[NetBehaviour] anti-TPPA protests in nz

[helen varley jamieson]

late last night - or rather, early this morning, i watched a live stream
from auckland of protests against the TPPA signing (the TPPA is the
pacific equivalent of the european TTIP). you can see the footage here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bcab6Q8B_g

the nz government was hosting a behind-closed-doors ceremonial signing
of the TPPA in auckland with the 12 other pacific nations involved.
there were protests all over the country, including about 15,000 people
in auckland where the march was led by maori performing the haka. these
were local iwi (tribes) who had been asked by the government to perform
a powhiri (maori welcome) for the signing of the TPPA (a powhiri is
standard protocol for significant events in nz) - but the iwi refused
and chose instead to lead the march. there was a big maori presence & a
forest of tino rangitiratanga flags (red & black flag of maori
sovereignty - & much nicer than the logo-like option the government is
currently trying to force through as our new flag) & an overwhelming
atmosphere of strong, unified opposition to the TPPA and the way the
government has handled it.

february 6th is waitangi day in aotearoa/new zealand - the anniversary
of the signing of the treaty of waitingi in 1840 between maori tribes
(not all of them) and representatives of the british crown. it's a
public holiday in nz, some see it as a celebration & others as a day of
mourning / contemplation about colonisation. there is always a major
ceremony at te tii marae in waitangi, which the prime minister
traditionally attends. there is often some element of protest or
controversy around it & this year it has been pretty much about the
TPPA. as a result, our dickhead prime minister john key, who is busy
signing away aoteaora/new zealand to coroporate colonisation, has
decided not to go. maori objection to the TPPA is mainly over the lack
of consultation, but also concerns that the TPPA will breach the treaty
of waitangi (which it absolutely will).

i felt proud to see the huge public opposition to the TPPA, with people
from all walks of life & everyone that the reporter spoke to was very
well-informed. the signing of the TPPA is purely ceremonial, it still
has to go through the legal processes in each of the 12 nations, so
there is still hope that the whole thing will collapse.

-- 
helen varley jamieson
helen at creative-catalyst.com <mailto:helen at creative-catalyst.com>
http://www.creative-catalyst.com
http://www.upstage.org.nz

 

/Unaussprechbarlich/, München, November-Dezember 2015
<http://unaussprechbarlich.tumblr.com/>


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