Comments on: Student riots in Dunedin http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/ hopping along the corridors of power Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:17:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Henry http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16898 Henry Tue, 22 Aug 2006 20:36:16 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16898 Some students think they have a right (by the fact that they have studied hard, and are letting off steam), to vandalise other peoples property (eg in Ilam Chch). It costs the home owner maybe $100 to replace a letter box and the owner, feels (justifiably) put down. Henry Some students think they have a right (by the fact that they have studied hard, and are letting off steam), to vandalise other peoples property (eg in Ilam Chch). It costs the home owner maybe $100 to replace a letter box and the owner, feels (justifiably) put down.
Henry

]]> By: Scott http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16895 Scott Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:32:03 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16895 "Slanted"... :-) thanks Panda for making all of our days. Now I know you are having us on. Such fire. Thanks again Panda. “Slanted”… :-) thanks Panda for making all of our days. Now I know you are having us on. Such fire. Thanks again Panda.

]]> By: panda http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16892 panda Tue, 22 Aug 2006 04:16:32 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16892 I guess you only read newspapers ,magazines and blogs that adhere to your narrow slanted point of view to paraphrase a well known phrase "know your enemy" I find it interesting to see what you greens are thinking and writing about I know it might be a surprise to you to learn but us Neocons (to coin a term loved by the left) actually have considered our positions and are not just reactionary right wing Neanderthanls. ummm the whole tone of frogs blog was to discredit the police actions I was hearted to read I wasn't the only one here to see it that way I was also pleased to see reference to Arthur Allen Thomas as of course every one know the police stuffed that one up !!!! What you don't mention is the 1000s of cases the police get correct every day I also use the Arthur Allen Thomas case as a reason why NZ can never bring back the death penalty lock the scum up for ever but if you kill them you bring them back if in the very very rare case a mistake is made I guess you only read newspapers ,magazines and blogs that adhere to your narrow slanted point of view

to paraphrase a well known phrase

“know your enemy”

I find it interesting to see what you greens are thinking and writing about

I know it might be a surprise to you to learn but us Neocons (to coin a term loved by the left) actually have considered our positions and are not just reactionary right wing Neanderthanls.

ummm the whole tone of frogs blog was to discredit the police actions I was hearted to read I wasn’t the only one here to see it that way

I was also pleased to see reference to Arthur Allen Thomas as of course every one know the police stuffed that one up !!!!
What you don’t mention is the 1000s of cases the police get correct every day

I also use the Arthur Allen Thomas case as a reason why NZ can never bring back the death penalty

lock the scum up for ever but if you kill them you bring them back if in the very very rare case a mistake is made

]]> By: Scott http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16889 Scott Tue, 22 Aug 2006 02:30:42 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16889 Must really be upsetting Panda that John Hartevelt would have appeared to have written a factual piece based on actually being there. It even appeared to be even handed wondering at the actions of the drunken and also wondering what might have been if the police had a slightly more reasoned approach. If you want to use the strong blame word, I felt John Hartevelt tried to blame both groups for their contribution to the situation. I am not sure why you bother reading Frog Blog at all (for a 3% party) . Would love to know why you do. Thanks Frog for bringing the blog to our attention. Must really be upsetting Panda that John Hartevelt would have appeared to have written a factual piece based on actually being there. It even appeared to be even handed wondering at the actions of the drunken and also wondering what might have been if the police had a slightly more reasoned approach. If you want to use the strong blame word, I felt John Hartevelt tried to blame both groups for their contribution to the situation.

I am not sure why you bother reading Frog Blog at all (for a 3% party) . Would love to know why you do.

Thanks Frog for bringing the blog to our attention.

]]> By: stuey http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16888 stuey Tue, 22 Aug 2006 02:21:01 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16888 er panda and adw, where in frogs post does he or she condone or apologise for the drunk students' behaviour? I think maybe you read what you wanted to read. Perhaps you should read a bit more carefully and leave your assumptions at the door next time. er panda and adw, where in frogs post does he or she condone or apologise for the drunk students’ behaviour?

I think maybe you read what you wanted to read. Perhaps you should read a bit more carefully and leave your assumptions at the door next time.

