From JTA, November 9, 2008:
The son of a Jewish refugee was elected the prime minister of New Zealand.
John Key’s conservative National Party swept to victory in the Nov. 8 election, snapping the nine-year reign of Helen Clark and her Labor Party.
Key, 47, said the National Party, with 59 seats, had avowed support from two minor parties that would enable him to forge a coalition of 65 seats in the 122-seat parliament. Labor garnered 43 seats.
Key was raised by his mother, Ruth Lazar, in government-run housing after his alcoholic father died when Key was 7. Lazar’s aunt had arranged a marriage in Britain on the eve of World War II that enabled Lazar, her mother and several other family members to escape Austria in 1939.
In an interview with JTA on the eve of the election, Key attributed his success to his mother.
“She was an amazing lady,” he said. “She had a strong sense of what was right and wrong, and a strong belief that I could achieve and could do great things, so she pushed me very hard.”
Key went on to become a foreign currency dealer with Merrill Lynch in London before returning home in 2001 to begin his political rise.
A father of two children, he does not practice Judaism but says he is “very respectful” of the Jewish faith.
Key, who spoke at a celebration to mark Israel’s 60th birthday earlier this year, said he hopes to visit the Jewish state, where he has cousins, and pay his respects at Yad Vashem.
Showing posts with label New Zealand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Zealand. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Clark ousted as NZ opt for change
From ABC News, by Peter Lewis:
The swing to the right, that was forecast in all the pre-election polling, was apparent as soon as counting got underway. The centre right National Party, led by John Key, finished with 45 per cent of the vote compared with Labour's 33 per cent.
Prime minister-elect John Key has pledged a more prosperous and more ambitious New Zealand. (Getty Images: Hannah Johnston)
New Zealanders have voted for change in Saturday's general election sweeping aside the three-term [anti-Israel, anti-US] government of Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark in favour of a new conservative coalition led by the National Party.
The swing to the right, that was forecast in all the pre-election polling, was apparent as soon as counting got underway. The centre right National Party, led by John Key, finished with 45 per cent of the vote compared with Labour's 33 per cent.
...Prime minister-elect John Key pledged a more ambitious future for the country during his acceptance speech in Auckland. "In their hundreds and thousands across the country they have voted for change," he said. "Today, New Zealanders have voted for action, for a safer, more prosperous and more ambitious New Zealand."
Clark to go...mazal tov!!!
Great news!!!...from The New Zealand Herald, 8/11/08:
The right is poised to claim victory in the 2008 election.
John Key is heading to National's headquarters with just five per cent of the vote left to count.
National has enough support to govern in coalition with Act and United Future. It would not need the Maori Party.
National has 45.5 per cent of the vote to Labour's 33.3 per cent....
The right is poised to claim victory in the 2008 election.
John Key is heading to National's headquarters with just five per cent of the vote left to count.
National has enough support to govern in coalition with Act and United Future. It would not need the Maori Party.
National has 45.5 per cent of the vote to Labour's 33.3 per cent....
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Cockroaches in the NZ woodwork
From an article by MATT CALMAN - The Dominion Post (New Zealand), Thursday, 05 June 2008:
Prime TV billboards axed after complaint
One billboard in Wakefield St, Wellington, and two in Auckland were removed yesterday after going up on Tuesday. The billboards were for Madmen: The Glory Years of Advertising, due out at the end of the month, and bore the slogan:
"Advertising Agency Seeks: Clients. All business considered, even from Jews."
The billboards were removed after a complaint from New Zealand Jewish Council chairman Geoff Levy, who was also angry about a two-page advertisement using the same wording in the latest Time magazine.
Mr Levy said Prime had acted quickly to remove the billboards and if the council received a written apology and a two-page apology in the next Time the matter would be resolved.
However, the damage had already been done and 26,000 copies of Time would remain on waiting-room tables and in houses for months to come, he said.
...Prime spokesman Tony O'Brien said approval for the campaign, which was to mirror "archaic" 1960s' attitudes prevalent in the show, had been given by the marketing department, which had made an error of judgment. All the billboards were immediately removed and an apology would run in the next edition of Time, he said. "We take full responsibility for this and we have totally apologised to the Jewish community. The campaign crossed the line from being provocative to being offensive."
