Tag Archives: Auckland

Banking, Housing, Housing NZ, John Key, Money, News, NZ Government

The Housing Crisis: A Midwife Delivering Babies by the Light of Her Cell Phone

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With Banker Key in denial about the housing crisis (41,000 homeless isn’t a crisis?), a multitude of ‘pass the buck’ reasons for why we’re a bit short of roofs over heads (Labour’s fault, you know, that other rider of the same corporate horse) … and a midwife delivering babies in squalor by the light of her cell phone. It’s sounding more and more like Dickensian England.

Welcome to Paradise in the South Seas, GE free, nuclear free and clean and green to boot.

EnvirowatchRangitikei

Mr Key (who grew up in a state house like the ones he is now selling off en mass) owns tens of millions of dollars’ worth of property, including his family home in Parnell, two holiday homes, an office and an apartment in London.

John-Key-Swimming-Pool-Metro-2006

John Key blames Helen Clark for housing crisis

By   newshub

A midwife is expected to tell how she’s had to deliver babies at night by the light of her cellphone at the cross-party inquiry into homelessness.

The inquiry, set up by Labour, the Greens and the Maori Pary, is in Tauranga on Monday. The Government blocked efforts to open an official investigation into the crisis, which is at record levels according to both research and social agencies like the Salvation Army.

“In her submission she talks about delivering babies by the light of her cellphone in squalid houses that don’t have any electricity,” Labour housing spokesperson Phil Twyford told Paul Henry.

Labour wants a state of emergency declared over the housing crisis, particularly in Auckland where prices are at record highs and still rising.

Prime Minister John Key says that won’t happen, and the housing crisis – if it is one – is not his fault.

“Under the nine years that Helen was Prime Minister, my friend, nationally house prices went up 102 percent. Under us in eight years, they’ve gone up 43. In Auckland they went up 87 percent I think – under us it’s about the same,” he said.

“If it was a state of emergency now, a crisis now, why wasn’t it a state of emergency and a crisis then?”

READ MORE

RELATED:

Why Our State Housing Stock is Being Sold Off While Thousands of Kiwis are Homeless

See our Agenda 21/30 pages for more info & links on where Key is taking us, &/or search categories for further housing articles (at left of any page). 

Consider liking our FB page &/or following our blog (right of any page) to help spread the word on all the untruths we have been told! Use the share buttons! 

Thank you!

EnvirowatchRangitikei

Corporations, Government, Money, News, Poverty

WINZ takes ‘let them eat cake’ to a whole new level – while white collar corporate criminals go free

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NZ Govt taking ‘let them eat cake’ to a whole new level

This really takes the cake so to speak, bringing ‘let them eat cake’ to a whole new level! The Daily Blog reports on the reception a legally blind woman had from her case worker recently in Auckland. Firstly she says to her “you don’t look blind” then she pulls out a piece of paper, hands it to her, folds her arms and demands she read it and prove her wrong! These are the depths to which our government/corporate offices have sunk nowadays. Bonuses are earned (I’ve heard from a former WINZ worker) by those who manage to save the company funds.

There are humane workers at WINZ offices who respect people. But there are also many, unfortunately, like this poor specimen, who humiliate and denigrate their customers (forgetting that without their customers they would have no job themselves). These stories have been rolling out of late with the current homelessness crisis and people sleeping rough in the cities, or in their cars even. We’ve also heard stories of people with cancer and leukemia being told to look for work, the latter in particular, a man with two children to support, and at the time sick in his hospital bed.

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White collar crime is responsible for far more tax dollars lost than benefit fraud

This attitude reflects the great disrespect our corporately biased system has for the lower income bracket particularly those without jobs and in this case, the disabled. White collar workers on the other hand, who defraud the system are treated very favourably, particularly by the justice system.
Dr Lisa Marriott, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Accounting and Commercial Law at Victoria University, has stated that:

“Benefit fraud cost New Zealand $22 million in 2010, or around $5 for each New Zealander. While it is difficult to get accurate figures for tax evasion, the Tax Justice Network estimates New Zealand missed out on more than $7.4 billion of tax revenue in 2011, or around $1,500 per New Zealander…

So the figures for tax evasion are phenomenal while they are relatively small for benefit fraud…”

On top of all this the corporate media makes much of the vilified beneficiary who cheats the tax payer of the said $5, whilst it seldom if ever mentions the white collar criminal who cheats the same for $1500. Indeed it quite blatantly misleads the NZ public with its failure to mention these stats, stirring up hatred and disinfo against the less fortunate in our midst.

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Prime Minister Key who doesn’t believe we have a homeless problem

So much for justice and equity in our once prosperous welfare state.  And let’s not forget, we once had full employment in this nation of ours. There was a job for everybody. And what happened to change that? It wasn’t the fault of people on benefits as the corporate media often subtly misleads us to believe. Let’s lay the blame squarely where it belongs…Rogernomics and the new neoliberal experiment … irresponsible governments that borrowed us into the big black hole we are now in. That has left an ever widening gap between rich and poor, and a crisis of homelessness that isn’t going to go away any time soon. Finally, keep in mind we are a corporation and corporations are about profits and not people.

See our Money/Banking pages for more info & links, &/or search categories for further related articles (at left of any page).

Please like our FB page &/or follow our blog (right of any page) and do spread the word on all the untruths we have been told!
EnvirowatchRangitikei

 

 

 

Glyphosate, Local Government, News, roundup

Agenda 21 and the Shutdown of Democracy in Aotearoa

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Increasingly we are hearing of these scenarios where democracy is shut down in our local District Councils. Time and again, people are dismayed at the fact their seeming representatives whom they elected at LG elections … are straying off onto their own agenda and refusing to listen to the voice of the people. This is a rot that has set in over recent years and seems to be getting more fascist by the day, witness this event at the Auckland Council over the spraying of glyphosate and other chemicals in public places. In the Rangitikei a few of us here have had the same quiet battle where any leaning towards non-chemical weed control is silenced, as regards policy at least. Currently we have less chemical control in town than we used to have however the DC remains adamant glyphosate is quite harmless. Another issue regarding larger than stated or consented leachate quantities being pumped into our WWTP that had come to light via the public, taken then by the Community Committee (the conduit between the public and the DC)  to the DC, and simply then not accepted by the DC. Subject closed in effect! (The Community Committee it appears discusses public toilets a lot and is simply an exercise in window dressing).

