Matua Kahurangi
Matua Kahurangi, unapologetically provocative, is infamous for his incendiary writings that challenge societal taboos and stir relentless debate.
Isn’t it strange how quickly the political spectrum flips when the controversy suits them?
When Tim Jago, the former ACT Party president, was revealed to be a convicted child sex offender, there was near-universal condemnation from the right. ACT supporters didn’t hesitate to call him what he was: a predator who deserved to be behind bars. There was no attempt to defend, excuse, or reinterpret the facts. Disgust was the consensus, as it should have been.
But contrast that with how parts of the left reacted when Ben Doyle, better known by his bizarre Instagram handle “Biblebeltbussy”, was exposed through a series of leaked posts. Instead of outrage, there was applause. He was painted as brave, progressive, and misunderstood. Somehow, the very same kind of behavior that right-wing figures are crucified for is brushed off when it comes from someone who ticks the right identity boxes.
Doyle’s posts included highly sexualized content: material that many found disturbing, especially given his previous work as a school teacher. But the mainstream media in New Zealand bent over backwards to justify it. They claimed that the blue swirl emoji in his bio, widely known as a symbol associated with paedophilia, was actually a reference to Māori wind symbols. Out of thousands of emojis, he chose that one? Really?
Even more puzzling is how Doyle’s self-identification as both Māori and trans seems to have granted him an unspoken immunity from criticism. He looks, for all intents and purposes, like a white guy who grew up in Mission Bay. But, by identifying with marginalised communities, he has been welcomed into Green Party circles with barely a question asked.
One video of Doyle raised eyebrows. He spoke fondly about how the best part of being a school teacher was hanging out with the kids at lunchtime. For most adults, that wouldn’t even make the top 10 of job perks. Frankly, it came off as creepy.
None of this is to say that identity should disqualify anyone from public life. But if we want to build a just and safe society, we need to apply our standards consistently, no matter where someone sits on the political spectrum or what boxes they check on a census form. Protecting children, calling out predatory behaviour, and demanding accountability should never be partisan.
The left can, and should, do better.
This article was originally published on the author’s Substack.
