"Freedom & rights" protesters

[Lilith7]

Have been active across the country today & managed to cause problems in Auckland for the traffic. Which seems unlikely to win them many friends.
They like to use the term 'we the people' a lot, which could be said to imply that they don't see those not agreeing with their views as people.

You have to wonder at the mentality of those protesting about poverty here; they seem  not to understand that both our main political parties have caused it over several decades rather than just the present govt. And also whether these protests are a means of gaining publicity for the political party financed by Destiny 'church'.
It tends to look rather as if there's more than a whiff of misogyny involved, too given their particular American right wing style of 'religion.'

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zeala...ather.html

"On Friday, the group known as the Freedom and Rights Coalition announced it intended to carry out protests across New Zealand on Saturday.

The group is linked to Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki. Tamaki is known for his involvement in controversial anti-lockdown protests during last year's Delta outbreak and his vocal opposition to COVID-19 mandates.


In a statement on Friday, the Freedom and Rights Coalition said it had planned marches in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on Saturday against "the declining quality of life and the incompetence of this Government".

"We the people are fed up with the present political system and its incompetent politicians who are destroying the lives of everyday hard-working Kiwi families."

[Oh_hunnihunni]

We the other people are pretty fucked off with Destiny to be honest.

[king1]

It shows the arrogance and delusion of certain individuals who proclaim "we the people", when they only manage to drag out a 1000 or so...

The time to protest about the government is the upcoming General Elections...

[videomonkey]

1000 very outspoken idiots, in my opinion.

To say NZ is lacking freedom just shows how little perspective they have.

If only there was a way to get rid of a political party... but I doubt many of them would bother to vote.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Pity the list of banned terrorist groups couldn't just include nuisances.

Catch a lot of organisations that would!

[Lilith7]

We the other people are pretty fucked off with Destiny to be honest.

Yep, indeed we are. And in view of their political ambitions, perhaps it may be time to review the definition of the Destiny 'church' as being exempt from taxes' no doubt the result of that would be extremely interesting. In fact, perhaps it may be time to review all those American style mega churches & their taxation.
The 'City impact church' seems to be approving of Destiny church & its protests; perhaps there's a connection. I really don't think those large evangelical American style
right wing 'churches' are altogether healthy.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300423...gachurches

"Mortlock subscribes to a breed of Christianity called Pentecostalism.

Pentecostalism is big on speaking in tongues, divine healing and getting baptised. As Joshua Drummond wrote in┬áthis Webworm essay, itÔÇÖs not very far removed from Evangelical Christianity ÔÇô which explains why the likes of Brian Houston and Peter Mortlock idolise bonkers Evangelical churches in the United States.

Following HillsongÔÇÖs lead, it has attempted to go international ÔÇô opening churches in┬áCanada, India, Mexico and the Philippines (itÔÇÖs unclear how big these are ÔÇô some of the addresses listed just point to generic office spaces).

Before he was a Man of God, Peter Mortlock was a real estate agent. That made him very good at selling.

Because he teaches prosperity gospel, all his riches are seen as a hugely good thing to his flock. His congregation is urged to tithe 10 per cent of their monthly income (Eftpos machines are available during service) and they do so, happily.

They arenÔÇÖt annoyed their leader is massively rich. He is aspirational to them. His congregation thinks that if they give to God (ie: City Impact Church) then God will give back to them (spoiler alert: God wonÔÇÖt).
As a church, City Impact qualifies as a charitable organisation, meaning it is exempt from paying tax on its income. That didnÔÇÖt stop it getting paid out over a million dollars in Covid-19 subsidy payouts from the Government

I am never going to understand how entities like City Impact are tax-free, their leaders living in multimillion-dollar homes."

[Lilith7]

It seems the police have had more than enough of this lot & 11 of them have been arrested. If they're given fines, perhaps the McBishop will pay them for them.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/4675...ge-protest

"As a result of us advising them of the serious safety concerns and the risk that they posed to themselves as well as other roadusers, they agreed to drive their vehicles over the bridge, we made an agreement with this group that they would travel at a set speed that would not cause undue risk to themselves and other roadusers," Hassan said.

However, once crossing the harbour bridge the procession broke this agreement and began to slow their vehicles, eventually coming to a complete stop.

Hassan said a number of people involved in the procession then exited their vehicles on the bridge.

"The behaviour that these people demonstrated today was incredibly selfish and it was simply stupid behaviour, we had advised them of the risks they posed to themselves and other roadusers and they absolutely took no notice of that," Hassan said.

She said the harbour bridge was a highly dangerous area for people to be exiting their vehicles, with winds reaching 60kmph this afternoon.

Charges laid today include obstructing police, resisting arrest, assaulting police and driving-related charges."