19 June 2013
Heights discussed at first Unitary Plan workshop
Today elected members of Auckland Council attended the first post-engagement workshop following feedback on the draft Unitary Plan.

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse said the workshop brought together Local Board Chairs and the Auckland Plan Committee members to talk through the principles governing heights in centres and give interim direction on how changes will be made to the draft plan.

“The political direction that came out of today’s workshop is that, while we all agree we need a range of heights across our centres, we would like to see greater refinement to allow for variety within a centre where it is appropriate.”

The direction-setting workshops, which will be held over June and July, reflect the main topics in the 22,700 pieces of feedback Aucklanders gave over 11 weeks of engagement.

“We have started with centre heights as our first topic, as they set the framework for the level of development in other parts of Auckland.

“Proposed height limits for Auckland’s metropolitan, town and local centres have been widely debated, with clear argument coming through from each side of the debate. Our challenge for heights is to get the balance right and I believe we can do that,” said the Deputy Mayor.

Work will now start to refine the principles relating to height in centres as directed. These will then be presented for discussion at the next Auckland Plan Committee.

For further details on the feedback and the next steps in the Unitary Plan process, please see the Shape Auckland site.
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International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking
In support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) International Day against drugs, the Church of Scientology’s Drug Free Ambassadors in conjunction with the Mangere Maori Wardens are holding a seminar at the South Auckland Income Planning Services, 12-16 High Street (above the library) Otahuhu, on Wednesday 26th of June from 10am to 3pm.

The purpose of the conference is to raise awareness about the prevalence of drugs in our society and what solutions are available. There will be several community-based groups presenting their work and plenty of opportunities for people to network and find out about what is being done in the community to address the problem of drug abuse. The seminar is for anyone who would like to attend and find out more.

“This event is for people in the community who work at the coalface of the problem of drug abuse, whether it be alcohol, P or synthetic drugs,” said Rita Peters who is coordinating the event. “Parents, teachers and anyone who wants to help with the issue of drugs is welcome to attend,” she said.

The slogan for the UN International Day Against Drugs is: Make health your “new high” in life, not drugs. More information on the UN International Day Against Drugs can be found online at: www.unodc.org and Drug Free World on www.drugfreeworld.org

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Fly My Pretties Homeland Tour – a 20 Date Musical Journey Across NZ

September 2013 will see Fly My Pretties return to their roots,as they embark on 20 intimate shows across New Zealand on the Homeland Tour!

With the musical journey beginning at Aotearoa’s tip in Kaitaia and ending in the Southern-most city of Invercargill, the 20 date regional tour will see the collective chart a route rarely explored by top live acts.

Assembling a brand new cast of talent and a new book of songs reminiscent of the acoustic styles of their early releases; the mammoth tour will introduce the collective’s iconic high production show and cast of burgeoning kiwi talent to heartland New Zealand for the first time.

Led by Barnaby Weir, the latest Fly My Pretties incarnation will once again transform their live show and audiences can expect a performance unified by a fresh concept, which will be expressed through the collective’s song, costume, staging and inspired visual installation.

With 24 people on the road, delivering 20 shows in 18 regions, the Homeland Tour this September is no mean feat.

In keeping with Fly My Pretties tradition, all 20 shows of the Homeland Tour will be filmed and recorded live – this time for their 5th full-length release.

Tickets are now on sale!

For all ticket links & more info head to: loop.co.nz/events/upcoming

Or for a direct ticket link, see below and click on your town.

Announcements detailing the concept and cast will be released soon…



Stuff.co.nz & More FM present
FLY MY PRETTIES – HOMELAND TOUR

Thurs 05 Sept: Te Ahu, Kaitaia
Fri 06 Sept: Turner Centre, Kerikeri
Sat 07 Sept: Forum North Expo Hall, Whangarei
Sun 08 Sept: Town Hall, Dargaville
Tues 10 Sept: Mercury Theatre, Auckland
Weds 11 Sept: Mercury Theatre, Auckland
Thurs 12 Sept: Founders Theatre, Hamilton
Fri 13 Sept: The Devon Hotel, New Plymouth
Sat 14 Sept: The Royal Wanganui Opera House, Wanganui
Sun 15 Sept: Hawke’s Bay Opera House, Hastings
Weds 18 Sept: The Opera House, Wellington
Fri 20 Sept: Nelson School of Music, Nelson
Sat 21 Sept: NBS Theatre, Westport
Sun 22 Sept: The Fletcher Building Festival Club, Christchurch (2 shows)
Weds 25 Sept: Ashburton Events Centre, Ashburton
Thurs 26 Sept: The Union Hall, Dunedin
Sat 28 Sept: Wanaka Events Centre, Wanaka
Sun 29 Sep: Queenstown Memorial Hall, Queenstown
Weds 02 Oct: The Civic Theatre, Invercargill

Thanks to all our lovely partners who made the tour possible: Moa Brewing Company, Phoenix Organics Drinks, Yealands Estate Wines, Creative New Zealand, Ticketek, Jucy Rentals and Bluebridge.


