text by Roger Childs and John Robinson, photos by Geoffrey Churchman
Well over 100 people were there to listen to campaign leader Julian Batchelor, but probably another 50 were there to disrupt the presentation who made it a very noisy meeting last night at the Lindale complex. Plenty of Police kept order and they ejected up to 20 people who interrupted, shouted, chanted, ‘whoop-whooped’, ran phone ringtones and were generally rude and disruptive. A few held banners, including their message “Honor Te Tiriti”.
Julian Bachelor did very well with an excellent Powerpoint and he pointed out that co-governance is well underway in health, education, water resources, local government and conservation, and unless stopped in its tracks will lead to a Maori elites + fellow travelers’ takeover of the country. He carefully analysed what the one valid Treaty actually said and how people like Hugh Kawharu have twisted the meaning of key words like taonga and rangatiratanga.
His message was very thorough and convincing, and well received by the vast majority. He handled the disruptive protestors very well. Unfortunately, because of the regular interruptions it was a very stop/start meeting, however his compelling talk was polished and impressive.
New Zealand has been split in two by this government’s ‘Co-Governance’ policy of division, with government by two different peoples which espouses racial separation while refusing sovereignty, equality, and democracy to all of us. The inevitable consequence was very evident at this meeting – two peoples at war with one another.
Those activists supporting ‘Co-governance’ from a group strangely called ‘Christian Action Aotearoa’ behaved like ill-mannered brats in an unsuccessful attempt to disrupt with shouts and howls, loud proclamations, chants and frequent ringing of cellphones. Each interrupter who snuck in past the organisers was approached by an organiser and then firmly ushered out by Police. Their main impact was to delay the talk and prevent adequate time for questions and public input after the presentation by Julian Batchelor.
The Police, 23 in all with at least 8 Police cars, were excellent, and were welcomed and thanked by those attending for their protection of freedom of speech. This is a very welcome development as Police elsewhere have been few in number and not prepared to take effective action, but here were providing essential support for the security provided by a group of volunteers.
It is sad that those wanting to debate major issues are faced with attacks by mob action who closed the previous meeting in Levin. This meeting could only proceed with a road block in the drive up to the hall to keep a mass of demonstrators away, with robust volunteer organisers and with such a Police presence. The Police have an important job to do, and it is shameful that so many were called away to control a Leftist group formed to prevent free speech. This in a country that was once one people but no longer.
Many people have received the booklet by Julian Batchelor, ‘Stop Co-Governance’, and more will be delivered to households in the coming weeks. There will also be a further meeting in the same venue in a month or so. The people of Kapiti will thus be able to consider and discuss the basic facts. And hopefully many will read further, to explore further information and to be ready to debate the future of New Zealand politely, with respect for the truth and for different points of view.
The organisers’ blog post. The comments by Greg On Gate Security are worth reading.
The whitest Maori are the biggest stirrers.
Beware the plastic tiki wearers. Frauds.
Interesting point of view, Roger. As one of the people there, I completely disagree. Julian began by insulting Christians, and then proceeded to misrepresent government policy, cherry picking and scare-mongering about Maori. He also appeared to be advocating for a race war. Those of us who spoke out were bodily threatened by his supporters, despite the meeting being open to the public and Julian stating at the beginning that he supports free speech. As for the police – they were deeply embarrassed to be there, supporting such hate. We, as a community, have two choices: one (as espoused by Julian) is to maintain white supremacy and deny any historical effects of colonisation or, two, accept we live in a multicultural society and agree that the sign of a civilised society is lifting everyone up, regardless of race or gender. It concerns me that you have written this as if fact, when it is solely your perspective.
This is a strange comment. It opposes Julian and then seems to argue that ” we live in a multicultural society and agree that the sign of a civilised society is lifting everyone up, regardless of race or gender”, which is the call for equality and the refusal of separation by race that Julian asks for. Opposition to Co-Governance is opposition to the division of the country, asking that we be one people. As for her claim for free speech, she is asking that we accept the right of a small group to rudely interrupt a meeting and to refuse the right to free speech to anyone else. She and her group should learn basic good manners.
