thedailyblog--2020-08-14--On The Demands That National Be More Involved In Covid-19 Crisis Response

Over the next few days , you are going to see an escalating tide of “ I think National should be part of the Government ” as applies health decisions , because people “ don ’ t want playing politics ” with the crisis-response .
Sorry , I don ’ t think National ’ s demonstrated much capacity for doing anything *other* than “ playing politics ” with the health response , of late .
The calls for National to get the ‘ seat at the table ’ which they can not win democratically had already begun when Judith Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manual meant that we have a Caretaker Government [ we don ’ t – Parliament hasn ’ t risen yet ] , and therefore that there was a legal obligation for Cabinet to include her with decision-making .
This is going to escalate into demands that instead of being ‘ included ’ in decision-making , or notified pretty promptly of changes in the situation [ the latter of which is *definitely* already happening – straight after the relevant Cabinet meeting , in fact ] … to Collins and/or Brownlee and/or Reti being given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new elements to the Covid-19 response .
At least in part because they don ’ t feel they can ‘ play politics ’ from the sidelines … because they feel they are being electorally disadvantaged by a successful Covid-19 response for which they can claim no credit .
New Zealanders overwhelmingly want a positive and prudent response to this crisis .
We have been fortunate , thus far , to get one that has been largely exactly that ( albeit one that has benefited quite significantly from ‘ luck ’ at various points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its absence ) .
I remain to see how the forcible integration of National Party talking heads into said response is of a significant benefit to either the response or the people of New Zealand .
Even leaving aside my own , perhaps paranoidly conspiratorial misgivings , that some in National might seek to deliberately undermine said response for desperate electoral gain .
I mean seriously – they ’ ve already had prominent members attempt to scuttle one of their own high-profile candidacies *from inside the party* and ‘ prove there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being the flaw .
National cares about power .
Somebody else has it , they want it .
Ordinarily , they ’ d be throwing all-out to try and ‘ legitimately ’ claim such power in an electoral contest .
And I say ‘ legitimately ’ , with the scare-quotes , because in previous elections they ’ ve repeatedly demonstrated that all manner of illegitimate tactics ( ranging from having SIS material funnelled to an attack blogger to the much more pedestrian merely making things up ) can and will be deployed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday night , they were endeavouring to engage in yet another pitch ( the third one this year ) for Why You Need Us , New Zealand – with the understandable aim of unseating the Prime Minister and current Government and ascending in their place .
When the previous round of Lockdown occurred , there were some occasional murmurings about a Government of National Unity for the course of the crisis .
These were , to a degree , understandable in light of the uncertain times we found ourselves then living in .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the times , or the suggestions .
Instead , the new call is to try and allow National to turn our Covid-19 crisis response into an infomercial for itself ( and probably implicitly against Labour ) , on grounds that the extant Dr Ashley Bloomfield Show airing at 13:00 daily plus the Government ’ s broader Covid-19 management is already just such an infomercial for their ongoing incumbency to continue .
It is – again – understandable that in times of crisis , the Government of the day is held to account by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the circumstances we ’ ve faced recently , this duty is now more vitally necessary than perhaps ever before in the course of this millennium .
But there is a vast gulf of distinction between , say , the legitimate raising of alarum about two arrivals leaving lockdown to travel the length of the country who later turn out to have Covid-19 … and inventing a homeless person getting in to lockdown because you want to make the Government ’ s quarantine security look as holey as sanctified Swiss cheese .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and help shed light on how this latest outbreak occurred , and fishing for NZPP voters by claiming that it ’ s a “ convenient ” not-at-all- “ coincidence ” in conspiratorial tones that this outbreak is even happening this close to the Election and in a manner that may advantage Labour as if it were somehow pre-planned or pre-covered up .
There is a huge difference between merely wanting to hold power and having the qualities with which we should like to see it used and governed .
And there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the table in these present times – and it actually being in our best , national interest to actually give it to them .

Over the next few days, you are going to see an escalating tide of “I think National should be part of the Government” as applies health decisions, because people “don’t want playing politics” with the crisis-response.
Sorry, I don’t think National’s demonstrated much capacity for doing anything *other* than “playing politics” with the health response, of late.
The calls for National to get the ‘seat at the table’ which they cannot win democratically had already begun when Judith Collins falsely claimed that something in the Cabinet Manual meant that we have a Caretaker Government [we don’t – Parliament hasn’t risen yet] , and therefore that there was a legal obligation for Cabinet to include her with decision-making.
This is going to escalate into demands that instead of being ‘included’ in decision-making, or notified pretty promptly of changes in the situation [the latter of which is *definitely* already happening – straight after the relevant Cabinet meeting, in fact] … to Collins and/or Brownlee and/or Reti being given ‘equal billing’ in unfurling any new elements to the Covid-19 response.
At least in part because they don’t feel they can ‘play politics’ from the sidelines … because they feel they are being electorally disadvantaged by a successful Covid-19 response for which they can claim no credit.
New Zealanders overwhelmingly want a positive and prudent response to this crisis. We have been fortunate, thus far, to get one that has been largely exactly that (albeit one that has benefited quite significantly from ‘luck’ at various points and could have gone severely sideways in its absence).
I remain to see how the forcible integration of National Party talking heads into said response is of a significant benefit to either the response or the people of New Zealand. Even leaving aside my own, perhaps paranoidly conspiratorial misgivings, that some in National might seek to deliberately undermine said response for desperate electoral gain.
I mean seriously – they’ve already had prominent members attempt to scuttle one of their own high-profile candidacies *from inside the party* and ‘prove there’s a flaw in Covid-19 data-handing’ by being the flaw.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
National cares about power. Somebody else has it, they want it. Ordinarily, they’d be throwing all-out to try and ‘legitimately’ claim such power in an electoral contest. And I say ‘legitimately’, with the scare-quotes, because in previous elections they’ve repeatedly demonstrated that all manner of illegitimate tactics (ranging from having SIS material funnelled to an attack blogger to the much more pedestrian merely making things up) can and will be deployed in pursuit of that aim. Up until Tuesday night, they were endeavouring to engage in yet another pitch (the third one this year) for Why You Need Us, New Zealand – with the understandable aim of unseating the Prime Minister and current Government and ascending in their place.
When the previous round of Lockdown occurred, there were some occasional murmurings about a Government of National Unity for the course of the crisis. These were, to a degree, understandable in light of the uncertain times we found ourselves then living in. Yet these are not those. Either the times, or the suggestions. Instead, the new call is to try and allow National to turn our Covid-19 crisis response into an infomercial for itself (and probably implicitly against Labour), on grounds that the extant Dr Ashley Bloomfield Show airing at 13:00 daily plus the Government’s broader Covid-19 management is already just such an infomercial for their ongoing incumbency to continue.
It is – again – understandable that in times of crisis, the Government of the day is held to account by a Loyal Opposition. Given some of the circumstances we’ve faced recently, this duty is now more vitally necessary than perhaps ever before in the course of this millennium. But there is a vast gulf of distinction between, say, the legitimate raising of alarum about two arrivals leaving lockdown to travel the length of the country who later turn out to have Covid-19 … and inventing a homeless person getting in to lockdown because you want to make the Government’s quarantine security look as holey as sanctified Swiss cheese. There is a huge difference between probing to try and help shed light on how this latest outbreak occurred, and fishing for NZPP voters by claiming that it’s a “convenient” not-at-all-“coincidence” in conspiratorial tones that this outbreak is even happening this close to the Election and in a manner that may advantage Labour as if it were somehow pre-planned or pre-covered up. There is a huge difference between merely wanting to hold power and having the qualities with which we should like to see it used and governed.
And there is a huge difference between National demanding a seat at the table in these present times – and it actually being in our best, national interest to actually give it to them.


thedailyblog--2020-08-15--Beware the Zombie Apolitics

Beware the Zombie Apolitics

Metaphorically , the church bells rang and we danced in the streets .
We felt celebratory and smug .
We were the “ Team of Five Million ” .
We were world leaders , with our world class leader , our ‘ go hard and go early ’ , brave-out-of-the-blocks intolerance for Coronavirus .
We were the plucky little country .
Like David and Goliath , we beat the disease .
When lockdown ( V1 ) lifted , we could show physical affection in greeting friends .
We abandoned social distancing .
We shared kai , rode packed like sardines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to parties , gigs , on holiday – and we did .
We could cautiously visit the elderly , we could collectively mourn our dead .
The backlog of delayed cancer diagnostics and treatment began to clear .
We had political campaign launches where the spit was flying as thousands of cheering supporters celebrated Labour Party success , our national success , at eliminating the disease .
We watched as the social distancing stickers on the floor of local shops grew faded .
The Perspex screens looked anachronistic .
News readers became the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records were reached in the spread of the disease – twenty million infected , 700,000 dead .
That was happening far away , we were untouchable .
We were safe .
But from returning Kiwi ’ s infection rates , it was clear the disease was still alive and well , at the gates .
We watched Melbourne , Victoria and especially its aged care sector under siege as the disease spread like – well , Australian bush fire .
But we were complacent .
So much success .
So much hubris .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ So here we are back in lockdown .
In Auckland “ we ’ re taking it for the team ” .
That means the streets are quiet again except for speedsters using the roads like racetracks ; there are families out walking and cycling .
We thronged to the beach on a sunny day .
Those who used lockdown V1 to plant their vege patches , now have time to weed around and harvest the maturing plants .
Sometimes resilience takes time .
The sourdough recipes and breadmakers are dusted off .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown the first time .
We can hear the birdsong again .
Families are walking around with their faces covered , and home-made masks have become a cottage industry .
We are more or less adapting to the new normal .
Coronavirus – the second wave , V2 .
It looks post-apocalyptic , but with takeaways .
But now that Coronavirus is back , hopefully confined , so is the uncertainty .
What does this mean for the election ?
What does this mean for the businesses and workers hanging on by virtue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Party gain any foothold on the slippery slope into irrelevance , when every straw they grasp undermines their credibility even more ?
Wouldn ’ t you choose kindness over Cruella ?
Our success at eliminating the disease first time round , ( among other things ) has led to polls which show a high level of confidence , consensus and support for Jacinda Ardern and her management of Coronavirus .
Even a majority of surveyed small to medium sized businesses now support Labour .
Conservatives are pleased that Jacinda is so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money to spare for an extended wage subsidy , and some jobs , are kept back from the brink in the meantime at least .
But is there only so long we can play whack-a-mole with Coronavirus , closing down regions whenever it pops up ?
Is there only so much breath we can breathe into the corpse of the tourism industry in the hope it ’ s not a zombie economy , more dead than alive , but just in suspended animation ?
Is the best that Judith Collins can hope for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – a zombie party would be a currently optimistic diagnosis , and they ’ ll be hoping there are some tangible failures that undermine confidence in the Government whenever an election occurs .
National want a delayed election – of course they do , in the hope if they wait long enough , Labour will trip and fall .
For the public so far , it doesn ’ t seem like this latest breach counts .
Meanwhile , the Government has capital and confidence to burn .
We ’ ve been warned not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s policy platform , so it will be too much to hope for a post-Covid strategy .
Will the world even ever be ‘ post-Covid ’ ?
In the absence of a contest of ideas , a relatively blank policy platform , the security of inertia ; we have a political caution that only obliquely references interventionist/ideology- it ’ s just essential business support in a crisis .
There are logistical challenges and political risks with going ahead with the election , and in a delay .
The public seem happy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s kind , if not visionary , even though we were promised both .
It ’ s not the election itself we should be worried about though , it ’ s zombie politics , where a single set of conservative ideas dominates by default , and we don ’ t have the courage , time or inclination to fundamentally question those ideas are or what they mean for society .
Democracy doesn ’ t have quite the spirit befitting the electoral body politik if there ’ s no credible debate on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to a system-crisis of this scale .
Caution of Jacinda Ardern ’ s calibre supports hegemony but may be as dangerous to our future as wrong ideological belief altogether .
What a response so far though – compelling , clearly communicated , competent , much more credible than many abroad , but not as strategically visionary or coherent as it could have been -or could be yet .
Labour came into office talking about transformation .
Since then , the whole country has indeed been transformed .
Coalition parties who started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capitulated to it .
The coalition are doing an ( in ) credible job nursing the zombie economy through the apocalypse so far .
But if we do get the chance to vote on September 19 this year , we should be reflecting not just on political parties , but on how to avoid zombie apolitics too .

Metaphorically, the church bells rang and we danced in the streets. We felt celebratory and smug. We were the “Team of Five Million”. We were world leaders, with our world class leader, our ‘go hard and go early’, brave-out-of-the-blocks intolerance for Coronavirus. We were the plucky little country. Like David and Goliath, we beat the disease.
When lockdown (V1) lifted, we could show physical affection in greeting friends. We abandoned social distancing. We shared kai, rode packed like sardines in a lift, we could go to parties, gigs, on holiday – and we did. We could cautiously visit the elderly, we could collectively mourn our dead. The backlog of delayed cancer diagnostics and treatment began to clear. We had political campaign launches where the spit was flying as thousands of cheering supporters celebrated Labour Party success, our national success, at eliminating the disease. We watched as the social distancing stickers on the floor of local shops grew faded. The Perspex screens looked anachronistic. News readers became the news again. Even though new world records were reached in the spread of the disease – twenty million infected, 700,000 dead. That was happening far away, we were untouchable. We were safe. But from returning Kiwi’s infection rates, it was clear the disease was still alive and well, at the gates. We watched Melbourne, Victoria and especially its aged care sector under siege as the disease spread like – well, Australian bush fire. But we were complacent. So much success. So much hubris.
Until the virus came back again. So here we are back in lockdown. In Auckland “we’re taking it for the team”. That means the streets are quiet again except for speedsters using the roads like racetracks; there are families out walking and cycling. We thronged to the beach on a sunny day. Those who used lockdown V1 to plant their vege patches, now have time to weed around and harvest the maturing plants. Sometimes resilience takes time. The sourdough recipes and breadmakers are dusted off. We remember what we lost when we left lockdown the first time. We can hear the birdsong again. Families are walking around with their faces covered, and home-made masks have become a cottage industry. We are more or less adapting to the new normal. Coronavirus – the second wave, V2. It looks post-apocalyptic, but with takeaways.
But now that Coronavirus is back, hopefully confined, so is the uncertainty. What does this mean for the election? What does this mean for the businesses and workers hanging on by virtue of the wage subsidy? How can the National Party gain any foothold on the slippery slope into irrelevance, when every straw they grasp undermines their credibility even more? Wouldn’t you choose kindness over Cruella?
Our success at eliminating the disease first time round, (among other things) has led to polls which show a high level of confidence, consensus and support for Jacinda Ardern and her management of Coronavirus. Even a majority of surveyed small to medium sized businesses now support Labour. Conservatives are pleased that Jacinda is so conservative. It means there’s money to spare for an extended wage subsidy, and some jobs, are kept back from the brink in the meantime at least. But is there only so long we can play whack-a-mole with Coronavirus, closing down regions whenever it pops up? Is there only so much breath we can breathe into the corpse of the tourism industry in the hope it’s not a zombie economy, more dead than alive, but just in suspended animation? Is the best that Judith Collins can hope for is that National is not dead, – a zombie party would be a currently optimistic diagnosis, and they’ll be hoping there are some tangible failures that undermine confidence in the Government whenever an election occurs. National want a delayed election – of course they do, in the hope if they wait long enough, Labour will trip and fall. For the public so far, it doesn’t seem like this latest breach counts. Meanwhile, the Government has capital and confidence to burn.
We’ve been warned not to expect an election based on Labour’s policy platform, so it will be too much to hope for a post-Covid strategy. Will the world even ever be ‘post-Covid’? In the absence of a contest of ideas, a relatively blank policy platform, the security of inertia; we have a political caution that only obliquely references interventionist/ideology- it’s just essential business support in a crisis.
There are logistical challenges and political risks with going ahead with the election, and in a delay. The public seem happy to have a caretaker government, one that’s kind, if not visionary, even though we were promised both. It’s not the election itself we should be worried about though, it’s zombie politics, where a single set of conservative ideas dominates by default, and we don’t have the courage, time or inclination to fundamentally question those ideas are or what they mean for society. Democracy doesn’t have quite the spirit befitting the electoral body politik if there’s no credible debate on the future of state and society, especially in response to a system-crisis of this scale. Caution of Jacinda Ardern’s calibre supports hegemony but may be as dangerous to our future as wrong ideological belief altogether. What a response so far though – compelling, clearly communicated, competent, much more credible than many abroad, but not as strategically visionary or coherent as it could have been -or could be yet.
Labour came into office talking about transformation. Since then, the whole country has indeed been transformed. Coalition parties who started the term questioning neo-liberal capitalism have now capitulated to it. The coalition are doing an (in)credible job nursing the zombie economy through the apocalypse so far. But if we do get the chance to vote on September 19 this year, we should be reflecting not just on political parties, but on how to avoid zombie apolitics too.


thedailyblog--2020-08-16--Life in Level 2: The Curious Case of the Very Invisible Virus

As at mid-day on 12 August , Aotearoa New Zealand went to Alert Level 2 and Auckland City to Lockdown , Alert Level 3 .
This , the result of four infections discovered in a South Auckland industrial area .
The source of reinfection in South Auckland is yet to be determined .
Options are limited to ; • • Border staff at airports , ports , or quarantine facilities unwittingly picking up the virus The third option seems unlikely .
Where there is asymptomatic infection there are also symptomatic cases where people end up in hospital and ICU care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occur , but not the other ; The other hypothesis doing the rounds is that maybe New Zealand never eliminated the virus and that it has been bubbling away undetected in the community for three months .
Professor [ Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws from the University of New South Wales ] …thinks this is highly unlikely , and that at least some cases would have had symptoms and presented to medical authorities .
The last option is the most disturbing .
It is no secret that returning airline flight crews from foreign destinations are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , unlike other Returnees passing through our borders ; The assumption that the new outbreak may have been the result of returning international flight crews is a possibility we should not quickly dismiss .
To test this hypothesis , it is necessary to look at relevant facts .
Firstly , the genome of the covid19 virus in this latest outbreak does not match those who are infected and in current quarantine .
As Prime Minister Ardern stated on 14 August , “ This suggests this is not a case of the virus being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our community .
It appears to be new to New Zealand.
” So we can rule out the second option above , and part of the first option .
There is also no indication of incursion through a port , or an Americold worker have any association with a port worker .
Next : according to Dr Ashley Bloomfield and the Ministry of Health , the genome of the virus indicates it may have originated from one of two countries ; “ We are continuing with genome sequencing investigations .
What we know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no exact link with a recent case in MIQ from the samples we have been able to genome sequence , however , genome sequencing of new cases resembles the genome pattern from the UK and Australia most closely.
” By contrast , genomic sequencing points to the original appearance of the virus in late-February as having emanated from North America , not from Asia , Australia , or the UK .
Next : The facility where covid19 was first discovered is Americold NZ Ltd , situated at Mt Wellington .
It is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have centred .
Suggestions that transmission occurred via importation of chilled/frozen goods between Australian and New Zealand Americold facilities were unequivocally dismissed by the company ’ s managing director , Richard Winnall ; “ Americold have investigated and we can completely rule out there is no transfer of product between these facilities in Australia or New Zealand , ” Winnall told the Herald today .
We can completely rule out transmission through that speculation on freight .
It ’ s just not possible because there is no freight or supply chain connecting those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] .
In fact , for months and months [ there has been no freight between Melbourne and Auckland ] .
I can ’ t tell you how long other than my Melbourne facility has confirmed they have no record of shipping to that Mt Wellington facility.
” Otago University professor and epidemiologist , Michael Baker , described the suggestion of viral contamination on imported goods as unlikely ; University of Otago professor of infectious diseases , David Murdoch , said ; “ I think on balance it ’ s probably less likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of North Carolina , Rachel Graham , pointed out ; “ Even frozen , on a surface like that , you ’ ll see the virus desiccate and dry out , which renders it completely non-infectious.
” And executive director of the World Health Organisation ’ s Health Emergencies Program , Michael Ryan , stated ; “ There is no evidence that food or the food chain is participating in transmission of this virus , and people should feel comfortable and feel safe , ” Ryan said in a press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people should not fear food , or food packaging or processing , and the delivery of food.
” “ We believe that was just two employees that contracted Covid-19 from outside the workplace , that happened to be employees of ours.
” This is where things get… “ interesting ” ( but hopefully not in a Gerry Brownlee kind-of-way ) .
Americold also has a second facility , at Manu Tapu Drive , only a few kilometres from Auckland Airport ; One of the Americold workers tested works at the Manu Tapu Drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s test remains unknown as at publication of this story .
A Ministry of Health media release dated 13 August stated ; Two of the AmeriCold sites , Mount Wellington and Auckland Airport , have been closed , and all staff from the Airport site have now been tested .
That was three days ago , and the MoH website has no update as to the results of testing of staff at the Auckland Airport Americold site .
The first recorded Americold worker ’ s ( not at the facility near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Working backward from 31 July , the first worker would have been infected roughly fourteen to sixteen days prior to presenting with symptoms .
That takes into account approximately 12 to 14 days to incubate ; one day presenting ; and another day to test and determine a positive result .
The MoH website for covid cases yields the following result for Returnees flying home from Australia ; Recall that this strain of virus most likely emanated from UK or Australia .
Whilst the evidence above should be regarded as circumstantial , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Aotearoa New Zealand carried the covid19 virus and transmitted infection to an Americold staff-member should not be dismissed out of hand .
This country has already had one such instance of returning flight staff carrying the contagion across our borders into the community – with fatal results .
Equally alarming , is that flights from Australia and elsewhere continue to arrive to our country ; None of the flight crew staff are quarantined .
Meanwhile , the re-emergence of covid19 outside our quarantine facilities should squash further irrational proposals that we re-open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Zealanders ; “ We don ’ t really have a health crisis in New Zealand because we don ’ t have community transmission ; we have a financial crisis that is coming , not a health crisis.
” – defies common sense and should be discarded as the misguided ‘ reckons ’ of a man with unbalanced priorities .
People like Key , David Seymour , et al , should be regarded with derision if we value human life above money .
ABC News : New Zealand races to track down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media : No quarantine rule for Air NZ international crew after new Covid cases RNZ : Air NZ silent about Covid-19 cases as staff fears grow over quarantine exemption NZ Herald : Covid 19 Coronavirus – Air NZ crew and airport staff to be tested Ministry of Health : 14 new cases of COVID-19 – Media release Stuff media : Coronavirus – New research reveals how Covid-19 came to New Zealand NZ Herald : Covid 19 coronavirus – Two new cases at Americold factory ; wait on results of 14 others continues NZ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director can ‘ completely rule out ’ NZ ’ s virus cluster came from Melbourne facility Stuff media : ‘ We ’ re leaving no stone unturned ’ : Did New Zealand ’ s outbreak come from a Melbourne coolstore ?
RNZ : Covid-19 – Imported goods as outbreak source an unlikely theory – Professor David Murdoch Business Insider Australia : Imported frozen foods may have caused New Zealand ’ s new coronavirus outbreak .
But it ’ s very rare to get sick from such packages NZ herald : Covid 19 coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; wait on results of 14 others continues NZ Herald : Covid 19 coronavirus lockdown – Jacinda Ardern to announce next moves at 5.30pm tomorrow Mediaworks/Newshub : New Zealand must consider opening borders soon says Helen Clark , Peter Gluckman and Rob Fyfe TVNZ News : David Seymour says second Covid-19 lockdown not the answer and it ’ s time to ‘ learn to live with it ’ Life in Lock Down : Day 28 – An Open Letter to Prime Minister Ardern Life in Lock Down : Day 2 of Level 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Q + A , and the end of Todd Muller ’ s leadership Life in Level 1 : The Doom of National This blogpost will be re-published in five days on “ Frankly Speaking “ .
Reader ’ s comments may be left here ( The Daily Blog ) or there ( Frankly Speaking ) .

As at mid-day on 12 August, Aotearoa New Zealand went to Alert Level 2 and Auckland City to Lockdown, Alert Level 3. This, the result of four infections discovered in a South Auckland industrial area.
The source of reinfection in South Auckland is yet to be determined. Options are limited to;
Border staff at airports, ports, or quarantine facilities unwittingly picking up the virus An incorrect test result allowing a positive infection to leave a quarantine facility “Lurking” asymptomatic community transmission left over from previous months Returning flight crew member(s) acquiring the virus overseas
The third option seems unlikely. Where there is asymptomatic infection there are also symptomatic cases where people end up in hospital and ICU care. It seems unfeasible for one to occur, but not the other;
The other hypothesis doing the rounds is that maybe New Zealand never eliminated the virus and that it has been bubbling away undetected in the community for three months.
Professor [Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws from the University of New South Wales] …thinks this is highly unlikely, and that at least some cases would have had symptoms and presented to medical authorities.
The last option is the most disturbing. It is no secret that returning airline flight crews from foreign destinations are not required to quarantine for fourteen days, unlike other Returnees passing through our borders;
.
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.
The assumption that the new outbreak may have been the result of returning international flight crews is a possibility we should not quickly dismiss. To test this hypothesis, it is necessary to look at relevant facts.
Firstly, the genome of the covid19 virus in this latest outbreak does not match those who are infected and in current quarantine. As Prime Minister Ardern stated on 14 August,
“This suggests this is not a case of the virus being dormant or of a burning ember in our community. It appears to be new to New Zealand.”
So we can rule out the second option above, and part of the first option. There is also no indication of incursion through a port, or an Americold worker have any association with a port worker.
Next: according to Dr Ashley Bloomfield and the Ministry of Health, the genome of the virus indicates it may have originated from one of two countries;
“We are continuing with genome sequencing investigations. What we know so far is that there has been no exact link with a recent case in MIQ from the samples we have been able to genome sequence, however, genome sequencing of new cases resembles the genome pattern from the UK and Australia most closely.”
By contrast, genomic sequencing points to the original appearance of the virus in late-February as having emanated from North America, not from Asia, Australia, or the UK.
Next: The facility where covid19 was first discovered is Americold NZ Ltd, situated at Mt Wellington. It is also the site where most of the cases have centred.
Suggestions that transmission occurred via importation of chilled/frozen goods between Australian and New Zealand Americold facilities were unequivocally dismissed by the company’s managing director, Richard Winnall;
“Americold have investigated and we can completely rule out there is no transfer of product between these facilities in Australia or New Zealand,” Winnall told the Herald today.
We can completely rule out transmission through that speculation on freight. It’s just not possible because there is no freight or supply chain connecting those two properties [Mt Wellington and Melbourne].
In fact, for months and months [there has been no freight between Melbourne and Auckland]. I can’t tell you how long other than my Melbourne facility has confirmed they have no record of shipping to that Mt Wellington facility.”
Otago University professor and epidemiologist, Michael Baker, described the suggestion of viral contamination on imported goods as unlikely;
“…much less important than direct respiratory spread.”
University of Otago professor of infectious diseases, David Murdoch, said;
“I think on balance it’s probably less likely, but certainly worth exploring.”
Epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina, Rachel Graham, pointed out;
“Even frozen, on a surface like that, you’ll see the virus desiccate and dry out, which renders it completely non-infectious.”
And executive director of the World Health Organisation’s Health Emergencies Program, Michael Ryan, stated;
“There is no evidence that food or the food chain is participating in transmission of this virus, and people should feel comfortable and feel safe,” Ryan said in a press briefing on Thursday, adding, “people should not fear food, or food packaging or processing, and the delivery of food.”
Next: Mr Winnall made this salient point;
“We believe that was just two employees that contracted Covid-19 from outside the workplace , that happened to be employees of ours.”
This is where things get… “interesting” (but hopefully not in a Gerry Brownlee kind-of-way).
Americold also has a second facility, at Manu Tapu Drive, only a few kilometres from Auckland Airport;
.
.
One of the Americold workers tested works at the Manu Tapu Drive facility. The results of this person’s test remains unknown as at publication of this story. A Ministry of Health media release dated 13 August stated;
Two of the AmeriCold sites, Mount Wellington and Auckland Airport, have been closed, and all staff from the Airport site have now been tested.
That was three days ago, and the MoH website has no update as to the results of testing of staff at the Auckland Airport Americold site.
The first recorded Americold worker’s (not at the facility near the Airport) was on 31 July.
Working backward from 31 July, the first worker would have been infected roughly fourteen to sixteen days prior to presenting with symptoms. That takes into account approximately 12 to 14 days to incubate; one day presenting; and another day to test and determine a positive result.
The MoH website for covid cases yields the following result for Returnees flying home from Australia;
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Recall that this strain of virus most likely emanated from UK or Australia.
Whilst the evidence above should be regarded as circumstantial, the possibility that an airline flight crew returning to Aotearoa New Zealand carried the covid19 virus and transmitted infection to an Americold staff-member should not be dismissed out of hand.
This country has already had one such instance of returning flight staff carrying the contagion across our borders into the community – with fatal results.
Equally alarming, is that flights from Australia and elsewhere continue to arrive to our country;
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None of the flight crew staff are quarantined.
Postscript
Meanwhile, the re-emergence of covid19 outside our quarantine facilities should squash further irrational proposals that we re-open our borders to others apart from returning New Zealanders;
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Key’s assertion that;
“We don’t really have a health crisis in New Zealand because we don’t have community transmission; we have a financial crisis that is coming, not a health crisis.”
– defies common sense and should be discarded as the misguided ‘reckons’ of a man with unbalanced priorities. People like Key, David Seymour, et al, should be regarded with derision if we value human life above money.
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References
ABC News: New Zealand races to track down the source of the Auckland coronavirus outbreak
Stuff media: No quarantine rule for Air NZ international crew after new Covid cases
RNZ: Air NZ silent about Covid-19 cases as staff fears grow over quarantine exemption
Otago Daily Times: Quarantine exemptions granted to small number
NZ Herald: Covid 19 Coronavirus – Air NZ crew and airport staff to be tested
Ministry of Health: 14 new cases of COVID-19 – Media release
RNZ: New Zealand confirms case of Covid-19 coronavirus
Stuff media: Coronavirus – New research reveals how Covid-19 came to New Zealand
NZ Herald: Covid 19 coronavirus – Two new cases at Americold factory; wait on results of 14 others continues
NZ Herald: Covid 19 coronavirus – Americold director can ‘completely rule out’ NZ’s virus cluster came from Melbourne facility
Stuff media: ‘We’re leaving no stone unturned’: Did New Zealand’s outbreak come from a Melbourne coolstore?
RNZ: Covid-19 – Imported goods as outbreak source an unlikely theory – Professor David Murdoch
Business Insider Australia: Imported frozen foods may have caused New Zealand’s new coronavirus outbreak. But it’s very rare to get sick from such packages
Mediaworks/Newshub: Coronavirus – Gerry Brownlee denies COVID-19 questions make him a conspiracy theorist
NZ herald: Covid 19 coronavirus – Two new cases at Americold factory; wait on results of 14 others continues
NZ Herald: Covid 19 coronavirus lockdown – Jacinda Ardern to announce next moves at 5.30pm tomorrow
Ministry of Health: Covid-19 – current cases details – 1:00 pm, 16 August 2020
Otago Daily Times: Bluff groom’s father one of Covid-19 deaths
Auckland Airport: Arrivals
Mediaworks/Newshub: New Zealand must consider opening borders soon says Helen Clark, Peter Gluckman and Rob Fyfe
Stuff media: Relax border restrictions to soften Covid-19’s economic blow, Sir John Key says
TVNZ News: David Seymour says second Covid-19 lockdown not the answer and it’s time to ‘learn to live with it’
Previous related blogposts
Life in Lock Down: Day 28 – An Open Letter to Prime Minister Ardern
Life in Lock Down: Day 2 of Level 3
Life in Level 1: Reinfection – Labour’s kryptonite
Life in Level 1: Reinfection – No, Dr Bloomfield!
Life in Level 1: The Taxpayer’s Coin
Life in Level 1: Cunning Plans, Unanswered Questions
Life in level 1: Newshub Nation, Q + A, and the end of Todd Muller’s leadership
Life in Level 1: The Doom of National
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.
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Acknowledgement: Sharon Murdoch
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This blogpost will be re-published in five days on “Frankly Speaking“. Reader’s comments may be left here (The Daily Blog) or there (Frankly Speaking).
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= fs =


