Benjamin Doyle (they/them)

@teanau.bsky.social wins 💚

Green Party MP Benjamir Dovle resigns from Parliament "Over the past months, I have been on a journey of healing. During this time, I have come to the realisation that I cannot complete this journey while in Parliament. "After having baseless and violent accusations thrown at me, and an onslaught of hate, vitriol and threats of real-world violence directed at me and my whanau, I have decided to move on from Parliament. "Whanau is the most precious thing in the world. From the start, I have always said my child is my priority. My tamaiti asked me to leave Parliament, and I am leaving for them and for my own wellbeing. "I leave Parliament with pride, and that is something nobody can take away from me. It was a pleasure and a privilege to represent and work for the communities that carried me here. I am so grateful for their trust and guidance. "I am leaving Parliament, I am not disappearing. I will continue to fight for people and planet, just not from inside this House. "Our politics, our democracy and our Parliament should be a place for everyone. My time here has shown that we clearly still have work to do. I hope this experience is something that we can all learn and grow from," says Benjamin Doyle. Authorised by Benjamin Doyle, Green MP. Parliament Buildings, Wellington.

I may be leaving parliament, but I’m certainly not leaving the kaupapa. Ka whawhai tonu mātou, ake ake ake! 🌿💚

LOBBYING TO WIN: TRAINING SESSION TO SUPPORT THE SANCTIONS BILL SUNDAY AUGUST 17 | 1PM Pukete Neighbourhood House Kirikiriroa/Hamilton Join Green Party MP Benjamin Doyle and community organisers to discuss the "Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill", upskill your lobbying abilities, and gain confidence to meet with your local MP.

BENJAMIN DOYLE THEY/THEM/IA Benjamin Doyle (Ngãpuhi, Te Kapotai, Te Popoto, Pakehã) is a List MP based in Kirikiriroa. Benjamin is a fierce advocate for ngã mokopuna me te taiao. They are takatapui, tangata whaikaha, a parent, and a teacher; who brings all of their communities with them to Parliament.

Kirikiriroa! In colab w/ Justice4Palestine and Ngaa Haumi we are facilitating a workshop on how to lobby MPs to support the I$rael Sanction Bill. Sunday 17th, Pukete House, 1pm.

New early childhood education law aims to get parents back in labour force: David Seymour has introduced legislation that seeks to entrench the recommendations from his broad-ranging and contentious early childhood education regulatory review by Laura Walters

However, David Seymour's own officials have raised concerns about some of the assumptions underpinning these proposals and the rushed nature of this work, which poses risks of "policy failure" and future litigation. On Monday, Associate Education Minister David Seymour introduced the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Bill to Parliament, which seeks to change the primary Education and Training Act. The bill would replace the core principles that underpinned regulations in the sector. Green Party early childhood education spokesperson Benjamin Doyle said they found it "extremely concerning" that the bill sought to refocus the purpose of early childhood education towards parents re-entering the workforce. "That signals to us that this piece of legislation is part of a suite of that classic neoliberal creep towards privatisation, towards deregulation, and away from education as a public good."

Doyle also criticised the timeframe with which the legislation had been pulled together, given the importance of education as a public good. "The Education and Training Act is a crucial piece of legislation in Aotearoa, it is our primary piece of legislation around education. So changes to it should be really thoroughly scrutinised and really well understood by the public." The Greens' Doyle said this official advice proved Seymour had pre-determined the outcomes, adding that he had done a similar thing with pay parity for early childhood education teachers. RNZ reported that a Cabinet paper this year showed newly qualified ECE teachers would collectively lose as much as $22 million over the next two years so their employers could have lower costs. It also reveals the Government "is moving away from" the pay parity scheme for such teachers, even though a long-awaited review of the sector's funding has barely begun.

Limitations and Constraints on Analysis There are several limitations and constraints on the regulatory analysis outlined in this RIS. These are due to limitations on the rigour and depth of analysis undertaken as part of the Review, Ministerial direction to accept the findings and recommendations of the Review, and Ministerial direction to develop and implement the policy response at pace to reduce regulatory burden on service providers. These limitations and constraints increase the risk of policy failure and creates litigation risks for this work. However, despite the above constraints our analysis sets out a basis for decision-making for Cabinet, which enables them to respond to the recommendations stated in the Review. Quality Assurance Statement The Ministry of Education's RIA QA panel considered this statement and assessed it as failing to meet the Cabinet's quality assurance criteria for impact analysis. This assessment corresponds to the tight constraints on the options considered, the limited analysis of impacts, cost and benefits, and lack of consultation on the proposals imposed by the timeframe. Given these constraints we consider that insufficient information and analysis has been provided to support decisions.

To quote official advice given to the Minister by his own officials in the bill’s Regulatory Impact Statement…

“limitations and constraints increase the risk of policy failure and creates litigation risks for this work… and assessed it as failing to meet the Cabinet’s quality assurance criteria”

News headlines about ACT announcing they will change our passports to put English first with a quote from Christopher Luxon saying “Our Government Action Plan was laser-focused on rebuilding the economy and reducing the cost of living, restoring law and order, and delivering better public services.”

Te Pāti Mãori, Greens outraged at 'marginalising' passport changes Not 'a positive vision' - Greens Green Party MP Benjamin Doyle said the move is not what New Zealanders need from the government. “We are seeing day by day, the rights and dignities of minority communities being stripped away while they leave the majority of New Zealanders suffering under the government's current decisions," Doyle said. "This is not a positive vision for Aotearoa, this is not a positive step towards unifying kotahitanga and it's not benefiting anyone. Really, its just dog-whistling politics. It's the tail wagging the dog."

“Laser-focused”?! Yeah, on the wrong things which make absolutely no material difference to anyone in AOTEAROA…

We cannot build a thriving society where all people are valued & respected by trying to disappear trans and non-binary folk from public life.

We stand with transgender, takatāpui and rainbow communities. The Greens are committed to ensuring community sports are inclusive of everyone.

Everyone deserves to feel safe in sport, including our trans whānau.

The Green Party condemns the Government’s decision to abandon guidelines outlining how transgender people can be included in community sport.

These guidelines are about keeping our communities safe.

Picture of Benjamin asking Minister Costello questions in the House: “Is she concerned with the findings of the HIV Epidemiology Group's most recent report that [quote] "locally-acquired infections overall have only decreased by 31% from the 2010 baseline set by the National HIV Action Plan... which is well short of the 90% reduction target by 2030" and if so, what action is she taking to address it? “Is she concerned by the Government's failure to meet the National HIV Action Plan's goal to maintain zero cases of transmission at birth, with new, avoidable cases of perinatal transmission occurring for the first time in almost 20 years, and if so, what will she do to turn it around?”

“Has she met with any public health organizations or community groups, like Toitu Te Ao, Burnett Foundation Aotearoa, Positive Women or Body Positive, who are working on the ground to implement the National HIV Action Plan, and if not why not?” “What, if anything, will she do to address the growing inequity in rates of HIV acquisition amongst trans, migrant, and Mãori populations in Aotearoa, as highlighted in the HIV Epidemiology Group's latest report as highly concerning?”

My first oral question in the house 💅🏻 and you know it’s a real one!

We can eliminate HIV transmission in Aotearoa, but concerning recent data from the HIV Epidemiology Group shows that this government is steadily veering us off track.

No excuses, they need to do better!

News article: Online casino bill: Greens vote with coalition govt to pass first reading

Labour and Te Pãti Mãori voted against the bill, but all 14 Green MPs voted in support. The Greens' internal affairs spokesperson Benjamin Doyle told RNZ the party wanted to bring the issue to select committee with the aim of convincing the coalition parties to make significant changes. "We always want to support movements towards harm reduction. So with online gambling, it's totally unregulated at the moment, and we see this as a very small step in the right direction to enact harm reduction techniques," they said. "It's definitely not far enough, but we believe that going to select committee to hear from experts, community, people with lived experience of online gambling harm, and advocacy groups may be able to help us to inform changes and amendments and improvements to this legislation that will actually enact harm reduction."

Doyle said the Greens wanted to ensure 100 percent of the funding recouped from the moves would go back to harm reduction. "There needs to be extremely high levels of transparency around where that funding is going, that revenue is going, and my ideal would be that 100 percent of the revenue goes towards community harm reduction... it shouldn't be going towards the back pockets." They also wanted a ban on advertising for online gambling, and possibly a reduction in the number of licences. The party had not yet approached the coalition parties to see what kind of support they could get for the changes, they said - and called for more consultation with Mãori. "The value mai i te kãkano 'from the very seed' is the best approach when engaging with Mãori. We should be engaging right from the beginning of drafting this piece of legislation."

(note: tone of sarcasm) In a shocking turn of events, members of parliament decide to try and work with other members of parliament in order to improve real-world outcomes for communities and strengthen harm-reduction clauses in legislation…

Tena koe e te Minita, Ko te tuatahi, e rere ana te mauri ãio o te korowai whetu o Matariki mã Puanga. Hari tau hou tuturu Mãori! Wishing you a peaceful Mãori lunar new year, Minister Mitchell. I have always appreciated your efficient and directed engagement with my office in the past, be it in regard to the rights of trans people in prison, targeted online homophobia, or the disgraceful behaviour of Destiny Church and its associated "organisations". You have always met with me in good faith and vith the seriousness that these topics deserve. hope we can continue to operate in such a fashion moving forward. It is with this in mind that I reach out to you today, with extreme concern over the actions, yet again, of the so-called "bishop" Brian Tämaki, and his "church" leadership over the weekend in Tamaki Makaurau. There is video footage circulating online of a mass gathering in the city centre for a rally advertised by the leader as a march for "flag, faith, and family".

Minister, I believe it would be better described as a mass gathering for hate, violence-incitement and vitriol. Videos show the tearing and violent destruction of flags representing the rainbow community, diverse faiths (labelled by Brian as demonic), and nations as well as images of prominent people which were stabbed with weapons. These destroyed artefacts were then apparently lit on fire in the middle of the street. Minister Mitchell, how can we allow this behaviour to occur in our public spaces while they actively and directly incite violence and hate towards minority communities? This is not about this group of actors' right to a supposed "freedom of speech", this is about the direct contravention of multiple communities' right - namely rainbow, migrant, and non-Christian people - to exist free from discrimination and the threat and fear of violence. Freedom of speech should never, ever come at the cost of other human rights. I have had community members who happened to be in the city at the time of Destiny Church's "march" who have reported being intimidated, threatened, and shouted

at. My own friends live in fear just walking around their own town because of actions such as what was seen this weekend. This is not acceptable. Why are these groups, all subsidiaries and off-shoots of, or connected to Brian Tamaki and Destiny Church, continuously allowed to gather in public and espouse hate and violence, when any other group doing the same would be treated with swift and serious condemnation? Minister Mitchell, I hope you agree that it goes without saying, but I shall say it nonetheless, ALL organisations associated with Brian Tamaki and Destiny Church must have they're charitable status removed; must have all police, corrections, and state contracts revoked; must no longer receive referrals for "rehabilitation" services (which in reality indoctrinate vulnerable people into a hateful ideology); and must be trespassed pre-emptively from gathering in public spaces to incite hate and violence.

Please accept this as a request to meet with you at your soonest convenience, Minister. I believe this is not only a matter of serious urgency to public safety, but an issue of the rapidly deteriorating faith my rainbow community has in the effectiveness and integrity of the police to prevent crime and keep communities safe. Nei rã te mihi maioha ki a koe, Benjamin Doyle, List MP (they/them/ia) Green Party of Aotearoa Ngãpuhi, Te Kapotai, Te Popoto, Päkehã Based in Kirikiriroa on the lands of Ngaati Maahanga Spokesperson for Mãori & Early Childhood Education, Takatapui & Rainbow Communities, Sexual & Reproductive Health, ACC, Internal Affairs.

A letter I sent to Minister Mitchell today regarding DC hate-rally inciting violence in Tāmaki Makaurau this weekend

Here is the latest update from the Official Freedom Flotilla account @gazafreedomflotilla: “Contact the Israeli embassy in your country immediately. Demand our volunteers are safe and unharmed. Call on your government to impose sanctions on Israel without delay” Israeli Embassy Wellington: (04) 439 9500 Info@wellington.mfa.gov.il Minister of Foreign affairs: Winston.Peters@parliament.govt.nz

🚨 From Freedom Flotilla:

“Contact the Israeli embassy in your country immediately. Demand our volunteers are safe and unharmed. Call on your government to impose sanctions on Israel without delay”

Israeli Embassy NZ:
(04) 439 9500
Info@wellington.mfa.gov.il

MFAT:
Winston.Peters@parliament.govt.nz

INTERNATIONAL AIDS CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL (Red and white text on black background with 3 burning tea-light candles)

Tau mai rã te mauri ãio, te mauri tipua, te mauri aroha o ngã atua tupuna Kite hunga mate, koutou kua haere atu ki te po roa, kua wheturangitia Moe mai, moe mai, moe mai rã I reflect so often on the precious lives we have lost to the AIDS epidemic. Each life a story unfinished, a potential unfulfilled, a loved one held here, in this realm, by memory and grief and precious talisman left behind. Held here also by the joy that they did exist, and a gratitude for that fact. When I was sworn into Parliament for the Green Party of Aotearoa as their newest MP last year, I held with me a book that had passed through many hands before touching mine. Intimate Details & Vital Statistics: AIDS, sexuality and the social order in New Zealand, edited by Peter Davis. I held this book as a reminder to myself that I am only here by the grace of those who came, and fought, and loved before me. I also held it so that I would be strengthened in my resolve never to forget that our work is far from over. That as politicians, we must not lose sight of the communities and issues, the lives and realities, that we are elected to serve. The Green Party of Aoteraroa is committed to supporting and honouring the work being tirelessly led by those on the ground and in community. The work of those living with HIV and their allies, friends, and whänau who advocate, research, educate, create, and fight for meaningful social and political progress. He mihi nui kore mutunga ki a koutou - our endless thanks to you all. May this year's Candlelight Memorial Services in Pöneke and Tamaki offer a moment of genuine peace and reflection, so that we may grieve and celebrate the many loved ones who we have lost, and who we remember. He mura e kore e ngaro Benjamin Doyle (they/them) Green Party of Aotearoa list MP Spokesperson for Takatapui & Rainbow Communities, Sexual & Reproductive Health, Mãori & Early Childhood Education, ACC, Internal Affairs

Benjamin and father Michael who was the last guardian on the AIDS memorial quilt project, and who presided over the funerals of hundreds of those lost to HIV/AIDS

Gay and Lesbian Singers (gals) choice singing in St Matthew’s In The City church

I reflect often on the precious lives we’ve lost to the AIDS epidemic. Each one a story unfinished; a potential unfulfilled; a loved one held in this realm by memory, grief and precious talisman left behind

He mura e kore e ngaro
A flame never extinguished

At our Auckland rally today.
Instead of tryna define us, just pay us.

RNZ article: No new compensation scheme for abuse survivors, more funds for current system, by Jo Moir, Political Editor. The government has opted against setting up a new compensation scheme for survivors of abuse in state care - in favour of putting more money in the current system. That's despite it being the key recommendation of both the Royal Commission and the Redress Design Group.

Waitangi Tribunal review to begin mid-year - Govt By 1News A review into the Treaty of Waitangi Act - which established the Waitangi Tribunal - will begin in the middle of the year, the Government confirmed today. The review was part of the coalition agreement between National and New Zealand First, which included a commitment to "amend the Waitangi Tribunal legislation to refocus the scope, purpose, and nature of its inquiries back to the original intent of that legislation".

1 news: Nationwide protests against controversial pay equity law change What you need to know: • Protests are being held around the country today over the governments new pay equity legislation. • It makes it tougher for women to lodge claims. • It has emerged National MPs were briefed two days before the announcement. Read Political Editor Jo Moir's analysis here. • A disability support worker affected by the changes is challenging ACT Minister Brooke van Velden to do her job for a week. • ACT is claiming van Velden has saved the Budget with her changes, which are expected to save the government billions of dollars.

Stuff news: government accused of legalising kiwi killing for coal mines A new law rushed through parliament lets infrastructure projects like roads and mines kill protected native wildlife - like kiwi - without legal consequences. Outrage is building

Yesterday the government legislated the killing of kiwi and scrapped pay equity…

Today they have failed survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care and announced a review of the Waitangi Tribunal w/ a view to limit its scope.

Nothing and no one is safe.

