Freedom — it’s not just another word

• Published date: 06 November 2021

As I’ve reflected on those things, there is one that stands out. It’s something we’ve always had in this country. Something our forefathers fought for. It’s something we’ve now lost. In Auckland we are struggling without it.

It’s called freedom. I’m missing our freedom.

Sure, I can do my work from home. It’s not ideal. Not as productive as I’d prefer. Some things take longer. Recruitment is riskier when you can’t meet the candidates. Negotiations take longer when you can’t sit around a table and work through the issues. Building cultures and business planning is almost impossible on a Zoom call. But we’re getting by.

But freedom. That’s a different story. Freedom to do what we want. A morning coffee with a colleague. A beer with some mates. A swim at the local pool. A barbecue with friends. A visit to my mum. Perhaps a weekend away. Or even the ability to jump on a plane and have a holiday.

A break from the madness, if you like.

Sadly, I have come to the conclusion that this is a government that has become increasingly comfortable taking our freedoms away. You see, the more you do something, the more comfortable you become doing it. After a while, it becomes automatic. Even if what you are doing is wrong, it becomes acceptable in your own mind.

Here’s the problem. Apparently it takes just 21 days to learn a new habit. And our political leaders have fallen into the habit of taking our freedoms without giving it a second thought.

This week we heard the deputy prime minister on Newstalk ZB implying that we citizens were fortunate in that they were gradually opening up Auckland, albeit at the glacial pace that they are. When challenged by radio host Heather du Plessis-Allan about why Auckland’s retailers were not able to open sooner given the city’s vaccination rates, he responded with the threat that the government “could sit here and do nothing”. His response prompted a charge of “petulance” from an angered radio host. And rightly so.

Such a comment can only come from someone who has developed a level of complacency around the continuation of the lockdowns and who is therefore comfortable with the restrictions he or she is imposing on people.

By Wednesday it was worse. Laughable, even. When discussing the prospect of Christmas holidays, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins suggested one of the options being considered was vaccinated holidaymakers could be allocated a time slot advising them when they can travel out of Auckland for their Christmas...