What’s on in Aotearoa/NZ (06/05/15)

WHAT’S ON IN AOTEAROA

May 6 and 10, 7.30pm, The Community of St Lukes Church, 130 Remuera Road, Auckland
The Economics of Child Poverty –

Part One: Post election; building on progress. Cost: $20 or $15 with student ID or Super Gold Card
This seminar follows on from our 2014 pre-election event ‘Inequality Matters’ which many of you attended. Join us to hear from our expert presenters about the research, developments and policies designed to address this issue and discuss what progress has been made since the 2014 elections.
Please see the attachment for details.
Part Two: The Power of One. Cost: $20 or $15 with student ID or Super Gold Card. Actively addressing child poverty as an individual or group. The second seminar considers ways we as citizens can act to help address child poverty in New Zealand. In doing so it debates the question of ‘giving’ in a social democracy. Please contact Carol: 09 520 0199 for bookings and more details.

Wednesday, May 6, 4.30pm, WG404, Case Study Room in the Sir Paul Reeves Building communications precinct. AUT University

AMIRA HASS: REPORTING FROM THE PALESTINIAN PERSPECTIVE: Amira Hass is an award-winning Israeli journalist and author, mostly known for her columns in the daily newspaper Ha’aretz. She is particularly well-known for her independent reporting on Palestinian affairs in the West Bank and Gaza, where she has also lived for a number of years. Hass was the recipient of the World Press Freedom Hero award from the International Press Institute in 2000. In 2001, she received the Golden Dove of Peace Prize awarded by the Rome-based organisation Archivo Disarmo. In December 2009, Hass was awarded the Reporters Without Borders Prize for Press Freedom for her "independent and outspoken reporting from the Gaza Strip" for the Israeli daily Ha’aretz during Operation Cast Lead.Organised by the Palestine Solidarity Network (PSN) and hosted by the Pacific Media Centre (PMC).

Also: Thursday, May 7, 7pm,Auckland University, Old Govt House Lecture Theatre G36. Capacity 180.

Thursday, May 7, 6.30pm – 8.00pm Lecture Theatre 5, Owen G Glenn Building, Auckland University
The Future of Journalism and our Democracy. Journalism is a critical part of a healthy democracy. But today it is under pressure from all sides – internet is changing how we consume media, entertainment is preferred to journalism, media owners scout round for new business models and the notions of a fourth estate or a public service falls through the cracks. In New Zealand, political forces are taking advantage of this weakness to control and manipulate the stories we hear. It is getting harder and harder to do good public interest journalism and keep power in check. The threat to Campbell Live is a symptom of a wider crisis within the fourth estate. Can we value journalism and informed debate in the age of the internet or must we hold to the media we have been used to while it clearly declines? Alison McCulloch​, Myles Thomas and Keith Ng will be panelists, leading a discussion on the direction of NZ journalism. You can register for this Auckland event here.

Thursday, May 7, 6.30pm – 8.00pm Lecture Theatre 5, Owen G Glenn Building, Auckland University
The Future of Journalism and our Democracy: Journalism is a critical part of a healthy democracy. But today it is under pressure from all sides – internet is changing how we consume media, entertainment is preferred to journalism, media owners scout round for new business models and the notions of a fourth estate or a public service falls through the cracks. In New Zealand, political forces are taking advantage of this weakness to control and manipulate the stories we hear. It is getting harder and harder to do good public interest journalism and keep power in check. The threat to Campbell Live is a symptom of a wider crisis within the fourth estate. Can we value journalism and informed debate in the age of the internet or must we hold to the media we have been used to while it clearly declines? Alison McCulloch, Myles Thomas and Keith Ng will be panelists, leading a discussion on the direction of NZ journalism.
You can register for this Auckland event here.

Interesting Links – Check out the ‘Interesting Links’ section on our websiteand like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get regular updates.

