New Zealand
New Zealand to increase military presence in South Pacific
By John Braddock, 21 May 2013
New Zealand’s military integration with the US and Australia is the culmination of a process begun by the previous Labour government.
New Zealand: Pike River Coal found guilty of causing mine disaster
By Tom Peters, 2 May 2013
Despite the guilty verdict, virtually no one has been held accountable for the 2010 explosion that killed 29 men.
New Zealand government to extend spy agency’s powers
By John Braddock, 30 April 2013
A report into illegal activities by the Government Communications Security Bureau is being used to make further inroads into democratic rights.
Union seeks to divert New Zealand teachers’ protests
By our reporters, 16 April 2013
The demonstrations were designed to head off an emerging rebellion among teachers against the union by putting on a hypocritical show of “opposing” the government’s policies.
Residents face bitter winter in New Zealand’s quake-hit city
By John Braddock, 30 March 2013
Two years after earthquakes devastated the country’s second biggest city, agencies in Christchurch are bracing themselves for worsening health problems and social distress.
Severe drought threatens new recession in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 21 March 2013
New Zealand’s worst drought in 70 years is already hitting the agricultural dependent economy hard.
New Zealand government launches asset sales
By Tom Peters, 15 March 2013
Backed by the Mana Party and various pseudo-lefts, Maori capitalists have sought to profit from the privatisation of power companies.
Union scuttles strike against New Zealand school closures
By Tom Peters, 26 February 2013
The NZ government plans to shut at least 13 schools in quake-devastated Christchurch by the end of 2013.
New Zealand unions collaborate in Summit Wool Spinners redundancies
By Tom Peters, 14 February 2013
Amid a wave of retrenchments across the country, the unions have accepted the closure of the Oamaru factory and are helping to sack 192 workers.
New Zealand government announces new austerity measures
By Tom Peters, 2 February 2013
In 2013, the Key government plans to push thousands of people off welfare, restrict access to medical procedures and close schools.
Social crisis intensifies in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 28 December 2012
In the week before Christmas, people on low incomes queued in record numbers for food parcels and donated gifts.
New Zealand earthquake report whitewashes government’s role
By John Braddock, 19 December 2012
The collapse of the television (CTV) building during the Christchurch earthquake of February 2011 cost the lives of 115 people.
New Zealand Hobbit premiere used to drive “international competitiveness” agenda
By John Braddock, 13 December 2012
The media hype around The Hobbit has been used to justify further attacks on wages and working conditions.
Labour MP blames workers for New Zealand mine disaster
By Tom Peters, 16 November 2012
The government and opposition Labour Party, along with the unions, are desperately seeking to wash their hands of any responsibility for the tragedy.
Unemployment surges in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 14 November 2012
The official jobless rate rose from 6.8 to 7.3 percent in the September quarter, its highest level since 1999.
New Zealand mine disaster inquiry whitewashes government
By Tom Peters, 10 November 2012
The disaster was the outcome of the decades-long assault on the jobs, conditions and rights of workers aimed at boosting “international competitiveness.”
Drilling company fined negligible sum for safety breaches in New Zealand mine disaster
By Tom Peters, 3 November 2012
Family members of the Pike River miners reacted with anger to the $46,800 fine given to VLI Drilling for its role in the 2010 disaster, which killed 29 men.
SEP public meeting in New Zealand
The socialist alternative to unemployment, austerity and war
1 November 2012
The alternative to austerity and war is the development of an independent political movement of the working class that fights for a workers’ government based on socialist policies.
New Zealand Maori business elite sues for water ownership
By Tom Peters, 31 October 2012
The Mana Party, trade unions and pseudo-left groups are supporting a push by Maori business interests to profit from the government’s asset sales.
Deepening social inequality and poverty in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 25 October 2012
Two recent reports detail the falling incomes of working people and rising levels of poverty, especially among children.
