I contacted Ricardo a couple of weeks ago when NZ First MP Shane Jones shouted in parliament “Send the Mexicans home!” after Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said Green Party migrant MPs should "show some gratitude" for being in New Zealand.

Why? Because I have never met Ricardo and I wondered what it is about him that so obviously riled these NZ First MP’s.

Now I think I know.

He is a highly intelligent man with a very carefully thought out economic and political philosophy, who can communicate his ideas clearly and succinctly.

I can see how that would frighten Peters and Jones,, especially given the latest polls which appears to show support for NZ First as falling, while support for the Greens is on the rise.

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Look at this ! Vans equipped with washing machines so that homeless people and folks experiencing hardship can get access to free laundry and shower services, plus have the opportunity for regular connection with other people. Isn’t that a brilliantly simple idea?

You can find Orange Sky vans in a number of centres around the country.

I recently spoke with Kat Doughty who is the Senior Impact Manager for the Charity who told me how Orange Sky got started and how its services are open everyone regardless of circumstance and at no cost.

She said one important aspect of their work is the many hours ​having kōrero with their community because homelessness is not just ​about their living situation but also the ​absence of human connection and a ​sense of belonging.

You can find out more about Orange Sky and how to support them here.

https://orangesky.org.nz

Monday is Hope Day is a regular feature I run as a reminder there many good people in our part of the world who think beyond themselves to help others. Kia kaha!

By becoming a paid subscriber for $9 a month (including GST) you can help me continue my public interest journalism.Membership will also give you access to all my posts , allow you to comment and join our chat group for discussions. Please restack and share posts you think are worthwhile as it all helps to build readership.

And to my paid subscibers - Thank you again for your support.

In this episode of Head 2 Head I catch up with Paul Hunt who was New Zealand’s Chief Human Rights Commissioner between 2019 - 2024 and who is now Professor of Law at the Human Rights Centre, University of Essex.

Among the issues he raises is the need for human rights to be incorporated in our legislation and how proposed the Treaty Principles Bill is wrong in both its conception and process.

Paul studied law at Cambridge University and Waikato University. He has lived and undertaken human rights work in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Aotearoa.

For more than a decade, he served as an independent human rights expert for the United Nations, reporting to the UN General Assembly and UN Human Rights Council. He wrote and presented some 30 UN reports, including on the World Trade Organisation, World Bank, IMF, Guantanamo Bay, the Israel-Lebanon conflict in 2006, and on numerous countries.

Paul’s focus was the human rights to healthcare and health protection. Between 2011 and 2013, he was senior human rights adviser to WHO Assistant Director-General Dr. Flavia Bustreo.

He has published extensively on human rights and has been awarded two Honorary Doctorates in recognition of his scholarship.

In 2021 he was awarded the Ann Dysart Distinguished Service Award by the civil society organisation, Multicultural New Zealand..

By becoming a paid subscriber for $9 a month (including GST) you can help me continue to do interviews like this one , to speak truth to power and give a voice to those who have none. Membership will also give you access to all my posts , allow you to comment and join our chat group for discussions. Please restack and share post you think are worthwhile as it all helps to build readership.