thedailyblog--2020-08-16--Dr Liz Gordon: What will we be waiting for?

It seems like a delay in the general election is imminent .
But with any kind of delay , we need to ask what we are waiting for , and also how long are we going to have to wait .
The two suggestions that the media have mooted are November or early next year .
November is a stupid idea .
By then , the American election will have taken place ( first week in the month ) and the US is likely to be in the grip of a new wave of cases .
This is not rocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , the ‘ Covid wars ’ around testing and mask-wearing ( and even whether the virus exists ) and the denial of the need for lockdown to stop the spread ) almost guarantees things will be worse there , and numbers are climbing around the world .
This does not provide a happy context for an NZ election .
While it is possible that New Zealand will have reverted to zero cases in the community ( let ’ s hope so ) it is just as possible that we will be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yes , sorry about that , but we need to realise that we are in this for the long haul .
In terms of 2021 , my crystal ball is a little murky , but I do not think we will see off the Covid threat next year .
I expect there will be reasonably effective vaccines but we will not see them here for more than a year from now , probably two .
And the threat of international transmission into New Zealand will not recede either .
If the rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election until the whole country is in level one or two , then we might have a very long wait indeed .
In my view the calls to delay the election are about political expediency , not about fighting the virus .
Parties are thinking that given more time , they will be able to get their numbers up .
This is not a valid reason for an election delay !
Under all the circumstances given above , the fairest thing to do is have the election now , using a wide range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postal voting and other options ( I suppose online is out of the question , though that would be best ) to get people to vote .
The purpose of delaying any election must be national interest , not political expedience .
The current situation does not cut the mustard .
Any party that has , or has not , shown its governance value during the 2020 pandemic must take its chips where they lie .
I want to be really frank , here : none of the parties in parliament , other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lead effectively in these difficult times .
There is no second chance saloon here : the people want to have their voice , to elect Labour , possibly as a majority government , to handle the pandemic and its aftermath .
It is a vote of confidence , and it must be allowed to proceed .
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister , with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society .
She usually blogs on justice , social welfare and @ @ @

It seems like a delay in the general election is imminent. But with any kind of delay, we need to ask what we are waiting for, and also how long are we going to have to wait.
The two suggestions that the media have mooted are November or early next year.
November is a stupid idea. By then, the American election will have taken place (first week in the month) and the US is likely to be in the grip of a new wave of cases. This is not rocket science. The onset of winter weather there, the ‘Covid wars’ around testing and mask-wearing (and even whether the virus exists) and the denial of the need for lockdown to stop the spread) almost guarantees things will be worse there, and numbers are climbing around the world. This does not provide a happy context for an NZ election.
While it is possible that New Zealand will have reverted to zero cases in the community (let’s hope so) it is just as possible that we will be in a similar or worse situation than today. Yes, sorry about that, but we need to realise that we are in this for the long haul.
In terms of 2021, my crystal ball is a little murky, but I do not think we will see off the Covid threat next year. I expect there will be reasonably effective vaccines but we will not see them here for more than a year from now, probably two. And the threat of international transmission into New Zealand will not recede either.
If the rule is that we cannot have an election until the whole country is in level one or two, then we might have a very long wait indeed.
In my view the calls to delay the election are about political expediency, not about fighting the virus. Parties are thinking that given more time, they will be able to get their numbers up. This is not a valid reason for an election delay!
Under all the circumstances given above, the fairest thing to do is have the election now, using a wide range of fair methods – early voting, postal voting and other options (I suppose online is out of the question, though that would be best) to get people to vote.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
The purpose of delaying any election must be national interest, not political expedience. The current situation does not cut the mustard. Any party that has, or has not, shown its governance value during the 2020 pandemic must take its chips where they lie.
I want to be really frank, here: none of the parties in parliament, other than Labour, have shown any ability to lead effectively in these difficult times. There is no second chance saloon here: the people want to have their voice, to elect Labour, possibly as a majority government, to handle the pandemic and its aftermath. It is a vote of confidence, and it must be allowed to proceed.
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister, with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society. She usually blogs on justice, social welfare and education topics.


thedailyblog--2020-08-16--Dr Liz Gordon: A song for our times.

Dr Liz Gordon: A song for our times.

In a country , way down under , The new Covid did appear Was the mantra of the year .
It ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid that ’ s to blame It came from a Pangolin , yeah , and it really is a shame .
We all stocked up with the white flour , We went into level four with It ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid that ’ s to blame We all hoped to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staunch team of five million Kicked the Covid to the dust We all beat back the little virus That we viewed with such disgust .
It ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid that ’ s to blame We were counting every day now That the virus was at bay There was hope that we could stay clear , At least ‘ til the hundredth day .
It ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poster children of the world to some acclaim .
We were told , don ’ t be complacent Numbers worldwide were on the rise It will sneak back through our borders – Then it did , to our surprise .
It ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid that ’ s to blame Come right out of the first lockdown , then go back there once again .
We are back in partial lockdown Some are feeling very anxious There is fear that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Covid , it ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid , that ’ s the trouble Stock your cupboards with provisions and head back to your bubble .
In my heart I do believe that We can win this second fight And if we have to , more than this one And beyond that ‘ til we ’ re right .
It ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid , it ’ s the Covid that ’ s the theme We will beat it with Jacinda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team .
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister , with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society .
She usually blogs on justice , social welfare and education topics .

The Covid song
(To the tune of “My Darling Clementine”)
(Best as a whānau singalong, with guitars)
(First one to get it on YouTube wins something)
(Let me know)
In a country, way down under,
The new Covid did appear
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
“Go hard and go early”
Was the mantra of the year.
It’s the Covid, it’s the Covid, it’s the Covid that’s to blame
It came from a Pangolin, yeah, and it really is a shame.
We all stocked up with the white flour,
Sugar, beans and toilet rolls
We went into level four with
Very clear and prudent goals.
It’s the Covid, it’s the Covid, it’s the Covid that’s to blame
We all hoped to be the winners of this nasty little game
The staunch team of five million
Kicked the Covid to the dust
We all beat back the little virus
That we viewed with such disgust.
It’s the Covid, it’s the Covid, it’s the Covid that’s to blame
Numbers mounted very quickly – politicians did exclaim
We were counting every day now
That the virus was at bay
There was hope that we could stay clear,
At least ‘til the hundredth day.
It’s the Covid, it’s the Covid, it’s the Covid that’s to blame
We became the poster children of the world to some acclaim.
We were told, don’t be complacent
Numbers worldwide were on the rise
It will sneak back through our borders –
Then it did, to our surprise.
It’s the Covid, it’s the Covid, it’s the Covid that’s to blame
Come right out of the first lockdown, then go back there once again.
We are back in partial lockdown
Aucklanders will bear the cost
Some are feeling very anxious
There is fear that the fight is lost
It’s the Covid, it’s the Covid, it’s the Covid, that’s the trouble
Stock your cupboards with provisions and head back to your bubble.
In my heart I do believe that
We can win this second fight
And if we have to, more than this one
And beyond that ‘til we’re right.
It’s the Covid, it’s the Covid, it’s the Covid that’s the theme
We will beat it with Jacinda, Ashley, Grant and all the team.
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister, with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society. She usually blogs on justice, social welfare and education topics.


thedailyblog--2020-08-18--Dr Liz Gordon: How dare Trump even mention us / Judith Collins on “it’s not that hard”/ My Covid exp

Dr Liz Gordon: How dare Trump even mention us / Judith Collins on “it’s not that hard”/ My Covid experience

The vile little man .
There are not enough words !
First he castigated NZ for beating the virus “ because they wanted to show me something ” ( as if ! )
.
Then he castigated us for getting it back .
“ This big surge in New Zealand… .
It ’ s terrible .
We don ’ t want that ” .
Words fail me .
On an international call the other day with a group of US participants , they applauded New Zealand for its ethical stance .
They are all feeling very low about the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model of deflection and dissatisfaction , Trump then went on to ‘ remind ’ everyone that this is the China virus , thus dog-whistling every racist in the bloody world to attack Asians , as it is all their fault .
( I think the subject-verb-object structure of that prior sentence got away on me , but you know what I mean .
And I am upset ) .
The United States President is not fit to even touch elbows with Jacinda Ardern .
Oh !
Judith Collins .
There is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you would have had the political commitment and fortitude to “ go fast and go hard ” , to eliminate the virus here , to offer excellent support to businesses and workers , plus those who lose their jobs , and to have more than 100 days virus- free .
Your comment that “ it ’ s not that hard , really ” to keep the country virus free shows a startling misunderstanding of the situation .
It requires constant vigilance and ongoing management .
But we are not a repressive regime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus and threats are bombarding us from everywhere .
There will be cracks .
People will fall through them .
There will be outbreaks .
This is a very hard endeavour and you simply do not seem to understand this .
Such understanding constitutes a leadership test in these difficult times and you have failed it , sorry .
So has Gerry B .
Bring on the election – I can ’ t wait .
I have had an infection in my nose for a couple of weeks , and decided I needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have the Covid because of Siouxsie Wiles ’ brilliant ‘ symptom comparison ’ .
Went to make an appointment with the doctor and had to own up to a runny nose .
Was put in the high risk category .
Instead of waiting until Thursday , I was seen within 5 hours .
Had to wait in my car until called , walk into the surgery ( everyone else had to wait for me ) , sanitise my hands , don a mask , then follow the PPE-clad doctor to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I was asked to take the dreaded nasal test for Covid , agreed ( taking one for the team , I thought ) , the test was done and I was escorted out .
“ How do I pay ” , I asked – and there was no charge !
Usually $ 55 , what a bargain .
I waited in my car for someone to scamper over from the next-door Pharmacy with my prescription ( which had been faxed to them by the Doctor ) , it was dropped into my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge again ( instead of $ 15 ) , and off I went .
I was asked to self-isolate until the test result arrives , ( up to 48 hours ) and was offered a medical certificate ( which , being self-employed at home , I did not need ) .
So the Daily Blog gets an extra blog out of me , too .
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister , with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and education topics .

The vile little man. There are not enough words! First he castigated NZ for beating the virus “because they wanted to show me something” (as if!). Then he castigated us for getting it back. “This big surge in New Zealand…. It’s terrible. We don’t want that”.
Words fail me. On an international call the other day with a group of US participants, they applauded New Zealand for its ethical stance. They are all feeling very low about the situation there.
In line with his preferred model of deflection and dissatisfaction, Trump then went on to ‘remind’ everyone that this is the China virus, thus dog-whistling every racist in the bloody world to attack Asians, as it is all their fault.
(I think the subject-verb-object structure of that prior sentence got away on me, but you know what I mean. And I am upset).
The United States President is not fit to even touch elbows with Jacinda Ardern.
* * * *
Oh! Judith Collins. There is not a single person in New Zealand who believes that you would have had the political commitment and fortitude to “go fast and go hard”, to eliminate the virus here, to offer excellent support to businesses and workers, plus those who lose their jobs, and to have more than 100 days virus- free.
Your comment that “it’s not that hard, really” to keep the country virus free shows a startling misunderstanding of the situation. It requires constant vigilance and ongoing management. But we are not a repressive regime, the Covid is a very sneaky virus and threats are bombarding us from everywhere. There will be cracks. People will fall through them. There will be outbreaks. This is a very hard endeavour and you simply do not seem to understand this.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Such understanding constitutes a leadership test in these difficult times and you have failed it, sorry. So has Gerry B. Bring on the election – I can’t wait.
* * * *
I have had an infection in my nose for a couple of weeks, and decided I needed an antibiotic. I knew I didn’t have the Covid because of Siouxsie Wiles’ brilliant ‘symptom comparison’.
Went to make an appointment with the doctor and had to own up to a runny nose. Was put in the high risk category. Instead of waiting until Thursday, I was seen within 5 hours. Had to wait in my car until called, walk into the surgery (everyone else had to wait for me), sanitise my hands, don a mask, then follow the PPE-clad doctor to a sanitised room. Had a good appointment. I was asked to take the dreaded nasal test for Covid, agreed (taking one for the team, I thought), the test was done and I was escorted out. “How do I pay”, I asked – and there was no charge! Usually $55, what a bargain.
I waited in my car for someone to scamper over from the next-door Pharmacy with my prescription (which had been faxed to them by the Doctor), it was dropped into my lap with a cheery wave, no charge again (instead of $15), and off I went.
I was asked to self-isolate until the test result arrives, (up to 48 hours) and was offered a medical certificate (which, being self-employed at home, I did not need). So the Daily Blog gets an extra blog out of me, too.
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister, with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society. She usually blogs on justice, social welfare and education topics.


