News of Zealand: Civil Defence Tries Out New Mobile Phone Alert

Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.

Civil Defence Satisfied with Emergency Alert
Civil Defence has deemed its mobile phone emergency alert a success, with a third of mobile phones enabled to receive the notification, reaching roughly two million devices. All regions with cellphone coverage have received the message. Civil Defence explained that people who did not get the alerts should not feel concerned, as this is only a new channel to communicate alerts, alongside radio, television and social media. The organisation said the number of devices capable of receiving the message is going to increase over time, as people replace their phones with newer models. A survey can be filled online to give Civil Defence feedback on the experience and help

Bullying Widespread in NZ Medicine
A recent study has found over two-thirds of those working in the medical profession in New Zealand have experienced or witnessed work-related bullying. The study by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists found that the most common bullies tended to be clinical managers, clinical directors, and those in leadership positions. New Zealand Medical Association Chair Dr. Kate Baddock says the study shows individuals need to take responsibility for their own behaviour. She told 95bFM that if everybody said “this is what I must do”, rather than someone saying “this is what you must do”, the culture would change. Baddock adds that while the findings indicate a problem amongst medical colleagues, a significant minority of incidents occurred with patients bullying staff.

Scientists Call for End of Advertising Medicines Before TPP is Ratified
Two medical scientists are calling for an end of direct-to-consumer advertising of medicine before the Trans Pacific Partnership is ratified. David Menkes, an academic psychiatrist from the University of Auckland, told 95bFM that this form of advertising prompts people to ask doctors for expensive prescription-only drugs. Menkes says it’s a good time to stop it, as medicine laws are being reviewed in the House, and before the TPP is ratified as it would make reform of regulations difficult. The psychiatrist says that other companies could sue our government for the reform if it takes place after the TPP is ratified.

Prime Minister Rejects National’s Criticism of Student Allowance Boost
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is rejecting criticism of government plans to increase student allowance payments by $50 a week. The National Party says the allowance boost could be abused by people on the dole. National's tertiary education spokesman Paul Goldsmith says with free tertiary education coming in next year, there is nothing stopping beneficiaries to enroll in studies and pocket the allowance, which will amount to more than the job seeker benefit. The Prime Minister says there are already protections in place to ensure people going on the allowance are genuine students, such as pass rates. She says a range of education options will be available to beneficiaries and that it would be a good outcome if people on jobseekers sought extra training.

Greenpeace Calling Out Government on Potential Oil and Gas Exploration
Greenpeace has asked Jacinda Ardern to stop oil and gas exploration off the Taranaki coast. The world's largest seismic exploration ship, the Amazon Warrior, entered NZ waters Saturday, and Greenpeace believes the government has given it permission to begin exploration in an area known to be hosting blue whales. The Environmental Advocacy Group said documents filed with the Department of Conservation show that the ship has been allowed to do a survey over summer. Campaigner Kate Simcock said Jacinda Ardern still has the power to stop the survey going ahead and stop looking for more fossil fuels.

Sir William Gallagher Under Fire After Saying Waitangi Treaty is a ‘Farce’
New Zealand business leader Sir William Gallagher is receiving backlash after claiming the Treaty of Waitangi is a farce. Gallagher, who is a fencing magnate, not an historian, made a speech on Saturday at a business function saying the Treaty papers on display at Te Papa were fraudulent documents and the Treaty was “a rort”. He also claimed the Foreshore and Seabed Act was an example of the Government "handing over the rights of all New Zealanders to Māori", when in fact the law involved the opposite: significant confiscation of land from Māori. Gallagher made a range of bizarre and contradictory claims, including that there was no such thing as “Māori”, and that Māori were fencing off beaches. He provided no evidence for his claims. Half a dozen audience members of a crowd of approximately ninety walked out during the speech. Gallagher said he is happy to discuss his ideas further.

Queenstown Shows Support for Sri Lankan Family Facing Deportation
A Sri Lankan family from Queenstown facing deportation has had a outpouring of support from the local community. On Saturday around 400 people rallied to show their support for the family who have lived in New Zealand since 2010. Mother of three Dinesha Amarasinghe applied for permanent residency as a skilled migrant for her husband and children in 2013 but was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2015 and her application was denied. Last month their work visas were cancelled and they were ordered to leave the country. Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker has written to Immigration minister Iain Lees-Galloway to request an exception to policy and the family can stay until an appeal lodged with the Immigration and Protection Tribunal is heard. More than $25,000 raised to cover medical bills and living costs while the family cannot work.

Refugees on Manus Island Face Bad Living Conditions in Transit Centres
About 400 refugees were forced to give up their three-week protest last week by Papua New Guinea police, and moved into three facilities in the island's main town. Refugees who remained in Manus Island detention centre after the prison camp was officially shut down were forcibly removed by officers from Papua New Guinea before the weekend and taken on buses to three separate centres elsewhere on Manus Island. Official reports of the move described the police operation as peaceful, but videos on social media show metal batons being used to beat some of the men. The transit centres have been described as unfit with little water, food or electricity, as well as still being under construction. Asylum seeker Walid Zazai was posting updates on social media while the men were still living in the detention camp, and 95bfm was able to talk to him just after they had been forcibly removed about the conditions. Zazai said the conditions were terrible. “We are in the middle of a jungle, we had to drive on the bus about 10 minutes inside the jungle and we saw those containers, still under construction”. The detainee added that there was “no power”, “no water” and “no food” in the facilities. According to Zazai, only two trays of food were brought for 200 men. The refugees don’t know where else to eat or get food. Aid agency Doctors without Borders has been prevented from entering the new housing facilities, where refugees are said to need medical and psychological assistance. Living conditions are cramped, with refugees unable to find beds and forced to sleep in a classroom, and some sharing a two-meter room between four people. Thousands took to the streets yesterday in Australia's capital to protest against the refugees’ treatment.

Volcanic Ash in Bali Disrupting Island’s tourism
Airlines have been issued a "red warning" about the danger of volcanic ash in the skies close to Bali after Mount Agung emitted a thick plume of smoke reaching 4,000m. It is the second major emission from the Indonesian island volcano this week, and flights have been disrupted. The red warning means an eruption is forecast as imminent, with significant emissions of ash likely. People within a 7.5km exclusion zone were told to "immediately evacuate", and about 25,000 people are thought to still be in temporary shelters. Travellers to and from the region are being urged to contact their airline or travel agent to find out the status of their flight.

The Archbishop of York Ends Protest Against Robert Mugabe
In December 2007, the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu cut up his collar live on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, promising not to wear one until Robert Mugabe left office. The white collar is what an anglican clergyman wears to be identified, and the cutting of the collar on live television was dramatic, showing a clear stance on Dr Sentamu’s thoughts of Robert Mugabe. On Sunday, Dr Sentamu returned to the Marr Show and reinstated his collar as promised. He said he could have glued the old one back together, as Zimbabwe is “patching things back up,” when what they need is something radical and new to move on with.

Additional reporting: Lisa Boudet, Jean Bell, Leonard Powell