Murdoch Stephens

Murdoch Stephens is the editor of publishing collective Lawrence & Gibson. He has a PhD on critical theory and climate change from Massey University, and was the driving force behind the double the refugee quota campaign, which is now government policy. Murdoch was born in Balclutha in 1981.

Politics
May 28, 2019

A short history of New Zealand's racist refugee policy

PM Jacinda Ardern will soon have the chance to reverse policy that prioritises Asia-Pacific immigrants over refugees from Africa and the Middle East. But how did that policy get made …

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Books
Sep 3, 2018

The Monday Extract: how to get the refugee quota increased

Murdoch Stevens details how to use and get around the Zuckerberg Empire in his attempts to spread public awareness about increasing the quota of refugees into New Zealand.

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Politics
May 22, 2018

Why New Zealand can't accept South African farmers in the refugee quota

The new government needs to roll back a policy that stops Africans claiming refugee status – and undermines the human rights at the foundation of our refugee policy, argues Murdoch Stephens.

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Books
May 15, 2018

Go, Brannavan, go: The novelist from Naenae nominated for an Ockham award

Murdoch Stephens from the anarchist publishing firm Lawrence & Gibson,on working with Brannavan Gnanalingam, a finalist in tonight's Ockham New Zealand national book awards.

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Music
Jan 15, 2018

How to listen to Mount Eerie, the saddest musician in the world

Murdoch Stephens saw Mount Eerie play in Krakow, visited Auschwitz, and wrote about how to listen to songs of unimaginable tragedy.

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Society
May 12, 2017

Is our refugee quota really all that bad? Yup, it’s Trump-level bad

When you crunch the numbers, the feebleness of NZ’s intake becomes shamefully clear, argues Murdoch Stephens, head of the campaign to double the quota

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Society
Apr 5, 2017

The situation in Syria is bleaker than ever. Here’s what you can do to help

Yesterday's horrific chemical bombing in northern Syria left up to 100 people dead, many of them children. With no end to the brutal six-year war in sight, it's easy to despair. But don't give up, says Murdoch Stephens – there are steps you can take right now to help those in desperate need.

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Society
Jan 29, 2017

Trump’s refugee ban is a moral outrage that shames America. When will PM Bill English say so?

The US President's executive order banning all immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries has drawn global condemnation. Now, more than ever, it's time for New Zealand to step up and do what's right for refugees, says Murdoch Stephens.

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Politics
Sep 26, 2016

John Key’s latest refugee remarks are a facepalming litany of wrongness

On the world stage at the UN, the prime minister attempted to appear the global statesman. But following Obama's pledge on resettlement, Key produced a series of clangers, argues Murdoch Stephens.

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Politics
Jun 14, 2016

NZ’s response to the humanitarian crisis of the century puts shallow prudence above people and principle

Murdoch Stephens of Doing Our Bit unpicks the announcement of a modest increase in NZ's refugee intake, and the immigration minister's suggestion that campaigners 'care a little less' about new arrivals' resettlement

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