GPJA #445 (Part 2/3): News from Aotearoa New Zealand – 10/11/12

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AOTEAROA INDYMEDIA: ACTIVIST MEDIA SITE RELAUNCHED BETTER THAN EVER!

We are writing to you about the relaunched and refreshed Aotearoa Indymedia news website that has just gone live. Aotearoa Indymedia (www.indymedia.org.nz) is an activist news website where you publish information to a wide audience about the issues you are concerned with. Indymedia is a non-commercial, not-for-profit website that encourages the participation of our users to create and use content.

You can directly publish stories, photographs, press releases, details of upcoming events, action reports, newsletters, research reports, interviews, OIA responses, and share worthwhile content from other sites. The process is very simple and quick: just go to indymedia.org.nz and click on the ‘publish’ button. Follow the link to the form you need for a story, event or reposting content from other sites. All you do is fill in the online publishing form, add your photos or upload other useful documents for readers and click ‘publish’. There is no waiting – all items are immediately published.

Indymedia exists to provide a platform for positive radical social change. We do this by providing a media platform for spreading ideas and information about social, economic and environmental issues. Indymedia is run by a volunteer collective and is part of the global Indymedia network.

Indymedia provides an important role in making the connections between issues by allowing people to get and share information from a wide variety of social movements. If you would like more information about Indymedia or would like to get involved in the collective, please contact us! And please check out and make use of www.indymedia.org.nz

Cheers, The Indymedia collective

PARIHAKA ANNIVERSARY, NEW BOOK RELEASE

Monday, 5 November, is the 131st anniversary of the invasion and plundering of Parihaka. To mark this year’s anniversary, Huia Publishers is releasing a new illustrated children’s book by Jennifer Beck, and illustrated by Lindy Fisher, titled ‘Remember that November’ / ‘Maumahara ki tera Noema’. It’s almost Guy Fawkes Night, and at the school speech competition Andy talks about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. The children cheer excitedly, thinking Andy will win the contest. But then, Aroha gets up, wearing a white feather in her hair, and tells the story of another fifth of November – the invasion of Parihaka in 1881. ‘Remember that November’ / ‘Maumahara ki tera Noema’ is a beautifully illustrated, poignant story that recounts a key event in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. The book is available in both Maori and English editions – ordering information for the Maori edition is available at http://www.huia.co.nz/shop&item_id=3726 and for the English edition at http://www.huia.co.nz/shop&item_id=3727 Information about the invasion of Parihaka is available at http://parihaka.com/

FUNDRAISNG FOR SUSTAINABLE BOLIVIA AND GIVING VOICE

Dear friends I hope you can assist Giving Voice with fund raising to attend an event in Bolivia.Previously we have receaved funding from CID for travel however due to funding cuts this fund is no longer available.Below is some information about project as it relates to Giving Voice and Sustainable Bolivia. Every year, Bolivia’s fastest growing and third largest city, Cochabamba, hosts Sustainable Bolivia http://www.sustainablebolivia.org/documentaries.html. Sustainable Bolivia selects international filmmakers to make short documentaries that focus on community development. These films are then widely distributed. In return for the film makers’voluntary efforts, the organisation that is being documented provides food and accommodation for three months.

New Zealand documentary maker Peter Marra has been selected to be one of these guest film makers for 2013. There is a proviso that he is able to speak Spanish intermediate level of fluency. This is a challenge to most of the international film makers, so to prepare them for this, Sustainable Bolivia finds each guest documentary maker a host family where they can stay for three months prior to the Sustainable Bolivia event, as well as organising the guest’s enrolment in a specialised language school to improve their Spanish competency. As well as encouraging participant to be involved one of thier partner organisations by volunteering and experience managing funds for a project that is in alignment with the partner organisation goals http://www.sustainablebolivia.org/.

