Mole News

Why not to have Maori Wards
A few days ago, Western Bay District Mayor Garry Webber shared his views about why Western Bay should have a Maori ward.

......The Mayor correctly notes that the law enables ratepayers to demand a poll when a Maori ward is proposed, but not when geographical wards are created or modified.

He implies that this is a bias in the system, and implicitly agrees with Local Government New Zealand in calling for the removal of the right for ratepayers to demand a poll when a Maori ward is proposed.

But he conveniently ignores the fact that creating political systems which are quite explicitly based on race is fundamentally different from redrawing geographical boundaries.

All New Zealanders should strongly reject attempts to create racially-based political systems. Vote NO to the creation of a Maori ward!....
See full article HERE

Iwi want to sort out their own issues
Tauranga iwi Ngai Te Rangi are joining with Auckland iwi Ngati Whatua in a hikoi to Wellington to advocate for a ‘tikanga’ approach to dealing with intertribal grievances.

Ngai Te Rangi chief executive Paora Stanley says tikanga is a sophisticated inquisitorial system based in centuries of use by Maori.

“It is a system that is understood, tested, and based on simple principles of whakapapa and ahi kaa.....
See full article HERE

Māori households saw the highest inflation in the March quarter
Māori households saw the highest inflation in the March quarter and price rises for cigarettes and tobacco had the largest impact on inflation for most household groups, Statistics New Zealand said.

Maori households saw their cost of living rise 1.3 percent compared to the December quarter and Stats NZ said the increase was "driven by higher prices for cigarettes and tobacco, and interest payments."

Overall costs for the lowest-expenditure household group were up 0.8 percent in the March quarter compared with the December quarter, Stats NZ said.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

14  May  2018

Electoral Commission asking for law change around the Māori Roll
The Electoral Commission is advocating for the Minister of Justice to allow Māori to switch freely between the Māori and General Rolls.

At last year's election year 19,000 people tried to switch between the two, and were frustrated to find out it's only once every five or six years they can do it.

Voter Harikoa George is on the Maori roll, but she wants the option to switch between the two freely.

"They have never done anything dodgy to make me think twice about it, but the second they do, I would like to be able to switch......
See full article HERE

Maori shellfish project wins scholarship
University of Waikato PhD student Vanessa Taikato has been awarded the 2018 Bruce Cronin BayTrust Scholarship to study ways in which Maori moved marine shellfish from location to location.

Worth $5000, the scholarship was established by BayTrust to recognise Bruce Cronin's service to the people of the Bay of Plenty.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

12  May  2018

Iwi’s Gulf Island rights to be tested
The Supreme Court has been asked to decide if an iwi's manaakitanga over an area gives it the right to effectively veto commercial operations there.

A University of Auckland legal expert who specialises in indigenous cases, Associate Professor Claire Charters, says this will be an important decision that all iwi will be keeping an eye on.

The case it will look at involves Auckland iwi Ngāi Tai, which recently lost a Court of Appeal case over the Department of Conservation’s issuing of five-year tourism concessions to Fullers and the Motutapu Island Restoration Trust on Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands.

The tribe argues that those roles give it more than just the right of objection to anything planned in the area. In its appeal, Ngāi Tai said it should be allowed to reap the benefits of the commercial return generated from such visitors.

Charters says another interesting aspect of the case is the extent to which the judiciary now takes into account of manaakitanga......
See full article HERE

Peters says Maori roll not needed under MMP
New Zealand First's Leader says he's not surprised there's been a drop in Maori electoral roll numbers.

Those eligible for the Maori roll are being given the chance to choose whether to stay there, or opt for the general roll.

More than 2,000 had left the roll after just a month into the Maori Election Option process.

Winston Peters says Maori have seen a massive increase in representation under MMP.

"Despite enormous publicity, Maori people are voting with their feet. Maori people see us as one country despite our various historical and cultural backgrounds."......
See full article HERE
More on the above here > Māori voters opt for General Roll

Treaty overlap: Iwi claim place on Tauranga harbour board
Pare Hauraki Collective was at Parliament yesterday pleading their case before the Māori Affairs Select Committee.

A 2004 Waitangi Tribunal ruling found the group did have customary interests in Tauranga Moana, but influence over the harbour has been the sticking point for local iwi Ngāi Te Rangi who are part of the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective.

An existing Treaty settlement already gave the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective several seats on the board which governed Tauranga Harbour, but as part of its negotiations Pare Hauraki Collective also wants a seat on the board.....
See full article HERE

Winston Peters says the Greens can have a Kermadec Sanctuary – with a catch
Hope for a Kermadec Sanctuary is back on the table and NZ First leader Winston Peters is confident he can do a deal with the Green Party by the end of the year.

The deal would involve a compromise from the Greens though – accepting that the sanctuary won't be a 100 per cent no-fishing zone.

The 620,000-square-kilometre sanctuary was considered dead in the water when Labour and NZ First joined forces to form a Government after the election.

To keep the fishing industry happy and to ensure iwi with fishing rights under the Treaty of Waitangi are on board, Peters is proposing a mixed model that allows for roughly 95 per cent marine reserve and 5 per cent fishing.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

11  May  2018

Foreshore deal heads to house
More than a decade after it first agreed to a settlement, legislation recognising Ngati Porou’s customary title and rights over the foreshore and seabed along the East Coast will finally go before Parliament

Ngati Porou will be the first iwi to secure a settlement over the foreshore and seabed, marking its customary title and giving it some veto rights over the uses of those areas. It will get its first reading today (10/5/18).

Ngati Porou’s settlement will give it customary title over a significant part of the East Coast coastline down to Gisborne, as well as customary rights such as fishing and protection of wahi tapu (sacred areas)......
See full article HERE

Museums embrace Maori perspective
Changes in the ways museums are presenting taonga Maori will be highlighted at this month's ServiceIQ New Zealand Museum Awards.

"One of the finalists in this year's taonga Maori category is Otago Museum's new Tuhura Otago Community Trust science centre. They have woven matauranga Maori through the whole project in terms of how they are presenting science and that is fantastic to see," Ms Tocker says......
See full article HERE

'Move away from the word, compulsory' - Maori Language Commission want discussion over Te Reo in schools to focus on revitalisation
Maori Language Commission CEO Ngahiwi Apanui wants to move away from the word compulsory when discussing Te Reo Maori in schools.

Mr Apanui told TVNZ 1’s Breakfast programme that he wanted people to start talking about the revitalisation of the language instead.

"Move away from the word, compulsory, which sounds like people having something jammed down their throat to talking about revitalisation," he said.....
See full article HERE

A big win for the Manukau Bus Station - Auckland Transport
"In addition to the use of natural timber and prominent Iwi creative expressions, Te Aranga Maori Principles guided the design of the vital stormwater management system and the passive temperate controls methods.".....
See full article HERE

Māori, sign language and straight talking: New Governor, new style at Reserve Bank
There was the brief Māori greeting and farewell, appropriately formal, but still a first in this environment.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

10  May  2018

Request for a further temporary closure of Maunganui Bay to fishing (except kina)
Pursuant to section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996, Fisheries New Zealand has received a request from Te Kupenga o Ngati Kuta and Patukeha ki Te Rawhiti for a further 2-year temporary closure of Maunganui Bay, Bay of Islands, to the take of all fisheries resources, except kina. The current temporary closure is due to expire on 13 October 2018

Te Kupenga o Ngati Kuta and Patukeha ki Te Rawhiti consider that a further 2-year closure will provide continued statutory support for a traditional RĀHUI (traditional closure) placed over the bay in 2009, and continue to improve the quality and quantity of fauna and flora in the bay.
HAVE YOUR SAY – MAKE A SUBMISSION
Written submissions in response to this request are invited from persons who have an interest in the species concerned or in the effects of fishing in the area concerned.

The closing date for submissions is Monday 11 June 2018.
Submission details HERE 

Shane Jones on Maori seats vote 'We won't support it'
A Labour private member's bill seeking the entrenchment of the seven Maori seats, which means it'd take 75 percent of MPs to get rid of them, looks set to fail.

It'd need the support of New Zealand First but Shane Jones who once stood in one of the seats says it won't be supported.

"I don't know of anyone in our caucus who is going to vote for the entrenchment of the seven Maori seats."

Asked if they should be done away with, Jones said that the party's option had been for a referendum.

"There is a lot of emotional heritage [and] affection for the Maori seats."

Jones doesn't believe they'll get a referendum on them now.
See full article HERE

Oranga Marae launched to revitalise marae
The Minister for Māori Development, the Hon Nanaia Mahuta, and the Minister of Internal Affairs and Presiding Member of the Lottery Grants Board, the Hon Tracey Martin, have today announced the launch of Oranga Marae.

Oranga Marae is a new initiative that will support the physical and cultural revitalisation of marae, as centres of Māori identity and mātauranga.

Oranga Marae will fund marae in three key areas:

• Marae development planning – to help marae develop and document their aspirations and delivery plans

• Technical/feasibility support – where specialised advice is required by a marae for capital or cultural development

• Marae development implementation – for capital works, cultural activities and other requirements to help revitalise marae.

For the remainder of 2017/18 Oranga Marae has a combined funding pool of $6.25 million to support marae. This will increase in 2018/19 when further lottery funding will be allocated......
See full article HERE

Supreme Court grants iwi appeal for exclusive rights of Hauraki Gulf islands
The Supreme Court has granted an iwi organisation the right to appeal, once again, for full monopoly over Rangitoto and Motutapu islands on Tuesday.

Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Tribal Trust argues it should have rangatiratanga, exclusive rights, to conduct guided tours on the Hauraki Gulf islands for at least five years.

The trust said the iwi has deep historical and spiritual connections to these islands, their ancestral motu.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

9  May  2018

Nanaia Mahuta: compulsory Te Reo in schools 'not if but when'
Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta says compulsory Te Reo in schools is the logical endpoint of her Government's language policy.

The Government's current policy only calls for an increase in Te Reo teachers to make the language universally available in school, and for it to be "integrated" into the primary and early childhood curriculum by 2025.

The Government has specifically avoided the word "compulsory."

But on Tuesday morning Mahuta made clear what that first step was towards in her mind - compulsory Te Reo.

"In order to deliver on compulsory Te Reo Maori we would have to increase the number of Maori teachers in our schools," Mahuta said.

Asked directly if that meant compulsory Te Reo was the end goal Mahuta said it was "I think it's only a matter of time".

"It's not if it's when.".....
See full article HERE

Te reo Maori first choice for oral submission on long term plan
James Alexander Hope, a Hamilton based lawyer, was the first person to ever give an oral submission in te reo Maori at a council hearing.

Mr Hope was provided with an interpreter during his oral submission on two of the eight proposals. "It was important to me that my oral submission be in te reo as it is the first language of the land and we are trying to protect it and bring it back, as close as possible, to its natural state."

"We have worked hard to connect with iwi and Maori through this LTP process so are more than happy for Mr Hope to present his feedback in te reo," says regional council deputy chair Tipa Mahuta.

"This is the first time the council has ever received an oral submission in te reo Maori, so it’s exciting and I hope we have more submitters who chose to do so in the future."....
See full article HERE

$2.5mil to fund te reo Māori films
The New Zealand Film Commission has announced $2.5mil of funding for feature films in te reo Māori.

The new fund is part of the organisation’s Te Rautaki Māori, a new strategy to support Māori filmmakers.

CEO Annabelle Sheehan told Native Affairs Māori voices are integral to the strength of our film industry.

“In its principles, it's saying 'lets partner and ensure we are culturally capable at the New Zealand Film Commission'. It’s a statement of commitment”.

The strategy also includes $2mil of funding toward a feature film where at least one key creative is Māori......
See full article HERE

Maori freshwater claims
Mr Parker said plans to reduce water pollution needed to go hand in hand with settling Māori freshwater claims and lead negotiator for Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki Willie Te Aho backed these calls.

Mr Te Aho said iwi have asked the iwi chair forum for a clear pathway on the issue to be agreed on later this year in the South Island, otherwise they would resort to the Supreme Court.

"The position that we are working from is that the Waitangi tribunal clearly indicated in its report in 2012 that the hapu at the time of the treaty of Waitangi had control, which was akin to ownership, of the water," he said.

See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

8  May  2018

Seven Maori seats are obsolete
The seven Maori seats in Parliament should be scrapped. The need for them has long passed.

Originally they were only meant to be there for five years to give Maori the right to vote in the general election 150 years ago this year. That was extended by another five years but in 1876 it was extended indefinitely.

Now we have a bill pulled out of the ballot box aimed at entrenching the seven Maori seats, sponsored by Labour's Rino Tirikatene.

It's hardly surprising given at the last election all the seats went back to their natural home, Labour. To entrench the seats means 75 percent of Parliament would have to vote to get rid of them. Currently they could be scrapped with a simple majority.

Without the seats Labour wouldn't be the Government today but their retention has always been up for debate.......
See full article HERE

DOC to work with iwi over wild pig problem
The Department of Conservation says it will consult its iwi partners on what to do to about wild pigs in a Northland kauri forest.

The forests contain some of the largest stands of ancient kauri in the north.

DOC's Kaitaia operations manager David Neho said he would talk to tangatawhenua about a possible action plan.

But he said the matter was reasonably complex: the wild pigs were kai for locals, yet the area they were destroying was taonga - a cultural treasure......
See full article HERE

Māori King 'determined' to ensure future of Kīngitanga
The future of the Kīngitanga has been a central theme of the 160th anniversary of the Māori King movement in Ngaruawahia held this weekend.

King Tuheitia is the the seventh leader of the Māori political movement.

He told the crowds gathered at Turangawaewae Marae that it was vital for the Kīngitanga to continue to challenge the government and Crown on issues that were important to Māori.

"I'm determined, strong and capable of doing what must be done for the Kīngitanga to still be here in the next 160 years and beyond.".....
See full article HERE

Emphasise Māori knowledge, students tell summit
The government's first education summit has generated calls for greater inclusion of Māori knowledge, development of children's life skills, and more cooperation between schools.

Nearly 800 invited participants attended the event in Christchurch at the weekend, where they were asked to brainstorm a vision for the sort of education system they wanted for New Zealand.....
See full article HERE

Govt moves to reduce teachers' paperwork
Mr Hipkins said the plan would include. —

* Ensuring that all teachers respond to Maori pupils’ identity, language and culture and embedding ‘‘urgent focus and accountability on equity and excellence for Maori’’ students.

* Growing the quality and quantity of te reo Maori in both Maori-language and English-language schools......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

7  May  2018

Wellington on track to become a bilingual city with support for te reo Māori policy
Wellington City Council has given itself the green light to progress with a plan that could see the city become the te reo Māori capital of New Zealand.

During a lengthy meeting, the council's city strategy committee, which comprises every councillor as well as Mayor Justin Lester, voted unanimously to progress with Te Tauihu – its draft Te Reo Māori policy.

More than 10 oral submissions, all in support of the policy, were heard by the committee. Submitters praised the council's leadership in the matter and the "mahi" put in so far.

While the overall tone was overwhelmingly positive, several calls were made for the council to cement specific goals in the final version, for example, making the city bilingual by 2025......
See full article HERE

Waimate council to host first meeting at marae
Waimate district councillors are gearing up for a taste of culture as they prepare for their first ever council meeting on a marae.

The idea was initiated by Waimate District Council deputy mayor Sharyn Cain after she attended a young elected members local government retreat in November 2017.

The announcement follows a statement by Waimate mayor Craig Rowley in which he said te reo and sign language translators would now be available for anyone presenting submissions to the Waimate District Council 2018-28 Long Term Plan.
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

6  May  2018

By the light of the moon: Healthy Families Far North using Maori lunar calendar in workplace
Māori lore and traditional wellness concepts are being applied in Far North workplaces.

Te Ahikaaroa Trust founder Rueben Taipari has joined with Healthy Families Far North to introduce the lunar calendar to work environments.

Māori traditionally planted, fished, harvested and held hui according to the lunar calendar. Applying maramataka in the workplace could mean, for example, the traditional planting time is considered to be good for starting new projects.

Healthy Families Far North, which encourages health-promoting environments where people live, learn, work and play, adopted maramataka concepts last year.

Introducing it as an organisational approach in Kaitaia in December, he has worked with Kaitāia Hospital, Sport Northland, Department of Conservation, Te Hiku Hauora and Te Rarawa Anga Mua workers.......
See full article HERE

Marae bypass irks Kawhia iwi
A member of Kawhia iwi Ngati Hikairo says tikanga is being trampled by tribes who bypass the marae to have hui.

Last year there was a protest when the then treaty negotiations minister met with Maniapoto claimants in the bowling club.

Next week it’s Waikato Tainui holding its hui in the local pub.

Gareth Seymour says that’s not right.

Waikato Tainui spokesperson Rahui Papa says because the hui is about issues that relate to a number of iwi and hapu, people around the harbour requested it be held at a neutral venue......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

5  May  2018

Diverting attention from Maori ward separatism
A claim in Parliament yesterday that the legislation that enables a vote on Maori wards is discriminatory looks like an attempt to divert attention from the blatant separatism that a Maori ward entails, Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash said today.

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson yesterday asked if the current standard for enacting Maori wards, which provides for a ratepayer poll if requested, was a "double standard", compared to the implementation of general wards.

Five percent of residents in all five districts - Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatane, Manawatu, Palmerston North, and Kaikoura - asked for a vote and now the councils are complaining about the expense of a poll, Dr Brash said.

If councils are concerned at the cost of holding the polls, they should in the future pay more attention to consulting with their constituents and listening to what they say, Dr Brash said.

There is no evidence that any of those councils have thought through how seats reserved for councillors with Maori ancestry elected by voters on the Maori roll is going to bring any benefit to any council, Dr Brash said.

Maori ward proponents talk about the "the Maori voice" but never say what the Maori voice is supposed to be saying, Dr Brash said.

Clear thinking people of every age should be able to see the Maori ward proposals for what they are - naïve, patronising, and liable to embed in local governance a two-tier democracy, Dr Brash said.....
See full article HERE

More Māori leaders recognised today
Today the final round of investitures for the week is taking place at Government House in Auckland.

Among today's recipients are:

Mr Colin Bidois, of Tauranga, ONZM, for services to Māori (Principal Wharekura o Mauao)

Dr Haare Williams, of Papakura, MNZM, for services to Māori, the arts and education,
and Ms Raewyn Bhana, of Drury, QSM, for services to the community....
See full article HERE

'Double standard' - Marama Davidson questions Government over 'discriminatory' Maori wards
Ms Davidson asked if the current standard of enacting Maori wards was a "double standard", compared to the implementation of general wards.

Currently, the public can demand a poll to be taken for Maori wards or Maori constituencies, and the result of Maori wards defendant on the poll result.

Ms Mahuta said she was aware of the letter, and read out a section that said: "'Either the poll provision should apply to all wards, or they should apply to none. The discriminatory nature of these polls is not acceptable'."
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

4  May  2018

Parliament to consider entrenching Maori seats - ball in NZ First's court
Parliament will consider a Labour MP's bill to entrench the Maori seats so they cannot be easily abolished – but the move could be defeated by NZ First and National joining forces to vote against it.

The bill to entrench the Maori seats by Labour MP Rino Tirikatene was drawn from the ballot today.

It would mean the Maori seats were treated the same as general electorates in the Electoral Act – and could not be dismantled without a 75 per cent vote of MPs or a public referendum.

It is likely to get support from Labour and the Greens but could prove a divisive issue for the Government.

The casting vote would likely be NZ First, whose leader Winston Peters campaigned on holding a referendum to abolish the Maori seats during the last campaign and has railed against "separatism" such as Maori seats on councils. NZ First has not stood in the Maori seats for several elections.
See full article HERE

Call for applications to Māori economic development fund
Minister for Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta encourages people with bold, innovative ideas for Māori economic development to apply for a fund that opens this week.

“The He kai kei aku ringa Fund, worth almost $1 million, is part of the national Māori economic development strategy,” Nanaia Mahuta said.

“Its vision is for a productive, innovative, export oriented Māori economy driven by whānau. The name means ‘providing food by my own hands’.

“We want to hear from people with initiatives that will help us to achieve this vision while using a distinctly Māori approach.”....
See full article HERE

School to teach te reo Māori for the first time in 99 years
It’s taken almost a century but Queen Margaret School in Wellington will be teaching te reo Māori for the first time, starting this month. The Private school that opened in 1919 will start Māori classes with year 8 and 9 students on the 14th of May. School Principal Jayne-Ann Young says the push to have Māori added to the curriculum came from within the school.

It’s mandatory at Queen Margaret School that the year 7, 8 and 9 students learn a second language and Māori is now an option for those students.....
See full article HERE

New Porirua streets to have Maori flora and fauna theme
Porirua’s newest streets could be named for the whio or kōkako once they are built.

Kenepuru Landing, which could have 700 residential lots in the former Porirua Hospital grounds, is a joint project between Ngāti Toa Rangitira and Carrus Ltd.

On Thursday, the Council’s City Delivery Committee decided the theme for the new development, after consultation with Ngāti Toa, would be “Māori names for New Zealand Flora and Fauna”......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

3  May  2018

Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill summit becomes vehicle-free 
The tihi (summit) of Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill will permanently close to all motor vehicles, including motorbikes and scooters from late next week.

The exception is continued vehicle access for people who have limited mobility and are unable to safely walk to the tihi; they or their drivers can obtain an access code for the gate for the day of their visit.

Paul Majurey, Chair of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority says the changes are not about restricting access but rather enabling access in a way that respects the significance of the place.

“To Mana Whenua, the tihi of a maunga holds great spiritual and cultural significance and has always been a place to be treated with respect and reverence. Honouring these values alongside creating an enhanced experience for pedestrians is at the heart of the vehicle access changes,” says Majurey......
See full article HERE

Second class treatment for WINZ clients
A woman at the frontline of social services says Work and Income has developed a toxic culture and needs a complete overhaul.

Advocates are hoping for some relief in this month's Budget, including removing some of the sanctions that WINZ staff impose on beneficiaries.

"Our people are treated like second class citizens. Why is it that only when they have a social worker that advocates on their behalf that all of a sudden things get done. It’s not fair. Our people are not treated fairly in a lot of these Work and Income offices," she says......
See full article HERE

Māori roll decreases in first month of option
The first monthly update from the Electoral Commission on the Māori electoral option shows a 2052 decrease of people on the Māori roll and a 2698 increase on the general roll.

The Māori electoral option opened on 3 April, giving Māori a chance to choose which roll they wanted to be on for the next two national elections.

Their choice would determine whether they voted for a local MP in a Māori seat or a general seat.

Results from the first of three updates by the Electoral Commission showed 215 new enrolments of Māori descent in the general roll and 431 in the Māori roll.

Of those on the Māori roll, 7093 switched to the general roll and of those on the general roll, 4610 switched to the Māori roll.

A spokesperson for the commission said it was too early to know if the roll changes were likely to affect the number of Māori seats.....
See full article HERE

Victoria University of Wellington looking to change name to avoid overseas confusion
Victoria University could be renamed the University of Wellington as the tertiary institute tries to eliminate confusion for potential overseas students.

A name change could include a secondary title for the university in Te Reo Māori. "Something meaningful," Guilford said.

Te Herenga Waka, which translates to the hitching post for your canoe, has been suggested.......
See full article HERE
More on the above here > Push for te reo in Victoria University name change

Ministry urges 'bold step' for Māori education
The Education Ministry has told the government it could achieve a "step change" in Māori children's achievement by tackling their teacher's unconscious bias against Māori children.

A briefing obtained under the Official Information Act shows the ministry told the government in January a "bold step" was required to accelerate Māori achievement.

It said it could work with Māori to create a scheme by the end of this year based in part on a previous programme called Te Kōtahitanga, which ran in some secondary schools.....
See full article HERE
More on the above here > Ministry targets unconscious bias against Māori students

Glavish acknowledged for services to Māori,community
Māori leader Naida Glavish has been made a dame in recognition of her services to Māori and the community.

She has been a pillar in Māori politics and served as president of the Māori Party in 2013.

