No matter who we are, or where we come from, we all deserve to live a life of dignity, free of pain and struggle. A life where we are believed and we have access to the care that we need. However, there are thousands of us every day who live in the abrupt edges of medical understanding and right now, there are far too many women, girls, and people assigned female at birth are being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or denied access to the care and support they need. [3][6]. At least one in seven women, girls, and people assigned female at birth in Aotearoa live with endometriosis (mate kirikopu), a chronic and often disabling inflammatory condition that causes pelvic pain, fatigue, infertility, and damage to multiple organs [1][10]. Despite this, most with endometriosis (mate kirikopu)are not being taken seriously by our health system. The national endometriosis (mate kirikopu) guidelines, last released in 2020 by the Ministry of Health, were never intended to be formal clinical guidance [11]. They are not mandatory, they are missing key protections, and they are letting them fall through the cracks. The current guidelines are not fit for purpose, they are outdated, non-binding, and were never designed to function as formal clinical guidelines. In practice, this leaves women, girls, and people assigned female at birth with endometriosis (mate kirikopu) facing inconsistent care, delayed diagnoses, and limited access to the treatment they need to live full, healthy lives. The current guidance lacks clear timeframes for action, formal referral pathways, youth-specific approaches, accountability mechanisms, and adequate inclusion of Māori, Pasifika, LGBTQIA+, and disabled communities. Too often, those with endometriosis (mate kirikopu) are passed between GPs and emergency departments for years without answers. The average time to diagnosis in Aotearoa is still 7 to 10 years [2][7]. That means they are missing school, losing jobs, giving up dreams of having tamariki, or falling into depression and isolation before they are even believed [3][5][6]. For marginalised groups, the situation is even worse. Young people, Māori, Pasifika, disabled and gender-diverse people are more likely to be dismissed, misdiagnosed, or denied access to care. [3][6]. That means many healthcare providers don’t follow it, and there are no consequences when patients are ignored, misdiagnosed, or left untreated. We need more than just suggestions. We need mandatory, enforceable standards that every health provider in Aotearoa must follow. We need guidelines that uphold mana, affirm lived experience, and work for all, not just a privileged few who can afford private care or know how to fight the system. Studies show that: • The impacts of Endometriosis (mate kirikopu) go far beyond physical pain, impacting mental health, daily functioning, and overall wellbeing with those affected • Up to 98% of women, girls, and people assigned female at birth with endometriosis (mate kirikopu) experience symptoms of depression, and around 87% experience anxiety [1]. These mental health struggles are often made worse by diagnostic delays, medical gaslighting, and lack of access to effective treatment and support [2][3]. • Women, girls, and people assigned female at birth with endometriosis (mate kirikopu) report a significantly reduced quality of life compared to the general population, especially in the areas of physical function, emotional wellbeing, sexual health, and work productivity [4][5]. This is not just due to pain, but also the psychological toll of being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or ignored by the healthcare system [3][6]. • Research also shows that youth with endometriosis (mate kirikopu)-like symptoms are often told their pain is normal, resulting in long-term harm to mental health, school attendance, and body trust [7]. Without guidelines that address these impacts holistically and offer clear, equitable pathways to care, women, girls, and people assigned female at birth will continue to fall through the cracks. We need guidelines that work in real life, not just on paper. A community-led review by Endo Warriors Aotearoa and our Youth Advisory Board outlines how the current guidance fails us. It shows the harm caused by relying on hormonal contraception as the default treatment [3] [6], how hard it is to access skilled excision surgery [2] [7], and how little support exists for holistic or culturally grounded pain management [3].  He wā tēnei. It is time. Sign the petition today and stand with our hāpori to demand a new standard of care for endometriosis (mate kirikopu) in Aotearoa, a new standard that embeds lived experience, Māori and Pasifika voices, youth insight, and gender diversity into every part of care, a health system that believes us, supports us, and works for us.  References: [1] Armour, M., et al. (2019). The prevalence and impact of endometriosis symptoms on quality of life among young women: a cross-sectional study. BJOG, 126(6), 755–759. [2] Ballard, K., Lowton, K., & Wright, J. (2006). What’s the delay? A qualitative study of women’s experiences of reaching a diagnosis of endometriosis. Fertility and Sterility, 86(5), 1296–1301. [3] Culley, L., et al. (2018). The social and psychological impact of endometriosis on women’s lives: A critical narrative review. Human Reproduction Update, 24(6), 625–639. [4] Riazi, H., et al. (2014). Clinical diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis: a scoping review. BMC Women’s Health, 14(1), 73. [5] Jones, G., Jenkinson, C., & Kennedy, S. (2004). The impact of endometriosis on quality of life: a qualitative study. BJOG, 111(4), 410–418. [6] Denny, E., & Mann, C. H. (2007). Endometriosis and the primary care consultation. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 132(2), 224–228. [7] Missmer, S. A., et al. (2014). Incidence of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis by demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors. Am J Epidemiol, 179(6), 721–730. [8] Missmer, S. A., et al. (2014). Incidence of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis by demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors. Am J Epidemiol, 179(6), 721–730. [9] Zhang, T., et al. (2020). The link between endometriosis and autoimmune diseases. Frontiers in Immunology, 11, 339. [10] Ministry of Health. (2020). Diagnosis and Management of Endometriosis in New Zealand. Wellington: Ministry of Health. “While not a formal clinical guideline, it provides a consensus view of best-practice principles.” (p. 2)

Everyone is entitled to live with justice and dignity, this includes Palestinians.  These rights are often protected by both national and international laws. Israel is occupying and colonising Palestinian land, discriminating against Palestinians working in Israeli society, and denying Palestinian refugees the right to return to their homes.  While political leaders and governments shirk their obligations, far too many corporate entities have profited from Israel’s economy of illegal occupation, apartheid and now, genocide. “It’s time for businesses to cut ties with Israel. The very fact of engaging in something that concerns and translates into economic gain and profits, it’s problematic, lest, companies and their executives are ready to face responsibility and even criminal liability”  - Francesca P. Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories  While the government is stalling on imposing sanctions on Israel, we the people will use our consumer power to “push for better” and de-shelve SodaStream from all retailers around the motu.  Why SodaStream Historical Complicity SodaStream’s first factory was built over the remains of seven destroyed Palestinian villages in the illegal settlement of Ma'ale Adumim, in the occupied West Bank. Settlements like Ma'ale Adumim, and companies operating in them, are illegal under international law. In 2014, under constant pressure from the global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, SodaStream shut down its West Bank factory. This was a big win. However, SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum claimed: “We are not giving in to the boycott. We are Zionist."  He framed the move as a cost-saving decision, despite accusing the BDS campaign of hurting opportunities for Palestinian workers.  New Factory, Still Profiting from Apartheid  After leaving the West Bank, in 2015 SodaStream relocated to the Idan Industrial Zone in the Naqab (Negev) desert. This is land that Israel confiscated from Palestinian Bedouin communities in the 1950s. That is, SodaStream is still implicated in settler colonial dynamics — just in a different region. The SodaStream factory is located near the city of Rahat where many Palestinian Bedouins were forcibly relocated. Today, Palestinian Bedouins live under constant threat of displacement by the Israeli state. Across the Naqab, hundreds of Palestinian homes are demolished every year, with the second-highest number of them occurring in Rahat. (176 in 2022 alone). These home demolitions as well as systematic exclusion from basic infrastructure and services, all contribute to Israel's long-term plan to remove them from their land and traditional practices. SodaStream and other Israeli and international companies receive government financial incentives and subsidies when they base their factories in the Naqab region. The region has been designated a ‘national priority area’ in accordance with Israel’s ten-year “National Strategic Plan for the Negev”, designed to tighten the Israeli state’s hold on the region, and vastly increase the Israeli population there.  SodaStream can thus be seen as an instrument of Israel’s plan to remove indigenous people from their land through urbanisation and industrialisation. Exploitation of Palestinian Workers Over 100,000 Palestinians work in Israel and settlements—because their own economy is strangled by occupation and Israeli labour laws are not fairly applied to Palestinian workers. A 2022 report by Kav LaOved (an Israeli workers' rights NGO) found that many Palestinian workers face wage theft, unsafe working conditions, denial of health care or accident compensation, long hours without rest or proper documentation. SodaStream uses its employment of Palestinians as a public relations tool, portraying itself as a “coexistence” model while hiding the broader apartheid context that underlies the company’s operation, and which created those economic dependencies in the first place.   BDS Works! We’ve seen SodaStream shutdown its illegal factory in the Occupied West Bank due to BDS pressure. In the UK, we recently saw The Co-operative Group vote to remove Israeli products from its shelves. McDonald’s has missed sales targets, Starbucks slashed its annual sales forecast after a slump in growth, Turkey’s parliament voted to remove Coke from the shops and restaurants on its grounds - we can use our collective consumer power to create change. References: https://www.whoprofits.org/publications/report/120 https://electronicintifada.net/content/new-sodastream-factory-could-help-destroy-bedouin-agriculture/13182 https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2015/9/25/sodastream-factory-shows-palestinian-bedouins-plight  https://www.bdsmovement.net/news/sodastream-close-illegal-settlement-factory-response-growing-boycott-campaign https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/03/27/471885452/when-500-palestinians-lose-their-jobs-at-sodastream-whos-to-blame

As teachers, the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi is always at the forefront of our minds. We want children everywhere to be able to thrive and learn, and to grow up in a safe, stable environment. Unfortunately, our NZ schools are reliant on a leasing scheme which includes a contract between the Ministry of Education and HP - a company that provides computer hardware to the genocidal regime in Israel. HP products assist Israel in maintaining the illegal occupation of Palestine [1]. The contract between HP and the NZ Government is worth millions of dollars. HP currently supplies many teachers and education staff in schools across Aotearoa New Zealand with leased HP branded laptops, tablets and Chromebooks. This means that as educators in Aotearoa, we are using technology which supports a company that contributes to the ongoing occupation and genocide in Palestine when we do our mahi. This does not align with the values of compassion, equity, and care for future generations that we hold as teachers. Background HP Inc (US) provides services to the offices of genocide leaders, Israeli PM Netanyahu and Financial Minister Smotrich [2]. HPE, which shares the same brand, provides technology for Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority, a pillar of its apartheid regime [1]. This ID system forms a core part of the Israeli apartheid regime’s tiered system of citizenship and residency that privileges Israel’s Jewish population and gives inferior status and rights to Palestinians, especially those in East Jerusalem. HP's technology is used to uphold institutional racial discrimination and segregation in relation to freedom of movement, housing, employment, marriage, healthcare, education, and policing. This discrimination is further exacerbated in the case of Palestinian “residents” in occupied East Jerusalem, whose most basic rights can and are being revoked arbitrarily. The system also holds information about Israeli citizens living in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, therefore serving Israel’s settler colonial project directly [3]. HP has also worked directly with the Israeli military, helping build its IT infrastructure [4]. This has included a program with the Israeli Navy which enforces the illegal naval blockade on Gaza [1]. Teachers for Palestine Aotearoa stands with activist groups across Aotearoa who want to see our nation live up to a long history of fighting against oppression. We demand justice for Palestine! We call on Erica Stanford and the NZ Government to have courage, listen to what New Zealanders want, and cease all procurement agreements with HP. References: [1] https://www.whoprofits.org/companies/company/3774?hewlett-packard-enterprise-hpe [2] https://bdsmovement.net/BoycottHP-GazaGenocide-Update [3] https://visualizingpalestine.org/visual/israeli-id-system-animation/  [4] https://investigate.afsc.org/company/hewlett-packard

🕰️ In 2025, the Misuse of Drugs Act (MODA) turns 50, half a century since it was written for a very different time. It’s been amended in patches but never properly reformed, leaving us with a system that is:  ➡️ Outdated and fragmented  ➡️ Inconsistent with modern science  ➡️ Costly to enforce  ➡️ Disproportionately harming Māori, Pasifika, and young people 📚 Between 2007 and 2010, the Law Commission undertook a thorough, evidence-based review. In 2011, it recommended replacing MODA with a new, health-focused framework. That advice still hasn’t been acted on. ⚠️ Since then, everything has changed:  ➡️ Synthetic cannabinoids, vaping, and novel psychoactives have emerged  ➡️ The Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 created a parallel regime  ➡️ Drug checking was legalised in 2021  ➡️ Medicinal cannabis access has expanded  ➡️ Other countries, like Canada, Portugal, and Australia, have updated their laws based on evidence 🔎 Aotearoa has changed too, in how we understand harm reduction, public health, equity, and our responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This petition is not about legalisation or decriminalisation. It’s about bringing our drug laws into the 21st century, grounded in evidence, focused on health, and responsive to the needs of all New Zealanders. 🔍 What this petition is not about 🚫 Legalising or decriminalising any drug 🚫 Repeating the 2011 review 🚫 Proposing a specific policy outcome ✅ This is a neutral, inclusive call for an expert-led, modern, cross-party review, not ideology, but good governance. 🧠 What the review should consider ➡️ Whether current laws reduce harm and promote public safety ➡️ If the framework is clear, proportionate, and equitable ➡️ The cost and effectiveness of enforcement ➡️ Alignment with health and Te Tiriti principles ➡️ International best practices and a consistent, risk-based approach ✊ Why now? 🧓 MODA is half a century old ⚖️ Inequities and harm persist 💸 Enforcement costs are high; outcomes remain poor 🧠 The 2011 review provides a strong foundation, ready to build on 📈 Harm reduction and public health momentum is growing 🗳️ It’s time for a unified, evidence-based system that works for all New Zealanders ✅ Join the call We’re calling for a modern, fair, and expert-led review of Aotearoa’s drug laws, one that reflects our shared values, honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and responds to today’s challenges. 📢 This is your chance to support a process that is:  ✅ Neutral  ✅ Cross-party  ✅ Grounded in evidence  ✅ Respectful of Te Tiriti o Waitangi  ✅ Designed to reduce harm and promote fairness 🖊 Sign now to help modernise New Zealand’s drug laws.  📨 Share this with your whānau, community, MP, and allies. Together, we can ensure the next 50 years are smarter, fairer, and more effective.

