David Farrar: NZDF portrayal is concerning

From a press release:

Independent investigative reporters Penny Marie and Rachel Scott have released a new video and accompanying Substack articles revealing NZ Defence Force (NZDF) training materials that depict “Christian extremists” as the opposing force on a map clearly modelled on New Zealand’s South Island.

Leaked NZDF documents, reportedly used during exercises at Burnham Military Camp, describe a fictional group called the Visayan People’s Front – a “Christian extremist” organisation said to be recruiting indigenous youth under the banner of “a return to the traditional ways of a Christian nation.” Place names including Murchison, Nelson, St Arnaud, and Rainbow Ski Field appear throughout the exercise scenario.

Could you imagine the outrage if NZDF did an exercise where the opposing force was:

• Visayan People’s Front – a “Muslim extremist” organisation said to be recruiting indigenous youth under the banner of “a traditional Islamic state.”

• Visayan People’s Front – a “Maori extremist” organisation said to be recruiting indigenous youth under the banner of “a return to the traditional ways of a pre-colonisation nation.”

It would be a media sh*tstorm that would not stop until NZDF changed it. But when you do Christians, you know the media won’t care.

David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders