Successful Campaigns

Dec 2019 https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/wider-range-medicinal-cannabis-products-made-available-kiwis 2 June 2017 Today Associate Minister for Health, Peter Dunne, has just announced that the Government will allow doctors to prescribe medicinal cannabis. Thanks to you and the over 6000 people who signed the petition calling for this change! Associate Health minister Peter Dunne on Friday announced the medicinal cannabis product cannabidiol (CBD) would no longer require a person to get Ministry of Health approval to use it. The changes mean CBD would be able to be prescribed by a doctor to their patient and supplied in a manner similar to any other prescription medicine. Mr Dunne said it was a move towards legalising medicinal cannabis, but wouldn't "immediately bring about a revolution". "I have taken advice from the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) that CBD should not be a controlled drug, and am pleased Cabinet has now accepted my recommendation to make this change.  "Therefore, I am now taking steps to remove restrictions accordingly." Common sense has prevailed with overwhelming public support. This will make a huge difference to people dealing with severe chronic pain and improving their quality of life. You can email the Associate Minister to congratulate him on his decision at p.dunne@minister.govt.nz News coverage: Kiwis will now be able to get medicinal cannabis from their doctor, Government announces http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/93268869/restrictions-on-medicinal-cannabis-product-to-be-removed-government-announces Doctors now able to prescribe cannabidiol http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/332137/doctors-now-able-to-prescribe-cannabidiol Restrictions to come off cannabis-based medicines - Dunne http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/health/2017/06/restrictions-to-come-off-cannabis-based-medicines-dunne.html

The petition was delivered to Parliament on 21 March 2019, five days after being launched - later the same day the Government announced all military style automatic weapons will be banned. Watch: https://www.facebook.com/ActionStationNZ/videos/337544046965351/ Report from the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee: https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/SCR_87811/e39e119082aad70fc8b775b2320ff7cbcae993ef

October 2019 A container deposit scheme trial has been announced! https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/returning-empty-bottles-refund-could-revived-v1 The Kiwi Bottle Drive team delivered our petition to Parliament on December 2nd, 2018. We handed over our petition, signed by 15,450 Kiwis (including offline signatures), to Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick with the support of her Parliamentary colleagues MP Gareth Hughes and Minister Eugenie Sage.

NZ Rugby has been talking behind-the-scenes, since our petition began, with Le ART and their mentor Johnny Viliamu. Clearly they were as captivated by the young women's talent as we were. NZ Rugby is excited to announce that sweet-sounding trio Anastasia Sirila, Rosetta Lopa & Tiresa Foma'i, Le ART, will sing at a domestic competition Final this year. Their music mentor Jonny Viliamu has said, "It's perfect for them & they are so excited." I'm excited too. So while it's not an All Blacks test, Le ART are really happy with the outcome. I reckon they'll blow everyone away, and we'll see them on bigger stages. My final note is to you and the ActionStation community - thanks for supporting this petition and for backing those young women. It won't be the last time you hear about them! Ross

Victory! In July, Countdown spokesperson was reported as saying ‘no’, they wouldn't stop using single-use plastic bags. This was despite their parent company, Woolworths Australia, having done so, and showing it’s possible. Today (4 Oct 2017) Countdown announced they've come round, and are starting a phase out of plastic bags to be completed by the end of the 2018. Nice one Countdown!

The new Labour-led Government have announced a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State care. The Inquiry will have wide scope to investigate all types of abuse and neglect and the places it occurred. Thank you for adding your voice to the chorus of support for the brave survivors, Ngā Mōrehu. It mattered. May this Inquiry be a another powerful step in the reconciliation and healing process. When we stand together for what is right change happens. Thank you. Anneleise 4 Feb 2018

Thank you for helping to make a difference. You were amongst the 32,337 who demanded the unfreezing of Radio New Zealand’s funding, and on 25 May the ice thawed. A month after we delivered our petition to Parliament (together with Jo Bond's Fund RNZ petition - see https://medium.com/actionstation/32-337-demand-government-unfreeze-radio-new-zealand-funding-2b310ed3271d), the Government responded with a $2.85m funding boost in the Budget 2017. People power has prevailed in this case. The quality independent journalism that RNZ delivers is crucial to maintain our democracy. The Government has finally done something to recognise this. But, it doesn’t go as far as we’d hoped. Dr Peter Thompson (Coalition for Better Broadcasting Chair) recently calculated that RNZ is now underfunded by $14m a year. When you compare this boost to the $60 million per year the Government has committed to attracting Hollywood Producers, it does make you wonder about priorities. While we celebrate the $2.85m boost there’s still work to do to ensure RNZ thrives beyond the next four years.

As you may have heard by now Massey University has cancelled the 'Feminism 2020' event! (Massey University cancels 'Feminism 2020' event, 16 Oct https://bit.ly/35Qqs6i) Last week we delievered our petition of 6,000 signatures to the Massey Senior Leadership Team. Being able to have a conversation with our community completely changed the way they were viewing the event and framing the discussion around this hate speech. If you want to write to Massey and thank them for eventually coming around and making the right descision (and to ask them to continue to actively show support for the trans community) you can write to acting VC Giselle Byrnes at: G.Byrnes@massey.ac.nz Thank you for signing the petition and standing with our trans community, when we stand together we can make change. 

Local iwi Ngāti Manawa have now decided not to go ahead with the water bottling project until they can guarantee the protection of the precious wai (water). https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503437&objectid=12273783

I'm pleased to update you and say that the Rodney Local Board who are driving the development of this park have included a fenced dog park in the initial needs assessment of what should be included in the reserve. This is an awesome result and one that wouldn't have come about if we hadn't had the support of our petition and of those who also completed the council online survey about what they want to see at Green Road Reserve. So a big thank you to you all. While the park is years away from being developed it is crucial that a dog park was in the mix from the beginning. We will let you know of any new developments/milestones. The next step is that a masterplan for the park will be developed, once that is available we will need your help again to make sure a dog park stays as a key component of the reserve. Thanks everyone! Claire Teirney, On behalf of the Hibiscus Coast Dog Training Club