Walking the talk – protests Sat 29 March

Written By: - Date published: 2:07 pm, March 28th, 2014 - 63 comments
Categories: activism, assets, child welfare, education, poverty, Privatisation, schools, sustainability, trade, workers' rights - Tags:

Local Bodies well-researched post showed how much our public education system has been undermined by the current government:

In 2008 New Zealand was internationally ranked in the top seven for educational achievement, and when you compared us with other countries that were also culturally diverse and were experiencing growing inequality we were extremely successful.

[…]

We were just on the cusp of something great when an election occurred…

A National led Government was elected and New Zealand’s public education system came under heavy attack:

[…]

After five years under National, New Zealand’s international ranking plummets to as low as 23rd.

As Local Bodies indicated there is a strong connection between education and the social system; between a good public education system for all being part of a waider policy to decrease the inequality gap.

Tomorrow Today the NZEI (New Zealand Education Institute) has demonstrations planned in Auckland and Wellington focusing on the importance for children of their families receiving a living wage.

The one in Wellington is at the same time as the TPP protests around the country.

Wellington

1pm at Parliament

It’s time to tackle inequality! A community event with a Pasifika band, children’s choir and kapa haka.

Every child deserves a chance in life, but more than one in four Kiwi kids live in poverty. That inequality is the biggest hurdle to education success.

The Government is putting millions into highly paid “new roles” for some principals and teachers, but ignoring child poverty. It has rejected a living wage for low paid teacher aides and support staff who directly support students with the greatest needs.

If you want a living wage for learning for kids and education workers, come and join us to show your support!

The Auckland Living Wage demonstration ends at Aotea Square at the same time as the TPP protest is beginning there.

I don’t understand why the iwi leaders object to this protest on the same day as Hekia Parata is playing a significant role on behalf of NZ at an international conference on education in Wellington.  Perhaps there’s something I’ve missed?

Support the anti-TPP Day of Action

The Anti-TPP rallies and marches are mostly being at 1pm around the country – check the start time for your local protest as one or two are earlier than 1pm. Details listed here:

TPPA poster March 29 2014

After four years, the corporate deal of the century – aka the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – is still being negotiated in secret.

The TPPA puts our sovereignty at risk, violates our democratic right to decide our own future, and wastes taxpayers’ money that should be spent on social, not corporate, welfare.

It needs to stop. Now.

The National Day of Action Against the TPPA on 29 March will mark the fourth anniversary and send the government a message – Stop the TPPA! 

Join the rallies, marches and events in your area: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Geraldine, Hamilton, Hokianga, Invercargill, Kaitaia, Nelson, Palmerston North, Taranaki, Tauranga, Thames, Whanganui, Wellington, Whangarei

If there’s nothing happening, start something yourself. If you do organise something people get in touch with us. through chris.zack@gmail.com or webadmin@itsourfuture.org.nz in case we know of something else being planned and can put you in touch with others.

If you need some materials, check here where we have a bunch and can create others as required.

Need some reasons why you should come out this Saturday for the nationwide day of action? Check out some of our sponsors’ reasons.

Yes, social welfare and security, not corporate welfare.   The TPP will make it even harder to decrease the inequality gap and work towards a more sustainable and livable society for all Kiwis.

[Update]  Report on the protests:

NZEI demonstration. Auckland.

It was a pretty good sized crowd.

NZEI demo ready to go

NZEI demo ready to go

And it made a lot of vigorous noise walking up Queen Street – non-stop chanting.  Often there was a different chant coming from the front of the march (led by a guy on a megaphone) from the chant coming from the back of the march (to the sound of a tambourine).  The combined sound was really impressive – sharp, assertive and somehow made the march seem united.  It definitely got the attention of bystanders.

Teacher placard

DSC01312

I learned that a lot of school support workers, who have been doing their essential jobs for many years, are still not getting a living wage.

