Category: Uncategorized

Happy New Year, and Happy Lunar New Year!

It’s still January and there are already two climate protest events to look forward to:

Valentines Day Protest

Tuesday 14 February is when Parliament resumes. We plan to break with our tradition to do a lunchtime protest on the Parliament Lawn on this day. (Tuesday for Future?) As it also happens to be Valentine’s Day, we’re thinking of incorporating this as a theme for our protest. (Valentine’s for Future?)

What are your ideas? Everyone is free to come and join us. Check back here for more details closer to the day.

3 March – Global Fridays for Future action

We are working with School Strike for Climate Ōtautahi ( Christchurch) and Fridays for Future Tamaki Makaurau to plan a (hopefully) nationwide climate protest for 3 March.

If it’s been a while since your last School Strike for Climate protest, t’s time to dust off your protesting boots and reconnect with your fellow climate activists!

Wherever you are in New Zealand, if you want to get involved, contact one of the main organising groups:

School Strike for Climate Ōtautahi ( Christchurch)	Facebook	Instagram
Fridays for Future Tamaki Makaurau	Facebook	Instagram

Or you can contact us (FFF Te Upoko O Te Ika) by email.

On 15 December, Restore Passenger Rail left their mark on Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson’s electorate office. (Also targeted were the electorate offices of Transport Minister Michael Wood, Energy Minister Megan Wood, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark, and National MP Michael Woodhouse.)

So what did the activists do? They sprayed water-soluble red paint on the windows, onto three figures wearing “DENIAL = DEATH” t-shirts.

Robertson said it was extremely disappointing his Wellington office was vandalised.

We have just responded to Grant Robertson’s claim that Restore Passenger Rail vandalised his office. Because actually, acts of vandalism require destruction of property (or permanent defacing). 

Given Grant Robertson’s refusal to meet with us, from Fridays For Future, earlier in the year at his electoral office, we wonder – is this what’s needed to get his attention focused onto acting on the climate crisis?

As we always say, climate change doesn’t stop over Christmas and New Year – and neither will we!

With all Fridays at Parliament, if the weather is going to be terrible we’ll go to Midland Park instead – check here on the morning if not sure.

Date	Protest location
23/12/2022	Midland Park
30/12/2022	Now at Midland Park because of the rain
6/1/2023	Parliament Lawn (despite rain!)
13/1/2023	Midland Park
20/1/2023	Parliament Lawn (Midland Park if bad weather)
27/1/2023	Midland Park

Remember to check the EcoKiwi Magazine Poneke to find out what’s going on climate-wise in Welly.

Here’s a snapshot for the first couple of weeks in December –

December

1 Thursday Gareth Hughes of the Economic Wellbeing Alliance:
Pathway to Survival webinar, 7pm

2 Friday Fridays For Future: Midland Park, 12.30-1.30pm

3 Saturday Open Day/ 2000 Bikes Celebration:
EkeRua ReBicycle, 46 Russell Tce, Newtown3-7pm

5 Monday

6 Tuesday Giving Tuesday: Action Station

All We Want is Affordable Passenger Rail: Restore Passenger Rail, Parliament grounds, 3:45-5pm

Wellington Cycling: Monthly meeting, Sustainability Trust, 6pm

7 Wednesday No New Mines! Parliament grounds, Forest & Bird, 12 noon

8 Thursday Nature Play Day, Karori Park, 3.30 – 6.30

Our Responsibilities at This Time: Restore Passenger Rail, 7-8:30pm

Jane Kelsey, Handcuffed by trade agreements?
Pathway to Survival webinar, 7pm

9 Friday Fridays For Future: Parliament grounds, 12.30-1.30pm

13 Tuesday Giving Tuesday: Action Station

15 Thursday NVDA training, Restore Passenger Rail; details TBC

16 Friday Fridays For Future: Midland Park, 12.30-1.30pm

Listen to five climate activists – Ben Lowe, Catherine Murupaenga Ikenn, Paul Bruce, Phoebe Wright and Rosemary Penwarden – imagine what 2035 would look like if their best and most feasible hopes for change come true, given the grimness of what we are up against.

This is a Pathway to Survival event.

Synthetic nitrogen fertiliser is a key driver of intensive dairying, that pollutes the climate more than any other industry, kills rivers and contaminates our drinking water.

Two companies – Ballance and Ravensdown – are responsible for distributing 98% of the synthetic nitrogen fertiliser used in New Zealand.

So, sign the Greenpeace petition to price 100% of emissions from synthetic nitrogen fertiliser at the processor level.

Eugenie Sage’s bill to ban new mins on Conservation land was drawn out of the biscuit tin. However, it is likely the National and Labour MPs are going to vote against it.

It is not too late to sign the Coromandel Watchdog and Forest & Bird’s petition supporting the Bill.

Also, Forest & Bird are holding a rally at Parliament on Wednesday 23 November at 12pm, to show public support for No New Mines. Please note the change of date and time.

The EXTREME Hangout is an event designed to amplify the voices of global youth who will suffer the most from climate cop-outs. This year it’s on the beachfront at The Park Regency, Sharm El Sheikh.

There will be free (for under-35s) live speaker panel sessions held over 4 days Nov 8th to 11th at COP27.

To Hon Nanaia Mahuta

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Local Government and Associate Minister for Māori Development

Dear Minister,

We are Fridays For Future Te Upoko O Te Ika, with members stretching right around our south-east coast, including Whanganui A Tara.

Because we want a livable future for the oncoming generations, we have been holding weekly vigils since May 2019 to press the Government to take strong action on the Climate Emergency.

We were delighted to see that you have declared a moratium on deep sea mining in the waters of Aotearoa.

We know this will limit the large greenhouse gas emissions that will inevitably be produced by such activities and limit the ecological damage to ocean flora and fauna.

An ongoing ban will also support the ocean’s key role in our survival through absorbing CO2 and emitting oxygen. Undermining (literally) these roles that the oceans have always played will mean no future for us.

The world’s oceans are in dire peril. They are a dumping ground for the world’s toxic waste and plastic. Industrial unregulated overfishing has destroyed fish stocks, acidification from carbon dioxide has destroyed most of our coral reefs, and far too small an area has been set aside to allow fish stocks and ecosystems to regenerate.

So we ask you to do everything in your power to fight for our oceans, and put in place a permanent ban.

On behalf of all of us at Fridays For Future Te Upoko O Te Ika

This is Bernard Schofield’s petition  urging the Government to hold fortnightly press conferences to inform the public on the country’s progress in reducing greenhouse gases.

We rarely hear of government policies on climate change, the greatest threat to the future well-being of our children and grandchildren-and indeed of the whole planet. In 2019 the Prime Minister said that the climate crisis is ‘this generation’s nuclear free moment’ and Government declared a climate emergency. Arguably, Government has failed to treat it as such. I believe it is time to take action which makes a vital and lasting difference and to hold Government to account.

Regular press conferences specifically about climate change will encourage reporters with specialised knowledge to attend and will give them the opportunity to question Government closely on this crucial issue.

If you haven’t yet signed it, you’ve only got until 8 November to do so!

Because on 8 November at 1pm, we are presenting the petition, on Bernard’s behalf, to Green MP Eugenie Sage at Parliament.

If you can, please come along and support us.