thedailyblog--2020-08-17--The Strange Case of Winston Peters and Mr Hyde

IT IS DIFFICULT to know whether Winston Peters ’ constitutional brinkmanship will harm or hurt his NZ First Party .
If nothing else , it proves he still has the ability to put himself in the centre of the political frame – if only for a single news cycle .
And , that , in a nutshell is his and NZ First ’ s problem .
Like Dr Jekyll ’ s restorative potion , the efficacy of Peters ’ political medicine declines with overuse .
Every time he takes on the character of Mr Hyde it grows harder to break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ugly face of Peters ’ destructive alter-ego , as Jacinda Ardern was forced to do only yesterday ( 16/8/20 ) afternoon , is not an experience she will be in a hurry to repeat .
Would he really have pulled the pin on the coalition which he , more than anyone , had pulled together ?
Would he really have informed the Governor-General that he and his party had lost confidence in the Prime Minister , and that , consequently , she no longer commanded a majority in the House of Representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what end ?
Because , as the PM reminded the journalists gathered in the Beehive Theatrette this morning – with just the faintest hint of a grin – that would have precipitated a … general election !
And isn ’ t that where we all came in ?
The ultimate futility of Peters ’ gesture ’ s notwithstanding , it would certainly have placed the Governor-General , Dame Patsy Reddy , in a pretty pickle .
Her pickle jar would be nothing like as uncomfortable , however , as Peters ’ .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacinda ’ s majority to be tested in the House , then he would have convince both Judith Collins and David Seymour to back his No-Confidence motion .
And , if she didn ’ t , then he would look like a fool – and a treacherous fool at that !
Not that either National or Act would have had anything at all to gain by unseating New Zealand ’ s enormously popular prime minister .
At best , they would gain themselves a few more weeks before New Zealand ’ s electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And then ?
Oh dear !
The voters ’ retribution would be swift and terrible .
Bill English ’ s 20.9 percent would look like the good old days !
Act ’ s hard-won fight to breach the 5 percent threshold would have all been for nothing .
Obviously , they wouldn ’ t have agreed to participate in Peters ’ political suicide pact .
Which the NZ First leader must have known even as he made public his thinly-veiled threatening letter to the PM .
So , if his threat was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why remind both Labour and the general public of just what a volatile , irresponsible and generally unreliable political force NZ First always ends up becoming ?
Why reduce his party ’ s already negligible chances of re-election to the vanishing point ?
What was the man thinking ?
Perhaps there was never any real intent to pull the pin .
Perhaps he was actually relying upon the PM to do exactly what she did .
Why else include the date of 17 October in his letter , if only the 21 November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little time in “ welcoming ” the PM ’ s decision : “ New Zealand First is pleased that common sense has prevailed .
We were concerned that the Covid outbreak had the effect of limiting campaigns to an unacceptably short period until overseas and advance voting begin if the General Election was held on September 19.
” Ah , yes , “ common sense ” .
How could we have forgotten Winston “ Handbrake ” Peters and his inexhaustible supply of common sense ?
Except that there was nothing even vaguely resembling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past 48 hours .
What was on display , for all those with the wit to interpret it , was a stunt .
The NZ First leader understood his coalition partner well enough to know that she was bound to meet the electorate half-way between 19 September and 21 November .
There was simply no way Jacinda was going to be seen giving in to the demands of either himself or Judith Collins – so it had to be 17 October .
Not that the near-certainty of the PM announcing a one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quiet .
Not when there was an opportunity to whip-up a full-blown constitutional brouhaha ; a media-titillating bagatelle ; out of which he could step triumphantly as the stern guardian of New Zealand ’ s democratic traditions .
Or , something like that .
From the perspective of the PM and the Labour Party , however , Peters ’ stunt must have looked like the act of an ageing and increasingly reckless circus sharpshooter .
A complicated trick , undertaken in front of a live audience , and featuring a loaded gun with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may never have realised the danger it was in , but the sharpshooter ’ s fellow performers did .
They ’ ve all seen how badly things can go wrong , and who always ends up paying the price .
For the Prime Minister and her Labour colleagues , Peters ’ Mr Hyde-act may have finally worn out its welcome .
In the guise of Dr Jekyll , the NZ First leader is everything a party could wish for in a coalition partner .
As Mr Hyde , however , he is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert Louis Stevenson ’ s cautionary novella already know how the story ends .
If Peters ’ fellow performers decide not to wait around for his battered old rifle ’ s safety-catch to fail – who could blame them ?
More bluntly : if Peters ’ cynical display of faux constitutional outrage isn ’ t enough to persuade Jacinda Ardern to dispense with NZ First ’ s services as a coalition partner , post 17 October , then she is not the shrewd judge of the electorate ’ s wishes that everything she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be .
A Labour-Green government , without encumbrances .
Now , that would be the very best kind of October surprise !

IT IS DIFFICULT to know whether Winston Peters’ constitutional brinkmanship will harm or hurt his NZ First Party. If nothing else, it proves he still has the ability to put himself in the centre of the political frame – if only for a single news cycle. And, that, in a nutshell is his and NZ First’s problem. Like Dr Jekyll’s restorative potion, the efficacy of Peters’ political medicine declines with overuse. Every time he takes on the character of Mr Hyde it grows harder to break free of his clutches. Looking into the ugly face of Peters’ destructive alter-ego, as Jacinda Ardern was forced to do only yesterday (16/8/20) afternoon, is not an experience she will be in a hurry to repeat.
Would he really have pulled the pin on the coalition which he, more than anyone, had pulled together? Would he really have informed the Governor-General that he and his party had lost confidence in the Prime Minister, and that, consequently, she no longer commanded a majority in the House of Representatives? And, if so, to what end? Because, as the PM reminded the journalists gathered in the Beehive Theatrette this morning – with just the faintest hint of a grin – that would have precipitated a … general election! And isn’t that where we all came in?
The ultimate futility of Peters’ gesture’s notwithstanding, it would certainly have placed the Governor-General, Dame Patsy Reddy, in a pretty pickle. Her pickle jar would be nothing like as uncomfortable, however, as Peters’. If the G-G bowed to his demand for Jacinda’s majority to be tested in the House, then he would have convince both Judith Collins and David Seymour to back his No-Confidence motion. And, if she didn’t, then he would look like a fool – and a treacherous fool at that!
Not that either National or Act would have had anything at all to gain by unseating New Zealand’s enormously popular prime minister. At best, they would gain themselves a few more weeks before New Zealand’s electoral law put an end to their fun. And then? Oh dear! The voters’ retribution would be swift and terrible. Bill English’s 20.9 percent would look like the good old days! Act’s hard-won fight to breach the 5 percent threshold would have all been for nothing.
Obviously, they wouldn’t have agreed to participate in Peters’ political suicide pact. Which the NZ First leader must have known even as he made public his thinly-veiled threatening letter to the PM. So, if his threat was never credible, why make it? Why remind both Labour and the general public of just what a volatile, irresponsible and generally unreliable political force NZ First always ends up becoming? Why reduce his party’s already negligible chances of re-election to the vanishing point? What was the man thinking?
Perhaps there was never any real intent to pull the pin. Perhaps he was actually relying upon the PM to do exactly what she did. Why else include the date of 17 October in his letter, if only the 21 November date would do? Peters certainly lost little time in “welcoming” the PM’s decision:
“New Zealand First is pleased that common sense has prevailed. We were concerned that the Covid outbreak had the effect of limiting campaigns to an unacceptably short period until overseas and advance voting begin if the General Election was held on September 19.”
Ah, yes, “common sense”. How could we have forgotten Winston “Handbrake” Peters and his inexhaustible supply of common sense?
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Except that there was nothing even vaguely resembling common sense attached to Peters actions over the past 48 hours. What was on display, for all those with the wit to interpret it, was a stunt.
The NZ First leader understood his coalition partner well enough to know that she was bound to meet the electorate half-way between 19 September and 21 November. There was simply no way Jacinda was going to be seen giving in to the demands of either himself or Judith Collins – so it had to be 17 October. Not that the near-certainty of the PM announcing a one month extension was going to keep Peters quiet. Not when there was an opportunity to whip-up a full-blown constitutional brouhaha; a media-titillating bagatelle; out of which he could step triumphantly as the stern guardian of New Zealand’s democratic traditions. Or, something like that.
From the perspective of the PM and the Labour Party, however, Peters’ stunt must have looked like the act of an ageing and increasingly reckless circus sharpshooter. A complicated trick, undertaken in front of a live audience, and featuring a loaded gun with an unreliable safety-catch. The bemused audience may never have realised the danger it was in, but the sharpshooter’s fellow performers did. They’ve all seen how badly things can go wrong, and who always ends up paying the price.
For the Prime Minister and her Labour colleagues, Peters’ Mr Hyde-act may have finally worn out its welcome. In the guise of Dr Jekyll, the NZ First leader is everything a party could wish for in a coalition partner. As Mr Hyde, however, he is a frightful companion. Those who have read Robert Louis Stevenson’s cautionary novella already know how the story ends. If Peters’ fellow performers decide not to wait around for his battered old rifle’s safety-catch to fail – who could blame them?
More bluntly: if Peters’ cynical display of faux constitutional outrage isn’t enough to persuade Jacinda Ardern to dispense with NZ First’s services as a coalition partner, post 17 October, then she is not the shrewd judge of the electorate’s wishes that everything she has accomplished to date proclaims her to be.
A Labour-Green government, without encumbrances. Now, that would be the very best kind of October surprise!


thedailyblog--2020-08-18--Call for New Zealand to condemn Israeli bombing of Gaza

Call for New Zealand government to speak up and • Call for lifting of the Israeli blockade on the besieged Palestinian enclave Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has written to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs calling on the government to speak up on behalf of the besieged people of Gaza who are once more under bombardment by Israeli bombs during the global Covid 19 pandemic .
Israel claims its attacks are in retaliation for incendiary balloons sent from Gaza which have caused fires in Israel .
However this is the micro issue .
It is subterfuge .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blockade of Gaza .
We have previously requested the government speak out calling for the end of the Gaza blockade because of the global pandemic but the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister have been silent .
Previously this government has condemned Palestinian resistance but has simply called for “ restraint ” on the part of Israel .
It ’ s a racist , one-sided policy of support for the aggressors and a kick in the teeth for the Palestinian victims .
Gaza schools opened last Sunday after five months of suspension due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same night by an Israeli missile .
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency tweeted that Beach Co-Educational School ‘ D ’ “ was affected ” by an Israeli air strike which has been found to be an unexploded Israeli bomb which targeted the school .
Israeli brutality knows no bounds when it comes to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure .
They are relying on complicity by silence from countries such as New Zealand to continue their abuses of Palestinian human rights .
It ’ s time for change .
The New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both international law and minimum human rights standards and demand : • An immediate end to Israeli military attacks on Gaza , and • The immediate and total lifting of the illegal siege of Gaza NZ must then follow these up with concrete action which suspends all bilateral agreements between Israeli entities and New Zealand until Israel complies with international law and all United Nations resolutions .