NZEI march end arrives at Aotea Square

end of NZEI marcharrives at Aotea Square

Green and Labour MPs attended (including Metiria Turei and David Cunliffe), along with people from Mana, like John Minto.

NZEI rally Turei at Aotea Square

TPPA rally and march – Auckland

Attendance was pretty substantial. Stuff says nearly 2000.  Video at the link.  NZ Herald says several thousand.

Cunliffe speaks at TPP Rally before the march

Cunliffe speaks at TPP Rally before the march

Later, Kelsey was critical of Labour’s timid response to the TPPA – kind of a step forward, in wanting to see the text of the TPPA before the NZ government signs it, … but not a very strong line.

NZ Herald reports:

Labour leader David Cunliffe received a few heckles but generally polite applause when he outlined his party’s stance on the TPPA to the crowd.

“We are demanding the Government release the text and the details,” he said. “This deal needs to be in the public domain so that New Zealanders can be informed and we can have a proper public debate … I can’t say today what our final position is going to be because we are going to wait until we see the details.”

TPPA march ready to go_1

TPPA march ready to go

TPPA march ready to go_2

The march ended at the US Embassy.  There was quite a large crowd there, listening to some speeches.

NZ Herald reports:

Former Green Party leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, whose speech on the ills of the TPPA received the loudest cheers of the day, said the agreement was “an extremely dangerous initiative”.

“At the heart it is a huge lie which pretends this is about trade. It’s not about trade, it’s about allowing foreign corporations to over-ride the decisions of democratically elected governments.

“The fact that it has a specific clause in it to allow investor corporations to sue our government if it takes any actions which reduces their profits … that is the most anti-democratic thing that has ever happened in my lifetime.”

Jeanette Fitzsimons outside US embassy

Jeanette Fitzsimons speaking outside US embassy

Jane Kelsey told it like it is, while revving up the crowd outside the US Embassy, with lots of loud chants of “Shame,Shame, Shame!”

Kelsey revving up the crowd outside US embassy

Kelsey revving up the crowd outside US embassy

Standardista, greywarbler, reports on the Nelson anti-TPPA demonstration, in the comments under this post.  He begins:

Went well in Nelson. We had a Canadian speaker a woman called Fosse I think. She was excellent and one point I had to get my head around is that corporates can sue for expected profits not received, if our gummint did anything that might get in the way of that.

Macro reports on the protests at Thames and Hamilton, beginning with:

11am Gathering of 30+ people here in Thames outside local MP Scott Simpsons office, to hear Catherine Delahunty speak on the reasons why this behind closed doors deal is so pernicious.

11.30 am Off to Hamilton to attend the rally at the Garden Centre there. Crowd slowly gathered to max out at around 200+ to hear music and speakers in the sun. Speakers from Mana, Greens (Catherine D), NZ First, Maori Party, Labour, Social Democrats?

More at the link.

63 comments on “Walking the talk – protests Sat 29 March ”

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  1. lprent 1
    28 March 2014 at 2:42 pm

    I don’t understand why the iwi leaders object to this protest on the same day as Hekia Parata is playing a significant role on behalf of NZ at an international conference on education in Wellington. Perhaps there’s something I’ve missed?

    Not that I can see. Basically it seems like they’re saying that they don’t like Hekia Parata being embarrassed. Personally I think that she is the biggest embarrassment in the National cabinet and the current person in National most involved in trying to screw up the education system.

    Perhaps they should read LocalBodies post and look at the current state of the education system? Or maybe they should talk to some teachers?

    As far as I can see from the press release their views appear to come from some kind of slavish veneration of authority rather than using their intelligence.

    • karol 1.1
      28 March 2014 at 2:50 pm

      I’m trying to check the links in the post to the Its Our Future site with info about the TPPA demo. But the site seems to be down at the moment, as far as I can tell.

      • lprent 1.1.1
        28 March 2014 at 3:30 pm

        Yep is for me as well.

        Left a note on facebook and on my facebook timeline.

