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NZ Skeptics
Formation1986; 38 years ago (1986)
FoundersBernard Howard, David Marks, Denis Dutton, Gordon Hewitt, Jim Woolnough, Kerry Chamberlain, Ray Carr[1]
TypeNonprofit organization
Legal statusIncorporated Society, Registered Charity[2]
Location
Chairperson
Mark Honeychurch[3]
Main organ
Committee
Websiteskeptics.nz
Formerly called
New Zealand Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

The NZ Skeptics is a New Zealand incorporated society created in 1986, with the aim of promoting critical thinking.[4] The main areas of interest to the NZ Skeptics are claims of psychic abilities, alternative medicine, creationism and other pseudoscientific claims. At its founding in 1986, it was known as the New Zealand Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (NZCSICOP). In 2007 the name was formally changed to NZ Skeptics Incorporated.

History

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The NZ Skeptics was co-founded (as the New Zealand Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal) by David Marks, Denis Dutton, Bernard Howard, Gordon Hewitt, Jim Woolnough, Ray Carr and Kerry Chamberlain in 1986.[1] Other similar organisations exist in the USA (Committee for Skeptical Inquiry), Australia (Australian Skeptics) and India (Indian CSICOP). Denis Dutton was the first chair. Vicki Hyde took over as the first chair-entity (a title devised by Hugh Young both to be all-inclusive and to parody inclusiveness[5]) from 1997–2010. Gold (his only name), who founded the New Zealand Skeptics in the Pub, was chair-entity from 2010–2014. Mark Honeychurch is the current chair.[3] Vicki Hyde continues in the society as a media spokesperson. The English spelling of the word "skeptic" was chosen over the British spelling "sceptic" to more closely associate with the American organisation, and to avoid negative connotations of "being cynical and negative". In 2007 the committee decided to formally change the name to NZ Skeptics Incorporated (NZSI).[6]

The society does not address the topic of religion, not only because there are other organisations better equipped to deal with it, but also because religion is not testable unless the supporter makes a specific claim. The founders felt that people with religious beliefs could also be skeptical of claims of the paranormal and did not want to exclude them.

Due to a concern that the word "skeptic" was being confused by the public and media with respect to climate change NZSI made the following statement in 2014:[6]

The New Zealand Skeptics Society supports the scientific consensus on Climate Change. There is an abundance of evidence demonstrating global mean temperatures are rising, and that humans have had a considerable impact on the natural rate of change. The Society will adjust its position with the scientific consensus.[6]

 
Logo of the NZ Skeptics used until 2015

In 2015 NZSI adopted a new logo that incorporates a kiwi, koru and a question mark,[7] and released a new website and journal.[6]

In 1989 after its first conference NZI had 80 members; by 1999 there were over 500 members.[8] Some notable skeptics such as James Randi, Richard Dawkins, Susan Blackmore, Ian Plimer and John Maddox had visited in that time.[8]


Activities

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SkeptiCamp Wellington - 2013

The NZ Skeptics hold an annual conference during the New Zealand summer. Conferences generally alternate between the three major New Zealand cities of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, with other cities hosting as and when there is sufficient interest.

The NZ Skeptics produce a quarterly journal, called The New Zealand Skeptic, which they send out to all members. The journal has been produced continuously since 1986; shortly after the society's inception.

On 30 January 2010, members in Christchurch participated in a mass overdose, a protest against the selling of homeopathic remedies in pharmacies.[10] The protest was in line with similar activities held on the same day by the 10:23 campaign in the UK.[11][12]

The first New Zealand SkeptiCamp was held at the Black Dog Brewery in Wellington.[13]

Skeptics in the Pub events are held throughout New Zealand in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.[7]


Sue Nicholson

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"Psychic medium" Sue Nicholson at 2013 conference

Sensing Murder psychic Sue Nicholson spoke at the 2013 Wellington conference about her 21 years of experiences as a psychic medium. Organiser Vicki Hyde applauded Nicholson's willingness to speak at the conference, saying "many people working in this profession are very reluctant to expose themselves to any critical scrutiny.” Hyde is quick to add that “critical” in this case "involves a spirit of genuine interest and inquiry", even if proof of spirits from the after-life continues to be elusive.[14]

Nicholson talked about her life history as a psychic for 18 minutes and opened up the lecture for questions.[15]: 18:40  Despite being skeptical, the audience remained respectful and questioning. [16][17]

