Dear Prime Minister, we call on you to speak up for all decent New Zealanders and condemn the Israeli proposed annexation of Palestinian land. That means our government publicly speaking out for us alongside the European Union, growing numbers of Israelis in Israel and the vast mass of humanity which condemns this opportunistic, racist theft of Palestinian land. When you do this, New Zealand will once again be able to take its place in the world for proudly standing up for Human Rights.

In the mid 20th century, hundreds of Banabans were displaced from Banaba Island to Rabi Island, Fiji due to the devastating impacts of phosphate mining. Today, Banabans on Rabi continue to face discrimination as a partially self-governing entity falling between the cracks of Fiji and Kiribati. The Justice for Rabi: The Story of Banaba exhibition at Silo 6 in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland (February - March 2023) has shed light on the persistent injustices against the Banaban people from decades of phosphate mining, forced relocation, and underdevelopment. As extractive industry, militarism, and the climate emergency continue to threaten Pacific communities’ right to life with dignity, countries like New Zealand must lead the way in demonstrating restorative and resilient partnerships with harmed communities. We are calling on the New Zealand government to claim responsibility for the harm caused to Banaba recognising the millions of tonnes of Banaban phosphate used as fertilizer to support the growing settler colonial population in the 20th century. The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade must take immediate action to initiate redress of the harm caused to the Banaban people from phosphate mining and forced relocation by making a public apology and taking the following steps: 1. Disburse immediate development assistance to Banaba to ensure the population has sustainable access to basic food supplies and clean water. 2. Open dialogue with the Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Office of the Prime Minister regarding initiating direct aid to Rabi supporting climate adaptation, education, and capacity building. 3. Send an urgent fact-finding mission to Rabi to map key development gaps with the local community. 4. Extend immigration access for Banabans in New Zealand through education programming, healthcare access, and a seasonal worker quota for Banabans. 5. Establish an Ambassador-at-Large solely responsible for Banabans in Rabi and in Banaba. 6. Incorporate Banaban history into New Zealand’s secondary school history curriculum.

We request Electricity Generators: ⚡️ Commit to working together with energy retailers that represent vulnerable communities by providing them fair and affordable wholesale pricing. We request the New Zealand Government: ⚡️ Require Electricity Generators to work together with energy retailers that represent vulnerable communities by providing them fair and affordable wholesale pricing. ⚡️ Guarantee all whānau have sufficient energy to power their homes by nominating a last resort electricity retailer, which is one that operates in the Spirit of Manaakitanga and won't turn anyone away.

In March of 2020, Aotearoa New Zealand led the world in a decision that set us apart as a nation. That decision was choosing to prioritise the people of this country, to pursue an elimination strategy against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. And it worked. People pulled together, were kind, stayed home to save lives and were supported by the Government to do so, and together, we became a Team of 5 Million. For over a year most of us enjoyed a life of relative safety and extraordinary freedom, while other countries experienced astronomical avoidable death tolls. On Tuesday the 17th of August we set out to pursue elimination again, after the Delta variant of COVID-19 was found in our community. With proper supports, we may have been able to stamp it out as we had previously. However, the Government has not provided proper supports this time; there have not been the same Income Relief Payment schemes, doubling of the Winter Energy payment and allowance for course-related costs, increase in benefit levels, or any steps taken to make it easier for people to access income support through Work and Income and/or Studylink, nor has there been any COVID-19 response budget packages providing targeted supports to Māori and Pacific communities. This lack of support has made it difficult for communities to comply with lockdown rules, which in turn, has led to the abandonment of the elimination strategy. On Monday the 4th of October 2021, the New Zealand Government announced they were leaving the strategy that had been effective before. This decision to abandon elimination seems to have been made against the advice of Māori and Pacific health experts. This decision to abandon elimination comes too early, according to trusted experts. We all want to return to Level 1, but we cannot achieve Level 1 by any path other than Elimination. Delta exposed the weaknesses in our Elimination strategy Level 3 & 4, as many people needed additional support to stay home and save lives once again. Instead of strengthening our only pathway through, however, the government abandoned it. The way forward is a tried and trusted method, with improvements. The government should not have moved away from Elimination, they should have fixed it, to ensure people were not left behind. The Team of 5 Million must include all of us. Without all of us, it becomes a hollow appeal to nationalism. We demand the government serve the only purpose it exists to serve: the people. This choice to not improve on the Elimination strategy, but instead to give up on it, endangers all of us... but abandoning Elimination does not endanger us all equally. Vaccines are an important tool in addressing COVID-19, as is wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands and sanitising. We know that we cannot rely on one tool alone, we know vaccinations are an essential component, and we know it will not be enough on its own. Our children, our elders, our disabled and vulnerable whānau are essential. Our health care workers are essential. Our loved ones are not disposable. We cannot take a risk this great, we cannot afford to abandon Elimination, when all it needed was a little improvement. As with the first COVID-19 response, there is a need for the Government to listen to and work with iwi, hapū and Māori organisations in order to deliver culturally appropriate solutions to ensure Māori receive equitable support and resources. Partnership under Te Tiriti requires us to recognise and support rangatiratanga to be expanded, strengthened and embedded fully by the Government. We encourage the Government to do better to understand the collective nature of Te Ao Māori values, including mātauranga Māori and strengthen efforts to ensure that Māori can exercise their rights collectively with their whānau, hapū and iwi. We urge the Government to recognise the legitimacy of Māori-led solutions and to support them as a priority as part of a return to the elimination response. We uplift, support, and affirm the mahi of Māori groups, and other initiatives led and organised by Māori.

The time is now for a capital gains tax as a key pillar in ensuring that everyone contributes their fair share to the public and community services we all value. 

We, the undersigned, call upon Parliament to take decisive action against the spread of disinformation and misinformation by public officials and political figures. Recent statements made by New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Winston Peters, regarding gender rules in sports have demonstrated a troubling disregard for truth and an exploitation of sensitive issues for political gain. Such actions not only mislead the public but also foster division and prejudice.

We call on you to introduce legislation to make it illegal for Kiwisaver fund managers to invest the savings of New Zealanders in companies involved in the manufacture of weapons, bombs, land mines ,missiles or any device the sole purpose of which is to kill or injure. The legislation should further apply to any company which has a subsidiary involved in weapons manufacture of any sort. The Legislation should make it particularly clear that investing Kiwisaver funds in any of the following weapons is unethical and expressly prohibited, - the manufacture of cluster bombs - the manufacture or testing of nuclear explosive devices (NEDs) - the manufacture of anti-personnel mines

That the House of Representatives urge the Government to not implement the new private share funding targets for public transport.

 We are calling on the New Zealand Government to ban all fossil fuel ads and sponsorships in Aotearoa. 

1. To pass on the following message to the NZer of the Year Award organisers asking them to consider it seriously. 2. To notify the NZer of the Year Award organisers that you will respond positively to any request for a rule change to make this possible.