What this means is that Sustainable Bolivia is investing in Peter Marra by accommodating him for 3 months during the event while he will be fim making, but he needs to fund raise for the 3 months of Spanish language preparation in Bolivia, as well as for the return airfares.Some of the fees that go to accomadation and language tuition are passed on to Sustianable Bolivia partner organisations.

Giving Voice Trust, phone 06 7581857 email marrap

Giving Voice is a Charitable Trust committed to raising awareness of sustainable development, children’s rights to an education reflective of their cultural identity, the environment, peace, citizenship, human rights, social justice and health. We give voice to individuals, communities and societies through documentary and other media. Giving Voice Trust was granted a Certificate of Recognition by UNICEF for upholding the Principles for the Rights of the Child as a finalist for the for Childs Rights award for the Asia- Pacific Region TV 2009 for our documentary movie Children of a Nation based in Timor Leste.

Giving Voice Trust has an impeccable record of managing funds from a wide range of funding bodies Including the Asia NZ foundation, Council for International Development, NZ Aid via the Global ,Peace and Disarmamament Fund for projects such as Children of a Nation (See UNICEF Certificate). And we have received funding for trustee Dave Owens’ innovative educational resources to encourage New Zealand fathers to bond with their young infants which has been well received and received funding for the Lyon Foundation and the Todd Foundation. These grants led him to develop the Great Fathers initiative which has benefited a wide variety of sectors in New Zealand including secondary schools (including teachers and students), civil society organisations, Community Development agencies and volunteers, fathers and parents in general, inspiring people that they can make a difference in their daily lifes.

MAKING FUN OF TPP: NATIONAL CARTOON COMPETITION LAUNCHED

The 16th round of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations will be held in Auckland from 3-12 December, presumably at Sky City as that was the venue of the December 2010round. A Trans-Pacific Partnership Cartoon Competition has been launched to encourage the country’s satirists and graphic artists to engage creatively with the many issues. “The TPP is a cartoonist’s dream: secret negotiations, big Phrma vs. PHARMAC, tobacco wars, te Tiriti vs. corporate treaties, US-China power struggles, Fonterra = NZ Inc., more backroom deal-making at Sky City, criminalised librarians, and internet users… ”, according to Jane Kelsey, who has organised the competition. The co-sponsors are Scoop Independent News (publishers of Scoop.co.nz), the Society of Authors, the Bruce Jesson Foundation and BizDojo, who will also host an exhibition of the cartoons in Auckland during the negotiation. The competition offers three prizes of $500. 1. A Best Cartoon award will be judged by prominent journalist Finlay Macdonald. 2. The People’s Choice award will be voted for online using Facebook; and 3. The Biz Dojo Co.Space is sponsoring a special student’s award, which will give the winner a scholarship to use their facilities. Overseas artists are welcome to contribute, but will not be eligible for the prizes. All the entries will be exhibited online at the newly launched It’s Our Future (http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz/) website, and in the exhibition space at BizDojo in Karangahape Rd, Auckland from 1 to 7 December. Artists will be asked to release their cartoons for use under Creative Commons license and once entered may be used on Scoop.co.nz as part of its coverage of the TPPA negotiations ( see also: http://community.scoop.co.nz/category/tppa/) Artists entering the competition can elect whether to allow their cartoons to be auctioned on-line. Proceeds from this will support the competition and It’s Our Future campaign. Entries should be sent via It’s Our Future website, which also hosts information and links on the TPPA and its implications for New Zealand. Media Contacts: Professor Jane Kelsey 021 765 055 or Alastair Thompson from Scoop on 021 707044

COME TO WAIHOPAI SPY BASE PROTEST: JANUARY 18-20

The Kim Dotcom saga has certainly put the NZ Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and its Waihopai spy base smack bang into the glare of the spotlight. Not coincidentally this is happening in the same year that the Government has got New Zealand back into ANZUS in all but name. NZ has hosted its first visit from a US Defense Secretary for 30 years and he offered to base US marines here. For the first time since the 1980s, American troops have trained here; NZ troops have trained in the US; and NZ warships have taken part in US-led naval exercises. How ironic that all this was happening at the same time as the country was celebrating the 25th anniversary of our nuclear free law.

