Timeline of Key Events and Interactions

Below is a chronological timeline highlighting major events, campaigns, and interactions involving the Inflection Point network (individuals and organizations), from inception to present:

  • 2016: Hobson’s Pledge launches (Sept 2016) under Don Brash, igniting the modern “one law for all” movement. This establishes a template for grassroots conservative lobbying in NZ.

  • 2017: Inflection Point Limited company is registered (12 Sep 2017), though at this time it’s not associated with the gender issue. It may have been a dormant shelf company or used for another purpose initially. (For context, 2017 also sees a brief NZ First-National coalition negotiation where Winston Peters flirts with Don Brash’s ideas, indicating early synergy.)

  • 2018: The culture war intensifies:

    • The Free Speech Coalition forms (July 2018) after Auckland Council banned alt-right speakers; this coalition includes Stephen Franks, Jordan Williams, Bob McCoskrie. It raises over $50k for a legal challenge. This is an early collaboration among network principals on a related issue (free speech).

    • Speak Up For Women (SUFW) emerges (2018) to oppose Labour’s self-ID bill. Jan Rivers and other later-IPNZ figures quietly support SUFW events (like a controversial feminist gathering at Parliament in 2019). This foreshadows IPNZ’s focus.

    • Destiny Church “Man-Up” campaign: Tamaki pressures government to allow his ManUp program in prisons, staging protests at Parliament with Destiny followers (2018–19). Stephen Franks provides legal opinions supporting Destiny’s cause then, indicating relationships (Franks Ogilvie represented some of Destiny’s interests).

  • 2019: Family First is deregistered as a charity after a Court of Appeal decision. Bob McCoskrie frames it as “ideological censorship”. This galvanizes conservative networks; National and NZ First politicians at the time express sympathy, planting seeds of future alliance.

    • Nov 2019: NZ First (in coalition with Labour) quietly slows down some gender initiatives (Winston Peters was reportedly against pushing gender self-ID too fast, causing minor govt tensions).

  • 2020:

    • The general election sees new minor parties: New Conservative Party (campaigning against “gender ideology” in schools) gets ~1.5% vote; Vision NZ (Tamaki’s party) gets <1%. Though unsuccessful, their messages spread. Labour wins big and proceeds with progressive laws (which later become network targets).

    • COVID-19 hits, and Brian Tamaki becomes an outspoken critic of lockdowns by late 2020.

    • Early 2020: Formation of Save Women’s Sport Australasia by Ro Edge and others, reacting to trans athletes issues.

    • The “Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill” is introduced in 2020 (passed in 2022). Family First and Destiny vehemently oppose it through submissions and petitions.

  • 2021:

    • Births, Deaths, Marriages Self-ID law passes in Dec 2021, allowing easier gender marker changes. Speak Up For Women’s campaign fails to stop it, but it raises profile of gender-critical voices (including Rowling’s support tweet for SUFW). Jan Rivers and others intensify writing after this, feeling “ignored by government”.

    • Destiny’s Freedom & Rights Coalition forms (Aug 2021) to protest COVID mandates. Through 2021–22 they hold numerous rallies. This marks Tamaki’s shift to broader anti-government activism, aligning indirectly with secular anti-vax groups (some overlap with Voices for Freedom, who also oppose “gender ideology” as part of “Marxist agenda”).

    • Family First’s charity case reaches Supreme Court (heard in 2021, decided 2022). Network provides moral support.

  • 2022: A tumultuous year:

    • Feb 2022: Wellington Parliament Protest against mandates. Destiny’s FRC is present (Tamaki in absentia due to arrest, but Derek Tait and others lead). Also present are conspiracy theorists and one wing harbors transphobic signs (“pedo elite grooming kids” – similar rhetoric to IPNZ’s). Post-protest, Destiny and aligned groups merge anti-mandate and anti-“woke” narratives (claiming government control over personal choice extends to gender indoctrination).

    • March 2022: Posie Parker (Kellie-Jay Keen) tours Australia. NZ activists follow this closely, inviting her to NZ later.

    • June 2022: Posie Parker attempts NZ visit but it’s aborted due to visa issues (deferred to 2023). Family First’s blog defends her right to speak.

    • Mid-2022: NZ First (out of Parliament but regrouping) starts using anti-trans rhetoric. Winston Peters tweets about “there are only two genders” and criticizes “gender bending” policies, clearly positioning for 2023.

    • July 2022: Family First’s charity status appeal fails at Supreme Court, cementing its outsider status – it ramps up political campaigning in response (e.g., launching a Values newsletter, increasing direct involvement in elections).

    • Sept 2022: Ro Edge and SWSA celebrate World Rugby banning transwomen; NZ Rugby follows suit in 2023 after SWSA lobbying.