She's currently the chief advisor tikanga Māori for the Waitematā and Auckland District Health Boards.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

2  May  2018

NZ Film Commission Announces Te Rautaki Māori
As well as the Minister launching the strategy, NZFC CEO Annabelle Sheehan announced Te Rautaki Māori Feature Film Initiative, a one-off $2 million investment for dramatic features in any genre where the director and at least one other key creative is Māori; and He Pounamu, an ongoing fund of up to $2.5 million in investment for dramatic feature films made in Te Reo Māori, by Māori filmmakers.

Other initiatives introduced specifically for Māori include a Te Reo development fund which will adopt bespoke support for the development of Te Reo projects; devolved funding supporting internships, mentoring and professional placements for Māori filmmakers, and rangatahi (youth) development in the form of wānanga, workshops and programmes for young Māori creatives......
See full article HERE

Auckland's Waitākere Ranges to close with fewer tracks open than wanted
A local iwi says Auckland Council's plan for access to the Waitākere Ranges does not match up with the rāhui.

The Waitākere Ranges close today in a bid to stop the spread of kauri dieback disease, but there are some tracks excluded from the ban.

However, local iwi was at odds with the council's list of tracks that would remain open in the West Auckland forest, potentially causing confusion for walkers.

It had earlier been reported that the council had aligned its policy with the iwi's cultural prohibition, or rāhui – but Te Kawerau ā Maki chief executive Edward Ashby said the list of tracks was never agreed upon.

The iwi would allow access to 21 walks, as an exception to the rāhui, while council was looking at keeping at least 34 tracks open.......
See full article HERE

NZNO Kaiwhakahaere back from UN forum on Indigenous Rights
Back from the mid-April United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights, NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku has called for the government’s full commitment to development of and planning for a growing Māori nursing workforce.

“Retention and recruitment of Māori nurses is vital for the future health and wellbeing of our whānau, hapū and iwi and a Maori Nursing Strategy is urgently needed to address this......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

1  May  2018

New Maori Emerging Leader Fellowships announced
A University of Otago researcher wants to improve the quantity and quality of life for Maori with cancer, and he’s just been awarded nearly $500,000 to identify strategies to do so.

Dr Jason Gurney, an epidemiologist and senior research fellow at the University of Otago, Wellington, is one of two researchers who has just received a 2018 Maori Health Research Emerging Leader Fellowship. These awards are managed and awarded jointly by the Health Research Council and the Ministry of Health.

The second $500,000 fellowship was awarded to Dr Reremoana (Moana) Theodore, co-director of the National Centre for Lifecourse Research and senior research fellow with the Department of Psychology, University of Otago. The experienced lifecourse researcher plans to examine the link between educational exposures and health outcomes for Maori.

Lifecourse research, which follows people’s lives over time, has shown that what happens from early life has an impact on long-term health and wellbeing. "Lifecourse research aligns...
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

30  April  2018

Tauranga City Council looks at cutting fees for Maori housing schemes
Tauranga City Council is considering discounting or deferring some upfront fees for Maori housing developments to help tackle Tauranga's housing crisis.

The council has agreed to look into changing how it charges development contribution fees, which are used to fund growth-related infrastructure, for papakainga developments.

Councillors voted to investigate reducing or deferring the fees, but stopped short of considering removing them entirely.

An initial report by council staff said papakainga developers faced additional complexities that came with developing multiple-owned Maori land......
See full article HERE

New Bishop of Aotearoa
A Bishop from the East Coast, Don Tamihere, has been appointed the Bishop of Aotearoa at Manutuke Marae.

Bishop Tamihere will become the leader of the Māori Anglican Church, the Māori arm of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. This means he will also become one of three Anglican archbishops in New Zealand, alongside Archbishop Philip Richardson, who is Pākehā, and Archbishop Winson Halapua, who is Polynesian.....
See full article HERE

Māori Fisheries Trust labels DOC-funded book 'scaremongering'
The book's author, environmental law and policy expert Raewyn Peart, calls for a fully independent statutory inquiry into New Zealand's fisheries management system.

In 2015 Peart received $60,000 funding from the Department of Conservation (DoC) to undertake research for the book.

The book said the Māori fisheries settlement, concluded as a Treaty settlement with the Crown more than 25 years ago, had created a barrier to entry for fishers and processors who wished to acquire more quota, and for aspiring new entrants.

It had also "potentially reduced the flexibility to adjust the fisheries management system over time".

The book, and DoC's funding of it, have outraged Te Ohu Kaimoana (Māori Fisheries Trust), which manages fishing assets on behalf of Māori and facilitates their allocation to iwi.

Te Ohu Kaimoana chief executive Dion Tuuta said the book was "scaremongering" and lacked credibility......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

29  April  2018

Support for campus marae
The University of Otago’s Maori students’ association is trying to gather support for a marae on campus, which it hopes would foster a community spirit between students.

The university is the only one in the country which does not have a marae, and Te Roopu Maori tumuaki or president Tiana Mihaere said there was support for the idea among the group’s members.

"The marae is something that has a significance to Maori, but was traditionally less relevant South Island Maori just because they were a people who travelled," she said.....
See full article HERE

Maori key to climate change plans
An advisor to the Iwi Chairs Forum says the Government needs to work closely with Maori if it is to achieve its climate change plans.

The release of the Productivity Commission’s draft report on moving to a low emissions economy was hailed by Climate Minister James Shaw as creating opportunities for Maori landowners.

Willie Te Aho says Maori are well aware they will have to make some trade-offs in being responsible kaitiaki for papatuanuku,....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

28  April  2018

More bilingual signage in Tairawhiti (Gisborne)
Tairawhiti Roads is continuing with its roll out of bilingual road safety messages and roadwork signage around the district.

The latest billboards on our state highways are in partnership with Eastland Wood Council, promoting road safety messages relating to the trucking industry.

Those messages are:
- 10 below – encouraging truck drivers to drive 10km below the speed limit

- Fatigue stops – the importance of taking a break if you are feeling tired.

- Share the Roads – a programme delivered in school which aims to educate children about trucks, blind spots, the air turbulence that trucks can create and how to be safe when sharing the roads with trucks.

- General road safety – avoiding speeding and distractions.

Bilingual messages have been used on Tairawhiti road safety billboards previously in collaboration with Maori Language Week.

Earlier this year Tairawhiti Roads launched bilingual stop-slow signs for traffic management and have now added further bilingual road works signage.

Council’s Te Reo Maori me ona Tikanga Policy was adopted in August 2014, allowing us to work with our stakeholders towards a bilingual district. Gisborne District Council was the first council to formally adopt a bilingual policy.

The policy includes bilingual signage on all new council signs and buildings......
See full article HERE

Kiwi voice artist refuses to pronounce Maori words 'the white way'
A Kiwi voice artist has refused to voice a script after being asked to pronounce Waimate the "white way".

Dave Ward, who voices radio advertisements for NZME, wrote on Twitter last night that he had refused to voice a script for the first time in 18 years after being asked to pronounce a Maori word the "white way".....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

26  April  2018

Māori research practices
By embedding tikanga Māori into your academic research practices, not only will you build cultural competence, but you’ll help invoke university values and give effect to Victoria’s Treaty of Waitangi Statute.

As a Victoria researcher, you’re invited to consider the ways that your research conforms to this statute. Increasingly in New Zealand, research activities and funding applications are expected to include a Māori dimension and express tenets of the government’s Vision Mātauranga, designed to encourage research that draws on Māori knowledge, resources and people.

Together, we can ensure that our research reflects Victoria’s Vision Statement and affirms that “Victoria will be imbued with distinctive qualities through its values and through the Treaty of Waitangi, mātauranga Māori and te reo Māori.” The values referred to in that statement—akoranga, whanaungatanga, whai mātauranga, kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga and rangatiratanga—require some understanding and commitment to tikanga Māori......
See full article HERE

Māori wards for Manawatū councils put to the vote in referendums
Voting papers have been sent out and it's now up to Palmerston North and Manawatū District residents to decide if their councils should have Māori wards.

Voting started on Monday for the Manawatū District Council poll, and the Palmerston North City Council poll opens on Friday.

Both councils passed decisions late last year for Māori wards to be set up in time for the next local body elections, in 2019. This would allow voters registered on the national Māori electoral roll to vote for council candidates in a separate Māori ward or wards.

However, both councils' decisions were challenged by petitions, with enough residents' signatures collected to force binding referendums.

Don Esslemont, who organised the Palmerston North petition, said some people had some strong feelings on the issue, but it was hard to gauge how well informed they would be.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

25  April  2018

Kaumātua disgusted at gallery's efforts to show colonial painting, citing racism
It's one of the most famous paintings of the Taranaki land wars but a New Plymouth gallery has been told exhibiting the piece would perpetuate propaganda that encouraged racism against Māori.

The prominent oil painting, View of Mt Egmont, Taranaki, New Zealand, taken from New Plymouth, with Maoris (sic) driving off settlers' cattle, was painted in 1861 by Englishman, William Strutt.

Taranaki kaumātua Peter Moeahu is against the painting being exhibited and had an expectation the gallery would take his opinion seriously.

"By exhibiting this painting the Govett Brewster Art Gallery perpetuates colonialist's propaganda that encouraged state sponsored racism against Māori," he said.

"I've seen that painting, or copies of it, when I was younger and as far as I was concerned it was used to denigrate Māori that we were thieves and robbers."

The painting depicts armed Māori driving away cattle at the foot of Mt Taranaki, called Mt Egmont in the painting, which Moeahu said inferred Māori were stealing from pākehā settlers.

"We all now know it was Pākehā settlers, with the sanction of Government, who were stealing from Māori," he said.....
See full article HERE

Salvation Army seeks help as poverty rates rise
Poverty levels in New Zealand are on the rise with the Salvation Army seeing 336 new families every week.

The organisation says the cost of living in New Zealand is the cause of a new wave of poverty.

Head of the Salvation Army's welfare service says rents, petrol prices, and basic food costs continue to rise.

120,000 people seek help from the Salvation Army New Zealand every year. 40 percent of them are Māori.......
See full article HERE

Mobilising Māori through the rangatahi movement
The twelve youth leaders chosen by the Moko Foundation to attend the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York have returned to NZ.

The group named He Kuaka Mārangaranga, are now looking to reinvest back home.

“The goal is to unite the 300 and bring them back to these initiatives because the ultimate goal is to improve and develop Te Ao Māori,” says scholarship recipient Te Wehi Wright.
See full article HERE

Māori housing issues raised with govt
Auckland iwi are keen to develop their own housing strategy for Māori living in Auckland says a Māori housing leader.

The minister of housing, Phil Twyford, and the minister of Māori development, Nanaia Mahuta, have met with Māori housing providers, iwi leaders and community groups at the Auckland Māori Housing summit.

Te Matapihi chairman, Rau Hoskins, says many iwi leaders supported the government developing a specific iwi housing strategy to deal with Māori housing issues in Auckland.

"It was expressed by a number of Tāmaki iwi that iwi housing issues are unique and they're even more unique in the Tāmaki Makaurau area."
See full article HERE

Maori 11 times more likely to face prison – report
A new report by the Ministry of Justice reveals Māori are eleven times more likely to face prison time once convicted.

The report also found that between 2014 and 2017, Youth Court appearances for Māori increased by 23 percent, while the rate for non-Māori fell by 12 percent.

Associate Justice Minister Aupito William Sio said the penal system was geared against Māori.

"The system by its nature, by its very hardcore nature, over many, many decades, seems to condemn Māori more than any other race in New Zealand."....
See full article HERE

Ngāti Porou and Air New Zealand sign Partnership Agreement
Ngāti Porou and Air New Zealand have signed a Partnership Agreement aimed at generating further economic and social growth in Tairāwhiti Gisborne.

Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou Chief Executive Officer Herewini Te Koha says the iwi and the airline have worked closely together for several years and are now formalising their partnership with a joint aspiration to see Tairāwhiti Gisborne and its people meet their potential......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

24  April  2018

Kelvin Davis says Northlanders want equality from Crown/Maori relationship
Kelvin Davis says he received a clear message from Northland Maori that they want the relationship between the Crown and Maori to be equal.

Davis, MP for Te Tai Tokerau, held four hui in Northland this month to seek feedback to shape his new role as Minister of Crown-Maori Relations.

"They don't want a relationship where one side of the relationship is stronger than the other,'' Davis said.....
See full article HERE

Regional council proposes adding 'h' to Manawatu-Wanganui
The Manawatu-Wanganui regional council is expecting controversy after asking locals if they want to add an 'h' to the spelling of its name.

The council, which trades as Horizons Regional Council, is considering the change as part of its long-term plan.

The council also wants to add a macron above the 'u' in Manawatu.

The plan is open for consultation until the end of the month.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

22  April  2018

Charter school backers considering Treaty claim
An organisation set up to support charter schools is considering making a Treaty claim to keep the controversial model going.

The Government is planning to transition the country's 11 charters schools back into the state system, either as designated character, private or state-integrated schools.

"There's the clause in the contract which provides the minister with the opportunity to terminate the clause at his convenience, which he will choose to do," said Graham Osborne, chief executive of E Tipu e Rea, a non-profit organisation that supports charter schools.

He told Newshub Nation they're looking into the possibility forcing the schools to close or move into the state system could be a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi.

"We think that in the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi there are some principles that have been clearly run right over there - principles of partnership, principles of collaboration and consultation, principles of reciprocation. On the face of it, there would seem to be a case for a Treaty claim."......
See full article HERE

Maori keen to sway housing policy
Maori housing advocacy group Te Matapihi say the needs of Maori have been neglected for decades and it’s time for a reset.

Chair Rau Hoskins says there has been no specific policy provision for Maori since the closure of the Department of Maori Affairs at the end of the 1980s.

It’s KiwiBuild meets iwi build, with iwi keen to be part of the government’s planning.

"With most iwi settled or about to settle in Tamaki and of course a Government with a real willingness and a stated commitment to building 10,000 houses a year it’s a good time to engage in a meaningful way with Government to help influence their policy provision here in Tamaki and across the motu," Mr Hoskins says......
See full article HERE

Exclusive: Concern over wages of principal's family members
A school board chairman quit after voicing concerns over money spent on wages for family members of the principal and executive officer.

A Ministry of Education official labelled some of the hourly wages at the Whangarei Maori language school "eyebrow-raising", and auditors from Deloitte were sent in.

The ministry is now working with the school, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rawhiti Roa,​ which was already on their radar with a previous intervention ending in 2013......
See full article HERE

Iwi calls for legal personhood status for Te Waikoropupū Springs
Ngāti Rārua is pushing for legal personhood status for Te Waikoropupū Springs in Golden Bay. It's the largest cold water spring in the Southern Hemisphere and contains some of the clearest water in the world. However, the aquifer that feeds the spring is currently unprotected by law.
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

21  April  2018

Voting opens next week for Western Bay of Plenty Maori ward poll
Voting opens next week for people to have their say on whether the Western Bay of Plenty District Council should establish Māori wards.

The council is holding a binding poll to see whether Māori wards should be introduced for the next two triennial elections in 2019 and in 2022.

Voting documents are being sent to all electors on the district's electoral roll (comprising electors from both the general and Māori parliamentary rolls) from April 27 and electors have until noon, May 19 to return these.

The poll has come about because in November 2017 Western Bay councillors voted to establish one or more Māori wards.

Consequently, an independent petition from over five per cent of Western Bay residents who opposed the move was handed to the council, prompting the poll.....
See full article HERE

Dispossessed members could take iwi to court - John Tamihere
Iwi are being warned they face legal action if they don't start looking after their people who live outside their tribal area. The Maori economy is now estimated to be worth $50 billion as Treaty settlement money invested over the past 30 years has started to build in size. But the Waipareira Trust's John Tamihere, says most Maori are not seeing the benefits of that and are continuing to occupy the bottom rungs of society.
See full article HERE

Young Māori plead United Nations to stop mega prison proposal
A group of young Māori leaders are at the United Nations fighting a proposal to build a mega prison.

Last year the former National government announced plans for a $1 billion prison facility at the current Waikeria Prison site. Minister of Justice Andrew Little says the Labour-led government has been considering a range of options

Lead delegate and spokeswoman for justice advocacy group JustSpeak Julia Amua Whaipooti will present to the forum on Friday.

She says the prison plan is a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi and multiple recommendations made by the United Nations to the New Zealand government......
See full article HERE

$19,000 for cultural advice is tokenism at its worst
Local councils need to stop wasting money on expensive ‘cultural advice’, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “Christchurch City Council spending nearly $19,000 on cultural advice for a sport centre name translation is expensive tokenism at its very worst.”

“The most disturbing aspect of this story is the idea that the groups that make the rules are the ones profiting from them. In this case, it’s the local iwi pressuring the council to seek expensive advice, then being the very organisation that is paid to provide this advice. It’s a pretty sweet business model when you can use the law to guarantee your profits.”

“Ngai Tahu need to front up. How can its trust justify this cost on ratepayers for what is objectively a two-word translation? It’s a total rort.”........
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

20  April  2018

Dr Lance O'Sullivan takes 12 rangatahi on trip of a lifetime
Twelve rangatahi Māori from across the country have accompanied Dr. Lance O'Sullivan and the Moko Foundation to the United Nations Permanent forum on Indigenous Issues in New York.

O'Sullivan says this is only a stepping stone for these rangatahi.

Māori representatives have landed in New York for one of the biggest indigenous gatherings in the world.

The 12 rangatahi have attended to discuss indigenous peoples' collective rights to lands, territories, and resources.

When they return, O'Sullivan says he will look into running wānanga to ensure rangatahi voices are heard on issues affecting Māori......
See full article HERE

Wellington mayor loses first round of fight for Māori names for new city streets
Wellington Mayor Justin Lester has lost the first round of a battle to give a Māori name to a well-known waterfront path.

In a first test of Wellington City Council's new policy to give Māori names priority, Lester tried to have a non-Māori name recommendation for a key piece of Wellington waterfront overturned in favour of a Māori name.

During the Regulatory Processes Committee meeting on Wednesday, he argued against his council officers' recommendation of Lady Elizabeth Lane for the access way running along the waterfront from the Railway Station to Queen's Wharf.
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

19  April  2018

Beer brand using Maori chief's name causes upset
There is disappointment over a Maori chief's name being used to promote booze.

David Rankin of Ngapuhi says the Heke beer, by Waiheke Brewing Company, takes the name of his ancestor Hone Heke.

Rankin says the company contacted him last week asking for permission to use the name, which he declined.

However, he has since discovered the beer has been marketed for more than a year already.

Rankin says he's considering legal action.

"I'm a capitalist and I believe in business, but there are certain things you do not do.

"They asked for permission after they released it."

But the company's Mark Hindmarsh says their beer Heke is named after the island it's brewed on, not the Northland Chief.

"No one owns Heke, it is a name that is hailed by a lot of people.
See full article HERE

Zoologist Brian Gill: Science is being surrendered to cultural sensitivity
The "Western arrogance" idea, and a revisionist interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi, are presumably behind the policy at the University of Otago that all research proposals by its scientists must be vetted by a Maori committee. In similar vein, the draft of the Royal Society's new code of conduct now places the Treaty central to the society's work.

There follows a proposal that New Zealand zoologists should "partner with Maori" whenever they study native animals. This goes too far.

Public expectation is that our animals belong equally to all New Zealand citizens irrespective of race. The draft code is silent on whether scientists studying animals brought to New Zealand from Europe, such as honey bees or farm animals, should have to "partner" with an ethnic European.......
See full article HERE

Indigenous tourism shaking off passive role
Tourism as a vehicle for indigenous self determination is on the minds of the more than 300 delegates at the World Indigenous Tourism Conference in the Bay of Islands.

World Tourism Alliance director Johnny Edmonds says it's whakawhanaungatanga on a global scale as manuhiri from Asia, Europe, the Pacific, the Americas and elsewhere share their stories.

He says common themes are care for the environment and for indigenous people to be central to the industry and not just passive bystanders.

Maori are just at the start of the tourism journey, with most activity coming from entrepreneurial whanau and iwi and hapu yet to come on board......
See full article HERE

Youth offending more than halves over last eight years but reduction not 'as significant' for Maori and Pasifika
The first Youth Justice Indicators Summary Report released today showed the rate of offending for children aged 10-13 years fell 59 per cent between 2009/10 and 2016/17.

Offending by young people aged 14-16 years also dropped by 63 per cent.

However, Associate Minister of Justice Aupito William Sio said the reduction in offending had not been "as significant" for all groups.

"Reduction in offending rates for European/Other has been much higher than the reduction for young Pasifika and rangatahi Maori," he said.

"Maori are increasingly making up a greater proportion of those who appear in the Youth Court."

He said the report showed opportunities existed in the justice system to further reduce youth offending.

"That is why it is a key objective of this government to reframe the justice system from a punitive to a rehabilitation focus and reduce the number of Maori and Pasifika youth in the system," he said.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

18  April  2018

Purchasing former Māori school restores an injustice, says iwi
The purchase of the former Turakina Māori Girls' College is restoring land to a Rangitīkei iwi that was once taken from them, its chairman says.

Chairman Pāhia Turia believed their tender was successful because the school's vendors were moved by the iwi's transaction with the Crown following the Treaty of Waitangi signing.

The Government's Deed of Settlement states the ancestral block of land was sold to the Crown in 1849, expecting trade and other benefits. However, these benefits did not eventuate and European farming destroyed traditional food-gathering sites.
See full article HERE

NZ Refinery's bid to deepen Whangarei Harbour draws Northland opposition
Refining NZ wants to deepen the channel into Whangarei Harbour so larger oil tankers can visit the refinery fully loaded.

The application by Refining NZ for a resource consent to deepen the channel has attracted more submissions opposed to the plan than those in support.

Refining NZ wants to dredge the channel so larger oil tankers can come in fully loaded, reducing shipping movements and transport costs. Those big ships already come in, but carrying less than capacity loads because the channel is not deep enough.

Those opposed to the dredging plans are Maori individuals, whanau, or iwi organisations such as the Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Board which was deeply disappointed a cultural effects assessment was not included as part of the application......
See full article HERE

Rushed mandate could cost Crown after Waitangi Tribunal rules in iwi's favour
The Crown faces a growing bill over an iwi settlement that the Waitangi Tribunal says was rushed because the previous Government wanted to complete all deals by 2020.

In its report released on Tuesday, the Tribunal concluded the Crown, under the previous Government, had failed to act "reasonably, honourably and in good faith" when it entered into settlement negotiations with the Whakatōhea Pre-settlement Claims Trust on behalf of the wider iwi.

"This not only caused prejudice to Whakatōhea, it also puts at significant risk the prospect of a durable settlement based upon a restored Treaty relationship."....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

17  April  2018

Maori sovereignty argument fails yet again in Northland court
A Maori sovereignty claimant who challenged his jail sentence repeatedly demanded the presiding High Court judge produce his warrant.

Perry Wakenuiroa Morehu, 23, applied to the High Court at Whangarei in March for a writ of habeas corpus and a copy was served on the chief executive of Corrections and Crown Law.

Habeas corpus is a written command requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.

Morehu also served copies of his application to the offices of the prime minister, Minister of Justice, police commissioner, director of Ngawha Prison and Corrections chief executive.

Morehu said he had withdrawn his consent to being governed, and that the laws of New Zealand no longer applied to him.

Therefore, he argued his continued detention was illegal.

Justice Edwin Wylie said clearly Morehu's arguments were without merit.

"The courts have consistently held that challenges to the sovereignty of Parliament, and the validity of acts of Parliament cannot succeed," the judge said while dismissing his application for habeas corpus.....
See full article HERE

Maori input critical to oil stop win
The head of Greenpeace New Zealand says Maori involvement was critical to the campaign to end oil exploration.

He says the environmental movement learned to work with Maori and iwi.

"I can’t imagine we would be where we are today were it not for that partnership between the environment NGOs and iwi, particularly up and down the east coast of the North Island, but right across the country - Te Ikaroa, the alliance that was built, Te Whanau a Apanui’s role which was incredible leadership, it has just been inspirational," Dr Norman says.....
See full article HERE

Matamata-Piako opens new $6.9m memorial and civic centre
People in Matamata gathered to celebrate the official opening of their new civic and memorial centre with news of another multi-million project about to start.

A street party marked the completion of the $6.9 million Matamata-Piako Civic and Memorial Centre, also known as Te Whare Whakamaharatanga o te Hāpori o Matamata-Piako, on Tainui Street.

