New Zealand

[llondel]

Unless you're in urgent need when it comes to cars or domestic appliances or other goods, sales come around often enough that it's worth waiting for the next one in the hope that you'll end up paying a bit less.

Of course, this is why governments like to have a low level of inflation, because if we all delayed our purchases in the expectation of reduced prices in the coming months, sales would be pretty low. Knowing it will almost certainly be a bit more expensive in six months is incentive to buy now and keep the economy moving.

[FD2]

I disagree with some of Jacinda Ardern’s policies but agree with her that the boys and girls in the Parliament grounds have had more than enough time to make their various points heard. The cops are finally clearing them out.

[Dushan]

I disagree with some of Jacinda Ardern’s policies but agree with her that the boys and girls in the Parliament grounds have had more than enough time to make their various points heard. The cops are finally clearing them out.

She must have consulted with Skippy on the methods

HONK HONK,

[FD2]

I can't help thinking that if this had happened in Moscow they would have been in prison on day one.

[TheGreenGoblin]

I can't help thinking that if this had happened in Moscow they would have been in prison on day one.

True!

Tear gas? Pah!

Hierdie betogers verdien die haelgeweer en effektiewe gebruik van die sjambok!

[FD2]

After over three weeks of being abused by the hardcore 'protesters' some of the police took the opportunity to be a little heavy handed - how sad, never mind.

As usual a majority of peaceful protesters were joined by a minority who were hell bent on confrontation and were just there to have a go at the police - mainly I suspect because the police are the ones who stop them misbehaving and doing what the hell they want. One chap who looked too old to be there stepped forward to have a poke at a cop and as they say in Batman it was biff! bang!, left and right and the old curmudgeon was down and out.

Over three weeks is far too long to have allowed this to go on but there will be some who think the Council should have fitted dormitories, rest rooms, showers, toilets and free internet for them. Now they are supposed to be heading to join the 'demo' in Christchurch. Time to clear that lot out of Cranmer Square then double quick cops! The longer they occupy a space the greater they feel it's their right of possession. Peaceful demonstration great, but this wasn't one.

Memo to Ardern:

More riot gear
More rubber bullets
More tear gas
More pepper spray
More training in riot drill

Just in case this becomes the new trend in demos here.

[FD2]

Some coverage of the clearance - 87 arrests.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/n ... occupation

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/n ... rs-evicted

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politi ... -own-cause

[TheGreenGoblin]

Some coverage of the clearance - 87 arrests.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/n ... occupation

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/n ... rs-evicted

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politi ... -own-cause

Not the sort of scenes that one associates with New Zealand.

I am all for the right to protest and free speech, but with such rights come duties, and clearly these people are simply taking a long term liberty at the expense of the general citizenry and the police who have had to suffer their anarchy for so long!

[prospector]

It was down to the renta mob people, did you notice what was the most prevalent flag displayed at all the protests?

[Dushan]

I notice a lot fires. BLM/Antifa must have attended. It’s summer there and there may have been a few flat screen TV stores around.

[John Hill]

It was down to the renta mob people, did you notice what was the most prevalent flag displayed at all the protests?

No, I did not notice the most prevalent flag.

[prospector]

Can only say you are not very observant, the maori sovereignty flag was displayed very prominently in just about every TV clip.

[John Hill]

There were very few, or no, rangatiratanga flags to be seen on the TV clips.

[prospector]

If you cannot see any of these flags in this clip, one of many, than perhaps you are not conversant with them?

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tv ... &FORM=VIRE

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tv ... ORM=VDQVAP

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tv ... ORM=VDMCNR

[ExSp33db1rd]

Can't say I can see that many Maori flags, yes, I did notice some on all the TV news broadcasts, but reckon there were more NZ flags ( plenty of Union Jacks but few stars seen ! ) also some NZ Navy ( am I right ? ) occasionally upside down to denote seeking help ? Even the Stars and Stripes - why that ?

I actually commented that I was ( pleasingly - Racist ? Moi ? ) surprised that there weren't more, I would have expected Maori radicals to have seized the opportunity to further their cause ? Just my observation.

I also think that it should have been squashed from day one, The Police Commissioner had previously stated that he felt that it would have been unacceptable to use what undoubtedly would have been excessive force, but they had to do that in the end so why wait so long ? Everyone has a right to object to anything, but not at the expense of other's lives and safety, which happened to the law abiding citizens of Wellington, and I fear is only the start of nationwide copy catting, already apparent in Auckland, and even my own Northland town with slow moving road convoys preventing me going about my lawful business (to the doctors !)

There were two women outside our Police station today bearing placards denouncing the Police, " Shame on the Police ". I passed on my motor bike and seriously considered turning around and telling them that the Police did a great job, and should do so again, right here, right now, and that they - the two women - should F-Off. I decided that my awaiting dinner needed more consideration ! ( but if they're there tomorrow ? )

[prospector]

"also some NZ Navy ( am I right ?" No, that white flag with the four stars and the red cross is the original united tribes flag. If you look at any of those clips in my last post the Tino Rangitiratanga flag is prominently displayed. Certainly more than a few, or even none. The flags were displayed more as the protest developed and extended past its use by date.

[John Hill]

Certainly more than a few, or even none.

You can see whatever you want to see.

[TheGreenGoblin]

Certainly more than a few, or even none.

You can see whatever you want to see.

Windmills of the mind!

Based, more likely, on an underlying prejudice than a love affair in this case!

[John Hill]

There seems to be some confusion abounding between the various flags to be seen in NZ. The white flag with the red cross and white stars on blue in one quarter is called the flag of the united tribes but was in fact a product of a time when NZ did not have a recognized flag and our convict cuzzies across the ditch got all prissy about ships built in NZ not showing a flag. So a few designs were produced and local chiefs were to choose one. A few years later Queen Vicy's men said that if NZ did not belong to anyone else it must be her's and henceforth NZ ships were to fly her flag.

[FD2]

Making it clear, some flags:.

The RNZN White Ensign:

Naval_Ensign_of_New_Zealand.svg.png (5.18 KiB) Viewed 314 times

The NZ Merchant Red Ensign:

red-ensign.gif (6.74 KiB) Viewed 314 times

The United Tribes of New Zealand:

flag-untied-tribes.jpg (54.37 KiB) Viewed 314 times