New Zealand

From 1pm to 2pm to discuss the new global military spending figures on the day they are released, the implications for peoples and planet, and issues around military spending in Aotearoa New Zealand in advance of the Budget 2021.
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Peace Movement Aotearoa will updade figures on New Zealand military expenditures
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This year we are moving online for the ANZAC Day peace events, and this note has the details of how you can participate in a range of activities – pictures, posters, photos and poetry for peace, and the ANZAC Day virtual peace vigil – as well as information about the 2020 White Poppies for Peace annual appeal, and the forthcoming release of the 2019 global military spending figures.

The relevance of the key message of the nationwide ANZAC Day peace vigils – ‘honour the war dead by ending war’ – seems more apparent this year than ever before. The absurd folly of military spending and endless preparation for war is highlighted as the death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise. Health systems and social welfare around the world are under siege due to decades of inadequate funding, while military spending continues to increase in all states that maintain combat ready armed forces, including New Zealand.This year’s ANZAC Day virtual peace activities are an opportunity for you to share your hope and dreams for a better world, or your thoughts on one or more of the themes of the annual peace vigils: to remember all the casualties of war, to remember all who resisted war, to call for an end to war, and to promote peace. If you are homeschooling in your bubble, this is a perfect opportunity to add creative peace activities into the curriculum over this week.

Read more about this here.

Peace Movement Aotearoa held an online action on the occasion of GDAMS 2020: “Here in Aotearoa New Zealand – where the number of children living in families with an income below the poverty line and the level of homelessness continues to rise, and there is a desperate need for more social funding – a record $(NZ)5,058,286,000 was allocated for military spending in the 2019 ‘Wellbeing’ Budget… that’s an average of $97,274,730 every week. In June 2019, a further $(NZ)20 billion over the next decade (additional to each year’s annual expenditure) was announced for increased combat capability.”

Find out more here.

Shamefully, this year New Zealand is ranked at number 13 in the SIPRI table ranking the highest increases in military spending around the world. The SIPRI figures, which are based on self-reporting by the government, put the 2019 increase at 19%.

However, the government figures do not include military spending across all three of the Budget Votes where it is mostly itemised: Vote Defence, Vote Defence Force and Vote Education.

The allocation for military spending in last year’s ‘Wellbeing Budget’ increased to a record total of $5,058,286,000 (NZ). By way of contrast, more than 20% of children here are estimated to live in a family with an income below the poverty line, and an estimated one in one hundred New Zealanders are homeless.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, essential public services including health, education, support for persons with disabilities and housing desperately needed increased spending, yet the government continues to prioritise military spending – in addition to the increase in last year’s Budget, in June 2019 the government announced that it would spend $(NZ)20 billion over the next decade on increased combat capability, frigates and military aircraft.

The shocking increase in military spending – whether here in Aotearoa or around the world – shows the same dominant ideology that focuses on outdated narrow military security concepts, rather than real human security that meets the needs of all, continues to harm us all.

If there is any lesson to be learnt from the current pandemic, surely it is that there must be a transition from combat-ready armed forces to civilian agencies that meet the needs of all peoples and the planet.

Link to share:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/peace-movement-aotearoa/global-military-spending-increases-new-zealand-ranks-in-report/2895290027185014

White poppy wreath laying –  Golden Bay Quakers are meeting on ANZAC Day at the Memorial Gardens in Takaka at 12 noon to lay our white poppy wreath “to remember all the casualties of war and to promote peace”. After the wreath laying there will be peace poems, the Quaker Peace Testimony will be read, and ‘Dona Nobis Pacem’ will be sung, then we will proceed to the Cafe on the Village Green.

Peace Movement Aotearoa issued a media release on May 2nd on Global military spending increases with a focus on New Zealand’s budget. In last year’s NZ budget, military spending increased to a record level of more than 3.67 billion NZ dollars, with an average of almost 71 million NZ dollars every week. Buy way of contrast, 28% of children in NZ live in a family with an income below the poverty line. Read the press release here! – Read also: Global military spending increases again, will NZ’s in this year’s Budget? (by Peace Movement Aotearoa): Link to share: https://www.facebook.com/notes/peace-movement-aotearoa/global-military-spending-increases-again-will-nzs-in-this-years-budget/1684351504945545

Preparation of the public session on “Welfare or warfare? A pre-Budget lunchtime forum on government spending priorities”, to be held on Friday, 4 May, from 1pm to 2pm at the St Andrew’s Conference Centre, 30 The Terrace, Wellington. Discussion on Military spending (Edwina Hughes, Coordinator, Peace Movement Aotearoa), Social spending (Paul Barber, Policy Advisor, New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services), and Spending on children’s wellbeing. The A4 poster is available online at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/gdams18,wgtn.pdf – More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/202797460335587

Action by the World War One Centenary Peace Project – Challenging militarism and building peace, Aotearoa New Zealand. Look at the selfie – Look at more selfies here!

