Media reports are insufficient. Since Friday the protest has swollen enormously. I took a walk around all the streets near parliament this morning. The land surrounding the old government buildings is now covered in vehicles. The thoroughfare between the High Court and Wellington University is covered. Every conceivable space is taken. People have parked in triangles and put up awnings between their utes. Up Molesworth street roadside vehicles now extend as far as Pipitea Street. People are camping in every building vestibule including the High Court by creatively tethering to pillars and posts.
In Parliament grounds around a tenth of tent city has succumbed to the gale force gusts but most are standing. Mallard's music is blasting out but other audio speakers are competing with the likes of Chuck Berry. People are dancing despite abysmal conditions. The temperature is 12 degrees but the wind chill factor makes it much colder. I was exhaling vapour. On the lawns there are carpets and rubber tiles on top of hay to make pathways but veer off them and you could be ankle deep. The first aid tent is busy but not overwhelmed.
There is not one sign that people are drifting away or losing energy. If need be, people can take a break and retreat temporarily to vehicles, motor homes, converted horsetrailers - whatever - and dry off and get warm again. There is food and there are toilets.
Mallard has shown he is completely divorced from reality. Does he think every protestor has a lovely warm remote home like his beckoning? Many have their homes parked at parliament - including cars. There are the marginalised, the middleclass and the moderately wealthy in attendance judging by their chariots. And what was he thinking turning on the sprinklers when this heavy sustained rain was forecast anyway? 'Kindness' personified not. All his and police actions have done is strengthen the resolve of the occupiers and increased sympathy from the wider public.
At only 9:30 am there was plenty of activity to behold. And the mood is still as it was two days ago. Everybody is smiling, greeting each other and engendering a sense of goodwill. A young lady collecting rubbish also enjoying the humanity recalled to me that 'she' (gesturing toward parliament) told us not to talk to our neighbours. That's not New Zealand, she said to me.
3 comments:
Lindsay, thankyou for the update. Its honest and informative and in many ways the opposite of what MSM is supplying.
I suspect Mr Mallard has spent too many years at the trough and for him and others, privilege appears to have become the divine right of kings.
Will they call the protest a riot and declare martial law?
Meanwhile here in the Tararua heavy rain has caused surface flooding and excess ground water lies on my lawns like mini lakes, but is no threat to property. The wind here in my part of the district has been strong but not destructive.
There are large numbers of motorcyclists out and about on the highway. Its not what I would call ideal riding weather, but some people are staunch in the face of adversity as your report from Parliament grounds has shown us. Our thoughts are with them as we sit warm and dry by our fire munching cheese on toast.
Sprinklers and lound music? That's Slave Culture warfare. It's cowardly, impersonal, weak. Equivalent to sticking a 'kick me' sign on someone's back on a pin on their seat.
I'm going to post some images of National 3.0 in similar circumstances. They stared down protests face to face.
These protesters are showing Honor Culture endurance standing up to the police and the elements.
You're on side with Phillip Arps and the Counterspin crazies are you? They're running the show.
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