James Shaw Assaulted

Written By: - Date published: 11:34 am, March 14th, 2019 - 188 comments
Categories: crime, greens, james shaw - Tags: , ,

Media reports are coming through that Greens co-leader James Shaw has been hospitalised following an unprovoked attack near Parliament. A 47 year old man has been arrested.

From the Herald:

The Greens have requested has requested (sic) compassionate leave from the House today from the Speaker.

A spokesman for the Green Party said Shaw was punched in the face and suffered a black eye in the attack.

Shaw, who was walking to work from his Kelburn home, was attacked by the man who stepped out.

Luckily, two passersby stepped in after the attack. He continued on to work and attended a meeting before going (sic)

The spokesman said he then went to hospital for an assessment given he had received a blow to the head.

UPDATE: There is some confusion over the nature of the attack. The attacker apparently knew who James Shaw was, calling him by name, which suggests a political link. However, a spokesperson for Shaw said the attacker’s words during the assault didn’t appear to relate to Shaw’s political work.

Green MP Marama Davidson says Shaw is “shaken” and that “There is nothing at this stage that indicates that this attack had anything to do with his political work.”

 

 

188 comments on “James Shaw Assaulted ”

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  1. Sam 1
    14 March 2019 at 11:37 am

    Least it was hands and not a dildo.

    • Infused 1.1
      14 March 2019 at 12:05 pm

      I’d prefer the dildo to a smack in the face with a black eye

      • Sam 1.1.1
        14 March 2019 at 12:16 pm

        Actually being punched and kicked is the best position to be in because you can just turn and run. Who wants to be dragged into some randoms attack anyway because some guy is bored or something.

      • Cinny 1.1.2
        14 March 2019 at 1:20 pm

        I’d prefer the dildo because one could have fun with the dildo later 🙂 Ok that was a bit cheeky, but I couldn’t help it, dildos aren’t cheap lololololz.

        Thinking of you James, and after all that happened he put the kids first rather than himself, by attending their climate change meeting then going to hospital

        Much respect to you James, sending healing energy your way.

    • Peter 1.2
      14 March 2019 at 1:45 pm

      Picking a big dick up and throwing it is no mean feat. How much does Simon weigh?

      • Sam 1.2.1
        14 March 2019 at 1:50 pm

        Not as much as Gerry Brownly that’s for sure.

        • Robert Guyton 1.2.1.1
          14 March 2019 at 4:53 pm

          The name, “Gerry Brownlee” has come up more than once…where was Gerry on the morning in question???

          • Sam 1.2.1.1.1
            14 March 2019 at 5:02 pm

            I’m going to be real mean and take a wild guess and say he was in the parliamentary cafe making good on his breakfast voucher.

            • whispering kate 1.2.1.1.1.1
              15 March 2019 at 2:04 pm

              If Weka was still on this site she/he would be ticking you off for fat shaming.

              • Sam …
                15 March 2019 at 2:20 pm

                Well one thing I can say for sure is Gerry would only go into the parliamentary gym for photo ops which is equally likely to render results.

        • Cinny 1.2.1.2
          14 March 2019 at 6:06 pm

          ROFL you fellas crack me up 🙂

  2. Anne 2
    14 March 2019 at 11:41 am

    Repeat of comment left on OM;

    James Shaw attended a meeting with school children who are organising the Climate Change march tomorrow. Both he and Jacinda Ardern spoke at the meeting and were supportive of their action. It was reported on by all media outlets.

    Can’t say anything for certain of course, but it would not surprise me if the attack was related in some way.

    • Stunned Mullet 2.1
      14 March 2019 at 11:43 am

      Could just be a random nut …

      • Anne 2.1.1
        14 March 2019 at 11:45 am

        A random decision to make the attack yes. But according to a spokesman for James Shaw the man knew who he was.

        • bwaghorn 2.1.1.1
          14 March 2019 at 3:40 pm

          Probably some muppet who listens to mark richardson and thinks he is a straight up dude . After bile he poured on the greens this am.

      • Adrian 2.1.2
        14 March 2019 at 12:50 pm

        Dressed in blue or yellow ? Probably yellow.

        • Jum 2.1.2.1
          14 March 2019 at 7:01 pm

          stop picking on yellow. I’ve reclaimed that from the douglas incompetents. Yellow is illuminating and intellectual. Act is neither.

      • mauī 2.1.3
        14 March 2019 at 12:56 pm

        Yeah.. randomly managed to pick out the Green leader during rush hour.. what a coincidence….

        • JohnSelway 2.1.3.1
          14 March 2019 at 1:45 pm

          Random attacks do happen. Can’t see any reason to suspect it was politically motivated at this stage

          • te reo putake 2.1.3.1.1
            14 March 2019 at 1:59 pm

            The Greens are saying he knew who Shaw was and said things to Shaw before hitting him. I say ‘said’, but I suspect he may not have been using his indoor voice.

            Edit: MP Marama Davidson is saying the things the man said were apparently not related to Shaw’s political work.

            • JohnSelway 2.1.3.1.1.1
              14 March 2019 at 2:17 pm

              Possibly then some random nutbar. It’s happened to me before to be honest. Though I was hit in the chest by some angry drunk in Cuba Street for no real reason

              • ken …
                14 March 2019 at 5:42 pm

                The RWNJ called out Shaw’s name before attacking him.

                • Cinny …
                  14 March 2019 at 6:12 pm

                  Apparently he was yelling about the UN.

                  Who was winding people up about the UN on twitter etc….national.

                  https://twitter.com/simonjbridges/status/1071246770062020613

                  • Muttonbird …
                    14 March 2019 at 8:53 pm

                    +1. The National Party needs to take a long hard look at itself the way they are whipping up anti-government hysteria and promoting division.

