Protest meetings in Mangere and Glen Eden, Auckland tomorrow, September 16
Venkat Raman
Auckland, September 15, 2023
Hundreds of people are expected to rally behind Pacifica and ethnic community leaders as they demand ‘Immigration Justice’ in the South and West Auckland suburbs of Mangere and Glen Eden tomorrow, Saturday, September 16, 2023.
Pacifica community leader Rachel Mario, who is leading the protests organised by the Mt Roskill-based Whanau Community Hub, said that the first protest meeting will be held at 11.30 am outside the EFKS Samoan Church, located at 43 Thomas Road, Mangere.
Racial discrimination alleged
“We will protest against the Immigration Policy of the government which is racist and discriminatory. We will express our concerns to Prime Minister and Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins who is expected at the venue to launch his Party’s election campaign. As the Labour Party has said, there is so much at stake in the forthcoming general election. This government has done nothing for the Pacifica people and ethnic communities,” she said.
Ms Mario said that people from the Pacifica and ethnic communities are also suffering the adverse effects of the cost-of-living crisis, and other misgivings of the government.
The second protest will be held from 1 pm in front of the electorate office of Deputy Prime Minister and Kelston MP Carmel Sepuloni at 200 West Coast Road, Glen Eden.
“With the Dawn Raids Apology, our Pacifica leaders had asked for a pathway to Residency, and it was understood that this would immediately follow. This has not eventuated. We demand Amnesty for our Hope Seekers (overstayers),” Ms Mario said.
She said that the government has recently approved residence visas for hundreds of Ukrainians who arrived in New Zealand only last year.
“We have no objection to the special privileges granted to these people who came from war zones. But more than 14,000 Pacifica and ethnic people have been stateless in New Zealand for many years. We demand justice and a similar pathway to residency for all people who have been denied a legal status for many years,” she said.
Hard-Working communities ignored
It is understood there are about 2000 people of Indian origin in this mix, about half of them from India. Some of them are employed, while others subsist in poor conditions.
“Our Ethnic and Pacifica communities who have been here for a very long time and have contributed to our economy have not had a reprieve for our hope seekers (the government calls them overstayers). We demand that the government reduce the cost of living like petrol and food. Many people are struggling to make ends meet. The government should also provide affordable housing which is people’s basic need under the Human Rights Act,” Ms Mario said.
She said that the Migrant Workers Association and the Unite Union led by Anu Kaloti will also be joining the protest rallies in South and West Auckland.
