the institution with disastrous (although ambiguous) consequences, and children in particular would be adversely affected. Despite Colin’s complete lack of evidence to support these claims, you get the sense he’s expecting a kind of doomsday scenario to unfold following the passing of this legislation. Homosexuals chanting black magic while performing demonic love rituals (such as pecking eachother on the lips before work) and indoctrinating children all over the country into a rainbow cult. If there’s some kind of elaborate queer conspiracy

brewing, I’m very disappointed that I haven’t received the newsletter or been invited to a meeting.

Maybe Colin is just lacking perspective – maybe he would benefit from making some gay friends. In fact, a night out at Shine is probably just what the doctor ordered. He could go home with an affable drag queen (for the purpose of this piece, let’s call her Bubbles) and spend the lonely hours of the morning trading skincare tips and exploring the deep philosophical questions over a game of familyfriendly Scrabble. Then, later that day, he’d run over to Bob McCoskrie’s house and proclaim jubilantly, “I’ve had an epiphany! The gays are okay!”

I have wonderful friends of faith, by the way. I appreciate the difficulty of their position and I am eternally grateful for their courage. Despite my agnosticism, I truly believe that homosexuality and religious belief are not incompatible qualities, and any widening of divisions between our communities is to the detriment of society.

Many churches have modernised their thinking (which is by no means unprecedented) and I am confident that this trend will continue as diversity is embraced more and more. My Nana Pearl, in her nineties, unexpectedly made reference to my sexual orientation before she died.

She couldn’t understand the fuss, and only cared about my happiness. If she, as a member of such a conservative generation, can make peace with it, I’m hopeful that others will eventually follow suit.

When I was thirteen, a boy came in close contact with me and I experienced a bodily reaction that both horrified and confused. The realisation that I was different, that I was one of ‘they-who-shall-not-be-named’ hit me like a ton of bricks. I was going straight to Hell. Never mind Hell, I was set to incur the wrath of my hetero-normative family.

I felt isolated and disempowered, and buried myself in the business of learning – not for any developmental reason, but because I feared the cruel social landscape of high school. At fifteen, I passed a note to my best friend as we dozed in Geography class, sharing my secret and hoping that her love of Rocky Horror Picture Show was indicative of a tolerance for homosexuality. She returned my note with a message that equated to ‘Duh!’ and suddenly I had an ally. I ‘came out’ directly after (to use that bizarre analogy) and was inundated with support – something that enriched my life immeasurably. At seventeen, I was elected head boy by the student populace with a high level of confidence and an unwavering commitment to fight for social justice. Evidence, I think, of a successful personal journey.

The reason I shared that awkwardly personal anecdote is to underscore the relationship between one’s perception of acceptance and their likelihood of forming a healthy identity. I was lucky to have a strong support network, but many young LGBT people feel isolated and lose themselves in dark places. This is an angle that hasn’t received a great deal of airtime in the marriage equality debate thus far.

Let me be clear: It is dangerous for the state to perpetuate the message that same-sex love is of lesser value than heterosexual love, when young people (in particular) are often desperately seeking reassurance that they aren’t of second-class citizenship. While inequality endures on a legislative level, the ‘normalisation’ of queer citizens is just idealism, and discrimination will continue to be rife in schools and in the workplace.

If my words have resonated with you in any way, I encourage you to lobby Hamilton East MP, David Bennett. Despite representing a constituency comprised of a high proportion of students, he is likely to be remembered on the wrong side of history – that is, unless we can effectively persuade him to stand up for love. It’s not a tough sell, is it? Someday I want to marry my soul mate – inevitably a dude - and forge a family with him.

Contrary to Colin Craig’s assertion, I have no immediate plans to kidnap your children and poison your aunty.

By Logan Reynolds *Logan is an executive member of LegaliseLove Waikato.

As the debate around Marriage Equality heats up it seems that the media is intent on framing the argument as the Queers vs. the Christians. Within this frame there seems to be a natural conclusion that all good Christians are against Marriage Equality and hate queers. This assumption is totally misguided and illogical.

Christianity was part of my upbringing; with both my parents ordained Anglican Priests, I have naturally developed morals and values that reflect my Christian faith. I am also openly gay.

Although when I first ‘came out’ I had some concerns as to how my sexuality might be accepted by the predominantly religious friends and family surrounding me, and the effect it could have on my parents as highly respected members of the local community and church, I have always known that the God I know, the God of love, loves me and the person that I am.

