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A protester at Cranmer Square in Christchurch (Photo: Adam Bradley/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images; additional design Archi Banal)
A protester at Cranmer Square in Christchurch (Photo: Adam Bradley/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images; additional design Archi Banal)

SocietyMarch 2, 2022

As police target parliament grounds, clone protests spring up around New Zealand

A protester at Cranmer Square in Christchurch (Photo: Adam Bradley/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images; additional design Archi Banal)
A protester at Cranmer Square in Christchurch (Photo: Adam Bradley/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images; additional design Archi Banal)

Many unable to make their way to Wellington have been seeking ways to join the movement closer to home – but with all eyes on parliament, they’ve been relegated to the sidelines. 

As the parliament protest enters its fourth week, with the peak of support seemingly passed and police mounting a massive operation to bring the action to an end, the question for many watching, supporting and participating in the once-convoy-now-occupation seems to be: what next?

The relative success of the convoy and the subsequent occupation seems to have been something of a surprise to everyone. It was clear that police underestimated the event, and while many of us in the media saw it coming, few could honestly say they expected it would still be going days later, let alone weeks.

While some supporters of the protest have suggested at various times that they represent “the majority” of the population, and that “hundreds of thousands” would show up outside parliament, it seems that even they were perhaps unprepared for it to actually take off the way it did. They’d made similar predictions in the past about protest efforts, none of which came even remotely close to being correct.

So it’s natural that some have been determined to catch that lightning in a bottle again, and expand the protest nationwide – they want to create Convoy 2.0 with outposts all over the motu. But so far things haven’t quite taken off the way some may have hoped.

One of the larger NZ Convoy channels on Telegram, originally part of the planning for the initial protest, renamed itself “Freedom Camp NZ” and began to promote the expansion plans in mid-February, then spawned a second Telegram group to facilitate planning for each city.

The Telegram appeal to connect people for nationwide protest outposts

A conversation thread was created for each major New Zealand city and town, with locals encouraged to coordinate directly with one another to bring the “Freedom Camp” movement to the nation. New Zealand’s most populous city, Auckland, managed fewer than a hundred comments. 

But the effort to create satellite occupations has one advantage: some have been there almost since the start. At the beginning of February, as the North Island and South Island convoys reached their destinations, most of those in the South Island identified their big challenge: Cook Strait. With the majority of the convoyers unvaccinated, and many unwilling to be tested, getting a ferry ticket was impossible. Picton was the end of the line for the bulk of the southern convoy, and many went home. But some remained, and Picton has also played host to an occupation. 

Protesters’ signs at Cranmer Square in Christchurch (Photo: Adam Bradley/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Then, as the success of the Wellington occupation became evident, some of those in Christchurch, who had been unable to reach the capital, decided to start their own offshoot. They set up camp in Cranmer Square a few days after the speaker, Trevor Mallard, unleashed sprinklers and 80s pop on the parliament occupation.

And so, for almost as long as the Wellington occupation has raged on, there have been sibling protests in Christchurch and Picton, and yet you’ve probably heard very little about them. And you’ve definitely not been watching live streams from either of them on the nation’s leading news websites. 

The protest at Nelson Square Reserve in Picton (Nate McKinnon/RNZ)

The same has been true for ideologically aligned Facebook and Telegram users. In the many and varied groups that make up the online community of Covid denial in New Zealand, the parliament protest has been the story. It’s the main storyline in every single group and channel. Details of the goings-on each day are posted and shared with no context or explanation required. A post saying “police have stormed the site” is understood by everyone to mean the occupation camp in downtown Wellington. 

Mention of the other protest camps is sadly lacking, even there. Occasionally, if extraordinary news breaks, updates will filter out and thoughts turn briefly to other camped-out protesters. But for the most part it’s out of sight, out of mind

A group hoping to establish a protest beachhead in Auckland piggybacked off the Freedom and Rights Coalition’s Harbour Bridge march on Saturday to establish the Tāmaki Makaurau Freedom Camp. But rather than set up tents in Victoria Park, where the march’s thousands of participants ended up, they moved across town to the Auckland Domain where they were largely unnoticed by most of the city. Police blocked roads into the Domain to prevent more people joining, and the council issued bylaw breach notices to demand the campers leave.

