Updated 10 January 2002

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NATIONAL - WHAT’S ON
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Please note: the peace rallies, vigils and meetings notices are now included in the what’s on listings; if this becomes unmanageable in the future, we will send them in separate messages as we did last year.

*** NATIONAL ***

~ 16 January - anniversary of the start of the Gulf war and 11 years of bombing and vicious economic sanctions against the people of Iraq, see local listings for Wellington.

~ 6 February - Waitangi Day, anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and of 162 years of waiting for the government to honour Te Tiriti, see local listings for Whangarei.

~ 8 to 10 February - Activism in Aotearoa 2002! will be held at Brookfield Camp, Moores Valley, Wainuiomata; information now available on-line at http://www.geocities.com/activisminaotearoa/ If you can help with getting out publicity flyers and posters, or want more info, contact Yadana tel (04) 384 1448, or activisminaotearoa@yahoo.com

~ 8 to 10 February - Te Ao Marama Festival, the theme of the 8th festival is 'Celebrating Papatuanuku, Caring for Our Earth Mother', includes an indigenous film festival, fashion shows, theatre, dance, whanau activities, workshops, exhibitions, food and craft stalls, bands and musical acts. The festival is a non-profit making event and relies upon the goodwill of the many talented performers who have supported the kaupapa of Te Ao Marama - to commemorate our past, celebrate our survival and to plan our future; will be held in the Independent State of Whaingaroa, at Te Kopua, Raglan; for more information contact Angeline Greensill, Festival Coordinator, tel (07) 846 1252 or whaingaroakitewhenua@yahoo.co.nz

***** LOCAL *****

*** WHANGAREI

~ Coalition for Peace Whangarei weekly meetings are temporarily on hold although activities will continue in the meantime; working meetings will reconvene in January or earlier if the US starts on Somalia or Iraq or others of Dick Cheney's '40 or 50 countries'. Contact Tim, tel (09) 434 6633 or the-farm@ihug.co.nz

~ TUES, 5 February - ‘Te Tiriti O Waitangi and Constitutional Change’, a four-hour workshop exploring constitutional change and Te Tiriti O Waitangi, led by members of Network Waitangi Whangarei with guest speakers; two sessions 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 6pm, at Te Tii Waitangi campground. Cost is on a sliding scale $10-$50 (please subsidise others if you can). For more information or to register contact Kathryn McKenzie tel (09) 436 2143 or kamck@paradise.net.nz, Tim Howard tel (09) 434 66 33, or Moea Armstrong (09) 436 1679.

*** AUCKLAND

~ MON, 14 January - public meeting to discuss Takaparawha (Bastion Point) where "the Orakei Trust have been evicting tenants (and whanau) from the houses on Kupe St. This is to sell the land to developers (on 150 year leases to circumvent the governing act), in order to cover bad business ventures and mismanagement. The Orakei Residents Association (ORA) was set up by a group of grassroots Ngati Whatua in 2001, who have been occupying 20 of the vacant residences in order to halt further demolitions. They are standing firm in order to "ensure the retention of our sacred lands, our homes are preserved for our families..." " For more info contact ORA, tel Steve Phillips tel (021) 259 0120.

~ TUES, 15 January 2002 - the Women4Peace group begins meeting again, 7pm, at the Shakti Asian Women's Centre, 138 Church St Onehunga, in the conference room. All women welcome, the Women's Centre is women-only space. For more info tel (09) 636 8512.

~ For dates and times of the weekly Silent Peace Vigil outside the Quaker Meeting House this year, tel Friends Centre (09) 630 6834.

~ For details of Anti War Coalition activities, tel (09) 267 7737 or check out http://www.geocities.com/aklantiwar/

~ For details of when the 'Peaceful Living’ weekly meetings will resume this year, contact Tim Tipene, warrior.kids@xtra.co.nz

~ February 2002 - Tamaki 2002, a celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Aotearoa Traditional Maori Performing Arts Festival - information about the venue, and application forms for those interested in having a stall are now available on-line at http://www.tamaki.org.nz/

*** ROTORUA

~ Rotorua Peace Coalition weekly meetings will resume in January. For more information contact Julie, tel (07) 347 4416 or julz.radford@xtra.co.nz

*** WELLINGTON and HUTT VALLEY

~ THURS, 10 January - vigil for peace, 5pm to 6pm at the Cenotaph, the vigils will be held every Thursday at the same time and place until the bombing stops. For more info contact c/o PMA, tel (04) 382 8129, pma@xtra.co.nz

~ THURS, 10 January - Peace Action Wellington planning meeting, after the weekly vigil (6-15pmish) at the PMA offices, Trades Hall, 126 Vivian Street. For more info contact PAW c/o tel (04) 382 8129, pma@xtra.co.nz

~ WEDS, 16 January - Peace Action Wellington information stall, 12 noon to 2pm in Cuba Mall (unless the weather is very wet). Every Wednesday until further notice, for more info contact PAW c/o tel (04) 382 8129, pma@xtra.co.nz

~ WEDS, 16 January - Stop killing the people of Iraq! candle lit vigil with speakers to mark the anniversary of the start of the Gulf war, from 8pm to 9pm, outside the US Embassy, 29 Fitzherbert Tce, Thorndon. For more info contact PMA, tel (04) 382 8129, pma@xtra.co.nz

~ THURS, 17 January - vigil for peace, 5pm to 6pm at the Cenotaph, the vigils will be held every Thursday at the same time and place until the bombing stops. For more info contact c/o PMA, tel (04) 382 8129, pma@xtra.co.nz

~ SAT, 19 January - 'Behind the News' the fortnightly programme on Wellington Access Radio (783 AM), broadcast at 12-30pm, brought to you by Jim Delahunty, producer of 'Dig'.

~ Every Sunday, ‘Peace Report’ on Wellington Access Radio (783 AM), broadcast at 11-45am, brought to you by the Peace Council, funded by PADET. If you or your group wish to make a free programme to be broadcast in this slot, please contact Des Brough tel/fax (04) 388 3173.

*** CHRISTCHURCH

~ emergency response vigil details - if the war goes beyond Afghanistan, there will be a vigil at 5-30pm in Cathedral Square on the day on which we are first aware of this (ie, if the news breaks here in NZ after 5pm our time then we will be holding the vigil the next day). For more info contact Peace Action Network

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If you would like your events or meetings advertised, send them to For on-line listings of peace vigils, rallies and meetings in Aotearoa, check out http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/vigils.htm

For articles and statements about the war against the people of Afghanistan, check out http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/usatresp.htm

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