The Peace and Social Justice Group of the Auckland Unitarian Church have made a submission to the New Zealand Parliament in support of the proposed Worker Protection (Migrant and Other Employees) Bill. Submissions closed 1^st December 2022

This purpose of this omnibus bill is to improve compliance and enforcement legislation to deter employers from exploiting migrant works, and to deter employer non-compliance with immigration and employment law. The related offence and penalty regimes are amended to ensure mirror enforcement regimes for by both migrants and non-migrants. The bill also aligns the powers of the Labour Inspectorate and Immigration New Zealand, and supports greater collaboration between the two regulators to undertake compliance and enforcement activity.

For more information, please refer to:-
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_127261/worker-protection-migrant-and-other-employees-bill.

The Peace and Social Justice Group supported all aspects of the Worker Protection (Migrant and Other Enmployees) Bill, and recommended that the Bill be passed in its entirety, and that the Bill obtain Royal Assent as soon as possible.

You are invited to a Zoom Book Launch – Wayne Facer’s latest book

Saturday August 20^th 5pm via Zoom (link below) – come and meet the author

Upon reading a copy of the book Sir Lloyd Geering said that “Norman Murray Bell deserves to have his life recorded” and he had “enjoyed reading it and seeing the grand collection of photos.”

Agenda – Launch will take no longer than one hour.

• David Hines MC – Welcome to the speakers
• Peter Lineham, Professor of History Massey University
• Brent Efford, son of Lincoln Efford a contemporary of Bell, remembers meeting Norman Murray Bell
• Wayne Facer

How to order the book? – instructions below – this can be done at any time

When the army called Bell in 1917, he flatly refused and was imprisoned for two years with hard labour. As one of New Zealand’s 2,320 military defaulters from the First World War, his civil rights were curtailed for ten years. This book details Bell’s peace activities as well as his leadership in the Unitarian movement.

The stories of our peace heroes and anti-war activists, are an important but neglected part of New Zealand and world history. Thankfully some are being documented, even though they are not given the attention they deserve by society.

Graham Murphy, writer and reviewer for Faith and Freedom, Oxford says; Wayne Facer’s biography details family history, school career, and the lasting effects of Bell’s devotion to peace. Consistent with the author’s earlier work, A Vision Splendid, this book is a fascinating read.

Laurie Ross, New Zealand Nuclear Free Peacemakers says; Prophet at the Gate is a major contribution in the documentation of NZ peace history. Peaceworkers continue the noble tradition of cultivating civic pride in higher social values of humanity and the spiritual struggle for human goodness, truth and beauty.

HOW TO ORDER

you can order your copy of the book here whether you attend the Zoom meeting or not – Details of pricing and options below;

Options for buying book

1. New book only (Prophet at the Gate) = $35.75 includes GST and postage
2. New book (Prophet at the Gate) plus A Vision Splendid 2^nd edition (half price) = $50 includes GST and postage

How to buy book

• Deposit into Auckland Unitarian Bank account; 02-0100-0024691-00 and note name, and book in the payee instructions
• Send the following details to viv@tasel.co.nz or phone Viv at 021550180
  • Which option (1 or 2)
  • Postal address
  • Name you would like Wayne to write in the book when signing your copy
  • Email and Phone number in case we need to contact you

This book is essential reading for anyone who has an interest in New Zealand’s early history, Unitarianism, trade unionism, worker’s education and the fight for secular education.

In a world where religion is increasingly associated with hatred, bigotry, fanaticism, violence and misogyny, Jellie’s story provides an alternative – a vision splendid – where values rooted in the liberal religious tradition are the ones helpful in promoting social justice, protecting the powerless and reducing social and economic inequality. It is a story we can turn to for inspiration as we continue to work for fairness in society, equality of opportunity, and the enrichment of the human spirit.

Zoom Link

You are invited to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Prophet At The Gate
Time: Aug 20, 2022 17:00 Auckland, Wellington

Join Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87459070550?pwd=whorFjnnkIWg8l0FPoy6_mhTUnj_qR.1
Meeting ID: 874 5907 0550
Passcode: 856115

One tap mobile
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Dial by your location
+64 4 886 0026 New Zealand
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Meeting ID: 874 5907 0550
Passcode: 856115

Find your local number if dialing in from outside NZ:
https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kWxPSCW1m

Update 14/6/22

On 6 June, a small group of 6 PSJ members (Gary Bendall, Henri van Roon, Paul Henriques, Shirin Caldwell, Jonathan Mason and Brenda Bendall) representing the wider Peace & Social Justice Group met on Zoom to go through the MBIE survey, discussing each point, and reaching a consensus answering the survey questions. The completed survey was submitted to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on 6th June on behalf of the Peace and Social Justice Group of the Auckland Unitarian Church.

All members had personal knowledge of situations where Modern Slavery and Worker Exploitation had occurred. The varied work and life experiences of the 6 meant that considered responses were made, and many thanks go to all for their very valuable contributions.

An opportunity to have your say on Modern Slavery and Worker Exploitation as it relates to NZ.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) are seeking feedback on new legislation that aims to achieve freedom, fairness and dignity in the operations and supply chains of entities and to address modern slavery and work exploitation, both in New Zealand and internationally. 

The proposal would create new responsibilities across the operations and supply chains of all types of organisations in New Zealand, with more responsibilities for larger organisations.  Submissions close 7th June 2022. 

The PSJ Group are working towards a collective submission, however you can submit as an individual if you wish. This social action fits well with our UU 7 Principles, so please take this opportunity to have your say.

For more information on how to make a submission, please go to  https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/modern-slavery. 

If you’re short on time, read the summary of proposals and complete a short survey. It shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes and can be anonymous, or you can make a detailed submission at Survey: Legislative options to address modern slavery and worker exploitation

Submissions and survey both close on 7 June 2022 at 5pm. 

Thank You!

On Wednesday evening, 8 December 2021 at 7.00pm,

Auckland Unitarians Peace and Social Justice Committee are hosting an Interfaith Celebration of Human Rights Day which is held annually on 10 December.

All are welcome and we encourage you to join a Zoom gathering for 60–75 minutes via the Zoom Link below.

Faith representatives include Rev Clay Nelson for Auckland Unitarians, and Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Maori-Bahai, Sikh, Islamic speakers, each of whom will present a five-minute sharing of how their faith expresses its commitment to human rights. The event relates to Article 18 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which begins “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”