Climate Strike Promotes Make It 16 and Indigenous Voices
Words by Zoë Mills (they/she)
Hundreds of protesters gathered on Parliament grounds on Friday 3 March to push the government for climate action. This was part of a national strike day across the country, led by School Strike 4 Climate NZ and Fridays For Future.
The group met at Civic Square and marched down Lambton Quay, before settling on Parliament grounds to share speeches and chants.
“Whether [it’s] students, [or] union workers […] I think affirmative action [through] striking is a way to get noticed. I mean, I'm sure there's no one inside Parliament right now who can't hear us”, said third-time-striker and VUW student Alice.
School Strike 4 Climate NZ and Fridays For Future presented five demands to Parliament. These included regenerative farming practices, providing e-bike rebates to low-income households, and lowering the voting age to 16.
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau was present, as well as Labour MP Ginny Anderson and Green Party Co-Leader James Shaw. National candidate Emma Chatterton also attended and was heckled as she spoke.
Representatives from the Act Party and Te Pāti Māori were not present.
Organisers Nellie Potter, 17, and Naomi George, 12, say that organising the strike was “really amazing” because they were able to work with some great people. “It involved a lot of late nights and early coffee mornings. But, it's definitely been worth it today,” Potter says.
George said that working alongside a multi-generational group of organisers, including SS4CNZ founder Sophie Hanford, “really helped with getting stuff done”.
“[Striking] really shows the government how much we care[…] showing the government how hundreds of people turn up will hopefully push them to make those policy changes,” said Potter.
Make It 16 had an undeniable presence at the event. The day prior to the strike, the group released a statement in opposition to Hon Michael Wood, who hinted at a possible referendum to lower the voting age. The group responded that a referendum on this subject would be unfair on those under the age of 18.
“I think everyone in our group and the majority of our crowd supports making it 16,” organiser Naomi George said.
Friday's protest emphasised the importance of indigenous voices being at the forefront of climate justice. Alice noticed that the strike included “much more leadership” from Māori and Pasifika groups. “They've put a lot more effort into making sure that the whenua owners are recognised and Māori have input [at] the protests,” she said.
Pere and Samah Huriwai-Segar, both 31, say that engaging Māori communities on a larger scale within the climate justice movement is key to building a collective movement. “Movements need to make spaces inclusive. They need to be welcoming in Māori, finding ways to build engagement in a really genuine way,” Pere says.
“Whether it's climate [justice], animal rights, prison abolition [...] we all need to be working with all of our diverse communities so that we can all work together.”
However, organisers of rangatahi and youth-led movements are “still learning” and are bound to make mistakes due to lack of experience, Samah mentioned.
“[To] expect them to be super aware of the politics of inclusion, and how to navigate that discourse […] I don't think that's fair.”
Wellington was one of the 7500 cities who took part in Fridays For Future’s Global Climate Strike, proving, once again, the power of youth activism.