Citizens present petition at Governor General’s gate

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NZ, Wellington, 30 January – Several hundred people met at  Wellington’s  Waitangi Park, to vent their opposition at the impending signing and ratification of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA);

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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On Cable Street footpath, a citizen waved a flag of sovereignty to draw attention to the protest;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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Protest organiser, Greg Rzesniowiecki, discussing  the march-route and other details with Police. There was good co-operation between organisers and police – and this time there was no noticeable carrying or display  of offensive weapons such as tasers by constables;

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Mick McCrohon - TPPA - 30 jan 2016 - petition to governor general (39)

Image used courtesy Mick McCrohon

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“Fats”, giving a mihi to assembled citizens in the park square;

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TPPA - 30 jan 2016 - petition to governor general (6)

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Greg Rzesniowiecki, addressing citizens, and explaining that the march would make it’s way peacefully to the Governor General’s residence where the petition would be presented. He said that what was being done today would make history; for the first time, citizens would be making a direct appeal to the Governor General on behalf of the entire country;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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Co-organiser, Ariana, addressing citizens. She advised the crowd that this would be a peaceful protest and that Marshals would be assisting marchers throughout. She said that John Key was desperate to portray anti-TPPA protestors as a “lawless rent-a-crowd” and that “we should not give him that opportunity“;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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Making your beliefs known through body-art ;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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Citizens, expressing their views, opposing the TPPA;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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Members of the New Zealand Health and Climate Council adding their opposition to the TPPA;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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In October 2014, the OraTaiao The New Zealand Climate and Health Council warned;

“Negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) threaten New Zealand’s ability to protect our climate and health. The Council’s ongoing concerns are voiced in an article in NZ Doctor online today, together with 9 other health professional groups representing doctors, nurses, midwives, medical students, academics and health promoters.

The biggest threat is the ‘Investor State Dispute Settlement’ (ISDS) provisions. This mechanism allows overseas companies, including fossil fuel companies, to sue our Government if local law changes to bring down greenhouse gas emissions might affect their value or profits.

This is happening overseas already, for example, in Germany where measures to reduce the damaging effects of carbon dioxide emissions from a coal-fired power plant have been subject to an investment dispute.

‘Climate change is already contributing to the global burden of disease and premature death, with worse to come’ says Dr Alex Macmillan of OraTaiao The NZ Climate and Health Council.

‘Climate change is a health threat for all New Zealanders, with Māori, Pacific people, children, the elderly, and low income groups likely to be the hardest hit’.

‘For a just transition to a low emissions economy, we need to put people’s health first – not the profits of overseas companies. New Zealand needs to remain a free democracy to protect our climate, our health, our country and our future’.

Irrespective of  mealy-mouthed “assurances from our Esteemed Dear Leader, New Zealand remains vulnerable to law-suits from corporations  complaining of “loss of profits”.

Despite John Key repeating  the mantra that New Zealand has never been sued,  our own Parliament put off legislation enabling plain-packaging for tobacco products until an ISDS lawsuit brought by Phillip Morris against the Australian government had been resolved.

On 17 December 2013, John Key declared;

“It will almost certainly be introduced, have its first reading, then go off to the select committee.

But it’s very, very unlikely it will be passed. In fact, in my view it shouldn’t be passed until we’ve actually had a ruling out of Australia.

We think it’s prudent to wait till we see a ruling out of Australia. If there’s a successful legal challenge out of Australia, that would guide us how legislation might be drafted in New Zealand.”

So we don’t need to be sued under ISDS provisions. The mere threat of legal action is sufficient to stay the hand of the National government from passing health related legislation.

As usual, Key’s parroted reasurances that “we have never been sued” are hollow.  Last year, the National Government was sued (or, faced a High Court “judicial review” to satisfy right-wing pedants/National apologists) by Shanghai Pengxin. The legal action followed  a Ministerial decision to overturn an  OIO decision to permit the Chinese corporation ftom purchasing a14,000 hectare sheep and cattle station at Lochinver Station;

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shanghai-pengxin-going-to-high-court-over-lochinver-decision-tppa-investor-state-dispute-settlent

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As I wrote last year subsequent to the media report;

The only difference between scenarios envisaged under the TPPA and the Lochinver Station-Shanghai Pengxin-OIO case is that the latter is being tested under the jurisdiction of a New Zealand Court of law instead of an extra-judicial, and often-secret,  corporate tribunal overseas.

