Paul Thistoll
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pault.bsky.social
Paul Thistoll
@pault.bsky.social
2.6K followers 4.3K following 1K posts
Human Rights Defender / Founder of Rights Aotearoa @rightsaotearoa.bsky.social || he/him || Proud alumnus of London Business School || ❤️Food & Wine || Trans rights are human rights || [email protected]
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pault.bsky.social
Philosophical Logic, Formal Logic and the Foundations of Set Theory weren't my strongest subjects, but this made me LMAO.
Common proof techniques parody.
January 4, 2026 at 10:37 PM
pault.bsky.social
Gendall J's decision at para 101 agrees with me about why I took the Judicial Review. It was to ensure the integrity of the appointment process in the future.
The Chief Human Rights Commissioner is one of the most important roles in NZ, and the appointee should be knowledgeable about human rights.
Section 12 of the Human Rights Act 1993 Section 15 of the Human Rights Act [101] I agree with the applicant that the declaration sought here would serve a real purpose in ensuring that future recommendations for the position of human rights commissioners proceed lawfully. When potential appointees for such positions occupy an important public office intended to help ensure the human rights of New Zealander’s are upheld and promoted, there is a clear and substantial public interest in having errors in their appointment publicly declared. Conclusion [102] The judicial review application is granted. [103] I make the declaration that the Decision was unlawful because: (a) the Minister applied the incorrect legal test; and (b) the Minister failed to take into account relevant considerations.
December 21, 2025 at 12:00 AM
pault.bsky.social
Day drinking!
December 18, 2025 at 12:18 AM
pault.bsky.social
We won! I won my judicial review!
[101] I agree with the applicant that the declaration sought here would serve a real purpose in ensuring that future recommendations for the position of human rights commissioners proceed lawfully. When potential appointees for such positions occupy an important public office intended to help ensure the human rights of New Zealander’s are upheld and promoted, there is a clear and substantial public interest in having errors in their appointment publicly declared. Conclusion [102] The judicial review application is granted. [103] I make the declaration that the Decision was unlawful because: (a) (b) the Minister applied the incorrect legal test; and the Minister failed to take into account relevant considerations. [104] The issue of costs is reserved. I encourage the parties to agree on any issue of costs that might arise. If that is not possible, the applicant is to file a memorandum on costs no longer than five pages within 30 working days of the date of this judgment, with the respondent to file a memorandum in response within a further 10 working days of receipt of the applicant’s costs memorandum. The Court will then decide the costs issues.
December 17, 2025 at 9:36 PM
pault.bsky.social
LVMH really has an impressive grip on the champagne market by revenue.
Main champagne houses by turnover, 2024.
December 10, 2025 at 12:13 AM
pault.bsky.social
If you are going to have a serious discussion about productivity, you need to start with the question of the share of productivity gains that go to capital vs. labour.

This paper is generally accepted as a good start.
The Global Decline of the Labor Share⇤ Loukas Karabarbounis University of Chicago and NBER June 2013 Abstract Brent Neiman University of Chicago and NBER The stability of the labor share of income is a key foundation in macroeconomic models. We document, however, that the global labor share has significantly declined since the early 1980s, with the decline occurring within the large majority of countries and industries. We show that the decrease in the relative price of investment goods, often attributed to advances in information technology and the computer age, induced f irms to shift away from labor and toward capital. The lower price of investment goods explains roughly half of the observed decline in the labor share, even when we allow for other mechanisms influencing factor shares such as increasing profits, capital-augmenting technology growth, and the changing skill composition of the labor force. We highlight the implications of this explanation for welfare and macroeconomic dynamics. JEL-Codes: E21, E22, E25. Keywords: Labor Share, Price of Investment Goods.
December 8, 2025 at 3:19 AM
pault.bsky.social
PATHA's hearing for an interim injunction on the blockers regulation is being heard in the High Court at Wellington tomorrow.

It should be noted that PATHA has a top legal team with Victoria Casey KC and Emma Moran from DLA Piper.

🍿🍿🍿
PATHA v Minister of Health fixture for tomorrow at 9 am in no 8 court at the High Court in Wellington
December 8, 2025 at 3:01 AM
pault.bsky.social
My email for proof! :-)
Dear Minister Brown, Ms Sonerson, and Dr Borne, I am writing to bring to your urgent attention that the wording of the new puberty blockers regulation is far too wide. It would stop the new initiations of blocker therapy for adults. It is a known treatment for the gender affirming care of adult trans women. The regulation needs to be amended to make it clear that it applies only to under 18s, or does not apply to people who have completed puberty. You are not only taking away choices from children and their parents/caregivers, but also from adults - this is surely not the intention of the regulation? Yours faithfully, Paul Thistoll
December 3, 2025 at 9:26 PM
pault.bsky.social
Decision Desk HQ called it.
Decision desk calls the race for Matt Van Epps
December 3, 2025 at 2:11 AM
pault.bsky.social
Van Epps is now ahead, but what a disaster for Republicans. Wow. This was an R+22 last year.
Tennesse Seventh District Special Election Results. Van Epps now leading marginally.
December 3, 2025 at 1:58 AM
pault.bsky.social
Too soon Nytimes, too soon.
November 28, 2025 at 6:42 AM
pault.bsky.social
The Attorney-General's own section 7 NZBORA consistency analysis said this proposed law is not consistent with NZBORA.

