New Zealand
Lessons of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s sellout: Build rank-and-file committees! Unite the working class against the Labour government!
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 18 August 2018
The sellout of the nurses’ struggle by the union bureaucracy raises the need for rank-and-file committees and a fight to unite the working class against austerity and for socialism.
New Zealand primary teachers hold nationwide strike
By our reporters, 16 August 2018
Tens of thousands joined rallies across the country to demand better pay and conditions, while the teachers’ trade union used the strike to promote illusions in the Labour Party-led government.
New Zealand government launches sham inquiry into Afghan war crimes
By Sam Price, 16 August 2018
The inquiry into allegations that civilians were killed in a NZSAS raid in Afghanistan in 2010 is destined to be a whitewash.
China set to become largest aid donor to Pacific
By John Braddock, 15 August 2018
The ruling elites in Australia and New Zealand, the local imperialist powers that act in concert with Washington, view China’s rise as a threat to their interests.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation rams through sellout pay deal
By John Braddock and Tom Peters, 8 August 2018
The union is trying to present the agreement, which fails to address the crisis in the public health system, as a victory.
New Zealand teachers join growing wages movement
By our reporters, 6 August 2018
In a rebuff to the union leadership, 50,000 primary school teachers voted to strike on August 15.
New Zealand nurses express frustration, anger in union broadcast
By our reporters, 2 August 2018
The union’s online event was a desperate attempt to sell the latest, widely opposed deal and shut down the rebellion among nurses.
New Zealand Defence Force nurses deployed during strike
By John Braddock, 31 July 2018
The Labour government’s military deployment is a sharp warning to the resurgent working class as to what the ruling elite has in store.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation presents fifth sell-out pay offer
By John Braddock, 26 July 2018
The latest offer to public hospital nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives is virtually identical to offers they rejected before the July 12 nationwide strike.
After nationwide strike: The way forward for New Zealand health workers
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 25 July 2018
The SEG calls on health workers to break from the pro-capitalist trade unions and form rank-and-file committees to unite the working class against the Labour-led government’s austerity policies.
New Zealand bus drivers take action over work rosters
By our correspondents, 24 July 2018
Bus drivers are facing attacks on jobs, wages and conditions by private operators contracted by the Labour Party-led Wellington Council.
New Zealand Labour-aligned Daily Blog posts pro-war, anti-China tirade
By John Braddock, 20 July 2018
The on-line blog hails the government’s military upgrade in preparation to join US-led aggression against China.
Intelligence inquiry whitewashes New Zealand’s spying in the Pacific
By John Braddock, 18 July 2018
The inquiry was part of a damage limitation campaign following revelations by Edward Snowden.
New Zealand foreign minister: “Great Power competition is back”
By John Braddock, 17 July 2018
Peters’ speech underscored the strengthening alliance between the Labour-led government and the US in confronting China across the Asia-Pacific.
Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) holds online health workers’ meeting
By our reporters, 17 July 2018
The SEG’s forum, which included New Zealand and Australian workers, discussed the political lessons of the July 12 strike by 30,000 nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives.
Growing strike movement in New Zealand
By our reporters, 14 July 2018
The first cross-department public sector strike for over a decade, was held three days before the 24-hour nationwide nurses’ strike.
New Zealand nurses stage first nationwide strike in 30 years
By our reporters, 13 July 2018
Nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives in public hospitals struck for 24 hours yesterday after rejecting a sellout deal backed by the union.
Open letter to NZ nurses’ Facebook group: Reverse the ban on WSWS articles and criticisms of the union
By Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 12 July 2018
In the lead-up to today’s nationwide strike by health workers, the administrators of “New Zealand, please hear our voice” deleted WSWS articles and many comments criticising the union’s attempt to shut down the movement.
040 NZ nurses reject union-backed sellout, prepare national strike
11 July 2018
Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) to hold online forum: The way forward for nurses and health workers
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 11 July 2018
The online meeting will discuss a socialist strategy to fight for decent and well-funded public health services, in opposition to the Labour Party-led government and the nurses’ union.
New Zealand defence policy targets China, Russia
By John Braddock, 11 July 2018
In line with the US Trump administration, the NZ Labour-led government is preparing for war abroad and class war at home.
New Zealand nurses reject union-backed sellout, prepare nationwide strike
By Tom Peters, 10 July 2018
Nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives in public hospitals are preparing for a nationwide strike on Thursday, after rejecting a sellout offer recommended by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation.
New Zealand nurses speak to WSWS opposing sellout deal
By Tom Peters, 7 July 2018
Nurses denounced the union-backed proposed agreement, which keeps wages low and maintains severe under-staffing of hospitals.
New Zealand nurses denounce union promotion of sellout deal
By Tom Peters, 6 July 2018
There is widespread anger as the nursing trade union tries to prevent a strike and impose an agreement that maintains low pay and hospital understaffing.
Outrage over union’s cancellation of New Zealand nurses’ strike
By Tom Peters, 3 July 2018
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has cancelled one of two scheduled strikes and is seeking to impose a sell-out deal, virtually identical to that rejected by nurses and other health workers last month.
New Zealand: Staff cuts and library closures at the University of Auckland
By Sam Price, 30 June 2018
University of Auckland authorities have responded to a funding freeze by the Labour government by announcing the shutdown of three specialist libraries and job cuts.
New Zealand’s “First Baby” fuels media frenzy
By John Braddock, 27 June 2018
The orchestrated fawning over the “First Child” is designed to divert attention from the sharpening class struggle within New Zealand and increasing global turmoil.
New Zealand nurses reject third sellout deal, prepare to strike
By Tom Peters, 22 June 2018
The nurses’ union is desperately seeking to avoid two 24-hour strikes scheduled for next month.
New Zealand rally demands freedom for Julian Assange
By our reporters, 20 June 2018
Tom Peters from the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) addressed a rally outside the Australian High Commission in Wellington to demand that the Australian government secure Assange’s freedom.
New Zealand Labour government to extend bans on strikes
By John Braddock, 15 June 2018
The “Fair Pay Agreements” framework, supported by the unions, will outlaw stoppages across entire industries during wage negotiations.
Australian workers and youth back June 17 Sydney rally in defence of Julian Assange
By our reporters, 12 June 2018
“Assange is a symbol of freedom of speech and justice for ordinary people. It is critical that we free him.”
New Zealand Labour government’s budget fails to address health crisis
By Sam Price, 8 June 2018
Patients across the country are suffering because successive governments have starved the healthcare system of funds.
Vote no to sellout of New Zealand nurses! Build rank-and-file committees!
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 7 June 2018
The SEG calls on health workers to break from the unions, build new organisations and fight to unite the working class against the Labour government’s pro-business agenda.
Growing tensions over New Zealand’s ties to China
By John Braddock, 31 May 2018
New Zealand governments have sought to maintain an ever-more fraught balancing act between its traditional military alliance with the US and economic reliance on China.
New Zealand nurses vote for nationwide strike
By Tom Peters, 30 May 2018
Public hospital nurses and other health workers are fighting an effective wage freeze by the Labour Party-led government.
New Zealand: Labour government’s first budget starves essential services
By Tom Peters, 22 May 2018
The budget drastically underfunds health, education, welfare and housing, while boosting the military, police and prisons.
New Zealand nurses mount nationwide protests
By our reporters, 15 May 2018
Thousands marched in 15 towns and cities to demand better pay and conditions.
New Zealand Labour government makes “left” feint on education
By John Braddock, 14 May 2018
Some 50,000 NZ teachers are set to follow their counterparts in the United States and other countries in the fight for jobs, decent wages and working conditions.
New Zealand government boosts foreign aid for “Pacific Reset”
By John Braddock, 12 May 2018
The increased spending is aimed at pushing back against growing Chinese influence in the region.
The way forward for New Zealand nurses: Break from the unions! Unite the working class against the Labour government!
By Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 10 May 2018
The fight by nurses and other health workers for decent wages and conditions must be consciously directed against the Labour Party government and the pro-capitalist trade unions.
Is The Changeover just Twilight set in New Zealand?