Call for New Zealand government to speak up and
Condemn Israeli bombing of Gaza and Call for lifting of the Israeli blockade on the besieged Palestinian enclave
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has written to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs calling on the government to speak up on behalf of the besieged people of Gaza who are once more under bombardment by Israeli bombs during the global Covid 19 pandemic.
Israel claims its attacks are in retaliation for incendiary balloons sent from Gaza which have caused fires in Israel. However this is the micro issue. It is subterfuge. The cause of the conflict is the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
We have previously requested the government speak out calling for the end of the Gaza blockade because of the global pandemic but the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister have been silent.
Previously this government has condemned Palestinian resistance but has simply called for “restraint” on the part of Israel. It’s a racist, one-sided policy of support for the aggressors and a kick in the teeth for the Palestinian victims.
This must change.
Gaza schools opened last Sunday after five months of suspension due to Covid-19 only to be hit the same night by an Israeli missile. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency tweeted that Beach Co-Educational School ‘D’ “was affected” by an Israeli air strike which has been found to be an unexploded Israeli bomb which targeted the school.
Israeli brutality knows no bounds when it comes to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
They are relying on complicity by silence from countries such as New Zealand to continue their abuses of Palestinian human rights.
It’s time for change. The New Zealand government must act immediately to uphold both international law and minimum human rights standards and demand:
NZ must demand:
An immediate end to Israeli military attacks on Gaza, and The immediate and total lifting of the illegal siege of Gaza
NZ must then follow these up with concrete action which suspends all bilateral agreements between Israeli entities and New Zealand until Israel complies with international law and all United Nations resolutions.


thedailyblog--2020-08-19--The Juggler: National’s Future Has A Name – Dr Shane Reti.

COMETH THE HOUR , cometh the man .
There will be many in the National Party offering up a silent prayer of thanks that there is at least one rational human-being left in the National Party caucus .
His name ?
Dr Shane Reti .
First on RNZ ’ s Morning Report and then , again , on the floor of the House of Representatives , Reti delivered performances that were calm , measured and generous .
For the first time in a long time , New Zealanders were provided with evidence that a spokesperson for the National Party knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importantly , one sensed a strong moral core .
That combination of high intelligence , broad experience and the all-important ability to put oneself in the shoes of others , is what ’ s been so conspicuous by its absence in the recent run of National leaders .
Yes , there were flashes of it in Bill English .
Remember his 2011 statement that the building of new prisons represented “ a moral and fiscal failure ” .
It reminded us that there was a thoughtful and ethically rigorous side to English that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both his colleagues and the wider public .
For those with the wit to read it , English ’ s reticence was a sign .
Better to remain silent and be thought a moral pigmy , than to say something thought-provoking and shame the rest of your caucus !
Clearly , Reti has decided that , to have any kind of future , the National Party must abandon the notion that it is under no obligation to prove its fitness to govern .
Even if , in the minds of the leaders of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues of economics and social policy have been settled , the need to demonstrate wisdom , empathy and steadfastness will always be critical to political success .
Exactly when such qualities ceased to be regarded as important is unclear .
Perhaps it was when Dean Parker ’ s famous line from his stage adaptation of Nicky Hager ’ s The Hollow Men : “ The most important thing in politics is sincerity : when you can fake that , you can fake anything ” ; began to sound more like political science than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second-wave feminist and poet , Adrienne Rich , wrote bitterly about the male-dominated world of politics : “ We assume that men are without honour .
We read their statements trying to crack the code .
The scandal of their politics .
Not that men in high places lie , only that they do so with such indifference , so endlessly , still expecting to be believed .
We are accustomed to the contempt inherent in the political life.
” It is part of the triumph– and tragedy – of the second feminist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are women , too , without honour .
That they can lie as well as any man .
Clearly , Reti has looked to the women in charge of Labour and National for inspiration , and drawn what he needed from the most obvious source .
Which political leader does this quote from Reti ’ s parliamentary speech of Tuesday , 18 August , remind you of : “ Sometimes , in situations like this , with huge complexity and many balls in the air , one of them gets dropped .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ help pick up that ball and put it back in its correct place .
There will be a time to understand how the ball was dropped , but first we will help put it back , and then we ’ ll figure out how not to drop it again.
” In the atmosphere of fear and tension which the Covid-19 Pandemic continues to generate , New Zealanders are looking for precisely the sort of principled interventions which Reti is offering .
They want to feel that their Government is being held to account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In this regard , Collins has repeatedly proved herself incapable of striking the right note .
Reti ’ s ability to ask the hard questions , while radiating warmth and generosity , is simply beyond her .
There are still a few National MPs with the wit to grasp the long-term political significance of Collins ’ s and Reti ’ s sharply contrasting performances .
Other caucus members will be recalling with considerable chagrin exactly why they were once so determined to prevent the Member for Papakura from ever coming within a bull @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership .
In this respect they will have been helped enormously by Collins ’ s decision to refer to Reti as “ Doctor Shane ” .
Such patronising language might be expected from Donald Trump , but not from the leader of a major New Zealand political party !
It is to be hoped that , in addition to wisdom , empathy and steadfastness , Reti has also been blessed with plenty of courage .
Intentionally , or unintentionally , he has not only shown up his leader , but also a fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caesar ’ s famous words – supposedly uttered as his legions crossed the forbidden Rubicon river – “ The die is cast.
” It is victory , now , or defeat .
No other options are available .
Has Reti got the grit ?
That is what we are about to discover .
He certainly has the ambition .
But , he ’ s got something else , too .
It is difficult to name , but you know it when you see it .
It ’ s evident in Reti ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical practice : his way of keeping himself grounded in the realities of his constituents ’ lives .
It has also equipped him to see the current crisis in the right way : not as a chance to “ crush ” National ’ s opponents ; but as an opportunity to demonstrate the social solidarity out of which genuine patriotism is fashioned .
There are , of course , minuses as well as plusses .
One National insider warns that Reti has yet to reach the prime-ministerial standard of being able to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imperfect information .
That ’ s an important criticism – but not an insurmountable one .
Anyone who can master the imperfections of general practice , can master the imperfections of politics .
Indeed , one could argue that an MP who has grasped the need to draw the strength he needs from the people he represents has already mastered them .
The important thing now is that Dr Reti keeps all his balls in the air .
For what else is politics , if not a juggling act ?

COMETH THE HOUR, cometh the man. There will be many in the National Party offering up a silent prayer of thanks that there is at least one rational human-being left in the National Party caucus. His name? Dr Shane Reti.
First on RNZ’s Morning Report and then, again, on the floor of the House of Representatives, Reti delivered performances that were calm, measured and generous. For the first time in a long time, New Zealanders were provided with evidence that a spokesperson for the National Party knew what he was talking about. More importantly, one sensed a strong moral core. That combination of high intelligence, broad experience and the all-important ability to put oneself in the shoes of others, is what’s been so conspicuous by its absence in the recent run of National leaders.
Yes, there were flashes of it in Bill English. Remember his 2011 statement that the building of new prisons represented “a moral and fiscal failure”. It reminded us that there was a thoughtful and ethically rigorous side to English that, sadly, he kept hidden from both his colleagues and the wider public. For those with the wit to read it, English’s reticence was a sign. Better to remain silent and be thought a moral pigmy, than to say something thought-provoking and shame the rest of your caucus!
Clearly, Reti has decided that, to have any kind of future, the National Party must abandon the notion that it is under no obligation to prove its fitness to govern. Even if, in the minds of the leaders of both major parties, all the major issues of economics and social policy have been settled, the need to demonstrate wisdom, empathy and steadfastness will always be critical to political success.
Exactly when such qualities ceased to be regarded as important is unclear. Perhaps it was when Dean Parker’s famous line from his stage adaptation of Nicky Hager’s The Hollow Men: “The most important thing in politics is sincerity: when you can fake that, you can fake anything”; began to sound more like political science than satire.
Forty-five years ago, the second-wave feminist and poet, Adrienne Rich, wrote bitterly about the male-dominated world of politics:
“We assume that men are without honour. We read their statements trying to crack the code. The scandal of their politics. Not that men in high places lie, only that they do so with such indifference, so endlessly, still expecting to be believed. We are accustomed to the contempt inherent in the political life.”
It is part of the triumph– and tragedy – of the second feminist wave, that we now know that there are women, too, without honour. That they can lie as well as any man.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Clearly, Reti has looked to the women in charge of Labour and National for inspiration, and drawn what he needed from the most obvious source. Which political leader does this quote from Reti’s parliamentary speech of Tuesday, 18 August, remind you of:
“Sometimes, in situations like this, with huge complexity and many balls in the air, one of them gets dropped. When that happens, this Opposition will help pick up that ball and put it back in its correct place. There will be a time to understand how the ball was dropped, but first we will help put it back, and then we’ll figure out how not to drop it again.”
Judith Collins or Jacinda Ardern?
In the atmosphere of fear and tension which the Covid-19 Pandemic continues to generate, New Zealanders are looking for precisely the sort of principled interventions which Reti is offering. They want to feel that their Government is being held to account – but not denigrated or undermined. In this regard, Collins has repeatedly proved herself incapable of striking the right note. Reti’s ability to ask the hard questions, while radiating warmth and generosity, is simply beyond her.
There are still a few National MPs with the wit to grasp the long-term political significance of Collins’s and Reti’s sharply contrasting performances. Other caucus members will be recalling with considerable chagrin exactly why they were once so determined to prevent the Member for Papakura from ever coming within a bull’s roar of the National Party leadership. In this respect they will have been helped enormously by Collins’s decision to refer to Reti as “Doctor Shane”. Such patronising language might be expected from Donald Trump, but not from the leader of a major New Zealand political party!
It is to be hoped that, in addition to wisdom, empathy and steadfastness, Reti has also been blessed with plenty of courage. Intentionally, or unintentionally, he has not only shown up his leader, but also a fair swag of his colleagues. In Julius Caesar’s famous words – supposedly uttered as his legions crossed the forbidden Rubicon river – “The die is cast.” It is victory, now, or defeat. No other options are available.
Has Reti got the grit? That is what we are about to discover. He certainly has the ambition. But, he’s got something else, too. It is difficult to name, but you know it when you see it. It’s evident in Reti’s decision to return regularly to his Whangarei medical practice: his way of keeping himself grounded in the realities of his constituents’ lives. It has also equipped him to see the current crisis in the right way: not as a chance to “crush” National’s opponents; but as an opportunity to demonstrate the social solidarity out of which genuine patriotism is fashioned.
There are, of course, minuses as well as plusses. One National insider warns that Reti has yet to reach the prime-ministerial standard of being able to make important decisions on the basis of highly imperfect information. That’s an important criticism – but not an insurmountable one. Anyone who can master the imperfections of general practice, can master the imperfections of politics. Indeed, one could argue that an MP who has grasped the need to draw the strength he needs from the people he represents has already mastered them.
The important thing now is that Dr Reti keeps all his balls in the air. For what else is politics, if not a juggling act?