The public face of New Zealand’s role as an American ally is the NZ military presence in Afghanistan. But New Zealand’s most significant contribution to the global American warfighting machine is, and has been for more than 20 years, the Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base, located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. It is controlled by the US, with New Zealand (including Parliament and the Prime Minister) having little or no idea what goes on there, let alone any control.

First announced in 1987, Waihopai is operated by New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in the interests of the foreign Powers grouped together in the super-secret UKUSA Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ). Its satellite interception dishes intercept a huge volume of civilian telephone calls, telexes, faxes, e-mail and computer data communications. It spies on our Asia/Pacific neighbours, and forwards the material on to the major partners in the UKUSA Agreement, specifically the US National Security Agency (NSA). Its targets are international civilian communications involving New Zealanders, including the interception of international phone calls.

Post- 9/11 the GCSB and Waihopai now spy further afield, to those regions where the US is waging wars. The codename for this – Echelon – has become notorious worldwide as the vast scope of its spying has become public. New Zealand is an integral, albeit junior, part of a global spying network, a network that is ultimately accountable only to its own constituent agencies, not governments, and certainly not citizens.

Join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spy base. Come prepared for roughing it and camping out. We provide the food (we cater for vegetarians but vegans will have to bring their own). Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent, torch, water bottle, eating utensils, clothing for all weather, and $40 (or $20 unwaged) to cover costs. No open fires.

How to find our camp at Whites Bay: turn off SH1 at Tuamarina (9km north of Blenheim or 20 km south of Picton) and drive to Rarangi on the coast. Follow the steep Port Underwood Road over the hilltop before descending to the Whites Bay turnoff. There is a DoC public camp at the bay with basic facilities. ABC has to pay a fixed charge per head.

Waihopai does not operate in the interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. Basically it is a foreign spy base on NZ soil and directly involves us in America’s wars. Waihopai must be closed.

Email abc for further registration information.

THE TIGERS OF WRATH (are wiser than the horses of instruction).

PEKING, 1974. Trish is ex-St Cuth’s, Pauline is ex-Onehunga High; they’re dykes and Maoists and members of the Auckland PYM. Oliver is from Wellington, writes for Salient and is a member of MiLO. All three are on an NZUSA trip to Red China. HERNE BAY, 1994. Trish is now Labour MP for New Lynn and Opposition spokesperson on education. Oliver has given up writing to become an immigration lawyer. MANGERE BRIDGE, 2009. Oliver’s being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office. Pauline’s cleaning the South Auckland toilets of the BNZ. Trish is a TV current affairs host and the mother of the nation. THE TIGERS OF WRATH. A story of NZ from the recession of the mid-1970s to the crash of 2008-09. This is us. Circa Theatre, Wellington, Nov 3 – Dec 1. Cheap preview night Nov 2. Written by: Dean Parker, Directed by: Jane Waddell

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

MANAs ‘Feed the Kids’ Bill drawn http://tumeke.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/manas-feed-kids-bill-drawn.html

Govt risks Northland Maori wrath with new oil and gas exploration offer http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1211/S00333/govt-risks-maori-wrath-with-oil-and-gas-exploration-offer.htm

Protesters face off against police http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/7926572/Protesters-face-off-against-police

MP to use court as protest forum http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10845816

Asset sales protest hits the street http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10844893

Aotearoa Is Not For Sale Declares Street Party Against Privatisation A Success http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1211/S00091/ainfs-declares-street-party-against-privatisation-a-success.htm

Record on rheumatic fever ‘shameful’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10846098

Gay Red Stop: John Key and homophobic language http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1211/S00062/gay-red-stop-john-key-and-homophobic-language.htm

