Lucy attended the protest march against asset sales called "Aoteoroa Is Not For Sale Protest" which was held at 3 pm on 28 April 2012 in Auckland.
Just met the talented @RealLucyLawless at the #AotearoaIsNotForSale protest. twitter.com/GinaDellabarca…
— Gina Dellabarca (@GinaDellabarca) April 28, 2012
A protest against asset sales
What: Protest march against asset sales
When: Saturday 28 April, 3pm
Where: Britomart to Aotea Square, route up Queen Street, Auckland
Is New Zealand a commodity to sell off to the highest bidder, or is it a country where the people own the decisions about their future?
The Aotearoa NZ is Not for Sale Movement warmly welcomes all New Zealanders to join with them in protest against the National Government’s proposed asset sales, in a march up Queen Street, Auckland this coming Saturday 28 April from 3pm.
The National Government does not have the mandate to sell off our publicly owned assets, either in full or in part. The Aotearoa NZ is Not for Sale Movement is a wide and diverse coalition of organisations, political parties and individual New Zealanders who want their country to remain in the hands and hearts of its people, not in the pockets of wealthy corporations and private investors, be they foreign or local. The public opposition to National’s plans to fire-sell chunks of our major energy companies, Air NZ and land is getting stronger and louder. The Government cannot go ahead with these hugely controversial plans without the support of the people whose future they are supposed to be securing.
We, the people already own these assets, as tax payers and rate payers. The Government does not own them, but should act as a guardian. The National Party however, plans on taking them out of our hands, then selling them back to us with the rhetoric of “Kiwi Mum and Dad investors”. Who of us could ever afford to buy shares in these SOEs, when we are already struggling to make ends meet in this economic climate? The shares sold under the Mixed Ownership Model will inevitably be bought by the wealthy elite who can afford them. Private profit will become paramount, and our beautiful country’s environment, economy and society will suffer for it.
“National’s get rich quick scheme to balance its books for its term in office is short-sighted and irresponsible. The publicly owned companies they have lined up on the plank are profitable and we should continue to benefit from the annual revenue they return. Selling them off to make a quick buck does not make economic sense. It is financially unsustainable and will not save our economy in the long term,” says Aotearoa NZ is Not for Sale spokesperson Miriam Pierard. “Our future should not be compromised for the desire of a quick fix to a complex problem. Join us on Saturday to be part of the solution.”
We will not be divided like our assets. We will be united, we will not be silenced, we will resist this together.
PRESS RELEASE
Press Release 27/04/12
#ANFS03
Friday 27 April 2012:For Immediate Release
What: Protest march against asset sales
When: Saturday 28 April, 3pm
Where: Britomart to Aotea Square, route up Queen Street, Auckland
Is New Zealand a commodity to sell off to the highest bidder, or is it a country where the people own the decisions about their future?
The Aotearoa NZ is Not for Sale Movement warmly welcomes all New Zealanders to join with them in protest against the National Government’s proposed asset sales, in a march up Queen Street, Auckland this coming Saturday 28 April from 3pm.
The National Government does not have the mandate to sell off our publicly owned assets, either in full or in part. The Aotearoa NZ is Not for Sale Movement is a wide and diverse coalition of organisations, political parties and individual New Zealanders who want their country to remain in the hands and hearts of its people, not in the pockets of wealthy corporations and private investors, be they foreign or local. The public opposition to National’s plans to fire-sell chunks of our major energy companies, Air NZ and land is getting stronger and louder. The Government cannot go ahead with these hugely controversial plans without the support of the people whose future they are supposed to be securing.
We, the people already own these assets, as tax payers and rate payers. The Government does not own them, but should act as a guardian. The National Party however, plans on taking them out of our hands, then selling them back to us with the rhetoric of “Kiwi Mum and Dad investors”. Who of us could ever afford to buy shares in these SOEs, when we are already struggling to make ends meet in this economic climate? The shares sold under the Mixed Ownership Model will inevitably be bought by the wealthy elite who can afford them. Private profit will become paramount, and our beautiful country’s environment, economy and society will suffer for it.
“National’s get rich quick scheme to balance its books for its term in office is short-sighted and irresponsible. The publicly owned companies they have lined up on the plank are profitable and we should continue to benefit from the annual revenue they return. Selling them off to make a quick buck does not make economic sense. It is financially unsustainable and will not save our economy in the long term,” says Aotearoa NZ is Not for Sale spokesperson Miriam Pierard. “Our future should not be compromised for the desire of a quick fix to a complex problem. Join us on Saturday to be part of the solution.”
We will not be divided like our assets. We will be united, we will not be silenced, we will resist this together.
25/04/12 For Immediate Release
‘Aotearoa Is Not For Sale’ – Press Conference on Thursday 26th April, 10 am, at Unite Union ,6a Western Springs Road, Morningside.
We invite members of the media to attend a press conference with representatives from our endorsing political partners, who will be fielding questions on the issue of privatisation and the upcoming Auckland protest rally.
In attendance will be:
Phil Twyford MP Labour.Hone Harawira, MP Mana,John Minto GPJA.Kereame Pene, Ratana Church.Miriam Pierard, #ANFS. Joe Carolan, Socialist Aotearoa .Marion Peka, GI tenants association,Matt Mc Carten or Mike Treen from Unite Union .
“The Aotearoa NZ is Not for Sale movement is a diverse and united coalition of New Zealanders who are deeply concerned about the full or partial sales of our state-owned assets.” Says #ANFS Spokesperson Miriam Pierard. “Selling profitable essential services for a quick buck will not save our economy in the long term, and it takes the power away from the people over how we want our precious environmental and social future to be. We will not be divided like our assets. We will be united, we will not be silenced, we will resist this together.”
Now endorsed by Labour, Greens, Mana, Unions Auckland, the Unite Union, MUNZ, Actors Equity, New Zealand Nurses Organisation , the Service and Food Workers Union, Greenpeace, Global Peace and Justice Auckland, Occupy Auckland, the Hikoi to stop Asset Sales and Socialist Aotearoa.
A major protest rally has been organised for Saturday 28th April, to voice the popular outrage at the proposed sale of state-owned assets (full and partial), casualisation of jobs, the TPPA, the Food Bill, charter schools, privatisation of prisons, universities, ACC, hospitals and ports – all of which (and more) should be publicly owned and accountable to the public need. The protest will demand from the government access for ordinary Kiwis to affordable food, housing, and other living costs, and decent jobs at decent wages.
There are a number of other events across the country to coincide and express solidarity with the Auckland-based movement. A Hikoi travelling the length of the North Island will culminate in a demonstration outside parliament on Friday 4th May.
See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador