Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The standing-still sweep

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  • Danielle,

    And probably most of the people who voted for "JT" thought they were voting for Justin Timberlake to play at the Trusts Stadium.

    And, as if by magic (thanks Robyn!) here is my chance to mention one of the awesomest things ever: the humourous attack on the giant 'JT' campaign billboard at Parrs Park in Glen Eden. Some marvellous person had printed two absolutely giant photos of Justin Timberlake's head, and pasted them over Tamihere's on both sides of the billboard. I laughed and laughed. I wish I'd taken photos. Westside, represent!

    (Nothing beats the 'STOP collaborate and listen' Vanilla Ice-quotin' stop sign on Wellesley Street, but that came close.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Wait & see - but the radar has been out there for something like this ever scince Helens rascist refusal for Maori to test claims in court.

    You might indeed want to wait and see.

    The reporting is that Maori sovereignty, environmental and "peace" activists are all involved.

    If the reality is anything like what's in the Stuff story (and the leaks to the papers this morning appear to be quite detailed) then I hope they throw the book at the bastards.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    TV3 has video of a police raid on a house in Wellington this morning.

    Anyone recognise the property?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Congratulations to TV3, which well and truly won the midday news coverage:

    Footage of the raid itself, crosses to reporters actually on the scene, and numbers - a co-ordinated effort.

    TV One got live footage of Howard Broad's media conference but little else.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    I agree with RB - anyone who claims to be a peace activist, or indeed any kind of activist, and also endorses violence or the threat of, needs to be clinked.

    These folks are scary.

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    On transport we will have "the pony of Shanks"

    If only! Auckland can be a rather pedestrian unfriendly city. Walking is pretty much my main mode of transport and yet everyday I find myself dodging cars on the footpath and cockers running red lights at high speed on Hobson Street.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Anyone recognise the property?

    Newsday described it as something like the Aro Community Centre. It was a meeting place during the anti-bypass campaigns.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Illegal firearms are bad, and so is planning to use them. And OTOH, they're arresting everyone from anti-bypass activists to students to chicken-rescuers - which seems to be casting the net rather wide.

    Looking around, police have raided a community house in Wellington, and a community activist centre in Auckland, and arrested student activist Omar Hamed (guess it must have been the Middle Eastern name) and people from Open Rescue (who are most notable for saving chickens from battery farms). if these are "terrorists", I think our police have been paying too much attention to Ian Wishart and the SIS...

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Agreed.
    Every day I encounter red light runners, people who don't stop for pedestrian crossings, speedsters in 50kph zones....

    However, the number of pedestrians who cross roads and don't use the cross walks in AK city is scary - just as bad as the drivers who run red lights.

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Margaret B,

    Angus - who should the centre-left in Auckland City have backed for the mayoralty then? City Vision didn't officially endorse anyone until it became clear that Hubbard was the only person close enough to have a chance of beating Banks.

    Ultimately I find Russell's figures very illuminating. Basically the centre-right voted and the centre-left didn't. Partly this is an enrollment issue, and I think we will see a much bigger focus from all tickets on turnout next time. It's also about there not being a centre-left mayoral candidate to jolly that campaign along. Any suggestions for someone to run next time should be made now!

    On the issue of these arrests, I think perhaps folks should wait until the people arrested have had a chance to talk back before making up their minds? My experience of peace activists, and indeed many of those involved in the sovereignity movement and environmental groups, is that non-violence is pretty much tattooed on their foreheads.

    Since Oct 2007 • 59 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    Auckland can be a rather pedestrian unfriendly city.

    reckon.

    having lived there i can say that auckland has a great roading system. you can go anywhere you need, and usually in a reasonably direct fashion (the airport being a highly notable exception)

    the problem is too many people using it in one-person automobiles.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    and cockers running red lights at high speed

    Even the spaniels have cars up in Auckland??

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • daleaway,

    Looked like the Aro Valley to me.

    Since Jul 2007 • 198 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    "Auckland can be a rather pedestrian unfriendly city."

    Amen. Great chunks of it seem to have been deliberately designed to kill you. Eg, the intersection of Ellerslie Main Highway and Gt South Road. Watch the old people coming back with the groceries try to cross that...

