I didn't find the lockdowns unpleasant, or restrictive. I understood the reasons behind them, and in a way, I found them liberating...perhaps because I'm not a particularly social person.
Neither did I. I worked from home, often for longer hours too, but I didn’t mind because the work I was doing helped people. We have nice places to walk around home and it was particularly lovely without traffic noise and fumes. Not being able to meet up with friends and family was a bit trying, but modern technology allowed video calls. As an asthmatic I felt much safer with the restrictions.
I did miss being able to go to the beach, but you just get on with things, needs must as my Mum used to say.
I felt sorry for those who lived alone or in cramped living conditions, that would have been tough.
Same! I was already set up in my own isolation plan, with groceries ordered online from Countdown, a week before the announcement. I saw it as inevitable and sensible, given what was happening live on TV in China, Italy, New York etc.
Our son was down from Auckland visiting us, and we were in Invercargill when it became obvious that the situation was serious - we listened to various government announcements while driving back from Riverton (we had lunch at the pub there). Our son was able to fly back to Auckland just before the first lockdown was announced.
Same for me, John...was retired and living quietly on my own in the countryside, as I have been doing for quite a long time, now, conversing with old friends via computer or phone...just wore a mask for weekly shopping trip into town...
I suspect it's a Boys' Club of sorts, or Old Men's club anyway. I can't imagine either Shane Jones or Winston Peters being particularly consultative or inclusive. It would get tedious very quickly.
But imagine leaving half way through your first term in a party in government....in opposition maybe.
It seems that “irony” is the word of the day. Irony that the good, like Takutai Kemp, who wanted to help people whenever and wherever she could, do indeed die young, while others who feel a new calling in life, seemingly embracing the Liz Gunn, Sue Grey, alternative universe side of life, live on to spread their batshit crazy conspiracy theories which help no one at all, for a good deal more profit than political propaganda offers. NZF are well rid of Tanya and the rest of us aren’t wittingly or otherwise guided in our lives by any quackery conceived by her. A role model best ignored.
Alanis Morissette ironically proves that some of the smallest singers have some of the loudest voices, very well👏
A couple of possibilities. Either she's been offered a private sector job worth gazillions (doubt it) or she's been caught out in some weird cooker conspiracy, too much for even NZ First to tolerate ; or with her hands in the till double dipping in some way. Her departure is very abrupt and highly suspicious. Not even a valedictory where she could have lectured us all about serving mankind.
It does seem weird the private sector need couldn't wait 18 months when, fingers crossed, they'll all be looking for jobs. I do wonder if getting offside with Dear Leader is behind this. I think that's really the only sackable offence in NZF.
She was getting pretty touchy feely intimate in the photo with cigar-sucking Shane Jones, yes? Perhaps jealousy raised "it's ugly head" and created trouble with The Leader...???
If you don't mind, I would like to the passing of Whāea Takutai Tarsh Moana Kemp rather than spending any time talking about the resignation of a NZ MP, although I'm absolutely certain that many of Nick's Kōrero readers would have thoughts on that.
When I saw post from Chippy on Thursday morning acknowledging the passing of Takutai, I felt an instant cloud of darkness come over me and a real sense of sadness at the loss of a mana wāhine who was so very young.
Before her time in politics and while she was in politics, despite her illness that she battled in the last year, she always had a clear direction on where she was going and what she wanted to achieve to make the lives of people in her hapori (community) better, particularly Māori and rangatahi. She wanted to ensure that our rangatahi knew that they could succeed no matter what their backgrounds and many of those rangatahi have gone on to achieve great things and that's all down to someone who believed in them.
Her passing was such a shock to many, especially considering that she was in Parliament taking her rightful seat in the house the day before she passed.
I acknowledge her whānau and her whānau of Te Pāti Māori, who noticeably missing from Parliament on Thursday. The grief that they will be feeling at the loss of their sister will be incomprehensible.
I also want to acknowledge Mātua Peeni Henare who is devastated by her loss. They both campaigned against each other in the 2023 election in the tūru (seat) of Tamaki Makaurau, but the respect and aroha that had for each other through whakapapa will never be broken. Mātua Peeni said that on the Wednesday before she flew home to be with her whānau, she had a Kōrero with him and his youth Mp, talking about politics and how they campaigned against each other but regardless of the result the connection they had remained strong.
I want to acknowledge Gerry Brownlee for allowing Parliament to be adjourned on Thursday so that MP's from across the political divide could pay tribute to this wonderful,strong, vivacious (in the words of Willie Jackson) wāhine.
