Why the Wellington protestors are wrong

Written By: - Date published: 10:52 am, February 20th, 2022 - 72 comments
Categories: covid-19, Deep stuff, human rights - Tags:

Long term protester speaking here.

I recall clearly as a 19 year old who majored in Springbok Protests 101 in my second year at University that time when the protest marshalls had us sit down in the middle of Queen and Wellesley Streets when we were marching downtown.  Suddenly the police who accompanied us became animated.  We stayed down as the rest of the march walked past us.  When the end of the march had gone past the Police then got into formation ready to clear us.  With some personal relief the marshalls then had us stand up and continue.  But clearly they were preparing us for future protests where blocking main roads would be an option.

Future protests had people being willing to block roads or motorways but the kaupapa was always clear.  You should only do this if you were prepared to get arrested and charged.  I always deferred as I was either a law student or a lawyer.  Convictions are not career enhancing.  When I retire I plan to celebrate by engaging in direct action protesting about climate change.  But I have no expectation of preferential treatment.  Civil disobedience includes the likelihood of arrest.

My frustration about the current Wellington protest is that they are oblivious to consequence.  At protests that I attended we would never dream that not only could we occupy significant public areas but we would expect to park on the road outside.  This is absolutely bonkers.

This is where the police have failed.  Not insisting on the roads being cleared on day one has led to this situation where more and more protestors think they can park right outside and join the fun.

The planning and organisation suggests significant resources are available.  I have never seen a protest where free food trucks have miraculously appeared, where one of the organisations has used multiple commercial billboards to publish its misinformation and where a law firm is on retainer to persuade a victim of protestor violence that .

And while I am at it can I say how deeply dishonest the framing by the right has been.  Any attempted equivalence between Trevor Mallard’s playing of Barry Manilow with reported instances of death threats, Nuremburg references, abuse of media and the public and defacing of the people’s house of representatives does not stand scrutiny.  And how there can be meaningful dialogue with a group calling for the overflow of the last election result is beyond my comprehension.

Ad has in an impassioned post urged us to understand and sympathise with the protestors.  I get that. We have all been through a horrendous two years.  Overseas this has been accompanied by thousands of deaths.  Here we have been lucky.  But saying this repeatedly is carrying less weight.

As I watch many ordinary kiwis expression of concern I get that they are distressed.  This is not so much against the mandates but against Covid.  They want Covid to be gone.  And when they win life will be back to normal.  If only it was so simple.

As Darien Fenton points out there are many, many more ordinary kiwis who have been vaccinated, who socially distance and who look after each other.  These are the real heroes.  This is why our Covid response has been so extraordinary.

I get the protestors’ passion, at least those who are not actual nazis who can go to hell.  They want the past two years finished and they want to get back to normal life.  If only it was this simple …

Mandy Hager summarised the current situation perfectly:

I have sympathy for [some of the protesters], and there is no doubt many are offloading a lifetime of feeling on the outer, many (particularly Māori and Pasifika, beneficiaries and the lowest-paid) with real grievances about the way they’ve been treated by state institutions. They’ve felt powerless and see the Covid response as taking away what little personal power they have left, much as we all do at this time. And yes, some have lost their jobs to mandates, which is tragic on several levels.

But I do believe their grievances and distrust have been manipulated – and I wonder if they realise that the people driving the worst of this don’t give a damn about them, using them as fodder for the bigger, far more scary scenario currently playing out here and around the world: a desire to end progressive left-leaning politics and social democracies, and, in the case of our PM, a misogynistic hatred for being told what to do by a savvy young woman.

Sadly, all this has little to do with vaccines. Instead, as we’ve seen in the US, anti-vax views are hijacked to promote a dangerous far-Right agenda, exploiting Aotearoa’s democratic freedoms to promote an anti-democratic movement from overseas. It’s deeply concerning to see such ugliness slipping, virus-like, through our borders. As with Covid, we must calmly quarantine it for the good of all.

This activity meets a broad definition of an attempted coup.  Impeding the working of the people’s house of representatives from functioning properly, threatening to hang politicians, attacking media and demanding that the duly elected Prime Minister resigns is really crazy stuff.

72 comments on “Why the Wellington protestors are wrong ”

  1. Ad 1

    Respect to the long term protester.

    May you go feral upon retirement.

  2. Dennis Frank 3

    They're wrong, insofar as the govt must prioritise public health preservation during a pandemic and their expert advice strategy implementation has worked.

    This activity meets a broad definition of an attempted coup.

    Too broad really. Elements in the rabble seem dead keen on it but you can't generalise to the whole thing. No gallows has been erected onsite!

    My frustration about the current Wellington protest is that they are oblivious to consequence.