So why then does society hold this opinion that queer and religious communities are two opposing forces, only meeting to exchange slogans on the steps of parliament every time the words ‘same sex marriage’ are mentioned?

Yes, admittedly a large group within the Christian faith do preach homophobia and intolerance, jumping up and down claiming the argument is biblical; quoting texts ‘which are not open to interpretation’!

In reality, however, there is very little if any reference to homosexuality in the entire bible. Firstly, the concept of homosexuality, like it exists today – where two people enter into a consensual and loving relationship, is very

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different to the same sex references made in biblical times. Thus any scripture that relates to intercourse between two people of the same sex must be investigated further before assuming the relevance of what some man wrote thousands of years ago to my present relationship.

If you’ve ever been taught the extent of homosexual sin you would have no doubt been quoted Leviticus 18:22 which is translated to read: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

Sure this sounds pretty conclusive – right? Homosexuality is an abomination – it’s that simple. It’s just wrong...

Hmm, but did you consider that Leviticus also states that eating pigs is morally unclean? – “And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.” Unless you were like me for the 24hrs after I was served my pet pig, Boris, for dinner when I was 10, you probably eat pigs anyway, right?

Did you also consider that the word abomination is used to explain other eating rituals which we give no weight to today as well? : “And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:” Other parts of the book describe planting two crops in the same patch as an abomination. Are these things also innately wrong today?

Obviously not!

So if God doesn’t hate gays why is it in the bible at all?

Leviticus sets out rules for the early Jews; rules for survival. As the Jews were severally under populated

two men engaging in intercourse was seen as a waste of semen.

Today the decision not to procreate poses no threat to the future of the population, and therefore homosexual relationships are as acceptable as eating pork – which no longer posses the heath threats it did in Biblical times.

I am therefore left questioning, why, when homosexuality is so unimportant to the bible, do modern religious front liners make such an issue out of it?

There are many other, far more relevant and obvious, parts of the bible that many religious leaders are more than happy to ignore.

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A personal favourite of mine, as evangelical Christian leaders rack up the millions (often through donations that amount to stealing from the most vulnerable in society), is that in Matthew 19:21 Jesus said “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.”

I would love to get hold of Brian Tamaki for his opinion on the matter, but his house staff inform me he is presently taking a family vacation in Vanuatu, enjoying $50 cocktails by the pool – but they took the opportunity to inform me I could make a $20 donation to the repairs on his family yacht by pressing 1. (Ok, so I didn’t actually call him, but you get my point...)

An interesting parallel to the present injustice indorsed by the Church today is that of the years leading up to the slave trade abolition in England. Before its abolition the bible was used fiercely to sanction slavery. Verses such as Proverbs 29:19 “A servant will not be corrected by mere words; for though he understands, he will not respond” were interpreted to permit the disgraceful treatment of slaves, much the same way verses are taken out of context to promote prejudice against queer people today. The bible has also been used to oppress women and coloured people, inhibiting their rights to equality. While there are

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a few Christians who would publicly promote slavery, racism, or the disempowerment of women today, the bible is still being used to oppress.

Undeniably there is a notion of intolerance and judgment within, perhaps, the loudest members of the Christian community, it is important to remember this does not reflect Christianity. As William Wilberforce, driven by his Christian beliefs, fought for the abolition of the slave trade, and many Christians have worked to oppose racism and gender inequalities, there are many religious leaders who support the rights of the queer community too.

For example, a prominent leader in the Anglican church, when recently questioned on Marriage Equality said : “Jesus often walked alongside people on the margins of society. I believe he would be challenging those who sit safe and secure in the cultural majority today who claim ‘biblical truth’ against those who are hurting”.

While the Church is typically slow and conservative when it comes to progression, I can only hope common sense will prevail, and soon! Cos, if God doesn’t hate fags, why should the Church?

By Murray Riches

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How to sum up what WaQuY does for the Waikato youth...Well first off, just what is WaQuY? WaQuY, as in Wacky, is a safe space and ultimately a social group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, asexual, pansexual, all that fit under the adopted umbrella of queer, the 14-25 year old people in the Waikato. Pretty awesome, hey?

On Tuesdays those under 18 get together to discuss, share, support, hang out and carry out fun activities like baking rainbow cookies at a funded community house. Then on Wednesdays the over 18s get together at the house to discuss, share, support, hang out and carry out fun activities. The place is theirs to feel comfortable, to seek help if they need it, or to meet other people their age. Movies are run, junk food is eaten and a community is built.

