Protesting the Ōtautahi Aerospace Conference
To quote from the 2025 Aerospace Summit website, New Zealand is a “global space leader”. Our low population density and open skies make us the perfect arena, in logistical terms, for testing and launching aerospace technology into the world’s shared skies. Rocket Lab, a New Zealand-based company, has been receiving USA military contracts since 2009, […]
Working Class History: The 1959 Oil Workers Strike in Fiji
In the late 1950s in Fiji, the cost of living was rising. Indigenous Fijian workers, along with the formerly indentured Indo-Fijian workforce, chafed under the exploitation of the colonial, capitalist system. Some workers, like unionist Apisai Tora, had been radicalised by the experience of fighting in WWII and returning to continued hardship at home. It […]
New Zealand Imperialism in the Pacific in the 21st Century
A public talk based on this article is available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiDVbWafgPg “The Pacific is our family, and being here is a great opportunity to reaffirm New Zealand’s position as a close and trusted partner.” Visiting Niue in June 2024, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon trotted out this familiar official story about the New Zealand government’s […]
In Solidarity with Kanaky – A Rally Speech
The following is based on a speech given at a Kanaky solidarity rally in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington on Friday 26th July 2024. Kia ora koutou. Ko Serah tōku ingoa. Thanks to all of you for being here. There is a lot happening politically right now. Just yesterday, there was a rally led by Alternative Jewish […]
Imperialism in the Pacific
In early July the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) announced the presence of HMNZS Aotearoa in Pearl Harbor as part of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) war practice. Commanding Officer, Rob Welford explained: “we stand strong, we stand staunch, we stand together as sailors […] partners integrated and prepared.” What, we might ask, is […]
Say No to AUKUS
In this piece I’ll be examining AUKUS and how it relates to, and is a product of, the system that the working class of the world currently suffers under. I’ll also be touching on some larger topics such as China, the relevance of AUKUS to us here in Aotearoa, and the big question – What […]
Indian Election and Hindu Nationalism In New Zealand
The pre-amble to the constitution of India declares it to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. It is an admirable vision for the country. In reality one could argue, plausibly, that none of those terms are applicable to the Indian state, at least not on the national level. The previous decade has seen a […]
Rally to support immigrant workers
Unions including TEU, First, E Tū, and NZNO gathered outside the Philippines embassy in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington at midday on Friday 19th January 2024, calling on the Philippines government to ensure migrant workers are provided support. New Zealand construction company ELE, which employed numerous Filipino workers on temporary work visas, went into receivership in December […]
Imperialism in the Pacific
The following was originally presented as a public talk to the Te Whanganui-a-Tara branch of the International Socialist Organisation and the Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington ISO club. The talk was on the topic “Imperialism in the Pacific”, and was pitched to be of value both to experienced organisation members as well as […]
The Political Situation in Sri Lanka – To Early 2022
This piece was first given as a talk at the Te Whanganui-a-Tara branch of the International Socialist Organisation To understand the political situation in Sri Lanka we must first understand the historic past of the peoples of Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon under the British empire. I say peoples because even to this day they are […]
