The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behaviour crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.
Malcolm Gladwell.
Looking back, a spontaneous protest appears to be the catalyst for the beginning of the downfall of a political leader, and maybe even another. To the astonishment of the protestors there were thousands who joined them and thousands more who lined the streets. Even in little towns and on overhead motorway bridges throughout New Zealand, people were waving, encouraging a convoy of cars, trucks and buses. They were disenchanted Kiwis from all walks of life who met in Wellington on the parliament grounds in 2022, asking to speak with Jacinda Ardern, the then prime minister, to raise their concerns about the mandates and the way she governed with such control and coercion. The numbers were huge, and a tipping point was reached. A magic moment happened, and it spread like wildfire.
In another setting, a magic moment happened. To the astonishment of the church leaders, hundreds turned up and they had to move from a small area into the auditorium, a much bigger space. In that church, the leaders had advertised an evening so they could meet with and hear from the unvaccinated. A magic moment happened. ‘Coming out’ as unvaxxed at church was revealing. Crowds of other brave people who had not complied with the government streamed into the building.
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell is a book about how small actions at the right time, in the right place, and with the right people can create a “tipping point” for anything from a product to an idea to a trend. Gladwell is not a sociologist, but he relies on sociological studies, and those from other disciplines within the social sciences to write articles and books that both the general public and social scientists find fascinating and worthwhile.
According to Gladwell, “the tipping point” is “that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behaviour crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire”.
Book Review, By Ashley Crossman
The Wellington protestors became aware there were many others who shared the same concerns. They too did not like the Labour Government and the ruthless policies that were being thrust on them. This revelation was electrifying as they realised they were no longer isolated even amidst misery. New and lasting friendships were made all over the country.
It was true, as Gladwell wrote, there is a tipping point where magic moments happen, sometimes unexpectedly and quickly.
Ardern may never admit it, but the volume of people tuning up on the people’s lawn in front of her was stark and chilling. Like the hapless Matt Hancock, the UK MP caught out by his own WhatsApp when he says of controlling the Brits’ COVID-19 behaviour, “We frighten the pants off everyone with a new strain”, and “When do we deploy the new variant?” The determination of the Wellington protestors visibly dramatised how frustrated Kiwis were, and the numbers possibly ‘scared the pants off’ Ardern.
She became the most hated PM in the history of New Zealand. The people wanted her gone. Many say the peaceful protest was a pivotal time not only to embolden the people but the beginning of the end for Ardern, contributing significantly to her subsequent resignation.
Another leader got it wrong during the protest. Incredibly, Christopher Luxon also ignored the people and their grievances.
Never has an opposition party had such an easy opportunity to actually be an opposition! It was handed to Luxon on a gold plate with an invitation to engage with the people on the lawn and the thousands more on live streams to ordinary New Zealanders who did not like the government. But no, instead he turned against potential voters. In a letter, he told them to behave and strongly criticised them, without checking whether the accusations were fair and truthful. Since the peaceful people’s protest Christopher Luxon, too, has become unpopular. Luxon sided with what was rapidly becoming the most unpopular government ever, and his poor polling as leader of the National Party reflects this along with many other decisions where he backed the Government, rather than opposing them.
While desperately wanting to get rid of this Government, many Kiwis don’t know who to vote for at this point.