'I have no idea what I'm being led into' placard

This placard was worn at a protest rally and march held in Wellington on 15 August 2015 (beginning at Midland Park and ending at Parliament) to protest against the government’s intention to join the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), which is a free trade agreement between Pacific Rim countries. Thousands of people marched against the TPPA in rallies around the country, in concern that the costs to New Zealand outweighed the benefits. One concern was that the rights and interests of Māori could be vulnerable to overseas states and corporations that do not have to meet any obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi.

The protester who made and wore this placard around his neck also wore a hood, partly because he was a public servant and wanted to remain anonymous. The hood also helped emphasise his message about the lack of public information about the agreement’s negotiations.

The TPPA as it stood was scuttled by United States President Donald Trump when he came to office in 2017, although negotiations continued among other countries, including New Zealand, with a Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) being concluded in 2018.