New Zealand
New Zealand: Wellington transport workers face attacks on jobs and conditions
By our correspondents, 6 June 2017
The Labour Party-dominated Wellington Council has awarded bus and rail contracts to private operators to cut costs at the expense of workers.
New Zealand budget deepens austerity
By Tom Peters, 3 June 2017
The election-year budget, fraudulently portrayed as a boon for working families, deepens the assault on health, education and other basic services.
New Zealand: Ashburton meat works closure threatens 370 jobs
By Tom Peters, 26 May 2017
The Meat Workers Union has accepted the closure of Silver Fern Farms’ factory in the South Island town, which is part of a wave of job cuts and attacks on meat workers.
Agreement terms expose New Zealand meat union’s sellout at Taylor Preston
By Tom Peters, 18 May 2017
The pro-company agreement pushed through by the Meat Workers Union entrenches poverty wages and gives Taylor Preston sweeping powers to cut hours and sack workers to boost profits.
New Zealand: Police suppressed video recorded in Pike River mine
By Tom Peters, 17 May 2017
Families of the 29 men who died in the 2010 Pike River Coal mine disaster spoke to the WSWS about their outrage that footage showing it is possible to re-enter the mine was withheld for six years.
Library jobs cut in New Zealand’s biggest city
By Sam Price, 13 May 2017
Just months after the election of former Labour Party leader Phil Goff as mayor, Auckland city is slashing library staff numbers.
New Zealand: Taylor Preston meat workers condemn union pay deal
By Tom Peters, 9 May 2017
The World Socialist Web Site has spoken to workers, who expressed their anger about the sell-out deal pushed through by the Meat Workers Union.
New Zealand: Peace Action Wellington endorses Anzac Day
By John Braddock, 8 May 2017
Far from opposing the Anzac celebrations, the middle-class pacifist group abjectly capitulated to the government’s war propaganda.
New Zealand: Gender pay deal used to promote unions, government
By John Braddock, 3 May 2017
The pay settlement, which follows in the wake of a court decision on equal pay, will not lift chronically underpaid workers out of poverty and grinding exploitation
New Zealand: Anzac Day glorifies imperialist war
By Tom Peters, 29 April 2017
Politicians and the media used the annual holiday to promote war to young people in particular, and to demonise any criticism of the military.
Anti-immigrant campaign intensifies in New Zealand
By Tom Peters, 27 April 2017
The entire political establishment is promoting nationalism and scapegoating immigrants.
New Zealand fast food workers hold nationwide stoppage
By our reporters, 26 April 2017
Workers voted to strike after Restaurant Brands refused a pay rise of 10 cents an hour above the minimum wage each year, for three years
New Zealand meat union pushes through pro-company deal at Taylor Preston
By Tom Peters, 15 April 2017
The contract means another two years of poverty wages for meat workers while the cost of living, especially for housing, continues to soar.
New Zealand government and opposition back US war in Syria
By Tom Peters, 14 April 2017
Both the government and the Labour Party support Trump’s attack on Syria, with Prime Minister Bill English declaring he would consider sending troops.
Book details killing of Afghan civilians in New Zealand SAS raid
By Tom Peters, 5 April 2017
The book Hit and Run, by Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson, indicates that the New Zealand government and Defence Force have covered up war crimes in Afghanistan.
ANZAC Heroes: Promoting war to children
By Sam Price and Tom Peters, 24 March 2017
A New Zealand government-funded children’s book glorifies Australian and New Zealand involvement in World War I and II.
New Zealand Labour Party installs new deputy leader
By John Braddock, 22 March 2017
Jacinda Ardern has been elevated as part of Labour’s desperate attempt to reverse the collapse in support caused by the party’s right-wing policies.
New Zealand union complicit in Cadbury factory closure
By Sam Price, 17 March 2017
The E Tu union opposes any industrial campaign against the closure of the Dunedin factory and 350 job losses.
New Zealand’s Maori parties sign election pact
By John Braddock, 3 March 2017
Mana and the Maori Party both promote Maori nationalism, which serves to divide workers and block a unified struggle against the ongoing attacks on living standards.
