Latest news with #ActionStation
Scoop
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Locals Prepare To Welcome Bike-Riding Teen For Māori Wards
This Wednesday, Wellington locals will prepare to welcome 15 year old Jack Karetai-Barrett as he completes his 894km bike ride to raise awareness about Māori wards. His goal is to deliver a letter to Christopher Luxon explaining why Māori wards matter. The Whakatāne High School student walked almost 80 kilometres from Whakatāne to Mauao (Mt Maunganui) earlier in the year, and has now taken on the next challenge. Friendly locals have been 'host families' as he makes his way down the country in wintery conditions. Jack has been passionate about Māori wards for a number of years, after he attended the petition delivery as a child, calling on the government to treat Māori wards like every other ward, and remove the requirement for a referendum. This petition resulted in the then-government changing the legislation, which sparked immense support for Māori wards. New ward seats went from three across the country, to forty-nine - a 1500% increase showing that councils and communities were ready to embrace Māori representation. In 2024, the Coalition Government reversed this legislation which brought back referendums in retrospect, or requiring councils to scrap the seats themselves. ActionStation Director, Kassie Hartendorp says that it's heartening to see a young person use his skills, talents and bravery to turn a divisive issue into a positive event. 'It's promising to see that the younger generation have clarity on political issues of the day and are willing to forge a different path that brings us all together. Which is exactly what Māori wards can do for communities too.' She says that communities in 42 different council areas will be asked whether to keep their local Māori wards during local body elections this September and October. 'Māori wards have made a difference for entire communities - let's keep a good thing going, and make sure they continue into the future.' ActionStation is co-organising a welcome event for Jack as he arrives at Parliament to deliver his letter on Wednesday 9 July. PM Christopher Luxon has declined to receive Jack's letter or meet with him, however, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has offered to receive it instead. All supporters are welcome to welcome Jack as he arrives at Parliament after his massive bike ride. Notes: For more information on the event details, please contact rangimarie@ The Protect Māori wards report by ActionStation can be found here: More info can be found on Māori wards here [ ] at the VoteLocal website, which includes the 42 regions holding a referendum.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Progressive Campaigning Organisation Calls Governments Latest Budget ‘A Budget For Billionaires'
Press Release – ActionStation The Government has made a decision to bring in more means testing to access income support for those already struggling, and at the same time giving tax breaks to multinational corporations through allowing them to deduct 20% of the cost of new assets or used … ActionStation Aotearoa says the Coalition Government budget is taking from the incomes of low-income people and families with new babies, and upwardly distributing this to those with the most. This is on top of already significant cuts to the public services we all rely on, and the recent decisions to cut the pay of some of our lowest paid workers – which we now know is a cut of 12 billion over four years. 'The National Party are using the idea of achieving surplus, and minimising government spending as a justification for their harsh cuts, and a transfer of public funds into private hands,' says Kassie Hartendorp, Director of ActionStation. 'Once again, this Coalition Government has shown exactly who they are, and what they stand for – lining the pockets of the already wealthy while taking from our communities and from future generations. The Government has made a decision to bring in more means testing to access income support for those already struggling, and at the same time giving tax breaks to multinational corporations through allowing them to deduct 20% of the cost of new assets or used assets they import from overseas. Adding means testing to 18 and 19 year olds accessing Jobseeker Support is chipping away at our welfare system, and fully means testing Best Start for families with new babies means families earning $97,000 a year are no longer eligible for the payments. 'Our teachers, healthcare workers, caregivers, friends and neighbours are being crushed by the economic choices of this government. Many in our families and communities are struggling to pay our rent, power bills, food and transport costs, while the banks, property investors, supermarket corporations and energy companies continue to make massive profits,' says Hartendorp. 'All this while planning to throw more of our people into prisons and partnering with corporations who will profit from them.' 'Instead, we should be using our collective pool of wealth to lift incomes of those with the least and supporting our communities to thrive in the long term.'
Scoop
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
This Isn't Fair—And It's Time To Fix It: HESSA Petition Calls For Inclusive Student Sports
Following widespread media coverage and growing public support, the Home Educators Student Sports Association (HESSA) has launched a petition on ActionStation calling for equal access to student sports for home-schooled students. The petition urges the Government to make Sport NZ's funding to School Sport NZ conditional on allowing home-schooled domestic students to compete. This follows national attention on the exclusion of home-schooled students and HESSA's ongoing advocacy, including front-page features in the Waikato Times and Bay of Plenty Times, as well as coverage on RNZ's Checkpoint and website. 'This issue has struck a chord with people across the country,' says HESSA Chair Mel Ewart. 'There's a growing consensus that the current student sport system is unfair—and it's time for change.' School Sport NZ and its regional partners currently exclude home-schooled students from participating in many local, regional, and national competitions. For example, a home-schooled table tennis team in Auckland has been barred from competing in the College Sport Auckland league. HESSA argues this exclusion is discriminatory and contradicts Sport NZ's own diversity and inclusion strategy. 'This is about fairness and kids being able to compete in sports with their friends and peers,' says Ewart. 'Home-school students are domestic students. They deserve the same opportunities to compete in student sports.. HESSA contends that public funding for student sport should be tied to inclusive practices that reflect the values of fairness and equal opportunities for all Kiwi students. 'School Sport NZ holds the social license to sanction student sport in Aotearoa,' says Ewart. 'With that comes a responsibility to ensure no student is excluded from competing simply because of how they are legally educated.' The petition is now live and open for signatures. HESSA is encouraging all New Zealanders who believe in inclusive sport to sign and share it widely. Sign the Petition on ActionStation
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Clean Air In Schools Needs Government Action
Tamariki at our ECEs and schools should be playing and learning, not bringing home disease and spreading it to their families and across the wider community, says ACA spokesperson Tara Forde. Aotearoa Covid Action (ACA) has today launched a campaign to protect our most important taonga, our children. As schools open for term two, ACA has released an open letter calling for the Government to take action to clean the air and do more to protect children and educators from Covid and other respiratory illnesses. 'Tamariki at our ECEs and schools should be playing and learning, not bringing home disease and spreading it to their families and across the wider community,' says ACA spokesperson Tara Forde. 'Too many educators and children are getting sick and there are no benefits from repeatedly getting Covid. 'We know preventative actions like increasing ventilation are proven to reduce transmission of respiratory viruses like COVID, reduce sick days and increase productivity. 'I'm a working parent, and I am dreading the coming winter. It can't just be on each family to hope for the best. 'If this Government is serious about increasing school attendance, they need to do more to protect the health of students and educators,' says Forde. Aotearoa Covid Action is calling for: Ensuring each school and ECE can monitor air quality Supplying technology to clean the air and reduce viral load Granting access to all New Zealanders 6 months and older, to up-to-date vaccines, regular boosters and antivirals Reintroducing free Rapid Antigen Tests Providing extra sick leave for teachers; school support staff, including teacher aides; and caregivers Recognising Long Covid as an occupational hazard for teachers Recognising and better supporting children, teachers, and school support staff, including teacher aides, with Long Covid, through more research into its effects, diagnosis, and treatment. Organisations in support include: NZEI, PPTA, Disability Person's Assembly, Long Covid Kids, Long Covid Support Aotearoa, ANZMES, Complex Chronic Illness Support, ActionStation, 350 Aotearoa, and the Air Quality Collective. Medical professionals in support include: Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Dr Michael Baker, Dr Gary Payinda, Dr John D Potter, Dr Siouxsie Wiles, Dr Ed Hyde, Dr David Galler, Dr Matire Harwood, and Dr Stuart Ekdahl. The open letter can now be signed by all individuals at ActionStation Clean Air in Schools petition:
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Clean Air In Schools Needs Government Action
Aotearoa Covid Action (ACA) has today launched a campaign to protect our most important taonga, our children. As schools open for term two, ACA has released an open letter calling for the Government to take action to clean the air and do more to protect children and educators from Covid and other respiratory illnesses. 'Tamariki at our ECEs and schools should be playing and learning, not bringing home disease and spreading it to their families and across the wider community,' says ACA spokesperson Tara Forde. 'Too many educators and children are getting sick and there are no benefits from repeatedly getting Covid. 'We know preventative actions like increasing ventilation are proven to reduce transmission of respiratory viruses like COVID, reduce sick days and increase productivity. 'I'm a working parent, and I am dreading the coming winter. It can't just be on each family to hope for the best. 'If this Government is serious about increasing school attendance, they need to do more to protect the health of students and educators," says Forde. Aotearoa Covid Action is calling for: Ensuring each school and ECE can monitor air quality Supplying technology to clean the air and reduce viral load Granting access to all New Zealanders 6 months and older, to up-to-date vaccines, regular boosters and antivirals Reintroducing free Rapid Antigen Tests Providing extra sick leave for teachers; school support staff, including teacher aides; and caregivers Recognising Long Covid as an occupational hazard for teachers Recognising and better supporting children, teachers, and school support staff, including teacher aides, with Long Covid, through more research into its effects, diagnosis, and treatment. Organisations in support include: NZEI, PPTA, Disability Person's Assembly, Long Covid Kids, Long Covid Support Aotearoa, ANZMES, Complex Chronic Illness Support, ActionStation, 350 Aotearoa, and the Air Quality Collective. Medical professionals in support include: Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Dr Michael Baker, Dr Gary Payinda, Dr John D Potter, Dr Siouxsie Wiles, Dr Ed Hyde, Dr David Galler, Dr Matire Harwood, and Dr Stuart Ekdahl. The open letter can now be signed by all individuals at ActionStation Clean Air in Schools petition:
