Matua Kahurangi
Matua Kahurangi, unapologetically provocative, is infamous for his incendiary writings that challenge societal taboos and stir relentless debate.
It is no surprise that today I came across a “Premium Opinion” piece in the New Zealand Herald by Paul Thistoll titled “Green MP Benjamin Doyle has been the victim of a moral panic.” The piece reads like yet another installment in Thistoll’s ongoing mission to undermine legitimate concerns from women, men and members of the LGB community, all while portraying himself as a defender of the TQ+ subsets.
For those unfamiliar, Thistoll is a man whose public commentary often centers obsessively on transgender and queer issues, while showing little respect for lesbian, gay, and bisexual voices, particularly when they express dissent. He claims to head an organisation called “Countering Hate Speech Aotearoa” (CHSA), though there is no evidence that CHSA is anything more than a vanity project with no transparency, governance, or credibility. Thistoll frequently solicits donations through this platform, but there is no clear accountability for where the money goes.
In recent weeks, writer and advocate Ani O’Brien has come forward with disturbing accounts of the sustained online harassment she has faced from Thistoll. In her article “Hell Hath No Fury Like a Left Man Defied”, O’Brien details what she describes as obsessive and misogynistic behavior, including screenshots, emails, and social media posts that paint a troubling picture of a man fixated on silencing women who dare to speak their minds. She recounts receiving countless messages, many unsolicited, that amount to online intimidation. Despite publicly stating that she feels threatened, Thistoll continues to engage with and write about her, now even via mainstream media platforms.
Just a glimpse of the ongoing abuse Paul Thistoll targets at Ani O’Brien.
It raises the question: Why is the NZ Herald giving this man a platform?
This is the same individual who publicly fundraised for Eliana Rubashkyn, the person who attacked women’s rights advocate Posie Parker with tomato juice, an act that led to a guilty plea and failed appeal. And now, Thistoll has taken it upon himself to defend Green MP Benjamin Doyle, whose own online conduct has rightly come under scrutiny. Rather than addressing the concerns raised, Thistoll directs blame toward a lesbian writer expressing her opinion, once again targeting women who will not toe his ideological line.
Earlier this week, both Ani O’Brien and I discussed the language used within queer spaces, including the terms bussy and mussy. Thistoll responded with yet another opinion piece, one that was dismissive, derisive, and entirely out of touch with the communities he claims to speak for.
Thistoll appears to be trying for a clean slate on X.
One cannot help but wonder where this is headed. When someone persistently defends questionable behaviour, targets women with sustained hostility, and shows signs of being dangerously fixated on certain individuals, it is not unreasonable to ask serious questions about their motives.
Thistoll’s behavior has already caused real harm. Ani O’Brien has made it explicitly clear she wants nothing more to do with him and has asked him to stop engaging with or about her. He refuses. Instead, he doubles down, now with a byline in one of the country’s most prominent media outlets.
That should alarm us all.
If the New Zealand Herald values its credibility, it must reconsider the platforms it provides and to whom. There is a difference between free speech and enabling harassment under the guise of opinion. Women, especially those from the lesbian and feminist communities, should not have to endure targeted harassment simply for expressing their views.
I would genuinely like to know what Paul Thistoll’s views are on MAPs (so-called ‘Minor-Attracted People’) and paedophiles, given his habit of defending disturbing online behaviour and attacking those who call it out.
Thistoll is not a neutral commentator. He is a partisan actor with a history of attacking those who challenge his narrative. If our media institutions will not draw the line, then it is up to the public to hold them accountable.
This article was originally published on the author’s Substack.