Why the Bill Matters The Bill proposes targeted sanctions against individuals and entities complicit in maintaining Israel’s unlawful presence in the OPT. These sanctions would restrict the movement of assets, services, and individuals between New Zealand and those contributing to violations of international law. The Bill builds on New Zealand’s existing sanctions framework—used in response to Russia’sinvasion of Ukraine—and is a credible, principled method for: • Upholding the rights of Palestinians, Israelis, and others affected by the occupation and apartheid policies. • Translating New Zealand’s verbal commitments at the United Nations into tangible legislative action. • Reinforcing the integrity of the rules-based international order and our obligations under international law. Call to Action This is a member’s bill. Under Standing Order 288, it may be introduced directly if 61 or more non-executive MPs express their support. Given the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, we believe the urgency of this situation justifies bypassing the standard ballot process. We respectfully ask you to: 1. Publicly support the introduction of this Bill, allowing Parliament to consider this critical issue in a timely and principled manner. 2. Advocate within your caucus for party support, and encourage fellow members to join the 55 MPs who already support the Bill, so we may reach the 61-MP threshold. 3. Commit to voting in favour at all stages of the Bill’s progression, demonstrating that New Zealand will not tolerate violations of international law. A Matter of Conscience Standing up for the fundamental rights of Palestinians—including children, families, and the elderly—is a moral imperative. History will remember those who chose to act in the face of injustice. We, the undersigned, urge you to stand with us and support this Bill. It is a vital opportunity for New Zealand to show leadership, uphold international law, and affirm the values we claim to represent on the world stage. Ngā mihi nui, Your constituents

On the 5th of May 2025, Ngati Oneone activated 'Oneone ki te whenua' 185 years to the day that our tipuna Rawiri Te Eke Tu signed 'ae ra' on Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 80 years later, the whenua of his hapu was taken piece by piece in the name of public works and harbour development. Within 10 years Ngati Oneone was displaced and homeless, a people without whenua. Today the Gisborne District Council, Trust Tairawhiti and Port Eastland are the owners of what remains of that whenua. Port Eastland has offered a small piece back with conditions. Those conditions continue to oppress our right as a hapu to exercise our Tino Rangatiratanga, offering land and in return silencing our voice regarding future port development, RMA applications and the risk of being fined if we were to ever oppose them. 100 years removed from our whenua, enough is enough! Ngati Oneone Hapu has lived, bred and died on our tribal lands from Pouawa in the North of Gisborne to Te Toka a Taiau, Turanganui awa, including the lands known as Kaiti/Kai Iti/Puhi Kai Iti. In 1852 our first Pa (on Hirini St) was built. In 1885 the Harbour Board was enabled to carry out major works under the Harbour Board Act, in the area: • The blowing up of Te Toka a Taiau • The blowing up of Puakaiwai/Punaariki/Tuaiti Is • The removal of Te Poho o Rawiri Pa and tribal housing Under the Public Works Act, significant lands were taken, here to name a few: • Titirangi Maunga (parcels of land sold to pakeha individuals and corporations) • Rakau a Ue Urupa (roadway created, urupa desecrated) • Turanganui awa - Rua Koura (continued degradation) • Ruatanuika maara/gardens (destroyed) • Te Umu a Tawhiwhi (destroyed) • Te Waiu o Hamoterangi (destroyed) • Te Pioi Pa (destroyed) • Puhi Kai Iti - reefs (destroyed) • Roadway put through Rakau a Ue Urupa The raupatu of our lands has alienated Ngati Oneone occupation and cultivation in these areas, destroyed puna wai, wahi tapu and urupa. Atrocities on Ngati Oneone hapu, whenua and wai are actions that have been applied and imposed on our hapu for the past 100 years. In all those years, Ngati Oneone have not been treated in Fairness, Dignity or Human Rights. This cannot be the responsibility of the fourth generation to seek redress!

