JOIN THE RAT PATROL AGAINST UNFAIR DISMISSALS

From March '09 workers in small businesses will be able to be sacked for any reason, or no reason at all, in their first 90 days of employment. The RAT PATROL has been launched by unions and community groups to make sure no worker get unfairly dismissed under the new law. There is loads of anger in the community about the new law, and people love the idea of bringing the giant inflatable rat to shame their own rat bosses. Come along over the next few weeks to give us a hand with the leaflets and sign-ups to build our day of action on February 28. We had a fun but wet day out with the RAT PATROL at Mangere Market on Saturday. This weekend there are a few activities planned, but it's essential that you let us know which ones you will come to in advance, so please email wewontpayforyourcrisis@gmail.com or text 0210 358 513. Saturday 21 Feb - Otara market meet 9am at Unite office, or 10am at Otara market. Saturday 21 Feb - Rock in the Park, Three Kings Reserve, off Mt Eden Road (Albert Road end) from 2pm Sunday 22 Feb - Avondale Market - meet 9am at Unite Office or 10 at the market. Monday 23 Feb - 6pm Unite office 6A Western Springs Road, planning meeting. REGISTER AS A RAT PATROL MEMBER to join the emergency solidarity pickets against unfair sackings. Our goal is to have several hundred people registered as willing and able to respond to appeals for help on short notice. Register with your email address and/or mobile number for text messages. TO REGISTER GO TO http://unite.org.nz/?q=contact OR EMAIL wewontpayforyourcrisis@gmail.com DOWNLOAD THE POSTER FROM http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/76759/index.php FEB 28: JOIN THE RAT PATROL AGAINST UNFAIR DISMISSALS: On Saturday February 28th come out on the streets to show Auckland that the Rat Patrol will be on hand to deal with unfair dismissals. Downloadable poster here: http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/76759/index.php

Truck blockade - positive spin off for Aucklanders

by Ondine Green 4 July 2008 1) Aucklanders report that, as long as they stay off the motorways, traffic this morning is at Sunday morning levels and it's much easier and more pleasant to get into work. In my personal experience, the bus I travelled on was half empty, got to its destination five minutes early, and passed almost as many bicycles coming up Great North Road than cars. The truckies' protest has had the positive spin off of showing Aucklanders what the city could be like without car congestion. Wouldn't it be great if it could be like this all the time? What if - for example - private cars were barred from the CBD on a permanent basis, with free and frequent buses and trains picking up the slack? 2) The truckies are carrying out a political strike. If ordinary workers tried to do this, they would be liable to major fines, asset seizures or even jail time. Why don't nurses, McDonalds workers or electricians have the right to do what the truckies are doing?

RAM calls for an Auckland Parliament

RAM - Residents Action Movement Media release 22 April 2008 On the last day of submissions to the Royal Commission on local governance, a de facto Auckland Parliament has been proposed by RAM - Residents Action Movement. "Bringing all the region's elected mayors, councils and community board representatives together for all-in discussions twice a year could serve as an antidote to undue corporate influence over councils," said RAM chair Grant Morgan. RAM's submission to Royal Commission on local governance in Greater Auckland by Grant Morgan Chair of RAM - Residents Action Movement RAM wishes to make a verbal submission to the Royal Commission that expands on this brief written one. RAM is generally supportive of the submission to the Royal Commission made by Manukau City Council, with the proviso of this one major addition: RAM proposes a twice-yearly General Assembly of all elected local government representatives in Greater Auckland. Such a General Assembly, which included all mayors, councillors and community board members, would begin life as a whole-of-region discussion forum, probably over time evolving into a decision-making institution. It could grow into something like an Auckland Parliament which could help to narrow the democratic deficit in Greater Auckland. This democratic deficit has arisen because of the market-based power that corporate elites have over local governance in this region. This can be seen in the moves towards the commercialisation and contracting out of council services despite majority opposition. Increasingly we are seeing councils coming under the sway of the corporate principle of "one dollar, one vote" rather than the democratic principle of "one person, one vote". So it's not surprising that only about one person in three now votes in council elections. Until this democratic deficit is bridged, any type of political mechanism for local governance in Greater Auckland will suffer from a lack of popular legitimacy. RAM believes that a General Assembly, evolving in the direction of an Auckland Parliament, is a practical proposal to enhance the role of all elected representatives and roll back the undue influence of unelected corporate elites. We think our proposal could sit comfortably alongside the proposals made by Manukau City Council. RAM will be happy to expand on these brief comments in our verbal submission.

Where are their walls?

