WEBVTT - Leighton Smith Podcast #275 - March 12th 2025 - Rodney Hide 0:00:09.093 --> 0:00:11.973 You're listening to a podcast from News talks it B. 0:00:12.373 --> 0:00:16.173 Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio. 0:00:16.733 --> 0:00:19.733 It's time for all the attitude, all the opinion, all 0:00:19.773 --> 0:00:25.293 the information, all the debates us now the Layton Smith 0:00:25.413 --> 0:00:27.653 podcast cow it by news talks it B. 0:00:28.253 --> 0:00:31.573 Welcome to podcasts two hundred and seventy five for March twelve, 0:00:31.653 --> 0:00:36.693 twenty twenty five. Rodney Hyde, ex politician, is fighting a battle. 0:00:37.293 --> 0:00:40.333 It began a couple of years ago and it continues today. 0:00:40.413 --> 0:00:42.533 In fact, we spoke with him a couple of years 0:00:42.533 --> 0:00:46.093 back and he outlined the foundation of this. It involves 0:00:46.133 --> 0:00:50.453 the relationship and sexuality education curriculum being taught in his 0:00:50.613 --> 0:00:53.053 daughter's school, but not just there, It's being taught in 0:00:53.093 --> 0:00:56.093 all schools to different levels. Rodney is not the only 0:00:56.173 --> 0:00:59.973 parent unhappy about what's being taught, but he stands almost 0:01:00.013 --> 0:01:03.133 alone in trying to address it. It is a matter 0:01:03.333 --> 0:01:08.173 for him of principle. But we also discuss other matters, 0:01:08.413 --> 0:01:12.733 important ones like wocism, the rbn Z and Adrian Order, 0:01:12.773 --> 0:01:17.133 NATS and pm luxon economic growth and other things. And 0:01:17.173 --> 0:01:20.533 I learned something about mister Hyde of which I was unaware. 0:01:21.413 --> 0:01:24.173 But first if I may a word of warning to 0:01:24.653 --> 0:01:28.733 local pundits regarding Donald Trump. Many pundits are putting the 0:01:28.773 --> 0:01:32.053 boot into Trump whenever they get the chance. I'd like 0:01:32.133 --> 0:01:35.053 to read you a small paragraph of something that is 0:01:35.213 --> 0:01:38.293 yet to come. Trump's out of the deal is the 0:01:38.333 --> 0:01:41.813 most democratic thing we've seen since the experts told us 0:01:41.853 --> 0:01:46.613 to trust the science. Einstein reportedly said that one fact, 0:01:46.773 --> 0:01:50.293 rather than a hundred experts, could prove him wrong. Trump 0:01:50.373 --> 0:01:53.173 has done in less than two months what thousands of 0:01:53.213 --> 0:01:55.533 experts have failed to do in the years. And that's 0:01:55.533 --> 0:01:58.053 a fact. It occurs to me that those who are 0:01:58.493 --> 0:02:00.973 rushing at every opportunity to, like I say, put the 0:02:00.973 --> 0:02:04.573 boot in, might end up eating that boot. As I 0:02:04.653 --> 0:02:08.573 record this, there is a flash come up up on 0:02:08.613 --> 0:02:12.133 my phone from Greg Sheridan in The Australian. Could it 0:02:12.173 --> 0:02:15.373 be that Trump is actually going to produce a decent 0:02:15.493 --> 0:02:20.933 outcome in Ukraine? After all? And I say never underestimates 0:02:21.013 --> 0:02:24.773 Donald Trump, Speaking of whom, let me make reference to 0:02:25.773 --> 0:02:30.293 something else in the same stable. For years, American politics 0:02:30.333 --> 0:02:33.773 has been defined by the advance of an enemy variously 0:02:33.853 --> 0:02:38.693 labeled wocism, DEI, the civil rights regime, the deep state, 0:02:39.053 --> 0:02:44.693 and more. And the occasional, usually ineffective pushback of Republicans. 0:02:45.173 --> 0:02:47.973 I'm quoting this for a reason, not just to talk 0:02:47.973 --> 0:02:51.653 about American politics, but to talk about my reference to 0:02:51.693 --> 0:02:54.933 talk about New Zealand politics, because if you listen to 0:02:55.213 --> 0:02:58.973 what I'm about to quote, you can replace America and 0:02:59.213 --> 0:03:04.013 Republicans with New Zealand and Nationals. With the return of 0:03:04.013 --> 0:03:07.133 Donald Trump to the White House, that enemy seems, for 0:03:07.253 --> 0:03:10.653 the first time in living memory, to be genuinely in retreat. 