TPPA Bulletin #79

Aotearoa NZ Peoples’ TPPA Demands


In this Bulletin:
  • Updates on Nationwide marches
  • Aotearoa NZ Peoples' Demand
  • Media Coverage
  • Take Action Now
  • Key Issues from the text
  • Legal Action
  • Message from our friends at Real Choice 
Thanks to all for amazing rallies, marches, picnics and other events across the country last weekend. This was a crucial step in countering the media spin that the TPPA isn’t so bad and to suggesting that it’s too late. We got our message out there instead:

 It ain’t over. Don’t sign! 

We have kicked the pressure back up, our job is now to make the political cost too high for the government to sign this monstrous agreement.

Analysis of more than 6000 pages to look at the real dangers that are hidden behind the legal text, and we will produce hard-hitting fact sheets on the crucial ways that the TPPA will affect our environment, our people, our rights and our sovereignty.

It ain’t over in New Zealand and opposition to the TPPA is mobilising in other countries. We need to keep up the pressure. This is a fight that we can still win!

Aotearoa NZ Peoples’ TPPA Demands

The following demands were read out at each of the rallies and were widely supported by attendees.

The Government has no democratic mandate to sign away our democratic powers in the TPPA. Before it takes any steps towards signing the agreement, the Government shall:
  1. Undertake independent human rights, health, environmental and climate change impact assessments of the potential effects of the TPPA on the people and land of New Zealand, and make this information publicly available.
  2. Support Local Government New Zealand to undertake an independent assessment of the impacts on local government of the TPPA, and consult fully with local government.
  3. Fully engage with its Treaty of Waitangi partners to hear and address their concerns about the TPPA and refer the text and any proposed legislation to the Waitangi Tribunal to conduct a full risk assessment of impacts on tangata whenua; iwi and hapū.
  4. Withdraw its consent to the secrecy pact among the twelve TPPA countries and release all background documentation relating to the negotiations.
  5. Initiate a full public and parliamentary debate on the TPPA, including Select Committee hearings with public consultation, and put the TPPA to a public referendum, before formal signing. 
We will continue to mobilise New Zealand citizens in opposition to the TPPA until our demands have been met.

These demands, plus some basic info on TPPA, are available as an A4 pdf here and an A5 pdf here.
http://itsourfuture.org.nz/aotearoa-nz-peoples-tppa-demands/

Media Coverage

Media coverage over the weekend was dominated by the tragedy in Paris, but we still managed to get quite a few stories in different publications.

Before Rally
10/11/15          Northern Advocate 
11/11/15          Bay of Plenty Times 
13/11/15          Gisborne Herald 
14/11/15          Newstalk ZB 
14/11/15          3 News
Rally Coverage
14/11/15          3 News 
14/11/15          Manawatu Standard 
14/11/15          Gisborne Herald 
15/11/15          3 News 
15/11/15          The Press 
16/11/15          Nelson Mail 
16/11/15          Rotorua Daily Post 
16/11/15          Otago DailyTimes

Take Action Now!
  • Make a ‘Real Choice’ – the folks behind “Show us ya text’ have now launched an awesome campaign to call on the government to hold a referendum on the TPPA. If we’re holding two referendums on a flag that hardly anyone wants, what about a real referendum on protecting our sovereignty? Sign up to demand a referendum at Real Choice, and check out the message from them at the bottom of this message.
  • TPPA Free Zones – declare your home a TPPA Free Zone, or get your workplace to do so, your community centre, marae, youth centre, sports club, or wherever. Download the logo here.
  • Get active on the media – Use your influence with local and national media, and social media to get the word out, using the ‘Key Issues’ briefing below. We need to tell them that it’s not over and the we must not sign.
  • Message to Labour: Come down off that fence – A strong opposition to the TPPA needs the largest opposition party to be active and consistent. See Jane Kelsey’s open letter to Andrew Little here explaining how the TPPA abjectly fails ALL of Labour’s five tests and click here for information on how to contact your Labour MP.
  • Build our support base – Get more of your friends, whanau, neighbours, work colleagues and community to wake up to this very real danger to our democracy. We are planning a roadshow in February/March to educate and mobilise more people to support our struggle. We will be putting a callout to see who can help organise a local meeting.
Key Issues emerging from the analysis of the text
The final text of the TPPA was released on 5 November 2015. Initial analysis of the text shows the NZ government has misled the public through spin, inflated claims and self-serving omissions. The economic benefits have been exaggerated, the economic and social costs understated and future risks ignored.
Read a three page analysis document here.
Support the Legal Case against Government secrecy
Please donate to the case the Dr. Jane Kelsey has brought against the government. The action has already been supported by a Court ruling that will strengthen access to OIAs in future. Help end the secrecy so that we can hold the government to account. Donate here.


