All the tunes used to repel NZ anti-vaccine mandate protesters
As a protest against vaccine mandates enters its sixth day outside New Zealand’s Parliament House, Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard adopted a rather unconventional way to send protesters packing.
With the rain and wind brought on by Cyclone Dovi not appearing to deter protesters, Mallard first attempted to shoo them away by turning on the sprinklers.
When that didn’t work either, he began blasting widely disliked tunes instead at full volume, along with repeated pro-vaccination messages.
Last night the lovely govt played on loop Macarena, vax messaging, & Trevor Mallard warning protesters that erecting structures on parliament lawns was unlawful. All night long. Despite this audio torture & the howling gale, the protest continues. #Parliament #convoy2022NZ pic.twitter.com/QCtK4T69N7
— @victoria_dlV (@victoria_dlV) February 13, 2022
To start with, Mallard’s playlist featured a selection of Copacabana singer Barry Manilow’s songs, Macarena by Los Del Rio, and the children’s tunes including Baby Shark and Let it Go from Disney film Frozen.
As news of the Speaker’s playlist spread online, singer James Blunt even weighed in, taking to Twitter to suggest that the NZ government include his music if Manilow’s proved ineffective.
Give me a shout if this doesn’t work. @NZPolice https://t.co/AM2dZ6asMS
— James Blunt (@JamesBlunt) February 12, 2022
Mallard saw Blunt’s “very kind offer” and quickly added the Brit’s smash hit, You’re Beautiful, to the playlist.
@JamesBlunt we will take up your very kind offer. My only doubt is whether it is fair to our @nzpolice officers but I think they will be able to cope. https://t.co/spb1BDK50u
— Trevor Mallard (@SpeakerTrevor) February 12, 2022
Other entries on Mallard’s playlist included a humorous rendition of Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On, featuring musician Matt Mulholland playing a recorder quite poorly, as well as Randa’s Vaccinate the Nation.
This is another suggestion………Crybabies Caravan With Full Band https://t.co/zjxaet7Wn1 via @YouTube
— Trevor Mallard (@SpeakerTrevor) February 12, 2022
Social media users have also been sending in recommendations for what has been described as Mallard’s “counter protest”, while others have compiled playlists of annoying tunes guaranteed to irritate.
Image: Getty Images