Socialist Aotearoa

With the recent merger of the Internet party and the MANA movement, it’s raised a lot of questions for those of us on the left fighting for a fairer and more just Aotearoa. Many were initially opposed to the MANA movement, a grassroots, democratic, force for social change joining forces with a German millionaire. Just like many other groups around the country, there have been internal discussions and debates around what this merger would mean for MANA. Members of Socialist Aotearoa have been given time to think about what this merger means for their involvement in our organisation as well as the MANA movement. Some have been more outspoken than others in their views, but we have not sought to limit the debate around what we perceive as one of the most important developments for the left since the formation of the alliance in the 90’s. We recognise the potential for creating a truly left wing block in our parliament that will be firmly grounded in street politics. We do not

On saturday 28th June, a group of about 50 people gathered outside the US consulate in Auckland. They were protesting the recent jailing of three Al Jazeera journalists who were reporting on the human rights violations being enacted by the El-Sisi dictatorship in Egypt. The protesters were symbolically gagged with masking tape in order to symbolise the silencing of the world media by the Egyptian dictatorship. The protest was attended by members of the local Egyptian community, Socialist Aotearoa, Global Peace and Justice Auckland, the Mana Movement and the Internet Party.   The role of the United states government in the Egyptian dictatorship was outlined by Global peace and justice Auckland activist, and Mana Movement electoral candidate John Minto, who said “Egypt would not be doing this without orders coming directly from the United States because they are providing the means for Egypt to oppress its people”. Members of the local Egyptian community spoke about how

With over 100 liquor outlets in the Mangere Otahuhu area alone it is no surprise that members of the Mangere community were outraged that a liquor licence was granted to a premises opposite a local school. The community responded with a 200 strong demonstration outside Southern Cross campus. Community leaders emphasised that there was very little public consultation by the licensing authorities. Liquor outlets are far more prevalent in working class areas such as Mangere and Otahuhu, while being less prominent in more affluent areas where those responsible for issuing liquor licences usually live. As such very little thought is given to the impact that cheap, easily accessible liquor has on working class communities where liquor in some places is sold alongside basic commodities such as bread and milk. The negative impact of having a liquor outlet opposite a school is twofold, first of all students are exposed to liquor advertising as they pass the outlet and secondly, older

Saturday, June 28, 3pm, US Consulate, Citibank Building, Customs St, Auckland Stand up for Freedom in Egypt – Release the Al Jazeera 3 and all Political Prisoners. Supporters of the Egyptian revolution will gather at 3pm this Saturday outside the American Consulate on Customs Street in Auckland to call for the releas e of the Al Jazeera 3 and all political prisoners in Egypt. Local Egyptian activist Mohamed Hassan: "As a journalist I stand firmly in solidarity with Baher Mohamed, Mohamed Fahmy and Peter Greste and all journalists imprisoned around the world for daring to do their job. I also stand in solidarity with the tens of thousands of political prisoners in Egyptian jails without access to fair trial or fair representation. As an Egyptian I oppose the inhumane and unjust sentences handed down by the Egyptian courts. I oppose the stance taken by the Egyptian Government in dismissing the calls by the international community for fair and honest trials. I o