Press Release 7/2/08: NZ First is next, says People Power NZ.

People Power NZ would like to announce that our next direct protest action against the passing of the anti-democratic Electoral Finance Act will be against the NZ First Party Electoral office located at 33 Wyndham St, Auckland City on or about the 28th February, 2008.
 
People Power – “Power to the People”
 
www.peoplepowernz.wordpress.com

NZ Herald 7/2/08: Anti-democratic Greens claim to be representatives of Democracy?!

Brick attack smashes Green Party office window:

New 1:45PM Friday February 08, 2008

A brick was thrown through the window of a Green Party office in Auckland last night, the party’s co-leader Russel Norman says.

Dr Norman told NZPA party staffers arrived this morning at the New North Rd office in the suburb of Sandringham to find the window smashed by a brick after an overnight attack.

He said staff would continue to work at the office and the party would not be intimidated by the attack, which was meant as a protest at the Greens’ support for the Electoral Finance Act, which opponents say will cramp free speech.

He said People Power, the same group who threw a brick at Prime Minister Helen Clark’s electorate office on New Year’s Eve, had claimed responsibility.

“The Green Party will continue to stand up for free and fair elections in spite of this campaign of intimidation being run by some opponents of the Electoral Finance Act,” he said.

“Those who attack the offices of democratically elected officials in an attempt to intimidate them are attacking democracy itself.”

Dr Norman said the Greens had supported the spending cap on election campaigns in the Act because it did not want power concentrated in the hands of the wealthy. It stood by that view.

Under the Act, which came into force on January 1, anyone spending more than $12,000 on political advertising must register as a “third party”.

Those who do register with the Electoral Commission can spend only up to $120,000.

- NZPA

Newstalk ZB 7/2/08: Greens continue to bleat.

So, the Greens attacking private property (science buildings), public property (railways), and businesses (poultry farms) is OK, but such acts are not OK when the Greens are the target for protest? – give us a break!

Brick thrown through Greens office window

8/02/2008 13:52:01

Vandals have thrown a brick through a window at the Green Party’s Auckland office.

 

The attack happened overnight, and party officials believe it was carried out by opponents of the Electoral Finance Act.

 

Co-leader Russel Norman says the “anti-democratic vandals” are trying to intimidate the Greens, because of the party’s support of the legislation.

 

Prime Minister Helen Clark’s office in Sandringham was attacked in a similar way last month.

Press Release 7/2/08: Green Party – Welcome to the receiving end of “People Power”.

 

Greens receive a “brickbat” from People Power NZ – while the Government, Electoral Commission, and media go quiet.  

People Power NZ welcomed the Green Party (Auckland Electorate office – Sandringham) to its ongoing citizens initiated active protest against the passing of the Electoral Finance Act this evening.

“The Green Party is a particular fan of “grass roots” People Power movements, so we are sure that they will appreciate the irony of being on the receiving end of our protest against the EFA” says People Power NZ.

“The Green Party is not a party of enthusiastic environmentalists, but rather a loose association of jaded Marxists long past their use by date – it is time for the Green Party to join their EFA voting partners NZ First, and be consigned to the dustbin of political oblivion come the 2008 Election” says People Power NZ.

“On another matter, People Power NZ have noticed that the Government, Electoral Commission, and the media have gone very quiet over our recent activities – we are assuming that People Power NZ are a little harder to push around than a 21 year old living with his Mum operating a $50.00 “dontvotelabour” website, and we are still waiting for the Electoral Commission to take us to task over our website at www.people-powernz.org”  says People Power NZ.

“And to make the whole campaign a little more interesting for the media, People Power NZ would like to announce that our next direct protest action will occur on the 28^th February, 2008, venue to be advised”.

People Power NZ create “mirror site” in website format so as to breach the EFA.

People Power NZ is delighted to announce that we have created a “mirror site” of our blog www.peoplepowernz.wordpress.com in website format, at www.people-powernz.org for the express and intent purpose of publically violating the Electoral Finance Act and its ludicrous distinction between “blogs” and “websites”.
 
While the Electoral Finance Act does not apparently cover blogs that oppose a particular political party, websites are covered by the legislation, with the ”dontvotelabour” website being recently shut down as an example of this draconian law.
 
We would invite the Electoral Commission to:
 
1/ Attempt to make People Power NZ comply with the Electoral Finance Act, by making us publish our names and addresses on the website.
 
2/ Attempt to shut down the People Power NZ website for non-compliance.
 
