Capitalist
In recent years we have seen some startling changes to the New Zealand Police. There is the wishy-washy Commissioner, the wokeness and the targeting of non-criminal conservative New Zealanders for expressing opinions. Not to mention failing to target actual major criminals (due to their ethnicity).
It all came to an explosive culmination with the clearing of a peaceful legal protest at Parliament recently. What has bothered and confused many of us is “why” the Police have seemingly gone mad and abandoned a long, proud history.
I can now reveal the answer!
The first general election I observed as a boy was in 1984. It was a snap election with all the action taking place within a short 3 week period. It was the last election where party leaders held public meetings in each city and larger towns across the country, the last election contested by political ‘heavyweights’, and arguably the last election contested by people who actually believed in anything (if you know what I mean).
I found the 1984 election campaign all great fun and supported Bob Jones – even being taken by my parents to his election rally in the local town hall packed with freedom-loving patriots. On election night although disappointed at the results which saw Bob Jones win no seats and a socialist government elected, like most other New Zealanders, I watched the TV election coverage. Election night 1984 had and continues to hold the highest ever TV ratings in our history, apparently.
The enormously entertaining ‘high point’ of the evening was the declaration of the result in the electorate of Pakuranga. This saw the candidate from the Social Credit party (of all people!) somehow or other manage to get elected, with the defeated National MP Pat Hunt ranting on television (something I, to this day, consider the funniest TV moment ever!), where he said:
“…this is a tragedy for Pakuranga, we are now represented by a third rate party; the Skoda brigade, the crimplene suit mob – you only have to look at them here; I mean, that’s not Pakuranga…”
Hilarious. His words (albeit regularly misquoted) quickly entered the political lexicon – and this ‘uncool’, embarrassing image of a Social Credit member or supporter probably significantly hastened the demise of that party.
Imagine therefore my ‘lack’ of surprise to learn that the New Zealand Police have suddenly switched to driving Skodas! “Third rate”, “crimplene suit mob”, “tragedy”: it all makes sense now!
It is probably no coincidence that the story ran shortly after the jackbooted display at Parliament.
Inspector Brian Yanko is quoted as saying, “…vehicles need to be operational and fit for purpose to meet our operational requirements…” Remember folks he is talking about Skodas! Haha!
Although 38 years have gone by, finally our dithering, touchy-feely, Police force have found their true calling and their dream car to fit with their new image.