As another person who attended Julians’ private meeting, I hoped to hear what he was saying without disruption. Unfortunately, the disrupting group, surreptitiously calling themselves Christian Action Aotearoa were anything but, they were rude, angry and full of hate towards both Julian and anyone who was legitimately there to hear what he had to say.
One thing the so-called Christian disruptors had in common was screaming at the top of their lungs “racists!”, “you’re all a pack of racists!”, at members of the audience and Julian. At which point the police did what was expected of them when people lose control of themselves in someone’s private meeting, they were escorted out.
I must say I felt very embarrassed for those protestors who lost their mental capacity to be sane respectful citizens, not the police, they acted with dignity and respect.
Contrary to what Mandy states, I saw no one bodily threatened, and if they had been the police were right there to act, and cameras from Stuff, Reality Check Radio and many others would have captured it.
The fact that only the disruptors were escorted out is evidence that Mandy has it 100% wrong.
It’s interesting that Mandy thinks that she speaks for the community when she states that white supremacy is a thing (which it’s not), and the terrible effects of colonisation (European people arriving in New Zealand), are what the community hate, and that the retribalisation of New Zealand is what the community wants.
Mandy speaks for herself, no one else.
In my estimation, almost without fail, the protestors were heavily indoctrinated university students, many of whom seem to struggle with their identity and to even dress appropriately. This university led indoctrination is something Professor Rata has been writing about for almost thirty years.
The indigeonising and politicizing of our university’s has to stop
Without these poor indoctrinated souls who struggle with their identity, Posie Parker could have addressed women and the erosion of their rights in Auckland and Wellington. Don Brash could have spoken at Waikato University, Peter Dare could have spoken at Sky City, on and on the cancellations go.
I was really pleased to see the community and the police pushing back against the tide of wokeness.
Mandy – you clearly don’t believe in democracy. Co-governance destroys democracy and turns NZ into a tribal-run ethnostate. Maori can be helped within the democracy we barely still have. I am fighting to preserve democracy, not to destroy Maori
Leftists don’t believe in democracy, that’ve made that abundantly clear; they want kleptocracy and autocracy.
It’s sad that people who call Julian or those attending to hear what Co Governence really means are called Racist.. In Reality it is quite opposite.. Maori Only schools, Maori only Kindergarten with Their kids being picked up in their own buses,, Health care. Political Maori party, Local GOV Wards, Maori only All Black’s.. etc.,etc., pre 70′ s 80’s we were 3rd most wanted country to live in.. Now 69th.only 15% Maori in Jail.. Now 52% and you wonder why this country we all love is going into a deep Apartheid, Segregation and Seperation broken Country. Non Maori do not make these thugs break the law or bully, intimidate and just do as they please.. No RESPECT. Imagine Non Maori doing this shit on a Marae.. No we do Love and respect their culture.. Time it was reciprocated RESPECT. “eh iwi tahi tatou”we are now 1 people.
But are we..?? Time to Awaken and Unite to stop this Co Governence in its tracks.
Good on you all
Bravo to the organisers and the speaker on co-governance. You are true heroes. We all must continue to speak out and save our democracy from a corrupt, woke minority who are hell-bent on destroying New Zealand. Keep up the good fight. Well done:)
The Christian Action Aotearoa group could have been a front to further demonise Christians in society.
As for assertions that Julian’s speeches are to maintain white supremacy and deny the effects of colonisation are ridiculous. It’s a bit like saying institutionalised racism. Show me where Maori are denied in law of having anything like education, access to benefits, employment and housing. Maori have had specific help such as the old Maori Affairs loans, scholarships, arts grants, and help with maintaining cultural artifacts and marae. Maori land does not attract rates and Maori Authorities have lower tax rates. I don’t believe I have seen non-Maori protesting in the street after such measures have been implemented.