A new artwork, a pou by Ngati Haua also stood outside the building, made by carver Whare Thompson.

Barnes said the pou represented the three iwi in the district, including Ngati Haua, Ngati Hinerangi and Raukawa.

Inside the new centre, Barnes said there were painting and plaques which had been digitally enhanced, including pictures of Josiah Firth and Wiremu Tamihana, a leader of Ngati Haua......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

15  April  2018

From the NZCPR archives by Frank Newman
The beaches are becoming a battleground
The use of rahui becomes more of an issue in the context of the 580 claims by iwi/hapu regarding the ownership of the marine and coastal area. Of these, 380 claims have been referred to the Minister of Treaty Negotiations who will decide whether customary rights exist.

The Minister is likely to ask for public submissions on each of the claims that are accepted for consideration, although the Minister alone will decide and there is no appeal process. The other 200 claims have been referred to the High Court. In those cases, those who file a Notice of Appearance as an interested party (and pay $110 per claim) can be involved in the court process and have the right of appeal.

The claims cover the entire New Zealand coastline and the seabed extending out 12 nautical miles from the coast to the edge of the Territorial Sea. In most cases there are multiple competing claims for the same area. In essence, the claims are for ownership and absolute and uninterrupted rights to extract the resources (shellfish, fish, minerals, etc), impose levies, restrict access, and so on.

The applicants appear to be claiming ownership on the grounds that they have occupied the area in accordance with tikanga since before 1840, and they have used and occupied the area from 1840 to the present day without substantial interruption. The statutory test of “exclusive” use and occupation is likely to be a critical point of legal debate in this current round of claims.

Unfortunately court rulings on the matter of aboriginal title have been contradictory and political interference has added to the confusion. The end result is the current legal gravy train where a multitude of lawyers are extracting eye-watering fees, funded by taxpayers.

All of this works against those who wish to have a say in the process. It is very difficult to find the detail of the claims, and a layperson would find it impossible. To find the claims one must first obtain the case (CIV) reference number from your local council (and in our case our local council was not able to provide all of the CIVs) and then contact the High Court and ask for the claim details.

Something that could be very easily posted on a website by the local council or the High Court, isn’t.

This issue is important. If you think access to beaches and harbours will remain freely available as they are now, then think again. It will be at the whim of the Maori owners whether there is a rahui in place and you too will be confronted by an individual saying, “Clear off…You can’t swim here, you can’t fish here, you can’t play on the beach, so get out of here”......
Read Frank Newman’s full NZCPR guest commentary here > https://www.nzcpr.com/the-beaches-are-becoming-a-battleground/
January 22, 2018

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

14  April  2018

NZGB to consult on giving Poverty Bay an official Maori/English name
The New Zealand Geographic Board Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa will shortly be seeking views on whether to change Poverty Bay, the bay south of Gisborne where Captain Cook first arrived in New Zealand, to a dual name Taranganui-a-Kiwa / Poverty Bay.

Gisborne District Council made the proposal to the Board.

"The Board met on 12 April 2018 and decided to progress the Council’s proposal, which would place the Maori name alongside the existing English name for the bay," says Board Secretary Wendy Shaw.

"The Board will publicly consult on the proposal for three months starting late May. People can make submissions during that timeframe......
See full article HERE

Hikoi first step in march to make Manurewa bilingual suburb
The fight to normalise te reo Māori will be taken to the streets of Manurewa this weekend with a bilingual hikoi.

Local community group Clendon Pride Project has organised the hikoi, aiming to be the first step in making Manurewa the first bilingual suburb in Auckland......
See full article HERE

Maori doctors on the rise
The Medical Council is confident New Zealand is on track for the percentage of Maori doctors to reflect the proportion of Maori in the general population.

Releasing the New Zealand Medical Workforce in 2015 Survey, council chair Andrew says a major highlight is that the proportion of house officers identifying themselves as Maori increased from 5.4 to 6.1 percent during the year.

While the proportion of Maori doctors for the workforce as a whole is still relatively low compared to the 15 percent of Maori in the general population, a record number of Maori and Pasifika doctors graduated from both New Zealand medical schools in 2016.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

13  April  2018

NMIT appoints new director to help improve relationship with iwi
The Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) has appointed Andrew Luke, also known as 'Anaru', as a new director to improve Māori achievement rates and build its relationship with local iwi.

Luke would focus on ensuring Māori students were enrolled in courses that were the right fit for them.

"Ensuring they're achieving in whatever subject area they're in and they're on the pathway they should be on, need to be on, would like to be on, and they're not just doing the programme for the sake of doing the programme."

The other key part of his role would be building stronger relationships with the eight iwi in Nelson Marlborough.

"This is an institution that has eight iwi who, in a post-settlement era, are looking at what are opportunities or aspirations they have, and where NMIT might be able to help them achieve those aspirations."

He said iwi were in a "different space" to 10 years ago when they were still grappling with Treaty of Waitangi claims, and were now in a position to move forward.

Both NMIT and local iwi could benefit from a strong working relationship......
See full article HERE

Church tales told through taxpayer grant
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says putting $5 million into the restoration of the St Mary's Church , Taranaki Cathedral should uncover both the good and the bad in the region's colonial history.

The church includes the graves of settlers including Robert Reid Parris, who played a critical part in the Waitara purchase that led to the Taranaki Land Wars, and garden of the neighbouring vicar's residence is the site of the grave of four Tainui chiefs.

"The church wardens would not allow these Tainui chiefs to be buried in hallowed ground, if I can use a term reflective of the attitudes of those days. The vicar, quite a radical guy, says 'you church wardens cannot prevent me from taking these chiefs and burying them in the vicarage garden because they deserve a fitting burial reflective of them fighting for their rights,'" Mr Jowaitara nes says.....
See full article HERE

Maori protocols considered in amending Coroners Act
Grieving whanau will get more access to tupapaku once an amendment to the Coroner’s Act is passed.

A Bill which had its first reading in Parliament last night requires coroners to consider Maori cultural protocols when determining who can view, touch or remain near the body of a deceased.

He says in practice, the coroner already considers cultural and spiritual beliefs when making decisions about the access to tupapaku and approaches each request on a case-by-case basis......
See full article HERE

Hurricanes apologise for 'racist' poster
The Hurricanes have pulled a controversial poster it used on Facebook to advertise its upcoming clash with the Chiefs after it was labeled disgusting and racist.

The image was taken down within an hour of the first complaint made by Kaupapa Māori expert Dr Leonie Pihama.

She said many descendants of people who died in the Taranaki Land Wars were furious about the advertisement.

"It's not the kind of get up and fight response that I think they thought they were gonna get, but they've got a response from the descendants of people who were murdered, of women who were raped, descendants who exist in a context of parents who are still trying to heal from the historical trauma of those events."

She said there a major ongoing issues which stem from the colonial wars within Taranaki.

"We are still fighting for the return of the Pekapeka Block in Waitara, we see Parihaka papakainga still going through a process of healing in relation to their conversations with the crown.....
See full article HERE

Early morning karakia for new EIT learning centre
The centre will also be a shopfront for wider inquiries about EIT's 148 programmes.
The single-storey building has been renovated and refitted, with a flexible open-plan layout to allow for more collaborative learning and an expanding suite of programmes.

As at the "former" centre, retail, community and horticulture programmes will be offered, the latter in association with community groups operating existing gardens.

Barista training, te reo Māori and Māori and colonisation will be offered as short courses as firsts for the centre. A level 2 te reo Māori programme will run in the second semester.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

12  April  2018

Māori wards top priority for Green Party
Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson wants to remove what she calls a double standard that allows for referendums on the establishment of Māori wards.

Five district councils will hold referendums in May which Davidson says will likely overturn these councils' decisions to establish Māori wards.

The Greens want a fair playing field for establishing Māori wards.

Davidson says, “Currently the law provides an extra step to go against establishing Māori wards and it doesn't do that for establishing general wards and that extra step is discriminatory".......
See full article HERE

Maori housing strategy essential
A Maori housing advocate is backing a call from a United Nations committee for a national housing strategy to increase the availability of quality affordable housing to low income, Maori and Pasifika families.

Mr Twyford has welcomed the UN call and says it fits in with the Kiwibuild plan to build 100,000 affordable houses over ten years for first home buyers.

Mr Dennis says it’s essential there is a specific Maori strategy within that policy, as that’s where much of the need is.......
See full article HERE

Council told to back off treaty land
Ruapehu Māori are crying foul over a planned redevelopment of the Taumarunui Railway Station, claiming it is part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement.

Ngāti Hāua, rangatira(chief), Antoine Kaka from Marumaru hapū, issued mayor, Don Cameron with a warning to stop any development on KiwiRail land saying it threatens their plans to build a factory on the site.

The council had been planning to turn the disused railway station into a arts, cultural and tourist hub which is currently under consultation with the community.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

11  April  2018

Rotorua to get first bilingual road sign
Rotorua will be the first bilingual city with bilingual signage welcoming people. The NZ Transport Agency and Rotorua Lakes Council have now come to an agreement on a proposal by the council for a new sign reading "Haere Mai ki Rotorua".

Rotorua Mayor Steven Chadwick says, “It makes you think about all government departments needing to do more to understand both English and Māori”.

NZ Transport Agency is now looking at regulations concerning road signage.

Currently regulations don't allow for a combined speed limit and welcome sign.

NZTA will now develop and trial a bilingual entrance sign for Rotorua.

NZ Transport Agency says after the development of a new bilingual sign, such signs and speed limits will become a standard option for other councils to adopt......
See full article HERE

Salvation Army supports Māori wards in Palmerston North and Manawatū
The Salvation Army is urging people to vote for Māori wards in Palmerston North and Manawatū.

Although the army says the wards will help their mission to care for those less well off, an opponent of the wards says there is no link between their existence and improving living standards for Māori.

Palmerston North City and Manawatū District councils have both voted to have Māori wards, but their decisions could be overthrown in upcoming binding referendums.

The referendums were required after both councils were given petitions containing signatures from 5 per cent of voters......
See full article HERE

Ngai Tahu seeks role in city development
Ngai Tahu wants to play a significant role in the cultural and financial future of Dunedin, including spending some of their ‘‘big purse’’ on projects within the city.

Representatives from the Otakou runanga as well as the iwi’s head office in Christchurch made a joint presentation at the Dunedin City Council’s 10-year plan hearing yesterday.

Otakou kaumatua Edward Ellison told councillors Ngai Tahu saw its role as a partner and participant in the development of the city,

The iwi wanted to expand its financial, cultural, environmental and educational footprint in the city, Mr Ellison said......
See full article HERE

New Graduate Pathway on Offer for Māori And Pasifika Student
Fonterra is teaming up with non-profit group TupuToa on a new internship programme for Māori and Pasifika graduates.

At the end of 2018, three tertiary students heading into their last year of study will join Fonterra for a twelve-week paid internship, where they will be exposed to different parts of the business and mentored by senior leaders.

Managing Director People and Culture Joanne Fair says the new partnership will help broaden the talent source for future leaders and increase diversity of thought......
See full article HERE

Tainui, Ngai Tahu get $35.3m top-up over disputed calculation of relativity mechanism
Iwi heavyweights Waikato-Tainui and Ngai Tahu have received a $35.3 million top-up after disputing the way the Crown valued settlements when the payouts breached the $1 billion fiscal envelope six years ago.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little today announced the $16.6 million payment to Tainui and $18.7 million payment to Ngāi Tahu to ensure each iwi meets the agreed ratio of total settlements......
See full article HERE

Poroti Springs water battle over as company sells land and water rights to Crown
A Whangarei hapu's battle to stop water being extracted form Poroti Springs is over after the company behind the plan sold its land and water take consents to the Crown for $7.5 million.

Whatitiri Maori Reserve Trust which represents Te Uriroroi, Te Parawhau and Te Mahurehure ki Whatitiri hapu, has been fighting for more than two decades to stop water being taken from Poroti Springs, about 20km west of Whangarei.

Zodiac Holdings has consent to take up to 1.5 million litres a day from the Poroti Springs, with the intention of bottling the water for sale overseas, something the hapu were worried would kill the sacred spring if allowed to happen.

Zodiac has sold its Poroti land and water take consents to the Crown to be used by the Office of Treaty Settlements to help settle any Treaty of Waitangi clams from the hapu.
Treaty Minister......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

10  April  2018

Local govt treatment a key concern for Māori - Davis
Frustration over dealing with local government is emerging as a common theme for Māori, Minister for Crown/Māori Relations Kelvin Davis says.

Mr Davis has embarked on a series of hui around the country seeking Māori views on how to improve their relationship with the Crown in the post-settlement era.

He said a hui in Whangarei on Sunday echoed concerns he had heard recently about the way Māori are treated by district and regional councils.

"This is the second hui we've had going out to the regions but we've also had focus groups in Wellington and that has been a recurring theme throughout all the meetings," he said.....
See full article HERE

NZTA rethink over Te Reo welcome sign
Rotorua's plans of getting a Transit-approved welcome road sign in Maori may have received a boost with Mayor Steve Chadwick now confident the plan will go ahead.

NZTA originally rejected the idea of having bilingual road signs which serve as a legally enforced speed-limit warning, saying these signs are only available in English.

Current regulations permit only guide, tourist, and general interest signs to be bilingual.

Chadwick told Mike Hosking she spoke with the NZTA chairman who said they will sit down with her and sort out the issue while also looking at their policy around bilingual signs.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

9  April  2018

NZ Transport Agency ban roadside signs in te reo
Plans to welcome visitors to Rotorua in te reo have hit a major bump in the road after the NZ Transport Agency ruled warning signs had to be in English.

Rotorua Lakes Council had proposed signage at road entrances to the city with 'Haere Mai Ki Rotorua', also declaring in English 'NZ's first bilingual city.'


But the agency told the council that under the Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 the sign had to be written in English.

"Schedule 1 provides for all regulatory and warning signs to be in English. As you can see the only wording acceptable on these signs is 'Welcome to [locality].".....
See full article HERE

Ka rawe Marama Davidson
The Māori Party is delighted to congratulate Marama Davidson as the new co-leader of the Green Party.

“With the Māori Party no longer in the House the need for an independent Māori voice has never been greater,” said Māori Party president Che Wilson.

“While we celebrate that every political party in the House now has Māori leadership at the highest level, the acid test will be to see tangible measures of progress for whānau Māori in every portfolio.

"The May Budget will be the first opportunity to see specific, meaningful investments. Māori are certainly watching to see substantial gains in the things that matter.

“We look forward to working with her to consolidate the independent voice for Māori inside and outside of parliament.”......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

8  April  2018

Ngai Tahu want bigger say in Southland regional development 
In Ngai Tahu's public submission on the proposal in October, it disagreed with being included in the 25 per cent community shareholders.

Instead, it proposed inclusion on equal footing with councils, which would be a more fitting status as a Treaty Partner.

Ngai Tahu also requested representation on the new CCO board.

"I've been talking to our runanga down here, and they quite rightly see this as a partnership with the councils, so I'm just working through that process of making that through a memorandum of understanding or the like," Tong said.
See full article HERE

Hui to scope health kaupapa Waitangi claim
About 150 Maori medical practitioners, doctors, nurses, medical graduates and others are expected in Rotorua this weekend at national hui to discuss what should be covered in the Waitangi Tribunal’s Health Services and Outcomes Inquiry.

The health kaupapa inquiry will seek to identify and address nationally significant claims that affect all Maori, and redress any systemic problems.

In a recent memorandum Judge Stephen Clark said there were 181 claims lodged, with more coming in each week.

The hui and the inquiry are seen as steps towards Maori-designed, Maori-developed and Maori-implemented services and outcomes......
See full article HERE

Māori Services
Each of our three libraries has an Adult Māori Section and also a Junior Māori Section. In Hastings War Memorial Library the Adult Māori Section has both reference and lending collections and is located on the ground level overlooking Civic Square and Ngā Pou o Heretaunga.

These collections contain items of cultural, historical, social and language significance for all of Aotearoa. Emphasis is given to any material of a local nature, particularly Ngāti Kahungunu.

The kaupapa is to provide books and other materials which foster the cultural needs of Māori and promote an understanding of Māoritanga in the community.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

7  April  2018

Opportunities for Ngati Whatua and iwi in America's Cup
The redevelopment of Auckland’s waterfront to accommodate the America’s Cup regatta could create long term opportunities for mana whenua.

Ngarimu Blair from Ngati Whatua Orakei says the hapu is happy at the compromise plan agreed between Auckland Council, the Government and Team New Zealand which will place most of the syndicates on the former hazardous substances storage area along Wynyard point.

Mr Blair says Orakei is coordinating iwi who are interested in taking part, including investing in constructing and owning some of the infrastructure.

It also has a sailing programme for tamariki with Team New Zealand which could be extended to other iwi.....
See full article HERE

Aesthetic test dooms fish farms
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says changes may need to be made to the Resource Management Act if iwi are to make progress in aquaculture.

The Maori aquaculture settlement was designed to address a systemic imbalance in the amount of coastal space allocated to Maori, but there has been little development even when space has been identified......
See full article HERE

Treaty settlements vulnerable to tax change
The chair of the Tax Working Group says he is keen to hear from Maori about what they want to see in the tax system.

Sir Michael Cullen says it will meet with the Federation of Maori Authorities, iwi leaders and other Maori entities.

He says there are economic and historical factors which mean possible changes such as the introduction of a land tax may have different implications for Maori than non-Maori entities.

"Treaty settlements have been pretty miserable by and large. It would be pretty ironic or more than that if a government were suddenly to turn around and take back a great deal of the benefits of those settlements by way of a tax which falls particularly heavily upon Maori entities," Sir Michael says.

While increased fuel taxes may affect low income and Maori people disproportionately, the trade off should be increased public transport services which bring down household costs.....
See full article HERE

Ngai Tahu looks to close $2.6b income gap
Employment Minister Willie Jackson says a Ngai Tahu-commissioned report spelling out the cost of continued inequity is a welcome reminder of the need to take action on getting Maori into jobs and careers.

"I’m looking as Employment Minister for partnerships, willing partners, groups and organisations who will invest in their people and Nai Tahu, probably more so than any other tribe, are leading the way in this area," he says.....
See full article HERE

Sir Bob Jones column complaint not upheld by Press Council
The Press Council has not upheld a complaint against a column by Sir Bob Jones calling for a 'Māori Gratitude Day', despite calling it "mean, malicious and infantile".

Sir Bob wrote the column for NBR, calling for a Māori gratitude day instead of Waitangi Day, and saying Māori should bring pākehā breakfast in bed and weed their gardens out of gratitude for existing.....
See full article HERE

Iwi wants Government to intervene over proposed loss of Taupō rescue helicopter
Removing Taupo's rescue helicopter service is not an option, and the Government must make things right, says the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board.

The Trust Board is calling for action after learning that a request for proposal from the National Ambulance Sector Office does not include a rescue helicopter base in Taupō.

The proposal removes Greenlea Rescue Helicopter's Taupō airport base – substituting it for bases in Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, and New Plymouth that will service the Central North Island region, from Hamilton though to Wellington.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

6  April  2018

NZ Commonwealth Games team looking into Māori advisory role
Teaching professor Derek Lardelli says the absence of a Māori Advisor to lead the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team is an issue that's being looked at.

Lardelli and members of his rōpū haka, Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti were part of the welcoming proceedings at last night's flag bearer announcement ceremony.

He says it's important for New Zealand's indigenous language to be heard at an international event such as this.....
See full article HERE

Waitangi Tribunal's recommendations frequently ignored - UN report
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has released a report which outlines its concerns for the human rights performance of New Zealand, and the inequities facing Māori in terms of their economic, social and cultural rights.

The report said the committee was concerned that the Treaty of Waitangi was not legally enforceable.

"The Waitangi Tribunal's recommendations are not binding, and are frequently ignored by the government," it said.

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little said recommendations given by the Waitangi Tribunal were taken seriously.

"One of the issues about dealing with Ngāpuhi at the moment is precisely because the tribunal has made a set of findings that actually we have to take seriously and that's about making sure the mandate is a robust one.

"The findings might not be binding but they are highly influential."

Mr Little admitted more could be done to recognise the Treaty in statute, but said the government was making progress.

"We have legislation that refers to the Treaty principals that requires the spirit of the Treaty to be observed, those sorts of things.

"When you look at the way government today conducts itself it is very much in acknowledgement of and respect of the Treaty of Waitangi and what is says.".....
See full article HERE

Te Hiku Iwi says adding forestry rights to OIO stifles
Te Hiku Iwi opposes bringing forestry rights into the Overseas Investment screening regime, arguing they will have a material impact on the value of their land and compromise their ability to attract overseas partners.Te Hiku Iwi says adding forestry rights to overseas investment regime stifles global partnerships

The government wants to include forestry rights in the Overseas Investment Act screening regime and the matter is being considered by the select committee. Currently forestry rights – which do not involve the sale or lease of the land but the right to grow and harvest the crop – are exempt. If the law is passed, overseas investors will only be able to purchase up to 1,000 hectares of forestry rights per annum, or any forestry right of less than three years duration, without approval from the Overseas Investment Office.....
See full article HERE

Waikato DHB apologises to House of Shem family
The Waikato DHB has issued an apology to the family of reggae stalwart Carl Perkins following a disagreement at the Waikato Hospital where his wife Denise Perkins wasn't allowed to stay overnight with him prior to an operation.

Waikato DHB's Interim CEO Derek Wright says, “All I can do is apologise. We will look into this and make sure this never happens again".

A Facebook status posted by Mana Party leader Hone Harawira has racked up more than 2.8 thousand reactions, it states that Mrs Perkins was kicked out of the hospital and alleged that racism was at play.

However, the Waikato DHB CEO says they didn't kick the woman out, but rather asked her to relocate to the whānau room for the night.

"She was asked to leave the room and we had created an area in the lounge for her to stay overnight. We do appreciate that she wanted to be there for her husband. She wanted to provide his personal cares and that's what he wanted as well".

Wright says that the hospital is bursting at the seams and they required Mr Perkins to be moved from a single room to a four-bay room with three other patients, which is why Mrs Perkins was asked to move.

"It's much harder to whānau staying overnight if you’re in a four-bedded room. Although it sounds as though we could have handled this quite differently," says Wright....
See full article HERE

Ministry launches five year Maori Disability Action Plan
The Ministry of Health has published Whaia Te Ao Marama 2018 to 2022: the Maori Disability Action Plan, setting out how it will guide the health and disability sectors and communities to support tangata whaikaha Maori (Maori with disabilities) and their whanau during the next five years.

It is important for health and disability providers working with tangata whaikaha Maori to have culturally specific Te Ao Maori (Maori world) resources, such as Whaia Te Ao Marama. This includes examples and guidance to help tangata whaikaha Maori overcome barriers and achieve their aspirations, anchored in Te Ao Maori with the goal that ‘Tangata whaikaha pursue a good life with support’.....
See full article HERE

Manukau bus station opens 7 April
Auckland Transport (AT) worked with mana whenua on the design and construction of the bus station.

AT embraced the Te Aranga Māori Design Principles, which guided the design of the stormwater management system and passive temperature controls method. Natural timber and art by iwi are prominent features of the station.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

5  April  2018

Wellington considers Maori ward names
Wellington City Council wants to include Maori names for city wards.

The council reviews its electoral arrangements every six years as part of its obligations under the Local Electoral Act and one of the proposed changes is to add Maori names to wards, making them bilingual. It wouldn't involve adding Maori wards or more community boards.

The council has consulted iwi for appropriate te reo names drawn from Wellington's history, and recognising a prominent feature in that ward.

The added names would be Pukehinau for Lambton ward, Motukairangi for Eastern ward, Paekawakawa for Southern ward, Wharangi for Onslow-Western ward and Takapu for Northern ward.

Mayor Justin Lester said Wellington was "a liberal place" and he expected most people would be on board with it.

"Different generations will have different views on this.

"But we live in a bilingual country, Maori is an official language, as is sign language.

"Bringing in another option doesn't mean English will die."......
See full article HERE

Wananga setting own value on naming right
The country’s three Maori tertiary institutions can now apply to call themselves universities, but the head of Whakatane’s Te Wananga o Awanuiarangi says it won’t change the way they operate.

Wiremu Doherty says having an alternate title may help it attract overseas students who want to pursue an indigenous education.