0:03:11.013 --> 0:03:16.213 Daniel Horowitz observes that Republican leadership of failing or refusing 0:03:16.373 --> 0:03:20.973 to capitalize on Trump's momentum, and Horowitz warns that this 0:03:21.053 --> 0:03:24.973 will give the woke regime time and space to reorganize 0:03:25.053 --> 0:03:28.373 and prepare its next assault. We have, he says, an 0:03:28.453 --> 0:03:32.053 historic opportunity to deep six the woke regime, but that 0:03:32.093 --> 0:03:35.773 potential has not yet become kinetic. I love that word. 0:03:36.093 --> 0:03:40.973 If Republicans are not prevented from working their controlled opposition magic, 0:03:41.453 --> 0:03:46.293 the forces of wokeness will regroup, reload, and reconstitute under 0:03:46.293 --> 0:03:49.773 a different name. Remember when we killed common Core last decade, 0:03:50.213 --> 0:03:55.453 common Core education, It's simply reconstituted under a more subtle, subversive, 0:03:55.533 --> 0:04:00.813 and nameless construction. Democrats find themselves over extended politically on 0:04:00.933 --> 0:04:06.173 issues like illegal immigration, affirmative action, racial politics, and gender ideology. 0:04:06.813 --> 0:04:10.293 An intrepid Republican Party would go in for the kill, 0:04:10.813 --> 0:04:15.693 end those policies and plow with salt over their graves. Unfortunately, 0:04:15.733 --> 0:04:19.653 we're watching in real time as proposals in state legislatures 0:04:19.973 --> 0:04:25.373 to categorically ban illegal immigration, end all forms of affirmative action, 0:04:25.813 --> 0:04:29.893 and extirpate any reference to things like race, gender, and 0:04:29.973 --> 0:04:33.573 global warming in state policy are being defeated by the 0:04:33.613 --> 0:04:39.693 Republican Party. GOP legislators are pushing to only deport criminal aliens, 0:04:39.733 --> 0:04:42.813 to focus only on men in female sports and not 0:04:42.973 --> 0:04:47.693 on the core of transgender insanity, and to continue racial 0:04:47.733 --> 0:04:51.453 preferences at some level in state governments when Republicans are 0:04:51.453 --> 0:04:54.733 in power. When Republicans are in power, they refuse to 0:04:54.813 --> 0:04:59.093 wield it as Democrats do. This gives the woke regime 0:04:59.173 --> 0:05:02.373 time to retreat behind safe lines and reconstitute the same 0:05:02.493 --> 0:05:08.613 vision under slightly different policies, parlance, and presentation. They will 0:05:08.933 --> 0:05:12.733 return now. I think you get the gist that the 0:05:12.853 --> 0:05:17.333 conservative parties also called conservative parties, are full of verbiage 0:05:17.533 --> 0:05:20.413 that they don't necessarily apply to practicality, and I think 0:05:20.413 --> 0:05:23.893 we're experiencing some considerable bit of that in this country 0:05:24.133 --> 0:05:27.733 at the moment. Now speaking of moments, in just a moment, 0:05:28.333 --> 0:05:40.453 Rodney Hyde Leverrix is an antihistamine made in Switzerland to 0:05:40.533 --> 0:05:44.733 the highest quality. Leverix relieves hay fever and skin allergies 0:05:45.053 --> 0:05:49.093 or itchy skin. It's a dual action antihistamine and has 0:05:49.173 --> 0:05:54.773 a unique nasal decongestant action. It's fast acting for fast relief, 0:05:55.213 --> 0:05:57.933 and it works in under an hour and lasts for 0:05:58.053 --> 0:06:01.453 over twenty four hours. Leverrix is a tiny tablet that 0:06:01.573 --> 0:06:05.613 unblocks the nose, deals with itchy eyes, and stops sneezing. 0:06:05.893 --> 0:06:10.133 Leverrix is an antihistamine made in Switzerland to the highest quality. 