Former police union leader to stand for New Zealand Labour Party
By Matthew Carrington, 28 February 2017
Labour’s new candidate Greg O’Connor is a staunch defender of police brutality and shootings and calls for officers to be more heavily armed.
New Zealand Labour Party feud over candidate selection
By John Braddock, 27 February 2017
Former Alliance MPs are being brought into the Labour Party to give it a phony veneer of concern for the urban poor and Maori.
Inequality deepens in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 24 February 2017
In line with global trends, inequality levels are surging due to financial parasitism and the relentless assault on the working class.
New Zealand: Taylor Preston meat workers take industrial action
By Tom Peters, 21 February 2017
The Meat Workers Union is seeking to isolate and wear down the workers at the Wellington factory in order to impose a sell-out contract.
Families demand investigation into New Zealand mine disaster
By Tom Peters, 17 February 2017
Families of men who died in the 2010 Pike River catastrophe have told a parliamentary hearing that the mine must be searched to recover the bodies and gather evidence to prosecute the company bosses.
New Zealand: Auckland protest against Trump’s anti-Muslim travel bans
By our correspondents, 8 February 2017
Demonstrators in Aotea Square voiced their anger over US President Trump’s actions, which the New Zealand government has refused to condemn.
New Zealand government refuses to condemn Trump’s anti-immigrant bans
By Tom Peters, 7 February 2017
While stating that he “disagrees” with Trump’s anti-Muslim bans, Prime Minister Bill English is focused on maintaining New Zealand’s strategic alliance with the US.
CIA files expose New Zealand Labour Party’s anti-nuclear posture
By John Braddock, 30 January 2017
Lange’s anti-nuclear weapons stance was a manoeuvre to put a “left” veneer over Labour’s pro-market assault on the working class.
Pseudo-left’s phony “socialist” campaign in New Zealand by-election
By John Braddock and Tom Peters, 28 January 2017
The campaign by Socialist Aotearoa, like the efforts of Sanders in the US and Corbyn in Britain, is an attempt to block the growing radicalisation of the working class.
Opposition parties feign support for New Zealand mine disaster families
By Tom Peters, 26 January 2017
The Labour Party and its allies, including the trade union bureaucracy, are complicit in the unsafe conditions that led to the 2010 Pike River tragedy.
Thousands protest Trump in New Zealand
By our reporters, 23 January 2017
Workers and young people attending the rallies were concerned about the danger of war, the rise of nationalism and bigotry, and social inequality in the US.
New Zealand prisoners subjected to abusive treatment
By Sam Price, 7 January 2017
As New Zealand’s prison population increases, the Ombudsman’s office has revealed widespread abusive and humiliating treatment of inmates.
Holiday season highlights social desperation in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 3 January 2017
Record numbers of people seeking assistance from charities over Christmas reveals deteriorating social conditions.
New Zealand: Report reveals rampant exploitation of migrant workers
By Sam Price, 30 December 2016
A University of Auckland researcher has documented widespread abuse, threats and underpayment of vulnerable migrant workers.
New Zealand: Families of disaster victims blockade road to Pike River mine
By Tom Peters, 23 December 2016
No one has been held accountable for the death of 29 miners, even though a royal commission found that the 2010 tragedy was entirely preventable.
New Zealand: Labour candidate wins Auckland by-election amid low turnout
By Tom Peters and Sam Price, 14 December 2016
The by-election revealed widespread hostility toward the National Party government and the Labour opposition, which both support austerity, militarism and attacks on immigrants.
New prime minister installed in New Zealand
By Tom Peters, 13 December 2016
John Key’s replacement by his deputy Bill English has exposed tensions within the government, accompanied by demands from big business for harsher austerity measures.
Shock resignation by New Zealand Prime Minister
By Tom Peters and John Braddock, 6 December 2016
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced his resignation from politics after eight years in the role and a decade as leader of the National Party.
New Zealand: Socialist Equality Group holds public meeting on US election outcome
By our reporters, 29 November 2016
The public meeting in Auckland presented a Marxist assessment of Trump’s victory to an audience of mostly young workers and students.
New Zealand: Auckland youth and workers concerned over US election result, danger of war
By our correspondents, 24 November 2016
The Socialist Equality Group is campaigning for a public meeting this Sunday on the causes and implications of Donald Trump’s election.