He says wananga have developed their own ways of doing things, rather than waiting for the university sector to put a seal of approval on what can be taught.

"Maori are no longer interested in having their world view portrayed and described through somebody else’s set of values and principles. We want it explained, defined on our own knowledge, on our own theoretical structures, and on the own structures we are yet to create.....
See full article HERE

Taranaki iwi negotiate $30m settlement deal with Crown
A $30 million deal is on the table to settle the Treaty of Waitangi breaches suffered by a Taranaki iwi.

An agreement in principle between Ngāti Maru and the Crown was signed off last December, after months of negotiation between the two.

Along with the financial compensation, a government apology has been mooted, along with cultural redress connected to 48 separate properties, including Tarata and Matau schools, part of Tarata cemetery and sections of conservation land.....
See full article HERE

Ministry rejects compulsory land wars class
The Education Ministry says calls to make the New Zealand Wars a compulsory part of the national curriculum won't work.

In a written submission to the Maori Affairs select committee, Secretary for Education Peter Hughes said school boards make their own programmes and requiring schools to teach a specific subject would be contrary to the spirit and underlying principles of the curriculum.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

4  April  2018

Opposition mounting against $bil Waikato mega-prison
Opposition is mounting against the $1bil mega-prison planned for Waikeria.

1,300 letters from community organisation Action Station have been sent to Justice Minister Andrew Little and Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis to stop the build.

Now the King Movement has waded into the debate saying the money would be better spent on rehabilitation and reintegration.

“Government supporting more Māori-led initiatives for community support,” says O’Connell Rapira, “Widening the use of marae-based restorative justice practices to not just rangatahi and young people but to all people”.

The $1bil spend will mean the prison of nearly 600 will hold up to 3,000 prisoners, making it the country's largest, right in the heart of the Waikato.

“The concern for us is that the money is being spent on upgrading the prison and who will fill it?” asks King Movement spokesperson Rahu Papa, “More Māori”.

“If we want to establish processes to stop our people from going to prison we must help our youth and people so that they don't fall on the wrong side of the law, to make right choices,” says Minister of Māori Development, Nanaia Mahuta.

“We want the money to be spent on programmes that stop Māori from going to prison, such as the Pae Oranga (National Iwi Panels) launched last week and the Kiingitanga Accord Agreement signed with Corrections,” says Papa.....
See full article HERE

DNA tests are all fine and dandy,but they can never tell us who we really are
In New Zealand our focus is often on the Māori v European identity. The article above told the story of Oriini​ Kaipara, whose DNA test showed that she was 100 per cent Māori rather than just 80 per cent as she had expected. This sparked a 'blood quantum' debate. This became entwined with a wider discussion led by Simon Bridges about what constitutes our sense of identity. It is time now to unpack the history of these ideas for all round better understanding....

.....In conclusion, hi-tech DNA tests are all fine and dandy, but they can only take you so far. And then only if you can properly understand and interpret their results. They still can never tell us who we really are......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

3  April  2018

No Ngai Tahu research veto, university says
The University of Otago has denied that Ngai Tahu can veto research proposals at the university, following criticism of its Maori consultation policy in the media.

In an opinion piece about the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Aparangi, columnist Dr Bob Brockie said the iwi was making "inquisitorial demands" on the university.

Dr Brockie suggested Ngai Tahu could go "thumbs down" on research proposals that conflicted with its own business interests. The consultation policy asks researchers to submit their proposals to be considered by the Ngai Tahu research consultation committee.

However, the university spokesman said the committee did not delve into the details of academic research.

"They offer their thoughts on tikanga Maori [Maori customs] and the appropriate processes rather than providing an academic peer review."

The requirement to consult was about "opening the eyes of researchers to potentially collaborating partnerships with Maori organisations and groups", he said......
See full article HERE

Insight: NZ Wars - A Day to Remember?
The arguments for a national day to commemorate the New Zealand wars are strong, but each iwi also has its own strong case for holding it on a separate date which means something to them. Many believe that for a true process of education, reconciliation and healing, the larger national day has to prevail......
See full article HERE

Hawkers warned but seemingly undeterred
.....four "mobile trading enforcement officers" had been contracted by the Dunedin City Council to look for offenders selling their wares without a mobile trading licence, which the council required of anyone hawking, touting or trading from a mobile vehicle or stall.

One of these officers said he was told to "*** off" on Friday by another trader operating outside the law, who told the officer it was Maori land......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

2  April  2018

From the NZCPR archives by Dr Muriel Newman 
Tribal control of New Zealand's coast
National’s Marine and Coastal Area Act, which repealed Crown ownership of the foreshore and seabed and opened up the coast for Maori control, contained a 6-year deadline for lodging claims – April 3rd 2017.

During those six years only forty or so claims were registered, including some that had been carried over from Labour’s 2004 law. But just before the deadline, an astounding 580 new claims were lodged!

The Marine and Coastal Area Act provides two separate pathways for resolving claims – direct Crown Engagement and through the High Court. Of those new claims, 380 were registered for direct “negotiation” with the Minister for Treaty Negotiations, and 200 were registered with the High Court.

A number of tribal groups are known to have ‘hedged their bets’ by applying through both pathways, but the details have not been released.

The cost of National’s new gravy train is expected to reach hundreds of millions of dollars and tie up the Courts for decades.

An $8.45 million appropriation in May’s Budget, from the $50 million Vote Treaty Negotiations, was specifically earmarked for financial assistance to claimant groups. Claimants who have lodged claims through the direct Crown engagement pathway can apply for taxpayer assistance ranging from $162,000 for simple claims to $412,000 for complex claims, while High Court applicants can apply for assistance ranging from $156,750 to $316,750.

According to the Ministry of Justice, as at the 18th of July, a total of 18 of the 200 claims lodged with the High Court had been approved for the upper funding limits, with a further 57 waiting for approval. There will no doubt be many more in the pipeline. No details are available regarding the Crown Engagement pathway.

While generous taxpayer funding is available for claimants, the deck has been stacked against those wanting to defend public ownership of the coast. Not only is no assistance available for anyone wishing to contest these opportunistic claims, but concerned parties must file a ‘Notice of Appearance’ and pay a $110 fee for each High Court claim they plan to oppose.

That means any group wanting to oppose all of the claims – in the public interest – will incur over $20,000 in High Court registration fees alone. This, on top of the significant legal costs and other expenses that will be incurred, is a major deterrent.

In spite of the generosity of claimant funding, some Maori groups are complaining it is not enough.

Late last year, a dozen tribal groups lodged applications for an urgent Waitangi Tribunal inquiry into the Marine and Coastal Area Act, asserting that the funding for claimants was inadequate, and that the Act breached the principles of the Treaty. Some called for compensation for the loss of their customary rights.

While the Waitangi Tribunal’s Chief Judge Isaac decided against an urgent inquiry, a “priority” inquiry was granted to determine whether the Act is in breach of the Treaty, and whether claimant funding is adequate. Hearings are expected to commence in April next year, with the final report expected in early 2019........
Read Dr Muriel Newman’s alarming NZCPR newsletter HERE  
October 29, 2017

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

1  April  2018

Bid to reduce hurdles to create Maori seats on councils
The binding referendum to decide whether a separate Maori seat will be created on the Western Bay District Council could be one of the last to be held in New Zealand.

Local Government New Zealand, representing the country's 78 councils, has written to the Government seeking to scrap the law that allowed polls of electors on whether or not a council could establish Maori wards.

Last year the Western Bay District Council voted 9-3 in favour of establishing a Maori ward, but a successful petition has forced the council into running a district-wide referendum to decide the issue.

Local Government NZ president and Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said polling provisions for Maori wards did not apply to the creation of other electoral wards or constituencies.

Mike Lally, one of the Western Bay councillors who opposed a Maori ward, gave the open letter little chance of success after the failure by the Green Party last year to ditch polling provisions for Maori wards. New Zealand First, Labour and National wanted nothing to do with it, he said.

Lally helped lead the petition that gathered more than 4500 signatures - about 2000 more than needed to guarantee organisers had reached the 1708 signatures required to force a poll.

He believed the overwhelming support for the petition had proved that the bid for a Maori ward was doomed to failure. ''People don't want separatism.''.....
See full article HERE

New Zealand likely to become a republic in my lifetime, says Jacinda Ardern
“When I have been asked for an opinion, I think within my lifetime I think it is a likelihood we will transition. It is not something this government is prioritising at all though.

“The most important thing for New Zealand is we have a very special arrangement and relationship via our treaty of Waitangi, and the relationship between Maori and the crown, so before any conversation like that occurs, that is something that will needed to be resolved within New Zealand.”.....
See full article HERE

Pole becomes symbol
The pou was created by Dunedin carver Tipene Raukura and the school is believed to be the first in Dunedin to have one.

Pine Hill School board member Michael Prasad said the pou was unveiled this week and given a traditional Maori blessing.

"For the school, this is something really special in terms of being able to embrace another culture. It’s an awesome learning opportunity for us.".....
See full article HERE

The Hastings District Council Hastings/Havelock North ward byelection candidates share their views on whether the Craggy Range track should stay or go.
Bruce Bissett says “It's also about time we recognised that iwi leaders are as important as any other elected officials”......
See full article HERE

Removal of Easter cross from Auckland's Mt Roskill ruffles feathers
Auckland residents are upset over the loss of an "iconic" cross that until recently sat on top of a mountain at Easter and Christmas.

The large cross on Mt Roskill's summit has been lit up on the two occasions for nearly 60 years.

New Windsor resident Emily Crozier was devastated to hear this year that the structure would not be erected.

The cross was removed for a brief time in 2015 following discussions with the Tūpuna Maunga Authority - an authority independent from Auckland Council - and local board members, but made a comeback the same year.

The decision to bring the cross back applied up until Easter 2017, when it would be reviewed.

Tūpuna Maunga Authority chair Paul Majurey confirmed the plinth and pole on the summit that provided the structure for the Christmas Star and Easter Cross had been removed.

Majurey said it had been removed to reinstate the summit and return it to a fully grassed area.

"This work is nearing completion and encompasses the removal of the upper ring road to return the tihi (summit) to a pedestrian-only area, and the removal of infrastructure including fences and the plinth and pole.".....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

31  March  2018

Māori King keen to collaborate with the Govt
The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was formally welcomed onto Tūrangawaewae Marae for the first time by King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII today.

The pair discussed a range of matters including reducing Māori prison rates and addressing poverty.

The meeting at the Māori king's official residence is a sign that the relationship between the monarch and the Labour Party is on the mend.

In a speech made to parliament this week on behalf of King Tuheitia, Papa said he wants to establish a number of initiatives including a tripartite covenant agreement with police, and corrections.
He also wants to koha land worth $3mil to build transitional housing for prisoners.

“That is such an important piece of work, an example of the opportunity we have to work together,” says Ardern, “And I would like us to see us build more of those opportunities.”

Furthermore, King Tuheitia has called for a national summit on policing, focused on recruitment of Māori to be held at Tūrangawaewae marae in July.....
See full article HERE
More on the above here > Justice vision binds Ardern to King 

Nash keen for Maori input to new fish regime
Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash has assured Maori they will be heard as he reshapes his ministry.

"What I want as the Minister is iwi input even before important decisions are arrived at. So whilst we are developing the papers, we have got to have iwi input, before they come to my desk," he says......
See full article HERE

Maori fishing companies in healthy shape
Maori-owned fishing company Moana New Zealand has announced a $19 million profit in the year to September 2017 despite soft prices in the key China lobster market....
See full article HERE

Wellington City Council to modify ward boundaries in Brooklyn and Southgate
Wellington City Council is mulling moving the ward zone, and even a city councillor will be shunted out if the boundary lines are modified.

The council is legally obliged to review its arrangements for elections every six years and its review of representation for the 2019 and 2022 elections proposes to change ward boundaries to better reflect communities.

It is also being proposed that Southgate will become part of the Eastern ward and for all wards to have bilingual names.

Deputy Mayor Jill Day told councillors at a meeting on Wednesday, the council's current arrangements did not meet the criteria for a fair representation.

"Each councillor must represent the same number of people but at the moment the Eastern and Lambton Wards do not meet that."

Research showed people would also be interested in giving te reo names to the wards, she said.

"It's beautiful, it's official and it's ours … We want Wellington to take hold of these names. I think Wellington is ready to recognise its te reo history …"

Public consultation will run from April 4 - May 4 and councillors will vote on the final proposal on May 30.

Proposed bi-lingual ward names:

• Pukehīnau – Lambton Ward

• Motukairangi – Eastern Ward

• Paekawakawa – Southern Ward

• Wharangi – Onslow-Western Ward

• Takapū – Northern Ward.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

30  March  2018

Government to sign deal with Northland iwi to plant four million trees
The Government is set to announce it's struck a deal to plant four million trees on Ngāti Hine land in the far North.

The Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust has about 5600 hectares of land centred around the small Northland towns of Moerewa and Kawakawa and its assets are valued at more than $28 million.

It's understood Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones will announce a deal between the Crown and the trust to plant about four million trees on 4000 hectares of land at a cost of at least $6 million to the Crown......
See full article HERE

Iwi waiting for table scraps in quota increase
A Maori fisheries leader has told the annual Maori Fisheries Conference iwi the quota management system needs an overhaul, including fixing some of the inequities built in at the beginning.

Ngapuhi chair Sonny Tau, who also sits on the Te Ohu Kaimoana board, says the original allocations were based on catch history.

The large companies responded by increasing their fishing effort in the qualifying years before its introduction, and also pushed for increased allocation through the Quota Review Tribunal.

Mr Tau says that means that even if Maori fishers help build up stocks such as in the Hauraki Gulf snapper fishery, it is companies like Sanford and Talleys which pick up the increase.

Mr Tau also said iwi need to stand up for recreational fisheries as well as their customary and commercial interests, because most of the fish their people catch to feed their families is caught under the recreational rather than customary rights.....
See full article HERE

Minister considers NZ Wars heritage trail
Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta wants to look at developing a heritage trail for the New Zealand Wars battle sites around the country.

Minister of Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta said it would be a way to help educate New Zealanders and tourists about our country's past, alongside the New Zealand Wars national day of commemoration.....
See full article HERE

Inequality depriving Māori and the economy of $2.6b every year
INEQUALITY - THE NUMBERS

- Income gap for Māori is $2.8b per year - $600m more than total Treaty claims payments

- $140 less income per week for working Māori

- $200 less income per week for working Māori aged 40 – 59

- One third of the Māori working population have no qualifications

- 16 per cent of Māori hold an advanced qualification compared to 30 per cent of the country's workforce

- In 2038, Māori will make up one fifth of New Zealand's working age population

"The income difference is a byproduct of a system that doesn't work for Māori," says Tarena.

"This isn't just a social issue. Māori success is an economic issue. It is absolutely about social justice and fair treatment and opportunities for all. But we've got to look at how Māori success would positively influence and impact the nation and business."......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

29  March  2018

Iwi Business Flourishing - More Benefits for Members
The Māori economy has powered beyond $50 billion and business-savvy iwi are now extending their investment into more social initiatives that directly benefit iwi members, says Chapman Tripp.

On the language front, Dewes feels optimistic and proud that mainstream Aotearoa is finally realising the benefit of learning te reo Māori, and says it’s a positive step for the business-community that leaders are starting to understand te reo is both culturally and commercially beneficial.

Dewes said another key trend identified in the report is the increasing acceptance of taonga in the law.

“As historical claims are settled, we see the Office of Treaty Settlements evolving into a Ministry that collaborates with and is committed to iwi relations moving forward.

Of course, government will also need to continue to have resources available for dealing with contemporary Treaty breaches.”....
See full article HERE

Coroners required to consider cultural values under new bill
A new law will require coroners to consider the cultures of grieving families when deciding whether to let whanau touch or stay with the bodies of their loved ones.

At present the Coroners Act does not require coroners to take tikanga Maori and cultures into consideration when considering requests from family to touch or remain with the tupapaku (deceased body).

In practice, coroners do use their discretion when considering such requests. But after families raised concerns during a Maori affairs select committee inquiry into support for grieving whanau, a bill that makes it a requirement to consider tikanga Maori and other cultures is being been introduced to Parliament.
See full article HERE

School marae and ‘success as Māori’
Marae-ā-kura have created ‘Māori space’ in English medium schools for over 30 years.

With over 99 marae-ā-kura across the country, and more being built, the term describes complexes established to create māori teaching space.....
See full article HERE

Pre-charge restorative justice initiative expanded
Police and iwi plan to make pre-charge iwi panels a permanent fixture in an effort to to reduce reoffending and encourage restorative justice.

Community Panels began as a pilot scheme in Christchurch in 2010, and were subsequently extended to become iwi-community panels in Hutt Valley, Gisborne and Manukau, in south Auckland.

During the past six months, they have been further extended and now operate in Gisborne, Hutt Valley, Manukau, Hamilton, Rotorua, Auckland city and Invercargill.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

28  March  2018

Iwi in plans as Unitec carved up
The Government is keen to involve mana whenua as partners in the development of more than 3000 Kiwibuild houses in Mount Albert.

Speaking at the Unitec marae Te Noho Kotahitanga yesterday, Housing Minister Phil Twyford said the government was buying 29 hectares from the polytechnic.

It will be used for a mix of affordable KiwiBuild homes for first home buyers, public housing and open market houses.

The transfer of land between crown agencies triggers conditions in the Tamaki Makaurau collective settlement.

"We are committed to working with Nga Mana Whenua under the same terms the government has been for some time now and that means that iwi will have the opportunity to be part of the new development and in the next few weeks we are going to be sitting down with iwi together looking at what that process will look like," Mr Twyford says......
See full article HERE

Decisions on three fish species
The customary allowance of 16.5 tonnes is unchanged and was not part of the review. However in 2017 the customary catch was estimated to be well within the allowance.

“When the stock has been rebuilt to a healthier level, we can reassess how best to share the fishery amongst iwi, recreational and commercial fishing interests.....
See full article HERE

A fresh look at Māori media
Kimiora Kaire Melbourne and Te Aorere Pewhairangi have been awarded Ngarimu VC Scholarships to analyse whether Māori media are up to the job.

Their aim is to answer the question, 'What do we as Māori have to do to ensure we progress in Māori broadcasting?'.

They plan to submit their Māori approach to broadcasting to Waikato University by the end of the year......
See full article HERE

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei negotiate rent on 20 hectares in CBD
An Auckland hapū will negotiate ground rents this year on a 20-hectare block in the CBD, a move that could potentially net them millions of dollars.

The Auckland CBD is worth big money when it comes to property and local tribe Ngāti Whātua is getting amongst it......
See full article HERE

Police celebrate Iwi/Community Justice Panels
"NZ Police celebrate the establishment of Iwi/Community Justice Panels following successful pilots"

Police Commissioner Mike Bush says one of Police’s six core values is Commitment to Māori and the Treaty, where Police have worked in partnership with Māori leaders to focus on reducing Māori reoffending and victimisation.

“Iwi Panels are a reflection and extension of the strong commitment Police has to its relationship with Māori,” says Commissioner Bush......
See full article HERE

LGNZ call to end Maori wards vote out of touch
In calling on Parliament to deny ratepayers the right to veto council decisions to create racially-based political structures, Local Government New Zealand reveals just how totally out of touch they are with the views of the overwhelming majority of ratepayers, Don Brash said today in response to a press release from LGNZ.

In every one of the districts whose councils decided to impose Maori wards – Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatane, Palmerston North, Manawatu and Kaikoura – large numbers of ratepayers petitioned for a poll, showing clearly that very many do not want race-based wards, Dr Brash said....
See full article HERE

Promoting awareness of Māori cultural values
A new training programme is helping planners, architects and engineering professionals to be more culturally responsive to Māori perspectives and values when designing living spaces and their surroundings.

Te Whaihanga: Preparing students to work with Māori, is a collaboration between four tertiary institutions – the universities of Auckland and Victoria, Auckland University of Technology and Unitec Institute of Technology – and supported by Auckland Council.

“The programme has recognised an industry gap in understanding the Māori worldview. By being more culturally mindful of Māori traditions and conventions our industry professionals will be more at ease engaging and building ongoing relationships with Māori,” says Penny Pirrit.

The approach also fits well with council’s policies on diversity and inclusion and Māori responsiveness, and an Auckland Plan 2050 focus to advance Māori wellbeing.....
See full article HERE

Bilingual lollipop signs out on the roadworks
Downer has been using te reo Maori and English commands on bilingual stop-slow signs for traffic management.

The signs have been used at roadworks sites around the Gisborne district since December.

The bilingual signs project is a collaboration between Tairawhiti Roads and Downer......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

27  March  2018

Strong sense of cultural identity drives boom in Māori business
Māori entrepreneurs with a strong sense of cultural identity and guardianship over the land and the sea are driving a boom in Māori business.

Māori businesses now account for an economic asset base of more than NZ$42.6 billion, according to the latest estimates. Small and medium-sized enterprises make up the largest part of the Māori economy.

These entrepreneurs are building on a business approach with ancient roots – a Māori way of thinking and doing business and its ability to reconnect with our common heritage as descendants of Papatūānuku, mother earth......
See full article HERE

Maori leaders call for action on climate crisis
The inaugural Māori Leaders Climate Summit concluded in Wellington on Sunday with a unified call for climate action.

Over 120 Māori leaders and officials from all over the country attended the summit as representatives of; Iwi runanga, Hapū and Whānau, forestry and fishing corporations, landholding companies, trade unions, private business and social enterprises, along with public health experts and climate and social scientists.....
See full article HERE

More reading and writing, less bleeding and fighting and watch prisons empty
Minister Kelvin Davis is having equal misgivings. But here we are faced with the prospect of being the second most incarcerated people in the world, Māori that is, and the irony of it is that previous to Pakeha arriving here 250 or so years ago, Māori had no prisons at all.

I suggest that since European blood has infiltrated our Māori blood, it's this side of us that contains the criminal element, not the Māori blood.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

25  March  2018

Tikanga Maori crucial in new ministerial role
Maori Council chair Sir Taihakurei Durie believes the new Crown-Maori Relationships portfolio should be concerned with ensuring the crown acknowledges tikanga Maori and customary values - but he won’t hold his breath waiting for it to happen.

The Minister, Kelvin Davis, is consulting with Maori over the next month on how his new role should work.

Sit Taihakurei says he told Mr Davis the greatest need is for the crown to understand the Maori way of doing things.

"What I would see happening under an ideal scheme would be a Government that sets up a Maori section to advise it on whether it would also be operating in accordance with Maori customary law," Sir Taihakurei says.......
See full article HERE

Public outrage at Wildfoods Festival's advertising
Organisers of the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival have been slammed for an advertisement that features a woman wearing Māori designs and a native American head dress.

But it wasn't the festival's obscure delicacies that had made Māori cultural adviser Karaitiana Taiuru wild.

He was hot under the collar about an image it used of a woman wearing traditional indigenous clothing to promote the festival's 30th anniversary next March.

"It was a disgusting and inappropriate use of indigenous traditional wear. One can only assume that they thought that native Americans first nations and Māori are associated with wild food for some reason."

The organisers deleted the image today after hundreds of people called for its removal on social media.

But Westland District Mayor Bruce Smith didn't think there was anything wrong with it and said he told the organisers to put it back up.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae Chair Francois Tumahai said the iwi supported the festival but did not support cultural misappropriation.

Indigenous rights advocate Tina Ngata said there was an abundance of literature written by indigenous people demonstrating that these kinds of images were offensive and unacceptable......
See full article HERE

Te Pire Haeata ki Parihaka passes first reading in Parliament
Te Pire Haeata ki Parihaka has passed its first reading in Parliament and Kelvin Davis says it's an important step in righting past wrongs.

The bill records the elements of Te Kawenata ō Rongo (Deed of Reconciliation) signed at a ceremony at Parihaka on 9 June 2017.

It establishes the formal apology in law and records the Acts of Parliament which the Crown used in its attempts to end Parihaka's resistance to the loss of their Taranaki lands....
See full article HERE

Lake Wairarapa going back to iwi
The southern section of Ngati Kahungunu has initialled a deed of settlement that could result in more than 19,000 hectares of land coming back to the iwi.

