The best protest was, of course, Groundswell. Another is coming this month.
There is a lot of built-up anger and frustration in this country over the way Covid has been handled. Today, the Prime Minister may well see a bit of it in Auckland. I do hope she gets a proper feel for what's gone on in Auckland over these past three months.
The fact she has timed her arrival back on opening day of some shops, is a good indication of how manipulative this government is over their movements, public pronouncements, and decisions. The fact they kept today's schedule under wraps tells of their concern.
Not for her safety, no one wants harm or protests to get out of hand. But as we saw last week, she handles pushback very poorly.
The same bloke who heckled her in Northland had apparently done the same thing to Winston Peters. Peters fired back, gave him a couple of one liners, slapped him down, and got a cheer from the crowd. Poor old Ardern grimaces and starts talking about accredited media before running inside.
Whanganui was even worse. Scampering out of town, cancelling stuff when you can't handle a face to face with someone who isn't asking for a selfie is not a good sign for an election campaign that could get quite robust.
Fresh off the back of that, they will be a bit edgy today in a city that has been atrociously treated by, irony of ironies, a local MP, whose sole claim to being absent was a foe ruling by a joke of a Speaker, who backed down when told to anyway.
One of the regrets many of us, but mainly businesses might have over these past two years, is not speaking out often or forcefully enough. Too much PC business speak was rolled out, too much hope laid at the door of a government that it was hoped would act differently to the way they did.
Sadly, I have been told numerous times by businesses that they were often afraid to speak out in case of retribution aimed at them by government, in terms of business, contracts, or engagement. It's a sad day when a community, whether business or any other sort, is afraid of a government. That used to be for other countries.
So, if Ardern's trip is to be of real value beyond her never-ending desire for spin and attention, then she must hear of the pain, of the layoffs, of the debt, of the lost sleep, of the anger, of the dismay at the treatment. It has been a shocking three months.
It's far from over and she needs to see it, hear it, and feel it.
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings.
6 comments:
"When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
Well, Mike let's hope some of your media colleagues take the time, as I did, to watch the " uncensored" videos from the Wellington protest.
The reporting from the MSM was atrocious.There were many people from many walks of life. I heard a doctor speaking. There were nurses, teachers and people of all ages and all walks of life. The media might get a reality check.For the PM to brush them off is sheer arrogance and she might also get a reality check. It is now up to Aucklanders to speak up in numbers on their own behalf.
Ardern is endeavouring to make 85% of the population second class citizens.
So far it appears some people don't care.
Watch Jordan's (of the taxpayers union) interview of Mahutu on the " Three Waters" agenda. His interview was better than any media interview I have seen lately. Many of us have been speaking up for ages but we can't make as much headway if we don't have the full support of the opposition politicians or the media. It's been pretty half- hearted up until now.
Yes it far from over. There are more issues to bring in front of everyone. Health, media bribery, three waters, etc. etc.
The Govt. has pulled a shrewd political move by appointing the mayors of the biggest anti three waters councils to sit on the establishment
and guidance group.
Kiwis are a fairly passive lot and this government uses that to their advantage. We must stand tall and not be afraid to be labeled racist.
WHEN JACINDA CANCELEED OUT OF YOUR SLOT IT SHOWED INCREDIBLE WEAKNESS AND LACK OF A STRONG CHARACTER AND POO JUDGEMENT FROM HER. MIKE I HOPE YOU DONT WEAKEN AND ALLOW HER BACK WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEXT ELECTION. WE DONT NEED ANYMORE LIES AND DECEIT
REGARDS
BRIAN
There a so many things that are disappointing about what is going on in this country, that it seems like some B Grade movie.
The lack of integrity by MSM to be somewhat impartial, to present the concerns of those who don't follow the narrative from "The Podium of Truth".
And where are the opposition Parties? Who have no backbone and stand up for the foundations of our democracy... Like possums caught in the headlights, too afraid to do or say anything?
And to a Prime Minister and Labour party gone rogue, implementing policies that were nowhere to be seen at the last election ... government by stealth it seems. So much for transparency!
Where has freedom of speech gone? Where has freedom of choice gone? Where has critical thinking gone? ... who stands for these things?
If your "business contacts" are afraid of speaking out against government policies in fear of retaliation then you are speaking to the wrong business contacts. Speak to contacts who create wealth for the country, their opinions actually matter.
Owning a business that is reliant on government favor encourages political corruption.
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