                    John Key led them down this path and look where we are now.

                    • Saintarnuad …
                      18 March 2019 at 7:42 am

                      And what, the Greens or Labour never do anything.

                      They are the very organisations that promote civil disobedience and protest movements.

                      Maybe the Govenment shouldn’t be signing the nation up to more far left UN manefesto without first checking what uncontrolled immigration has done to Europe lately.

      • Stuart Munro. 2.1.4
        14 March 2019 at 6:33 pm

        I think if we add up random physical attacks on NZ MPs we’ll find them not so frequent as to support a presumption of randomness in this instance. Some munter, no doubt, persuaded by the incessant and dubious rhetoric of hate bloggers or the Herald. No doubt the police will find him – if they remember to look.

  3. Dennis Frank 3
    14 March 2019 at 11:51 am

    “Police said a 47-year-old man has been arrested in relation to an assault on Glenmore Street this morning.” https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/384689/green-party-co-leader-james-shaw-attacked-while-walking-to-work

    Surprising that they got the guy so fast eh? Excellent policing. I hope we get an explanation of his motive soon…

  4. Siobhan 4
    14 March 2019 at 12:26 pm

    The biggest tragedy of the nutters that do this sort of thing is they always take the wrong people out.

    On a more compassionate note…this isn’t some sort of “attack on Democracy”..its a story of Stress and Mental Distress. A not uncommon condition in a Society gone wrong.

    • Steve Wrathall 4.1
      14 March 2019 at 12:31 pm

      the “wrong” people? So please tell us who you think the “right” people would be to receive this sort of treatment.

      • greywarshark 4.1.1
        14 March 2019 at 12:48 pm

        People who can respond within 5 minutes to something they can be outraged about.

        • solkta 4.1.1.1
          14 March 2019 at 1:02 pm

          You think Steve deserves a punch in the head? Really?

          • greywarshark 4.1.1.1.1
            14 March 2019 at 1:49 pm

            Possibly Steve would learn so much from the event that he wouldn’t ask similar questions solkta, and nor would you.

            • solkta 4.1.1.1.1.1
              14 March 2019 at 2:00 pm

              So you think i deserve a punch in the head too? Wow, what an arse.

              • greywarshark …
                14 March 2019 at 4:21 pm

                You wanted to know, so I told you. Just an excuse for outrage as i said before. Feel superior now?

                • OnceWasTim …
                  14 March 2019 at 4:56 pm

                  Wrong approach @ grey!
                  You should have offered a glass of Chardonnay, or perhaps a craft beer.

                  (I’ll now return to my shell and just watch and refrain from comment for a few more days)

                  Oh, but also speculate speculate speculate cudda shudda wudda

          • Muttonbird 4.1.1.1.2
            14 March 2019 at 8:54 pm

            Have you read his Twitter?

      • patricia bremner 4.1.2
        14 March 2019 at 1:47 pm

        Possibly she meant what came to mind. ” Yes, they hardly ever punch another rotter”.

      • McFlock 4.1.3
        14 March 2019 at 3:09 pm

        Nazis.

    • Sacha 4.2
      14 March 2019 at 12:50 pm

      “its a story of Stress and Mental Distress.”

      How do we know this?

      • Siobhan 4.2.1
        14 March 2019 at 1:02 pm

        Because hitting people over the head first thing in the morning is not ‘normal’. Its just not the sort of thing people who are having happy lives do.

        • Peter 4.2.1.1
          14 March 2019 at 1:51 pm

          In a sane world a lot of the reactions to there being a coalition Government not involving National would be ‘normal.”

          The process of forming the Government wasn’t normal. The response and the ongoing fury and upset about that means getting used to a new normal of opposition. Having your divine right to rule taken from you does strange things to some people.

          • SPC 4.2.1.1.1
            14 March 2019 at 2:46 pm

            The old, we should be afraid of no friends National if their right to rule is taken from them (based on the obedient wife who knows her place, is then safe when at home conservative tradition).

        • Steve Wrathall 4.2.1.2
          14 March 2019 at 3:41 pm

          So now it’s not only the “right” people who should be hit over the head, but at certain acceptable times of the day/night.

          • McFlock 4.2.1.2.1
            14 March 2019 at 3:50 pm

            So now you’re confusing “normal” with “acceptable”.

            Siobhan’s right, most public thumpies happen when people are drunk at night. That’s why we had overlapping security shifts wed-saturday nights, back in the day.

            It was only the real weirdos who were violent in the morning light.

    • marty mars 4.3
      14 March 2019 at 12:55 pm

      Not sure the story is actually out yet.

  5. BM 5
    14 March 2019 at 12:38 pm

    My guess is some anti 1080 nut bar.

    • AB 5.1
      14 March 2019 at 2:30 pm

      My guess is that he was wearing ripped jeans and tried to make a getaway in a Ferrari. Guessing is fun but none of us has a clue.

    • bwaghorn 5.2
      14 March 2019 at 3:45 pm

      Probably and I bet if one knew how they could link the recent upsurge in anti 1080 and department of conservation to people of a right wing persuasion.
      Its seems to much of coincidence that it’s gotten alot uglier since the change of government.

    • Muttonbird 5.3
      14 March 2019 at 8:45 pm

      Nope. Just a regular Kiwiblogger not on his meds.

  6. James 6
    14 March 2019 at 12:52 pm

    Terrible thing to happen – glad they have caught the guy and hope he gets everything the court can hit him with.

    • In Vino 6.1
      14 March 2019 at 3:53 pm

      “…everything the court can hit him with.”
      That is a very nasty, violent metaphor, James, and I find it offensive. There are many victims of violence in our society who will feel the same.
      I hope that in future you will moderate the violence of your metaphors and set a more appropriate tone of language.