New Zealand government calls for war against Syria
By Tom Peters, 18 October 2012
New Zealand has lined up behind the US-led campaign to topple Assad and install a pro-Western regime.
New Zealand state coalminer axes hundreds of jobs
By John Braddock, 6 October 2012
The state-owned coal producer Solid Energy has announced it will axe a quarter of its workforce.
Job cuts confirmed at New Zealand rail
By John Braddock, 27 September 2012
State-owned KiwiRail faces partial privatisation and further cutbacks to jobs and services in the wake of poor financial results.
New Zealand: Social crisis deepens following Christchurch earthquake
By Tom Peters, 22 September 2012
More than two years after the first earthquake, thousands of Christchurch residents are still living in damaged houses.
WSWS speaks to wife of New Zealand mine disaster victim
By Tom Peters, 11 September 2012
Milton Osborne was one of 29 men who died when the Pike River Coal mine exploded in November 2010.
Three New Zealand soldiers killed in Afghanistan
By John Braddock, 1 September 2012
The recent fatalities—which have brought the NZ death toll in Afghanistan to 10—have prompted the government to announce an early withdrawal.
New Zealand court ruling a setback to the US Megaupload case
By John Braddock, 25 August 2012
The High Court stated that the US government must provide evidence to justify the extradition of the founder of the Megaupload file sharing site.
A reply to a New Zealand union official
By Tom Peters, 20 August 2012
The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union objected to the WSWS’s exposure of its complicity in the lack of adequate safety measures at the Pike River mine.
Two New Zealand soldiers killed in Afghanistan
By John Braddock, 16 August 2012
The firefight resulted in the most devastating loss by NZ armed forces since the Vietnam War.
New Zealand: Drilling company admits safety breaches in mine disaster
By Tom Peters, 11 August 2012
Almost two years after the Pike River explosion, there are no signs that mine safety has improved.
New Zealand: State asset sales and the dead-end of Maori nationalism
By Tom Peters, 9 August 2012
The Mana Party, the Greens and the unions are promoting legal action by Maori business interests as the means to stop electricity privatisation.
New Zealand “Rich List” reveals deepening social divide
By John Braddock, 7 August 2012
The wealthiest New Zealanders have not suffered from the austerity drive being imposed on the working class.
New Zealand rail union collaborates with job cuts
By John Braddock, 18 July 2012
The job destruction is part of the austerity agenda of the National Party government, in line with the demands of international finance capital.
New Zealand household finances increasingly precarious
By John Braddock, 17 July 2012
Households are buried under a mountain of debt arising from the soaring cost of housing, utilities and other financial commitments.
New Zealand signs new defence agreement with US
By John Braddock, 13 July 2012
The agreement formalises the basis for joint military intervention as part of the Obama administration’s build-up throughout Asia against China.
New Zealand: New evidence about US operation to shut down Megaupload
By John Braddock, 7 July 2012
White House logs demonstrate that meetings took place between Hollywood studio executives and US Vice President Joe Biden six months before the raids on Megaupload.
New Zealand government drops school class size increases
By John Braddock, 29 June 2012
The government is pushing ahead with education and other budget cuts, despite being forced to rescind a plan to increase class sizes.
New Zealand: Labour, Greens continue “Keep Our Assets” diversion
By Tom Peters, 26 June 2012
The petition against the government’s sale of state-owned companies is designed to channel public opposition behind parties that support austerity.
New Zealand signs NATO partnership deal
By John Braddock, 22 June 2012
The agreement establishes the formal basis for NZ troops to operate as part of future NATO-led wars.
New Zealand police attack protest against education budget cuts
By Tom Peters, 8 June 2012
The allowance cuts and increased loan repayments will create even more financial distress for students and graduates.
New Zealand budget deepens austerity measures
By Tom Peters, 1 June 2012
The government has pledged to return the budget to surplus by 2014-15, in line with demands from the International Monetary Fund and credit ratings agencies.
SEP meetings oppose US-Australia war preparations against China
By our reporters, 30 May 2012
Well-attended public meetings in Australia and New Zealand discussed the US military build-up against China and the necessity for a socialist program to oppose militarism and war.
Youth and workers discuss US-Australia confrontation with China
By our reporters, 30 May 2012
Public meeting participants comment on the SEP’s perspective and the dangers of war.
New Zealand “Not for Sale” campaign promotes anti-Chinese sentiment
By John Braddock, 17 May 2012
The campaign is designed to divert popular opposition to the government’s privatisation and austerity agenda behind the Labour Party and Greens as well as the aggressive US stance against China.
New Zealand: Land sale to Chinese company provokes opposition
By Tom Peters, 11 May 2012
The controversy reflects conflicts over where to line up amid growing geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific between the US and China.
SEP/ISSE meetings in Australia and New Zealand
Oppose the US-Australia war preparations against China
26 April 2012
Through the military agreements with the Obama administration, the Gillard Labor government has unconditionally aligned itself with US war preparations against China.
Deteriorating economy and deepening austerity in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 25 April 2012
The Key government is imposing a sweeping program of privatisation, job cuts and attacks on welfare and education.
New Zealand meat workers lockout enters eighth week
By John Braddock, 21 April 2012
The lockouts by Affco are part of a wider employer offensive across major industries to gut the wages and conditions of workers.
New Zealand: Pike River Coal ignored mine safety warnings
By Tom Peters, 28 February 2012
Evidence given to a Royal Commission shows that the company and government regulators allowed the mine to operate with dangerously faulty equipment and no suitable emergency exist.
Three fishermen perish in Southern Ocean fire
By John Braddock, 20 February 2012
There has been a litany of mishaps, ship sinkings, deaths, industrial accidents and gross exploitation within the fishing industry.
New Zealand moves to broaden economic ties with China
By John Braddock, 18 February 2012
The efforts to establish closer relations with China will not have gone unnoticed in Washington and Canberra.
Protest in New Zealand city over earthquake recovery fiasco
By John Braddock, 9 February 2012
The protest expressed increasing anger among residents, almost a year after the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that devastated Christchurch.
Police evict Occupy protesters in two New Zealand cities
By John Braddock, 3 February 2012
The crackdown, like similar police operations internationally, is an attack on basic democratic rights.
New Zealand court refuses bail in Megaupload case
By John Braddock, 30 January 2012
The judge conceded that the US authorities had not presented any evidence in support of their substantive case against Dotcom.
Cargo ship grounded in New Zealand breaks apart
By John Braddock, 26 January 2012
The Rena broke in two, worsening the environmental disaster, as the government sought to scapegoat the ship’s captain and navigation officer.
New Zealand judge defers bail decision on Megaupload arrests
By John Braddock, 24 January 2012
As part of a global campaign by the US government, the Megaupload associates face extradition proceedings on copyright charges.
New Zealand port threatens to sack striking workers
By John Braddock, 21 January 2012
Ports of Auckland is seeking to shatter the conditions of its workforce in line with attacks on waterfront workers internationally.
New Zealand: Occupy Auckland evicted from city square
By John Braddock, 31 December 2011
The legal crackdown is a significant attack on basic democratic rights.
New Zealand meat workers, wharfies locked out
By John Braddock, 24 December 2011
The lockouts are in line with a wave of similar assaults in basic industry in other countries, including Australia.
New Zealand government prepares deeper austerity measures
By John Braddock, 22 December 2011
After winning last month’s election, the National Party has struck deals with minor parties to make deeper inroads into working class living standards.
New Zealand: Pike River Coal charged over miners’ deaths
By Tom Peters, 9 December 2011
Pike River Coal, its CEO Peter Whittall and contractor VLI Drilling Ltd have been charged by the Department of Labour for safety breaches at the Pike River mine, where 29 men died in an explosion last year.