New Zealand’s capital caught unprepared for earthquake and flooding
By Chris Ross, 23 November 2016
After a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit New Zealand, the capital city was struck by aftershocks and cut off by a severe weather system.
New Zealand: “Week of Peace” promotes the Greens and Labour
By Tom Peters, 22 November 2016
The protests organised by Auckland Peace Action and the Peace Foundation sought to channel workers and youth who oppose war behind pro-imperialist parties.
New Zealand’s suicide toll highlights social crisis
By Jeremy Lin, 17 November 2016
Suicides reached another record high this year due to worsening social inequality and severe underfunding of mental health services.
New Zealand: International Socialist Organisation glorifies deceased Council of Trade Unions leader
By Tom Peters, 16 November 2016
The ISO portrayed the veteran union bureaucrat Helen Kelly as a champion for workers’ rights, covering up her record of enforcing mass job cuts and other attacks on workers.
Workers and young people in Australia and New Zealand concerned by US election result
By our reporters, 15 November 2016
Many noted that Trump’s victory was a product of the deepening social crisis and a breakdown of American democracy.
Magnitude 7.8 earthquake hits New Zealand
By John Braddock, 15 November 2016
The quake has caused major damage to roads, railways and other infrastructure, and isolated small rural communities throughout the upper South Island.
Perplexity, fear in New Zealand establishment over US election
By John Braddock, 7 November 2016
Many commentators and politicians who express horror over the prospect of a Trump victory are supportive of similar right-wing policies in New Zealand.
New Zealand moves to restore relations with Fijian regime
By John Braddock, 4 November 2016
New Zealand’s welcoming of Fiji’s Prime Minister Bainimarama was aimed at advancing the geo-strategic interests of the US and its local allies against China.
New Zealand pseudo-lefts hold protests to denounce Russia
By John Braddock, 1 November 2016
The rallies were an attempt to whip up support for the US-led intervention in Syria and its reckless confrontation with Russia.
Push for harsher anti-immigrant measures in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 31 October 2016
The most significant voices in growing anti-immigrant agitation are the Unite union, which includes members of two pseudo-left groups, and the trade union-funded Daily Blog.
Report says New Zealand SAS is fighting in Iraq
By Tom Peters, 28 October 2016
The New Zealand government denied a report that the NZSAS is involved in combat operations in northern Iraq, but admitted that the elite fighting unit has visited the country.
New Zealand: The US warship visit and the fraud of Peace Action
By Tom Peters, 27 October 2016
Peace Action Wellington and Auckland Peace Action do not represent any alternative to the Greens and other organisations which have discredited themselves by embracing imperialist war preparations.
Australian government hails New Zealand’s brutal welfare system
By Tom Peters, 17 October 2016
Australia’s government is seeking to emulate policies that have pushed tens of thousands of people off welfare.
New Zealand doctors vote for nationwide strike
By John Braddock and Jeremy Lin, 11 October 2016
The doctors are joining a groundswell of opposition by health sector workers internationally to the assault on working conditions and the destruction of public health.
New Zealand Labour Party marks its centenary
By Tom Peters, 29 September 2016
Contrary to the myths advanced by Labour’s apologists, the party was never socialist. It has always defended capitalism at home and supported imperialist war abroad.
New Zealand: Ex-Green Party MP launches pseudo-left think tank
By Tom Peters, 27 September 2016
Economic and Social Research Aotearoa is a nationalist organisation, inspired by identity politics and the anti-Marxism of Syriza and Podemos.
New Zealand public meetings: The US Navy visit and the drive to war
By Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 27 September 2016
The SEG and IYSSE are holding meetings in Wellington, Lower Hutt and Auckland to discuss a socialist program to fight against Washington’s war drive against China.
New Zealand: Labour Party MP leads Auckland mayoral race
By Sam Price, 23 September 2016
Like the National Party government, Goff is advocating austerity measures, asset sales, redundancies, a new fuel tax and more police officers.
New Zealand: Maori king cuts ties with Labour Party
By John Braddock, 17 September 2016
The Maori tribal head, who presides over a substantial business operation, has thrown his weight behind an electoral alliance between the Maori nationalist parties.