Nicholson stated that her friends told her not to attend the conference, but she said, “I believe in healthy discussion, and we all have our opinions and that’s great. I’m not here to prove anything. I’m not here to convince you. We all have our thoughts, we all have our ideas and that’s how the world goes around.”[15]

3 News attended Nicholson's lecture and wrote, "But despite a colourful performance from Ms Nicholson, this lot remains unconvinced."[18] Nicholson agreed to talk at the conference with the stipulation that the $500 speakers fee would be donated to a Women's Refuge."[7][15]

The organization has remained critical of psychics such as Nicholson. In 2018, NZ Skeptics denounced those who claim they can help locate missing persons, contacting families with information. Referring to one such case, NZ Skeptics Society chair Craig Shearer insisted those "grief vampires" never actually helped police solve a disappearance.[19]

Controversy

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In 1988 NZCSICOP member Trevor Reeves wrote a series of letters about psychic Shona Saxon and sent them to the editor of the Dunedin Star Midweek paper, to the Citizens Advice service, to the Dunedin police, and to social welfare. Saxon sued Reeves for malice, claiming embarrassment, humiliation and loss. According to Saxon, Reeves stated that she was "misleading people", "persuading people to go off their prescribed medications" and "upsetting disturbed people... on welfare benefits". The high court judge ruled in favor of Saxon. "[e]ssentially because he did not believe that Ms Saxon had deliberately set out to deceive clients". The judge held that Reeves' "statements were actuated by malice... by gratuitously attack[ing] Ms Saxon's personal integrity." Saxon was awarded a total of $12,000 damages, $6.000 against Reeves and $6000 against Allied Press Ltd.[20] Reeves appealed to the High Court and the damages awarded against him were reduced to $4,500.

Because of the way the NZCSICOP public statements were worded, they were not a party to this action, and escaped what could have been a crippling penalty. The constitution provides suspension or expulsion of any member who brings the society into disrepute. Reeves left NZCSICOP shortly after the judgment was made.[21] The case is recorded as Saxon v Reeves High Court Dunedin A39/87.[22][23]

Dowsing

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The NZ Skeptics have been vocal in the fight against the government use of the pseudoscience of dowsing in New Zealand. The Carterton District Council uses dowsing to find underground pipes and cables despite the NZ Skeptics evidence that dowsing has been discredited. [24] The Wellington City Council paid the Downer Group to use dowsing to find buried water pipes in early 2019. The City Council and a Downer Group representative both stated they were satisfied their work despite complaints by the NZ Skeptics. [25]

Conferences and awards

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Each year at the conference the NZ Skeptics hear from a wide range of local and International speakers. A number of awards are presented at the annual conference dinner,[26] notably the 'Bravo Award' for "critical thinking in the public arena",[27] the 'Bent Spoon Award' for "the most gullible or naive reporting in the paranormal or pseudo-science area"[28][29] and the 'Skeptic of the Year Award' (created in 2014).[30] The name "Bent Spoon" is a reference to the psychic power claimed by Uri Geller.