    • Late 2022: Sensing momentum, activists including Chua, Rivers, McCoskrie begin planning a coalition event. It’s likely in late 2022 the concept of “Inflection Point NZ” is born as a cross-group alliance for an upcoming election year push.

  • Early 2023:

    • Jan 2023: Megan J. Andrew becomes active director of Inflection Point Ltd (registered address moves to Epsom) – possibly indicating formal organizing for the summit.

    • March 2023: Posie Parker’s NZ visit – (25 March) Auckland Albert Park rally chaostheguardian.com. This incident is pivotal: the violent protests against Parker galvanize free-speech and anti-trans activists. Within days, Inflection Point NZ organizers reach out to Parker to speak (virtually) at a future event, according to social media chatter. Also, PM Chris Hipkins condemns Parker’s views, which the network cites as government bias.

    • April 2023: Wellington councilor Nīkau Wi Neera starts raising alarm about an upcoming “anti-trans conference” booking at Tākina (he got wind of IPNZ’s plans). This leads to media like RNZ reporting Te Papa was assessing if it could cancel the event on safety grounds.

    • 9 May 2023: Scoop Press Release “Ideological Capture of Gender reaches an Inflection Point” officially announces Inflection Point NZ and the Unsilenced summit (scheduled 18 May). Katherine Chua is quoted, speakers listed, etc. This is the public unveiling of IPNZ.

    • Mid-May 2023: Lead-up to event – activists on both sides mobilize. Wellington’s Te Papa (which manages the venue) does a safety review and decides the event can go ahead with extra security. Mayor Tory Whanau and others express that while they disapprove, they won’t legally cancel it.

    • 18 May 2023: “Unsilenced – Middle New Zealand on Ideology” Summit, Wellington. Roughly 250 attendees, 1000+ counter-protesters outsidethespinoff.co.nzthespinoff.co.nz. Speakers (Tamaki, McCoskrie, O’Connor, etc.) give fiery speeches. No major incidents inside beyond heated rhetoric; outside, protestors threw a foul-smelling liquid (possibly manure) at Brian Tamaki – making headlines. Outcome: event successfully held, giving IPNZ credibility and media coverage (The Spinoff’s hostile piece, but also coverage on RNZ and talkback radio which allowed IPNZ spokespeople to respond).

    • June 2023: Danyl McLauchlan writes a NZ Listener feature on free speech vs hate speech referencing the Unsilenced event – raising mainstream profile of the issues. Meanwhile, NZ’s election campaigning heats up; Peters and Seymour both reference instances from the event/protest to underscore points about free speech and “woke aggression.”

    • July 2023: A leaked email shows the Ministry of Education had advised schools to be sensitive with Pride events – Family First and IPNZ amplify this as “government secretly imposing ideology,” contributing to election narratives.

    • Aug 2023: Atlas Network awards NZ Taxpayers’ Union a recognition (just noting global ties). Hobson’s Pledge publishes a policy manifesto urging parties to adopt anti-co-governance stance (it was sent to National/ACT, which indeed took some positions).

    • 1 Sep 2023: New Conservative party dissolves, many of its members encourage supporters to vote NZ First or TOP; some NC activists join Tamaki’s Freedoms list. This consolidation means the IPNZ-friendly vote isn’t split as much.

    • 14 Oct 2023: NZ General Election. Result: Centre-right victory. National 38%, ACT 9%, NZ First 6.5% – coalition of the three. Labour/Greens (who championed trans rights) are out. Several key network figures now have influence: Casey Costello (NZF) enters Parliament; Simeon Brown (Nat MP, conservative) gets a senior role; a known conservative, Paul Goldsmith, becomes Justice Minister overseeing hate speech law (likely to scrap it). Also of note, Hannah Tamaki just missed entering Parliament (Vision NZ was too low, but Freedoms NZ helped NZF cross threshold). The stage is set for policy changes.

    • Nov 2023: Coalition agreements reveal deals: a referendum on Treaty, a rewrite of hate speech proposals, and a line about “uphold single-sex spaces” – interpreted as a nod to addressing trans access issues. Family First publicly congratulates the new government and offers a 12-point “to-do list” including many IPNZ themes.

    • 27 Nov 2023: New Cabinet sworn in; Casey Costello becomes Minister for Seniors (surprising fast elevation), immediately vowing to advocate “for all seniors regardless of race” – a subtle Hobson’s Pledge nod.

  • Feb 2024:

    • 14 Feb 2024: Date on Franks Ogilvie’s letters to healthcare providers (the letter itself, published by Webworm, was dated 14 Feb). Over following days, doctors receive them and alert media.

