Expanded election issue

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2 The Spark October 2011 Election analysis Mana Party pushes working class issues this election Drawn from our experiences in Mana this article by Jared Phillips puts forward a socialist appraisal of the party so far.

Formation of the Mana Party

The Maori Party, after going into government with the National and Act parties fell into line and became supportive of anti-working class policies such as increasing GST (a consumer tax). As Maori Party MP for (the Northern-most Maori electorate) opposed this and he wrote publically against the direction of the Maori Party. This is one example of how Hone stood out by not conforming to political pressure. It led to an internal dispute within the Maori Party in which Hone – in parliamentary terms – was in a minority. Essentially the Maori Party was a cross-class party, meaning it had no defined orientation to the working class and little orientation to working class or poor Maori in contrast to layers of Maori bourgeoisie. Our own socialist group was clear about this in relation to the Maori Party. However, we lacked the long-term political foresight to see that the class differences in the Maori Party would likely result in a rupture on class and social justice lines. criticism of the Act is also based on the Generally there was an apprehension A further important catalyst for extraordinarily high threshold of proof about the formation of a new left party the formation of the Mana Party was showing customary use dating back to because of the low level of class struggle the introduction of the Marine and 1840 that is required in order to acquire in New Zealand. Matt McCarten of Coastal (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 by protected custody under the Act. This led Unite and Joe Carolan of Socialist the National/Act/Maori parliamentary to a significant support and membership were amongst the strongest in majority. The Takutai Moana Act departure from the Maori Party to the favour of proceeding with such a project. repealed Labour’s Foreshore and Seabed Mana Party and to a more forceful When the contradiction between Act 2004 (F&S Act). Labour’s F&S Act insistence on Treaty-based rights. the Maori Party and Harawira came had dispossessed Maori of the right to Separate to the above-described to a conclusion, many of those who take a case regarding title over foreshore process, and on a smaller scale, another had participated in the ‘new left party’ and seabed areas to the Maori Land process had been taking place since discussion, and others from active left Court, a right which had been won October 2010 involving leftists. There tendencies, took an open approach in a Court of Appeal case. Whilst the were some discussions amongst leftists to Mana and most soon decided to F&S Act brought all such areas under – of both the far-left and of left-social participate, help build, and make a Crown ownership (aside from areas democratic persuasion – about the idea contribution to shape the Mana Party. with private title), the Takutaimoana of forming a new left party. There were Act brings such areas under ‘common media rumours about a new party being Socialist involvement ownership’ meaning such areas cannot be formed by and Matt owned. Therefore there is still no right McCarten. The most formal of these As Mike Kay wrote in a Workers Party for Maori to claim title over such areas, discussions took place at a left dialogue internal document: although there is a right to make claims meeting at the end of Unite Union’s first for protected custody rights. Maori-led national conference in November 2011. For Marxists relating to broader

The Spark October 2011 3 Election analysis

movements, policy is indeed important, Class composition more broadly as a movement. Branches and something we spend a lot of participate within wider rohe, which energy trying to influence. But it is Because Mana is a new organisation is an organisational unit covering each not all-determining. I think the major there is no statistical data available on its Maori electorate. Each rohe is comprised determinants of the viability of working class composition. Largely the members of the members residing in it and has a in such a movement are (i) its class composition and (ii) the amount of we have met are manual and professional committee comprised of elected chair, democratic space within it. workers, unemployed, students, and the elected secretary, and elected treasurer. retired, as well as some academics and Additionally each branch with 20- Mana is not a socialist party, but it is self-employed with small businesses. It plus members gains representation on a genuinely progressive party. As well is reasonable to say that the membership the rohe committee. In cases in which as its combative approach to Maori is comprised of basic masses and holds branches build membership of over 100 injustice, what makes Mana an important little attraction for capitalists or the rich. members those branches are able to progressive force is the interface of its Many of the established activists have have two representatives on their rohe class composition, its leadership, its valuable experience in both activism and committee. Rohe are then represented policy, its democratic space, and the class/ party-building which socialists can learn in national decision-making. This means community outlook of the non-socialist from. New layers of activists are coming that gaining representation is achievable activists involved, who are the majority of up through quickly growing Rangatahi for forces that are prepared to help build the party membership. (youth) branches. Further, a national and that wish to contribute to decision- The main active socialist groups Mana Kaimahi network has been formed making. – , Workers Party, for trade union progressives. Socialist Worker, and the International Leadership Socialist Organisation have contributed Democratic space to Mana work. So to have activists Important class-fighters in the leadership from other formations such as Citizens The most primary organisational of Mana include John Minto, Matt Against Privatisation and Rotorua formation within Mana is the branch. All McCarten, Mike Treen, and Gerard Peoples’ Centre. sorts of branches have been formed, with Hehir who have consistently fought encouragement from the leadership, and for the interests of the lowest paid this is why members like to define Mana workers in the country for the past

John Minto is contesting the Manakau East electorate. Pictured is his campaign launch at Otara town center, September 21.

4 The Spark October 2011 Election analysis

six years in Unite, each bringing president of Mana. ‘the brown table’. Mana policy, much of it decades of working class campaigning still in draft form is available for viewing experience. Mike Treen and Syd Keepa Relationship to non-socialists in the at mana.net.nz. Immigration is one area (National Distribution Union) have in which Socialists have put forward initiated the Mana Kaimahi Workers formal remits. This is in regard to a policy Network. Beneficiary advocate-then- As well as fighting against injustice for which stated that public sector and Green MP Sue Bradford, who took Maori, Mana’s activists mostly have corporate entities should face penalties responsibility for the parliamentary allegiance with basic pro-working class for not employing New Zealand citizens. aspect of the struggle to end youth positions on issues such as - for example Although it was not the intention, the rates, made a left break from the Green - cost of living, employment, health, policy could potentially be seen as anti- Party (whilst still an MP) and has and education. Whilst socialists are a immigrant. now been announced as a general seat minority in Mana, and Marxian socialists candidate. She will be standing against may be an even smaller minority, an Conclusion Paula Bennett, National’s Minister of even smaller minority would probably be Social Development. Bennett is the Mana supporters who are uncomfortable Mana is largely comprised of a working government’s chief beneficiary-basher about working alongside socialists (and/ class base, it has a high level of both against those who rely on welfare. or pakeha for that matter). In any such formal and real democracy, it has a Others in the national leadership case it would be up to the genuine left leadership of genuine working class who stand in Maori justice traditions are to prove it is up to the challenge of activists and Maori sovereignty activists doing so in good class terms. In a recent distinguishing itself in practice from the who are pro-working class, and it has Otago University-sponsored interview establishment left which has sold out radical pro-working class measures in the interviewer Bryce Edwards asked Maori and fails to champion the working its policy. To generalise, there are three Hone about his standing alongside class class. reasons as to why it is important for warriors. Hone replied that he’s always socialists to participate in Mana. The first been committed to those issues, standing Policy is that it will strengthen relationships on picket lines with them. Annette Sykes with other activists and masses. Secondly, in 2010 delivered her Politics of the The Mana Party is putting forward Mana can play a role in rebuilding Brown Table lecture which challenged policies which include a range of radical constituency and solidarity amongst those Maori entities which she said, measures in health, education, cost of workers, oppressed, and marginalised “are all harnessing Maori to a global living, employment, and social well- sections of Aotearoa. The third reason capitalism that impoverishes the mass being, that are pro-worker, pro-poor, is that Mana has the potential to play of working class Maori making them and which would benefit the majority of a significant role in re-starting critical dependent on its survival”. Annette, Maori, as they would the working class, public-level discussion around Maori, along with John Minto, is a co-vice- instead of empowering and enriching class, and social issues in Aotearoa.

What are WP members doing in Mana?

• In mid-June we passed a national resolution stating that “We welcome the formation of a Maori-led class-based party and intend to engage with it in a constructive manner.”

• In the Te Tai Tokerau electorate Workers Party member Mike Kay is elected as vice-chair of the North Shore branch and was active in the successful by-election in June.

• In Hauraki-Waikato electorate we have established the Mana Waikato Workers Branch with enough members to have an additional representative on the Rohe (area of Maori electorate) committee. A branch member who is a railway delegate, is nominated for the Mana candidacy in the Hamilton West seat. Workers Party member Rebecca Broad is elected secretary of the Rohe Committee and is elected to represent the Rohe in national executive meetings.

• Another of our members – Heleyni Pratley - has been elected to represent a Rangitahi branch in .

• In mid-September 2011 we carried a national resolution to continue our participation in Mana as according to regional decision-making by our members.

The Spark October 2011 5 Election analysis The nature of National This article by Jared Phillips and Josh Glue is concerned with characterising the type of National Party that is in government today.

In a 2007 Agenda interview with then- global financial crisis, called new National Party leader John Key, Lisa national and regional economic summits Owen asked him about the difference in which offered a place of dialogue for the leadership style between himself and his Council of Trade Unions, other union predecessor, now-Act leader, Don Brash. leaders, and other non-business entities. Key’s reply was: On one hand this could be portrayed as political centrism but on the other hand Well I think leadership’s always a very the holding of such economic summits personal thing, it’s the way that you is not a new tactic for governments approach the issues, the image that you embarking on attacking the working put off, the things that maybe you want to class. The Labour Party used exactly discuss, I mean fundamentally Don and I Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples share the same view which is that we think this tactic in the 1980s when it carried New Zealand under-performs and we out the first wave of the neo-liberal and Prime Minister John Key think that the future can be much brighter assault on working people. Further, such with a National government with the summits are used to put any potential employers and it is far easier for the policies that we want to invoke, so I don’t opposition groups under the spotlight entire capitalist class to maintain and think our fundamental aim was different, and on best (conservative) behavior increase discipline over the workforce. we may choose to focus on - in the very rather than to share any power with In the public sector, understaffed short term some different issues and you’ve them. ministries are struggling to cover possibly seen that in my approach since increasing workloads with new-hirings I’ve taken over as the leader . Industrial relations far below requirements and government spending on the non-productive This is an interesting reply as it draws To manage the financial crisis and economy has fallen further below out one of the key issues surrounding the recession, the government has worked demand for public services. The 2011 nature of the National Party. Is National to further erode the power of unions Budget only allows enough money for fundamentally a neo-liberal party, playing and drive up the rate of exploitation at public service to tick over, not taking a strong public relations (PR) game, work. It has brought in the 90-Day “fire into account cost increases or the need with the Act party playing a role as its at will” law, allowing employers to sack for more staff to deal with higher most neo-liberal flank? Or is National new employees in the first 3 months of unemployment and underemployment a centrist party eager not to alienate its employment without reason or right and their effects. apparent support from echelons of the to unfair dismissal claims. This law is working class? particularly onerous for the already Taxation National’s post-election appearance vulnerable, namely immigrants, women, At the time of its 2008 election there was younger and older people and Maori, as One of the key messages of the left some anticipation from parts of the left – these groups were already disadvantaged in the lead-up to the last election was including members of the Workers Party in the labour market, being more to abolish GST, reduce it, or limit the at the time – that the National Party was concentrated in less secure employment items to which it applied. Typically the going to refrain from carrying out serious in harder-to-organise sectors. Other far-left called for the abolition of GST attacks on the working class because of changes have made it more difficult and the centrist or social democratic the centrist nature of its campaign and for unions to enter worksites. Even in left called for a reduction or limitation. the level of broad cross-class support cases whereby justified dismissal has Important for the purposes of this article which it enjoyed in the lead-up to the been accepted reinstatement has been is the fact that a GST reduction of some election. Soon after the election the downgraded from being the primary kind was called for universally by all new government put parliament under remedy. The Holidays Act has been workers organisations and a significant urgency and fired the first shot against changed so that individual workers’ number of progressive and community working people by introducing 90-day fourth week of holiday can be sold, organisations. In 2010 the government probationary employment to take effect which increases productivity to the legislated a 2.5% increase in GST (to in small workplaces. This was a serious detriment of workers quality of life. The 15%) despite GST-reduction being a attack, in that it was so obviously the thin Holidays Act has also been changed so core demand amongst above-mentioned end of the wedge for further anti-worker that the employer may require a medical organisations. GST-reduction, including laws. certificate for only one day of sickness. abolition, was called for because the cost After the election, and in response The cumulative impact of all this policy of living for ordinary working people to the recession which resulted from the is that productivity is driven up for the – and especially the poor – needed

6 The Spark October 2011 6 Election analysis to be relieved. Massive increases in and ‘helping people back to work’. In pressure, but oil exploration has started reliance on food grants and food banks fact tightening of criteria for receipt of off the East Cape. National’s relationship amid minimum wage rises lower than benefits has already taken place. Cuts with the Maori party doesn’t reveal a inflation are one sign that many people to Early Childhood Education will see willingness to progress Maori issues or are struggling to make ends meet. The the centres with the most qualified staff class issues for the majority of Maori, but government, far from taking a centrist forced to make layoffs, and the overall rather reflects a relationship with some position, acted in direct contradiction to quality of early childhood education upper-echelons of Maoridom, and a large this most basic demand. decrease at the same time as prices for number of Maori have broken from that In fact, the government rearranged service rise. Government subsidies for process. Public-private partnerships allow taxation in such a way that working adult education programmes have been the government to make claim that they people carry even more of the tax cut, as has funding to community law are not privatising, but that it is exactly burden by shouldering a GST increase centres and some domestic violence what they are doing at the pace available in order to help pay for tax cuts which agencies. to them and to the extent that such disproportionately advantaged (if tax cuts The changes to industrial law and the options are available. are considered an advantage) the already tax regime are sufficient to show that the Gaining an advantage from the rich. For example, the 12% of tax payers government is not following a centrist spotlight during large public tragedy in the $70,000 + per annum bracket path or a path determined by any minor events (Pyke River Mine and the received a saving of $1625.51 million, interest group. It is following a straight- Christchurch earthquakes), and taking whilst the 31% of taxpayers in the up-and-down continuation of the assault advantage of planned public events (such $20,000 - $50,000 per annum bracket on working people that has been carried as the Rugby World Cup), competently received a saving of $987.21 million. In out by capitalist governments for the last in both scenarios, has also helped along other words the wealthiest 12% saved 30 years. Key and National’s populism. nearly twice as much from the reduction in tax outlay than did those 31% who National’s PR machine Conclusion earn between $20,000 and 50,000 per year(see the table below). Recent polls place support for National National could not be led - and its Here the nature of the current at around 56%, while Labour’s support particular form of continued reform on National Party comes into stark contrast is tanking at around 30%, sometimes behalf of the ruling class could not be with its middle-of-the-road rhetoric. lower. The public relations machinery is carried out – by a Brash-styled party of These tax cuts for the wealthy and super- very effective, especially so given the low the type that would publically argue for a rich were sold to the average working levels of class consciousness and class decline in actual wages, would publically person as a tax cut for them, despite the fight-back (for example, in the year to argue against Maori rights, etc. However, fact that even the modest gains the new December 2010 work stoppages were National has been able to leverage tax regime affords those earning less than at their lowest number in two decades) off Act to advance its agenda while $70,000 will be eaten up by the rising which are required to repel and break maintaining some public distance from cost of living and the GST hike which the government’s current popularity. its more extreme neo-liberal aspects. The only rubs salt in the wound, punishing Included amongst National’s PR arsenal placement of Rodney Hyde as Minister the working class, who spend a higher are issues such as its eventual anti-mining of Local Government for the creation proportion of their income on goods and position with regard to the Coromandel, of the Auckland Supercity, VSM, and services than do the wealthy. its accommodation with the Maori Party, the role of the Act party in sharpening- and its apparent preference for public- up the anti-worker laws evidence this. Other cuts private partnerships over privatisation. As we come into a likely second-term However, in matters like this, of National-led government, it is The prospect of cuts to unemployment the appearances are deceptive. The worthwhile for any leftist who views benefits is also on horizon, again veiled Coromandel may have been saved or this government as a centrist one to in talk of ‘fixing’ the benefit system delayed from being mined, due to public reexamine their view.

