What’s on in Aotearoa/NZ (14/05/15):

WHAT’S ON IN AOTEAROA

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

Wednesday, May 20, 6.30pm, WEST (formerly WEA), 9 Henderson Valley Road, Henderson
West Auckland Housing Action Meeting! State and Private Tenants Unite to Fight. Secure rental contracts! A State House for life. Speakers from West Auckland SHAN and the Tamaki Housing Group.
Called by the West Auckland Rōpu, of the State Housing Action Network (SHAN) Tel: 0212166937
09-8128521 email: unitewaitemata

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

Friday, May 22, 11.30am, SkyCity Convention Centre, 88 Federal Street, Auckland
Picket of John Key’s Post-Budget speech 22 May, 11.30am, Sky City – Our austerity is their prosperity. AAAP are holding a protest at John Key’s post-budget lunch speech to business leaders at Sky City on May 22nd. The protest will start at 11.30 am on Friday May 22, at Sky City Convention Centre, 88 Federal Street, Auckland. Key and co. are arriving for 12pm so let’s make sure we’re there to give them our policy recommendations first hand. The business elite aren’t the only people in our society who should have their reactions to the 2015 Budget heard. Facebook event details here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1434269566875330/
Why the Budget? Year after year, the Nats have shown their commitment to promoting the interests of the rich while beneficiaries, low paid workers and students pay the price. We know this Government’s budget will again have no solution to the poverty affecting thousands of New Zealander’s. We’d love to see decent job creation, support for education and students, higher benefit payment rates, a living wage and policies that promote social security as a right. That won’t happen. Come protest. See you there. Sarah and Nadia (for AAAP)

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,

May 27 – 6:30 to 8:30, Hum Salon in Grafton

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

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

Wednesday, June 10, 7.30pm, Community of St Luke Church, 130 Remuera Road
The Economics of Child Poverty. 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.

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

Sunday, June 28, 12 noon, Rainbow Youth drop-in center, 281 Karangahape Rd, Auckland

RainbowYOUTH is holding their AGM on the 28th June 2015 and would love to see their members and community supporters there to celebrate with them! They are also calling for applicants to make up their new Executive Board. It’s a great opportunity to join RY and help make some change! For more information about the AGM, visit: http://www.ry.org.nz/agm-2015/ To apply to be on the RY Executive Board, visit: http://www.ry.org.nz/executive-board-applications/

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MAKE A SUBMISSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
On 7 May the government launched a consultation on New Zealand’s climate change targets. On Monday, there’ll be a Government’s Climate Target Public Meeting – Auckland Monday, May 18, 2015 at 07:00 PM at the Copthorne Auckland City in Auckland.
Also, anyone is welcome to use the Green Party’s handy-dandy, easy submission form: http://action.greens.org.nz/climate-target . Submissions close at 5 pm on 3 June.

DVDs Available For Sale Of CAFCA’s 40th Anniversary Speakers

Sam Miller filmed all of CAFCA’s 40th anniversary celebration event, held in Christchurch on May 2. He advises that DVDs are available of the five speakers – myself, Bill Rosenberg, Warren Thomson, Jane Kelsey and Robert Reid. Details of cost and from where to order them are below. Please communicate directly with Sam Miller about this, not with CAFCA.
Best wishes, Murray, CAFCA 40th Anniversary speakers’ DVDs available $20 for twin disc 3h 45m set inc postage/packaging and Jewel Case. Individual 2x speakers single DVD’s available for $10 on application. Orders: samuel or 021 147 4019 – payment by Internet Transfer or Cheque.

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