People are angry, and they have the right to be.

Manipulation, bribery, segregation, and gas-lighting are dark attributes for any individual to exhibit, let alone a national government. And yet here we are, witnessing these behaviours, experiencing them first-hand.

As part of The Daily Examiner journalist team, we are constantly hearing from people around New Zealand who feel that they are being coerced into complying with the administration of the Covid-19 vaccination. These are people who simply want more empirical data regarding long-term side effects, who want to exercise their previously unadulterated right to freedom of choice and options such as natural immunity.

Contrary to what New Zealand mainstream media may intimate, these people are not stupid, and they are not ‘conspiracy theorists.

These are hardworking, everyday New Zealanders. They are from all walks of life; medical professionals, police officers, lawyers, bankers, youth workers, and so on.

The cost for refusing to take the vaccination has come fast and hard, with punishments such as job losses, alienation, the ability to reunite with loved ones becoming too much for many to bear. And although the vaccination rates continue to climb, there is an an ever-growing deep resentment and deep animosity from everyday New Zealanders towards the Labour Government.

Sixteen-year-old Sarah had this to say:

“I’ve just finished years of education.

Along comes Covid, and there are mixed reports and opinions all over the place. Unfortunately, the Government has not given me time to do my own research, I have no idea of the long-term effects of the vaccine, but I know NZ is heading to a place where if I don’t get it, I can’t move on with my life, hang out with my friends, and work in hospitality which is my passion.

So, I’ll take the jab, but as soon as I can vote I will be looking for a Party that protects my freedoms so much more than this current Government has done. And if years down the track I become sick or die because I had the vaccination, then I hope there are some unvaccinated people around to seek justice”.

Young people leaving school and looking to enter the workforce are instantly placed under immense pressure to vaccinate. Many feel that they have no other option.

If there does prove to be long-term side effects from the vaccination, there is a potentially devastating effect on the younger generation, psychologically, medically, economically, and this will also cause a fracture between generations.

And while this Labour Government continues to praise and congratulate themselves on their perceived views that the vaccination rollout is a success, the growing belly of anger and frustration grows ever more dark and virulent.

The cost of vaccinations has not only come at a high cost to many New Zealanders, but it may also well come at a high cost to the current government.

Kiwis being coerced to vaccinate will not forget it.

Image – https://www.labour.org.nz/ourteam, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=94583805