Setting the Agenda

There is an old 4 bed room house in Epsom I drive past that has been left to deteriorate, uninsulated, mouldy and damp, rusty roof and leaking gutters set in overgrown unkempt grounds. It was sold to an overseas owner five years ago it now belongs to another overseas owner who paid $500,000 more for it and has it in the hands of a letting agency. Rent has come down by $80 a week to $915 a week after it was empty for months. It is not alone, there are many other examples throughout Auckland.

If there is any solace to be found following the atrocities in Christchurch, it is in the loving expressions of shared humanity that followed them. With that outpouring of grief and understanding, racism was defeated, its hateful message repudiated – not in our name! That will ring around the world. The future of humanity on this fragile planet depends upon the recognition of our oneness in diversity. Firm and uncompromising support for the UN in strengthening respect for, and observance of, international humanitarian law has become desperately urgent. Never surrender our independence.