People are turning out in Auckland, despite the weather
Thousands
demonstrate against the TPPA
Here
are some early pictures
Thousands are gathering at Aotea square to say TPPA No Way despite the dodgy weather
Thousands expected to rally against TPP
"Minister
of Trade Tim Groser. Photo / NZME.
15 August, 2015
Thousands of people are
expected to rally against the Trans-Pacific Partnership in both
Auckland and Christchurch today.
More than 9000 people
have RSVP'd to the Auckland event on Facebook, saying they'll be in
the city to vent their rage.
The rally begins at Aotea
Sq at 1pm and will be followed with a march to the US Consulate.
Barry Coates will act as
MC and said there has been a rising wave of public concern about the
behind-closed-doors trade deal.
"It comes from
across society. It comes from lawyers, economists, public health
specialists - a range of places," he explained.
"We're really hoping
there's going to be a big turn out so we can send a strong message."
He's also delighted
Americans living here have been given a warning about the gathering.
The US Consulate has
advised US citizens to avoid the area, saying even demonstrations
intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational. Mr Coates said the
alert has had the opposite effect.
"We're very grateful
to the US Consulate for spreading the word. We've heard back from a
lot of people who are planning to join the march and received the
letter, so it was a useful reminder to them."
Christchurch's movement
will kick off at 12pm, going along Riccarton Rd.
Organisers are expecting
slightly smaller turn out compared to Auckland's event, with only
3000 people anticipated.
Spokesperson Gen de Spa
warned motorists to avoid Riccarton Rd and use alternative routes.
Despite the warning, she
said it's ultimately about getting the message across.
"The idea for us is
that people are hearing about it because they are being held up and
interrupted in their busy day," she explained.
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