Podcasts about race relations commissioner

In this edition of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, comedy and children's author legend David Walliams joins the podcast to talk his career. World squash champion, former Race Relations Commissioner and reality TV star Dame Susan Devoy released her memoir this year and joined Francesca. Plus we all know Elijah Wood from the Lord of the Rings trilogy - but he was back on Kiwi screens with the movie Bookworm. So he chatted to Francesca about the movie and his love of New Zealand. Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin brings you the best interviews from Newstalk ZB's The Sunday Session. Listen on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Human Rights Commission has called on the Federal Government to set up a National Anti-Racism Taskforce. It's one of the key recommendations of a comprehensive plan .. commissioned by the Morrison Government and formally launched today, which sets out a plan to tackle structural and systemic racism. - 澳大利亚人权委员会向联邦政府提出倡议，希望成立一个国家反种族主义特别工作组。这是莫里森政府授权并制定、今日对外公布的一项全面计划的重要内容，旨在根除结构性和系统性的种族主义。点击 ▶ 收听完整报道。

The Australian Human Rights Commission has called on the Federal Government to set up a National Anti-Racism Taskforce. It's one of the key recommendations of a comprehensive plan .. commissioned by the Morrison Government and formally launched today, which sets out a plan to tackle structural and systemic racism. - ایک ایسے وقت جب آسٹریلیا میں نسل پرستی کے خاتمے کے لیے ایک منصوبہ پیش کیا گیا ہے، سینٹ میں نسل پرستی کے تناظر میں جذباتی بحث اور تعصب کے الزامات کے شور شرابے کے دوران ایک سنیٹر کو سینٹ سےعارضی طور پر معطل کر دیا گیا ہے۔ مگر سوسری طرف آسٹریلین رہنماؤں پر زور دیا جا رہا ہے کہ وہ بڑے پیمانے پر قانونی تبدیلیوں کے ذریعے نسل پرستی کے خاتمے کے لیے ایک تاریخ ساز منصوبے پر عملدرآمد کریں۔

The Australian Human Rights Commission has called on the Federal Government to set up a National Anti-Racism Taskforce. It's one of the key recommendations of a comprehensive plan .. commissioned by the Morrison Government and formally launched today, which sets out a plan to tackle structural and systemic racism.

This week, Paula is joined by former squash World Champion and Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy. They discuss her new memoir, Dame Suzy D: My Story, her acclaimed career, and her experiences on Celebrity Treasure Island, before discussing her experiences as Race Relations Commissioner and the backlash she faced in that role. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dame Susan Devoy seems to have done it all. She's been a four-time world squash number-one champion, former Race Relations Commissioner, chairwoman of The Halberg Trust- and even a contestant on Celebrity Treasure Island. She says her original vision for the book was a 'tell-all, name-and-shame' look-back at everyone who'd gotten under her skin- and it turned out quite different. "It's easy to write about your failings and the things you're not good at and your negative aspects- it's very hard to talk about your success and your achievements in a book." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dame Susan Devoy's new memoir reflects on her sporting career, her surprise at her Damehood, and her experiences - good and bad - as Race Relations Commissioner.

Kiwi icon Dame Susan Devoy tells her story as only she can. With frank honesty and heaps of humour and heart, Susan recalls going from world squash champion to mum of four to Race Relations Commissioner and Celebrity Treasure Island star.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Race Relations Commissioner has joined criticism of the government for removing references to Maori experiences in the New Zealand plan to eliminate racism. Yesterday, the National Iwi Chairs Forum announced its withdrawal from the working group for the National Action Plan Against Racism - a government commitment to the United Nations to take concrete steps towards stamping out racism. The responsibility for the National Action Plan Against Racism is with the Minister of Justice, Paul Goldsmith. He says he found out about the Iwi Chairs Forum decision through a media release. Minister of Justice, Paul Goldsmith speaks to Susana Leiataua.

Meanwhile the acting Race Relations Commissioner is calling for respect and dignity to be maintained at a time when political tensions are high saying she's concerned there's been racist and classist undertones. And Comissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo speaks to Lisa Owen [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6338421880112

In this episode, we have a kōrero with squash champion and former Race Relations Commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy (also of Celebrity Treasure Island fame!). We discuss her fight against stereotypes, the complexities of gender dynamics, and also touch on the influence of sports as a universal language and a powerful tool for fostering greater cultural understanding. Susan is a tenacious leader! But the conversation isn't just about Susan's public life. We also explore her journey through menopause and the emotional toll it can take. We also hear about her current life phase - between jobs and looking for the next thing that will bring her joy. Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Wood has resigned as a Minister, and Meng Foon as the Race Relations Commissioner while Prime Minister Chris Hipkins tries to get on with business as usual. Meanwhile, yet another investigation is taking place into Oranga Tamariki following revelations two staff members have been stood down for inappropriate sexual behaviour. Featuring 1News Political Editor Jessica Mutch Mckay, the return of Deputy Political Editor Maiki Sherman, Senior Political Reporter Benedict Collins and Political Producer Lillian Hanly. Do you have a burning political question? Want to hear more from us on a particular topic? Send your feedback to InsideParliament@tvnz.co.nz. Head to 1News.co.nz for more insight, and follow 1News on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Instagram: instagram.com/1newsnz/ Twitter: twitter.com/1NewsNZ Facebook: facebook.com/1NewsNZ Liked this episode? Tell a friend to listen. 1News Inside Parliament is available on all good - and even average - podcasting apps.

On Friday the government announced Meng Foon had failed to adequately declare conflicts of interest including $2 million worth of government emergency housing payments to his company. The Associate Minister of Justice said she probably would have sacked him, if he hadn't already offered his resignation. However Meng Foon is adamant he declared all his conflicts of interests before taking up the job of Race Relations Commissioner and he hasn't formally resigned. He spoke to Lisa Owen. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6329711939112

Meng Foon is still yet to formally resign as Race Relations Commissioner, despite previously saying he intended to give his notice yesterday. Associate Justice Minister Deborah Russell claims he didn't "adequately declare" a company he directs received more than $2 million from Government payments. Foon says he intended to resign, but when it was announced he already had - he thought: "bugger them". He says the situation is a shambles, and he wants to go through the proper process. Foon says he doesn't deserve to be sacked. "This is perceived conflict, I declared that we were emergency housing providers and the Human Rights Commission chose not to add it to the register. I did ask at the time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Mike Munroe, Labour Chief of Staff and Director at Mike Munro Communications joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Te Whatu Ora has released a new medical waitlist criteria that factors ethnicity, as well as clinical priority, time already spent on the waitlist, location and deprivation level. Should ethnicity be a factor in prioritising patients- or could it just fall under geography and deprivation? Meng Foon is yet to formally resign as Race Relations Commissioner, despite claiming he intended to give his notice yesterday. He accused the PMO of leaking the information and wants to follow the proper process- what do we think of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon has resigned after it came to light he'd failed to declare conflicts of interests. It came to light that Foon didn't declare that a company he directed received more than $2 million for the provision of emergency housing. In April it was revealed he and his family made donations to Labour MP Kiri Allan and a National candidate. NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse says it's hard to judge whether a role like Race Relations Commissioner can tick the boxes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT believes the Race Relations Commissioner should go - calling it a political role masquerading as an apolitical, taxpayer-funded public service role. Commissioner Meng Foon has resigned after he didn't declare that a company he directed received more than $2 million for the provision of emergency housing. In April it was revealed he and his family made donations to Labour MP Kiri Allan and a National candidate. ACT Leader David Seymour says this is a huge conflict of interest- but it's impossible for anyone in the Race Relations Commissioner role to be politically neutral. "The whole idea of a taxpayer funded, supposedly politically neutral agency that acts in a very political sphere inevitably is going to fail at that job, because all people are political." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon has resigned over an undeclared conflict of interest. RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher has the latest. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6329519785112

Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon has resigned from his role this afternoon over a failure to disclose a conflict of interest. Foon has conceded he made a mistake but says he personally received no money from the business deal involving a company he directed and the Government. And his departure has been welcomed by Act leader David Seymour who claimed Foon was too attached to the “left side of politics”. Foon, who previously spent six terms as mayor of Gisborne, was appointed by the Labour Government to the role of Race Relations Commissioner in July 2019 by former Justice Minister Andrew Little. Associate Justice Minister of Justice Deborah Russell announced Foon's departure late afternoon. “On 12 May the Chief Human Rights Commissioner wrote to me to advise that Meng Foon had failed to declare a range of interests, as required under sections 62-65 of the Crown Entities Act,” Russell said. It came after a company that was directed by the former Gisborne mayor Foon received income from Government payments during his term, which she said he had “failed to adequately declare”. That included more than $2 million for the provision of accommodation including emergency housing. “The Human Rights Commission conducted an inquiry and produced a report on emergency housing which Meng Foon had been involved in deliberations for, while never adequately declaring his interest,” Russell said. “Off the back of that and a report from the Human Rights Commission Board into his failure to adequately declare these interests which found that he breached his duties under the Act, I sought advice from the Ministry of Justice. “On 30 May I wrote to Meng Foon inviting him to respond to the Board's report and set out that my deliberations could result in him being removed from office.” Russell said she then held a meeting with Foon “where he explained his actions”. She said her preliminary view after the meeting was that “his actions were serious enough to warrant removal”. But Foon in the meantime resigned. “Had the process been completed it is probable I would have determined his actions represented a serious breach of the Crown Entities Act and I would have taken the next steps to recommend to the Governor-General to remove him from his office. “It is critical that all people appointed to public roles comply with their statutory duties. Meng Foon had multiple opportunities to adequately declare these interests and did not do so. “While he has now chosen to resign I think it's important the public is aware of the circumstances in which he has made that decision,” Russell said. In a statement tonight, Foon said he had informed Prime Minister Chris Hipkins that he would resign on Sunday. He said the “news has beaten me” in regards to his departure being revealed by the Government on a Friday afternoon. He said he was resigning for his “error of judgement on political donations and our company is an emergency housing provider”. He said he refuted “strongly” that he didn't “declare my interest of emergency housing to the HRC and MoJ . . . as they received my interest before I was appointed and before I took up my role as RRC “The sum received is about $2.3m over 5 years from 2018 to 2023. It started with about $9500 year ending 2019. I have been transparent with the commission. “At the housing inquiry board meeting I didn't declare a perceived conflict as I didn't think I needed to. I fully supported the housing inquiry. In hindsight I should off declare I made a mistake.” In April, it was revealed Meng and his wife Ying Foon donated $1500 to Kiri Allan's 2020 campaign, and a company called Triple Eight Investments Limited also provided a rent subsidy worth $9185. Meng and Ying Foon are directors of Triple Eight Investments. The pair also donated $1000 to the National Party's East Coast branch at the last election. As Justice Minister, Allan has responsibility for Human Rights Commissioners, and should have declared the potential perceived conflict with the Cabinet Office, despite the fact Allan was not the minister when Foon was appointed or when the donations were made. When Foon was appointed Commissioner by Little in 2019, Allan was a backbench MP. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said Allan had “taken the necessary steps to register the matter now that she holds the Justice portfolio. The minister has also assured me that she has not made any decisions in her portfolio that bring this potential conflict into play.” Political reaction Act leader David Seymour said tonight he welcomed Foon's departure. He said he was too close to the left side of politics and also took aim at the Government's timing of its announcement. ”It's a classic Labour Friday afternoon news dump,” Seymour said. “It is symptomatic of the fact Meng Foon has been conflicted throughout this role not only his donations to Kiri Allan who ended up the minister responsible for his role, but also the fact he has been unable to criticise egregious comments and actions from people he politically agreed with.” Seymour said the human rights commission roles, which include the Race Relations Commissioner, have “had nothing to do with human rights for a long time”. ”You only have to look at his outspoken,incorrect criticism of Auckland Grammar versus his total reluctance to criticise Te Pati Maori for openly stating that Maori are genetically superior,” Seymour said. National's Paul Goldsmith said the episode was embarrassing coming on top of other recent conflict of interest scandals. ”All this only came out as a result of serious queries about the justice minister's donations and so the government chose a lackadaisical approach to conflicts of interest throughout government,” Goldsmith said. ”I'm pleased that this has been dealt with but it does demonstrate a deeper problem across this government not managing conflicts of interest properly.” -NZ HeraldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'd say Meng Foon is in a position where he should probably think about quitting his job. It's been revealed that he's a Kiri Allan donor.  So, go back to the last election: he and his wife gave her 1500 dollars for the campaign, also allowing her to use an empty shop his wife owned, and only charged her campaign a nominal amount so she basically ended up with a rent subsidy worth around $9200. A problem because he was already the race relations commissioner and in that job he's supposed to be politically neutral; that's what the law requires of him. That's what his job description says. Giving money to a Labour MP is clearly not politically neutral.  And, Kiri Allan by the way —incidentally— now happens to be the Justice Minister.   Wasn't at the time, but she has since taken on the role, and that means she will be deciding whether to reappoint him in his job if they're both still there next year. Now look, if this was just the one mark against Meng Foon's name he'd probably get away with it, but the fact is that he's actually been doing more harm than good in his job. He called the police racist, which so upset frontline officers that he had to apologise for it. He's been trigger happy on throwing the racism label around in weird examples like that,  but then when a poem suggesting descendants of Captain Cook and all white people be tracked down and stabbed through the ribs with pig knives gets publicity he tells the media he's got nothing to say about it. The problem is that it's getting harder and harder to respect the role of the Race Relations Commissioner. So while I don't think this is resignation material in and of itself, if Meng Foon and his responsible Minister want punters to continue to respect the mana of the role, he might have to give it up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Race Relations Commissioner has praised the first-ever Taranaki Heritage Month for being brave enough to tackle darker elements of the province's colonial history. While the event includes tours of colonial-era buildings and a behind the scenes look at Puke Ariki Museum, it also features visits to land war sites. It hosted a panel discussion exploring the definition of heritage. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