All the MP's spoke beautifully on Thursday with a number of MP's shedding many tears.
I can't believe I'm about to say this, but David Seymour is right, Whāea Takutai is gone to soon.
Nice that you acknowledged that some did struggle with the pandemic Nick; being spanked by Auckland voters told us that too. Incredible but there ya go.
I guess now that Tanya has seen her Toilet Bill go down the toilet, her interest has waned.
Very little consideration for the taxpayer by election costs.
Her interests seem pretty limited. Its a relief that the toilet safety concerns seem to have waned everywhere. Hopefully her future work interests are in a other land.
Oops, sorry about that. I’ve always had difficulty with that word, as I worked for Epson in the UK for a couple of years, and so "Epsom" always looked weird to me. Fixed now online.
🤷 Like most in Aotearoa, I had never heard of this person, and compared to the loss of Takutai Kemp, losing an obviously shallow & selfish MP representing a shallow & selfish party seems trivial in the scheme of things. Like others though, I do wonder if is is strategic to get the next list MP embedded prior to the 2026 election? Perhaps they have hope he will be more high profile & effective for them ⁉️
I didn't find the lockdowns unpleasant, or restrictive. I understood the reasons behind them, and in a way, I found them liberating...perhaps because I'm not a particularly social person.
I loved spending time with my family and the feeling that we were all in it together, at least to start with.
Neither did I. I worked from home, often for longer hours too, but I didn’t mind because the work I was doing helped people. We have nice places to walk around home and it was particularly lovely without traffic noise and fumes. Not being able to meet up with friends and family was a bit trying, but modern technology allowed video calls. As an asthmatic I felt much safer with the restrictions.
I did miss being able to go to the beach, but you just get on with things, needs must as my Mum used to say.
I felt sorry for those who lived alone or in cramped living conditions, that would have been tough.
Same! I was already set up in my own isolation plan, with groceries ordered online from Countdown, a week before the announcement. I saw it as inevitable and sensible, given what was happening live on TV in China, Italy, New York etc.
We did that as well. We included one friend who was on her own in our bubble.
Our son was down from Auckland visiting us, and we were in Invercargill when it became obvious that the situation was serious - we listened to various government announcements while driving back from Riverton (we had lunch at the pub there). Our son was able to fly back to Auckland just before the first lockdown was announced.
I am a sociable person and I did not find them onerous either
Same for me, John...was retired and living quietly on my own in the countryside, as I have been doing for quite a long time, now, conversing with old friends via computer or phone...just wore a mask for weekly shopping trip into town...
Me too. It was like an enforced holiday and I was able to get stuff done.
Call me cynical, but I smell dissention in the NZF camp.
It’s possible, lots of egos in that party, or perhaps she just got sick of the misogyny, no shortage of that either.
they will miss her. Except for a few large features, she was the only one there who didn't break every camera lens. but that's all.
She was good at asking useless patsy questions.
Exactement!
I suspect it's a Boys' Club of sorts, or Old Men's club anyway. I can't imagine either Shane Jones or Winston Peters being particularly consultative or inclusive. It would get tedious very quickly.
But imagine leaving half way through your first term in a party in government....in opposition maybe.
It seems that “irony” is the word of the day. Irony that the good, like Takutai Kemp, who wanted to help people whenever and wherever she could, do indeed die young, while others who feel a new calling in life, seemingly embracing the Liz Gunn, Sue Grey, alternative universe side of life, live on to spread their batshit crazy conspiracy theories which help no one at all, for a good deal more profit than political propaganda offers. NZF are well rid of Tanya and the rest of us aren’t wittingly or otherwise guided in our lives by any quackery conceived by her. A role model best ignored.
Alanis Morissette ironically proves that some of the smallest singers have some of the loudest voices, very well👏
Good to see you back Nick. Take things easy🙂
Nicely said, Jeremy.
I don't think she will be missed in Parliament nobody noticed her.
I like to think I'm somewhat up with the play, but this is the first I've heard of her.
Same here, John! Another legend in her own lunchtime!
Exactly! I don't recall her saying anything at all, much less anything which showed any ability to think.
Very true.
Self serving, selfish and pompous. How incredibly smug after the lifetime work in South Auckland by the late Takutai Tarsh Kemp.
I had very similar thoughts.
A couple of possibilities. Either she's been offered a private sector job worth gazillions (doubt it) or she's been caught out in some weird cooker conspiracy, too much for even NZ First to tolerate ; or with her hands in the till double dipping in some way. Her departure is very abrupt and highly suspicious. Not even a valedictory where she could have lectured us all about serving mankind.
