Jones calls farmer protesters ‘rednecks’, sings as they boo
Outspoken New Zealand First Minister Shane Jones labelled farmer protesters gathered on Parliament’s lawn “rednecks” and responded to their booing with a waiata.
National’s agriculture spokesman, Todd Muller, called Jones a “schoolyard bully”.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Climate Change Minister James Shaw have distanced themselves from the remarks.
About 300 to 500 people, many of them farmers, gathered yesterday afternoon to protest against what they said was the Government “destroying” rural New Zealand.
There was a sizeable showing from the National Party; Muller sided with the protesters and criticised the Government’s approach to the regions.
But the fireworks came as Jones got up to address the crowd.
As they booed, Jones launched into a rendition of the Ma¯ori waiata Nga¯ Iwi.
After a short speech, where he took aim at the National Party, he told media: “I’m ma¯tua Shane Jones, if you’re going to shout over me you’re never ever going to win. I am not going to keep quiet in front of some sort of rally that is pitched at the National Party . . . that’s just never going to happen.”
Asked why he sang, he said their speeches were going on too long. “I wasn’t deliberately moving on from having annoyed the immigrants to antagonising the rednecks, it just came out.”
Pressed later in the day on the comments, Jones doubled down.
He said the protesters’ attitude was “Nga¯ti redneckery”.
“When you punch me in the nose,” he said of the protesters booing him, “you’re going to get a reciprocal gesture.”
Jones said the protest group was “incredibly vitriolic” and insulting to O’Connor, as well as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
O’Connor was also booed by the crowd and one person yelled out “traitor”. At one point, O’Connor turned to walk away before his speech was done. “Do you want to listen, or not?” he said as the booing got loud.
Speaking to media before going into the House, Muller said Jones’ comments were “extraordinary”.
“That guy needs to get over his own bombastic behaviour and actually listen to people instead of calling people names like a schoolyard bully.”
O’Connor did not side with Jones’ “redneck” comment. “It’s certainly not something I agree with.”