      • Robert Guyton 6.1.1
        14 March 2019 at 4:45 pm

        Justice, blindfolded and bearing scales with which to measure.The courts won’t “hit” with everything the can, they’ll employ Justice’s powers of decision and judgement, I hope.
        That said, I appreciate James’ support for the victim, coincidentally named “James” in this case. Very kind of you, James.

      • James 6.1.2
        14 March 2019 at 6:56 pm

        Of all the things to find offensive at. Lol.

        I was being genuine in my thoughts and meant absolutely nothing nasty in my comments.

        Stop being such a snowflake and looking for offence everywhere.

        • In Vino 6.1.2.1
          14 March 2019 at 7:46 pm

          Congrats, James. You too missed the irony. I was aping you.
          For all the times you have pretended offence at anything you could find…
          Robert Guyton has often critiqued you and your ‘sensitivity’ whereby you deliberately repeat what you are pretending to be offended by…
          You are such a boring, incompetent troll.

        • Muttonbird 6.1.2.2
          14 March 2019 at 8:48 pm

          I was being genuine in my thoughts.

          There’s always a first time, I guess.

  7. McFlock 7
    14 March 2019 at 1:01 pm

    Glad Shaw’s ok.
    Good on the bystanders for stepping in, too.

  8. mauī 8
    14 March 2019 at 1:04 pm

    The leader of one of our main parties probably shouldn’t be walking to work by himself. I know we have this lax attitude to security in New Zealand and that everything is safe as houses, but seriously you can’t pretend you’re just a regular citizen in that position.

    Also the media should take some credit for this attack as they constantly harangue the Greens and promote baby boomer like outraged opinions towards them.

    • BM 8.1
      14 March 2019 at 1:11 pm

      The youngest baby boomer is 55.
      This guy was 47.

      • Liberal Realist 8.1.1
        14 March 2019 at 7:38 pm

        I think you missed the ‘like’…

        Also the media should take some credit for this attack as they constantly harangue the Greens and promote baby boomer like outraged opinions towards them.

    • Siobhan 8.2
      14 March 2019 at 1:18 pm

      ‘but seriously you can’t pretend you’re just a regular citizen in that position.

      How many Politicians have been attacked in the street while minding their own business in the last 50 years?

      How many ordinary citizens have been attacked in the street while minding their own business in the last 50 years?

      How many Doctors, Nurses, Ambo drivers, teachers, Firemen, Roadcrew..have been attacked in the last 50 years while going about their business?

      Lets not overreact.

      Our Politicians are pretty darned safe.

      • mauī 8.2.1
        14 March 2019 at 1:51 pm

        Like it or not he’s a very high profile figure, and is a figurehead of a much maligned group. I think very few in a similar situation would put themselves in the same position as Shaw was this morning.

        • marty mars 8.2.1.1
          14 March 2019 at 2:13 pm

          wtf too much rt mate – shit can go down here but over reaction causes even more issues.

          • mauī 8.2.1.1.1
            14 March 2019 at 5:11 pm

            Know of any other celebrities who walk themselves to work without a second thought? How would walking with a minder fundamentally change things?

            • marty mars 8.2.1.1.1.1
              14 March 2019 at 5:47 pm

              Lol your reveals are awesome – he’s not a celebrity he’s a politician. You can’t mitigate much the risks that people bring especially if a person is angry and determined without creating massive problems – and bodyguards can be issues as Indira Gandhi found out.

              https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Indira_Gandhi

              • mauī …
                14 March 2019 at 6:27 pm

                He probably receives more media coverage than most NZ celebrities, and is sharing ideas and beliefs that not everyone agrees with. The comparison to celebs is relevant.

                So what’s the point of security at all if you think an inside job is more of a threat. Geez.

                • marty mars …
                  14 March 2019 at 6:45 pm

                  We are talking about walking to work. The example was to show security is not flawless no matter who you are or how many bodies around you there to protect you.

                  I’d prefer we keep it on the down low and let politicians NOT be celebrities but just people who do a job.

            • alwyn 8.2.1.1.1.2
              14 March 2019 at 6:15 pm

              John Key did actually, at least in his early years as PM. I don’t know whether he had to change his habits.
              Probably a bit early in the morning for anyone who wanted to have a go at him. In Wellington he started very early in the day.
              How is it that it is always left wing MPs who get attacked?
              Nobody ever had a go at Don Brash, Tau Henare, John Key, Pita Sharples, Nick Smith or Stephen Joyce did they?

    • McFlock 8.3
      14 March 2019 at 3:12 pm

      Nah, then you end up with entourages and security details parking on bus stops and suchlike.

      At the moment I think that the biggest historical predisposition for assaulting MPs is to be MP oneself.

    • Liberal Realist 8.4
      14 March 2019 at 7:52 pm

      Personally I think it’s great that our politicians including party leaders can walk to work without a security detail, or generally get about just like the people they represent. Sure, vigilance is required if you have a public profile…

      From my perspective, this sort of behaviour is representative of kiwi culture in that there is a view from some sectors of society that violence is an acceptable form of protest or as a means to right a perceived wrong.

      I’m glad Mr Shaw is okay, no one deserves to be on the receiving end of an unprovoked attack such as this. As for the attacker, if mental health is or was the catalyst I hope they get the help they need. If they’re of sound mind, then let the courts do their work. Hopefully education (ie one punch can kill), and restorative justice is a component of the sentence.

    • Saintarnuad 8.5
      18 March 2019 at 7:54 am

      Oh please….he put himself up for public office and would be very aware his political views are shared by the minority 6% of the population….left wing extremists, enviro-terrorist, and assorted lone wolf fringe dwellers, and a majority who post on this forum.

