NZ Skeptics

History

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. 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) 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. 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.

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.

In 2014 after much heated discussion amongst its members it was decided that NZSI should be clear about its stance on Climate Change. There was concern that the word "skeptic" was being confused by the public and media. They released the following statement:

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.

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

Remembering the history of NZSI, co-founder Bernard Howard mentions that the group grew quickly. In 1989 after its first conference there were 80 members; by 1999 there were over 500 members. Some of Howard's favorite memories were of organising the visits of notable skeptics such as James Randi, Richard Dawkins, Susan Blackmore, Ian Plimer and John Maddox.

Activities

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. Each year at the conference the NZ Skeptics give awards, notably the 'Bravo Awards' for "critical thinking in the public arena", the 'Bent Spoon' award for "the most gullible or naive reporting in the paranormal or pseudo-science area" and the Skeptic of the Year award (created in 2014). The name "Bent Spoon" is a reference to the psychic power claimed by Uri Geller.

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 shortly after the society's inception in 1986.

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 Saxton, Reeves stated that she was "misleading people", "persuading people to go off their prescribed medications" and "upsetting disturbed people... on welfare benefits". The case was given a High Court Judgment and then went to the Court of Appeals. The 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 reduced damage of $4,500. Because of the way the NZCICOP "public statements were worded, the Skeptics were not a party to this action, and so escaped what could have been a crippling penalty. We emphasise that, whatever our private thoughts, accusations of fraudulence or cheating are taboo", Bernard Howard remembers. Warwick Don remembers that "the psychic brought a $20,000 defamation action against our member, and subsequently she was awarded $12,000 in damages, $6000 to be paid by our member and $6000 by Allied Press Ltd. ... Needless to say, our member and the NZ Skeptics parted company soon after. Our constitution provides suspension or expulsion of any member charged with bringing the society into disrepute if found guilty of the charge. We as a group learned a vital lesson, oft issued as a reminder by Denis: accusations of fraudulence or cheating are taboo. We should never forget this. The case is recorded as Saxon v Reeves High Court Dunedin A39/87.

Events

Firewalking is one of Howard's favorite events, arranged by Denis Dutton and John Campbell at the 1989 Christchurch conference, it "went off with minimum discomfort and maximum publicity. Since then the “psychic” firewalkers have disappeared, and the practice has become a standard part of corporate management training gatherings." Warwick Don remembers that over 80 people "trusted physics that evening, rather than the assurances of charlatans".

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

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

According to Mark Honeychurch, there is a "very good network of Skeptics in the Pub events all over New Zealand run by Gold", in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Sue Nicholson

Sensing Murder psychic Sue Nicholson spoke at the 2013 Wellington conference about her 21years of experiences as a psychic medium. "We applaud Sue’s willingness to talk with us," according to organizer Vicki Hyde, "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. In lieu of a speaker’s fee, the Society will be making a donation to Women’s Refuge."

In a recap of Nicholson's lecture, Peter Griffin reports that after 15 minutes of Nicholson giving her life history as a psychic, she stopped and opened up the lecture for questions. Griffin states that he did not feel that she understood how skeptics think and did not expect that she would be asked for evidence of her claims or that she might be challenged. 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.”

Griffin recounts that she sounded delusional, and the audience remained respectful but questioning. In the opinion of Griffin and his friends, Nicolson truly believes that she has a "gift" and she does not need to prove it to anyone. She does not need evidence that she can do these things, she has clients and money coming in, and no proof is required.

3 News attended Nicholson's lecture and wrote, "But despite a colourful performance from Ms Nicholson, this lot remains unconvinced." According to Mark Honeychurch, Nicholson agreed to talk at the conference with the stipulation that $500 would be donated to a charity. "The skeptics were more than happy to do... we ended up paying $500 to Women's Refuge."

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."

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.

Denis Dutton Skeptic of the Year Award

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."

Bravo Awards

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." 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.

Bent Spoon Award

The Bent Spoon Award is "named in honour of Uri Geller". 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". Candidates considered must be "important enough to deserve attention" and by people who "should know better" ... and be "wilfully misleading with intent to profit." 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."