Important to keep an eye on - who can we identify in Auckland?
03.08.2025 18:56
👍 7
🔁 2
💬 1
📌 0
Important to keep an eye on - who can we identify in Auckland?
In this year's local government elections, all kinds of people are running. But some of them aren't necessarily who they seem.
Charlie Mitchell sets out how the "freedom movement" - riddled with conspiracy theory - is organising, on the down-low: www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3607... 1/
In the end, conspiracy believers who oppose institution they're in probably won't be able to do much to advance their agenda. But they can make quite a mess while they try. And it's not on when they try to slide in without telling the public what they really think. Hopefully they don't make it. /5
It's also good to ask direct questions about things like their understanding of the "15 minute city" concept or how councils should be responding to climate change. And if you don't like what you hear, tell other people. 4/
Most candidates have realised that their social media could be a liability now, so recognising the ticket they're running on and their affiliations is the key to figuring out where they're coming from. 3/
And if this story of running as moderates outwardly while espousing conspiracy theory beliefs quietly disturbs you, you are probably wondering, how am I going tell who's who? And how can I inform others?
Well, @paulbarlownz.bsky.social has you covered: paultheotherone.com/facts/
2/
In this year's local government elections, all kinds of people are running. But some of them aren't necessarily who they seem.
Charlie Mitchell sets out how the "freedom movement" - riddled with conspiracy theory - is organising, on the down-low: www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3607... 1/
Voices For Freedom have just emailed their members urging them to stand in local body elections. Although they do want members to stand in contested seats, this call for action is specifically to seek out uncontested seats. 1/
This is why it's imperative that good people stand, not just for uncontested positions, but everywhere, and that we all carefully scrutinise those who do stand. /ends
The conspiracy theory movement's biggest successes have been in rural areas and community boards that are poorly contested. This is what happens when they win: www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3504... 4/
Uncontested seats mean candidates may never be questioned on their acceptance of conspiracy theories like claims that there is a "systematic drive to literally drive people into cities and into debt." (quoted from a VFF newsletter). But a push for default wins is not a push for democracy. 3/
Ironically, they identified one of the main reasons local government is vulnerable to conspiracy theorists winning election. They point out:
"For example, in Wairoa, with just 9 days remaining until nominations close for the election, only one candidate has registered for a general ward seat."
2/
Voices For Freedom have just emailed their members urging them to stand in local body elections. Although they do want members to stand in contested seats, this call for action is specifically to seek out uncontested seats. 1/
Studied VFF's handbook for the upcoming local govt election. Unaware of any mainstream political party that's done a comparable production to mobilise partisans. A far-right, white supremacist ideological signalling is written into handbook which weaponises democratic processes against democracy.
That form again: haveyoursay.covid19lessons.royalcommission.nz/royal-commis...
The conspiracy theory groups are urging their members to flood the submissions, so why not exercise your democratic rights and submit on behalf of following evidence over reckons. Share your experiences with vaccines and the govt response to the pandemic.
Hey, so you were looking for something to do over the long weekend - how about taking 15 minutes to bash out a quick submission to the Royal Commission. Submissions close on Sunday.
haveyoursay.covid19lessons.royalcommission.nz/royal-commis...
🧵If you want to support Internet NZ now would be the time. The framing of this as "censorship" is a reactionary emotive catchcry by oppositional parties. Bully from within tactics do not equate to civil discussion....
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Also note the relevant minister has been meeting fake "antivax" unions over actual existing unions.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/02/17/t...
We'll just repeat the concerns we expressed in this thread.
bsky.app/profile/fact...
So. We know many people have worn out their keyboards and their patience with submissions on all kinds of things to all kinds of forums in the last few months. But we hope you have it in you for just one more: haveyoursay.covid19lessons.royalcommission.nz /ends
OTOH, conspiracy theorists want us to forget the rammed hospitals and mass graves we saw in countries where COVID19 ran wild. We didn’t have this experience in New Zealand, but strangely in this case conspiracy theorists are unwilling to draw a causal link to public health measures working. 15/
Conspiracy theorists have been exploiting this fancy-named “post hoc propter hoc” fallacy with all their might, urging people to report “vaccine injury” cases and then claiming the high number of reports proves their case. 14/
For two things to be causally connected, it takes more than just one thing happening after another thing. There has to be evidence that makes that link plausible. Otherwise you’re just a rooster thinking your cock-a-doodle-do makes the sun rise. 13/
Every day in New Zealand, people fall ill. You probably know someone who called in sick today. So when something new, but common happens - like a COVID vaccination - many many people who would have been unwell anyway are unwell the next day. 12/
