Q: Who is “People Power”?
People Power (people-power@windowslive.com) is a stand alone, non-politically affiliated citizens lobby group that desires to see true democracy return to the people of New Zealand via repealing the Electoral Finance Act 2007, and a return to majority rule of the people, by the people. This process involves taking power out of the hands of minority MMP representative rulers, and placing this power back into the hands of the citizens of New Zealand.
People Power was born out of the decision by Labour, NZ First, Green, and Progressive Parties to pass the Electoral Finance Act 2007, an Act of Parliament designed to suppress personal freedom of expression, and to minimise public criticism of the incumbent Government.
Q: Who is involved in People Power?
Any citizen of New Zealand who shares the desire to see true Democracy return to the people of New Zealand via a repeal of the Electoral Finance Act 2007, and a return to majority rule of the people, by the people, may join People Power, not by filling in a membership form or by paying a joining fee, but simply by choosing to make their own individual stand for true Democratic process in New Zealand, in whatever way they may feel is appropriate for them. All we would ask is that when they choose to make a stand (in whatever way they may choose to do), that nominate their stand as a stand for “People Power”.
Q: Why did you throw a brick through the window of Prime Minister Helen Clarks Electoral office in Mt Albert, Auckland? Isn’t that an act of civil disobedience?
Prime Minister Helen Clark has been defiantly deaf to the rule of law (via authorising the passing of retrospective legislation for previously illegal acts) and deliberately dismissive of the voices of the majority of the people of New Zealand (via regularly ignoring the wishes of the majority of the Electorate).
The use of a brick symbolises the level of impact that is needed to be made in order for the people of New Zealand to once again secure the attention of our elected representatives, particularly Prime Minister Helen Clark.
People Power believe that a brick has more impact than a press release, and a brick is cheaper than a newspaper advertisement. A brick also doesn’t have to be registered as a third party.
Finally, a brick is also a preferred method of communication in an attempt to secure the attention of Prime Minister Helen Clark on the issue of Democracy, as opposed to the use of bullets and a bomb for the same purpose, as was the case with Benazir Bhutto, the slain leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party.
Yes, our actions against the electoral office of Mt Albert Labour MP and Prime Minister Helen Clark was an act of civil disobedience, inclusive of direct action (and we believe the first within the EFA restriction period), against the passing of the Electoral Finance Act 2007.
Q: Do you have any other acts of civil disobedience planned between now and the 2008 General Election?
Yes.
How do we know that it was really you guys who hit the Labour Party office on New Years morning 2008?
Examine the brick. You will notice that it has a blackened corner on the top right hand side, signifying a postage stamp. If you scratch away at the white paint on the brick (which is enamel in texture), you will find that the brick has also been undercoated with black spray paint (gloss in texture). We could only know this information if we had first prepared the brick for delivery.
We wrote several messages on the brick as well, including:
“Repeal the E.F.A.”
“Hey Helen, does this qualify as a terrorist act?”
“Electoral Finance Act: R.I.P. Democracy 2007”
“Register this as a third party”
“To: Labour, NZ First, Greens, UFNZ, Progressive, From: People of NZ”
Q: How can we contact you?
Our email address is people-power@windowslive.com