This is cold comfort.

We now have a situation in our own country where, if we determine not to sell to an overseas investor, that decision can be over-turned. Our laws now allow foreign interests to be on an equal footing with New Zealand citizens.

You no longer have to be a tax-paying citizen (born or naturalised) to hold certain rights.

The people assembled, ready to  march to the Governor-General’s residence;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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The driver of this vehicle slowed and aggressively yelled out pro-TPPA comments. He was largely ignored, and drove off before Police could catch up to him;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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No doubt being a proactive supporter of the TPPA, he will have the initiative to organise a counter pro-TPPA street march. Perhaps someone (his mum?) may even turn up to it.

Meanwhile, the marchers received more encouragement from other members of the public. Some joined in, swelling numbers, and others – like this woman – were content to clap and cheer us on;

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TPPA - 30 jan 2016 - petition to governor general (24)

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The head of the march, with TV1 reporter and cameraman filming their coverage for that evening’s news broadcast;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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This couple and their child joined the protest march as it made it’s way along Kent Terrace, heading toward the Basin Reserve;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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Labour MP, Louisa Wall (brown dress, wearing carved-bone pendant) participated in the march;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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Her fellow Labour MP, Phil Goff, could learn a lesson of self-discipline and loyalty to Party members from Ms Wall.

Above the marchers, people in apartments  waved and cheered;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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As marchers arrived at the Governor-General’s residence;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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… they found the gates closed and firmly padlocked;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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Which raised the question – had the Governor-General been detained in his home, under house arrest?

Meanwhile, the National regime and our esteemed Dear Leader have at last found a useful purpose to what was once an annoyingly independent news-media – as part of the State security-apparatus. Note how the nation’s journalists lined up in front of the Governor-General’s gates, to form a “protective cordon”;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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The marchers assembled, which had by this time doubled in size to around 500 to 600;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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“Fats” and another citizen, holding aloft an anti-TPPA placard, where on-coming traffic around the Basin Reserve could clearly view the sign. Judging by the non-stop tooting of car-horns, public sentiment against the TPPA is widespread and palpable;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

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Amanda Vickers, from It’s Our Future,  addressed the marchers and explained the process by which the petition – bearing approximately 4,300 signatures – would be presented.

On the  It’s Our Future, website, she said;

“We are requesting the Governor General to command John Key – to put the question of TPP to a binding referendum prior to signing.”

We are asking him to refuse to assent to any enabling legislation unless the people vote in favour. No one can force the Governor General to sign legislation. If he doesn’t sign it doesn’t become law.

Amanda says, “The Governor General in agreeing with our request, provides a unique opportunity to defuse the polarisation around TPP, allowing for open public discussion about the TPP implications, in the period before a referendum was held.”

The petition to the Governor-General requests;

We, the UNDERSIGNED citizens and residents of Aotearoa New Zealand, PETITION Your Excellency:
1. to COMMAND the Government to put the question of proceeding with, or withdrawal from TPPA to a BINDING REFERENDUM; and
2. to PROHIBIT the Government from signing any final agreement, or taking any binding treaty action UNLESS the People vote in favour; and
3. to REFUSE Assent to any enabling legislation UNLESS the People vote in favour.

Ms Vickers told marchers  that professional bodies had spoken out against the TPPA and that there was widespread condemnation of many of it’s provisions. She said there could be no mandate for  an agreement that had been negotiated in secrecy, and that we were only now learning how much of our sovereignty would be ceded, especially to offshore, secret tribunals under the ISDS provisions.

Ms Vickers said that a hundred jurists and judges  had written to the National government, voicing their concerns at ISDS secret tribunals and their total lack of accountability. They had not received a reply from the government.

This was a huge loss of sovereignty and called the provisions of the TPPA, extreme.

She said that the TPPA should be put to a binding referendum and in the meantime, any legislation to enable the Agreement should be rejected by the Governor General. Ms Vickers further added that this event was still only the beginning, saying;

“We are not prepared to surrender our sovereignty and self-determination.”

Ms Vickers then explained to the assembled people that when the Governor General’s representative, Gregory Baughen, arrived at the gates to receive the petition, that everyone should stand and see the hand-over through in silence. She said this would honour the process and give it solemnity.