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Online start-up seeks rapid uptake of English football in pay-per-view challenge to Sky TV

By Jonathan Underhill and Tina Morrison

June 19 (BusinessDesk) – Coliseum Sports Media is betting on rapid uptake for its pay-per-view English Premier League Football offering after outbidding Sky Network Television in a three-year contract that will be delivered via the PremierLeaguePass.com website starting on Aug. 1.

Coliseum is a 50-50 joint venture between four Auckland investors and Newport Beach, California-based Cooper Capital Partners, founded in 1989 by former Lion Nathan executive and NBR Rich Lister Peter Cooper.

No figures were disclosed for the rights to 380 live games and a package of previews, highlights and special features, and chief executive Tim Martin won’t disclose targets for subscribers.

PremierLeaguePass.com is initially offering a season premier pass with all the extras for $239.90, a regular pass with all the games plus on demand for $149.90 and a 24-hour Day Pass for $24.90.

“What we really need is all the people who love the Premier League – they really need to sign up,” Martin told BusinessDesk. The business “had a lot of costs upfront” including its investment in technology with New York-based NeuLion, which already delivers digital sports content.

Martin, a former ad-man, and his wife hold a controlling stake in MMCT Ltd, which owns the other half of Coliseum with two other investors, Simon Chesterman, and Coliseum director Kenneth Taylor

Assuming customers all took up the regular season pass, Coliseum needs about 6,670 subscriptions to generate each $1 million of revenue, which would be supplemented by limited advertising and a side-deal with Television New Zealand, which will get broadcast rights to a ‘match of the week’ and a highlights show.

“You do your research, make your assumptions and decide whether or not you’re going to do it,” Martin said. A marketing campaign between now and the August start date would include TVNZ, he said.
“We’ve signed a great deal with TVNZ.”

Sky TV shares dropped 4.6 percent to $5.41 as some investors said the emergence of an online challenger could signal a sea-change in the industry.

“The competitive environment is changing for them,” said Mark Warminger, who holds Sky Network shares among the $450 million in New Zealand equities he helps manager for Milford Asset Management.

“For a long time they have held a monopoly in this country and they have been able to secure content across the board,” Warminger said. “This is the start of the change. They may lose a number of other sports in the future.”

The company’s shares have been trading at a price to earnings multiple of 16.9, and are forecast to drop to 14.6 times earnings, according to Reuters.

“Sky TV is no longer a growth company, it is transitioning more to a dividend yield type stock,” Warminger said. The longer term consequences of competition should de-rate the multiple of the stock, he said.

In March, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp sold its 44 percent stake in Sky Network for $815.3 million at $4.80 a share. Four months earlier, New Zealand’s billionaire Todd family sold its 11 percent stake for $218 million at $5.05 a share.

(BusinessDesk)

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NZ dollar almost unchanged as traders await Federal Reserve meeting

By Paul McBeth

June 19 (BusinessDesk) – The New Zealand dollar was almost unchanged in local trading as traders await the outcome from the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy review and whether the US central bank plans to start unwinding its asset purchase programme.

The kiwi traded at 79.88 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 79.91 cents at 8am, and 79.87 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index was little changed at 74.12 from 74.06 yesterday.

Investors are in lock-down until the Federal Open Market Committee announces its assessment on Wednesday in Washington, in anticipation Fed chairman Ben Bernanke will confirm plans to taper the US$85 billion a month bond-buying programme this year. The greenback has been rallying in recent months amid speculation the Fed will start unwinding its stimulus, and the US Dollar Index was at 80.69 at 5pm in Wellington.

“Our house view is that it’s too early to signal tapering,” said Imre Speizer, market strategist at Westpac Banking Corp in Auckland. “Relief that there’s no tapering should then push up equities, push down the US dollar and push up the kiwi.”

Speizer said the kiwi may rise as high as 82 US cents, though that rally might be short-lived with another turnaround in a week or two.