Commentary: Pat O Dea

Conservative politicians, local and National, are figuratively tearing
their hair and rending their garments in impotent rage over graffiti.
Whether we love or hate graffiti. In my opinion the visceral hatred
from the "the powers that be" to graffiti is centered on two things;

1/ Protection of property rights, (which is a serious concern to
those who actually have property, a decreasing minority in NZ)

2/ The monopoly of all means of public expression by the privileged.

The taggers, with their incomprehensible, inarticulate, messy and
destructive petty vandalism, have a message for us all to read, if we
choose too.

The message writ large and often ugly, is one of alienation, anger,
boredom, societal breakdown and increasing inequality and lack of
resources at the bottom of society.
This is a message, that more privileged members of our increasingly
stratified society would like to see suppressed at all costs.
(Like the builders of the potemptkin towns of medieval Russia they want
to project the facade of a decent all inclusive society.)

What are the choices?
Suppression or engagement?.
More and Harsher punitive laws, greater and more aggressive enforcement
and repression. (Which I believe as well as being expensive will be
futile.) Or Engagement with the taggers.
The so called Labour Government, automatically rushes to extremism and
harsh repression, with out considering any other alternatives,

One alternative could be to try and bring taggers and their sub-culture
into the open, let's try and encourage and harness these creative
urges. This could involve government sponsored lessons in art, and
creative expression, with competitions and recognition of the talented
daring and creative.
The creation of public spaces to be made available where tagging is
acceptable. Suitably specialist structures could incorporate a challenge for city
planners and architects.

To begin with a large public wall, in the most public space possible,
(not tucked away in some remote spot as conservative councils might
agree to.) Should be built 50 cubits long and 10 cubits high. (the
height being necessary to challenge the more inventive and daring taggers.)


Architects at university should be challenged by their lecturers to
design specialist multi functional structures for this purpose.
Lots of other outlets for these young people's creative urges could be
explored and properly funded.

Who knows? a new type of acceptable People's Baroque city decoration,
complete with giant multicoloured balloon letters might result.
That art training and engagement with the tagging culture try to
encourage a taggers code of conduct, were the defacing of home owners
private property comes to be seen as dishonorable and beneath the
contempt of their tagging stars and peers.

I remember all the millions of dollars given by this labour government
to the rich America's Cup contestants for their priviledged pastime.

Ka kiti
Pat O'Dea

March for Freedom- thousands march

Join the Civil Rights Defence Facebook Group Here

Watch TV3 news report here

Thousands of protestors have rallied in a 'national day of action', opposing the so-called 'anti terrorism' raids, and calling for those arrested to be immediately released on bail.

Among the crowd of a thousand in Auckland was Rongomai Bailey who is one of the handful of accused people already on bail.

Johann Smith is passionate about his country, its people and their rights.

And so the Wairoa local travelled more than 500 kilometres to Auckland to help lead the march against the police raids.

The rally attracted more than a thousand protesters - Maori, pakeha, ethic groups, young, old, those with money and power, and those without.

Together they marched - or in some cases wheeled - to Mount Eden prison, where most of those arrested are being held on remand.

The crowd called for no charges to be laid under the terrorism suppression act against the 17 arrested and for the act to be dumped.

Rongomai Bailey was among those who were arrested.

He was allowed to address the crowd, but for legal reasons we can't identify him.

In the garden city, protestors took a more civil approach..

Protestors are now drumming up support around the world - a rally is being held in london in a few hours.

TVNZ News- Anger grows over police raids- watch video here

Oct 27, 2007 8:30 PM

Eleven days on and the anger at the so-called terror raids is continuing to mount.

Saturday saw another round of nationwide protests and instead losing interest in the cause, numbers are growing and emotions are running high.

"We've got a very strong message here from the people of Auckland - from people right throughout New Zealand, and the world," says protester John Minto.

A large crowd gathered in Auckland's city centre and marched to Mount Eden jail, where most of those arrested are being held on remand.

Along the way there was a show of solidarity for Tuhoe Maori and Tame Iti, one of those still in custody.

It was the same message in Wellington, where numbers were also up on last week's protest. They echoed the call for unity.

"By picking out Tuhoe; by picking out Ureweras, it is a kind of strategy to divide different communities - something we need to be careful about and try to stick together," says protester, Dr Maria Bargh.

There were also protests in Christchurch but this day of action isn't just confined to New Zealand. Demonstrations are also planned for Melbourne and London.

They want the terrorist laws abandoned. One man now out on bail, Rongamai Bailey, says their colleagues should be released now.

"I'm not a terrorist and the guys in Mount Eden are not terrorists," says Bailey.

