FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 30/10/08

Waiheke Pirates Assail Auckland

Pirate protesters from Waiheke Island will converge on Auckland’s Pier 2 at 8.35am tomorrow (Friday 31 October) to protest against recent price hikes on the Waiheke to Auckland ferry run.

Protesters from the Campaign for Fair Ferry Fares (C4FFF) will take up their pirate posts on Matiatia Wharf on Friday 31 October between 7-8am to hand out leaflets and encourage commuters and ferry users to speak out against the latest 12.7% price hike. The pirates will take to the High Seas on the 8am ferry sailing to Auckland, where they will be joined at 8.35am by ARC Chairman Mike Lee and ARTA General Manager Peter Clark.

Lee and Clark will meet the pirate protestors to demonstrate their solidarity with members of the Campaign for Fair Ferry Fares, who are fighting to have the recent ferry fare increases reduced – especially in the wake of falling oil prices. Infratil, the private investment company that owns Fullers, demands a 20% annual return and many islanders believe this to be a driving factor of the price hikes. Waiheke Islanders have faced a 52% increase in their ferry fares since 2002.

C4FFF spokesperson Cathy Urquhart, says: ‘Many islanders do feel they are being robbed, or more accurately held to ransom, as Fullers have a monopoly on getting to the CBD… We need to ensure that fares are within the reach of all islanders.’

The ‘Robbery on the High Seas’ protest will take place at Matiatia Wharf on Friday October 31 from 7-8am, and transfer to Auckland’s Pier 2 at about 8.35pm.

ENDS

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