Labour routed in New Zealand election
By John Braddock, 28 November 2011
Labour gained just 27 percent of the vote, its worst result since 1928, despite the unpopularity of the National government’s austerity measures.
Working people disenfranchised in New Zealand election
By Tom Peters and John Braddock, 25 November 2011
All parties are committed to a program of austerity designed to make workers pay for the global economic breakdown.
WSWS/ISSE public meeting in Wellington
After the New Zealand election: the fight against social inequality
22 November 2011
The next government, whatever its composition, will be committed to imposing the dictates of big business and the banks.
New Zealand election: Mana Party a new political trap for workers
By John Braddock, 15 November 2011
Despite the efforts of pseudo-radicals to present Mana as a “left” alternative, the party revolves around a figure who supported the National government and its anti-working class policies.
Major parties pledge austerity agenda in New Zealand election campaign
By John Braddock, 5 November 2011
The ruling National Party and opposition Labour Party are both responsible for the country’s economic and social crisis and have no fundamental disagreement on the pro-market policies to be pursued.
New Zealand: Students protest against university cuts
By Tom Peters, 27 October 2011
Hundreds of university students have protested against cuts to courses and staff.
Grounded ship threatens to break-up off New Zealand coast
By John Braddock, 26 October 2011
Evidence makes it clear that not only was an incident such as this likely to happen, the authorities were completely unprepared to deal with it.
New Zealand: Occupy protests in six cities
By Tom Peters and John Braddock, 17 October 2011
The protests, organised by local “Occupy” groups, were led by banners proclaiming, “We are the 99 percent.”
Ship grounding creates New Zealand’s worst environmental disaster
By John Braddock, 14 October 2011
The Liberian-registered vessel that ran aground had been allowed to continue operating despite faults identified during inspections.
New Zealand government amends surveillance laws after “anti-terror” case collapses
By John Braddock, 11 October 2011
The Video Camera Surveillance Act and a new Search and Surveillance Act establish vast powers for a web of state agencies.
Support for Labour slumps ahead of New Zealand poll
By John Braddock, 22 September 2011
Falling support for Labour is testimony to the fact that broad sections of working people no longer view it as even a “lesser evil” compared to the Nationals.
New Zealand universities cut staff and courses
By Tom Peters, 8 September 2011
The cutbacks are a result of the government’s austerity measures over the past three years, and are a part of a global assault on workers and youth.
New Zealand government imposes punitive welfare measures for teenagers
By Tom Peters, 26 August 2011
Amid worsening levels of poverty, the Key government has announced draconian policies to slash welfare spending on young people.
Four killed in New Caledonia airport blockade
By John Braddock, 19 August 2011
The protests are a sign of explosive social unrest in New Caledonia, which is beset with endemic unemployment among indigenous Kanaks and a deepening divide between rich and poor.
Inquiry hears damning evidence of unsafe conditions at New Zealand mine
By Tom Peters, 8 August 2011
Experts provided further evidence that 29 miners lost their lives because Pike River Coal sacrificed their safety on the altar of corporate profits.
WSWS/ISSE meeting discusses austerity measures in New Zealand
By our correspondents, 15 July 2011
The Wellington meeting brought together an audience of young and older workers and unemployed to discuss “The New Zealand budget and the fight against austerity.”
Slave labour conditions in New Zealand’s fishing industry
By John Braddock, 9 July 2011
The reports of abuse highlight the atrocious conditions on foreign-crewed vessels chartered by local companies, notably Maori-owned tribal businesses.
New Zealand: Entire suburbs to be abandoned after earthquakes
By Tom Peters, 6 July 2011
New Zealand’s government has condemned some 5,100 houses in earthquake-devastated Christchurch.
Further evidence of lack of safety at New Zealand mine
By John Braddock, 1 July 2011
Families of miners killed in a methane explosion at the Pike River mine last November denounced successive New Zealand governments over appalling safety standards.