    Yeah, interesting that. As if they are too desperate to think downstream, huh? So why not respond to them on that basis? Why assume that the PM has no agency?

    • weka 3.1

      have you been following Te Taipo on twitter? It's pretty clear what's been going on behind the scenes but accessible online to see, for months. How close we are to an actual coup remains to be seen I guess, but it would make sense to take the threat seriously before it gets to that point.

      • Robert Guyton 3.1.1

        I think you are correct in this, weka.

        It's all cuddles, till it isn't and intentions have been clearly articulated.

      • Dennis Frank 3.1.2

        I don't do twitter. If there's a lethal force operating within the protest and the SIS isn't onto it already then the minister responsible ought to ask them why not.

        After all, such intelligence-gathering is basic to govt ops. Evaluation of threat is domestic terrorism 1.01 right? A journo could wake up to this reality and ask the PM about it at any press conference the PM has. What, you mean she isn't having any?? Rhetorical question. She could be doing zen politics. Saying to herself I am/not the PM today, I am/not just a mother to my daughter today. The wave function collapses the instant a decision is made one way or the other…

      • tsmithfield 3.1.3

        I think you are probably correct. And I think the longer the government refuses to engage with the protesters and at least appear to be listening, the more likely that some of the crazy fringe elements could up the ante to get more attention through some sort of terrorist style action, or assassination attempt

        It would be a very sad day for NZ if things ever get that far.

  3. vto 4

    the devil makes work for idle hands

    especially male ones…

    true this

  4. Sanctuary 5

    That these protests have been hijacked by fervent fantasy anti-communists using classic Bolshevist vanguardism (secretly infiltrate and seize control of a wider political movement, seek conflict and and use agent provocateurs to radicalise your supporters) is yet another irony probably lost a group of people who most likely think Lenin is an icebar in Queenstown.

    The police hierarchy have been such miserable failures it beggars belief. it is clear Coster has alienated police's hardliners just when they were needed. Policing by consent must always be a plump velvet glove concealing a well advertised iron fist. Their thinking is so rooted in "business as usual" in the face of a far right attempt to instigate an insurrection that they seem unable to conceptualise outcomes other than routine BAU ones. Already I am seeing lots of calls for counter resistance movements to mobilise. What if 2000 angry counter-demonstrators turn up? What can the cops do then? They've ceded all authority and meekly surrendered the states monopoly on power, and the longer this goes on the possibility of the anarchy of two mobs going at it grows larger every day.

  5. Blazer 6

    ' When I retire I plan to celebrate by engaging in direct action protesting about climate change.'

    Well at least…'time is not ..of the esscence!

    One day ,you too will be free of those establishment …'handcuffs'.

    Here's something,that may be of interest to you.

    The case that stopped the tour: How a group of lawyers stopped the All Blacks from playing in apartheid South Africa | Stuff.co.nz

  6. observer 7

    If for a moment we put aside all the other stuff (and there's plenty) then the basic question about a protest against mandates is … will it make them end faster?

    Imagine if the protest was the usual "one day with speeches, meet MPs, boo some of them, go home". The government would say the usual platitudes and carry on. They would be reviewing the same health evidence as now, getting the recommendations AND coming under political pressure to announce a date for some changes.

    Shifting their policy due to media commentary and business demands – and probably internal polling? They've done that often enough (MIQ, trans-Tasman bubble, etc). It was always likely to happen soon.

    But now it's all changed. The political pressure to end the mandates has been swamped by the political pressure not to cave to the behaviour we have seen. That is the narrative now, and the protesters wrote it.

    So yes, they are wrong … if the goal really is to end the mandates.

    • Dennis Frank 7.1

      the basic question about a protest against mandates is … will it make them end faster?

      Good question. Do protests actually work? As you suggest, it depends on the extent of public & political sympathy with their aspirations.

      The political pressure to end the mandates has been swamped by the political pressure not to cave to the behaviour we have seen.

      This too shall pass. As someone who is triple-jabbed I naturally have supported the mandate strategy. At around 95% of the public double-jabbed, the strategy seems to have worked. Job done! So why hasn't the govt signalled the end of the mandate strategy? Do they see political advantage in tolerating the protest??

      • observer 7.1.1

        So why hasn't the govt signalled the end of the mandate strategy?

        Perhaps they had a draft proposal, or straws in the wind, or whatever. Now we'll never know. No government, of any party, would signal a change and then say "look, this protest outside the window, they didn't make us do it, we were always planning to, it's just a coincidence". They would be a laughing-stock.

        So as I said, the protest is achieving the opposite of its intentions, if it's only about mandates. Of course, we know it's not.

        • Dennis Frank 7.1.1.1

          They would be a laughing-stock.