During talk with WaQuY mentor coordinator and 20-year-old Casey Stokes, the group were on the lookout for a new place. In fact they have shifted quite a bit since the government awarded them funding to put down roots in Hamilton City.

There was the Whaimarama Youth

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Connects on the corner of Anglesea and Collingwood Street that lent them space, then the Reid house of a few months ago. Now they were looking to move again, but this time more to be ‘present’ in society, to be visual and not hidden. In a way.

The national queer support advocacy Rainbow Youth resides on Auckland’s K Road (Karangahape for those of you who live under rocks with the curtains drawn) and are right in the thick of the community. It even has a shop. This is what WaQuY wants, not so much a shop, but to be in the thick of it, to be out and about in the community. Casey said whether that means some people look at you and think “Oh, God.” to see something like that in the community normalises it. Which had me thinking about that old chestnut of a saying “Fear is given a name.” Casey said the organisation is working on becoming more visible, a scary decision in some ways as it opens up the opportunity for anyone to say what they like. In the past WaQuY has run on a need-to-know strategy where the location was not advertised, only given out to those it

was relevant to or who needed the safe place. In the five years Casey has been with WaQuy they have never had hate mail but she said the “secret society” adopted attitude can be too much for some people and scary for youth. “Having to text a stranger, then find that stranger, meet with them in order to find a safe place, can be scary. I remember meeting this member once and their Grandmother did not want to leave them alone with me, until they knew I was genuine. I can understand that, you are trusting a complete stranger.”

As the youth co-ordinator Casey is generally the first person new members talk to when they come knocking on the WaQuY door.

She also assists with volunteers, facilitates groups and helps with fundraising and makes sure everyone is on the same page. She didn’t know if I’d been around queer people much but she said it is a lot of fun but exhausting to get them to do a set task. “They are so bright and bubbly and loud and fabulous, which is great, but exhausting at times. “The issues some of our

community’s queer youth experience, just from being themselves, is family disapproval, isolation, disownership, bullying of both the physical and mentally type, being outed, having harmful thoughts of hurting themselves. Casey said there have been incidents of youth attempting to self-harm as well as a few members overtly outed to their family through Work and Income New Zealand. Sometimes the intention is there, but the consequence can be damaging. So it is good to know there is a place like WaQuY that can help find accommodation, therapy, information, and talk these issues out with their members. When the word memebers is used, it does not mean it is an exclusive club with a joining fee or anything.WaQuY’s door is open to all who need their services and is free, brilliant aren’t they? The numbers of people each week varies, with different people always around and usually between 6-15 members per meeting. There has been up to 25 people at a meeting but the nature of the season dictates a turnout really.

More about those Queer-Straight Alliances (QSA). The concept was founded by Tabby Besley in Wellington who felt a space was needed in schools to say to all students that gender and sexuality diversity is not weird, and this is why. The idea is to arm students who want equality in schools with the resources, networks and information to educate their peers and teachers.

The education involves going over thevarious sexualities, as well as gender. Going over the variations and terms, homphobia, role reversal, discussing the less normalised and humanising the talks with a coming out story. Casey said it is about making bullying and the misinformation around gender and sexuality diversity a pressing issue in schools. QSA Network Aotearoa had another Hui recently, attracting 40 people from all over this fair country to Tapu Te Ranga Marae, Wellington. WaQuY sent Casey and four others down for the four day conference. Tabby of QSA Network said. “It was the first opportunity to come together and discuss issues and activities. An

opportunity to be welcomed and feel okay about being ourselves in a supportive environment. The goal is to get them (QSAs) present in every secondary school in the country. It was a good turnout but of course with an intimate space we would’ve loved to have had more people.” The Hui was mainly for high school peeps, to show them how to run QSAs and were co-ordinators in support of the network all of the Auckland schools are on board with QSA, same with one school in Nelson, yet Hamilton appears to be not. How come?

WaQuY’s Casey says it is down to the receptivity of the principal and staff. “There have to be at least a few people interested that are in the school. It’s a generational thing. You meet younger people than you, then they create another wave. At school everyone knew ‘that’ was the gay person. I don’t think we are getting the visibility we need. We send posters to schools but when we go to the schools you don’t see them anywhere.”

Hamilton Girls is hoping to set up one as soon as possible.