Public Meeting in Wellington
The New Zealand budget and the fight against austerity
24 June 2011
The National government’s budget, handed down on May 19, is part of an international offensive on the working class.
New Zealand worker killed in water pipe blast
By John Braddock, 20 June 2011
The circumstances of the tragedy, including the rush to resume work, are an indictment of New Zealand’s terrible record of industrial deaths and accidents.
Social disaster deepens after third New Zealand earthquake
By Tom Peters, 18 June 2011
The earthquake-devastated city of Christchurch was shaken by two large aftershocks on Monday afternoon, further damaging homes and infrastructure and creating greater hardships for working people.
Deep budget cuts ahead of New Zealand election
By Tom Peters, 30 May 2011
With an election due in November, the National government budget contains the deepest spending cuts seen in 20 years.
New Zealand SAS troops implicated in Afghan war crimes
By John Braddock, 16 May 2011
An investigation provided damning evidence that the elite force is complicit in human rights abuses, with successive governments, including Labour, covering them up.
Worker killed in New Zealand tornado
By John Braddock, 5 May 2011
Tuesday’s twister ripped roofs off houses, shopping malls and commercial buildings in Auckland’s northern suburbs.
Living costs soar in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 4 May 2011
The soaring cost of living is part of a global trend and one aspect of the austerity measures being inflicted on working people in the wake of the international financial crisis.
Inquiry into New Zealand mine tragedy begins on “no blame” basis
By John Braddock, 23 April 2011
The presiding judge’s opening statement flowed directly from the terms of reference set by the National Party government of Prime Minister John Key.
Social disaster deepens following New Zealand earthquake
By John Braddock, 9 April 2011
Prime Minster John Key has announced the phasing out of the government’s paltry earthquake relief package.
Memorial service used to divert attention from inadequate relief for New Zealand earthquake victims
By Tom Peters, 22 March 2011
None of the speakers mentioned the desperate situation still facing thousands whose houses have been ruined.
Memorial service used to divert attention from inadequate relief for New Zealand earthquake victims
By Tom Peters, 21 March 2011
None of the speakers mentioned the desperate situation still facing thousands whose houses have been ruined.
Christchurch residents denounce lack of basic services
By our correspondents, 10 March 2011
The World Socialist Web Site spoke to residents in Christchurch’s hard-hit eastern suburbs about the government’s response to the city’s devastating earthquake.
New Zealand: Growing anger over inadequate earthquake relief
By Tom Peters, 10 March 2011
Thousands of Christchurch residents have received little or no government assistance since the city was hit by last month’s earthquake.
Call for “national unity” following New Zealand earthquake
By John Braddock, 2 March 2011
Prime Minister Key is seeking to divert attention away from where culpability lies for the extent of loss of life, injury and devastation.
Christchurch earthquake likely to be New Zealand’s worst natural disaster
By John Braddock, 24 February 2011
The devastation that laid waste to Christchurch has increased over the past 24 hours
Another earthquake devastates New Zealand’s second largest city
By John Braddock, 23 February 2011
Yesterday’s earthquake in Christchurch was the second disaster to hit the city within five months.
New Zealand government outlines spending cuts, asset sales
By Tom Peters, 14 February 2011
Prime Minister John Key has announced plans to reduce debt by cutting social services and selling stakes in several major publicly-owned companies.
New Zealand government outlines spending cuts, asset sales
By Tom Peters, 11 February 2011
Prime Minister John Key has announced plans to reduce debt by cutting social services and selling stakes in several major publicly-owned companies.
New Zealand mine recovery attempts abandoned
By John Braddock, 17 January 2011
New Zealand police commissioner Howard Broad announced on Thursday that efforts to recover the remains of 29 miners killed in the Pike River coal mine last year are to be abandoned.
WSWS/ISSE meeting discusses New Zealand mine disaster
By our correspondents, 24 December 2010
Meeting told that last month’s Pike River coal disaster constitutes a devastating indictment of the company’s safety procedures and of the profit system itself.
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