It includes financial redress of $93m, out of which the iwi can buy 12,231ha of commercial redress land including Ngaumu Forest and two Landcorp farms.

Another 7,000ha will come back as cultural redress land, including the bed of Lake Wairarapa and surrounding reserves, and the vesting and gift back of Castlepoint Scenic Reserve.

The iwi was hit hard by crown land buying activities in the 19th century and by the application of the Public Works Act which took a lot of its remaining land......
See full article HERE

Youth take on Hamilton's 10 Year Plan
Over the evening, they heard councillors' aspirations to be a bilingual city (English and Te Reo Maori),....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

24  March  2018

Māori voters get to choose between Māori and general rolls
The Electoral Commission is stressing Māori can vote for whatever party they want regardless of whether they shift between the general and Māori rolls.

From 3 April to 2 August, Māori voters will have the chance to choose which roll they're on for the next two national elections.

Their choice will determine whether they vote for a local MP in a Māori seat (such as Te Tai Tonga) or a general seat (such as Wellington central).

"The next opportunity to change won't be till 2024," the commission's spokesperson Mandy Bohte said......
See full article HERE

National to entice Māori vote through Kahurangi Blue groups
"The role of the Kahurangi Blue partnership group was to actually engage with our people to build the Māori capability inside the National Party," says Korako.

The groups would be based within the regions. The first and only group established in 2015 exists in Korako's own patch of Canterbury Westland.

Korako says "The next one we're looking to roll out is in the lower North Island...it's about relationships with us."

There was also noise earlier this week that National could contest the Māori seats.

Korako says Nātional's seven Māori MPs make up thirteen percent of the National Party which is "very high"......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

23  March  2018

Multi-million dollar restoration for Te Poho o Rawiri Marae
Te Poho o Rawiri Marae in Gisborne is undergoing a $3.4 million restoration project called Te Pa Eke Tu, its biggest project to date, which will bring the 88-year-old marae and its facilities into the 21st century.

"This project is super significant it's probably the first of its kind in terms applying for the type of funding that we did, we went for the Significant Project Fund we're the first marae to ever receive the Significant Project Fund through the lotteries commission," says Renall Nikora, project manager.

A revamped wharenui, a new ablution block and a new state of the art wharekai, renovations that will mean it can cater up to 1000 people all at the one time.....
See full article HERE

Iwi aligns efforts with TSB
Te Atiawa is to sign a memorandum of understanding with the TSB Community Trust committing the two organisations to work together.

Te Atiawa chair Liana Poutu says it's the first such agreement between the trust and a Taranaki iwi.

She says the community trust has always been supportive of Maori activities in the region, but Te Atiawa was now ready to step up the relationship.....
See full article HERE

Dr Lance O'Sullivan now taking 12 Kiwi students to UN due to 'calibre' of applications
After securing additional funding for the trip, the 2014 New Zealander of the Year is now taking 12 students with him for the meeting on April 14.

"We started off with the idea of just taking two but we couldn't stick with that because of the calibre and volume of the applications," Dr O'Sullivan said.

Auckland University law student Tauawhi Bonilla was one of the 12 selected and says he's particularly interested in gaining insight into how indigenous languages have been rejuvenated around the world.

"For me personally it's probably the language. I know a lot of people will be doing environment and stuff like that but for me it will be language and language revitalisation,"

"Us Maori we have a lot to do to get to where we want to be but eventually we'll get there I think if we take some ideas from other people and from other indigenous cultures.".....
See full article HERE

MPs challenged on Maori radio silence
National’s Maori development spokesperson says the failure to include Maori representation on the new public media advisory group is a clear breach of the treaty of Waitangi.

Broadcasting and Communications Minister Clare Curran set up the four-member group to advise on the resourcing needs of public media agencies and the potential establishment of a Public Media Funding Commission.

Nuk Korako says according to the cabinet paper, the group must take into account Maori Television and the Maori broadcast funding agency Te Mangai Paho.

It’s actually something that’s really really important to our people," he says......
See full article HERE

Over 19,000ha to be returned to Ngati Kahungunu iwi
A deed of settlement that returns more than 19,000 hectares of land to iwi has been initialled by the Crown and Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tamaki Nui-a-Rua today.

The agreement includes the return of Wairarapa Moana to Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tamaki Nui-a-Rua and the ability for the iwi to purchase Ngaumu Forest and two Landcorp Farms.

The settlement comprises financial redress of $93m and a significant return of land to the iwi - including 12,231ha of commercial redress land (paid for out of the quantum) and more than 7,000ha of cultural redress land (gifted on top of the quantum).

The cultural redress land includes the return of the bed of Lake Wairarapa and surrounding reserves, the vesting and gift back of Castlepoint Scenic Reserve and the return of sites throughout the Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tamaki Nui-a-Rua rohe (area of land).

The deed of settlement also includes the Crown’s acknowledgment of breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi towards Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tamaki Nui-a-Rua, and a Crown apology.

Mr Perry says the apology was an important part of the Deed of Settlement for all Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tamaki Nui-a-Rua iwi.

"We look forward to starting a new chapter in our relationship with the Crown, and building strong and reciprocal relationships with local and central Government as we turn our focus to the future for our people and our rohe.
"The settlement will not be the end of the road......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

22  March  2018

Ngāti Maniapoto looking for closer ties with Horizons as Treaty settlement nears
A King Country iwi is positioning itself to have a greater say in the way Manawatū-Whanganui waterways and the environment are managed as a Treaty settlement nears.

Negotiators for Ngāti Maniapoto say they hope their own "One Plan" environmental management approach will be relevant as the iwi works with Horizons Regional Council.

The iwi wants to strengthen its ties with the council in connection with managing waterways.

Ngāti Maniapoto, whose rohe extends from Waikato into the north of Horizons' area, is in Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations with the Crown.

Ngāti Mainapoto negotiator Sir Wira Gardiner said it was about the iwi having a chance to offer solutions to problems that affected all New Zealanders.

"There is no doubt the current Government will be confronted with one of the biggest issues of this century – water.

"Maniapoto is ready to participate in that debate."...
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

21  March  2018

Spark conducts 'first NZ live trial' of 5G
“Māori have previously lodged treaty claims for 3G and 4G spectrum only to be rebuffed by previous governments, but received $30 million for a Māori ICT fund as a consolation from the last government.

Curran would not say whether she expected another treaty claim in relation to 5G spectrum, or comment on whether the Government might allocate more money for the Māori ICT fund.

But there would certainly be "consultation with iwi" over the 5G spectrum allocation, she said.....”
See full article HERE

Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei chief executive to meet Obama
Details are emerging about the much-anticipated visit by former United States president Barack Obama to Aotearoa this week and a group of Maori women are lucky enough to have secured a meeting with the global leader.

Iwi leader Rangimarie Hunia is part of the Wahine Toa Network who will sit down and chew the fat with Mr Obama.

Hunia is a leader in her own right, but even she feels starstruck thinking about her upcoming meeting with Barack Obama.....
See full article HERE

Being Crazy About That Kid Or Making that Kid Crazy
Other presentations at the conference recognised the significance of attachment to whanau, hapu, iwi whenua and wairua as well as to the primary caregiver or parent, for wellbeing of Maori. Psychotherapists were told of need to recognise the interconnectedness of whakapapa to people, living and ancestral, and to nature and lands for Maori and to address impacts of intergenerational disconnection and colonisation in therapy with them.....
See full article HERE

Public media panel void of Maori representation - Korako
The Government has set out to ignore the voices of Maori by ensuring that there is no Maori representation on the panel which will investigate funding allocated to public media, Maori Development spokesperson Nuk Korako says.

"Public media platforms are one of the few avenues Maori have to communicate their views, but the Government’s latest commission - the one that will allocate millions to media organisations - is void of any Maori representation," Mr Korako says.

"Clearly Labour has been paying lip service to its commitment to Maori. The pre-election rhetoric is not matching up with its actions now in Government.

"So far Maori have seen very little benefit from the Labour MPs who claim they are there to represent Maori. The deliberate snubbing of Maori in these appointments is bitterly disappointing."....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

20  March  2018

National to consider running candidates in Māori seats
The debate is heating up surrounding the possibility of National running candidates in the Māori seats. After a clean sweep by Labour in last year’s election, it could be one possible way to regain Māori votes.

The National party are looking for more supporters, and the Maori seats could be the answer.

National MP Jami - Lee Ross says, "It's a conversation that we have to have and we will be doing that. Simon Bridges is the first Māori leader of the National Party and we're very proud of that.".....
See full article HERE

Māori narratives an alternative to western mental health system
Patients at Te Kūwatawata clinic are told stories about Māori gods or atua, re-connected to their whakapapa and facilitated through wānanga before they're offered traditional medicine.

The health clinic in Gisborne uses Māori myths and legends to help their patients and researchers say there has been a dramatic drop in the number of people referred to psychiatric care.

The Mahi a Atua programme has changed the life of Kororia Matahiki, who said mainstream health services made her feel unsafe and alone.

Ms Matahiki said learning about her ancestors was more effective than taking a drug......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

18  March  2018

Whanau a Apanui seeks own legal path
Eastern Bay of Plenty iwi Te Whanau a Apanui have told Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little they want to be able to make the own laws.

The Minister met yesterday in Te Kaha with iwi members.

Consultant Willie Te Aho says even though the iwi owns 90 percent of its land, it is held by individuals and families and the hapu own no land apart from marae reserves.

He says the effect of Pakeha law can be seen in the iwi’s low socioeconomic rating compared to other tribes.

"We met with the minister yesterday in the place Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed. We understood that we would govern ourselves. Pakeha law intruded into our rohe. It has had a devastating effect and the notion land loss is an indicator of treaty breaches is irrelevant to us within Te Whanau a Apanui," Mr Te Aho says.

The crown has agreed to negotiate Te Whanau a Apanui’s marine and coast area claim and its historical claim in the one package.....
See full article HERE

Rotorua iwi expands city footprint
Ngati Whakaue tribal trust Pukeroa-Oruawhata today opened the third stage of its Trade Central development in the heart of Rotorua, with Kmart as its anchor tenant.

As a mark of the partnership the organisations co-commissioned Paki Wilson from Ngati Whakaue to carve three pou for the front of the store, which is built on the site of a former Post Office works depot.

The store also features window designs acknowledging the eight tribes of Rotorua......
See full article HERE

DoC to close all tracks in Goldie Bush Scenic Reserve following Waitakere Ranges rahui
More bush tracks are set to close in support of an iwi-imposed rahui over Auckland's Waitakere Ranges.

The Department of Conservation was set to temporarily close all tracks in Goldie Bush Scenic Reserve from Sunday.

The move followed an unofficial ban imposed over the 16,000ha Waitakere Ranges by Te Kawerau a Maki in December last year.

It was seen as a last resort against kauri dieback disease which, in just five years, had spread from 8 per cent to 19 per cent of the park's kauri, with infection rates concentrated around where people walk.

DoC has agreed to include public conservation land to the north of the Ranges, known as Goldie Bush Scenic Reserve, in the rahui.

Closure signs were set to be placed at track entrances and DoC said it would be an offence to use the tracks while closed......
See full article HERE

Bishop celebrates Maori church
The new Bishop of Aotearoa says religion is an intrinsic part of Maori society.

He says Maori embraced Christianity because it fitted with their own faith traditions, and they chose to highlight parts of it rather than being simple converts.

"They were attracted to aspects of the church that looked like good religion so helping the poor, speaking up for justice and peace, trying to make the world a better place, and it is those parts our ancestors adopted and took on board," Archbishop Tamihere says.

Maori also experienced the church at its worst, when it behaved like an empire......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

17  March  2018

Dual signs a breach of NZTA rules
The Mayor and the council have shot themselves in the foot with their ongoing partisan efforts to change the names of Poverty Bay and Gisborne.

They will find themselves offside with the New Zealand Geographic Board in their Turanganui a Kiwa/Poverty Bay submission, thanks to an earlier piece of manoeuvering which saw dual signs placed at the highway entrances to Gisborne.

However, this was in breach of NZTA’s own regulations on signs, contained in part two of its Traffic Control Devices Manual.

The relevant section on dual signs says:

“Only those places and features that have been accorded offical dual name status by the New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) should be shown on traffic signs.”

And: “The incorporation of dual names will require consultation . . .”
See full article HERE

Maori students face `heartbreaking' issues
A new report on the experiences of Maori children at school shows more must be done to make them feel comfortable and confident, says Kelvin Davis.

"We have come a long way but we need to go further in our education system, and work collectively to create a culturally safe place that will make Maori students more comfortable, confident and successful."....
See full article HERE

Māori-owned Miro berry business breaks ground
A Māori-owned horticulture business promising 5000 jobs has broken ground in Morrinsville.

Aspiring berry exporter Miro - owned by 20 Māori trusts, iwi and collectives - also signed a 50-50 joint venture with Crown-owned Plant and Food Research on Thursday.

The vision for the Māori-owned, Māori-run company was outlined in speeches at Rukumoana Marae near Morrinsville, before a tōtara was planted to mark the beginning of Ngāti Hauā's initial two hectare blueberry plantation.

The venture's first job: create the perfect crunchy, tasty and consistent blueberry for the Asian and Australian markets......
See full article HERE

Did David Parker really forget Ngāti Whātua?
It’s an inconceivable blunder for David Parker to have blindsided Auckland iwi Ngāti Whātua with the latest America’s Cup base proposal, National’s America’s Cup spokesperson Gerry Brownlee and Crown-Maori Relations spokesperson Chris Finlayson say.

Mr Finlayson says the Crown is obligated to negotiate redress of the Waitemata Harbour with local iwi, which means Ngāti Whātua should have been one of Mr Parker’s first ports of call when dreaming up alternative America’s Cup base options, but he seems to have forgotten to include them or been unaware......
See full article HERE

Mana whenua purchases Turakina property
The Turakina Māori Girls College property has been purchased by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Apa - Ngā Wairiki. The property will become the base for their administration and health services.

The iwi says they will protect the school and the special character of the church, taonga, and carving which have adorned the school for a long time. Last month, the school was advertised on Trade Me for $4.7 million.....
See full article HERE

Teachers say put more reo in schools
Teachers are calling to put te reo and kapa haka into school following the 'Education matters to me' report that was released by the Children's Commissioner which said some students experience racism in school.

Lewis Anderson says te reo should be introduced in all mainstream schools, "We're teaching our children te reo Māori me ōna tikanga and it's proving to be a good support for them for all subjects across the board."....
See full article HERE

Two hapu in new legal bid to remove Rena wreck off Astrolabe Reef
A fundamental finding by the Environment Court that it had no power to require the wreck of the Rena to be removed off Astrolabe Reef will be challenged in an appeal to the High Court.

Motiti Island's Ngai Te Hapu Incorporated and Papamoa-based Nga Potiki A Tamapahore Trust have filed the appeal, with the three-day High Court hearing expected to start on June 25.

It will take place nearly seven years after the container ship ran aground on the reef and unleashed New Zealand's worst environmental maritime disaster......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

16  March  2018

Mana Wahine Claim takes attack on whakapapa
Twenty five years after the claim was first lodged, the Waitangi Tribunal has held a judicial conference whether Maori women have been marginalised by crown policies and actions.

Ms Awatere-Huata says Dame Mira was responding to the fact there were few women appointed to boards set up to manage things of concern to Maori.

She says the stripping from Maori women of their mana wahine started in the earliest years European settlement.

"Tribes that once took their lineage from both the mother's and the father's lines, increasingly the whakapapa have been reoriented to favour men and so many women have been left out of native land titles, have been left out of succeeding to their land, and mana tangata in terms of the esteem given to Maori women, there has been a devaluing of women," she says.....
See full article HERE

Hamilton Mayor withdraws bid to change name to Kirikiriroa
Hamilton Mayor Andrew King has withdrawn his proposal to rename the council Kirikiriroa City Council after widespread public opposition.

His decision was greeted with obvious relief by the majority of councillors.

Geoff Taylor said: "Andrew I think you did the right thing withdrawing it today.

"I feel sorry for you because you have taken a bit of flak over the last couple of days."

Taylor said King should have spoken with the other elected members before adding such a proposal to a meeting agenda.....
See full article HERE

Huggies removes list of Māori baby names and advice from website
Huggies has removed advice about Maori baby names from its website following complaints.

Māori cultural adviser Karaitiana Taiuru said he had criticised the company's suggested list of Māori baby names repeatedly for a year and a half.

He told Radio New Zealand some of the names were culturally inappropriate because they referred to gods, others were incorrectly translated, and at least one – Nyree – was not a Maori name at all.....
See full article HERE

Shane Jones gives Ngāti Whare $6m to grow millions of native trees
An iwi's budding plant nursery in the Bay of Plenty will get $5.8 million of the Government's regional funding promises.

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced the funding boost at Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whare's Minginui Nursery on Thursday.

The money from the Regional Development (Provincial Growth) Fund pool, will be used to expand the nursery by 2021 so it can grow one million trees a year, most of them native.

Ngāti Whare chairman Bronco Carson said the nursery would hire another 81 employees to take its total staff count to 90......

See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

15  March  2018

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Opposes Panuku Development Auckland’s America’s Cup Resource Consent Applications
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has confirmed it is opposing Panuku Development Auckland’s “America’s Cup 36” and “America’s Cup – Ferry and Fishing Industry Relocation” resource consent applications.

The applications propose relocating the ferry and fishing industry berthage located on Wynyard Wharf, Halsey Street Extension Wharf and Western Viaduct, and establishing a new Ferry and Fishing Industry Relocation facility to the Western side of Wynyard Point, to facilitate the America’s Cup base and syndicate base infrastructure.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Spokesperson Ngarimu Blair says the iwi’s objection is based on the recognition of the Waitemata Harbour as a taonga.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has recently established an America’s Cup Iwi working group, which includes Waikato Tainui, Ngāti Paoa, Ngai Tai ki Tamaki, Kawerau a Maki, and Hauraki Gulf iwi Ngāti Manuhiri and Ngāti Rehua.

The group is eager to support the America’s Cup and ensure Maori maximise the significant opportunities the event will bring, ranging from jobs in the sailing industry through to supply of goods and services.....
See full article HERE

Report lets rangatahi speak for themselves
The implementation of compulsory Te Reo Māori classes is just one of many changes students want in schools according to the Education Matters to Me: Experiences of Tamariki and Rangatahi Māori report.

About 1,500 students were surveyed about their experiences in school for the report, one of six which were prepared jointly by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner and the New Zealand School Trustees Association.

Lorraine Kerr and the Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft say they recommend further opportunities for children and young people’s participation in their education system.

“The more we listen to the voices of children and young people, the richer will be our understanding of what can make a great education system in Aotearoa,” says Becroft,....
See full article HERE

Renewed Partnership with Ngāi Tahu to Grow Future Tribal Leaders
A partnership between the Ministry of Youth Development (MYD) and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu designed to support rangatahi located in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā will continue over the next 18 months, Minister for Youth Peeni Henare announced today.

“I am pleased to commit to this renewed partnership with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu which will see the creation of rangatahi-led leadership, mentoring and volunteering initiatives which utilise a Ngāi Tahu kaupapa-based approach,” Peeni Henare said.

Funding is made through MYD’s Partnership Fund and the Ngāi Tahu Funds, it builds on the 2017 collaboration between MYD and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu which saw 250 rangatahi take part in activities such as taiaha wananga, coding workshops, and outdoor pursuits......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

14  March  2018

Māori an afterthought in Govt’s education overhaul
The Government’s education policies demonstrate that Māori are merely an afterthought rather than central to decision-making, National’s new Māori Education Spokesperson Jo Hayes says.

“Scrapping National Standards and closing partnership schools will risk undoing the significant gains made by Māori students in the last few years and take us back to the days when Māori were taught at and not with.

“We cannot afford to have a drop in Māori education participation and achievement. It’s time the Government put its ideologies aside and started focusing on what works for Māori.”....
See full article HERE

National Party Reshuffle positions three Māori in top ten.
A reshuffle which now sees three Māori in National's top ten compared with the Government's two; Labour's Deputy Leader Kelvin Davis and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.

Bridges says "So if [Māori] look at myself, Paula and Jami-Lee and see something they identify with I think that's great. We're excited to work with the opportunity to work with all New Zealander's but Māoridom in particular as well."

Ngāti Porou's Jami-lee Ross is the new Māori addition jumping 19 slots to number 8.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

12  March  2018

Hamilton mayor proposes name change for city
Hamilton Mayor Andrew King is proposing a name change for the city council to Kirikiriroa City Council.

His suggestion is in the mayor's monthly report which will go to the council on Thursday.

"I have had a number of discussions with local iwi representatives, including King Tuheitia, about Hamilton being more culturally‐aware of our partnership with Maori," King said.

"I believe a significant step in this process would be renaming [the ] council to Kirikiriroa City Council."

"I am hoping the discussions on Thursday will be a lot fuller and a bit more information," O'Leary said.

"We went to a Seed Waikato meeting the other day, there was a question from one of the youth in the audience at how we could move towards more of a bilingual city.....
See full article HERE

Māori leaders’ emergency climate summit announced
Some of New Zealand’s top Māori leaders, scientists, and economic development experts are set to speak at an emergency climate change summit .

At Waitangi in February 2018, the Iwi Chairs Forum agreed to convene the first Māori Leaders’ Climate Change Summit to be held in Wellington on 24-25 March 2018.....
See full article HERE

Mobilsing te reo through sports and technology
Te Puni Kokiri will be launching the first ever Maori language netball app. Designed to bring te reo Maori to life with whanau at the netball courts, ‘Puni Reo Poitarawhiti’ is an innovative device that makes using te reo Maori at the netball courts easy, fun and accessible......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

11  March  2018

Maori interests overlooked as trade pact signed
The Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership was signed this morning in Chile, but some Maori are still concerned their rights and interests will be eroded under the 11-country trade pact.

Lawyer and consultant Willie Te Aho says the Iwi Chairs Forum has twice voted against supporting the deal.

He says they feel that before signing such constitutional documents, Maori rights need to be worked through with the iwi and hapu who signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

"That didn’t take place under the previous regime. It hasn't taken place under this Labour-led Government as well and in my view the Labour Government has turned their backs on rghts and interests not only in relation to this international trade agreeement but in relations to fresh water and other matters we have been championing over the previous nine years," Mr Te Aho says.

He says iwi will be prepared to go to court to defend their rights if they feel threatened by changed from the CPTPPA.
See full article HERE

New Research Report Released on Rangatahi Maori and Youth Justice
The Iwi Chairs Forum has just released “Rangatahi Maori and Youth Justice – Oranga Rangatahi”.

The report prepared by the Henwood Trust, and funded by the Law Foundation, seeks to understand the involvement of rangatahi Māori (14- to 16-year-olds) in the youth justice system in this country. It asks why so many of the young people moving through this system are Māori, and it proposes strategies and actions to reduce rangatahi Maori engagement with it.

This work is the result of the Iwi Chairs working with the Henwood Trust to find strategies to reduce the high numbers of Maori involved in Youth Justice and prison and improve life outcomes for future generations.

The Law Foundation provided funding of $50,000 for this project....
See full article HERE

Ngāti Rangi signs settlement with the Crown
The Crown has signed a deed of settlement with Ngāti Rangi, settling the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngāti Rangi, the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little has announced today.

“The Ngāti Rangi deed of settlement outlines a range of redress to be provided to the iwi, including a Crown acknowledgement and apology, cultural redress including a statutory recognition and governance arrangements for the Whangaehu River, and financial and commercial redress with a total value of $17 million.

“Ngāti Rangi is one of the iwi that will take part in the collective negotiations over Tongariro National Park, due to commence later this year.

Defence Force land at Waiouru will be vested in Ngāti Rangi who will then gift it back to the Crown for the people of New Zealand.....
See full article HERE

Army dentists provide free care for Tuhoe town
Army and Navy dental personnel are providing free dental care to residents in the small Bay of Plenty town of Taneatua as part of a two-week community outreach exercise.

Mr Heald said the Defence Force was working with the town after the iwi came to them for help.

"The approach was made by Tuhoe to the Defence Force for assistance in addressing the oral health needs of their region, through their local MP at the time."

A spokesperson for Tuhoe iwi said the exercise would reverse a generation of non-care by whanau.