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What: Da Bois Nite Out [Men Only] Where: Rm SG 03, S Block, University of Waikato When: Thursday 20 September, 6.30pm onwards.

Mooloo Mix invites you to an event for the bois during Pride 2012. Come along and enjoy a night out at the movies. We will screen the movie Eating Out 4: Drama Camp. Pizza will be provided, BYO snacks as well as your mates. Be there before the movie, so we can order the pizza and get it fast! All men welcome. No cost.

What: Lesbian Quiz Night Where: The Bank, upstairs When: Thursday 20 September 7.30pm onwards Always highly entertaining, and more than a little competitive! So brush up on your general knowledge and swot up on your Sapphic savoir-faire; get a team together, or just turn up on the night and join the party. Email the Lesbian Social Group for details: lsg@hamiltonpride.co.nz $5 quiz entry per person.

What: Stitch‘n Butch Where: Student Union Building When: Wednesday 19 September 7pm onwards Organisers: Askew, Nick and Lynda Learn to knit with Nuck or share your own craft skills while gossiping with other queers and their friends. If you want to learn to knit, please bring your own knitting needles (size 9 are good to learn on). No experience necessary!

Everyone welcome; no cost.

What: Queering Cultural Hour on Campus (University of Waikato) Where: The Village Green When: Wednesday 19 September 1pm onwards Organisers: Askew

What: Number 8 Films and Hamilton Pride present ‘Out at the Movies’ Where: Waikato Museum. 1 Grantham Street.

When: Sunday 23 September 6.30pm. Tickets $20 Book online at www.number8films.com Host Organisation: Number 8 Films Christopher Banks MEN LIKE US – a 90-minute NZ Documentary directed by Christopher Banks.

“An unflinching look at gay life in New Zealand” – Hannah JV, Express Magazine A revealing documentary window into the lives of nine New

What: Askew Ball ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend’ Where: Waikato Museum, Grantam St When: Saturday 22 September 7.30pm to midnight Host Organisation: Askew Waikato Description: Come along to the Museum for the closing event of the Hamilton Pride Festival 2012. This will be a fun night of dancing and fabulous dress, an alcohol-free event so all ages can be included. The theme is burlesque/ diamonds and dress will be formal.

What: Dance with Pride Where: Garden Place, Victoria Street When: Friday 21 September 6–8pm Join us for a big, bright and colourful Zumba and Line Dancing Extravaganza.

A leading Zumba Instructor will pump Hamilton’s city centre with sounds and moves to get everyone pumping. Phoenix Adamson from Community Radio’s Flat Out Pride Show will showcase line dancing at its best.

Coloured balloons or glow sticks will be available to display Hamilton’s rainbow colours to the whole of New Zealand as this event is scheduled to coincide with TVNZ One’s weather-cam at approximately 6.20pm. Let’s show the country who we are!

For up to date notices and any late changes see: www.hamiltonpride.co.nz

Zealand gay men aged 24 through 78, including Hamilton local Raymond Wilson, Men Like Us highlights the common threads in our continuing struggle for everyday happiness in a straight man’s world.

It’s a tapestry of uplifting and challenging tales of ordinary men overcoming the obstacles life throws in our way, including body image and masculinity, bullying and bereavement, migration and aging, HIV, cultural identity and spirituality.

Telling the untold stories on film: www.number8films.com

Reviews

REVIEWS other half of this group Matt Kilmer, provides a distinctly house influenced back beat. He turns his hand to driving bass in Trump while Haale’s vocals spiral and shimmer.

It’s a catchier track than the opener and it has all the makings of a lead single.

Vocals dive in and under the technically fascinating drumming in the third number, EOA. Haale’s vocals create an almost eerie soundscape, like another instrument only to be spring boarded off in the final moments of the song by backing vocals. Despite this, it’s one of the few songs that never really gets to spark into life. It’s made up for in spades with the lively and lush song, The Lake. Once again Kilmer provides a gentle but strong backing track filled with electric guitar and thumping bass drum while Haale is able to stretch and move her beautiful voice. The song builds sublimely, finishing at a gratifying peak.

Free Legal Download of the Week – Ashland Slumber by SFV Acid. California based house producer reviving dirty drum beats and down to earth techno. Download via pitchfork.com Music Video of the Week – Stan Howse by Louie Knuxx. One of NZ’s finest and most heavily tattooed MC’s bringing the first single off his new EP. Check it out via vimeo.com Album of the Week – Wild Poppies by The Mast I can‘t ever be sure of how exactly I came across The Mast.

