November 3 2011, 4pm
For immediate public release

Commemorate Parihaka on the 5th of November with Occupy Ōtautahi Christchurch

The 5th of November is an important date in the history of Aotearoa as it marks the day that Parihaka was invaded by British soldiers in 1881. This Saturday is November the 5th so Occupy Ōtautahi Christchurch will host talks on Parihaka to remember the movement and learn valuable lessons on passive resistance.

In 1867 Maori prophets set up a peaceful community at Parihaka to protest against the illegal land confiscations of the colonial British empire. The community thrived and grew to more than 2000 people until it was stormed by 1600 British soldiers at the dawn of the 5th of November, 1881. Soldiers were greeted by hundreds of children skipping and offering kai, but destroyed the camp, arrested hundreds of nonviolent protesters and raped wahine. Parihaka is an important event in the history of this country and must be remembered.

Come down to Occupy Corner in South Hagley Park (opposite the hospital) from 10am on Saturday for Parihaka workshops, kai, music, and a free market where people can drop off their unwanted possessions and find new treasures. Workshops will focus on the spiritual component of the Parihaka movement, models of passive resistance and Parihaka's relevance to the Occupy Movement today. These talks will begin from 11am and finish by 1pm when we will travel to Hornby to picket the ANZCO offices in support of workers locked out of their jobs at Canterbury Meat Packers. Following that we will return to Occupy Corner around 6pm for a free dinner, General Korero and Guy Fawkes celebrations.

Occupy Ōtautahi Christchurch has been based in Occupy Corner at South Hagley Park for almost three weeks. In support of the Occupy Wall Street phenomena the group hold open daily general assemblies and ‘free markets’ as well as community events each weekend. They have been busy networking with community groups and organisations, and supply free kai and coffee to the public.
More information can be found at www.occupychristchurch.org.

ENDS

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