What the bored and outrageously rich, who having exhausted most of life’s decent pleasures have decided to do, is to create mayhem. What better way to stir up trouble than to start wars based on race, class, religion and more recently medical status. It’s like picking up a cat and deliberately dropping it in top of another cat to watch the fur fly, and these quite often useful white idiots have fallen right into the trap. Do these Euro idiots think that once Maori, or anyone else are truly stirred up to hate white people, or any other demonised group, that they won’t be in the firing line one day.
I agree with John and Andy. I want to live in a democratic society where freedom of speech is respected, where the media is not censored and where all Kiwis, regardless of their origins, have equal rights. This is what Julian and the vast majority of New Zealanders want too.
There are protocols about meetings and one is that you respect the right of the speaker to have her or his say without being rudely interrupted.
Mandy, you’ve got it badly wrong and on Monday night the protestors were out of order and did themselves no credit. Some stood quietly with signs saying RESPECT TE TIRITI and no-one would argue with that. Te Tiriti was signed in 1840 and this is the only valid Treaty which all politicians, journalists and historians should acknowledge.
I had registered for the Levin meeting more than a month beforehand because I wanted to hear what Julian had to say. While a councillor, I had twice voted against Maori wards, and I had also opposed the use of bribes to obtain resource consents. I was one of the first to arrive.
To my shock, I was told at the door that I had not registered. I asked the person to double check. Then I gave my name and asked to speak to Julian. He gave me this spiel about not being able to enter a home unless I was invited. Meanwhile somebody pointed out that other people were allowed in, even if they had not registered. Another former councillor was also rejected. So we stood outside, and afterwards watched the police give chase when one of Julian’s supporters drove a vehicle, hitting one of us standing on the footpath outside before speeding away.
I am a staunch advocate of freedom of speech, and have a Court of Appeal decision upholding the principles of free speech and open justice. Mandy’s brother was sitting beside me as a fellow author whose support I value.
A few friends who were unregistered but who are white Pakeha males managed to get inside Levin’s meeting. They told me that Julian had closed this meeting down, and they had all been escorted out a back exit.
Those who turned up for the rescheduled meeting the next night, were told it was cancelled.
It appears to me that Julian incites this friction, well before the meeting commences so that he can have an excuse to summon the police.
I was disgusted to read what he wrote about the Levin police when they had done an incredible job calming down a potentially volatile situation.
The police here know the trespass act better than he does!
The political climate in New Zealand has become toxic. Years ago, a friend was drummed out of a tutorial by Maori fellow students at Victoria University because she is not Maori, and it has got far worse. The need to vet who can come in to a meeting has been forced by the actions of aggressive Maori (I do not like this, I am simply stating the reality). Julian does not look for friction. He has been advised by Police to make the meetings private and to make every effort to keep out potential troublemakers. I have always worried about that necessary sorting out of people at the door, and imagined how easily mistakes can be made. Some people who just want to listen are turned away while some troublemakers get in, as happened at Paraparaumu. Could you handle the toxic situation? I couldn’t. The political climate of the country needs to make a complete 180 degree turn and then we can meet and politely disagree, seeking a better way to live together.
Julian’s stand is an honorable one. He is seeking to wake those who will listen to the fact that the original Treaty of Waitangi was inclusive of all New Zealanders. It has since been hijacked and rehashed to mean something entirely different from what was intended. It was for one people Maori and non-Maori, one country, one vote, under one flag. Not one people against the other.
The Maori people ceded to British sovereignty because it was in their best interests to do so. From 1800 to 1840 the Maori population was killing each other at an alarming rate. The chiefs asked for the Treaty to protect themselves and their property and it has served them well.
Quote from Maori MP Sir Apirana Ngati ‘Let me acknowledge first that, in the whole world I doubt whether any native race has been so well treated by a European people as the Maori.’
Julian is simply attempting to warn NZer’s the Treaty of Waitangi has been reinterpreted to mean something it was never intended to mean and co governance will escalate division with catastrophic results to the detriment of all New Zealanders.