Convoy protest 18/2/22

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, February 18th, 2022 - 78 comments
Categories: covid-19 - Tags: , , ,

How the 10th day of protest outside parliament unfolded (RNZ)

  • Police have pulled back on plans to tow vehicles, in favour of negotiating with the protestors
  • Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard said that no parties would meet with the protestors until protest was lawful, vehicles were removed, tents etc were remove, and harassment of locals stopped
  • Wellington iwi leaders have said the protest should end
  •  The government’s Officials’ Committee for Domestic and External Security Coordination (ODESC, a group mad up of chief executives of government agencies which provide co-ordination on national security) met to discuss the protests.
  • Protest groups occupying in Christchurch and Picton are refusing to leave.

Trevor Mallard’s statement (Henry Cooke twitter)

What does the right to protest actually mean? (micky savage, The Standard)

@Te_Taipo (Te Ranigikaiwhiria Kemara twitter)

Tame Iti/Freedom Protest (Waatea News audio)

Parliament protests: Tragedy or farce? (Nick Bollinger on NZ counter culture, RNZ)

The occupation of NZ’s parliament grounds is a tactical challenge for police, but mass arrests are not an option ( Lecturer in Criminology, Monash University, The Conversation)

 

List of reasons for Convoy 2022 NZ (NZ Truckies FB)

Letter of Demand (from protest organisers)

Newsroom: ‘Splintered realities’: How NZ convoy lost its way

Stuff: Inside the disorienting, contradictory swirl of the convoy, as seen through its media mouthpiece,

 

78 comments on “Convoy protest 18/2/22 ”

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  1. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 1
    18 February 2022 at 6:10 am

    I’m over it!

    I’m so over this stupid fucking self-indulgent farcical illegal gathering in Wellington (and elsewhere). No dialogue is possible – Picton protest agreed to move on by Wednesday, broke their promise.

    We have a police force – let them act for the good of NZ.

    As this twitter post puts it so succinctly:

    https://twitter.com/LofotenAurora/status/1494189350262767618

    And I’ve sent a tweet to the police commissioner saying so. Perhaps if many more people follow suit, he might get the message! @NZPCommissioner

    • Blade 1.1
      18 February 2022 at 6:28 am

      Latest Horizon Research poll shows you may be in for a wait. I personally would put those supporting protesters into the early 40s.

      9 per cent don’t knowno

      You should have saved your tweet. Cuddles Costa, along with the PM, are now working on their exit strategy away from this issue.

      They don't have time for people with ''real world concerns.''

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/127808790/parliament-protest-new-poll-shows-30-per-cent-of-kiwis-support-antimandate-protest

      • Bearded Git 1.1.1
        18 February 2022 at 6:43 am

        The survey shows that the vast majority of the 28% who don't support mandates come from the 18-44 year old group who aren't likely to get very sick from Covid and so don't care.

        Many of these people will also be self-interested business people who have always been against Covid health measures that save lives and whose cafe businesses and bars etc have been adversely affected by mandates, either by losing staff or customers.

        Then add the people who are simply misinformed through the mass of false info circulating and really that 28% are a rabble.

      • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 1.1.2
        18 February 2022 at 7:41 am

        Your disparaging adjective for the police commissioner shows your real opinion. Well, perhaps on this I might agree with you.

        These protestors are going to keep on pushing, pushing until they provoke the sort of reaction that will allow them to scream 'police brutality.' For some, this anti-mandate thing is only an excuse.

        So give to them. Clear the site, of cars, of tents, of people. Arrest them all and remand the ringleaders in custody.

        This will offend some, but I'll bet a bigger number would breathe a sigh of relief.

      • McFlock 1.1.3
        18 February 2022 at 12:31 pm

        60% oppose.

        Probably more in wellington.

        • DS 1.1.3.1
          18 February 2022 at 2:19 pm

          Yep. 60% whose needs are being utterly ignored by both media and police.

