New Zealanders: Last News

Since the Cannes Market title They Are Us was announced late last week with Rose Byrne poised to play Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, there has been an outcry among many New Zealanders who believe a still-raw tragedy would be exploited by Hollywood storytellers. Criticisms include inferring that the 2019 attack on the Muslim community in Christchurch that cost 51 innocent lives would turn into a “white savior” narrative focusing on Ardern, who banned assault weapons from the country after the tragedy. Tens of thousands have signed petitions, putting on their heels filmmakers who want to tell the story of a country’s reaction to a massacre. Critics also have ignored the fact that the film’s director, Andrew Niccol, is a New Zealand native.

< 1 min read NZ’s Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin has confirmed that the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill will not be reintroduced before this year’s election.