Last week marked the thirtieth anniversary of the reoccupation of Takaparawha/Bastion Point in Orakei, Tamaki Makaurau. As Ana comments,

the occupation certainly cemented the momentum and Maori drive for self determination, Takaparawha also showed the strength of solidarity with union placing green bans in support of the protest and support of many non Maori.It was a very visible reassertion of identity, pride & collective power. For a haapu that had been made virtually landless by the colonial imposition of Auckland, Takaparawha demonstrated the importance of fighting for the ahi kaa in our whenua and ourselves [ Read More ]

More: Uriohau: Noho Whenua ki Takaparawha | TV Footage of Police Invasion | Radio NZ Archived Coverage | People's History of Auckland

New Zealand Open Rescue has conducted an undercover investigation into an intensive piggery in Auckland, uncovering gruesome evidence and rescuing two female piglets.

“Our investigation revealed death, cannibalism and immense suffering,” says New Zealand Open Rescue spokesperson Deirdre Sims.

“We witnessed sows in farrowing crates anguished in extreme confinement. These mother pigs were unable to walk or turn around, let alone able to interact with their babies. Our team also documented many dead piglets, one of which had been severely cannibalized."

More: Open Rescue | Meat Free Media | Video

The Human Rights Network of Aotearoa is proud to present the fourth annual New Zealand Human Rights Film Festival - a cinematic event celebrating extraordinary people striving for success and achievement amidst the most difficult circumstances and conditions.

2008 is a particularly special year for the Human Rights movement as it’s the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the films shown during the festival not only celebrate how far we have come since the signing but also where work is still needed if the promise of the first Article - All human beings are born free and equal - is to be realised.

• Wellington 8 - 16 May | Paramount Theatre
• Auckland 15 - 23 May | Rialto Newmarket
• Christchurch 22 - 30 May | Regent on Worcester
• Dunedin 29 May - 6 June | Rialto Dunedin

Official Site - Schedule, films, booking, prices…

Update 9/5: After seven days in jail, Danny Wilson has been granted bail!

Former Auckland anarchist and one of the founders of Radical Youth, Danny "Vegas" Wilson, 20, and five others have been arrested and jailed after a May Day celebration in Olympia, Washington State. During the protest, symbols of the state and Capital were attacked. Danny is being charged with "1st degree malicious mischief" (felony charge) and "suspicion of riot" (misdemeanor). The total bail for all six arrestees is 40,000 dollars with Danny's being set at $5000. As of today May 5th Danny is still being held and money is needed to help meet the cost of bail. In addition Danny has not had access to proper food that meets his dietary choices of an animal/dairy free diet.

On May 1 in Olympia, WA a group of about two hundred people had a rally in solidarity with the immigrants’ rights and anti-war movements. The rally was followed with a march to the capital where activists gathered outside of the governor’s door, making their presence known and urging her to support the proposal of making Olympia a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants. After the capital the march continued downtown, where rocks were thrown through the windows of Bank of America and US Bank, two banks notorious for their social and environmental injustices. A scuffle ensued in which protesters clashed with the police. Pepper spray and pellet guns were used on the protesters and six people were ultimately arrested. [ Read More ]

More: Report/Photos | Bombs&Shields: May Day actions marking the international anarchist holiday | Corporate Media Coverage (Video + Photos)

Auckland: On Monday the 12th, the Auckland Anarchist Assembly, an informal evening of presentations and short films, funds will be collected to help pay for Danny's bail. [ Details ]

Adrian Leason, Peter Murnane and Sam Land were bailed from the Blenheim District Court this morning after almost one week in jail. They have non-association orders, are not to go within 100m of a defence facility, not to go to Marlborough except for court or lawyer and report to a Police station twice a week. They will appear in court for a pre-deposition hearing on 9th June.

On Wednesday the three entered the Waihopai spy base and used sickles to cut one of the two 30-metre white domes. Damage is estimated at $1 million. "We are responding to the Bush administration’s admission that intelligence gathering is the most important tool in the so-called War on Terror. This war will have no end until citizens of the world refuse to let it continue. The ECHELON spy network including Waihopai, is an important part of the US government’s global spy network and we have come in the name of the Prince of Peace to close it down. The base is funded by New Zealand tax payers and located on New Zealand soil which makes New Zealand a target through our association with the UKUSA intelligence cooperation agreement."

About 60 people attended a demonstration of solidarity and support for the three men arrested for deflating the protective balloon covering the satellite at the Waihopai spy base last week in Wellington on Saturday.

Links: http://ploughshares.org.nz/ | Ploughshares Penetrate Waihopai Base Deflate Satellite Dome | Make tea, not war!

40 years after the global 1968 uprising, the spirit of rebellion and resistance is alive and well in Aotearoa . But with global food scarcity causing riots, the beginnings of climate change, mass ecological destruction, capitalist wars and boundless human and animal exploitation, this is no time to sit around. Get out there and build autonomous communities and take action in solidarity with the earth and all its people oppressed by capitalism, imperialism and bureaucracy.

Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland:

• Public Forum: SURVEILLING THE STATE - Nicky Hager & Jane Kelsey discussing anti-Terror legislation | 6pm, Wednesday 7th May
• Auckland Indymedia: an evening of animal abuse and resistance | 7.30pm, Wednesday 7th May
• GPJA Monthly Forum: The Palestinian Struggle for Justice - Maher Mughrabi, Palestinian writer and journalist | 7.30pm, Monday 12th May

Poneke/Wellington:

• Operation 8 Benefit Gig - Upper Hutt Posse, The Feminazis, Mr. Sterile Assembly | 9pm, Friday 2nd May
• Tuhoe and "terrorism" on television news a seminar at VUW| 4pm, Tuesday 14th May
• Windymedia Film Night - The Coconut Revolution: Civil war in Bougainville, and The War of 33: The 2006 Israeli invasion of Lebanon | 7.30pm, Sunday 25th May

Otautahi/Christchurch:

• Punk/Hardcore Gig Celebrating the Reopening of Otautahi Social Centre | 8pm, Friday 2nd May
• First Open Day of Social Centre and a vegan brunch | 11am, Sunday 4th May
• Radical Cinema / Food Not Bombs Film night - What would Jesus buy? | 7pm, Wednesday 7th May

And at the end of May, get out on the streets and join your local Critical Mass in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch .

A Tūhoe activist appeared in the Porirua District Court on charges relating the Tūhoe Hikoi to Wellington in November last year. He faces 3 charges of dangerous driving and one charge for failing to stop after seeing a red and blue light (ie. a police car). The maximum penalty carries several years in prison. This was his first court appearance today and he was accompanied by a large group of supporters. After a karakia by one of his supporters, he was remanded until 30th May and his only bail condition includes a residential bail address.

Two plain clothes police officers were mingling around and sitting in the court room. One of them assisted the arrests on 15th October 2007 in Wellington. The surveillance of course continues.

Tame Iti’s lawyer Annette Sykes announced that they have successfully secured Tame’s passport so that he can travel overseas. Tame is due to appear in a production of TEMPEST II in Italy and may travel to other European cities and Japan to do further performances. This is a major victory for the case as Tame can now continue his work in educating people worldwide about the struggle of Tuhoe. [ More ]

Links: Te Mana Motuhake ō Tūhoe | www.October 15thSolidarity.info

Adrian Leason, Peter Murnane and Sam Land - the three Ploughshares who entered the Waihopai spy base near Blenheim and used sickles to cut one of the two 30-metre white domes - were denied bail and will remain in custody until at least Monday, 5th May. [ Update 1 May ]

Statement Of The Waihopai ANZAC Ploughshares

They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift sword against nation; and there shall be no more training for war. Isaiah 2/4

This morning, 30 April 2008, we entered the Waihopai Spy Base near Blenheim. Our group, including a Dominican Priest, temporarily closed the base by padlocking the gates and proceeded to deflate one of the large domes covering two satellite dishes.

At 6am we cut through three security fences surrounding the domes - these are armed with razor wire, infrared motion sensors and a high voltage electrified fence. Once inside we used sickles to cut one of the two 30-metre white domes, built a shrine and knelt in prayer to remember the people killed by United States military activity.

Read the full statement of the Waihopai ANZAC Ploughshares

Links: Support | Photos | Anti-Bases Campaign | GPJA Congratulations | ABC Congratulates Ploughshares on "a Kick in the Balls" | Do you support having spybases in New Zealand? | Contact and support for Ploughshares Aotearoa | Peace Action Wellington support | Workers Party support

Wellington / Poneke: There will be a rally and march THIS Saturday [3/5/08] starting at 12 noon at Manners Mall going to the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) calling for the immediate closure of the Waihopai and Tangimoana spy bases and the unconditional release of the three activists arrested for deflating the dome covering one of the satellites at Waihopai. Details | Poster

Otautahi / Christchurch: A car convoy will be going to Blenheim to support the 3 arrested activists at their bail hearing on Monday 5th May. Details

Donations can be made to:
Account Name: TE WAIRUA MARANGA TRUST
Account Number: 03-1703-0036346-04
Bank: WestPac

Anti-Bases Tour: Cora Fabros, from the Philippines, has been a high profile activist, domestically and internationally, for more than 30 years with the anti-bases, anti-nuclear and peace movement. As a guest of the Anti-Bases Campaign, Cora will be touring New Zealand in July 2008 as the Asia/Pacific Coordinator of the International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases. [ Details ]

About Waihopai and ECHELON

Green MP Keith Locke is quoted as saying that the base has cost New Zealand up to NZ$500million since 1989. The base intercepts electronic communications throughout the Pacific region including New Zealand and is often staffed by personnel from US agencies.

In 1996 researcher Nicky Hager published an expose on Waihopai and New Zealand’s strong links to the USA-led ECHELON network of six similar spy stations around the world. The United Nations launched an investigation in 2003 to claims that ECHELON had been used by the US government to eavesdrop on UN diplomats and Security Council members. A report published in 2000 showed that ECHELON had also been used by the US to gain commercial advantage for US corporations.

Information gathered at Waihopai is transferred to the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in Wellington and fed unseen directly to Washington DC.

More on Waihopai: ABC | Peace Researcher