RAM - Residents Action Movement

Media release 12 September 2008

Central Auckland stopover for the People's Procession to Parliament

Central Auckland is to host a stopover of the People's Procession to Parliament, a two-week motorised caravan through North Island centres with the GST-off-food petition.

The petition, launched some months ago by the Residents Action Movement (RAM), has attracted 20,000 signatures to date. Many more are expected to sign during the People's Procession.

"We are really looking forward to coming to Central Auckland," said Grant Morgan, RAM's national organiser of the People's Procession. "Heaps of North Shore residents have already signed the petition, and they say their neighbours are also deeply concerned about radical hikes in food prices."

"We invite locals to come along and sign the petition, and if they like, to jump on our soapbox and say why they think GST should come off food."

Details of the Central Auckland stopover are:

12 noon Friday 26 September.
In front of Aotea Square, Queen St, central city.

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira will help RAM kick off the People's Procession in Kaitaia.

Branches of Grey Power are supporting the GST-off-food petition and the People's Procession.

At each stopover there will be a mass signing of the petition, usually accompanied by public speeches from community representatives and members of RAM

At noon on Friday 3 October, just a few days before the dissolution of Parliament, the People's Procession will hand the petition over to Maori Party MPs on the steps of Parliament.

"It is fitting that the petition be handed to Maori Party MPs since they're the only ones in the current parliament who want to remove GST from food," said Mr Morgan.

"RAM believes that removing the unfair 12.5% tax from food is an important survival and justice issue for most people. It's great to see Grey Power, Maori Party, church ministers, unionists and community leaders working together alongside RAM to deliver the tax cut of most benefit to the grassroots."

A Research New Zealand poll conducted in June 2008 found that "80% of Kiwis think the government should consider lowering tax on food".

"The People's Procession aims to make GST on food into the big election issue that it should rightfully be, with poll results revealing that 80% of Kiwis oppose the present tax," said Mr Morgan. "RAM is standing list and electorate candidate in the election to popularise common sense policies like removing GST from food."

PROCESSION ITINERARY

People's Procession main stopovers

KAITAIA  
9am Sat 20 Sept @ Kaitaia Markets, The Warehouse carpark, Mathews Av.

KERIKERI  
2pm Sat 20 Sept near corner of Kerikeri Rd & Cobham Rd.

KAIKOHE  
11am Sun 21 Sept near New World supermarket, Marion Pl, next to Hau Ora O Kaikohe offices.

WHANGAREI  
12 noon Tues 23 Sept in Cameron St Mall, Whangarei city centre.

TAKAPUNA  
12 noon Wed 24 Sept outside Information Centre on Hurstmere Av, Takapuna shopping centre.

NEW LYNN  
12 noon Thurs 25 Sept outside New Lynn library on Memorial Dve, behind Lynn Mall & off Great North Rd.

CENTRAL AUCKLAND  
12 noon Fri 26 Sept in front of Aotea Square, Queen St, central city.

MANGERE  
9.30am Sat 27 Sept inside the Mall, Mangere Town Centre, off Bader Dve.

HAMILTON
12 noon Sun 28 Sept at Garden Place, Victoria St.

TOKOROA
3pm Sun 28 Sept at park alongside shopping centre.

TAURANGA
12 noon Sun 28 Sept at Fraser Cove, next to The Warehouse.

ROTORUA
12 noon Mon 29 Sept at City Focus, central city.

PORIRUA  
11am Tues 30 Sept under the canopy at the shopping hub.

UPPER HUTT  
12 noon Wed 1 Oct outside ANZ Bank, Main St.

LOWER HUTT  
12 noon Thurs 2 Oct outside Westfield Queensgate Mall, Bunny St entrance.

CENTRAL WELLINGTON  
12 noon Thursday 2 Oct , corner of Cuba and Manners Malls.

HANDOVER OF PETITION
12 noon Friday 3 Oct on the steps of Parliament.

© Scoop Media