Hundreds turn out for Auckland’s SlutWalk (video)

Shifting the blame for rape and other sexual violence from the victim to the perpetrator was the main message of protesters taking part in Auckland’s first-ever SlutWalk on Saturday afternoon.
Cold temperatures and a nippy breeze didn’t stop about 500 people – women and men of all ages – from brandishing banners, placards and megaphones as [...]

Budget protesters threaten RWC disruption

A public rally along Queen St on Saturday drew hundreds of Aucklanders who protested against the Government’s recent budget – and flagged upcoming trouble during the Rugby World Cup.
With his Unite flag and microphone in hand, stalwart activist John Minto led the protesters from Queen Elizabeth II Square at Britomart towards Aotea Square.
They paused in [...]

Students told to remove rosettes, or not graduate

The University of Auckland told graduating students they would not be allowed to cross the stage at their graduation ceremonies this week unless they removed stickers and rosettes supporting industrial action by university staff from their regalia.
The rosettes and stickers supported a campaign calling on vice-chancellor Stuart McCutcheon to review an offer made to academic [...]

Development warning for Auckland from US professor of anarchy

A visiting anarchist academic from the USA says Auckland is at just as great a risk as his home country of suffering the negative effects of over-development.
Professor Ron Sakolsky addressed a small crowd of 30 on Thursday, April 7 at the Cityside Church on Mt Eden Rd.
He told his story as an anarchist, unionist, anti-coal [...]

90-day trial scheme dumps 23 per cent of new workers

Rachel* was proud of her self taught administration and accounting skills. At 52, she had been in her last job for 30 years and had always been well liked by her bosses and co-workers.

That’s why it came as a shock when she was fired 14 days after starting a new job.

Fallen cyclists to be honoured with slow and silent ride

A peloton of road cyclists riding at less than 20km/h is a rare sight to behold.
Yet on two nights this week cyclists from around Auckland will take part in the Ride of Silence – a slow cycle procession to honour cyclists who have been killed or injured on the road.
Kiwi cyclists are kicking off the [...]

Environment groups gather forces for anti-mining march

A coalition of environmental groups is hitting the streets of Auckland this Saturday to speak out against Government plans to mine New Zealand’s conservation estate.
The protest is part of rising opposition to a Government proposal to extract mineral resources from public land, including tourist hot-spots such as Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula.
The 7000 [...]

MIT rethinks ban on democracy

Manukau Institute of Technology has reversed a decision to ban union activity on campus this week after a challenge from activists.
A group of around 20 students, protestors, and members of the low-wage union Unite travelled to MIT last Thursday in defiance of the institute’s ban on political activity.
Earlier this month Unite organiser Joe Carolan received [...]

Auckland protestors tell Irish Health Minister to ‘go home’

A small group of protesters celebrated St Patrick’s Day by gathering at the Irish Consulate in Auckland to express outrage at the Irish Health Minister’s visit to New Zealand.
Mary Harney has been under fire in the Republic of Ireland, where it was last week revealed that 58,000 x-rays over four years went unread by radiologists [...]

Protestors’ shocking stand against whaling

Anti-whaling demonstrators distributed packages of dripping whale meat outside the Japanese Embassy in Auckland last Friday afternoon to raise awareness of ongoing whaling in the South Pacific.
Protestors dressed as scythe-wielding scientists hacked at a 6m inflatable whale while others handed out mock butcher cuts drenched in red paint.
John Darroch, of the Sea Shepherd Supporters, said [...]