Headline Junkie: 24 April 23'

Greens MP Elizabeth Kerekere Faces Bullying Accusations

Greens MP Elizabeth Kerekere has faced accusations of bullying towards other staff members. Kerekere has faced a slew of accusations about her “mean girl behavior”, after messages from a group chat surfaced, showing Kerekere calling fellow MP Chlöe Swarbrick a “crybaby”. It is understood that Kerekere accidentally sent the message into a group chat of Greens MPs, including Swarbrick. A source close to the Greens told RNZ last week that “she makes people feel like shit”, and that “people walk on eggshells around her”. Kerekere is currently facing an internal inquiry due to these allegations. A spokesperson for the Greens told RNZ that incidents would be taken seriously and that the workplace review would include a "thorough analysis of all relevant information". Kerekere has remained silent throughout these allegations.

National Candidates are Being Dodgy, Again

CW: Homophobia and Misogyny

National Party candidate for Taieri, Stephen Jack, has resigned after posts on his Facebook page foundhim in hot water. Last week, it was discovered that he shared a video onto his Facebook page containing the joke: “I like my Covid like I like my women. 19. And easy to spread.” Members of the public have responded negatively with calls for Jack to step down, and deputy leader Nicola Willis has labeled the statement as “disgusting”. After a poem posted on his Facebook page came to light, in which he compares former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to Adolf Hitler, Jack resigned from his candidacy. The incident follows a slew of bad press for the party, after multiple incidents involving MPs and candidates have occurred in the past year—including candidate Greg Fleming comparing civil unions to polygamy and incest, and MP Sam Uffindel being revealed to have been ‘asked to leave’ King’s College after attacking a younger student. 

Penis Destroyed in the Salient Office

Turmoil struck the Salient office last week when Co-Editor Fran discovered pieces of a broken clay penis hidden under furniture in the office. The member had been constructed by fellow Salient staffer Luke* during the Sex Week craft night just weeks prior. Fran found the piece of broken ball sack on the opposite side of the room, kicked under a chair from its initial spot. The rest of the shaft was discovered the next day. Luke describes the incident as “distressing”. “I worked really hard on that and the last thing I expected was such a malicious attack,” he told Salient. “The fact that someone has clearly hidden it makes me not really trust anyone in the Salient staff anymore tbh. I have no option but to suspect foul play.” The cock destroyer has yet to confess to their crime. 

Snow Leopards Arrive Join Wellington Zoo

Wellington Zoo welcomed two new additions to the park: snow leopard sisters Asha and Manju. The leopards arrived at the park on 12 April, and now reside in their custom-built habitat. The construction of their habitat has cost the zoo over $6 million, and has taken over 18 months. “It’s been a crazy few days at the zoo, with hundreds of people coming to view Asha and Manju!” a zoo Park Ranger told Salient. “They’ve taken to exploring their new home and catnapping on various rocks and the visitor center roof. [They’re] like very large, dangerous, and incredibly beautiful house cats.” Keepers want to assure the public that while the leopards usually reside in much colder climates out in the wild, Asha and Manju have been born and raised in Melbourne Zoo, so they are comfortable in a warmer climate. “Animal Care staff from Wellington Zoo have spent time at Melbourne Zoo with the snow leopards, and we have also hosted zookeepers from Melbourne,” Animal Science Manager Simon said in a press release. 

*names have been changed