The voices of the GCSB protest

Written By: - Date published: 6:53 am, August 20th, 2013 - 66 comments
Categories: activism, Spying - Tags: , , ,

The Auckland Town Hall was full – nearly 2000 people – for the GCSB protest last night (with more people being turned away at the doors). Update – full video of the whole event (all speakers) is now up on YouTube:

This meeting comes along with the results of the Campbell Live poll:

How many did we get? 52,666 – way more than the online snapper submissions, and in a much shorter time.

It’s also the biggest poll in TV3 history, significantly more than any online or text poll either we or 3 News have ever run, and text polls are much easier to vote in.

And here’s the results – 11 percent of you supported the GCSB bill. That was 5879 votes. And 89 percent of you opposed it. That was 46,790. If you didn’t vote, you had a week to do so. And if you did vote, thank you, whatever side of the issue you were on.

Finally, some photos of the audience. Bravo to all!

GCSB-protest-full-house2

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66 comments on “The voices of the GCSB protest ”

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  1. phillip ure 1
    20 August 2013 at 7:16 am

    christie and mutch are two ‘voices’ who have opined..

    http://whoar.co.nz/2013/comment-tvnz-breajfast-mini-review-jessica-mutch-does-it-again-confirms-her-crown-as-new-zealands-worst-political-journalist-ever/

    (excerpt:..)

    “..ed:..go to tvnz online and watch christie and mutch talking about the anti-spooking town hall meeting..

    (tho’ i would advise you put any objects suitable for hurling at the screen out of arms’ reach..just to be safe/sure..)

    ..and see mutch pull off the stunning trick of making christie look like the serious one/intellectual of the two..(!).(i kid you not..!..)..”

    phillip ure..

    • amirite 1.1
      20 August 2013 at 8:00 am

      We don’t have journalists in the MSM. We can’t call these sycophantic, uncritical, arse licking followers of a personality cult professionals.

    • Sable 1.2
      20 August 2013 at 9:25 am

      I don’t remember the last time I watched a mainstream news show. They are, as you can see not “mutch” use. Misinformation and Tory drum beating seem to be standard fare for most of them.

      Personally I just ignore them and based on this poll so do most other New Zealanders.

  2. karol 2
    20 August 2013 at 7:25 am

    Full 2 hour video of the meeting here:

    • Carol Hadfield 2.1
      20 August 2013 at 9:18 am

      thank you Karol – also for the transcript on the campbell live interview.

    • freedom 2.2
      20 August 2013 at 10:55 am

      it seems to have been taken down/blocked/hidden/thrown into a small cybercell to sit amongst the detritus of truth, where reality quietly rocks on its haunches awaiting its execution.

      As Winston Smith said
      “Stones are hard. Water is wet”

  3. phillip ure 3
    20 August 2013 at 7:41 am

    (this morning we have seen the night and day of mainstream journalism..first the mutch/christie sad excuse for the profession..

    ..and then smalley plays a blinder..)

    http://whoar.co.nz/2013/comment-tv3-breakfast-mini-review-did-john-key-just-admit-the-spooking-is-being-set-up-for-corporates-to-spy-on-us-oh-and-rachel-smalley-does-a-ripper-of-an-interview-of-key-one-that-t/

    (excerpt:..)

    “..ed:..i would recommend going to tv3 on-demand to watch the smalley interview of key..

    ..to see a masterclass from both..

    ..smalley does a ripper of a job as an interviewer/journalist..

    ..and key gives a master-class in political ducking/weaving/slime-ing..”

    phillip ure..

    • Linz 3.1
      20 August 2013 at 8:42 am

      I heard that. Key: “if any company approaches us for a warrant….”
      What the FARC!

      • vto 3.1.1
        20 August 2013 at 9:47 am

        link linz?

      • Linz 3.1.2
        20 August 2013 at 10:08 am

        Sorry, I watched it live. I have recorded just the sound of the interview. Can anyone tell me how to make that available. It’s pretty bad quality.

        • yeshe 3.1.2.1
          20 August 2013 at 10:14 am

          what format do u hv it recorded in ?

        • karol 3.1.2.2
          20 August 2013 at 10:24 am

          The sound quality in the Hall was poor – for me at the front of the Hall, I was hearing 2 versions – one from the speakers at the front, and an echo from the back. Various media people had their own mics on the lectern. They probably recorded better quality. The audio quality of the youtube vid of the meeting sounds good – at least at the beginning.

          • phillip ure 3.1.2.2.1
            20 August 2013 at 10:51 am

            that sound quality started off well..(upstairs/front)….then it went pear-shaped..voice + voice on slight-delay..)

            ..for the rest of proceedings..

            ..and a bit of a shocker that it wasn’t fixed/attended to..

            ..i had tongue-bleed from heckle-suppression…

            ..a ‘f.f.s!..fix the sound!’ screaming to be heard..

