What’s on in Aotearoa/NZ (21/10/15)

WHAT’S ON IN AOTEAROA

Wednesday, October 21, 6pm, St. John’s in the city, Community Hall, Willis st, Wellington

"Open Arms not Fire Arms". A public meeting on the Weapons Industry and the Refugee Crisis. https://www.facebook.com/events/772486332873985/ Peace Action Wellington warmly invites you to our public meeting at St. John’s Community Hall on Wednesday the 21st of October at 6pm. In a world where countries and companies seek to profit from war it should be no surprise that there is a tide of refugees fleeing war torn countries such as Syria. While the government makes minor increases in our refugee quota, it continues to support bombing campaigns and occupations in the Middle East which only make the problem worse. On November 17th and 18th Wellington city plays its own part in the cycle of endless war by hosting 2015’s annual Weapons Conference, in which companies get a chance to network and promote themselves as legitimate industries rather than the war profiteers that they are. What has happened about the conference in the past? What is happening about the upcoming conference? How big is the weapons industry in Aotearoa? What can we do about it? Come along and share kai and conversation on these important topics.

Thursday, October 22, 7pm, Unite Union, 6a Western Springs Rd, Morningside, Auckland
Will robots take over all jobs? Are Uber and other new app forms of work organisation a threat or an oppurtunity? Will an information revolution lead to what Paul Mason calls "Post Capitalism"? In a Marxist forum, Mike Treen discusses his new pamphlet, "Technology, work and welfare in the 21st Century". Hosted by Socialist Aotearoa https://www.facebook.com/events/1002535106436402/

Thursday, October 22, 6pm, Orakei Marae, 59b Kitemoana Street, Orakei, Auckland
Seminar for Whanau – TPPA. The TPPA, what is it and how does it affect us. Professor Jane Kelsey and Moana Maniapoto present their outlook on the debate. If you plan on attending please email maria for catering purposes.

Tuesday. October 27, : 9.00am -4.30pm, Auckland Museum, Auckland
Hauraki Gulf marine Park Seminar: Cost: $30 plus booking fee. Catered lunch and teas. Bookings required at aucklandmuseum.com Phone 306 7048. Be quick. This seminar has sold out for the last five years! We’ll take you on a journey through the Hauraki Gulf Tikapa Moana with leading scientists, thinkers and doers. Their work inspires us to appreciate what makes the Gulf a special place and to look after it into the future.

Thursday, October 29, 9am, Auckland Town Hall, Queen Street, Auckland
Join us on Thursday 29 October outside the Auckland Town Hall on Queen Street at 9am to encourage Auckland councillors to vote against deep sea oil drilling off Auckland’s coast. Last time, the council vote was split 50/50 and the casting vote sided with the oil drillers. We need you there with us to show the council that Aucklanders don’t want deep sea oil drilling. Deep sea drilling risks a disastrous oil spills that could inundate West Coast beaches and harbours. If oil is found and burned, it will drive catastrophic climate change. If the vote is tight again, Mayor Len Brown’s vote could be crucial. He wasn’t there last time but he will be this time. You can take immediate action now by urging Mayor Len Brown to say NO to deep sea oil >>> http://grnpc.org/Ig240
He’s made a strong statement in the Environment Report – we just need to make sure he stands by his words…
“The sea – our harbours, beaches and islands. The land – our maunga, forests, streams and parks. These are the places Aucklanders hold in their hearts, the reason they love this city. As Auckland Council, it is our responsibility to protect these places and take especially good care of them for future generations.” – Mayor Len Brown (1)
(1) http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/planspoliciesprojects/reports/Documents/stateofenvironmentreport2015pt1.pdf

