The Days Go By

Looking back, and asking what you think.

It must be your skin, I'm sinkin' in
It must be for real, 'cause now I can feel
And I didn't mind, it's not my kind
It's not my time to wonder why

Songwriter: Gavin Rossdale.

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As the year winds up, I’m feeling a bit mentally drained, so today’s newsletter is one of reminiscing.

Today, it’s Facebook posts I made on this day in the ten years before I started writing Nick’s Kōrero, which I hope is more interesting than it sounds. Since I didn’t use social media so much back then, some posts might be plus/minus a day or two, but I’m sure you won’t mind. 🙂

The posts from the past are in italics, but the rest aren’t.

2012 - Look, I can meme.

This was my first year posting, although it doesn’t look like I’d worked up to words yet.

2013 - Mandela’s funeral.

It was inspiring listening to Helen Clark on the way home tonight and the highs and lows of NZ's involvement with Apartheid, from HART through expelling the SA Ambassador in 72, the shame of being a pariah in 76 with African countries boycotting the Olympics due to our implicit support of Apartheid through rugby tours. Our willingness to send All Black teams with Maoris as 'honorary whites'.

And then 81, a defining period for NZ, although perhaps only in so much as how we were, and are, deeply divided. I shed a tear as I heard Helen talk about the news reaching the ANC political prisoners on Robben Island when the game was called off in Hamilton and the cheer that went up. In my own family, there were people who protested and were struck with batons by the police, but I also remember my father being elated as Allen Hewson kicked the penalty that won us the series.

There have been great leaders in this country who have supported the rights of people in SA—Kirk, Lange, Clark—people to be proud of. And what do we have now? A nasty, greedy little market trader who can't remember how he felt about the 81 tour. It is embarrassing that he represents our country at a time like this compared to those above.

New Zealand's prime minister, John Key, was originally described as an 'unidentified guest' when photographed with David Cameron at Nelson Mandela's memorial service. Photograph: PA/Sports Inc Photograph: PA/Sports Inc

More than that, I despair of those who voted for him, as they would have voted for 'honorary whites', supporting apartheid as long as they got their game of rugby and a complete disregard for the things that Kirk, Lange, and Clark stood for that make me feel so proud.