(Source: http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2010/05/who-benefits-from-nationals-tax-cuts.html)

The Spark October 2011 7 Election analysis The Maori Party under pressure Mike Kay, Workers Party, Auckland

The Māori Party has not had a good year. While it may have breathed a collective sigh of relief when it parted ways with its only dissident, Hone Harawira, the euphoria must have been short-lived. It now faces intense pressure on its left flank since the formation of Mana. Seven years on from its inauguration, the Party will now struggle to continue to present itself as the authentic political voice of all Māori. In order to restore some of its radical credentials after three years of coalition with National and ACT, the Māori Party has recently been very vocal over the passage of the Policing (Storage of Youth Identifying Particulars) Amendment Bill. The Party’s police spokesperson Rahui Katene rightly described the Bill as a “travesty” that would stigmatise Māori youth. The Bill, passed under urgency, enables the Police to keep the photographs and fingerprints of young people who are arrested but discharged without conviction. It also retrospectively validates the keeping of records collected since 1 October 2008, in breach of the law at the time. So, obviously, a law worth opposing. However, civil liberties is one of the few policy areas where the Māori Party is able to differentiate itself from its right Mark Solomon, above left, who was a member of the Maori economic taskforce wing coalition partners, and even then, only insofar as it impacts on Māori. country. Everything we earn stays in the era have helped send poverty rates for Current polls point to National being country and what we do earn we reinvest the majority of Māori rocketing. Iwi able to govern on its own this November. in our own community. It’s a win win for corporate ownership of police stations, But if the Māori Party has a role in a everybody.” courts and prisons lends legitimacy to the future National-led government, it is The Māori Party can thus become machinery of state oppression. likely to be along the lines of recent the vehicle to help National sell the Privatisation reveals the class comments made by Tukoroirangi politically unpopular policy of asset polarisation within the Māori population Morgan of Waikato Tainui. Morgan sales to the public. The notion that with utter clarity. The tiny minority wants to form a consortium of iwi, land the problem with the policy is foreign seated at the “Brown Table” will further trusts and incorporations to buy stakes in ownership, rather that privatisation enrich themselves, whilst the working any state-owned enterprises that may be per se, is unfortunately widespread. Iwi class majority will continue to suffer. part-privatised in the event of a second corporates would be able to cash in on Socialists and Mana activists need term for National. He is proposing the the sell off, pushing the populist line that to clearly distance themselves from formation of a consortium to buy a ownership will not go offshore. the “foreign control” distraction and serious stake in Mighty River Power or For workers in privatised industries, oppose privatisation purely on the basis Genesis Energy. the effect is the same, whether the bosses of dispossession of public property. Mark Solomon, who was a member are New Zealander or foreign, Māori Otherwise we risk disorientating the of Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples’ or Pākehā. Job cuts and attacks on pay working class and giving quarter to the Māori economic taskforce, stated: “My and conditions are the inevitable result. unquestionably pro-capitalist Māori view is iwi are the Crown’s perfect Consumers face even higher energy Party. partner. We’re never going to leave the prices. Asset sales since the

8 The Spark October 2011 Election analysis New Zealand’s Green Party: contradictions and lessons Ian Anderson, member of Workers Party and The Spark editorial board

Recently Nick Maryatt, Green Party candidate for Hamilton East, suggested in a blog post that Labour voters were switching to the Greens because they are the “real opposition” to attacks by National. Maryatt is aligned with workers movement issues and has participated in the Hamilton Left Initiative, a non-sectarian left group which also involves members of the Workers Party. Radicals must develop a clear analysis of the Greens, given both their relationship to ruling-class parties, and with the left. Green Party leaders and Russell Norman The Green Party of entered parliament in 1996 relationship to the major parties and such as joined the as a part of the Alliance, at that time what policies their MPs chose to push. ranks of those opposing privatisation of a coalition of parties opposed to neo- Certain Green MPs act as water. However Fitzsimons does support liberalism. Green Party ideology was parliamentary allies to left movements charges on residential water, a corporate informed by international green politics, on the ground. Sue Bradford was strategy guaranteed to punish families described in its most conservative instrumental in abolishing youth rates, on low incomes. Similarly the Greens parliamentary form by the recent slogan and supported the Supersizemypay support petrol taxes and other consumer- “some things are bigger than politics.” campaign which took the minimum wage focused strategies. This means they would work with a to $12/hr, both campaigns run at street As the leadership moves rightwards, range of forces, including ruling class level by Unite Union with involvement signalling willingness to work with parties, to achieve environmental reform. from the radical left. acts as National to achieve environmental Opposing neoliberal excesses, they the acceptable parliamentary face of the reforms, MPs are forced to shape up or drew both members and supporters anti-war and anti-imperialist movement. ship out. Locke couches his criticism from the radical left. In 1999 they However by forging alliances with of imperialism in legality and appeals independently won seven seats in ruling class organisations, the Green to the UN, even legitimising the role parliament, including former Socialist Party leadership are increasingly of “peacekeepers” in Afghanistan. Sue Action League member Keith Locke and incapable of confronting corporate Bradford finally chose to shrug off the Workers Communist League member abuses. The Emissions Trading Sisyphean rock and leave parliament; Sue Bradford. While Alliance went Scheme, a market measure which has it is telling that she reserved open directly into coalition with the Labour internationally failed to curb emissions, acknowledgement of the problem for Party, the Greens agreed to support also excludes major companies such as her valedictory speech, with the words this government. This set a precedent of the New Zealand Refining Company. “capitalism is not giving us the answers orientation to the ruling class Labour Under the Labour government the we need.” Party. Refining Company signed a get-out As the majority of left groups gear Like many third parties, the clause excluding them from Kyoto up for another parliamentary experiment Greens were easily caricatured as regulations. Monopoly capital hinders in supporting Mana, we must learn from a strange mix. Rastafarian Nandor environmental reform at every step; this trajectory. It’s important to have Tanczos, unemployed rights advocate given their current involvement in the allies and work with Green MPs and Sue Bradford, anti-imperialist activist corporate Pure Advantage campaign, the supporters on areas of common interest. Keith Locke, united by a sometimes Green Party leadership is not poised to However partnership with ruling-class catastrophist, sometimes corporate, challenge this. bodies, including Labour and National, sometimes holistically social-democratic Instead, the leadership became threatens to kill the revolution long program. Their extensive industrial increasingly willing to punish working before it starts. relations policy has long stayed to the people for environmental abuses. In 1999, left of the Labour Party, but in reality at the peak of the movement against their impact depends both on their water metering in Auckland, Green MPs

The Spark October 2011 9 Election analysis Breaking with the Labour Party Ian Anderson

As leftists call for an end to the oppressive National Party government, we must also understand what the alternatives are. A Labour-led government remains the most immediate possibility. This leads us to consider the opportunities and threats a Labour government would pose for the left, and what other roads we might take. The Labour Party is committed to maintaining the capitalist order. While in their early days they made reference to socialism, their history since their first election is one of antagonism with the militant sections of the working class, especially at junctures where class contradictions are sharpened; the repression of watersiders in the 1930s, through to the devastating application of Rogernomics. This history is well Phil Goff, Labour Party leader. and accurately detailed in pamphlet The Truth About Labour. This article will aim to describe the Labour Party in its In his weekly column for the Herald, with National to manage the centre. current form. Mana president Matt McCarten This is probably the most accurate self- Under Phil Goff, Labour is a recently asserted that Phil Goff had description of the Labour Party available. decidedly liberal party at odds with “come clean on the class war.” However, National has introduced a raft of the needs of the working class and at rather than Goff admitting to his role anti-union and anti-worker laws since odds with the demands being placed in implementing class war against the coming to government and this is likely by the leading sections of workers working class through Rogernomics, this to continue. In purely industrial relations movement. As Minister for Education referred to a speech Goff made to an terms Labour is clearly a lesser-evil. under the Lange government, Goff was audience of trade unionists, at which he However we don’t assess parties purely instrumental in privatising education. endorsed a range of pro-working class on economistic terms, but on their overall Since then, mass membership in the policies. This included the demand for a politics such as their record on other Labour Party has declined, and low- $15 minimum-wage, introduced by Unite matters such as treatment of oppressed income voters do not show the strong Union and ignored by Labour while it groups and international questions. preference for Labour that they used was in office. Further, Labour does not put forward an to. Some advocate a reshuffle, given Labour has pulled this act before, industrial relations regime which gives Goff ’s banal politics and decided lack using slogans like “tax the rich” to power and agency to workers, such as of ‘opposition.’ However the problem get elected in 1999, then failing to removing restrictions on the legal right is more institutional - Annette King, implement any major reforms while in to take industrial action. initially tipped as a successor to Helen government. In fact during the last three The necessity for working class Clark, shares Goff ’s right-wing record. terms of Labour government, the rich movements to break from the Labour Currently the most glaring list shot up while the minimum wage at Party remains critical. We must find manifestation of the Labour Party’s times didn’t even keep up with inflation. a path out of the two-party system, anti-working class agenda is their refusal Policies such as the $12 minimum wage still maintained in a moderated form of overtures by Mana, the only major rise were pushed by Alliance and the under MMP. While the two-party parliamentary party with real ties to Greens, and in the last Labour-led term system exists, the left can only play an really progressive or radical aspects of the Greens passed 3 successful bills oppositional role - inside and outside the working-class movement. Mana without going into coalition with Labour. of parliament - to win reforms without expresses openness to working with the In a 2008 Listener article Labour sacrificing the political independence Greens, Maori or Labour Party. However was defined by former president Andrew needed over the long term to rebuild the Phil Goff has ruled out working with Little not even as a centre-left party, genuine left. Mana. but one which he said was competing

