Rex Tillerson gets frosty welcome in New Zealand – complete with single finger salute

saltwn · #1 (**permalink**) 06-07-2017, 05:42 AM

Kiwi climate protesters throw water-filled condoms at @realDonaldTrump effigy as Rex Tillerson visits Beehive. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-...visits-beehive …

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The US Secretary of State has been met with a frosty reception and a backhanded compliment from the prime minister while on a flying visit to New Zealand.

Rex Tillerson arrived in wet and windy Wellington for an eight-hour visit on Tuesday, with his motorcade greeted by middle fingers and thumbs-downs.

Fairfax Media reported that the US media contingent were surprised by the hostile reception from members of the public.

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“I’ve never seen so many people flip the bird at an American motorcade as I saw today,” the New York Times’ Washington correspondent, Gardiner Harris, told Stuff.co.nz.

About 200 protesters with the climate change action group 350 Aotearoa were gathered outside Parliament to “unwelcome” Tillerson, following president Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris accord.

Greenpeace New Zealand referred to Tillerson as Trump’s “henchman”

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US protection officers travelling were overhead joking about the “warm” welcome, Fairfax reported.

New Zealand’s National-led government remains committed to the Paris agreement and its target to cut emissions by 11% of 1990 levels by 2030.

The opposition Green and Labour parties want the target to be lifted to 40%. The Greens co-leader, James Shaw, and the local Labor MP, Grant Robertson, spoke at the protest at Parliament.

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The prime minister himself was less than effusive over Tillerson’s visit.

At a press conference, Bill English said: “New Zealanders have for a long time not liked various presidents of the US and disagreed with their views about our anti-nuke policies for 30 years – but that doesn’t prevent us confirming our shared values and cooperating with them on security and defence.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...finger-salutes
English later told news media that he and Tillerson “discussed our disagreement over the withdrawal from the Paris agreement”. According to Stuff’s report, Tillerson stood by Trump’s decision to exit the deal that he said did not serve US interests.

James Shaw said later in parliament that New Zealand had a “proud history” of standing up to the US over nuclear weapons: “Today we should stick up for the climate.”

Hairy Jello · #2 (**permalink**) 06-07-2017, 10:46 AM

Isn't New Zealand where the filmed LotR and have candlelight dinners with nervous sheep?

zoriolus · #3 (**permalink**) 06-07-2017, 11:50 AM

New Zealand has a refugee quota program. It's was raised from 750 to 1000 per year. Maybe T-Rex can find out how it's working.

Manitou · #4 (**permalink**) 06-07-2017, 01:34 PM

I value the opinions of tha kiwi nation.

saltwn · #5 (**permalink**) 06-07-2017, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoriolus

New Zealand has a refugee quota program. It's was raised from 750 to 1000 per year. Maybe T-Rex can find out how it's working.

yes they've stepped up to the plate and share the world's burden while heir donald is trying to wiggle out of the responsibility.

zoriolus · #6 (**permalink**) 06-07-2017, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltwn

yes they've stepped up to the plate and share the world's burden while heir donald is trying to wiggle out of the responsibility.

1000 per year quota. Should we have a quota and what should it be?

saltwn · #7 (**permalink**) 06-07-2017, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoriolus

1000 per year quota. Should we have a quota and what should it be?

we should do our part. the world is shouldering much of the burden while we jeer at them from the sidelines.

lurch907 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-07-2017, 04:24 PM

So New Zealand has a handful of vocal, left wing, whack jobs to laugh at. Why should they be different than anybody else. It's just as funny there as it is here.

saltwn · #9 (**permalink**) 06-07-2017, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurch907

So New Zealand has a handful of vocal, left wing, whack jobs to laugh at. Why should they be different than anybody else. It's just as funny there as it is here.

the leader was kind of cool and gave a back handed compliment too.
but if Germany, Qatar and England don't matter to you, then why would New Zealand?

lurch907 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-07-2017, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltwn

the leader was kind of cool and gave a back handed compliment too.
but if Germany, Qatar and England don't matter to you, then why would New Zealand?

I never said those countries didn't matter. Are you drinking and posting again?

Every country has it's share of vocal kooks and that's a good thing as laughter enriches the soul. Coming home and flipping on the news so you can laugh at nutbars like these helps release stress.

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