          • McFlock 1.1.3.1.1
            18 February 2022 at 3:18 pm

            Don't know where I saw it (might even have been here at TS), but I was struck recently by this Scientific American article that discusses how and why the media in the US seem to be trying to normalise covid now, even though thousands are still dying each day.

            There Is Nothing Normal about One Million People Dead from COVID

            Mass media and policy makers are pushing for a return to pre-COVID times while trying to normalize a staggering death toll

            100,000 dead was an "incalculable loss", while 900,000 dead .. not so much

            • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 1.1.3.1.1.1
              18 February 2022 at 3:58 pm

              I think it was Stalin who said: 'one death, a tragedy, a million deaths a statistic.'

    • georgecom 1.2
      18 February 2022 at 9:10 pm

      I am not interested in hearing much more about the daily goings on with the sit in. I am waiting to hear about either (1) them doing the decent thing and clearing away the obstructions and allowing wellingtonians to go about their daily business reasonably well or (2) an outbreak of omicron clearing a large chunk of the protestors. at that point maybe its optimal for the authorities to remove some of the cars, tents etc and confine it to parliament grounds.

  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2
    18 February 2022 at 7:08 am

    ONE of the "intermediaries" recently interacting with Act leader David Seymour is a Glenn Inwood .

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018830968/ex-whaling-lobbyist-one-of-those-seymour-spoke-to-on-protest

    Not only involved with this but also a "Cetacean Researcher" ! (ie works for the Japanese whaling industry)..and Imperial Tobacco…..promoting , well, we know.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Inwood

  3. observer 3
    18 February 2022 at 8:02 am

    On the poll: it's more useful to go to the original source rather than media commentary on a poll:

    https://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/635/68-support-covi

    64-28 for the mandates.

    Usual caveats about Horizon polls and online methodology apply (cannabis isn't legal, alas).

  4. observer 4
    18 February 2022 at 8:17 am

    Andrew Geddis has a good piece on Pundit (see the links on the right of this thread). Lots of issues discussed there, so I'll highlight just one, which is really where any possible progress has to start:

    The issue of the cars and vans blocking downtown Wellington streets is relatively straightforward, from a legal perspective at least. They are unlawfully parked under the Summary Offences Act and Wellington City Council by-laws. The Police possess the power under the Land Transport Act to order the removal of the vehicles if drivers will not shift them willingly. Any asserted right to keep them where they are as part of wider protest activity is pretty weak; there’s minimal extra expressive value added to your protest by simply putting your car where it stops others from using the road.

    If we can't even get to step one, calls for "dialogue" are pretty meaningless. Mandate removal before car removal? Not going to happen, everyone knows that, so let's stop playing silly buggers.

    https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/i-too-am-not-a-bit-tamed

    • Sabine 4.1
      18 February 2022 at 8:45 am

      Well it seems that they don't care much about the cars or having the cars moved.

      Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose

      I can't wait for the Labour led majority government to start moving on these protesters. National/Act could not have done the damage by themselves, but they can sit by idly and wait for Labour to self destruct into a woke puddle of post modernism and neo liberal bullshit while it desperately tries to appear in control, tough, and well, sprinklers on all night Nek Minit He Tangata rigging up a drainage system because after all they are not an empty overweight well fed, well watered, well past their use by date politician, but workers who can improvise, innovate and get shit done.

      But this is the left of our brave new times. Full of education, yet they have learned so little and understood even less.

      “Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” Rosa Luxemburg.

      • Robert Guyton 4.1.1
        18 February 2022 at 9:24 am

        "I can't wait for the Labour led majority government to start moving on these protesters. "

        You're not a supporters of the protesters then, Sabine?

        Surely such a move would end in harm to many concerned.

      • weka 4.1.2
        18 February 2022 at 9:57 am

        and the abuse of people on the street and in shops?

        • Sabine 4.1.2.1
          18 February 2022 at 5:01 pm

          Honestly, they could have done something in the beginning, but then could not be bothered, and now they are running out of options. And for what its worth, this is the Labour Party run majority government, it is their Mandate this is their idiocy from beginning to the end.

          And until they grow some brain and gain some common sense, this will end badly and it will be on Labour. In the same sense as i would say exactly the same if it were National.

          So yeah, i am looking forward to this useless government in making this mess even messier. Because they will.

          But continue as you were.

        • Sabine 4.1.2.2
          18 February 2022 at 5:14 pm

          yes, that, won't no one think of the workers that try to work during Red setting. Lol. Lol. Lol.

          In the parlance of the left, if these business can not get through a little protest are they even valid and should they not just be left to die? Oh, not these businesses? They can petition the government for a hand out, like a resurgence pay or a wage subsidy, surely dear Grant has some petty cash for the inconvenienced dears.

          Frankly Weka, no one gives a shit.

          NO more then these clowns gave when they occupied the lawns under John Keys reign

          like from the start in October https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/5817450/Welcome-to-Occupy-Wellington

          (Kimberley Rothwell09:45, Oct 20 2011)

          to will stay on

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6163944/Occupy-Wellington-will-stay-on

          (Lane Nichols05:00, Dec 20 2011)

          to the 'eviction' in 2012

          https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/evictions-occupy-site-capital

          (Tuesday, 31 January 2012)

          seriously someone need to pass the smelling salts because the dears of the left come across as something that is falling apart at the seems.

          but then, its Labour so it can't be wrong, either morally or ethically, even so it is. And even worse, N and A are relishing the though of labour doing their bidding. Never mind.

      • DS 4.1.3
        18 February 2022 at 2:22 pm

        Workers, my arse. Let's call fascists what they are, please.

        • Rosemary McDonald 4.1.3.1
          18 February 2022 at 5:24 pm

          How do you define fascist?

          1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.

          (Wikipedia)

          Go on…take the test.

          https://www.idrlabs.com/fascism/test.php

    • Barfly 4.2
      18 February 2022 at 8:50 am

      It's been decades since I thought the NZ military should have the big shiny stuff – but daydreams of some of the Leopard 2's the German have stored (1000s x cold war) for sale at US$1million each great umm road "clearing" vehicles /cough

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_2

      No I am not inciting or suggesting violence it's just an amusing mental picture of a 60 tank going on jaunt over a pile of parked cars.

      • McFlock 4.2.1
        18 February 2022 at 12:36 pm

        Gotta be careful with tanks on wellington streets – they weigh like 40-60 tonnes, and the sewer lines under the streets won't take it…

  5. Peter 5
    18 February 2022 at 8:59 am

    I think the Parliamentary lawn is a bit wet and needs drying out. Sometimes when a quick-fix drying operation is needed on a cricket field, a helicopter is brought in to hover low over the area. The noise might disturb the many workers in the environs of Parliament so waiting until most have gone home, say 1:00 am, to starting a drying operation would be considerate.

  6. Clive Macann 6
    18 February 2022 at 9:21 am

    The real ringleaders are not even there.

    They are controlling (funny word) things from a distance.

    • Peter 7.1
      18 February 2022 at 9:53 am

      Maybe SC2159 has a disability and just forgot to display their permit. Actually it's clear, they do have a disability.

      • mpledger 7.1.1
        18 February 2022 at 1:34 pm

        Out of interest, how can you tell?

        • Peter 7.1.1.1
          18 February 2022 at 2:00 pm

          How can I tell what? That they have a disability? That they don't?

          The car next door has a permit displayed in the accepted, suggested place. The van doesn't have one that's obvious. That the person by their presence has a disability?

          Is it fair for me to get into that level of conjecture and rhetoric as it is for those who have Ardern 'killing our children' and suggesting harm to politicians and media?

  8. Robert Guyton 8
    18 February 2022 at 9:40 am

    If you really want to feel the frustration, listen to the interview with the political panel, featuring Neale Jones, that Chris Trotter has posted (after reading Chris' lead-in).

    Indicative.

    https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2022/02/jones-won-ryan-morten-nil.html

    • Anker 8.1
      18 February 2022 at 2:12 pm

      Funny Robert Bomber Bradbury posted this interview which I listened too saying Neale Jones was burned.

      Nothing like a range of opinions

  9. Rosemary McDonald 9
    18 February 2022 at 11:45 am

    The usual 5 am dump update on Stuff this morning delivered a couple of shocks.

    Chief Whole Truther Keith Lynch asks a bombshell question…

    Are NZ's vaccine mandates justified in the age of Omicron? ….and goes on to opine that…the vaccines now offer limited protection against symptomatic illness. So we do need to ask, are vaccine mandates still justified?

    Oh my, my my…was that clunkety-clunk a wheel coming loose on the Whole Truth trolley?

    Lynch of course reassures his fans that he has not turned to the dark side and proceeds to do a bit of pachyderm wrangling…

    Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way first. The Wellington protests are a mess. As many have now written, they are riddled with incoherent messaging and bizarre contradictions (‘this is a peaceful protest, but we want to execute people’).

    That said, hopefully it’s still possible to have a grown-up discussion about whether vaccine mandates are justified,

    What has brought about this sudden change of tack Keith???

    …while at the same time accepting that the vaccines are safe and excellent at protecting against the most severe Covid outcomes, the public should not be abused for going about their business, and that politicians and journalists should not be hanged.

    Oh dear…back to his old ways. He provides zero actual evidence to support the "vaccines are safe" and he's contradicted himself from his earlier assertion that the vaccines do little to protect from symptomatic illness…(the embedded link he provides above is a UK Govt publication…one we should have been taking note of before we ramped up the latest Pfizer product push and dug our toes in over unjustified vaccine mandates.)

    No matter. Methinks the mainstream media here and worldwide might just be having a moment of reflection. Perhaps they should have done a little less of the unquestioning government fear porn amplification and done a little more actual investigative journalism…you know, asking respectful questions of a variety of scientists and academics instead of deriding anyone with a different opinion.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/explained/127791413/covid19-are-nzs-vaccine-mandates-justified-in-the-age-of-omicron

    And briefly…the other incendiary hurled by a Stuff staffer this am was this

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300519328/covid19-is-it-dangerous-to-exercise-after-your-vaccine-booster

    Seems like some vaccinators have slid down the Precautionary Principle rabbit hole and have been advising young men to avoid strenuous exercise after having their booster. Shame on them I say! This is not official MOH NZ advice and off course they are the experts….

    Official advice to limit post-jab exercise has only so far been given in Singapore, with the city state’s health ministry advising “young adolescents and younger persons” to avoid exercise for two weeks after vaccination in September 2021.

    • Nic the NZer 9.1
      18 February 2022 at 1:04 pm

      Well this started off promisingly, but then failed to discuss the self assigned, if mandates are justified or not, question. In future I suggest you assign yourself the question, should medsafe have approved the vaccine?

    • Psycho Milt 9.2
      18 February 2022 at 6:21 pm

      All vaccines offer "limited" protection against "symptomatic illness." They're not magic spells.

    • georgecom 9.3
      18 February 2022 at 9:22 pm

      the short answer Rosemary, the vaccines have been effective and safe, they have been useful and made a difference globally, even the least effective ones like Sinovac have been useful and helpful. As for mandates once we have cleared the Omicron wave then yes it can be re-evaluated. by then the unvaccinated will have recovered or died so they will get some degree of immunity should they survive

    • satty 10.1
      18 February 2022 at 1:40 pm

      If you're anti-science, you eventually want to close down all those heretic institutions like universities.

        • Anker 10.1.1.1
          18 February 2022 at 2:10 pm

          Poisson, this is embarrasing for NZ.

          Along time ago I had the good fortune to study at a university with a recently returned ex pat. I remember him telling me that he thought NZders don't like science. A generalization of course, but I think he was onto something.

          And somewhat ironic that the crowd at Parliament are being shot down by the anti science beliefs…………….

