Uncorked: Kiwi security

As mentioned in passing last week, I have met an American president. Getting within handshake distance of Bill Clinton, then six years removed from the White House, entailed screening and scrutiny by the Secret Service.

To reach the room, every attendee of the conference had to pass through a metal detection gauntlet. A cordon separated seats from the stage. When – to the chagrin of his aides and the agents – POTUS emeritus decided to mingle, velvet ropes and steely glances maintained the buffer.

So, Kiwi reader, you probably would not be surprised by my surprise at how casually I met NZ’s head of state.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon came to Blenheim on Friday. The anchor occasion was a lunchtime public forum hosted by National. He also visited Marlborough Boys’ College and Marlborough Girls’ College, and visited with aquaculture businesspeople.

Oh, and rendezvoused with Marlburian media members.

Fifteen minutes in advance, two staffers from the PM’s office stood outside the Council building, talking with a constable. By the War Memorial Clock Tower, our destination, one CBD patrol man kept an eye on traffic cones keeping parking spaces clear.

A few more private guards and police officers pulled up as the appointed time neared. Stationed at park corners, they gave our group space – and drew no closer once the PM’s sedan and its trail car arrived. The security detail of two flanked him professionally but comfortably.

Before he shook my hand, no one checked my ID or credentials. (I suppose Stuart Smith, who joined his party’s leader, would have flagged an imposter.) No one had searched me.

Even at the forum site, event staff just asked to peek inside entrants’ bags.
I have gone to concerts with stricter protocols.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate living in a society with more trust than fear. It just takes some getting used to …

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