Conferences
Dates Location Speakers Themes and notes
August 8–10, 1986 Dunedin "What is Pseudoscience?" and "Psychics, Clairvoyants and Cold Reading" by Denis Dutton, "Creationism and the Misuse of Biology" by Gordon Hewitt, "The Australia-New Zealand Stop-over for International Psychics" by Mark Plummer (Founding Chairman, Australian Skeptics), "Psychics I Have Known" by David Marks First conference held at the University of Otago. Registration $5–$10.
1989 Christchurch Firewalking held
1992 Wellington "UFO update" by Felke de Bock,[31] "E-Meter" by Eric Geiringer,[32] "The Placebo Effect" by Bill Morris[33]
September 3–5, 1993[34] Christchurch "Police Use of Psychics" by detective Ian Holyoake,[35] "Naturally Skeptical" by Margaret Mahy,[36] "Satanic Panics" by Michael Hill, "Maori Science" by Mike Dickison, "The Manna Machine" by Feike de Bock[37] Membership moves to over 300 persons.[37]
1994 unknown Dave Wilson, "Grand Interplanetary Hoax of 1952" by John Scott[38]
1995 Auckland "Active Skepticism" by Vicki Hyde,[9] "Pseudo-medicine" by John Scott[39]
1996 Hamilton Malcolm Carr,[40] Big Muffin Serious Band[41] Held at the Chanel Conference Centre[42]
1997 Vicki Hyde, "Political Correctness at the Supermarket" by Jay Mann,[43] Denis Dutton, Mike Bradstock, Alan Clarke, David Novitz, Debra Nation, George Balani[44]
1998 Wellington "Satan’s Excellent Adventure in the Antipodes" by Michael Hill,[45] "Can Sharks Save the Human Race?" by Paul Davis,[46] "Real Memories of False Facts" by Maryanne Garry[47] John Welch opened conference with "do-it-yourself acupuncture". Conference attendees over 140.[48]
1999 Auckland "Hedgehogs, Counselling and the End of the World" by Annette Taylor,[49] "The Danger of Absolute Safety" by Felicity Goodyear-Smith,[50] "The Global Messenger Hoax And The Misinformation Economy" by John Scott,[51] “Reading Cats’ Paws” by Ken Ring, "Philosophical Skepticism Based on the Work of David Hume" by James Allen "You Are Not Alone" Conference title[52] "From ERA to EAV, the Sorry Saga of the Black Box" by David Cole[53]
2000 Dunedin Ian Plimer, David Marks,[54] Bill Peddie, Barbara Benson, Warwick Don, "Kaikoura UFOs" by Bill Ireland, Richard Mullen[55] Theme Evolution, Creationism and Education[56]
September 21–23, 2001 Hamilton Bernard Howard, "Gulf War Syndrome" by John Welch, Nick Kim, Mike Clear, Raymond Richards, Doug Edmeades[57] Held at the Waikato Diocesan School for Girls
September 13–15, 2002 Christchurch "How To Stop a Witch-Hunt" by Lynley Hood[58] Held at St. Andrews College
September 19–21, 2003 Wellington "Science and Environmental Policy – Challenges and Opportunities" by Bruce Taylor[59] Held at the Victoria University
September 10–12, 2004 Christchurch "The Mesmerisation of the Media" by David Mcloughlin,[60] "Why are we crying into our beer?" by Owen McShane[61] Held at St. Andrews College
September 30 – October 2, 2005 Rotorua "Skeptics and the environment" by Keith Garratt,[62] Raymond Bradley, "Maria Duval scam" by Martin Craig, Harry Pert, Kinsley Logan, John Petrie, Hamish Campbell[63] Held at the Millennium Centre, Rotorua Boys High School
September 29 – October 1, 2006 Auckland Jonathan McKeown-Green, Te Radar, Grant Christie, Judith Goodyear[64] Held at King's College; 20th Anniversary Celebration
September 21–23, 2007 Christchurch Michael Woolf, Geoff Diggs, Mark Orton[65] Held at St. Andrews College
September 26–28, 2008 Hamilton Matthew Dentith, Nikos Petousis, Felicity Goodyear-Smith, Alison Campbell, Nathan Grange, Kamya Kameshwar, Zachary Gravatt, Martin Wallace, Glynn Owens, Vincent Gray, Lisa Matisso-Smith Held at Waikato Dioesan College[66]
September 25–27, 2009 Wellington Bernard Beckett, Matthew Dentith, John Robinson Documentary Poisoning Paradise: Ecocide in New Zealand was shown and dissected by the Skeptics as a "political push to stop 1080 poisoning that isn’t based on sound scientific facts."[67]
August 13–15, 2010 Auckland Mental magic by Wayne Rogers Firewalk on Friday the 13th, conference registration $60–80.
August 26–28, 2011 Christchurch Mark Quigley, Kylie Sturgess, Michael Edmonds, Martin Bridgstock, Mark Ottley 150 in attendance[68]
August 31 – Sept 2, 2012 Dunedin Michael Edmonds, Nick Barbalich, David Winter, Richard Walter, Ewan Fordyce, Andrew Scott, Colin Gavaghan, Jean Fleming, Mark Ottley, Dave Veart Held at Otago University[69][70]
September 6–8, 2013 Wellington Kylie Sturgess, Siouxsie Wiles, Martin Manning, Matt McCrudden, Pamela Gay, Aimee Whitcroft, David Bulger, Elf Eldridge, Sue Nicholson, Vicki Hyde, Peter Griffin, Loretta Marron Keynote Pamela Gay[71][72] Free conference registration for anyone using psychic powers revealing contents of a sealed envelope.[14]
December 5–7, 2014 Auckland George Hrab, Steven Novella, Rebecca Watson, Jay Novella, Bob Novella, Evan Bernstein, Helen Petousis-Harris, Steven Galbraith, Nicola Gaston, Michelle Dickinson, Toby Ricketts, Ben Albert, Ngaire McCarthy, Siouxsie Wiles, Vicki Hyde, Karen Toast Conger, Darcy Cowan, Mark Hanna Pricing $195–155, live recording of the SGU podcast. SGU quiz show on Friday night run by George Hrab.[73][74]
November 20–22, 2015 Christchurch Siouxsie Wiles, Kim Socha, Mike Joy, Karl Haro von Mogel, Shaun Holt, Colin Gavaghan, Grant Jacobs, Douglas Campbell, Karen Healey, Vicki Hyde, The Nerd Degree podcast Called "Apocalypse How?"[75][76]
December 2–4, 2016[77] Queenstown Richard Saunders, Loretta Marron, Susan Gerbic, Andrew Digby, Mark Hanna, Tania Lineham, Catherine Low, Mark Bryan, Scott Kennedy

