People's Procession in the media

23,000 signatures to the GST-off-food petition are trollied to the steps of Parliament

The handover of the GST-off-food petition to Maori Party MP Hone Harawira on the steps of parliament received more good media coverage, particularly in Wellington.

The People's Procession finale was the lead story on Maori TV News. There was good Radio coverage. The above photo appeared in the Dominion Post with accompanying article http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4715640a23917.html

Also story in the Otago Daily Times http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/25484/petition-calls-no-gst-food and the National Business Review http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/petition-calling-gst-be-taken-food

Over the two weeks of the People's Procession and in the build-up beforehand there were probably a hundred or more radio, print and television reports.

This extensive media coverage means the GST-off-food campaign has ingrained itself in mass consciousness. All goes well for a possible CIR petition next year.

Victory for democracy achieved by RAM and the citizens of Whangarei

RAM - Residents Action Movement Media release 23 September 2008 "Despite threats from the Whangarei District Council the People's Procession to Parliament scored a great victory for democracy today," said Grant Morgan, RAM chair and national organiser of the People's Procession. "Thanks to RAM, for refusing to buckle to a local politician trying to ban our democratic voice, and to the citizens of Whangarei." "One thousand signatures were gathered today in just 2 ½ hours. There was not a single negative comment directed at our GST-off-food petition stall, with one exception, which was the message delivered by the council from one of its managers," said Grant Morgan. "WDC regulatory services manager Grant Couchman told me the council was disappointed that RAM went ahead despite being told not to." "I told Mr Couchman that we'd have to be mutually disappointed, because RAM was disappointed at the council's ban on democracy in the central city." "Mr Couchman also told me that RAM could be prosecuted under the Whangarei council bylaw that bans so called political activities in the central city. He told me that RAM could face a $20,000 fine." "I told Mr Couchman that if they were going to take any action they should hit me," said Grant Morgan. "I am questioning whether the Whangarei District Council bylaw contravenes the Human Rights Act, which guarantees freedom of democracy and political expression." "The Whangarei Mayor likes to be called Stan the Man. After his council's over-the-top attempt to intimidate RAM and ban us from putting up a GST-off-food petition stall in the central city, I think it would be more appropriate to call him Stan the Ban," said Grant Morgan. Martin Kaipo, RAM's Whangarei candidate in the upcoming General Election, attended the petition stall in the central city. He believes "the Whangarei District Council's storm cloud was blown away by a fresh breeze: the people of Whangarei." "It was an excellent day," said Martin Kaipo."The people proudly came out in support of RAM and the GST-off-food petition." "On behalf of RAM I thank the thousand Whangarei citizens who rallied to our cause and signed the GST-off-food petition," said Grant Morgan. "And I thank the retailers in the nearby shops who gave their support to the petition stall." "The people have spoken, many came up to our table and said the mayor's not going to chase us away from here. This is our place."

People's Procession starts in Kaitaia

Signing the GST-off-food petition at the Kaitaia Markets

Grant Morgan, RAM chair and national organiser of the People's Procession to Parliament

Hone Harawira, Maori Party MP for Te Tai Tokerau, signing the GST-off-food petition at the Kaitaia Markets

Union members flock to sign GST-off-food petition

EPMU and SFWU members sign RAM's popular GST-off-food petition at a mass union meeting in Manukau. 250 signatures were collected in short time.

People were very interested in RAM's new leaflet advertising the Greater Auckland stopovers of the People's Procession to Parliament.

To get copies of People's Procession leaflets email grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz

Fastest growing party registered by Electoral Commission

RAM media release
30 July 2008

Yesterday the Electoral Commission agreed to register RAM - Residents Action Movement. (See EC email below.)

RAM is the fastest growing party in New Zealand. We have gained 3,000 members since late February 2008, when RAM decided to switch from being a Greater Auckland local body coalition to being a countrywide people's movement that contests parliamentary elections.

On average, RAM has gained 150 new members every single week since we decided to go countrywide. Not even the Big Two parties, Labour and National, can claim this recruiting success.

"At our RAM tables, the grassroots are telling us how worried they are about meeting their bills, and also how upset they are that both Labour and National are only looking after the rich people," said Grant Morgan, chair of RAM.

RAM will be fielding a long party list in the 2008 General Election as well as standing in a significant number of electorates.

RAM has issued our Ten Commandments - ten policy priorities - which offer immediate "common sense" improvements in the lives of grassroots people.

Heading the Ten Commandments is our call for GST to be removed from food. RAM's GST-off-food petition has already attracted 20,000 signatures. We will be taking the petition to MP's in a two-week People's Procession to Parliament in late September/early October.

"The People's Procession to Parliament will be a chance for the grassroots to get a fairer taxation system as well as having their voice heard in the election campaign, which is usually dominated by spin from the big political machines," said Grant Morgan.

For more information, contact:

Grant Morgan
Chair of RAM - Residents Action Movement
021 2544 515
grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz


See RAM's TEN COMMANDMENTS