Calling all Kiwi unionists

Date: 06 March 2008

At the end of this year New Zealand will have a general election. New Zealand unions have asked the Australian union movement to support their campaign to get eligible New Zealand voters, based in Australia, enrolled to vote.

New Zealanders working here in Australia can get enrolled today by visiting this official Elections New Zealand website.

For New Zealand workers this coming general election will be important. The polls in NZ show a significant lead for the conservative NZ National Party.

Australian unions want to help unionists who can vote in New Zealand to get onto the electoral roll .... and vote when the election is called.

The New Zealand National Party are on record as wanting to do away with many rights and protections New Zealand workers have - including the right of appeal against unfair dismissal, elected health and safety reps and annual leave entitlements.

There are more than 100,000 New Zealanders in Australia who could have a vote in the upcoming election!

In 2002 less than 20,000 overseas votes were cast; and in 2005 less than 30,000 overseas votes were cast ( note these NZ overseas voters in the 2002 and 2005 elections lived in places across the globe, not just here in Australia).

The New Zealand election will be close - so there is clearly a lot of scope to organise more NZ voters living here in Australia to vote for parties supported by the New Zealand union movement.

Australian unions will circulate more information about the NZ elections as they are provided to us by the NZCTU - and as we get closer to election day.

For further information

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