        • karol 1.1.1.1
          28 March 2014 at 4:01 pm

          Thanks, most of the links are working now,except the Invercargill one – and the link to that isn’t working on the Its Our Future page with an overview of the day of action.

    • lprent 1.2
      28 March 2014 at 5:37 pm

      Annette Sykes comment on facebook 🙂

      What a load of codswollop… Who are these Iwi Leaders? We, Dr Apirana Mahuika, Sir Toby Curtis, Sir Mark Solomon, Raniera Tau, Willie Te Aho, Awanuiarangi Black, Tiwha Puketapu, Naida Glavish, Sir Tamati Reedy and Pem Bird …. National Party sychophants

      • karol 1.2.1
        28 March 2014 at 5:39 pm

        🙂 Thanks.

        • mickysavage 1.2.1.1
          28 March 2014 at 8:16 pm

          So Karol and lprent. See you there?

          • karol 1.2.1.1.1
            28 March 2014 at 8:17 pm

            Yep. I’m planning to join the NZEI for a walk up Queen Street from Britomart – then walk back with the TPP demo.

      • North 1.2.2
        29 March 2014 at 10:06 pm

        Annettes Sykes’ Faceboook was heartening. She called them National Party sycophants. Which they are, demonstrably. Amazing what a few knighthooods thrown around will do. Amazing how your shit doesn’t stink when you’re “up there”. When your head is so high up in the clouds you’re just that little bit more “white”. And real. And movin’ and shakin’.

        When you find yourself in and out of Te Koru Club several times a week, preparatory to your gravy train funded flight to Wellington to see “Te Minita”, or to massive your “mana” at some talkfest. While kids in Kaikohe actually starve and their little minds rot.

        And on your way to Gate 14 some snivelling bastard Tory list MP greases up alongside and acknowledges you. And your personal “maaaa- na”. Oh what a fine man/woman property developer real estate agent piss-arse lawyer wealthy farmer entrepreneur accountant petty boeurgoisie sole trader this subliminally racist Tory list MP is. Who doesn’t give a fuck about Maori kids in Kaikohe and their little minds rotting.

        Disgraceful. Scabs.

        To (Dame – soon to be) Naida Glavish – one of them – “Kia Ora Caller”.

  2. Tracey 2
    28 March 2014 at 2:46 pm

    i hope teachers get out there… even if they wear masks.

    police union has been very quiet… must be due to speak up on imagined law and order concerns.

  3. Jenny Kirk 3
    28 March 2014 at 3:48 pm

    Here’s basic details :
    Auckland Location: Meet at Aotea Square, then march down Queen St to the US Consulate
    Christchurch Location: Cashel Mall Restart, 114 Cashel Street, 1pmWe will march through REstart mall with our pickets and banners, being as loud as possible (while still respecting mall goers) and then assemble in the Cathedral Square for speeches.
    Dunedin Location: Rally at The Octagon, Dunedin, 1 pm
    Hamilton Location: Garden Place, Victoria Street, Hamilton, 1pm
    Hokianga Location: Kohukohu Ferry, 1 pm
    Nelson Location: Meet at 12:30pm at the Millers Acre I-siteMarch up Trafalgar St to arrive for a Rally at about 1:00pm.
    Taranaki Location: Puke Ariki Landing, rally at 11am (note the time!)Hikoi around the streets and market.
    Tauranga Location: Red Square, Tauranga, 1pm Thames Location: Rally outside National MP office, 614 Pollen St, at 11am.
    Wellington Location: The Bucket Fountain, Cuba St, Wellington 12.30-1.00pm Brass Razoo (Brass Solidarity band) 1.00pm Cuba Street, Bucket Fountain March to Parliament:At Parliament ETA 2.30pm
    Whanganui Location: Meet at the Silver Ball Sculpture on the Riverfront 1pm to walk up to Majestic Square.
    Whangarei Location: Meet outside Claphams Clock Museum Town Basin, 1pm

    Don’t have a location for Palmerston North, but they’re organising a rally as well

    • karol 3.1
      28 March 2014 at 4:03 pm

      Thanks, Jenny. The Palmerston North Link on the Its Our Future page is now working – the Invercargill one isn’t, and there’s one there for Geraldine as well.

  4. Puckish Rogue 4
    28 March 2014 at 4:02 pm

    So roughly 100 -200 will turn up or is that being generous?

    • gitmo 4.1
      28 March 2014 at 4:13 pm

      Even with 50 the stench will be hideous.

      • Murray Olsen 4.1.1
        29 March 2014 at 1:52 am

        Fuckwitted troll. Out of respect for the good people on this blog, I won’t say what I really think.

    • lprent 4.2
      28 March 2014 at 5:40 pm

      So roughly 100 -200 will turn up or is that being generous?

      I tell you what, lets make a small side penalty. How confident are you?

      Something like a weeks ban for every hundred over 200 for the TPPA protest in Auckland. We’ll even use the lower of the understated measures from the NZ Herald and the Police.

      How about it? Agreed?

      Problem is that this dickhead is used to the right wing protests – the ones measured in tens.

  5. captain hook 5
    28 March 2014 at 6:01 pm

    heka paratai speaks out of both sides of her mouth at once.
    I hear her on the radio saying that NZ has a first class education system but when nobody else is looking she is advocating for the dismantling of the system in favour of giving the money to charter schools.
    It doesnt look like that she knows how to tell the truth about anything.

    • fender 5.1
      28 March 2014 at 6:46 pm

      Yes Hekia Parata want’s the nation to get behind our education system like we do our sports teams. But I’m struggling to get behind coach Parata considering the head high tackles, knock-ons and other infringements she inflicts on her own team. I’ve never seen a coach treat their own players so poorly, nor have I seen one field players from another code without them having an understanding of the rules first.

  6. Philj 6
    29 March 2014 at 7:52 am

    Xox
    Torries Privatising Public Assets. Again! I’ve had enough and now I’m off to the March in Nelson. Beautiful sunrise.

  7. Jim Nald 7
    29 March 2014 at 8:38 am

    Thanks, karol. I will be biking to the protest and hope many people around the country will be making a strong stand.

  8. Jim Nald 8
    29 March 2014 at 8:55 am

    Btw, I have just seen this:

    “[Labour calls] on the National Government to release the full text of the TPPA, at least two weeks before they intend to sign it.”

    https://www.labour.org.nz/tppa

    Is there a typo in there? Or do Labour MPs have a different sense of time, with a week being a long time in politics and all that?

  9. Ron 9
    29 March 2014 at 9:31 am

    Does anyone know is Labour are doing anything in an organised way for either of these protests today. Cannot find anything from official sources. Want to get involved but would like it to be Labour Inc not individual.
    Note that Greens seem to be on the ball where is Labour

    • karol 9.1
      29 March 2014 at 5:19 pm

      Labour was more in force at the Auckland NZEI demo. Cunliffe dropped by the TPPA rally afterwards and made a speech.

      I think there were some Labour MPs on the schedule to attend and give speeches at the TPPA demos in other parts of the coutnry.

  10. Blue 10
    29 March 2014 at 4:49 pm

    No. Labour must support it, given the absence of serious noise about it. They were interested in reading it prior to signing as stated above, but it seems a half hearted objection, a Shearer like stance almost. I don’t think this indicates any opposition to it, given Labours history with free trade deals. We will wait and see I guess.

    • Ergo Robertina 10.1
      29 March 2014 at 5:22 pm

      ‘They were interested in reading it prior to signing as stated above, but it seems a half hearted objection, a Shearer like stance almost.’

      This ‘condition’ was an attempt to appear principled about a deal Labour probably supports, but cannot do so openly without upsetting the Americans.
      A nonsense equivocation that only a party run by technocrats could be pleased with.
      What’s at stake in the TPPA is too fundamental for mere process quibbles.
      Standard author Micky Savage was pleased with Cunliffe’s handling of it; the quote is from his December 23 post, David Cunliffe’s first hundred days:

      ‘The day after the election result I was astounded to read David pronouncing a very deft line about the TPPA. Labour would not support the treaty if the text was not released. Both radicals and moderates would be attracted to the notion either that we do not sign up to the agreement at all, or that we only do if the public knows what it is letting itself in for. Finally a Labour leader had learned about triangulation of issues.’

      • Ergo Robertina 10.1.1
        29 March 2014 at 10:28 pm

        CORRECTION to my comment above: ‘This ‘condition’ was an attempt to appear principled about a deal Labour probably supports, but cannot do so openly without upsetting its members.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 10.2
      29 March 2014 at 5:23 pm

      Support what? Negotiating with other countries over trade terms?

  11. greywarbler 11
    29 March 2014 at 5:21 pm

    Went well in Nelson. We had a Canadian speaker a woman called Fosse I think. She was excellent and one point I had to get my head around is that corporates can sue for expected profits not received, if our gummint did anything that might get in the way of that.

    So you are screwed with that hanging over you. To do anything would be likely to end in costs that would destabilise the government, which would be bound to happen anyway when people realised how weakened they are.

    It is frightening when you start thinking of all the ways that this faustian pact could crush the lives we have had that our ancestors fought to establish. A new Dark Ages. It doesn’t bear thinking about but we must think about it and face up to it.

    faustian pact – wikipedia

    the pact is between a person and Satan or a demon. The person offers his or her soul in exchange for diabolical favours. Those favours vary by the tale, but tend to include youth, knowledge, wealth, or power.
    It was also believed that some persons made this type of pact just as a sign of recognizing the Devil as their master, in exchange for nothing!!

    • One Anonymous Bloke 11.1
      29 March 2014 at 5:26 pm

      I think you’ll find that one of the negotiating parties supports that position, and it isn’t the NZ government.

    • karol 11.2
      29 March 2014 at 5:33 pm

      Thanks, grey. And that thing of corporates being able to sue for loss of profits is totally undemocratic.

    • karol 11.3
      29 March 2014 at 5:46 pm

      grey, hope you don’t mind, I added a link to your Nelson report at the bottom of my post.

      • Jim Nald 11.3.1
        29 March 2014 at 6:33 pm

        Hey grey and karol,

        The speaker’s name is Nicole Foss (just google to find out more).

        Although there doesn’t seem to be anything specific on that point from her on the web, others have discussed the issue of corporates suing for loss of profits … for eg something like the following:

        “… we know that the TPP gives corporations the power to sue governments for loss of profits resulting from the countries’ laws which protect the public health and welfare.

        “For example, under established trade agreements, Phillip Morris is suing the Government of Uruguay for lost profits in an amount that exceeds the Gross National Product of Uruguay. The dispute is over putting health warnings on cigarette packs. Under the TPP, all countries become liable for similar profit-driven suits, including the United States. Such suits, if won by the corporation, will undermine our economic and national security, our healthcare laws, as well as our environmental and food laws and regulations. …”

        http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/wosd/wosd_tpp.html

      • greywarbler 11.3.2
        30 March 2014 at 11:16 am

        karol anything you like will be good. I was a bit tired, energised by the meeting speakers and turnout, but depressed by the enormity of it all and sad that it is happening and so many go blithely on in determined ignorance, with no concern for protecting themselves and their own future, much less that of their country and fellow citizens.

        I must say that there was a good turnout from Motueka and they have done something that they say is acting as a template for the country. Got in touch with local councillors and local councils. Apparently they have sent out about a thousand. Hard work and dedication. And they brought a guitarist and singer who sang a few suitable songs – so we had great speakers and great songs. They travelled for up to an hour to get to Nelson and made the meeting hum. That business of contacting the pollies. I am reluctant to get my personal email smothered with political crap, but I guess I can have one just for the purpose. Do others think that emailing the pollies in parliament, all parties being equal but some more equal than others, would be a good use of my democratic-concern-time?