          That depends on whatever consensus exists between police & govt, which points to the elephant in the room – the police minister – which all sides continue to ignore.

          The commissioner seems to believe a negotiating strategy is appropriate to the situation. He told Jack Tame he is being advised by his executive. I asked onsite here this morning if anyone knew what it is – no response so far. Anyway, this executive, presumably, and the police minister, presumably, have achieved concord with the Labour caucus on how to handle the protest.

          With this almighty consensus driving the strategy, we can expect negotiations to proceed, right? Now that a semblance of a leadership group has been flushed out of the protest, I mean. So, if the commissioner produces a negotiated agreement, will everyone else fall about laughing? I suspect relief would surpass the laughter urge within most people…

    • The Chairman 7.2

      The political pressure to end the mandates has been swamped by the political pressure not to cave to the behaviour we have seen. That is the narrative now, and the protesters wrote it.

      It may well be the narrative now, but I doubt the protesters wrote it. It was evident by the amplifying of any bad behaviour or disruption.

      It seems there has been a real concentrated effort to paint these protesters in a bad light to help us get to this narrative.

      I believe this would have come from up stairs. It gives Jacinda another line/card to play for not engaging.

      I'd say the Government will be utilising all its allies to combat this protest. Iwi leaders, Mayors, business leaders, unions and those in the media etc

  7. Man Date? 8

    They are wrong for on one hand saying they are fighting for freedom but on the other accepting the presence of Destiny Church and the New Conservatives.

    Both organisations if in power would take away the freedom of Women over their bodies in terms of abortion and take away the freedom of the LGBQT+ community to marry and have the same rights as others.

    That is even before you think about how they accept Neo – Nazis in their so called Freedom group.

  8. Gypsy 9

    "Any attempted equivalence between Trevor Mallard’s playing of Barry Manilow with reported instances of death threats…"

    Who has drawn that comparison? The behaviour of sections of the protest crowd has been totally unacceptable, but Mallard's behaviour was petulant and frankly stupid.

    "The planning and organisation suggests significant resources are available. "

    Indeed – as I posted some days ago, this group have been seriously underestimated.

  9. barry 10

    I love a good protest and have been on many of them. I have been arrested on prime time television. There is nothing wrong with a little civil disobedience.

    I can even sympathise with (some of) the protesters, even though I think they are wrong.

    What is not acceptable is their tolerance of the intolerable. There are people there advocating murder and civil insurrection. There are people abusing passers-by. The inconvenience to people living and working nearby has gone beyond reasonable.

    At other protests there have always been hotheads, and agents-provocateurs. It is up to the protest organisers to neutralise them. Usually they were easy to pick out and marshals would spend time talking to then so they couldn't be yelling, and standing in front of their placards. Mostly they pack up and leave.

    By ignoring them the (few, many?) who do not agree with them are letting the protest be about them. It was always clear if the message drifted into extreme territory, and we couldn't control it we would go home and take our protest with us.

  10. Barfly 11

    " I have never seen a protest where free food trucks have miraculously appeared, where one of the organisations has used multiple commercial billboards to publish its misinformation and where a law firm is on retainer to persuade a victim of protestor violence that ."

    The Canadian protests/occupation have been revealed to have been paid for (in the main) by people of the USA.

    Who is paying for this shit??

    • Tiger Mountain 11.1

      Dunno, but there seems co-ordination of messaging and talking points from other Convoys, and some of the signage is professionally produced, it is not cheap. My son works at a sizeable Auckland digital printing company and says there has been no Convoy stuff through yet, though they did some “Tractor & Ute” stuff, and one of the bosses is anti vaccination.

      The Cannabis Referendum showed US money was here in the “Nope to Dope” campaign via prohibitionist group SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana), who shared offices and ISP with Family First and spent thousands of dollars more than allowed by being technically separate entities.

      https://publicaddress.net/hardnews/cannabis-who-owns-say-nope-to-dope-anyway/

      Disgraced Natzo MP Mike Sabin used US resources also with his “Methcon” anti drug enterprise.

  11. Matthew Tukaki has started an online safe end the protest site.

    #endtheprotest

    https://twitter.com/tukakimatt/status/1495177869534035970

    • weka 12.1

      what's he suggesting exactly?

      • Matiri 12.1.1

        From Matthew's video:

        The campaign is called #endtheprotest and I am asking New Zealanders to do three simple things:

        Share the image attached to this post

        Use the #endtheprotest every time you post or share it

        Whenever someone wants to debate the issue don’t engage them just post the image in reply and the #endtheprotest tag

        I know there are many New Zealanders across this great nation of ours who want to do something but feel helpless. So across each and every social media platform whether it be Facebook or LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram, TikTok or Snapchat here is your opportunity.

