Kia ora Friend,
The past year has been a big year for Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP).
Our busy advocacy program showed how badly people are being affected by the government’s welfare agenda. In August 2014 we ran an Impact at the Mangere Work and Income helping more than 500 people over the three days, and many more subsequently. Check out a video from Impact.
Our protests and direct actions brought focus to unfairness. A highlight came in April 2014 when we hosted a Block (the National) Party outside the Young Nats’ Ball, exposing the contradictions between the ruling elite and reality. Check out a video of the action set to the band, Street Chant’s, song There Is No Depression In New Zealand. You can also take a look at the 3News coverage of the protest.
The generous support of many people enabled us to employ Nadia Abu-Shanab and Alastair Russell as coordinators for much of the year, with Nadia having recently moved into the position of co-chair of AAAP alongside Oliver Christeller. Sue Bradford has recently taken up a short-term coordinator position, until Sarah Thompson returns from maternity leave at the beginning of March 2015.
Advocacy
Our advocacy service continues to grow exponentially as more and more people find out we exist. If you would like volunteer as a beneficiary advocate, please contact us. We will be running a training session for new advocates early in the new year.
UBI (Universal Basic Income)
We are hosting a public meeting with Guy Standing from the UK, an international expert on UBI, from 6-8pm Wednesday 11 February 2014, venue to be advised.
In preparation for this, there will be an education and discussion meeting about UBI at AAAP in Onehunga: 5-7pm Tuesday 3 February. All AAAP members & supporters welcome. We’ll send out more background info before then.
Funding – can you help?
We continue to rely mainly on the generous support of individual donors who support our political kaupapa and advocacy work. Thanks so much to those of you who have given this year, and/or continue to make regular APs.
For those who can assist, we welcome your support – by internet banking to AAAP at 38 9011 0832874 00. Thank you!
Jonathan, Sue, Alastair & all of us here at AAAP
Auckland Action Against Poverty
www.aaap.org.nz
Auckland Action Against Poverty · New Zealand
