Written in the Hutt Valley
Greetings
friends,
A
big thank you to people who supported my May Day appeal or in the
many ways that people do. The local government LTP ethical governance project has a fair bit of interest.
Tinkerbell
now has a well engineered and fitted custom driveshaft connecting her
gearbox to the differential. She'll need to be in order as we do over
a thousand kilometres next week and more in the weeks that follow.
The driveshaft repair was in the nick of time. Picture of the broken
universal drive unit which hung on till in the workshop before
shattering in the mechanic's hands.
The
repairs have eaten into the funds I had assumed would pay for petrol,
so I'm in a bit of a bind as far as servicing the LTP hearings
planned and to be confirmed. However the universe has kept me solvent
for the past 4 years to continue my advocacy work.
I'm
happy to continue. If you could help here is the account:Public
Advocacy Donations Account 389017-0439360-00
ref: TPP roadie
LTP
Project progress todate
I've
now visited and spoken at 4 Council's LTP hearings; Central Hawkes
Bay 26 April, Horowhenua District 3 May, plus the Waikato and
Taranaki Regional Councils both on Monday 7 May.
Mike presented on behalf of the project in Nelson on Wednesday 9 May
saying he felt he was well received and bonus he's kindly provided
his well constructed notes.
I
attended the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade (FADT) select
committee hearing Thursday 10 May to watch proceedings – my turn is
Thursday 17 May.
Many
friends presented to voice there disapproval of the CPTPP, Wendy,
Amanda, Jane Pete, Rick, Kit, Gordon (came from Nelson region).
Gen
and Charles from Christchurch, Robin from Napier and more I might not have recalled spoke via
teleconference so we heard their contributions. CPTPP is the same
deal as TPP - it isn't beneficial.
Federated Farmers, as well as other trade interests spoke about the trade benefits and boosted the CPTPP for its bottom line contribution to New Zealand's economy. They made no mention of the costs to civil society interests.
Friendly
organisations included CTU representatives Sam Huggard and Bill Rosenberg. Professor Jane Kelsey was the last presenter and gained a fair
hearing including about 20 minutes of question and answer with
committee members.
Jane
particularly underlined the regulatory problems about data and the E
Commerce Chapter. The CTU explained that the Labour Chapter
protections were not enforceable so merely attractive packaging spin,
no matter the alleged ambition.
All
civil society contributors made important points and in creative
ways. There's a lot of ways to say www.dontdoit.nz
or CPTPP is the
wrong track.
Wendy
and Amanda made strong statements about the farce of the process as
the CPTPP decision is predetermined. Working to disrupt that reality
might then be key!
LTP
Project down the track
Looking
forward I'll be at South Wairarapa District Council at 9:05am 14 May.
We
have a presentation spot at Tauranga City Council LTP hearings 7:40pm
Monday 14 May. I will not be able to make that, however, we may have
locals do that presentation.
Along
with locals I'll be at Kapiti Coast District Council my speaking slot
2:20pm Tuesday 15 May. Friends are presenting on the Monday.
And
recall that South Wairarapa, Tauranga and Kapiti supported the TPP
policy solution in 2015.
Wednesday
16 May I'll drive to Manawatu to speak to Rangiteiki District Council
at Taihape 10:10am then a dash to Waikato country for the Waikato at
Ngaruawahia 2:10pm and Te Aroha 3:40pm for Matamata Piako District
Councils – the appointments are spaced sufficient to attend each
comfortably. I will then drive from Te Aroha to the Hutt for Thursday
morning.
My
speaking spot at Hutt City Council is 9:30am Thursday 17 May.
TPP
Free Wellington representative Antony Maddock will make his
presentation on Wednesday 16 May. Hutt City supported the TPP policy
solution in 2015.
Porirua
City Council at 1:50pm Thursday afternoon.
Between
the two councils is my FADT CPTPP treaty examination hearing. My
presentation to the FADT select committee is 11.15am Thursday 17 May.
I
earlier wrote the FADT committee suggesting that an allocation of 5
minutes was ludicrous for a serious presentation on CPTPP. This was
echoed by many more who wrote the committee suggesting it was unfair.
The FADT committee has traditionally done 10 minute hearings and I've
been presenting since 2014 on treaties and bills.
Along
with the team from TPP Free Wellington I'm at Upper Hutt City at
12:40pm on 21 May. You might remember that Upper Hutt is the first
and only TPP Free Council in New Zealand as well as supported the TPP
policy solution. The only similar political statement is from the
Waiheke Local Board of the Auckland City Council.
Both
Greater Wellington and Wellington City councils' hearings are later
that week at times TBC. New Plymouth maybe 28 May, Masterton District
Council hearing 4:15pm 30 May and Carterton is 9:15am on 31 May.
Napier City Council is likely on 5 or 6 June.
Wellington
City adopted the TPP policy solution and Greater Wellington Regional
Council carried decisions on TPP in 2013 and 2015 which assisted the
democracy.
I'll
also be attending the Open
Government Partnership (OGP) workshop all day Wednesday 23 May
which will assist determine
the priority matters from the list to place into the upcoming NZ
Open Government plan. One proposition I definitely support is reform
of the Official Information Act of 1982 to amend Sec 6 to allow for a
public interest test where the government claims privilege. I've
suggested this on many occasions as it is a frustration and blockage
to holding government foreign policy accountable to public law and
democratic oversight and sanction.
Ways
to assist LTP project
Wanted
are people in the regions who are interested to make representation
at their LTP hearings. This is especially important in the South
Island, as I've concentrated my personal efforts in the North Island.
I'll
advise about more council LTP hearings coming in the pipeline plus
report feedback and decisions from the Council's consideration of our
LTP recommendations where they are forthcoming.
The
Response from Councils
Councils
thus far have listened respectfully. The only Council where the line
was put, “it's not Council business” was Taranaki Regional where
a Councillor stated that I had placed “the whole kitchen sink” in
my paper, “Surely those are matters for Central Government”. I
had anticipated that as Taranaki Regional Council had previously
objected to the TPP
policy solution for similar reasons.
My
response is that if you want good governance then set the example.
-----000--000-----
For
more details go to my blogs:
http://gregfullmoon.blogspot.co.nz/http://values-compasspointsinaposttruthworld.blogspot.co.nz/
To sustain Greg continuing this work
Public
Advocacy Donations Account 389017-0439360-00
ref: TPP roadie
TPP
Action - tpp roadie facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1540853769486304/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/gregfullmoon
Many
thanks for your support.
Greg
Rzesniowiecki gregfullmoon013@gmail.com
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