This petition does not argue “for” or “against” genetic modification, mRNA medicine or the Gene Technology Bill itself. Our concern is that everyone—farmers, families, scientists, and everyday citizens—deserves adequate time to assess how this Bill could: • Reshape our agriculture industry and threaten the 100% Pure reputation upon which our exports rely. • Allow more glyphosate in “Round-up ready” GM crops, negatively impacting our waterways, honey bees, and animal products. • Introduce “emergency” genetic therapies without thorough public scrutiny, raising questions about medical autonomy and national sovereignty. IF THIS BILL IS TRULY BENEFICIAL • It will still be beneficial after 90 days of additional fair public debate. • Rushing it through in just eight weeks disrespects our largest export sector and compromises democratic transparency. BY SIGNING THIS PETITION, YOU CALL ON THE GOVERNMENT TO: 1. Grant an immediate extension of the Gene Technology Bill’s deadline for at least 90 days. 2. Provide clear information so all New Zealanders can fully grasp the Bill’s ramifications. 3. Honour fair and transparent governance by giving us the time to engage, ask hard questions, make informed submissions and consult our peers. No matter where you stand on genetic modification, we all deserve the right to weigh the evidence and protect our environment, our economy, and our medical freedoms. Extend the Say—90 days is not too much to ask. YOU CAN CALL OR FORWARD THIS LETTER TO YOUR MP Your MP will want to know your position, no matter which party they serve.  Call your MP’s office or copy and paste this petition and email it. You can your MP’s email address in the first link below. ADDITONAL INFORMATION & REFERENCES https://www.beehive.govt.nz/ministers https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/22059628-b0cc-4931-5e07-08dd18a12bfb?Tab=history https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2024/0110/7.0/LMS1009752.html

All people should have the right to freedom, safety and self-determination. Whether we live in Nelson or Palestine, feeling at peace and safe in our homes is essential to living happy lives. To know that the gardens and orchards our families have tended over generations will still be here to nourish our children.  We all deserve these rights yet right now families in Palestine live in constant threat of being targeted by the Israeli military, pushed out of their homes and persecuted for being Palestinian. Since 1967 many Palestinian homes, gardens and orchards have been bulldozed or cleared for Israeli settlers.  We seek that the Nelson City Council align their procurement policy with United Nations Resolution 2334, and the obligations placed on member states by that resolution. Israel is currently in breach of many international laws. Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian territory (2, 3). UN resolution 2334 refers to the territory held by Palestine in 1967 and the illegal occupation of that territory by Israel.  As an occupier state, Israel has legal obligations to protect Palestinians who live in their territory. Israel is in breach of these obligations by directly targeting and harming Palestinian civilians.  UN resolution 2334 requests that Israel cease all settlement activities in the occupied territory. In support of this, Clause 5 of the resolution calls upon all states to distinguish between the territory of the state of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967 in all dealings with the region.  The Resolution was put forward by and voted in favour of by the New Zealand government under the leadership of the National Party in 2016 (4). Subsequently, in February 2020 the United Nations published a database of over 100 companies it considered were doing business in the Israeli settlements. On 1 July 2023, the United Nations reviewed the list and removed 15 companies from the list due to them having halted activity in the Israeli settlements.  United Nations Resolution 2334 declared that all member states should not deal with organisations doing business in the illegally occupied Palestinian Territories, this includes Aotearoa/New Zealand.  We call on our local government to align its procurement policy with UN resolution 2334. References: 1. https://www.un.org/webcast/pdfs/SRES2334-2016.pdf 2. https://www.icj-cij.org/node/204176 3. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/07/experts-hail-icj-declaration-illegality-israels-presence-occupied 4. https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/media-and-resources/un-security-council-adopts-historic-resolution-on-israeli-settlements

Aotearoa New Zealand should be a place where young people can experience life and make memories while being safe and protected. Wellington should be a city where our young people can have fun in a safe environment, without the fear of harm.  Sadly, that’s not the case. A recent Salient survey revealed 75% of students have felt unsafe in a Wellington nightclub, and many highlighted concerning safety issues they'd faced travelling to and from the city at night and the lack of safe transport options. [2,3] “I can’t walk on Courtney without feeling like I need to constantly be watching my back” -Rachel (22) Young people and our communities know what the issues are and what solutions will work for us. That's why we want WCC to work with us - especially those that are often the target of harm such as our ethnic communities, queer communities, disabled communities and more.  We are asking them to: • Commit to a project for young people's safety and wellbeing • Centre young people's leadership by co-creating it with us • Provide funding to enable young people's involvement and participation in the process  • Funding pathways for intercultural cohesion through education and community building We truly believe that a wide-scale cross-community project would be a great first step for youth wellbeing and safety. We would start by engaging with communities on things that impact our safety - like transport, de-escalation skills, nightlife culture, safe spaces, accessibility, and cultural attitudes.  