The information in this file was recently published in FREEDOM - the fortnightly anarchist journal published by FREEDOM PRESS: FREEDOM PRESS (IN ANGEL ALLEY) 84B WHITECHAPEL HIGH STREET, LONDON E1 7QX GREAT BRITAIN Do write for a sample copy or for a copy of our booklist of publications. We will be putting more of this information out so watch this spot... NEWS FROM AOTEAROA THE COMMITTEE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVILISATION The Anarchist Alliance of Aotearoa is a loose network of small activist groups around the country, who have agreed to a brief statement of aims and objectives. At present there are 12 groups in Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch and Motueka and individuals in other centres. Several of the groups are comprised of Anarchist women, who also network separately as the Anarchist-Feminist Federation of Aotearoa. These groups formed after the 1990 conference, when it became obvious that women were not attracted to the Anarchist movement as it existed. The Anarchist movement in Aorearoa (Aotearoa is the name of the country, it was re-named New Zealand by Europeans) is small, but it has been steadily growing in numbers and in its influence in wider political movements. We are engaged in a number of activities in our attempts to spread anarchist ideas, and encourage people to organise in an anarchist manner. The Auckland group runs a bookshop 'Books from the Black Lagoon' and also operates a mail order book service. Anarcha-Fem theatre groups exist in Auckland and Wellington. A group of people in Takaka are experimenting with a rural collective. Magazines are produced by both the Anarcha-Fem Federation ('Sekhmet') and the Anarchist Alliance who are hoping to revive their journal ('The State Adversary') this year. Conferences and meetings of people from around the country are held from time to time, the last major conference, held in Wellington, attracted about 120 people, another conference is planned for Easter '95. In addition to activities in strictly anarchist groups, many anarchists are involved in other political movements, working on specific issues, especially the Peace Movement, the Unemployed and Beneficiaries Unions, environmental groups, Community Radio and in international solidarity groups such as East Timor Action and Friends of Tibet. GENERALLY SPEAKING... The movement has been through a process of reorganisation recently as it evolves from its roots in the Punk sub-culture into a wider more 'political' movement. It is now a varied mix of young punks, old punks ('punks' includes a number of people who have left the urban sub-culture and headed off for rural alternative lifestyles, who would probably once have been termed 'hippies'), people who have come in from other leftist movements (mostly the peace movement which we have quite a bit to do with), a few academic types and an increasing number of older people whose existance we are slowly discovering, or who have stumbled, often much to their amazement, across us. Yes, we're a happy little bunch of non-conformists down here, in fact the movement's so small we haven't even had a split yet, and all the various tendencies are on speaking terms with each other!