I've been going on about the potential harm that could come from a hot mess of a public Facebook group set up by awesome people to support a totally worthy campaign that I 100% support, the #teamofsixmillion campaign. In response, I heard a lot of "it's just a Facebook group". 1/

This just-a-Facebook-group was established 2 weeks ago and quickly became a platform for a few loud Covid sceptics, deniers and conspiracy theorists. @tinangata made an excellent video on this kaupapa that may provide insight into how this happened: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1nAKEADoVjVKL 2/

To be clear, it's very clear not everyone in the group - definitely not the majority - subscribes to these opinions. Nonetheless, they have become more and more prevalent. Folk would start off by suggesting that returning NZers be able to self-isolate in the community. 3/

It would then transpire that these folk think that New Zealand's approach is "not sustainable". Some went on to liken New Zealand to "Albania and North Korea" or suggested it is under martial law. Many have come to the conclusion that it is "Covid-free but not a free country". 4/

Talk of resident New Zealanders holding "irrational fears" is common in the group. Now, I get it, these are hurt and anxious people reading horrible comments on social media making them feel unwelcome in their home country. That is total bullshit. I'm angry that has happened. 5/

I'm also upset the legislation passed legalising charging people for mandatory isolation and quarantine at the border. I have no faith in a compassionate waiver process. I don't believe the system is going to be fair or just. My two primary concerns are Treaty and class-based. 6/

Firstly, a Pākehā government should never be allowed to charge tangata whenua to return to their own whenua. 7/

Secondly, a government should never install a two-tier system of access to rights at a price. Commercial entities can charge what they like for services (within reason), because: capitalism. Governments charging for access to rights is another matter. 8/

But here's the rub. Today, in the House, Jami-Lee Ross made a speech demonstrating he and Advance NZ/the NZ Public Party have been paying close attention to this just-a-Facebook-group and the kind of people it attracts. He clearly recognises his base. https://www.facebook.com/NewZealandPublicParty/videos/309351067173012/ 9/

His speech could have been lifted straight out of posts in the group. I swear those are some of my own words in his mouth. It's disconcerting. Significantly, I highly doubt he'd have been drawn to this issue if it hadn't been for the Covid-deniers and conspiracy theorists. 10/

We could write all this off as being fringe and ludicrous. It is, but so was the premise of Pizzagate. So were the memes that tipped the Brexit vote. So is the fact that Donald Trump is the actual president of the USA - not just in an episode of The Simpsons but in real life. 11/

What's my point? This may all come to nothing. It also could come to something. Recent history's taught us not to assume that if something's ridiculous it's also benign. There's no such thing as "just-a-Facebook-group" in our current political climate. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300070891/the-conspiracists-election-how-the-farthest-fringes-of-politics-are-making-a-play-for-the-centre 11/