Government figures today showed New Zealand’s current account deficit narrowed to $663 million in the first three months of the year from $3.2 billion the fourth quarter of 2012. The annual gap narrowed to about $10.1 billion, or 4.8 percent of gross domestic product, from $10.5 billion, or 5 percent, three months earlier, about matching the forecasts in a Reuters survey.

Prices of dairy products rose in Fonterra Cooperative Group’s latest GlobalDairyTrade auction this morning, snapping three straight declines as prices rose for skim and whole milk powder, and underpinning support for the kiwi ahead of tomorrow’s GDP result.

Data tomorrow is expected to show New Zealand’s economy grew 0.6 percent in the three months ended March 31, according to a Reuters survey of economists.

The local currency gained to 84.16 Australian cents at 5pm in Wellington from 83.87 yesterday after Australia’s central bank, which has cut borrowing costs by 2 percentage points over the past 20 months, signalled it may cut its benchmark rate more as it tries to spur industries such as construction to pick up pace while mining investment peaks.

The kiwi rose to 76.09 yen from 75.72 yen yesterday and gained to 51.09 British pence from 50.87 pence. The currency slid to 59.65 euro cents from 59.83 cents yesterday.

(BusinessDesk)

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Wynyard Group Share Price Set At $1.15 After Book-build

AUCKLAND, 19 June 2013 – Wynyard Group, the specialists in intelligence-led software and solutions for protecting companies and countries from threat, crime and corruption, today announced the share price arising from the book-build for Wynyard Group company shares has been set at $1.15 each.  The offer for shares is set to open on Monday 24 June and close on Friday 12 July ahead of a Friday 19 July listing on the NZX Main Board.

Following the book-build, the company will raise total proceeds of $65 million of new capital.  There will be no oversubscriptions.  Wynyard Group is pleased with the support from institutional investors and retail broker firms in New Zealand.

Wynyard Group Managing Director Craig Richardson said capital is being raised to accelerate Wynyard’s international growth strategy and meet the growing demand for its risk management, investigations, intelligence and digital forensics software.

“Wynyard is an attractive company with growing recurring revenue and a clear four-step global growth plan which is forecast to drive strong revenue growth[1].

“We have invested in innovation and product commercialisation for our solutions which help keep financial institutions compliant, airports safe, energy companies secure, intelligence agencies informed and police investigations operating.”

With a blue-ribbon global customer base, the company recently signed a long term contract with the New Zealand Police for its Wynyard Investigator product which is used internationally by more than 50 agencies ranging from the Australian Federal Police to specialist operations in the United Kingdom and multi-nation crime task forces in Asia.

Richardson said the company is an emerging industry leader with an experienced board, management team, renowned industry advisory team and will leverage its talent to help drive growth.

“We have over 120 staff across six regions and with staff numbers set to grow to 152 by the end of 2014 we are actively recruiting in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.  Our industry experts, specialist capability and unique culture is one of our greatest assets and plays an important part in our success,” he said. 

Wynyard Group has registered its combined investment statement and prospectus (the “offer document”) in relation to the IPO and the offer document can be viewed at http://www.intelligentinvestment.co.nz

NZX disclosure

Application has been made to NZX Limited (NZX) for permission to quote Wynyard on the NZX Main Board and all the requirements of NZX that can be complied with on or before the date of this announcement have been complied with.  However, NZX accepts no responsibility for any statement in this announcement.  The NZX Board is a registered market operated by NZX, which is a registered exchange, regulated under the Securities Markets Act.

ENDS

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MEDIA RELEASE
19 June 2013

Nationwide ‘Lean with us’ tour to support America’s Cup challenge

Kiwis in 16 locations around the country will have the chance to show their support for New Zealand’s America’s Cup challenge by signing two replica America’s Cup AC72 catamaran dagger boards as they tour New Zealand over the next three weeks.

Toyota together with Emirates Team New Zealand have built two replica dagger boards to tour New Zealand from late June. The tour will give Kiwis the chance to sign these boards and send the team their best wishes. Fans will also have the opportunity to show their support to the team in official ‘Lean with us’ photos which will be uploaded to www.leanwithus.co.nz.

The itinerary for the Toyota ‘Lean with us’ tour was announced today. Stops will include towns and cities from Queenstown in the south to Whangarei in the north. The tour runs from June 24 to July 12.

Toyota General Manager of Marketing Neeraj Lala said one of the most innovative components of Emirates Team New Zealand’s giant AC72 catamaran are the dagger boards or foils and these are central to Toyota’s ‘Lean with us’ campaign.

