Sam Murray

Sam Murray is a New Zealand activist, and the partner of Brendan Tuohy. From Williamsburg Virginia.

Marxist thesis

Sam Murray, earned a PhD in 2001 (Anthropology) from Massey University.

"Terra Aquarius - A Marxist Ethnography of the Alternative Lifestyle in Nimbin." Supervisor Professor Jeff Sissons.

She thanked her Redfish partners Brendan Tuohy, Conal Tuohy, Miriam Tuohy, Greg Ford, Harry Nowell, Spike Thomas. Ian Rotheram scanned photos for the thesis.

Background

Sam Murray co-founded ReddFish intergalactic with Brendan Tuohy and Harry Nowell (also Massey graduates) circa 1987. ReddFish is a computing partnership specialising in Maori-language software, of which the Maori language computing software package, Te Kete Pumanawa Rorohiko, is best known. Te Kete was sent free to every kohanga reo, kura kaupapa, primary and secondary school in Aotearoa, courtesy of Te Puni Kokiri acting to promote te reo. The package allows macrons be placed over vowels as is recommended by Te Taura Whiri (the Maori Language Commission ), rather than indicating a long vowel sound by typing in a double-vowel.

ReddFish has written a union membership system called Kupenga, which can be used over the Internet. Their other major product is a listserver add-on for Microsoft Exchange, called Ikakura. Ikakura was written to automate subscription to Exchange Server’s Distribution Lists. Reddfish also provides training, support and consultancy services and writes custom software for clients.

We are a socialist collective and try to work in areas that we feel passionately about and that we see as progressive. It is this premise that lies behind our focus on Maori and union software.

TUEA

In the mid ’80s, Mike Law was working at Centre for Continuing Education, at the University of Waikato. Shortly after Labour’s 1984 election victory, he was appointed chairman of of a four person Task Force on Trade Union Education. His three colleagues were;

• Jackson Smith; A senior Socialist Unity Party member and Wellington Drivers Union official
• Dick Lowe; A former Labour party executive member and official in the SUP dominated, Labourers Union
• Maryan Street; A PPTA official, Labour party activists, known to be on friendly terms with the SUP. Now a Labour list MP.

This Taskforce led to the establishment of the Trade Union Education Authority. Until it was abolished by the Bolger Government, TUEA served as a taxpayer funded propaganda vehicle for the SUP. Known Party supporters who were paid or subsidised by TUEA include; Graeme Whimp, Hazel Armstrong, Ros Goldsbrough, Brendan Tuohy, Joe Tepania, Gary Reading, Sam Murray and Marilyn Kohlhase.

Workers Communist League supporters on the payroll or in receipt of TUEA subsidies include; Graeme Clarke, David Steele and Therese O'Connell.

Socialist Unity Party

In 1990 Sam Murray was subscriptions contact for the Socialist Unity Party theoretical journal - Socialist Politics.

1996 Same address as Brendan Tuohy, involved in computer services.

Phd

In 1997, according to Reddfish Website

My work for ReddFish is currently limited to doing the monthly invoicing, although I have been a ReddFish partner since its beginning. In the past, my ReddFish work has included client liaison, clerical and accounting duties, user training, and consultancy for clients wanting computer and network upgrades.

I am presently completing a PhD project into the rural alternative lifestyle community in northern New South Wales, in an area known as the "Rainbow Region," with particular emphasis on the town of Nimbin. I want to show the extent to which the alternative lifestyle communities form a stinct sub-class, with particular economic, social and cultural characteristics. I look at the role of migration, the role the new settlers play in the economy, the effects of welfare subsistence on the economy and the "urban" culture ntroduced by the new settlers leading to what has been described as a "rural renaissance" in the area, and the articulation of drug-use with both the economy and the ideology of the alternative lifestyle participants. The purpose of this study is to gain insights into the class structure of modern capitalist societies.

On the basis of this research I make predictions about the future development of the alternative life communities. Work History Between February 1988 and March 1994 I was employed by the Council of Trade Unions and the Trade Union Education Authority as the Computer Services Officer for their shared computer network. This job involved training all staff members on the use of the computer network, programs, file maintenance, and health and safety issues related to computer use. Prior to this I worked as a Research officer for the Social Science Research Fund Committee. I was a university student from 1979 until 1983, with a year off in 1981 to work.

For the first two years I was studying in the school of Social Work, and in the last two I generalised into the social science faculty. During 1982 and 1983 I worked for the Massey Hostels Office - firstly as an Assistant Hostel Supervisor and then in 1983 as a Supervisor. I was in charge of some 160 students living in eight hostels and had two assistants working with me. It was this job which provided most of the difference between the low bursary of the time and my actual financial needs. During my year off in 1981 I worked at Elsie Women's Refuge in Sydney.

Interests and links I fancy myself as an unofficial All Black selector, last year correctly predicting 34 of the 36 members of the development squad. Selection is always difficult because I have to not only judge the form of the players, but also take into account the likes and dislikes of the official selectors (in particular their Auckland bias). I live with the lovely Brendan Tuohy, and we share our abode with more cats than is ecologically sound. Other than that I play squash, mow lawns, put out the rubbish and experiment (unsuccessfully) with the plumbing.

Anthropologist

In 2002 Sam Murray was an anthropologist.

SPA

• 2003 - Article in Red Flag October issue on Internet Activism, quotes Marx.

• 2003 - December article in Red FlagLink title on the "IN and Global Organisation"

• 2004 - Secretary Gordon Watson Branch of the Socialist Party of Aotearoa.

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 Sam Murray, Central Committee, Socialist Party of Aotearoa.

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.

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 Sam Murray.

References

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