        Wayne Brittenden was on again on Radionz this morning and talking about TPPA. We are having that heavy foot that Terry Gilliam designed for Monty Python sequences, come right down on us with our version of TPPA demands. The European Union is insisting on revelation of documents, transparency apparently, not secrecy. There was a small segment on TPPA this morning besides Wayne.

        There was also mention of a case that Philip Morris is bringing against the Australian government in a TPPA type law suit, under an agreement they have signed with Hong Kong. Don’t know much about it but it stems from ordering plain packaging to reduce smoking. Oz is being sued for loss of brand, intellectual stuff and probably as well, loss of sales. It will be tried by a tribunal of someone outside Oz, and from what I have heard it’s the corporates who organise the judging panel. Anyway you can bet that Oz hasn’t a leg to stand on and it will cost millions for the trial and I think the company is asking for (don’t hit me if I’m wrong) about $90 billion.

        It sounds crazy so I must have heard wrong. But hey crazy is believable these days. I see that Jim Nald referring to Uruguay. We are going to end up like some of those dingy imaginings on film, Blade Runner for instance. I don’t think we should think about national flags at this important moment, nor should we think of changing our national anthem – we need to ask God to help us defend New Zealand. I referred to the faustian exchange earlier. It seems a true and accurate description for us.

        And Jim Nald – about Labour. I think that it was Open Mike yesterday that had a good link to Ken Loach comment in The Guardian put up by some good body who I forget but I commented on it so you could find it by searching greyw. It posed some searching questions that are going through your head as I noticed in your lower comment.

  12. greywarbler 12
    29 March 2014 at 5:37 pm

    Hi I am undefined now. For a short period till someone tells me who I am.

    Labour in Nelson wanted the TPPA text released. They wanted to make sure it is all good for NZs. There was general talk. The pharm side was mentioned I think. (My brain is getting tired.)

    But they didn’t say they were against TPPA. And nothing was said about the effect on our small business that is about 90% of the enterprise in NZ. And what we really need so we have a thriving happy country. I still want to see that happen!!!!!!!! So not much from Labour – Andy Haden called Mary Wilson a pinko after she tried to interview the warped old bull the other day. And that term could really apply to Labour.

    • Jim Nald 12.1
      29 March 2014 at 6:19 pm

      You won’t be the only one feeling that way, greywarbler.

      How about climb up the fence and join ‘Labour’, given the latest news piece:
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9883535/Labour-on-the-fence-about-trade-deal?

      In political black-or-white debates over the issues, Labour’s wait-and-see dissolves into greyness. Even those who voted in the previous election may now be a little bewildered and might perhaps toy with the idea of joining the so-called missing million who didn’t vote in the last election?

      Labour MPs can provide more effective opposition and stronger leadership by saying ‘no TPPA until the people of NZ see and discuss the text’.

      • Jim Nald 12.1.1
        29 March 2014 at 6:41 pm

        If the question is posed by jonolists about ‘final position’ on the TPPA, throw the question back with a quick retort –

        what final position?

        first, show us the text!

    • Ergo Robertina 12.2
      29 March 2014 at 7:15 pm

      +1 Labour’s hiding behind a technocratic fig leaf on the TPPA, and thinks no-one will notice.
      It is rather pathetic.

  13. Macro 13
    29 March 2014 at 6:52 pm

    11am Gathering of 30+ people here in Thames outside local MP Scott Simpsons office, to hear Catherine Delahunty speak on the reasons why this behind closed doors deal is so pernicious.

    11.30 am Off to Hamilton to attend the rally at the Garden Centre there. Crowd slowly gathered to max out at around 200+ to hear music and speakers in the sun. Speakers from Mana, Greens (Catherine D), NZ First, Maori Party, Labour, Social Democrats? and a statement read out from National – the “fundamentals of Pharmac will be preserved” what ever that means. Oh! and business gets a say.. now isn’t that nice.
    Labour spokeswoman seemed to think that people did not understand that they were opposed to the deal. Just they want to read it first! Which they don’t seem to understand – isn’t all that reassuring! Not exactly No way! TPPA!

  14. Steve Hart 14
    29 March 2014 at 7:45 pm

    I wrote to David Cunliffe a few weeks ago asking if / when Labour gets into power it would release the full text of the TPPA (assuming it will be signed by then). I got no response. Russel Norman replied though.

  15. The Real Matthew 15
    30 March 2014 at 12:02 am

    Hope you guys had a good day out with the Rent a Crowd.

    May I ask why you guys weren’t out protesting when Labour was negotiating the FTA with China?

    • felix 15.1
      30 March 2014 at 6:08 am

      1) What makes you think people here didn’t protest the China FTA?

      2) Do you understand that much of the opposition to the TPPA is not actually opposition to the “free trade” aspects of the agreement at all?

      3) I don’t believe anyone was paid to attend. The only person I know of who rent crowds for political protests is Colin Craig.

    • greywarbler 15.2
      30 March 2014 at 11:23 am

      Were you TRM out protesting then? What are you on about you tool? You wouldn’t know fhit from clay. Go and do some real work if you can’t make any points of value. This isn’t a game. But perhaps somebody pays you in kind or money to do this or perhaps no-one will pay you anything at all because you are so useless at anything you put your hand to.

    • Tracey 15.3
      31 March 2014 at 4:32 pm

      cos chinas tobacconists didnt want to sue us for removing their branding from their death sticks

      cos china didnt ask for its corporations to have precedence over our sovereignty.

      may i ask how it can be that you dont understand the difference between an fta and the tpp and how many contracts you enter into without reading them or even your lawyer reading them?

  16. JanM 16
    30 March 2014 at 5:37 am

    Joce Jesson has confirmed on Metiria’s twitter what I thought may well be the case – the ‘iwi leaders’ kicking up the fuss have been bought off by the National Party with the promise of charter schools – ugh!

    • karol 16.1
      30 March 2014 at 8:16 am

      Thanks for the tip. Found this on Turei’s Facebook: [which I can view without logging in.

      I hear that Sir Toby Curtis, Pem Bird and Naida Glavish have accused NZEI of trampling on their mana because of the Living Wage for Learning rallys today which coincide with Hekia Parata’s education forum. They should know that the measure of a leader’s mana is in the well being of the whanau not in how many international visitors they get to hobnob with. Maybe they could spend less time chatting with Hekia and more time advocating for whanau to be properly paid for the amazing work they do supporting and educating our kids.

      Turei was to me the most prominent (only?) (co)leader on the NZEI march in Auckland yesterday.

      Saw here there before on and after the march.

      A group of Labour MPs were at the rally in Aotea Square after the march – mind you, it was a failry big march so maybe they did the walk.

      Minto was there (on both marches) for Mana.

      Bomber made some crack about Harawira having to stay in Wellington – “something to do with Dotcom” – Bomber said. Don’t know if that was meant as a joke or for real.

  17. Tautoko Viper 17
    30 March 2014 at 8:47 am

    There was a reasonable coverage of the TPPA issues on TV1’s coverage of the march and as a result I think a lot more people will at least have some idea about the TPPA.
    However, since most young people don’t watch TV or read the “news”papers, the internet party is going to be a very useful conduit for information on issues like this to a section of the potential youth vote.

    • greywarbler 17.1
      30 March 2014 at 11:27 am

      Good point TV Kim DC will have an important place in this election, whether it will be a lasting value who knows, but in today/s market place for ideas he is offering something we need.

