The Long Protest Drag
It was always going to end up in tears as in "tearing up" because it was allowed to drag on and on.
Twenty three days should have been one day on the grounds and surrounds of parliament - and not even a single overnight. No camping or glamping. No construction of toilets and showers.
Of course as time marched on army members at Trentham should have been brought in just to back up the police and under the instructions of the police.
Politicians of a main-stream kind addressing a crowd that was more a mob due to the differing and in some cases, maniacal reasons for their being there would have been rendered useless and maybe even more cause for inciting rage among people in the audience. It was Trump infusion territory and that is where some of the protesters got their cue from.
In the end it can only be regarded as a disgraceful episode that achieved little apart from Covid spreading, and was less damaging than a Russian rocket attack on residential and commercial buildings in the Ukraine. If mandating was one of the key elements to this protest then the protesters are lucky they were not trying to man date Putin.
As a footnote, so the trains closed shop on the day and night of the police removal action. It was good that they did. They should have done this weeks prior when other Covid protest marches had taken place and the train services had allowed the carriages to be filled up by almost 100% unmasked protesters without any comment from staff on the trains.
Poll: Do you think banning gang patches is reasonable?
With the government cracking down on gangs, it is now illegal for gang members to display their insignia in public places whether through clothing or their property.
This means arrests can be made if these patches are worn in places like restaurants, shops, on public transport or ferries, and on airplanes. Arrests were made recently at a funeral.
Do you think this ban is reasonable?
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77.1% Yes
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21.3% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.1% Yes
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15.1% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below