Police still have no reliable way of recording who is being targeted by hate crimes despite funding a dedicated team and hundreds of audits in the last year. Inquiries by RNZ have found police are unable to say how many hate crimes targeted specific groups such as Maori or the rainbow community, nor what the specific hate crime was. The Race Relations Commissioner wants progress sped up saying other countries can collect this data. Ashleigh McCaull reports.

Film maker, photographer, and producer Julie Zhu comes into the studio for a kōrero about her latest project that she has co-directed, a one-hour bilingual documentary, Meng, which follows Aotearoa's Race Relations Commissioner, Meng Foon. It premieres tonight on Whakaata Māori. Whakarongo mai nei. 

Film maker, photographer, and producer Julie Zhu comes into the studio for a kōrero about her latest project that she has co-directed, a one-hour bilingual documentary, Meng, which follows Aotearoa's Race Relations Commissioner, Meng Foon. It premieres tonight on Whakaata Māori. Whakarongo mai nei. 

Since his appointment as Race Relations Commissioner three years ago, Meng Foon has proven himself unafraid to speak out.

The Race Relations Commissioner is calling for schools to be more accepting of students having tā moko or wearing pounamu. The commission has created a uniform guide for schools to use and says it will help reduce racism and bullying. Commissioner Meng Foon says school boards need to embrace diversity.

School uniforms are back on the agenda. The Human Rights Commission has put out a set of guidelines for schools and boards of trustees urging them to make sure uniforms are consistent with the Bill of Rights and the Treaty of Waitangi.  The commission says affordability of uniforms should be top of mind for schools and schools should consider non-gendered uniform options that are suitable for all students no matter their ethnicity, gender or health condition.  Meng Foon, Race Relations Commissioner, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE 

On the 3rd anniversary of the Christchurch mosque killings, the Race Relations Commissioner is critical at the Governments lack of action in passing legislation cracking down on hate speech. In December 2020, the Government promised to implement all 44 reccomendations made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the March 15 Mosque attacks, which included strengthening speech laws. Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon says the Government had been moving with momentum with the public having its say on proposed changes - but is now dragging its heels. He spoke to Māni Dunlop.

