Grid of posts 2×3

  • Thousands Protest against Chch City Council

    Approximately 2,000 people turned out to protest at the Christchurch City Council offices today, angry at a $68,000 pay rise for City Council CEO Tony Marryatt, taking his annual salary to over half a million (Christchurch average wage, $47,000pa). After enormous pressure from the public Marryatt has turned down the pay rise, after initially accepting it, Read more

  • Red Calendar: February 2012

    Wellington Workers Party branch meetings Tuesdays 6pm Wellington Peoples’ Centre, contact 022 0351077 to confirm Urewera Raids: Trial update and public forum Friday February 3rd, 6pm-8pm Mezzanine, Central Library CONTAGIOUS STRIKES: Talk and short film on workers’ struggles in China Saturday February 4th, 7pm-9pm 46 Frederick Street Entry by donation Auckland Rally: Free The Urewera 4 Read more

  • Why wharfies are striking in their own words

    Originally published here, reprinted in February Spark. The Thorton family: “They want drones when we are actually parents” Shaun Thorton, 43, drives a straddle at the Ports of Auckland where he has worked for 18 years. He met his wife Leah at the port where she worked before becoming a fulltime mum looking after their Read more

  • The Dialectical Relationship between Work and Mental Health: part 2

    This article is the second of a four-part series by Polly Peek. The first part can be read online here or in the December-January issue of The Spark. ‘Consumer’ in this article refers to a person who currently or has previously used psychiatric services. ‘Bourdieuian’ refers to the theories developed by French Sociologist Piere Bourdieu and  Read more

  • Operation 8 trial draws to a close: Drop The Charges

    After nearly 5 years of painstaking legal wrangling, and over 100 years of attacks on Tuhoe, the Operation 8 trial is finally due to start in February.  Only four, of the original 18 defendants, will be facing charges. The raids of October 15th 2007, targeting Tuhoe and radical supporters, are etched into national consciousness. Police Read more

  • The Meaning of Sonny Bill Williams

    The first international Rugby superstar with a wider appeal and awareness than rugby fans was Jonah Lomu. While terms such as ‘greatest player ever’ ‘living legend’ etc. can be bandied about easily enough, it is generally agreed that the power and influence of Lomu on the international rugby arena was immense. His sheer power, pace Read more