Latest articles

  • Just a bunch of hippies?

    Byron Clark A man with long blonde dreadlocks leads a procession of about 140 other people down am almost carless street. The crowd is predominantly young, cosmopolitan in its make up, and colourful in its outfits. Some sort of parade? No, the blonde dredlocks are under a hardhat, which complements the high visibility jacket and…

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  • Safer Spaces in the Occupy Together movement

    article by Ian Anderson and Stacey Nylund, originally published in Issue 5 of the Occupied Dominion Post. How can we be together in a unity that is not simplistic, that is not oppressive, that is rather complex and emancipatory? -Angela Davis, Occupy Wall Street By occupying spaces in the middle of major cities, we all…

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  • Elections: why bother?

    The Workers Party is supporting Mana this election, after standing down from national elections. But why do 1 in 4 young people choose not to vote? Isn’t that a rational choice given the options? Can a capitalist Westminster system really represent the majority? A socialist perspective on why we participate in elections, followed by kai…

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  • Occupy Wellington: what is the 99?

    Sunday: 13/11/11 2:30pm Location: Free University, Jack Illiot Green, Civic Square Wellington, New Zealand What is the 99%? Who is the 99%? Possibly the best agitational slogan to come forward in the past 30 years from the left, too often in the occupy upsurge this idea has been taken at face value, something which undermines…

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  • Occupied Dominion Post: first sitting of the People’s Parliament

    Originally published in Issue 3 of the Occupied Dominion Post. Friday 11.11.11 is the first sitting of the Participatory Peoples’ Parliament at 5:30pm. It’s about democracy for the people, by the people. So join the G7 Billion! Followed by a weekend of: Saturday 2:30: Global Occupy Rundown 3:30: General Assembly 5:30: Music Sunday Real free-trade…

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  • Solidarity against CMP lockout, Auckland fundraiser, Christchurch picket

    On October 29 we reported on the current CMP meat industry lockout and fundraising efforts (see article here). We enourage all Auckland readers of this website to attend the upcoming fundraiser at Trades Hall, which appears to be organised by Socialist Aoteroa members and other progressives. We encourage all readers or sympathisers in Christchurch to join the picket…

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  • November issue of The Spark

    Read the November issue here At the end of this month New Zealand will hold a general election. While current polls might lead us to be cynical about voting, we need to remember that our right to vote was fought for by previous generations and shouldn’t be taken for granted. Woman gained the right to…

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  • Against conspiracy theories: Why our activism must be based in reality

    The text of a talk given at Occupy Wellington, New Zealand, on October 27 2011. Around 55 people attended the talk, organised to try to counter the prevalence of conspiracy theories amongst the local wing of the Occupy movement. Kia ora kotou, thanks everyone for coming. Firstly, a brief run-down of how this workshop will…

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  • Smash the CMP lockout: Fund established, give money now!

    Around 100 meat workers in Rangatikei – a provincial township in the Manawatu area – were locked out by Canterbury Meat Packers (CMP) ten days ago. According to a CTU release the company is attempting to require the union (New Zealand Meat Workers Union)  to sign up to a 20-30% wage decrease before any return…

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  • Occupied Dominion Post: letter to the editor

    Originally printed in Issue 2 of the Occupied Dominion Post, publication by members of Occupy Wellington. A recent (Unoccupied) Dominion Post opinion poll presented readers with the choices of supporting Occupy Wellington, or agreeing that “they need to get jobs.” Coupled with generally unsympathetic coverage from the capitalist press, this raised the hackles of some…

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