  12. Chris T 13

    They are only wrong if you don't think mandates are stupid when we have about 95% vaxxed.

    • Muttonbird 13.1

      It's also about keeping non-compliant people away from others. The 5% anti-vaxxers are not only likely to more affected by Covid, they also are anti-mask and anti social distancing.

      They are pandemic deniers and need to be separated from sane people until this is all over.

      • Chris T 13.1.1

        I' and everyone I cae about is vaccinated. I don't care if some idiot sitting 10 feet away having a beer isn't.

        Edit: Actually let me add to that.

        I don’t care if some weirdo unvaxed person wants to buy a coffee in front of me. Fish and Chips for their kids etc etc. It is stupid.

        Tell me.

        Why is it so scary for you in all places, yet about 50 people in a supermarket. 6 in a dairy. 10 in a big service station.

        “That’s different!”

        • Muttonbird 13.1.1.1

          I don't spend all day inside a supermarket with the unvaccinated.

          • Chris T 13.1.1.1.1

            Unvacccinated people don't spend all day trying to buy a Subway, but the govt says they can't buy one. Or a coffee to take away from a cafe or a pint in a pub.

            Yet hey.

            Sweet for them to wander round a supermarket for 45 minutes fondling fruit, or coupghing over fuel pump handles though.

            Because that is how stupid the current govts mandates are.

            • Rosemary McDonald 13.1.1.1.1.1

              …wander round a supermarket…

              Stumbled into a conversation with some front line Foodstuffs employees the other day. They have sanitation protocols for fending off Te Virus that can only be described as bizarre. Even they could see it was largely pantomime..but they need their jobs.

              There's something rather sadistic in making workers do totally weird stuff in order to keep their meagre wages.

              Like gaslighting, but worse.

              • Chris T

                It is odd eh.

                With all these type of serious things it always ends up being the people in the weakest position that end up having to take the most risk………..While also being paid the shittiest.

        • joe90 13.1.1.2

          It is stupid.

          A much loved immunocompromised family member would be unlikely to survive a covid infection. As a family we use the Swiss cheese model to manage their aggregate risk and that entails careful management of contacts.

          The mandate helps minimise potential contact with pro-pl—ers.

          • Chris T 13.1.1.2.1

            So presumably you don't let them go to the supermarket, dairies or service stations?

            Why not just add cafes, takeaways and pubs?

            • joe90 13.1.1.2.1.1

              you don't let them go

              RWNJ projects lol

              • Chris T

                You said you manage their seggregration.

                So you don't?

                Then what is the issue with cafes, takeaways and pubs if they rock on down to the supermarket and dairy?

      • Rosemary McDonald 13.1.2

        It's also about keeping non-compliant people away from others. The 5% anti-vaxxers are not only likely to more affected by Covid, they also are anti-mask and anti social distancing.

        They are pandemic deniers and need to be separated from sane people until this is all over.

        You would have us all rounded up and detained, Muttonbird?

        Where, pray?

        In some kind of camp?

        While you're working out the details… can you please at least acknowledge that there are some who have had the Pfizer product who have experienced adverse effects that are more than a 'sore arm and flu like symptoms'?

        • RedLogix 13.1.2.1

          Including me. I spent yesterday morning at PA Hospital in Brisbane getting a CT scan and being evaluated by a neurologist.

          The key thing she said was … I do not want to label this as it would have consequences for both of us.

          • Rosemary McDonald 13.1.2.1.1

            Shit, RL. I have family who…enough said. There's a number of us lionesses…

            All the very best.

          • The Chairman 13.1.2.1.2

            I do not want to label this as it would have consequences for both of us.

            Interesting.

            Who do you believe is exerting that pressure?

            Hope you're ok.

          • swordfish 13.1.2.1.3

            .

            Sorry to hear that, RL … Myocarditis ? … Renal / Kidneys ?

            Best wishes.

            • RedLogix 13.1.2.1.3.1

              Probably a TIA or Bells Palsy. Also BP is much higher than ever before. For the moment I am OK and chirpy enough, but plans will have to change. Its not clear where this will go for the moment, but stressing about it will not help.

              As I am sure you know full well given your own story.

          • Patricia Bremner 13.1.2.1.4

            You have probably had myocarditis or a related nerve reaction, a proven side effect. Very scary. Get a different vaccine if you need a booster. Good wishes for a recovery.

            • Rosemary McDonald 13.1.2.1.4.1

              This is why some of us are protesting against the mandates. Young people…the side effects, especially heart issues… are much worse and have been routinely dismissed by doctors. ( The medical profession with their dismissals and their cowardice have lost the trust of these people. Perhaps forver.) Worse after the second dose. Scared shitless to have a booster, and if mandated in their workplace…what then?

