Protest tactics mostly unacceptable

The so-called Freedom protesters who camped at Parliament are a fringe minority which included people who threaten violence against MPs, violence against journalists, and who are so divorced from reality they demand an end to laws that don’t even exist. Is such behaviour acceptable, and what can we as a society do about people who refuse to peacefully accept what the majority want? An MP from each side of the House gives their views. In the red corner

The occupation of Wellington central by people using threats of violence to demand the end of measures which have kept New Zealanders safe during this pandemic is not peaceful, and it is not a protest intended to changes minds.

I want them to leave.

I was on a video-call with my daughter when I saw the words ‘‘hang them’’ written across the pavers below my office.

I asked my father to mention our essential workers and those Kiwis who have suffered incredible losses because of Covid-19, in his evening karakia. It felt right to acknowledge everything this pandemic has taken from us, and to give thanks for those people who have saved lives in the face of the extremism I saw that afternoon.

This is not like any protest I have seen before. It is driven by false, dangerous conspiracy theories and people with an extreme agenda.

The people involved have a right to make their voices heard at Parliament, but when they threaten and harass public servants on the way to work, scare students on their way school, and bully checkout operators at a Thorndon supermarket, they lose that right.

Amid Trump flags and a Swastika painted blood-red, this is a style of activism imported from overseas. School kids have been spat at and harassed for wearing masks, blocked roads have delayed emergency services, and nearby businesses have shut because their workers were unsafe.

I am concerned about the misinformation coming from this group. Misinformation around Covid-19 is not unique to New Zealand, but it does work against us at a time when we need to pull together.

We all agree that there will come a time when we don’t need vaccine passes and there’s no longer a strong public health rationale for mandates. That time has not come yet. We must hold the course and continue to encourage our friends to be vaccinated and boosted, and to scan in, mask up and keep our distance.

This group only represents the views of a tiny minority.

The other week Northland DHB reached 90 per cent first dose vaccination rate, and with that, every DHB across the country has now hit a target that many thought would be impossible.

And New Zealand reached a milestone of 10 million Covid-19 vaccines administered.

This is New Zealanders protecting themselves and each other.

We are doing so incredibly well – thank you.

Don’t give up.

EIn the blue corner

verybody has the right to protest, we live in a liberal democracy where people are free to disagree with others and particularly the Government.

In saying that, there is a level of decorum which needs to be adhered to during a protest, and blocking the streets, spitting, abusing people and being overtly anti-social is no way to go about protesting.

Unfortunately the valid concerns that the protesters have about mandates will likely be overwhelmed by disruption to already struggling businesses in central Wellington by the illegally parked vehicles and the poor manner in which some of the protesters have conducted themselves.

The protest has almost been going for two weeks, and Wellingtonians and New Zealanders have no clear indication of when it will end.

We also have the Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard acting like a toddler turning the sprinklers on and blasting music through speakers against police advice, which has only made things worse. This is far from the standard of behaviour expected of the presiding officer of our Parliament, and I strongly support the motion of no confidence which the National party lodged last Wednesday.

Instead of turning on sprinklers, and hiding behind the Speaker, the Government needs to show some leadership and work with the police to deescalate the situation. The Prime Minister was very quick to insert herself in the middle of the Ihumatao protests in 2019, but has been notably absent in the last couple of weeks. Leadership is about making tough decisions and dealing with all New Zealanders, not just those who agree with you.

I am more than willing to engage with protesters who have differing views than I do, but first they must respect the freedoms of others to go about their daily lives.

What I do think the protest symbolises though, is a nationwide frustration to the Government’s response to the pandemic.

They imposed vaccine mandates, without giving New Zealanders the criteria for which they will be abolished. We still don’t have enough rapid antigen tests and the cost of living is rising as a result of the economic excesses that the Government have sneaked in under the cover their Covid response.

All of these things are making life worse for New Zealanders, it is time to ‘‘govern for all New Zealanders’’.

New Zealanders, whatever their opinions and beliefs, deserve nothing less.