Saturday, May 9, 6.30pm, St. Heliers Community Centre, 100 St. Heliers Bay Road
Amnesty International Quiz Night: Cost: $150 for table of 8, or $25 per person. Discounted prices for pre-purchased tickets. Come for a fun, mentally challenging evening to support a worthy cause. Prizes, also raffles, food and beverage for purchase. Contact: Richard or Jeanette at rebgjfm

Tuesday, May 12, 6pm, St John’s Church hall, cnr Dixon & Willis, Wellington
DIGITAL POWER & SOCIAL CONTROL – Public meeting. https://www.facebook.com/events/850275175062853/ The State and corporations have ever increasing data about us, while we know less and less about what they are doing. Come and join the discussion about collection of personal data, how we can resist this shifting form of social control and understand what’s going on.
Speakers: Thomas Beagle, Tech Liberty; Sandra Grey, Senior Lecturer, VUW; OASIS on What we know about Five Eyes; and the launch of the What If? Campaign
What If? is a new grassroots education and action campaign working to stop data collection and sharing by the NZ State and private corporations for the purposes of social control and exploitation, and working for community control of information resources for the benefit of all.

what_if_campaign

May 13 & 27 – 6:30 to 8:30, Hum Salon in Grafton
Moa Project Winter Workshops.
May 13: Words that Work! with Kirk Serpes: How polling focus groups and language has helped create messaging that changed hearts and minds and wins elections. Kirk Serpes will run the first workshop concentrating on framing media messages and how to tell a story which captures both the public and the media.$5 koha for the sessions is requested to cover room rental and light snacks.
RSVP HERE
27 May: Media Skills with Simon Oosterman: Media have the ability to reach millions of kiwis every single day of the week, so there’s nothing more important than making sure that we get the right messages, stories and narratives across when we deal with them. Getting the wrong narrative across can cost elections and/or months of good work, and millions of dollars. We’ll be bringing together some of the best media and messaging professionals in New Zealand to look at how we can improve our game.
RSVP HERE

Saturday, May 16, 2pm at Midland Park, Lambton Quay, Wellington
NZ troops out of Iraq! March against the war: New Zealand troops have again been deployed to Iraq as part of the ongoing US war there. For decades now, the US has been destroying Iraq – murdering its people, stealing its resources and creating chaos. NZ soldiers cannot help the people of Iraq; we can help by refusing to be a part of the ongoing US imperial wars in the Middle East. Join Peace Action Wellington and let’s demand an end to New Zealand’s involvement in Iraq.
Troops out now! No racist terror laws! End the US war of terrorism!

Tuesday, May 19, 9am- 12.30pm, Royal Society Lecture Theatre, 11 Turnbull St, Thorndon, Wellington
Achieving Pay Equity – What needs to happen? Cost: $120. The recent decisions in the Terranova case have focused attention once again on the gender pay gap. How is it that women now make up more than 50% of graduates, have supposedly broken the glass ceiling in many industries and yet their pay still lags behind men at all levels of the workforce? This seminar aims to explore the gender pay gap and look at what needs to happen in workplaces and in legislation to achieve pay equity. It will be of interest to HR and ER professionals, union officials, policy advisors and analysts, and the legal profession.
Sue Ryall, Centre Manager, Centre for Labour, Employment and Work (CLEW), School of Management
Victoria University of Wellington Phone 64 4 463 5143 http://www.victoria.ac.nz/som/clew

