Teardrop On The Fire
Love, love is a verb
Love is a doing word
Fearless on my breath
Gentle impulsion
Shakes me, makes me lighter
Fearless on my breath
Time used to be when only a few of the things I wrote about upset me. Stories of individuals, the young lad lost in the cave, Kiri Allan’s night of madness. Awful things.
Other stories fill me with pride. Times I’ve watched commemorations - ANZAC, Waitangi, our people together in the hours of sun rise. Solemnity, the serenade of waiata, the “hands trembling” of Dave Dobbyn’s Welcome Home.
Lately though - too many teardrops.
I love this country but I hate what this government is doing to it. Every announcement takes us in the opposite direction to which we should be going. All that’s good they want undone, things that are bad - they wish to make worse. Apparently that’s getting things “Back On Track”.
What the fuck does that even mean?
Maybe the people who voted for it know? I sure as hell don’t - do you?
Do the 51% look at the coalition’s actions and think, yeah - that’s what we need, a bit of tough love after all that bloody kindness. Time to harden up, cut out this nanny state nonsense and let people thrive and survive on their own two feet. Freedom means not having to care about others, and what a bloody relief that is.
And what about you? And the rest of us? Is every morning Edvard Munch time, as the coalition find another new low? As you see things you care about cast aside for vultures to devour the remaining flesh?
We tried to tell them, didn’t we? We said if you vote for those people saying all that anti-Māori stuff, they will do anti-Māori things. It wasn’t a surprise.
No one can claim they just voted for a tax cut, that they didn’t really think the parties saying all that racist stuff would actually do it. Their eyes were wide open. There were no noses held, no dead rodents dined upon, the majority of people in this country voted for the attacks we see on Māori - and don’t you let them forget it.
From there, take your pick - it’s the same across the board. All three parties in the coalition opposed even the meagre actions on Climate Change we were taking. Every single person who voted for ACT, NZ First, and National knew exactly what they were doing. They were happy to take the cash and leave a bag of crap for their grandchildren to inherit. Sign me up they said, and they ticked the box.
You and I, we look and shake our heads, or maybe our fists. And sometimes we cry. But others will cry more, much more than the sadness we feel at seeing what this coalition is doing to our country.
People who’ve lost their livelihoods with no new jobs to go to because these politicians, who tell us they’re good at running the economy, have tipped thousands of public servants out of work and straight into a looming recession. So many lives will be damaged as a result of unnecessary unemployment, low wages, or the ringbarking of a culture thriving anew.
Look I don’t want to bring anyone down but these guys are just getting started, it’s only their first year - and do not underestimate the willingness of your neighbours and workmates to vote for them again in 2026. Most of those who did last time probably will again.
This isn’t the anomaly, it’s simply a return to the days of Key and others before him. Whereas the time we had with Jacinda, that was the dream. That time when it felt like the majority of us cared about our country and people. So now you’re awake - what are you going to do about it?
Perhaps knock on your neighbours door? “Hi, we’re here on behalf of humanity, we’d like to talk to you about becoming a decent human being.” Hmm, maybe not. It might hamper your neighbourly relations if you point out to them that they’re the ones responsible for screwing over Māori and stuffing the planet, just because they wanted a few more bucks in their pockets.
So don’t tell them that. Do tell them the truth, but let’s make it a bit more constructive.
You’ve got two years to help them understand how much damage this government is doing to our country. There’s a lot riding on it - you do not want these parties re-elected for a second term, and left to their own devices many of the people who voted for them last October will do so again the next time.
You’re going to have to be brave. Not just to withstand what this government is doing but fearless in your opposition. Ferocious in your determination. You’re going to have to treat this stuff seriously, like it really matters - because it really does.
Some of the things you’re going to say will be badly received. Relationships will suffer as you realise you simply do not share the same values. Some will end.
Maybe you’ll speak up in a work situation where you see something that’s grossly unfair, unsafe, or unconscionable. Some will lose their jobs, some already have. For speaking the truth about this government and refusing to remain silent
But there is good news. Sort of.
People might get sucked into social media misinformation, to buffoons playacting on tiktok, or jump at the chance of some messages from the messiah - but they also see the reality over time.
But oh oh - look over there.
What? That’s crazy - a DM from the PM? Sign me up. All this worrying about te Tiriti and the planet is boring - did you see the guy’s Tiktoks? Hilarious.
Most Kiwis will give a bit more attention to the real world and not be distracted by such puerile tactics. They will see what is happening, eventually.
Your job is to accelerate that, and the good news is that Christopher Luxon is helping you do it. I reckon it took about seven years before people started to see through Key. The initial charm faded and they were left with the angry slurring of someone with nothing to offer the majority in this country. Luxon, on the other hand, is already building a groundswell of anger and dissatisfaction at a remarkably early stage.
Many voters still support the centre right, it will take them years to see that all the promises on law and order, and the economy, were meaningless. But a whole lot of people are already drawing the conclusion that this Luxon guy - yeah nah, they don’t like him so much. He’s a bit embarrassing really, and it turns out the more we get to know him the less we like him.
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Are there valid reasons to vote for this government? Sure, but they ain’t good, and if you think Māori deserve, at the very least, what they have now, and that what we were doing under the last government on climate change was the absolute minimum we should do - then there are no good reasons. So that’ll help.
All we have to do is make sure that every single person who cares about the planet, the role of Māori in Aotearoa, our public services, or just generally not being led by a complete bellend, never votes for these guys ever again.
What do you reckon? Can we do this? Or more to the point - can we afford not to?
Have a good one all you lovely people. I’m really glad I’m on the same side with you, but we do need to recruit a few more to make sure we win next time.
Don’t be afraid - be fearless.
Sir Ian Taylor is an excellent example. He picked and picked and picked at the Labour government - and voted National in the last election. Now he is (accurately) complaining about the actions of the govt he helped vote in.
Nick, your sensitive post exactly captures my thoughts and feelings. It is up to those of us who see Aotearoa is under attack to speak out. I’ve been having those conversations since mid-Covid when people forgot how scary it was at the start and turned angry over being ‘made’ to do things that would protect others ie wear masks and vaccinate. It was the genesis of what we are living through now. I spoke my truth and some distanced themselves from me or the reverse. Others agreed to disagree but we’ve stayed friends. It was good training. I feel confident now to have tough but non-confrontational conversations about how dangerous and divisive the coalition is, why Toitū Te Tiriti matters to all of us, and how being inclusive, empathetic and kind makes our country great while libertarianism is just a cloak for the elitism, racism, sexism - all the isms - that tear us down.