Road to recovery...without the roadblocks

The way in which we as a country have responded to coronavirus has reinforced what most of us always thought of ourselves—that for the most part we are unified, considerate, kind and pragmatic. We rise to a challenge, do what we are told (for the most part) and just get on with the job of looking after ourselves and others.

Some will say that is no more no less than most other countries are doing and unlike them we don’t have to contend with common and porous borders. True, but in these days of modern transport, isolation is not what it once was, but it is still enough to retain in us a sense of self-preservation and resourcefulness that serve us well at times like these.

However, if coronavirus has brought out the best in us, it has also uncovered some traits of ours that are less savoury.

At first, I thought Fryday should ignore them. We are after all coming out of the most draconian of Levels Three and Four restrictions and our focus now should be on rebuilding the country. But then I thought that if we ignore what happened we are failing to learn from it. If we simply sweep it under the carpet and forget about it, we have the very real danger of it resurfacing again, strengthened this time by the very real power of precedence.

I am talking about the illegal roadblocks that sprung up during coronavirus. Whilst they have been little more than inconvenient (to this point) and none of the forecast violence eventuated, they are still illegal and could in time set a dangerous precedent, particularly because of the Government’s failure to act on them.

The rationale for the roadblocks was spurious to start with, so were the arguments in favour. We were told they were set up to protect vulnerable communities. Why were “their” communities more vulnerable (and valuable) than mine? Because they are largely Maori? Latest figures showed that confirmed cases of Covid-19 among Maori are proportionately far lower than any other New Zealand ethnic group. Whereas, by comparison my age group, 70 and over, is demonstrably the most vulnerable.

It is not a question, in my argument, of them and us. It is a question of putting things in perspective and at least trying to recognise the truth as it pertains to the bigger picture.

And here we turn to chief organiser Hone Harawira's motives. They are in my view not what they seem, or he espouses. He will tell you that it is for the good of the community. Would not the case be made for a more simplistic and superficial motive: Hone needs the attention? He has been out of the limelight for so long that his now largely irrelevant. He was going that way even when he was in politics. Many of his ideas are outmoded, archaic and impractical--replaced by modern real-world ideas promulgated by smart well-educated and visionary Maori.

Hone has nothing else to fall back other than to find an issue, capitalise on it, stir up controversy and stand before the cameras. In other words, do what he does best.

So why am I giving him space? Why not just ignore him? Two reasons: ignoring him won’t make him go away. That would be like ignoring coronavirus in the expectation that it gives up and goes home to Wuhan. Better to put his motivation under scrutiny and have readers consider him either relevant or ridiculous.

The second reason is a more important issue here—precedent. Northland MP Matt King had it right when he refused an invitation from Hone to visit a roadblock to see how it operated. Matt king refused, asking what was the point?  The roadblock(s) could have been serving Devonshire teas (they weren’t) but they are still illegal, and the failure of the Government to recognise that flouting of the law by this or any sector of society is disgraceful.

And what next? What about after coronavirus? Using the original argument of “good of the community” what if Hone thinks, for example, that not enough is spent on the upkeep of local roads or spent on social services? What is to stop him resurrecting roadblocks to extract koha or donations to pay for such services? If the Government's lack of action and tacit approval is any guide, he can do so with impunity.

Far-fetched? Perhaps. But even if there is a remote chance on this one we have already embarked down a rocky road.