You know its strange. I was there and I don’t remember there being a deliberate plan to liberate Albert Park. What I do remember is lots of people gathered in Myers Park, which was very small and somewhat steep, suddenly and spontaneously setting off down Queen St, dancing, singing and generally having a bloody good time. As we got down near Victoria St, the Police, then and still the last bastion of extreme conservatism in NZ, appeared in the distance ahead of us, starting to block our path. Somebody near the front shouted “Albert Park”, a sharp turn right was made and Albert Park was stormed. I can still see the bewildered faces on the cops when they arrived in Albert Park to find all the hippies (Yeah, I still cling to the hippie values of peace and love), doing subversive stuff like enjoying themselves in a public park. Shock, horror!!! It wasn’t until the deed was done that Shadbolt and the politicos (the Progressive Youth Movement, the Socialist Unity Party and even the born again Christians) started claiming the event, whereas all that had happened was that hundreds of people wanted a bit more space and didn’t want the cops ruining a perfectly enjoyable afternoon. Or have I got the whole thing wrong?

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The “greenbusters”

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PS WHAT National health system?

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I wouldn’t know – just stopped to admire that fine white horse you rode in on.

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Who are the gentle folk of Dipton gonna call?

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Just around the corner and one house in.
Poor Phil – doesn’t know that half of Karori have Bill’s wife’s address and phone number in case of a medical emergency – and yes, I do live just round the corner.

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True, and here we have examples of many who have been so invaded. Do you think it can be cured by the National health system?

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Sorry – mistyped.
erase the last para from your mind – it was a quote I was going to work on.

Instead I will just say that the arbiter of silly is stupid!! Either the laws, all of them, of any legitimate government, are there to be obeyed or they are not. We either have the rule of law or anarchy. You can’t decry someone for something you disagree with, then claim that you doing the same thing is justified by the relevant laws being silly.

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I’m afraid I can’t agree there Toad.

You see, the comment that “Albert Park is land that belongs to the public of New Zealand” is a little silly. If it belongs to us all, then it belongs equally to me as to you, so I can build a house there and so can you! However, you will use the laws of the land to stop me, especially the bylaw that establishes the land for designated uses – with the elected council as those able to designate. However, the enforcers of that bylaw are Auckland City Council, which is the p[romulgator of at least one “silly rule”, so why should I take any notice of what they say?

The ELECTED council ruled “in the 1960s that prevented the public from actually using it for legitimate recreational and political purposes.

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Correct

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Strange days toad!

Bill’s been straight with us and his residential address is..

whoa! A flying pig!!!

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Gee, do they have firehoses that stretch from Dipton to Karori now? How technological advances pass us by.

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The Voice of Reason had the best comment on Key’s inflammation:

“I wonder if the Dipton Volunteer Fire Brigade are on standby?”

If you know what I mean.

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Dave; The worst invasion is the six inches between the ears

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Phil – loved your ‘Mallard the chimp’ comment elsewhere (harsh!)
and your list of likely arsonists! (You’re on fire!)

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do we have to bring our own zimmer-frames..?

and..”watch out for the brown acid..!’..eh..?

phil(whoar.co.nz)

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Why, I think you captured his silliness very well.

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Even more effective, would have been for me to have read your post first!

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Dave – by crikey, you’re on to something! Albert Park is equivalent to the North American continent and the invasion of the park by the likes of Shadbolt does mirror closely the severe and permanent changes that occured in that somewhat larger venue.
I’d never considered that before!!!
I do hope that not too many thousands of the indigenous Albert Parkians were slaughtered as a result of the occupation by Shadbolt, Bradford and the other perpetrators (and that the physical environment of the park hasn’t been ruined likewise).

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Dave S, the comparison is ridiculous. The US have no claim of ownership over Iraq or Afghanistan.

Albert Park is land that belongs to the public of New Zealand. It was just that Auckland City Council had a silly rule in the 1960s that prevented the public from actually using it for legitimate recreational and political purposes.

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