              If they can't work…they will lose their home. For most… trying another 'vaccine is not an option…same tech, different package.

              Omicron has changed the terrain. It's time to end the mandates now.

              For the sake of our kids.

              • Ding

                How many of the immunocompromised are the anti – vax/anti-mandators prepared to sacrifice for their "freedoms"

                Is one too many? – I believe so.

          • mauī 13.1.2.1.5

            Sorry to hear that, be well.

  13. A moment to consider the death toll from various countries:

    Sweden: 16,852

    Australia: 4,878

    Denmark: 4,250

    Norway: 1,548

    Fiji: 824

    New Caledonia: 287

    Aotearoa New Zealand: 53

    There's a rich irony that the occupiers are able to carry on their activities. Team 5 Million led by a guvmint that prioritised human lives over business, worked collectively to keep us all safe. (Even with mistakes that I have reported on, at length.)

    Had the Plan Bers got their way to LetItRip (eg, Sweden, Brazil, US, etc), our hospitals would be near collapse with covid-infected; the death toll would be in the thousands; and protesters wouldn't have anything to protest about.

    We'd have repeats of New York with refrigerated trucks parked outside morgues,over-flowing with corpses.

    Those protesters would have their freedom. Sheltering in their homes, unvaxxed (mostly), fearing to go out to buy something as simple as bread, milk, pet food. Their "freedom" would be an academic exercise.

    Sadly, we've been victims of our fantastic success. With such a low death toll (tragic as 53 lost lives are, especially for their families), we've grown hopelessly complacent. The pandemic was something unreal for many people; something "over there, far away".

    No wonder foreign-inspired (mostly American) conspiracy fantasies have filled the gaps in some people's minds. They didn't have covid to fear – so The Government filled that void.

    You have to feel for PM Ardern. Thousands of lives saved, and people want to execute her for her leadership.

    Mind you,it won't be the first time a mob killed someone whose "crime" was suggesting that we be kind to each other…

    • Peter 14.1

      "Had the Plan Bers got their way to LetItRip (eg, Sweden, Brazil, US, etc), our hospitals would be near collapse with covid-infected; the death toll would be in the thousands; and protesters wouldn't have anything to protest about."

      They would have something to protest about. They'd be protesting about the deaths, about the collapse of the health system and consequent deaths and about the terrible situation of health professionals.

  14. SPC 15

    Clearing the protest site is quite an easy task, if there is the will to do it.

    Water cannon, tear gas and sound weapons can all be used do this sort of thing.

    There is already cause to limit impact of the protest on the surrounding area, and to effect arrest of those who have made "threats". But at this point it seems the decision has been made to allow the protest to continue – for weeks and maybe months. So barring a government direction to declare an emergency, this is going to go on and on.

    So those of the underground labyrinth of social media communities get the chance to get acquainted in the real world. A surprising development, and even more so during a pandemic.

    One thing can be anticipated, the people protesting are soon likely to get infected and eventually use their acquired status to return to employment … .

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

    • DS 15.1

      You forgot the rubber bullets. Then we will see if they are real protestors.

    • McFlock 15.2

      There are lots of possible tactics, none of them pretty.

      The protestors, to a certain degree, need to expand to the point of provocation sooner rather than later. Surround parliament and shut down the government, sort of thing. They won't last a winter in wellington, and even without the foodtrucks there will be gastro and frigid gales to worry about.

      But that's their best outcome – getting thumped asap. The people haven't risen up in support of a coup. The longer it goes on, the more pissed off people get with them.

      But I'm also tending towards the idea that the sooner they get dispersed, the less polarised NZ ends up and the fewer recruits the violent nutters get. And the quicker wellingtonians can move on.

      For the state, this is just a complete abrogation of state power. It's one thing to tolerate an occupation of a park, but these guys are shutting down basic infrastructure to the community and stoppingthousands of people from living their ordinary daily lives. For almost two weeks. The cops are a joke right now. The longer it goes on, the weaker the police look. Either they move in, or the protestors get a gastro outbreak in the next week or so and aren't in a position to resist much of anything (and the cops can go "gosh we were afraid something like this might happen, so sad" when they take out the trash). But if the protesters are still there on ANZAC day, it's worse for the govt than it is for the far right, IMO.

      • The Chairman 15.2.1

        The sooner they get dispersed, the less polarised NZ ends up

        That largely depends on how exactly they are dispersed.

        Government engagement is what is required. Not the back hand of the police. Coster has put forward a good case for not going in hard, IMO.

        • McFlock 15.2.1.1

          Well, the "protesters" have some right wing and well-heeled participants, so the cops will probably go in more gently than they otherwise would.

