NZ First’s bill seeks to define sex in law based on biology — The proposed Member’s Bill would legally define a woman as an “adult human biological female” and a man as an “adult human biological male.” ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

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Economy

Health

Briefing for 24 April 2025

NZ First proposes legal definition of ‘woman’ and ‘man’ to reflect biological sex

New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill seeking to define “woman” and “man” in law based on biological sex, saying the move would provide legal clarity and reflect common-sense language.

The proposal follows a recent UK Supreme Court ruling that interpreted “woman” in the Equality Act as referring exclusively to biological females.

‘You’re an abuse on the taxpayer’: Peters clashes with RNZ host over bias, funding

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters ended a tense Morning Report interview by accusing RNZ of left-wing bias and warning that public funding for the broadcaster might not last.

The comments, delivered during a heated exchange with host Corin Dann, have sparked debate over whether Peters crossed a line — or simply said what many think.

NZ extends Ukraine deployment to 2026

New Zealand will continue its military assistance to Ukraine until at least December 2026, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced this week, with up to 100 NZDF personnel remaining deployed across Europe to support training, intelligence, logistics, and liaison operations.

The extension lifts New Zealand’s total contribution to $152 million in financial and in-kind support since 2022.

Study finds nearly half of Greece’s recorded COVID deaths in an Athens hospital were not caused by the virus

A Greek study reviewing 530 hospital deaths in Athens during 2022 has found that nearly half of the patients officially recorded as COVID fatalities did not die from the virus.

The retrospective audit, which involved analysis of full medical files and input from treating physicians, concluded that only 25% of the deaths were directly caused by COVID.

RFK Jr announces national ban on artificial food dyes across the US

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has confirmed a nationwide ban on eight artificial food dyes, calling the move a step toward transparency and improved health outcomes, particularly for children.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Kennedy said Americans have been “living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals” and often don’t know what they’re eating.

Auckland University backs down after trying to ‘correct’ professor on biological sex

Auckland University has apologised to Professor Elizabeth Rata after its Equity Office demanded she amend a lecture stating there are only two sexes — a claim she defended as scientifically accurate and a matter of academic freedom.

As Graham Adams writes, “it made a tactical error by trying to bully Elizabeth Rata… she is not easily intimidated.” In her lecture, Rata noted “biologists would say… there are only two sexes.” After a complaint, the Equity Office insisted: “It is a scientific fact that human biological sex is not binary.”

Crampton: Coalition’s ‘Rule of Two’ for medicine approval has been gutted

Dr Eric Crampton says the government’s new fast-track medicine approval law fails to deliver on its coalition promise, calling it a hollowed-out version of the “Rule of Two” that New Zealanders were told to expect.

In an opinion piece for Newsroom, the New Zealand Initiative economist argues that the new regime still delays New Zealanders’ access to potentially life-saving treatments.