1 February 1991
Popular books on the paranormal often source their supporting evidence from all over the world. While this may seem to enhance an argument's credibility by giving the impression the phenomenon in question is universal, I suspect it is more because of the paucity of evidence that the net is cast so widely. When on occasions the net reaches as far as New Zealand I find I am especially skeptical. To take a recent example, in Jenny Randle's "Abduction" a New Zealand encounter of the third kind is described thus:
1 February 1991
This is my last newsletter. I am pleased to be handing over the editorship to Denis Dutton. I feel I have been very fortunate in the quality of contributions I have received and to have had regular contributors. A special acknowledgement is due to Mark Davies, Andrew Vignaux and Karen Tumer who physically produce the magazine. I had no idea of the amount of work they undertake until I became involved in it myself.
1 February 1991
At the 1989 NZCSICOP conference Dr Denis Dutton generalised that women's magazines contained horoscopes and men's magazines didn't. A female voice rightly objected that Broadsheet was horoscope-less. There is also a dubious exception to the generalisation about men's magazines (see box). Nevertheless, what Denis said was largely confirmed by a quick survey I made of women's magazines at a Whitcoulls newsstand. New York Woman doesn't carry horoscopes, neither does Moxie (but it does carry an advice column by a so-called psychic). These were the only additional exceptions I could find. However I discovered Australian Elle has not only horoscopes but a numerology page as well.
1 February 1991
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of New York, 1985.
1 November 1990
The New Zealand Woman's Weekly has been the recipient of a New Zealand Skeptics' Bent Spoon Award. Does Broadsheet, "New Zealand's feminist magazine", make a more intelligent response to matters of interest to Skeptics?
1 November 1990
The New Truth articles on the "Disappearing Regiment" were examined in New Zealand Skeptic No. 15. A curious sequel to these stories, headed "Mystery clouds hold secret to rail horror!", appeared in New Truth's issue of 20 October 1989. After reading the "Disappearing Regiment" articles (25 August and 1 September 1989), Mr Jack Bramley, a wood carver now living in Whitianga, told New Truth of three clouds he had seen from Taupo and which had remained in the same position near Mt Ruapehu for the three days before Christmas 1953. In the article the clouds were linked to the disaster which occurred when the Wellington-Auckland express was plunged into the Whangaehu River shortly before 10.30 pm on 24 December 1953.
1 November 1990
When Benjamin Creme first visited New Zealand in January 1989, I was overseas. Fortunately, the prophet of the returned Christ decided to pay a return visit.
1 November 1990
The following may interest those who hesitate at the idea of "mushroom rings" being evidence of UFO landings—or of fairy shindigs.
1 November 1990
With immigration a topical issue, some New Zealanders may be interested in an article in a recent Omni (January 1990) which looks at apocalyptic prophecies. In it Mark Harwell of Cornell University's Global Environment Program offers cheer to those fearful of nuclear winter: "Move to New Zealand. It's way the hell south and has 30 sheep per capita. You can survive on lamb chops until the smoke clears out of the stratosphere."
1 August 1990
There were some strange responses to New Zealand's first big earthquake prediction.
1 August 1990
Ray Carr was a fine example of an active Skeptic.
1 May 1990
Is it the influence of New Age vegetarian extremists?: the latest paranormal enthusiasms are cress seed-sprouting (it's a more growing experience than metal spoon-bending) and crop circles. We have Time Magazine's authority for crop circles having occurred here, and not only the British Skeptics but the New Zealand Skeptics would welcome any information about the crop circle phenomenon in this country.
1 May 1990
Warwick Don was elected at the AGM to succeed Prof. Tony Vignaux as Chairman of the New Zealand Skeptics. Mr Don, a senior lecturer in Zoology at the University of Otago, was a founding member of the society. However his experience as an advocate for science and the scientific approach goes back much further. My personal collection of clippings contains two articles he had published in Otago University's student newspaper in 1966 and 1967 responding to attempts to recast evolution in a religious mould. He is also a formidable debater against creationism—as was evident from the letters in The Nelson Evening Mail (27/5/87 to 30/7/87) in which he and Jim Ring presented the skeptical viewpoint. Mr Don's special concern at the moment is the draft Form I-V science syllabus—in particular its inclusion of non-scientific elements.
1 May 1990
According to the Otago Daily Times, 19 June 1989:
1 May 1990
"Three Kiwi soldiers' shock claim 'ALIENS TOOK GALLIPOLI REGIMENT". So declared the front page of New Truth's 25 August 1989 issue.
1 November 1989
No doubt the dates for the 1988 conference were selected after consultation with the noted Christchurch psychic Omniscia. The vibes clearly showed 20/21 August to be good for discussing paranormality: that same weekend was chosen for a Psychic Fair in Dunedin and for the Theosophists' Festival of Life—"An open day for alternative spiritualities in Auckland". Conspiracy theorists, however, will see these latter events as attempts to derail the Skeptics' publicity machine.
1 November 1989
Published by the author. $169.00 (inc GST and packing & postage within New Zealand).
1 May 1989
Sir, — Your front page of July 28 featured Magda Palmer, promoter of healing by crystals. As if that wasn't enough, another page of the same issue featured a woman promoting colour therapy healing by threads of specific lengths and colours.
1 November 1988
Nostradamus and the Millenium. By John Hogue. Bloomsbury/Roulston Greene. 1987. 209 pp. Illustrations. $45,