TPPA Signing Protest in WellingtonRobert Kelly
At midday today over three hundred people gathered in the lee of the Cenotaph in Wellington to protest the signing of
the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.
Members of the public joined representatives from The Green Party, Māori Party, PSA, Unite Union, FIRST Union, Peace
Movement Aotearoa, Rail and Maritime Transport Union, E Tu, Ora Taiao and Mana. Many flags coloured the concrete
courtyard including several variations of the Tino Rangitiratanga design, union flags, political party emblems and the
United Tribes of New Zealand ensign.
The protest was organised by TPP Free Wellington and the master of ceremonies was “Ant from the Hutt” who was very clear
that there was a strict time frame for today’s protest as people had jobs to get back to. He also spoke to the reasons
for the Wellington protest today. He said that TPP Free Wellington understood that not everyone could take time off work
to go to Auckland. He said that today’s Wellington event was a statement of solidarity with those protesting in
Auckland.
Greg Rzesniowiecki and Ariana Paretutanganui-Tamati spoke on behalf of TPP Free Wellington and emphasised their lack of
confidence in the TPPA process and its results. Paretutanganui-Tamati stated that the TPPA is “a threat to Tino
Rangitiratanga”. Rzesniowiecki said that “most of civil society is opposed to the TPPA”
Grant Robertson from Labour and Kennedy Graham from the Greens spoke succinctly and both emphasised that they were
opposed to the agreement. Robertson told the crowd that the TPPA is “so much more than a trade agreement”. Statements
were read from the Maori Party and New Zealand First.
While there was a small police presence, the Wellington Protest was very peaceful and there were many people on the
steps leading down from parliament eating their packed lunches.