By Tom Peters, 8 May 2018
The Changeover, highly praised in New Zealand, is a formulaic supernatural teen romance imbued with definite class prejudices.
Decision not to prosecute over New Zealand building collapse ignored crucial evidence
By Sam Price, 4 May 2018
The police and judicial system is shielding those responsible for the Canterbury Television crash during the 2011 earthquake.
New Zealand nurses begin voting on nationwide strikes
By Tom Peters, 3 May 2018
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is seeking to reach a sellout deal with the Labour Party government to avoid any campaign for better wages and conditions.
New Zealand prime minister strengthens military ties with France
By Tom Peters, 28 April 2018
Jacinda Ardern sought increased military cooperation with France and Britain in the Pacific, to push back against China’s strategic and economic influence.
New Zealand rail union rams through pro-company collective agreement
By our correspondent, 26 April 2018
The Rail and Maritime Transport Union has imposed a deal that attacks wages, jobs and conditions.
New Zealand: IYSSE and SEG meeting opposes Internet censorship
By our reporter, 24 April 2018
The speaker explained that censorship and the persecution of WikiLeaks was the response to opposition to war and social inequality.
British Commonwealth summit sees line up against China and Russia
By Mike Head, 23 April 2018
The CHOGM gathering saw a concerted drive to transform the 53-member grouping, long regarded as an imperial relic, into a confrontational vehicle.
Union seeks to derail New Zealand nurses’ struggle
By Tom Peters, 18 April 2018
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is working with the Labour Party-led government to prevent a strike after nurses rejected a sellout deal.
New Zealand government supports imperialist assault on Syria
By John Braddock and Tom Peters, 17 April 2018
The Ardern government’s response underscores that it is prepared to take the country into a catastrophic war instigated by its US and European allies.
New Zealand barrister defends principle of presumption of innocence
By John Braddock, 11 April 2018
Michael Bott said that an automatic “believe the victim” starting point in a prosecution “can and must have no place in criminal trials.”
New Zealand government under pressure to expel Russian diplomats
By Tom Peters, 5 April 2018
NZ’s Labour Party-led government is under pressure from the opposition National Party, the media and Australia to fully line up with war preparations against Russia.
New Zealand: Labour government hit by sexual assault allegations
By John Braddock, 31 March 2018
The media has deliberately inflated an apparently minor incident into a major national issue as a warning to Labour to press ahead with an agenda of austerity and war preparations.
New Zealand: Nurses reject sellout pay deal
By Tom Peters, 30 March 2018
Public health nurses have voted against a 2 percent pay increase, an effective wage freeze, negotiated by their trade union.
Britain pressures New Zealand government to join anti-Russian sanctions
By John Braddock, 26 March 2018
Britain’s High Commissioner to NZ has successfully pushed the Ardern government to cancel planned free trade talks with Russia.
New Zealand: No end in sight for Christchurch earthquake rebuild
By Tom Peters, 21 March 2018
Seven years after the 2011 earthquake, thousands of houses are still damaged and insurance claims unresolved.
New Zealand: Reject the union sellout of Wellington rail workers!
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 16 March 2018
The RMTU, private companies Transdev and Hyundai Rotem, and the Greater Wellington Regional Council want to impose a pro-business deal that freezes wages and paves the way for job cuts.
New Zealand’s “Pacific reset” aims to reassert imperialist dominance
By Tom Peters, 12 March 2018
Prime Minister Ardern’s government has outlined a strategy to reassert neo-colonial hegemony over the South Pacific and push back Chinese influence.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
10 March 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
New Zealand opposition leadership change reflects tensions over social unrest and drive to war
By Tom Peters, 7 March 2018
National Party leader Bill English’s resignation followed criticism from the US ambassador of his government’s refusal to fully endorse Trump’s warmongering against North Korea.
Obituary: Jim Anderton, a pivotal defender of New Zealand capitalism
By John Braddock, 3 March 2018
As leader of NewLabour and the Alliance, Anderton played a critical role defending the capitalist order by blocking any rebellion against the Labour government.