      He has availability to security at great taxpayer expense if he so desires, so how is this really an issue. I can’t imagine such a fuss if it was Simon Bridges who was assaulted.

  9. Gabby 9
    14 March 2019 at 1:40 pm

    How old’s that ‘pretty communist’ bloke?

  10. esoteric pineapples 10
    14 March 2019 at 1:44 pm

    I was expecting it to be Eugenie Sage, given the amount of social media vitriol she is subjected to from opponents of 1080, DoC conspiracy theorists etc. She definitely needs accompanying security

  11. ankerawshark 11
    14 March 2019 at 2:06 pm

    Even people with stress and mental distress need to be able to manage their anger, unless they are psychotic……

    Nasty experience. I guess they will look into security.

  12. Fisiani 12
    14 March 2019 at 2:15 pm

    Do not ascribe motives till we have more information.

  13. marty mars 13
    14 March 2019 at 2:16 pm

    That update is interesting. So, so good if this was not politically motivated.

  14. Puckish Rogue 14
    14 March 2019 at 2:47 pm

    Sentence the guy to the fullest extent of the law…who’m I kidding the attacker will probably get community service or something

    • Stuart Munro. 14.1
      14 March 2019 at 6:38 pm

      Planting trees will do both him and us more good than sending him down.

      • Puckish Rogue 14.1.1
        15 March 2019 at 6:51 am

        Why not both

        • Stuart Munro. 14.1.1.1
          16 March 2019 at 1:52 am

          Someone dumb enough to swallow the Gnat’s recycled Republican line about the UN agreement which they supported in power might pick up bad habits in jail. Trees are good for people, they mellow them out – Robert ‘s an example.

  15. Anne 15
    14 March 2019 at 2:48 pm

    Green MP Marama Davidson says Shaw is “shaken” and that “There is nothing at this stage that indicates that this attack had anything to do with his political work.”

    The key words from Marama Davidson is “at this stage”.

    In the matter of minutes from the start to the end of the attack, it is unlikely the attacker had time to say much. While there may not have been a direct reference to Shaw’s political work, I’m inclined to think there will be an indirect link to his position as Green co-leader.

  16. Stunned Mullet 16
    14 March 2019 at 2:53 pm

    The benchmark for attacks on parliamentarians was set during the last parliament.

    Dildo’s and mud being thrown, manure poured over peoples head to name a few and the reaction from the authorities was muted at best and from large parts of the public the response was encouraging for this type of behaviour. The reactions from some other members of parliament was even worse, with some finding the behaviour amusing.

    If you tolerate this behaviour and don’t come down hard on it at the beginning we will see more and worse in future.

    • Sam 16.1
      14 March 2019 at 3:07 pm

      A-ha no, no we won’t. We will not be seeing more of this type of behaviour in the future because kiwis are so well fed they can’t even muster enough anger to even look angry. So angry people have to rely on manufactured delusions so they can just fein looking angry.

    • Kat 16.2
      14 March 2019 at 3:19 pm

      Yes the National opposition are most likely doing the mahi for the future introduction of public stocks and business incentives/tax breaks for the supply of rotten eggs and tomatoes.

    • SPC 16.3
      14 March 2019 at 3:24 pm

      The mud thrown at Brash was a decade before the manure at Banks – two parliaments ago in early 2014.

      Each a harbinger of more and worse …

      Sounds a bit like the escalating crisis of illegal immigration into the USA.

      • Stunned Mullet 16.3.1
        14 March 2019 at 3:32 pm

        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12212635

        ‘Beaten, bloodied and bruised: The MPs attacked over the years’

        I had forgotten about many of these incidents.

        • WeTheBleeple 16.3.1.1
          14 March 2019 at 3:40 pm

          Snap, just posted that but you did first. There is a bit of precedence isn’t there.

          What surprised me was how quickly the article was compiled. No byline but good work.

        • SPC 16.3.1.2
          14 March 2019 at 3:54 pm

          It seems like this “illegal immigration” thing has been around a long time, maybe the social media venting is improving the safety of MP’s (given there are more people about and no discernable increase in this violence) – which given our poor servicing of drug addictions, homelessness and poor mental health services is surprising.

  17. Robert Guyton 17
    14 March 2019 at 3:42 pm

    Damien O’Connor commented:
    “I have to give full marks to James, he turned up at cab committee with a black eye and bloody nose so it’s true commitment to the job and I hope he comes right quick.”

  18. Jenny - How to get there? 18
    14 March 2019 at 4:16 pm

    My heart goes out to James Shaw. Any physical assault is shocking.

  19. CHCoff 19
    14 March 2019 at 5:15 pm

    Public apology via the media please, introducing himself by full name first, to the people of New Zealand & his family/relatives, for this extreme breach to the long standing NZ culture of civil life & order, that he now has some understanding himself if he had to give out his own address and work details, & that he apologises unreservedly for this cultural breach to the core values system of the NZ way.

  20. Dennis Frank 20
    14 March 2019 at 6:11 pm

    One News just featured David Parker telling the media the attacker had shouted something about the United Nations. So I suspect he was a climate-change denier.

    Trump has made a thing about the UN using climate-change to advance a global control agenda, eh? Seems to be an alt-right paranoia going back years now. Could be a whale-oil nut too. Use of nick-names on social media sites helps scumbags hide their identity…

  21. Observer Tokoroa 21
    14 March 2019 at 6:27 pm

    Trying to take out James Shaw, is a really serious Thing.

    I am glad James Shaw has survived.

    The Major thing we must do is protect Jacinda Ardern. The muck thrown at her in Parliament and permitted by the Speaker is obviously having an effect on some of the witless trolls of National.

    Hosking hacking into Her; Mark Twisted Richardson vehemently unbelievable; James Nobody; BM and a long list of other soppy followers of Sir John key. Dozens of National drongos and wasters.

    National is giving itself Rabies from the dog Trolls. Simon Bridges who has explained he is not a member of National – even though he also says he is the Leader of the National Party in Parliament – SCREAMS at Jacinda. As does the little ponce Hosking. Not to mention the incomprehensible Hooten.

    We Must Protect her and ban Trolls and National deranged members.

    • James 21.1
      14 March 2019 at 7:00 pm

      “Trying to take out James Shaw, is a really serious Thing.

      I am glad James Shaw has survived.”

      While it is a disgusting thing that happened – let’s not get hysterical – it wasn’t a bloody gun from the grassy knoll.

      • Liberal Realist 21.1.1
        14 March 2019 at 8:03 pm

        Let’s not forget that a single punch can kill.. This attack was perpetrated by a coward.

        How many coward punches have resulted in death, in recent years? Perhaps a little OTT, but not hysterical.

        • Muttonbird 21.1.1.1
          14 March 2019 at 8:36 pm

          Someone capable of this is certainly capable of discharging a firearm under the same motivations.

      • WILD KATIPO 21.1.2
        14 March 2019 at 9:35 pm

        [ ” let’s not get hysterical – it wasn’t a bloody gun from the grassy knoll ” ]

        Aside from current events that IS a fascinating though morbid thing to research…

        ” The head went back ,… and to the left,… the head went back, … and to the left…”

        • McFlock 21.1.2.1
          14 March 2019 at 9:43 pm

          You do realise that movie was largely bullshit, right?

          • WILD KATIPO 21.1.2.1.1
            14 March 2019 at 9:59 pm

            Yes I do , and, the D. A only nailed the peripheral guy – Clay Shaw.

            But the REAL story was the one supplied by JFK’s personal lawyer . In it he names the guys , has the photos of them ( Howard E Hunt was included , yes.).

            Turns out many were right wing Puerto Rican’s trained on the American mainland. Pissed off ones about JFK’s failure to back the Bay of Pigs assault. The evidence is virtually watertight ,.. but for that you would have to read it.

            Up to you if you want to believe in a pristine bullet found on JFK’s stretcher after his assassination, – or Lee Oswald’s poor marine records as a rifleman using an old Carcano rifle with faulty sights shooting through the leaves of an oak tree at a moving target and hitting him three times ( head, neck , torso ) in critical places.

            Or that George Bush Sr didn’t bullshit the authority’s when arrested running down the stairs adjacent to Oswald’s Repository bookstores snipers nest then giving them a bullshit false record of being a travelling oil baron as an alibi… who later became the 11th CIA director – the same CIA who organized the Bay of Pigs landing…

            Feel free.

    • JohnSelway 21.2
      14 March 2019 at 8:06 pm

      I’m calling Poes Law on Observer Tokoroa here

    • WILD KATIPO 21.3
      14 March 2019 at 9:32 pm

      [ ” Simon Bridges who has explained he is not a member of National – even though he also says he is the Leader of the National Party in Parliament ” ]

      L0L0L !!!

      A ‘ Keyism’.

  22. Rrm 22
    14 March 2019 at 7:19 pm

    Let he who has never posted “YES it’s ALWAYS OK to punch a nazi!” memes, cast the first stone…

  23. Jenny - How to get there? 23
    14 March 2019 at 8:10 pm

    The MAGA sickness reaches New Zealand.

    But Shaw told ministerial colleagues the attacker yelled about the United Nations. New Zealand supported a controversial United Nations migration pact which was vociferously attacked. 

    Of course this attack was political.

    The same dark forces that make opportunist political capital out of demonising and inciting anger against immigrants in the US, seem to be what is also behind this nasty physical attack on James Shaw.

    NZ First and the National Party, and even on occasion, the Labour Party, have all mined this vein of xenophobia for political gain, to greater or lesser extent.

    If indeed the motive for this attack was xenophobic. To put an end to it and stop it growing into something even worse, Every leader of every political party in parliament must issue a statement condemning this attack and the xenophobia behind it in the strongest terms.

    If even just one of our parliamentary party leaders refuses to condemn this attack and the xenophobia behind it, And instead chooses to say nothing. Their silence will be seen as condoning these sorts of extremist views. Further inciting others like this man to lash out, and not just against parliamentarians, but also against the immigrant communities that are the targets for this sort of violent hate.

    • WILD KATIPO 23.1
      14 March 2019 at 9:23 pm

      You are drawing at straws.

      First, it may have absolutely nothing to do with xenophobia. Second ,every country has a right to protect its borders and write its own legislation. And regards immigration this country has been far too lax for far too long. What may suit you and your political views may not suit the rest of us.

      What is at issue here is a citizen and representative in our parliament has been assaulted. Quite seriously , it seems , even if it was a glancing bow- which it appears it wasn’t. And what is serious, if this was a person who normally acts rationally ,is that he chose to cross the line and use physical assault. And that’s where the line is drawn.

      It goes beyond freedom of speech and expression into criminal behavior.

      THAT is the issue.

    • Robert Guyton 23.2
      15 March 2019 at 7:59 am

      “If even just one of our parliamentary party leaders refuses to condemn this attack and the xenophobia behind it, And instead chooses to say nothing. Their silence will be seen as condoning these sorts of extremist views. ”
      “BBQ James” Law.

  24. Muttonbird 24
    14 March 2019 at 8:41 pm

    On Larry Williams’ show, Jordan Williams of the Tax Dodger’s Union tried to pin it on the left. Du Plessis-Allan tore strips off him until Larry had to step in and protect Jordan.

    It was quite a laugh to hear the host shut down the conversation because his guy was losing.

