Groundswell NZ Tractor’s Head Over Auckland Harbour Bridge

Groundswell NZ’s ‘Say No’ campaign over the Auckland Harbour Bridge today was deliberately kept quiet from media until the 11th hour, so the group could go about its protest in peace.

Some media have been trying to link the farming lobby group, which started in Southland, to anti-Government conspiracy groups in recent months, but Groundswell founders are standing strong to their original values and beliefs.

Co-founder Bryce McKenzie said they have been careful about who has been trying to align with them, and that’s why the ‘Say No’ protest involving 40 tractors was kept in-house.

What’s on Invers talked with Bryce before the protest, and honoured its embargo regarding the latest campaign, and to see how the event unfolded.

“We kept control of it, and it was well received by the public,” he said afterwards.

There is nothing on its Facebook page to suggest Groundswell supported other anti-Government conspiracy groups.

In fact, one person asked if they were coming to the recent Parliament protest, to which another Facebook follower said, no, they’d be too busy lambing and calving.

This current ‘Say No’ campaign was about winter grazing conditions, and the group believes “more good is done by education rather than regulation.”

Bryce said awareness was making farmers “do what they need to do” with regard to good farming practices.

The campaign was also about saying no to the mapping of Significant Natural Areas (SNA’s).

Groundswell got right behind the campaign against the Three Waters reforms, using former broadcaster Peter Williams on a nationwide road trip in recent months.

Bryce said the group hadn’t ruled out another big nationwide protest in the future, when the timing was right.

“We’re working on things the whole time.  There is always something on the go.  But in the right time – and that wasn’t now,” he said.