10 The Spark October 2011 Election analysis The ACT Party – Threat or joke? Byron Clark, Workers Party Christchurch branch organiser

ACT have in recent times down-played their economic policies in favour of social conservatism on issues such as crime and race relations. Both have backfired - their celebrity candidate last election, Sensible Sentencing Trust lawyer David Garrett was shown to be hypocritical beyond belief, holding an assault conviction and another for obtaining a fake passport with the birth certificate of a dead infant (not to mention his sexual harassment of a parliamentary staffer and drunked homophobic rant on national television). John Ansell’s newspaper ad campaign around the theme “stopping the Maorification of everything” may have appealed to a small number of Pakeha, but was universally mocked with few even seeing it worth a proper critique. Ansell soon parted ways with the party after and gave a New Zealand Herald interview where he stated that “white cowards” were scared to “tell the truth about this Maori issue”. The effort to distance themselves from Ansell hit a bump in the road when leaked emails showed Don Brash had supported even more racist ad ideas designed by Ansell that others in the party saw as too Act Party leader Don Brash extreme. In his Herald interview Ansell also described ACT as “a party for men A common view of political parties in above the margin of error. If John Banks and women who think like men” that New Zealand’s parliament holds that wins the seat of Epsom (the country’s statement fits with a Horizon poll back ACT is the worst of the lot, followed by wealthiest electorate with the lowest in May that found ACT’s support among National, Labour as the “lesser evil” with number of Maori voters) he might bring women to be zero. The Greens as not-perfect but essentially in one extra MP with him. A pair of free good. This approach ignores the question market zealots is hardly going to sway Out of control youth wing of what power and influence these the next government. While National parties hold (or lack there of ). There is are buoyed by recent polling and are ACT’s youth wing, ACT on Campus almost insignificant support for ACT speaking openly about the attacks on (AoC) has always pushed the envelope. in both the general population and the workers and beneficiaries they will make After the criminalisation of BZP, ruling class. While ACT may present its if reelected in November, their strategy AoC gave out pills containing BZP plans for New Zealand as a free-market is still to appear to voters as moderate as a publicity stunt on university clubs paradise for capitalists, the number of centrists, Key continues to distance days. Another activity of the group donations from corporations and wealthy himself from ACT and the relationship was disrupting Earth Hour events by individuals received by ACT pales in National has formed with the Maori shining electric lights around (because comparison to those received by National Party shows that it sees a “centrist” apparently being a jerk is a great way to and Labour. coalition partner as more useful for its win political support). In an interview on appearance than a far right appendage. Sunrise about this, then AoC president Low polling “A Party for men, and women who Rick Giles spoke about his disbelief in think like men” the scientific theory of anthropogenic The latest Roy Morgan Research poll Neo-liberalism has never been a climate change, and when asked for puts support for ACT on 2%, slightly popular ideology with the electorate, and evidence supporting his view stated that

The Spark October 2011 11 Election analysis his “argument is so powerful it’s not Junk science for cash political correctness has gone mad, necessary to talk about it”. Youtube clips that Maori and women have to much of the interview went viral and the quote To return to the point of Rick Giles’ privilege, and climate change theory soon appeared on t-shirts. Events like climate change skepticism, it was not this is a left-wing conspiracy. Meanwhile, Earth Hour do not provide a solution view that saw him rolled as president, Alisdair Thompson is rolled as president for climate change, but for a brief period indeed a distrust of climate scientists has of the Employers and Manufacturers Giles was an even bigger joke than the been a long standing ACT policy. At Association after saying that gender “always blow on the pie” cop. least since they started getting donations pay inequality is a result of women While that episode was laughable, from prominent climate change skeptic menstruating, and large group of something more sinister happened Alan Gibbs. When Gibbs supplied business people launch the ‘Pure recently. Cameron Browne, AoC ACT with $100,000 he was able to Advantage’ campaign to profit from Auckland vice-president, told a young buy significant policy change. “Within environmentalism. The vast majority of woman he was arguing with to “get weeks, the party’s new climate denial line New Zealand society does not hold the raped”. While Giles was rolled as was being pushed to the press.” wrote views expressed by the ACT party. president for his live TV gaff, new Gareth Renowen, author of Hot Topic: If Don Brash and John Banks take president Peter McCaffrey was quick to Global Warming and the Future of two of the seats in parliament after make excuses for Browne’s comment. New Zealand “back in May 2008, Hide the election they are not going to be “The fact that members such as — while adopting an overtly sceptical, excerting influence over the National McCaffrey have been quick to defend do-as-little-as-possible stance — was caucus, more likely they will be a pair his comments as being ‘in the heat of the prepared to at least acknowledge the of ‘useful idiots’ to help Key form a moment’ and ‘not really serious’ just go IPCC reports as a starting point for majority government. Of course, many to show what little sensitivity they have discussion. Within months, however, he are expecting ACT to disappear from the around the realities of rape and sexual was ready to declare in a speech to ACT’s political landscape all together this year. abuse in this country” said Nicole Skews, southern region conference: ‘I remain The Facebook event “ACT Party Funeral” Coordinator of the Wellington Young sceptical that greenhouse gases are the is notable for having more people Feminists Collective. ACTs near non- cause of a global warming.’” ‘attending’ than there are people ‘liking’ existent support among women suddenly There will always be a (hopefully the official ACT Facebook page. makes a lot more sense. shrinking) constituency for ACT, the groups of Pakeha men who think that Workers Party not standing in any electorates in 2011 election

In the last few elections the Workers Party has stood candidates in a number of electorates. In the 2008 election we became a registered party after signing up over 500 members and we were therefore able to stand a party list. The intention of standing in the elections was to try and raise the profile of both socialist ideas and our own organisation. The 2008 election gave quite clear evidence that this strategy wasn’t working with not only an extremely low vote but also the fact that the campaign did not win people over to our politics. This opinion was universal within the organisation prior to January this year. The party has no policy against standing in local or general elections under different circumstances such as increased class activity or increased support for the organisation or individual members who may find good opportunities to stand as candidates.

12 The Spark October 2011 Migrant workers Indonesian fishing crew seek redress in New Zealand The following article by Byron Clark was written in August and follows on from an earlier article published in The Spark.

The 32 member fishing crew of the manager just rapped this 12 kg stainless own boats many iwi contracted out their Korean vessel Oyang 75 jumped ship steel pan over his head, splits the top of quotas to overseas companies. One of the in Lyttelton in June and are currently his head, blood pissing out everywhere...,” biggest benefactors of this contracting staying in Christchurch as they pursue a and a New Zealand official as referring out has been South Korean corporation civil case against their employer, South to a boat as “a floating freezer [with] Sajo Oyang, owner of the Oyang 75 and Korean corporation Sajo Oyang. While absolutely appalling conditions just like a the Oyang 70, which sank last year with government policy mandates that the slum ... there are definitely human rights the loss of six lives. The captain of the same terms and conditions be given to abuses out there, they are slave ships.”. New Zealand fishing boat that rescued workers on foreign charter vessels in The Indonesian workers in the remaining crew told TV3’s Hamish New Zealand waters as to local citizens, Christchurch have been helped by the Clark “The vessel lent over to one side - members of the Oyang 75 crew were Anglican Diocese, the Canterbury the factory filled up with water and the receiving annual incomes of between Indonesian Society and others in engine room filled up with water. There $6,700 and $11,600 well below the the community. The food bank 0800 were no alarms, no lighting, nothing”. minimum wage and a fraction of $60- HUNGRY has been providing food These tragic events are just the 80,000 workers earn on New Zealand and in exchange the crew have been most recent chapters in a long history flagged ships. volunteering in their warehouse. The of human rights violations aboard As well as unpaid wages the crew crew have long been facing deportation, “seaborne sweatshops” in New Zealand’s allege mistreatment including physical though they have recently been able to waters. Back in the Service and Food abuse. Their stories fit with the findings appeal thanks to an anonymous donation Workers Union (SFWU) began a of an Auckland University study of of $10,000. While Immigration New petition campaign calling on parliament charter fishing vessels (FCVs) operating Zealand insists their legal case can to conduct an inquiry into the local in New Zealand’s exclusive economic continue with the men back in Indonesia Fishing Industry’s relationship with zone punished last month (August). by they don’t want to leave the country foreign fishing companies, foreign Senior lecturer Dr Christina Stringer, until they have received back pay. crewing of Joint Ventures, chartered and PhD candidate Glenn Simmons and New Zealand fishing vessels, and its fisheries consultant and former skipper Foreign charter vessels in New Zealand effects on sustainable fishing practices Daren Coulston interviewed crews and and employment. The inquiry began in families in two Asian countries. The Under treaty settlements made in the July. The Maritime Union described the study quotes one fisherman as saying 1990’s fishing quotas were allocated to inquiry as “long overdue”. “Officers are vicious bastards ... factory the various iwi, but unable to afford their

Crew members of the Oyang 75, in accomodation in Christchurch

The Spark October 2011 13 Election analysis Defend MMP in the 2011 referendum This article by Jared Phillips first appeared in the June 2011 issue of The Spark.