    Actually (although I’m not a fan) du Plessis-Allan owned Jordan Willaims more than once on that segment today. But that’s not saying much, Jordan Williams is one of the dumbest spanners commenting in the media right now.

    • Jenny - How to get there? 24.1
      14 March 2019 at 9:03 pm

      On Larry Williams’ show, Jordan Williams of the Tax Dodger’s Union tried to pin it on the left. Du Plessis-Allan tore strips off him until Larry had to step in and protect Jordan.

      Disgusting, that this right winger tried to give political cover for this violent assault.

      It’s a wonder Williams didn’t reach into the neo-fascist grab bag of conspiracy theories, And allege that this vicious assault was a false flag attack,

    • Gabby 24.2
      15 March 2019 at 8:06 am

      Did Jawdy not try crying? Disappointing.

    • Jenny - How to get there? 24.3
      16 March 2019 at 8:00 pm

      On Larry Williams’ show, Jordan Williams of the Tax Dodger’s Union tried to pin it on the left.

      More extreme but still on the same Right Wing continuum as Jordan Williams.

      Rush Limbaugh, the popular right-wing radio host, said Friday that the New Zealand bloodbath may even have been what conspiracy theorists call a “false flag” designed to discredit Trump.

      “There’s an ongoing theory that the shooter himself may in fact be a leftist who writes the manifesto and then goes out and performs the deed purposely to smear his political enemies, knowing he’s going to get shot in the process,” Limbaugh said.

      https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/trump-dismisses-white-nationalism-threat-after-nzealand-killings/ar-BBUPZu7

      • Muttonbird 24.3.1
        16 March 2019 at 8:53 pm

        It’s ridiculous isn’t it? That the purveyors of white supremacy would seek to distance themselves from an actor playing out their fantasies.

        A few commenters on RW forums have tried to sell this murderer as a marxist and a Greenie.

        It is pathetic the way hate speech apologists minimise the effect their own speech has on disgruntled loners.

  25. WILD KATIPO 25
    14 March 2019 at 8:55 pm

    Not a good thing anyone gets assaulted. The line can be drawn at mud or egg on the face or even a dildo , even then that can hurt if it connects at the wrong angle…

    Really nothing funny about what happened to Shaw at all.

    Though mind you, – Trevor Mallard and Tau Henare came to blows in the corridors of parliament. I remember being pretty disgusted at that. If our representatives act like cavemen then draw up legislation to define what is and isn’t criminal assault then act like that… what example is that?

    * Just edited and found both belligerents. And one the current Speaker of the House!!!

    Mallard and Henare in punch-up – NZ Herald
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10471953

    I certainly don’t want to see any of that overseas shit happening here in NZ where our representatives are put in danger.

  26. timeforacupoftea 26
    14 March 2019 at 8:59 pm

    Lets hope James got a few shots back on the guy.
    Hopefully he was injured that why the police got him so soon.

    • Dennis Frank 26.1
      14 March 2019 at 9:20 pm

      Non-violent conflict resolution is a GP charter principle. If he had retaliated the Greens would have to expel him. Apparently the attacker was held by eyewitnesses until the cops got there…

      • WILD KATIPO 26.1.1
        14 March 2019 at 9:28 pm

        Shaw was the bigger man if that’s the case if he did not retaliate.

        The only time things can be justified is in self defense if someone genuinely fears for their life or that of others. Shaw seems to have judged the situation wisely.

      • Exkiwiforces 26.1.2
        14 March 2019 at 9:29 pm

        Well I’m f**ked if I ever join NZ Greens, if they ask about my time doing Peacekeeping as I had to use my fists, kicks, batons, flash bangs, CS and something else.

        • WILD KATIPO 26.1.2.1
          14 March 2019 at 9:38 pm

          Well chap, you had to perform your duty as a serviceman under orders.

          But during peacetime, acts of violence cannot be condoned. I did many martial arts and about 3 years of Japanese Jujutsu… but there’s no way in hell I’d want to use that on anybody.

          I’d rather have a cup of tea and a laugh with someone instead.

          • Sam 26.1.2.1.1
            14 March 2019 at 9:47 pm

            So you’re carrying an injury or some sort of PTSD why you sit it out?

            I’m vaguely under the impression that the sitting thing for the American Civil Rights movement worked pretty well for them while they attempted to tame white supremacists thirst for blood. Just laughing about stuff doesn’t help much, you need to actually DO something. Understanding how to use non-violence and why but most importantly when to use such tactics in most other situations is something The Green Movement is yet to master, and why they’re not fit to govern a country outright until they do master it.

            • Exkiwiforces 26.1.2.1.1.1
              14 March 2019 at 10:06 pm

              Hey Sam, don’t knock WP just because she or he don’t or won’t do violence in self defence as it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, as it’s takes a very special type of person to step up to defend someone as it’s not for the faint hearted.

              • Sam …
                14 March 2019 at 10:33 pm

                Understood.

                • Exkiwiforces …
                  14 March 2019 at 10:50 pm

                  I’ve got PTSD, but I still have a crack/ step forward, but wife usually beats me to it sometimes but then again her old man was an ex NSW cop and a well known ex criminal defence lawyer in Sydney.

                  But if a foreign country came in uninvited I’ll break open my spacecase full my old combat gear and grab one of my rifles and my G19.

                  • Sam …
                    14 March 2019 at 11:15 pm

                    Could think of a few others I’d like to line up right next to you. Some ex pollies, perhaps their children and any other bean counter with really cool looking PowerPoint displays promoting the virtues of efficiencies, cost savings, amalgamations and private catering firms.

                    • Exkiwiforces …
                      14 March 2019 at 11:31 pm

                      I think we are on the same page Sam. 😆

                      It’s 8pm where I’m atm and I have big day tomorrow and with 8- 10 middies and a pizza under my belt it time to head home. I’m out bush so the local copper is about 2-3 hrs away in the opposite direction to me on a one way rd.

