Rotorua joins protest action over TPP

About 100 people attended an anti-TPP protest march in Rotorua on Saturday. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua residents joined thousands of people around the country at the weekend protesting against the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal.

About 100 people marched through central Rotorua on Saturday, doing a loop of the city before returning to the Lakefront's Village Green.

Rotorua/Te Arawa TPPA Action Group chairwoman Marama Meikle said the turnout was pretty good for Rotorua. A number of speakers, including Annette Sykes and Catherine Delahunty, addressed the crowd.

"The event started at 1pm and finished after 5pm. We held a concert with seven local acts performing in support of the kaupapa, which shows word is getting out there to the wider community."

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But a lot of people are still unaware what it's about. It's almost 6000 pages of text and for the average Kiwi it will not make a lot of sense.

Marama Meikle

"We weren't consulted, we haven't given the Government permission to sign this deal and everyone needs to make a stand against the TPP and this attack on global democracy," she said.

But PF Olsen chief executive Peter Clark said from the point of view of the local forestry sector the TPP would provide many benefits for the region.

"We have too many logs going offshore as just raw logs. We need to be sending more processed products overseas. Raw logs have zero tariffs while processed wood like cardboard, sawn timber, plywood, MDF and engineered wood products do attract tariffs.

"The TPP will, over time, remove those tariffs. It's hard to invest in a wood processing plant in New Zealand when those tariffs are in place so the TPP would be fantastic for jobs and local income," Mr Clark said.

"Many people have come out in support of TPP, including Helen Clark. As the prime minister said, we are a trading nation and we are not going to get rich selling stuff to ourselves."

Ms Meikle said the action group wanted the Government to - among other things - allow an independent assessment to take place, release all background documentation relating to the negotiations and initiate a full public and parliamentary debate on the TPP, and put the TPP to a public referendum before formal signing.