Christchurch Protest Against ACC Cuts

Around 150-200 people gathered for a march in Christchurch. Speakers included Ken Clearwater from Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust and Marie Meyer, Chairperson for Canterbury and Westcoast NZ Association of Counsellors. Both talked about the effects that the changes would have on a survivors ability to get the support and help that they needed. Ken spoke about his own abuse as a 12year old and how greatly this had negatively impacted on his life up until the time that he started to receive help.

Many of those attending the march were those who work in the community counselling and social services fields and see this the governments way of beginning to privatise the health sector.
 
Marie Meyer spoke of how the changes are an attack on some of the most vulnerable members of society and over the disgust that many in the counselling area feel that there was no consultation over the cuts and over the unnecessary, abusive and traumatic processes being brought in by ACC.
 
Red ribbons were hung in the trees around the outside of the ACC offices and many people wore red to express their anger over the cuts and tied red balloons in the trees and on lampposts!