A Message From Our Friends at Real Choice

Please share this message with your groups and networks.

Hi, it’s Ben here from Real Choice, asking for the help of you and your organisation.

We believe the government has acted undemocratically in its TPPA negotiation. This is too important to be left up to a small group of MPs to decide, and should be put to a binding referendum vote. So Real Choice is giving Kiwi’s a voice by running a nationwide peoples' referendum on whether or not we ratify the TPPA, beginning next week.

>From Monday 23rd till Monday the 30th of November, we’ll be holding our own referendum online (you can see the live referendum website here) asking whether the NZ government should ratify the TPP. We have set up a secure online voting platform and need volunteers to set up ‘polling stations’ around the country to collect votes during polling week.

We’ll need as many people as possible to vote in our referendum. That’s why we’re asking you to post links to the referendum (at vote.tppa.nz) in your own communications during the voting period. Whether it’s being included in your newspaper or being posted on Facebook, we’re looking for your support to enable us to get more voters.

On Monday, will you send a notification to your email list and invite them to participate in the referendum?

This is not actually a vote on the TPPA, nor is it a petition for a Citizens Initiated Referendum. It is us attempting to reach the widest possible group of voters, in a step back from direct action to allow us to build a bigger support group before the next phase, which we’ll announce with the referendum results. With our mandate and support base as wide as possible, we’re hoping to be able to do something awesome next.

Thanks for your support,
Ben and the rest of the Real Choice Crew
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TPPA Exposed: Don’t Sign

It’s Worse Than We Thought


The government today released the almost final text of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). The lengthy delay has raised questions about whether the Ministers really knew what it was they were signing. It is already 30 days since Trade Ministers concluded the agreement, and there are still further adjustments to be made.

“The belated release of this TPPA document agreed by Trade Ministers a month ago is a shameful reminder of the secrecy, spin and corporate deal-making that has characterised this shabby deal,” said It’s our Future spokesperson coalition, Barry Coates.

After six years of secrecy, the government is still refusing to release the analysis and background documents.

“The Minister for Trade tried to justify the secrecy by saying that trade negotiations are always secret. But the TPPA negotiations have been undemocratic in the extreme and the standard of transparency is far below the usual practice in other negotiations, including the World Trade Organisation. The EU has already proposed far greater transparency in a new agreement,” said Barry Coates.

“The government has used the past month since the TPPA was concluded to desperately spin the deal as a saviour of the New Zealand economy, using half-truths and exaggeration to try to paint a rosy picture. It hasn’t worked,” Coates commented.

“The TPPA devil will be in the detail, especially since large corporations and their legal experts have been given privileged access throughout the negotiations. It is time to show the public what’s really in the TPPA, instead of the spin. We need an objective and thorough analysis of the costs and benefits, the risks to New Zealand and the threats to our sovereign decision-making.”

“The TPPA isn’t over. It is unlikely to be signed by governments until February next year at the earliest. It’s our Future coalition, and hundreds of thousands of supporters across New Zealand, have brought unprecedented scrutiny to this complex agreement. We will not go away. We aim to build a massive public outcry to stop the TPPA from being signed. It’s not too late. Don’t sign!”

Saturday 14 November will be the next Day of Action to stop the TPPA, as concerned citizens around New Zealand tell the government not to sign the agreement. Marches and rallies are planned in at least 14 cities across the country.


Full Text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership


Commentary

  • Secret TPP Text Unveiled here 

  • Initial Analyses - Secret TPP Text Unveiled: It’s Worse than We Thought here
Radio NZ Interviews

  • Lori Wallach, Director Public Citizen here 

  • RNZ correspondent Patrick O'Meara here


 
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