Sleeping Dogs

'The Prime Minister, Mr. Volkner, has had to cut short his crucial Middle East talks

'seeking a continuation of our oil supplies and return home to face

'the most serious crisis in labor relations since 1951.

'The country today ground to a halt in the major cities

'as the threat of a general strike loomed.

'Rioting broke out as pro- and anti-strike factions

'collided outside the Auckland waterfront this afternoon.

'Police were called in and 11 men were admitted to hospital.

'One man is in a critical condition with severe head injuries.

'The introduction of petrol rationing and curtailing of public transport

'has given the union cause a large measure of public sympathy.

'Only success at the conference tables will give the Volkner government

'the public support it will need to avert a general strike.

'It was hoped the Prime Minister's arrival would break the air of mystery

'so far surrounded the Mideast oil talks, but he refused to give any indications

'when met at the airport by a TV1 film crew this afternoon.

'Have you been able to negotiate for continued supplies of oil?

' Unfortunately I'm not in a position to discuss the matter.

'Are you aware of deteriorating union-government relationships?

'- I am. - What are you going to do about it?

'All I can say is the government will not be held to ransom.

'If strikes continue, we'll be prepared to meet force with force.

'This tough line with unions has been backed up by new legislation...'

Dad? Dad?

Dad, where are you going?

I don't know.

'...and carry penalties of heavy fines and imprisonment.

'The Army will be called in to replace workers withholding their labor

'and police will be granted wider powers of arrest.

'The most controversial clause of the new legislation...'

I made you a present, Dad.

'...to detain without charge.

'It's believed even some government members may vote against this clause.

'The Prime Minister will make a major statement on all channels

'as soon as the vote has been taken.

'He will then disclose the outcome of his talks with Arab leaders.

'In official figures released today...'

I'll see you.

'...the previous quarter, while gas and electricity charges have increased 400%,

'and clothing prices 280% over the same period.'

Bye-bye, Dad!

I haven't bloody left yet, so shift that heap!

Hang on. I just want to talk. Smith, please, for God's sake...

What do you think you're doing, you bloody idiot!

For Christ's sake!

Yeah?

Actually, I'm not after a feed. I was after a bit of information.

I was wondering if you could tell me who owns the island in the next bay.

- Gut Island, I think it's called. - It's Māori land.

Where would I find someone who's responsible for it? For renting it.

Ben Taupiri up the pā. Yeah, Ben knows all about it.

Well, thanks very much.

Take a bottle of Scotch with you. For the old bloke.

I will. Thanks very much.

Excuse me. Would you be Mr. Taupiri?

Hmm.

A bloke back in town said you might know something about renting Gut Island.

- Gut Island? - Yeah. I'd like to, uh...

live out there, if it's at all possible.

- What do you want to live out there for? - I don't know. Just a change, I suppose.

I could fix the place up a bit, you know.

I thought I'd plant a bit of a garden, catch a few fish.

I don't mind paying rent and I could paint it up, fix it up.

The, uh, old man said it's OK.

Oh, that's great. Thanks very much.

Look, um... would the old man like a bottle of whisky, do you think?

- Would you like a bottle of whisky? - (Replies in Māori)

- I'll just get it out of the car, OK? - (Speaks in Māori)

Hey.

You, uh, like the dog?

- Oh, yeah, it's a beauty. - You can have it. It's yours.

- Er... what's her name? - I don't know. It's your dog.

Look... How are you going to get over there?

Er...

I've... erm.. got a great boat here. Just needs a bit of paint, that's all.

Now listen, I... I'll do you a favor.

I'll swap my good boat for your car.

Eh? Look, that cost me 3,000 bucks, that did.

Hey, you kids! Get off my car!

Come on.

'This is an illegal demonstration!'

'Those persons not dispersing will be arrested!'

Let's go.

'Keep back over there! Get down off the truck!

'Stand back!'

Ah! Aargh!

Over here!

'Fire!'

'We tried talking... We tried compromise.

'They all failed.

'That is why I ordered the Army to break the waterfront strike.

'You do not need me to tell you of the gravity of today's tragic events.

'It seems beyond belief

'that such a barbaric and senseless act of violence

'could happen here in New Zealand.

'What are we to do?

'What I know is that no longer will we be intimidated

'by the thugs wishing to plunge this country into anarchy.

'No more will we pander to the communists,

'subversives and other radicals

'wishing to destroy established law and order.

'This organized campaign of terror will not be allowed to go unchecked.

'Parliament will go into a temporary recess for the time of the emergency

'and a curfew will be imposed between 8pm and 6am.

'To lead this country out of economic and political chaos,

'I must have your mandate.

'If I am to accept the challenge,

'you, the people, must demonstrate your total and unequivocal support

'for the measures I am forced to take.

'A date will be announced in the near future for a national referendum

'at which you will decide if I am to continue to have that power and authority.

'It is indeed a tragic day in New Zealand's history.

'It is with a heavy heart that I address you tonight.

'But I know that together, if we work together,

'towards a common goal,

'we will have a standard of living and a way of life

'New Zealanders can be proud of.'

It's about bloody time, too.

Drop it, drop it. Go on, drop it, you silly...

See the stick, see the stick.

Come here, come here. Come on, come on.

G'day.

Go on!

How's it going out on the island?

Good.

Bloody possums are digging up my garden, though.

You ought to lay some poison.

No, the dog might eat it. A gun's what I need.

Yeah.

A gun's the story.

I, uh... I found an old radio.

Old Army one. At least, that's what it looks like.

Sort of a two-way job, you know?

Yeah, well, that's possible.

During the war, they set up caches all around this area

in case the Japs invaded.

There's stuff dug into hillsides all over the place.

- Pretty useless now. - No, it goes.

It's got a new battery and everything.

It's been good. I had mates all afternoon.

You'll have heard the result of the referendum, then?

Nah, I'm not interested in that stuff.

You know, I really like it here.

He could at least pay some maintenance for the kids!

No! I'll get a job first.

You're not getting any job.

- Left, right! Left, right! - What the hell...! Run!

Left, right! Left, right!

Get your bloody hands off her!

Aaah!

Oh, Jesus! Aaah!

You bastards!

Run!

Oh, Jesus!

They got... They got my ID card.

Hi, I was looking at your boat. It's leaking a bit.

Where's Cousins?

I don't know. Probably up in the channel, fishing.

Jesus.