Ryan Bridge: It's not just Dunedin, it's everywhere

Grumbling and discontent in regional New Zealand is growing louder and louder, and Wellington ought to pay attention.

The latest was in Dunedin. 35,0000 locals turned in protest, waving signs with Nicola Willis swinging atop a wrecking ball. The wrecking ball was Luxon's head.

The reason the government should heed and listen is because of the size of the protest. 35,000 is huge - and it wasn't just your usual mob of rent-a-crowds and serial protesters.

Dunedin normally votes red so do you bother listening if you're the government?

Problem here is it's not just Dunedin, It's everywhere.

Give me a region and I'll give you a grievance.

Central North Island: Plant closures.

Marlborough: Ferry cancellations.

Tararua: the Manawatu Gorge.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Grumbling and discontent in regional New Zealand is going louder
and louder, and Wellington ought to pay attention. By Wellington,
I mean the beehive. The latest was Dunedin. Thirty five
thousand people turned out and protest at the weekend, waving signs.
I had Nikola Willis swinging on a wrecking ball. The
wrecking ball was a picture of Luxeon's head. The reason

(00:23):
the government should heed and listen is because of the
size of the protest. Thirty five thousand is the biggest
in decades. But it wasn't just your usual mob of
rent a crowd and serial protests. It was normal people,
normal people Now Dnedan normally doesn't vote read So do
you bother listening if you're the government, Well, the problem
is it's not just Duned and it's everywhere. Give me

(00:44):
a region and I'll give you a grievance. Central North
Island plant closures, Marlborough fairy cancelation, Tatadua, the tolling of
the Munumtu Gorge, the West Coast health cuts. Now I
think the government will compromise on Dunedin, but for most
of the rest of the regions, waving placards and marching.
The message will be simple. Blame labor. They spent with

(01:08):
Gayer bandon during and after COVID, inflation ran rampant, and
now we're having to come in and clean it up.
This is what they'll say. That's why we need toll
roads to get these things finished. That's why we need
to downsize massive new hospitals. It's why we have to
cut that bridge or that school or this funding. The
question for the government is are these people going to

(01:29):
turn around and vote labor and anger, And the answer
is probably not, especially not if they're swing voters. People
understand generally why we are in this mess, and most
are just trying to sway the current government, not change
it completely. For more from News Talks B listen live
on air or online, and keep our shows with you

(01:50):
wherever you go with our podcasts on IR Radio.