]]> By: alicia http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16886 alicia Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:01:10 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16886 As a student in Dunedin I feel it is safe to say that there are many students that don't condone the behaviour of a certain minority that seem to regularly congregate on Castle St. Don't get me wrong: I have no problem with the level of drunkenness of the student's on the street and am happy that the council and local police are generally quite lenient about this. I'm even happy for the occassional couch burning to take place: it is somewhat a tradition down here. However, I think that there needs to be a line drawn between being drunk and being threatening, and that the latter should not be tolerated. The bottle throwing started in the first week of semester 1, in broad daylight. The students involved in this behaviour were never brought up on this. I can see the police's point of view: they'd been lenient too long and had, perhaps, been pushed over the edge. I believe they were right to come in and try and break things up, and hopefully arrest a few of the threatening drunks (bottle-throwers and the like). I also think that they probably went too far. I hope the police can learn from this incident and that their superiors can ensure a more appropriate response in the future. Just like most students are not bottle-throwing drunken louts, most police are not power-corrupted abusive pricks. Just one final note. One of John Hartevelt's complaints was that the police moved *everyone* on, not just the bottle-throwers. However, looking at it from the police's point of view: even if someone is not currently throwing bottles, does not preclude them from such behaviour once your back is turned to them, and so it may be advised to keep *all* of the students in front of you. This is unfortunate for those who were not involved in the dangerous behaviour, but I believe it was necessary. As a student in Dunedin I feel it is safe to say that there are many students that don’t condone the behaviour of a certain minority that seem to regularly congregate on Castle St. Don’t get me wrong: I have no problem with the level of drunkenness of the student’s on the street and am happy that the council and local police are generally quite lenient about this. I’m even happy for the occassional couch burning to take place: it is somewhat a tradition down here. However, I think that there needs to be a line drawn between being drunk and being threatening, and that the latter should not be tolerated. The bottle throwing started in the first week of semester 1, in broad daylight. The students involved in this behaviour were never brought up on this. I can see the police’s point of view: they’d been lenient too long and had, perhaps, been pushed over the edge. I believe they were right to come in and try and break things up, and hopefully arrest a few of the threatening drunks (bottle-throwers and the like). I also think that they probably went too far. I hope the police can learn from this incident and that their superiors can ensure a more appropriate response in the future. Just like most students are not bottle-throwing drunken louts, most police are not power-corrupted abusive pricks.

Just one final note. One of John Hartevelt’s complaints was that the police moved *everyone* on, not just the bottle-throwers. However, looking at it from the police’s point of view: even if someone is not currently throwing bottles, does not preclude them from such behaviour once your back is turned to them, and so it may be advised to keep *all* of the students in front of you. This is unfortunate for those who were not involved in the dangerous behaviour, but I believe it was necessary.

]]> By: frog http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16884 frog Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:37:32 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16884 I wasn't condoning or apologising for the students' behaviour, adw. Obviously there were very drunk people doing some very stupid and dangerous things, and the Police presence was clearly warranted. What I liked about Critic's piece was the balance it provided. It raised some valid questions about the tactics the Police employed, which seem to have exacerbated rather than defused the situation. This is important, when, as you point out, public safety is at stake. And if provocation can lead Police to make poor decisions in this way, then adding tasers into the mix seems quite a dangerous proposition. I wasn’t condoning or apologising for the students’ behaviour, adw. Obviously there were very drunk people doing some very stupid and dangerous things, and the Police presence was clearly warranted. What I liked about Critic’s piece was the balance it provided. It raised some valid questions about the tactics the Police employed, which seem to have exacerbated rather than defused the situation. This is important, when, as you point out, public safety is at stake. And if provocation can lead Police to make poor decisions in this way, then adding tasers into the mix seems quite a dangerous proposition.

]]> By: adw http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16883 adw Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:25:13 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16883 This is one of the worst frog blogs I've seen in ages. The streets don't belong to the students and the rest of us are sick and tired of feeling unsafe and intimidated by drunken louts. Stop apologising for ignorant, immature and criminal behaviour. They were just plain drunk and disorderly without a care for anyone else's safety. The cops have my respect and most of NZs and we're getting sick of them being harassed with this type of pathetic media coverage. It's about time the students took responsibility for their actions and it's about time the Greens started promoting personal responsibility. This is one of the worst frog blogs I’ve seen in ages. The streets don’t belong to the students and the rest of us are sick and tired of feeling unsafe and intimidated by drunken louts. Stop apologising for ignorant, immature and criminal behaviour. They were just plain drunk and disorderly without a care for anyone else’s safety. The cops have my respect and most of NZs and we’re getting sick of them being harassed with this type of pathetic media coverage. It’s about time the students took responsibility for their actions and it’s about time the Greens started promoting personal responsibility.

]]> By: gkba http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16881 gkba Mon, 21 Aug 2006 22:50:29 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16881 I guess Panda truly believes that the guy who was pepper sprayed in the face while he was hand cuffed on the ground deserved it. Or Arthur Allen Thomas and everyone else who has been framed deserves it too. Fantastic. As the person who wrote to the Herald in the weekend said 'When the police earn back respect and trust then let's buy them their tasers'. I guess Panda truly believes that the guy who was pepper sprayed in the face while he was hand cuffed on the ground deserved it.

Or Arthur Allen Thomas and everyone else who has been framed deserves it too.

Fantastic. As the person who wrote to the Herald in the weekend said ‘When the police earn back respect and trust then let’s buy them their tasers’.

]]> By: panda http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16880 panda Mon, 21 Aug 2006 21:33:09 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/08/21/student-riots-in-dunedin/#comment-16880 Typical Green approach to law and order Instead of blaming the drunk and disorderly students you try to insinuate the police are somehow to blame no wonder you are only at 3%in the polls the public is seeing through the rhetoric and all you are left with is the minority rent a crowd SHAME Typical Green approach to law and order

Instead of blaming the drunk and disorderly students you try to insinuate the police are somehow to blame

no wonder you are only at 3%in the polls
the public is seeing through the rhetoric and all you are left with is the minority rent a crowd

SHAME

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