                    • Sam …
                      15 March 2019 at 12:21 am

                      So years ago, I’m 18, just left Auckland where it was freezing pissing down with rain. Get off the plane in Perth and it’s 32° and I ask the taxi guy if there’s normal people living here and he says yeah, I’m a normal person, look at me I’m driving a taxi, we aren’t all mining magnets. Then I asked if there was a port and if they fish here and he said yeah, this is the Indian Ocean. So I get to my hostel and ring my mum and tell her we’d had the wrong plan this whole time.

            • Gabby 26.1.2.1.1.2
              15 March 2019 at 8:18 am

              You issuing a call for violent action from the safety of your keyboard there sambam? That’s pretty darn tough. A provocative gent.

          • Exkiwiforces 26.1.2.1.2
            14 March 2019 at 10:00 pm

            They were done under UN sanctioned/ supported ROE’s, which might trouble some members of the NZ Greens and the left side of the NZ Labour Party while Protecting women, elderly and children violence and in cases we were a little bit late to the scene.

            It’s a shame this has happened, as I always take pride that NZ MP’s can walk or take public transport or whatever floats their boat without much security. Unlike other nations in world and when I show pictures of various MP’s from either side of the house in very public places, my foreign visitors/ Ockers are left god smacked at NZ and make for interesting BS stories when I’m on the piss.

        • Gabby 26.1.2.2
          15 March 2019 at 8:08 am

          They’ll be devastated I’m sure.

      • Gabby 26.1.3
        15 March 2019 at 8:15 am

        Surely they’d show understanding and not victimblame franky.

        • Dennis Frank 26.1.3.1
          15 March 2019 at 8:40 am

          As leftists, you could be right. However acting in breach of the Green Charter would be deemed too serious an offence to ignore. Leftists are prone to moral fudging, so a collective decision to have 50c each way would tempt them. Suspension, rather than expulsion.

          The Catholic model of moral fudging provides historical precedent. Do as much torture and murder as you like, confess it, receive absolution, go to heaven. So the leftist Greens would suggest James confess to yielding to his base animal instinct to strike back, explain that the instinct kicked in before his brain remembered that he was non-violent, and he’d be off the moral hook…

          • Gabby 26.1.3.1.1
            15 March 2019 at 11:05 am

            Sounds like you’re just making shit up there franky.

            • Dennis Frank 26.1.3.1.1.1
              15 March 2019 at 11:15 am

              Ha! You think so, huh? Try reading history. Leftists got their weasel stance from the christians. Okay, it’s a generalisation & one can always find exceptions to prove the rule. As Gregory Bateson famously observed, it’s the pattern which connects…

              • solkta …
                15 March 2019 at 11:20 am

                I think that you deserve an award for being the one to write the biggest load of shit on here. That is quite an achievement given the competition.

                • Sam …
                  15 March 2019 at 12:11 pm

                  You do relies that Dennis Frank mentioning the “Greens Charter” and the “Chatholic Model” so when you say “you” (Dennis Frank) ” deserves an award for writing the biggest load of shit” that what you are really saying is the Greens Movement and Catholics are a load of shit.

                  That is what is know as an ass crust argument.

                  Now you quote me! Niggas.

                  • Dennis Frank …
                    15 March 2019 at 12:48 pm

                    Solkta gets confused easily. Refusal to address the point is always a dead give-away. However practicising what one preaches is a sign of authenticity, and James revealed his by not retaliating – that’s the real point.

                    Whether non-violence works when scaled up to the geopolitical level is a more interesting angle. Chamberlain’s Munich deal suggests not, since it destroyed his political career. One could also argue that the Dalai Lama proved it an impotent stance via the communist takeover of his country, inasmuch as it produced marginalisation via non-alignment…

                    • Sam …
                      15 March 2019 at 1:40 pm

                      This is more of a cultural gripe than a geopolitical one, but I absolutely hate it when a post-apocalyptic setting has everyone forget about the pre-apocalyptic world.

                      The Hunger Games for example, with brief references to “no one caring about ancient history” or something. You wana know the first thing people cared about, historically? when civilization-collapsing disasters occurred? Ancient history, tradition, continuity and legitimacy from previous, more prosperous times. We can look at Europe after the fall of West Rome, where everyone and their grandpa claimed to be the “one true Rome” and got into fights over it. (Of course, Modern—Western— is now claiming legitimacy over most foolish culture).

                      The basic rationale for why free trade is the purest form of non-violence in the geopolitical world because if your enemy is trading with you, they’re less likely to attack directly – Comparative Advantage. Through free trade everyone can specialize in what they’re best at and everyone will be better off by having more (caveat incoming) 100% recyclable, biodegradable, carbon neutral / zero stuff, so we can have more stuff. That’s not to say violence is completely eliminated because any decent system requires regulation and control so a decent navy, airforce, intelligence service and army just not a war economy one because New Zealand doesn’t have an interventionist foreign policy and neither are we likey to plan or solo a D-Day landing, better to just set up a green zone and say try me and your dead. But ultimately at the state level, in a non-violent manner, as an adversary sends the order to attack down the pipe to the troops, then a counter order would be issued ordering the destruction of the train (transport logistics) before troops had a chance to deploy and begin combat operations basically making them look like a bunch of wankers and overt disaster.

                      The negatives of free trade is no different from the negatives of technological progress. Any time there is a change, somebody somewhere is losing their job and has to train for a new one. Funny how nobody is proposing we get rid of all computers and cars so scribes and horse carriage drivers can save their jobs.

                      So arguing against free trade is basically the same as denying climate change exists.