Ormond Burton: A Christian Pacifist’s Theology – Ormond Burton left an indelible mark on 20th century New Zealand. The combatant soldier of World War 1 became the Christian pacifist of succeeding years leading, during World War II, to imprisonment, and to dismissal and eventual reinstatement to the ministry in the Methodist Church. Stephanie du Fresne discusses Ormond Burton’s free verse poem stating his final beliefs on his retirement as a Methodist Minister in 1966, followed by tea and coffee. Starts 2pm, at the Quaker Meeting House, 15 Park Street – all welcome.

ANZAC peace ceremony – we encourage you to join us in a ceremony to ‘never forget’ the full cost of war and ‘never again’ engage in violence to settle our differences. The event has been organised by members of the Dunedin community to give people an opportunity to remember all the casualties of war – civilian and military on all sides of past and current conflicts. We hope to peacefully challenge the beliefs, values and institutions that make war inevitable by providing a space for people to gather on ANZAC day and make a commitment towards peace. From 12 noon to 12.30pm, at the Peace Pole, Otago Museum, RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/1640039712759435

Honour the War Dead by Ending War, ANZAC Day peace vigil to remember all the casualties of war, to remember all who resisted war, to call for an end to war, and to promote peace. In conjunction with peace and faith groups here and overseas who are holding vigils throughout the WW1 centenary to highlight our mutual belief that conflict must be resolved peacefully rather than by war. From 5pm to 5.30pm, at the Cathedral Steps. Organised by Nelson Quakers, RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/226918508042475

Honour the War Dead by Ending War, ANZAC Day peace vigil to remember all the casualties of war, to remember all who resisted war, to call for an end to war, and to promote peace. In conjunction with peace and faith groups here and overseas who are holding vigils throughout the WW1 centenary to highlight our mutual belief that conflict must be resolved peacefully rather than by war. From 5.30pm to 6pm at the Cenotaph, corner Lambton Quay and Bowen Street, Wellington – please bring a candle and a reflection to share if you wish, banners and placards will be available at the vigil. Organised by Peace Movement Aotearoa, RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/958473377677103 – A4 poster is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/anzac18-wgn.pdf

ANZAC Day Citizens’ Wreath-laying – We will be laying a wreath for civilian victims of war along with other groups who will be laying wreaths for the Afghan civilian casualties of Operation Burnham, the Surafend massacre and conscientious objectors. We are disrupting the mainstream narrative by bringing an anti-war message but not disrupting the ceremonies themselves. We aim to highlight the senselessness of war and challenge war glorification. Meet 8.30am at the Cenotaph, with the ceremony starting at 9am. Organised by Peace Action Wellington, further information is available at  https://www.facebook.com/peaceactionwellington/photos/a.719229771473396.1073741826.170238716372507/1893462614050100/?type=3

Honour the War Dead by Ending War, ANZAC Day peace vigil to remember all the casualties of war, to remember all who resisted war, to call for an end to war, and to promote peace. In conjunction with peace and faith groups here and overseas who are holding vigils throughout the WW1 centenary to highlight our mutual belief that conflict must be resolved peacefully rather than by war. From 6.30pm to 7.30pm, at the Devonport war memorial, next to Devonport Library. Organised by WILPF Tamaki Makaurau, RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/239968683239672

ANZAC Day Picnic for Peace: 100 years of resistance to war – we’re hosting a peace picnic to commemorate conscientious objectors who resisted war. There will be inspiring speakers, music and food along with an opportunity for families to be part of creating a peace mural. Please bring food to share and a blanket to sit on. From 12 noon, at the Auckland Domain Rotunda. Organised by Auckland Peace Action, RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/215709719197006

Commemoration, Peace Embassy and Film – ANZAC Day Commemoration to remember together world wars, and all past and present wars – the tragedy of so many people killed, maimed, raped, orphaned or lost children, lost homes and lost hope. Let us encourage national mourning for ALL those damaged by war. Let us not encourage present warfare while we are in mourning. A Peace Embassy with white poppies and information, free Soup & Homemade Breads. From 10am, at 1pm we will watch a DVD together: Field Punishment #1, about 14 NZ conscientious objectors in WW1. This is not in opposition to the usual ANZAC Day commemoration, more to enhance it by promoting peace. Nau Mai, Haere Mai – All Welcome. Hosted by Hokianga Catholic Workers on Tuesday, 24 April, Broadway, Kaikohe (at the old Hammer Hardware store, almost opposite ANZ Bank), RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/1697997743609136