0:06:10.653 --> 0:06:13.813 So next time you're in need of an effective antihistamine, 0:06:14.213 --> 0:06:17.453 call into the pharmacy and ask for Leverix l e 0:06:17.693 --> 0:06:22.853 v Rix Leverix and always read the label, takes directed 0:06:23.093 --> 0:06:27.453 and if symptoms persist, see your health professional. Farmer Broker Auckland, 0:06:51.333 --> 0:06:55.333 I've known Roddy Hyde for about thirty years. I remember, 0:06:55.373 --> 0:06:58.413 first of all going to his house, which wasn't that 0:06:58.453 --> 0:07:00.853 far from where I was living at the time, and 0:07:00.933 --> 0:07:02.693 I went to visit him in his house. There was 0:07:02.693 --> 0:07:04.733 a reason for it, although that escapes me, and I'm 0:07:04.733 --> 0:07:06.973 sure that he won't remember, but that was the first 0:07:06.973 --> 0:07:09.653 occasion I believed that we met. But we've known each 0:07:09.653 --> 0:07:11.933 other for a long time, and I think I will 0:07:12.133 --> 0:07:15.853 credit myself with this and say that we have considerable 0:07:15.933 --> 0:07:21.013 respect each for the other. Would that be right, mister Hyde. 0:07:21.493 --> 0:07:23.613 Total late and total respect. 0:07:24.413 --> 0:07:27.293 That said, I have a great deal of respect for 0:07:27.373 --> 0:07:31.613 almost everyone. People that do a good job, are competent 0:07:32.173 --> 0:07:37.653 and have regard for others earn my respect. And so 0:07:37.893 --> 0:07:40.093 I have a great deal of respect for you because 0:07:40.653 --> 0:07:44.933 I always realized you were a very good broadcaster and 0:07:45.053 --> 0:07:48.373 people that are good at their job and pressed me. 0:07:49.133 --> 0:07:52.933 The reason for this conversation was triggered by something that 0:07:53.013 --> 0:07:59.853 you sent me with regard to relationship and sexuality education curriculum. Now, 0:08:00.253 --> 0:08:03.413 before we get onto that direct, tell us all, because 0:08:03.453 --> 0:08:06.693 plenty of us either will only have a touch of 0:08:06.733 --> 0:08:10.853 knowledge on it or at all, tell us how the 0:08:10.893 --> 0:08:15.133 boards of school school boards? What are they responsible for 0:08:15.733 --> 0:08:16.533 in their school? 0:08:16.973 --> 0:08:19.213 Oh? Wow, well, the running of the school. 0:08:19.493 --> 0:08:23.133 But one of the strange things is one of the 0:08:23.173 --> 0:08:29.293 particular functions are given, is they are given responsibility for 0:08:30.013 --> 0:08:34.733 reproduction and sex education, and they specifically have to consult 0:08:34.933 --> 0:08:37.653 with the parents the community of the school which is 0:08:37.693 --> 0:08:41.973 identified as the parents, on what that should be and 0:08:42.093 --> 0:08:45.213 then come up with it, and they have to consult 0:08:45.893 --> 0:08:46.933 every two years. 0:08:47.933 --> 0:08:50.013 Funny enough, none of the schools. 0:08:49.653 --> 0:08:53.973 Do, none of them, not that I know of, And. 0:08:53.933 --> 0:09:00.053 The boards are totally unaware of the sex education occurring 0:09:00.093 --> 0:09:05.213 in the school and my observation and experience, and it's 0:09:05.853 --> 0:09:09.973 been happening oftentimes without even the principles being particularly aware 0:09:09.973 --> 0:09:12.853 of it. It's the most extraordinary situation. 0:09:13.493 --> 0:09:18.653 The last time we spoke, which was twenty three, so 0:09:18.733 --> 0:09:22.133 a good two years ago, we discussed, amongst other things, 0:09:22.453 --> 0:09:27.733 an issue involving your daughter, Yes, and there was quite 0:09:27.733 --> 0:09:32.093 some reaction to it from my perspective. Now it has 0:09:32.133 --> 0:09:36.253 advanced since then. There are two videos that you've posted 0:09:36.293 --> 0:09:38.693 that people can can see, but we'll get to that 0:09:39.093 --> 0:09:41.813 a little later. But that's what you sent me, That's 0:09:41.813 --> 0:09:46.333 what I watched, and I was very keen to discuss 0:09:46.373 --> 0:09:49.253 it with you. But we will get onto some on 0:09:49.293 --> 0:09:54.293 a number of other topics. Before we finished this discussion, 0:09:54.653 --> 0:09:58.373 you did these two videos based on