Homophobic abuse from anti-vaccine mandaters doesn't stop bar's busiest week
Dunedin business owners copped abuse and a flurry of fake one-star reviews for their decision to temporarily keep the vaccine pass system.
A week on from their decision, Woof! co-owners Josh Thomas and Dudley Benson have seen a record number of patrons.
Thomas and Benson said their bar and eatery served a diverse community, most of whom were concerned with easing Covid-19 restrictions.
From April 4, amid declining Covid-19 cases overall, businesses like theirs no longer needed to see a vaccine pass before allowing people to dine-in.
In Dunedin, however, cases haven't been declining. After a survey of patrons, the co-owners decided they would keep the vaccine pass system for the time being, and would review it week to week.
The decision sparked the ire of online trolls, whose abuse became increasingly homophobic once news reached the United States, Benson wrote on Twitter.
“Many seemed threatened by my nail polish.”
In a separate tweet, Benson said of the 1232 groups the business had welcomed since April 4, only one person did not want to show a vaccine pass.
“They politely moved on,” he said.
The abuse continued online after Benson decided to contact the people leaving fake one-star reviews, “to hold them [to] account”.
Some commenters took issue with Benson contacting the people leaving fake reviews, even though the reviews lowered the bar's rank online, adding to the abuse.
Google has since removed several of the fake one-star reviews, including some five-star reviews supporters made to try and balance the reviews.
Thomas and Benson declined to speak to Stuff, but gave permission to use information they published on Twitter.
Meanwhile, case numbers in Otago and Southland had surpassed worst case predictions, according to modelling provided to the Southern District Health Board.
On Monday, there were 7847 active Covid-19 cases in the Southern region – the second-highest in the country by district health board area, behind Canterbury on 11,683.
Poll: Is it okay to grocery shop in your PJs?
I'm sure you've seen it while doing your weekly shop... In fact, it may have even been you.
What do you think about people heading to the supermarket in their pyjamas?
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14.5% It's fine!
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75% It's questionable
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10.6% Other - I'll share below
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Dunedin - State of Emergency
A state of emergency was declared for Dunedin just before midnight Thursday.
Here's what you need to know:
- A MetService red heavy rain warning is in place for north Otago, Dunedin and coastal Clutha through to 9pm Friday.
- On Friday morning, residents of parts of South Dunedin were still being encouraged to evacuate from their homes if they notice rising waters, or feel unsafe.
- A welfare centre had been set up at Forsyth Barr Stadium for those who have nowhere else to go.
- If residents were worried and needed help getting to the stadium they should phone the DCC Call Centre on 03 477 4000.and ask for assistance.
- There was significant surface flooding across the city, including Peninsula Rd and around the Hoopers and Papanui Inlets, and in Green Island, Caversham, and Musselburgh suburbs. There are also reports of flooding in Kaikorai Valley.
- There was some rockfall on Stone St.
- All households along Dunedin’s Peninsula are told to conserve water due to a broken water supply pipe caused by a landslide.
- Residents can still collect sandbags from South Dunedin (Ice Stadium), Mosgiel (Memorial Park/Gym carpark) and Middlemarch (Showgrounds) throughout the day.
- These sections of the highways are closed:
SH87 Kyeburn to Hyde - Flooding
SH88 Forsyth Barr Stadium to Port Chalmers - Slip
SH90 Waikoikoi to Tapanui - Flooding
- These streets are closed:
About 7am Friday, Dunedin City Council was listing 22 roads as closed:
Kaikorai Valley Road - Kaikorai Valley Road closed between Barr Street and Morton Street - North bound lane off motorway off ramp open - Blocked at Burnside underpass. Closed due to flooding.
Portobello Road - No Detour. Closed due to blockages making the road impassable.
Highcliff Road - No detour in place. Closed due to blockages making the road impassable.
Marlow St - Full length. Closed due to flooding.
Ravelston St - Between Rona St and Cavell St. Closed due to flooding.
Cranley St - Between Cavell St and Marlow St. Closed due to flooding.
Bay View Road - Between Forbury Rd and Prince Albert Rd. Closed due to flooding.
Elwyn Cres -Closed due to flooding.
Dovecote Ave -Closed due to flooding.
Nelson Street -Closed due to flooding.
Loyalty Street -Closed due to flooding.
Tanner St - Inter Rock Side Rd - Closed due to blockages making the road impassable.
Hargest Cerscent - Richardson to Corunna St - Closed due to flooding.
Flagstaff/Whare Flat Road - From Three Mile Hill to Silverstream Valley Road -Closed due to flooding.
Hatchery Road - Closed due to blockages making the road impassable.
Josephine St - Closed due to flooding.
Southdale Road - Closed due to flooding.
Edwin St between Alfred St & Hillside Rd - Closed due to flooding.
Surrey St Closed between Ruskin Tce & Hillside Rd - Closed due to flooding.
Gladstone Road South - Closed between Riverside Road and Gladfield Road due to flooding - Closed due to flooding.
Old Brighton Road - closed between 100 Old Brighton Road and Jeffcoates Road - Closed due to flooding.
Nisbet Street - Closed due to blockages making the road impassable.
Learn more on Stuff or on the DCC website and DCC social media channels.
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