This site is an archived version of Indymedia prior to 5th November 2012. The current site is at www.indymedia.org.nz.

Features

Protests across Aotearoa mark anniversary of the BP Gulf Oil spill

Submitted by climatecamp on 22 April 2011 - 12:00am
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  • Community Issues
  • Environment
  • Indigenous Struggles
  • Local
  • Protest Activity

New Zealanders from Dunedin to Auckland led globalised protests to commemorate the one-year anniversary of BP's Gulf Oil Disaster by demanding an end to the environmental destruction and climate destabilization created by fossil fuel and other extractive industries. Communities of Aotearoa stood alongside environmental, climate, and social justice groups all over the world in an International Day of Direct Action Against Extraction.

New Zealanders in Taranaki, Wellington, Dunedin, Whanganui, Nelson, Auckland, the East Cape and more were joined by Gulf Coast residents fighting offshore drilling, Appalachians resisting mountaintop removal coal mining, Pennsylvania and New York residents opposing natural gas hydrofracking, Canadians fighting tar sands mining in Alberta and more across the globe.

Reports of global activities are being compiled by Rising Tide North America at the www.extractionaction.net website.

Looks like we've got a movement on our hands...

'Operation 8- Deep in the Forest' Screened Nationally

Submitted by Zackattack on 20 April 2011 - 5:35pm
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  • Indigenous Struggles
  • Indymedia
  • Local
  • Operation Eight

Description

This past Monday evening, the Auckland screening of the new documentary 'Operation 8- Deep in the Forest' informed, delighted and entertained a near capacity crowd at Skycity cinemas. The film by Errol Wright and Abi King-Jones is a detailed survey of the October 2007 terrorism raids and paints a terrifying (and occassionally a surprisingly comical) picture of police repression of political dissent in Aotearoa. 

The film is currently screening nationwide and you can take a look for  further screenings in your area below;

October 15th Solidarity  | cutcutcut films |  October 15th solidarity Newsletter |  Film Trailer

Action against oil drilling intensifies

Submitted by Iota (not verified) on 13 April 2011 - 11:57am
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  • Environment
  • Local

Get oil exploration out of our waters! That was the message chorused by 600 plus people who converged on normally quiet Whangaparaoa Bay on the Eastcape on Saturday the 2nd of April.

Lining the roadsides for 60kms in any direction from Whangaparaoa Bay that morning were hundreds of signs echoing this cry.

Outraged by the government's decision to allow Brazilian oil giant, Petrobras, rights to deep sea drill off their coast, locals, including iwi Te Whanau a Apanui, were joined by a large sea-bound flotilla of groups such as Greenpeace, Nuclear Free flotilla, Forest and Bird and the climate action group, 350 Aotearoa, as well as other supporters who traveled from all over New Zealand via land to voice their concerns.

“We need to stand up and say what is being risked if deep sea oil drilling goes ahead”, urged Rawiri Waititi, from Te Whanau a Apanui. “Our primary life source is the sea here in Te Whanau a Apanui. Fisheries, coastal farming, the migratory path of the sperm whale, which comes right through this area, will all be affected and thats regardless of whether there is a disaster or not”. He referred to the fact that the drilling process will still release oil into the ocean even in the best case scenario.

 

Roger Award Winners

Submitted by Anonymous on 5 April 2011 - 6:02pm
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  • Class War
  • Community Issues
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  • Neoliberalism
  • Right Wing
  • State

WARNER BROTHERS WINS

BUPA 2nd; IMPERIAL TOBACCO 3rd

JOHN KEY & HIS GOVERNMENT WINNER OF ACCOMPLICE AWARD

PETER JACKSON WINS QUISLING AWARD

 

Finalists: BUPA, Imperial Tobacco Telecom, Vodafone, Warner Brothers and Westpac. The Government (specifically John Key) was the only finalist for the Accomplice Award – (as part of the nomination of Warner Brothers). Criteria: the transnational (a corporation which is 25% or more foreign-owned) which is worst in each or all of the following:  Economic Dominance -Monopoly, profiteering, tax dodging, cultural imperialism. People - Unemployment, impact on tangata whenua, women, children, abuse of workers/conditions, health and safety of workers and the public, cultural imperialism. Environment - Environmental damage, abuse of animals. Political interference - Cultural imperialism, running an ideological crusade. Judges: Paul Corliss, from Christchurch, a life member of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union; Christine Dann, from Banks Peninsula, a writer and researcher; Sue Bradford, from Auckland, a community activist and former Green MP; Joce Jesson, a Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies in Education, University of Auckland and an activist in various community organisations; and Wayne Hope, Associate Professor, Communications Studies, Auckland University of Technology. The winner was announced at an event in Auckland on April 4th.

 

Rally For Christchurch Community Assembly

Submitted by Beyond Resistance (not verified) on 3 April 2011 - 10:45am
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  • Class War
  • Local

Today was a good day to be in Christchurch, at least if you attended the Rally for Christchurch Community Assembly.

Between 80-100 attended and went away inspired, energise and motivated to organise in their Communities, building on the solidarity and links made in the weeks following the quake.

What was special about the day was the absence of politicians and officials speaking at people, but really not saying anything at all. What was present was ordinary people verbalising their experiences and concerns, sharing their thoughts and issues freely,  in an open forum.

Serious concerns that were brought up and discussed included issues around sewerage, housing, heating, public transport, health and majorly the authoritarian nature of the Government and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA).

Links: Beyond Resistance | Rally for Christchurch | Call out for Funds | Wellington Fundraiser (8th April)

Call out for ((I))ndymedia-istas

Submitted by AIMC on 23 March 2011 - 10:42pm
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  • Indymedia
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((i))ndymedia Aotearoa is now 10 years old and has progressed through the years with hundreds of people involved since the beginning. Involvement in ((i))ndymedia has ranged from tech support, web design, editorial collective, info stalls, film screenings, workshops, photography but most importantly the literally thousands of works of DIY journalism. ((i))ndymedia also acts as a networking hub for community events in the events calender.

The Independent Media Centre continues to evolve, recently adopting a new website format and this evolution will continue as those involved continue to try and make the site more welcoming for accurate, passionate works of citizen journalism.  

Afghanistan: Global solidarity, not foreign occupation

Submitted by Gordo (not verified) on 18 March 2011 - 1:03pm
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  • Local
  • War

Today, Foreign minister Murray McCully said that New Zealand troops may be in Afghanistan for another four years. This is despite the growing opposition to the continued Western occupation of the country by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, himself installed by Washington soon after its invasion of the country in 2001.

Karzai last week demanded an apology from the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) over continued civilian casualties. Adding further fuel to the fire, Yar Mohammad Khan, a cousin of President Karzai's father, was shot dead when he emerged from his house during a raid by foreign troops in Kandahar just two days ago.

As we approach the 10-year mark of the ‘war on terrorism’ it useful to reflect upon New Zealand’s participation in it.

Links  |  Peace Action Wellington  |  Global Peace and Justice Auckland  |

The Hikoi in Auckland

Submitted by mihau (not verified) on 17 March 2011 - 1:08pm
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  • Indigenous Struggles
  • Local

Description

Yesterday a Hikoi to Stop the Marine and Coastal Areas Act marched up Queen Street in the Auckland city centre. It began with a few short speeches and karakia in front of Britomart shopping mall. Some of the words said expressed disappointment in the relatively low numbers of participants. There were around 150 people, Maori and Pakeha walking up Queen Street with banners and flags. The Hikoi stopped at Myers park and more speeches followed. There were very broad but clear connections drawn between Tino Rangatiratanga struggles and sustainability, as well as neo liberalism and oppression of indigenous people around the world. The speeches stemmed from disappointment and disillusion in the current position of the Maori party – naming its coalition with the national party as a betrayal of Tino Rangatiratanga principles - to calls for an uprising against the government inspired by the current situation in the Middle East and North Africa.

Workers locked out at SkyCity casino

Submitted by Zackattack on 7 March 2011 - 4:43pm
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  • Class War
  • Community Issues
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Stalled contract negotiation at Skycity resulted in about 68 workers being locked out today in downtown Auckland.  The major claims of the union were for a minimum wage of $15 hr for all workers, a cost of living wage increase and for security of hours for part time staff. SkyCity Entertainment Group, which owns the casino projects a massive net profit of $130 million for this year. 

As workers were locked out, Unite union members then initiated a picket from 11:00 onwards, preventing Skycity customers from entering the building.  As of the time of writing, negotiations are taking place between Skycity and Unite to see if an agreement can be reached before the picket line re-establishes itself.

 

Links  |  Unite Union

Poorest Communities Desperate after Christchurch Quake

Submitted by Jared on 27 February 2011 - 9:49am
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  • Class War
  • Local

Description

BEYOND RESISTANCE PRESS RELEASE:

Desperate and unsettling stories are emerging in the poorest communities of Christchurch. Residents of the Eastern suburbs, especially Avonside, are still without water, and contact with state aid services has been zero. Housing New Zealand residents — neglected after the September 4th earthquake — are once again angry at the lack of help in their blocks, and are struggling to get through.

Members of Beyond Resistance and the strong community centred around Gilby Street have been door knocking and distributing food in the wider Avonside community. Using cars, bikes or on foot, they have managed to take prepared food and water out to those in need. Often they are the first contact with the outside world for Christchurch East residents, and their efforts have been very appreciated. Bottled water, soup, vegetables and gas canisters for cookers have been the main items of need.

Links  |  Beyond Resistance   |  Another Major Quake Strikes Otautahi