the fact that 0:09:58.453 --> 0:10:01.573 you decided that you wanted to address the school board 0:10:01.733 --> 0:10:07.653 on this subject, Relationship and Sexuality education otherwise known as RS. 0:10:08.373 --> 0:10:10.013 How did How did that go for you? 0:10:11.293 --> 0:10:13.053 And look great? It took me. 0:10:14.413 --> 0:10:17.373 My daughter goes to Wakatipo High School. It took me 0:10:17.453 --> 0:10:21.973 nine months to get before the board emailing them. 0:10:22.933 --> 0:10:26.493 I did get to meet the chair, you know, and all. 0:10:26.373 --> 0:10:30.413 Of these people I got to say, are lovely, and 0:10:30.453 --> 0:10:33.013 it's a great school, and it's a well run school. 0:10:33.333 --> 0:10:34.853 And this is actually happening in. 0:10:34.813 --> 0:10:39.373 Every high school, so it's not like Wakatippu is a typical. 0:10:39.853 --> 0:10:43.493 But the background is I got an email to say 0:10:43.573 --> 0:10:46.253 that my daughter would be engaged in this being taught 0:10:46.333 --> 0:10:52.773 this RC reproduction sex education, and the email implied that 0:10:52.813 --> 0:10:55.653 it was compulsory, and I knew that it wasn't. 0:10:56.013 --> 0:10:58.773 It's up to a parent to agree. 0:10:58.613 --> 0:11:02.493 And so I asked to see it because I thought 0:11:02.533 --> 0:11:05.253 I can't agree. U, Yes, I see it. To be fair, 0:11:05.293 --> 0:11:08.133 I had a fair inkling because of our earlier interview. 0:11:08.453 --> 0:11:10.933 My daughter was younger, I had become alarmed at what 0:11:11.013 --> 0:11:14.493 had happened, so I was well attuned to it. I 0:11:14.653 --> 0:11:17.533 also joined a great group called let kids be kids, 0:11:18.213 --> 0:11:21.173 and so we've been very active at trying to discover 0:11:21.293 --> 0:11:26.333 what's happening in the schools and also empowering parents. So anyway, 0:11:26.373 --> 0:11:30.013 I wrote to the head of physical education in the 0:11:30.053 --> 0:11:32.813 school and said, look, this is great. I'd like to 0:11:32.853 --> 0:11:37.333 see what you're going to be showing my daughter, because 0:11:37.373 --> 0:11:40.013 they said they had this curriculum, they had videos, and 0:11:40.093 --> 0:11:44.893 they had of course materials. This is the extraordinary. But 0:11:45.853 --> 0:11:48.893 the teacher came back. My daughter's thirteen. The teacher came 0:11:48.933 --> 0:11:55.533 back and said, you can't have it because it's intellectual 0:11:55.613 --> 0:12:00.293 property that we have developed, and also the booklets that 0:12:00.333 --> 0:12:06.853 we use are copyright so that I internally I didn't 0:12:06.893 --> 0:12:11.013 do anything, but I went off my head because I 0:12:11.133 --> 0:12:14.653 knew that I had to give consent to this. I 0:12:14.733 --> 0:12:17.813 had the opportunity to refuse, but I couldn't make an 0:12:17.853 --> 0:12:20.053 informed choice, and of course this triggered me over the 0:12:20.093 --> 0:12:23.293 whole COVID thing. I couldn't make an informed choice for 0:12:23.373 --> 0:12:25.693 my own daughter, and I wasn't allowed to see the 0:12:25.773 --> 0:12:30.293 material on the subject that she was to teach or 0:12:30.333 --> 0:12:34.813 was to be taught. I ended up buying it. Family Planning, 0:12:34.853 --> 0:12:37.733 who now have a long married name, produced it. And 0:12:37.773 --> 0:12:40.493 I bought for her, which was year nine. I bought 0:12:40.533 --> 0:12:44.053 that the manual, two hundred six pages, only cost five dollars. 0:12:44.693 --> 0:12:47.493 I bought it and I read it, and I have 0:12:47.573 --> 0:12:53.013 to say latent nothing prepared me for the horror of it. 0:12:53.013 --> 0:12:59.053 It was absolutely horrific. I could not believe it, and 0:12:59.533 --> 0:13:02.293 I wrote to the principle which you required to do 0:13:02.333 --> 0:13:04.933 and pulled my daughter out of the class, which is 0:13:04.973 --> 0:13:08.133 no drama. They were doing their rotation. She just did 0:13:08.133 --> 0:13:11.893 a rotation or something or other. But then I thought 0:13:12.173 --> 0:13:16.813 this is crazy because I couldn't see how any sensible 0:13:16.933 --> 0:13:21.053 person still can't could agree to teaching this to a 0:13:21.093 --> 0:13:22.573 thirteen year old girl or boy. 0:13:22.853 --> 0:13:26.133 Now stop there for a moment. Was she the only 0:13:26.173 --> 0:13:28.413 one who was taken out? 0:13:29.053 --> 0:13:31.573 I don't know the answer to that. I suspect. 0:13:31.653 --> 0:13:35.733 So do you know any parents who are aware of 0:13:35.773 --> 0:13:39.613 what's in Wakatipu at the school? Do you know any 0:13:39.653 --> 0:13:42.173 parents who are concerned about it? 0:13:43.293 --> 0:13:45.453 I know of about two, and there two that I've 0:13:45.493 --> 0:13:45.973 spoken to. 0:13:46.493 --> 0:13:50.453 None the others aren't concerned because they don't know, or 0:13:50.493 --> 0:13:54.493 because they don't care, or they approve both both. 0:13:56.493 --> 0:14:00.253 It's always a touchy subject for parents with their children, 0:14:01.173 --> 0:14:05.053 and so they quite like ducking responsibility and saying, oh, well, 0:14:05.053 --> 0:14:06.133 the school can do all that. 0:14:07.653 --> 0:14:08.053 Bearah. 0:14:08.453 --> 0:14:11.053 We have spoken to parents. I have spoken to parents. 0:14:11.373 --> 0:14:14.093 Some are okay with it, and what you might call 0:14:14.133 --> 0:14:17.813 permissive parents who literally have the high school children having 0:14:17.813 --> 0:14:21.933 their boyfriend and girlfriends over to stay the night. They're 0:14:21.933 --> 0:14:26.373 comfortable with it. The older parents that I know aren't. 0:14:26.973 --> 0:14:29.733 I find it a very hard subject to bring up 0:14:30.093 --> 0:14:33.893 with parents, because you know, you've got to know someone 0:14:33.933 --> 0:14:34.773 pretty well to have the. 0:14:34.773 --> 0:14:36.093 Discussion we're about to have. 0:14:36.733 --> 0:14:40.093 So I actually don't know the layer of the land 0:14:40.173 --> 0:14:45.533 on it, because to me, any parent would be mortified 0:14:45.573 --> 0:14:48.533 by it and look to be fair later. And when 0:14:48.613 --> 0:14:51.253 I sit down with any parents and explain it to them, 0:14:51.253 --> 0:14:54.093 they are absolutely mortified, and they're firing a letter off 0:14:54.133 --> 0:14:57.293 to the principle to pull their child out. It's that bad. 0:14:58.293 --> 0:15:02.293 So but they don't know, and the board don't know. 0:15:02.973 --> 0:15:07.013 I met with the board chairman, lovely guy lawyer director, 0:15:07.813 --> 0:15:11.013 and he he's not down into the weeds of what's 0:15:11.093 --> 0:15:13.773 taught in the school. He's busy worrying about buildings and 0:15:13.853 --> 0:15:19.013 fundraising and employment and the big strategic issues of the school, 0:15:19.053 --> 0:15:23.373 like he should so he wasn't aware of what was 0:15:23.413 --> 0:15:25.813 being taught, and he's got children at the school what 0:15:25.973 --> 0:15:29.653 was being taught in sex education. But when I explained 0:15:29.653 --> 0:15:32.253 it to him, he didn't take it upon himself to 0:15:32.293 --> 0:15:35.693 do anything about it. So I resolved that the board 0:15:35.813 --> 0:15:39.413 was a representative of parents and that if I could 0:15:39.453 --> 0:15:42.733 have ten minutes in front of them. 0:15:42.093 --> 0:15:45.213 And highlight that a. 0:15:44.573 --> 0:15:47.373 This was something that they had to sign up to 0:15:48.253 --> 0:15:50.413 be that there was something they had to consult with 0:15:50.573 --> 0:15:54.013 parents over and see here's a little bit of the 0:15:54.053 --> 0:15:59.013 content that you have supposedly agreed to that I would 0:15:59.013 --> 0:16:04.733 get an instant reaction. The principal and the chair were 0:16:04.853 --> 0:16:09.253 very anxious that I not present to the board, and 0:16:09.333 --> 0:16:13.853 so it took me nine months to finally get ten minutes. 