Unlike dontvotelabour creator Andy Moore, People Power NZ DO have the money to fight this issue in the courts, assuming of course that this issue reaches this stage.
 
So…….come and get us.
People Power – “Power to the People”
 
www.peoplepowernz.wordpress.com

Press Release: 31/1/08: “Strike 3″ for People Power.

Mt Roskill Labour Electorate office makes it “Strike 3” for People Power New Zealand.

The Mt Roskill Electorate office of MP Phil Goff was the third successful strike for People Power New Zealand today, as the independent citizens initiated lobby group continue their active protest against the Electoral Finance Act.

“Labour-Leader in waiting Phil Goff was an enthusiastic champion for the passage of the Electoral Finance Act becoming law, so is a worthy recipient of a visit from People Power NZ”.

“It is a mystery to us why the citizens of Mt Roskill would continue to vote for a local MP who actively restricts their freedom of expression, and who actually resides in Clevedon, not Mt Roskill, however in a few short months, Mr Goff will be settling into the Opposition benches within Parliament, so it won’t matter for too much longer” said a spokesperson from People Power.

“Mr Goff will also have to think of some other campaign ideas in his Mt Roskill Electorate, aside from his tried and tested trick of getting one of his electoral lackeys to park his van in a Mt Roskill street, attach a sign that reads “visiting Electorate – back in 5 minutes”, when all the while Mr Goff isn’t even in the suburb at the time!

Labour is gone, and Goff is off, and it will all be thanks to the citizens of Mt Roskill exercising “People Power”.

ENDS
 
People Power – “Power to the People”
 
www.peoplepowernz.wordpress.com

Press Release 30/1/08: Clark’s speech won’t save her, says People Power.

Clark’s speech won’t save her, says People Power:

A second attack on Prime Minister Helen Clarks Mt Albert Electorate office was carried out by People Power New Zealand on the morning of her “State of the Nation” speech, in protest against the Electoral Finance Act, and in active opposition to suppression of freedom of expression by the Labour Government of ordinary New Zealand citizens.

The quotes on the white brick read as follows:

“Repeal the EFA”

“No to Labour”

No to Fascism”

Retrospect THIS”

Viva Le Referendum”

“Your speech won’t save you”

The insidious nature of the EFA has already been exposed in the shutting down of the “Don’t Vote Labour” website, an action of citizen oppression more familiar to, and practiced within China, North Korea, Fiji, and Zimbabwe, as opposed to New Zealand.

And as for the “State of the Nation”?

Increased crime – reduced police powers and sentences.

High inflation / interest rates – reduced home ownership.

Increased Government election expenditure – reduced third party election participation.

Increased youth dysfunction – reduced powers of parents to discipline their children.

Increased bureaucracy – reduced service provision at the front line.

People Power NZ sincerely hope that more democracy-loving New Zealanders will eventually awaken and realise that the time has come for active civil disobedience and resistance to increasing state control, and take some democracy-defending action of their own.

“Citizen apathy in New Zealand has paved the way to a growing totalitarian state – if we do nothing to oppose this situation, then frankly, we deserve everything we get this coming election” said a spokesperson for People Power NZ.

ENDS

People Power – “Power to the People”
 
www.peoplepowernz.wordpress.com

Press Release 1/1/08 in response to media coverage.

In response to a number of media stories and commentary that has recently been reported on the brick throwing action:
 
1/ There was no cat, scream, or observation of any third party at the scene by People Power.
 
2/ If Free Speech Coalition spokesperson David Farrar believes that the way to protest against the EFA is to write letters to the editor, than the FSC need a new spokesperson. Perhaps someone not so tightly bound to the National party perhaps, with so much to lose by being a little more provocative?
 
3/ The Auckland Council for Civil Liberties has no mandate to demand from “People Power” what we should or shouldn’t do about our actions – The ACCL are simply irrelevant to Democracy, themselves being unelected to the position that they claim to hold.
 
4/ The fact that the Government has chosen not to comment speaks volumes for how effective our action has been. Prime Minister Helen Clark only quotes “sub judice” when it suits her to do so – clearly, this is one of those times?
 
5/ It would be appreciated if the media would accurately report what comments were actually written on the brick – for those who did not receive the press release, the comments were as follows:
 

“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”  

6/ The police response was observed by People Power after the incident occurred (approx. 8 minute timed response).

7/ The brick was double spray painted (black, then white) and was not handled as from preparation inception. No DNA or fingerprints will thus be found by the police.

People Power – “Power to the People”

people-power@windowslive.com

Who is “People Power”?

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