          But I suspect it's the band-aid removal philosophy: some pull quick, some drag it out, a very few find a solvent for the glue and ease it off painlessly but moderately quickly.

      • Just Saying 15.2.2

        "…….. stopping thousands of people from living their ordinary daily lives…….."

        Just two weeks huh? Not that there is any real reason, as your own words point out because what's the big deal anyway?

        It seems to me that one angle I've seen no-one raise is the difference between live (biological – pulse, respiration, and the rest of 'mrs gren'), and live as in passion, relating, experiencing beyond that. Obviously no-one can have the second without the first, yet I would always accept maybe a higher level of risking the first, than many here, for just the chance of the second. It's not about peak experiences, its much harder to articulate than that. Somehow there is always a trade-off between safety for Mrs gren and being alive. Our public health system has been functionally reduced to virtually just lifesaving yet health, like life, is so much more.

        We've done our bit for safety, more than enough. And we do need to take seriously, as we have never done before, those for whom that trade-off is dangerously affected by health conditions that make even Omicron a major threat – we need to be able to give what they need for a change, but that's another story.

        We have to end the endless interlude. At the very least we need a clear plan and schedule for returning to the glorious, ridiculous, risky mess of real life. Those who wish to stay where we are now, triple masked, sanitised, isolated, hell even chucking stones at those moving around on the outside if necessary, I can respect your decision, I'll help if I can. But please stop insisting, in fact mandating, I join you in some kind of perpetuity hell.

        • McFlock 15.2.2.1

          Except if you're opposed to the "public" bit of "public health", you obviously won't help when you can.

          But that's beside the point of my comment, which is that the protest has far exceeded most protests I can think of in the rejection and replacement of state power (on parliament grounds, no less) and in the level of impact the protest has on locals who are just trying to live and work in the area.

          15.2 is the situation as I see it, with the most likely outcomes. If you want to describe a different and plausible outcome, that might be more relevant to my comment.

  15. Bill Drees 16

    I saw protestors (40+) up close today on both sides of the road by the lights in Silverdale around 1730 today.

    I know a Nat when I see one.
    These were not the faces we have seen on TV & SM. These were middle class pakeha with entitled faces. They are angry that a Labour Gov are calling the shots and are not being cowered.

    I expect to see more Nat MPs to side up to the fascists. Weasel words will be heard.

  16. peter sim 17

    This alleged "demo" is very well funded. Who is providing the capital?

  17. Just Saying 18

    I'm not opposed to public health, nor did I say I was.

    And help is human, not political or bureaucratic.

  18. Andrew Miller 19

    The laughable veneer of ‘reasonable’ keeps falling away over this literal shit show.
    At least it’s going to out the absurd apologists as increasingly detached from reality. There’ll be no concession of course as they’re impervious to evidence.

