Giving ordinary Kiwis a voice with GST-off-food: Auckland Central candidate

"I'm proud that RAM's People's Procession has brought our GST-off-food petition around the country and gotten our election policy out to the grassroots of New Zealand society," said Oliver Woods, RAM Candidates Co-Leader and Auckland Central candidate.

"This Friday will see the Maori Party MPs accepting RAM's GST-off-food petition at Parliament. Like RAM, the Maori Party cares about the plight of ordinary New Zealanders and believes that cutting GST-off-food will be the best tax cut on offer this election for most Kiwis."

"During my campaigning in Auckland Central, RAM has been accused by major party members of promoting changes to what they think is a 'perfect' and 100% simple tax."

"Yet these big party politicians have forgotten that their big business friends in the banking and finance industries have exemptions on GST for much of their operations - rewarding their risk taking behaviour and promoting profiteering."

"These hypocrites, particularly in Labour and National, tell the silent majority in this country who struggle to pay their grocery bills to shut up about GST. Yet they gladly take GST off corporate money deals for their rich donor mates who happily price gouge fellow New Zealanders."

"I want to send a message to Aucklanders and people around the country: it's time for a new voice for the people of New Zealand in Parliament."

"Give RAM two ticks in the 2008 election to get representative, common sense policies like 3% home loans to bring back the New Zealand dream of home ownership and free bonded tertiary education if you stay in New Zealand after you graduate."

"Auckland Central is supposedly a two-horse race in the media, but what about the many thousands of people in the electorate who have watched both parties callously disregard their interests, whether it be over climate change policy and the high costs of petrol, food and rent?"

"These people deserve a voice, and RAM's grassroots campaigning successes all over the country, including our Aotea Square GST-off-food rally, show that people want RAM as the serious alternative to vote for in the 2008 elections."

"Kiwis have had enough and want change from the tired personality politics of Labour and National in Auckland Central, and only RAM will fight hard for the interests of ordinary Aucklanders."

"Only a vote for Oliver Woods and the RAM party in Auckland Central will deliver the change my constituents crave."

RAM Backgrounder

RAM first arose in Greater Auckland as an organiser of the Rates Revolt against the regional council's massive home rate hikes in 2003. In the five years since its birth, RAM has campaigned for free and frequent public transport, for solidarity with low-paid workers and against hate attacks on New Zealand Muslims. RAM won 100,000 votes in Greater Auckland's 2007 council elections.

In March 2008, RAM decided to go nationwide and to stand for Parliament as a registered political party as well as councils. In the six months since then, RAM has gained 3,000 members in the country's fastest political recruitment drive.

RAM has more than 25 candidates for the 2008 General Election. Several of them are also standing for electorate seats in Whangarei, Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington. ---

ITINERARY People's Procession main stopovers

KAITAIA 9am Sat 20 Sept @ Kaitaia Markets, The Warehouse carpark, Mathews Av.

KERIKERI 2pm Sat 20 Sept near corner of Kerikeri Rd & Cobham Rd.

KAIKOHE 11am Sun 21 Sept near New World supermarket, Marion Pl, next to Hau Ora O Kaikohe offices.

WHANGAREI 12 noon Tues 23 Sept in Cameron St Mall, Whangarei city centre.

NORTH SHORE 12 noon Wed 24 Sept outside Information Centre on Hurstmere Av, Takapuna shopping centre.

WAITAKERE 12 noon Thurs 25 Sept outside New Lynn library on Memorial Dve, behind Lynn Mall & off Great North Rd.

AUCKLAND 12 noon Fri 26 Sept in front of Aotea Square, Queen St, central city.

MANUKAU 9.30am Sat 27 Sept inside the Mall, Mangere Town Centre, off Bader Dve.

HAMILTON 11.30am Sun 28 Sept at Garden Place, Victoria St.

TOKOROA 3pm Sun 28 Sept at park alongside shopping centre.

TAURANGA 12 noon Sun 28 Sept at Fraser Cove, next to The Warehouse.

ROTORUA 12 noon Mon 29 Sept at City Focus, central city.

PORIRUA 11am Tues 30 Sept under the canopy at the shopping hub.

UPPER HUTT 12 noon Wed 1 Oct outside ANZ Bank, Main St.

LOWER HUTT 12 noon Thurs 2 Oct outside Westfield Queensgate Mall, Bunny St entrance.

WELLINGTON 12 noon Thursday 2 Oct , corner of Cuba and Manners Malls.

HANDOVER OF PETITION TO MAORI PARTY MPs 12 noon Friday 3 Oct on the steps of Parliament.

ENDS

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