"For those with the greatest oral health needs, this service is offering respite from a build-up of dental care neglect."....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

10  March  2018

Hapu challenges Whangarei harbour dig
Northland hapu Patuharakeke is trying to stop Refining NZ from securing consent to dredge 3.7 million cubic metres of sediment from the entrance of Whangarei Harbour.

The company wants to ensure fully-laden oil tankers can berth at Poupouwhenua -Marsden Point.

Lawyer Kelly Dixon says the Pataharekeke Trust Board is concerned about its ability to exercise kaitiakitanga, the effect of the dredging and dumping on the mauri of the harbour and on marine ecosystems......
See full article HERE

National Māori MPs set for bump-up says Bridges
Members of Parliament with Māori whakapapa are both the leader and deputy leader of the National Party, and their Māori caucus colleagues are set for a bump-up in the new reshuffle.

National Party leader, Simon Bridges of Ngāti Kinohaku and Ngāti Maniapoto told Kawekōrero, "I won't name names because that gets me into trouble prior to, in case we change it and I'm still talking with colleagues about things but I think you'll see Māori represented in important roles and that's the right thing to do."

"I've got 56 MPs, you'll certainly see Māori in the line-up, it'll be a bit different from what we've had, in terms of the roles I exercise my judgement where they're best placed," says Bridges......
See full article HERE

Maori solutions to future proof housing
Researchers looking at New Zealand's future housing needs say Maori have many of the answer they need to come up with housing solutions that fit their physical and cultural needs.

She says housing is more than bedrooms, a roof and a place to put the car......
See full article HERE

Powhiri to welcome new Principal Advisor – Māori
This week Manawatū District Council took a significant step towards bringing Maori perspective into its decision making with the appointment of a Principal Advisor – Māori for the district.

The position that Rārite Mātaki has filled has been established to advise the Council on all key matters relating to Council’s relationships and responsibilities with iwi and the wider Māori Community in the Manawatū.

This advice will cover responsibilities to Tangata Whenua, Te Tiriti O Waitangi, Māori responsiveness and all matters of mutual interest.....
See full article HERE

Victoria Square – a cultural revitalisation
The revitalised Victoria Square which was officially reopened in central Christchurch today acknowledges the early Ngāi Tūāhuriri/Ngāi Tahu connection to the area, with artworks by renowned Ngāi Tahu artists reflecting the cultural significance of the space to whānau, hapū and iwi.

Visitors walking around the square today will find Ngāi Tūāhuriri/Ngāi Tahu values, narratives and aspirations woven into its fabric......
See full article HERE

Davidson throws weight behind Māori ward campaign
The Kia Kotahi Mai coalition campaigning for a "yes" vote in polls about guaranteeing Māori seats on councils has Green Party MP Marama Davidson on side.

Davidson was in Palmerston North on Thursday to promote her bid for the party co-leadership, and met advocates for the creation of Māori wards on the city and Manawatū District councils......
See full article HERE

NZ Wars commemorations begin with mass haka
The first national commemoration of the New Zealand Wars begins with a mass haka at Te Tii Marae at Waitangi this afternoon.

It's the start of three days of 'Te Pūtake o Te Riri' - the reason for the anger.

Local iwi will be remembering some of the earliest battles against the British at Ōhaeawai in 1845 and at Ruapekapeka the following year.

Ruapekapeka is where Māori developed trench warfare.
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

9  March  2018

Iwi part of Hauraki Gulf solution
The chair of the Hauraki Gulf Forum would like to see more support for participation of iwi, including an eventual move towards co-management.

Any solution needs to take notice of the Treaty of Waitangi and Maori customary rights, which is why he appreciated the input of tangata whenua.

If there is one group that does get it, it is tangata whenua. And I’m a great advocate and have been for some time and not the most popular on this course but I’m very much in favour of co-management when it comes to our water," Mr Tregidga says......
See full article HERE

Teach freedom campers cultural values - Te Arawa
Te Arawa says they will continue to welcome tourists including freedom campers but want campers to understand cultural values before coming to their region.

Freedom camping has been a concern in Rotorua but Te Arawa iwi representative on the Rotorua Lakes council, Rawiri Waru believes not all freedom campers are bad.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

8  March  2018

Three Tribes Launch ‘Guardians’ Environmental Trust
Three Ruapehu tribes are formalising their role as guardians of the environment with the launch of a new trust on Friday (March 9).

The environmental entity will be launched by Uenuku Charitable Trust (UCT) for the tribes of Uenuku, Tamakana and Tamahaki, whose ancestral lands stretch west and southwest from the mountains of the central plateau.

The launch will happen at UCT’s Rā Wawata (Aspirations Day), which will be attended by the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little.

UCT chair Aiden Gilbert said the new charitable trust would develop and implement strategies to ecologically restore and protect ancestral lands and natural and historic resources.

“The vast majority of our tribal estate was taken by the Crown and is now in DOC hands and National Parks. Despite this, we have never lost sight of our kaitiakitanga (guardianship) obligations.

“The launch of Te Mano o te Whenua Tupua (which to us means “the ancestral heartland”), is part of an iwi-led, long-term strategy to provide a framework for our whānau and hapū to stand strong in their rohe and on their ancestral whenua. We have always been, and will continue to be, the guardians of our ancestral heartland.”......
See full article HERE

Summit of Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill soon to be vehicle-free
Work to pedestrianise the tihi (summit) and the summit road of Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill is set to begin.

From Monday 26 March work will start on reconfiguring the summit road entrance off Olive Grove and installing a new automated gate. The work will take around four to six weeks to complete. Safe access for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained throughout this period.

Once construction is complete, the tihi and summit road will permanently close to all motor vehicles including motorbikes and scooters. The exception will be continued vehicle access for people who have limited mobility and cannot walk to the tihi;.......
See full article HERE

Public release of advice to Minister of Education regarding Māori Education Trust
The Ministry of Education supports MET to provide secondary and tertiary scholarships for Māori students. Since 2009, the Ministry and MET have co-funded scholarships for 1,802 students.

The Ministry of Education has an agreement with MET (going back to 1994) to assist MET dollar-for-dollar, up to a maximum of $664,000, to fund scholarships for Māori students. The Ministry also pays MET an administration fee of $109,000 per year to contribute to scholarship administration costs......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

7  March  2018

Māori leader welcomed to Whangārei District Council
Aperahama Edwards (Ngāti Wai) has been formally welcomed as the new Māori Relationships Manager at the Whangārei District Council.

Ngāti Wai were well represented at the official welcoming ceremony for the new Māori Relationships Manager today.

"The suitable candidate needs to be steadfast in this position because of its difficulties," says Edwards.

The role is aimed at bringing better understanding between Māori and the council. The Mayor of Whangārei, Sheryl Mai has already expressed her wishes for the coming months.

Mai says that the council still has more to do with regards to the promotion of Māori concepts.....
See full article HERE

Nature journal reports new DNA evidence of Papuan genes in Maori ancestors.
Two new studies of ancient-DNA research have produced differing interpretations of the way that canoe voyagers settled the Pacific.

The Harvard team found Papuan ancestry on Polynesian islands west of Vanuatu came from yet another source, and there were three major migrations east from the big islands in Indonesia and New Guinea....
See full article HERE

New biosecurity agency needed
The Maori Biosecurity Network Te Tira Whakamataki says the Ministry for Primary Industry is failing to effectively fight threats like myrtle rust and kauri dieback, and responsibility for biosecurity needs to be shifted to an independent agency......
See full article HERE

Mahuta open to Maori ward law change
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta says if there is a clear steer from mayors and councils that the law around Maori seats need to change, she will listen.

Five councils face referendums over their choice to create Maori wards after a concerted campaign by Don Brash's Hobson's Pledge group, and other councils are looking for other solutions for Maori representation that don't involve elected seats because of concerns over the potential backlash.

No other decision by councils can trigger a binding referendum

Ms Mahuta says councils recognise the world has moved on from the one Hobson's Pledge is trying to recreate......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

6  March  2018

Call to close paua fishery
Pressure on a paua fishery north of Dunedin has prompted a group to ask the Fisheries Minister to close an area of East Otago coastline to gathering of the popular species.

But a recreational paua diver says if the area is closed, it should remain closed for everyone, including those allowed a customary take.

East Otago Taiapure management committee chairman Brendan Flack, of Karitane, said as paua numbers began declining in the taiapure area - which spans from Purakaunui to Waikouaiti - paua was rarely served in his marae, Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki.

* A taiapure is a management tool established in an area customarily of special significance to an iwi or hapu, as a source of food, or for spiritual or cultural reasons......
See full article HERE

Gisborne District Council votes for dual name
GISBORNE district councillors and Mayor Meng Foon have voted 13 to 1 to submit to the New Zealand Geographic Board that the region’s name be changed to Turanganui a Kiwa/Poverty Bay.

Malcolm MacLean dissented from the proposal to have the region’s original Maori name preceding Poverty Bay in a new dual name.....
See full article HERE

A cool new outlook
The unique, indigenous weather will include moon cycles and how it might affect fishing or planting; sea swells for surfers and divers as well as weather across the highways.

It is believed to be the first indigenous weather project in the world and has been created by Māori Television with NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research)......
See full article HERE

Māori success undermines Māori ward campaign launch
OPINION: The day the National Party caucus picked a Māori leader and deputy undermined the launch of a campaign by supporters of Māori wards in Palmerston North and Manawatū.

A key argument of supporters of Māori wards is that Māori candidates need some affirmative action to get ahead in politics.

But no affirmative action is needed in Parliament, where there are 29 MPs with Māori ancestry, with 22 who got there by merit and seven by way of reserved seats.

"Vote yes" committee member Teanau Tuiono said that Māori representation on councils honours the Treaty of Waitangi.

But he would be hard-pressed to point to where the treaty talks about Māori representation, or even partnership, because it doesn't.

The best that Māori ward proponents can say is that there will be one or two seats and we have to do it because of the treaty, which, frankly is not sufficient information to make an informed decision.

If council decisions are mainly to do with roads, clean drinking water, sewage, drainage, libraries, sports facilities and cultural centres, all of which are for the benefit of everyone, what benefit would a Māori ward bring?

Māori wards increasingly appear to be a solution looking for a problem to solve.
See full article HERE

Free Private Health Insurance for Hapū Members
Auckland iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has today announced a deal with nib New Zealand (nib) to provide free universal private health insurance for all members of the hapū to help improve their health and wellbeing outcomes.....
See full article HERE
More on the above here > Ngāti Whātua ōrākei to spend up to $3m a year on private health cover for members 

Deputy Mayor calls on Māori to have their say about Wellington’s future
Deputy Mayor Jill Day has called on Maōri to take an active part in the upcoming consultations on Wellington City Council’s Ten-Year Plan.

“The plan is the map for where we want our city to be in ten years’ time. So it is very important that the voice of tangata whenua is heard in the discussion,” Cr Day says.

“If approved, the policy will move into the implementation stage – we’ll be developing an action plan that will help us recognise te reo Māori and support and encourage Māori culture......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

4  March  2018

From the NZCPR archives by Dr Muriel Newman
Speaking freely
In fact, the agenda of those pushing the Maori language is far more sinister than many realise.

Marama Fox, the former co-leader of the Maori Party, which used to represent the tribal elite in Parliament, outlined their plan for the Maori language in an interview in the Listener before the election.

It involved replacing our Westminster model of Parliamentary democracy in New Zealand with a “unique form of governance that would favour Maori customs, principles and values.”

She explained it was all ‘plotted out’: “It would take 36 years – 12 election cycles – for a Maori sovereignty party to sharegovernment… it’s a radical vision… but if we believe in it, then we need to march towards it.”

She explained that the “critical step” in shifting the thinking of New Zealanders to make it all possible was “to make the Maori language a core subject in the country’s schools”.

Marama Fox argued that “people look at things differently once they’ve acquired te reo. It’s a world view. The Maori world view is different and that’s expressed in the language. The language unlocks our history and our thinking.”

In other words, the compulsory teaching of the Maori language is key to enable the Maori sovereignty movement to impose their self-serving agenda onto New Zealand.

That’s why Maori sovereignty advocates like Marama Fox are determined to have Maori taught in schools as a compulsory subject. It’s a tool for political control and is fundamental to the successful indoctrination of the next generation, which is a pre-requisite to gaining political governance.

It’s also why the attacks on anyone who speaks out against the Maori sovereignty agenda – particularly their plan to make the Maori language compulsory in schools – are so vicious.

It takes real courage to stand up to these sorts of personal attacks, which is why those who call a spade a spade need to be not only supported, but applauded for doing so. We congratulate Sir William Gallagher and Dave Witherow and the others who know that the right to speak freely is the cornerstone of democracy.

The reality is that collectively we need to take a stand against the bullies. We need to tell newspaper editors what we think because activists have the mainstream media and social media covered. If editors get bombarded with angry letters of complaint against those opposing the Maori sovereignty agenda – with few in support – it’s not difficult to see why they cave in.

They say there’s power in truth. And the truth is that New Zealand is an egalitarian society. While Maori supremacists are driven by their belief that the Treaty has given them superior rights, it’s up to the rest of us who believe in equality, freedom and democracy to speak out against their dangerous agenda.

It’s the same with the foreshore and seabed claims that now cover every square inch of New Zealand’s coastline. Unless the public stands up and says that the claims being made by tribal groups that they have used our coast “exclusively” since 1840 are rubbish, they may just get away with it. The Maori elite will then be a giant step closer to dictating to ordinary New Zealanders where and how we can use our beaches and the marine environment.

The changes they would introduce, would not be immediate, but over time they would become obvious. Tribal groups would seek to exclude the public from the coast, citing so-called environmental or sustainability concerns. Wardens would then be appointed to police the area and keep the public out, while retaining free access for themselves.

They would charge anyone they could for using their beach and marine area, especially those with commercial interests – because it’s about money not mana.....
Read Muriel’s full NZCPR article HERE 
December 10, 2017

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

3  March  2018

Better education information for Maori - Davis
The Government will be making improvements to information for iwi and hapu on the achievement of their tamariki, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis says.

Today the Ministry of Education released their annual Iwi Profiles, which provide information on participation rates of early childhood, attainment of NCEA Level 2 and 3 and tertiary study in rohe around the country.

"The data in the Iwi Profiles provides a high-level overview of achievement and I know some iwi find it useful for their education planning," Mr Davis says.....
See full article HERE

Fonterra hosts hui with 100 Māori suppliers
Over two days, nearly 100 hundred Māori suppliers to Fonterra are meeting with the multinational dairy cooperative in Auckland to learn more about what the company does with their product. For Daisey Noble of Te Rua o Moko, farming operations on a large scale are fairly new to Māori and she believes it's important to understand the Fonterra infrastructure, that until now, was largely unknown to those farmers......
See full article HERE

Arden confident CPTPP passes tiriti test
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is confident the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership won't hinder the crown response to Treaty of Waitangi claims.

The 11-country trade pact is set to be signed in Chile next week, as countries around the Pacific seek to shore up their relationships in the face of increasing isolationism from the United States....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

2  March  2018

ES councillor wants colleagues to speak te reo
An Environment Southland councillor with "inadequate" Māori language skills wants his colleagues to start speaking a bit of te reo around the meeting table.

Maurice Rodway made the suggestion at an Environment Southland meeting this week.

The regional council meeting agendas have Māori translations beside some of the headings, but Rodway reckons they could go further......
See full article HERE

Iwi-driven health village opens in Dunedin
A former Dunedin primary school has been transformed into an iwi-driven health village serving those in need.

Te Kāika – which includes a state-of-the-art medical, dental and physio clinic and social services – was officially opened at the former College St School site in the suburb of Caversham on Wednesday morning.

The centre is a partnership between iwi and the University of Otago, set-up to provide affordable health and wellbeing services for Māori, Pasifika and low-income families in the Dunedin area......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

1  March  2018

Customary title claims see Kawau Islanders struggling to pay 
With virtually no roads on Kawau Island, wharves and jetties are critical for most islanders to access their properties from the sea.

The cost of maintaining these structures is increasing. But, add to that costs associated with claims under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act, and some islanders are being put under intense financial pressure.

There are more than 70 wharves or jetties of every shape and size on Kawau Is, jutting out into surrounding waters. The majority of them are privately owned.

Sorting through re-consenting issues, including those relating to marine customary titles, is putting serious financial pressure on jetty owners, he said.

With hundreds of customary title applications from iwi, hapu, individuals and whanau groups nationwide to either the High Court or Office of Treaty settlements at the end of March in 2017, it is likely to take years to get through them all.

Many are likely to be declined but, in the interim, as 20-year resource consents for wharves come up for renewal around the coast, owners will have to find and notify any claimants.

"The responsibility lies with the applicant for resource consent to engage with the Customary Title applicant, prior to the lodgement of their application," an Auckland Council spokeswoman advises.

"The council does not notify applications for Customary Title, that is a responsibility of the Crown, to whom the applications are made."

There are around 30 applications for Crown engagement in the Auckland region.

Marris estimates seven involve Kawau Island.

"They must all be contacted via a lawyer," he said.

After spending several months trying to sort the reconsenting out themselves, Max Templeton ended up going to a planner in Warkworth, who handled everything.

This cost $3,500 plus an engineers report for $5,000. The resulting work needed on the wharf then set them back $35,000......
See full article HERE

Promote Māori success, innovation and enterprise
An Auckland of prosperity and opportunity for all seeks to advance and support Māori business and iwi organisations to be significant drivers of Auckland's economy.

Innovation and enterprise are two key elements of Māori success and have been a hallmark of Māori development since Māori first arrived in Aotearoa.....
See full article HERE

GradCert - Māori Cultural Studies/Tikanga Māori as a subject
Tikanga Māori (Māori Cultural Studies) teaches you the skills required for a community leadership role in the enhancement of Māori development. In today's rapidly evolving world you will establish a basic, yet necessary understanding of the Māori worldview and its relation to other cultures and worlds.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

28  February  2018

Ward referendums a veto on indigenous rights
The Green Party is renewing its call to remove the double standard that allows for referendum on the establishment of Maori wards but not other sorts of council voting systems.

A petition campaign by Don Brash's Hobson's Pledge group means proposed wards in Palmerston North, Kaikoura, Manawatu, Western Bay of Plenty and Whakatane are likely to be overturned by referendums to be held in May.

Maori Development spokesperson Marama Davidson says it's unacceptable indigenous rights to representation are being decided on by the majority.....
See full article HERE

Petition to exempt Māori land from Public Works Act rejected
A petition calling for the government to exempt Māori land from a law that compels private owners to sell their land for transport services has been declined.

Petitioners argued in 2016 the Public Works Act was unfair because Māori land had already been alienated throughout history.

The Māori Affairs Committee yesterday responded, and said it would not change the law or hold an inquiry....
See full article HERE

Maori central to development effort
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones is keen for Maori in the regions to come up with ways to spend the Labour-NZ First Government's $3 billion Provincial Growth Fund.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

27  February  2018

ive out of five for Maori wards votes
Petitions in both Palmerston North and Kaikoura were validated on Wednesday, which means that all five districts where councils have voted to establish Maori wards will have a vote in May on whether or not those should proceed. > http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1802/S00735/five-out-of-five-for-maori-wards-votes.htm

Campaigners in Palmerston North presented 3776 signatures by the 5pm February 21 deadline when 2727 were required, while those in Kaikoura presented 373 signatures when 300 were required.

Petitions in Manawatu, Western Bay of Plenty, and Whakatane had been validated a week earlier.

Manawatu required 1004 signatures and delivered 1600, Western Bay of Plenty required 1708 and delivered 4051, while Whakatane required 1161 and delivered 1800.

No central or local government body should be able to create racial segregation without a vote confirming that it is the will of their community.

Councillors are elected to provide clean drinking water, to manage roads, sewage, drainage, libraries, sports facilities and cultural centres, all of which are for the benefit of everyone.

We don’t need Maori wards for that.

Voting documents will be posted on April 27 and the vote closes on May 19.....
See full article HERE

Convicted scammer Amato Akarana-Rewi back selling fake New Zealand citizen certificates
A convicted immigration scammer is back selling fake citizenship certificates to overstayers desperate to stay in the country.

But a Herald investigation has found 84-year-old Akarana-Rewi has restarted selling Aotearoa citizenship certificates, which promise holders the right to remain in the country indefinitely, and also be absolved from "Pakeha law", including paying taxes.

He conducts "citizenship ceremonies" at his Otara home for family and friends, who pay between $100 and $300 for the certificates.

"These so-called citizenship certificates are completely worthless," said Immigration New Zealand (INZ) assistant general manager Peter Devoy.

A Tongan national, who overstayed his visitor's visa to remain with his family in Auckland, said he went to see Akarana-Rewi after his appeal to the Immigration Minister was declined.

"After losing all my money to lawyers and immigration advisers, a friend suggested I applied for my right to stay under Maori law," said the man, who paid $150 for his certificate.

"I am grateful that Chief Tupai has approved my citizenship."

He did not want to be identified and said he wouldn't go to the police because it operated under a different jurisdiction.

The man believed the certificate would give him a "basis to fight" any deportation action.

Akarana-Rewi insists the citizenship certificates he issues are legal under Maori law, and that Maori had retained their sovereignty under the 1835 Declaration of Independence......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

26  February  2018

New Rangatahi Court launched in Whangārei
Justice Minister Andrew Little welcomes the addition of the 15th Rangatahi Court launched at Terenga Paraoa Marae in Whangārei today.

“Rangatahi Courts are a judicial initiative that work within the existing Youth Court framework. They use a marae-based, Māori-specific environment to help young Māori and their whānau engage with the justice system in culturally appropriate ways.

“Rangatahi Courts offer an alternative indigenous solution to address offending by young Māori, and non-Māori by involving natural communities in the youth justice process......
See full article HERE

Community fights back amid claims of corporate greed at mine
Locals are mystified as to how a Wellington businessman has gained control of the mine, leaving them with no say in how the company is run.

The E Tū union has taken a complaint to the Employment Relations Authority alleging the new managers have arbitrarily removed allowances, while a local action group has gone to the Māori Land Court claiming the incorporation that owns the land has failed to protect wāhi tapu and the environment.

There are claims that workers have been threatened with their jobs if they speak out......
See full article HERE

Maori youth initiative gets more funding
A robotics initiative by Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi has been awarded increased funding to support the growth of computational thinking among Maori students in Gisborne, Bay of Plenty, Auckland and Northland regions.

Professor John Clayton and the team from Tokorau – Institute for Indigenous Innovation have been awarded increased funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

The funding comes from the Unlocking Curious Minds contestable funding initiative created to increase engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

25  February  2018

From the NZCPR archives by Dr Muriel Newman
Democracy under attack
It’s fair to ask, how on earth it could have got to this stage – has the nation been asleep while iwi leaders have been advancing their sovereignty agenda?

While the iwi agenda has not been secret, it has not been entirely open either.

Much of their manoeuvring has been carried out under the guise of helping disadvantaged Maori. As a result, most New Zealanders have been totally unaware that a long-running and well-planned offensive has been underway.

Some, however, have been trying to raise the alarm for years.

For more than two decades, Professor Elizabeth Rata of Auckland University has warned of the threat being posed by the bicultural movement in New Zealand. She has outlined how a powerful cultural elite from within Maoridom – who were committed to subverting democracy – were positioned inside the State system, to destroy it from within.

According to Professor Rata, biculturalism arose in the seventies, driven by left wing activists who were seeking an alternative to traditional class politics.

What they found, of course, was cultural Marxism – a socialist philosophy originated by a former leader of the Italian Communist Party, Antonio Gramsci, who saw ‘culture’ as the way to win the class struggle. While the traditional battle to ‘liberate’ the working class involved taking control of the ‘economic means of production and distribution’, he focused on controlling the ‘cultural means of production’. His work inspired a literal socialist march through culture-forming institutions such as the media, universities, and churches – enlightening those within about the struggle for social justice by ‘oppressed’ groups in society, centred on race, gender, and sexuality.

Professor Rata explained that many ‘biculturalists’ moved into positions of power and influence in the education and health professions, social services, and government circles, as public servants and politicians, bringing with them their political commitment to the identity politics agenda: “Victimhood was subsequently understood as oppression by colonisation, the patriarchy, and ‘Western’ culture generally – an oppression experienced by ethnic groups, indigenous peoples, women, gays, and religious minorities rather than the capitalist exploitation of working class people.”

Over the years, New Zealanders have been deceived by the bicultural activists, who have claimed that the movement was a means to greater social justice for marginalised Maori. Yet, in reality, it has been used as a Trojan Horse to enable a rich and powerful tribal elite to grow stronger at a cost to disadvantaged Maori, who are little better off today than they were back then.......
Read Muriel’s full NZCPR article HERE 
July 17, 2017

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

24  February  2018

Mana whenua members walk out of meeting over Te Mata peak track
The meeting went well until it reached the third item, which was the issue of the controversial track, which was built by Craggy Range winery late last year. The winery agreed to remove the track in December after a public outcry and criticism by Ngati Kahungunu.

"The meeting was called to have a better relationship with Maori. That was fair enough. When they brought up the track I asked what it had to do with the trust board when it was an issue that had been resolved as far as I was concerned. Craggy Range gave the undertaking that it would be remediated and we accepted that," MacDonald said.

MacDonald, a Waimarama kaumatua, said board member Michael Bate told the meeting that the track was not going to be remediated.

"He said 'let's be honest, the track will not be remediated'. He also said it was a landscaping issue, not a cultural issue. Someone like Michael Bate certainly isn't going to tell me what is or isn't a cultural issue. But that wasn't really the issue, the issue was why were we even discussing the track. I just felt it was highly inappropriate," MacDonald said.

"I wasn't there to discuss the merits of leaving the track as it was. I was there because I'd been told the meeting was about seeing how to get more Maori representation on the trust. So I left. Rose followed me," he said.....
See full article HERE

Claimants sidelined as CPTPP push on
Wai 262 claimants have expressed frustration at way they have been ignored in the push to secure the Comprehensive Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal.

The Government has released a national interest statement on the agreement, which is an amended version of the TPP which puts on hold some of the concessions demanded by the United States, which is no longer a party.

University of Auckland law professor Jane Kelsey says the statement makes claims which don’t hold up about benefits to Maori business and the supposed protection of Treaty of Waitangi settlements.

"People like Moana Jackson, Maui Solomon, Aroha Mead, Angeline Greensill and those who have been involved with this forever gave the officials a very clear understanding the whole of the way this has been approached from the consultation through to the content was yet another breach of Te Tiriti," Professor Kelsey says......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

23  February  2018

Government open to reviewing Māori ward law
The government is refusing to condemn as racist the law that allows Māori wards to be contested with referendums.

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta repeatedly refused to say if she thought the law was racist but admits it is inconsistent and wants the sector to write to her.

"There are different standards - it is evident - and that is a view that has been strongly reflected to me.

"I believe that if we want to ensure better decision making then the diversity of the community needs to be represented at the decision making table," she said.

However, the Green co-leader James Shaw said the law discriminates against Māori.

"We want to get rid of the discrimination that says that if you want to set up a Māori ward it requires a referendum but if you want to set up a general ward you don't need a referendum - we believe that is discriminatory and you should remove the distinction."

But the New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said a law that allows people to have a democratic say cannot be racist....
See full article HERE

Hamilton's Iwi Māori panel targeting low-end offenders
As New Zealand prison beds near capacity, a Hamilton-based community panel has offered a fix.

The Iwi Māori Panel in the Waikato is a collaboration of Te Kōhao Health, New Zealand police and the Māori King's office.

The panel which was launched in February is one of six around the country so far, but it's hoped there'll be a panel in each of the 12 police districts.

While the panels were set up under National, Labour Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis has given the concept new impetus.....
See full article HERE

Waikato-Tainui signs with ITOs to upskill iwi members
Waikato-Tainui is putting its money on trade skills, signing agreements with 11 Industry Training Organisations to boost career opportunities for iwi members.

In a speech to ITO representatives at the tribe's endowment college north of Huntly, chief executive Donna Flavell said the agreements would allow people to gain the skills needed to play a role in the workforce and at home.

"This is untested ground for these ITOs, but they have taken a bold step and the signals that they have sent to the market today will have far-reaching and positive consequences for our people and our region," Flavell said....
See full article HERE

Iwi take lead in reo projects
Tairawhiti iwi are preparing to invest in te reo Maori revitalisation.

Maori language body Te Matawai has delegated the task of deciding what projects should be funded to eight regional investment panels.

While iwi are at different stages with their settlements, many raised loss of te reo Maori in their claims and some including Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Porou are spending settlement money on language strategies......
See full article HERE

New body for health primary care
There's a new body bringing together primary health care providers and representative agencies.

A summit of primary health care leaders decided to form the new federation and appointed former health minister Dame Annette King as its first chair.

Dame Annette says the aim is to provide an inclusive platform for health and care integration with the people of New Zealand at the heart of its objectives.

She is putting together an establishment board which will include Maori health leaders, pharmacy, allied health, midwifery, nursing, and NGOs as well as PHOs from Cape Reinga to Bluff.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

22  February  2018

Trust Slams Tax Payer Funding of Wrestling on Maori TV
The Sensible Sentencing Trust Manawatu spokesperson Scott Guthrie is calling for Maori television to withdraw the airing of WWE wrestling from its programme line up before its start date of the 24th of February.

“What sort of message does this type of programme send the community?

Maori Television is funded by the tax payer and Freeview is available to everyone in this country including prisoners” Guthrie said. The public of New Zealand aren’t interested in promoting violence but if we allow this to happen that’s exactly what we are doing......
See full article HERE

Over $1mil to Te Tai Rāwhiti for te reo Māori
A Te Kāea exclusive, Te Mātāwai has been funded $10mil to support iwi efforts for the revitalisation of the reo. Today they began distributing these funds to the regions.....
See full article HERE

Flexible approach for better crown relations
The Minister for Crown Maori Relationships is about to head out onto the road to hear what Maori think his job should be.

Kelvin Davis says he will visit marae and communities overcoming months to give people the opportunity to say what they want from the crown.....
See full article HERE

Māori achievement a priority for Education
The Government’s three-year education work programme prioritises lifting achievement for Māori students, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis says.

Today Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced a comprehensive work programme to ensure the education system delivers for New Zealand children and their families, with a focus on lifting Māori achievement....
See full article HERE

Te Puni Kōkiri commends Council’s te reo Māori commitment
“I applaud Wellington City Council on its goal to make the Capital city, a te reo Māori city. Most people in the world, and certainly in the globe’s capital cities, speak at least two languages. We can do it too,” says Te Puni Kōkiri Chief Executive Michelle Hippolite.....
See full article HERE

Kaikoura to vote on Maori ward
Kaikoura will vote on a Maori ward after the required 300 signatures on a petition for a vote were validated today.

The Kaikoura District Council decided on November 22 to proceed with a Maori ward and gave notice of the right of 5 percent of electors, a total of 300 people, to demand a poll.

Signature collectors found strong support for a vote, with most of the 373 signatures collected in the past few days, Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash said today.

Petition forms were sent in by early afternoon and Electionz.com had the signatures validated within a couple of hours. The vote must be held within 90 days.

Kaikoura is the fourth district in which a vote has been confirmed.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

21  February  2018

Auckland unfairly losing access to maunga
How right is that? The Maunga Authority's 2014 setup legislation transferred ownership of Auckland's volcanic summits to Maori treaty claimants, though the cones retained their public reserve status.

Such status was no doubt the reason for the then Minister of Treaty Negotiations, Chris Finlayson, saying while ushering through the prior maunga Deed of Settlement, "There will be no changes to existing public access and use rights."

The Maunga Authority also has to administer the cones having regard to "the spiritual, ancestral, cultural, customary, and historical significance of the maunga to Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau". Okay, hence the summit bans, but how popular are they, actually?

Under its legislation the Maunga Authority must also have regard to "the common benefit of Nga Mana Whenua o Tamaki Makau Rau and the other people of Auckland." I think it's likely, by letters to the Herald and other evidences, the Authority has not to date persuaded "the other people of Auckland" or even those "mana whenua" I personally know, that car bans on all the maunga are welcome.

Nor can you ride willy nilly over the access and parking problems the policy entails. The Tupuna Maunga Authority's conduct in imposing its car ban on Mt Victoria-Takarunga in the way it has is damaging to its reputation.....
See full article HERE

Aotearoa/New Zealand gets another Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) option.
Papaioea/Palmerston North, Aotearoa/New Zealand <19 February 2018>

New Zealand’s first Weightless Internet of Things (IoT) wireless network has launched. In order to support the economic aspirations of Iwi in the Manawatū, First Tree Growing Ltd is providing local Māori farmers hands on access to a range of emerging technologies in smart agriculture including the low power, wide area network technology called Weightless.

One of the first projects to benefit from the newly established Weightless network is a Māori Future Farm initiative. The aim is to pilot technologies that will help small farming operations to be more sustainable and competitive while delivering on their commitment to the environment and local community.....
See full article HERE

Inspiring youths with te ao Maori
Sixteen Wairarapa youths will be challenged mentally and physically over the next few months, while connecting with their past through a kaupapa Maori course.

Wairarapa police and Rangitane o Wairarapa, with support from Whaiora, jointly-organised ‘Te Rerenga Ake’ — a mentoring programme designed to build confidence and self-esteem in intermediate-aged rangatahi.

Mentor and Rangitane youth worker Mikey Kawana said the inspiration behind the course was to connect youths back to te ao Maori, or the Maori world, which many rangatahi were not readily exposed to these days.

The rangatahi would learn about nutrition and exercise during the eight-week programme, based at Rangitane o Wairarapa at Kokiri Pl on Tuesdays.

Mau rakau, traditional Maori weaponry such as the taiaha, and raranga, the art of weaving, would also be explored......
See full article HERE

Hawke's Bay councils choosing karakia over prayers to open meetings
Across Hawke's Bay/Tararua only half of the six councils have an official prayer which references religion. Of these three, two favour a karakia (a Maori formal greeting similar to a prayer).

The Hawke's Bay Regional Council's prayer has the most religious references, including "God our creator" and "Christ the Lord", but this term council decided the chair could decide whether to open with the prayer, a karakia, or a welcome.

The prayer is now "very seldom used", with council chair Rex Graham preferring to use a karakia to open meetings as it "reflects the times for us living in New Zealand just a bit better".

A karakia has also become the preference at Central Hawke's Bay District Council. Mayor Alex Walker said she saw a karakia as a respectful, true reflection of the partnership between mana whenua and the council.

At Wairoa District Council a karakia typically opens and closes every meeting, but there is no formal statement, and the karakia is usually "thought out on the spot by someone who is at the table", a spokesman said......
See full article HERE

‘Kōhanga Reo chronically underfunded’ - Professor Paul Moon
In an interview with Māori TV’s show Kawekōrero, historian Paul Moon says that the solution to help strengthen te reo Māori is to dramatically fund Kōhanga Reo and to make it a nationwide organisation. He goes on to say there is a need to create a demand where Te Reo Māori can be spoken on a daily basis.

“The so-called experts have had 40 years to address this crisis, it’s got worse, so I say to them in return well if they are experts how come things have got worse,” says Moon.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

20  February  2018

Ngati Whatua Orakei appeal $1.85 billion East-West Link Highway
A New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) project that would link the South-Western (SH20) and Southern Motorways (SH1) has been granted consent. NZTA says it will improve travel times and make for easy more reliable travel, but Auckland iwi Ngati Whatua Orakei are appealing the decision.

A highway estimated by NZTA to cost up to $1.85 billion has been granted consent.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei spokesperson Ngārimu Blair says, “EPA, the Environmental Protection Authority, have given consents to build this highway.”

Blair says, “This will be laid out over The Mānukanuka of Hoturoa, the habitat of some of our birds and endangered species of the tribes of this region.”.....
See full article HERE

Māori school feeds body, mind and spirit for $4 a day
Parents of students at Tai Wānanga don’t pay anything for education – but they pay $4 a day for the school to give their children breakfast and lunch.

The state school opened in 2011 under the “special character” clause that is now being offered to charter schools, and has only 190 students this year – 115 in Hamilton and 75 in Palmerston North.

It has no subject timetable. Instead, students have “individualised tailored learning plans” and develop their own “project-based” learning spanning multiple subjects.

Tai Wānanga is open to anyone, but 165 of its 169 students at last count were Māori.

All students learn te reo Māori immediately after karakia in the mornings, and the school’s vision is “Kia Tu, Kia Ora, Kia Māori“:

* Kia Tu: “Stand with confidence.”

* Kia ora: “Healthy in mind, body and spirit.”

* Kia Māori: “Māori succeeding as Māori.”.....
See full article HERE

Transport Minister celebrates opening of Te Onewa Pā
Minister of Transport, Phil Twyford, has this morning opened the recently upgraded Te Onewa Pā, located under the northern end of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, with a dawn blessing.

“Te Onewa Pā holds a special place in Māori and Auckland history. This work acknowledges the cultural and historical importance of the area,” says Phil Twyford.

The upgrade work includes a new walkway, replacement of a pedestrian bridge, fencing, planting and landscaping and is the final part of a wider upgrade programme which started in 2010.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

18  February  2018

From the NZCPR archives – by Dr Muriel Newman
Claims tsunami hits foreshore and seabed
Over the years, the NZCPR has taken a lead in raising concerns about the race-based demands of the tribal elite as they seek legal privilege at the expense of other New Zealanders. On many occasions we have found ourselves head to head with the Government of the day – most notably with National over law changes to the foreshore and seabed, and more recently, the Resource Management Act.

In the case of the foreshore and seabed, we opposed National’s repeal of Crown ownership back in 2011, raising concerns that the Marine and Coastal Area Act could open the floodgates to a “land grab” by iwi.

We warned that giving Maori sovereignty over large tracts of New Zealand’s coastline and Territorial Sea would expose the area to exploitation through mining and the uncontrolled taking of wildlife.

We raised concerns about extortion and corruption – through demands for royalties from commercial operators using the coast, and the vetoing of proposed developments … until suitable payments are made.

We worried that demands by iwi for the law to allow the appointment of Wardens and Fisheries Officers to patrol ‘wahi tapu’ areas – imposing fines of up to $5,000 and reporting ‘trespassers’ to the Police – signalled their intention to prohibit public access.

We were accused of scaremongering – with National even gloating about how few claims had been lodged.

WELL, ALL OF THAT HAS NOW CHANGED.

The six year window for lodging foreshore and seabed claims closed on April 3rd 2017, with a tsunami of last minute applications pouring in – as many as 550, according to some media.......
Continue reading Dr Muriel Newman’s article HERE 
April 30, 2017

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

17  February  2018

NZ First Bill: English Language set to become official
New Zealand First has submitted a member’s bill for English to be recognised as an official language of New Zealand. Te Reo Maori was recognised in 1987 and New Zealand Sign Language in 2006, yet there is no legislation that recognises English.

“The Bill is called the ‘English an Official Language Bill’ and that will give English the same legal status as Te Reo Maori and New Zealand Sign Language.” Says New Zealand First List MP Clayton Mitchell.

It’s common sense to officially recognise the language that the vast majority of New Zealanders use on a day to day basis. English is the primary language that New Zealanders use, whether that’s in business, at home, on the sports field or in the media.

“A petition was presented to Parliament last year with 6,258 signatures asking for English to be recognised. I’ve travelled around the country and everyone I’ve spoken to think it’s absurd that this isn’t already the case.”
See full article HERE

Unity of effort a key to lifting Māori economic performance
A strong partnership between central Government, Māori business and whānau, and their partners in the wider community, is essential to further boosting Māori economic performance, says Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta.

“There is significant scope to raise the contribution of the Māori economy, for example, through iwi-led business initiatives such as the ones successfully carried out by the likes of Ngāi Tahu and Waikato-Tainui.

“Besides improving the well-being and security of whānau, this will benefit New Zealand as a whole. What’s good for Māori is good for the rest of New Zealand.”....
See full article HERE

Murupara water bottling plant one step closer for Ngati Manawa
The next step in what is hoped will be a lifeline for Murupara and its people has been given the green light.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council has approved a resource consent application to allow the first drilling and underwater testing of groundwater from farmland privately owned by Ngati Manawa Incorporation.

Ngati Manawa, working collaboratively with New Zealand Aquifer, plan to develop two bottling plants on the land, an operation they hope will create 1500 jobs in the region.

Te Runanga o Ngati Manawa chairman Kani Edwards was delighted with progress.

"We are getting closer to delivering a promising future for our people and for generations to come......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

16  February  2018

Teachers contributing to Māori under-achievement
Teachers are contributing to Māori children's poor performance at school, the Education Ministry has told Parliament's Education and Workforce Select Committee.

Appearing before the committee for its annual review of the Education Ministry yesterday, the Secretary for Education, Iona Holsted, said Māori students' poor performance was a long-standing problem.

"The school system has under-performed for Māori students since the system began, so we have an intractable systemic problem," she said.....
See full article HERE

Aucklanders being exposed to more Māori culture in everyday life
Auckland, or Tāmaki Makaurau, is becoming a more inclusive city with Māori design and te reo Māori becoming increasingly prevalent in daily life.

A new interactive information hub created by Auckland Council's Māori Design Specialist team and Auckland Transport is the most recent example of this.

Launched on Thursday, Pā Rongorongo allows visitors to create a unique digital walking or cycling tour incorporating Maori sites of significance, arts and culture, heritage spaces, and more.....
See full article HERE

Te Reo Māori subtitles are now available on Air NZ
It seemed like it was so long ago that we were just announcing that Disney's Moana was being released in te reo Māori and what a day that was!

That's now been and gone and although there is a lot of controversy about learning Te Reo Māori, many people are still trying to get their fix of the language.

Well now, Air New Zealand crafts are offering Thor with Te Reo Māori subtitles!....
See full article HERE

Ground-breaking Māori business programme in Hamilton
The country’s first business accelerator programme for ambitious Māori entrepreneurs was launched with a pōwhiri in Hamilton on Monday (February 12).

Callaghan Innovation and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa have teamed up with Creative HQ, Robett Hollis, Crowe Horwath and Ernst & Young Tahi to create Kōkiri, a unique business accelerator dedicated to speeding up the development of fledgling Māori businesses.

Ten promising, young start-ups from across Aotearoa have been selected to participate in the four-month Kōkiri programme, based at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa’s Mangakōtukutuku campus in Hamilton....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

15  February  2018

Mt Victoria summit on Auckland's North Shore to be vehicle-free
The summit of Mount Victoria in the Auckland suburb of Devonport will be made a vehicle-free space at the start of March.

The summit, or tihi, will be permanently closed to all vehicles from March 1st, following a decision from the Tūpuna Maunga Authority - the group looking after Auckland's ancestral mountains.

"The maunga will continue to be public places for people to enjoy. These changes are about rethinking how we interact with the whenua and better protect it," he said......
See full article HERE

1800 sign for referendum - Whakatane
Petition calling for referendum on Maori wards given to Whakatane council

WITH more than 1800 signatures, a petition requesting a referendum on whether Maori wards should be established in the Whakatane district was making its way to Auckland last night so the information could be verified.

David Dowd and Colin Holmes presented the petition to Whakatane District Council yesterday at 2pm.

To invoke a referendum on the issue of Maori wards, the petition had to receive at least 1161 valid signatures. It has been forecast a referendum could cost $40,000.....
See full article HERE

Maori ward petition delivered to council
A petition calling for a public poll on the issue of Maori wards for Western Bay of Plenty District Council has been delivered today.

Petitioners arrived at council offices on Barkes Corner at 12pm with boxes containing more than 4000 signatures.

Of those, they say a random check shows at least 2532 are eligible voters within the district, and therefore entitled to call for a poll.

1708 signatures are required to initiate a public poll on the issue of Maori wards, which a majority of councillors voted in favour of at a meeting in November 2017.

The three councillors who voted against the decision – Mike Lally, Margaret Murray-Benge, and Kevin Marsh – joined other residents in presenting the petition.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

14  February  2018

Petition organisers confident they have enough support to force Māori wards poll in Manawatū District
A petition opposing Māori wards in the Manawatū District appears to have surpassed the target needed to force a poll that could overturn the council's decision to bring them in.

Both the Palmerston North City Council and Manawatū District Council voted last year in favour of establishing Māori wards, but a petition in Manawatū has gathered more than 1600 signatures, which would comfortably exceed the 1004 needed to force a referendum if those signatures are verified.

In Palmerston North, petition organiser Don Esslemont couldn't provide an exact number, remaining "optimistic, but not certain" the target of 2727 in the city will be met.

Manawatū petition organiser and councillor Andrew Quarrie said the support highlighted how opposed people were to the council's decision. But he would collect signatures until the February 21 deadline as the returning officer might rule some out as invalid.
See full article HERE

Waikato District Council wants better engagement with iwi
Waikato District Council has made a step towards enhancing its relationship with iwi.

At Monday's meeting councillors deliberated over options for the Māori community to have input into and awareness of council processes and decision-making for around half an hour.

In the end, the recommendation was accepted and it was decided council would reconvene at a later date for a workshop about enhancing the status quo arrangements, in particular the Joint Management Agreements with Māori partners......
See full article HERE

Indigenous biodiversity examined in Marlborough Environment Plan hearings
Marlborough's indigenous plants and animals are under the microscope as the latest round of hearings on the region's proposed environment plan get underway this week.

The plan would determine the council's environmental policies for the next 20 years, and specified what sort of activities would be allowed or banned.

Ngāi Tahu wanted to include a new policy allowing customary harvesting in areas with threatened indigenous vegetation, habitats with significant indigenous biodiversity, and ecologically significant marine sites.

Customary harvesting allowed iwi to collect plants and animals for cultural purposes, such as ceremonies, medicinal uses, weaving or consumption.

It was important to ensure legislation was drafted to comply with the Treaty of Waitangi principles, he said.

"Customary harvesting is essential in enabling Ngāi Tahu, and other tangata whenua iwi, to exercise kaitiakitanga [guardianship of the environment] and to provide for their relationship with their culture, lands, water and other taonga [treasures]......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

13  February  2018

High Court dismisses case that controversial Stuff cartoons breached Human Rights Act
The High Court in Auckland has found Stuff did not breach the Human Rights Act in publishing two "provocative" cartoons in 2013.

Labour MP for Manurewa Louisa Wall claimed the two cartoons published by Fairfax NZ, now Stuff, in The Press and The Marlborough Express depicted Māori and Pacific people negatively and were a breach of human rights.

She appealed a 2014 decision by the Human Rights Review Tribunal, which had rejected her complaint that the cartoons were "insulting and ignorant put-downs" of Māori and Pacific people.

In a decision released on Monday, the High Court rejected the appeal.....
See full article HERE

New Zealand gangs recruiting bigger numbers than the army
New Zealand is said to have more gang members than soldiers.

More than 5300 members or "prospects" are lining up to join one of 25 listed groups.

A recent article by The Economist quoted police saying gangs were a bigger force than the army, and organised criminal groups were thriving in rural areas as well as cities.

The Hell's Angels, Head Hunters, Nomads and Killer Beez all have a presence in New Zealand. Black Power and the Mongrel Mob have ruled the roost for almost half a century.

Gang members "stick out like dogs' balls", one member admitted to The Economist, because of their patches and tattoos. They are often clothed in leather jackets branded with clenched fists, bulldogs or the Nazi salute.

Police say three-quarters of the country's mobsters are Maori - despite the fact they make up just 15 per cent of the population......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

12  February  2018

Funding available for Maori in tech 
A fresh round of funding aimed at building Maori capacity in the digital technology space is underway.

Maori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta says it's about helping Maori participate in the modern digital economy.

Already, some $3.6 million is helping 20 projects around the country develop under the Ka Hao Maori Digital Technology Fund. The new funding round will expand this, with applications open since February 9. .....
See full article HERE

How to talk about the Treaty of Waitangi
Hawke's Bay Today has paired up with The Parenting Place to run a weekly Parenting Hot Tip

Talking about the treaty with your children might be different if you are Maori or if you're pakeha— or if you don't have children. If your family has moved here from a different country, it might feel unfamiliar and tricky to engage with. It might not even feel applicable. But if you've made Aotearoa your home, the treaty does affect you. Here are some ways to start the conversation.

Tell them the story. Not every child loves discussing politics, history or the translation differences in Article Two. But they do love stories. Our history is a story. Tell them stories about our country so that they can see how they are a part of it. Place them in the story.