www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Summary 5. I have concluded that the following aspects of the Bill appear inconsistent with NZBORA: 5.1 The blanket disqualification from electoral registration for those detained in prison under a sentence of imprisonment appears inconsistent with s 12 (right to vote). 5.2 The transitional provisions relating to prisoner voting appear inconsistent with s 25(g) (right to benefit of lesser penalty). 5.3 The registration deadline, according to which eligible persons would be required to register no later than 13 days before polling day, and which would therefore remove the ability of eligible persons to register for a period leading up to, and on polling day, appears inconsistent with s 12 (right to vote). 5.4 The revised bribery offence, as drafted, appears inconsistent with ss 12 (right to vote) and 14 (right to freedom of expression).
November 28, 2025 at 2:40 AM
pault.bsky.social
***Call to action***

Here is the email I sent to Minister Brown, Ms Sorenson and Dr Joe Bourne (yes, I misspelt his name in the email!).

Please send something similar:

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Dear Minister Brown, Ms Sonerson, and Dr Borne, I am writing to bring to your urgent attention that the wording of the new puberty blockers regulation is far too wide. It would stop the new initiations of blocker therapy for adults. It is a known treatment for the gender affirming care of adult trans women. The regulation needs to be amended to make it clear that it applies only to under 18s, or does not apply to people who have completed puberty. You are not only taking away choices from children and their parents/caregivers, but also from adults - this is surely not the intention of the regulation? Yours faithfully, Paul Thistoll
November 24, 2025 at 9:06 PM
pault.bsky.social
This is a very well deserved glass of wine
November 9, 2025 at 4:53 AM
pault.bsky.social
Yes! And hair
November 8, 2025 at 8:54 PM
pault.bsky.social
Today's reading - to remind myself of some of his key arguments.
The cover of Jeremy Waldron's seminal book "The Harm In Hate Speech".
November 7, 2025 at 11:20 PM
pault.bsky.social
DDHQ have called it.

We are all Citizens of New York tonight!
Decision Desk HQ @DecisionDeskHQ · 6m Decision Desk HQ projects Zohran Mamdani to win the New York City Mayor election. #DecisionMade: 9:03 pm ET Follow live results on our website.
November 5, 2025 at 2:11 AM
pault.bsky.social
Oh exciting news from The Clerk of The House.

Discriminatory petitions will not be hosted. See screenshot with alt/text below.

Will use s21 of the HRA for guidance. I just wrote to remind him of the Crown Law 2006 opinion! :-)

@drdeanknight.bsky.social
The sessional order gives the Clerk the power to refuse to host a petition where they are satisfied that the content of the petition is highly discriminatory. The new rule applies to existing petitions as well as new ones. We are in the process of reviewing all petitions currently hosted on the Parliament website, in light of the sessional order. The petition that gave rise to our original discussing (calling for Muslims to be removed from NZ) would not be hosted on the website if it were presented today. Before the sessional order expires, I will report on its use to the Standing Orders Committee which could consider making it a permanent Standing Order. Electronic petitions with highly discriminatory content The following sessional order was adopted: 1 Electronic petitions with highly discriminatory content (1) The Clerk may refuse to host an electronic petition on the Parliament website if they are satisfied that the content of the petition is highly discriminatory. (2) Before refusing to host a petition under paragraph (1), the Clerk must— (a) take account of whether the content of the petition is threatening, abusive, or insulting to a group of people by reason of any of the prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Human Rights Act 1993, and (b) consult the Petitions Committee. (3) Standing Order 371 is read accordingly. 2 Functions of Petitions Committee (1) The functions of the Petitions Committee include responding to consultation by the Clerk under Rule 1, or by the Speaker under Standing Order 372(2). (2) Standing Order 378 is read accordingly. 3 Application to electronic petitions already hosted on Parliament website Rule 1 applies to electronic petitions already hosted on the Parliament website when this sessional order is adopted. 4 Expiry This sessional order expires 6 months after the date on which it is adopted.
November 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
pault.bsky.social
The day after Dr Melissa Derby appeared on TVNZ Q+A program, she had a call with a FSU council member.

The Commission won't meet with me—even though I run a leading Human Rights NGO, but it seems she will take the FSU phone calls because they have *concerns*.

(From an OIA request)
8.36am, 6 October – Race Relation Commissioner’s recollection of phone call with FSU council member FSU said there was concern and confusion about my statements on Q+A, and that some people had interpreted my comments as me calling for blasphemy laws. I said I didn't, and that I was referring to expanding existing protections to include groups not currently included in the legislation. I said I hadn't called for change to or made any comment about existing thresholds. FSU said they were going to put out a press release and asked if I would like to comment. I said yes, that I would like to clarify my comments, and that I would come back to them after speaking with the HRC comms team.
November 4, 2025 at 5:08 AM
pault.bsky.social
NZ First have announced a new member's bill.

