It's billboard time!

To celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori, the Greens have launched their first billboard. I think it's gorgeous! Metiria said

“This billboard is a tongue-in-cheek representation of a whakatauki - sometimes translated as ‘many hands make light work’,” Mrs Turei says. “It describes the Greens commitment to work together with tangata whenua on te Tiriti issues and to help to forge a new relationship between tangata whenua and tangata tiriti premised on te Tiriti o Waitangi.” “This billboard carries our key voting message for Maori this election – that you can have the best of both worlds by giving your Maori electorate vote to your favoured local candidate and your Party Vote to the Greens.

Nice!

Amusing story

My friend Meliors has a rather witty account of a small parties forum in Northland. I recommend a read! And while you're there, check out her books, they're amazing!

Bye Mad Dog

So Richard Prebble made his validictory speech to parliament today. And it was classic Prebble! He told some absolutely hilarious stories and got pretty emotional too. Now this might scare some of my buddies but I must say well done Richard, I'll miss ya. Richard Prebble is someone who is probably as far away from me on the ideological continuum as possible but I have a lot of respect for the man. The thing I liked the most about Prebble MP is his commitment to the standing orders. He is a man of process. He is a man that staunchly believes that parliament must remain consistent. And while I don't neccessarily agree with some of the conventions of parliament, I definitely agree that in debate, you need to have rules, and those rules should be followed. My favourite memories of Prebble will always be the standing order discussions between him and Jonathan Hunt. You'd have one or two members jumping up and down with points of order and then Hunt would make a ruling, and then Prebble would get up and point out an inconsistency with the ruling. The whole house would stop while Hunt and Prebble worked out between them what was fair and consistent. They both had such mutual respect for each other and it was great to see them work together on those occaisions. The other thing about Prebble is that he would always stick up for any other MP in the House if they weren't getting the fair treatment they deserved. Especially the newer MPs, Prebble was always really good at helping them learn the ropes, no matter what party they were from. So goodbye Prebs, you did a great innings and you played bloody fair sport. Best wishes for the future, the place won't be the same without you.

Notting Hill Gate

Notting Hill Gate
Originally uploaded by kakariki.

A friend of mine sent me this. Quite good advice really.

Labour's Student Support Policy

Well, I admit I'm impressed! Labour has just announced their new Student Support policy and the main bit is that they will freeze interest on all student loans while people remain in the country from next year. They will also keep the fee caps in place. So while I'm slightly annoyed as I will probably be leaving the country next year, I am still pleased to see Labour finally putting up some policy that will make a real difference. And you neevr know, it might even change my mind. I know they have done little bits of tinkering that have been useful and have certainly made a bit of difference but this is the first major change they have made that will affect lots of people. Please also to see that they will be increasing parental income thresholds as they have called on to do for quite a long time now. That will mean less people having to borrow for living costs which is always a good thing. And I must say, this is another reason to vote Green. The Greens have said that addressing the student loan issue is a big one for them and Labour is going to need support and encouragement to make this policy a priority of things to do after the election. The Greens will certainly give them that support and encouragement! Which reminds me... have you signed the e card yet?

Flyers are funny

Jim
Originally uploaded by kakariki.

Best (and worst) thing about election year is the political propoganda that gets put around. Got one from my friendly Minister of Economic Development the other day telling me what he's been up to.

Coppying stuff off laptops onto paper apparently! Seriously sad photo.

And in case you hadn't noticed

Last week was the anniversary of the first (alleged) moon landing. And to celebrate Google launched Google Moon which is a moon version of Google Maps. But this is slightly different. Open up the moon page and zoom in as far as you can... Clever kids!

Yay for the big surprise

So in case you were one of those silly people that thought the election wouldn't be on the 17th of September, you were wrong. It will be. As I have thought all year...

Yay for me! And yay for Hamilton!

Today is my birthday and for the first time in ages I woke up to a brilliant blue sky. I won't bore you all with stories of personal enlightenment and spiritual discovery cause a) it's none of your business and b) it will scare the right-wingers away. But I did think it rather significant this morning that I was in the garden and I got to sit and watch a monarch butterfly hatch and unfurl and dry its wings. Mmmm, the wonders of nature. So I'm still away but will be back on board again soon. But two things to share. Spent a bit of time in the 'Tron or Rocky Horror Hamilton as it now appears to be known. Now Hamilton has always been the unofficial boyracer capital of NZ but they now have a Rotary accessory shop on the main street! It doesn't sell Rotary engines, just accessories. That is SO COOL!!! The other cool thing I saw was the cop car driving down the main street with a coathanger as an aerial, yay. Hamilton rules so much.

Sustainably blog

Sometimes in life when you're a sustainability-focussed activist you need to make some decisions that are hard ones. One of those hard decisions is when to stop caring for the planet and everyone/thing on it and just look after yourself. I have just had to make that decision and I won't be posting on here for a little while. Thanks to those who have been supporting me. I'll be back I promise. In the meantime I am just going to go hide and hang out with some trees.

