Liz Gunn

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Elizabeth Jane Cooney, commonly known as Liz Gunn (born 1959 or 1960), founded and led the New Zealand Loyal Party.[1] She is an anti-vaccination activist, conspiracy theorist, and a former television presenter from New Zealand.[2][3][4][5]

Law and broadcasting career

Gunn was a litigation lawyer before beginning her TV career on the TVNZ show Sunday in 1992.[6] From 1997 she was the first Breakfast newsreader, becoming one of the show's co-hosts (alongside Mike Hosking) in 2001. She unexpectedly quit that role on-air during the year's last episode. By then she had also begun broadcasting on Radio New Zealand.[7] Other television roles included reporting for Holmes and newsreading on 1 News. Gunn moved to Australia after her TV presenting days ended in 2002, returning to New Zealand a decade later.[8] She rejoined RNZ until 2016.[9]

In 2017 she became a director and one-third shareholder of a new company, Lifeforce Water Limited.[10]

Anti-vaccination activism

See also: Sue Grey (lawyer) § Baby W case

During the 2020s she became a leader in the anti-vaccination movement in New Zealand, and championed conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 vaccine causing harm.[11][12][13] When an earthquake struck the North Island in October 2021, Gunn called it Mother Nature's response to vaccination targets (which she described as "jab rape") and other covid-related policies implemented by the "tyrannical" Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.[14]

She was a leader and spokesperson in the 2022 protests occupying the New Zealand parliament grounds.[15]

In December 2022 she was the spokesperson for parents who refused to allow their child to have a blood transfusion using blood donations from vaccinated people.[16][17]

Auckland Airport assault

In February 2023 Gunn assaulted Auckland Airport security co-ordinator, Anna Kolodeznaya, at the airport's international arrivals gate.[4] Along with cameraman Jonathan Clark, she was there to film the arrival of an unvaccinated family arriving from Tokelau. They scuffled with the security guard and were both arrested by airport police.[18] She appeared in court the next month, charged with assault, trespass, and resisting arrest. Her plea was not guilty, and she was released on bail.[5][19]

Gunn missed her next court date in June, citing illness, but appeared in October and at a pre-trial hearing in January 2024.[20][21] Gunn and Clark's trial started on 7 May 2024. Speaking to supporters upon arrival, she asked for prayers and said that New Zealand ought to "come back home to God".[22]

The judge dismissed the trespass charge, leaving Gunn defending charges of assault and resisting arrest. The victim, Kolodeznaya, testified that Gunn and Clark were asked to stop using professional filming equipment in the airport, for which they hadn't sought permission. During an argument that followed, Gunn grabbed Kolodeznaya's arm, hurting her.[22][23]

Kolodeznaya also testified that Gunn asked her, “Where are you from originally?” and that she said, “the way it started in Germany was with little freedoms being taken”.[22] In her own testimony, Gunn attempted to explain her description of Kolodeznaya and another airport worker as "real Nazis".[24]

Gunn was found guilty of assault. Both she and Clark were found not guilty of resisting arrest. The verdicts were delivered on 21 May 2024.[25][26][27]

New Zealand Loyal (2023-24)

Main article: New Zealand Loyal

New Zealand Loyal was a short-lived political party founded by Liz Gunn in June 2023, and which participated in the general election that year. In the launch video she discussed conspiracies involving fluoridation, 1080, Bill Gates, "gender programming", the World Economic Forum, media, the 15-minute city urban planning concept, the "brown mafia", and odd weather patterns. She requested donations of up to $1,000,000 and stated an ambition to have 500 people (the minimum required to register a party) join within a week.[28]

Gunn said at the time that it is a "compliment" to be called a conspiracy theorist, but by the end of the election campaign she was tired of that label.[21]

New Zealand Loyal was registered two months after Gunn's initial announcement. Its official logo included the slogan, "Loyal to You, Not to Them".[29] Gunn said that the slogan refers to "the globalists".[30]

The party was officially deregistered at its own request in July 2024.[31]

2023 general election

NZ Loyal intended to enter a 15-person party list in the 2023 New Zealand general election, but failed to register most of those individuals in time. Ultimately, Gunn was one of only two candidates on the party list.[32] She consequently started calling a vote for NZ Loyal a "protest vote" that would reduce the number of MPs in parliament, by effectively electing empty seats.[33]

Gunn initially took responsibility for the administrative debacle, putting it down to "human error" within the party. Some days later she instead blamed "contradictory advice" from the Electoral Commission, which the party suspected may have been deliberate sabotage.[34] The party had misunderstood the difference between its "bulk information schedule" (which applies to constituency candidates and could be amended until noon on 15 September) and its actual party list (which could not).[35]

New Zealand Loyal stood candidates in 33 electorates. Liz Gunn was not one of them.[36]

