The Politician, The Heckler, and Tonkin + Taylor
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The gentleman who heckled Winston Peters at Wellington Railway Station on 20 May, has been ‘outed' by the media as an employee of engineering firm Tonkin + Taylor. It is unclear why media felt it was necessary to dox this man, but in this world of Anything Goes, personal privacy seems not to feature highly with newsroom editors and producers.
No doubt there won't be any media accountability once rightwing nutjob trolls latch on to him. Chance would be a fine thing.
But perhaps the strangest aspect to this story of thin-skinned, snowflake Winston Peters, and pearl-clutching by some, was the response by this heckler's employer, Tonkin + Taylor.
For some unknown reason - perhaps because this is the Age of Apology As Policy - they unwittingly fanned the media flames by issuing this statement on contrition:
“We are aware of an incident at a media event at Wellington Railway Station this morning.
We have confirmed the person involved is a Tonkin + Taylor employee. We are investigating in line with our Code of Conduct and for privacy reasons we won't be commenting any further.
At Tonkin + Taylor we take our responsibilities as a major New Zealand employer seriously. We do not condone behaviour that falls short of our Code of Conduct.
We sincerely apologise to the event organisers, attendees, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister Bishop, for the disruption caused.”
Just why T+T felt the need to apologise to Ministers Peters and Bishop is hard to fathom. Especially apologising to Winston Peters, himself no stranger to dishing out denigration to others when it suits him. Especially if there's a vote in it.
Peters' homophobic vendetta against non-binary Green MP, Benjamin Doyle, should still be fresh in our minds. Peters’ smear campaign sought to destroy Doyle with sexual innuendo.
Before that, Peters attacked Green MP, Ricardo Menéndez March, for being a migrant.
And of course, Peters has been on a warped, vicious crusade against trans people, not seen since the frenzied reactionary homophobia that swept Aotearoa in 1986. The Homosexual Law Reform bill brought this country's simmering homophobic bigotry to the surface.
So for T+T to apologise to Winston Peters, the master of prejudice and toxic populist politics who has targeted every minority in this country, was, to put it mildly, ill-conceived.
It wasn't too long ago - 24 May 2024 to be precise - that the Hon Winston Peters expressed his firm, unequivocal belief in free speech:
“Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect New Zealander’s right of free speech.
The “Protection of Freedom of Expression Bill” will ensure that no organisation or individual, when acting within the law, is unreasonably denied use of a public venue for an organised event or gathering due solely to holding a differing opinion or belief.
It achieves this by setting out responsibilities for facilitating free speech in public venues.
“A vital part of a functioning democracy is to ensure that everyone can have their say within the law” says New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters.
“Public venues paid for by taxpayers and local ratepayers should be available to anyone wishing to utilise those venues, and not be exposed to the ‘thinly veiled totalitarian thought police’ that have become so prevalent in New Zealand.”
It will ensure that all organisations are granted freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association, when acting within the law, utilising any publicly owned facility.
“This Bill upholds New Zealander’s right to freedom of expression and the right to say, ‘I disagree.’”
There have been multiple instances of public authorities and venues attempting to shut down, cancel, or censor organisations and speakers solely because they hold contrary views.
“This cancerous cancel culture is an attack on the very fabric of New Zealand society”.
As stated in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 - “everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form.”
“New Zealand First will continue to defend the right of every New Zealander to exercise that freedom.”
“We refuse to accept these basic rights being taken away by certain pressure groups, causes, or influenced authorities”.”
Mr Peters appears to have changed his mind. Apparently he's not a fan of “freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form” anymore.
Having a thin-skin has that effect on free-speech warriors.
Tonkin + Taylor should also look at themselves in the mirror.
Their website has a section called “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging”. It states, in part:
“Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are pillars of Tonkin + Taylor and influence every aspect of our business.
[…]
We offer Te Tiriti Training, Tikanga training via Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and ongoing Te Reo language skills development. We’ve also partnered with Amotai – an organisation that promotes procurement opportunities for Māori and Pasifika businesses across the supply chain.
[…]
We invest in training programmes for our people, including unconscious bias, tikanga (Māori customs and protocols), LGBTQ+ training sessions, and cultural competence.”
T+T should be congratulated for their company's commitment to Te Tiriti Training and Tikanga.
But Te Tiriti and Tikanga is more than just words. If you're going to commit - then commit.
Backing down in the face of a man who had denigrated immigrants, Māori, Rainbow people, especially trans women, and others, for votes is not commitment. It is backing down in the face of a taxpayer-paid bully.
We're seeing this happen in Real Time, in the United States of America where even judges are being arrested and innocent immigrants are being renditioned to a gulag in El Salvador.
T+T have fine words when it comes to Te Tiriti and Tikanga. But unless those words are supported with firm, bold action, then they are as hollow as car toots in the Mt Victoria tunnel.
The T+T employee who heckled Winston Peters was honouring the policy set down by his company. He wasn't just uttering pleasant-sounding words, he was putting T+T policy into firm, unequivocal action.
The heckler was saying NO to anti-Māori bigotry.
The least that Tonkin + Taylor could do is stand by him.
Otherwise, what sort of commitment is it? Do you have his back when he puts words into action?
Or do you throw him under a bus because it's inconvenient to actually live up to your own tikanga?
Your call, Tonkin + Taylor. Make it a good one.
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References
RNZ: Deputy PM Winston Peters tells heckler 'naff off' following rail announcement
Scoop media: Far-Right Smear Campaign Continues Against New Zealand Green MP
RNZ: Winston Peters, Shane Jones again attack migrant Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March
Scoop media: New Zealand First Member’s Bill To Protect Freedom Of Speech
Tonkin + Taylor: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
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Acknowledgement: Rod Emmerson
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= fs =
Well said! Winstone has recently commented that the standards of parliament have deteriorated. If he would look in the mirror, he would meet the man who has brought most of that about.
Yup… Free speech!! But only if you agree with my opinion.