Matt King caught blowing anti vaccination dog whistle

Written By: - Date published: 11:15 am, August 23rd, 2021 - 22 comments
Categories: covid-19, health, Judith Collins, national, same old national, uncategorized - Tags:

Some more bad news.  Matt King, who was formerly the National MP for Northland until he was beaten by Labour’s Willow Jean Prime, has been publicly posting anti vaccination propaganda under the ruse of only wanting a conversation.  From Ben Leahy at the Herald:

National leader Judith Collins is distancing herself from a former party politician who today urged followers on his Facebook page to read “a highly informative” anti-vaccination article.

Former Northland MP Matt King – who lost his seat in Parliament at the last election – said he isn’t against Covid vaccinations and is simply trying to start a conversation about how to avoid future lockdowns.

Yet he today linked to an article calling Covid-19 vaccinations dangerous and containing a video downplaying the risks of the virus.

King urged followers to watch and make up their own minds.

The National Party quickly distanced itself from the post, after some Facebook users mistakenly believed King was still a National MP and asked if there were any other politicians willing to “speak out”.

“National have been emphatic that vaccinations are the key to New Zealand getting through Covid-19 and back to some semblance of normality,” Opposition Leader Collins said.

King is reported as saying:

Don’t put me in the anti-vax group or any of that sort of stuff, I’m none of that.  I’m absolutely for everyone that wants to get a vaccination to get a vaccination.  I just think we need to think of ways we are going to get ourselves out of this situation, and I don’t think lockdowns are going to be the future, are going to be the answer because we can’t afford to do it every time there is an outbreak.”

This has the same sort of vibe from those who say “I am not a racist but …”

22 comments on “Matt King caught blowing anti vaccination dog whistle ”

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  1. Michael who failed Civics 1
    23 August 2021 at 11:25 am

    Only to be expected. Even though this is neither a clever nor a sophisticated exercise it is way beyond King's capacity. He's being fed this stuff by his comrades.

    • Chris 1.1
      23 August 2021 at 10:31 pm

      It's expected because he and those of his ilk are on the same continuum as the national party, along with white supremacists and neo-nazis.

  2. Reality 2
    23 August 2021 at 11:56 am

    Is he missing having a public platform now no longer a MP? Wants some attention.

    • Ghostwhowalksnz 2.1
      23 August 2021 at 1:11 pm

      Attention ?

      That sort of messaging gets you money from the classic rick pricks. Hes positioning himself for getting the nomination for National again and the part that gets you ahead of others is the ability to raise money

  3. JanM 3
    23 August 2021 at 11:59 am

    Golly, National can't half pick them!!!!

    • mac1 3.1
      23 August 2021 at 12:14 pm

      And therein lies a huge part of their problem, which they have not owned up to. But how can the 'party of business' own up to not being good at hiring, and firing?

      Like attracts like, fools feel comfortable in the company of other fools in a party where "I reckons" count as intellectual rigour.

    • Patricia Bremner 3.2
      23 August 2021 at 1:29 pm

      Looks presentable…but… agree mac1

  4. DB Brown 4
    23 August 2021 at 12:05 pm

    He might be auditioning for New Conservatives.

    • Michael who failed Civics 4.1
      23 August 2021 at 5:59 pm

      He's staying with he Nats. That's why they're feeding him his lines.

  5. Tiger Mountain 5
    23 August 2021 at 1:21 pm

    Mr King is a painful type–an oaf who seems to think he is not one–as regularly selected in the North by the NZ National Party. Ex copper Mike Sabin was another one. Better candidates do actually exist, not that I give one really about who the Nats pick.

    During his time as an MP Mr King adopted social media and soon revealed where he was coming from. But he is essentially a gutless bastard, previous Far North Regional Councillor Mike Finlayson challenged him to various public debates on his climate denialism–no show. Te Tai Tokerau Border Control’s Hone Harawira and Rueben Taipari invited him to spend a day with them at a 2020 COVID road check station–no show, after a lot of public invective against Border Control, which many Far North pākehā supported too.

    “Ronald” Matthew King is an even sadder figure these days, wherever actual Northland MP Willow Jean goes, so does he, often with FNDC Mayor John Carter, at least Carter worked with Willow at the Council so deserves some respect when they open new enterprises that PGF and Labour have bloody paid for.

    • Ghostwhowalksnz 5.1
      23 August 2021 at 6:13 pm

      King is an ex copper too…must be getting his travel 'tips' from ex Nat Mp and council mayor Carter

  6. AB 6
    23 August 2021 at 3:26 pm

    The establishment right is always precariously nutter-adjacent. That's why candidate selection in the National Party can go so wrong sometimes.

  7. esoteric pineapples 7
    23 August 2021 at 10:35 pm

    "This has the same sort of vibe from those who say “I am not a racist but …”

    And, "I believe in climate change but…."

  8. Ad 8
    24 August 2021 at 4:08 pm

    In this interview from today, Prime Minister Ardern is resolute in her defence of their approach to Covid19 currently:



  9. Jenny how to get there 9
    24 August 2021 at 9:25 pm

    Missing in action.

    The importance of leadership is often demonstrated by its absence.

    And when those responsible for being absent in not giving a lead, belatedly try to recover the situation, they find that it is much too late.

    Trump and the GOP have lost control of the anti-vaxx monster they created

    https://www.msnbc.com/mehdi-on-msnbc/watch/trump-and-the-gop-have-lost-control-of-the-anti-vaxx-monster-they-created-119257157692

    Can Judith Collins recover this situation?

    Will she even try?

    In my opinion to recover the situation, Collins needs to be able to be in a position to release a presser saying that her whole caucus has been vaccinated. Urging all National Party supporters to do the same.

    • Incognito 9.1
      24 August 2021 at 9:41 pm

      Is Judith Collins heading for the US to take charge of the GOP and crush the anti-vaxx monster Trump and the GOP created? I think it would be great – I always saw her getting a crushy plum job overseas – but she may not be able to travel yet under L4 lockdown. Patience, Jenny, patience.

      • Jenny how to get there 9.1.1
        25 August 2021 at 9:23 am

        Collins should do something about her own right wing supporters vaccine hestitancy first.

        Starting with the New Zealand Herald.

        A sharp rebuke of the Herald from the leader of National Party, might be efficacious in sending a clear message to all Centre Right, Right of Centre, and Far Right, vaccine hesitants.
        Who are not just listening to ‘alternative facts’ are living in ‘alternative (un)realities’.

        Alternative unrealities

        …. In September 2020, Judith Collins infamously made this statement :

        Australia has dealt with the COVID situation so much better. In every state other than Victoria, if you look at New South Wales, what, they’ve had six or nine deaths, Western Australia, about six… New South Wales actually (has a) bigger population than us, fewer deaths. I mean what does that tell you? I mean for goodness sake, and their economy is booming and you can go to the rugby.”

        As Australian fact checkers quickly pointed out, all of these assertions by Collins – except the one about the rugby – were either flat wrong, or misleading. The current point being: contrary to the Herald’s claim, there never was a political consensus last year on how best to manage the Covid threat……

        With vaccines….- there is an alternative. It involves vastly more infection, slightly more death, and a whole lot more risk. Kiwis, should they choose to spend their lockdown scrolling through their Facebook or Instagram feeds, will notice Americans and Europeans enjoying summer vacations at the beach, international travel, and live theatre. They’re living the new normal – they’re living the alternative.

        Yikes. Is this “alternative” still considered by the Herald to be a viable option?

        Gordon Campbell – Pacific.scoop, August 20, 2021