Rupert Pye: New Book on 2022 Parliamentary Protest Will Reveal Full Story

There’s a new book and - media willing - which will lay out some startling revelations about State aggression and abuse behind the 2022 Freedom of Speech protests at Parliament.

The book is written by outdoors personality Alan Simmons and lawyer Sue Grey who at the time were co-leaders of the New Zealand Outdoors and Freedom Party and were present at the protest.

The new book will be launched at the iconic pub and eatery Back Bencher in Wellington’s Molesworth Street On Thursday 16 May around 5 p.m. Fittingly the Back Bencher is opposite Parliament grounds where the protest drama unfolded and was played out.

Rupert Pye: Is Prime Minister Hipkins “Stoking Fear” Hypocrisy?

Just the other day, former MP Tuku Morgan of the Iwi Leaders Forum termed on TV “the attack dogs of the National party and Act as they fan the flames of racism and anti-Maori sentiments”.

Asked about Morgan’s statement, new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins instead of wisely distancing himself from Morgan’s statement, said “People can form their own judgments about that but I certainly think the opposition, National and Act have, as they’ve done in the past, they’ve used uncertainty to try and stoke fear.”

Firstly people may recall the bizarre case of Tuku Morgan’s expensive $89 underpants. Such was Morgan’s under-whelming performance as a MP, that the underpants saga will be all he is remembered for by most.

Now to Hipkin’s statement about “stoking fear.” Any politician knows it is a legitimate, if not ethical, card for a politician to play. After all, it’s a card politician’s have been playing for a very long time.