This Brooklyn, New York based electro-pop outfit have just released the first single off their new album and it instantly transported me back to 2011’s Wild Poppies. The debut from this creative duo has become a slow burning favourite in our flat and by double checking bandcamp.com, I see it’s still available to download for free/koha, so maybe, it will be a favourite with you too. But that still doesn’t help me work out how they arrived in our house. It seems that the warmth created on this record makes me feel like they’ve always been there.

Opening and title track displays singer Haale’s (pronounced Haleh) smooth and delicate vocals as well as her power to hold her notes. Drummer and the

The expansiveness of the music on this album means fans of artists as diverse as Shapeshifter, Zero 7, Grace Jones or TV on the Radio will be able to find something on this album to satisfy them. There is a solid beat to dance along to on Lucid Dream or My All while the sweet and revealing vocals on Definitions will grab at the ears even if it’s all not quite caught straight away. Standout track form is Hummingbird. It’s powerful and elegant with all the hooks to want to make you tap your foot and sing along.

Others may find this album a little bland and hollow which was probably my opinion of it on first listen, but it does grow on you. It grows around you and there is a comfort in its haunting version of electronica. What impressed me the most was learning that the music was made entirely from live instruments; guitars, bass and drums. No loops or samples. Now that’s not something you always get with this kind of music.

Speaking of getting things… I have in my possession a number of singles from Vegas Brown’s new project Hessian Horseman. I’ll send you one if your one of the first 10 people to email me giving me your name and postal address as well as naming one band Vegas has been in before. K? email is music@nexusmag.co.nz

Reviewed by HP

How to be Alone

by Jonathan Franzen

Jonathan Franzen’s name first grabbed my attention for getting kicked out of Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club. How does one get kicked out of such an elite group you may wonder? Well apparently he was a bit embarrassed to be selected, because he wanted his work ‘The Corrections’ to be taken seriously. He also wanted blokes to read it, and for Franzen getting shortlisted by Oprah was the kiss of death as far as that was concerned. Once the queen of daytime TV slop heard that one of her chosen ones was less than chuffed to be selected, Franzen was cut from the team.

So based on this I set out to read ‘The Corrections’. However once I had his brick in my hand I lost my initial enthusiasm. It was far too long, and quite frankly I hate long books. So instead I went and tracked down ‘How to be Alone.’ It’s an essay collection rather than a novel, which is always less appealing, but in this instance the topics were enough to draw me in.

To take this further, Franzen argues that quality works of fiction have an unpredictability about them that mirrors the unpredictability of life. So if you absorb these random and often troubling narratives, you can prepare yourself for many of life’s deep problems. It’s certainly an idealistic take on the novel’s power; one that would’ve prepared Franzen well for taking on the world’s most powerful African-American.

Reviewed by Kevin Pryor

Fashion Week

For the first time in my 21 years I finally got a glimpse of NZFW. Albeit, I was not an exclusive Fashion Week attendee at the mid-week shows, but I did manage to fund myself into a trip up to the big smoke for the public offerings (read: con mum into attending also, so that she pays for petrol and food).

The thing about Fashion Weekend is that it is designed for the public, and therefore the consumers. Those who attend the shows, will hopefully run off the store to purchase what they see, where as Fashion Week is aimed

The first show I got along to was RUBY/liam on the Saturday night.

Being the cutesy girly-girl that I am deep down, I was incredibly excited to witness their catwalk first hand.

Not the best start…. Don’t get me wrong, I love their stuff. They don’t get too crazy and I could 100% wear any single piece of their collection on any day of the week. Definitely a ready-to-wear brand. But they just didn’t deliver on the catwalk. The show on Tuesday night was of course beautifully put together, but I don’t feel like they really cared about who was turning up to the gig on Saturday. There were bags seemingly thrown at outfits, the models weren’t well versed in walking, and there was no pomp. I only paid $15 to get in, but I expected pomp! Nevertheless, the clothes were delicious and I wish I had a spare hundy for a down payment on a Rocky tee.

On Sunday I hopped along to Trelise Cooper and moochi. Now you can tell these guys are old hats. Trelise brought the pomp! What I had sorely missed from the night before at Ruby, Trelise rocked it out. The show started with a Q and A, which read more like a pre-planned interview with one or two audience questions near the end, but it was a nice gesture. I absolutely loved how she made the stage her own, and set up that beautiful lit background of filigree. She appreciates her audience!