All that aside, what is happening to our DCs then?  They are right now looking very fascist. They have little resemblance to democracy and yet folks are still treating them as such. Expecting democratic results and finding they are everything but. They merely give the illusion of democracy. Since running this website I’ve had feedback from locals about having gone to Council over issues that concern them to little effect. They are really great at fobbing you off. It appears, and many of us didn’t know this, that you need to ask that your comments be noted. You cannot simply assume they will be. In much the same way as when I presented glyphosate research to the RDC and later learned I’d failed to ask if the Council would get back to me on the issue. Fortunately a member of the CC was seated beside me and told me the said info, and fortunately also, a Cr asked for the issue to be put on the agenda for next meeting. Had she not, the issue would have disappeared into the black hole forever. And I left wondering what they ever did with it. It would’ve been precisely NOTHING. The ever intriguing machinations of Local Government. Finally, keep in mind that your local DCs are in fact companies. This explains a whole lot. Companies are about profits not people.

Report by Hana Blackmore

On Friday 13 May 2016 legitimate debate was shut down by Auckland Council in a ruthless manoeuvre to keep concerns about carcinogenic chemical use in the city out of the public eye and off the agenda.

COUNCIL FRIDAY 13TH 3B_cropCouncil was finalising and voting through the 2016/17 Annual Plan budget.

Submissions from the public and Local Boards calling for the restoration of funding for non-chemical methods in parks, and the elimination of all use of the toxic herbicide glyphosate from public places had been ignored and omitted from the budget.

An amendment was raised with Mayor Len Brown the previous day to address this by two councillors, Wayne Walker and John Watson, but was not presented by Mayor Brown until the end of the budget deliberations.

Immediately, under a point of order, Member John Tamihere objected saying it was inappropriate and was being raised too late; Mayor Brown did not defend it; and the Chair, Cllr Penny Webster agreed it was out of order and rejected the amendment.

All this in spite of an impassioned plea by Cllr Watson for it to be heard and noting the attendance of members of the public who had sat through over six hours of  debate to hear and support this amendment.  Chair Webster shut Cllr Watson down as well as Cllr Walker who tried to clarify the situation and the reason it was appropriate to be heard.

Pleas to the Chair and Mayor Brown, were all to no avail.

COUNCIL FRIDAY 13TH 7_cropIn an act of defiance those of us still present refused to be silenced.  When Council resumed after a short adjournment to rubber stamp the budget, I pleaded with the Mayor to use his prerogative and hear the amendment. Read more:

https://weedmanagementadvisory.wordpress.com/a-long-bad-day-and-the-shutdown-of-democracy/

Be sure to check out our Local Government Watch pages. Sign up or follow to see more developments on the local government front. We are watching closely.

EnvirowatchRangitikei

Corruption, District Councils, Government, News, Police

John Key Had this Man Arrested For Exposing Corruption! Not only are NZ’s Councils Corrupt, but the Police, the Courts, the Parliament & Prime Minister too

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You likely have not heard this information regarding the man who exposed corruption in the Rodney District Council … in mainstream media you never will, not in all its truth anyway. Learn of the shocking events that evolved after this man did the RIGHT thing. Here you will see that “not only are our councils corrupt, but the police, the courts, the parliament & Prime” Minister too. From Vinny Eastwood …  one of the few outlets for real news available today. Subscribe to his Channel on YT and see other lies and corruption he’s exposed (all links below).

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EnvirowatchRangitikei

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozXf8BoR-eA

Published on Jul 7, 2013

“PLEASE SUBSCRIBE AND GIVE A THUMBS UP!
If you’re reading this at guerillamedia.co.nz click “Original Article” for the video.
This 3 hour video in my opinion is the key testimony that will show all New Zealanders that not only are our councils corrupt, but the police, the courts, the parliament & Prime Sinister too.

Thank you Russell Malcolm for your extraordinary bravery in documenting the way all these institutions came together to f**k up your life, deprive you of your rights, your business, your money, your health and even take your home.
I spent my entire night on this (went to bed 6:50am) because I believe it is urgent that it be made available for the public to view, I just had a feeling that by me doing this, it will save your life.

I hope everyone will take the time to listen to this incredible testimony, once I’ve uploaded it to my youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/mrnewsguerilla…

it’s edge of your seat stuff that will make you cringe, yell and even cry to see.

Subscribe for $1-$5 a month for commercial free archives and exclusive uninterrupted video interviews! only at http://www.thevinnyeastwoodshow.com
Full Audio Archives here: http://www.thevinnyeastwoodshow.com/2…
For Blushield products that protect you from wireless radiation click here:http://www.thevinnyeastwoodshow.com/b…
Please buy a dvd! http://www.thevinnyeastwoodshow.com/d…
Watch this video and please share it around!
Listen to the show LIVE! http://www.americanfreedomradio.com

Contact Vinny
http://www.thevinnyeastwoodshow.com/c…

Follow Vinny on FASCBOOK
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?i…
on TWATTER
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& You Genics
http://www.youtube.com/mrnewsguerilla…

http://www.realguerillamedia.com
http://www.americanfreedomradio.com
http://www.youtube.com/mrnewsguerilla…
http://www.thevinnyeastwoodshow.com
http://www.guerillamedia.co.nz

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Agenda 2030, District Councils, News

See How Rodney Council Deals to People Who Expose its Corruption Pt 1

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Exposing District Council Corruption

We’ve witnessed recently the cover up of the Horowhenua District Council’s role in polluting their own waterways, and the revelations by a whistle-blower, on the way she and fellow Councillors were coerced into “toeing the line”. Basically … Council corruption.

Here we have corruption of an even more sinister kind in the Auckland district in terms of suppressing dissension about their practices. Unlike the Horowhenua district example, it is not centered on conservation, but reflects what is becoming quite a familiar methodology employed by Councils. Russell Malcolm’s story, told by himself, will shock you and hopefully urge you to action. After exposing Rodney Council corruption around building consents some ten years ago, the entire Council was fired. However, the next time he attempted this, he was met with a scenario that could only be described as your worst nightmare. The first video is concise and tells you basically what happened to him,  the second gives full detail of Mr Malcolm’s very disturbing experience at the hands of Police, the Rodney District Council and even John Key.

The Rodney Council

To see how all of this outworked in the Rodney Council, watch the Vinny Eastwood coverage here or on Youtube. Follow the links.

NZUncovered (Youtube channel)

QUOTE:
“Thanks to Vinny Eastwood Mr News for this item.
Russell Malcolm questioned extortion at Rodney Council, and several years later Auckland Council staff retaliated by blocking the processing of a consent application. After 2 years of stalling Russell advised council he would be going public.

As he commenced to he was arrested and silenced by gag order bail conditions, coming from Prime Minister John Key.