          Strange world we live in people

        • Molly 10.1.1.2
          18 February 2022 at 6:04 pm

          As mentioned a few days ago, I think this is an overreach of a well intentioned but badly implemented mātauranga Māori curriculum inclusivity movement.

          Julie Rowland in the original article rightly describes the conflict – and then dismisses it:

          Science is a rational pursuit of knowledge, but it does not exist in splendid isolation. If this is painted as the ‘ideal’ science, then it is incomplete. People do science, and people and their culture/s are inseparable.

          In Aotearoa/New Zealand our nation’s origins lie with the Treaty of Waitangi. The Treaty is a formal agreement with the third article guaranteeing Māori equal rights and privileges. That means access to education within a system that seeks to fulfil the potential of every individual.

          I suspect the heart of the issue is the notion that education should be secular and devoid of any form of spirituality. Proponents of this view would say a karakia (sometimes interpreted as a prayer) to open or close an event, or before guests eat afternoon tea, has no place in education. But in the context of Māori practices and values, and bringing Treaty articles to life, this makes perfect sense. And is absolutely integral.

          (The conflation of karakias (which are often secular acknowledgements of purpose, attendees and spoken hopes of successful outcomes) with required spirituality is a logic error.)

          Jerry Croynes critique is justified.

  11. swordfish 11
    18 February 2022 at 1:48 pm

    .

    What this protest desperately needs is some profoundly self-indulgent, middle-class Street Theatre. Would've entirely transformed the Establishment Woke's view of things:

    • Ad 11.1
      18 February 2022 at 3:56 pm

      We don't have enough street theatre you old grump.

    • Psycho Milt 11.2
      18 February 2022 at 6:28 pm

      For me, this is one of the few upsides of a protest driven by rural conservatives – guaranteed no street theatre.

      • McFlock 11.2.1
        18 February 2022 at 6:34 pm

        on the flipside, the worry is that this means they're serious.

        But yes, two things I generally disliked about student protests – the noise, and the street theatre. Protesting with a hangover was indeed the ultimate sacrifice 🙂

  12. Anker 12
    18 February 2022 at 2:10 pm

    Where is this Swordfish?

    • swordfish 12.1
      18 February 2022 at 4:23 pm

      I think it was probably Extinction Rebellion in London a year or two back.

      Absolutely brutal stuff. A cadre of activists with little if any discernable acting talent & what appear to be relatively severe personality disorders suddenly started fiercely competing with each other to be the centre of attention. They had a captive audience & they were determined to make them suffer.

      Street Theatre really needs to be outlawed for the wider good. The ostentatious performative narcissism of the self-indulgent children of the Establishment can have profound implications for the emotional wellbeing of ordinary members of the public.

      PSTSD = Post-Street Theatre Stress Disorder.

      Marcel Marceau has so much to answer for.

      • Anker 12.1.1
        18 February 2022 at 8:37 pm

        I have to fess up Swordfish in my long lost youth I had a passing involvement in this sort of stuff!

        I am still struggling to come to terms with this abomination of my youth. And I only hope that anyone who had this misfortunate to have our "art" inflicted on them has got some serious help.

        • swordfish 12.1.1.1
          18 February 2022 at 10:40 pm

          LOL … now I feel thoroughly ashamed of myself, Anker.

          To the extent that I may even be forced to revise my inclination to see unrepentant Street Theatre recidivists end up in this sort of scenario:

  13. DS 13
    18 February 2022 at 2:27 pm

    There needs to be a full inquiry into the Police's handling of this protest. It is abundantly clear that they have breached their responsibilities to the public.

    • Black Cat Strikes 13.1
      18 February 2022 at 10:32 pm

      I'd say the police leadership has even failed frontline police. I wonder what rumblings are going on in police stations at the moment?

  14. Anker 14
    18 February 2022 at 2:28 pm

    The situation is deadly serious. No easy options.

    Even the highly paid upper eschions of the security committee haven't got a plan that we know of at this stage. Oh except Trevor backtracking and in a somewhat condescending way say they would talk to the protesters if they behave themselves.