This year New Zealand electors will vote feudalism and the accompanying rule dedication by the British Crown, as in a national referendum, held as part by monarchy. In other cases bourgeois this institution and its laws were used of the general elections, asking them democracy was transferred by colonial to further smash up Maori custom and firstly to indicate whether they want forces (i.e., Australia, New Zealand), property relations. to change from MMP, and secondly to or brought into being by the monarchy Within New Zealand’s representative indicate their preferred electoral system. itself so as to remove barriers to the democracy, the voting procedure from The other options are First Past the development of a capitalist economy 1853 when the first parliament was Post (FPP), Preferential Voting (PV), ( Japan). elected through to 1993 had been First- Single Transferable Vote (STV), and The emergence of the capitalist Past-the-Post (FPP). Supplementary Member (SM). If a system brought about bourgeois majority votes in favour of retaining democracy by introducing constitutions Consequences beyond vote-counts MMP that decision will be binding. and parliaments to limit or overthrow However, if a majority votes against the political monopoly maintained by As is well known to voters who replaced retaining MMP, there will be a further monarchies. Just as monarchical rule was FPP with MMP by referendum in 1992, referendum in 2014 whereby electors will attached to feudal relations of property FPP produced parliaments that were not decide between MMP and whichever and production, bourgeois democracy representative of the proportion of votes alternative procedure gains the most arose from the development of capitalist attributed to candidates by party and yet support in the 2011 referendum. If a new property relations and capitalist parliament was completely dominated system is selected in 2014 it will come production. by party politics, which were the politics into effect at the 2017 election. Outside of advanced capitalist of National and Labour. When National Real advanced democracy can only countries, in semi-colonial countries, the was elected in 1951 it was the last be imposed and administered by the development of bourgeois democracy FPP election at which the party whose majority of working people through a is restricted by the interference of candidates collectively gained more votes workers‘ government. In the current imperialist countries which operate than candidates of another party came to period though, in which the working against the interests of local democracy power. class has clearly not yet recovered and against the accumulation of local While FPP distorted the majority organisationally or politically from capital. This is not to say that local vote for and between the two major the onslaught of neo-liberalism, it is capitalists play a progressive role in parties, it also ensured that smaller important to ensure that the electoral semi-colonial countries, but rather that parties, whose candidates throughout system offering the most democratic the development of bourgeois democracy the country may have achieved a electoral procedure prevails. From this in such countries has become impossible reasonable percentage collectively, could point of view it is in the best interests of after the development of monopoly not gain corresponding representation the working people and oppressed groups capitalism / imperialism in the countries in parliament and were marginalised. In to retain MMP. of advanced capitalism. 1981 for example, Social Credit Party New Zealand is an advanced candidates drew over 20% of the vote The capitalist state and elections capitalist country with a comparably nationally but were only able to win two entrenched bourgeois democracy. This electorates and therefore two seats in Marxists refer to ‘bourgeois democracy’ was established by British colonial forces parliament. to describe the current form of state rule from the mid-1800s. Capitalist property The type of electoral procedure used in advanced capitalist countries such as relations and capitalist production has wider implications than how the New Zealand. Marxist theory accepts were transplanted into Aotearoa / New votes count up and distribute MPs. The that capitalism allows a form of national Zealand, predominantly by settlers and electoral procedure also impacts on the political democracy, and it is labelled the British Crown. The political form way parliament is able to pass legislation. bourgeois democracy because it is the of this democracy is the Westminster Under FPP New Zealand was known sort of democracy which was given birth system which is a representative as an executive paradise because of the by the development of capitalism and democracy, within which people (at way in which cabinet – comprised solely operates in the interests of the capitalist first excluding women and Maori) can of – was able to dominate class (the bourgeoisie). vote for Members or Parliament (MPs) policy by keeping its MPs beholden to it In Europe bourgeois democracy was who then have the power to make and through party discipline. established by revolutions, led politically administer law. This form of government Within the fourth Labour by the emerging capitalist class against was placed into New Zealand with great government, the cabinet dominated by

14 The Spark October 2011 Election analysis

Richard Prebble, and of such capture made obvious under party vote through which electors could David Lange (though Lange tried to the fourth Labour government). Under express pure political preference. The distance himself from its actions), and MMP it is likely that governments can number of MPs would stay the same backed by powerful business interests, only be formed through coalitions. This but each would be an electorate MP, was able to enact sweeping neo-liberal usually leads to a multi-party cabinet, and there would be multiple MPs per changes, sold large parts of the state meaning that cabinet supremacy is electorate. While the use of STV would sector and started the deregulation of restricted and cabinet secrecy broken avoid disproportionate correspondence the labour market. It did so through down. of votes and seats, and would likely result undemocratic measures afforded to in coalitions and not reinforce a two- cabinet; skipping Select Committees, Left strategy and alternative vote party system, the danger is – all things allowing debate on only minor details, procedures offered in 2011 being equal – that it could also influence keeping proposals in-house to cabinet, electors to vote for likely winners and and generally isolating the rest of Political alternatives of the left are scale down voting (or at least high parliament. currently being put forward from a preference voting) for alternative politics. position of weakness. Therefore the left needs to argue for the maintenance of a The workers’ movement and democracy vote procedure that can accommodate both a) drawing upon ideological support At the present time and at first glance for left alternatives through nation- independent participation in general wide party voting, and b) drawing upon elections and preferences of electoral support from supporters and progressive system do not appear to be the burning voters in local electorates where left questions for the far-left in New alternatives are able to be established on Zealand. Moreover, the far-left does the grounds of genuine working class and not uphold bourgeois democracy / community leadership in practice. representative democracy as a source of If PV is to be introduced parliament change in favour of the working class. will remain the same size and there will The is the be 120 electorates. In each electorate machinery of the ruling class and, upon voters will rank the candidates in order of any electoral success, the left would be preference. The candidate with over 50% required to treat it as such. of votes is elected. If there is no such There are two reasons as to why the Mural of former Prime Minister David candidate then first preference votes for far-left needs to be clear in its position Lange the last-ranked candidate are recounted on the electoral system. Firstly, any with the second ranked candidate as section of the far-left embarking on Roger Douglas first preference. This is repeated until rebuilding a workers party and the a candidate holds more than 50% of radical workers movement needs to The shift to a neo-liberal regime was the vote. All things being equal (i.e. take a tactical view. Of the electoral of course based on the requirement of that there is no structural political or systems available, MMP is the one that capitalism to restore profitability, and social change between now and such an offers more scope for future initiation of was socially possible because of union- election) this system would be likely to electoral interventions or campaigns of alignment to a traditional bourgeois return strength to the two-party system. the far-left. workers party (Labour) and activist Minor party candidates with strong Second, socialists need to make focus on non-economic reforms often electorate constituency support can still explicit the connection between socialism to the exclusion of economic concerns. be elected, but that is already the case and democracy. Openly struggling for However, the experience of the fourth with electorate voting under MMP. democracy is essential for rebuilding Labour government shows how a party A change from MMP to SM would fighting unions, for short-term building could completely capture policy under produce a decline in the share of seats of far-left organisations, for forging any FPP. The Labour Party’s rank-and-file gained through party votes and reduce organisation that will ever be capable membership declined rapidly as a result the proportionality established by MMP. of properly challenging capitalist power of the changes carried out by its cabinet, Essentially the number of seats derived and establishing workers’ democracy. changes that only a tiny minority of New from party votes would reduce from 50 Championing democracy is also Zealand’s electors supported. down to 30 and increase the number neccessary for rearticulating the ideas of As well as increasing the ability of electorate votes (parliament would genuine socialism in contrast to Stalinist of electors to vote ideologically still consist of 120 seats). Overall, this methods. As well as articulating a view (through party votes) and abating the procedure would also tend towards of post-capitalism, the far-left has to marginalisation of small parties, the restrengthening the two-party system. support the electoral system which offers introduction of MMP has also enabled STV would have the effect of limiting the most democratic space. a degree of constraint against one-party the ability of electors to cast a vote on capture of cabinet (the negative impact ideological grounds. There would be no

The Spark October 2011 15 Union activism

Kiribati workers, members of Northern AWUNZ, fight redundancies and racism in Warkworth

The press release below was issued on September 7th by the Northern Amalgamated Workers Union which is in a redundancy dispute with Southern Paprika Limited. We note that the RSE policy is external to the union.