In the meantime, there are already some solutions the WCC could action now, such as: • Increase funding for Take10 to include more safe spaces in and around Cuba street - Courtenay place area • Require all liquor licence holders to ensure their staff are trained in de-escalation training • Create teams of trained professionals that can go from venue to venue and make sure that people in need are cared for, including providing drug and alcohol harm reduction information and support • Train up more wardens from affected communities to be present in the inner city areas over the weekend nights, to help increase safety • Free and accessible transport  • Free wi-fi and public accessible charging stations  Why now? Mayor Tory Whanau has asked for a refreshed city safety plan now that the Pōneke Promise is coming to an end.[6] We want to make sure the new plan includes a project focussed on the wellbeing and safety of our young people, and reducing harm in the inner city.  In late 2020, local communities raised concerns about the safety in central Wellington. At the start of 2021 the Wellington Alliance Against Sexual Violence - a coalition of youth-led organisations hosted a rally on Courtney place calling on WCC and its partners to prioritise sexual violence prevention. [3,4] WCC listened and created Pōneke Promise which widened its focus on making ‘central Wellington safe, vibrant and welcoming”[5] Now that a new plan is being made, we need to make sure WCC listens to our communities again and delivers what we as young people need - Safer streets! Join us and together we can create a better future for young people! Acknowledgment We would like to acknowledge Luke Smith. Who we lost too early and who brought us all together to fight for a better future for our young people. Because of Luke Smith we are demanding that the wellbeing and the safety of our young people are put as priority by the Wellington City Council.  This petition we created in consultation with Luke Smith’s family. If you would like to support the family in bringing their son back home to South African for his funeral please click here for their givealittle. Interview with bFM: https://95bfm.com/bcast/get-action-protect-our-youth-make-wellington%E2%80%99s-streets-safe-w-rachel-jaboon-from-vasda  References 1. https://www.salient.org.nz/post/safety-and-harassment-in-wellington-s-clubs 2. https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350352650/unwanted-groping-part-student-culture-city-bars  3. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/there-is-no-excuse-hundreds-turn-out-to-protest-against-sexual-violence-in-wellington/7AEJB5VQY7BJ6VB67MEFU47BVU/ 4. https://wellington.govt.nz/-/media/community-support-and-resources/community-safety/files/sexual-violence-prevention/sexual-violence-prevention-roadmap.pdf 5. https://wellington.govt.nz/community-support-and-resources/safety-in-wellington/the-poneke-promise  6. https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350356298/inner-city-safety-plan-be-updated-after-students-report-feeling-unsafe

We all want Aotearoa New Zealand to be a place where everyone can thrive. Certainly a place where survivors of abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions can thrive. We know that what has happened to the estimated 250,000 vulnerable adults, children, and babies is a “national disgrace” according to Judge Coral Shaw, former Chair of the Abuse in Care Royal Commision of Inquiry.  The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Final Report, Whanaketia: Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light, has 138 recommendations to improve the State Care system, Faith-based Institutions and other departments that have worked with some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable people [1]. The Interim Report, He Purapura Ora, he Māra Tipu from Redress to Puretumu Torowhānui, has 95 Holistic Recommendations to improve the current redress systems (Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Health, Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children and Ministry of Education) for survivors of abuse in care [2]. Summary of the recommendations are: • expansion of oranga, or wellbeing, services and support services for survivors and their whānau • increased financial payments for survivors • training for those working with survivors • establishment of a listening service  • development of processes for referring allegations of abuse to other agencies • better monitoring of, and reporting on, abuse and systemic issues • memorials and other projects to honour survivors and remember abuse • enactment of a right to be free from abuse in care, as well as a duty to protect this right • an exception to accident compensation legislation • changes to laws relating to civil litigation  • a review of legal aid rates  • a model litigant policy for the Crown • improvements to the handling of survivors’ requests for records, including as few redactions of survivors’ records as possible • a review of record-creation and record-keeping practices. The Abuse in Care Inquiry has been in progress for the past six years. This is the largest inquiry into abuse in care that Aotearoa New Zealand has ever had. These reports from the inquiry shed light on the harrowing and horrific experiences that survivors faced while in the care of the state and faith-based institutions, and emphasise the profound impact that abuse has had on survivors’ lives. Now is the time for action: for people across Aotearoa to come together and be part of the process that ensures that survivors in Aotearoa can thrive.  