                    • Dennis Frank …
                      15 March 2019 at 1:59 pm

                      Yes, I share your view in regard to how it historically became a harm-minimisation scheme, in which the benefits of trade out-weighed the benefits of war. It’s an incentive-structure view that leftist political thought discounted until recent decades.

                      JF advocated fair trade instead, and I saw no reason to disagree, and the Greens still prefer that framing. It acknowledges the coercive effect that big business tends to have on the free market, and the original royal chartering that launched corporations as a privilege-based economic system.

                      Re the Hunger Games, it was a fun kids story but to any life-long reader of sf rather gauche. I guess the basic stance is that post-apocalyptic scenarios have cultural discontinuity as a given. I agree with you that there’s an erring in favour of simplemindedness with this stance, which probably does involve a flawed assumption. Humans cling to tradition like limpets to a rock.

                    • Sam …
                      15 March 2019 at 2:07 pm

                      I’m more of a, free movement of travel, free movement of capital kind of guy. But I will concede that fair trade can be made to work as well because at the moment we’ve got grabbing every one up the sphing sphing trade.

                  • Gabby …
                    15 March 2019 at 1:32 pm

                    That’s more like it sambam. True colours.

    • Jenny - How to get there? 26.2
      14 March 2019 at 9:26 pm

      The reports were that members of the public intervened on Shaw’s behalf and were instrumental in the quick apprehension of his assailant.

      It is heartening to me that the public stepped in and showed no tolerance for this sort of attack. In his mind this deluded individual probably imagined that he would be supported and even praised for assaulting Shaw, or at the least be left to get away with it.

      Hopefully this is a message to all such extremists, that your violent views and acts will not be tolerated.

      https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article227680619.html

      Stevens said Shaw was very grateful for the people who helped intervene and for police and ambulance crews who arrived quickly.

  27. RuralGuy 27
    14 March 2019 at 9:59 pm

    Disappointing to see this sort of behaviour. I guess there are people out there who lack the coping skills to deal with the realities of this deeply divisive and duplicitous government and their dishonest policies.

  28. Jenny - How to get there? 28
    14 March 2019 at 10:56 pm

    Stirring up fascist hate

    https://www.politico.eu/article/united-nations-migration-pact-how-got-trolled/

    A coordinated online campaign by far-right activists pressured mainstream European parties to drop support for a U.N. migration pact that was years in the making, analysis of social media activity shows.

    Starting in September last year, a coalition of anti-Islam, far-right and neo-Nazi sympathizers fueled a surge in social media activity about the pact, which until then had garnered little attention, according to analysis by academic researchers.

    The burst of activity, including tweets, videos and online petitions, prompted politicians in several countries to take notice of the previously uncontroversial pact and revise their views. In Belgium, the controversy led to the collapse of the government.

    The rapid move from online activity to political reality is an example of how a process can be hijacked by what researchers describe as a global network of nationalist, far-right activists. In this case the efforts were spearheaded by popular YouTubers and political “influencers” such as Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner, then coordinated via chat groups and hyper-partisan websites.

    “If you look at nationalist parties across the globe, you see these parties are part of a specific niche, and a specific network. All these actors inform each other, and adopt each other’s political positions,” said Ico Maly, a researcher who teaches new media and politics at Tilburg University in the Netherlands…..

    ….Austria’s far-right drove agenda
    ISD found that for months, the most shared link on German social media channels was to a petition against the U.N. pact organized by Sellner, an Austrian far-right activist who was called “the new face of the far-right in Europe” by the BBC.

    After Heinz-Christian Strache, the country’s vice chancellor and leader of the far-right Freedom Party, expressed his objections to the pact in September, Sellner picked up the theme. In a video he calls for an “information war” to start “spreading fire.” According to Sellner, the pact would mean the “demise of the European people” and the realization of the “vision of the future of the global elites.”

    This international fascist hate campaign even reached into the New Zealand National Party.

    https://www.national.org.nz/say_no_to_un_migration_pact

  29. SHG 29
    15 March 2019 at 12:24 am

    Tomorrow we’ll find out it’s some cuckolded husband angry that Shaw has been tapping his wife. Stranger things have happened.

    • Jenny - How to get there? 29.1
      15 March 2019 at 7:21 pm

      More disgusting Right Wing justification for extremist violence.

  30. Cinny 30
    15 March 2019 at 7:58 am

    There’s an excellent article on Newsroom this morning

    Behind the spread of anti-UN sentiment

    The details of an assault on Green Party co-leader James Shaw are still murky, but suggestions that anti-UN sentiment may have been invoked during the attack is a worrying sign, Sam Sachdeva writes.

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/03/15/489008/behind-the-spread-of-anti-un-sentiment

    • Dennis Frank 30.1
      15 March 2019 at 8:32 am

      The photo says it all: United Nations – One Way. Top-down decision-making from the control hierarchy. You can see how paranoia is induced.

      But the newsroom article fails to illuminate the guts of the issue. Reporting that controversy is happening is valid journalism, but superficial when the reporter evades the question of why it is happening. We do not need more shallow journalism. We already have too much of that!

      If I were James I’d ask to speak to the assailant to discover his motive. The principle of restorative justice applies. Resolution requires grievances to be articulated before they can be defused. Our justice system still mostly prevents that.

  31. greywarshark 31
    15 March 2019 at 12:48 pm

    James Shaw is looking a bit bruised as we would expect, but has a broken eye socket which sounds bad. I hope his eye is okay.
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/384768/security-of-mps-discussed-after-attack-on-green-party-co-leader-james-shaw

    A 47 year old man is accused. I think that is interesting. Males tend to be inclined to be uncontrolled and violent in their younger years and generally by 47 would be
    more settled and mature. I wonder what this guy’s background is?

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