Media Release: Kiribati workers The Company admits that it is profitable, Kiribati and Tuvalu, have put down fight horticulture redundancies in and that there is no financial case for the roots in the local community, and will Warkworth. For immediate publication. job cuts, citing instead “efficiencies”. struggle to find alternative employment Workers at capsicum grower Southern “At the same time as scrapping in the Warkworth area. The Company Paprika Limited in Warkworth are production jobs, the Company is are proposing to bring in 16 temporary being threatened with 13 redundancies, proposing to create an additional HR migrant workers under the Recognised announced by the Company on Monday position,” states union organiser Mike Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme in 5 September. The union on site, the Kyriazopoulos. “How can getting rid of October. Northern Amalgamated Workers Union the people who pick, grade and pack the “If a position is made redundant, has called for all the redundancies to be fruit, while making the company more only to be filled by an RSE worker, the scrapped on the basis that no compelling top-heavy lead to greater efficiency? Company risks violating its Agreement justification has been put forward by SPL. Nearly all the workers come from to Recruit under the RSE scheme,” says

Above and left, meetings of the Warkworth Kiribati community, union members, and their supporters. Left, members of the MANA Te Raki Pae Whenua show support for the dispute, Hone Harawira speaking. 16 The Spark October 2011 Union activism

Kyriazopoulos. “Under RSE, they are No-one responsible for the text message required to ‘take all reasonable steps Notes: was disciplined in the subsequent to recruit and train New Zealanders • The union has challenged the investigation by the company. However, for available positions before trying to ability of the company to run a fair two union members were disciplined for recruit non-New Zealand citizen or non process for redundancy after the manner trying to conduct their own investigation resident workers.’ We will be taking this in which it dealt with an incident into the incident. The union has up at a political level. involving a racist text on a company referred the matter to the Human Rights “SPL claims that it is ‘carrying’ too phone earlier in the year. A former Cadet Commission. many employees. But in the 12 years of its Manager at SPL described the content existence, the company has grown from of the text as being: “The best Christmas For further information, contact Mike 2.5 hectares to 14 hectares today, thanks present I could have would be a black Kyriazopoulos on 021 288 5601 or to the efforts of its staff. It is the workers man swinging from a tree”. [email protected] who have carried SPL on their shoulders.”

Dispute outcome The following report was written on September 28th

Today SPL (Warkworth) and AWUNZ be taking up the Company’s offer of staff, and proceeded to give a rousing Union signed an agreement brokered permanent seasonal employment in speech about how he was part of a through the Department of Labour to November. The RSE workers will also militant struggle against redundancies settle their dispute over the 13 workers benefit: the union was told by the by construction workers at the Aotea made redundant on 4 October. All 13 of company that the small increase above centre back in the day. He urged the the workers made redundant will receive the minimum wage it negotiated in April workers to take strike action to defeat the offers of permanent seasonal employment will also be paid to the RSE workers who redundancies and finished by appealing of 5-9 months per year starting on 7 arrive next month. to those workers with residency to party November. This offer is in addition to the The Union and the local vote Mana. His korero was greeted by affected workers being given 2 weeks pay Kiribati community had launched a rapturous applause by the I-Kiribati. in lieu of notice, and redundancy pay of 4 lively campaign in response to the The negotiated deal represents weeks for the first year of service, plus 2 redundancies. A meeting attended by a partial victory for the workers, weeks for each subsequent year of service. about 40 I-Kiribati workers was held considering the odds they were up The Labour Dept was satisfied that the in Warkworth on 14 September. Mana against (i.e. workers from one of the outcome meant that the Recognised leader Hone Harawiri spoke, urging poorest countries on earth versus a boss Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers were the workers and Kiribati community to who is personal friends with John Key no longer displacing Permanent Resident push forward the struggle themselves. and Lockwood Smith). Union Organiser workers. Harawira had also done a lot of work Mike Kyriazopoulos commented: “This The deal was unanimously endorsed behind the scenes to get the Dept of proves that if you do nothing, you get at a meeting of the affected workers, Labour along to the meeting and getting nothing; but if you put up a fight – as and the union considers the outcome them to force the company to participate we did – you can win something for the to be the best one achievable in the in mediation. The star of the show was workers.” circumstances. The union understands Mana activist Jesse Pene, who turned that all of its affected members will up, complete with a ceremonial fighting

The Spark October 2011 17 Book review Other People’s Wars: Real journalism exposing NZ imperialism Joel Cosgrove, Workers Party, Wellington branch

Anyone who reads the warzones, they resorted to book will know more about misleading or outright lying New Zealand military and to get a good story. what it did in Afghanistan, • New Zealand troops Iraq and the Gulf than any have regularly engaged in politician in parliament - combat activity or combat Nicky Hager. support. This activity was With his latest book not confined to the SAS. Nicky Hager has blown • New Zealand Navy away the tightly controlled frigates and Air Force political and military Orions’ were actively cover for New Zealand’s involved in supporting the involvement in Afghanistan US/UK invasion of Iraq. and Iraq. The book itself • New Zealand’s was published on Thursday ‘reconstruction’ efforts in and once it has been read Bamiyan province were and analysed The Spark will at best a fig-leaf and at publish a wider analysis worst an outright sham. drawn from Hager’s Reconstruction projects explosive scoop. were started afresh every With his previous books 6 months and then left on ‘Secret Power’, ‘Secrets and the wayside with the end Lies’, ‘Seeds of Distrust’, of each deployment. The ‘The Hollow Men’ and now successes hyped up in New ‘Other People’s Wars’ Hager Zealand were extremely has cemented his place as over-exaggerated or one of the most important downright lies. journalists New Zealand • There were undeclared has ever produced. US intelligence officers in The following is a summary the Kiwi base at Bamiyan of the key points that who would often debrief Hager makes in his book: New Zealand soldiers • One of the major directly. New Zealand themes running throughout media were aware of their the book is the control presence but as a whole, did the military have exerted not report on it, due to the over the media through perceived ‘irrelevance’ of public relations methods. raising it. Leaked documents show • Hager has described the strategies hatched by the military • Primarily New Zealand’s this as the biggest leak in New Zealand leadership to keep key events and involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq has history. information from parliament, the media, been motivated by diplomatic, defence, The response to this at Hager’s press and the public. and trade concerns. conference and afterwards by the • Right from New Zealand’s first • New Zealand’s involvement in the media and senior politicians has been involvement in Afghanistan, confidential wars has been driven and led by defence illustrative. Guyon Espiner (TVONE critical reports have circulated amongst staff, with a strong focus on rebuilding political editor) stated that he was not the defence force concerning the lack what is in effect the ANZUS alliance in surprised that U.S. intelligence officers of strategy regarding New Zealand all but name. were present in the New Zealand involvement in imperialist wars, as well • Officials and military staff Provincial Reconstruction Team base as tactical deficiencies with regard to the developed a close and tight reign on any and that he even ate meals with them New Zealand deployments. negative information coming out of the and was briefed, pledging to keep

