Nonsense: In the air, in our brains, in politics and down in Christchurch

NZ Skeptics Newsletter

19^th June 2023

Craig is away in the US for the next four weeks, so I’m going to try to hold the fort until he gets back. Thankfully I have articles from some of our reliable contributors this week, and I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to convince one or more of them to take over for an issue or two in the coming weeks.

In this issue we start off with a quick summary from me of the newest UFO/UAP nonsense, where the gap between what credulous journalists and skeptics are saying is as wide as it’s ever been. Next Katrina’s been shooting fish in a barrel, lining up psychology myths and pulling them apart. Then we have a report from Dan from a field trip a few of us went on a week and a half ago, seeing the Tamakis, Sue Grey and others try to sell their new political party, Freedoms NZ, to a wide enough audience that they can reach 5% of the vote come the general election. My prediction is that this is not going to happen! Finally Bronwyn has managed the second part of her ZAP investigation, and there’s a promise that there will be a third part to come featuring a look into what members are doing now. I have to say that when I reached the end of her article I was surprised to see a name that’s familiar to me - a Kiwi living in the US who’s been on my radar for a while for his daft ideas, but who I never realised was associated with ZAP or John Ultimate. It’s a small world!

Mark Honeychurch

In this Issue

David Grusch and his UFO claims

Mark Honeychurch - Approx. 8 min read

I received a text from radio host Graeme Hill the other day, alerting me to a Newshub Nation piece on UAPs (Unidentified Aerial/Anomalous Phenomena) - the new, more “serious” name for UFOs. In the 10 minute video report, Rebecca Wright and Simon Shepherd interviewed Australian investigative reporter Ross Coulthart about his investigation into David Grusch. If Ross is to be believed, David Grusch is the most important whistleblower ever in the history of UFO/UAP revelations.

Psychology myths

Katrina Borthwick - Approx. 4 min read

Bronwyn suggested I do a bit of psychology myth-busting. So here goes. There are so many I could write a book, so I've picked five. You will notice I haven't included any that relate to actual mental health disorders, I will leave that to the professionals.

Freedom to be a shitty person

Daniel Ryan - Approx. 9 min read

A group of skeptical friends (Bronwyn Rideout, Mark Honeychurch and Tim Atkin) invited me to attend a political event, the “_Take Back Your Power Roadshow_”, last week. Freedom NZ, a new fringe political party that serves as an umbrella for five other parties, organised the event. The constituent parties are the New Nation Party, Vision New Zealand, the NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party, Yes Aotearoa, and Rock the Vote. They have been travelling around New Zealand spreading their message, asking for votes and donations.