Matt Robson
Matt Robson
Cuban visit
Ode to fallen comrade
In November 1992, Locke wrote to the Green Left Weekly along with fellow leftists Paul Piesse, Petronella Townsend, Matt Robson and Lew Stribling, offering condolences on death of Australian Democratic Socialist Party leader Jim Percy. Said "We have known Jim since 1970. Since that time we have shared the same socialist vision and suported the same struggles against oppression. Through two decades we kept in contact with Jim and benefitted from sharing political ideas and experiences...Jim was with us in our early political development as members of the Socialist Action League in New Zealand. He was also alongside us when we formed the New Labour Party. He contributed his political ideas and experience to the NLP in a comradely and supportive way. He saw the NLP as a progressive development which could revitalise socialism in New Zealand and have a positive effect in Australia...We cannot be with you at the funeral of our comrade. However it is a maori tradition to sing at a funeral. We therefore request that when the Internationale is sung that it be recognised that the voices of Jim's comrades in New Zealand have also been raised as a final tribute to a respected fighter of the people".[1]
NZ Committee to Free the Cuban Five
Circa 2009, the list of Initiating Members and Supporters of the New Zealand Committee to Free the Cuban Five, included Matt Robson, Deputy Leader of the Progressive Party ,Associate-Foreign Affairs Minister 1999-2002.[2]
Cuban connection 2023
US Embassy letter/Cuban 5
On 6 April 2009 US Embassy in Wellington refused to accept a hand delivered letter from MPs, City Councillors, trade unionists, church leaders,academics and other New Zealanders calling on the US Government not to oppose the petition to the US Supreme Court for the release of the Cuban 5.
An attempt to deliver the letter was made by Wellington City Councillor, Ray Ahipene-Mercer and Secretary of the Weliington Cuba Friendship Society Gillian Magee but US Embassy Guards said they would not accept a hand delivered letter.[3]
- Dear Attorney General Holder
- We, the undersigned New Zealanders are writing this letter to you on the eve of the US Government submitting a brief in response to the 30 January 09 petition to the Supreme Court and the twelve separate amicus curiae briefs that were filed in the US Supreme Court on 6 March 2009 regarding the unjust incarceration of five Cuban citizens - Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, René González Sehweret, Ramón Labañino Salazar, Antonio Guerrero Rodríguez and Fernando González Llort - known as the Cuban 5.
- We urge the United States Government to acknowledge that a complete miscarriage of justice has taken place regarding the Cuban 5 and to support, rather than oppose, a review of the conviction by the Supreme Court. We urge you to immediately release the Cuban 5.
Signatories included Matt Robson.
With Cuban ambassador
Matt Robson, David Parker and Phil Goff with Cuban ambassador 2015.
Matt Robson with Cuban ambassador 2018.