An Orwellian Visit To Lyttelton
Ahh Lyttelton, town of seething port, rolling hills and the heady Wunderbar. And temporary home to two Greenpeace ships. It doesn’t happen often, and it’s quite a sight to behold in little old New Zealand. The Esperanza (which was down in the Southern Ocean over the summer chasing the Japanese whalers) and the Rainbow Warrior are now stern-to-bow at Jetty 3, Port Lyttleton. There are many other big ships in here too and i have to say the Rainbow Warrior looks a little like a bath toy in comparison. The Esperanza has been here for a few weeks in dry dock and is due to leave for oceans work in the Pacific on Thursday.
What to do when the crews of two Greenpeace ships meet - old friends many of them - but take to the local bar? So after hosting a handful of local politicians for Sunday dinner, off we went into the night, maritime misfits with freshly combed hair … more about that later.
It’s great to be in Lyttelton. It’s great to be in the South Island. But our arrival has been marred a little by stringent new ISPS (International Ship and Port Facilities Security Code) regulations which mean that the port is run very much like a high security prison. Bar frisking before entry, there are no corners being cut here. Every time we re-enter the port we must go through a tight security gate, show photo ID, and then get DRIVEN from the gate to the boat by a man in a uniform in a mini-van. All very Paremoremo. And not very good for the climate i might add.
But the most upsetting bit about all this is that we’re required to provide names for everyone who’s coming to visit the ship which really throws a spanner in the works for our “open days”. We now need an RSVP list for everyone who wants to come. And if your name is not on the gate, they won’t let you in. So it’s more like a “half-open day”.
But if you’re a Lytteltonian or Cantabrian, don’t let this put you off! Go here to register and get your name “on the door” - and don’t forget your photo ID. This is, after all, an Orwellian world in which we live.
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It’s a brave new world out there.
Its a real shame that the opportunity to visit a boat with a name that has some historical relevance to NZ - ie the first Rainbow Warrior was bombed by the french secret service in Auckland in 1985 killing Fernando Pereira. This was done to prevent us from protesting at Moruroa in French Polynesia where France was ‘testing’ nuclear bombs against the wishes of many of the Tahitian people and people across the Pacific. This was an act of State terrorism by France against NZ not just Greenpeace. How ironic that the security procedures that are basically preventing us from having the public on board the Rainbow Warrior in Lyttelton are there as a kneejerk reaction to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre.
How do the people of Lyttelton feel about being treated like criminals? Are their names going to be checked against an interpol database of international terrorists?
This is just red tape gone mad and the port of Lyttelton should be utterly ashamed.
I am shocked to read I have to sign up in advance for myself ( longtime Greenpeace supporter ) and a visiting friend from overseas, in order to be on a list to be allowed to come and visit the Rainbow Warrior. Great day out for the holiday weekend, but sorry you aren’t allowed to come and look as we haven’t vetted you? On what grounds is the LPA making people register in advance for the privilege of stepping on board the Rainbow Warrior and showing support for the tireless efforts of crew members? Why does the LPA need to know my details, and those of a friend from overseas who’d be interested to visit? What sort of security concerns are prompting this action? If so concerned about “security” and feeling threatened for some paranoid reason, would it not be enough to invite visitors to sign in as they visit the ship? What’s the legal situation on this? Seems more than a tad officious and over zealous on someone’s part, why let the boat into the harbour only to deny open access to the general public?
this - again - is typical nonsense new zealand……I am speechless!!!!
but sure I registered me and my family as we are really excited to come on board the rainbow warrior….but they won’t pick us up with a van just to drive us a 100m further to the ship!! this is just absolutely absurd…..ridiculous!!
you guys have to stop them from doing that!!
I just can’t believe it!!!
There is an update on this situation here.
I live in Lyttelton, and most residents are dissatisfied with Lyttelton Port of Christchurch - a ratepayer owned company, not being able to professionally organise the port security for both public and private enterprise.
It is time to extend the port along the eastern channel, open the centre of the harbour wharves to public transport and access and develop an adquate ferry terminal that connects with central lyttelton. Industrial traffic, including trains should be directed to the tunnel without using Norwich Quay.
Why oh why does our government and Port authorities follow in the footsteps of other paranoid countries Maritime organisations…. Do we really need to buy into this stuff? Paranoia feeds paranoia - fear feeds fear…. Although the rules have been temporarily relaxed this time for the “Rainbow Warrior” open boat days, will they be the next time as well? Will they be in Dunedin and Wellington, or when an other Greenpeace ship visits NZ in the future? Are we all potential terrorists?
You would think that, after loosing the first Rainbow Warrior to terrorism, that of all the societies Greenpeace would recognize the need for such necessary security.
It does come across as extreme. Gives power brokers, something to broker. Anyway it’s Easter, so do what you have to do and get the most out of Greenpeace’s visit. They’re the ones that count, not the port authorities.
hi what up first time supporter i just read that oh man what a rat shat deal such a cool boat sitting there ah sitting floating money making attraction im from palmerston north i would totally dig going for a blat around in such a funky looking boat why so paranoid about it man! yous the town could make a fee or dontaion tour guide group go onto the boat every so often like afew times a week at certain times its a attraction Hello! how cool is that! the money should go back into the community to help with any issues the people might have! maybe like environmental issues wild life concerns recyling the sallys any one in need of being heard the needy the down n outs get what im saying hehehe! word! YEAH SO SPEAK UP TOWNS PEOPLE livin there! u have my support on yol boat come on its the rainbow warrior how cool is that!
from
melissa
Hi there,
Today, Good Friday, I visited the Rainbow Warrior with my wife and niece and two young children. We are Greenpeace Supporters and today we even upped our contributions. Some of the above comments must be from people who never visited the Warrior. I and my family never felt anything else but satisfied with the way the tour was handled today. Security is part of everything we do as people today - you know, I even locked my car in Lyttelton today - for security - even wore a hat to keep the sun off me - personal security.
The security checks were to enter the Port Company premises - nothing to do with loss of rights, George Bush, Sept 11th or anything. You people who think of a conspiracy, step back, give yourself an uppercut or two and take your pills. You need them.
The tour was excellent, personable and well done - meeting these young people who are doing this great work is a treat. I am proud of them.
hi mel here thats so great you and your wife and neice where able to go see the rainbow warrior i wish i could of gone to the open day just to go see it how lucky i get what yol say with about secrity reasons which is apart of life true! all good not a non rights issue sweet i sometims jump to conclusions and bite to soon lol.
Friends and family visiting crew on ships in Lyttelton have to have their names at the gate and produce photo Id. NZ’s Maritime Security Act owes rather more to George W’s war on terrorism than most of us would like. I think LPC did what they could to ease the security issues. You could even park at their place to catch the bus to the ship. It’s clear though, that Lyttelton port needs both open and secure areas to make visits like that of the Rainbow Warrior more welcoming; let’s hope that happens soon.
It was great to visit RW II on Good Friday. The work done by the frontline Greenpeace people is amazing, not to mention terrifying.
The guys on board confirmed that Lyttelton was no worse than other ports around the world for razor wire and such. Just a thought - what if the defences at Auckland Harbour had been better in 1985? Might that have stopped the French Government causing the death of Mr Pereira? Certainly catching the miscreant after the event did no good. He served a laughably short sentence in NZ, showed no remorse, and returned to France to get a medal. Nice one.
Hats off to Greenpeace for doing their stuff in the face of all the adversity.
So Greenpeace has the right to complain about the security of the Lyttelton Port and then bolt themselves to a coal ship?
Certainly this in itself is a breach of security, I’ve never known Greenpeace to be so hypocritical.