Mining company executive ejected from public meeting http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1211/S00092/mining-company-executive-ejected-from-public-meeting.htm

A Dotcomedy Of Errors. GCSB Illegally Spies On Nzers. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1211/S00027/a-dotcomedy-of-errors-gcsb-illegally-spies-on-nzers.htm

Doctors respond ‘NZ can’t wait for everyone else to act’ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1211/S00052/doctors-respond-nz-cant-wait-for-everyone-else-to-act.htm

Gordon Campbell on dissing teachers, and the politics of Homeland http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/10/29/gordon-campbell-on-dissing-teachers-and-the-politics-of-homeland/

Nicky Hager 2012: Investigative journalism in the age of media meltdown: from National Party Headquarters to Afghanistan http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1211/S00030/nicky-hager-delivers-2012-bruce-jesson-lecture.htm

Archive: Bruce Jesson Foundation lectures http://www.brucejesson.com/?page_id=349

NZ Group to Aquino: It’s not only the ‘extreme left’ who are critical of unabated killings under your watch! http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1210/S00402/nz-group-to-aquino-its-not-only-the-extreme-left.htm

Aquino’s ‘successful’ NZ gab a misinformation to int’l community https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/karapatan-updates/YoK2xatG6R0

Selwyn Manning Interviews New Zealand’s Most Spied On Man http://livenews.co.nz/2012/10/beatson-interview-selwyn-manning-interviews-new-zealands-most-spied-on-man/

Longstone should tender her resignation http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1210/S00444/longstone-should-tender-her-resignation.htm

Independence Day, 28 October, and two new publications http://www.facebook.com/notes/peace-movement-aotearoa/independence-day-28-october-and-two-new-publications/437449686302406

NZ’s GE free status under threat http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1210/S00448/nzs-ge-free-status-under-threat.htm

MPs cool on boat people jail plan http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7873306/MPs-cool-on-boat-people-jail-plan

Charter schools are ‘pigs’, says professor http://www.3news.co.nz/Charter-schools-are-pigs-says-professor/tabid/370/articleID/263877/Default.aspx

Cries of racism, sexism in fiery debate http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10844493

Parata robbing from the poor to give to the rich http://www.ppta.org.nz/index.php/resources/media/2470-parata-wanganui-3mil

Loss of Value For Fonterra From Imported GE feed http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1211/S00054/loss-of-value-for-fonterra-from-imported-ge-feed.htm

Mana Movement: There Can Be Only One http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1211/S00077/there-can-be-only-one.htm

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Justice France http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/columnists/chris-trotter/7879650/We-owe-a-huge-debt-of-gratitude-to-Justice-France

Police avoid hard questions http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/7873350/Police-avoid-hard-questions

Urewera Four lose appeals http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10843674

Gordon Campbell on dissing teachers, and the politics of Homeland http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/10/29/gordon-campbell-on-dissing-teachers-and-the-politics-of-homeland/

PIKE RIVER REPORT

Pike River Report Slams the Company and Government over Shameful Tragedy http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1211/S00070/pike-river-report-slams-the-company-and-government.htm

Labour shares Pike River guilt http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/chris-trotter/7924949/Labour-shares-Pike-River-guilt

Attitude to workers key to Pike Report http://unitenews.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/attitude-to-workers-key-to-pike-report/

EPMU welcomes Pike River report http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1211/S00071/epmu-welcomes-pike-river-report.htm

Commission Finds Coal Company Put Production Before Safety http://newsroom.co.nz/stories/commission-finds-coal-company-put-production-before-safety

Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy http://pikeriver.royalcommission.govt.nz/

Minister Steps Down After Pike River Report http://newsroom.co.nz/stories/minister-steps-down-after-pike-river-report

Cartoon: Bombshell report http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10845370

Pike River: Govt told not to pick and choose http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbnat/1237188683-pike-river–govt-told-not-to-pick-and-choose