She also gave a warning that if any agent provocateur’s  tried to incite violence or disruption, that protest organiser’s would not tolerate it. She said “we had enough of that during the 1981 Springbok Tour protests, and we don’t want to see it again“. She asked people to film anyone who attempted to disrupt proceedings.

The Governor General’s representative, Gregory Baughen, arrived, and in near-silence (to the background noise of passing traffic) he received  the petition in a flag-draped box;

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TPPA - 30 jan 2016 - petition to governor general (40)

Image used courtesy Mick McCrohon

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The hand-over was carried out with quiet dignity. As he walked back, up the driveway, the people assembled spontaneously began to sing (see TV1 video at 1:48) the New Zealand anthem, first in Maori, then in English;

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Frank Macskasy The Daily Blog Frankly Speaking blog fmacskasy.wordpress.com TPPA protest - governor general - Wellington - 30 January 2016

Image used courtesy Mick McCrohon

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This was dignified respect which John Key has yet to earn.

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Postscript:

Seen at an anti-TPPA protest march in Wellington  on 15 August 2015;

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tppa-15-aug-2015

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Because some matters are apparently  “too important” to be left to We, The People to vote on.

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References

Evening Report: Kelsey accuses PM Key of ‘orchestrated move’ to make TPPA debate a security issue

Fairfax media: TPP protesters were ‘misinformed’, says John Key

OraTaiao The New Zealand Climate and Health Council: Health professionals say TPPA risks climate and health protection

NZ Business Review: PM to TPP critics – ‘We’ve never been sued

Fairfax media: Key – Let Australia go first

Fairfax media: Shanghai Pengxin going to High Court over Lochinver decision

Radio NZ: Little gives Goff green light to cross floor on TPP

TVNZ News: Wellington protesters ask Governor General to block TPPA

Additional

Otago Daily Times: Octagon declared a ‘TPP-free zone’

NZ Herald: TPP – Hundreds gather outside Governor-General’s residence

Labour: Andrew Little On the TPPA

Citizens’ Action

No Mandate: Download and Sign the Petition

It’s Our Future: Take Action Against the TPPA

Previous related blogposts

Al Capone lives again?

Three Questions to Key, Williamson, Coleman, et al

Another of John Key’s lies – sorry – “Dynamic Situations”

Key’s TPPA Falsehoods – “We’ve never, ever been sued” ***up-date ***

Citizens march against TPPA in Wellington, send message to National govt: “Yeah, nah!”

Citizens march against TPPA in Wellington: Did Police hide tasers at TPPA march?

The Mendacities of Mr Key # 15: John Key lies to NZ on consultation and ratification of TPPA

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10 COMMENTS

  1. Great effort Frank awesome pics and show, we do need a media who will trumpet our efforts here and concern’s about where this country is going wrong.

  2. This is a well written excellent article, Frank, with freat detail and photos.! We need people like you in the MSM.

    I wonder if the GG will end up supporting or opposing TPPA in its current form. It will be such a shame and tragic if he does.

    I hope he will show the courage and wisdom to reject the shit being imposed on New Zealand and other nations by USA and the powerful multi national mega corporations.

  3. Never has so much been written about such a futile exercise. Nice you had a day out but what did it achieve? Basically zero as the Governor-General will not do anything which is as it should be. You all patted each other on the back, signalled your so-called virtue and achieved what? Can you point to anything this will change? Anything? Perhaps this piece should be re-titled “Wellington Protest in the Sun – Achieves nothing apart from giving an assistant to to the GG some work”

    • Hi Michael, I’m one of the people who joined the protest march. To me it’s not futility at all. It’s an expression of our democratic rights.

      Would you prefer to live in a dictatorship instead? Because that’s what you’re advocating.

      Perhaps you should look more closely at history, where one man or woman has succeeded in changing the course of human history.

  4. Many thanks Frank for keeping us up to date re the petition to the Governor General.

    Be interesting if FJK planted henchman Gregory Baughen gives the GG the opportunity of viewing it! Bet he doesn’t. Anyway the GG is part and parcel of FJK’s dirty politics. He’s a puppet, a toy, manipulated to dance to FJK’s malevolent tune!

    I’ll proudly be part of the Auckland protest on Thursday.

  5. Many thanks for this excellent report, Frank. TV One news had an item about this event, but it was so brief that it was puzzling rather than informative.

Comments are closed.