“When the dagger boards are covered with the best wishes from people around the country, we will deliver them to the team in San Francisco. They will sit proudly at the base and remind the team every day that New Zealand is fully behind them,” Mr Lala said.

He says the nationwide tour is part of a wider campaign which is focused on generating nationwide support for Grant Dalton and the Emirates Team New Zealand crew as they gear up for the challenge in San Francisco.

“The campaign we have created is called ‘Lean with us’, and its overall aim is to bring New Zealand together and get behind Emirates Team New Zealand in a way that is fun and appeals to all Kiwis,” Mr Lala said. “‘Lean with us’ is a play on our boats’ ability to foil at spectacular speeds. We’ve taken the simple concept of ‘leaning’ (the first step towards foiling), which is fun and will appeal to all ages, and turned it into a way for Kiwis everywhere to show their support for the team.”

Emirates Team New Zealand Managing Director Grant Dalton is already a fan of the ‘Lean with us’ campaign. He’s urging Kiwis to get into it and show their support for the team as they face their biggest challenge.

“When we go out on the water to race, there is nothing that will spur the guys on more than knowing they have huge support back home. It’s no coincidence that our greatest America’s Cup successes over the years have come on the back of nationwide support from Kiwis and that’s what will make the difference in 2013. This challenge is tougher than ever before so we need New Zealand to ‘Lean with us’ and help us make the boat go faster.”

In addition to the nationwide tour, Kiwis will be able to participate in ‘Lean with us’ through an online competition that will invite people to submit their best leaning photo, share the photo with friends and family but ultimately show their support for Emirates Team New Zealand. A lucky winner and their partner will join the team in San Francisco for some close up action.

“We will use social media to connect Kiwis to all the live action in San Francisco and help make everybody feel that they are part of the action,” Mr Lala said.

“Toyota has a rich and proud history with Emirates Team New Zealand which now spans 21 years,” he said. “As Kiwis we are believers. We believe that if you can dream it you can do it, and that’s why we’re supporting this team. This is the opportunity for the whole country to get behind the team and bring the cup home.”

The Toyota ‘Lean with us’ tour is supported by The Radio Network and The Warehouse.

The full itinerary for the tour is as follows.

Date City / Town Venue Time
24 June Queenstown The Warehouse, Queenstown 1-3pm
25 June Dunedin The Warehouse Extra, South Dunedin 1-3pm
26 June Christchurch The Warehouse Extra, Riccarton 1-3pm
27 June Christchurch The Warehouse, Rangiora 1-3pm
28 June Nelson The Warehouse Extra, Nelson 1-3pm
30 June Wellington The Warehouse Extra, Lyall Bay 1-3pm
1 July New Plymouth The Warehouse, Courtenay Street 5-7pm
2 July Palmerston North The Warehouse Extra, Palmerston North 1-3pm
4 July Napier The Warehouse Extra, Napier 1-3pm
5 July Rotorua The Warehouse Extra, Rotorua 1-3pm
6 July Tauranga The Warehouse, Cameron Road 1-3pm
7 July Hamilton The Warehouse Extra, Te Rapa 1-3pm
8 July Auckland The Warehouse Extra, Sylvia Park 1-3pm
10 July Whangarei The Warehouse Extra, Whangarei 1-3pm
11 July Auckland The Warehouse, Albany 1-3pm
12 July Auckland The Warehouse, Westgate 1-3pm
For more information visit www.leanwithus.co.nz.

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Outward Sound Recipients Round 2 2013

Outward Sound is pleased to announce the 2nd round of grant recipients for 2013.

Four Stage Ones, two Stage Twos, one Stage Three and three Business Development grants were awarded.
Gin Wigmore – Stage Three.

A star here in New Zealand, Gin Wigmore is fast becoming a household name in America. Songs from her album Gravel & Wine have already been heard in over 30 US campaigns (Heineken, Guinness, Lowe’s) and she has also appeared on national TV shows such as Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Day New York, VH1 Big Morning Buzz and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Wigmore’s self-titled EP went multi-Platinum here, and was soon followed by her multi-Platinum album debut, Holy Smoke that, at one point, had four of its songs simultaneously in the NZ Top 40 chart. Gin was named Break-through Artist Of the Year at the 2010 NZ Music Awards, and Holy Smoke was the big winner, taking home Best Pop Album, Highest Selling Album, and Vodafone Album Of the Year honours.

