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Police can search the retail surveillance network that recorded a shopping incident involving former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman, even when no complaint has been made. Ghahraman was stopped and questioned by store security at Royal Oak's Pak'nSave in the weeks before her High Court case in early October. Foodstuffs says it did not complain to police. Surveillance network Auror is used by retailers - including Foodstuffs - and confirms police can access the information those clients record. CEO Phil Thompson says the system lets all the parties work closely together. "Retailers are capturing information on crimes and attempted crimes that happen in their stores and making that visible to their own head office - and also to police." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In an exclusive interview with John Campbell, former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman says being caught shoplifting is the shame she'll never get over. ==================================== Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of #BHN www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ
What's next for former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman's legal career is not yet determined - after being convicted on shoplifting charges today. Judge June Jelas has ordered her to pay $1600 in fines, plus $260 in court costs, and isn't requiring supervision. The Herald's Craig Kapitan says nothing's stopping her applying for her law licence again. He says her lawyer had insistently argued a conviction would be a significant hurdle to convincing the Law Society she's fit to practice. "The Crown noted that a conviction doesn't necessarily mean she's automatically barred, the Law Society would have to look at the whole picture, like the judge did." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In an exclusive interview with John Campbell, former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman says being caught shoplifting is the shame she'll never get over. Drag performers have filed a $2 million defamation action against Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki after protests against their library Storytime events. Sunita Torrance and Daniel Lockett, known by their performing names, Coco and Erika Flash, filed the claim at the High Court in Auckland this morning. The legal claims against Destiny Church include allegations of breach of contract, conspiracy to injure and unlawful means conspiracy, and defamation. Christopher Luxon was on RNZ this week getting pissy with Corin Dan over Pharmac funding ==================================== Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of #BHN www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ
The political year has begun with a sharp focus on the new coalition government and te ao Māori. In the first pod back for 2024, Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire discuss the messages from the packed Kiingitanga hosted hui ā motu and an unusually politically barbed Rātana. How is Christopher Luxon dealing with questions – and fury – over the Treaty Principles Bill agreed to as part of the deal with Act? Should David Seymour have shown up? And what is NZ First – the third bonce of what was called a “three-headed taniwha” – looking to gain? Also on GBL: Is New Zealand's deployment of NZDF to the Red Sea as part of the retaliatory action against Yemen's Houthis a smart move, and is it plausible to say there is no link to the Israeli action in Gaza? And the resignation of Green MP Golriz Ghahraman returns questions around mental health, abuse and responsibility to the foreground. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman has resigned from Parliament, after being accused of shoplifting on three separate occasions over recent weeks. In a statement yesterday, Ms Ghahraman said stress relating to her work had led her to "act in ways that are completely out of character." Former Green MP and political commentator, Gareth Hughes, spoke to Charlotte Cook.
After days of silence, the Green MP Golriz Ghahraman has resigned as an MP amid allegations of shoplifting. In a statement, she said it had become clear to her that the stress of the job had resulted in her behaving in ways that were completely out of character. She says she wasn't trying to excuse her behaviour but to explain it. Gharaman said she was resigning to focus on her recovery This afternoon the Leaders of the Green part, James Shaw and Marama Davidson held a media conference after the resignation was announced
Pressure is building on Green MP Golriz Ghahraman and her party's co-leaders, as they continue to refuse to front on allegations of shoplifting. It's been alleged Ms Ghahraman shoplifted from the upmarket Auckland clothing store, Scotties Boutique, on two separate occasions last year. But with Ms Ghahraman overseas, the silence on the allegations has been deafening. The Green Party co-leaders once again declined our request for an interview, while Ms Ghahraman did not respond to RNZ's messages. Political commentator Shane Te Pou spoke with Charlotte Cook.
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman and her party's co-leaders have still not fronted on allegations the senior MP shoplifted from a high-end Auckland boutique. Last week co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson confirmed they became aware of an allegation involving Ms Ghahraman and Scotties Boutique on the 27th December - then were informed of a second incident on the 5th of January. RNZ political reporter Giles Dexter spoke with Charlotte Cook.
