Protest day at parliament
As Wellington wakes up to the arrival of a protest convoy, Brian Tamaki’s Freedom & Rights coalition have said they don’t want violence and there won’t be an occupation.
Mōrena and welcome to The Bulletin for Tuesday, August 23, by Anna Rawhiti-Connell. Presented in partnership with Z Energy.
In today’s edition: hospitals given directive on surgical backlog; opinion divided over government buying Kiwibank; the age at which we’re the most unhappy; but first, a protest convoy will arrive at parliament today.
Protestors will arrive at parliament this morning (Image: Getty)
Protest convoy to arrive at parliament this morning
On the last day of the protests at parliament in March, I was wrangling a column about what had happened. By the end of that day, the lawn ablaze and pavers hurled, half of what I’d written had to be dumped. Today, Wellington will once again be the scene of anti-government protests as a protest convoy organised by Brian Tamaki’s Freedom & Rights coalition arrives in the city. They are due at parliament at 10am. According to social media posts from the coalition, they will also hold a “people’s court” to “try” charges of "crimes against humanity". On Q&A this weekend, Whena Owen spoke to Hannah Tamaki who said her husband wants to announce the formation of an umbrella political party involving several like-minded minor parties “on the steps of parliament”. Only one party Owen spoke to had confirmed it may possibly have a deal with the Tamakis, the New Nation party. Two ruled it out.
Commuters told to expect disruption, staff told to work from home
Toby Manhire has spoken to Wellington mayor Andy Foster on The Spinoff this morning. Foster said he’s not overly alarmed by the staging of mock trials. Police advice has indicated there isn't a high chance groups with similar beliefs will join the march. The police acknowledge the right to peaceful protest but will take action against unlawful behaviour. Around 1000 people are expected at the protest and preparations have been made at parliament with road closures and concrete barriers in place. There is also a counter-protest planned. Commuters have been told to expect disruption and people who work in the area have been advised to work from home.
Coalition not planning occupation but what others do is “not our concern”
Manhire also details Tamaki’s rhetoric in his piece. Tamaki is excited saying “I’m always excited when you know the devil is uncomfortable.” As the Herald’s Adam Pearse reports, the indication from the police is somewhat contrary to evidence online where several groups had shown their support for the protest. In her interview with Q&A, Hannah Tamaki said they don’t want people to get hurt, that an occupation wasn’t planned but when the coalition leaves, what happens next is not their concern. Newsroom’s Marc Daalder spoke to disinformation expert Sanjana Hattotuwa who has expressed concern about the proposed mock trials. These are linked to the sovereign citizen movement which Hattotuwa describes as “inherently violent”.
Fearless straight talk from “reality-based media”
These events always raise questions about how the media should cover them. The Washington Post’s Margaret Sullivan has just penned her last column for the paper. It’s advice for journalists covering the 2024 elections in the US – specifically how to handle Trump but it’s pertinent here and really worth a read. Sullivan has been using the term “reality-based media” instead of mainstream media for a few years now. It implies the existence of a media which is not based in reality and I think we probably have to accept that’s where we’re at now. Stewart Sowman-Lund spoke to Paula Penfold about the recent Stuff Circuit documentary Fire and Fury. It’s a good example of the media's evolution in its thinking about how to handle coverage of these groups and the very deliberate, well-explained editorial decision-making Sullivan has called for.
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New health agency issues directives to get cracking on surgical wait-list
As RNZ’s Rowan Quinn reports this morning, the new national health authority Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ has sent letters to all 20 of its health districts saying they must book surgical spots for the 7,500 people who’ve been waiting longer than 12 months by the end of this month. A task force was set up in May to tackle waiting lists and this is our first look at a tangible example of the work they’ve been doing. Te Whatu Ora have also given health districts a deadline of September 30 to find a slot for the 4,000 people who had been waiting more than a year to see a specialist.
Government buying Kiwibank divides opinions
As mentioned in yesterday’s Bulletin, an announcement about the future of Kiwibank’s ownership was imminent. That came through and the government is buying the bank’s holding company. It will borrow $2.1b to do so. The New Zealand Super Fund was interested in increasing its shareholding in the holding group but wanted the flexibility to introduce private money and freedom of choice on who it might sell its stake to in the future. RNZ’s Kathryn Ryan spoke to Super Fund CEO, Matt Whineray about that yesterday morning. As the Herald’s Jenée Tibshraeny reports (paywalled), opinion is divided on whether government ownership will make the bank more competitive and successful.
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State failed young people in care
As the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care continues, Oranga Tamariki admitted yesterday that the state did not stop abuse and did not meet the basic needs of youth, between 1950 and 1999. Oranga Tamariki chief executive Chappie Te Kani said abuse survivors faced “unacceptable and abhorrent” experiences in state care. Te Kani faced questions about whether structural racism was a feature of the state care system and part of the reason Māori and Pacific peoples were disproportionately represented in the number of people in care. Te Kani answered yes on both questions. Oranga Tamariki is giving evidence for another two days.
Click and collect
Why Labour won’t use the “waka-jumping” legislation in its handling of Gaurav Sharma today.
New Zealand singer Margaret Urlich has died.
What a 20% drop in house prices means.
Marketing campaign launched to lift school attendance.
Former Green MP Nandor Tanczos running for Whakatāne mayor.
Got some feedback about The Bulletin, or anything in the news? Get in touch with me at thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz.
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One of the best cricketing grounds in the world on verge of being blacklisted by NZ Cricket
Pukekura Park cricket ground in New Plymouth has been listed by cricket almanack Wisden as one of the top six cricketing grounds in the world. Its future is now uncertain after New Zealand Cricket sent a directive to the New Plymouth city council about the poor state of report of the existing facilities and the urgent need to address the issues. The council has a year to bring it up to scratch. The view held by Wisden and others who have strong nostalgic memories of the park in its glory days, is not shared by New Zealand’s professional players who ranked it the second-to-worst ground in the country. Stuff’s Glenn McLean has the details.
At what age are we most unhappy?
Bad news for me and everyone around me as I stare down the barrel of another 40s birthday, I’ve got four years of misery left in me. According to a newly published and exhaustive literature review of research into the theory that your happiness over your lifetime is “U shaped”, your 40s are the worst and then it gets better from there. You are apparently most miserable at age 47.2. Almost 40-year-old Sophie Brickman has the details on The Guardian. A heartfelt sorry to Sophie.
