New Zealand's fastest growing party registered

Saturday, August 2, 2008 - 10:00

Below is a July 30 statement by the Residents Action Movement.

On July 29, the electoral commission agreed to register the Residents Action Movement (RAM) as a party that can stand candidates under its name.

RAM is New Zealand's fastest growing party, having gained 3000 members since late February, when RAM decided to switch from being a Greater Auckland local coalition to being a national people's movement that contests elections.

On average, RAM has gained 150 new members every week since then.

"At our RAM tables, the grassroots are telling us how worried they are about meeting their bills, and also how upset they are that both Labour and National are only looking after the rich people", said RAM chairperson Grant Morgan.

RAM has issued our "ten commandments" — ten policy priorities — which offer immediate "common sense" improvements in people's lives.

Heading the list is our call for GST to be removed from food. RAM's GST-off-food petition has already attracted 20,000 signatures.

From GLW issue 761