0:16:14.253 --> 0:16:16.173 Why do you think that they didn't want you to 0:16:16.733 --> 0:16:18.093 make a presentation. 0:16:18.893 --> 0:16:22.653 Because I believe the board would have said, we're what 0:16:23.973 --> 0:16:24.733 we're doing this? 0:16:26.013 --> 0:16:28.653 I think the board would be alarmed. 0:16:28.733 --> 0:16:31.773 Would you Is there a chance you might be surprised 0:16:31.813 --> 0:16:32.213 that they're not? 0:16:33.613 --> 0:16:33.973 Yes? 0:16:34.813 --> 0:16:39.453 I thought about that too, and that always perplexes me 0:16:41.493 --> 0:16:47.293 that we have gone so far down to destroying our 0:16:47.413 --> 0:16:55.373 children's innocence that a parent wouldn't care that a male 0:16:56.013 --> 0:17:01.173 young teacher is standing in front of a class of 0:17:01.293 --> 0:17:05.133 thirteen year old boys and girls and teaching them how 0:17:05.133 --> 0:17:08.973 to do anal sex and that's something you know, that's 0:17:08.973 --> 0:17:14.733 in the curriculum that's approved. The principle said to me 0:17:14.933 --> 0:17:20.573 that the particular teacher, mister King, wasn't showing that video, 0:17:21.133 --> 0:17:24.053 But that to me wasn't the point, because the board 0:17:24.173 --> 0:17:26.213 had approved that video to be shown. 0:17:26.493 --> 0:17:30.413 If the board itself had approved the video, then obviously 0:17:30.453 --> 0:17:31.613 they know what's going on. 0:17:31.933 --> 0:17:32.973 No, they have no clue. 0:17:33.173 --> 0:17:34.813 They have, But how would they have no clue if 0:17:34.813 --> 0:17:37.973 they if they know that that's what he You know, they. 0:17:39.173 --> 0:17:40.653 It's never been through the board. 0:17:41.693 --> 0:17:45.493 You mean to say they've ticked it off without without any. 0:17:45.813 --> 0:17:48.293 I would say they've never even ticked it. That's the 0:17:48.333 --> 0:17:50.453 extraordinary thing of what's happening in every score. 0:17:51.093 --> 0:17:53.773 All right, let's go to the You you turned up 0:17:53.813 --> 0:17:57.573 to make this commentary, Yes to the board. 0:17:58.493 --> 0:17:58.813 Yes? 0:17:59.133 --> 0:18:05.093 And what happened, Well, the way it went was Penny Marie, 0:18:05.173 --> 0:18:08.653 who's a lovely lady. A couple of years ago, she 0:18:08.773 --> 0:18:12.773 presented to her board on the same subject and she 0:18:12.933 --> 0:18:18.853 recorded herself and it went viral because literally parents said, 0:18:19.373 --> 0:18:22.413 oh my goodness, I had no idea and send it. 0:18:22.493 --> 0:18:24.373 Out of their friends on Facebook and stuff. 0:18:25.813 --> 0:18:27.853 And so I resolved that if I was going to 0:18:27.853 --> 0:18:31.093 get ten minutes in front of the board, I should 0:18:31.373 --> 0:18:35.813 record it because that would give me an opportunity to 0:18:35.933 --> 0:18:40.533 explain to parents this is what's happening, and doing it 0:18:40.573 --> 0:18:42.253 in front of the board would sort of give it 0:18:42.333 --> 0:18:47.653 that impture of authority. And so I wanted to likewise 0:18:47.693 --> 0:18:52.653 record my ten minute presentation. I knew I could because 0:18:52.733 --> 0:18:56.653 a school board is a meeting in public. It's not 0:18:56.693 --> 0:19:00.293 a public meeting called in a hall, but it's a 0:19:00.333 --> 0:19:04.893 meeting in public that anyone can attend. You don't get 0:19:04.893 --> 0:19:07.573 speaking rights, you have to seek those. But I had 0:19:07.613 --> 0:19:11.653 thought speaking rights and had them. And so literally five 0:19:11.733 --> 0:19:14.773 hundred parents could turn up to a board meeting, the 0:19:14.853 --> 0:19:18.533 media can turn up and record it because it's a 0:19:18.573 --> 0:19:19.613 meeting in public, that. 0:19:21.413 --> 0:19:22.853 It's a public enterprise. 