First, the government has announced, "All school students would now be able to participate in school activities despite if they were vaccinated or not and gathering limits would no longer apply when unvaccinated students were participating."
In other words, mandates for kids have been dropped. Clearly, the government did not say it that simply because they did not want to be seen to be backing down to the protesters, but that's exactly what they have done.
Anyone watching the impartial live streaming from the Freedom Village would have noticed the many placards specifically referring to mandating children. The problem for Labour is the people holding the signs were not far-right activists nor were they members of the "river of filth". They were ordinary everyday mums and dads concerned about their kids - many of whom were likely to have been Labour Party supporters at the last election. The protesters are winning - just the government won't admit it.
The second significant event today was a decision from the High Court. The High Court has quashed the Covid-19 vaccine mandate for police and defence force staff. Justice Cooke upheld a claim that the vaccination order breached the Bill of Rights Act. He referred to two sections of that Act, sections 11 and 15:
S11 states, "Everyone has the right to refuse to undergo any medical treatment."
S15 states, "Every person has the right to manifest that person's religion or belief in worship, observance, practice, or teaching, either individually or in community with others, and either in public or in private."
This is hugely significant, and amusingly ironic. It's significant because the decision will set a precedent for others. If the rights of the police and defence force workers have been breached because of the mandates, then so too have the rights of everyone.
It's ironic because the police will not now be subject to mandates that were to come into effect on 1 March, due to the actions of someone protesting the mandates. Perhaps the police officers at the Parliament protest should reflect on that. They don't need to thank the protesters personally but how about letting the food trucks into the camp and allowing the toilets to be cleaned.
The High Court decision poses a major problem for the government.
If they appeal, they will be seen to be heavy-handed and authoritarian (which they are).
If they say the decision only applies to the police and armed services then they will be seen to be duplicitous (which they are).
If they remove all mandates then even the mainstream media will not be able to deny the government has been defeated by the protesters.
Whatever course of action the government takes it will lose, and it won't be the end of the matter. Jacinda Ardern will need to explain to the public why her government acted unlawfully and why the imposition of mandates was not done for medical reasons. Here the Judge’s comments are relevant.
He is reported (by RNZ) to have said:
"In essence, the order
mandating vaccinations for police and NZDF staff was imposed to ensure the
continuity of the public services, and to promote public confidence in those
services, rather than to stop the spread of Covid-19. Indeed health advice
provided to the government was that further mandates were not required to
restrict the spread of Covid-19. I am not satisfied that continuity of these
services is materially advanced by the order," he said. (emphasis
added.)
"Covid-19 clearly involves
a threat to the continuity of police and NZDF services. That is because the
Omicron variant in particular is so transmissible. But that threat exists
for both vaccinated and unvaccinated staff. I am not satisfied that the order
makes a material difference, including because of the expert evidence
before the court on the effects of vaccination on Covid-19 including the Delta
and Omicron variants." (emphasis added.)
Here is the evidence that the mandates were not required for medical reasons. Surely all mandates must now be removed, immediately.
And then there is potential for the government to face a class action damages claim from the many thousands of people who have suffered humiliation or financial loss as a result of the mandates. I think specifically of those in the medical profession, but also teachers, and others.
One of the most telling images of the last couple of days was the sight of Secret Service staff running beside the Prime Minister's vehicle as she was hastily extracted from a media staged photo opportunity at a school near Christchurch. It was a scene reminiscent of the 1993 movie, In the Line of Fire (the one where a puffing and panting Clint Eastwood and other security men run beside the President’s car). This is not normal in New Zealand. It's not who we are, but it's who we have become because of Jacinda Ardern. The Prime Minister can't go anywhere now without being roundly heckled.
The Prime Minister has dismissed the Christchurch protesters as a minority not representative of New Zealand. She has told the Wellington protesters they can go home now. They of course haven't because they have stopped listening to the Prime Minister and the mainstream media which is now being dubbed the team of 55 million (referring to the $55m Public Interest Journalism Fund). Respect has turned to derision and derision has turned into abuse.
Jacinda Ardern must surely know that the walls of humiliation are closing in on her. The question is will she resign while her reputation overseas is still intact, or will she stick out another 18 months of derision.
She should resign.
Political commentator Frank Newman, a writer and investment analyst, is a former local body councillor.
13 comments:
Given this ruling you really do need to ask:
Where is the hand brake for illegal legislation and why has the Govenor General been so silent on this matter.
No these children are STILL Mandated...They can't play club sports or participant in other sectors. How can it be acceptable ..Com on Kiwis let's apply some critical thinking here...just doesn't make sense. What's the difference between the school yard and external club activities.
In reply to "Unknown". Agree. makes no sense for no restrictions at school yet restrictions remain for outside school activities. This is totally bizarre. It must end.
Thanks, very intelligent analysis and some great information that hasn't been widely published, such as police stopping toilets from being cleaned and trying to stop food coming into the camp. Love the 'team of 55 million' name for our corrupt mainstream media.
It is high time now from all these revelations outlined that the Governor General dissolves the government and parliament and through public and the people consultation put an interim government in place and set a date for new and fresh elections.
Not allow any of the current MPs contest the elections at all.
Many think the Governor General should step in & dissolve parliament.
Are you kidding me ? She is only in the position she is in because she is a staunch Lefty supporter. Have you not yet noticed, there is NO opposition currently in parliament. All are U.N puppets. Time to start thinking outside the wasp nest for goodness sake.
As a previous comment stated - why has the Govenor General been so silent on this matter. I too am concerned about the silence of the Govenor General. They have failed in their duty to provide the checks & balances needed to maintain our democracy. Suggests to me that their role is irrelevant and should be replaced by our own iron-clad constitution.
Great analysis, pity the team of 55 million ensures it can't be shared widely
I believe the Governor General has a statutory responsibility to ensure that the nation is responsibly governed. Having said that, I do not think s/he can intervene of his/her own volition. I.e., (oh bugger it) she needs a submission from the Parliamentary Opposition to void Parliament and I cannot see National doing that in a million years; it would restrict their future manoeuvring too much. So, it needs a move by a sufficiently substantial minor party to take the plunge. If they have any sense of destiny, ACT, NNP and NZ First should lodge a joint submission to our Head of State. If none of those who presently draw their substantial incomes from the Public purse can see their way clear to acknowledge the weight of public opinion, revolution is one way to clear the dead wood.
The entire government should resign and an election called. This is far bigger than just a health concern. Our govt is co-conspiring a global reset and centralised global governance control, to say the least.
Spot on point for point. I moved here from the USA more than a decade ago because I was certain NZ was less heavy handed politically. Oops - totally wrong. The Supreme Court shut down mandates instantly when they got wind Biden was going to propose them. Had the High Court been given the opportunity sooner, maybe this ruling would have happened when mandates were started.
Adern will never resign because she doesn't give a toss about NZ or New Zealanders (unless they have a drop or two of Maori blood). She is on a huge salary, heaps of perks for her and her boyfriend and she will be off to the UN with Auntie Helen next year, so why resign? Kiwialan.
Overlooks the fact the Government and the democratic process was captured by unelected experts with the aid of the media both mainstream and social. Siouxsie Wiles changed the course of government response to the pandemic and was shortly joined by a raft of experts wanting the same media star coverage.
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