The matter was highly embarrassing to John Key’s Government at election time.

Three hours after his urgent arrest and detention a town planner is contacted to be the complainant, after being referred to as an ‘evil bitch’ in a blog she was not party to.
No one has ever been charged for such an offense before and no such offense exists under NZ law.
Three months later his home and business is raided twice by Police, forcing the loss of his business. The reason given is because he has pleaded not guilty.

A year later his home and other properties are seized in a joint covert, Police, ASB Bank operation.
Russell arranges refinancing with another Bank, which ASB prevents by blocking access to a valuer. ASB then undersell the properties at half value.”

Watch the video and learn the outcome.

United Nations Agenda 21

What we have seen in the past decade or more with District Councils, is a switch from the old school democracies where Councillors truly represented the views and wishes of their rate payers, to a very different animal. Witness the above scenario experienced by Mr Malcolm and as referred to, the Horowhenua debacle with the sewage spillage into the local waterways. Although I’m not personally a fan of Cameron Slater, he summarizes here some growing anomalies with District Councils. He describes a Government culture that’s in ‘moral decay’.

For further insight into this increasingly familiar scenario, listen to former Australian politician, Anne Bressington’s  speech on this topic as she saw similar happening in her country. Agenda 21 is planet wide, basically, the filtering down into our local governments of the United Nations’ agenda termed, ‘Agenda 21’. It is masked with environmental rhetoric however, as you will see, it is everything but. (See also our Agenda 21 in NZ  page).

“We are at present working discreetly, with all our might, to wrest this mysterious force called sovereignty out of the clutches of the local nation states of the world. And all the time we are denying with our lips what we are doing with our hands.”                                                       Arnold Toynbee – International Affairs, p.809, November 1931

Watch for Parts 2 and 3 of Russell Malcolm’s story.


EnvirowatchRangitikei

 

LINKS TO HOROWHENUA EVENTS:

“Toe the line and deny any pollution by the HDC” was the clear message given by Mayor Brendan Duffy to Horowhenua District Councillors – a former HD Councillor speaks out

 

 

Corporations, News, TPPA

TPPA Updates

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Bulletin #84

10 February 2016
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What an amazing protest!

Thanks to all who supported the protests, in Auckland and across the country, on 4thFebruary 2016. More than 15,000 people (some estimates put it as high as 30,000) marched down Queen St in one of the biggest protests in a decade. During the day, activists undertook rolling blockades of traffic across the city centre around the Sky City casino where the TPPA was signed. It has shaken the government and they are on the back foot. Despite the barrage of media spin in favour of the TPPA (especially in the Herald) we are winning the battle for public opinion.

What happens next?

In terms of the official process, the National Interest Analysis (a biased sell job, prepared by MFAT) has been tabled in Parliament. It’s Our Future responded calling for evidence not spin.

MFAT is holding TPP Roadshows

MFAT says: “The roadshows will present the outcomes of the TPP negotiations. Members of the public are welcome. The roadshows will also help businesses prepare to take advantage of new opportunities presented by TPP’s entry into force.  The morning session of each roadshow will provide an overview of TPP, and afternoon workshop sessions will have a more technical focus.

·        Auckland, 7 March, Rendezvous Hotel, corner Mayoral Drive and Vincent St, Auckland Central

·        Christchurch, 11 March, Rydges Hotel, 30 Latimer Square, Christchurch City

·        Dunedin, 14 March, The Dunedin Centre, 1 Harrop Street, Dunedin

·        Wellington, 18 March, Westpac Stadium, 105 Waterloo Quay, Pipitea, Wellington

Registrations close on 1 March 2016. More roadshows will be held in other regional centres in the coming months. Locations are likely to include Hamilton, Napier, New Plymouth, Nelson, Palmerston North, Tauranga, and Whangarei. Updates will be published on this website, or you can contact tpp@mfat.govt.nz if you would like to register to be updated.”

It’s Our Future will provide fact sheets and questions for those who want to attend the meetings.

Waitangi Tribunal TPPA Urgency Hearings

The hearings will be held on 14-18 March in Wellington. Register here.

Select Committee hearings

The Foreign Affairs Trade and Defence Committee of Parliament is expected to hold hearings on the TPPA in the March-April timeframe (we don’t yet know the timetable or locations for the hearings, but hopefully there will be a number of them across NZ). We are planning actions around those hearings:

·        Hold meetings in each city before the Select Committee hearings to give everyone the latest update on research and analysis

·        Debates and events are being organised in several cities

·        There may be protests linked to the hearings in some cities

·        ActionStation will be organising standard on-line submissions

Parliamentary Debate

After the Select Committee report and the government response, a combined bill covering eight pieces of legislation will be introduced to Parliament. This will need to be voted on by Parliament, but at present it looks as if the government has a majority (even without the threat of Labour MP Phil Goff voting for it). We will look at the potential for holding some big rallies around the Parliamentary vote.

General Election in 2017

The TPPA will not come into force before 2018. This means there will be a general election in New Zealand before it is actually implemented. We need opposition parties to stand firm in rejecting the TPPA, and, if we are not able to stop it, to commit to withdrawing from it in future. We will run a campaign to let political parties know that voters want a clear NO to the TPPA!

TPPA Ratifications

Even if the TPPA goes through the ratification process in New Zealand, it won’t come into force until it is ratified by countries making up 85% of the combined GDP of TPPA countries. There is opposition from almost all leading candidates for the US Presidency and the TPPA is looking shaky in Congress. The new Trudeau government in Canada has undertaken to consult properly on the TPPA and warned that they may not ratify. It is possible that the TPPA will be significantly delayed, or even never implemented.

For more details on the TPPA process, see the research paper authored by Jane Kelsey.

Take Action against the TPPA

In addition to the above actions, there are a number of campaign actions that you can take. A summary of those is on the It’s Our Future Take Action page:

·       Sign the petition to the Governor-General. Following the handover of initial signatures on a petition to the Governor-General, calling for him to withhold his assent for ratification of the TPPA, the petition has been re-launched. Please download the petition here and build pressure for him to act.

·        Sign the petition calling on the government not to ratify the TPPA. We only launched the petition a few weeks ago and it’s now up to 53,000. Please Sign Now!

·        Declare your space a TPPA Free Zone. You can declare your home, neighbourhood, community centre, school, workplace, bike or car as a TPPA Free Zone. Download signs and materials and join Facebook for ideas for action. TPPA Free Zone stickers (13cm X 10cm) are available at $35 per 100. Tony Hartnett (thartnett@ihug.co.nz) has offered to collect up orders to send to the printer.

·        Congratulations to Waiheke Local Board for becoming a TPPA Free Zone. Get involved with your Council or Local Board to declare a TPPA Free Zone.Motueka protester Greg Rzesniowiecki has been doing an amazing job in supporting Council actions, on his two year anti-TPPA roadtrip. Greg will write to all Councils in the next few days inviting them to declare their territory or region a TPPA Free Zone. There will be a new kit developed to assist activists, using the resources developed in the lobby on Waiheke, Upper Hutt and Christchurch Councils. Contact him at gregfullmoon013@gmail.com to discuss Council resolutions.

·        Target the media. The mainstream media have got away with biased reporting that has under-stated the numbers on our protests, ignored our message and disrespected protesters. Meanwhile there has been a constant barrage of government PR spin echoed by journalists. We need to build our movement on social media and through our own networks, but we also need to respond to the media with articles, letters and, where necessary, complaints.

Protest events around New Zealand

This is a partial list. Events have also taken place in many other centres including Nelson, Blenheim, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Tauranga, Hastings, Whangarei and the hikoi, cars against the TPPA and many others. Please let me know at itsourfuturenz@gmail.comif you have news and footage of events against the TPPA in your community. Information will be updated on www.itsourfuture.org.nz.

Dunedin

There was a lunchtime protest outside MP Michael Woodhouse’s office, which is on a prominent intersection. Lots of tooting in support! Workers stand to lose.

Christchurch

Catchy youtube video on the Christchurch Council action. The action resulted in the Council agreeing to hold a workshop on a  TPPA Free Zone. And Christchurch’s Josie Butler grabbed headlines in New Zealand and internationally with her well-aimed dildo thrown at Steven Joyce! In her words.

Wellington

The rally for democracy and sovereignty at the Governor General Gates on 30th January delivered 4300 signatures to the Governor General’s Official Secretary, Gregory Baughen in a solemn ceremony. There was an earlier hikoi from Waitangi Park to the Governor’s gates.

News reports on the fantastic Te Papa banner drop: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/extremely-disrespectful-tpp-protesters-target-anzac-exhibition.html

A ‘not-a-rent-a-crowd’ protest of around 600 gathered at Wellington’s cenotaph beside Parliament for a rally and speeches, joining the calls against TPPA signing.

Raglan

Hundreds (about 20% of the population) jumped from Raglan footbridge in a chain bomb, or watched, and when many signed the petition to the Governor-General.

Auckland

The march organised by It’s Our Future was HUGE! It was led by kapa haka groups, followed by elders and leaders from trade unions, NGOs and political parties, with a colourful array of placards and banners. The march was load, passionate and a strong signal to the government that a majority of Kiwis are against the TPPA. Check out the analysis of on-line TPPA protest activity.

Earlier on, protesters organised by Real Choice surrounded Sky City where the TPPA was signed, with chanting and drums. There was a rolling blockade of intersections around Sky City and onto the motorway, joined in the afternoon by the Hikoi against the TPPA.

Images from these events are posted at TPPA Images. Please add your photos and videos to the page. For more photos of the event, check out these great albums:

·        TPPA Free Zone photos by Dominic Hartnett

·        TPPA Protest photos by Kina Sai

·        TPPA Blockade photos by Pati Solomona Tyrell.

·        Anti TPPA Blockade photos by Baz Mantis Photography

·        Blockade the TPPA Signing! photos by Emily from Accompany Collective.

 

With the exception of John Campbell’s interviews and possibly TVNZ’s reporting , the mainstream media coverage was insulting and patronising, trawling through hours of footage to give the impression the protesters were ill-informed.

As the Trade Ministers arrived on the preceding day, they were met with banners and an LCD screen as an ‘Unwelcome Committee’, with a Don’t Sign the TPPA message.ActionStation (New Zealand), Leadnow.ca (Canada) and SumofUs covertly projected visual protest images near the Auckland Sky Tower. The Artists Collective put on a music event, the protestival in the weekend before the signing.

Waitangi

Strong opposition convinced the Prime Minister not to attend Waitangi Day events, but other political parties took the opportunity to send a strong anti-TPPA message.

International

Our New Zealand protests were part of a global protest with events taking place across most of the 12 TPPA countries (eg. Chile takes to the streets), and 250,000 people in Germany against the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

Research and Fact Sheets

Five research papers have now been published on the TPP Legal website, onParliamentary process, Investment, te Tiriti, Environment, and the Economics of the TPPA. Others on Internet/IP and Local Government will follow soon.

A simple flyer with a summary of the key facts on a double side A4 is here. Copy it and share it far and wide. ActionStation has launched a new series of Fact Sheets on different aspects of the TPPA.

Funding the campaign

We launched a Give a Little page to fund the speaker tour and ongoing campaigning. Please donate generously.

Thanks for your amazing campaigning. The past few weeks have changed politics in our country. Now it’s time for us to ramp up the pressure! Kia kaha!

Barry Coates

It’s Our Future spokesperson

itsourfuturenz@gmail.com

 
Copyright © 2016 It’s Our Future NZ, All rights reserved.
Banking, Corporations, News, NZ, TPPA, USA

As US Signs TPP In New Zealand, protesters also gather in 7 countries & 38 US cities!

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With a massive turnout yesterday of some 32,000 protesters NZ wide, 25,000 in Auckland alone, clearly there is massive opposition to the TPPA. It’s not over yet.

Additionally, we are left to the impression given by mainstream, corporate, offshore media, that we are the only ones protesting against this deal that’s been composed in secret, without consultation with either Iwi, NZ’s Treaty partners, or the general public. We are expected to trust these people? NZ has just slipped on the corruption scale I read recently – it’s not the Pollyanna, squeaky clean nation many thought it was.

So here is evidence of protests beyond our shores, in collaboration with the world-wide opposition that is rising against this corporate robbery of our sovereignty, in the name of profits and world control.

EnvirowatchRangitikei

 

Protests in 38 US cities and 7 Countries

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Cities/regions where protests occurred against the TPPA/TPP  (Map courtesy of Flush the TPP)

“White House Protest Kicks off Nationwide Days of Action in 38 US Cities Protests Also Held In Seven Countries

By Flush the TPP.

Washington, DC – As the US Trade Representative signs the TransPacific Partnership on behalf of President Obama at the Skyland Casino in New Zealand on the evening of February  3rd (Eastern US time), protests are happening across the United States and around the world. See map of protests http://www.flushthetpp.org/actions/.

