Aotearoa Workers Solidarity Movement

AWSM has moved to awsm.nz

AWSM is now at AWSM.NZ

The Employment Relations Amendment Bill: A State-Sanctioned Assault on the Working Class

The National-ACT-New Zealand First coalition government’s Employment Relations Amendment Bill (ERAB), will see a sweeping series of legislative changes that reshape the legal terrain of labour in Aotearoa. These changes, billed by the government as necessary for “labour market flexibility” and “economic growth,” represent a radical rollback of worker protections. Cloaked in technocratic language and… Continue reading The Employment Relations Amendment Bill: A State-Sanctioned Assault on the Working Class

Aotearoa’s Billionaire Class Thrives as Everyone Else Struggles

In a moment of deepening crisis for most working people in Aotearoa, the capitalist class has something to celebrate. According to the National Business Review’s latest Rich List, New Zealand’s wealthiest individuals now command a combined fortune of over $102 billion. Let that sink in. While people queue outside foodbanks, live in motels, or work… Continue reading Aotearoa’s Billionaire Class Thrives as Everyone Else Struggles

The Cult of Kindness: The Reality of Jacinda Ardern’s Leadership

The Guardian’s recent celebration of Jacinda Ardern’s “kindness” reflects the liberal media’s obsession with style over substance, emotional affect over material analysis. Ardern’s global image as a compassionate leader—a sort of progressive antithesis to Trumpism—has become hegemonic in international discourse. She has been lauded for her empathy during the Christchurch mosque attacks, her cautious stewardship… Continue reading The Cult of Kindness: The Reality of Jacinda Ardern’s Leadership

The Regulatory Standards Bill: Neoliberal Shackles Disguised as “Good Law”

When the New Zealand Parliament debates “better law-making,” most people yawn. It sounds procedural, technocratic — even boring. But beneath the jargon of “clarity,” “predictability,” and “transparency,” lurks a political agenda. The Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB), first introduced in 2011 by ACT Party founder Roger Douglas’s disciple Rodney Hide and continuously revived in various guises… Continue reading The Regulatory Standards Bill: Neoliberal Shackles Disguised as “Good Law”

Rebuke and Resistance: Te Pāti Māori’s Protest, Abstentionism, and the Path to Indigenous Sovereignty

In November 2024, New Zealand’s Parliament became the stage for a historic act of defiance when Te Pāti Māori MPs performed a haka during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill. This cultural protest, met with harsh suspensions, reignited debates about the legitimacy of colonial institutions and the efficacy of Indigenous participation within them.… Continue reading Rebuke and Resistance: Te Pāti Māori’s Protest, Abstentionism, and the Path to Indigenous Sovereignty

Pay Equity Protest

Today Aotearoa Workers Solidarity Movement (AWSM) joined nation-wide protests against new legislation reversing pay equity in Aotearoa/New Zealand. AWSM participated in Rotorua for example, alongside approximately 50 others. The workers in the demonstration came from a range of organizations. There was an impressive variety of ages, ethnicities and genders represented. The protestors occupied the footpath… Continue reading Pay Equity Protest

Greenwashed Capitalism: The Limits of the Green Party’s 2025 Budget

The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand recently released its alternative 2025 budget, a document that has been lauded by many on the liberal-left as bold, transformative, and progressive. With proposals including a wealth tax, inheritance tax, tax-free income brackets, and significant investments in healthcare, education, and climate infrastructure, the Greens have positioned themselves as… Continue reading Greenwashed Capitalism: The Limits of the Green Party’s 2025 Budget