Until police show their hand this issue is unlikely to go away.

"The government will ignore this movement at its peril," says Minto.

Kia Ora

1000 plus people marched in Aucks today in support of Tuhoe, Civil
Rights and activists and community workers arrested and harrassed around the
country today. Special guests were two bus loads of Tuhoe people who had
travelled up from the Urewera's to honour people with their presence. Many people
from the community were represented in the march, Maori, P.I, Pakeha, working
class, middle classes, academics and students and activists from a range of
groupings.
The march was peaceful and law abiding, if energetic and righteously
angry at times. The Police adopted a non confrontational approach, and numbers
were lower on the march itself than i have seen in a few years. Many fine
activists and people led chants, waved banners and flags, and the Tuhoe flags
blew strong in the Aucks breeze. the march was well organised, and led by people
like John Minto, Mike Treen from GPJA, and Simon Ooosterman the Anarchist bro,
but the march itself was led by Tuhoe, and they led well with great chants,
flags, spirit, courage, and humility, good people trying to help their
community out.

People got out of the way of the Tuhoe people so they could lead the
demo at various parts of the march, cos they had been hurt the hardest by the
raids a few weeks back.
The march left downtown Auckland before arriving at Mount Eden Prison.
Speakers at the Mount included Tuhoe spokespeople, Civil Liberties people, Green
M.P Keith Locke, Solidarity Union rep Joe Carolan, and Maori Trade Unionist
and activist Helen Te Hira, and one of the arrested activists who had been
bailed.
In other words, Te Tino issues, civil rights issues, trade union
issues, US imperialism issues ( related to NZ becoming a flunky to the US via the
new Terrorism Amendment Act) and the terrorism by Police of Maori
communities were all raised as issues. Simon Ooosterman spoke about what the crowd of
people could do in order to support the prisoners in practical ways, visits,
letters, messages, solidarity in practical ways. A letter written by Tame Iti
was read by one of his Tuhoe whanauanga was read to the crowd and drew a warm
applause of solidarity. It was marvellous to see so many young people, older
experienced activists, and community people from both Aucks and Tuhoe marching in a
real spirit of Unity respect, and solidarity. Keith Locke made special
mentions of the fine work the Maori Party had done on this issue, as well as his
own Party, and that work is ongoing as the Terrorism suppression Amendment Bill is
not law yet. Keith spoke about how it is Tuhoe, more so than activists, who
had been victimised by Police actions a few weeks ago. This session was held at
the Probation service offices, opposite the old Mt Eden prison.



The marchers then marched to the actual new remand Prison, where the
political prisoners are being held, and stood outside the prison where people
chanted for the freedom of the imprisoned people. Prison guards manned the roof of
the prison, perimeters of the grounds, while Police guarded the front gate.
Cops on the gate may have numbered perhaps 10. But the people was cool, like
the cops, which was the right move in order to challenge the state under the
circumstances ( by building mass, open people pressure). Another series
of speeches was delivered to the crowd at this point. John Minto said
people should look at the Global Justice and Justice Auckland ( GPJA) for a
newsletter people can sign up to, online that will give people info about new
demonstrations, new pickets, fundraising, and ongoing support for all
people involved. Check out the GPJA website for details, and for the daily
newsletter John Minto, Gereldene Peters and Mike Treen are producing.

Jimmy O'Dea the older Irish brother who got his home busted into on Thursday up at the
Point spoke well about his experience. One of the Tuhoe bro's who got bail
spoke and thanked the crowd for supporting their whanaunga and community and
received a warm applause.
The most moving, and powerful speech came from Tame Iti's son, who
spoke about his father, his fathers vision for an inclusive NZ where all NZers can
mix and mingle in peace. The air was electric when Tame's son spoke, and the
brother thanked the crowd for supporting his people. Brother spoke with passion
and vision, calm and collected. After this speech was given the message was
passed to return back to the Aucks city centre. the people returning to Aucks
was less than the 1000 plus who started but that was cool. new activity is
planned, organising work is being done, the spirit of marchers and organisers is
strong, and there is a spirit in the air that people must keep organising and
fighting this Bill.