Trump flags flying at the Auckland domain protest on Saturday (Photo: RNZ)

By Tuesday afternoon the camp’s Telegram channel reported “there’s only 12 including kids on site”.

And, due to the fragmented nature of the protest movement, a different group of protest supporters led by a QAnon-promoting Telegram influencer were discussing their own separate Auckland-based protest days after the Domain protesters had first pitched their tents. 

Another Telegram conspiracy influencer, Karen Brewer, has been frustrated that her appeals to shift the protest to the governor general’s official residences in Auckland and Wellington have been drowned out by the parliament occupation. Brewer has been appealing to believers to gather outside the official homes of Dame Cindy Kiro in order to demand she dissolve parliament and issue a writ for a new election. A small number of her supporters have been meeting outside government house in Auckland to take turns stepping up to the gate in order to shout their demands at the presumably empty house.

A protester shouts a demand for the government to be dissolved at a seemingly empty house; Karen Brewer’s promotional poster intended to see a small crowd oust the government.

The success of the Wellington protest that inspired copycat events has also, ironically, consigned them to the sidelines. With all eyes on parliament’s long-deceased lawn, there’s been little attention paid to the smaller actions around the country for those trying to join in closer to their own homes. The media aren’t that interested, and even supporters have only so much love to give, and it’s all headed for the capital. But with police making it clear they’ve run out of patience in Wellington, the outposts may soon find themselves the centre of attention.

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Image: Getty Images, additional design by Tina Tiller
Image: Getty Images, additional design by Tina Tiller

SocietyMarch 1, 2022

What to do if your child tests positive for Covid-19

Image: Getty Images, additional design by Tina Tiller
Image: Getty Images, additional design by Tina Tiller

As omicron cases increase nationwide, so too does the number of tamariki who are testing positive for the virus. So what do parents need to know about caring for a child with Covid?

This post was first published on the author’s newsletter, Emily Writes Weekly.

Right now a lot of parents are worried about what they should be doing if their child gets Covid-19. With help from Dr Morgan Edwards, I’ve put together a guide on what to do to keep your tamaiti as comfortable as possible, how to protect others in your whare, and when to seek help.

What to do if your child gets Covid-19

First: Don’t panic. This isn’t your fault. Omicron is highly contagious.

If your child hasn’t been tested but they’re showing the following symptoms, stay home until they have been tested. Call the Covid-19 line on 0800 358 5453 to get a test.

Symptoms of Covid-19

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Trouble breathing
  • Gastrointestinal problems – sore tummy, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
  • Headaches
  • Muscle aches
  • Loss of taste and smell
  • Cold symptoms e.g sore throat and/or sneezing

Omicron is a weird virus – some tamariki will get very sick, some tamariki won’t have any symptoms at all. Some tamariki will have symptoms caused by inflammation throughout the body, sometimes several weeks after they contracted Covid-19. This is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).

Symptoms of  MIS-C to be on the lookout for are ongoing fever PLUS more than one of the following: gastrointestinal issues, bloodshot eyes, dizziness or lightheadedness (signs of low blood pressure), skin rash. Contact your doctor or take them to a hospital or after-hours if your child is showing symptoms of MIS-C. If your child develops MIS-C they will be treated at the children’s hospital or in the ICU (intensive care unit).

Getting tested

If you think your child has symptoms of Covid-19, call your GP or the Covid line on 0800 358 5453. They will give you the most up-to-date information on testing.

Children should be tested if symptomatic and present with either typical or atypical symptoms. Contact your GP or your local testing centre to organise a PCR or RAT test. PCR tests will be used for people who need it most, and rapid antigen tests (RATs) are becoming more widely available, particularly in Auckland. When you go for a test, the testing centre will let you know which test — RATs or PCR is best for you. Positive RAT results do not need to be confirmed with a PCR test unless advised.

If your child tests positive for Covid-19

You must isolate with them for 10 days. You will be sent a link to complete an online form, which will help identify locations you have visited and people you have come into close contact with.