New Zealand governments lied about “non-combat” role in Iraq
By Sam Price, 2 March 2018
Successive governments falsely claimed that New Zealand soldiers in Iraq are engaged in a training capacity.
New Zealand government intensifies campaign against Chinese “interference”
By John Braddock, 1 March 2018
The government’s investigation into claims of Chinese “intimidation” of an academic points to a state intelligence operation.
Australian and New Zealand transport workers must unite their struggles
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 28 February 2018
The trade unions in both New Zealand and Australia are seeking to isolate workers in each country from each other in order to facilitate further attacks on jobs, wages and conditions.
Job cuts continue in New Zealand under Labour government
By Sam Price, 23 February 2018
The ongoing job destruction exposes the Labour Party-led government’s claims that it will raise living standards.
New Zealand: Breakdowns and lack of safety in Wellington’s rail network
By our correspondents, 21 February 2018
Wellington’s passenger rail service has been repeatedly crippled by infrastructure failures this year.
New Zealand government makes false promises to address Maori poverty
By Tom Peters, 19 February 2018
The Labour Party-led government has handed millions of dollars to Maori tribal capitalists, while offering empty promises to tackle inequality.
Families’ spokesman on New Zealand earthquake building collapse: “Are there people who are above the law?”
By Sam Price, 6 February 2018
Maan Alkaisi, whose wife died when the CTV building crumbled during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, condemned the police decision not to prosecute anyone over the disaster.
Asia-Pacific trade bloc reshaped, without the US
By Mike Head, 25 January 2018
The “TPP 11” announcement points to the increasing isolation of the US, and the escalating tensions between the rival capitalist powers.
Media frenzy over New Zealand PM’s pregnancy distracts attention from inequality
By Tom Peters, 25 January 2018
Prime Minister Ardern’s announcement prompted an avalanche of praise and glorification of her Labour Party government.
Australian government continues deportations of New Zealanders
By Tom Peters, 17 January 2018
New Zealanders who have spent most of their lives in Australia are being detained and expelled for minor offences or on “character” grounds.
New Zealand spy agency illegally accessed immigration data
By Tom Peters, 15 January 2018
For decades the Security Intelligence Service accessed Customs data illegally to monitor people entering the country.
New Zealand police refuse to prosecute over Christchurch building collapse
By Sam Price and Tom Peters, 9 January 2018
No one has been held accountable for the unsafe design of the CTV building, which collapsed in the 2011 earthquake killing 115 people.
New Zealand government seeks to contain outrage over Pike River mine disaster
By Tom Peters, 6 January 2018
The Labour Party-led government has no intention of holding any corporate leaders responsible for the 2010 explosion that killed 29 people.
New Zealand government prepares attack on foreign students
By Sam Price, 4 January 2018
The Labour-led government is scapegoating international students, along with immigrants, to divert attention from the real source of the social crisis.
New Zealand government offers false promises to reduce poverty
By Tom Peters, 30 December 2017
The Labour-led government’s meagre welfare increases and social spending are subordinate to keeping corporate taxes low and upgrading the military.
Anti-Chinese witch-hunt against New Zealand MP intensifies
By Tom Peters, 28 December 2017
Deputy Prime Minister Peters denounced Yang as a “Manchurian candidate.”
Continuing attacks on New Zealand public transport workers’ jobs and wages
By our reporters, 22 December 2017
The Labour Party-aligned Auckland and Wellington councils are moving to axe jobs and working conditions.
Right-wing attack on New Zealand Green MP
By John Braddock, 8 December 2017
The witch-hunt campaign against Ghahraman over her legitimate activities as a defence lawyer is aimed at undermining basic rights, stoking nationalism and preparing for war.
New Zealand: Labour-led government to expand police
By Chris Ross and John Braddock, 6 December 2017
An investigative media report into police killings has highlighted the extraordinary powers that the police already have and their disregard for human life.
New Zealand: Socialist Equality Group holds meeting on Russian Revolution in Auckland
By our reporters, 30 November 2017
The centenary meeting in Auckland was organized by the only political tendency fighting to build a party in New Zealand based on the perspective and program that guided the Bolshevik revolution 100 years ago.