Before beginning work on her follow-up album, and hungry to feed her Blues appetite, Wigmore took a two month solo trek along the Mississippi Blues Trail and the heartland of America “to wrestle my emotions and bring out the raw grit hiding in my tightly guarded sub-conscious.”

Already multi-Platinum with a #1 debut here in NZ, “Gravel & Wine” was released in the US in March, and is being supported by Wigmore’s participation in the 40 city cross-country Warped Tour.
Six60 – Stage two

To say it has been a busy few months on the road for Six60 is an understatement. Late last year they traveled to the USA for their first series of shows taking in dates at CMJ festival in New York followed by shows in LA and San Francisco. They returned stateside in 2013 with several electric performances at SXSW and onto Canadian Music Week. The band then headed to the UK in May where they unleashed their energetic live shows on audiences attending the Great Escape festival in Brighton where they won over many new fans.

Six60 will be based in Berlin for a few months to focus on the release of their multi-platinum selling debut album. They will be touring and performing in and around Europe during this time in support of the release. The band will also be playing at the legendary Glastonbury festival on Friday June 28th.

“These guys know what they’re doing. They wanted everyone to have a good time and enjoy the music and it didn’t take long for that to happen, playing some of the coolest tracks I’ve heard in a long time. These guys are good, exceptionally good. Six60 had done what they came to do and that was to rock the hell out of L.A. Mission accomplished, guys” – POPZINEONLINE

The Phoenix Foundation – Stage Two

Having Just released their 5th Studio album Fandango which saw the album enter the NZ Top 40 charts at #4, The Phoenix Foundation set off on a European Album release tour throughout May. The tour saw the band perform 8 shows in the UK and others in major Cities such as Berlin, Amsterdam and Paris.

Released again in Europe by Memphis Industries the album has already gained some great reviews in some of the UK’s most prestigious press. The Albums first video single The Captain was premiered on leading UK news site thegardian.co.uk.

“A Compelling Sonic Journey” 7/10 – The Times April 2013

“The UK took over a decade to discover The Phoenix Foundation, but it’s always worth waiting for the good gear.” 7/10 – NME April 2013

“Cloaked in fuzzy melancholy, Fandango is one for dreamers” Mojo June 2013
Princess Chelsea – Stage one

Princess Chelsea has been very busy touring Europe since early May on the back of the release of her new single ‘We’re So Lost’.

The band began their tour as the main act support for Alt-J playing 11 dates at O2 academies throughout the UK and in Dublin including 2 nights at the Brixton Academy. Princess Chelsea is currently still touring Europe playing headline shows with Pikachunes until early July. Having just played their first show in Portugal the band is about to embark on an Eastern European tour including the United Islands Festival in Prague and headline shows in Hungary and Slovakia.

Villainy – Stage One

Since their formation in 2010 Villainy have wasted no time in becoming a dominant force in New Zealand rock. Their debut LP Mode. Set. Clear. was released late last year, debuted at #8 in the NZ Top 10 and spawned numerous top 10 radio hits including signature tracks Alligator Skin and Gather Yourselves both reaching # 1 in the rock radio charts. Villainy began 2013 by supporting The Offspring and Billy Talent at Vector Arena and also playing a coveted late afternoon slot at Homegrown and then embarking on an extensive nationwide tour.

They are now casting their eyes to Australia and in September will travel to Brisbane’s Big Sound conference and perform shows in Sydney and Melbourne focused around the Australian release and promotion of their album there.
Clap Clap Riot – Stage One

Clap Clap Riot are a four-piece rock n’ roll band from Auckland, New Zealand, known for their raw and energetic songwriting and magnetic live shows.

In 2012 the band unveiled their debut album Counting Spins through Universal Music NZ. Upon release, the album debuted at #1 on the NZ Top 40 chart, received a nomination at the 2012 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards for Best Rock Album, was named the NZ Rock Album of 2012 by iTunes and saw the band shortlisted for NZ’s most prestigious songwriting award, the APRA Silver Scroll for the single Everyone’s Asleep. In tandem, their single So You Say hit #1 on the NZ iTunes Rock Charts, and reached #4 on the NZ Singles Radio Airplay Chart.

The band head to Australia in September to play a series of shows which will also include showcasing at the Big Sound conference in Brisbane.
Flip Grater – Stage One

New Zealand singer-songwriter Flip Grater has been busy recording her fourth studio album in Studio Pigalle, Paris. The album features a new French band and 12 brand new tracks.

