Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The standing-still sweep

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  • Idiot Savant,

    Broad also notes that "not everyone who would have been at the camps has necessarily committed an offence".

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    Auckland can be a rather pedestrian unfriendly city.

    My kids unit stayed at Waiapa Marae at the university at Matariki this year and planned on walking from there to the Auckland domain. There is no way to get there without at some point taking your chances with traffic. It's almost as pedestrians are an irksome afterthought.

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I must correct myself. The raids were, in fact, conducted under the Summary Proceedings Act but any mention of the TSA is scary to me. Having lived in the UK under the PTA (prevention of terrorism act) I have seen many injustices enacted under such laws. I feel sorry for the "averege Joe" in the states on this point too. The quote attributed to Edmund Burke springs to mind "first they came for the communists" etc.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Sure, there are pedestrian idiots who endanger themselves.

    These would account for around 50% of pedestrians based on what I see every day.
    The number of people who will walk out onto the road before teh little green guy lights up is astounding. These peopel think tehy know the traffic light phasing so the can start walking when they see the cars are getting teh orange light. All you need is one lead foot in a car to race through the amber (and we all know thta is the norm) to take out a bunch of pedestrians.
    Next time you are in the CBD observe how many people actually WAIT for the green to cross...

    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."

    I agree but some pedestrians are just stupid, just like the way they probably drive (through red lights).

    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.

    Indeed - it all comes back to less cars and encouraging people to walk or use public transport ie. better footpaths, more crossings, safe crossings...

    Election issue anyone?
    lol

    While we are on the subject, can the cyclists please stop riding through the pedestrian crossings when people are trying to cross?

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    I love the way the authorities treat cyclists "Here ya go, have a bike lane you can share it with the buses" er! yeah, big metal thing against small fleshy thing, thanks.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

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

    Yes, interesting how quickly the team moderation and introducing a daily general discussion thread seems to be calming down the loony left and the rabid right wingnuts. A wee way to go yet, but a decent enough start.

    Legally speaking, remaining silent does not make you a party to a crime, and there's no obligation to report anything.

    True enough - and the stupid crap that seems to come from Mr. Iti every time he opens his trap proves nothing more than... well, he's full of crap. If that's a criminal offence, I'd respectfully suggest we're all terrorists now.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    I am pro cycling BTW - more lanes, less competition with cars and trucks, buses etc.

    Cyclists just neeed to remember they must follow the road rules.

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

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Tame Iti is a 'colourful character', not much else.

    I'm surprised he didn't get asked on to Dancing with the Stars.

    PS: I was joking when I mentioned his name first time around in this thread. I didn't know he'd been arrested - lol

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

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    The raids were, in fact, conducted under the Summary Proceedings Act but any mention of the TSA is scary to me.

    The Summary Proceedings Act is the act under which police obtain search warrants. The obtained Search Warrants under that act for suspected breaches of the Arms Act and the Terrorism Suppression Act.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    I must correct myself. The raids were, in fact, conducted under the Summary Proceedings Act but any mention of the TSA is scary to me. Having lived in the UK under the PTA (prevention of terrorism act) I have seen many injustices enacted under such laws. I feel sorry for the "averege Joe" in the states on this point too. The quote attributed to Edmund Burke springs to mind "first they came for the communists" etc.

    The way the PTA has been used in Britain is an outrage: to justify removing an elderly heckler (and party member) from a Labour conference; against the guy who suggested to a policeman his horse was gay; and against any number of people seeking to engage in no more than peaceful public protest.

    Arresting people alleged to have been training in the use of "military-style weapons" (one of the news stories mentioned grenades) for political ends would seem to be quite a bit different.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    The Summary Proceedings Act is the act under which police obtain search warrants. The obtained Search Warrants under that act for suspected breaches of the Arms Act and the Terrorism Suppression Act.

    So, they couldn't use that act to open a car boot with a woman's body in it?

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

  • Tom Beard,

    That's definitely 128 Abel Smith St, not the Aro Valley Community Centre (it's a couple of streets away). Some of the anarchists and other activists associated with it are definitely at the extreme end of the spectrum, and while I agreed with them on some of their campaigns, they could get a little scary at times.

    I wouldn't have expected actual firearms and stuff, but then again, maybe they decided to get serious with some non-vegans...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    BTW, does anyone see any irony or sick humour in the fact that the TV3 video of this police raid on a house strongly associated with resistance to the bypass was bookended by ads for an SUV?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Oh come on Russell

    Arresting people alleged to have been training in the use of "military-style weapons" (one of the news stories mentioned grenades) for political ends would seem to be quite a bit different.

