True to form, National is now objecting to a proposed visit to this country by Chelsea Manning. National Party immigration spokesperson Michael Woodhouse said if it were up to him he would be banning Ms Manning from the country. ‘Chelsea Manning used a position of responsibility and authority to steal hundreds of thousands of documents that may well have put American lives at risk’, he is quoted as saying.

Of course he says nothing about the many actual unlawful deaths the Americans themselves were responsible for, none of which would have come to light without Manning’s courageous actions, and for which she paid a high price (unless anyone thinks seven years of psychological torture in Leavenworth is an easy ride).

‘It was highly inappropriate that she should make money from talking about her crimes’, Mr Woodhouse said. Again, not a word about the crimes she exposed, such as the infamous ‘collateral damage’ video that vividly revealed American helicopter pilots gunning down defenceless civilians.

Chelsea Manning is a recognised whistleblower and according to Green MP Golriz Ghahraman, there is no evidence to suggest she would be a risk to New Zealand. "I feel like if you're a person that feels like abuses of power being exposed is a threat to you, then you might be part of the problem really", she said.