April 28th: A second Forum was held on April 28th, the last day of GDAMS this year.

gdams17forum

Room 3, St Andrew’s Conference Centre, 30 The Terrace, Wellington

A lunchtime forum on government spending priorities – join us for a discussion on social spending, with Paul Barber, Policy Advisor, New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, vs military spending, with Edwina Hughes, Coordinator, Peace Movement Aotearoa. ~ BYO lunch, tea / coffee available.

Organized by Peace Movement Aotearoa

On April 18th, the first Waiwhetu Lower Hutt Peace Group meeting this year was helded on the first day of the 2017 Global Day of Action on Military Spending fortnight of activities, with a presentation by Edwina Hughes, Coordinator of Peace Movement Aotearoa (which coordinates the Aotearoa New Zealand Campaign on Military Spending).

The pervasive costs and consequences of militarisation in times of peace are often overlooked when compared with the attention given to the tragedy of armed conflict and war. Edwina ‘s presentation provided an overview of those costs and consequences – globally and in Aotearoa New Zealand – in relation to social justice, the environment, climate change, attitudes towards violence as a means of resolving conflict, and the increasing level of militarisation of children and their education here. The presentation concluded with a brief outline of the outcomes of the nationwide consultation with peace and faith groups to develop responses to the World War One centenary which led to the World War One Centenary Peace Project, and some of the peace events that will be held in the Hutt / Wellington region during April.

Find out more here.

On April 17th: The Forum was well attended
See more on: https://www.facebook.com/events/431770400501676

April 5th to 18th, 2017
New Zealand Global Days of Action on Military Spending. Find out more…

April 24: Declaration on the occasion of the new SIPRI’s data release by Aotearoa New Zealand Campaign on Military Spending.

Read more here

Peace Movement Aotearoa published a press release : « Global military spending remains shockingly high ». Global and national military spending, as well as the other costs and consequences of militarism, were the topic of the opening presentation of their National Peace Workshops.

Global Day of Action on Military Spending  in Aotearoa New Zealand

Click here for the photos of ‘Dollars and sense’ forum on government spending priorities. Read the press release:  Global military spending drops slightly, but not far enough

Click here to read this year’s Global Day of Action statement by the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane.

Peace Movement Aotearoa organized public forum and leafletting in both cities. Read the report here.

Please view photos from a public forum on government spending priorities in their Facebook page.

Press articles: Global military spending falls (Voxy.co.nz) Global day of action on military spending (Yahoo news) Global military spending falls, but not far enough, Peace Movement Aotearoa, 15 April 2013  (scoop.co.nz) Global Day of Action on Military Spending, Peace Movement Aotearoa, 10 April 2013(scoop.co.nz)

Just Peace

Brisbane city square hosted a group of 50 to mark the Global Day of Action on Military Spending. With the Australian budget day looming we called for an end to spending plans for submarines fighter jets and allowing the United States to build permanent bases in Australia.
Speakers from the Medical Assn for Prevention of War, the Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, Just Peace, Believing Women for a Culture of Peace, Womens International League for Peace and Freedom and Friends of the Earth.
Music for the morning provided by folk singer Dermot Dorgan.
We had good media interest with ABC, SBS and television.
As part of the campaign we wrote to school P&Cs asking parents to take action calling for more funding for schools and less for preparing for war. We also had t-shirts printed for the day with messages to provide a focus on the day.
Just Peace was the principal organizing group with support from all above. This second year of working internationally on military spending has been very worthwhile, particularly in the context of campaigning for an Independent Peaceful and Just Australia, as we work to overturn the decision to host any foreign military forces on Australian soil.

Peace Movement Aotearoa organized different events in New Zealand. Pictures of the actions are available here.

Peace Movement Aotearoa
Peace activists handed out leaflets at Midland Park. A public forum on government spending priorities was organized, 3 issues were addressed:
– Children’s health and well-being by Dr. Anne Else
– Overseas development assistance by Tara D’Sousa
– Military expenditure by Edwina Hughes.

Peace Movement Aotearoa
Leaflets for the GDAMS were distributed. People could also buy white poppies to support the White Poppy Peace Scholarships.

Peace Movement Aotearoa/ Pax Christi/ Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
Leafleting at Britomart.

Peace Movement Aetorea