I was unable to visit the Tuhoe manuhiri at their marae in Mangere, but
i know Helen Te Hira, and fellow Maori activist Lena Henry told me they were
taking kai out to the good people of Tuhoe, after the march ended, to their
marae, so they are being looked after. All in all a good days activity, lots of
people handing out awesome leaflets, posters, and people meeting mixing and
mingling in peaceful protest. On a personal note, i met up with a bro from Ngati
Whatua, Barry Hawke, who i worked with years ago on a building project. he is
one of the sons of Grant Hawke, one of the leaders of the struggle at
Takaparawhau (Bastion Point) in 1977-1979. It was moving for me to hear Barry speak
about the need of his young Maori people to stand up and get involved. he spoke
about how the older generation had done their yards, now it was our turn. Barry
was there with some people from his Maori hostel, a mean roopu of brothers. Barry
was interested in getting more of his Ngati Whatua people involved. This
was before the march even left Aotea square, so its inspiring to see a younger
generation of Maori people activating and serving their people, to much.

i hear that Christchurch had 200 people on the demos
down there today on the same kaupapa. solidarity,

Tony Fala

NZ Herald: Mass raid stuns veteran unionist

NZ Herald: Mass raid stuns veteran unionist

5:00AM Friday October 26, 2007

By Elizabeth Binning

Anti-terror raids
Tame Iti's case to be heard in Auckland
National, Labour 'bad as each other'

A 72-year-old socialist worker who has been protesting against the "anti-terror" raids had his own home searched by police yesterday over an alleged kidnapping.
Jimmy O'Dea, a veteran trade unionist who has prostate cancer, said he had no idea why eight carloads of police arrived in the afternoon at his Bastion Pt home armed with a search warrant.
"I was at home with my wife and kid and my dog started barking. I thought someone was there so I went out and I couldn't believe it - there were police everywhere.
"I said, 'Are you the anti-terrorist searchers?' and they ummed and ahhhed. They said, 'We have got to search your house' and they showed me the warrant and said, 'You better read it'."
The search warrant, which was granted by a district court judge on Tuesday, said police had reasonable grounds to believe that a number of items, including clothing, a chrome pistol and ammunition, hunting knife, pliers and a baseball bat, were at the house.
The items were believed to be evidence of kidnapping, threatening to cause grievous bodily harm, blackmail and commission of a crime with a firearm.

However, Mr O'Dea said he had no knowledge of any kidnapping or similar crime. "I don't commit crime like they are talking about. I was flabbergasted, to be honest."
Solidarity Union secretary Joe Carolan said Mr O'Dea was helping to distribute pamphlets for a coming protest against the "terror raids" so the timing of the search on his own home was a strange coincidence.
"We want to know why they think Jimmy is a bloody suspect, given he's 72 years old."
Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said Mr O'Dea was not a suspect in the kidnapping, nor did it have anything to do with the "anti-terror raids" or Mr O'Dea's stance on them.
Ms Hegarty said the warrant was in relation to another man who was arrested on Tuesday after his own home was searched.
The arrested man had given Mr O'Dea's address on his bail form so police had sought a new warrant and searched the property looking for evidence of the kidnapping.
"It has absolutely nothing to do with any events to do with last week's raids."
Mr O'Dea said last night he did not know the arrested man but had received mail addressed to a person in recent months. It was not clear if it was the same person who had been arrested this month.

From TVNZ news

Elderly activist slams police raid

Oct 26, 2007 8:18 PM

A long-time activist and friend of Tame Iti is labelling as "overkill" a police raid on his own home.

Seventy-two-year-old Jimmy O'Dea's house in Auckland has been searched but authorities say it has nothing to do with terrorism.

It all started with O'Dea's three border terriers.

"I heard the dogs barking and I went to the front door and opened it and the place was covered in police," O'Dea says.

Neighbours say eight car loads of officers came through O'Dea's front door.

"I said what are you searching for and they wouldn't tell me," he says.

Police produced a search warrant saying they were looking for a pistol, cell phone and ammunition.

This was going to be quite a search because O'Dea has lived there 50 years and likes to keep his things close.

"They found nothing as far as I know," he says.

It's not the first time the police and O'Dea have not seen eye to eye.

During the 1981 Sprinkbok tour they came through the back door O'Dea lost a battle with a police baton during a protest.

Before that it was the 1975 land marches and the 1978 occupation of Bastion Point.

O'Dea is an Irishman who has stood beside Maori in many a protest. He has known Tama Iti for 30 years and knows those arrested two weeks ago.

But according to police, Thursday's search has nothing to do with terrorism or Iti.

They say is was all about a kidnap suspect arrested further up the street on Tuesday.

Police also also say five cars not eight showed up as neighbours claimed.

But it does say something about the current climate that a search warrant at an activist's house is suddenly news.

And O'Dea thinks it is all to do with what happened in Ruatoki early last week when police raided suspected guerilla training camps and made a number of arrests for alleged weapons offences.

"In the 50 years I've lived in this house and the 50 years I've lived in New Zealand I have never seen anything like this in my life," he says.

