November 26 2004

Alliance to vote on 2005 Election strategy

Alliance members are expected to endorse running a Party list in the 2005 General Election at the Party's annual conference in Wellington this weekend.

Conference convenor Jill Ovens says the Conference theme is "Standing strong; standing together" reflecting that members are keen to get on with the job of refocussing the Alliance as a grassroots-driven party of the Left.

"We have a programme that would make a real difference in the lives of everyday people, including good quality healthcare, free education, affordable housing and secure jobs."

Ms Ovens says New Zealand is becoming a more unfair and unequal society despite a strengthening economy.

"Children born into poorer families should have the same chances in life as everyone else's kids. No one should be denied a basic standard of living. That's why we support raising minimum wages and benefits."

She says the task before the Alliance is to build support and credibility among working class people, struggling beneficiaries, young people and students. Conference sessions will focus on local activism and national campaigns, with an emphasis on preparing for next year's General Election.

The Alliance will be electing new Party leaders after Matt McCarten and Laila Harre announced they would be stepping down.

On the agenda are remits that would ban those in leadership positions from actively working for other parties, though Alliance members will continue to work alongside the Greens, Labour and others at a local level.

2004 Alliance Conference Agenda

27th & 28th November 2003

Wellington Bridge Club, 17 Tinakori Road, Thorndon, WELLINGTON

(Shaded areas closed to media and non-member observers)

Saturday 27th November

8.30am Registration

9.30am Welcome

10.00 am AGM

Election of chairperson

Apologies

Record of delegates

Conference 2003 minutes

Financial report

Membership report

11.00am

Morning Tea

11.30am

Guest speaker: Chris Poor

Guest singer/songwriter: Don Franks

12 noon Constitutional Remits

Delegate discussion/voting:

- Elected positions (Otago/Southland)

Reopen nominations where necessary

1.00 pm Lunch

Sector groups/Secretariat to meet

2.00 pm

2005 Electoral strategy

Delegate discussion and voting:

- Council resolution

- Alternative resolution

- South Auckland and Otaki branch remits

3.00 pm

Choir, Choir Pants on Fire

Afternoon tea

3.30 pm Constitutional Remits contd.

Delegate discussion/voting includes:

- Objectives and Principles

- Other non-policy remits

Policy and Manifesto amendments

Adoption of policy papers

6.00 pm Conference Adjourns for Day

Nominations close

6.30 pm Conference Dinner

Sunday 28th November

9 am Adoption of budget

9.30 am

Election of Officers and Conference-elected reps to Council: short speeches from candidates

Voting

10.30am Morning Tea

11.00am

Issues-based workshops (1)

Jobs and workers' rights

Electricity and transport

Water and environment

12 noon

Issues-based workshops (2)

- Education

- Benefit levels/poverty

- Housing, health

1 pm

Lunch

2.00pm

Campaign Session

- Internal organisation (recruitment, internal communication, fundraising, networking on the Left)

- Developing skills for campaigning (media strategy, campaign strategy, door knocking, visual materials, public meetings)

3.40 pm

Finale

3.50 pm

Afternoon Tea

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

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