Oceania Indymedia

Today, Christchurch's paper, The Press has an interview with Awhitia Kohu and Moko Hillman, two Ruatoki residents terrorised by heavily armed Police during last year's October 15 raids. Neither Awhitia or Moko were arrested in the raids but they still had their house searched and were, along with their children, forced out of their homes whilst being 'painted' by rifle laser sights. The Police also searched their 15 year old daughter at gunpoint. To quote from the article: "At about five o'clock in the morning I heard a crash and a bang outside," said Kohu. "I went outside on my deck,

This morning life-sized posters of Helen Clark dressed as a 'ninja cop' appeared throughout Wellington. Today is the one year anniversary of gun-toting and armoured police terrorising people around the country in the name of terror prevention. Around 60 houses were raided at dawn, an entire community was locked down, and 17 activists were arrested on firearms charges in the NZ police's failed first attempt to use anti-terror law. [Public Art in Remembrance of 15 Oct 2007] In Ruatoki, the community that was completely locked down and terrorised during the raids, there will four days of Stalls,

RECLAIM THE NIGHT! Rally with us on Friday October 31st! Reclaim the Night is about women's right to live their lives free of the fear of violence of all kinds. The 2005 Personal Safety Survey Australia found that 17% of women had experienced sexual assault since the age of 15, and a further 4.6% had experienced sexual threat. Women in Australia are most at risk of violence in the home from men who they know. We demand that funding for women's refuges be doubled! We demand an end to sexist violence in the home and on the street! This year marks thirty years since Australia's first Reclaim the

9:30am-10:30am outside the Auckland District Court Deposition hearings for the arrestees of the October 15th 'anti-terror' raids recently ended. On October 17th the judge will release his decision as to which charges will proceed to trial. The October 15th Solidarity group in Tamaki-Makaurau are calling for a morning picket to show support and solidarity for the arrestees. We have not forgotten the state surveillance, repression, and imprisonment of Maori sovereignty activists and anarchists. We have not forgotten the racist harassment of the residents of Ruatoki. We have not forgotten the

From the newswire: OCTOBER 10, 2008: JOHN PAT MEMORIAL DAY - John Pat was "bashed to death by five drunken, off duty police officers" on 28 September 1983. John Pat was almost 17-years-old when he was found dead in a police station lock-up in Roebourne, Western Australia on 28 September 1983. He died of head injuries sustained during a fight with off-duty police officers outside the local Victoria Hotel. Four officers and a police aide were later charged with his manslaughter but acquitted at trial. "Pat and three other Aborigines were driven to the Roebourne police station. Observers across

Fairfax was today judged not guilty of contempt of court by Wellington's High Court. Fairfax published leaked suppressed evidence in the Operation 8 trials late last year, in clear violation of a court order. The suppressed evidence published by Fairfax in the Dominion Post was only the most controversial portions of transcripts of recorded conversations between defendants. It was released shortly after the Police were denied the power to press terrorism charges and was no longer admissible under the comparatively minor arms charges which had to be pursued instead. In all probability, the

“The market isn’t functioning properly. . .” - George Bush, Sept 25 What’s behind the current woes on Wall Street? Are the problems the result of just a few greedy speculators or do they reflect deeper problems within the system? Why do all the ‘mainstream’ discussions of the problems focus on the interests of business - what about the workers? Is there an alternative that puts workers’ interests first? If you are in Dunedin or Christchurch Come along and hear Paul Hopkinson, John Edmundson and Philip Ferguson of the Workers Party address these issues: DUNEDIN 7.30pm, Wednesday, Oct 15 OUSA

Next Wednesday marks the first anniversary of the nationwide police raids on the homes of activists from the Tino Rangatiratanga (Maori Sovereignty), anti-war, environmental and anarchist movements. The majority of the arrested activists were held in prison for nearly a month. The entire town of Ruatoki was blockaded by heavily armed police. Men, women and children were locked in freezing cold sheds for hours without charge while their houses were trashed by police. A number of events are happening around Aotearoa to mark the anniversary of this dark day. Wellington Saturday October 11,

8th October Tonight we descended on the weapons conference delegates as they were entering the duxton hotel on wakefield street, wellington for the ‘Minister of Defence awards for excellence’ and gala dinner (one presumes, covered in a nice bloody sauce). Their composure was disrupted with shouts, screams, drums and general noise. Food not bombs served up a tasty soup, delicious dumpstered bananas and bread to keep us going for 2 hours. The duxton hotel has been surrounded by poolice and provision security scum for two days. They have gone to extreme lengths to keep the conference secret and

Activists greet the opening of the 11th annual 'NZ Defence Industry Association Forum' aka Weapons Trade Conference. Tues 7th October – Today the 11th annual 'NZ Defence Industry Association Forum' kicked off at the Duxton Hotel, Wellington. Despite the howling wind and rain, activists converged outside the weapons conference to highlight what was going on inside to the public, and to let the representatives of 37 weapons companies inside know that their war profiteering ways would not proceed unapposed.