Several hours before the signing TPP opponents in Washington DC protested at the White House with a 24 foot “TPP is Betrayal” banner and other signs that visually highlighted the negative impacts of the TPP on the economy, environment and workers…”

 

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Read More: http://www.flushthetpp.org/protest-at-white-house-kicks-off-nationwide-days-of-action/

 

 

Corporations, News, TPPA

John Key is a shareholder in the Bank of America – Major conflict of interest with the TPPA

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John Key is a shareholder of the Bank of America (page 29 of 2015 register of financial interests for MPs) a major conflict of interest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b3kE-k_nOE

Some interesting facts here on the conflicts of interest not only with PM Key but Tim Groser also. An interview by Vinny Eastwood with activists Penny Bright and Jacquelyne Taylor. The TPPA’s just been signed today (4/2/16) by Key, with 25,000 peaceful protesters in Auckland alone, so it’s not over yet. See what has yet to happen:

From the Daily Blog:

“Here is the step by step legislative process the Government need to undertake now Key has signed the TPPA…

Text and National Interest Analysis are tabled in Parliament

Text and National Interest Analysis are referred to Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee

Executive can ratify TPPA after the select committee reports or 15 sitting days elapse, whichever is earlier.

If legislative change is required to comply with TPPA the Executive will not normally ratify until the legislation is passed

Select committee can elect to hear submissions on TPPA

Select committee reports to Parliament

Parliament may decide to debate the select committee report

Parliament may decide to vote on the TPPA

Executive must report its response to any select committee recommendations within 90 days

Any legislative changes required to bring NZ into compliance with TPPA are introduced in a Bill

The Bill follows standard parliamentary process, normally including submissions

Executive ratifies the Agreement at a time of its choosing, normally after the Bill is passed

NZ notifies the TPPA repository (NZ) that its domestic processes are complete

TPPA comes into force when required number of parties notify completion of domestic processes”

Comrades, brothers and sisters, we can fight this abomination every step of the way, and with 25 000 turning up in Auckland alone, we have the numbers to fight this and slow it down.”

See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/02/04/breaking-after-massive-show-of-force-john-key-too-frightened-to-go-to-waitangi-day/?utm_content=bufferee1d8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.SNvNWmms.dpuf-

 

Corporations, News, TPPA

TPPA – 25 000 people protesting in Auckland today, Key now declining to go to Waitangi & what’s next with TPPA

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BREAKING : After massive show of Force – John Key too frightened to go to Waitangi Day

By   /   February 4, 2016

“The huge turn out has spooked the Prime Minister from attending Waitangi Day. To try and rob NZers of our sovereignty 2 days before Waitangi and then refusing to turn up because your too frightened by the reaction is gutless and cowardly. 25 000 people protesting in Auckland alone, shutting down the Harbour Bridge and major motorways for hours so that Auckland City was jammed solid…”

“No violence, just well targeted attack on the infrastructure. Police didn’t see it coming, and were over whelmed. Congratulations to Jane for her tireless leadership, all the usual leaders and planners and the new leadership team who ran the blockade.”

Here is the step by step legislative process the Government need to undertake now Key has signed the TPPA…

Text and National Interest Analysis are tabled in Parliament

Text and National Interest Analysis are referred to Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee

Executive can ratify TPPA after the select committee reports or 15 sitting days elapse, whichever is earlier.

If legislative change is required to comply with TPPA the Executive will not normally ratify until the legislation is passed

Select committee can elect to hear submissions on TPPA

Select committee reports to Parliament

Parliament may decide to debate the select committee report

Parliament may decide to vote on the TPPA

Executive must report its response to any select committee recommendations within 90 days

Any legislative changes required to bring NZ into compliance with TPPA are introduced in a Bill

The Bill follows standard parliamentary process, normally including submissions

Executive ratifies the Agreement at a time of its choosing, normally after the Bill is passed

NZ notifies the TPPA repository (NZ) that its domestic processes are complete

TPPA comes into force when required number of parties notify completion of domestic processes”

Comrades, brothers and sisters, we can fight this abomination every step of the way, and with 25 000 turning up in Auckland alone, we have the numbers to fight this and slow it down.

See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/02/04/breaking-after-massive-show-of-force-john-key-too-frightened-to-go-to-waitangi-day/?utm_content=bufferee1d8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.SNvNWmms.dpuf-

 

EnvirowatchRangitikei

News, TPPA

TPPA It’s Our Future Update

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From itsourfuture email bulletin

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The campaign is building and the government is sounding more and more desperate. Across New Zealand members of the public are waking up to the dangers of the TPPA. The Don’t Sign speakers tour and campaign actions have mobilised and informed supporters. Now, with a few days before signing, we need to ramp up the pressure.

Events coming up soon

Up to date information is on www.itsourfuture.org.nz. Please let me know if there are any events to add at itsourfuturenz@gmail.com.

Auckland

3 February: We welcome visitors from outside Auckland and will hold a meeting on Wednesday evening. Meeting place to be advised. Please let us know if you are involved in organising TPPA actions in your community and you are coming to Auckland at itsourfuturenz@gmail.com.

3 February: There will be an Unwelcome to Auckland protest at Auckland airport for the Trade Ministers and their entourages arriving in Auckland, with banners, chants and a message that we don’t want them to sign the TPPA. Details will be posted on our website closer to the time. Let us know if you want to participate.

4 February at 12pm: Assemble at Aotea Square (Queen St side). Join the TPPA Don’t Sign march down Queen St. We invite the people of Aotearoa to join us in protest against the TPPA. This will be a family friendly event! Children and elderly will be present on the day and their safety is paramount. This will be BIG. Now is the time to unite and take a STAND!

4 February: The Trade Ministers will meet at Sky City (although they might not sign the TPPA there). There will be civil disobedience happening around Sky City. We request that any group who does so respects the principles of non-violence and does not damage the property of citizens. We have huge support from the public for the campaign and the media will be looking for photos and stories to discredit our movement.

Hikoi

The hikoi will assemble at Te Rerenga Wairua on February 1, travel through Kaitaia, Moerewa and Whangarei and will head for Auckland to protest the signing of the TPPA at Sky City on February 4 and participate in the march down Queen St at 12 midday. The hikoi will then return to Northland for the traditional welcome on to Te Tii Marae on February 5 and the march on to the Treaty Grounds on Waitangi Day. More details at Hikoi.

Waitangi
There will be actions against the TPPA in Waitangi and it is clear that the governmentis not welcome at Waitangi if they sign. There will be protests against the TPPA. The message is that all people are welcomed to join on 4-6 February. Bring your tents as accommodation will be at a premium, and please bring their flags and banners.