By signing this petition, you are standing up for the rights of survivors and sending a clear message to the Crown: They have a duty of care to survivors, and a duty to implement all of the recommendations from the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry. Together, let's ensure that survivors are supported.  Join us in this crucial fight by signing the petition today and spreading the word to your friends, family, and community. Together, we can make a difference and safeguard the future of care and help survivors of abuse in State and Faith-based Care to thrive.  _________ Additional information and references: In February 2018, former Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, and former Minister for Internal Affairs, Tracey Martin, announced that there would be a Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in care [3]. However, the formal work of the inquiry didn’t commence until January 2019.  Since 2019, the Inquiry has conducted a number of Hearings [4]: • September to October 2020 - State Redress Hearing held  • November to December 2020 - Faith-based Redress (Phase 1) Hearing held • March 2021 - Faith-based Redress (Phase 2) Hearing held • May 2021 - Children's State Residential Hearing held • June 2021 - Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit Hearing held • July 2021 - Tulou - Our Pacific Voices: Tatala e Pulonga (Pacific People's Experiences) Hearing held • February 2022 - Marylands school (St John of God) Hearing held • March 2022 - Tō muri the p`o Roa, tērā a Pokopoko White-te-raa (Māori Experiences) Hearing held • June 2022 - Foster Care Hearing held • July 2022 - Ūhia te Māramatanga Disability, Deaf and Mental Health Institutional Care Hearing Held • August 2022 - State Institutional Response Hearing held • October 2022 - Faith-based Institutions Response Hearing held  The final report of the Inquiry was presented to the Governor General, Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro GNZM, QSO on 25 June 2024, and released publicly following the tabling of the Final Report in the House of Representatives on 24 July 2024 [5].     1 - https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/reports/whanaketia 2 - https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/reports/from-redress-to-puretumu/ 3 - https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/inquiry-abuse-state-care 4 - https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/about-us/timeline/ 5 - Parliament Video | New Zealand Parliament videos.parliament.nz    *Disclaimer: more information will be provided in the Updates section Image credit: Designed by artist Ruby Jones in collaboration with Karah Mackie and survivors of abuse in care

This issue is undeniably important to New Zealand, especially in the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings.  It is a matter which implicates the lives of many people including school children, vulnerable communities such as the Muslim community and the LGBTQ+ community, as well as those struggling with their mental health. By making it harder to access semi-automatic weapons, we are able to increase the safety of everyone.   It is clear from observing other countries, especially the United States, that unrestricted access to semi-automatic weapons leads to violence and division. While it may not seem likely that slight changes to gun laws in Aotearoa could have a large effect, one must remember two key points: firstly, that the Christchurch shooter obtained his weapon completely legally; and secondly, that the state of mental health support in Aotearoa is abysmal. Without treating this second point, something which the current government seems to have no real intention of doing, allowing even slightly looser access to semi-automatics is a massive safety risk. It provides a space for a dangerous weapon to leave the hands of an ordinary person and fall into the hands of somebody with ill intentions. Even if there are only non-regular incidents of gun violence following these law changes, the fate of the dead and injured will be in the government’s hands.  While the proposed changes are on the surface somewhat innocent - aiming to rectify the difficulty of some recreational gun users in carrying out their hobby - it carries a confusing sense of urgency and secrecy for a process which by all accounts should be taken as slowly, carefully, and yes, even bureaucratically as possible. Consultation should expand to include the opinions of the entirety of Aotearoa, not just select groups of individuals. I think it is naive to expect that these changes will only affect a small number of people. It would be unsurprising if this was only the beginning of a series of changes to gun laws in Aotearoa; Nicole Mckee, the Minister in charge of the reform, is a former gun lobbyist who may be interested in emulating the gun culture in the United States.  About me I am a year 13 student from Kapiti College who is concerned about gun safety in Aotearoa. I believe in maintaining a peaceful and safe society for everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs. As a young person in Aotearoa, I want to feel confident that the government is making decisions that prioritise the safety and well-being of all communities, rather than catering to a few special interest groups. Any changes to our gun laws must be done with full transparency and public consultation. I believe that by opening up the conversation, we can come to a solution that balances the needs of recreational gun users with the safety concerns of the wider population. I urge Minister Nicole Mckee and the coalition government to release the consultation document and ensure that any changes to our gun laws are made with the input of the public, the police, and those most affected by gun violence. Together, we can build a safer Aotearoa.