Over the past 10 years Flip Grater has released three critically acclaimed albums (2006′s Cage For A Song, 2008′s Be All And End All, and 2010’s While I’m Awake, I’m At War) and published two books – The Cookbook Tour and The Cookbook Tour Europe.

Recently, Flip has been busy performing across NZ with Fly My Pretties, touring in France, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, UK and Austria, touring Germany as support act for popular French bands Cocoon and Aaron, playing in Switzerland with Mathieu Boogaerts and showcasing at festivals such as The Great Escape, Reeperbahn and MAMA. Her last European jaunt also saw her featured on a cover compilation for the German edition of Rolling Stone magazine. Flip’s last album While I’m Awake I’m At War was nominated for Folk Album of the Year at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards and released across Europe too much critical acclaim.
Business Support Grants

The Outward Sound Business Development grant enables up to 2 representatives to undertake a market development visit.

This involves traveling to the desired market (or markets) and meeting with companies/individuals and to capitalise on opportunities created. It supports managers, artists, and companies undertaking business-to-business meetings as well as attending tradeshows and associated events.

Recipients for Business Development Grants this round were:

Matt Coleman for Let The People Speak

Ashley Page for Page One Management

Cushla Aston for Aston Road

About
Outward Sound provides assistance for market development initiatives, encouraging and supporting the entry of New Zealand music and musicians into global markets. New Zealand music industry practitioners (artists, managers etc.) and firms (record companies and associated businesses) can apply for assistance through the programme for a range of international market development activities including:
• Market visits
• In-market representation
• Publicity and promotion
• Marketing materials
• Showcases, trade fairs and other events
The Outward Sound programme is implemented and managed by the New Zealand Music Commission (NZMC). It is inclusive of music from all genres, styles and niches and applicants may target the international markets that are appropriate to them. Bands, composers, songwriters, producers, and solo artists – at different stages of international market development – are able to access the programme. The foundations of the programme are research, collaboration, network development and information sharing.

For further information visit: http://nzmusic.org.nz/international/

Issued by the NZ Music Commission

The NZ Music Commission is a non-profit organisation set up to promote music from New Zealand and grow NZ music businesses.

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There is an event coming up this Saturday (June 22) at 2pm on Albert Park, Auckland Central.
“LET’S GIVE THIS SHOUT OUT TO BRAZIL! Act of repudiation against police violence and support for the peaceful protesters in Brazil. Brazilians and everyone who lives here in New Zealand who care about the well being of our loved ones, friends and strangers in Brazil, let’s spread this message.”

From Facebook Event:
March for Brazil – NZ

http://www.facebook.com/events/550748674973719/

About Brazilian Protests:
Reporter tells how the Police brutality marked the latest protest (with English subtitle) – from one of the biggest Brazilian Newspaper: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folha_de_S._Paulo

Images showing the police violence (with English subtitle)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=297881930347743

About the protests against the World Cup: “Don’t come to Brazil” (with English subtitle)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=282057565272808

2013 protests in Brazil

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_protests_in_Brazil

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Red Cross Marks World Refugee Day with a Call For Volunteers

Every minute, eight people around the world are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict or persecution.

Communities around New Zealand are joining together this week to honour the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to make such a journey.

World Refugee Day will be celebrated on Thursday June 20th. The theme ‘one family torn apart by conflict is too many’ sadly reflects the situation of many people Red Cross works with globally , from conflict zones such as Syria and Mali, to here at home in New Zealand.

World Refugee Day was officially marked last week in Parliament with an event held by New Zealand Red Cross and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees hosted by the Minister of Immigration, Hon Michael Woodhouse.

Against the backdrop of the unfolding crisis in Syria, where refugee numbers having now surpassed 1.5 million, New Zealand Red Cross National President, Dr Jenny McMahon, reminded attendees at the parliament event that the global community cannot become complacent.

“New Zealanders can be proud of our country’s commitment to helping those who have fled, but we can do more to assist and support people who find themselves in such situations of vulnerability. This includes quota refugees who are rebuilding their lives, to those who are seeking protection and asylum in New Zealand.”

One great way to support is by volunteering with New Zealand Red Cross to help a recently arrived refugee family build a new life in New Zealand.

Community volunteers are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to assist newly-arrived refugees with orientation around their local community, setting up new homes and linking families up with local social service providers.

Volunteer support opportunities are available in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington and Nelson. Further information on volunteer opportunities can be found at www.refugeeservices.org.nz .

ENDS

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