  18. mac1 18
    30 March 2014 at 10:39 am

    Grey Power is also protesting about TPPA’s and its effect especially on Pharmac.

    Grey Power is also highlighting the plight of superannuitants who have no other income but that of Superannuation and who do not own their own homes.

    According to Treasury, who got the figures wrong originally, revised Treasury figures of after tax income show that 50% (73,500) of superannuitants who do not own their own home now live in poverty.

  20. Jenny Kirk 20
    30 March 2014 at 12:30 pm

    To GreyWarbler, Jim Nald and other posters – Labour’s position is clear – its on their website – under issues/policies – here’s the link – https://www.labour.org.nz/tppa – and the following are some of the statements in it.

    ” New Zealand must not sacrifice cheaper medicines through Pharmac, or give up our sovereign right to regulate and legislate for our health, protection of our environment, in ICT and online security and privacy, or in areas including gambling, tobacco and alcohol. We must preserve our democratic rights to regulate overseas corporations that operate here ……………
    ” It is clear we can’t decide whether the TPPA will hinder or help our economic wellbeing until we know what is in the final agreement.
    ” Therefore we have called on the National Government to release the full text of the TPPA, at least two weeks before they intend to sign it.
    ” New Zealanders should be allowed to have an informed and mature public debate about what is in our people’s interests. …………………”

    • Ergo Robertina 20.1
      30 March 2014 at 1:01 pm

      How is it possible for scrutiny to occur within the (at least) two week time frame? Many stakeholder groups, such as the medical profession, have busy jobs, and it takes time to formulate a submission/response, gain consensus, and clarify any unclear or ambiguous parts of the text.
      And surely any ‘informed and mature public debate’ can only occur AFTER interested parties/critics have had their say, as the average person will not be able to interpret the text or see the fish hooks.

    • Jim Nald 20.2
      4 April 2014 at 12:20 pm

      Thanks very much for pointing that out, Jenny.I have just seen your comment @ 20.

      I now see where the reference to ‘two weeks’ has come from. Quite frankly, that is not enough time and can be cynically seen as a whitewash or mockery especially with such a momentous proposal.

      What is not coming through more clearly is that it is not just simply like any free trade agreement. Can someone on TS or any readers/bloggers put up or encourage a post here or elsewhere to get a deeper discussion going?

      First, the TPPA is no longer the same kind of grouping that started off circa 2005 among the ‘small’ trading nations of Chile, Singapore, NZ and Brunei. That grouping has been hijacked and metastised into the current beast.

      Second, for those of us who were involved or familiar with old battles, the TPPA is regarded as the MAI that is now being resurrected. It is good to see some online reference to this and more needs to be done to generate greater awareness, public outrage and collective rejection of the TPPA in its present cancerous form:

      “That sounds like the MAI that we defeated in the 1990s!

      “It is the Multilateral Agreement on Investment on steroids. The TPP is effectively a bill of rights for big corporations that is designed in secret and shackles future governments and our democratic right to decide future policy and laws.”

      http://www.theawarenessparty.com/links-and-resources/articles/political-2/beware-the-trans-pacific-partnership-agreement/

      That website has many points that are just spot on.

  21. Jonathan 21
    30 March 2014 at 3:31 pm

    There was a good turnout in Napier, about 100 people, particularly good turnout from the Mana Movement. Really good energy, so much so that, after a few speeches, we made an unplanned return march down the main street! And all with generally good responses from the general public, even a few people joining in.

  22. Tautoko Viper 22
    30 March 2014 at 5:43 pm

    I get really annoyed by the continual misinformation on the TPPA.
    “Mr Groser said New Zealanders would hear the facts when the deal was put before Parliament.” http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/240196/call-for-public-to-have-say-on-trade-deal
    Parliament does not vote on whether to sign the TPPA or not.
    The TPPA is signed off by the 20 National Cabinet Ministers.
    The only vote that Parliament will get is whether to modify any laws that need to be altered pertaining to the TPPA.

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