After 10 days, and if you are free of Covid-19 symptoms, you will be free to leave isolation. You do not need a negative test. Your 10 days do not reset if another member of your household tests positive for Covid-19 – but if you yourself test positive, your 10 days begin again.

How to isolate with your Covid-19-positive child

If possible, isolate your tamaiti with one parent or caregiver in a room away from the rest of the whānau. Wash your hands often. Wash doorknobs and surfaces. Wear an N95 mask as often as possible. Keep windows open to help with air flow and ventilation. If you’re pregnant, see if you can have another caregiver or parent look after your tamariki so you can limit contact.

If you have a high-risk adult or child in your house, consider having them isolated in another room, another area of the house, or at another family member or friend’s house. If this isn’t possible, they should always wear a mask and limit interactions as much as possible.

Keep other people and pets in the house away from your child as much as possible.

If you can, have your sick child use a different bathroom from others. If that isn’t possible, wipe down the bathroom often.

High-risk means those who are / have–

  • Unvaccinated
  • Immunocompromised either from disease or medications
  • Aged 65 or older
  • Chronic lung disease including moderate to severe uncontrolled asthma, BPD from prematurity, Interstitial lung disease, Pulmonary hypertension, COPD
  • Heart conditions
  • Chronic kidney or liver disease
  • Dementia
  • Diabetes
  • Down Syndrome
  • Severe mental illness

According to the Ministry of Health, people who smoke/vape, are pregnant, and/or are obese also face elevated risk if they contract Covid-19.

If a high-risk person in your whānau gets Covid-19, contact their specialist or hospital care team immediately.

If someone in your whānau gets Covid-19 despite taking precautions, remember, it’s very contagious. It’s not your fault. Be kind and gentle with yourself.

How to look after your Covid-19 positive child

You’ve got this. Stay calm. It’s likely your pēpē has been sick before, and you’ve been able to handle it. Covid-19 is no different.

  • Keep them well-hydrated.
  • Monitor nappies and wees to make sure they’re drinking enough.
  • Don’t worry if they’re not hungry.
  • Rest often. Use paracetamol for fevers. Some tamariki might struggle with oral paracetamol if they have a sore throat. Ask your pharmacist or doctor about rectal paracetamol.
  • Use nasal suction or steam.
  • Make sure they rest as much as possible – screen time is fine!
  • Keep a close eye on their breathing – if they have any pauses in breathing, seem to be straining to breathe or have irregular or fast breathing, or if they’re too out of breath to talk or are out of breath after walking or if they turn blue or faint, call 111 immediately.

When to get help

If your child has a disability or is high risk contact your paediatrician or care team as soon as they’re diagnosed.

If your child does not have a disability, is vaccinated and is not high risk, take them to hospital or after-hours if:

  • They look really unwell – you’re their parent, trust your instincts.
  • They are confused or very sleepy
  • They have chest pain
  • They are cold, sweaty, pale or have blotchy skin
  • They are dizzy
  • They have very bad belly pain
  • Look for contractions on their chest, like pulling in between the ribs or the nostrils puffing with their breathing. If they have breathing problems, go to hospital.

If you’re not sure, call the dedicated Covid-19 Healthline, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for free on 0800 358 5453

Again: Call 111 immediately if your child has any pauses in breathing; seem to be straining to breathe or has irregular or fast breathing; if they’re too out of breath to talk; if they are out of breath after walking; or if they turn blue or faint.

Self-care

This is a scary time for you as a parent. Remember to fill your cup if you can. Talk to your friends by phone and ask for help with deliveries of groceries.

Be kind and gentle to yourself. Consider this karakia by Mero Irihapeti to protect your heart as you care for your tamariki and whānau.

Hā ki roto | Breathe in

Hā ki waho | Breathe out

Kia tau te mauri e kokiri nei | Settle the mauri that stirs inside of me

I nga piki me ngā heke | Through the ups and the downs

Ko te rangimarie tāku e rapu nei | It is peace that I seek

Tihei mauri ora

 

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