New Zealand: the Police State - 08/10/2015

New Zealand gets headlines again over its fascist policies

New Zealand govt slammed by rights group for blasphemy law ‘enacted by stealth’

RT,

9 August, 2015

New Zealand has come under stinging criticism from the New Zealand Humanist Society (NZHS) for adopting the Harmful Digital Communications Act, which is believed to be one of the world’s strictest blasphemy laws.

The NZHS described the law that received Royal assent on July 2 as “an embarrassing step backwards and a severe blow to free speech.” The society said the new act seeking to put an end to cyber-bullying can land people in prison for up to two years for committing blasphemy.

The NZHS also believes the law was introduced “by the back door.”

"This legislation not only flies in the face of human rights, but the introduction of yet another law that gives special privileges to religions is unfair, unpopular and unrepresentative of our society, where over 40 percent of New Zealanders identify as not religious, making this our country's largest single belief group," said Mark Honeychurch, the NZHS president as cited by The New Zealand Herald.

"We want to increase social cohesion and understanding, and by awarding privileges and protecting groups from critique we are closing the door on free speech, free inquiry and public debate. New Zealand has to abolish its blasphemy laws before they are used to censor, suppress, and silence public debate," he added.

Germany prepares for cyberwarfare offensive – reports http://t.co/26zHyxC5xdpic.twitter.com/yNlMv2uOov

— RT (@RT_com) 25 июля 2015

The Harmful Digital Communications Act came into force on July 2. It introduces a number of communication principles. One of them states: “A digital communication should not denigrate an individual by reason of his or her colour, race, ethnic or national origins, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.”

Violators of the law will have to pay a fine up to 50,000NZD (almost $33,200) or serve two years in prison. Corporate bodies will face even higher fines – up to 200,000NZD almost ($133,200).

Advocates of the law believe it will effectively help to fight against cyber-bullying and harmful online content.

Justice Minister Amy Adams said a special agency would be created to work with victims of cyber-bullying.

"The agency will help victims of harassment or cyber-bullying to resolve complaints as quickly and painlessly as possible. It will work with parties to help get objectionable content off the internet, and provide advice on other possible remedies,"Adams said on July 27.

Strict blasphemy laws enacted by stealth, group claims

This is what John Key means by ‘job creation’

Spy boss Rebecca Kitteridge goes on a recruiting drive

Could this be you? The SIS is on a recruitment drive.

Stuff,

9 August, 2015

Job openings for spies are on the rise – and among the next round of recruits could be someone you know.

The rise of Islamic State has sparked the growth in jobs at the Security Intelligence Service, and  director Rebecca Kitteridge said one of the main qualifications was life experience.

"We have people who used to be school principals, lawyers, retailers, engineers, whatever … very diverse backgrounds."

But expect the unexpected at your job interview – something Kitteridge knows about first-and.

She put herself through the assessment process to get a taste of what would-be recruits were faced with. It included role playing, where she had to enter a room, strike up a conversation with its occupants and "elicit certain information from people" in a way that did not raise any red flags with them.

"There were several [people] I had to talk to before I found the right one, and I had to remember everything he told me."

But would-be recruits should be aware of the stringent security vetting. Every aspect of their lives will be picked apart by expert vetters.

"[They ] have to provide a lot of financial information and they get asked all kinds of intrusive questions about the state of their marriages and relationships and their drinking habits and associations ... is there anything that's going to mean they are vulnerable or are not trustworthy to have access to the level of information they have access to?"

As for Kitteridge's assessment,  she passed, after identifying the correct target and eliciting useful information.

SIS annual reports show full-time equivalent staff number more than 200.

The drive to recruit more comes after the Government pumped an extra $7 million into the intelligence agency off the back of legislation targeting so-called foreign fighters, or Kiwis attracted to the IS cause.

The Government says between 30 and 40 people are being actively watched. Kitteridge said numbers remained in that range.

The legislation includes the power to cancel the passports of those seeking to join IS forces in Syria and Iraq.

Kitteridge said SIS had been grappling with an increasingly unstable geopolitical picture and the aggressive social media campaign run by IS to spread its reach. That included New Zealand, where the message spread by IS might be abhorrent to most people, but resonated with a small group of individuals.

"What [IS] espouse is not something that would appeal to anybody who is moderate or normal … and it does seem to me that the brand is about shocking, brutal behaviour. Sickening behaviour actually.

"And there are people who are drawn to that because it is brutal and sickening."

Some of the material was so disturbing SIS agents required to view it for their job needed pastoral are.

But there were people in New Zealand who watched the material and got excited by it. she said. "[They are] saying this is great and let's see what sort of thing we could do that would be similar."

SIS had been "recruiting as fast as we can" to keep ahead of the foreign fighter threat, and had also been recruiting on the "operation enablement side", which included listening devices and "other kit".