MAORI YESTERDAY: TRADE UNIONS TODAY?

PRESS RELEASE: SOLIDARITY UNION
4pm, Thursday 25 October

MAORI YESTERDAY: TRADE UNIONS TODAY?

Union activists say that a police raid on a 72-year
old trade unionist in poor health today is part of a
crackdown on all political activists.

This afternoon at 2pm, eight police cars raided the
Orakei house of Jimmy O'Dea, a 72-year-old trade
unionist in poor health. The house was searched under
a warrant mentioning a kidnapping in the area.

Jimmy O'Dea says that when he told the police he was
too old to be involved in any such thing, the police
replied: "No you're not."

"Jimmy O'Dea has been a fighter for both Maori and
trade union rights for decades now," said Joe Carolan,
secretary of Solidarity Union.

"Jimmy helped to organise trade union support for the
Bastion Point occupation in 1978.

"Despite his poor health, he's been helping organise
the new Solidarity union among industrial workers in
South Auckland.

"To anyone who knows Jimmy, the idea that he could be
involved in a kidnapping is purely ridiculous," said
Joe Carolan.

"But what is true is that Jimmy is known as a fighter
for workers' rights and Maori rights. The police know
him as a 'troublemaker' from way back.

"If this is a coincidence, it's a very peculiar one,"
said Carolan.

"We have been saying that the "anti-terror" raids of
last week are an attempt to strike fear in the heart
of all political activists.

"This raid on a 72-year old man in poor health just
confirms what we've been saying."

ENDS

For more information, contact Joe Carolan on (021) 186
1450 or
634 3984.

Auckland Rallies for Civil Rights

Video of March and Chants here
Video of TV3 News here






First they came for the Maori, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Maori. Then they came for the Anarchists, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Anarchist. Then they came for the Ecologists, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't an Ecologist. Then they came for me, and by there was no one left to speak up for me. - SW Auckland.

CIVIL RIGHTS DEFENCE: All out, Aotea Square, Auckland- 12 noon Saturday October 20th

Defend Civil Rights-
rally at Aotea Square, Auckland
12 noon, Saturday, October 20th.

Join the group here

Auckland- RAM election results 2007

RAM election results 2007

SHIFT TO THE RIGHT

Across the board, the right made gains in Greater Auckland's 2007 council elections at the expense of both the political centre (Labour-aligned tickets) and the grassroots left (notably RAM).

Underpinning this shift to the right was the declining minority of the grassroots who voted. The statistics from electoral officials indicate that the non-vote was far greater in modest-income suburbs as compared to wealthier "green leaf" suburbs.

With the middle class leaning right and most of the working class not voting, even Labour-aligned tickets suffered despite offering little that was different to hard right groupings. It appears that traditional conservatives have captured seven seats on Auckland City Council, including recycled mayor John Banks, giving them a 15-5 majority over Labour/City Vision who were the ruling faction last term.

A similar, though less pronounced, pattern can be seen in other councils. One more right-winger was voted onto Manukau City Council, while a neo-liberal hardliner elected in a by-election has been returned to office, which deadlocks Labour and conservatives 9-9. At Waitakere City Council not much appears changed on the surface, but the retreat of the centre can be seen in the disappearance of their collective nametag Team West and their rebranding as "independents".

At Auckland Regional Council, the hard right defeated one Labour-aligned centrist, while Labour captured RAM's single seat, both of which shift the ARC rightwards. The centre and the right now hold six seats each, with the fate of the 13-member ARC hinging on the vote of a maverick conservative who will probably swing right.

The shift to the right has, of course, been unfavourable to RAM. Yet our grassroots coalition still enjoyed significant mass support, ranging from a high of 75.4% of the lowest winning vote to a low of 25.9% in the council elections. Four of RAM's seven ARC candidates scored over 50% of the lowest winning vote, as did two out of six of RAM's Auckland City Council candidates and three out of six of our community board candidates.

RAM's total vote in the Auckland Regional Council and Auckland City Council elections was 100,004. This is a provisional tally which will rise with uncounted votes. RAM also got 17,012 votes for the region's three District Health Boards.

RAM has not won any seats, despite collecting 117,016 votes in total. Here are RAM's results in detail:


AUCKLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL

Manukau

Lowest winning vote - 17,283
Robyn Hughes - 13,035, 75.4% of lowest winning vote
Roger Fowler - 10,946, 63.3% of lowest winning vote
Grant Morgan - 9,072, 52.5% of lowest winning vote
Total RAM votes in Manukau ARC - 33,053

Waitakere

Lowest winning vote - 20,348
Peter Hughes - 11,757, 57.8% of lowest winning vote

Auckland

Lowest winning vote - 39,370
Heather Carolan-Lyall - 14,573, 37% of lowest winning vote
Bronwen Beechey - 10,865, 27.6% of lowest winning vote
Total RAM votes in Auckland ARC - 25,438

Franklin-Papakura

Lowest winning vote - 9,838
Kim Myhill - 2,715, 27.6% of lowest winning vote

TOTAL RAM VOTES AUCKLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL
72,993


AUCKLAND CITY - COUNCILLORS

Tamaki-Maungakiekie

Lowest winning vote - 6,555
Rachel Asher - 4,087, 62.3% of lowest winning vote
Elliott Blade - 2,814, 42.9 of lowest winning vote
Total RAM votes Tamaki-Maungakiekie - 6,901

Avondale-Roskill

Lowest winning vote - 7,438
Valerie Alexander-Vui - 3,990, 53.6% of lowest winning vote
TK Khan - 1,928, 25.9% of lowest winning vote
Total RAM votes Avondale-Roskill - 5,918

Eden-Albert

Lowest winning vote - 4,946
Daph Lawless - 1,584, 32% of lowest winning vote

Western Bays

Lowest winning vote - 3,606
Geraldene Peters - 1,012, 28.1% of lowest winning vote

TOTAL RAM VOTES AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL
15,415


AUCKLAND CITY - COMMUNITY BOARDS

Tamaki

Lowest winning vote - 3,578
Andrew Wilson - 2,213, 61.9% of lowest winning vote
Shaun Kearney - 2,022, 56.5% of lowest winning vote
Total RAM votes Tamaki community board - 4,235

Eden-Albert

Lowest winning vote - 4,677
Lee Wong - 2,591, 55.4% of lowest winning vote
Rafe Copeland - 1,580, 33.8% of lowest winning vote
Total RAM votes Eden-Albert community board - 4,171

Mt Roskill
Lowest winning vote - 5,359
Oliver Woods - 2,110, 39.4% of lowest winning vote

Avondale

Lowest winning vote - 3,015
Sam Quayle - 1,080, 35.8% of lowest winning vote

TOTAL RAM VOTES AUCKLAND CITY COMMUNITY BOARDS
11,596


COUNCIL GRAND TOTAL

Total RAM votes in Auckland Regional Council and Auckland City Council (including community boards):

100,004.

DISTRICT HEALTH BOARDS

Auckland

Lowest winning vote - 8,773
Rachel Asher - 5,523, 63% of lowest winning vote
Bronwen Beechey - 2,232, 25.4% of lowest winning vote
Heather Carolyn-Lyall - 1,738, 19.8% of lowest winning vote
Len Parker - 449, 5.1% of lowest winning vote
Total RAM vote in Auckland health board - 9,942

Counties-Manukau

Lowest winning vote - 9005
Robyn Hughes - 2,406, 26.7% of lowest winning vote
Janice Roberts - 1,589, 17.6% of lowest winning vote
Grant Morgan - 1,101, 12.2% of lowest winning vote
Total RAM vote in Auckland health board - 5,096

Waitemata

Lowest winning vote - 11,459
Peter Hughes - 1974, 17.2% of lowest winning vote


ALL-IN GRAND TOTAL

Total RAM votes for Auckland Regional Council, Auckland City Council and the three District Health Boards:

117,016.

Grant Morgan

RAM organiser
634 4432 (w+h)
021 2544 515
grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz

Auckland bus operators threaten investment strike

From a NZ Herald report:

Auckland's main bus company is upset at the level of controls over its business which the Government is offering regional councils through legislation tabled in Parliament yesterday. Transport Minister Annette King says the Public Transport Management Bill will provide tools to regional councils to improve bus and ferry services, and to give passengers, local and central government, and taxpayers better value for money. [...] In signalling the legislation in February, Ms King acknowledged it would not go as far as giving the authority the power to pocket all bus and ferry fares, and then to pay transport operators fees based on passenger numbers, in the way it now manages urban rail services. She heeded industry concerns in acknowledging that a similar service model for buses and ferries might lead to "some problems" through a potential withdrawal of investment by commercial operators.

Note that this threat of a capital strike passes without comment in the same press which gets a case of the vapours whenever workers even think of withdrawing their labour. Note also that the NZ Herald believes that encouraging unnecessary and inefficient competition between public transport modes is a good thing.

Auckland Local Elections- Ramming the message home

Ramming the message home By PJ TAYLOR Monday, 08 October 2007 • Howick and Pakuranga Times

IT’S unmissable – the most prominent of local election billboard campaigns in Manukau, Auckland and Waitakare is undoubtedly that of the Residents Action Movement (RAM).