James Randi toured New Zealand in July 1993, visiting Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington. "However, those unable to see him in person had plenty of opportunity to see him on TV, hear him on radio and read about him in newspapers and magazines. He was tireless in submitting himself to the punishing round of interviews, etc, arranged by our enthusiastic Media Representative. Every interviewer wanted to see him bend spoons, and he left behind him a trail of bent and broken cutlery, the bill for which was not negligible."[37][78]

George Hrab traveling to the North Island stopped in Wellington on December 1, 2014 for a special skeptics dinner event. Seating was limited to twelve, tickets were auctioned in a blind auction on the NZ skeptic website.[14]

Denis Dutton Skeptic of the Year Award

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Denis Dutton 2010

A Founder of the New Zealand Skeptics, Denis Dutton was a "thought-provoking, good-humoured and inspirational critical thinker" which the group decided to honor with a yearly prize... "to the skeptic who has had the most impact within New Zealand skepticism. The award comes with a year’s free membership to the NZ Skeptics and $100 prize money."[79]

Denis Dutton Skeptic of the Year Award details
Year Recipient Reason
2014 Mark Hanna For tirelessly battling pseudoscience via the ASA, MedSafe and many other means, and for creating the Society for Science Based Healthcare.[79]
2015 Daniel Ryan For his work as President of Making Sense Fluoride, including giving a presentation to Hutt City Council – as well as his efforts helping to run the Society for Science Based Healthcare, NZ Skeptics and the Skeptical Activism group in Wellington[79]
2016 Siouxsie Wiles For her continued efforts to bring skepticism to the media. This year alone she’s taken on MPs, anti-vaxxers and Mike Hosking, tackled topics such as e-cigarettes and the zika virus, and appeared in her regular radio slot “Skeptical Thoughts” with Graeme Hill on RadioLive.[79][80]

Bravo Award

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The New Zealand Skeptics recognises "media professionals and those with a high public profile who have provided food for thought, critical analysis and important information on topics of relevance to our interests."[81] According to co-founder Bernard Howard, the Bravo award was meant to be a "carrot" to journalists to reward and encourage good critical thinking in their reporting.[8]