0:19:23.293 --> 0:19:26.053 And to double check that I was on good ground, 0:19:26.973 --> 0:19:29.973 I emailed what is called the New Zealand school Board 0:19:30.093 --> 0:19:35.533 of Trustees Association, and they are an outfit that advised 0:19:35.573 --> 0:19:39.933 school boards on governance. So they are the experts of 0:19:40.093 --> 0:19:46.053 interpreting the legislation and the responsibilities of a school board. 0:19:47.413 --> 0:19:50.773 And they assured me that I had every right to 0:19:50.933 --> 0:19:54.853 record my presentation, but they said it would be a 0:19:54.893 --> 0:19:56.293 courtesy to. 0:19:56.333 --> 0:19:57.053 Let the school know. 0:19:57.693 --> 0:20:00.053 So I emailed the school the week before I was 0:20:00.093 --> 0:20:02.853 to turn up that I would be recording my presentation, 0:20:04.573 --> 0:20:07.773 and I told that to the principal and to the chair. 0:20:09.173 --> 0:20:12.413 On the day that I was to present, I got 0:20:12.413 --> 0:20:15.653 an email from the lovely principle saying that I wouldn't 0:20:15.693 --> 0:20:18.453 be recording it, and I emailed him back and said 0:20:18.493 --> 0:20:20.213 I would be, and that's. 0:20:20.053 --> 0:20:22.933 Where it sort of hung. Then I got an email. 0:20:23.053 --> 0:20:26.133 Just as I was leaving actually to go into the meeting, 0:20:26.453 --> 0:20:31.613 I got an email from the board cheer, citing a 0:20:31.693 --> 0:20:35.413 section of the Act that the board had board powers, 0:20:36.333 --> 0:20:39.373 saying that he was exercising these board powers to prevent 0:20:39.453 --> 0:20:43.293 me from recording it, and also that he was claiming 0:20:43.373 --> 0:20:48.733 that the board members had privacy rights and that my 0:20:48.893 --> 0:20:53.013 recording myself would interfere with their privacy. I quickly rang 0:20:53.373 --> 0:20:57.893 the school Board of Trustees and look, I don't want 0:20:57.893 --> 0:20:59.613 to get the guide into trouble. But he almost sell 0:20:59.653 --> 0:21:03.653 off his cheer laughing. Because it was this idea that 0:21:03.693 --> 0:21:08.213 you could use the legislation to prevent having a public meeting, 0:21:09.373 --> 0:21:13.053 and the idea that you are an officer on a 0:21:13.053 --> 0:21:16.733 crown entity, which is what a school is, and claimed privacy, 0:21:16.813 --> 0:21:20.573 so you in a meeting in public, you can't be 0:21:20.853 --> 0:21:24.093 said that you were there. So I knew I was 0:21:24.253 --> 0:21:27.693 absolutely right. So I turned up to the meeting. The 0:21:27.693 --> 0:21:31.173 principal came running out and he said that you're recording it. 0:21:31.213 --> 0:21:32.933 I said, of course I am. I told you I was. 0:21:32.973 --> 0:21:35.373 He said, well, it's against the tea hunger of the school, 0:21:36.693 --> 0:21:40.373 the tea hunger, and that was another triggering thing for 0:21:40.453 --> 0:21:42.373 me because I said, look, you can't just make out 0:21:42.613 --> 0:21:46.293 rules and I'm going to record it. So he scuttled 0:21:46.333 --> 0:21:48.493 back into the meeting, and then the chair came out 0:21:48.533 --> 0:21:50.813 and he was explaining to me that that had legal 0:21:50.853 --> 0:21:53.133 advice and I wasn't to record and they were in 0:21:53.173 --> 0:21:57.053 their rights, and I said, I'm going to record and 0:21:57.133 --> 0:22:00.813 i'll record you throwing me out if you want. Then 0:22:00.893 --> 0:22:03.373 they decided that the issue was he was a sixteen 0:22:03.413 --> 0:22:07.053 year old student representative on the board. They wouldn't want 0:22:07.253 --> 0:22:09.933 me to be discussing sex education in front of her. 0:22:11.413 --> 0:22:13.533 Of course, the irony that I was talking about what 0:22:13.653 --> 0:22:18.133 they were teaching a thirty year old. Anyway, they wouldn't 0:22:18.213 --> 0:22:21.413 let me record, and I said, well, I'd like to 0:22:21.453 --> 0:22:24.853 sit in on the meeting anyway, because I didn't want 0:22:24.853 --> 0:22:28.813 to go away with my tail between my legs. And 0:22:28.853 --> 0:22:32.053 so I went into the meeting and I sat there 0:22:32.573 --> 0:22:34.853 and it was literally just around a table. 