Raglan
1 Feb at 4pm: Raglan footbridge at Raglan beach, join the ‪#TPPAfreeZoneChallenge.

Whakatane

4 Feb at 8am: Information centre, walk to the Council office.

Tauranga
Actions will be at TPPA Tauranga FB page.

Hastings

4 February at 5pm: Hastings Town Clock: Anti-TPPA rally.

Taupo

4 February at 10am: Rally at Tongariro Domain. See Facebook event.

Wellington

4 February at 12 midday: Rally for Democracy and Sovereignty – assemble at the Cenotaph outside Parliament with banners, cardboard heads of government Ministers and speeches. Lunchtime.

More info on Wellington actions at TPPA Wellington FB page.

Christchurch

4 February at 12.30pm: Declare ChCh TPP Free at Christchurch City Council, 53 Hereford St.
More info on events at TPPA Christchurch FB page.

Dunedin

Info on events at TPPA Action Dunedin FB page.

 

The Campaign continues

 

They will succeed in signing the TPPA (they could do it by Email if they had to), but we will make it clear that the New Zealand public rejects the TPPA. The campaign will continue.

 

Governments still need to ratify the TPPA and that is looking very shaky in the US and in Canada. It is likely to be several years before ratification (if ever). This means we will be able to make the TPPA a crucial issue in the next New Zealand election.

 

There will be Waitangi Tribunal hearings in March. Legal experts have mounted a strong case exposing the weakness of the so-called ‘exception’ for the Treaty in the TPPA.

 

We will be targeting opposition political parties to strengthen their commitments to reject the TPPA, building a strong campaign around Parliamentary process to ratify the TPPA (including Select Committee hearings), winning the arguments through research and fact sheets, doing a speakers’ tour around New Zealand and getting to over 100,000 signatures on our petition. We will raise the stakes on TPPA for the election and we will defeat the TPPA, just as we have previously defeated previous attempts to get pro-corporates rights in international treaties. The campaigning ramps up from now on!

 

TPPA Free Zone

 

Congratulations to Waiheke for becoming a TPPA Free Zone (thanks Local Board rep Shirin Brown and others), along with the Octagon, Auckland Town Hall, venues across New Zealand, homes, workplaces etc. Take action and declare your community or personal space a TPPA Free Zone. See links at Facebook and Website for downloadable materials and ideas for action.

 

Campaign Round up

Events have already taken place in many other centres including Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Blenheim, Palmerston North, 6 events in Wellington, New Plymouth and Rotorua cars against the TPPA, Auckland and many others. Let us know at itsourfuturenz@gmail.com if you’ve had a ‘Don’t Sign TPPA’ event.

There’s no space for a full round up of the great campaigns undertaken over the past week, but here are a few highlights.

Handover of the petition to the Governor-General: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3t1TIIgrIA&feature=youtu.be

http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/large-protests-in-lead-up-to-tpp-signing-2016013013#axzz3yl09zkba

Dunedin declared the Octagon TPP Free with around 400 people, music, speeches and poetry

http://www.dunedintv.co.nz/interview/nightly-interview-jen-olsen-1

Christchurch mourned the death of democracy at a rally with over 1500 peoplehttp://www.stuff.co.nz/national/76413819/democracy-buried-at-antitppa-protest-in-christchurch

Several hundred protestors marched down Nelson’s main streethttp://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/76416320/Police-thwart-TPPA-protesters-attempt-to-chain-off-Nelsons-main-street

Lori Wallach and Jane Kelsey: Don’t sign speaking tour 26-29 January

Thanks to everyone who helped organise events for the Don’t Sign speaker tour. Auckland Town Hall had an audience of around 900, then Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin were packed out. It has helped to lick the campaign up a level. Thanks especially to Lori Wallach for making it over to New Zealand at an incredibly busy time in US political lobbying, and huge thanks to Jane Kelsey who made it happen.

Sign the petition(s)

The Don’t Sign petition is close to 50,000. The petition will be kept open during ratification so sign now and we will push it up to 100,000.http://www.actionstation.org.nz/dontsign

After declaring itself to be opposed to the TPPA (eventually backed by all MPs except for Phil Goff), Labour launched a petition against the TPPA with a target of 50,000. It has been reached in a week! They must have been surprised. Labour petition

Funding the campaign

We launched a Give a Little page to fund the speaker tour and ongoing campaigning. Please donate generously. 

We acknowledge the generous support of individuals and organisations for the speaker tour:  It’s Our Future; First Union; Public Service Association (PSA); and theCouncil of Trade Unions (CTU). If you have other fundraising suggestions, contact Barry Coates at itsourfuturenz@gmail.com. Now is a good time to donate!

Research

We are winning the arguments and exposing the government spin on the TPPA. If you want to find out more, visit TPPA research. There are expert, peer-reviewed research papers on:

·        The Parliamentary process

·        Investment

·        Te Tiriti

·        Environment

·        The Economics of the TPPA

Also see facts sheets at our partner ActionStation TPPA facts.

 

Thanks to all for your fantastic campaigning. Kia kaha!

Barry Coates, It’s Our Future spokesperson

 
Copyright © 2016 It’s Our Future NZ, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you signed up at an event or through the itsourfuture.org.nz website.
New Zealand, News, TPPA

TPPA – A “Family-friendly … Non-violent” March Planned for the 4th Feb

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“It’s Our Future will hold a march down Queen St on Thursday 4th February. It will be loud, colourful, family-friendly and inclusive of all those who oppose the signing of the TPPA. It will be a symbol of the massive public opposition to the Key government signing the TPPA.

“Hosting the signing of the TPPA at Sky City just before Waitangi Day is a calculated move by the government, presumably with the goal of inciting violence and attempting to discredit the huge campaign against the TPPA”, says spokesperson for Its Our Future, Barry Coates.

“The Key government could have chosen a venue that would have been easy to secure and less of a symbolic target,” Coates said. “By announcing riot training for police, specifically targeted at the Sky City signing, the government has ramped up the level of provocation to opponents of the deal.”

“It’s Our Future, the network organising the main campaign against the TPPA, is not buying into the government’s game plan. We will hold a loud and passionate march down Queen St on 4 February 2016 continuing our kaupapa of family-friendly protest and non-violence.”….”

Read More: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/01/27/tppa-march-will-be-inclusive-of-all-its-our-future/?utm_content=buffer6e246&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

News, NZ, Police, TPPA, USA

Ahead of TPP signing: NZ Police have been undertaking riot training … we are not a democracy

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So… ahead of the TPP signing on February 4th coming up, we have our corrupt government/corporation ensuring any dissenters to this closing of a secret deal get smartly rapped over the knuckles! or other parts of the body … we have the appearance here of Police State beginnings as per the US of A. The initiators of the said ‘agreement’.