    But I think I should self censor myself on my negative comments about Trevor because negative comments about the all the folks involved , protesters, politicians, police in this aren't going to help.

    The protesters aren't going to go anywhere anytime soon. I saw a picture of yoga classes and apparently they have planted a herb garden……………They have more than settled into their new homes.

    It is deadly serious though. I keep reminding myself of this. And I stick to my original thoughts that the Govt should respectfully engage with these people. Perhaps even apologise for turning the sprinklers on them. That would be building of some good will that is sadly lacking on both sides.

    I don't doubt that there are people in the protest who support some very bad ideologies. Who say hateful things. Painting all the people in this demo as having these abhorant views won't help.

    A possible outcome and a likely outcome is that covid starts to spread amongst the protesers. And some get very sick and go to hospital and don't survive it. It may be at this point some of these people change their minds about the vaccines as we have heard happening overseas.

    And meanwhile I keep thinking why not offer the police, the nurses, the teachers who didn't want the vaccines re deployment………………

  15. Cricklewood 15
    18 February 2022 at 4:03 pm

    Wow Coster's just folded faster than an origami expert. It's the right call imo
    but an embarrassing back down.

    Balls firmly in the Politicians court now.

  16. Adrian 16
    18 February 2022 at 4:12 pm

    Things dont make sense, there are too many people at the protest who claim they are Farm Managers, long distance truck drivers, vaccinated nurses or teachers, the list goes on. Bullshit I say. Most appear to be unemployed or unemployable, some with personality and mental issues that very few businesses would have anywhere near other workers.

    I voted for the legalisation of cannabis mainly to get it out of the hands of the gangs and to prevent younger people having criminal convictions for a bit of possesion. My main problem with cannabis is what happened to 3 good friends of mine who were or went on to be long term users, all uni graduates when not a lot of us got to Uni, they all developed quite severe paranoid psychosis , losing all friends and expressing similar ideas on chem trails, razor blades in milk etc etc to those of the current lot.

    This current cohort are not the most robust of the species either, 4 or is it five cardiac events in a week? Amongst at best 500 people, thats 55,000 in the NZ population a year. Fuck me, they are sick. It must be Costers tactic, just wait a few months until they all die!

  17. McFlock 17
    18 February 2022 at 4:12 pm

    One news reporter says "the protest leadership" are apologising for the >week of abuse and threats so far – apparently they were completely unaware such things were going on. 🙄

    Reminds me of my pub days – drunk guys trying to get in would, nine times out of ten, call me a c*** for a few minutes and only then move to "c'mon, mate, do me a favour". The tenth time they'd usually just call me a c***. Almost never started off matey then went to verbal abuse. Usually made me laugh.

  18. Robert Guyton 18
    18 February 2022 at 4:27 pm

    The Jackalman (quite rightly) says:

    "What the numerous groups listed in Toby Manhire’s excellent article fail to comprehend is that New Zealand simply wouldn’t accept the overthrow of the Labour Government in this way. Disinformation campaigns might work to encourage the deluded, but using unjustified causes to try and get the people to storm Parliament en masse and install a regime of ragtag idiots simply won’t work. In fact it will likely illicit sympathy for Jacinda Ardern, who's been the main target for what is obviously misguided anger."

    https://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2022/02/parliament-protest-has-dubious-backers.html

  19. McFlock 19
    18 February 2022 at 4:57 pm

    Sort of belongs in the "100 things we've lost" post, but more applicable here:

    I've lost my ability to make some comments.

    I know some folks will be going "seriously? Doesn't look like it". But no, it's true. The problem is that I read some comments that are basically separated from today's reality, and the only words I have to express my response would get me banned.

    I fully support Adrian's sentiments here, but honestly it doesn't nearly go far enough to express my contempt for the selfish, ignorant, protestors and their apparent supporters online.

    The protest the worst cocktail of US2020 bullshit, and it will kill people. It's empowering the worst dregs of society while encouraging the spread of disease when we need to flatten the fucking curve. It's the essence of "fuck you, I don't care if my actions kill you" coupled with a healthy dose of murderous shitheels. It's the privilege of people with horse floats and campervans assaulting people just trying to get to work without catching anything off these fuckwits.

