Andy MacDonald/Stuff
Nelson City Councilor Matt Lawrey speaks at an event he helped organize in May to support the people of Ukraine. Lawrey has now been banned from Russia, along with Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese and Councilor Pete Rainey.
Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese and City Councilors Matt Lawrey and Pete Rainey are three of 32 more New Zealanders blacklisted by Russia.
A statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry says those on the list will be banned from entering Russia indefinitely in response to New Zealand Government Sanctions applied to “an increasing number of Russian citizens”.
“It’s a stranger,” Lawrey said on Sunday. “It’s definitely not something I expected today.”
Lawrey said he assumed two events he organized to show support for the people of Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion was the reason for the inclusion of the Nelson trio. Reese spoke at both events, while Rainey conducted a choir at the second.
READ MORE:
* Russia bans 32 more Kiwis from entering the country in retaliation for sanctions
* Ukrainians share sadness, pain and anger at rally
* Nelsonians stand next to Ukraine on month anniversary of invasion
ANDY MACDONALD / STUFF
A supporter holds the Ukrainian flag at a rally in Nelson in March to support the people of Ukraine.
“Both [events] received national media attention,” Lawrey said. “I’m quietly chuffed that the [Russian Foreign Ministry] took note of the good things we have done in Nelson-Whakatū to support the people of Ukraine.”
However, Lawrey was not happy with the suggestion that he was “Russophobic”.
“I like the people of Russia,” he said. “Some of the people at the event were Russian.”
Lawrey said he believed he was the first person in his family to be expelled from a country.
“What a classic.”
ANDY MACDONALD / STUFF
Nelson Archdeacon Harvey Ruru and Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese in March with members of the Nelson Ukrainian community Veronika Manit, Iryna Jones and Lyubov Lawrence.
Rainey said he conducted a choir at the event hosted by Lawrey and another choir at a church vigil for Ukraine, but he could not recall ever speaking about Russia.
“It seems crazy that something so peaceful could lead to this kind of action,” Rainey said. “I’m struggling to think of anything else it could be.”
GOODS
Reports of war atrocities in Ukraine are “more than reprehensible,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. Video first published in April 2022.
Like many New Zealanders, Rainey would love to travel abroad.
“Unfortunately, it seems that Russia will disappear from the list.”
Reese said she met Ukrainian residents in Nelson shortly after the Russian invasion and was asked to make a recording to send to the people of Ukraine. That video was widely distributed, she said.
It was a mayor’s responsibility to speak on behalf of the community, including people of different cultures, Reese said.
Although she had heard that Russia was a beautiful country, Reese said she had no plans to travel there.
ANDY MACDONALD / STUFF
In April, Nelson MP Rachel Boyack was one of 120 MPs blacklisted by Russia.
Earlier this year, 130 New Zealand politicians and officials — including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, cabinet ministers, parliamentarians from all political parties, the governor general, and military and spy guides — were also blacklisted by the Russian state. Each of the 120 MPs was on the list, including Nelson-based representatives Rachel Boyack and Chris Baillie.
Lawrey said with him, Reese and Rainey now being added to the list, “Nelson must be, per capita, the most forbidden city in the country”.