Bryan Bruce has summarized this news item so aptly:

“Negotiate the TPPA deal in secret.

• Refuse to listen to legitimate concerns about the undemocratic process.

• Produce a document that allows multi-national corporations to override our health,environment,employment and copyright laws.

• Invite the co- conspirators to our country to sign the deal close to Waitangi Day ( when we celebrate the founding Treaty of our nation – now seriously undermined by the TPPA).

• Hold the signing in a Casino and not Parliament.

• Bring out the riot squad if anyone objects.

Brilliant.

P.S. Oh- and while your at it , make sure you fly that new corporate logo flag on the day the foreign trade ministers get here. We don’t want people looking at our current flag and wondering what happened to the rule of law.” (SOURCE)

Bryan Bruce is an award winning documentary maker and author. You can visit his website here: http://bryanbruce.co.nz/news  See his award winning docos  ‘Inside Child Poverty’ and ‘Mind The Gap’. Links on his website.

 

Read the Herald article:

TPP: Police undertake riot training

New Zealand Police have been undertaking mass riot training ahead of the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership in Auckland next month.

The trade agreement, that has sparked widespread controversy due to its closed-door negotiations, will be signed by international diplomats on February 4.

Dozens of large-scale protests have been held across the country as the five years of negotiations for the deal came to a close in the US last year.

The Herald understands that increased riot training – officially known as public order training – has been taking place ahead of the signing, as police prepare for more possible civil unrest.

Police Association vice-president Senior Sergeant Luke Shadbolt said that the TPP signing was the focus of annual public order training.

Read More: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11578174

For info and links on the TPPA: https://envirowatchrangitikei.wordpress.com/tppa/

 

EnvirowatchRangitikei

Corporations, News, TPPA

TPPA – important notices & dates for upcoming events

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PLEASE SHARE THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

Things are warming up on the TPPA front with plans by the powers that be to sign on 4th February and it’s rumoured … at the Skytower. They will be keeping that under wraps for sure. I’m just mailing out the public notices regarding events from FB who have asked folks to share. Likewise do share these notices, email to your friends, tell the neighbours. The more on board the better. There are NZ wide meetings you may consider attending if possible. For further updates here go to the TPPA news page. Do please let me know if I’ve missed anything or if there’s anything you’d like shared, either here or on FB if you’re not a member.  EnvirowatchRangitikei

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A blogger writes … “So as some of you may or may not be aware. Our country is about to be sold on February 4th. Informers from Chile say the signing of the TPPA will be held here @ the skytower in Auckland New Zealand. When it is signed, our basic human rights will be stripped of us! They will sell the land, our home to foreign countries, more mining, water and air rates, prohibited to grow your own organics, loom seeds will be banned, prohibited to live off grid, not allowed to feed and clothe homeless, or to help poverty, etc etc.. as if they want to decrease population and destroy our mother earth sooner..shit that’s in humane! NZ citizens are calling for a march larger than ever. If you care about your children’s future, seek out sources for more info. And take one last stand!

Even though the TPPA may commence…as Tangatawhenua, we have to live trying to prevent such events, in respect of our forefathers who dedicated their lives for our current slice of freedom. And also regarding the future of our Pepe’s…please don’t ignore this.”  SOURCE

IMPORTANT MEETINGS COMING UP

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(SOURCE)

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(SOURCE)

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THE UPRISING 2016 HIKOI against the TPPA. 11am FEB 4 Lower Queen St – Myers Park / Sky City. Nau mai Haere mai e nga iwi o te motu
LIKE&SHARE
GET THE WORD OUT
UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL!!.
(SOURCE)

 

Corporations, Government, News, NZ, TPPA

TPPA – ItsOurFuture latest updates for Kiwis

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 Updates from itsourfuture.org.nz : this is the site’s newsletter

 

It’s Our Future: TPPA News Bulletin #81

11 January 2016

In this Bulletin:

TPPA signing Auckland, 4 February
Auckland Actions for 4 February
Other actions around Aotearoa NZ
Lori Wallach & Jane Kelsey speaking tour 26-29 January
‘Don’t sign’ Petition to PM to be launched tomorrow
Fact Sheets
Expert Papers
Labour Party position
Media Articles

TPPA Latest

TPPA signing Auckland, 4 February

Rumours that TPPA ministers will sign the deal in NZ on 4 Feb were confirmed by Chile’s officials, although the government still says it’s not settled. Other reports confirm it will be in Auckland (as Fran O’Sullivan said back on 9 Dec), but MFAT hasn’t told people where. It’s NOT likely to be Sky City, which hosted the big meetings. This will be a small select ‘celebration’, probably somewhere with tight security.

The signing is largely symbolic but governments will try to use it as an opportunity to talk up the TPPA in the media. It will be signed by Trade Ministers (Todd McClay has replaced Tim Groser – we don’t yet know whether Groser will be there).

Rumours in the media that “US President Barack Obama lines up NZ visit” in order to thank the New Zealand government for pushing the TPPA deal look like a classic case of PR spin. Latest is that the Government denies the report saying “there are no plans in place for that to happen at this stage”.

Auckland Actions for 4 February

Auckland people will meet on Tuesday 12 January to talk about actions around the signing. The signing will be on a weekday, with Anniversary weekend before and Waitangi Day weekend after. We know people are anxious to get things moving, but please coordinate with others so that we don’t create confusion with multiple Auckland events. We will put out another Bulletin next week with more specific plans.

Other actions around Aotearoa NZ

Groups are already planning for activities leading up to 4 February. Chantelle Campbell will provide support and coordination for regional activity coordinators chantellec@xtra.co.nz

Lori Wallach & Jane Kelsey speaking tour 26-29 January

In the lead-up to the signing, leading US critic of the TPPA and the most knowledgeable person about what’s happening in Washington, Lori Wallach the Director of Public Citizen Global Trade Watch, will be doing a short speaking tour. Advertising will be available shortly. Lori and Jane Kelsey will speak at:

  • Auckland Town Hall on 26th January at 7pm
  • Wellington St Andrews on the Terrace on 27th (time TBA)
  • Christchurch on 28th at Cardboard Cathedral at 7pm
  • Dunedin 29th (time and venue TBA).

