The sense that the inconveniences of managing a global pandemic should be felt by others but definitely not by me emerged quite early on in the pandemic, and at all levels of society. I'm thinking of all the people who shot off to holiday homes when lockdowns were announced, taking the virus with them. All the people who didn't wear masks, or who deliberately wore them incorrectly. The small number of MPs who broke the rules instead of vocally supporting them. The well-resourced couple who flew down to Queenstown. The large number of MPs who nit-picked at the pandemic requirements, for the political purpose of undermining the government. It all got worse over time and the sense of grievance grew into a "righteous" anger - this government is ruining my life/income/business/right to travel/right to come home etc. The sense of community was gradually eroded and rights outweighed responsibilities. Selfishness won for a while, but I think I'm feeling the community heal. And Sean Plunket is out of favour - yay!
I think the last display of unity was the vaccination day in October 2021. It was as if after that, everything was meant to be OK. Lots of people resented the restrictions over summer, and then of course Omicron was more widespread than the earlier variants, and the vaccines didn't seem to reduce transmission. But more insidiously, there was the assumption that the government could control everything and was therefore responsible for everything. Also, that they could predict everything, so that when they weren't right, it was a personal offence. Some people were stupid and forgetful, and still are.
an excellent song choice , I find that the Style Council's message is still so relevant today. I cried watching Jacinda's veledictory speech, looking at the nats and actoids just reinforced to me that no one would ever emerge from their ranks to equal Jacinda. Too much me me me , no we we at all. as for judith collins , why Stuff thought it necessary to air her views on Jacinda was perplexing.
Totally support the idea of meeting politicians. Started a few years ago, have never looked back and it's changed my view of how we are governed and what we want in our leaders and representatives.
The last few years - Brexit, Trump, The Pandemic, The Parliamentary Occupation and others events have given me a new appreciation for historians. I have a feeling that future historians may understand with a broader view things which are not clear to us. Years ago I went to the museum in Salem, MA - site of the famous witch trials. It was fascinating the ways scholars now believe that whole thing was not really just about witches but had a broader political and social context.
For some people I do think the extreme reactions have been some combination of being i) scared (global pandemic, kind of understandable), ii) spending too much time on social media and algorithms feeding them dangerous nonsense and iii) for the first time in their lives white middle class people facing a challenge to their privilege and told they *have* to do something. "What do you mean I have to wear a mask"? etc.
Yes, I also liked the lockdown but was part of the wealthy working from home crowd. It meant I didn't have to travel for work, I loved walking the quiet streets. It reminded me of being on holiday in places where the Sabbath is honored - Niue, Rarotonga etc. It's a bit of a nuisance at first as you need to plan around it, but you soon get in the swing of it and it's lovely to see people doing family stuff together. Also bracing to remember it was kind of like that even in my own childhood and how quickly I've forgotten what it felt like.
I loved the lockdowns; everyone was equal and the quiet nights reminded me of the curfew after the earthquakes. I have never understood how people could get so nasty and angry about a government that was trying to save lives by putting its people first. For me it was socialist utopia and I have never understood the comparison to communism. I don't understand why someone who is anti-vaxx would work in main stream health care, I don't understand how teachers would refuse being vaxxed knowing how much viruses love their students. I did realize a small percentage of the population was selfish and entitled and didn't give a damn about anyone other than themselves. I also realized that the media loved the moaners and the whingers and set out to prove the governments decisions were always wrong. A theme which continues today.
Great reading Nick (as per) I'd like to think Bob & I did our bit getting Emily Henderson elected here in Whangarei (bad luck your team Reti 🖕) We went to her 'meet the candidates' meeting here in Kamo & were really impressed with her down to earth attitude, her Tikipunga upbringing, grassroots schooling and esp her youth justice stance/giving a voice to children in family law having being a lawyer before being an MP.
In my 40yrs of voting that was the first time EVER attending a political meeting. After Emily got into Parliment it has been a pleasure running into her at local cafes, seeing her speeches in Parliment, reading her posts on community message boards & of course her own fb page.
I would absolutely consider volunteering before the next election tho am gutted Emily is stepping down this time around.
