Summarised by Centrist 

Anti extremism think tanks have become a gravy train of “crazies and cronies” in their own right.

The government’s Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) headed by NZ’s ex chief spy, Rebecca Kitteridge, is funding a series of organisations in response to the Christchurch Mosques Massacre. 

The DPMC’s Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Fund has allocated money to various “independent” projects ostensibly aimed at challenging harmful ideas about transgender people, promoting positive masculinity online, curbing hate speech, etc.  

Additionally, the DPMC funds organisations like The Christchurch Call and the Disinformation Project, which aim to eliminate terrorist content and identify extremists. However, some of these initiatives have faced criticism for their effectiveness and the statements made by their leaders. 

For instance, Joanna Kidman, a DPMC-funded individual, recently made controversial remarks accusing the government of being a death cult.

The Disinformation Project’s Kate Hannah is an avowed Marxist who is suspicious of blonde and red haired children with braids and flowers on social media.

Commentator John McLean observes: 

“In the wake of the Christchurch Mosques Massacre, the DPMC is funding a Crony Cabinet of Nasty Nutjobs.”

Editor’s note: Centrist is backing a defamation lawsuit by Julian Batchelor against The Disinformation Project’s Sanjana Hattotuwa and TVNZ.

Read more over at John’s Substack

_{Image: Duncan WJ Palmer}