Aotearoa Internationalism

Join us for a free conversation between anti-imperialist activists Emmy Rākete, Nadia Abu-Shanab, and Paweł Wargan to discuss what internationalism is and why it is important in Aotearoa New Zealand today.

The current New Zealand government has a right-wing agenda aligned with those around the world where the few take resources and power from the many, while blaming and further oppressing those who are most vulnerable. 

Leaders of governing parties are inciting racism and division, while their agendas undermine environmental progress, and increasingly align with U.S. military interests. These actions not only further exacerbate existing inequalities: they threaten our health, ecosystems, economy and our safety. 

The speakers will discuss why internationalism matters and how we can build solidarity as more than a slogan.

Artwork credit

Visual Rongoā 2.0 by Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho

Mihi to local customs

In the cultural context of Aotearoa New Zealand, being able to place people and who and where they and their ancestors come from is important. We will begin with whakawhanaungatanga (introductions, establishing of relationships and connections) from panellists and hosts, while inviting attendees to participate via the chat. A short list of useful Māori vocabulary and translations can be found below.

Speaker bios

Nadia Abu-Shanab is an activist, teacher, strategist and community organiser with Palestinian, English and Irish ancestry, working with Justice for Palestine NZ. Alongside the Jewish activist Justine Sachs, Nadia was instrumental in NZ pop musician Lorde’s Israel boycott, covered by Stuff NZ and The Guardian. 

Dr Emmy Rākete is an activist and academic of Ngāpuhi and Te Rarawa descent, who works as a lecturer in Criminology at Waipapa Taumata Rau Auckland University. Emmy is a founding member of People Against Prisons Aotearoa, for whom she is the group's press spokesperson. She has spoken alongside Vijay Prashad on Marxism and decolonisation. 

Paweł Wargan is a Polish activist, writer and organiser. He currently serves as Political Coordinator at the Progressive International. His writing has been published in the Monthly Review, Morning Star, Verso, Tribune, and Peace, Land, and Bread, among others.

Māori Vocabulary

Aotearoa – the Māori name for New Zealand 
Māori – First Nations / Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa 
Te rēo – literally ‘the language’ often ‘te rēo Māori’ 
Kia ora – hello / thanks 
Mihi – to greet, pay tribute, acknowledge, thank
Ngā mihi – acknowledgements / thank you
Pākehā – a British, European or non-Polynesian New Zealander
Whakawhanaungatanga – the process of establishing relationships, relating well to others
Tino rangatiratanga – absolute sovereignty, self-determination, highest chieftainship 
Karakia timatanga – opening incantation / prayer
Karakia whakamutanga – closing incantation / prayer
Kotahitanga – unity, togetherness, solidarity, collective action 
Kaupapa – topic, policy, matter for discussion, purpose, subject, theme, etc. 
Kaitiaki – guardian, steward
Kōrero – to tell, speak, talk
Wānanga – deliberation 
Whakaaro – to think, plan, consider, decide
Ako – dialogue 
Ake – upwards 
Ake, ake, ake – forever, evermore, on and on as used in protest/encouragement

For further translations please refer to Te Aka Māori Dictionary: maoridictionary.co.nz 

Relevant links and reading

progressive.international

papa.org.nz (People Against Prisons Aotearoa)

justiceforpalestine.nz

hamptonthink.org/read/internationalism-today-an-interview-with-pawel-wargan 

tinangata.com/2023/10/23/from-palestine-to-aotearoa-tino-rangatiratanga

newsroom.co.nz/2024/10/07/nzs-independent-foreign-policy-hugely-compromised

pantograph-punch.com/posts/solidarity-is-a-verb

Notes from the organisers

This event was co-conceived and coordinated by Nadia Abu-Shanab and Ché Zara Blomfield, the Arts and Culture Coordinator of the Progressive International. 

Please note we will share the Zoom link via email ahead of the event. We do not require your phone number, that is a requirement from Humanitix, please feel free to enter 0204000000. 

We welcome you to share the event with your friends and colleagues.