230 New Zealand Socialist Equality Group hold Russian Revolution meeting in Auckland
29 November 2017
New Zealand: Wellington rail workers hold 24-hour strike
By our reporters, 22 November 2017
Rail workers struck for 24 hours over attacks on conditions by the private transport companies contracted by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Campaign continues over “Chinese influence” in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 21 November 2017
The aim of stirring up paranoia over China is to pressure the incoming government to further align itself with Washington’s drive to war.
New Zealand “left” commentator Chris Trotter slanders the Russian Revolution
By John Braddock, 14 November 2017
Trotter’s denunciations of the Russian Revolution as a “coup d’état” are motivated by contemporary political concerns.
New Zealand Labour-led government prepares attacks on working class
By John Braddock, 10 November 2017
Labour Prime Minister Ardern, with trade union approval, has threatened to further proscribe the right to strike.
New Zealand PM visits Australia, confirms Labour government’s support for war
By Tom Peters, 9 November 2017
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has endorsed the war in Iraq, threats against North Korea and Australia’s brutal treatment of asylum seekers.
New Zealand: Labour-led government promotes nationalism and militarism
By Tom Peters, 7 November 2017
The recently-installed Labour-New Zealand First-Greens coalition is scapegoating immigrants for the social crisis, while promoting militarism and war.
New Zealand pseudo-lefts embrace new right-wing government
By John Braddock, 4 November 2017
The line-up of pro-Labour commentators, trade unions and pseudo-left groups is fraudulently portraying the Labour-led coalition government as “progressive” and “left wing.”
Rising death toll from health sector cuts in New Zealand
By Sam Price, 3 November 2017
Underfunding of health care by successive National and Labour governments has contributed to shortened lives and baby deaths.
New Zealand: Socialist Equality Group meeting discusses new Labour-NZ First government
By our reporters, 2 November 2017
The meeting in Wellington discussed the danger of world war, the right-wing character of the new government and the need to build a New Zealand section of the ICFI.
Meeting in Sydney on December 17
100 years on: The significance of the 1917 Russian Revolution for today
28 October 2017
The Russian Revolution stands as irrefutable proof that the working class—providing it is guided by a genuine Marxist perspective and leadership—can overthrow the outmoded social relations of capitalism.
Labour Party details coalition agreement with New Zealand First
By Tom Peters, 25 October 2017
Despite winning just nine seats, the right-wing and anti-China NZ First has been given the key roles of deputy prime minister, foreign minister and defence minister.
New Zealand: Official silence over Taylor Preston meatworks death
By John Braddock, 23 October 2017
The ongoing silence serves to protect the legal and financial position of the company at the expense of workers.
Right-wing nationalists hand power to New Zealand Labour
By Tom Peters and John Braddock, 20 October 2017
The Labour Party’s coalition with New Zealand First is tasked with aligning with Washington against China and imposing deeper austerity measures.
US ambassador intervenes in New Zealand’s political crisis
By Tom Peters, 18 October 2017
Ambassador Scott Brown has stressed New Zealand’s importance as a US ally and defended Trump’s threats of war against North Korea.
New Zealand First delays decision on forming a new government
By Tom Peters, 14 October 2017
Three weeks after the election the right-wing, anti-immigrant NZ First still has not decided whether to form a coalition with the National Party or Labour and the Greens.
New Zealand rail union blocks struggle against attacks on conditions
By our reporters, 13 October 2017
A two-hour work stoppage was called to lay the basis for another union-employer sellout deal.
110 NZ rail strike
11 October 2017
New Zealand: Pike River mine disaster families make Supreme Court appeal
By Tom Peters, 10 October 2017
Families of some of the 29 men who died in the 2010 Pike River Coal mine explosion are opposing the decision to drop charges against CEO Peter Whittall.
New Zealand First pushes anti-China witch-hunt in coalition negotiations
By Tom Peters, 9 October 2017
The right-wing New Zealand First, backed by the Labour Party and the trade unions, is pressing for a closer alignment with US war preparations against China.
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