The Tragedy at Pike River: an Indictment of Capitalism http://iso.org.nz/2012/11/06/the-tragedy-at-pike-river-an-indictment-of-capitalism/

Pike River a show of profits before safety http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/rosemary-mcleod/7919209/Pike-River-a-show-of-profits-before-safety

What did you do wrong? Well, since you asked http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/blogs/first-reading/7929063/What-did-you-do-wrong-Well-since-you-asked

POVERTY & WELFARE DEBATE

Bright lights of the capital just a dream http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7870784/Bright-lights-of-the-capital-just-a-dream

The poverty trap by Brian Eason – We need a child-focused approach to dealing with poverty. http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/economy/the-poverty-trap/

WORKRIGHTS NZ

No consequences for illegal wage businesses http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/no-consequences-illegal-wage-businesses-5181257/video

Visas possible for scam informers http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10846050

Gordon Campbell on cutting labour costs, and Superstorm Sandy’s divine message http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/10/31/gordon-campbell-on-cutting-labour-costs-and-superstorm-sandys-divine-message/

Cleaning the corridors of power http://workersparty.org.nz/2012/10/13/cleaning-the-corridors-of-power/

Reconsider use of veto on paid parental leave Bill http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1210/S00382/reconsider-use-of-veto-on-paid-parental-leave-bill.htm

Migrant Workers Manipulated http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1210/S00415/migrant-workers-manipulated.htm

Employment changes: ‘Death by a thousand cuts’ http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/employment-changes-death-thousand-cuts-5162417

EPMU: Low Pike River fine sends wrong signal http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1210/S00425/low-pike-river-fine-sends-wrong-signal.htm

Companies must pay what they owe to workers http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1210/S00465/companies-must-pay-what-they-owe-to-workers.htm

Minister’s non-existent ‘crackdown’ on migrant worker abuse http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1211/S00018/ministers-non-existent-crackdown-on-migrant-worker-abuse.htm

Pike River: cashflow versus workers’ safety http://rdln.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/pike-river-cashflow-versus-workers-safety/

“It is the STRUGGLE of the Workers!” – Indian Workers Association meeting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM9sGC8Womg&feature=plcp

Editorial: Employment law change not fair http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/editorials/7894741/Editorial-Employment-law-change-not-fair

Employment Law Changes will Reduce Pay and Conditions http://union.org.nz/news/2012/employment-law-changes-will-reduce-pay-and-conditions

Vulnerable Workers By Don Franks http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1210/S00489/vulnerable-workers.htm

NZ ECONOMY

Quake revival no aid to jobless data http://www.nzherald.co.nz/economy/news/article.cfm?c_id=34&objectid=10846102

RBNZ warns dairy debt now more dangerous than before 2008; says 64% of debt in farms that would be losing money with payout at NZ$5kg http://www.interest.co.nz/rural-news/61914/rbnz-warns-dairy-debt-now-more-dangerous-2008-says-64-debt-farms-would-be-losing-mo

Trade Agreement or Political Takeover http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/trade-agreement-or-political-takeover.html

MANA Applauds EU Financial Transaction Tax http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1210/S00413/mana-applauds-eu-financial-transaction-tax.htm

Smelter NZ’s biggest bludger http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/opinion/7894312/Smelter-NZs-biggest-bludger

British have invaded nine out of ten countries – so look out Luxembourg http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/9653497/British-have-invaded-nine-out-of-ten-countries-so-look-out-Luxembourg.html

Jane Kelsey: TPPA ‘non-transparency’ hits a new low http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1211/S00033/tppa-non-transparency-hits-a-new-low.htm

Rio Tinto, Tell the Truth – The World Price For Aluminium Is Already Included In Your New Power Contract With Meridian http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1210/S00481/rio-tinto-tell-the-truth.htm

NZ TPPWatch Bulletin #20 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1210/S00167/tpp-watch-bulletin-20.htm