            ..(all that stopped me was thinking it was maybe just where i was..

            ..and in hindsight..i should have..

            ..n’z’ers are far too polite..sometimes..)

            phillip ure..

    • Sable 3.2
      20 August 2013 at 9:27 am

      NZ rates poorly for journalism on an international scale, I have been saying this forever. The mainstream media in NZ and Australia are bottom feeders, pure and simple.

  4. Sable 4
    20 August 2013 at 9:18 am

    I voted for this one, no secret which why the wind blew with me. I feel reassured that that the people of this country are not sheep and are in fact, quite discerning.

    The bullshit from the vast majority of mainstream media, such as the incredibly ignorant article by Kerre McIvor and other journalistic hacks isn’t having the effect they had hoped for.

    So BM and Srylands, anything to say to all of this? Looks to me like the facts speak for themselves. Care to comment?

    • Richard Christie 4.1
      20 August 2013 at 9:31 am

      …incredibly ignorant article by Kerre McIvor

      You are not wrong. I could hardly believe that someone could publicly identify themselves as being so terminally stupid.

    • BM 4.2
      20 August 2013 at 9:36 am

      I quite like the friezes in the town hall, it’s a real jewel in Aucklands crown.

      Didn’t realize there were still so many historical buildings left in Auckland, I thought they all got shitcanned back in the 80’s

      Just noticed the organ in the background, impressive.

      • Tim 4.2.1
        20 August 2013 at 9:48 am

        so you are the organ grinder then. I had my suspicions

      • Dr Terry Creagh 4.2.2
        20 August 2013 at 10:53 am

        BM – it is good to know that you can see something when you trouble to open your eyes, but it seems that you miss seeing anything that is really important.

      • Rogue Trooper 4.2.3
        20 August 2013 at 11:03 am

        might put a frieze around the top of the lounge walls.

  5. Nicolas 5
    20 August 2013 at 10:04 am

    Shame about Dotcom’s presence. I understand he is a high-profile victim of our government’s actions, but I still struggle to cheer for the billionaire who specifically complied with Banks’ request for a $50,000 donation to be split in two. Corruption goes both ways: Banks was at one end, Dotcom was at the other.

    I understand politics involves pragmatism, but I find it disgraceful to see Dotcom in the line-up. This is no Manning or Snowden; this is just a billionaire with close ties to a less-than-credible local MP…

    • yeshe 5.1
      20 August 2013 at 10:19 am

      He is the loudest most accomplished voice for our freedoms, and there is more to come… I wonder, did he actually know Banks request was illegal ?

      Without him, we would know so much less about this bloody bill and all it carries with it.

      • Nicolas 5.1.1
        20 August 2013 at 10:25 am

        Dotcom knew Banks required the donations to be split so that they would be “anonymous”…

        What exactly motivates ANYONE to donate $50,000 to a guy like Banks? Doesn’t that smell bad to you?

        And what do you mean by “accomplished”? He’s a billionaire, that doesn’t instantly mean he’s accomplished anything meaningful for anyone, besides himself.

        He is an opportunist, not a “voice for our freedoms”. Norman is a voice for our freedoms. So is Dr. Harrison, Prof. Kelsey, Nicky Hager… Not Dotcom, mate.

        • QoT 5.1.1.1
          20 August 2013 at 10:09 pm

          What exactly motivates ANYONE to donate $50,000 to a guy like Banks? Doesn’t that smell bad to you?

          Leverage. Same reason any number of companies in the US donate to both Republican and Democratic candidates.

          And when they ask you to split the donation so it’s anonymous? Dotcom could probably hardly restrain himself from cackling. That’s leverage with a leverage cookie on top.

          I’m not saying it’s ethical or anything, but if you’re a pragmatic hypercapitalist …

      • Nicolas 5.1.2
        20 August 2013 at 10:30 am

        And let’s be honest: while I understand his mansion’s raid brought more attention to the Bill, the constant “without him, we wouldn’t know this much” comes dangerously close to implying he carried out some sort of investigation into this. This is no Greenwald, mate. Without him, we wouldn’t know this much, but it’s not like he purposely tried to “uncover” the GCSB.

        • karol 5.1.2.1
          20 August 2013 at 10:32 am

          Dotcom’s lawyers have done some investigations that KDC claims have thrown up stuff damaging to Key.

          • Nicolas 5.1.2.1.1
            20 August 2013 at 10:36 am

            Yes, but none of that has come out yet. When people refer to him “shedding some light” upon the GCSB, people mean his mansion’s raid, and how it exposed the dodgy practices by our spying agency. But Dotcom was simply unlucky there; it’s not like this is a guy who has always been a prominent defender of civil liberties, and whose efforts have motivated an important public debate.

