The Suffrage Eve Debate

The Hand Mirror and AUSA have organised a Suffrage Eve Debate ("otherwise known as a panel discussion") on the topic of whether Eve should vote centre-left or centre-right, and more broadly, which approach offers a better world for women. Speakers will include Labour list candidate and blogger Anjum Rahman, Alliance candidate Sarita Divis, National candidate Nikki Kaye and ACT candidate Lyn Murphy.

When: 19:30, Thursday 18th September
Where: Lecture Theatre ENG3402, School of Engineering, University of Auckland, 20 Symonds St
How much: Gold coin donation appreciated (and they may even give you cupcakes)

Sounds like something well worth attending.

Drinking Liberally Wellington

Drinking Liberally is on in Wellington this Wednesday, with Green co-leader Russel Norman as the speaker.

When: 18:30, Wednesday 3 September
Where: Southern Cross, Abel Smith Street
Contact: wellington@drinkingliberally.org

Be there or be thirsty.

Robert Fisk in Wellington

Author and journalist Robert Fisk will be speaking in Wellington as part of Amnesty International's 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) lecture series. The first talk is at 20:30 on Sunday, 7 September, on "Human rights and the Middle East". The second is at 19:30 on Monday the 8th on his career and on journalism generally. Both talks will be at the Embassy Theatre and cost $25. Tickets can be booked from Ticketek.

Drinking Liberally in Auckland

Drinking Liberally is on in Auckland again next week, with union leader (and former Alliance leader) Laila Harre as speaker.

When: Wedensday, 27 August, 19:30
Where: London Bar, cnr Wellesley & Queen Sts
How much: Buy a drink
Contact: drinkingliberallyauckland@gmail.com

And remember that its on in Palmerston North tonight as well.

Where?

If you're wondering where to find Drinking Liberally in Palmerston North on Friday night, you'll be pleased to know that the website has a helpful map [zoom out]...

Right. So which side of the bridge is that on again?

Drinking Liberally hits Palmerston North

Drinking Liberally now has a Palmerston North chapter. The first meeting is next Friday, and the first speaker is Labour candidate for Whanganui Hamish MacDouall.

When: Friday, 22 August, 19:30 onwards
Where: Kingsgate bar
Who: Hamish MacDouall

I'm not sure how many liberals there are in Palmerston North. But it will be interesting to find out.

Update: Corrected time.

Robert Fisk in New Zealand

Robert Fisk is coming to New Zealand for Christchurch's Writers' Festival in September, where he'll be making two appearances: a talk on his book The Age of the Warrior on Saturday, 6th September, and a panel on the human cost of war on Sunday 7th September. Both cost money, so you should probably book early.

He'll also be appearing in Wellington on September 7th and 8th (no details yet), and in Auckland on September 9th as part of Amnesty International's 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Lecture Series.

Strangely, he is not coming to Palmerston North.

Drinking Liberally in Wellington

Drinking Liberally is on in Wellington tomorrow night, with special guest Trevor Mallard:

When: 17:30, Thursday 7 August
Where: The Southern Cross, Abel Smith Street
Who: Trevor Mallard (from 18:00)
Contact: wellington@drinkingliberally.org

They should also have a copy of the Disappearance Convention petition to sign as well.

Meanwhile, Drinking Liberally Auckland will be hosting Laila Harre on the 27th. I'll post a reminder closer to the time.

Freedom week

This week is Freedom Week, Amnesty International New Zealand's annual fundraising drive. The money they raise goes towards supporting their global and national campaigns (for example, on human rights in China, closing Guantanamo, and internet censorship), and on helping victims of repressive governments around the world.

The easiest way to help is to donate online, or by calling 0900 AMNESTY (0900 266 378) to donate $20. They'll also have street collectors out on Friday and Saturday. Alternatively, you can join here.

Please help Amnesty International speak up for those who can't be heard.

Drinking Liberally with Nicky Hager

Drinking Liberally will be holding its usual Wellington meeting this Thursday, with freelance journalist and Hollow Men author Nicky Hager as their guest speaker. He'll be speaking about what puts so many people off politics, with specific reference to Crosby Textor.

When: 17:30, Thursday, 3 July
Where: Southern Cross, Abel Smith Street, Wellington
Contact: wellington@drinkingliberally.org

Drinking Liberally hits Auckland

It looks like Auckland has finally got its act together and founded a Drinking Liberally chapter of their own. Their first meeting is next Wednesday (the 2nd of July), with Public Address' David Slack as guest speaker. After that, they'll meet on the fourth Wednesday of every month.

