Residents Action Movement

Infobox New Zealand Political Party
name_english = Residents Action Movement
name_maori =
party_
party_wikicolourid = NZFP
leader = Oliver Woods
president = Grant Morgan
deputy =
mps = None
foundation = 2003
ideology = left-liberal
international = (none)
colours = sky blue, white
headquarters = Auckland
website = [http://www.ram.org.nz/ Official Website]

The Residents Action Movement (or RAM) is a political party in New Zealand. RAM describes itself as a broad left coalition, stretching from social liberals, community activists and former National Party members to social democrats, democratic socialists and left-wing radicals. Its chairperson is currently Grant Morgan, who is also a leading member of Socialist Worker (Aotearoa).

History

Foundation

RAM was formed in 2003 out of dissatisfaction by Auckland community activists with the control of local body politics by centre-left Labour-supported City Vision and centre-right National-supported Citizens and Ratepayers.

RAM ran eight candidates for Auckland Regional Council in the 2004 local body elections, and polled over 87,000 votes. One candidate, Robyn Hughes, was successfully elected to the ARC.

2007 Auckland Local Elections

RAM expanded its activities in the 2007 Auckland local body elections, running seven candidates for the Auckland Regional Council and six for Auckland City Council, as well as candidates for Auckland's three District Health Boards. However, it failed to elect a single candidate, and in the Auckland Regional Council elections, its vote decreased, from 87,000 to 76,000 [ [http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/fms/main/Documents/Council/Elections/Election%20results%202007/DeclarationofResult.pdf Declaration of result of election for the Auckland Regional Council 2007 elections] , ARC, 17 october 2007] . DHB candidates gained 17,012 votes. Across the board, the right made gains in Greater Auckland's 2007 council elections at the expense of both the political centre-left (Labour-aligned tickets) and the left (notably RAM).

2008 Parliamentary Elections

In early 2008, RAM began to actively recruit to meet the 500 party member threshold required by the New Zealand Electoral Commission for party registration. RAM currently is in the process of building up a party structure in New Zealand, and already has more than 2000 registered members, to contest the 2008 elections. It has applied for a broadcasting allocation [ [http://www.elections.org.nz/news/ec-media-broadcasting-hearings-230408.html Commission to hear parties on broadcasting time and funding] ] .

The party was registered by the Electoral Commission on 29 July 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.elections.org.nz/news/electoral-commission-meeting-29jul08.html |title=Electoral Commission meeting summary |date=2008-07-29 |accessdate=2008-07-29 |publisher=New Zealand Electoral Commission]

Policies

RAM currently advocates a policy of free and frequent public transport, with the aims of alleviating traffic congestion, allowing improved transport means for Auckland residents and fighting against climate change. The other core messages of RAM are reducing rates on homeowners, shifting local taxation onto big business [ [http://ram-auckland.net/wordpress/2007/08/06/ram-stands-in-2007-council-elections/ RAM stands in 2007 council elections] ] , and removing GST from food [ [http://www.times.co.nz/cms/news/2008/04/art100020010.php "Taking GST off food big help to family budgets"] "Howick and Pakuranga Times", 21 April 2008.] . The organisation has a very strong policy of anti-racism and particularly of supporting Muslim migrants to integrate into New Zealand society. It is also calling for an "Auckland parliament" to co-ordinate local democracy in Auckland's five local cities, as an alternative to what it sees as an undemocratic "Super-City" body. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10400509 "Supersized rates bill for super city"] , "New Zealand Herald", 9 September 2006]

RAM has also organised against what it sees as racism and Islamophobia in the city, organising the high-profile visit and public meetings of UK MP George Galloway, alongside various other actions [ [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0704/S00245.htm Scoop: Leaders abhor mag's negative Muslim stereotyping ] ] . They have sponsored peace marches in Auckland with Global Peace and Justice Auckland [ [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0703/S00168.htm Please take a stand for peace!] ] .

External links

* [http://www.ram.org.nz RAM's Official website]
* [http://unityaotearoa.blogspot.com/2007/10/auckland-ram-election-results-2007.html Electoral Analysis of RAM's performance in the 2007 local elections]

References