    None of this comes close to my contempt for people who think street theatre from students protesting fees is anywhere close to this lot – the difference is that people know this lot have elements that really want to lynch people.

    Then there are the ********* who seem to think "pre-existing condition" somehow means we shouldn't try so hard to stop folks dying. That's the only relevance I can think of for someone to bring it up, and nobody's provided a different relevance. Yes, I've asked.

    I do actually have the words to describe the protestors and their apologists. But even if they didn't get an immediate ban from the mods, the censor's office might have an issue with it. Fair enough, too. Any comment that comes close to my sentiment would probably constitute many paragraphs, and having an ending something along the lines of "with a large turnip". But not in a funny way.

    • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 19.1
      18 February 2022 at 8:08 pm

      yes

      I've limited my comments too McFlock. I get no pleasure pushing shit uphill. Some of the commentators on here are so profoundly deluded that any, any rational argument with them is just impossible.

    • Patricia Bremner 19.2
      18 February 2022 at 9:09 pm

      devil Yes. McFlock

  20. barry 20
    18 February 2022 at 5:03 pm

    Paying for parking has become a political act.

  21. Adrian 21
    18 February 2022 at 6:43 pm

    You are right McFlock, but I've thought about Costers Dilemma, he almost certainly has everybody’s CV that’s in the Pigpen, the violent extremists, the ones with the long criminal violence records, the serial liars, the mentally unstable and the ones with long term drug and alcohol problems, and the ones thrusting their babies in cops faces! WTF. What a mix, and everyone about to react to a clearance in the most unpredictable way. Until a few hours ago I thought he was not up to the job but now I sympathise with the poor bugger. But surely, a bit of arsekicking and sending on their way for anyone looking to join the melee, they are not protesters, if they were they would be in there already, they are going for shits and giggles, of which the former is most certainly guaranteed, that is what is called for, then a full shut down and lock-in, you want out, you don’t get back in.

    • McFlock 21.1
      18 February 2022 at 6:48 pm

      Frankly, the longer it goes on the more bold the nutters will get, and the worse the most likely resolution will be.

      Unless the cops pull some magic out of a hat.

      • Shanreagh 21.1.1
        18 February 2022 at 11:17 pm

        I'm glad you used the word 'nutters' McFlock. I rarely call anyone anything derogatory and always bend over backwards to see and consider other viewpoints.

        The one time recently that I used the word 'nutters' in connection with the protestors it seemed to shock my friend that I would use it. But that is what I think they are.

  22. Adrian 22
    18 February 2022 at 6:50 pm

    I got something wrong in a previous post. I calculated that given the 4 or 5 cardiac events in the last week or so among the Pigpen cohort it equates to about 55,000 NZ cases a year. I was very wrong , it should have read 55k a WEEK! In 2014 around 14,200 unfortunates were hospitalised with IHD.

    My word they are a sickly lot.

  23. Anker 23
    18 February 2022 at 8:38 pm

    I have to fess up Swordfish in my long lost youth I had a passing involvement in this sort of stuff!

    I am still struggling to come to terms with this abomination of my youth. And I only hope that anyone who had this misfortunate to have our "art" inflicted on them has got some serious help.

  24. Black Cat Strikes 24
    18 February 2022 at 10:30 pm

    I'm tired of the protest apologists we've been hearing in the media. Striking a balance isn't giving the protesters the mic, it's telling them to stay home until they get vaccinated – like the rest of us have done.

  25. Shanreagh 25
    18 February 2022 at 11:23 pm

    Some of the protesters say they have lost jobs because private firms have imposed requirements for vaccinations. Many firms already have security checks, police checks and some have random drug testing. For a front facing job, even when the current pandemic is over, I think employers may think it is still desirable to have their employees vaccinated. So when advertising for vacancies they may have it as a prerequisite.

    I think society has moved on this.