When: 19:30, Wednesday, 2 July
Where: London Bar, corner Queen and Wellesley Streets
How much: they probably expect you to buy drinks or something.

Reminder: Drinking Liberally

Drinking Liberally is on again this Thursday. They seem to have settled on a schedule now of the first and third Thursday of every month. It also looks like there'll be a chapter starting soon in Auckland.

When: 18:00, Thursday 19 June
Where: Southern Cross, Abel Smith St
How much: However much you feel comfortable spending on food and drink.

No speaker this week (they want a more social session), but they do have someone lined up for two weeks' time.

Reminder: Drinking Liberally

Drinking Liberally is on in Wellington tonight, with Michael Cullen as the guest speaker. They've only got him for half an hour, so it might pay to be a bit early just so you don't miss anything.

When: 18:00, Wednesday, 4 June
Where: Southern Cross, Abel Smith Street, Wellington

Be there or be thirsty.

Drinking Liberally in Wellington

Drinking Liberally is a US political movement aiming to connect people on the left, from unionists to greens, anarchists to Democrats over a few glasses of their beverage of choice. The aim is to provided a social space for lefties to get together, swap ideas, vent their collective spleens and argue about politics. And now it's coming to New Zealand - and specifically, to Wellington.

When: Wednesday 21 May; after that, the first and third Thursday of every month
Where: Southern Cross Tavern, Abel Smith St
How much: Obviously, you will need to buy something to drink. Or get someone to buy it for you.
Contact: wellington@drinkingliberally.org, or join the mailing list.

It kicks off next Wednesday; the first speaker will be the Greens' Nandor Tanczos. Be there, or be thirsty.

Something to go to in Auckland

Nicky Hager and Jane Kelsey will be holding a talk this Wednesday on surveilling the state, the rise in government surveillance since the start of America's "war on terror".

When: 18:00 - 19:30, Wednesday, 7 May
Where: Whare Wananga, Second Floor, Auckland Central Library, Lorne Street

Something to go to in Wellington

The Greens are holding a public meeting on the topic of "Oil Wars - Thinking Globally, Acting Locally" in wellington tomorrow night. Speakers will include Keith Locke, on the "resource curse", and Sue Kedgeley, onwhat we can do to reduce dependence.

When: Thursday 17 April, 18:00
Where: Mezzanine Floor , Wellington Central Library

Something to go to in Wellington

Te Papa and the VUW Centre for Public Law are once again holding their annual Treaty debates to explore the Treaty of Waitangi and its place in New Zealand today. The first debate will be held this Thursday (31 January), and feature Dr Matthew Palmer and Professor Mason Durie. The second will be next week (7 February), with Dr Charles Royal and Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres. Both will be held in Te Papa's Soundings Theatre, at 18:30; entry is free.

Something to go to in Wellington

As some of you may know, Saturday is a global day of action against climate change, with demonstrations around the world to demand urgent action from negotiators in Bali on a strong post-Kyoto framework. In Wellington, they're holding a Climate Action Festival in Civic Square and the City Gallery cinema, with talks and a screening of Leonardo DiCaprio's documentary The 11th Hour. Panel discussions include "Climate change - from science to policy to action", with Peter Barrett (VUW), Dr Dave Lowe (NIWA) and Ralph Chapman (former head of the climate change office, now at VUW), and "The outlook for someday - options for everyone" with Cath Wallace (VUW), Russel Norman (Green party co-leader) and Ray Ahipene-Mercer (Wellington City Council).

When: Saturday, 8 December, 12:00 - 19:00 (panels start at 12:30)
Where: Civic Square, City Gallery cinema, The Film Archive
How much: Koha

Meanwhile, in Palmerston North, we apparently get a stall at the local recycling centre...

Information about other events in New Zealand can be found on Be The Change.

Something to go to in Wellington

Transparency International NZ is holding a seminar before its AGM this Wednesday on Strengthening Trust and Reinforcing the Spirit of Service in the State Services [PDF]. The speaker will be Mr Beith Atkinson of the State Services Commission.

When: Wednesday, December 5, 17:00
Where: Lvl 2, James Smith Building, Cuba St

So, if you're interested in public sector values and the Public Service Code of Conduct (hot issues given the Setchell affair), why not go along?

Terror symposium

On Saturday, the VUW Postgraduate Students Association held a one-day symposium entitled For Freedom: Demystifying Terror in Everyday Life in New Zealand, on New Zealand's terrorism laws. I was unable to attend, but Stephen Judd did, and has put his notes up here.