100% agree. Something dodgy has happened.
Also agree. Too sudden with no prior warning. I go with the cooker conspiracy theory.
Seems that wanting to "serve mankind" is slightly outside the ambitions of a party named "New Zealand FIRST"!
😇🤣🤣 Too true
Did Unkovich jump before she was pushed off the plank? Too much risk for Winston Peters’ “elect me as your PM for life” campaign next year, perhaps?
Tee hee hee, I wouldn't put it past Winnie!
It does seem weird the private sector need couldn't wait 18 months when, fingers crossed, they'll all be looking for jobs. I do wonder if getting offside with Dear Leader is behind this. I think that's really the only sackable offence in NZF.
She was getting pretty touchy feely intimate in the photo with cigar-sucking Shane Jones, yes? Perhaps jealousy raised "it's ugly head" and created trouble with The Leader...???
Perhaps it should be a condition (given list can be anywhere) that electorate MPs live in their electorate?
Ahiahi marie Nick.
If you don't mind, I would like to the passing of Whāea Takutai Tarsh Moana Kemp rather than spending any time talking about the resignation of a NZ MP, although I'm absolutely certain that many of Nick's Kōrero readers would have thoughts on that.
When I saw post from Chippy on Thursday morning acknowledging the passing of Takutai, I felt an instant cloud of darkness come over me and a real sense of sadness at the loss of a mana wāhine who was so very young.
Before her time in politics and while she was in politics, despite her illness that she battled in the last year, she always had a clear direction on where she was going and what she wanted to achieve to make the lives of people in her hapori (community) better, particularly Māori and rangatahi. She wanted to ensure that our rangatahi knew that they could succeed no matter what their backgrounds and many of those rangatahi have gone on to achieve great things and that's all down to someone who believed in them.
Her passing was such a shock to many, especially considering that she was in Parliament taking her rightful seat in the house the day before she passed.
I acknowledge her whānau and her whānau of Te Pāti Māori, who noticeably missing from Parliament on Thursday. The grief that they will be feeling at the loss of their sister will be incomprehensible.
I also want to acknowledge Mātua Peeni Henare who is devastated by her loss. They both campaigned against each other in the 2023 election in the tūru (seat) of Tamaki Makaurau, but the respect and aroha that had for each other through whakapapa will never be broken. Mātua Peeni said that on the Wednesday before she flew home to be with her whānau, she had a Kōrero with him and his youth Mp, talking about politics and how they campaigned against each other but regardless of the result the connection they had remained strong.
I want to acknowledge Gerry Brownlee for allowing Parliament to be adjourned on Thursday so that MP's from across the political divide could pay tribute to this wonderful,strong, vivacious (in the words of Willie Jackson) wāhine.
All the MP's spoke beautifully on Thursday with a number of MP's shedding many tears.
I can't believe I'm about to say this, but David Seymour is right, Whāea Takutai is gone to soon.
Moe mai, moe mai, moe mai rā.
Haere, haere, haere rā.e te Māreikura ♥️
Nice that you acknowledged that some did struggle with the pandemic Nick; being spanked by Auckland voters told us that too. Incredible but there ya go.
I guess now that Tanya has seen her Toilet Bill go down the toilet, her interest has waned.
Very little consideration for the taxpayer by election costs.
Her interests seem pretty limited. Its a relief that the toilet safety concerns seem to have waned everywhere. Hopefully her future work interests are in a other land.
Good start to the day, thank you Nick. It's lovely to read sensible, well-informed commentary.
P.S. Your spelling of Epsom varies during the article, but mostly incorrect!
Oops, sorry about that. I’ve always had difficulty with that word, as I worked for Epson in the UK for a couple of years, and so "Epsom" always looked weird to me. Fixed now online.
Give Epson is the brand of our neurotic printer (and which has seceded from the rest of our devices) I thought Nick's variable spelling rather apt.
Waiting for the MSM to do a big in depth follow up as they do for a Labour Greens or TPM MP who is in the news. Good to have you back Nick.
What a sad old world we have atm with the genocide in Gaza Ukraine War & Trump ....we are wasting time talking about this twit of a person!
Hear, hear...
🤷 Like most in Aotearoa, I had never heard of this person, and compared to the loss of Takutai Kemp, losing an obviously shallow & selfish MP representing a shallow & selfish party seems trivial in the scheme of things. Like others though, I do wonder if is is strategic to get the next list MP embedded prior to the 2026 election? Perhaps they have hope he will be more high profile & effective for them ⁉️