I really hope what she has achieved for Whangarei & Northland alongside our other wonderful MP Willow Jean Prime - finally a new Hospital build being started, Regional Funding for Hundertwasser Museum, port rail spur link & awareness of what's happening north of the harbour bridge- will continue with whoever takes her place AND gets elected come October.
Jacinda Ardern has definitely had the 'Adernian Effect' . The more Labour & Greens woman in government the better because godforbid the Luxflakes 'angels' (???) Willis, Collins & that Nat education woman cannot ever compete!
The biggest challenge for the Left in my opinion is not so much persuading people "to get involved and make a change." The challenge is to get them to vote. The folk I encounter daily do not have time or the inclination to get involved in politics. Too busy minding children or volunteering or even doing paid work. I wanted to forward this column but do you know I could not think of a single recipient. Kiri Allen came to mind however the last time I spoke to her was at the HQ of the organisation that has just sold all East Coast-Wairoa power accounts (and personal information) to Mitsubishi who already own most of New Zealand's Gas supply network. I think politicians prefer to interact with the influential minority who make political donations and who do vote. Think Napier MP Nash who went south last week for getting found-out trading Cabinet information with forestry donors. East Coast-Wairoa power accounts were sold last month for $260 million cash. Some of that is bound to "get involved"
Great column, Nick. I too loved NZ during the lockdowns, even though I had to go to work. So little traffic! Birds - alive - all over the roads coming down Wadestown hill. It really did bring out the best in most people.
Yesterday I met Nelson's Nat candidate - he came to the retirement village I sell at to make a time for him and Luxon to come and visit in a couple of weeks' time. I got him into my office for a chat (aka grilling ha ha). Turns out he's quite religious, teaches companies how to successfully 'manage change' (we all know what that euphemism means), and was outwardly quite pleasant. But MAN is he a naive fan-boy! According to him Christopher Luxon (full name used at every mention) is an amazing laser-focused tactician who will completely do away with red tape and restrictions to 'get things done' where required. He seemed utterly convinced that National has the policies and people for a landslide victory.
I was quite amazed by the whole thing. I guess his religiosity gives him a proclivity for hero worship anyway, but it really seemed a bit unhealthy.
I will be most interested in how Clux comes across in person. According to his acolyte he's much more engaging in real life. I, of course, am sceptical.
I found myself wondering after he left just what makes some people fall for that mean-spirited capitalist shtick, so your column is very timely!
I'm going to think some more on this...after finding your Korero, and reading all these comments the last couple of months, I feel a bit like I have found "my people". But mostly I am surrounded by people I don't understand in the slightest. It's as though all the common sense and kindness in the world still can't shake this idea that money rules, and it doesn't matter who is struggling as long as I have enough.
Thanks Nick you gave “a low key” valedictory here but the value of her work and your valuing of it shines out. One thing - as a concession perhaps to the ‘Nay sayers’ perhaps - you suggest maybe we kept the restrictions a tad too long. Really. Just relook at the daily stats from April to June 2022. The knife edge decision making as the situation after booster after booster shifted us and most of the chorus of New Zealand science on TV everyday to urge caution and stronger measures than were being chosen. We not only handled it better in the beginning but shout it out NO one did the transitioning thing better either. (Note the “we” giving us all some credit but really it was Jacinda’s nerve and care and resolve to watch our situation and watch over us that did it. That minute by minute watching was exhausting. It was exhausting . . .
My generation was born into a post-war socialist Aotearoa-nz so I've been a life-long Leftie.
LeftWing politics reflected the ethos 'fairness' of New Zealand. By the time I reached the age for a tertiary education my fees were paid for by the state because educating each generation was considered a common good (the basic socialist principle). Health care was available to all. My mum had obtained state housing as a widow raising two children.
On starting work, I paid into a superannuation fund that supported the elderly and assured my own retirement years would be comfortable.
And then ... the 'National' Party raised the head of Muldoon who epitomised the ugly face of capitalism gone mad!
The sense that the inconveniences of managing a global pandemic should be felt by others but definitely not by me emerged quite early on in the pandemic, and at all levels of society. I'm thinking of all the people who shot off to holiday homes when lockdowns were announced, taking the virus with them. All the people who didn't wear masks, or who deliberately wore them incorrectly. The small number of MPs who broke the rules instead of vocally supporting them. The well-resourced couple who flew down to Queenstown. The large number of MPs who nit-picked at the pandemic requirements, for the political purpose of undermining the government. It all got worse over time and the sense of grievance grew into a "righteous" anger - this government is ruining my life/income/business/right to travel/right to come home etc. The sense of community was gradually eroded and rights outweighed responsibilities. Selfishness won for a while, but I think I'm feeling the community heal. And Sean Plunket is out of favour - yay!
I think the last display of unity was the vaccination day in October 2021. It was as if after that, everything was meant to be OK. Lots of people resented the restrictions over summer, and then of course Omicron was more widespread than the earlier variants, and the vaccines didn't seem to reduce transmission. But more insidiously, there was the assumption that the government could control everything and was therefore responsible for everything. Also, that they could predict everything, so that when they weren't right, it was a personal offence. Some people were stupid and forgetful, and still are.
an excellent song choice , I find that the Style Council's message is still so relevant today. I cried watching Jacinda's veledictory speech, looking at the nats and actoids just reinforced to me that no one would ever emerge from their ranks to equal Jacinda. Too much me me me , no we we at all. as for judith collins , why Stuff thought it necessary to air her views on Jacinda was perplexing.
Totally support the idea of meeting politicians. Started a few years ago, have never looked back and it's changed my view of how we are governed and what we want in our leaders and representatives.
The last few years - Brexit, Trump, The Pandemic, The Parliamentary Occupation and others events have given me a new appreciation for historians. I have a feeling that future historians may understand with a broader view things which are not clear to us. Years ago I went to the museum in Salem, MA - site of the famous witch trials. It was fascinating the ways scholars now believe that whole thing was not really just about witches but had a broader political and social context.
For some people I do think the extreme reactions have been some combination of being i) scared (global pandemic, kind of understandable), ii) spending too much time on social media and algorithms feeding them dangerous nonsense and iii) for the first time in their lives white middle class people facing a challenge to their privilege and told they *have* to do something. "What do you mean I have to wear a mask"? etc.
Yes, I also liked the lockdown but was part of the wealthy working from home crowd. It meant I didn't have to travel for work, I loved walking the quiet streets. It reminded me of being on holiday in places where the Sabbath is honored - Niue, Rarotonga etc. It's a bit of a nuisance at first as you need to plan around it, but you soon get in the swing of it and it's lovely to see people doing family stuff together. Also bracing to remember it was kind of like that even in my own childhood and how quickly I've forgotten what it felt like.
I loved the lockdowns; everyone was equal and the quiet nights reminded me of the curfew after the earthquakes. I have never understood how people could get so nasty and angry about a government that was trying to save lives by putting its people first. For me it was socialist utopia and I have never understood the comparison to communism. I don't understand why someone who is anti-vaxx would work in main stream health care, I don't understand how teachers would refuse being vaxxed knowing how much viruses love their students. I did realize a small percentage of the population was selfish and entitled and didn't give a damn about anyone other than themselves. I also realized that the media loved the moaners and the whingers and set out to prove the governments decisions were always wrong. A theme which continues today.
Great reading Nick (as per) I'd like to think Bob & I did our bit getting Emily Henderson elected here in Whangarei (bad luck your team Reti 🖕) We went to her 'meet the candidates' meeting here in Kamo & were really impressed with her down to earth attitude, her Tikipunga upbringing, grassroots schooling and esp her youth justice stance/giving a voice to children in family law having being a lawyer before being an MP.
In my 40yrs of voting that was the first time EVER attending a political meeting. After Emily got into Parliment it has been a pleasure running into her at local cafes, seeing her speeches in Parliment, reading her posts on community message boards & of course her own fb page.
I would absolutely consider volunteering before the next election tho am gutted Emily is stepping down this time around.
