Residents Action Movement
Encyclopedia
The Residents Action Movement (or RAM) was a political party
in New Zealand. RAM described 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 national chair was Grant Morgan
and its Co-Leaders were Oliver Woods and Grant Brookes.
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 elected to the ARC.
. It applied for a broadcasting allocation.
The party was registered by the Electoral Commission on 29 July 2008.
RAM received 465 party votes in the 2008 Parliamentary elections, coming second-to-last.
, allowing improved transport means for Auckland residents and fighting against climate change
. The other core messages of RAM were reducing rates on homeowners, shifting local taxation onto big business, and removing GST
from food. The organisation had a very strong policy of anti-racism
and particularly of supporting Muslim migrants to integrate into New Zealand society. It also called 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.
RAM also organised against racism
and Islamophobia
in the city, organising the high-profile visit and public meetings of UK MP
George Galloway
, alongside various other actions . They have sponsored peace marches in Auckland with Global Peace and Justice Auckland
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in New Zealand. RAM described itself as a broad left
Broad left
Broad Left is a coalition of left members, usually involving independents, members of the Labour Party, and members of organised revolutionary leftist movements within a trade union. Several groups are described by the term....
coalition, stretching from social liberals
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
, community activists and former National Party members to social democrats
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
, democratic socialists
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
and left-wing radicals. Its national chair was Grant Morgan
Grant Morgan
Grant Morgan is a political activist from Auckland, New Zealand.Morgan is a leading member of Socialist Worker, and the chairperson of the Residents Action Movement. He was also the first Secretary of the Solidarity Union, and the last General Secretary of the Communist Party of New Zealand.-...
and its Co-Leaders were Oliver Woods and Grant Brookes.
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
Auckland Regional Council
The Auckland Regional Council was the regional council of the Auckland Region. Its predecessor the Auckland Regional Authority was formed in 1963 and became the ARC in 1989...
in the 2004 local body elections, and polled over 87,000 votes. One candidate, Robyn Hughes
Robyn Hughes
Robyn Hughes is a local body politician in Auckland, New Zealand. She represented Manukau City on the Auckland Regional Council between 2004 and 2007...
, was 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 and Auckland City community boards. Despite receiving more than 117,016 votes Auckland wide, no RAM candidates were elected. In the Auckland Regional Council elections, its vote decreased, from 87,000 to 76,000. Across the board, the right made gains in Greater Auckland's 2007 council elections at the expense of both the centre-left (Labour-aligned tickets) and the left (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. Later in the year it achieved more than 2000 registered members, to contest the 2008 electionsNew Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
. It applied for a broadcasting allocation.
The party was registered by the Electoral Commission on 29 July 2008.
RAM received 465 party votes in the 2008 Parliamentary elections, coming second-to-last.
Policies
RAM advocated a policy of free and frequent public transport, with the aims of alleviating traffic congestionTraffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
, allowing improved transport means for Auckland residents and fighting against climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
. The other core messages of RAM were reducing rates on homeowners, shifting local taxation onto big business, and removing GST
Goods and Services Tax (New Zealand)
Goods and Services Tax is a value added tax introduced in New Zealand on 1 October 1986 at 10%. It later increased to 12.5% on 1 July 1989 and was further increased to 15% on 1 October 2010....
from food. The organisation had a very strong policy of anti-racism
Anti-racism
Anti-racism includes beliefs, actions, movements, and policies adopted or developed to oppose racism. In general, anti-racism is intended to promote an egalitarian society in which people do not face discrimination on the basis of their race, however defined...
and particularly of supporting Muslim migrants to integrate into New Zealand society. It also called 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.
RAM also organised against racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and Islamophobia
Islamophobia
Islamophobia describes prejudice against, hatred or irrational fear of Islam or MuslimsThe term dates back to the late 1980s or early 1990s, but came into common usage after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States....
in the city, organising the high-profile visit and public meetings of UK MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
George Galloway
George Galloway
George Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year...
, alongside various other actions . They have sponsored peace marches in Auckland with Global Peace and Justice Auckland
Global Peace and Justice Auckland
Global Peace and Justice Auckland describes itself as "a network of people who provide a platform for individuals and groups to discuss and organise co-operatively on peace and justice issues." They are well known for organising the Auckland component of the global February 15, 2003 anti-war...
.