Sunday, November 1, 9am to 4.30pm, Wellington Museum, Queens Wharf, Wellington
People’s History 2015 Symposium – Education in Aotearoa New Zealand – for freedom or conformity? Sunday 1 November 2015,
Inspired by the centennial of the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA), we invite you to a one-day People’s History symposium about education in Aotearoa, past and present. Entry by koha (includes light refreshments and lunch). Bookings required. Register through ATLOutreach with Symposium in the subject line. ‘There is no such thing as a neutral education process. Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate the integration of generations into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity to it, or it becomes the ‘practice of freedom’, the means by which men and women deal critically with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world.’ —Richard Shaull, drawing on Paulo Freire.
Stimulated by this quotation speakers will explore some of the many ways that New Zealanders have been educated. Speakers include: Pat Bolster marking the centenary of the WEA; Conal McCarthy and Jim Traue on museums and early Mechanics’ institutes; Cybele Locke, Rachelle Hautapu, Bronwyn Wood and Meegan Hall on formal education from early childhood to tertiary; The Song Snatchers on the Music to Schools broadcasts; Claire-Louise McCurdy, Graeme Whimp and Ross Teppett on workers’ education; and, discussing the media, Jan Rivers, Jeremy Rose and ‘White Man Behind A Desk’. There will also be a ‘History on Speed’ interactive session, and at the end of the symposium Paul Diamond will wrap up the day’s discussions.
A full programme can be found on the Labour History Project website

Monday, November 2, 7.30pm, Aotea Chapel, Lifewise Offices, 7th Floor, University of Otago Building, 385 Queen St (beside Myers Park), Auckland
Hear Dr Omnia Marzouk talk on "Towards a more compassionate world: Building trust across the world’s divides". Dr Omnia Marzouk is President of Initiatives of Change International and an emergency paediatric consultant at the UK’s largest children’s hospital. She resides in the UK, is originally from Egypt and was educated in Australia. She brings a unique international perspective on trust building across diverse communities, cultures and faiths and has spent many years working to build
understanding between the West and the Arab world. New Zealand is increasingly diverse and multicultural. Omnia’s perspective and experience may help illuminate the way to a more compassionate society. Initiatives of Change is active in 60 countries, working to inspire, equip and connect people to address world needs, starting with themselves. For more information phone Glen 021 023 90681 or Jenny 027 253 8203

Friday, November 6 & Saturday, November 7

War Remembrance and Reconciliation
Below are the details of two ‘War Remembrance and Reconciliation’ events in November – the 2015 Dorothy Brown Memorial Lecture, ‘The Supreme Sacrifice? New Zealand Chaplains and Churches and the Construction of Death in the First World War’, and the War Remembrance and Reconciliation Study Day. Please forward on through your networks, thank you.
Links: Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/apf/ Dorothy Brown Memorial Lecture – On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/888429057915940 – A4 poster at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/apf/apf6nov15.pdf – Register at http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/whats-on/remembrance-and-commemoration/war-remembrance-and-reconciliation/dorothy-brown-memorial-lecture Study Day – On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/383327835210077 – A4 poster at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/apf/apf7nov15.pdf – Book athttp://www.aucklandmuseum.com/whats-on/remembrance-and-commemoration/war-remembrance-and-reconciliation/study-day
1) War Remembrance and Reconciliation Part 1: Dorothy Brown* Memorial Lecture 2015
Friday, 6 November 2015, at 7.30 pm in the Auckland War Memorial Museum Auditorium, Auckland Domain
The Supreme Sacrifice? New Zealand Chaplains and Churches and the Construction of Death in the First World War
Reverend Dr Allan Davidson
During the First World War New Zealand confronted death on an unprecedented scale. For chaplains at Gallipoli and on the Western Front, dealing with death, burials, and writing letters to grieving family in New Zealand was a regular part of their duties. Churches and their ministers in New Zealand, with their well developed theology and rituals around death, during the war were faced with dealing with personal and public grief without either the soldiers’ bodies or traditional funeral rites. This lecture will examine how war rhetoric, the pastoral concerns of chaplains in Europe and ministers in New Zealand, along with societal pressure, helped shape the language, theology and practices around death during war and the legacy they left.
Reverend Dr Allan Davidson ONZM is a Presbyterian Minister, historian, lecturer in Church History, St John’s Theological College, for 27 years, and author of many books including ‘Christianity in Aotearoa: A History of Church and Society in New Zealand’ and 72 academic papers.
The Dorothy Brown* Memorial Lecture is arranged by the Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflict Studies Centre Trust, and supported by the Auckland War Memorial Museum. No entry charge but for catering purposes, please book before 2nd November at http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/whats-on/remembrance-and-commemoration/war-remembrance-and-reconciliation The A4 poster for the lecture is at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/apf/apf6nov15.pdf and the Facebook event is at https://www.facebook.com/events/888429057915940
2) War Remembrance and Reconciliation Part 2: Study Day
Saturday, 7 November 2015, from 9am to 5pm in the Auckland War Memorial Museum Auditorium, Auckland Domain
The War Remembrance and Reconciliation Study Day focuses on three wars: Musket Wars, New Zealand Wars and the First World War, all of which are remembered on the Museum site. It introduces to the act of war remembrance the search for reconciliation. Is acknowledgment of failures in the past a part of this reconciliation? Is it compatible with respect for those who died? Presenters:

* Remembering the dead and reconciling the past in the present for preparation towards the future, from a Maori cultural paradigm, Margaret Kawharu, MNZM, and Bernard Makoare, Ngati Whatua
* Peacemaking in the Musket Wars – the impact of the Christian Gospel, Keith Newman, author of ‘Bible & Treaty’, ‘Beyond Betrayal’ and ‘Ratana the Prophet’
* Gate Pa and Gallipoli. How do we Remember and Reconcile? Reverend John Hebenton, Vicar of St George’s Gate Pa, and Dr Cliff Simons, church warden and military historian
* The other side of the Gallipoli story, Negat Kavvas, formerly Turkish Consul-General in New Zealand
* Did New Zealand war memorials encourage war? Jock Phillips, ONZM, historian, author and encyclopedist
* War, Remembrance and the Pacifist Alternative, Professor Richard Jackson, Deputy Director of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at Otago University
* How can reconciliation with the history of Parihaka contribute to a national conversation of peace and remembrance? Tonga Karena, Ph.D student from the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Otago University.
Arranged by NZ Christian Network, Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflict Studies Centre Trust, Pax Christi, Anglican Pacifist Fellowship and Auckland Labour History Group, and supported by the Auckland War Memorial Museum. For catering purposes please book online before 2nd November – $30 (concession $20) + $3 booking fee – at http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/whats-on/remembrance-and-commemoration/war-remembrance-and-reconciliation/study-day or at the museum (no booking fee), lunch and teas provided. The A4 poster for the study day is athttp://www.converge.org.nz/pma/apf/apf7nov15.pdf and the Facebook event is at https://www.facebook.com/events/383327835210077
* Dorothy Brown was a woman with a vision for the establishment in New Zealand of a Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. In association with fellow Anglican pacifists she formed the Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflict Centre Trust in 2005. In partnership with the Rekohu Moriori Trust and with the assistance of many groups and individuals of goodwill, the Trust was able to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Otago University to endow a chair of Peace and Conflict Studies and to initiate a National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. The Trust has continued to support the Centre which now has six full time staff. Dorothy died in 2011.

Tuesday, November 10, 1pm, Parliament Lawn, Wellington

Picnic for Equal Pay. https://www.facebook.com/events/1626880580898348/

Wednesday, November 11, 5.30pm in Aotea Square, Auckland

Armistice Day Peace Vigil. Honour the war dead by ending war.

– to remember all the casualties of war

– to remember all who resisted war

– to call for an end to war

– to promote peace

In conjunction with peace and faith groups here and overseas who are holding vigils throughout the WW1 centenary, and to highlight our mutual belief that conflict must be resolved peacefully rather than by war. Please bring a reflection to share if you wish, banners and placards will be available at the vigil. Organised by WILPF Tamaki Makaurau, contact: tel 09 360 8001, email joanmac

WW1 Centenary Peace Project, ww1.org.nz

Saturday, November 14, 1pm, Myers Park, Queen St, Auckland

It’s time for NZ to unite and take the biggest stand that we have seen in our history! It’s time to STAND UP against the TPPA!
Stand Up for our Sovereignty!
Stand Up for Democracy!
Stand Up for Human Rights!
Stand Up for the Environment!
Stand Up against Corporate Control!

