Controversy Surrounds Senior New Zealand Official for openly Criticizing Government as ‘Death Cult’
Professor Joanna Kidman, the head of a research centre on extremism, has openly criticized the government’s stance on boot camps for youth offenders.
The director of a publicly funded center established to combat extremism in New Zealand has labeled the government as a “death cult” that “hates children” in a post on X (formerly Twitter). She has subsequently made the post private, along with her entire account.
Despite this, many individuals were able to capture screenshots of the post before it was concealed, with Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour responding by stating, “Some interesting views from a Jacinda Ardern and Labour appointee.”
Professor Joanna Kidman was appointed as a director of the Centre of Research Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism by then-Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in 2022 as part of the government’s response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry report on the Christchurch terrorist attack.
“I believe this center will help us to be a more resilient, inclusive, and safer Aotearoa New Zealand,” Ms. Ardern stated at the time.
Government ‘Hates Children’
Professor Kidman was responding to the government’s decision to reintroduce youth offender “boot camps” by mid-2024, fulfilling its pre-election promise.
She expressed her belief that the government “hates children, most of whom will be poor and brown,” citing evidence that military-style youth boot camps are ineffective and costly.
She portrayed the government as being inclined to “snatch children’s lunches” in response to Mr. Seymour’s comments, who also serves as the associate education minister, criticizing free school lunches as “wasteful” and advocating for their elimination.
“Is this a government or a death cult?” Ms. Kidman questioned.
In response, Mr. Seymour emphasized his support for freedom of speech, insisting that the government “should never penalize someone for their opinion,” but emphasized the need for employees to adhere to standards of behavior.
He expressed surprise at such comments coming from the head of an organization funded to promote unity, highlighting that engaging in personal attacks instead of constructive debates promotes division and extremism.
When questioned about the need for an apology from Ms. Kidman, Mr. Seymour remarked on her track record and his preference to ignore her.
ACT Party Calls for Professor’s Dismissal
But the ACT Party’s public service spokesperson, Todd Stephenson, has urged the board of the Centre to swiftly dismiss the extremist in their ranks.
“Kidman’s salary is funded by taxpayers through the Prime Minister’s department, offering potential savings to Christopher Luxon,” he stated.
“While ACT supports her right to express outlandish views as a private citizen, she should not do so on taxpayers’ money or under the credibility of the Prime Minister’s department,” Mr. Stephenson added.
A spokesperson for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Bridget White, clarified that Professor Kidman is employed by Victoria University and not a public servant.
“However, the Department… has communicated its concerns to the university regarding Professor Kidman’s comments potentially damaging the centre’s reputation,” the spokesperson said.
Victoria University affirmed its support for academic independence but noted that Ms. Kidman’s social media post did not foster inclusive dialogue. They confirmed ongoing discussions with her on this issue.
Public Servants Critical of Conservative Policies
This scenario is just the latest instance of high-ranking public officials criticizing the policies of the new tri-party conservative government.
Earlier, Health Coalition Aotearoa co-chair Professor Lisa Te Morenga labeled the coalition as a “fascist-white supremacist government” after remarks by Mr. Seymour on free school lunches.
In a different incident, Rob Campbell resigned as Chair of Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) after making comments on LinkedIn regarding the National Party and its leader, insinuating racism. Initially resistant to apologize, he eventually resigned under ministerial and public pressure.
Mr. Seymour commented, “Much of the Wellington bureaucracy openly leans towards the left, presenting a legitimate concern.”