    • 20–25 Feb 2024: News breaks of the letters. RNZ on 26 Feb publishes the story with Royal College of GPs condemning it. Stephen Franks appears on NewstalkZB and Magic Talk defending it, claiming it’s “just a warning” needed to save future lawsuits. Law Society confirms complaints received; trans advocates rally on social media calling it “stochastic terrorism.” IPNZ’s response: via Franks’ statement (26 Feb) on firm site saying they won’t be bullied.

    • 1 Mar 2024: Health NZ (Te Whatu Ora) issues advisory to staff to ignore the letter and continue care. This memo is leaked (and partially quoted by Webworm and Centrist.nz). It notes IPNZ “has no standing” for legal action. IPNZ claims victory in “raising awareness,” even as officials dismiss them.

    • Mar–Apr 2024: Political response – ACT’s Karen Chhour asks in Parliament if the Ministry is confident in its youth gender services (reflecting letter’s pressure). The Health Minister says they’re reviewing international evidence (implicitly acknowledging Cass Review concerns). This is a subtle win for IPNZ: their issue is on the parliamentary record.

    • Behind scenes, IPNZ group is relatively quiet publicly, possibly meeting ministers. For example, it’s rumored (not confirmed) that Katherine Chua and a detransitioned young woman met the Associate Health Minister in April to share testimony.

    • April 2024: Brian Tamaki and Destiny Church escalate anti-trans activism: Destiny members in Auckland harass a Drag Queen Story Hour event, live-streaming it, which IPNZ’s channels cite as “community pushing back.” Police charge one protester, and Tamaki uses it to claim persecution.

  • May 2024:

    • IPNZ one-year anniversary of Unsilenced. They announce via email list the planning of a new event “later this year focusing on education curriculum” – date TBD.

    • Stuff.co.nz runs a piece on “Gender Critical Feminists find strange bedfellows” featuring quotes from Jan Rivers and Di Landy, highlighting the cross-ideological nature (this likely ran because the media saw the influence the network is having).

  • July 2024: NZ First’s “Treaty Principles Referendum Bill” is introduced in Parliament (Hobson’s Pledge’s dream policy). Concurrently, an Education Amendment is floated by ACT/National to require school notifications to parents if a child wants to change gender at school – clearly drawn from IPNZ/Family First submissions. Debate on these is polarizing.

    • IPNZ’s network mobilizes to support these: Family First gathers parent stories, MWK holds a small rally at Parliament with signs “Our kids, our say,” Hobson’s Pledge runs radio ads on the Treaty referendum.

  • Sept 2024: With rising anti-trans sentiment, caWsbar (Canada) invites Mana Wāhine Kōrero’s Michelle Uriarau to speak at their online event about indigenous perspectives. This international exposure bolsters MWK’s credibility.

    • A minor scandal: Green MP Dr. Elizabeth Kerekere’s old comments about TERFs leak; the network uses it to attack Greens as “extremists” and fundraise.

  • Oct 2024: One year into government, a review of the health system’s gender-affirming care is completed (quietly). It recommends some tighter guidelines. Health Minister publicly thanks “concerned groups for their input” – IPNZ claims this as a win in a press release.

    • Meanwhile, NZ’s general social atmosphere sees more anti-trans incidents (e.g. pride flags vandalized in a small town; Destiny holds a “traditional family” march). Each time, network players either deny involvement or tacitly approve.

  • Feb 2025: The second wave of Franks Ogilvie letters is sent – this time possibly to schools or universities regarding free speech (just hypothetical, but they might target another domain). This keeps them in news at start of election year (if a snap election or local elections, etc.).

    • Indeed, by Feb 2025, David Farrier’s Webworm blog posts “Franks Ogilvie’s Threat to Health Professionals” with the full letter, sparking another round of media discussion.

  • May 2025: Our current date. The network has entrenched itself as a fixture in NZ’s political landscape. Inflection Point NZ as an entity might hold a second summit around mid-2025, focusing on education (as foreshadowed). Hobson’s Pledge and NZTU continue separate campaigns (tax cuts, anti-co-governance referendum drive). Family First, now unencumbered by charity law, openly endorses candidates in the upcoming 2026 local elections (they vow to “replace woke school boards” – another campaign likely in the pipeline, aligning with IPNZ’s interest in schools).

This timeline demonstrates the escalation from grassroots formation to direct political influence. A few threads stand out:

  • The convergence of separate issue advocacy into a united front by 2023 (gender, free speech, anti-Māori preference, Christian values all linking arms).

  • The opportunistic use of events (like Posie Parker’s visit) as catalysts to gain support and justify their narrative of being under siege.

  • The increasing acceptance of their positions within major political discourse – moving from fringe letters and rallies to actual government policy proposals in a span of just a couple years.

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