For the final few models they dropped the lights, put on a bassy tune and paraded beautiful dresses featuring skirts of LED flowers. It ended the show perfectly. PLUS, we got free bangles afterward when we went into the store and I got to peruse the clothing for myself!

Reviews

How to be Alone’s essays are attempted answers to the question of how to maintain individuality in a mass culture. They are diverse, covering a broad range of topics, but the general theme boils down to a defense of the novel. For Franzen, it is only by the act of reading that one can hope to comprehend the complex philosophical, sociological and political forces at play in the world.

Watching America’s Next Top Model is all very well, but does it equip you to deal with one of your parents dying from cancer? Not fucking likely.

at the buyers. This means that a couple of labels decided it was best to show in-season collections so that attendees could immediately run off to snatch it up rather than waiting another six months. I feel like some labels rocked this idea better than others.

Now, moochi. Just as wearable as RUBY/liam, but pulled off so much more fluidly. Of course, they had their own reasons for showing to the public this year, mainly due to an image adjustment where their logo now features the addition of two kisses. But they also busted out their secret weapon, local but international musician Tali. It was practically a concert and fashion show thrown into one, which definitely threw me.

Tali got to promote her new album, and moochi got an edge. The clothes were oh so lovely, and the models definitely knew how to do their thing.

It makes a huge negative difference when models look awkward, walk awkward, and pose stiffly. When you’re wearing beautiful clothes you should feel beautiful, and I definitely bought that the girls at moochi felt that way.

Overall, fun weekend!! NZFW is always rumored to be on her last legs, what with the fashion industry at the moment and global financial crises, and whatever else. But I’d hate to see it go anywhere, and I do think opening shows to the public for in-season clothing was a very clever idea. We have some very talented designers, and I’d like to see us showcase the up-and-coming, as much as Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester and Trelise Cooper. We are a very creative nation.

Reviewed by Alix Higby

Wolverine #1-4 Frank Miller

And now, back to Wolverine. From the top.

Wolvie was introduced in 1974 as a supporting character in Hulk #181 because Marvel needed someone bad enough to make the big green earn his lunch. Born and raised in the Rocky Mountains, Wolverine was the best thing to happen to Canada since Jim Carrey and denim.

Frank Miller, the man who gave us Sin City and 300, gave Wolverine

his first name and solo title ten years later. Starting with a bang, the big man introduces himself on the first page before going claw to claw with a grizzly bear on the next. You can almost hear the Frank Miller thinking this through, “What the hell can I throw at him after a bear?!...

Oh. An army of ninjas! Yeah, ninjas, everybody loves ninjas.”

dude skip the pages with the bear and the ninjas? I said there was a bear and ninjas, right?

Frankie hit this from the angle of Logan as a disgraced samurai, giving him a Japanese back-story and babe to boot, playing off on the internal conflict between his humanity and bestiality. (As in bestial behaviour and tendencies, there are no plotlines that go into his sexual preferences) It has been criticised for the taking the beast out of Wolverine, making him too thoughtful and composed where he should be tearing S to P. Did this

Frank rightly runs away with this title, solidifying Wolverine as one of Marvel’s greatest characters.

Putting the beast against Japan’s finest creates a glorious story and, hot damn, puts Wolverine in some stunning frames. Perfect as an introduction to Wolverine or just to reiterate how many types of awesome the dude is.

Frank Miller rocks the iconic ‘80s art in all its technicolour brilliance, with the action scene frames, backgrounds, and even characters flashing pinks, reds, and purples without much of a rule. Looking damn good, regardless.

Reviewed by DC

d l o t u o Have y ? t e y m your mu Invites you for...

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I found myself in a room with three lecturers. No chickens, goats or horses in sight.

“We’re in here because Professor ***** and his dog were out there”, answered Dr.Prill, to my question of why everyone was hiding in the room.

“I’m in here because I’ve lost my chicken”, said lecturer No.3.

“Looking for what?” asked I. “A chicken. Brown, adorable, answers to the name of Tinker-bell”, Said he.

“Sorry, I don’t remember seeing any…”, I suddenly remembered what I saw on a hotplate at FASSP reception, “… any chickens – that specifically answered to the name Tinker-bell”.

