8 May 2001

**************************
NATIONAL - WHAT’S ON
**************************

*** NATIONAL ***

~ TODAY - the government’s announcement on ‘defence’ spending this year, unfortunately it’s going UP ... more on that later in the week.

~ TODAY - the first reading of the Government Communications Security Bureau Bill (described by Helen Clark as ... “another step towards making the work of our security and intelligence agencies as transparent as they can be given the circumstances in which they work") is also expected today, more on that in the next week or so. In the meantime you might like to read ‘Securing Our Nation’s Safety’ at http://www.dpmc.govt.nz Interesting reading - apparently the secret services (along with other government agencies) are responsible for protecting “the nation’s sovereignty and the security of its citizens”, strange how they didn’t act to prevent the sale of our national assets, signing of ‘free’ trade agreements and such ...

~ SUNDAYS - 'Ngä Tamatoa -The Back of a Whale', ten part series on National Radio. After James K Baxter supported Ngä Tamatoa's first protest at Waitangi in 1971, the poet remarked that what was being seen in the Mäori protest group was "the back of a fish rising in the water. It is not the back of a terakihi or barracuda. It is the back of a whale. Mäori militancy is here to stay." Baxter's words were prophetic and Ngä Tamatoa's political activism proved to be the vanguard of a new wave of Mäori protest, which changed the face of New Zealand society. Although widely known for resurrecting the protest tradition at Waitangi, Ngä Tamatoa also initiated a groundbreaking petition for Mäori language to be taught in schools and a national Mäori Language Day to draw attention to the crisis in Mäori language usage. The group also ran legal aid services, made submissions to local and central government and spoke to community groups. Still to be aired: Linda Smith & Donna Awatere-Huata - Sunday 13 May, 7-04pm; Pita Rikys - Sunday 20 May, 7-04pm; John Ohia & Orewa Barrett-Ohia - Sunday 27 May, 7-04pm; Rawiri Paratene - Sunday 3 June, 3-04pm; Taura Eruera - Sunday 10 June, 3-04pm; Larry Parr - Sunday 17 June, 3-04pm; Pauline Kingi - Sunday 24 June, 3-04pm; Conclusion - Sunday 1 July, 3-04pm.

***** LOCAL *****

*** AUCKLAND

~ MON, 21 May - Human Rights Network Meeting, 5-30pm at the Race Relations Office, contact Bev Watson oea-watson@clear.net.nz

~ TUES, 22 May - Abolition 2000 Meeting, 12-30pm at the Peace Foundation, 29 Princes Street. tel (09) 373 2379.

~ FRI, 25 May - ‘A Budget for Breakfast’ - Is the second Labour Alliance budget good for the health and wellbeing of children? Panel speakers are Tim Hazledine, Economics Dept, and Dr Gay Keating, PHA, authors of the CPAG 2001 report, 'Our children the priority for policy’, 7-45 am at the Senior Common Room Old Government House, $20. Organised by the Public Health Association and Child Poverty Action Group. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP to Susan St John tel (09) 373 7599 ext 7432 or s.stjohn@auckland.ac.nz by 18 May.

~ SUN, 27 May - Dinner and Film evening ‘Waking Ned Devine’, 6pm at the Westwind Theatre, 177 Riversdale Road, Avondale. Organised by WILPF (Tamaki Makaurau), contact Joan Macdonald for tickets, tel (09) 360 8001 joanmac@pl.net

*** LOWER HUTT

~ TUES, 8 May - ‘A Foreign Policy for Peace’ with speaker Bryce Harland, Director of the NZ Institute of International Affairs, at the meeting of the Waiwhetü-Lower Hutt Peace Group, 8pm, Waiwhetü Uniting Church Hall, 6 Trafalgar Street. Contact Arthur Quinn, tel (04) 567 0533.

*** WELLINGTON

~ Available now - the Resource Kit which was launched on 29 April to commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti O Waitangi in Wellington. The kit contains: the Wellington Tenths story; how the Treaty came to be signed in Wellington with a copy of the page signed at Port Nicholson; copies of the Declaration of Independence and Te Tiriti; a guide to a self-drive tour of Whanganui-a-Tara; a map showing where and when the Treaty was signed around Aotearoa; a bibliography and list of other resources. You can get your kit from Network Waitangi Wellington, 63 Wade Street, Wellington, tel (04) 472 6425, koha would be appreciated.