            In fact, I might be being cynical here, but his public involvement in the GCSB opposition is likely to have been motivated by advice from his lawyers. This is a guy who stands to gain a lot from public support.

            Again, I truly struggle to see this billionaire as a martyr of any sort.

            • karol 5.1.2.1.1.1
              20 August 2013 at 10:43 am

              Who is painting KDC as a martyr?

            • vto 5.1.2.1.1.2
              20 August 2013 at 10:48 am

              he is not a billionaire, stooge.

            • yeshe 5.1.2.1.1.3
              20 August 2013 at 11:19 am

              yeshe 7
              20 August 2013 at 11:13 am
              Doubt remains that he understood it was illegal to make his donation in the way he was requested. In fact it wasn’t. How Banks did or did not delcare them was the illegality. And I agree, why does anyone make such donations to any one of the various nefarious sods that receive them .. Sky City and such like, and all the ones of which we know nothing.

              I agree with much you have said, but Dotcom was entitled to his seat and allocated time last night. He is the highest profile victim. And I referred to his ‘accomplished voice’ because, so far, everything Kim Dotcom has said, or claimed, or implied, has been proven to be true. This is his accomplishment in my eyes. And as he said so deliciously last night — his court case will the true public inquiry in to what has gone on. That is a major accomplishment indeed and under the tutelage of one of our best legal minds. And personally, I am very happy and appreciative that he is on our side through all of this.

              At no stage do I derogate, or compare him with, any of the marvelous names you mention.

              Actually, all of this reminds me of the groundswell that began to emerge against Muldoon. Let the tsunami of opposition begin.

              • freedom …
                20 August 2013 at 11:41 am

                and I am confident it has been explained to Dotcom that if he is shown to be lying at any time that the kiwi clobbering machine will turn on him faster than you can blink.
                Kiwis are oddly reliable that way

    • phillip ure 5.2
      20 August 2013 at 10:57 am

      it is not against the law to donate to politicians..

      ..it was banks who broke the law..

      (tho that apparent ideological-arc..(from banks to bomber?)..on the part of dotcom ..

      ..is still somewhat unexplained/unclear..)

      ..and didn’t banks promise to help him with his immigration-issues..?

      ..to dotcom..ends would likely justify means..in this case

      ..and banks happened to be those means to hand/just another politician with a for sale/hire sign hung around his neck…

      phillip ure..

      • karol 5.2.1
        20 August 2013 at 11:05 am

        I do think Dotcom was expecting some support from Banks after donating to his campaign – shows dodgy values on KDC’s part. But when KDC was in Mt Eden prison, he tried to get some help from Banks. Banks turned his back on the big man…. the rest is history.

        From the Dom Post in Sept 2012:

        ‘John Banks has been through enough and I think it’s enough, it should go to rest, the whole topic I think it also wasn’t easy for John Banks,” he said.

        He added: ”I think the Prime Minister has made his choice about the John Banks donations saga and it’s time to move on.

        ”It’s a very fragile majority, the balance of power is threatened by the John Banks affair so I think the Prime Minister has had to make a choice: am I going to uphold high ethical standards or do I want to remain in power?”

        Dotcom says he went public over the donations because Banks refused to help him when he was held in Mt Eden prison earlier this year. Dotcom was arrested on US anti-piracy charges and faces extradition. He suffered two slipped discs and his lawyer Greg Towers asked Banks to intervene.

        After Dotcom’s arrest Banks told the media he hardly knew Dotcom. And he told Towers it wouldn’t look good to publicly support the mogul.

    • Murray Olsen 5.3
      20 August 2013 at 5:57 pm

      Dotcom has lost more than anyone else we know about to the illegalities of the GCSB and the propensity of our PM’s tongue to clean American orifices. We have learned more because it happened to him than we have learned from any other single case. I’m glad he’s chosen to be on our side in this matter. The rest is pure diversion.

  6. karol 6
    20 August 2013 at 10:50 am

    One of the speakers at the meeting said that Aussie telcos had already succumbed to US agencies’ demands they have access to all communications into the US. And now we have a company planning a new undersea internet cable to NZ, via an Aussie telco.

    Hamish Fletcher gushing about it on the NZ Herald.

    A company hoping to build a US$350 million submarine internet cable out of New Zealand has lined up a listed Australian telco as a customer in a multi-million dollar deal.

    TPG Telecom, an ASX-listed IT and internet company, has issued a letter of intent saying it plans to acquire fibre capacity on the Australia-United States leg of Hawaiki’s proposed cable system.

    A statement issued by both parties last night, which called the agreement a “multi-million deal”, said TPG also intended to acquire capacity on the Sydney-New Zealand section of the international internet link.

    Auckland-based Hawaiki Cable is planning to build a 14-000km cable system between New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and the US west coast and said last month that the project could be operating within two years.

