Wave after wave of people leaving Pukeahu War Memorial Park to protest the Government's cuts to public and community
services. Picture credit: Teirangi Klever
More than 1000 people marched through central Wellington today (Sat 8 June) as part of a rally opposing the Government’s
cuts to public and community services, and in support of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The People Over Profits: Stop the Cuts! rally attracted people representing, iwi, unions, advocacy and community
organisations and their supporters who marched from Pukeahu War Memorial Park to Te Papa.
Speakers at the rally called out the Government for its attacks on public services and jobs, education and on Te Tiriti
o Waitangi. Speakers also called for more support for groups such as disabled people, renters, and rainbow and takatāpui
people.
A strong appeal for the Government to fund pay equity for care and support workers was made by Marianne Bishop, aged
care support worker and life member of E tū.
Other speakers included Whaea Catherine Love (Te Ati Awa/ Taranaki Whānui); Hayley Whitaker a Hawke's Bay public servant
who has lost her job in the cuts; PSA President Benedict Ferguson; PPTA President Chris Abercrombie; Disabled People
Against Cuts advocate Etta Bollinger; NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff; Geordie Rogers from Renters United; Ben Peterson
from Unite Union, and Edie Freeman of rainbow charity InsideOUT.
Supporters of the event include: ActionStation, the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, The
Tertiary Education Union, The Post Primary Teacher's Association, NZEI - Te Riu Roa, FIRST Union, Unite Union, Peace
Action Wellington, Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition, Disabled People Against Cuts Aotearoa, 350 Aotearoa, Public Housing
Futures, Renters United, NZ Nurses Organisation, MUNZ - Maritime Union of NZ, VUWSA, Free Fares Aotearoa, the NZ Council
of Trade Unions, and Unions Wellington.