“Well, maybe I’ll check with reception and…”

“NO – I mean, don’t bother yourself with that, I’ll be passing the reception when I leave. I’ll tell them to keep an eye out for it.” Interrupted I. “Well, okay then”, said he, as he shuffled out the door followed by the second.

“The dog didn’t eat any of him,” mumbled No.2, shaking his head in disbelief as he left.

“Tinker-bell…Tinker-bell…”, called No.3 as he left.

“You’d better come into my office” said DrPrill as he stayed. “I’ve got some questions for you. Walk this way”.

If I walked that way I would have needed an operation to correct it.

Okay, is it far?” asked I. “Not at all. In fact, we’re here” said he. He pushed on a bookcase that opened like a door. Behind the bookcasedoor was a small office, complete with chairs, desk, computer and chandelier. No chickens, goats or horses in sight. He walked in and sat on a swivel chair behind the desk. I went to join him, but could see that there was only room for one in his swivel chair so I had to be content with another chair in front of his desk. It was an unswivel chair that did not swivel, and I was decidedly disappointed with it’s un-swivelness.

“Sorry for grabbing you like that”, said Dr. Prill, “Now, why are you here?”

“It’s this essay mark”, said I as I handed him the offending essay. “What is it?”

He looked at it, squinted and blinked. He tilted his head, then turned the paper upside down. He then untilted his eyes and unsquinted his head.

“It could be the chemical symbol for Zinc, maybe?,” offered he. “It also resembles the Chinese character for ‘oven-mitt’… and hay, if you turn it up this way it looks like a bunny-rabbit, see!”

“That’s all very well and good, but can you tell me where bunny-rabbits with oven mitts fits into the grand scheme of a conventional marking schedule”, asked I. He began to explain.

By Skippy

The basics have been covered, and the foundations set. It’s time to move on to bigger and better things. So, welcome to Grammar 201. The following is sure to be a beast to break down, but every monster has its weakness. Or something.

Subjects and objects.

They need to be distinguished, because getting them wrong makes you sound like a halfwit; and at your age, you should know better. A subject is the word in the sentence that does something. “The wolf is eating my hand.” In this sentence ‘the wolf’ is the subject. An object is the word in the sentence that has something done to it. Using the same example, ‘my hand’ is the object. Easy, yes?

However, when it comes to pronouns, we often confuse subjects with objects. Pronouns are words like he, him, she, her, I, me, they and them. A pronoun often changes depending on whether it’s the subject or the object in the sentence, which is why they get mixed up almost all of the time. For example, “Me and him will tend to your wounded hand.” Or, “Me and them will teach that wolf a lesson.”

We know they’re wrong, because when we take away ‘him’ from the first example, or ‘them’ from the second example, the leftover ‘me’ suddenly makes no sense. Granted, it never made sense to begin with. And if you removed ‘me’ instead, those sentences are just as bad. Flabbergasting, yes? The reason is this: ‘me’ is always the object, i.e. ‘me’ never does anything - ‘me’ only has things done to it. Never start a sentence with ‘me’.

The subject version of ‘me’ is ‘I’. ‘I’ never has things done to it; ‘I’ is always doing something. ‘I’ is always the subject.

‘I’ and ‘me’ mean exactly the same thing; they’re firstperson pronouns referring to the speaker. However, they are not interchangeable. ‘I’ acts, where ‘me’ is acted upon.

Remember that.

Other subjects include he, she, and they. Their respective objects are him, her, and them. The same rules apply.

Therefore, the sentences above should read, “He and I will tend to your wounded hand.” And, “They and I will teach that wolf a lesson.” Get them right, and your essays may improve by a whole grade. I’m not kidding. Remember, put yourself (‘I’ or ‘me’) last. It’s not grammar, but it’s customary, like wearing clothes in public, except less stressful.

By Pseudonym

national earthquake drill

9:26am, 26 September 2012

DROP, COVER, HOLD

DROP

COVER

HOLD

Be part of New Zealand’s largest earthquake drill. visit

www.getthru.govt.nz

to register for ShakeOut and find out more information

Every case won is a stepping stone to a fair society

HELP! Our bathroom keeps flooding and we are having trouble getting hold of our landlord, what can we do?

First thing, do not withhold rent; by signing a tenancy agreement you have agreed to pay rent every week. If you don’t pay rent you will end up with a rent arrear. If repairs are needed on the property you live in and they are not getting repaired, don’t pay for them yourself.

Issue the landlord/ property manager with a 14 day letter.