0:22:35.213 --> 0:22:37.213 There was no room for members of the public. 0:22:37.573 --> 0:22:39.293 But I sat there for an hour and a half 0:22:39.333 --> 0:22:42.493 and listened to it, and halfway through they broke and 0:22:42.573 --> 0:22:46.093 had pizza, and I introduced myself as best I could 0:22:46.093 --> 0:22:48.613 to the board who were It was very awkward for 0:22:48.893 --> 0:22:52.373 me being there because they knew that I had been 0:22:52.413 --> 0:22:54.213 denied my opportunity to speak. 0:22:55.213 --> 0:22:57.773 And then I went outside and. 0:22:59.333 --> 0:23:03.853 Explained what had happened in the video, and then I 0:23:03.893 --> 0:23:06.453 gave my ten minute presentation to video. 0:23:07.613 --> 0:23:09.813 And I have to say, from my point. 0:23:09.573 --> 0:23:13.693 Of view, it's been an incredible success because it's gone 0:23:13.733 --> 0:23:16.653 around New Zealand at a great pace of knots. And 0:23:16.693 --> 0:23:19.333 I'm still astonished at how many parents are coming up 0:23:19.333 --> 0:23:22.133 to me at the school and saying they saw my 0:23:22.253 --> 0:23:24.493 video and how great it was and thanking me for it. 0:23:25.093 --> 0:23:27.253 But where does it go for them? Where does it 0:23:27.293 --> 0:23:27.893 go from there. 0:23:28.693 --> 0:23:32.293 I will stand for the board and stop this stuff 0:23:32.373 --> 0:23:34.093 being taught in our schools. 0:23:34.333 --> 0:23:37.613 Can one person do that? Of course, when is the 0:23:37.653 --> 0:23:38.253 next election? 0:23:39.253 --> 0:23:39.773 I don't know. 0:23:39.893 --> 0:23:44.453 I haven't checked that, but it's this year. But we 0:23:44.533 --> 0:23:46.853 can't stop on this. This is a hill that we 0:23:46.893 --> 0:23:50.373 all have to die on because we have a responsibility 0:23:50.493 --> 0:23:51.213 late and don't we. 0:23:51.373 --> 0:23:54.133 You and I know this to the next generation. 0:23:54.933 --> 0:24:01.853 And this is much deeper than just an appropriate messaging 0:24:01.933 --> 0:24:05.013 to kids to use the phrase that they might do. 0:24:06.133 --> 0:24:10.253 This is actually the destruction of a generation that's occurring. 0:24:10.453 --> 0:24:13.293 And I don't say that lightheartedly. 0:24:14.733 --> 0:24:18.413 This is a very great evil that is being inflicted 0:24:18.453 --> 0:24:24.093 on our children by, to all intents and purposes, very 0:24:24.133 --> 0:24:27.413 well meaning people in our schools. The ball is very 0:24:27.453 --> 0:24:30.133 well meaning. They do their best, They do a great job. 0:24:31.093 --> 0:24:34.893 The teachers are all very well meaning and do a 0:24:34.893 --> 0:24:39.373 great job. The school does a great job. But what 0:24:39.533 --> 0:24:42.253 is going on within our schools is they've been hijacked, 0:24:43.013 --> 0:24:47.373 and they've been hijacked in a number of areas, and 0:24:47.493 --> 0:24:51.813 one of them is sex education. And it's cutting right 0:24:51.893 --> 0:24:57.573 into what a child believes and their sense of self, and. 0:24:57.493 --> 0:25:01.813 It just expand on that sense of self aspect for us. 0:25:02.253 --> 0:25:04.973 Well, this is a funny one. There's a lovely lady 0:25:05.013 --> 0:25:11.213 called Elizabeth Cave who explained this to me, and she 0:25:11.373 --> 0:25:15.453 drew on the work of a practicing psychologist, Michael Stosney, 0:25:16.773 --> 0:25:19.693 and let me do it talking about you and me 0:25:20.453 --> 0:25:24.093 and what it was like when we grew up in school. Now, 0:25:24.173 --> 0:25:26.853 when we grew up in school, we had a great 0:25:26.893 --> 0:25:31.813 sense of who we were because we built on a pyramid. 0:25:33.173 --> 0:25:36.293 Didn't know this at the time, It just happened. And 0:25:36.333 --> 0:25:38.973