    It's the thin end of the wedge and to say "one of the news stories" is a bit disingenuous with regard to your attitude to the MSM. Yes it would seem to be quite a bit different but we all know things are rarely what they seem.

    However, I would be the last one to advocate armed stuggle against the colonial powers that be. That would serve no purpose what so ever. It would not surprise me to find a certain Mr Wishart behind part of all this. Do you remember his piece on the NZAIF (armed intervention force) ?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    So, they couldn't use that act to open a car boot with a woman's body in it?

    They could. And indeed did. That's what took them so long. They got all the evidence they had together, swore affidavits and found a judge/JP to give them a search warrant.

    That all takes time. The different with this case is that here they actually had time.

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

  • Idiot Savant,

    Arresting people alleged to have been training in the use of "military-style weapons" (one of the news stories mentioned grenades) for political ends would seem to be quite a bit different.

    Indeed it would - thought they'd need to show that the group was a group that carried out terrorist acts (difficult as none have been committed) and that participation was for that purpose. In other words, they'd need to have serious evidence of planning and conspiring to commit murder or blow stuff up for a political purpose. And if they don't, then all they have are firearms chargesand a big headache.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    This is a strange thread ... regular updates on one of the more interesting/alarming domestic news stories of the year, complete with suggestions of terrorist activity ... and the rather more workaday complaints about Auckland traffic.

    I appreciate Tom's attempt to link the two through reference to SUV advertising though. Well done Tom.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    The number of people who will walk out onto the road before teh little green guy lights up is astounding.

    I always* wait for the green man**. It's usually cos I'm lazy and I can't be bothered doing the mental calculation and possible running that going on a red man requires.

    But I'm shocked to see the kinds of crazy crossing that some people do. Some even will stand on the road, waiting for the green man, then act surprised when a car comes hooning around the corner.


    * Don't tell anyone, but if there is no traffic, I might go on a red man.

    ** Or perhaps it's a green lady in jeans.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    So, they couldn't use that act to open a car boot with a woman's body in it?

    Of couse not. There were too many cops sitting on it to write in their notebooks.
    True, that car was just up the street from here and for 2 days every time I passed there was a cop sitting on it. However, they can spare 200 boys in blue to round up a bunch of looneys playing soldiers.
    I still belive this was just a way of showing the yanks that we are serious about the war on terragh.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    They could. And indeed did. That's what took them so long. They got all the evidence they had together, swore affidavits and found a judge/JP to give them a search warrant.

    That all takes time. The different with this case is that here they actually had time.

    And yet, if memory serves, no such efforts are necessary if an Officer says "Allo allo I think I smell marijuana smoke in this car" and invokes the Misuse of Drugs Act to conduct a warrantless search?

    Interesting priorities.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    And yet, if memory serves, no such efforts are necessary if an Officer says "Allo allo I think I smell marijuana smoke in this car" and invokes the Misuse of Drugs Act to conduct a warrantless search?

    Interesting priorities.

    I think in this case it was definitely a case of "illegally lowered suspension"

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Indeed it would - thought they'd need to show that the group was a group that carried out terrorist acts (difficult as none have been committed) and that participation was for that purpose. In other words, they'd need to have serious evidence of planning and conspiring to commit murder or blow stuff up for a political purpose. And if they don't, then all they have are firearms charges and a big headache.

    I guess it's possible that it's all a terrible mistake, and that "The Freedom Fighters" is merely a popular phrase in Tuhoe rhetoric (which it is) and not really an organised group. But there have been some pretty detailed leaks, indicating close-quarter police surveillance this year and last year.

    If half of what's being reported is correct, I think that, as Broad put it, it was "prudent" of police to intervene.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    There's got to be a story in why TV3 were either invited, or 'accidentally told' to be there for that dawn raid. And were allowed to film about four feet from the door. The 'raid' can't have been that dangerous if civilians were standing directly in the line of any potential fire.

    It was very 'Cops'. I half expected an african american family to be dragged out half naked.

    Police looking for some good shots of their big day busting activists, needed to bring a TV camera on the only raid near a TV station?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    It may well have been prudent, but at the same time they may have to be satisfied with not being able to use their funky new anti-terror laws. Which will probably mean they'll demand newer, funkier ones, with fewer safeguards, to protect us from this Terrible Threat.

    (Personally, I find the idea of police running amok with anti-terrorist legislation more threatening than our local terrorist wannabes. I mean, it's not like the latter have actually killed anyone...)

    People are apparently appearing in court in Wellington ATM, though there's no news yet on who they are or what they are charged with.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • paulalambert,

    Interesting priorities indeed. Perhaps the prohibition of cannabis has helped fund these alleged activities in the Ureweras.

    chch • Since Dec 2006 • 107 posts Report Reply

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