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Protestors gather in the rally outside Britomart train station holding placards and watching speakers. Some are sitting on the floor of the paved square.

Image description

Protestors gather in the rally outside Britomart train station holding placards and watching speakers. Some are sitting on the floor of the paved square.

In photos: Auckland communities 'rise up' to protest sanctions and cuts to disabled people, beneficiaries

Eda Tang
By Eda Tang

A protest rally organised by System Change Aotearoa and Disabled People Against Cuts Aotearoa was held at Auckland’s Komititanga Square on Sunday. Protesters and MPs gathered outside the train station to speak out against the Government attacks on disabled people and beneficiaries.

Image description: Nicola and a child are smiling as they hold up a cardboard placard that reads “KIA KAHA WHAIKAHA” above a star, heart and flower in fluorescent colours. Nicola’s shirt reads “MY TUMMY HURTS”. 

  • Nicola and a child are smiling as they hold up a cardboard placard that reads “KIA KAHA WHAIKAHA” above a star, heart and flower in fluorescent colours. Nicola’s shirt reads “MY TUMMY HURTS”.

  • Nicola Owen from Disabled People Against Cuts was one of the organisers of the rally and wanted to provide a space for people to express how they were feeling.

    “I remember just over two years ago how buoyant everybody felt that there was going to be a new ministry, a ministry that we’d campaigned for for so long and then suddenly without any consultation the minister just decided to take everything away from us again.” 

Image description: The back of Jazz, seated in a walker, and Finn seated in a wheelchair. Both are wearing colourful knitted clothing and have slogans written on their mobility aids. In the foreground, Jazz’s walker reads “F*CK THE MEDICAL SYSTEM” in white lettering.

  • The back of Jazz, seated in a walker, and Finn seated in a wheelchair. Both are wearing colourful knitted clothing and have slogans written on their mobility aids. In the foreground, Jazz’s walker reads “F*CK THE MEDICAL SYSTEM” in white lettering.

  • Last time there was a rally, Jazz was stuck in bed. This time, Jazz is glad to be surrounded by the community who fights alongside them. “It makes me feel hopeful. This government is very scary. And being disabled in itself is very scary, but having a government that feels like they want you dead is also very scary.”

    Finn (who is using another name) says: “Disabled people are never truly seen as human beings by the capitalist society that we live in, and never mind the Government's repulsive use of power, I feel like the time has come for a lot of people in the disabled community to unite for the first time in all the experiences we've had of discrimination, ableist oppression and experiences of inaccessibility.”

Image description: AJ, who is wearing a red and white keffiyeh and a purple beanie, speaks into the microphone. 

  • AJ, who is wearing a red and white keffiyeh and a purple beanie, speaks into the microphone.

  • AJ Hendry from Kick Back Make Change speaks about how government decisions will increase homelessness. 

Image description: Anu Kialoti holds a white sign with dark blue writing which reads, “To: Nicola Willis, Give Whaikaha (Ministry of Disabled People) a budget to support disabled people and their carers to have equity”. 

  • Anu Kialoti holds a white sign with dark blue writing which reads, “To: Nicola Willis, Give Whaikaha (Ministry of Disabled People) a budget to support disabled people and their carers to have equity”.

  • Anu Kialoti from the Migrant Workers Association shared their experience with MSD as a parent of a disabled adult. 

Image description: Agnes Magele, who is wearing a light pink hoodie points a finger while speaking while addressing the rally. Brooke Pao Stanley, wearing a bright yellow rain jacket, stands next to Magele. 

  • Agnes Magele, who is wearing a light pink hoodie points a finger while speaking while addressing the rally. Brooke Pao Stanley, wearing a bright yellow rain jacket, stands next to Magele.

  • Agnes Magele from Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP) led the chants, “1, 2, 3, 4, stop the war on the poor. 5, 6, 7, 8, stop the sanctions, stop the hate.”

Image description: Danni, seated, is clapping while chanting with the crowd. Elle, who wears a khaki Palestine shirt, stands close behind Danni and chants along. 

  • Image description: Danni, seated, is clapping while chanting with the crowd. Elle, who wears a khaki Palestine shirt, stands close behind Danni and chants along.

  • Danni and Elle attended the protest in solidarity with disabled people and beneficiaries. 

    Danni comes as a worker in solidarity with beneficiaries and those who rely on public housing. “I’m so disappointed in the sanctions approach and the loss of responsibilities with Whaikaha… disabled people have our own solutions so if you talk to us you’ll get to be part of this solution.” 

    Elle says: “I’m here today as someone who has a Sunday, has time, cares deeply about this issue and wants to be in solidarity and offer my presence to this.” 

Image description: Caitlin Smith leans into a note as she sings into the microphone. Caitlin is wearing black sunglasses, a mint green scarf and a tweed coat. She holds a white cane in her left hand.

  • Caitlin Smith leans into a note as she sings into the microphone. Caitlin is wearing black sunglasses, a mint green scarf and a tweed coat. She holds a white cane in her left hand.

  • Caitlin Smith entertains the rally with a song None of us are free. 

Image description: Keiko, who uses a wheelchair, addresses the rally. They have burgundy dreadlocks and are wearing knee high blue socks with rainbow hearts on them.

  • Keiko, who uses a wheelchair, addresses the rally. They have burgundy dreadlocks and are wearing knee high blue socks with rainbow hearts on them.

  • Keiko Gutierrez from Inclusive Greens Aotearoa spoke about how being disabled often intersects with other marginalised identities. 

Image description: Robbie and her two young children sit on the pavement surrounded by other protestors. Camille, who uses a power chair, films the speeches next to her. 

  • Robbie and her two young children sit on the pavement surrounded by other protestors. Camille, who uses a power chair, films the speeches next to her.

  • Disability rights activist, Dr Robbie Francis Watene, and her family attended the rally.

Image description: A pair with bright coloured hair sitting on the floor of the square holding a sign propped on the end of a pink walking stick with the monopoly man on a spit roast between “END AUSTERITY EAT THE RICH”.

  • A pair with bright coloured hair sitting on the floor of the square holding a sign propped on the end of a pink walking stick with the monopoly man on a spit roast between “END AUSTERITY EAT THE RICH”.

  • Mel (right) believes that everyone should have a living wage. “Everyone should have access to not just the bare minimum to survive but to be able to have good lives.”

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