18 The Spark October 2011 Book review information secret. He then proceeded to one capacity or another, for the troops in information from military websites ask Hager if he had gone to Afghanistan, the field and for advising the government overseas than is made readily available which Hager has not. However Hager’s on their activities, for the entire period of at home” and said “… much of the 1300+ footnotes representing five years the Afghan war.” official information which the Labour of research and interviews has far more Hager being interviewed on TV3’s government chose to publish was authenticity and accuracy when measured Firstline after the publication of Other hopelessly outdated.” against the public relations-parachute- People’s Wars This is the other important aspect of reporting that has characterised the This is an aspect that Hager the story which Hager hasn’t engaged majority of the New Zealand media’s has talked about. Either senior on to the same extent. Namely the co- reporting of Afghanistan to date. parliamentarians in both the Labour and option of the media (as if they weren’t Vernon Small in a recent Dominion National governments lied, or they chose already coopted to begin with). Every opinion piece was surprisingly frank not to know about what was going, or journalist who has spoken of their trips when he said that: “In fact, I, and other both. The denials by both military and to Afghanistan since the publication of reporters before me, were introduced to parliamentary figures have been clear to Hager’s book has done so as a defence US intelligence and communications say they did not know about CIA bases. of the establishment and as an attack staff at Bamiyan and at other Kiwi bases Not that there were not bases, or that on Hager’s credibility. None of them and ate and chatted with them. The they were staffed by intelligence figures, thought that the presence of U.S. stars and stripes flies alongside the New just a very specific, very vague wave-off, intelligence officials camped within the Zealand flag at Bamiyan to advertise the that relies on Hager not being able to New Zealand base was at all at odds US contingent.” provide documentation that directly links with the ‘peacekeeping’, ‘reconstruction’ John Key’s response has been to any of these senior figures to the issues public face of the mission. The reality is roll his eyes, rubbish the work on the raised. Key himself has been clear to that the media are no longer reporting on grounds of its authorship by Hager and talk about the lack of a “smoking gun” in the military but instead reporting for the state blankly that although he has not relation to Hager’s claims. military. read the work, there is no evidence to One of the leaks is a confidential In part the reason for this is that as back up Hager’s claims. This has been 2010 Defence Force report which said mainstream journalists, they are reliant an almost carbon copy to his dismissal the projects overseen by the Provincial on the government and dominant of Jon Stephenson who is the only other Reconstruction Team “…do not appear political parties for stories, gossip, and major New Zealand journalist writing to be sustainable in any way”. This scoops. If they break this system of independently and critically about New is a key aspect behind the change in patronage, then they lose their place in Zealand’s involvement in Afghanistan. presentation of New Zealand’s support the food-chain. The only major difference between Key’s for imperialist interventions. We are While various governments have treatment of either journalist is the ‘peacekeepers’ who are ‘rebuilding’ in not been able to cow either Stephenson malice and personal attacks poured on occupied lands, from Bosnia, to East or Hager, both journalists stand as a Stephenson. Timor and now Afghanistan and Iraq. testament to the ostracisation involved Phil Goff ’s response has not been The language of intervention, invasion, when actually holding power to much better. Refusing to call for an and occupation has changed and been account. The role of people like Richard inquiry and describing the book as softened to hide away the realities of Long, who moved from Evening Post ‘spurious’, again without reading it. New Zealand’s support of American editorship to being chief of staff to then The general response so far from media invasions which have killed hundreds of National Party leader Don Brash as has been to focus almost entirely on thousands of lives over the past decade. well as the tight links between media, the revelation of the presence of U.S. Hager’s meticulous documentation business and the political sphere shown intelligence officials in the Bamiyan deals a striking blow to this notion. New by the fallout from the News of the camp, normalising and downplaying the Zealand’s involvement in Afghanistan World scandal in England makes this fact by revealing a general knowledge of is about closer ties to the U.S., it is not symbiotic relationship clear. their presence, justifying it through the about ‘hearts and minds’ or provincial Since 2001, the Workers Party and nonchalant shrugging of their shoulders reconstruction, it is about providing its forerunner organisations have joined at the apparent lack of need to report this intelligence and support for the US in the calls and the marches against the to the general public. bombing and indiscriminate attacks on war and New Zealand’s involvement, Jerry Mateparae, the recent head of the Afghan people. When they say that and on occasions the Workers Party has the Defence Force, who officially took the SAS are ‘mentoring’ Afghan troops it played key organisational and/or political up the role Governor General on the day is now clear – even though it was obvious roles in that movement. Clearly Hagar of the book’s release, has denied or been before – that it means being at the front has outlined how the political parties and unable to recall any of the issues raised of any attacks or operations, not unlike senior military figures have learnt and in the book. Simon Wilson writing in U.S. ‘observers’ in the Vietnam war. developed their public relations strategies the Metro (before the publication of the Fran O’Sullivan, in The New Zealand and tactics. We need to learn from this book) wrote, “Mateparae is a former head Herald, wrote that there exists “…a in order to counteract government of the SAS, the Army and the NZDF, culture of secrecy which means New propaganda and whatever other public and has therefore been responsible, in Zealand journalists can obtain clearer relations approaches they attempt next.

The Spark October 2011 19 Local politics Gisborne City District councillor stands up for socialism Jared Phillips

In early September Gisborne City District councillor Manu Caddie hit back against a local figure who is critical of socialism and who was attempting to discredit Caddie by labelling him a socialist. This occurred within a debate over rates differentials. In an opinion piece in The Gisborne Herald (3/9/11) Caddie wrote:

… an aspiring mayoral candidate blamed socialists on Gisborne District Council for the increase in his rates demand, which he thinks is a form of wealth tax. Of course, he failed to mention his properties are collectively worth millions of dollars and the proportion of his rates to property is less than one tenth of what the vast majority of us contribute. Instead of shrinking from his critic and Gisborne City District councillor Manu Caddie acting as centrist and apologist, and denying the principles of socialism, Caddie defended the core principles of socialism. be in control of their own destiny and of years. Whilst our organisation doesn’t He stated that ‘The core notion of lives, including the institutions within agree with every sentiment in his article traditional socialism is that working people which they work and the communities (which is viewable at http://www. have to be in control of their own lives. within which they live. This is the gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=24392) potential and my vision for local it is highly refreshing to see local He went on to distinguish socialism government. representatives step up for their from Stalinism and highlighted the Caddie has been a hard-working constituents and speak the truth about importance of local and industrial youth-worker and community the types of changes needed to make a democracy. He then summarised: campaigner in Gisborne for a number democratic and equitable world. Socialism is the idea that people should

Victoria University students support Palestinian Resistance The following article by Marika Pratley, Wellington PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) campaign Co- ordinator and Vic Palestine member, was fist published at workersparty.org.nz

Over August Vic Palestine organised panel discussion on Israel and Palestine, were well attended. a series of events to create awareness and a fundraising gig to prepare for the The SRC happened on the 29th and build support for the Palestinian photography exhibition “Unrecognised”, of July in the Victorai University struggle around Victoria University which is opening in Wellington tonight. student union building, with over 140 and Wellington. This included a film Despite Zionist supporters ripping people. The Motion was put forward: screening of Occupation 101, a Student down posters in an attempt to censor the “To affiliate to the Right to Education Representative Council (SRC) on the campaign, there has been strong support Campaign at Birzeit University as a right to education for Palestinians, a given by the community and all events public show of solidarity and support

20 The Spark October 2011 Palestine solidarity to all Palestinian students and teachers Massey University opened the panel by Gaza are organising another group to go who are struggling to live,work and study discussing the Israel Palestine situation. at the end of 2011 and are looking for under the illegal Israeli occupation.”, as Dr. Parsons used Foucault’s theory of volunteers. part of the right2edu campaign (further Bio-politics as a basis fo discussing how The final part of the panel was information can be read here http:// the state functions in controlling people’s presented by Nadia from Vic Palestine. right2edu.birzeit.edu/downloads/pdfs/ lives. He then proceeded to apply this She focused her talk on the experiences CampaignAffiliationMotion... ). the Palestinians as invidividuals and their accounts of people in Palestine as well as John Minto from GPJA in Auckland community as a whole. He went onto her own experiences, being apart of the was there to talk in support of the discuss how the Oslo agreement relied Palestinian diaspora that were born and motion, and referenced the struggle of on incorporating the PLO, leading to raised outside of Palestine. She included abolishing apartheid in South Africa as the Palestinian Authorities controlling example of how her cousin fell in love a reason for supporting the issue. There their own resistance, and allowing for with an Israeli Conscientious objector, were also speakers from Vic Palestine, the development of settlements in the and what it feels like to have a displaced the Greens and other radical left West Bank. He ended his talk pointing identity due to the denial of rights for organizations on campus. Debate on the out that when demanding for ‘the right the Palestinian community. motion was based mostly on people not of state’ for Palestinians, its absolutely The final part of the Palestine understanding the need for international essential to consider what this means Solidarity fortnight, was a fundraising solidarity, rather than being Zionist in practice, and what ‘type’ of state the gig at Garett street in Wellington. This supporters. However the outcome was Palestinians would be demanding. was done on behalf of the Concerned an overwhelming majority of students in This was followed by Hone from Citizens, to fundraise for a photo support of the right2edu campaign, and Kia Ora Gaza. He gave a skype exhibition, which is intended to raise the motion was passed. presentation of photos from the Kia awareness of the UN meeting in The SRC was followed by a panel Ora Gaza convoy that visited Palestine September, which will decide whether in the first week of August. Nigel in December last year, with other or not Palestine will be recognized as a Parsons, a Political Scientist from international organizations. Kia Ora state.

