Signs of trouble
‘Stop Co-Governance’ placards spark free-speech debate
Paint attacks on roadside ‘Stop Co-Governance’ signs in Whangārei might be a mark of how divisive some people find the messages and that they’re willing to risk a criminal conviction to wipe them out.
People who deface signage risk charges under the Summary Offence Act for tagging or being found on a property without reasonable excuse right through to charges under the Crimes Act for burglary or intentional damage. Penalties range from fines through to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The Stop Co-Governance signs, which appropriate the slogan from the DB Breweries (DB) Tui beer advertising campaign, use the sceptical “Yeah, Right” catchphrase to negate lines such as “Co-governance is in the Treaty” and “No cultural group receives special rights in NZ”.
About 200 appeared on roadsides around New Zealand last year, put up by supporters of Christian evangelist Julian Batchelor’s Stop Co-Governance campaign.
Batchelor reportedly vowed to erect 800 more this year.
Several of the signs are around Whangārei and one in particular prompted a Māori mum to voice her concerns to the Northern Advocate about the negative effect of the messaging on young people.
The mother, who didn’t want to be named, said her daughter spotted one on Tarewa Rd opposite Terenga Paraoa Marae on their way to school.
It read: “If iwi want separate everything they should have to pay for it”.
Her daughter, who is in immersion schooling and “very educated on the Treaty (of Waitangi)”, asked her what it meant, the woman said.
“Having to tell [my daughter] that there are some people out there who think Māori shouldn’t have any rights under the Treaty or that we shouldn’t have a voice made her feel really sad.
“Telling her that people don’t really like us was not a nice conversation to have,” the woman said.
She believed the signs should be banned.
“If it was the other way around and the signs were attacking Pākehā, there would be an uproar.”
Told about the incident, Whangārei District Council’s Te Karearea standing committee chairwoman Deborah Harding, agreed that “seeing these signs repeatedly does have the potential to negatively affect the wellbeing of some of our community”.
She had previously spoken out against the signs, calling them “divisive and unhelpful”.
The council’s vision was for an “inclusive, resilient, and sustainable district”.
“The billboards do not reflect that
“In the game of life Grandpa played with the same dedication and spirit that he brought to the rugby field.”
These were some of the words of remembrance shared for Northland rugby legend “Super Sid” Going at his funeral service at Maromaku, about 40 minutes north of Whangārei, yesterday.
About 900 people made their way across a paddock to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints chapel in rain that became increasingly heavy throughout the afternoon.
Going, who died aged 80, was held in such high regard that people were there, seated and waiting, an hour before the service even began.
Mourners packed the chapel and a marquee outside, while others sheltered under umbrellas as they came to pay their respects.
Among those there were some of the big names of All Black rugby history — Sir Buck Shelford, Sir Brian Williams, Alastair Robinson — as well as top rugby board officials.
While Going had some proud moments playing rugby for the All Blacks, Māori All Blacks and North Auckland, it was not the most important thing in his life, family members said as they delivered his eulogy.
Going was most proud and happy when with his family, “on trips together, attending temple together, being faithful to our beliefs”.
“There was a lot more to my dad then being a very good rugby player. While he was famously known as ‘Super Sid’ he was also a ‘Super Server’ in the way he served his faith and his community,” said Going’s eldest son, Milton.
He was on the school board, took part in Top Town, coached young rugby teams and introduced rugby to Whangārei Girls’ High School.
“He never did it for recognition or glory,” Milton Going said.
“When he coached, he did it to win — he was pretty competitive — like every Going that’s out there. He just wanted success for the team and the players.”
He served three missions for the church, answered many other church callings, and held numerous leadership roles.
“All while sacrificing time with his family and friends.
“But he did it to the best of his ability, never complaining.”
Sid Going always set a good example for others, Milton said.
He was also a “super tractor driver” and “would drive his tractor everywhere” when he was home from tours. He especially liked a challenging gradient and towing large bits of farm equipment. He loved other farm machines, too, treating them like giant Tonka toys.
He was good at many sports, gifted with many talents that he always made the most of and because of that he shared so much with others, Going’s family said.
A “petrolhead at heart”, he’d once ridden as passenger for his best mate Steve Millen in the Benson and Hedges motor racing series.
Going was a phenomenal waterskier who could go out fully clothed, carve out big walls of water, then time his run perfectly to land back on the beach without a drip of water on him, Milton said.
Incredibly strong, especially in the upper body — albeit short in stature — he had a spring in his step that led him to consider a future in basketball rather than in rugby.
Going was also a “super musician” who loved singing and was a good saxophone player, first taking up the instrument 60 years ago when he was among the first intake of students to Church College in Hamilton.
Northland Rugby Union chief executive Cameron Bell said, “For
someone that is not a Northlander originally, Sid is the reason why Northland is my favourite team in all rugby New Zealand, especially because of how he played the game.”
Bell acknowledged Northland coach Ted Griffin for allowing Going to play in the style and manner in which he and his brothers, Ken and Brian, practised at home.
“If they were allowed to express themselves that way today, we have a more attractive game.”
Bell said it was a privilege to be in attendance to “listen to such a humble family”.
Although he got more recognition on the rugby field than his brothers Ken and Brian, the three were all talented players — especially when allowed to draw on some of their 30 special moves in a match. They were a force to be reckoned with on the field but they also made a top-notch musical trio, regularly playing at various local events.
The family paid homage to Going’s wife Colleen, likening her to Scottie Pippen — renowned as the world’s greatest support player for the world’s greatest basketball player, Michael Jordan.
“Without her there was no Sid Going,” Milton said.
“They were a true team — a duo — and I’ve witnessed it all my life.”
Sid and Colleen were married for 55 years, having five children and 12 grandchildren.