Anti-TPP protests planned

A march in Kerikeri earlier this year voicing concerns about the TPPA trade deal. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF

Northland streets are set to be filled with people saying "no way" to the TPP, though the region's councils are remaining tight-lipped on the issue.

Northland Green Party convenor Ian Sturt is organising the Whangarei day of action against the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership agreement and is expecting at least 500 people to turn out to the Town Basin's August 15 event.

Anti-TPP protests will also be held in the Bay of Islands and Hokianga, with all three rallies starting at 11am. The Kerikeri protest will start outside the library on Cobham Rd, while the rally in Kohukohu, North Hokianga, will start on the Village Green.

"It's just too important to ignore," Mr Sturt said. "It's going to have a long-term impact on everyone. It'll be our children and our children's children."

Mr Sturt said he felt progress was being made in terms of the number of people informed about the TPP, "however, you say TPP and there are still blank faces, too many blank faces".

It was hard to say what the major issues for Northland surrounding the deal were, "as it was just so far reaching".

Representatives from across the political spectrum - including National's Dr Shane Reti - would be invited to speak at the protests, he said.

The shrouded negotiations have been pitched by the National Party as a way for 12 Asia-Pacific countries involved to access to each others' key markets, reduce tariffs and set common ground on issues like intellectual property rights.

Critics have said the deal should not be negotiated in secret and that it favours profiteers over everyday people. Prime Minister John Key acknowledged last week that New Zealand would have to pay more for medicines if it signed up to the deal. Talks broke down over the TPP in Hawaii last week.

Northland Regional Council and Whangarei, Kaipara and Far North district councils have declined to take an official stance on the issue.

An anti-TPP action group, The Renewables, wrote to councils nationwide in March 2014 asking them to adopt a 12-point resolution encouraging the Government to conclude negotiations in a way that would benefit their localities.

Following this, 10 councils including Auckland Council and Wellington City Council, have signed resolutions reasserting their rights against the deal.

A spokesman for Far North District Council said the matter had been taken up by Local Government New Zealand on behalf of all local bodies.

"As part of the recent Long Term Plan process FNDC received a request that we take a position supporting the campaign demanding complete transparency of the TPP negotiations," the spokesman said.

"Councillors did not form a specific position on this, except to say it was not something we would normally get involved in."