WE ARE ALL BOATPEOPLE."It is not illegal to arrive in this country without a visa." Fleeing persecution and seeking refuge is a human right enshrined in international law. Some recent media reports have stated that 'illegal migrants' have been intercepted on the way to Australia. The myth that asylum seekers are illegal immigrants must no longer be perpetuated. A term like 'illegals' is not only offensive, but also inaccurate. Sarah Hanson Young Australia has a responsibility to assist asylum seekers. As a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Geneva Convention on Refugees, and a country that

From the newswire - 6TH OCTOBER 2008: UWA SILENCING DISSENT OVER PROPOSED BUSHLAND DEVELOPMENT PHOTOS from the ACTION || Report of the UWA Action On Tuesday 7th October at 9am UWA students and concerned community members will carried out a peaceful tree-sit and silent protest at the University of Western Australia, Crawley campus. The action was in response to the UWA's threats to sue the Nedlands Council to silence a motion to rezone Underwood Avenue Bushland - the rezoning would prevent the residential development of this precious urban bushland. UWA's proposal threatens to destroy one of

From the newswire: October 6, 2008 - The NT Government has granted miners Cameco & Paladin the right to explore the Angela and Pamela uranium deposits - 25 kilometres south of Alice Springs. The decision prompted two protests over the weekend involving hundreds of people, setting the stage for major confrontation between the uranium mining industry and the wider community. See story: Action in Alice over Uranium Mine The Arid Lands Environment Centre say the Territory Government seems to have completely disregarded the opposition they've hit at every stage of this process. See: Alice Springs

The New Zealand Defence Industry Association Forum, otherwise known as the Weapons Conference, starts in Wellington on 7th October 2008 at the Duxton Hotel in Wellington. We will be assembling at the Duxton at 9am (7th October 2008) for a protest. [ More ] At this conference New Zealand and overseas companies showcase wares developed for military use and multinational weapons manufacturers network about new technology and lucrative contracts. Representatives from corporations such as Lockheed Martin, manufacturer of a wide range of weapons and missile systems, are in attendance. Also in

In Auckland and Hamilton low-paid workers at McDonald's and the Farmers department store are striking and protesting for better pay and working conditions.

A group of Filipino workers is backing the Finsec union in its opposition to staff reductions at the ANZ bank. Migrante Aotearoa, an Auckland based migrant Filipino worker organisation says ANZ’s treatment of its loyal workforce is deplorable but totally in line with its behaviour in the global arena. Mr Maga says the bank is a large shareholder in the Oceana Didipio gold – copper mining project in the Phillipines which has caused widespread community displacement, human rights violations, economic dislocation, environmental devastation and social disputes in the national minority communities

There were six strikes by McDonald's workers today! Avondale and Henderson union members took action at midday, closely followed by Frankton (Hamilton), where 30 workers walked, leaving the store to be staffed only by managers bussed in from Auckland. Hot on the heels of these actions Airport Drivethrough walked off and after scuffles with police on airport property travelled to Mangere Town Centre McDonald's where members walked out. Unite Union Campaign to end bullying in McDonald’s Restaurants

From the newswire: Saturday 4th of October is the inaugural Perth Loves Earth Festival. It’s being held at the Perth Esplanade Reserve on the Swan River. Perth Loves Earth is part of a national event called Love Earth Gathering and is part of a worldwide movement to reduce our impact on the environment and alleviate global warming. Perth Loves Earth day will feature: - Live Entertainment & Music - Eco Workshops - Informative Seminars - Children's activities - Vegetarian Food Stalls READ MORE/Comment...

Joe talks to Unite Union organiser and Socialist Aotearoa member Kathryn Tucker from the picket lines in Waikato as the McDonald's strikes spread south. Kathryn, could you tell us a bit about the mood of the fastfood workers in Hamilton? They are frustrated by McD's response to their claims. McDonalds have said that they won't get back to us with an offer until sometime in November. It has been 6 months since our collective expired. The 25 cents that was offered is seen as a bit of a joke. 25 cents an hour is an insult. Are the stores in Hamilton owned by the company, or franchisees? Company