Thursday, May 21.Old Government House, University of Auckland

Friday, May 22, 7.15am-8.45am,

NATIONWIDE POST BUDGET BREAKFAST SERIES Whangarei * Auckland * Wellington * Christchurch * Dunedin Friday 22 May Each year Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) provides child-focused analysis and commentary of the budget. The aim is to provide an accessible and affordable avenue for the community to come together and hear about how the budget affects children and young people, especially our most vulnerable who live in poverty. Last year most events sold out so please register now to avoid disappointment! AUCKLAND -Western Springs Garden Community Hall- 7.15am start Guest Speakers Associate Professor Susan St John: CPAG’s Economics spokesperson. Alan Johnson: CPAG’s Housing expert Comments from: Dr Hirini Kaa: Executive Director of the child advocacy group Te Kahui Mana Ririki. Tickets: $20 Waged, $10 Unwaged FIND OUT MORE & REGISTER WELLINGTON – St John’s in the City- 7.15am Start CPAG and the Wellington PHA are pleased to again work together running this event. Guest Speakers Dr Brian Easton: Respected New Zealand Economist, widely known for his economic commentary including columns in the Listener. Deborah Morris-Travers: Former MP and currently UNICEF’s NZ National Advocacy Manager. Lead agent for the tick for kids campaign. Plus guest commentators Tickets: $20 Waged,$10 Unwaged FIND OUT MORE & REGISTER CHRISTCHURCH – Villa Maria College – 7.15am start Guest Speakers Professor Paul Dalziel: Deputy Director, Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit, Lincoln University Associate Professor Kathleen Liberty: Convenor, Early Intervention, School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury. Maria Browne: Plunket Nurse. Lyndon Rogers:Social Justice Advocate for Anglican Advocacy. With student speakers Fiona McKay and Claudia McNulty Tickets:$15 waged, $5 unwaged FIND OUT MORE & REGISTER DUNEDIN – Presbyterian Support Otago – 11am start Guest Speakers Professor Mark Henaghan: Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Otago. With a panel of Community commentators including: Laura Black: Dunedin Methodist Mission Nicola Taylor: Anglican Family Care Gillian Bremner: Presbyterian Support Otago Lynley Hood: Community member Corstorphine Pip Laufiso: Kokiri Training Centre Tickets: $15 Waged, koha on the door for Unwaged FIND OUT MORE AND REGISTER WHANGAREI – Northland Hockey Assoc Pavillion – 12pm start *bring your own lunch Guest SpeakerAssociate Professor Mike O’Brien: CPAG Social Security Spokesperson, School of Counselling, Human Services & Social Work, University of Auckland. Followed by workshop: Has the 2015 budget responded to the Northern Advocate ‘Dear John’ Letters? *Please bring your own lunch Entry: Koha on door FIND OUT MORE BUDGET 2015 RESOURCES In addition to these events, CPAG will also release a pre-budget briefing package and a comprehensive review of the budget on May 22. We look forward to seeing you at one of our events! As always, thank you for supporting Child Poverty Action Group. Nga mihi,

April 30 to June 4
Workshops on Linking Knowledge, Practice and Action
Social Service Providers Aotearoa (SSPA) is holding workshops in five key centres on child poverty and the social services. Associate Professor Mike O’Brien will facilitate at each workshop along with a local practitioner. Mike is an academic and has written widely on social policy, child poverty and welfare and social work and social service issues. He also has a longstanding association with the Child Poverty Action Group, and is currently a convener of the NZ Council of Christian Social Services Impacts of Poverty and Exclusion Policy Group.

30 April – Hamilton
5 May – Gisborne
7 May – Napier
23 May – Whangarei
4 June – Dunedin
Note: the venue and local co-facilitator to be announced.

Saturday, June 6, 2-3pm, (and every first Saturday of each month), Downtown Shopping Centre, Cnr Queen and Customs Streets
Rally for Palestine: Add your presence and make a difference at the only regular public display of support for Palestine in Auckland! Monthly Rally at Downtown Shopping Centre, Cnr Queen and Customs Streets
Join the Palestine Human Rights (PHRC) Campaign Auckland. www.palestine.org.nz

Tuesday, June 16, 4.30pm – 6pm, St. John’s Conference Centre, Wellington
The Wellington W E A will celebrate being 100 years old with a function at St. John’s Conference Centre
Speakers will include: – Sam Huggard NZCTU Secretary, – Andrew Little M.P. Leader NZLP, and others
M.C will be Sandra Grey [President Tertiary Education Union]. Join us to celebrate with music & some refreshments

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Unite Union appeal for financial support after burglary. Help End Zero Hours in the fast food industry.

Unite Union’s offices in Auckland were burgled after the international day of action by fast food workers on April 15. We don’t know if it was politically motivated or just a low life scum, but their actions threatens the campaign to end zero hours. Unite is asking for donations to replace their equipment and help the campaign. Go to http://www.unite.org.nz/donate

Marx Jones, spring boks veteran arrested by armed defenders squad.

Hello All, Please click on the link below to find out more about Marx’s arrest. It is an outrage!! There is an online petition to sign and more background. Please distribute this to your email lists and your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Thanks, Meredydd Barrar.
https://www.change.org/p/police-complaints-authority-new-zealand-drop-charges-against-veteran-protester-and-facilitate-restorative-community-solution-to-sound-control-issue