These events will be free, with a donation requested. A Give a Little page is being set up to support the costs of these events and ongoing campaign actions over the next few weeks and the months. In the meantime, if you have fundraising suggestions, contact Barry Coates barrycoatesnz@yahoo.com

‘Don’t sign’ Petition to PM to be launched tomorrow

Action Station is hosting a simple petition to the PM to tell the government not to sell us out and not to sign. That will be launched on 12th January. A separate communication will come out through email, Facebook and twitter tomorrow. Please circulate it everywhere.

Fact sheets
Simple fact sheets with updated information on the text will be available shortly. Apologies that the current fact sheets on the website are out of date – we will let you know when the new fact sheets are posted. The updating will be part of a website update and re-vamp taking place soon. The latest information on the TPPA text is in the Key Issues paper on the website.

Expert papers
For people wanting to understand the details of the TPPA text, there are New Zealand specific expert peer reviewed papers now available. These cover the Process (including what happens after the signing in NZ) and Investment rules. Papers on the Treaty of Waitangi, Environment and the Economics of the TPPA will be posted shortly.

Other expert analyses from offshore can be accessed on the TPPLegal website.

Labour Party position
Andrew Little has stated that a Labour Government would “defy the TPPA” if it conflicted with national sovereignty. He referred specifically to overseas ownership of residential property, so it is not clear whether this means that Labour would vote against the TPPA is there is a vote in Parliament. His Radio New Zealand interview is at http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/summerreport/audio/201785059/labour-says-it-will-defy-tpp
The Green Party, New Zealand First and the Maori Party have reiterated their opposition to the TPPA.

Media Articles:
Dr Joshua Freeman, Dr Hayley Bennet: TPPA could trump climate accord
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11567925

A huge US$15 billion ISDS claim has been lodged by TransCanada against the US over Obama’s decision to refuse permission for construction of the KeystoneXL pipeline from the Albert tar sands projects: This case is a real test for whether governments can take action on climate change, Press coverage includes:
NZ Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11571180 and http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11570574

The Corporation Behind Keystone XL Just Laid Bare the TPP’s Threats to Our Climate: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-beachy/the-corporation-behind-ke_b_8931802.html

TransCanada, This is What Democracy Looks Like: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/courtenay-lewis/transcanada-this-is-what_b_8940640.html

Keystone XL rejection leads TransCanada to sue Obama administration: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/transcanada-lawsuit-keystone-xl-pipeline-1.3392446

An interview with Lori Wallach on this case and on country of origin labelling, repealed due to WTO rulings: http://www.democracynow.org/2016/1/7/transcanada_sues_the_us_for_15b
Copyright © 2016 It’s Our Future NZ, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you signed up at an event or through the itsourfuture.org.nz website.

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Corporations, News, TPPA

It’s rumoured Auckland is hosting TPPA signing on Feb 4th – a call to action

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A TPPA update here from the ActionStation website:

“Big news! I have heard through the political grapevine that Auckland will be the host of the official TPPA signing ceremony on February 4th. That’s just 50 days away! Plans are underway for one heck of a welcome party, so watch this space.

Behind the scenes here at ActionStation we’ve been working hard to build our crowdfunded TPPA information website. [1] The website will launch in early January and is designed to make it easy for you to understand and share what the TPPA means for everyday New Zealanders, as well as influence the parliamentary process of ratifying (formally signing) the deal (as much as we can with this flawed and undemocratic process).

The website will feature information drawn from peer-reviewed analysis of the 6000-page agreement currently being conducted by the New Zealand Law Society. [2] That analysis is then handed to our team of volunteers and paid helpers who are putting it into language we can all understand, without a law degree.

Currently, 54% of polled New Zealanders do not want us to sign the TPPA. [3] Our goal is to bring that number up to 65 – 70%, with the help of this website and all of you…

Let’s keep this momentum going in 2016, because we have a lot more good to do together.

Thank you, for everything,

Laura, Marianne, Nina and Ryan”

See Action Station’s end of year update video HERE

References:
Banking, Corporations, Money Trail, TPPA

Tens of thousands of people turn out to protest against the TPPA

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With failed talks in Hawaii recently with regards to the free trade agreement, Kiwis turned out en masse today in many parts of the country to protest the whole deal that has thus far been carried out in secret. Ostensibly a free trade deal, it is a doorway that will give corporations open slather to sue us if we threaten their profit making margins … something they are already doing in other countries. Educate yourself on this issue … it is important. Here are links to various news reports throughout the country.

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Tens of thousands turned out today in NZ to protest the TPPA

“The thing about this crowd is there’s children, there’s babies, there’s Maori there’s people from India, there’s trade unionists, there’s health professional, politicians, there’s professors, singers. It’s amazing. All of New Zealand is represented here. There’s no group you could say didn’t turn up today.”  NZ Herald

“Documentary filmmaker Bryan Bruce sent a clear message to Tim Groser and the National Party today on the grounds of Parliament: ‘If they sign this deal they will be gone in the next election. We will not forget and we will not forgive them… ‘ ”   SOURCE

Source: ONE News
In Auckland thousands of protesters turned out in the rain to march from Aotea Square down Queen Street.
Further south in Christchurch thousands of people turned out in the wet at Hagley Park to march up Riccarton Road, medical students, teachers and marketing executives among the crowd.
In Otago a large group of protesters marched through Dunedin’s CBD.
Protests today end an action week by those opposed to the proposed deal.
Rallies were also planned in Wellington, Kataia, Hokianga, Whangarei, Hamilton, Colville, Tauranga, Whakatane, Napier, New Plymouth, Featherston, Nelson, Timaru, Little River and Invercargill.
In Nelson, some of the protesters formed a choir to sing their message…”

Read more & watch related videos: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/tpp-protesters-push-through-barriers-at-parliament-q05743?post_id=10204858404079493_10205039977458714#_=_

Sign up and stay informed at It’s Our Future website here: http://itsourfuture.org.nz

And/or at our TPPA page here: https://envirowatchrangitikei.wordpress.com/tppa/

Glyphosate, Health, Herbicides, Related Chemical Websites

Poisoning Our Future: Children and Pesticides

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I’m recommending here a useful NZ book on pesticides…

“Poisoning Our Future: Children and Pesticides” by Dr Meriel Watts PhD … “This book details the scientific evidence for the insidious effects of pesticides on children and calls on government institutions to adopt a more precautionary approach to better protect human health and the environment…”
Further info about this book can be found at the following website:
http://www.pananz.net/publications-2/books/
You can also purchase a hard copy or a download at the website.

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT THE MARTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
An excellent resource to familiarize yourself with how pesticides affect our kids. The pananz website has more info on glyphosate also. Dr Watts has been a long time campaigner in reducing toxic pesticide use in NZ.