What is this operation? The New Zealand Government has deployed New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel to support the US and UK-led Operation Prosperity Guardian. The Operation was launched in December 2023 after the Houthi Movement in Yemen blockaded access to Israel via the Red Sea and attacked ships heading to or associated with Israel in response to Israel’s war on Gaza and US support for it.[2] The Houthis have said they’ll stop their attacks as soon as Israel agrees to a ceasefire, end its war crimes in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid  to reach the people of Gaza.[3] As the name of the operation suggests, the US, UK, New Zealand and others claim to have launched this operation to protect shipping. Yet this ‘concern’ for maritime law and the ‘free flow of goods’ does not extend to Israel’s illegal sea (air and land) blockade of Gaza that has been going on since 2007. How is New Zealand involved? In January 2024 the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Judith Collins, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, announced that New Zealand was deploying six members of the New Zealand Defence Force to join the US and UK-led operation.[4] At the time the Prime Minister said the deployment would conclude no later than 31 July 2024, even when directly asked if the deployment would be extended. But on 12 July the Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs announced that the deployment would be extended till January 2025.[5] Exactly what NZDF personnel are doing is not entirely clear, but the Prime Minister has said they would provide “precision targeting” through gathering intelligence and the Defence Minister said they would assist in targeting Houthi bases that were involved in attacks on vessels.[6] US-led airstrikes targeting Houthis have killed a number of people and wounded many others.[7] Why are we opposed to NZDF involvement? 1. It aligns NZ with US militarism and Israeli war crimes In joining this US and UK-led operation New Zealand is not only involving itself in war in the Middle East, but it is aligning itself with the US and its support for Israel’s war on Gaza. Israel is currently committing genocide on the people of Gaza, and is perpetuating numerous other war crimes across Palestine. Over 38,000 people in Gaza are officially reported to have been killed, over half of them women and children, but experts have suggested the death toll will be significantly higher - estimated at 186,000 or more - taking into account thousands of people buried under the rubble and indirect deaths as a result of the destruction of health, food distribution and other infrastructure. [8] Israel is also blocking adequate humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, including desperately needed medical supplies and food for the population who are currently starving. The US is enabling Israel to continue its bombardment of the trapped population in Gaza by sending billions of dollars in military aid. 2. Israel is violating international law The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to cease its activities and comply with its obligations under international law. The International Criminal Court is considering issuing warrants for arrest of the Israeli Prime Minister and Defence Minister for war crimes. Various bodies of the UN, most recently the ICJ’s advisory opinion[8], have declared that Israel is in breach of the most fundamental norms of international law, including operating an apartheid regime in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The ICJ has said all States - that includes NZ - have obligations not to support and to prevent Israel's breaches of international law. 3. NZ Government's actions are hypocritical and risky Despite the fact that Israel is flagrantly breaching international law in the most horrific and inhumane way, our Government is putting its military might into maintaining international law rules that enable commercial shipping, and allege it is the Houthis who are disregarding international law, peace and stability. Rather than contributing to the pursuit of peace in the region, the Government has involved the NZDF in a situation which is at risk of expanding into wider regional conflict in the Middle East. 4. There is no democratic mandate The Government’s actions in deploying the NZDF do not represent the views and values of New Zealanders and the Government has no democratic mandate for this action. New Zealanders are proud of our track record maintaining independent foreign policy and standing up for equality, human rights and justice against the apartheid regime in South Africa.This Government is departing from those traditions and putting New Zealand on the wrong side of history, without giving New Zealanders a say. We don’t want the NZDF to be involved in a deadly military operation in the Middle East that has no end date.  Rather than supporting Operation Prosperity Guardian, New Zealand should be putting all its efforts into ensuring the Israeli Government stops committing war crimes, ends its illegal occupation and apartheid policies imposed on the Palestinian people. References [1] Fran O’Sullivan. “Winston Peters’ Houthi Red Sea move brings NZ and the US closer” NZ Herald. 6 Jan 2024.  [2] US-led coalition warns Houthis of ‘consequences’ after Red Sea attacks. Al Jazeera. 3 January 2024. [3] Who are the Houthis? A simple guide to the Yemeni group. Al Jazeera. 12 January 2024.  [4] New Zealand deploying NZDF team to protect Red Sea shipping, 23 January 2024. [5]  NZDF’s Red Sea deployment extended, 12 July 2024. [6] New Zealand to deploy Defence Force to Red Sea, 23 January 2024. [7] US and UK air strikes hit Yemen, Houthi-run TV reports, 7 June 2024. [8] Gaza toll could exceed 186,000, Lancet study says, 8 July 2024.  [9] ICJ Advisory Opinion - On the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, 19 July 2024.