    "the number of pedestrians who cross roads and don't use the cross walks in AK city is scary"

    Well, all I can say is that there are far too many stretches where there are multiple lanes to cross and the pedestrian crossing is a long way away.

    In the end you have to design systems around human behaviour. They are far more flexible (before they're built, anyway!) than our basic inclinations (eg taking the shortest route from A to B.

    Another example: Gt South Road between the Harp of Erin and the motorway on-ramp. Every day you can see office workers from the two office parks on the motorway side risk death crossing four lanes of traffic as they try to get to the food places on the other side. Or Symonds St likewise. There are no islands to stand on in the middle and the crossings are a long, long way apart.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    The Stuff piece noted that

    More than 60 other people from around the country who have been recorded talking to, and in some cases training with, the arrested group will also be brought in for questioning.

    Some of them are known to have pulled out once they realised the level of violence planned.

    So, they're sweeping up anyone who has even talked to those involved, and in the process smearing them as terrorists. Lovely.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    __Some of them are known to have pulled out once they realised the level of violence planned.__

    So, they're sweeping up anyone who has even talked to those involved, and in the process smearing them as terrorists. Lovely.

    It'll all unfold, but if they did realise "the level of violence involved" and just kept it to themselves, then they're complicit, aren't they?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    It'll all unfold, but if they did realise "the level of violence involved" and just kept it to themselves, then they're complicit, aren't they?

    i'd assume at least some of them are the source of the police's information.

    and sometimes people keep shut just to avoid becoming targets.

    </soprano's fan>

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Morrison,

    Tama Iti playing Capt Mainwaring. Could be worse.

    I hope we see more of Annette Sykes on the tele. She's always entertaining in a "I'm crazy and a layer" knda way.

    Idiot, if it helps just make believe that these folks are from the EBs.

    Since Nov 2006 • 932 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Well, all I can say is that there are far too many stretches where there are multiple lanes to cross and the pedestrian crossing is a long way away.

    I'm talking about those who choose to cross the road in the midst of traffic when there is a pedistrian crossing or cross walk 10 metres away. Being lazy is not worth getting splattered on to the pavement.

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Sure, there are pedestrian idiots who endanger themselves. Nonetheless, Auckland is needlessly dangerous to pedestrians. Those things can both be true. And I'm not buying any argument along the lines of "nothing for you whining pedestrians until you shape up."

    What I see is that in any given stretch of AK, the needs of people from far away to transit through are not well balanced with the needs of people who live and work there.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Police press conferance video here

    Legally speaking, remaining silent does not make you a party to a crime, and there's no obligation to report anything. Morally, of course, its a different story, and I think Che is probably right on both counts - some people will have gone to the police, and others will have not wanted to say anything to the people who regard them as the scum of the earth and beat and arrest them if they speak up in public. And if the police are pissed about that, they have no-one to blame but themselves.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    It seems to me that the fact that the police were using the TSA to conduct these raids sugests the interference of "a foreign power" for us to be seen helping in the "War on Terra" all they are going to come up with is "firearms charges" and maybe stolen goods, drugs and unregistered dogs and such like. Personally I'm not sure which side to be scared of.

    btw. this is not a poem ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    It seems to me that the fact that the police were using the TSA to conduct these raids sugests the interference of "a foreign power"

    According to the police commisisoner, there was no international aspect, and the suspect activities were purely domestic.

    He talks a lot about "training camps" and people playing with military weapons. A lot will depend on the intent of those involved. It's not a crime to go off with a bunch of mates and blast holes in things with registered, legally-owned firearms (provided it is done safely). It is a crime if you are doing this as preperation to commiting murder and other crimes of violence.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    I just hope we are not venturing into the tricky territory of using anti-terror laws to prosecute thought crimes, you know when people might say "that bitch Clark and the rest of the liarbour dykeocracy need a military coup to put bullet in the head," some cop using invasive surveillance picks up the conversation and before you know it you are an unregistered Gulfstream IV to Gitmo.



    Hmmm, come to think of it the posting has been quiet on kiwiblog today...

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    Hinchcliff who ended up the next polling Centre Left cadidate. City Vision waited without making any call on the performance of Hubbard and it was too late.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

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