HIGH VISIBILITY: Residents Action Movement (RAM) candidates for Manukau seats on the Auckland Regional Council, from left, Roger Fowler, Grant Morgan and Robyn Hughes, are hoping to grab the political spotlight with "a very big vote" come local election day

RAM has run-out of billboards – it has 800 fixed to fences across the region – and hardly any, if even one, is positioned on public space street corners or reserves.

Manukau ARC candidate and organiser Grant Morgan says RAM’s billboards are fixed to residential properties and he estimates they number 600.

“And most of our supporters don’t live on main roads,” says Mr Morgan. He adds most people requesting to put up billboards have asked for the one reading: ‘Cut home rates. Corporate Auckland – pay your way!’

RAM’s a central figure in a grassroots, everyday person’s revolution that’s challenging the traditional local body tickets, that are usually influenced by members of parliamentary parties.

Other similar groups such as Citizens Against Privatisation are “coming in under the radar” growing in membership and support since the regional rates revolt by residents started about five years ago.

Mr Morgan says RAM is not modeled on the old way tickets have banded together. He says it’s an ongoing movement that appeals to people feeling left out of, and dissatisfied with, the local political process and its rising costs on households.

RAM’s membership support numbers about 3000, he says, a figure that would be the envy of any established ticket in the region.

Mr Morgan says RAM’s drawing diverse support from across the region. The movement uses new technologies such as websites and email to maintain regular contact with supporters, but he maintains the best means of contact is word of mouth.

“Our grassroots values are social justice, ecological balance and global cooperation,” says Mr Morgan.

“These are not the values of the market and its corporate and political elites. Their world is geared around profit, not people.”

He says many people and households are subscribing to the RAM (www.ram-auckland.net) way, as they’re experiencing “increasing hardship in the midst of fabulous wealth”.

RAM’s fielding candidates for seats on the Auckland Regional Council, the region’s district health boards and Auckland City Council and community boards.

Its main campaign platforms for the election that closes this Saturday at noon are: free and frequent public transport; cut home rates; bring councils back to the people; and, saving Pikes Point as a public green space, instead of converting it into a storage area for import vehicles.

Mr Morgan is standing for a Manukau ARC seat alongside incumbent elected member Robyn Hughes and Roger Fowler.

“RAM’s policy is to cut home rates by levying a business differential which makes corporate Auckland pay its way,” says Ms Hughes.

“Businesses, unlike homeowners, can legally escape most council rates through GST refunds, tax write-offs and cost-plus pricing.

“Councils are ‘inherently involved in income redistribution’, to quote the official findings of the recent rates inquiry (Report of Local Government Rates Inquiry),” says Ms Hughes.

John Minto on Rising Rates and the Labour Party

Local body funding

It says a lot about the outcomes the government wants from an inquiry when one looks at the person they appoint to lead it.

In the 1980s Labour chose businessman Brian Picot to propose a new model for school management and we got Tomorrow’s Schools which sees them as competing businesses in a marketplace. In the 1990s John Banks as mayor of Auckland picked ex National MP Bill Birch to make proposals on Auckland City finances and needless to say savage cuts were proposed.

Last year Labour set up an inquiry into local body financing after a public outcry at rapidly rising rates. The person they appointed to lead the inquiry was David Shand who had recently returned to New Zealand after many years overseas which included eight years working in Washington for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

The World Bank and the IMF make up two-thirds of what is known as the “Washington consensus” (the other third being the US government) This so-called consensus is the view that economic progress requires countries to privatise their resources, sell their assets and deliver policies such as health, education and water supply through the private sector as “user pays” services. These policies have been implemented around the world under “structural adjustment” programmes whereby financial assistance is provided to countries on condition their governments agree to restructure their economies to match the needs of international business.

The trail of economic destruction these undemocratic, un-elected, all-powerful bodies have left throughout the world can perhaps best be described as a crime against humanity. Under their policies poverty for the world’s poorest has deepened with basic services now frequently unaffordable. The benefits go to the companies that now own the infrastructure and assets at the expense of ordinary people.

Frequently the indebtedness which has led to the structural adjustment programme in the first place has come from World Bank and IMF advisors who have encouraged countries to borrow heavily for large infrastructure projects. When the host country has difficulty making the repayments these same organisations then insist on their business-friendly policies. The debt is restructured and the economic screws tightened further. The IMF and World Bank are really just a more sophisticated version of the shop-front loan shark.