...Adverstising Standards Authority executive director Hilary Souter said they had received a handful of complaints but the quick response of the broadcaster should settle the matter.
For New Zealand, the incident is unremarkable.
As one commentator noted
For example
Prime TV billboards axed after complaint
One billboard in Wakefield St, Wellington, and two in Auckland were removed yesterday after going up on Tuesday. The billboards were for Madmen: The Glory Years of Advertising, due out at the end of the month, and bore the slogan:
"Advertising Agency Seeks: Clients. All business considered, even from Jews."
The billboards were removed after a complaint from New Zealand Jewish Council chairman Geoff Levy, who was also angry about a two-page advertisement using the same wording in the latest Time magazine.
Mr Levy said Prime had acted quickly to remove the billboards and if the council received a written apology and a two-page apology in the next Time the matter would be resolved.
However, the damage had already been done and 26,000 copies of Time would remain on waiting-room tables and in houses for months to come, he said.
...Prime spokesman Tony O'Brien said approval for the campaign, which was to mirror "archaic" 1960s' attitudes prevalent in the show, had been given by the marketing department, which had made an error of judgment. All the billboards were immediately removed and an apology would run in the next edition of Time, he said. "We take full responsibility for this and we have totally apologised to the Jewish community. The campaign crossed the line from being provocative to being offensive."
...Adverstising Standards Authority executive director Hilary Souter said they had received a handful of complaints but the quick response of the broadcaster should settle the matter.
For New Zealand, the incident is unremarkable.
As one commentator noted
- New Zealand Universities have granted PhDs to Holocaust denial theorists,
- there have been instances of desecration of Jewish graves
- there was an attck on the Rabbi's car in Auckland
- anti-Semitic slogans ere spray painted on the Synagogue in Christchurch
- there were plans for a demonstration outside a Synagogue in Wellington to coincide with a Service there to comemorate those who had died in wars defending Israel
- there was a stabbing of school children at the Jewish day school in Auckland. The woman in question had a mental illness but even so, her drive for wanting to harm Jews had to have come from somewhere.
...So now an advertising agency taps into this growing undercurrent of anti-Semitism in New Zealand, as a cheap, cynical grab for controversy and publicity.
However, what I find interesting is the tone of the comments posted in response to the article. The slightest whiff of DDT, and it's amazing how many cockroaches crawl out of the woodwork....For example
- "...the old saying "All Jewish are cheap and shrewd in business" I believe is quite true.
- "... The second you call a Jew a name the whole anti-semetic brigade has you called up to HR."
- "...Stereotypes are generally born out of a reflection of reality....."
- "... Personally I am just sick of the whole jewish thing..."
- "...Why keep using the guilt trap on people?..."
- "...some new state - let's just call it "Jewtopia"...
Sunday, August 26, 2007
"Blood and Honor" in New Zealand
Here's a little reminder of recent events in New Zealand
A rock concert commemorating Adolf Hitler's birthday held in New Zealand's capital has angered Jews and anti-racist groups....
The concert, which took place Friday night [20 April 2007] in Wellington, was organized by local skinheads belonging to [a] ...neo-Nazi organization Blood and Honor ... banned in several European countries.....New Zealand police, who were aware of the concert, said it was not illegal.
The concert, which took place Friday night [20 April 2007] in Wellington, was organized by local skinheads belonging to [a] ...neo-Nazi organization Blood and Honor ... banned in several European countries.....New Zealand police, who were aware of the concert, said it was not illegal.
....Wellington's Jewish community was disgusted .... Israeli honorary consul David Zwartz said the concert was "distasteful and offensive..." ...
From The ADL Web site:
...August 6, 2004 - Wellington – A Jewish chapel was destroyed by fire and up to 90 Jewish headstones were pulled out of the ground and smashed at Makara Cemetery, on the outskirts of the nation's capital. Swastikas were cut into the cemetery lawn and etched on the chapel wall. Community officials described the desecration as the worst attack ever on the Jewish community of New Zealand.
July 15/16, 2004 - Wellington – Vandals smashed and overturned tombstones and carved a swastika into the grass in a Jewish cemetery. Some of the tombstones were over 100 years old....
Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand
Hitler sells Pizzas in New Zealand
From The Press (New Zealand) By IAN STEWARD Saturday, 25 August 2007 [my emphasis added - SL]...
... advertising executive Kirk MacGibbon said he had received complaints from Jewish people on [a billboard for Hell Pizza depicting Hitler] but none from Catholics on the use of the Pope in a Hell Pizza advertisement now on display in the city.
"Isn't it interesting how only the Jews complain? ... 'Don't forget – but don't look when we invade Palestine'..." he said.
The Hitler billboard in Addington, Christchurch, New Zealand.
... Hell Pizza appeared to be bowing to public pressure on Thursday, removing the controversial Hitler poster from Lincoln Road, Addington, only for it to reappear in St Asaph Street, in central Christchurch, yesterday morning.
The billboard ... has drawn widespread condemnation from the Jewish community. The New Zealand Jewish Council yesterday lodged an official complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority, while Israel's honorary consul to New Zealand, David Zwartz, described the advertisement as "distasteful" and "insensitive".
...Zwartz said MacGibbon's suggestion that the Holocaust was used as an excuse for Israel's present-day actions was a "very warped attitude...It's as distasteful as using Hitler in their advertisements..." ...
...MacGibbon said the ads were successful and were not in danger of turning off customers...
... advertising executive Kirk MacGibbon said he had received complaints from Jewish people on [a billboard for Hell Pizza depicting Hitler] but none from Catholics on the use of the Pope in a Hell Pizza advertisement now on display in the city.
"Isn't it interesting how only the Jews complain? ... 'Don't forget – but don't look when we invade Palestine'..." he said.
The Hitler billboard in Addington, Christchurch, New Zealand.
... Hell Pizza appeared to be bowing to public pressure on Thursday, removing the controversial Hitler poster from Lincoln Road, Addington, only for it to reappear in St Asaph Street, in central Christchurch, yesterday morning.
The billboard ... has drawn widespread condemnation from the Jewish community. The New Zealand Jewish Council yesterday lodged an official complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority, while Israel's honorary consul to New Zealand, David Zwartz, described the advertisement as "distasteful" and "insensitive".
...Zwartz said MacGibbon's suggestion that the Holocaust was used as an excuse for Israel's present-day actions was a "very warped attitude...It's as distasteful as using Hitler in their advertisements..." ...
...MacGibbon said the ads were successful and were not in danger of turning off customers...
Saturday, April 21, 2007
New Zealand concert honours Hitler
From JPost, Apr. 21, 2007, by TALIA DEKEL ...
A rock concert commemorating Adolf Hitler's birthday held in New Zealand's capital city has angered Jews and anti-racist groups....
The concert, which took place Friday night in Wellington, was organized by local skinheads belonging to the worldwide "Hammerskins" gang and neo-Nazi organization "Blood and Honor" - a group banned in several European countries.
An Australian Viking rock band featured at the event at an undisclosed location, the capital city's Dominion Post reported. The location of the event had previously been scheduled to take place at a local motorcycle gang's headquarters but was later changed for an unknown reason.
New Zealand police, who were aware of the event, said that it was not illegal, even though it had offended many members of the public.
...Wellington's Jewish community was disgusted that [the] event ... had taken place in New Zealand....Jewish community leader and Israeli honorary consul David Zwartz said the concert was "distasteful and offensive..."
A rock concert commemorating Adolf Hitler's birthday held in New Zealand's capital city has angered Jews and anti-racist groups....
The concert, which took place Friday night in Wellington, was organized by local skinheads belonging to the worldwide "Hammerskins" gang and neo-Nazi organization "Blood and Honor" - a group banned in several European countries.
An Australian Viking rock band featured at the event at an undisclosed location, the capital city's Dominion Post reported. The location of the event had previously been scheduled to take place at a local motorcycle gang's headquarters but was later changed for an unknown reason.
New Zealand police, who were aware of the event, said that it was not illegal, even though it had offended many members of the public.
...Wellington's Jewish community was disgusted that [the] event ... had taken place in New Zealand....Jewish community leader and Israeli honorary consul David Zwartz said the concert was "distasteful and offensive..."
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