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VicLabour (Māori: Te Rangatahi Reipa o Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui), or The Victoria University Labour Club, is a branch of the New Zealand Labour Party. The branch is primarily made up of students from Victoria University and Massey University in Wellington, and focuses on issues relevant to young New Zealanders. Members of Vic Labour also play a large role in Young Labour, the youth wing of the party.[1]
| VicLabour Te Rangatahi Reipa o Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairperson | Vienna van Heeswyck |
| Founded | 1934 |
| Ideology | Democratic socialism |
| Mother party | New Zealand Labour Party |
| Website | www |
The branch is part of the Wellington Central Labour Electorate Committee. It is a "special branch" under the Labour Party constitution which means that members may live outside the boundaries of the Wellington Central electorate and do not have to be students. However, members of VicLabour are in general under the age of 26.
VicLabour's members participate in a wide range of activities including protests, being active in policy development, campaigning and community work.[2]
History
editVictoria Labour Club was established in 1934 by Alfred Katz. The branch was invigorated by Labour activists in the 1960s and helped to organise large opposition protests to the Vietnam War.
Membership has fluctuated often over the years but has always stayed prominent.
Student politics
editMembers of the branch have been heavily involved in student politics at Victoria University and Massey University. Andrew Little, former leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, was President of the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association 1988-89.[3] In 2011 VicLabour members put forward a variety of submissions to try to prevent the VSM bill coming into force and attended a number of protests and readings of the bill at Parliament.
Notable members
editNotable past members include:
- David Butcher[4]
- Chris Hipkins
- Darren Hughes
- Andrew Little
- Teri O'Neill, life member, Wellington City Councillor and activist
See more
editReferences
edit- ^ Young Labour Executive Archived May 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, website by Young Labour 20 May 2008
- ^ [1] website by Young Labour 5 July 2011
- ^ Big Dreams: Andrew Little, article by Salient 17 Sept 2007
- ^ "Labour Club Has Young H.B. Candidate". Salient. 32 (24). 2 October 1969. Retrieved 21 May 2017.