Media release: Its Our Future
17 March 2014

National mobilisation against TPPA on Saturday 29 March: 15 towns & cities

A national day of action to stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement will take place on Saturday 29 March 2014.

Local communities in at least fifteen New Zealand cities and towns will host marches and rallies to express opposition to the secrecy of the TPPA negotiations and the potential threat it poses to our national sovereignty and te Tiriti o Waitangi.

This is in an unprecedented groundswell of public concern over such an agreement, Its Our Future spokesperson Edward Miller said.

It follows a campaign in late 2013 to oppose the secrecy of the TPPA, where 26,000 signatures or letters called for release of the draft text. Last month the Labour, Greens, NZ First, Mana and Maori parties made similar demands.

Protests are being organised in Hokianga, Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Taranaki, Tauranga, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Geraldine, and Invercargill, with several more being finalised.

The national day of action is being coordinated by Its Our Future, and is supported by the Green, New Zealand First, Maori and Mana parties. Formal sponsors include Oxfam, Greenpeace and the Council of Trade Unions, a number of individual trade unions and organisations. Many more are distributing information through their networks.

Background

The TPPA is a mega-deal that has been under negotiation for four years. Twelve countries are currently involved: the US, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, NZ, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

The documents are all secret, aside from leaked texts. But enough is known to show that it could impact on a broad range of life, from Pharmac and the Internet, give foreign investors the rights to sue the government over tighter mining laws or tobacco control, prevent Buy Kiwi rules for local and central government, stop the establishment of new SOEs, such as Labour’s proposed KiwiAssure, and more.

For further information go to http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz/march-29-nationwide-day-of-action-against-the-tppa

Ends.

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Auckland

Location: Meet at Aotea Square, then march down Queen St to the US Consulate
Hosts: Moana Maniapoto, Martyn ‘Bomber’ Bradbury
Speakers include:
Robert Reid, FIRST Union
Lisa Er, founder of Lisa’s Hummus
Jeanette Fitzsimons, Coal Action Network Aotearoa
Jeff Szusterman, Vice-president, Actors Equity
Graeme Easte, Albert-Eden local Board and a former City Councillor
Prof Jane Kelsey
Metiria Turei, co-leader of Greens
Hone Harawira, leader of Mana Movement
Rangi McLean, Maori Party
Asenati Lole-Taylor MP, NZ First
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/454683364631627/?ref=22

Christchurch

Location: Cashel Mall Restart, 114 Cashel Street, 1pm
We will march through REstart mall with our pickets and banners, being as loud as possible (while still respecting mall goers) and then assemble in the Cathedral Square for speeches.
Speakers include:
Dr Erik Monasterio
Claire Curran, Labour MP
Steffan Browning, Green MP
John Kelcher, archivist
Christine Dann, NZ not for Sale
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/605044852899708/?ref=22

Dunedin

Location: Rally at The Octagon, Dunedin, 1 pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/221229231399538/?ref=22

Hamilton

Location: Garden Place, Victoria Street, Hamilton, 1pm
Live music, speakers, and peaceful protest!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/181743182030503/

Hokianga

Location: Kohukohu Ferry, 1 pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/498005333646108/

Nelson

Location: Meet at 12:30pm at the Millers Acre I-site
March up Trafalgar St to arrive for a Rally at about 1:00pm.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/643470822377621/

Palmerston North
Speakers include:
Iain Lees-Galloway, Labour MP
Jack McDonald, Green Party List candidate for Te Tai Hauāuru Maori electorate
Ass-Prof Jeff Sluker- School of People, Environment & Planning, Massey University
Anthony Lewis- General Manager of Services, & City Library, PNCC
Jill White (in absentia) - ex-MP, Mayor & Horizons Councillor.
Bands:
1. Afrokiwi band- (PN/Africa)
2. Erin Manu & Frank John (Taranaki)
3. "Jazz Talk" -Sue Pugmire & Nigel Brooke (PN/Wanganui, UK)
4. "Henpicked"- (Kapiti Coast)

Taranaki

Location: Puke Ariki Landing, rally at 11am (note earlier time than the other events)
Hikoi around the streets and market.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/181486005379363/

Tauranga

Location: Red Square, Tauranga, 1pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/680840758623364/

Thames
Location: Rally outside National MP office, 614 Pollen St, at 11am.
People are then travelling to join the Hamilton rally

Wellington
Location: The Bucket Fountain, Cuba St, Wellington
12.30-1.00pm Brass Razoo (Brass Solidarity band)
1.00pm Cuba Street, Bucket Fountain
MC – James Nokise
Speakers include:
Sarah Meads - Oxfam
Todd Rippon – Actor’s Equity
NZCTU Representative
Vikram Kumar – CEO of the Internet Party – former CEO of InternetNZ
Debbie Leyland – UCANNZ – Public Health Advocate
Te Kupu – Advocate for Indigenous Rights & Maori Sovereignty
March to Parliament:
At Parliament ETA 2.30pm
Speakers from Political Party sponsors of the National Day of Action
Green Party - Russel Norman
MANA Party – Ariana Paretutanganui-Tamati
Maori Party – Chris McKenzie
NZ First - TBC

Representatives from various organisations concerned about the TPPA on the Environment will stand in solidarity at the forecourt of Parliament.

Whanganui
Location: Meet at the Silver Ball Sculpture on the Riverfront 1pm to walk up to Majestic Square.
Speakers include:
Nelson Lebo (environmental educator)
Hamish McDouall (Labour Party)
Tanea Tangaroa (anti-fracking activist)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/230952810411676/

Whangarei

Location: Meet outside Claphams Clock Museum Town Basin, 1pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/685644708146440/

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