thedailyblog--2020-08-20--Laws Do Not Rule – People Do

Laws Do Not Rule – People Do

THE ENABLING ACT , was passed by the Reichstag on 23 March 1933 .
With this single piece of legislation every act of the Reich Government – and its Chancellor , Adolf Hitler – was given the force of law .
Any conscientious German lawyer , seeking to test the legality of the Nazis ’ subsequent , democracy-crushing , edicts in Germany ’ s highest courts , would have been reassured that the “ Rule of Law ” remained inviolate .
Quite rightly did the nineteenth century British novelist , Charles Dickens , proclaim : “ The law is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – people do .
This is the incontrovertible fact which Mr Andrew Borrowdale , the man who required the High Court to rule on his challenges to the legality of the Covid-19 Lockdown , singularly failed to grasp .
Not that Mr Borrowdale lacked encouragement for his Quixotic endeavour .
All manner of pedants and purists were quick to figuratively pat him on the back for his services to the “ Rule of Law ” .
As if the judgement of a few lawyers – albeit lawyers in flowing robes and horsehair wigs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above the straightforward , self-protective judgements of ordinary men and women threatened by a global pandemic .
As if the decisions made by the people ’ s elected representatives – for their protection – can be reasonably and responsibly struck down by a gaggle of job-for-life jurists elected by nobody at all .
Thank God the judges of the High Court turned out to be a great deal more intelligent than the individuals who put so much stock in Mr Borrowdale ’ s appeal .
Andrew Geddes , a law professor at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ So it ’ s not that the Court got the decision wrong .
Rather , it seems clear that the Court ’ s perception of its job , and the law at issue , was very much coloured by the same collective concerns that drove the government ’ s response to the virus .
Preventing lots of people from dying from a disease is perhaps the government ’ s highest obligation , and the law has to be seen as enabling the government to carry out that task.
” Or , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tullius Cicero ( 106-43 BCE ) so succinctly put it : Salus populi suprema lex – The safety of the people shall be the highest law .
Obviously , preserving the people ’ s safety is , above all else , a political obligation – not least on the part of the people themselves .
Consider the passage of the Enabling Act in 1933 .
Had the German Social Democrats and Communists not been at daggers drawn ; had the German army not been so consumed by its desire to wipe out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then the farcical conditions in which the Enabling Act was passed ( the German parliament was ringed with Nazi Stormtroopers , and the Communist Party MPs , having all been taken into “ protective custody ” , were absent from the Chamber ) could not have arisen .
Thirteen years earlier , in 1920 , an attempt by extreme German nationalists , backed by the army and right-wing paramilitaries , to overthrow the Weimar Republic had been foiled by the decisive action of the Social-Democratic Party-led government .
Its call for all German @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a nationwide general strike was backed by all the other parties of the German Left .
Twelve million workers and civil servants responded .
The country ground to a halt .
It was the largest and most successful strike in Germany ’ s history .
The so-called “ Kapp Putsch ” collapsed .
Three years after Kapp ’ s , in 1923 , Adolf Hitler ’ s attempt to stage his own putsch ( coup ) was foiled by the Munich police .
Formed up in a skirmish-line , the armed policemen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their march through the city .
The Nazis ( also armed ) refused and came on .
The Police commander gave the order to open fire .
Those Nazis who still could ( sixteen of them were killed ) fled .
In both cases , the German judiciary had nothing useful to contribute .
It was not the Rule of Law which saved the Weimar Republic in 1920 and 1923 , but the German people themselves .
Just as , in 1933 , it was not the Rule of Law which transferred all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political psychopath .
That was the work of a Depression-ravaged and politically exhausted German population – just enough of whom were ready to trade their liberty and decency for economic security and an end to the Weimar Republic ’ s intractable political divisions .
As clear a case of “ be careful what you wish for ” as one could hope for .
In New Zealand , in 2020 , the people have also prevailed .
A leader they trusted , and who very clearly had their interests at heart , implored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staying home inside their bubbles .
The New Zealand people responded by doing just that .
Thus did Jacinda Ardern ’ s prioritisation of her fellow citizens ’ welfare elevate her words to the status of suprema lex – the highest law .
Jacinda acted hard and early on our behalf , and we should all be exceedingly grateful that she refused to abdicate that responsibility to the courts .
That the courts appear to agree is welcome proof that there are at least three judges left in New Zealand who still understand @ @

THE ENABLING ACT, was passed by the Reichstag on 23 March 1933. With this single piece of legislation every act of the Reich Government – and its Chancellor, Adolf Hitler – was given the force of law. Any conscientious German lawyer, seeking to test the legality of the Nazis’ subsequent, democracy-crushing, edicts in Germany’s highest courts, would have been reassured that the “Rule of Law” remained inviolate.
Quite rightly did the nineteenth century British novelist, Charles Dickens, proclaim: “The law is an ass!” Laws do not rule – people do. This is the incontrovertible fact which Mr Andrew Borrowdale, the man who required the High Court to rule on his challenges to the legality of the Covid-19 Lockdown, singularly failed to grasp.
Not that Mr Borrowdale lacked encouragement for his Quixotic endeavour. All manner of pedants and purists were quick to figuratively pat him on the back for his services to the “Rule of Law”. As if the judgement of a few lawyers – albeit lawyers in flowing robes and horsehair wigs – should somehow be permitted to stand above the straightforward, self-protective judgements of ordinary men and women threatened by a global pandemic. As if the decisions made by the people’s elected representatives – for their protection – can be reasonably and responsibly struck down by a gaggle of job-for-life jurists elected by nobody at all.
Thank God the judges of the High Court turned out to be a great deal more intelligent than the individuals who put so much stock in Mr Borrowdale’s appeal. Andrew Geddes, a law professor at the University of Otago summed it up nicely:
“So it’s not that the Court got the decision wrong. Rather, it seems clear that the Court’s perception of its job, and the law at issue, was very much coloured by the same collective concerns that drove the government’s response to the virus. Preventing lots of people from dying from a disease is perhaps the government’s highest obligation, and the law has to be seen as enabling the government to carry out that task.”
Or, as the celebrated Roman statesman, Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BCE) so succinctly put it: Salus populi suprema lex – The safety of the people shall be the highest law.
Obviously, preserving the people’s safety is, above all else, a political obligation – not least on the part of the people themselves. Consider the passage of the Enabling Act in 1933. Had the German Social Democrats and Communists not been at daggers drawn; had the German army not been so consumed by its desire to wipe out the humiliations of the Treaty of Versailles; then the farcical conditions in which the Enabling Act was passed (the German parliament was ringed with Nazi Stormtroopers, and the Communist Party MPs, having all been taken into “protective custody”, were absent from the Chamber) could not have arisen.
Thirteen years earlier, in 1920, an attempt by extreme German nationalists, backed by the army and right-wing paramilitaries, to overthrow the Weimar Republic had been foiled by the decisive action of the Social-Democratic Party-led government. Its call for all German workers and civil servants to come out in a nationwide general strike was backed by all the other parties of the German Left. Twelve million workers and civil servants responded. The country ground to a halt. It was the largest and most successful strike in Germany’s history. The so-called “Kapp Putsch” collapsed.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Three years after Kapp’s, in 1923, Adolf Hitler’s attempt to stage his own putsch (coup) was foiled by the Munich police. Formed up in a skirmish-line, the armed policemen ordered Hitler’s brownshirts to halt their march through the city. The Nazis (also armed) refused and came on. The Police commander gave the order to open fire. Those Nazis who still could (sixteen of them were killed) fled.
In both cases, the German judiciary had nothing useful to contribute. It was not the Rule of Law which saved the Weimar Republic in 1920 and 1923, but the German people themselves. Just as, in 1933, it was not the Rule of Law which transferred all effective executive power into the hands of a political psychopath. That was the work of a Depression-ravaged and politically exhausted German population – just enough of whom were ready to trade their liberty and decency for economic security and an end to the Weimar Republic’s intractable political divisions. As clear a case of “be careful what you wish for” as one could hope for.
In New Zealand, in 2020, the people have also prevailed. A leader they trusted, and who very clearly had their interests at heart, implored New Zealanders to unite against Covid-19 by staying home inside their bubbles. The New Zealand people responded by doing just that. Thus did Jacinda Ardern’s prioritisation of her fellow citizens’ welfare elevate her words to the status of suprema lex – the highest law.
Jacinda acted hard and early on our behalf, and we should all be exceedingly grateful that she refused to abdicate that responsibility to the courts. That the courts appear to agree is welcome proof that there are at least three judges left in New Zealand who still understand Latin.