Image via Canterbury Police Facebook page.
Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE NZ.Scribe Wanted For Arrest
Scribe, formerly one of New Zealand hip hop's biggest stars, is being sought by Canterbury police. The 38-year-old rapper, real name Malo Ioane Luafutu, is wanted in connection with alleged drug offending and failing to appear in court. The charges include possession of an offensive weapon, procuring or possessing methamphetamine and possession or use of methamphetamine utensils. Scribe shot to fame in 2003 with the The Crusader, his debut album, which was released to both critical and commercial success. But the star has latterly struggled with drug, alcohol, and gambling addictions. Earlier this year, he revealed he would spend three months in a rehabilitation unit, calling it his "greatest and most hardest crusade ever".Hate Speech From Auckland Pastor
An Avondale pastor is delivering hateful sermons. Logan Robertson, a pastor at Westcity Bible Baptist Church has over the past week delivered sermons calling for gay people to be shot, and declared he doesn't believe women should be allowed to vote. The church has released videos on its YouTube channel of Robertson delivering what he has acknowledged as hate speech, stating a woman's place is in the kitchen, that he won't let his wife vote, and that he was fine with gay marriage as long as a bullet went through their head as soon as they kissed. Reverend Helen Jacobi, vicar of Auckland's St Matthews in the City said the video was inciting violence, and verging on criminal behaviour. The New Zealand Baptist Union said Robertson's views were outrageous.Sexual Assault Victims Need Faster Support
Victims of sexual assault are experiencing months-long delays for support. Therapists and mental health counsellors based in Auckland are being swamped with waiting lists, leaving patients waiting for months before they have access to ACC-funded specialist support. Some specialists aren't taking any new bookings at all. HELP, an organisation providing specialist support to victims of sexual abuse is experiencing delays of up to eight months. Executive director Kathryn McPhillips said the problem started when ACC reduced barriers for people to access support in November, 2014, meaning more people were trying to access the services without extra staff to cope with the influx. ACC say they are encouraging providers to employ more staff and boost the workforce to reduce waiting periods.Mistreatment of Cows on Southland Farm
Owners of a large Invercargill dairy farm have been found guilty of eight charges under the Animal Welfare Act. Two years of poor care and maintenance led to miserable living conditions for the cows, who suffered routine pain. Over 750 cows needed serious treatment, but almost 200 were beyond help and were euthanized. Fourteen vets spent weeks at the farm treating the animals. Two men were fined $60,000 and given 275 hours of community service.Bullying in New Zealand Schools
The Ministry of Education has conducted a survey of bullying in 100 primary schools and 82 secondary schools. The Wellbeing at School survey found that 42 percent of the primary school students experienced bullying each week. Up to 26 percent of secondary school students faced the same problem. These results, collected between 2013 and 2016, also indicated whether students felt as if they belonged at their school. At some schools, only 68 percent of students said they felt this way, and at others, up to 97 percent did. The Council for Educational Research said active promotion of student wellbeing at schools directly lowered how much aggressive behaviour was present.A New Health Indicator for Māori Men
An online tool, aiming to improve the health of Māori men in New Zealand, was launched last night. This follows a Statistics New Zealand report which found a seven-year gap in the life expectancy between Māori and non-Māori citizens. Dr Rhys Griffith Jones from the University of Auckland told 95bFM that the tool would use six indicators to measure an individual's health. He said the indicators related to the major health issues faced.North Korea Pauses on Guam Strike
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has decided to refrain from firing missiles toward the US territory Guam, according to state news reports. Having received military plans to strike the waters around Guam, Kim has apparently chosen to examine how the "foolish Yankees" proceed before taking any action. South Korean president Moon Jae-in vowed his government would "block war by all means."More Than 300 People Killed in Sierra Leone Mudslides
At least 312 people have been killed by mudslides in Sierra Leone, with the Red Cross indicating the death toll could climb more. Homes were swept away Monday in the Regent area, on the edge of the capital Freetown, after a hillside gave way in the torrential rains. More than 2,000 people have lost their homes, according to a disaster official.Protesters in North Carolina Topple Confederate Statue
Protesters in Durham, North Carolina, pulled down a monument honouring the Confederacy Monday outside the old county courthouse. Several people kicked at the statue of a Confederate soldier after it was toppled using rope. The crowd chanted, "No Trump! No KKK! No racist USA!" while marching in downtown Durham.Iran Threatens to Scrap Nuclear Deal
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has threatened to pull out of the 2015 deal limiting nuclear development if the US continues to impose more economic pain. In a speech in the Iranian parliament, Rouhani said the program could be restarted "in the scale of hours and days" if the US persisted with "threats and sanctions."Jury Rules in Favor of Taylor Swift in Groping Trial
A jury has ruled unanimously in favour of Taylor Swift in her sexual assault countersuit against DJ David Mueller for groping. Mueller will have to pay $1 in damages, as per Swift's request. Swift's lawyer called the symbolic sum "immeasurable to all women in this situation."Reporting by James Borrowdale, Harry Willis, Mary-Margaret Slack and Josh Storey.