Bravo Award details
Year Recipient Organisation Reason
1995 Kim Hill, Maryanne Ahern, Heather Church National Radio Kaimanawa Wall critical coverage
1995 Simon Collins City Voice March 21, 1995 article on the “Tabaash phenomenon”, an investigation into a Wellington channeller
1995 David McLoughlin Christchurch Civic Creche case TV documentary
1995 Mark McNeill First Hand Productions TV documentary on false memory syndrome
1996 TVNZ Assignment For the shows The Doctor Who Cried Abuse and Ellis Through the Looking Glass
1996 Vincent Heeringa Metro Magazine Weird Science and Suppressed Inventions and other Discoveries
1996 Noel O'Hare New Zealand Listener For False Memory Syndrome
1997 Simon Sheppard The Sunday Star-Times Apocalypse Soon
1997 Jan Sinclair The Sunday Star-Times Loving the Aliens
1997 TVNZ's Fair Go Psychics who give "lucky lotto numbers"
1998 Nick Smith For working against psychics in the Olivia Hope and Ben Smart disappearance
1998 Angela Gregory Northern Advocate “0900 psychic hotlines”
1998 Noel O'Hare New Zealand Listener Health columnist
1998 Greenstone TV The Mighty Moa
1999 Roderick Mulgan Grace Wellness column in Grace
1999 Pamela Stirling New Zealand Listener Article on Quantum Booster and on Cellasene
1999 Brian Rudman The New Zealand Herald Article on quantum radio frequency booster
2000 Michelle Hollis consumer Article on how to assess medical claims
2000 New Zealand Association of Rationalists & Humanists For work with Ellen Greve "Jasmuheen"
2000 Kim Hill National Radio Interview of John Read
2000 Matt Philp New Zealand Listener God's Classroom
2001 Susan Wood Fiordland moose interview
2001 T.W. Walker Christchurch Press Gardening column
2001 Denise Tutaki Horowhenua-Kapiti Chronicle Calling 0900 Psychic… Okay, now tell me something I don’t know
2001 Pippa MacKay Commentaries on cancer remedies
2002 Lynley Hood A City Possessed: the Christchurch Civic Creche Case
2002 Noel O'Hare New Zealand Listener Health columns including Silent Spring Fever and Get your snake oil here
2002 Diana Wichtel A Monstrous, Lethal Arrogance
2002 Joe Bennett Press columns
2003 Alan Pickmere Alternative medicine claims in Northland
2003 Barry Colman Publication of transcripts from the Christchurch Civic Creche case
2005 Rose Hipkins Campbell Live, TV3 Comments regarding Intelligent Design
2005 Chris Barton Mannatech’s sugar-coated moneymaker
2005 Tim Watkins New Zealand Listener Star Power
2005 Jeremy Wells Eating Media Lunch Article psychic and medium business
2006 David Russell Consumer Institute Leadership in critical thinking
2006 Linley Boniface The Dominion Post Clairvoyants dead wrong
2007 Tristram Clayton 3 News Psych Addictive
2007 Annette King Attempt to provide standards and accountability via the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill
2008 Kathryn Ryan Interviews with psychic Deb Webber and Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Levy
2008 Royal Society of New Zealand 2008 Big Science Adventure video competition
2008 Raybon Kan The Sunday Star-Times The column I see dud people
2009 Colin Peacock and Jeremy Rose Mediawatch on Radio New Zealand National "Every week Colin and Jeremy cast a critical eye on New Zealand media."[67]
2009 Rob Harley and Anna McKessar TV One Documentary The Worst That Could Happen[67]
2009 Hannah Ockelford Closeup Filtering the Truth[67]
2009 Rebecca Palmer The Dominion Post The Devil’s in the Details[67]
2010 Kate Newton The Dominion Post Item on Victoria University’s embarrassment over the homeopathy course it was offering
2010 Jane Luscombe 3 News A informative look at the belief that amber teething necklaces leach a substance to help babies with pain and depression.
2010 Linley Boniface The Dominion Post Column Why psychics should butt out of the Aisling Symes case
2011 Jan Wright
2011 Philip Matthews Marlborough Express Article on 1080
2011 Janna Sherman Greymouth Star Sceptics revel in Hokitika ‘earthquake’ non-event
2012 Margo White New Zealand Listener Health columns
2012 Clive Solomon Whanganui District Health Board Supporting evidence-based medicine as the core focus for hospital care
2013 Shelley Bridgeman The New Zealand Herald Article Can we communicate with dead people?
2013 Darcy Cowan SciBlogs Getting the Immunisation Awareness Society status corrected within the Charities Register
2014 Graeme Hill Radio Live Challenging of pseudoscience on Radio Live
2014 Russel Norman Green Party
2014 TV One Breakfast Show TV One Coverage of the dangers of Miracle Mineral Solution.
2015 Ben Albert University of Auckland Excellent submission and submitting a letter to the Editor of the NZ Medical Journal
2015 Adam Smith Massey University Rebuttal in the Herald to TV3’s emotional 3D programme on Gardasil
2015 Rosanna Price Stuff Skeptical angle on All Black, Waisake Naholo’s “miracle” natural cure
2015 Simon Mitchell University of Auckland Rebuttal of claims made in an NZ Herald article entitled: Hope is in the air: Hyperbaric chambers – the real deal or a placebo?
2016 Lachlan Forsyth Newshub Writing pro-vaccine articles and publicly taking on the anti-vaxxers[82]
2016 Jess Berentson-Shaw The Spinoff Skeptical parenting articles[82][83]
2016 Laura Walters Stuff Article on 2016 New Zealand earthquakes providing scientific explanation for origin.[82][84]
2016 Rachel Thomas Stuff Article debunking superfoods[82][85]
2016 Mark Hanna[86] & Mark Honeychurch NZ Skeptics Provided data to The New Zealand Medical Journal detailing scientific research into Chiropractic[82]