I really hope what she has achieved for Whangarei & Northland alongside our other wonderful MP Willow Jean Prime - finally a new Hospital build being started, Regional Funding for Hundertwasser Museum, port rail spur link & awareness of what's happening north of the harbour bridge- will continue with whoever takes her place AND gets elected come October.
Jacinda Ardern has definitely had the 'Adernian Effect' . The more Labour & Greens woman in government the better because godforbid the Luxflakes 'angels' (???) Willis, Collins & that Nat education woman cannot ever compete!
Cheers & thanks again Nick
(not your wife) Fi
The biggest challenge for the Left in my opinion is not so much persuading people "to get involved and make a change." The challenge is to get them to vote. The folk I encounter daily do not have time or the inclination to get involved in politics. Too busy minding children or volunteering or even doing paid work. I wanted to forward this column but do you know I could not think of a single recipient. Kiri Allen came to mind however the last time I spoke to her was at the HQ of the organisation that has just sold all East Coast-Wairoa power accounts (and personal information) to Mitsubishi who already own most of New Zealand's Gas supply network. I think politicians prefer to interact with the influential minority who make political donations and who do vote. Think Napier MP Nash who went south last week for getting found-out trading Cabinet information with forestry donors. East Coast-Wairoa power accounts were sold last month for $260 million cash. Some of that is bound to "get involved"
Great column, Nick. I too loved NZ during the lockdowns, even though I had to go to work. So little traffic! Birds - alive - all over the roads coming down Wadestown hill. It really did bring out the best in most people.
Yesterday I met Nelson's Nat candidate - he came to the retirement village I sell at to make a time for him and Luxon to come and visit in a couple of weeks' time. I got him into my office for a chat (aka grilling ha ha). Turns out he's quite religious, teaches companies how to successfully 'manage change' (we all know what that euphemism means), and was outwardly quite pleasant. But MAN is he a naive fan-boy! According to him Christopher Luxon (full name used at every mention) is an amazing laser-focused tactician who will completely do away with red tape and restrictions to 'get things done' where required. He seemed utterly convinced that National has the policies and people for a landslide victory.
I was quite amazed by the whole thing. I guess his religiosity gives him a proclivity for hero worship anyway, but it really seemed a bit unhealthy.
I will be most interested in how Clux comes across in person. According to his acolyte he's much more engaging in real life. I, of course, am sceptical.
I found myself wondering after he left just what makes some people fall for that mean-spirited capitalist shtick, so your column is very timely!
I would love to meet him, but as someone once wrote , you should never meet your heroes....
I'm going to think some more on this...after finding your Korero, and reading all these comments the last couple of months, I feel a bit like I have found "my people". But mostly I am surrounded by people I don't understand in the slightest. It's as though all the common sense and kindness in the world still can't shake this idea that money rules, and it doesn't matter who is struggling as long as I have enough.
Thanks Nick you gave “a low key” valedictory here but the value of her work and your valuing of it shines out. One thing - as a concession perhaps to the ‘Nay sayers’ perhaps - you suggest maybe we kept the restrictions a tad too long. Really. Just relook at the daily stats from April to June 2022. The knife edge decision making as the situation after booster after booster shifted us and most of the chorus of New Zealand science on TV everyday to urge caution and stronger measures than were being chosen. We not only handled it better in the beginning but shout it out NO one did the transitioning thing better either. (Note the “we” giving us all some credit but really it was Jacinda’s nerve and care and resolve to watch our situation and watch over us that did it. That minute by minute watching was exhausting. It was exhausting . . .
Wonderfully written Nick.
My generation was born into a post-war socialist Aotearoa-nz so I've been a life-long Leftie.
LeftWing politics reflected the ethos 'fairness' of New Zealand. By the time I reached the age for a tertiary education my fees were paid for by the state because educating each generation was considered a common good (the basic socialist principle). Health care was available to all. My mum had obtained state housing as a widow raising two children.
On starting work, I paid into a superannuation fund that supported the elderly and assured my own retirement years would be comfortable.
And then ... the 'National' Party raised the head of Muldoon who epitomised the ugly face of capitalism gone mad!
Well said, Nick. OMG what a horrible photo of Judith Collins - and contrast to Jacinda!!!
Another beaut, Nick. Thank you.