We must never forget what Ardern did to New Zealand.
She caused, division, distrust and despair. A small group of people from Tauranga, who didn’t know each other, got together with what is called a ‘sump’. Cameron Slater, of Whale Oil, then the BFD and now known as the Good Oil blog, helped facilitate contact details for people to make themselves known to each other through the BFD editor. If the person was wearing red or had a T-shirt saying, ‘I love Jacinda’, we knew they weren’t us: a bit of fun to lighten the low mood as we laughed trying to find each other at the shopping mall!
Over the last few years we have met monthly for a potluck dinner and booked a big table for a monthly café daytime catch up for those who can’t easily get out at night.
Most times we meet, we have new people attending as the word is out that we love New Zealand, are of a conservative flavour, love freedom of speech, have an interest in politics and are supportive and fun. Friends bring friends, family members and neighbours. Speakers are invited to share with us all.
Out of the ashes of the Covid disaster, a sump grew and grew and firm friendships have developed.
Here is a summary of the last Saturday potluck (12 April) from Penny Marie, of Let Kids Be Kids, who attended the sump.
Something incredible happens when like-minded people come together over a shared meal, a common awareness and, of course, hugs. I first heard about the Tauranga Sump in mid-2024, when I was invited to speak whilst I was travelling through NZ running the Let Kids Be Kids Roadshow (Good Oil article).
Like many, I have experienced that out of the ashes of my old social circles, which collapsed in 2021, something so much richer has arisen. Sump is a wonderful initiative and I hope it is being replicated all over the world as we reform our communities of choice – face-to-face and heart to heart.
Speakers at April’s meeting were Cr Robert Lee (Rotorua Lakes Council), followed by Don Brash and Margaret Murray-Benge. Cr Lee is a stalwart for common sense and being a voice for the residents of Rotorua on topics, most notably Springfield Golf Course, fluoride and drag queens. He explained how councillors are in an impossible situation with fluoride and he believes that the only way to get changes is to demand a commission inquiry into fluoride, which was last done in 1957, and there is now an avalanche of data that show the negative health impact on populations. These data need to be addressed if we truly care about the health of New Zealanders. Rotorua Lakes Council this month voted to send a letter to parliament to ask for an COI and he hopes other councils around NZ will support the notion.
Don Brash brought insights into governmental policy and finance and Margaret – who always steals the show – brought a strong message to step up, get involved in civics – we need good people to take a stand in the upcoming council and mayoral elections throughout New Zealand. Now is our time people! Don’t sit back thinking someone is coming to save us. It’s you and it’s me: it’s all of us together.
Follow my work at https://linktr.ee/pennymarienz and https://letkidsbekids.nz/.
Penny Marie
New Zealand based independent reporter, researcher, speaker and coach.
hi@pennymarie.nz
Website/Latest work and social media channels
Founder of Let Kids Be Kids