    • yeshe 6.1
      20 August 2013 at 11:25 am

      What Seeby Woodhouse spoke about last night is frightening. If the Telecommunications bill (TICS) goes through as written, not only will the telcos be forced to allow the secret fitting of the GCSB/NSA intercepting equipment, but they will be forbidden by law to tell their customers .. as in Seeby said last night, that under the new law, he would not be permitted to stand on that stage and discuss it without breaking some law!!!

      I’ll find a link I read through the weekend about it … just horrific stuff.

      • yeshe 6.1.1
        20 August 2013 at 1:38 pm

        karol .. this is the link I mentioned re TICs bill .. from NBR …it’s a must read as it has been much ignored ( surprise) by herald and stuff .. very startling details about SECRET ALREADY APPROVED CABINET DIRECTIVES …

        http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/revealed-govt-plans-secret-orders-so-service-providers-under-spy-bill-ck-144562

        Interestngly, while looking for this link again, I stumbled into Pete George’s blog ( eek!) but he quotes Peter Dunne as saying he has not guaranteed his support for this bill beyond committee stages … dated Aug 8 .. but where does he stand now I wonder ?

        PG: “I put the question to Peter Dunne and he has responded:

        “The TICs bill is still before a select committee. I have not committed any support beyond its current stage so far, and will not make any decision about its future until it is a little further through the select committee process and I can assess the state it is likely to emerge in.”

        http://yournz.org/2013/08/06/dunne-on-the-tics-bill/

        Now I need to go and wash my hands for at least five minutes ….

  7. amirite 7
    20 August 2013 at 12:42 pm

    A chilling reminder to all those who are dismissing the GCSB bill:

    Guardian says Britain forced it to destroy Snowden material

    http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/20/us-usa-security-snowden-guardian-idUSBRE97I10E20130820

    • Anne 7.1
      20 August 2013 at 2:42 pm

      I have just watched (in the House) the most appalling display of petulance, bullying and dammed lies from the most appalling bully of a prime minister this country has ever seen. I have experienced public service bosses do this in the past – ie. bully and intimidate then have the gall to accuse the other party of said behaviour. The opposition parties must not allow this despot of a man to get away with it.

    • Colonial Viper 7.2
      20 August 2013 at 3:46 pm

      Holy fuck.

  8. Poem 8
    20 August 2013 at 3:53 pm

    It was cool to see David Shearer get off the stage to talk with members of the audience at the end of the meeting.

  9. Jellytussle 9
    20 August 2013 at 6:53 pm

    I enjoyed Shearer’s speech but I think he was well outshone by Russel Norman, who was quite brilliant truth be told.

  10. Poem 10
    20 August 2013 at 7:22 pm

    Collectively, I thought everyone was great in their own way. they all got the message across brilliantly and that’s what counts, it wasn’t a competition !!

    • phillip ure 10.1
      20 August 2013 at 9:53 pm

      it may not have been a competition..

      ..but the fact is that norman blew shearer away..

      ..norman and harawira were best-performing politicians on the night..

      ..(i kept looking at peters and thinking:..’but..!..but..!..weren’t you going to do a deal with key..?..before dunne hung his for sale sign around his neck..?’..)

      ..but of course you must also give credit to that audience..

      ..for an audience of polite/docile kiwis..they roared like lions..and in unison..

      ..it was quite the spectacle..

      ..and it left you wanting more political meetings/passion like that..

      ..maybe in defence of what harawira so adroitly pointed out..?

      ..in defence of those nz’ers already under state-surveillance/state-suppression/persecution/stigmatising/isolating/demonising..being made/manufactured into ‘the other’..and ‘unworthy’ for most nz’ers..

      ..the poor/sick/beneficiaries..

      ..phillip ure

    • Jellytussle 10.2
      22 August 2013 at 6:30 pm

      Hmmm………might not have been a competition but Shearer’s not the leader anymore!

  11. North 11
    20 August 2013 at 10:13 pm

    Just watched that facile little turd Jessica Mutch – TVNZ or One or whatever “deputy” political editor for Christ’s Sake. Where the fuck does she get off saying (in effect) that we have no GCSB legislation and the government “had to” rush it through ? Because we’ve got “nothing” ? There’s a legislative vacuum ???

    What’s the basis for that ? None at all. What an absolutely idiotic and senseless misdirection is that ? Would love the opportunity to ask the beige idiot personally. At least Old Flibbitigibbert McIvor nee Woodham screams of being a Womens’ Weekly dickhead. This one works the lofty claim to political knowledge and understanding. Fraudulent.

    I always thought that Mine Potty Gower took the cake for rubbish but this morning she trumped even that goon.

    Vainglorious bastards who think they’re “stars”. Part of the story oh right. Neither of them even alive in the Norman Kirk/Muldoon days. What the fuck do they know about anything ? Seriously.

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