Competing Pro-Palestine and Pro-Israel Demonstrations Outside TVNZ Head Office

Today is the anniversary of the October 7th incident in the Holy Land. To mark the occasion competing demonstrations gathered outside the offices of New Zealand’s state broadcaster, TVNZ.

It seemed the pro-Israel demonstration arrived first and set up outside the offices. Most of the pro-Palestine demonstrators were on the other side of the road though there were a few having their say amongst the pro-Israel demonstration.

The pro-Palestine demonstration was smaller by quite a margin but that may have been because I departed 25 minutes before it was due to commence so more people may have arrived after I left.

There were some frank exchanges of views which escalated into a bit of a scuffle half a block away. I didn’t catch it on camera but I did catch the police reacting to it rapidly. It seemed one of the officers caught pepper spray quelling the trouble and when I encountered him he didn’t seem best pleased. I’ll release that clip later.

I didn’t see any media despite that the demonstrations were on TVNZ’s very doorstep. Consultation on the latest restructure was announced today so all of the staff were probably inside trying to work out why their dwindling audience doesn’t want to watch any more Woke.

On balance I didn’t see much point in today’s events. I don’t think anyone’s mind is changed by shouting at them through a loudhailer and I definitely don’t think hitting people does either. In my opinion it would be far more beneficial to seek accommodation through a polite and respectful exchange of views.

-SRA. Auckland, 7/x 2024.