~ TUES, 8 May - 'Geneva: UN Human Rights machinery', speaker is Ian Hill, Human Rights Unit, MFAT, a human rights 2001 seminar, discussant: Associate Professor Rod Alley, School of Political Science & International Relations, Victoria University, 5-30pm to 7pm, Cabinet Room, 1st Floor, Law Faculty Building, opposite Beehive, parking available in grounds. Sponsored by the School of Political Science and International Relations, the Human Rights Commission and the Law Faculty, any queries please contact greatrhele@scs.vuw.ac.nz

~ THURS, 10 May - Te Whainga: A search for an Independent Police Complaints Authority. Programme: 5:30pm, Whakatau; 6:00pm, Discussion - An Independent Police Complaints Authority, Tom Hunt; Discussion - An Independent Inquiry, Moana Jackson; 8:00pm, supper; 8:30pm Open Forum; 10:00pm, Documentary Screening of 'The Shooting of Stephen Wallace' with writer Tauni Sinclair, at Te Herenga Waka Marae, 40 Kelburn Parade, Victoria University, Wellington. For further information contact Danica Waitai (04) 473 8566 xtn 852, or T. Harrison (021) 217 1066. ~ SAT, 12 May 'Behind the News' the monthly programme on Wellington Access Radio (783 AM), broadcast at 12-30pm, brought to you by Jim Delahunty, producer of 'Dig'.

~ TUES, 15 May - ‘Globalisation by Stealth: The proposed New Zealand Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement and Investment’, Dr Bill Rosenberg speaks about his recently published report, 6-15 pm to 7-30 pm, Lecture Theatre 3, Victoria University Law School, Old Government Buildings, Lambton Quay. Copies of the report can be obtained at the meeting or from ARENA (Action Research and Education Network of Aotearoa), PO Box 2450 Christchurch, $10 (postage incl). For more information, tel (04) 237 5062.

~ THURS, 17 May - The Holidays Act, speakers are Wattie Watson (PSA), Maxine Gay (Clothing Workers Union) and Laila Harre (Associate Minister of Labour), 5-30pm, third floor, Education House, 178 Willis Street, all trade union members welcome.

~ THURS, 17 May - ‘Relative income and public health’, Richard Jackman speaks at 7-30pm, Crossways, Mt Victoria. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP to Rodney Murphy, tel (04) 970 9713, rodney@paradise.co.nz

~ WEDS, 23 May - Peace Lunch Forum turns into Peace Evening Forum! Meeting to discuss follow on work from the UN Asia-Pacific Regional Disarmament Conference, including a report on progress from the conference in the campaign against landmines; Llyn Richards on the Southern Hemisphere Nuclear Weapons Free Zone; Abigael Vogt on the youth work around the conference; Ian Prior overviews events around the conference; and follow on work with regard to small arms. Also, planning the programme for Peace Forum meetings for the rest of the year. From 5-30pm to 7pm, PMA offices (or the Ernie Abbot Memorial Room, depending on numbers), Trades Hall, 126 Vivian Street.

~ Every Sunday, ‘Peace Report’ on Wellington Access Radio (783 AM), broadcast at 11-45am, brought to you by the Peace Council, funded by PADET. If you or your group wish to make a free programme to be broadcast in this slot, please contact Des Brough tel/fax (04) 388 3173.

* Free training for Wellington women during May and August 2001 - training for women, topics include: communication skills; the Treaty of Waitangi; homophobia; working in collectives; rape, women and the legal system; rape and sexual abuse and more. Wellington Independent Rape Crisis will be running two training sessions this year; they are free, comprehensive and heaps of fun. Guaranteed to be challenging, each session is for five evenings and two weekends. The first training session begins on 12 and 13 May, and the second on 11 and 12 August. For more info or to book in, contact WIRC tel (04) 473-5358 or wirc@xtra.co.nz

*** CHRISTCHURCH

~ THURS, 10 May - Celebrate with Cuba! The 40th anniversary of Cuba’s victory at the Bay of Pigs/Playa Giron - join the celebration of these events with the Cuba Friendship Society. The programme will include a presentation on the Bay of Pigs and Cuba today, documentary footage from the ‘Literacy Campaign’, details on the annual work/study brigade to Cuba and light refreshments with Cuban music, from 7-30pm at Aldersgate, Durham St Methodist Centre, 309 Durham St (opp. Courthouse). For more information contact Christchurch Cuba Friendship Society, Annalucia tel (03) 377 3834.

*************************************

If you would like your events or meetings advertised, just send them to pma@xtra.co.nz and write ‘for what’s on’ in the subject heading.

*************************************

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Peace Movement Aotearoa
the national networking peace group
PO Box 9314, Wellington, Aotearoa / New Zealand.
tel +64 4 382 8129, fax 382 8173,
website
Internet Peace Gateway
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

© Scoop Media