It's hard to believe we are still watching the war raging between Russia and Ukraine unfold in front of us.It feels desperate and helpless, and almost perverse to watch this play out while we can do so little about it.It's utterly heartbreaking.But also heartbreaking is the fact ignorant New Zealanders are deciding now's the time to attack Russians living here.I cannot believe that people think this has anything to do with them – just because they are Russian. It's abominable.I was horrified to read a headline at the weekend that said “Russian Kiwis in Auckland say they're encountering abuse and harassment in the wake of the invasion”. The report says they're feeling excluded like they should hide their nationality, their children are getting bullied at school. As one of the Russian Kiwi Mums said, “The war is not about us, we are just normal people who live in New Zealand and pay taxes.”A Russian Church was vandalised, as well as a shop selling Russian goods.These are senseless ignorant acts done by people who clearly have no compassion and no understanding of what is actually going on here. No Russian born person is responsible for the acts of a crazy leader. It defies logic that the insane actions of a monster on the other side of the world should be blamed on Russians who've made New Zealand their home.It is also not a time for further division and attack, but a time to surely promote peace and show love.I always feel embarrassed when I see racism here, it's not who we should be, and there should be no place for it at all.I spoke with the Race Relations Commissioner last week who was concerned about this very thing happening, he described it as a “few naughty people” who would undertake racist acts like this. But it's an attitude, it's a bubbling undercurrent of ignorance which we should all be working hard to extinguish. As if the world isn't a tough enough place these days, why would we turn on our fellow Kiwis just because of their accent or where they were born?The other heartbreak at the moment is watching Zelensky's cries for help go unanswered. He says the world ‘must not watch, but help'. He wanted NATO to close the airspace over Ukraine and develop a no-fly zone to stop Russia attacking, especially after the attack on Europe's largest nuclear power plant. But the West, nervous about potentially making things worse and escalating the war beyond Ukraine, refused.Zelenskyy called NATO's actions weak, and I can understand his frustration and desperation. I mean how is it we are watching a man, a father, a husband, fighting literally for his and his country's lives, having survived 3 assassination attempts, and still begging for help the West just can't give, it's soul-destroying. The humanitarian disaster we're watching unfold will have far-reaching consequences – more than a million people seeking refuge already. It is all so so harrowing that it's hard to believe the best some people can do here at home is attack Russians who've left their country behind, to come here to live a peaceful life.

The Race Relations Commissioner says Russians here have faced discrimination over the invasion into Ukraine. Meng Foon says told Kate Hawkesby one of the main reasons immigrants come here, is to find a better life and adhere to our values. “Unfortunately, there's a few naughty people that have violated other people's rights.” LISTEN ABOVE 

We last chatted to this iconic New Zealand sportswoman (and former Race Relations Commissioner) on May 20, 2020, when she rolled up her sleeves to pack kiwifruit. Today we talk about the wonderful achievements of West Coaster Paul Coll after he won the British Squash Open overnight.

Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon has called for body cameras to be worn by police to help address issues of unconscious and racial bias.In an opinion piece published in the Herald today, Foon said police had conceded that systemic racism existed in the force and body cameras "could be an integral tool" in dealing with the risk areas associated with bias and racial profiling.Māori legal expert Moana Jackson says body cameras could be a "partial technological block on overt racism" but wouldn't address the underlying causes.The Police Association has offered tacit support, saying it's probably a matter of "when" not "if" cameras would be introduced.Foon referenced three risk areas in policing when it comes to bias: who is stopped or spoken to; how force is used; and how prosecutions are sought."Body cameras could be an integral tool in dealing with these risk areas," he wrote.Cameras could offer context to problematic interactions and be used as evidence in legal cases involving officers.Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon. (Photo / NZME)"Whatever point Aotearoa would sit on the spectrum of body camera use is up to the respective authorities, including the Human Rights Commission, but it does seem to me that a record of interaction could either expose misconduct or quash false allegations."Police Association president Chris Cahill said if police body cameras shed more light on how police operate, then "I don't think there is anything to fear about that"."We don't think there is anything to be feared from officers wearing them and recording what they do on a daily basis. It will generally show the public a truer picture than videos recorded on phones that don't necessarily cover the whole event."Any introduction of cameras would have to be balanced with legal and privacy considerations, including how the footage could be used and whether it depicted children.Police Association president Chris Cahill says generally the association was in favour of body cameras. (Photo / Mark Mitchell)Police Commissioner Andrew Coster previously agreed unconscious bias still existed within the police."All humans have unconscious bias and we're no exception to that," he told The Hui.Jackson authored a 1987 report on Māori and the criminal justice system and a sequel to that report would be released in the coming months.He said it would be wrong to assume that body cameras are the solution."The police officers who were involved in the killing of George Floyd in America all had body cameras so it doesn't necessarily guarantee a shift in those substantive attitudes."Lawyer, author and director of Ngā Kaiwhakamarama i Ngā Ture, Moana Jackson. (Photo / Warren Buckland)Police Minister Poto Williams said cameras were an operational matter for police and their implementation would require consideration around data use and storage."Police have taken a number of steps to identify and reflect what modern-day policing in New Zealand should be."That included investigating whether bias existed in police, reviewing their policy on photographing individuals, ensuring leadership teams undertook unconscious bias training and accepting all 30 recommendations from their Francis Review into Police culture.

The Police Association has called for Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon to retract his claim that "police are racist".Foon made the comment today during a radio interview in which he was discussing the future of the television show Police Ten 7.Speaking to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking, Foon said the show did "target more brown people than white people so therefore it is racist".Foon cited evidence that Māori and Pasifika were overwhelmingly more likely to be subject to force from the police, such as use of dogs and Tasers.Asked by Hosking if the statistics he cited reflected more on the actions of those being arrested, Foon held firm."The police are racist," he said.Foon also defended the TV show, saying Ten 7 was a "good programme" that helped communities to solve crime but argued that they need to "proportionalise the filming of brown people".Police Association president Chris Cahill said Foon's statement detracted from the increasing diversity of recruits graduating through the Royal New Zealand Police College whose very presence would influence the future of policing in Aotearoa."This blanket assertion from Mr Foon is nothing less than a body blow to the many hard-working police officers, including Māori, Pasifika, Asian, Indian, Pakistani and those from other diverse backgrounds who make up the New Zealand Police, but have now been lumped in one 'racist' basket."Foon said he has called Cahill and the pair have agreed to meet and discuss the matter."As Race Relations Commissioner I would have thought Mr Foon would use his position to promote an informed debate about the many issues which contribute to the over-representation of Māori in negative statistics across our society, including justice, education, health, family violence, drug use and mental health."Many societal and family failures for Māori are already well in play by the time they come to the attention of police."The association said Foon quoted statistics from Police's 2019 Tactical Options Report which showed Māori are more than seven times more likely than Pākehā to be subjected to force such as tasers, pepper spray and firearms.But Cahill said such data was out of context without the background behind the offending."That this country's Race Relations Commissioner would put the blame on police, and then double down on that, is a waste of an opportunity to consider all parts of this picture," Cahill said."It seems Foon, now on record with a sweeping claim about police being racist, has excluded himself from bringing the skills and knowledge of his position to any future work police may want to do on an issue it is committed to addressing."Foon's comment followed calls by Manukau Ward councillor Efeso Collins for TVNZ to scrap the show.Collins said to RNZ that the show feeds on stereotypes - particularly of young brown men being brutish."I think if you look across the world, the fact that the US has dropped shows like Cops, which are all these chewing gum TV shows, that do nothing but you chew on something, get some flavour out of them, and then you spit them out.""I think it's high time that a chewing gum show like Police Ten 7 was spat out of the New Zealand TV vernacular, because there's absolutely no need for it any more."

Political commentator Liam Hehir and writer Morgan Godfery joined Francesca Rudkin to talk politics. Godfery says his lowest expectation is from the business aspect while Labour is in government.But he also said the highest expectations can be issues on housing, Ihumātao and welfare.Hehir thought otherwise, his expectations from Labour are high in terms of business, as the governments Covid-19 response was great and in a few years time we should be reaping up the rewards.Both commentators are for the coalition between Labour and the Greens.Before any picture is clear on who will collectively or individually be running the government, special votes and referendum results are yet to come… which can make a coalition decision simpler.The Race Relations Commissioner, Meng Foon says iwi would do a better job at running prisons than corrections and wants the change to happen soon.Godfrey showed support towards the new idea.“I have no objection at all…in fact seems very wise to me.”While Hehir says, it's not about the colour of who's running the prison, it's the prison system itself and that there needs to rehabilitation programmes for prisoners.“They are very good at punishing people but they don't work to rehabilitate people.” LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE AS COMMENTATORS LIAM HEHIR AND MORGAN GODFREY TALK POLITICS.

The Race Relations Commissioner is calling for prisons to be run by iwi, believing the current model is not effective for Māori, who are over-represented in the prison system. Meng Foon has Hastings' Mangaroa Prison initially in his sights and says he has been speaking with iwi to discuss the idea. Ngahiwi Tomoana, the leader of Ngāti Kahungunu, says he hasn't heard from Foon about the concept but admits it is something his iwi has considered anyway.  

Fear of another community covid outbreak has pubs and restaurants on high alert for Labour weekend. The Race Relations Commissioner pushes for prisons to be run by iwi. We preview the final debate in the US Presidential Campaign. It's been a big week for 40 first time MPs who've been receiving a crash course on how to do their new job.

The Race Relations Commissioner is pushing for prisons to be run by iwi and is looking first and foremost at Mangaroa Prison near Hastings. Meng Foon says the way prisons are run is not effective for Māori and there needs to be a paradigm shift. He's been speaking with iwi and is lining up a chat with Corrections to discuss the idea.  Foon speaks to Guyon Espiner.  

Tuiloma Lina-Jodi Vaine Samu is a Samoan woman born in Aotearoa New Zealand. She was born, raised, educated in Mangere, South Auckland – the fifth child of 6 children of migrant parents from Samoa.  Her suafa matai orator title “Tuiloma” is an honorific honour bestowed by the village of Sapunaoa, Falealili, Samoa. She was the first appointed Human Rights Advisor for Pacific Peoples at the NZ Human Rights Commission working with the Race Relations Commissioner and is a well-known champion for Pacific Rainbow People.  Tuiloma now works at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples as Principal Advisor for its newly established Pacific Languages Unit. She has proficiency in eight languages including Samoan and the indigenous Reo Māori of Aotearoa. As we continue to celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori we are privileged to talk with Tuiloma Lina Samu about her journey learning Te Reo Maori and also the importance of getting regular medical checks. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

On the podcast today: growing up not out - how two Kiwis have revolutionsed garden in compact spaces; the Race Relations Commissioner says he has been inspired by the victims of the March 15th attacks; the two biggest Pacific Healthcare providers join forces to answer a call from church leaders for help in tackling the Covid outbreak; the government gives an extra 20 million to help the Pacific response and an Auckland budgeting service says families are struggling and the wage subsidy is just the calm before the storm.

The Race Relations Commissioner is urging a Maori woman who was told by a landlord he didn't want 'her sort' in his property to file a complaint to the Human Rights Commission. Te Iwi Kemp applied for ten Christchurch rentals in the past fortnight, but was told they were no longer available. When she reapplied as "Maria", three of the landlords got back to her so she confronted one of them. Meng Foon is the Race Relations Commissioner.

About a year ago, Meng Foon was appointed as the Race Relations Commissioner, after 24 years at the Gisborne District Council. Mr Foon was elected as a councillor in 1995 and in 2001 he was elected Mayor, a role he held for 18 years. He is one of a handful of people of Chinese descent to have become a mayor in New Zealand. He is fluent in English, Cantonese and Te Reo Māori.

The Archbishop of Wellington has condemned a sign reading 'All lives matter' that was displayed outside a Catholic Church in Masterton over the weekend. The message set out on the board outside St Patrick's Catholic Church, has since been vandalised. It also triggered an angry backlash online. Cultural experts and anti-racism advocates have labelled it racist, ill-timed and disrespectful, while the Race Relations Commissioner called the sign "provocative". RNZ's Rachel Thomas has more.

Race relations commissioner Meng Foon has called called for dialogue on colonisation-linked statues and says we need to "take a pause" as we consider what to do about them.

I’m not sure how many times Shane Jones needs to be racist and told he’s irresponsible, but it seems to be having very little effect.The PM is saying she reprimanded him, there appears very little evidence of that.I wonder if his recalcitrant behaviour is proof he’s never been properly reined in by his boss, that he feels he can continually get away with inappropriate comments, that he feels he's above all authority.His latest racist outburst.. that Indian immigrants “have ruined academic institutions” and that, “there were too many immigrants coming from New Delhi" is according to the Race Relations Commissioner, ignorant and racist.Winston Peters doesn’t think so though, neither does Shane Jones.They both defend the comments, so does that make it OK?Well no it doesn’t.But their commander in chief, coalition leader Jacinda Ardern, herself very vocal on her anti-racist beliefs, seems to be happy to let it slide, again. She was going to ‘have a word with him’ and ‘relay her displeasure’. Which is about as useful as telling a toddler it’s not that cool to bite people but oh well, try better next time.Why can’t she discipline or rein in her government ministers?It’s an ongoing mystery, especially when it comes to racist rhetoric which I would've thought she’d find abhorrent.  The Race Relations Commissioner said these sorts of comments ‘must stop’ and yet if no one will step in to stop them, and the people uttering them defend them, then how do they stop?Are we all supposed to wait for Shane Jones to have some road to Damascus experience and just stop being racist?Ardern said his comments were ‘loose’ and ‘wrong’.But why isn’t she calling them for what they are? Racist.His defence of himself that he’s ‘not woke’ but instead ‘a 60-year-old Croatian-Māori from Kaitaia, beer drinking, plain speaking, red meat eating politician,’ excuses nothing. It doesn’t mean you get to be racist.For a PM who is herself of the woke brigade and appreciates an ethnically diverse support base, I’m surprised she hasn’t heeded the words of the Waitakere Indian Association President, who this week asked that she ensure this racist sentiment didn't keep being repeated. He, like many others of us, expect a bit more than just expressing ‘displeasure'.Surely she's worked out by now that a Minister like Shane Jones couldn’t give a toss whether you’ve expressed 'displeasure’ or not.Showing strong leadership matters, especially in an election year.Expressing 'displeasure' is not going to cut it.

There are expected to be challenges for schools in reporting every incident of bullying.The Children's Commissioner and Race Relations Commissioner want mandatory reporting, and for schools to adopt anti-bullying measures.PPTA president Jack Boyle told Kate Hawkesby there's a moral obligation to make schools safe and get things right for children.But he's got some reservations about the idea."I'm not sure whether administrative burden for already busy teachers around every single event is by itself going to deal with bullying."He says school staff would have to be soliciting that information from young people."What the evidence shows us is that their not comfortable or actually able to tell you that that's going on."Boyle says schools need to respond to bullying with something that's evidence-based and will make a difference."Explicitly teaching pro-social values and behaviours, they have an impact on how people treat each other."  

The Race Relations Commissioner says education is needed around refugees' real circumstances.There's been criticism that Middleton Grange School's mufti-day World Vision refugee fundraiser was in bad taste - with students coming to school in old, ragged clothing.Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy told Chris Lynch the school was well intentioned, but a lot of refugees are professionals and the whole story needs to be told."It's continuing that stigmatisation that refugees are poor people or who come from impoverished backgrounds. We need to change that."Middleton Grange School says the student-led initiative was to help students think about what being a refugee child in war-torn Syria could be like. "We are asking children to dress as refugees in old ragged clothes if possible," the school reportedly told parents.Experiencing being poor was a good was to develop understanding and compassion, it said.LISTEN TO SUSAN DEVOY TALK WITH CHRIS LYNCH ABOVE