Author: Violet

School Strike 4 Climate NZ and Fridays For Future Aotearoa are organising climate strikes around New Zealand.

In Wellington, we are holding our strike at 12 noon on the Parliament Lawn (instead of the usual 12.30).

There will be speeches, a singalong and a whole lot of camaraderie.

If you’re in the area, please join us and bring your lunch, sun protection and protest placard!

This and other strike locations are on the SS4C NZ Facebook page.

Visit the Facebook event to find a climate strike near you.

Wherever you are in New Zealand, if you want to get involved, contact one of the main organising groups:

School Strike for Climate Ōtautahi ( Christchurch)	Facebook	Instagram
Fridays for Future Tamaki Makaurau	Facebook	Instagram

Or you can contact us (FFF Te Upoko O Te Ika) by email.

Fridays For Future Kids NZ is a new group starting in Renwick, Marlborough.

Their first protest is 10 February 2023:

• Fridays 12 noon – 1pm
• Outside Room 17, Renwick School, Renwick

To start with, only Renwick School pupils will be able to take part – as it is on school grounds.

But they are hoping to move the protest to the nearby community hall, so everyone who wants to protest for climate justice can join in. We’ll update you as soon as we know of the location change.

Fonterra is New Zealand’s top-emitting company for the second year running, according to estimates published by the Environmental Protection Authority.
Together, the top 10 most climate-polluting companies make more than half the country’s emissions.

Read the Stuff article by Eloise Gibson.

Read the full EPA report (PDF, 60 pages)

Happy New Year, and Happy Lunar New Year!

It’s still January and there are already two climate protest events to look forward to:

Valentines Day Protest

Tuesday 14 February is when Parliament resumes. We plan to break with our tradition to do a lunchtime protest on the Parliament Lawn on this day. (Tuesday for Future?) As it also happens to be Valentine’s Day, we’re thinking of incorporating this as a theme for our protest. (Valentine’s for Future?)

What are your ideas? Everyone is free to come and join us. Check back here for more details closer to the day.

3 March – Global Fridays for Future action

We are working with School Strike for Climate Ōtautahi ( Christchurch) and Fridays for Future Tamaki Makaurau to plan a (hopefully) nationwide climate protest for 3 March.

If it’s been a while since your last School Strike for Climate protest, t’s time to dust off your protesting boots and reconnect with your fellow climate activists!

Wherever you are in New Zealand, if you want to get involved, contact one of the main organising groups:

School Strike for Climate Ōtautahi ( Christchurch)	Facebook	Instagram
Fridays for Future Tamaki Makaurau	Facebook	Instagram

Or you can contact us (FFF Te Upoko O Te Ika) by email.

On 15 December, Restore Passenger Rail left their mark on Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson’s electorate office. (Also targeted were the electorate offices of Transport Minister Michael Wood, Energy Minister Megan Wood, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark, and National MP Michael Woodhouse.)

So what did the activists do? They sprayed water-soluble red paint on the windows, onto three figures wearing “DENIAL = DEATH” t-shirts.

Robertson said it was extremely disappointing his Wellington office was vandalised.

We have just responded to Grant Robertson’s claim that Restore Passenger Rail vandalised his office. Because actually, acts of vandalism require destruction of property (or permanent defacing). 

Given Grant Robertson’s refusal to meet with us, from Fridays For Future, earlier in the year at his electoral office, we wonder – is this what’s needed to get his attention focused onto acting on the climate crisis?

As we always say, climate change doesn’t stop over Christmas and New Year – and neither will we!

With all Fridays at Parliament, if the weather is going to be terrible we’ll go to Midland Park instead – check here on the morning if not sure.

Date	Protest location
23/12/2022	Midland Park
30/12/2022	Now at Midland Park because of the rain
6/1/2023	Parliament Lawn (despite rain!)
13/1/2023	Midland Park
20/1/2023	Parliament Lawn (Midland Park if bad weather)
27/1/2023	Midland Park

Remember to check the EcoKiwi Magazine Poneke to find out what’s going on climate-wise in Welly.

Here’s a snapshot for the first couple of weeks in December –

December

1 Thursday Gareth Hughes of the Economic Wellbeing Alliance:
Pathway to Survival webinar, 7pm

2 Friday Fridays For Future: Midland Park, 12.30-1.30pm

3 Saturday Open Day/ 2000 Bikes Celebration:
EkeRua ReBicycle, 46 Russell Tce, Newtown3-7pm

5 Monday

6 Tuesday Giving Tuesday: Action Station

All We Want is Affordable Passenger Rail: Restore Passenger Rail, Parliament grounds, 3:45-5pm

Wellington Cycling: Monthly meeting, Sustainability Trust, 6pm

7 Wednesday No New Mines! Parliament grounds, Forest & Bird, 12 noon

8 Thursday Nature Play Day, Karori Park, 3.30 – 6.30

Our Responsibilities at This Time: Restore Passenger Rail, 7-8:30pm

Jane Kelsey, Handcuffed by trade agreements?
Pathway to Survival webinar, 7pm

9 Friday Fridays For Future: Parliament grounds, 12.30-1.30pm

13 Tuesday Giving Tuesday: Action Station

15 Thursday NVDA training, Restore Passenger Rail; details TBC

16 Friday Fridays For Future: Midland Park, 12.30-1.30pm

Listen to five climate activists – Ben Lowe, Catherine Murupaenga Ikenn, Paul Bruce, Phoebe Wright and Rosemary Penwarden – imagine what 2035 would look like if their best and most feasible hopes for change come true, given the grimness of what we are up against.

This is a Pathway to Survival event.

Synthetic nitrogen fertiliser is a key driver of intensive dairying, that pollutes the climate more than any other industry, kills rivers and contaminates our drinking water.

Two companies – Ballance and Ravensdown – are responsible for distributing 98% of the synthetic nitrogen fertiliser used in New Zealand.

So, sign the Greenpeace petition to price 100% of emissions from synthetic nitrogen fertiliser at the processor level.