London

Firstly all my thoughts are with the people of London. This tragic event will change your city I do not doubt. Be strong, look out for each other and know our thoughts are with you. Any of my London based friends who read this, drop me an email to let me know you're ok please. But I have to say this: Learn from New York. The question is not who did it, but why did they did it. This is the most important lesson to learn if we are ever to win the 'war on terror' because if we don't start to ask this question, the attacks will only continue, and continue, and there will be more and more retaliation. Please learn this lesson everybody. On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of victims of the war on terror.

Best timewaster

Best timewaster
Originally uploaded by kakariki.

Curse you David for rendering my day useless. Wish I could do this.

(see David's blog for my feminist bitch about it...)

On the G8

While we hear fuck all of what's going on over there through our media, bar some stories skimming over the issues being dealt with inside the meeting rooms. There is some ABSOLUTELY AMAZING resistance going on over there. The police have naturally been out in full force, riot squad gears, abusing powers, specifically targetting clearly-marked medics and generally playing the role of state funded corporate security guards. But the people continue to resist and question all the 'inevitable's' that keep getting rammed down our throats. And the resistance is clever, imaginative, organised and informed. I particularly like the Clown Army and the video of the clowns scaring off the Police had me in stitches! Oh, I wish I was there... But of all the images I've seen, I think this one captures the struggle. We are at a point in history where the state, corportaions, the media are on one side and the people are on another. And who's standing up for the planet? Who's standing up for the people with no voice? These protestors are. And they're doing it with style and humour. They're doing at while putting themselves at major personal risk. They're doing it with hope for a better future for all who share this planet with us. And they're doing it with the rest of us backing them up. This picture says all of that for me. Photo by Kristian Buus, outside Gleneagles fortress where the people have no voice. More here

Clever

A friend sent me a link to this clever thing put together by ACLU in response to the Real ID Act. Put's you off Pizza, unless of course it's Hell, sell my soul to them any day!

Here comes the Bishop...

Yes folks, lucky Wellington (well, Lower Hutt) is getting a visit from the Nation Under Seige tour on Friday night. Hope they've got a big venue cause people are going to flock to this one. Mind you I think quite a few of them will be outside and staying there, loudly. But seriously, have you seen what this guy is up to? Apparently his tour will expose:

1. A government gone evil 2. A radical homosexual agenda 3. The Media: a modern day witchcraft, and 4. The retreat of religion in New Zealand

But don't worry, according to his FAQs it's not a promotional tour for the Destiny Church, pah! I DARE him to go through the whole meeting without mentioning the Destiny Church and/or Party. And then there's the whole homosexual agenda thing. I don't think he's talking about this one. Goddess, can't go on much more, but seriously the man is a dangerous fruitcake and I recommend you join the protests on Friday. I'll be there.

Protest the Tour

Hat tip NRT, if you're in Auckland on the 16th, go to the protest.

Make Poverty History demo

Make Poverty History demo
Originally uploaded by kakariki.

A close up of the balloons. There were heaps of them and they looked great in the sun.

Make Poverty History balloons

Make Poverty History balloons
Originally uploaded by kakariki.

I attended the Make Poverty History demo today at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Was rather lovely. Can't say I've seen NZSO musicians at a demo before. Anyway, got all arty on it with the balloons...

New blog

Cameron Burnell who some of you remember as being the Wellingtonian in Aceh and is the photographer for the Wellingtonian newspaper has set up a new blog for all of his work. I thoroughly recommend you all take a look. There's some fantastic work there.

Complaint laid against Nat Billboard

Green Party New Lynn candidate Richard Green has laid a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority over the Iwi/Kiwi billboard. From the release:

Mr Green says: "National is trying to imply that Labour's Foreshore and Seabed Legislation 'gave' Iwi the beaches, when the opposite is actually true. Labour in fact vested full ownership of the foreshore and seabed in the Crown, confiscating Iwi customary rights. "These billboards are misleading and continue the Maori bashing Don Brash seems so fond of. As a Kiwi I find it despicable that he is doing it in my name." The complaint to the Human Rights Commission Race Relations Office charges that the billboard contradicts the Human Rights Act by * Inciting racial tension through misinformation * Isolating by race a group for political gain * Creating and encouraging racial division The complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority focuses on the issue of misleading and false information presented as fact in a billboard.

Good stuff Richard! Richard's one of my favourite Green candidates. He's exceptionally hard working, very committed and has a fantastically wicked sense of humour!

Jeanette on Independence from Oil, Aro Valley, Monday!

Fitzsimons on ‘Independence from Oil’ at Aro Valley meeting Green Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons will speak on ‘Independence from Oil’ at a meeting in the Aro Valley in Wellington next Monday night. “I will talk about a range of issues that will be affected by the big challenges of climate change and Peak Oil, including tourism, transport, air travel and power bills,” Ms Fitzsimons says. “The single most important thing we must do to secure a sustainable future is to reduce our dependence on oil. We do have options. New Zealand can survive into the post-oil age better than most countries, but successive governments have chosen to ignore all the signs of oil depletion and climate change and the opportunities we have to plan for a better way of life.” What: Jeanette Fitzsimons speaking on ‘Independence from Oil’ When: 7.30pm, Monday 4 July Where: Aro Valley Community Centre, 48 Aro St, Wellington