Bent Spoon Award

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The Bent Spoon Award is "named in honour of Uri Geller".[42] Throughout the year, selections are considered for the Bent Spoon award. Ideas are sent to the officers whom gather and retain all ideas until the committee reviews candidates. Those that are considered "truly ridiculous" and selections from outside New Zealand are usually not considered, typically a dozen nominees are selected and voted on by the executive officers. The announcement is usually made in few weeks before each conference in order to "help boost interest in the conference".[87] Candidates considered must be "important enough to deserve attention" and by people who "should know better" ... and be "wilfully misleading with intent to profit."[88] According to Chair-entityship Vicki Hyde in 1996, the group saw an increase in calls from the media which begin with '“We don’t want to get the Bent Spoon so we thought we’d better check with you guys…”' It is gratifying to note that such calls have increased over the past four years."[9]

Bent Spoon Award details
Year Recipient Reason
1992 Consumers' Institute Alternative medicine article
1993 Country Calendar Biodynamics as a serious pest control option
1994 TV3 Satanic Memories documentary
1995 Ministry of Justice Hitting Home report on domestic violence.[87][88][89][90]
1996 New Zealand Qualifications Authority For seriously considering awarding a Bachelor of Science status for a course at Aoraki Polytech on naturopathy[42]
1997 Correspondence School Numerology lessons in maths class
1998 TV2 For misleading the public over the truthfulness of an alleged documentary on alien abductions
1999 Paul Holmes Coverage given to the Liam Williams-Holloway case
2000 Wellington Hospital Supporting healing hands therapy by its nurses
2001 TopShelf Production Hallelujah Healing documentary on faith-healing
2002 Jeanette Fitzsimons For supporting the concept of biodynamic’s “etheralised Cosmic-Astral influences” as a means of ridding New Zealand of possums[91]
2003 Justice Minister Phil Goff For refusing to open the can of worms that is the Christchurch Civic Creche case (Goff was awarded the first-ever Bent Can Opener Award from the New Zealand Skeptics)
2004 20/20 For reporter Melanie Reid’s August 22 segment “Back from the Dead” profiling Taranaki medium Jeanette Wilson
2005 Tertiary Education Commission For identifying homeopathic training as a nationally important strategic priority for New Zealand
2006 Diana Burns Come and Be Healed the article in the Listener on Brazilian medium and “miracle-worker” João de Deus
2007 TV3 news and Current Affairs and Carol Hirschfeld For her August 31 interview with self-proclaimed energy healer and clairvoyant Simone Simmons, who claims to be visited regularly by the spirit of Diana, 10 years after the death of the Princess of Wales.
2008 Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Levy For promoting psychics as “just another tool” in the investigative policing toolbox, helping the “exploitainment” show Sensing Murder
2009 Clyde and Steve Graf For their documentary Poisoning Paradise – Ecocide in New Zealand which claims that 1080 kills large numbers of native birds, poisons soils, persists in water and interferes with human hormones.
2010 Rural Women New Zealand and Fonterra For supporting homeopathic practices on the farm, thereby indicating an ignorance of basic science and a lack of concern for animal welfare.
2011 Gullible media outlets and personalities For taking Ken Ring's earthquake prediction claims at face value
2012 Consumer magazine For continuing to promote homeopathic products as a viable alternative to evidence-based medical treatments
2013 Hamilton City Council For ignoring the evidence of the public health value of fluoridation
2014 Steffan Browning For signing a petition that called on the World Health Organisation to “End the suffering of the Ebola crisis, by testing and distributing homeopathy as quickly as possible to contain the outbreaks.”
2015 Pharmacy Council For suggesting, when faced with the fact that pharmacists were not complying with their Code of Ethics, that a viable solution was to change their Code of Ethics.
2016 The New Zealand Herald For publishing a variety of pseudoscience articles presented as fact without refutation.[92]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Our History". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Society Status". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Officers and Committee". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  4. ^ "NZ Skeptics". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  5. ^ "The changing of the guard". NZ Skeptics. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d "History". NZ Skeptics Incorporated. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Saunders, Richard. "The Skeptic Zone #334 - 15.Mar.2015". The Skeptic Zone. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Howard, Bernard. "Ah Yes! I Remember It Well". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  9. ^ a b c Hyde, Vicky. "Active Skepticism". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  10. ^ "Plea for pharmacists to ditch stock". Stuff.co.nz. 30 January 2010.