New Zealand: Anti-TPP protests promote economic protectionism
By our reporters, 13 September 2016
The agitation for protectionist trade policies is a reactionary turn to the economic nationalism that erupted in the 1930s and led to war.
New Zealand: Daily Blog opposes jury trials in rape cases
By Tom Peters, 9 September 2016
The statement by the union-funded blog demonstrates how hysterical denunciations of “rape culture” are helping to strengthen the state and attack democratic rights.
New Zealand unions campaign against Chinese steel imports
By Tom Peters, 7 September 2016
The nationalist demagogy is part of a push to align New Zealand with the US drive to war against China, while diverting attention from the role of the unions in job cutting.
New Zealand defence minister blames Beijing for South China Sea tension
By John Braddock, 3 September 2016
The comments indicate a shift within the government, following US Vice President Biden’s recent visit, closer to Washington’s belligerent anti-China position.
Ongoing job cutting in New Zealand
By Chris Ross, 2 September 2016
Attacks on jobs, wages and conditions are intensifying, with the collaboration of the trade unions.
New Zealand unions intensify anti-immigrant campaign
By John Braddock, 30 August 2016
The Unite union collaborates with the government’s exclusivist immigration policies while agitating for further curbs on foreign workers.
Labour Party makes empty promises to New Zealand students
By Tom Peters and Chris Ross, 29 August 2016
Despite its highly conditional pledges, Labour has no intention of reducing ballooning debt and poverty among students.
New Zealand: Thousands infected by contaminated water in Havelock North
By Tom Peters, 27 August 2016
The precise source of the contamination is not yet known, but waterways have become highly polluted due to intensive and unregulated farming.
Cross-party support for sweeping spy powers in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 26 August 2016
The ruling elite is erecting the foundations for a police state in preparation to confront social and political opposition.
100 New Zealand: Thousands infected by contaminated water
25 August 2016
New Zealand: WWI Home Front exhibition buries mass opposition to war
By Tom Peters and Sam Price, 22 August 2016
The exhibition about life “at home” during World War I hails New Zealand’s contribution to the war and covers up the opposition that emerged in the working class.
Families of New Zealand mine disaster victims seek justice
By Tom Peters, 15 August 2016
Sonya Rockhouse and Anna Osborne, who lost family members in the 2010 Pike River explosion, are seeking a judicial review of the decision to drop charges against CEO Peter Whittall.
New Zealand ‘Rich List’ dominated by property speculators
By John Braddock, 4 August 2016
Big investors have seen “huge gains” to their share portfolios, while the property boom has “seeded fortunes for astute and opportune investors.”
New Zealand rail union pushes pro-company collective agreement
By our correspondent, 3 August 2016
The Greater Wellington Regional Council is demanding $100 million in cost-cutting, which will be imposed by Transdev through attacks on jobs, wages and conditions.
New Zealand’s Maori nationalist parties discuss bloc for 2017 election
By John Braddock, 1 August 2016
The talks are driven by ambitions within both parties for a more direct role in government, whoever wins the next election
070 NZ: Maori-Mana alliance talks
30 July 2016
New Zealand Greens celebrate US warship visit
By Tom Peters, 28 July 2016
The embrace of the US military by the Greens and its supporters points to a further shift to the right by this party.
Two more shootings by New Zealand police
By Chris Ross, 25 July 2016
The shooting of two men in separate incidents is part of an increasing resort to lethal force by police in response to the social crisis.
Biden confirms US warship will visit New Zealand
By Tom Peters, 22 July 2016
The American visit, the first in more than 30 years, represents a significant further step in New Zealand’s integration into US war preparations against China.
Biden visits New Zealand to strengthen military ties
By John Braddock, 21 July 2016
New Zealand’s balancing act between China, its second largest trading partner, and the US, its chief strategic ally, is becoming increasingly unsustainable.
Deep concerns in New Zealand ruling elite over Brexit vote
By John Braddock, 18 July 2016
Running through much of the media commentary is a growing alarm about potential instability, as well as a seething hostility to the working class.
100 New Zealand and Brexit
16 July 2016
Deepening social inequality in New Zealand
By Tom Peters and Chris Ross, 8 July 2016
The richest 10 percent now control 60 percent of the country’s wealth, while the working class is suffering from soaring housing costs and cuts to welfare services.