If you receive no response or repairs to the property in 14 working days, then you have the option to lodge an application to the tenancy tribunal.

If you would like help with a similar situation to this one, to write a 14 day letter, or to apply to the tenancy tribunal then contact Amber at 07 856 9139 or advocacy@wsu.org.nz

Discrimination still occurs in many different aspects of life including employment. Discrimination has many negative effects for both the individual being discriminated against and society. It is our responsibility as informed educated citizens to identify bad behaviour and take appropriate steps to address it. It is illegal to discriminate on the grounds of • sex, • marital status, • religious beliefs, • ethnical beliefs, • skin colour, • race, • employment status, • family status, • Age • sexual preference • ethnic or national origin, • political opinion, • disability Areas of life which you cannot be discriminated in are: • Government or public sectors • Employment • Education • Access to public places, vehicles, facilities • Provision of Goods and Services • Provision of land housing and accommodation Industrial and professional • associations/ partnerships The above information means if you are ‘let go’ from a job or not given tenancy of a house because of the above reasons then you may have a claim under the Human Rights Act. Unfortunately just because the law provides you with protection from this unfair treatment; discrimination does still occur. The more we stand up for our rights and fight this unfair treatment the less likely it is going to happen- so if you are experiencing any discrimination on the above grounds and areas then ask for help, and flight it. Remember every case won is a stepping stone to a fair society If you have any queries please contact the Human Rights Commission on 0800 496 877 or us 0800 AT YWRC

St Vincents in Frankton runs a van Mon-Fri to the poorer suburbs of Hamilton. We offer free food and milo. The van takes 3-4 volunteers to drive and serve.

Times: 5pm – 7:30 pm on a once a fortnight or on call basis. We’d love your help.

Contact us now on 0212329128 / gnp@svdpham.org.nz

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Pursuant to rule 9.1 of the constitution of the Waikato Students’ Union Incorporated, notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of members shall be held on:

Wednesday 26th September 2012 at 1pm, in L.G.01

Business to be conducted includes: Presentation of the annual report Presentation of the audited accounts Presentation of the annual plan and budget Approval of membership fees and directors honoraria Appointment of the auditor and the solicitor

Te Whakahiapō student, Haimona Te Nahu (3rd year BA/ LLB) was announced as the winner of the national title for the Kāupapa Māori Moots last weekend. The finals were held at Te Awa, Hamilton, as part of the World Indigenous Lawyers Conference, on 7 September 2012.

Heather Jamieson (4th year LLB) also represented Te Piringa - Faculty of Law in the national finals. When Haimona was announced as the national winner at the conference dinner, he received a standing ovation followed by a haka tautoko by his colleagues of Te Whakahiapō.

Haimona delivered his argument in te Reo, which was an outstanding feature of his performance and dedicated the win to his father. Te Whakahiapō students also participated in hakinakina (rugby and netball) against Maori accountant students, and unfortunately this was the only time they lost.

Twenty Te Ranga Ngaku students attended a haerenga in Auckland over the teaching recess. Māori Management students visited New Zealand’s leading business organisations which included renown, Saatchi & Saatchi.

The haerenga provided an opportunity for Māori Management students to examine how business and economic development were being shaped for the future.

This is an annual event that has been largely successful in placing some participants into internships and graduate positions. TRN president, Hirini Houia said the highlight of the event was “personally…going to Icehouse, this company…pretty much develops the strategy for Māori businesses and the Māori economy”.

Wednesday September 19 Skint 7-9 pm,House Bar Win big Wednesday and start living it up on the same night! But seriously.. $5 pizzas and drink deals just for students! We can only survive on Migoreng noodles until a certain point.

2 for 1 Wednesdays 5-10 pm, Grand Central Hotel Cocktails on special. Share it with a friend or maybe just keep it for you.

Thursday September 20 Biddy’s Band Battle Competition Free entry, Biddy Mulligans 50% of the votes are from the audience so come along and support your favourite band!

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Friday September 21 Blak Rok Album Release Party $15 presales, $20 on the door, Altitude.

The crew from Paeoroa is stopping over for one night! Music and dance fused in one big night.

Saturday September 22 Something Inbetween Gold Coin Entry, Static Biggest acoustic line-up to date featuring Mike Scherger, Coral and the Current, Brendan&Louis, Forever Tomorrow, April&Reece, Tweedy and Wax plus DJs Staylo and Bevan Nichols to keep the party going until 3!