Speakers and Entertainment to be confirmed, more details to come. In tradition with our past events, this will be a PEACEFUL FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1634058726865044/

Keri Keri Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/393819470815328/

Auckland Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/1634058726865044/

Waikato Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/1510063152641238/

Tauranga Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/906742972739446/

Rotorua Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/1003913376336260/

Gisborne Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/1161741083841163/

Palmerston North Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/1513191372331276/

Wellington Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/970263216364356/

Christchurch Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/766818560107648/

Saturday, November 21, 12 noon, Glen Innes Railway Station

Hikoi for homes: On Saturday 21st November CPAG will join with grassroots housing and other organisations to hold a Hikoi from Glen Innes to to Britomart as a protest against the terrible housing situation the most vulnerable New Zealanders are facing right now. More details on the Hikoi will be coming soon. Campaign Asks:

– An Immediate stop and to the sell-off of state and council housing

– A $1 billion annual budget for the provision of more state, public and not for profit housing

– Setting minimum standards for all rented housing

– Greater tenure protection for tenant’s

– Rent freeze for five years

– A statutory right to be housed

– State subsidies for modest income homeownership programmes

Please share the Auckland event page https://www.facebook.com/events/1502199746744778/

There should be events in other centres too. Here’s Wellington- https://www.facebook.com/events/773917729420555/

Sunday, November 22, 3pm, Kaueranga Valley Hall,

Coromandel Watchdog AGM is coming up: The AGM will include a brief overview of the years work, election of officers followed by a potluck afternoon tea. All our members and supporters are welcome.

Monday, November 30, to Tuesday, December 1
We’re going through an age of disruption. Everything we considered “normal” for the last 100 years is going through some kind of disruption. From media and journalism, to tertiary education, to the future of jobs as we know it. As progressives, we have a choice, to continue to defend a status quo that isn’t working or challenge ourselves and inspire people with bold new ideas for the future.
Disruptive Discussions are going to be a major theme at Step it Up 2015. Here’s a taster of what and who to expect when you grab your ticket.
On education: Young people today are taking on more and more debt for something that has diminishing value. And they know it. But what are the alternatives to our current Tertiary education system? Luckily we have the brilliant Michelle Dickinson (aka Nanogirl), Rory McCourt (from NZUSA) and Joshua Vial from Enspiral Academy with some challenging ideas.

On the news media: The structural problems with mainstream media and journalism go a lot deeper than just the axing of Campbell Live and Dirty Politics. The industry is going to massive disruption and nobody’s quite sure what the future will look like. But everyone has a piece of the puzzle, so we’re having a special side event called Journathon, that will bring together senior journalists and influences in the industry with our most creative tech entrepreneurs. And the good news is that you get the option of free entry with your Step it Up 2015 ticket.

On the economy: The neoliberal experiment has failed, spectacularly so in the Global Financial Crisis of 2007, and yet it’s core ideas still go unchallenged by the media and political elites. To challenge this bias we need more than grassroots activism, we need our own ideas for a progressive economy. Luckily we have a growing list of forward thinkers like Shamubeel Eaqub, and journalists Max Rashbrooke and Catriona MacLennan to spark that conversation. Watch this space for even more interesting speakers.
Register for Step it Up 2015 now, and join the discussion on the future of progressive ideas for society. (We have a September Special on ticket prices, so get in quick).

To complement these bold ideas, we’ve also got some of the Aotearoa’s best organisers and campaigners who know a thing or two about winning campaigns. Like Amiria Puia-Taylor and Torranice Campel from Otahuhu-Mangere Youth Group, and Qiane Matata-Sipu, Roger Fowler and Jasmine Kovach from the #SaveOurUniqueLandscape (SOUL) campaign. Or if digital is more your thing, we’ve got Shawn Moodie from NZ Human Rights Commission, and Leroy Beckett and Rosalee Jenkin fromGeneration Zero. Plus many many more. Thanks for all that you do, and hope to see you at Step it Up 2015!

January 22-24, 2016
Come To Waihopai Spy Base Protest,

http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/waihopai/2016/Waihop69.pdf

ANNOUNCEMENTS

October 31 – Nominations close for: The Roger Award For The Worst Transnational Corporation Operating In Aotearoa/New Zealand in 2015
Here is the link to the 2015 Roger Award online nomination form
http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/roger-award-2015-form.html You can also download the hard copy nomination form from there.