LOCAL NEWS
Scribe, formerly one of New Zealand hip hop's biggest stars, is being sought by Canterbury police. The 38-year-old rapper, real name Malo Ioane Luafutu, is wanted in connection with alleged drug offending and failing to appear in court. The charges include possession of an offensive weapon, procuring or possessing methamphetamine and possession or use of methamphetamine utensils. Scribe shot to fame in 2003 with the The Crusader, his debut album, which was released to both critical and commercial success. But the star has latterly struggled with drug, alcohol, and gambling addictions. Earlier this year, he revealed he would spend three months in a rehabilitation unit, calling it his "greatest and most hardest crusade ever".Hate Speech From Auckland Pastor
An Avondale pastor is delivering hateful sermons. Logan Robertson, a pastor at Westcity Bible Baptist Church has over the past week delivered sermons calling for gay people to be shot, and declared he doesn't believe women should be allowed to vote. The church has released videos on its YouTube channel of Robertson delivering what he has acknowledged as hate speech, stating a woman's place is in the kitchen, that he won't let his wife vote, and that he was fine with gay marriage as long as a bullet went through their head as soon as they kissed. Reverend Helen Jacobi, vicar of Auckland's St Matthews in the City said the video was inciting violence, and verging on criminal behaviour. The New Zealand Baptist Union said Robertson's views were outrageous.
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Victims of sexual assault are experiencing months-long delays for support. Therapists and mental health counsellors based in Auckland are being swamped with waiting lists, leaving patients waiting for months before they have access to ACC-funded specialist support. Some specialists aren't taking any new bookings at all. HELP, an organisation providing specialist support to victims of sexual abuse is experiencing delays of up to eight months. Executive director Kathryn McPhillips said the problem started when ACC reduced barriers for people to access support in November, 2014, meaning more people were trying to access the services without extra staff to cope with the influx. ACC say they are encouraging providers to employ more staff and boost the workforce to reduce waiting periods.Mistreatment of Cows on Southland Farm
Owners of a large Invercargill dairy farm have been found guilty of eight charges under the Animal Welfare Act. Two years of poor care and maintenance led to miserable living conditions for the cows, who suffered routine pain. Over 750 cows needed serious treatment, but almost 200 were beyond help and were euthanized. Fourteen vets spent weeks at the farm treating the animals. Two men were fined $60,000 and given 275 hours of community service.Bullying in New Zealand Schools
The Ministry of Education has conducted a survey of bullying in 100 primary schools and 82 secondary schools. The Wellbeing at School survey found that 42 percent of the primary school students experienced bullying each week. Up to 26 percent of secondary school students faced the same problem. These results, collected between 2013 and 2016, also indicated whether students felt as if they belonged at their school. At some schools, only 68 percent of students said they felt this way, and at others, up to 97 percent did. The Council for Educational Research said active promotion of student wellbeing at schools directly lowered how much aggressive behaviour was present.
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An online tool, aiming to improve the health of Māori men in New Zealand, was launched last night. This follows a Statistics New Zealand report which found a seven-year gap in the life expectancy between Māori and non-Māori citizens. Dr Rhys Griffith Jones from the University of Auckland told 95bFM that the tool would use six indicators to measure an individual's health. He said the indicators related to the major health issues faced.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has decided to refrain from firing missiles toward the US territory Guam, according to state news reports. Having received military plans to strike the waters around Guam, Kim has apparently chosen to examine how the "foolish Yankees" proceed before taking any action. South Korean president Moon Jae-in vowed his government would "block war by all means."More Than 300 People Killed in Sierra Leone Mudslides
At least 312 people have been killed by mudslides in Sierra Leone, with the Red Cross indicating the death toll could climb more. Homes were swept away Monday in the Regent area, on the edge of the capital Freetown, after a hillside gave way in the torrential rains. More than 2,000 people have lost their homes, according to a disaster official.Protesters in North Carolina Topple Confederate Statue
Protesters in Durham, North Carolina, pulled down a monument honouring the Confederacy Monday outside the old county courthouse. Several people kicked at the statue of a Confederate soldier after it was toppled using rope. The crowd chanted, "No Trump! No KKK! No racist USA!" while marching in downtown Durham.Iran Threatens to Scrap Nuclear Deal
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has threatened to pull out of the 2015 deal limiting nuclear development if the US continues to impose more economic pain. In a speech in the Iranian parliament, Rouhani said the program could be restarted "in the scale of hours and days" if the US persisted with "threats and sanctions."Jury Rules in Favor of Taylor Swift in Groping Trial
A jury has ruled unanimously in favour of Taylor Swift in her sexual assault countersuit against DJ David Mueller for groping. Mueller will have to pay $1 in damages, as per Swift's request. Swift's lawyer called the symbolic sum "immeasurable to all women in this situation."Reporting by James Borrowdale, Harry Willis, Mary-Margaret Slack and Josh Storey.