The big question is which member's bill did they pull from the biscuit tin lottery?

No doubt, the intrepid @catespice.bsky.social with her NZ First member's bill tracker will tell us asap.
NZ First Introduces Bill to Ban Public Sales of Fireworks New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill that will ban the public sale and use of fireworks across New Zealand. The taxpayer should not be spending millions on something that drastically impacts pets, causes the inevitable fires, and causes havoc for our emergency services. Enough is enough. The abuse and misuse of fireworks has far outgrown any of the benefits. This is not about being ‘nanny state’, this is about bringing some common-sense into what is a desperately needed conversation about the future of fireworks in our community. Many major retailers have already stopped selling fireworks long ago, and there have been calls from across the country to put a stop to the sale of fireworks completely. The “Fireworks Prohibition Legislation Bill” will stop the retail sale, manufacture, and importation of fireworks for public use. It will still allow approved public displays to continue. This Bill is a response to what is a hugely predictable and preventable costs for ACC, the huge costs of emergency service call outs, and most importantly stopping the effects reckless use of fireworks has on farm animals and family pets. New Zealand has come to a point where we seriously need to have this conversation and debate.
November 4, 2025 at 3:20 AM
pault.bsky.social
My email to Reuben Davidson.
ēnā koe Reuben, I understand the Free Speech Union has written to you. I write briefly to provide Rights Aotearoa's perspective as New Zealand's leading human rights organisation focused on transgender, non-binary, and intersex rights. We draw your attention to paragraph 9 of their letter, which states: "Whether the views that individuals bring to us are minority perspectives or not, and whichever political party chooses to take this up as an issue, are immaterial to us. We maintain a position of content neutrality, and do not choose to take on, or not, cases or campaigns, on the basis of their particular perspective. We advocate for individuals to be able to freely express themselves in accordance with their human rights, as determined by the Human Rights Act 1990, regardless of their political persuasions. In the university context, we advocate for the specific rights to academic freedom that academics and students are guaranteed by the Education and Training Act 2020." It is demonstrably clear that the Free Speech Union is a major advocacy organisation aligned with anti-transgender groups. Their facilitation of Helen Joyce's speaking tour in New Zealand—featuring an author whose work explicitly argues against transgender rights and who advocates for restricting transgender people's access to healthcare, legal recognition, public participation, and even existence—makes their ideological position unambiguous. True content neutrality would require defending transgender people's freedom of expression with equal vigour—including when trans students are erased from educational curricula, when trans academics face harassment or institutional barriers, and when trans people's rights under the Human Rights Act 1993 (not 1990, as FSU incorrectly cites) are violated. The FSU's conspicuous silence on these matters reveals that its claimed "neutrality" is, in practice, highly selective advocacy for particular viewpoints.
October 29, 2025 at 11:52 PM
pault.bsky.social
The FSU are deceitful liars.

On the left is a quote from a letter they sent to Reuben Davidson today.

The right is a post on X.

They are incompatible statements.

I also note there is no HRA 1990.

The HRC states that the Crown Law 2006 is valid; therefore, the HRA 1993 applies to trans people.
Whether the views that individuals bring to us are minority perspectives or not, and whichever political party chooses to take this up as an issue, are immaterial to us. We maintain a position of content neutrality, and do not choose to take on, or not, cases or campaigns, on the basis of their particular perspective. We advocate for individuals to be able to freely express themselves in accordance with their human rights, as determined by the Human Rights Act 1990, regardless of their political persuasions. In the university context, we advocate for the specific rights to academic freedom that academics and students are guaranteed by the Education and Training Act 2020. FSU transphobic post
October 29, 2025 at 11:22 PM
pault.bsky.social
From InsideOut Facebook.

The draft RSE curriculum is completely cis-heteronormative.
When the draft framework was released earlier this year with only brief references to sexual orientation and intersex experiences and nothing about gender diversity there was concern about erasure of our community. But this draft curriculum is far worse than we'd hoped, removing every single reference to sexual orientation, gender identity outside of gender stereotypes, and intersex.
October 29, 2025 at 6:21 AM
pault.bsky.social
New glasses to replace my broken ones just arrived!

So ecstatic!
October 28, 2025 at 1:01 AM
pault.bsky.social
Queer Endurance in Defiance is organising a protest to let Helen Joyce and the FSU know that transphobia is unwelcome.

Helen Joyce is a piece of sh*t human being who is being platformed by the pieces of sh*t at the free speech union, including Stephen Franks, their Chairman.
GO PROTEST! PEACEFULLY!
Queer Speech For Trans Rights Join Queer Endurance in Defiance in letting Helen Joyce & the FSU know transphobia is unwelcome. 5:45 PM 5 November Parliament Grounds
October 27, 2025 at 4:53 AM