During the 2023 election, NZ Loyal received 1.20% of the party vote (34,456 votes), and won no electorates, so did not enter parliament.[37] Having claimed during campaigning that her party would win 2 million votes, Gunn's response to preliminary results was that New Zealand was ruled by a "criminal cabal and at the very least, utter bullies."[38]

References

  1. ^ Sherwood, Sam (1 July 2023). "Liz Gunn launches new political party and asks for $1m in donations". New Zealand Herald.
  2. ^ "Liz Gunn | NZ On Screen". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  3. ^ "TVNZ's Breakfast hosts – a complete history". NZ Herald. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Liz Gunn arrested at Auckland Airport: Hilary Barry 'concerned' for former TVNZ presenter's descent into 'conspiracy realm'". New Zealand Herald. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b Owen, Catrin (23 March 2023). "Conspiracy theorist Liz Gunn pleads not guilty, claims she was assault victim". Stuff. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Screengraphy: Liz Gunn". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  7. ^ Cleave, Louisa (22 December 2001). "TVNZ chiefs stunned as Gunn quits show on air". NZ Herald. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Profile: Liz Gunn – Presenter". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Liz Gunn arrest: Conspiracy theorist breaks silence on Auckland Airport arrest". New Zealand Herald. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  10. ^ "HORITY LIFEFORCE WATER LIMITED (6267852) Registered". New Zealand Companies Office. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  11. ^ Hewett, William (19 January 2022). "COVID-19: Liz Gunn goes off in furious rant after being asked for evidence of children collapsing at North Shore vaccination centre". Newshub. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  12. ^ Venuto, Damien (19 January 2022). "The sad spiral of Liz Gunn down the Covid conspiracy rabbit hole". NZ Herald. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  13. ^ Reeve, Dylan (25 January 2022). "No, five kids didn't collapse at a vaccination site. So who said they did?". The Spinoff. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Former NZ television presenter Liz Gunn claims earthquake was Mother Nature's response to Jacinda Ardern's Covid-19 announcement". New Zealand Herald. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Liz Gunn coughs through Counterspin appearance days after Wellington anti-mandate protest ends". Newshub. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  16. ^ Sharma, Akula (8 December 2022). "'Urgent surgery': Baby's parents abandon legal fight in vaccine-blood case". NZ Herald. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  17. ^ Mitchell, Charlie (10 December 2022). "Liz Gunn and the 'purebloods': How the baby blood donor story unfolded". Stuff. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Conspiracy theorist and former TV presenter Liz Gunn arrested at Auckland Airport". New Zealand Herald. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  19. ^ Sowman-Lund, Stewart (23 March 2023). "Broadcaster turned conspiracy theorist Liz Gunn appears in court". The Spinoff. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Former broadcaster turned anti-vax campaigner Liz Gunn fails to appear in court, citing illness". The New Zealand Herald. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  21. ^ a b Lyth, Jaime (19 October 2023). "Liz Gunn Auckland Airport scuffle: Fresh appeal for security footage, 2 million votes comment 'was a joke'". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  22. ^ a b c Block, George; Kapitan, Craig (7 May 2024). "Liz Gunn trial: trespass charges dismissed against anti-vaccine activist and cameraman, assault charge remains". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  23. ^ Williams, Caroline (7 May 2024). "Liz Gunn 'had no idea what I'd done wrong', court hears". Stuff. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Liz Gunn assault trial: Judge finds anti-vaccination campaigner guilty of assault". New Zealand Herald. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  25. ^ Williams, Caroline (21 May 2024). "Liz Gunn guilty of assault after incident at Airport incident". Stuff. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Judge finds Liz Gunn guilty of assault, describes her as 'arrogant, rude, overbearing'". NZ Herald. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  27. ^ "Liz Gunn guilty of assault after Auckland Airport incident". RNZ. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  28. ^ Manhire, Toby (30 June 2023). "Fresh bids and bad blood in battle for the fringe right vote". The Spinoff. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Register of political parties". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  30. ^ Manhire, Toby (28 August 2023). "Liz Gunn conspiracy party formally registered, targets 'deep state creatures'". The Spinoff. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  31. ^ "New Zealand Loyal no longer registered". Electoral Commission. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  32. ^ "2023 General Election: Parties". vote.nz. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  33. ^ FreeNZ Media (21 September 2023). "MMP And Elections – Protest Party Vote". Rumble. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  34. ^ Kelly, Rachael (26 September 2023). "Liz Gunn's NZ Loyal to contest election with two on its party list". Stuff. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  35. ^ Wu, Fiona (20 October 2023). "Liz Gunn-backed fringe party takes Electoral Commission to court over missed deadline". The Law Association. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  36. ^ "New Zealand Loyal". Policy.nz. The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023.
  37. ^ "2023 General Election - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  38. ^ "Liz Gunn cries, Brian Tamaki rages at 'gutless Kiwis' after losses". Newshub. 15 October 2023. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
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