Park Up movement heads to Parnell
A protest against homelessness is heading to Prime Minister John Key’s neighbourhood.
The Park Up For Homes movement is holding its last planned Auckland protest against homelessness and has chosen Parnell as its final destination.
The event is expected to attract around 150 people who will park up and sleep in their cars on the night of August 25.
Protest organiser Mackenzie Valgre says a draw card for choosing Parnell was that the Prime Minister’s house was in the area.
‘‘We are wanting to bring this crisis into reality, take it to his doorstep…not literally of course,’’ she says.
The exact location will not be revealed until the morning of the event.
The initiative began in Mangere in June which attracted around 1000 people who wanted to show solidarity with those who were facing winter living in a car or garage.
Other events have been run throughout Auckland as well as Palmerston North, Wellington, Napier and Hamilton.
‘‘These protests are about showing solidarity with those who are currently facing homeless and rallying the Government to take strong action,’’ Valgre says.
‘‘We hope with Parnell that the Government realises that Kiwis all around New Zealand with different socio-economic circumstances want the Government to do better.’’
National MPs Nick Smith and Phil Twyford are yet to respond to their invitations the Parnell event.
However Green Party coleader Metiria Turei has confirmed she will be attending.
This is Turei’s second Park Up For Homes, having also attended the protest held at Parliament in June.
She says it is critical that pressure is put on the Government to do something about the number of homeless people and families.
‘‘We need to front up to the people who we are making decision for,’’ she says.
The event runs from Thursday at 7pm through to Friday at 6am.
Search Parkupforhomes on Facebook for more event details.
The Child Action Poverty Group is holding its Social Secur- ity Summit at the University of Auckland on September 2.
Building on last year’s inaugural event, the summit will focus on the government’s ‘‘social investment approach to welfare reform’’. The day-long summit will feature guest presenters who are experts in the welfare system as well as a panel of social service providers.
Visit cpag.org.nz to register.