As Wellington wakes up to the arrival of a protest convoy, Brian Tamaki’s Freedom & Rights coalition have said they don’t want violence and there won’t be an occupation, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in The Bulletin.
Protest convoy to arrive at parliament this morning
On the last day of the protests at parliament in March, I was wrangling a column about what had happened. By the end of that day, the lawn ablaze and pavers hurled, half of what I’d written had to be dumped. Today, Wellington will once again be the scene of anti-government protests as a protest convoy organised by Brian Tamaki’s Freedom & Rights coalition arrives in the city. They are due at parliament at 10am. According to social media posts from the coalition, they will also hold a “people’s court” to “try” charges of “crimes against humanity”. On Q&A this weekend, Whena Owen spoke to Hannah Tamaki who said her husband wants to announce the formation of an umbrella political party involving several like-minded minor parties “on the steps of parliament”. Only one party Owen spoke to had confirmed it may possibly have a deal with the Tamakis, the New Nation party. Two ruled it out.
Commuters told to expect disruption, staff told to work from home
Toby Manhire has spoken to Wellington mayor Andy Foster on The Spinoff this morning. Foster said he’s not overly alarmed by the staging of mock trials. Police advice has indicated there isn’t a high chance groups with similar beliefs will join the march. The police acknowledge the right to peaceful protest but will take action against unlawful behaviour. Around 1000 people are expected at the protest and preparations have been made at parliament with road closures and concrete barriers in place. There is also a counter-protest planned. Commuters have been told to expect disruption and people who work in the area have been advised to work from home.
Coalition not planning occupation but what others do is “not our concern”
Manhire also details Tamaki’s rhetoric in his piece. Tamaki is excited saying “I’m always excited when you know the devil is uncomfortable.” As the Herald’s Adam Pearse reports, the indication from the police is somewhat contrary to evidence online where several groups had shown their support for the protest. In her interview with Q&A, Hannah Tamaki said they don’t want people to get hurt, that an occupation wasn’t planned but when the coalition leaves, what happens next is not their concern. Newsroom’s Marc Daalder spoke to disinformation expert Sanjana Hattotuwa who has expressed concern about the proposed mock trials. These are linked to the sovereign citizen movement which Hattotuwa describes as “inherently violent”.
Fearless straight talk from “reality-based media”
These events always raise questions about how the media should cover them. The Washington Post’s Margaret Sullivan has just penned her last column for the paper. It’s advice for journalists covering the 2024 elections in the US – specifically how to handle Trump but it’s pertinent here and really worth a read. Sullivan has been using the term “reality-based media” instead of mainstream media for a few years now. It implies the existence of a media which is not based in reality and I think we probably have to accept that’s where we’re at now. Stewart Sowman-Lund spoke to Paula Penfold about the recent Stuff Circuit documentary Fire and Fury. It’s a good example of the media’s evolution in its thinking about how to handle coverage of these groups and the very deliberate, well-explained editorial decision-making Sullivan has called for.