The Tauranga TPPA Action Network members will be present in Auckland New Zealand tomorrow 4 Feb. to protest the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement at SkyCity. The group are concerned about the secrecy of the agreement and worry that it could be signing away sovereignty and democratic rights.
Mel Caldwell, co-organiser of the Tauranga TPPA Action Network, said
"Our plan is to use non-violent direct action which will include a sit in to try to prevent the pacific leaders from entering SkyCity."
Ms Caldwell questioned the need for secrecy and the lack of public consultation if the deal was as good as the Government claimed it was.
"They keep calling it a free-trade agreement but there is no free in corporate trading and New Zealand will have to make big sacrifices in order to be part of the club.
Charlie Tawhiao, chairman of Te Runanga o Ngai Te Rangi Iwi Trust, said: "As an iwi organisation we have not taken a formal view on the agreement but there is no doubt that there is a ground swell of opposition to the TPP deal among our people."
Mr Tawhiao said the Government's failure to consult with Iwi did not auger well for future agreements and treaty negotiations.
The Government has published a 277-page assessment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade and investment agreement.
Proponents argue the deal is potentially worth thousands of jobs and billions in foreign exchange earnings.
Zespri chief executive Lain Jager earlier said the TPP deal would be a big win for the kiwifruit industry once it came into force as it was expected to eliminate millions of dollars worth of tariffs on kiwifruit exports into all 12 Asia-Pacific nations.
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stan Gregec said the Western Bay region had a wide range of industries which would all potentially benefit from the deal.
Source: nzherald.co.nz
