Protesters disrupt US-NZ Partnership Forum by forcing venue change

Our World Is Not For Sale - Media Release - Monday, September 10th 2007

Protesters disrupt US-NZ Partnership Forum by forcing venue change

New Zealanders are being warned to keep a close eye on their government's attempts to sneak through free trade deal with the United States in the wake of protests in Auckland today. Three people were arrested and organisers of the Our World Is Not For Sale Campaign claimed a partial victory after forcing a last minute change of venue for the US-NZ Partnership Forum, a meeting of government and business interests pushing for a free trade deal. Originally planned to be held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, a decision was made to hold the forum at the Hilton hotel where high level U.S. delegates were staying.

Australia had held 10 similar forums before it negotiated a free trade agreement with the US which campaign spokesperson Ryan Bodman says has resulted in, "the degradation of environmental protection, particularly in relation to genetic engineering of food, the degredation of quarantine laws, an economic nightmare for small farmers and businesses, a huge increase in Australia's trade defecit with the US, reduced access to affordable Australian pharmaceuticals and threats to Australian manufacturing jobs."

A peaceful protest commenced early in the morning with a small group of protesters holding a banner beside Princes Wharf which said 'no free trade deal with the US'.

This was followed by another protest at 12 noon with 100 protesters marching down queen street with flags banners and loud music and converging at the entrance of the Hilton hotel.

This was followed by speeches criticizing New Zealand's decision to enter into negotiations of this kind with the US, including a speech by University of Auckland law professor Jane Kelsey which was interrupted by police shoving protestors and punching several in the face amidst shouts of "shame, shame, shame!" More music, speeches and dancing followed.

Police violence continued around twenty minutes later when a line of fifteen officers forced protesters from the entrance and up against barriers with a number of protestors beaten and three arrested.

Organisers of the Our World Is Not For Sale Campaign have been subject to ongoing police harassment in the run up to today's protest and point to similarities with police tactics used in Sydney to prevent peaceful protest against APEC.