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman has been accused of shoplifting from Scotties Boutique in Ponsonby, Auckland. She has stood aside from her parliamentary portfolios while the allegations are investigated. Neither Ms Ghahraman nor anyone from Scotties Boutique responded to RNZ's requests for comment. In a statement, a Green Party spokesperson said they were "aware of the allegations" and were in contact with Scotties Boutique to "better understand and address the situation". Politics lecturer at Victoria University Te Herenga Waka, Bryce Edwards spoke with Charlotte Cook.
An alleged incident involving Green MP Golriz Ghahraman at a boutique Auckland clothing store happened just two days before Christmas. Ghahraman, who was justice spokeswoman for the Greens up until yesterday, has stood aside from her portfolios after being accused of shoplifting, Newstalk ZB Plus understands. Police have now confirmed they received a report about an incident at a Ponsonby retailer on December 23. “Initial enquiries are still being made into this report and Police are not able to comment further at this stage” a spokesperson said. According to sources, Ghahraman is understood to have been accused of shoplifting during the festive season from exclusive Auckland clothing store Scotties Boutique in Ponsonby, in the electorate of fellow Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick. The store declined to provide specific details when contacted by ZB Plus but confirmed the alleged incident was being handled by police. A political commentator says, whether true or not, the prominent Green Party MP and human rights lawyer's reputation will be tarnished following the accusations. Political commentator Brigitte Morten told Newstalk ZB this morning it will be difficult for Ghahraman to rebuild her reputation. “I think it's going to be difficult even if they come out and say that it was a misunderstanding or that it was, you know, incorrectly accused etc, it's still going to be a tarnish on her reputation,” Morten said. “Obviously, she's a senior and experienced member of the Greens so, for her, she's going to have to sort of rebuild that credibility gap.” Morten said if the allegations were true, it would “absolutely speak to the unsuitability of someone to be an MP”. “You've got to respect the law of the land, particularly when you are making the law of the land.” The Green Party has confirmed it is aware of the allegations Ghahraman faces and that she “will stand aside from all portfolio responsibilities until the matter is resolved”. According to sources, Ghahraman is understood to have been accused of shoplifting during the festive season from exclusive Auckland clothing store Scotties Boutique in Ponsonby, in the electorate of fellow Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick. The store declined to provide specific details when contacted by ZB Plus but confirmed the alleged incident was being handled by police. In a statement, a Green Party spokesperson said the party was “aware of allegations regarding MP Golriz Ghahraman” and was in contact with Scotties Boutique to “better understand and address the situation”. “Green MPs are expected to maintain high standards of public behaviour,” the spokesperson said. Ghahraman's portfolios for the Greens included justice, foreign affairs, defence, ethnic communities and trade. Auckland police said they were unable to confirm whether individuals were facing investigation for specific incidents. Scotties Boutique clothing store in Ponsonby, Auckland. Photo / Raphael Franks ZB Plus has approached Ghahraman for comment. Ghahraman made New Zealand history as the first refugee to be sworn in as an MP, having arrived in Aotearoa as a child asylum seeker with her family from Iran. She was selected as a Green Party list candidate in January 2017. In the 2023 election, Ghahraman was ranked at number seven on the Green Party's list. Recently, she has been outspoken on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, considering it “ethnic cleansing” and called on world leaders to stand against Israel's military actions she has described as “crimes against humanity”. In 2020, Ghahraman opened up about her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman. Photo / Mark Mitchell She said at the time she has a “responsibility” to start an honest conversation about the autoimmune disease. Ghahraman said she first learned about her diagnosis two years prior after she began to lose sight in one eye. She described being on “hardcore medication” and had to visit a hospital every six months. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week the Gals talk about the Government's climate change and environment announcements, plans to build three new tunnels over Waitematā Harbour and how one party will save $1 billion on day one in government. One Gal gives some love to the Nats for their plan to ban phones in schools and another praises Green MP Golriz Ghahraman for grilling the Iranian ambassador at Parliament. Question Time sees the Gals talk about AI and its impact in the coming years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After years of systemic repression of women, the people of Iran are calling for change, a call their government can no longer ignore. So what's sparked this movement now, after decades under this oppressive regime? Will it be enough to bring change? And could New Zealand be doing more to support the cause? Today, Damien is joined by Iranian-born Green MP Golriz Ghahraman and Dr Forough Amin, the founder of the Iranian Women in New Zealand charitable trust, for a discussion about why this is the moment that Iranian women are standing up for their rights. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Damien VenutoProducers: Shaun D Wilson and Paddy FoxSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Iran's streets are still rumbling with protests after close to two weeks of unrest - prompted by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini shortly after she was arrested by morality police for wearing her hijab "too loosely". While it's difficult to put an exact figure on the number killed in demonstrations, we spoke to an Iran human rights organisation who said it was as high as 76 Iran-born Green MP Golriz Ghahraman joins us with her take on events.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Protests continue across Iran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in detention after being arrested by police enforcing the Islamic Republic's strict restrictions on women's dress. More than 40 people have died and over 1000 protesters have been arrested in the ensuing wave of demonstrations. Green MP Golriz Ghahraman, who was born in Iran, is urging the Government to do more to hold the Iranian regime to account. She spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Have vaccine passports run their course, and with the economy in for a bumpy ride, is the government doing enough to keep spending ticking over? Tourism and Small Business Minister Stuart Nash is in the hot seat. Misinformation is washing across social media - helping fuel the anti-vaccine movement in New Zealand, and a tool in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finn Hogan breaks down the politics of the internet. Green MP Golriz Ghahraman with what she thinks New Zealand should do about the war in Ukraine. Willie Jackson shows us around his marae and opens up on his tumultuous road to Parliament. WTF is an NFT and does the Government know what they are? A special report from Simon Shepherd. And with us to pick apart a week of political portfolio ditching and petrol panic, Economist at Sense Partners Shamubeel Eaqub and former Chief Press Secretary for the National Party Janet Wilson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The world is not designed for disabled people, and rebuilding it is going to take strong leadership. In this episode, Olivia and Becs interview two leaders with a disability - Green MP Golriz Ghahraman and Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero. Guests: Golriz Ghahraman and Paula Tesoriero
Pressure is mounting for the Government to put everything behind getting people in Afghanistan with New Zealand links, to safety.Taliban forces are sweeping across Afghanistan. Cabinet's met this morning to see what it can do to help up to 47 New Zealand citizens and their families.It's also reviewing immigration cases for around 38 Afghan interpreters and other civilians who have helped our military in the past.Green MP Golriz Ghahraman has been in communication with those who assisted our defence force and told Nick Mills those have huge targets on their backs so urgent action is critical.
An embattled David Clark joins us live as he awaits next week’s review into our health system. Will he hold onto his job long enough to implement the plan? And does he want to? Green MP Golriz Ghahraman, live in studio ahead of her book launch on Tuesday. We’ll talk Black Lives Matter and the state of the Green Party. Plus, Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft on his damning report into Oranga Tamariki’s treatment of Maori mothers and babies. Newly-elevated National MP Nicola Willis has been tipped as future leadership material. She gets five minutes to convince you she’d make a better Housing Minister than Megan Woods. And we are joined by our panel, Thomas Pryor of Sherson Willis PR, and Lance Norman - Head of Equity and Māori Health Outcomes at ProCare. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In 2017, Green MP Golriz Ghahraman made history as the first refugee to be sworn in as a member of the New Zealand parliament.But the beginning of that story began when Golriz was just 9, her family were forced to leave Iran, which brought her and her family to Auckland seeking asylum.It's that journey and her account of making New Zealand home that has driven her new memoir – it's called Know Your Place and is out this week.She joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss her journey, her experience as a migrant and dealing with pushback from the public.LISTEN ABOVE
Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon has issued a "plea to fellow New Zealanders to take a pause" on acts of vandalism on monuments linked to the country's legacy of colonisation.A Captain Cook statue in Gisborne was defaced overnight Friday, and there have also been calls for place names to be changed, amid a global rallying cry against racism and oppression sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement and the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer.This week Hamilton City Council organised the removal of a statue of British army captain and city namesake John Hamilton, after a formal request from the Waikato-Tainui iwi and a threat by Huntly kaumatua Taitimu Maipi to remove it himself. The iwi have also renewed calls for the city to adopt the original name, Kirikiriroa.Hamilton killed Māori in the Waikato land war and never set foot in the city that takes his name.Green MP Golriz Ghahraman told Newshub Nation yesterday statues which memorialised colonial figures should be removed rather than edited to add context.And Rangatahi Māori and Wellington man Safari Hynes called for his city's council to remove statues and street names glorifying colonisers. Councillors said there needed to be a clear call from the community before action was taken.Foon said conversations were needed before action."I truly believe we need to have our local debates regarding the various monuments and place names … it's a fair call that some people are moved by the movement of pulling down statues, calling for this and that, so I'm saying pause and have a chat to organise meaningful meetings with your local councils and your government people."He understood the anger. He'd heard the same from some New Zealand Chinese people over monuments of Richard Seddon.An online campaign was launched yesterday to pull down Parliament's statue of the former Premier, accusing Seddon of being a "notorious autocrat, imperialist and racist".Seddon likened Chinese people to monkeys, Foon said.But he didn't want the statue taken down."Some New Zealand Chinese people are quite angry … [but] the majority of us say 'let that be a reminder that that sort of stuff shall not happen again'."History, it is what it is. Good, bad and ugly, but I think it's a good impetus for our country to learn our history. Like the Prime Minister said, 2021 all schools shall be learning our history."The defaced statue of Captain Cook was on a co-managed walkway which told the stories of Māori and Europeans, Foon, a former longtime mayor of Gisborne, said."We worked with … iwi and we agreed on a position [for the stories]."In the incident overnight on Friday the 20-year-old statue had swastikas sprayed on it, along with messages, including "Black Lives Matter and so do Māori" and "Take this racist headstone of my people down before I do".Cook's legacy has been divisive in the town, with the statue previously graffitied in July.Another Cook statue was removed from Kaiti Hill - sacred to Ngāti Oneone - last year.The explorer's crew killed nine iwi members from Ngāti Oneone after a misunderstanding when the Endeavour's crew first made landfall in Poverty Bay 250 years ago.Meanwhile, a children's production of the popular musical Hairspray has been cancelled amid a race row and allegations of "cyberbullying, threats and harassing behaviour".The Northern School of the Performing Arts, based on Auckland's North Shore, had been working on presenting a performance of the show which is set in the US city of Baltimore during the segregated 1960s.But the school faced criticism that the cast was not sufficiently ethnically diverse - with only six people of colour in a cast of 50 - and the show was cancelled.Auckland actress and influencer Sabby Jey, whose parents came to New Zealand as refugees from Sri Lanka, says she contacted the school to ask them to increase the number of people of colour in the cast after a friend made a similar plea a...
The theme of the night was 'How I found my voice'. Green MP Golriz Ghahraman, activist and artist Qiane Matata-Sipu, Kāpiti Coast district councillor and Strike 4 Climate coordinator Sophie Handford and fashion designer Kristine Crabb all came together to kōrero about the many facets of being a wahine in Aotearoa. This podcast was recorded at our International Women's Day event on 9/3/2020, co-hosted with our mates The Oh Nine.
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman is the encouraging us to continue to show the outpouring of love shown to the Muslim community, following March 15th terror attacks.The MP is in Christchurch giving a speech Canterbury University's New Zealand Political Studies Association Annual Conference.She told Chris Lynch we need to turn that love into the enduring fabric of our society and have the more difficult conversations with each other about prejudice.
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman tells us what's wrong with Andrew Little's foreign fighter law. We cross live to the New Zealand First Conference.And we ask incoming Wellington mayor Andy Foster how he will win over a divided city.Plus, On the countdown to Canada’s election, we interview correspondent Laura McQuillan live from the CBC newsroom in Toronto.In backstory, we meet the former butcher MP who overcame cancer.And we are joined by our panel: Political commentator Brigitte Morten, NZ Herald Senior Writer Simon Wilson and AUT Senior Lecturer Ella Henry.
Labour MP Louisa Wall is calling for Act leader David Seymour to "man up" and apologise.It comes after Seymour called Green MP Golriz Ghahraman a "menace to freedom".It's understood to have escalated threats made against Ghahraman, who has now been allocated a security escort. Wall is part of a cross-party group of women in Parliament urging Seymour to say sorry."He should be not ashamed but at least have the capacity to reflect and say, 'what I have said has done more damage'," she said.
Chris Lynch speaks to Green MP Golriz Ghahraman about her previous work as a defense lawyer for those accused of human rights abuses.
Chris Lynch speaks to Green MP Golriz Ghahraman about her previous work as a defense lawyer for those accused of human rights abuses.