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    14 hours ago
  • Govt expresses condolences on the passing of HRH Princess Sui’ilikutapu
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has expressed condolences on behalf of New Zealand to the Kingdom of Tonga following the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili. “New Zealand sends it’s heartfelt condolences to the people of Tonga, and to His Majesty King Tupou VI at this time ...
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    14 hours ago
  • Security support to Solomon Islands extended
    Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have today announced the extension of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) deployment to Solomon Islands, as part of the regionally-led Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIAF). “Aotearoa New Zealand has a long history of working alongside the Royal Solomon ...
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    16 hours ago
  • Minister Mahuta to attend the first Korea-Pacific Leaders’ Summit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to the Republic of Korea today to attend the Korea–Pacific Leaders’ Summit in Seoul and Busan. “Korea is an important partner for Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific region. I am eager for the opportunity to meet and discuss issues that matter to our ...
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    2 days ago
  • Agreement between Indo-Pacific partners for supply chain resilience
    Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor joined ministerial representatives at a meeting in Detroit, USA today to announce substantial conclusion of negotiations of a new regional supply chains agreement among 14 Indo-Pacific countries. The Supply Chains agreement is one of four pillars being negotiated within the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework ...
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    2 days ago
  • Celebrating Samoa Language Week 2023
    Our most spoken Pacific language is taking centre stage this week with Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa – Samoa Language Week kicking off around the country. “Understanding and using the Samoan language across our nation is vital to its survival,” Barbara Edmonds said. “The Samoan population in New Zealand are ...
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    2 days ago
  • Nationwide test of Emergency Mobile Alert system
    Over 90 per cent of New Zealanders are expected to receive this year’s nationwide test of the Emergency Mobile Alert system tonight between 6-7pm. “Emergency Mobile Alert is a tool that can alert people when their life, health, or property, is in danger,” Kieran McAnulty said. “The annual nationwide test ...
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    2 days ago
  • Whakatōhea and the Crown sign Deed of Settlement
    ENGLISH: Whakatōhea and the Crown sign Deed of Settlement A Deed of Settlement has been signed between Whakatōhea and the Crown, 183 years to the day since Whakatōhea rangatira signed the Treaty of Waitangi, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little has announced. Whakatōhea is an iwi based in ...
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    3 days ago
  • New Chair appointed to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
    Elizabeth Longworth has been appointed as the Chair of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, Associate Minister of Education Jo Luxton announced today. UNESCO is the United Nations agency responsible for promoting cooperative action among member states in the areas of education, science, culture, social science (including peace and ...
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    3 days ago
  • Tourism transformation starts with people
    Tourism and hospitality employer accreditation scheme to recognise quality employers Better education and career opportunities in tourism Cultural competency to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces Innovation and technology acceleration to drive satisfying, skilled jobs Strengthening our tourism workers and supporting them into good career pathways, pay and working conditions ...
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    4 days ago
  • Tourism transformation starts with people
    Tourism and hospitality employer accreditation scheme to recognise quality employers Better education and career opportunities in tourism Cultural competency to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces Innovation and technology acceleration to drive satisfying, skilled jobs Strengthening our tourism workers and supporting them into good career pathways, pay and working conditions ...
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    4 days ago
  • Te ao Māori health services cheaper and more accessible for whānau
      Greater access to primary care, including 193 more front line clinical staff More hauora services and increased mental health support Boost for maternity and early years programmes Funding for cancers, HIV and longer term conditions    Greater access to primary care, improved maternity care and mental health support  are ...
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    4 days ago
  • Te ao Māori health services more accessible for whānau
      Greater access to primary care, including 193 more front line clinical staff More hauora services and increased mental health support Boost for maternity and early years programmes Funding for cancers, HIV and longer term conditions    Greater access to primary care, improved maternity care and mental health support  are ...
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    4 days ago
  • Government’s work for survivors of abuse in care continues
    The Government continues progress on the survivor-led independent redress system for historic abuse in care, with the announcement of the design and advisory group members today. “The main recommendation of the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Abuse in Care interim redress report was for a survivor-led independent redress system, and the ...
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    4 days ago
  • Humanitarian support for the Horn of Africa
    Aotearoa New Zealand is providing NZ$7.75 million to respond to urgent humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. The Horn of Africa is experiencing its most severe drought in decades, with five consecutive failed rainy seasons. At least 43.3 million people require lifesaving and ...
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    5 days ago
  • Two brand new mental health facilities opened in Christchurch
    Health Minister Ayesha Verrall has opened two new state-of-the-art mental health facilities at the Christchurch Hillmorton Hospital campus, as the Government ramps up its efforts to build a modern fit for purpose mental health system. The buildings, costing $81.8 million, are one of 16 capital projects the Government has funded ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government invests more than $24 million in regional projects
    The Government is continuing to invest in our regional economies by announcing another $24 million worth of investment into ten diverse projects, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says. “Our regions are the backbone of our economy and today’s announcement continues to build on the Government’s investment to boost regional economic ...
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    5 days ago
  • Budget 23 supports the growth of Māori tourism
    An $8 million boost to New Zealand Māori Tourism will help operators insulate themselves for the future. Spread over the next four years, the investment acknowledges the on-going challenges faced by the industry and the significant contribution Māori make to tourism in Aotearoa. It builds on the $15 million invested ...
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    5 days ago
  • First Bushmasters ready to roll
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the first 18 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles for the New Zealand Army, alongside personnel at Trentham Military Camp today. “The arrival of the Bushmaster fleet represents a significant uplift in capability and protection for defence force personnel, and a milestone in ...