So what did David Shand’s report suggest were the answers to our high rates? In the report released last week there should be no surprise that the solutions proposed are along the same lines as an IMF prescription.

It’s not a structural adjustment programme but it has all the same elements. Shand is proposing such things as user-pays charges for water and wastewater, more flat charges for services, bringing in the private sector to build infrastructure such as roads which we would be charged tolls to use.

Shand knows public opinion is strongly opposed to more asset sales so he hasn’t advocated outright that council sell their assets but in an exercise of verbal gymnastics says Councils should justify not selling these assets such as ports and airports.

In true IMF style he is also proposing councils go into debt for long-term projects. Future councils would then be faced with the sale of assets to cover these debts. (Government debt was the reason given for selling off our prized assets 20 years ago)

The single biggest change he recommends is to “remove the business differential for rates”. Translated into English this means a massive shift in the rates burden from businesses onto householders.

It shouldn’t be any surprise that the report has been welcomed by business groups. David Shand has done them proud.

The report does say that government and councils should keep a close eye on the affordability of rates for "the two lowest income quartiles". In other words Shand realises his prescription will increase hardship markedly for low and middle-income households and this line is a sop to notions of social responsibility.

Councils should keep down their spending – fair enough! There are plenty of projects local body politicians dream up as monuments to themselves rather than to meet community needs. But this problem has been used as an excuse for transferring the rates burden onto those least able to pay.

It just doesn’t make sense. Rather than stabilising or reducing the burden, local body rates and service charges will increase rapidly for most of us under Shand’s proposals. Labour sees our future in the hands of business.

Earlier this month the government appointed the same David Shand to head the Tertiary Education Commission. Grim tidings for the future Labour sees for our kids’ education.

Uniting Communities from the base- the RAM election launch

The Resident Action Movement's campaign for Auckland Regional and City Council kicked off on Wednesday night in a Trades Hall auditorium that echoed to rockabilly, swing and passionate poetry, where local environmentalists, anti racists, trade unionists, student leaders and community activists united for a strong campaign against the dominance of corporate led politics.


The evening began with an eloquent speech by well known Chilean poet Esteban, who spoke about the tragic death of his neighbour Folole Muliaga, in a city where profits came before people. Esteban, main organiser for the Latin American Cultural Centre in Onehunga, said he was a supporter of RAM because he agreed of its vision of uniting Aucklands communities from the base. And then he went on to rock out on the bass, to the revolutionary Latin Rockabilly that is Echeverria Y Cia!

Red Chelly

The Belfast Poets Collective treated the audience to their show "Love Poetry, Hate Islamophobia", currently on world tour. When they heard about the attempt by racist fundementalist Christian preachers to demonise New Zealand's Muslim community, they made a sharp detour, to lend their support for RAM's strong anti racist stance. Their show gave thoughtful, radical and sharp lessons from a city where communities have been divided, strengthening the resolve of the audience to stand up and be counted for unity and peace.

Phatbob combined the romantic with the anti corporate-
A favourite Celtic cocktail of RAMs!

Gordon Hewitt exploded in a rage of fire and anger, at the pain caused by military occupation

Uniting the communities from the bass...

Roger Fowler, Co ordinator of the Mangere Community Centre, sang the RAM anthem "Movin On", painting a joyous picture of an Auckland without traffic jams and parking tickets, where frequent fare free busses funded by corporation tax and the money currently wasted on the motorway lobby not only improved life for the people, but helped reduce the pollution causing climate change. Roger is standing for RAM in Mangere.

Robyn Hughes, RAM's Councillor on the Auckland Regional Council, looked forward to being joined by Roger and many other new RAM Councillors after the election. Being only one voice amongst 13 was hard- if the RAM bloc increased in size and influence, so too would the reality of implementing what we were fighting for.


Finally, Grant Morgan, Ram organiser, unveiled RAM's secret weapon in the Battle of the Billboards. Where other tickets such as the CityRats, CityVision and Mike Lee's Repe concentrate on their political brands and egos, RAM's billboards are dedicated to the four main policies they are fighting for- a cut in home rates for Auckland's hard pressed workers, free public transport, a strong stand for diversity, peace and multiculturalism in the face of racist attempts to divide Auckland's communities, and the protection of our public assets from privatisers, such as the Pikes Pt park in Manukau harbour.



Now the Battle of the Billboards begins! If you agree with RAM's policies and want to put a billboard up in your community, please give Joe a phone at 021 1861450, 09 634 3984, or email joe@solidarityunion.com. RAM has no corporate donors like the National and Labour financed tickets- we are made up of grassroots campaigners and community activists sick of an Auckland run for big business. Please join us in the fight!