The Marches for Democracy

Thank you for the email John and you have my sincere condolences on the bereavement of your dad . God bless his soul . Kiwiland needs more people like you mate. I hope that a significant number of New Zealanders get involved in the vocal opposition and March against this communist regime like legislation . We must, as free kiwi's, fight to maintain our fundamental democratic freedom of expression in society . How could Helen Clark's scurrilous government ever think New Zealanders would fall for her electioneering racketeering tactics again . Oh no Miss Clark . Not for a second time .
In solidarity
d4j

Letter from John Boscawen, please note that this email would be illegal under the provisions of the Electoral Finance Bill from January 1 next year.

The Marches for Democracy


Auckland Town Hall to Queen Elizabeth Square, Saturday 17 November from 10.00am.

Lambton Quay, Wellington to Parliament, Wednesday 21 November from 12.30pm.


To members of my extended family, my friends and my business acquaintances


Most of you will know of my political interests, however it is not often I discuss them with you.

I am writing to you about the Electoral Finance Bill and I am asking for your help.

Last Thursday, I launched a nationwide radio advertising campaign against the bill.

On Monday, The New Zealand Herald came in behind my campaign, with a rare front page editorial under the headline “Democracy under Attack”. It is available at www.nzherald.co.nz. Finally New Zealanders appear to be waking up to the implications of this bill.

The reason I have taken such unprecedented steps is because I believe that the very tenets of our democracy are at risk. At a time when the government is giving itself new powers to spend your taxpayers money electioneering, the rights of ordinary citizens to speak out against any political party are to be severely curtailed. New Zealand’s fragile democracy is under siege. The country may never be the same again.

This is not a party political issue, it affects all New Zealanders.

The Human Rights Commission, headed by a former trade unionist, Rosslyn Noonan, said the bill will have a “chilling effect” on the freedom of speech and was “inherently flawed”.

In an extremely rare move both the Commission and the Law Society called on the government to withdraw the bill. They have been ignored. Further the Commission has said that whatever changes are made, MUST be notified to the public again. The Commission agrees with the bill’s motives of openness and transparency, but it has insisted that the public process must be correct.

I am organising protest marches in Auckland this Saturday 17 November from the Auckland Town Hall at 10.30am (assemble from 10.00am) and in Wellington next Wednesday 21 November for a march on Parliament and I need your help to spread this message and make these marches a success.

This is not an issue to be decided behind closed doors by politicians, who think we should simply wait to be told our fate. The Human Rights Commission and the Law Society saw that, and I hope you can too.

I am asking you to onforward this email to your own acquaintances, friends and family, with if appropriate, your own personal endorsement, and in turn ask your friends and colleagues to do the same.

Secondly, I am asking you to attend one of these two protests. We owe it to our forebears to stand up and fight for the freedoms they have given us.


You may never have marched in protest before, few have. However, if you only ever join one protest march in your life, I am asking to join the March for Democracy.


Kind regards



John Boscawen.
john@boscawen.co.nz








Additional Notes:


1. Members of the legal profession with black robes are encouraged to come to the front and march in them, as symbolic of the Law Society’s objections. Members of other professions should also feel free to march in uniform to reflect the fact that this law affects all, no one is spared.

2. Members of migrant communities are welcome to bring their national flags, particularly those who have lived under communist or socialist rule, or whose countries were occupied during the world wars.

3. I understand that there will be some who for a variety of reasons will find it difficult to attend. If this is the case, please take the time to encourage others who are able to march.



14 November 2007

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