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    5 days ago
  • Humanitarian support for the people of Sudan
    Aotearoa New Zealand is providing NZ$3.5 million to help meet urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. The severe fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has had devastating impacts for civilians. At least 705 people have been killed and 5,287 injured. ...
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    6 days ago
  • Clean-up at Hawkes Bay facility to help region deal with cyclone waste
    Repairing a Hawke’s Bay organic composting facility devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle is among the latest waste reduction projects getting Government backing, Associate Environment Minister Rachel Brooking announced today. “Helping communities get back on their feet after the devastating weather that hit the northern parts of the country this year is ...
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    6 days ago
  • 8% pay boosts for GP & community nurses
    About 6,100 more GP, community nurses and kaiāwhina will be eligible for pay rises of 8% on average to reduce pay disparities with nurses in hospitals, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. The top up comes from a $200 million fund established to remove pay disparities between nurses ...
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    6 days ago
  • Govt turns the sod on new Jobs and Skills Hub for Hawke’s Bay
    New Jobs and Skills Hub to begin construction in Hawke’s Bay The Hub will support the building of $1.1billion worth of homes in the region and support Cyclone Gabrielle rebuild and recovery. Over 2,200 people have been supported into industry specific employment, apprenticeships and training, by these Hubs across NZ ...
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    6 days ago
  • Community Housing Aotearoa Conference Speech
    Tēnā koutou e nga maata waka. Kia koutou te mana whenua tēnā koutou Ngā mate huhua o te waa, haere, haere, haere atu ra. Hoki mai kia tātou te kanohi ora e tau nei, Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa. Tēnā koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te ...
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    6 days ago
  • New mental health tool launched for small business owner-operators
    The Government has launched a new tool to help small business owner-operators manage and improve their mental wellbeing, Small Business Minister Ginny Andersen announced today. The Brave in Business e-Learning series is another tool the Government has delivered to support small businesses with their mental health and wellbeing. “A pandemic, ...
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    6 days ago
  • TAB partnership helps secure future of racing industry
    Minister for Racing Kieran McAnulty has announced the approval of a 25-year partnership between TAB NZ and UK betting company Entain that delivers at least $900 million in guaranteed funding for the racing industry over the next five years. Entain, a UK based group that operates multiple sports betting providers ...
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    6 days ago
  • Government project delivers more reliable and resilient water source to Northland
    The Government has delivered the first of three significant water security projects in Northland, boosting regional business and climate resilience, with the opening of Matawii reservoir today, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced. A $68 million Government investment supported the construction of the reservoir, along with two other water storage ...
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    6 days ago
  • Trade Minister to US to attend Ministerial meetings
    Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor will travel to Detroit tomorrow to represent New Zealand at the annual APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting from 24 – 29 May. Whilst in Detroit, Damien O’Connor will also host a meeting of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Ministers ...
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    7 days ago
  • Murihiku Regeneration energy and innovation wānanga
    I want to start by thanking Ngāi Tahu and the Murihiku Regeneration Collective for hosting us here today. Back at the  Science and Innovation Wananga in 2021, I said that a just transition in New Zealand must ensure Iwi are at the table. This is just as true now as ...
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    7 days ago
  • New Ambassador to Mongolia announced
    Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced the appointment of diplomat Dr James Waite as Aotearoa New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Mongolia. He is currently the Deputy Head of Mission at the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing, a role he will continue to hold. “New Zealand and Mongolia share a warm and ...
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    7 days ago
  • Government commitment to Māori Education continues
    Biggest-ever investment in property with more money for new sites and modernisation Roll-out of learning support coordination in kaupapa Māori and Māori Medium Schooling Boost in funding for iwi and schools to work together on Local Histories content Substantial support for Māori Education has continued in Budget 2023, including ...
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    7 days ago
  • More students to benefit from next round of Creatives in Schools
    Applications for the next round of Creatives in Schools will open on Friday 16 June 2023, Minister of Education Jan Tinetti and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni announced today during a visit at Te Wharekura o Mauao in Tauranga. “The Creatives in Schools programme funds schools and ...
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    7 days ago
  • Speech to WasteMINZ conference, Hamilton
    Tena koutou katoa and thank you all for being here and welcoming me to your annual conference. I want to acknowledge being here in Tainui’s rohe, and the mana of Kingi Tuheitia. I hate waste. So much so that when we built our home in Dunedin, I banned the use ...
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    7 days ago
  • Extra boost for Southland’s Just Transition
    Southland’s Just Transition is getting a further boost to help future-proof the region and build its economic resilience, Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods announced today.  “This Government is committed to supporting Southland’s just transition and reducing the region’s reliance on the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter at Tiwai Point,” Megan ...
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    7 days ago
  • PM concludes successful Pacific visit, confirms intention to visit India
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has concluded a series of successful international meetings with Pacific region leaders in Papua New Guinea. Prime Minister Hipkins secured constructive bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, PNG Prime Minister James Marape, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and United States Secretary of ...
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    7 days ago
  • Agreed statement from NZEI, PPTA and the Minister of Education
    On Friday 19th May, Minister Tinetti facilitated a meeting between NZEI and PPTA with the Ministry of Education to discuss options for finding a way forward in the current stalled collective bargaining. The meeting was constructive, and the parties shared a willingness to work towards a solution. The following was ...
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    1 week ago
  • Five community energy projects kick start
    Eighty-nine households will soon benefit from secure, renewable, and more affordable energy as five community-level energy projects are about to get underway, Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods announced today.    Five solar projects – in Whangārei, Tauranga, Palmerston North and Christchurch – are the first to receive funding from the ...
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    1 week ago

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