New Zealand pseudo-lefts silent on Maoist alliance with Philippine president
By Tom Peters, 5 July 2016
Fightback and Redline have long promoted the CPP, which has now taken cabinet posts in the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, a fascistic figure.
New Zealand extends military deployment in Iraq
By Tom Peters, 27 June 2016
Under the pretext of fighting terrorism, New Zealand soldiers are assisting the predatory US war to dominate the Middle East.
25 April: Animated documentary on New Zealand’s role in the Gallipoli invasion
By Sam Price and Tom Peters, 25 June 2016
The film shows the horrors of war but fails to challenge the nationalist mythology surrounding the Anzacs.
New Zealand: Family denounces “cold-blooded execution” by police
By Chris Ross, 22 June 2016
As New Zealand’s social crisis worsens, the police are increasingly resorting to deadly force.
New Zealand PM’s diplomatic debacle in Fiji
By John Braddock, 21 June 2016
Bainimarama bluntly refused to accede to NZ Prime Minister Key’s agenda.
New Zealand First demonises Muslim immigrants
By Jeremy Lin and Tom Peters, 20 June 2016
The Labour Party and the Greens hypocritically tried to distance themselves from the NZ First leader’s inflammatory and xenophobic statements.
New Zealand Defence White Paper prepares for war
By Tom Peters, 17 June 2016
Military upgrades worth $20 billion will support US-led war preparations against China and New Zealand’s own imperialist interests in the Pacific and elsewhere.
New Zealand: Labour, Greens sign Memorandum of Understanding
By Tom Peters, 15 June 2016
Claims that the Labour-Greens alliance offers a “progressive alternative” to the National Party government are a fraud.
Defend the rights of New Zealanders in Australia! Support the Socialist Equality Party!
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 11 June 2016
The SEP is the only party in the Australian election that intransigently opposes all forms of nationalism and defends the basic rights of refugees and immigrants.
Vicious media campaign in New Zealand over child abuse
By Chris Ross, 9 June 2016
The death of three-year-old Moko Rangitoheriri has been seized on to vilify the most poverty-stricken layers of society.
New Zealand government, opposition housing policies grossly inadequate
By Tom Peters, 2 June 2016
Proposals by the National Party government as well as the opposition Labour Party and the Greens do not even begin to address the country's homelessness crisis.
New Zealand budget: Cuts to basic services, billions for the military
By Tom Peters, 27 May 2016
The budget does nothing to address the crisis in health, education and housing, while significantly increasing spending to prepare the country for war.
Spate of deaths in New Zealand’s forestry industry
By Chris Ross and Tom Peters, 24 May 2016
Four workers and one child have died at forestry sites so far this year, exposing claims that the industry’s safety record has improved since 10 workers died in 2013.
Panama Papers: Further revelations about New Zealand’s role as a tax haven
By Tom Peters and Sam Price, 19 May 2016
Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca promoted New Zealand to its wealthy clients, including some allegedly involved in illegal activity and one who assisted in the looting of Iraq.
New Zealand’s housing affordability crisis worsens
By Tom Peters and Jeremy Lin, 13 May 2016
The political establishment is scapegoating foreigners, especially Chinese, for the unstable property bubble and lack of affordable housing.
New Zealand Labour Party leader visits Iraq
By Tom Peters, 6 May 2016
Andrew Little praised New Zealand’s troops in Iraq and pushed for their mission to be extended, underscoring the fraud of Labour’s vote against the deployment last year.
On Anzac Day, New Zealand leaders talk peace, prepare for war
By Tom Peters, 29 April 2016
A century after the bloody Gallipoli campaign in World War I, the New Zealand ruling class is once again preparing to support imperialist war.
New Zealand’s healthcare crisis worsens
By Tom Peters, 25 April 2016
Thousands of people are on hospital waiting lists, or being denied essential surgical operations or mental health treatment, due to government funding cuts.
New Zealand prime minister visits China amid tensions over South China Sea
By John Braddock, 22 April 2016
While seeking to preserve cordial relations with China, its second largest trading partner, the New Zealand ruling elite is committed to the US anti-China “pivot.”
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