Funded health (cont…):

29. Labtests Awanui
30. Nurses in Residential Care
31. NZ Artificial Limb Service
32. Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa

Local body:

33. Librarian and Librarian Assistant in Councils

🧵 7/7

Funded health (cont…):

24. Community Midwives in Primary birthing units
25. Hospice Nurses and Health Care Assistants (Nurse Practitioners, RNs, ENs HCA)
26. Primary Care Administration
27. Primary Care Nurses
28. Access Community Nurses

🧵 6/7

Funded health:

16. Social Service Workers (5 NGOs)
17. Primary practice nurses and health care assistants
18-20. Care Support Workers (CSWs) 1, 2, & 3
21. Front line Managers and Coordinators
22. Plunket Administration/Clerical
23. Plunket Nurses and Clinical

🧵 5/7

Public Service:

12. Public Service Administration/Clerical Claim 1
13. Public Service Administration/Clerical Claim 2
14. Corrections Psychologist
15. Corrections Probation Officer and Senior Practitioner

🧵 4/7

Funded education:

6. Kindergarten Administration
7. Kindergarten Cooks
8. Kindergarten Teacher Aide
9. Kohanga Reo Kaiako

Tertiary education:

10. Tertiary Education Library Assistant
11. Tertiary Education Administration and Clerical

🧵 3/7

Education:

1. Teachers (PS and ECE is funded sector)
2. Support workers, youth workers in residential schools, Education Service
3. Education Advisors (Learning Support) MoE
4. Psychologist MoE employed
5. Service Managers MoE employed

🧵 2/7

The govt. is focused on tax cuts, buying war machines, and eroding workers’, women’s, trans, and Māori rights! (Oh, and killing native wildlife)

The 33 pay equity claims currently being negotiated that will be thrown out by this government’s attack on women and workers…

🧵 1/7

Benjamin on parliament forecourt wearing a kufiyeh speaking with supporters at the psna rally. Benjamin holds a newspaper

Benjamin holding a newspaper showing the full page advertisement sponsored by psna and NZ Māori Council which details a letter to Winston Peters demanding sanctions

Protestors holding banners and Palestine flags posing in a group photo in front of the beehive. A large yellow amnesty international banner at the front says “stop Israel’s genocide”

Benjamin holding a newspaper showing the full page advertisement sponsored by psna and NZ Māori Council which details a letter to Winston Peters demanding sanctions

Nearly 290,000 children in Gaza are on the brink of death due to Israel’s total blockade on all aid for the last two months.

Starving children to death is torture and genocide.

It is past time our government enacts sanctions against the Israeli government. Write to your MP today to demand action.

RNZ article with an image of minister Van Velden and text reading: “‘Attack on women': Minister to halt all 33 current pay equity claims. Unions are calling it "shameful", but Workplace Relations Minister Brooke Van Velden says it will "significantly reduce costs to the Crown".”

Image of speaker at a union snap action on parliament steps in front of a banner which says “Toitū te Tiriti” on a Tino Rangatiratanga flag.

Speaker at union rally on parliament steps holding an NZEI sign which says “mana taurite. Pay equity’

Colourful union flags and banners on parliament lawn with the beehive in the background at the union snap action. Flags include those from NZEI, PSA and NZCTU.

The govts halt on pay equity work is an attack on women, workers & unions. It will disproportionately impact Māori & Pacific, disabled & whānau living in poverty.

They can afford new war machines but not workers right. Make it make sense…

When workers rights are under attack STAND UP FIGHT BACK!

Consultation on the draft Relationships & Sexuality Education framework closes May 9th

3 things:
⚡️ Strengthen and retain consent education
🌈 Reintroduce meaningful takatāpui, intersex, trans and non-binary identities
💪🏼 Break down gender binaries

Info & guides at…
linktr.ee/benjamin.doy...

You’re welcome 💚

Benjamin sitting in front of a red stage curtain gesturing while explaining something, with the caption “but, what if all firefighters got ACC cover… regardless of whether they are volunteers or paid?”

Firefighters risking their lives to keep others safe should be taken care of, regardless of whether they’re paid or volunteers.

Sign the petition before May 1st to demand ALL firefighters have access to ACC!

Link at linktr.ee/benjamin.doy... 💚👩🏼‍🚒🚒

3 actions you can take with a spare 30 minutes…
📚 submit feedback on draft RSE curriculum.
🍉 email local MP to demand they support the Greens ‘Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill’.
🚒 sign petition to give volunteer firefighters ACC cover.
(For guides/details: linktr.ee/benjamin.doy...)

I honestly think most people in Aotearoa are more concerned about ending poverty, ensuring everyone has a safe place to live, and not totally pissing away any possibility of sustaining life on this precious earth than how to define a woman. Anyway, Cambridge Dictionary already has it sorted…