We Came Here for Freedom Part 1

Directed by Alistair Harding

Film Review

This documentary records New Zealand’s three-week occupation of the parliament lawn in Wellington in February 2022. Part1 begins with personal testimonies of protestors explaining their reasons for being there. Many were teachers and health workers fired in November 2021 for refusing to be vaccinated. Far from being a “small fringe minority, as portrayed by government and media, they came from all walks of life.

Next the film replays footage of the thousands of supporters who cheered the Freedom Convoys on as they made their way through the North and South Island to converge on Wellington. It ends with the first failed attempt by the Wellington police to disperse the legal* occupation.

Determined to retain in the tent city they built on Parliament grounds, the protestors pledged not to disperse until representatives of the government 1) came out to speak to them and 2) ended the vaccine mandates for teachers and health, border and prison workers.

When a police line showed up to expel them, they lined up and peacefully locked arms to protect the encampment from police. Despite heavy pushing and shoving, the police failed to provoke a violent reaction or to break through the protestors’ line. Recognizing they were greatly outnumbered, they made a few random arrests, manhandled a few protestors and eventually withdrew.

The failed police confrontation would backfire, prompting thousands more Kiwis to head for Wellington to join the occupation.** As the event was livestreamed on social media, the confrontation was also an eye opener for thousands of others who previously trusted the mainstream media (which consistently portrayed the protestors as fringe right wing violent racists) to accurately report the news.

*According to lawyer Sue Grey, it’s illegal to “trespass” protestors on Parliament grounds because peaceful protest is guaranteed by the New Zealand Bill of Rights.

**I assume Part 2 will cover the second police raid, conducted by cops who were especially “recruited” (for their willingness to crack a few skulls?) from around New Zealand.