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The Spark October 2011 21 Student activism

‘We Are the University’ - A firsthand perspective on the Auckland University occupation

This article is written by a Workers Party sympathiser at Auckland Univeristy

Once again the mainstream media establishment have neglected to tell all sides of a story - in this case regarding the autonomous student action that resulted in an occupation at the on the 26th of September. I feel that my own experience goes in direct opposition with a lot of what has been said - from not only having been at the event, but also taking a small role in its organisation. The occupation was about far more than the Voluntary Student Membership Students encircled a police car after a man participating in the demonstration (VSM) bill, it was about the increasing was arrested. corporatisation of tertiary education in this country, of which VSM is but one currently happening all over the world in prophecy. part of a sustained attack on tertiary response to finance capitalism in which As someone who was at the frontlines education as a whole. students play an important role. From when this incident happened, I did not Other demands were against the this nucleus of socially conscious but see any student commit violence against cutting of academic work conditions, largely politically inexperienced students, the police. When an activist was arrested negatively affecting quality of research, we managed due to previously being trespassed off and against the continual rise in student to coat the university in not only posters campus for merely attending an anti- fees. With this in mind, the choice to advertising the rally yet also just general Israel protest in support, not doing occupy the Owen G. Glenn Building was agitprop. anything that could be even tenuously an inspired one, as to many it is a symbol Once we were in the building, I met construed as violent or antisocial, we of Auckland University’s not-so-gradual about a dozen classmates I’ve had over peacefully blockaded the car demanding transition from an educational institute the years who I had no idea were into they let our comrade go since he had to a business. this sort of thing. As a member of the done nothing wrong. The police were the What is also important to point student union executive commented to only people who committed any violence, out is that the occupation consisted of us, what is impressive about this action storming in to break up the blockade. far more than simply the usual ‘rabble- is the predominant organic character of One would think that in a perfect world rousing’ left-wing activist intelligentsia it, in which student unions and existing the police would be with no connection to ‘regular’ students, radical organisations played a largely trained in methods of breaking these as some right- wing commentators backseat role. blockades with minimal physical harm, have been trying to argue in an attempt What is also interesting is how the however this was not the case - some to delegitimise. While some of the media have fixated on the brief skirmish women at the frontline were ‘usual suspects’ were present, they had a with the police after the occupation, hit quite hard in the breasts, while others minimal involvement in the organisation rather than either the occupation or the report being choked. of this occupation, which made this event demands I have just outlined. None of This action is only the beginning, and especially exciting for me personally. the news coverage I have seen covered no matter how much politicians, I have known a substantial number any of the pre-occupation speeches bureaucrats and the media attempt to of the organisers and leaders of this from radical lecturers, journalists and write us off and delegitimise us, movement for a long time, most of sympathetic politicians; nor did they we will be back, stronger and in greater whom have had no prior interest in pay any attention to the press release numbers than before. Despite tangible political action. They were we sent out before the rally. They were of what university management may inspired not only by the left- wing instead interested in constructing a think, We Are the University. academic literature they were reading as narrative where the ‘violence’ that the part of their education, but also by the students allegedly partook in undermined http://www.wearetheuniversity.org.nz grassroots social movements that are its message, as a sort of self-fulfilling

22 The Spark October 2011 Student issues Two law changes for foreign born students

Byron Clark

Legislative changes affecting international students studying in New Zealand and refugees based here wanting to pursue tertiary education are in the works. The first will make it easier for students from overseas to come to New Zealand to study, the second will make it more difficult for New Zealanders who came here as refugees.

University issued visas

Immigration New Zealand chief executive Nigel Bickle told The Press recently that “trusted institutions” could get the power to make visa decisions for students, allowing international students to bypass the immigration department when getting visas. While throughout most of the world tertiary education -especially in a foreign country- is a privilege for the wealthy, the right for short term migrants to come to New Zealand to study is one that should be supported, along side calls to allow migrant workers greater rights. It should be noted of course that international Immigration New Zealand chief executive Nigel Bickle students pay for their study with no subsidies from the New Zealand state. bad economy, I never had the chance.” That of course, rather than an altruistic Mohammad Ali Amiri was quoted as Potential backlash desire to provide education, is the saying in the Tertiary Education Union reasoning behind this new policy. To newsletter, “I had to work hard to With below inflation funding increases quote Bickle, “Expanding these markets support my family. But since I came to and outright cuts, education providers [China and India] will help the export New Zealand, my dream came true and have been starting to turn away students education sector grow into a $5 billion- I got the chance to study, even if I had and tighten up on entry requirements, dollar a year export earner which it has to work fulltime to support my family. all while trying to recruit fee-paying the potential to do.” Even sleep couldn’t stop me studying – I international students. With youth had only three to four hours sleep a day. unemployment at 27% and talk of Cuts to refugee grants But this year I couldn’t continue with my benefits being linked to job training, study as a result of government cuts to resentment of international students Refugees, a group of migrants less likely the study grant for refugees.” could develop as New Zealand born to be able to pay large sums for higher A campaign aiming to have refugee- young people find higher education education, will not benefit from this background students recognised as an unobtainable, this would play into the new international student policy. While equity group in government policy, which hands of politicians who seek political the state dismantles barriers for wealthy would mean getting additional study gain in xenophobia. An important foreign students, they have made study support, was launched on August 23rd task for the left is to make sure anger my difficult for refugees resident in New at a forum organised by ChangeMakers is directed where it belongs- at the Zealand, by removing refugee study Refugee Forum, the National Refugee economic policies that have led to grants. “I always dreamed to study since Network, MCLaSS and academics from this situation and not at foreign born I was a child, but as a result of war and Victoria University. students.

The Spark October 2011 23 Student activism Fiery scenes at Victoria University as security attack students This article was first published on September 14, 2011 at workersparty.org.nz. More analysis of the current wave of student activism on campus’s can also be located on this website.

Over 300 students gathered today to Oldham. postgraduate student Amanda Thomas. protest ongoing cuts and redundancies at A number of current and former Hundreds of outlines of students were Victoria University this afternoon. students spoke beforehand including drawn in chalk to represent the death More than one hundred students a recent PhD graduate, as well as a of quality tertiary education. The sheer marched to deliver a letter outlining their number of staff. Speakers highlighted amount of chalking stopped security concerns to Vice Chancellor Pat Walsh. issues of course and staff cuts as well from immediately washing out any At that point University security guards as incompetent and short-sighted slogans they disliked, something that blocked access to the students, whose management running the university into had been going on in the preceding sole intention was to deliver their letter to the ground. It was put forward that senior two weeks. Security have claimed that Walsh or a representative. Security staff management at VUW have cultivated chalking is “banned” at VUW. proceeded to push students down stairs a culture of fear and intimidation over Students are organising more actions and punched several in the head. more than half a decade, with staff fearful to stop VUW management further “I was just trying to slip the letter under of speaking for fear of repercussions. damaging the institution. “I’m Pat’s door; security came up and started “I am disgusted that this culture of disappointed in the university, it is trying to push us down stairs. There were intimidation at VUW has extended to supposed to be a critical and creative people behind us; people could have got management condoning and supporting space, but when we actually use those hurt if security had actually succeeded. security staff violently attacking students. rights, we’re literally pushed down stairs,” Because of that, they started punching If we can’t be critical of uni policies and says student Octavia Palmer. me in the head. I guess they’re not fans of changes, how are meant to act as the non-violent protests…” says student Sam critic and conscience of society?” Says

Victoria University students protested on campus in Wellington against voluntary student membership

24 The Spark October 2011