  11. ^ "Liverpool anti-homeopathy campaigners stage protest". BBC News. 30 January 2010.
  12. ^ "Mass "overdose" in Leicester city centre". Leicester Mercury. 30 January 2010.
  13. ^ "The first New Zealand Skepticamp". New Zealand Skeptics. YouTube. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  14. ^ a b c "In the News". NZ Skeptics. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  15. ^ a b c Susan Nicholson’s talk at the 2013 NZ Skeptics Conference. archive.org. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  16. ^ Griffin, Peter. "A psychic faces a room of skeptics". Sciblogs. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  17. ^ "NZ Skeptics Communicating... with the Other Side". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  18. ^ Parkin, Rachel. "TV psychic tries to convince sceptics". Newshub. 3 News. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  19. ^ Lawrence, Meghan (20 September 2018). "Family rejects psychic's disturbing premonition about missing Northland woman Theres'a Urlich". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 22 November 2018 suggested (help)
  20. ^ "The Psychic Medium". Defamationupdate.co.nz. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  21. ^ Don, Warwick. "The first 21 years". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  22. ^ "BF238C" (PDF). Dunedin Registry. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  23. ^ "CA 134/89" (PDF). Court of Appeal in New Zealand. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  24. ^ McLellan, Illya (2 February 2018). "Council boss uses divining to find pipes and cables, while sceptics pour cold water on it". stuff. Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  25. ^ Hancock, Farah (6 April 2019). "Wellington ratepayers foot bill for pseudo-science". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Awards". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  27. ^ "Skeptics' prize goes to education group". New Zealand Herald. 24 September 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
  28. ^ "Skeptics: Critical Coverage Needed at the Listener". Scoop. 20 September 2006. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
  29. ^ "TV3 wins praise and criticism from Skeptics". New Zealand Herald. 19 September 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
  30. ^ "Skeptic of the Year". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  31. ^ de Bock, Felke. "UFO Update". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  32. ^ Gelringer, Eric. "E-Meter". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  33. ^ Morris, Bill. "The Placebo Effect". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  34. ^ "Science, Pseudoscience and Junk Science". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  35. ^ Holyoake, Ian. "Police Use of Psychics". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  36. ^ Mahy, Margaret. "Naturally Skeptical". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  37. ^ a b c Howard, Bernard. "1993 and All That". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  38. ^ Scott, John. "Alien Ships in Our Skies". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  39. ^ Scott, John. "Pseudo-medicine". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  40. ^ Carr, Malcomn. "Helping Students Understand". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  41. ^ Riddell, David. "Fridges Help Chill Out Christmas Gloom". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  42. ^ a b c "NZQA Qualifies for Bent Spoon". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  43. ^ Mann, Jay. "Political Correctness at the Supermarket". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  44. ^ Taylor, Annette. "Convivial Conference". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  45. ^ Hill, Michael. "Satan's Excellent Adventure in the Antipodes". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  46. ^ Davis, Paul. "Can Sharks Save the Human Race?". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  47. ^ Garry, Maryanne. "Real Memories of False Facts". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  48. ^ Dickison, Mike. "Skeptics Conference 1998". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  49. ^ Taylor, Annette. "Hedgehogs, Counselling and the End of the World". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  50. ^ Goodyear-Smith, Felicity. "The Danger of Absolute Safety". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  51. ^ Scott, John. "The Global Messenger Hoax And The Misinformation Economy". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  52. ^ Lange, Peter. "Nuts and Bolts of the Annual Conference". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  53. ^ Cole, David. "From ERA to EAV, the Sorry Saga of the Black Box". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  54. ^ Taylor, Annette. "A Good Time Was Had By All". NZ Skeptics. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
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