Paint scenarios and ask questions that help your child engage with the idea of ownership and sharing. They could imagine they live on a beautiful beach and can surf every day on uncrowded waves. Then one day people show up and want to live on the beach and surf the waves too. Is that fair? How would you make that work for everyone? Give them an analogy.

If your child has ever been to a wedding then you could use that as an analogy. A marriage is when two very different people make a whole lot of promises to each other so that they can make one relationship work. That is sort of what a treaty is. Making a marriage work isn't easy. It is learning to see through the eyes of our pater, being willing to compromise and learning to put the interests of our partner ahead of our own. When we're able to do this, we are building healthy relationships.
Hawkes Bay Today Feb 10, 2018 – page 10 (Sorry no link available)

Sir Bob Jones says he'll sue woman behind petition to remove his title
The controversy sparked by a column written by Sir Bob Jones continues as he considers taking the woman behind the petition to strip him of his title to court.

His column was pulled from the National Business Review due to its "inappropriate content" which included the comment there should be a "Maori Gratitude Day" instead of "a much disdained Waitangi Day".

An online petition to remove his knighthood had gained more than 40,700 signatures.

Sir Bob Jones told One News he wanted to sue the woman who started the petition.

"I won't sue her for a lot because that would seem like I'm bullying her," Sir Bob told One News.

But he planned to sue her on the basis of hate speech.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

11  February  2018

A strong vote against dual name (Poverty Bay)
NEARLY three-quarters of the people who responded to the web poll question this week about giving Poverty Bay a dual name voted against such a move.

The question was, “Do you support moving to a dual name for Gisborne’s coastal bay to Turanganui a Kiwa/Poverty Bay?” — a proposed change that is being promoted and consulted on by Gisborne District Council.

NO 72% YES 25% Don't know 3%......
See full article HERE

Charter schools to be axed
The Minister of Education Chris Hipkins didn’t mince his words, being very clear of his intentions for charter schools. “We’ve been very clear that we don’t like the charter school model and we’re not going to continue the charter school model.”

Minister Hipkins accepted some Māori saw value in the model, saying “I acknowledge for the Māori education providers in particular, there is a desire to have a ‘by Māori for Māori’ focus and we certainly want to see how we can accommodate that better within the public education system.”.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

10  February  2018

Tribe ready for harbours claim
Waikato Tainui is keen to start on its outstanding claims to its west coast harbours.

Lead negotiator Rahui Papa says the land settlement of 20 years ago and the more recent Waikato River settlement left unfinished the matter of the Kawhia, Aotea, Whaingaroa and Manukau harbours.

He wants to work with the hapu affected on what their needs are.

"We really want to acknowledge the whanau out on the coast and the people who have come away from there because of lack of employment. We want to look at a host of models like the harbours being a legal entity to themselves or a legal personality," Mr Papa says.
See full article HERE

Te Reo Māori introduced at Halberg Awards
New Zealand's sporting greats have gathered for the 55th Halberg Awards in Auckland. It is the country's pre-eminent event to honour and celebrate New Zealand sporting excellence.

And for the first time a Halberg Foundation Youth Council member, Thomas Chin, has chosen to perform a Māori karakia before the awards.

“To be here in such a big arena, and to have these opportunities to promote the Māori culture, is something that is a huge honour for me,” says Chin.

The hope is that the Māori language will be used in other events run by Halberg.

There will be many recipients tonight, but the real winner will be the Māori language.......
See full article HERE

Maunga become pedestrian spaces
More of Auckland's volcanic cones could soon be closed off to vehicle access.

Tamaki Tupuna Maunga Authority chair Paul Majurey says the reaction to making Maungawhau-Mt Eden pedestrian only acess has been overwhelmingly positive.

He says other communities are now asking for similar protection for their maunga and three will get their wish to be pedestrianised......
See full article HERE

Overwhelming response to Poverty Bay re-naming proposal
Captain Cook saw nothing of value in Poverty Bay when he named it in 1769 - but 250 years later that could be about to change.

Nearly 2000 public submissions have been made on the proposal to restore the East Coast's district's original Māori name - Tūranganui-ā-kiwa.

Submissions on the name change closed today and in the next few months a final decision by the council will be taken to the National Geographic Board.....
See full article HERE

Kids who struggle in conventional classes engage with Māori tikanga and history
An experimental programme using traditional Māori knowledge and history to engage boys struggling in the classroom has been so successful it could be expanded to non-Māori children.

Two years ago, teachers at Roslyn School in Palmerston North were looking for a way to engage restless children. Looking at tests results and children's engagement, they found many were Māori boys, teacher Jason Tatana said.

They decided this was a group that would benefit from extra support, and their approach has been so successful the school is backing its expansion.

Tatana began a group with six of the year 7 to 9 boys, meeting once a week for less formal and more personal classes. He began teaching them about their Māori heritage, tikanga Māori (customs), and values.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

9  February  2018

Māori & migrants call for treaty to be included in citizenship oath 
The issue of including the Treaty of Waitangi into the country's citizenship ceremony has resurfaced, following an online petition by a group of Māori and migrants, who are calling on the government to include the Treaty in the allegiance oath.

Mexican migrant Ricardo Menendez hopes the allegiance oath he solemnly pledged last year, will one day include the Treaty as follows.

"I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Tangata Whenua and the Crown, according to law, that I will honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfil my duties as a New Zealand citizen." 

March is part of Change the Oath along with Māori, who have launched an online petition to the Minister of Internal Affairs to have the Treaty included in the oath ceremony (as written above)......
See full article HERE

Govt to target Māori unemployment rates - Jackson
The falling unemployment rate is tracking in the right direction but the percentage of Māori and youth out of work is still too high, Minister of Employment Willie Jackson says.

Mr Jackson said while Māori unemployment fell more than 20 percent last year, it was still double the national average - which was not acceptable.

Mr Jackson said Māori would benefit from government investment in families, health and housing, but he was also negotiating targeted initiatives......
See full article HERE

Charter schools were a failed, expensive experiment on kiwi kids – NZEI
Sixty percent of children in charter schools are Māori.

NZEI Te Riu Roa Matua Takawaenga Laures Park says that charter schools did not serve tamariki well and she looked forward to them coming back into the fold.

"We also want to hear more from the Minister about support and resourcing for bilingual/immersion education so that all learners have their identity, culture and language valued and supported at school."

She says there is no credible evidence charter schools are better for Māori than kura kaupapa or mainstream public schools.....
See full article HERE

Council considers protecting Te Mata Peak by making it a wāhi taonga
The option of recognising Te Mata Peak as a wāhi taonga, or sacred place, will be considered by Hastings District Council.

The council's planning and regulatory committee met on Thursday to discuss the adequacy of the Hastings district plan in light of the controversial track cut up the eastern side of Te Mata Peak late last year.

The track, built by Craggy Range winery, was deemed to have "no more than minor" environmental effects when the council issued resource consent, without public notification, in October 2017.

Last month an independent review found multiple issues had not been thoroughly scrutinised by the council, particularly the peak's importance to Ngāti Kahungunu.

This is partly because the peak is not a listed wāhi taonga, or wāhi tapu, and therefore cultural effects were not fully considered.

At Thursday's meeting councillors discussed the fact that if the peak was identified as a wāhi taonga it would mean hapu were treated as an affected party in any resource consent application received by the council.

Any activities involving excavation, modification or disturbance of the ground that would destroy wāhi taonga would be a discretionary activity.

An area can only be declared wāhi taonga if it is advanced as such by the hapu with mana whenua......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

8  February  2018

The New Zealand Navy's newest - and largest - ship will have a badge inspired by the legend of Maui.
Chief Petty Officer Steven Knight says he was rapt to make the shortlist of 10 - out of more than 250 designs submitted - to produce a badge for the HMNZS Aotearoa, the Navy's newest and largest ship.

"I just tried to produce something that contained all the elements that were important for a Navy ship that carried the name of our country," he said.

Rear Admiral John Martin, who was on the design selection committee, says he looked for "simple yet striking" designs and CPO Knight's Maui-inspired effort stood out.

"The fish hook elegantly blended the Maori legend of Aotearoa's origin with the replenishment role that the ship will be responsible for," he said......
See full article HERE

Don Brash calls out Treaty of Waitangi oath attempt
A former politician is questioning a call to include the Treaty of Waitangi in the Oath of Citizenship.

A petition has been launched calling for new citizens to pledge allegiance to Tangata Whenua and the Crown.

The Minister of Internal Affairs is being urged to amend the oath, recognising the Treaty as New Zealand's founding document.

But former National leader Don Brash says it's not that straight forward.

"If it implies it was a partnership between Māori and the Crown then certainly I would strongly oppose it because there was no such partnership created," he says......
See full article HERE

BOP Maori collaborate with dairy plant
A group of Maori organisations has partnered with Japanese food company Imanaka to develop a milk processing plant to make high-value niche products in the Bay of Plenty town of Kawerau.

Kawerau Dairy is a collaboration between 11 Maori entities, which own two thirds of the venture, and Imanaka's Cedenco Dairy unit, which owns the remaining third. They expect the first stage of the $32 million project to begin operations early next year.

The dairy venture is following the model of the Miraka milk company in Taupo.

"For Maori, it's about getting more experienced and becoming more involved," said project coordinator Richard Jones, who is chief executive of Kawerau Dairy shareholder Poutama......
See full article HERE

RANZCP strengthens their commitment to Māori
‘Mr Keelan’s knowledge of Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) will provide the RANZCP with strong cultural leadership,’ said Dr Rees Tapsell (Ngāti Whakaue) Chair of Te Kaunihera mo ngā Hauora hinengaro Māori

‘Much of Mr Keelan role will focus on advising on mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), tikanga and kawa (protocol). We are particularly pleased that Mr Keelan will be able to tautoko (support) us with cultural events associated with this year’s RANZCP Congress in Auckland,’ Dr Tapsell said.....
See full article HERE

Labour won't repeat 'closing the gaps'
The government won't be funding any big-ticket policies specifically targeted at Maori but its other plans will disproportionately help Maori, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says.

During her historic speech at Waitangi's Treaty Grounds on Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called on those present to hold her government to account on promises about health, education and jobs, saying there was "much work to be done".

Asked whether the government would be looking to introduce a specifically targeted, large-scale programme - such as the last Labour government's "Closing the Gaps" strategy for Maori and Pacific Islanders - Mr Robertson on Wednesday told Radio NZ that wasn't on the cards.

"That's not the approach we are taking, but we believe that we will be able to lift a significant number of Maori out of poverty," he said.....
See full article HERE

Māori unemployment rate at nine-year low, but twice NZ rate
In the year to the December 2017 quarter, the unemployment rate for Māori fell to a nine-year low, at the same time as 19,000 more Māori, especially rangatahi (young people), moved into work, Stats NZ said today.

The unemployment rate for Māori fell to 9.0 percent, compared with 11.9 percent a year ago. This is the lowest Māori unemployment rate since the December 2008 quarter; however, unemployment for Maori is double the national rate.....
See full article HERE

Council apologises over post suggesting Aucklanders ignore Waitakere Ranges rāhui
Auckland Council is extending an olive branch after a blunder encouraging people to ignore an iwi-imposed rāhui and head to the Waitakere Ranges on Waitangi Day.

A post from ATEED, which is an arm of the council, on Monday suggested a good way for Aucklanders to spend their Tuesday off work was to head to the Kitekite Track, in the Waitakeres.

The post did not mention that the council had committed to working with Te Kawerau a Maki Iwi on ongoing protection, nor that the mentioned track was protected under the rāhui.

The rāhui, or exclusion zone, was announced by West Auckland iwi Te Kawerau a Maki across the 16,000ha ranges park in a bid to curb the spread of kauri dieback disease.

At the end of last year Mayor Phil Goff and a majority of councillors did not support a full closure of the Ranges, but voted to support it in principle.....
See full article HERE

Column calling for Māori servitude for a day pulled after outrage
A column calling for a day in which Māori serve the British has been deleted from the National Business Review's (NBR) website.

The Sir Bob Jones column argues that instead of a day in which Māoritanga comes to the centre, we should have a day in "appreciation" of the Brits.

Why? Because Sir Bob believes there are "no full-blooded Māoris in existence", ergo, he argues, Māori should thank the British for their existence on Waitangi Day.

"As there are no full-blooded Māoris in existence it indisputably follows that had it not been for migrants, mainly Brits, not a single Māori alive today, including Professor Temaru, would have existed," he wrote.

"I have in mind a public holiday where Māori bring us breakfast in bed or weed our gardens, wash and polish our cars and so on, out of gratitude for existing."

On Twitter, the column was called "incredibly racist" and "hate speech".

Sir Bob was called a "fossil" and a "blatant white supremacist"......
See full article HERE

Fresh funding round for Ka Hao Māori Digital Fund
A fresh round of funding aimed at building Māori capacity in the digital technology space is about to get underway.

“It’s about helping Māori participate in the modern digital economy,” says Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta, announcing the latest round along with Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Megan Woods.

Already, some $3.6 million is helping 20 projects around the country develop under the Ka Hao Māori Digital Technology Fund. The new funding round will expand this, with applications opening on Thursday 9 February.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

7  February  2018

National have been much better at settling Treaty claims than Labour
ANALYSIS: With Jacinda Ardern spending a historic five days in Waitangi this week while Bill English speaks about as far away from Waitangi as he can get (Bluff), it might seem like Labour are better friends of Māori than National.

Given Labour currently hold all seven Māori seats, it would seem many Maori would agree.

But judging the two partys' records - even leaving aside the contentious foreshore and seabed legislation - one crucial factor does play into National's favour.

The last National Government were far more successful settling Treaty of Waitangi claims than the previous Labour one.

Despite both ruling for nine years National settled 59 claims to Labour's 15........
See full article HERE

Maori design for Lakeside fitting for local-themed concert
This year's Lakeside concert has its very own logo with a special local cultural flavour.

Graphic artist David Jones has provided the artwork for Lakeside concerts every year since they started 21 years ago.

But this year he enlisted the help of accomplished artist Okiwi Logan Shipgood, who has added a special Maori element to the logo....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

6  February  2018

178 years of Treaty — what has been the intergenerational impact on your local Iwi?
In 1840, Thomas Chapman, a well known missionary for the Church Missionary Society (CMS), was asked to seek signatures for the Treaty of Waitangi in the Rotorua and Taupō districts. The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed on the 6th February 1840. It established a British Governor in New Zealand. It recognised Māori ownership of their lands and gave Māori the rights of British subjects.

It subsequently opened the door to colonisation, which had a devastating impact on tribes all over Aotearoa, including Te Arawa.

Te Arawa did not sign the Treaty in 1840, as they were confident they did not need the protection of the Queen. However, they agreed to its terms in 1860 with a group of Te Arawa leaders signing a covenant in Kohimarama, Auckland, recognising the Treaty as a binding document of partnership with the Crown. Why? Because they had suffered the negative effects of colonisation. Sadly, signing the covenant would prove meaningless as Claudia Orange comments:

“The Kohimarama resolution was similar to a formal ratification of the treaty. The government promised to hold further conferences to discuss sharing power, but no more were held. The chiefs who attended the conference expected to play a greater part in decision-making, but they were to be disappointed.”....
See full article HERE

Making Wellington a te reo city
Wellington City Council wants to hear from the public on how it can achieve the goal of making Wellington a te reo Māori city, Deputy Mayor Jill Day announced today.

The public consultation for the draft te reo policy, Te Tauihu – Te Kaupapa Here Hukihuki Te Reo Māori, opened today and asks Wellingtonians for ideas on how the Council can celebrate the language in the city.

“It’s about incorporating more te reo into our everyday lives,” Deputy Mayor Day says.

“The Māori language has inherent mana and importance and we need to acknowledge that by making it more visible in our city.”....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

4  February  2018

Māori freshwater rights put to one side at Waitangi when the PM met with iwi leaders
A Government delegation led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern arrived at Waitangi on Friday for her first official meeting with the Iwi Chairs Forum (ICF) ahead of Waitangi commemorations next week.

Freshwater rights have been a bone of contention at the ICF for the last decade but Ardern said following her meeting that the emphasis was on water quality, not rights and interests over it.

She said who owned water didn't come up but given how long the issue has been around she expected it would continue to be a feature.

She said Ministers are looking at policy around a levy on companies who export bottled water but she wouldn't preempt when that might happen.

"Our position continues to be the same. Everybody has a stake in water, but we acknowledge particularly Māori do."

She denied the Government had put the issue in the "too-hard basket" - it was a case of being too early to say what the result of any policy might mean for Māori......
See full article HERE
A further article on the above HERE

'We can’t do it alone' - Jacinda Ardern promises a partnership with Maori on problems they face
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has promised the new Government will work in partnership with Maori to solve the problems they face.

....the message from people at Karetu Marae today is that clear they want the Government to keep listening to them, visiting them and working with them to solve the problems in Northland, and facing Maori.

Ms Ardern told reporters she thinks those on the marae and the Government "absolutely agree"......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

3  February  2018

National Government only ever wanted a Treaty settlement on their terms - Ngāpuhi leader 
A Ngāpuhi leader has hit back at Bill English and the National Party for never being genuine about a Treaty settlement with the country's largest iwi unless it was on the Crown's terms.

Hone Sadler, the chair of Tuhoronuku, which is the entity who holds the mandate for negotiating with the Crown on behalf of Ngāpuhi, says English is taking "pot-shots" at the iwi now that he's in Opposition.

His comments are in response to English saying, "short of a couple of people dropping dead it will need someone to break it into four or five settlements" in order for Ngāpuhi to get across the line.....
See full article HERE

Name proposal a good balance
The council proposal for Gisborne’s coastal bay to be renamed Turanganui a Kiwa/Poverty Bay is a good one — officially reclaiming the original name for our place, while retaining our other historical and, in the case of Gisborne, widely-known markers.

It is a compromise solution to community desires for overdue change that recognises and promotes our bicultural heritage, and for equally strongly-held community desires for continuity.

The city will still be called Gisborne. That will be disappointing for those Maori who would like our city to adopt the dual name of Turanganui a Kiwa/Gisborne.....
See full article HERE

Proposed new bylaws aim to protect freshwater taonga
The Ministry for Primary Industries has publicly notified proposed new Te Arawa Lakes Fisheries Bylaws which aim to protect the sustainability of freshwater taonga species and recognise traditional Te Arawa fishery practices.

The proposed bylaws have been developed by Te Komiti Whakahaere, the Te Arawa Fisheries Committee, which sits within Te Arawa Lakes Trust.....
See full article HERE

Corporate world enticing te reo Māori educators away from classroom
Better pay and smaller workloads are seeing any Māori language teachers swapping the classroom for the boardroom, the New Zealand Principals' Federation says.

The pull of the private sector is adding to an acute teacher shortage across all levels of education, with some centres struggling to fill vacancies.

The Government poured an extra $9.5 million as part of a teacher supply package to address immediate need last year, including in Māori medium and te reo education......
See full article HERE

PPA treaty exception not up to task
A critic of the Trans Pacific Partnership is accusing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of glib and inaccurate reassurances about the effect of the 11-country trade deal on Maori.

The rejigged Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans Pacific Partnership is due to be signed in Chile on March 8.

On Facebook the Prime Minister posted that New Zealand has an exemption meaning it can always legislate and act to protect its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi.

Professor Kelsey says that’s not so......
See full article HERE

Festival to connect with Mangere Mountain history
In 2014, a landmark Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) Settlement was passed, transferring the ownership of fourteen Tupuna Maunga (ancestral mountains) to the Mana Whenua tribes of Auckland and enabling the establishment of the Tupuna Maunga Authority to govern and manage the sites.

The Tupuna Maunga Authority is a co-governance body with six iwi representatives and six Auckland Council representatives. The Authority is independent from Auckland Council and has its own decision-making powers and functions.

Ownership of Mangere Mountain remains with the Crown and the Tupuna Maunga Authority is responsible for all ongoing maintenance and care.

A central role of the Tupuna Maunga Authority is to ensure that Mana Whenua world views and priorities, and the strong living connections that all communities have with the maunga, is woven into their long-term care......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

2  February  2018

Council ready for water rights challenge 
New Zealand Maori Council chair Sir Taihakurei Durie says the new coalition Government needs to talk to council as well as to iwi on issues like water.

National froze out the council despite its statutory role as an adviser to government, choosing instead to talk to iwi leaders.

The Maori Council draws its mandate from grass roots Maori committees.

"There are of course many areas in which the views will be the same and we’ll be supporting one another on occasion. The post-settlement governance entities will have good reason to look at the commercial aspects of water development whereas the focus of the council is on the preservation of waterways and the allocation of water rights which is not necessarily based on commercial opportunities," Sir Taihakurei says.

He says the New Zealand Maori Council approach to water was reflected in the policies Labour, the Greens and the Opportunities Party took into the election......
See full article HERE

King Tuheitia launches new Iwi Māori Panel
The Waikato region has established an iwi Māori Panel aimed at reducing incarceration rates among Māori. The panels, which are in high demand across the country, focus on an offender's genealogy, whānau, income, and background in order to understand why they commit a crime.

The panel will consist of a representative from the police, two community members and a representative for the Māori King.

The Hamilton-based community partnership is between Te Kōhao Health and police. It has the backing of the Māori King's Office and was launched by King Tuheitia.

Over the past three years, Panels have been piloted in Lower Hutt, Gisborne, Counties-Manukau and the South Island. Assistant Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha says the results have been positive.

“We, the government, are working with Tainui,” said Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis. “The (former) government has signed a covenant with Tainui. I want to do the same with other Iwi.”

The government plans to set up Iwi Panels in 13 districts throughout the country over time.....
See full article HERE

Submissions open for Te Waikoropupu Springs water conservation order
Kaumatua John Ward-Holmes said the steps iwi was taking to protect the springs was a part of their responsibility to the ancestors.

"And we have a responsibility to our mokopuna, our future generations, to do our very best to look after the environment the best way possible. This is what drives us to apply for the conservation order to protect the aquifer which feeds our taonga [treasure] to Waikoropupu."

Ward-Holmes said it was "heart-warming" there had been so much support from all over the country, and even overseas from people who were contacting the iwi.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

1  February  2018

Petition could overturn Kaikoura District council's vote in favour of Maori Ward
The Kaikōura District Council have voted to establish a Maori Ward at the next election but a lobby group said voters need to make their own decision.

Last November Kaikōura District Council voted unanimously in favour of establishing a Maori Ward for the 2019 and 2022 local body elections. It was the first council in the South Island to do so. Several councils in the North Island have voted for a Maori Ward, while others have voted against.

Residents who were enrolled at the last election could overturn the resolution if five per cent sign a petition by February 21 to demand a poll and request a referendum.

Rakautara woman Ngaio Te Ua who spoke at the meeting in November in support of the vote said she was proud of the council's mandate.

Don Brash one of the founders of Hobson's Pledge said the group was formed as a political party to try and reverse what they they saw as a very dangerous drift toward creating constitutional and political differences between New Zealanders based on the ethnicities of their ancestors.

"Hobson's Pledge is concerned whenever council's want to create political distinctions based on race," he said.

"Hobson's Pledge can't tell the people of Kaikōura how to react ... but we can encourage the voters in Kaikōura to make their own decision on this issue, and not leave it to councillors."

Brash said dividing the country on the basis of race was not conducive to long-term racial harmony, and a poll taken on the issue was the most democratic way to make the decision.

"Once separate wards are established for Maori they are likely to last a long time.

"Maori electorates were established in 1867, originally for five years, and are still with us more than 150 years later despite there not being the slightest need for such racially-based electorates today."......
See full article HERE

Report: Racism prevalent at Kiwi schools
Kiwi kids say they are experiencing racism from other students and teachers at school, according to a survey.

Almost 1700 children were surveyed in the Education Matters to Me report released on Wednesday by the Office of the Children's Commissioner and the School Trustees Association.

It found many students felt they were "being treated unequally because of their culture", in what the report's authors described as a "significant and disturbing insight".

Others with learning difficulties or disabilities also felt marginalised.

"Some teachers are racist. They tell you that you are not going to achieve... this makes me feel angry because it hurts... then we do stupid things and we get blamed," a Pasifika-background student in an alternative education unit said.

"I'm real good at maths but my teacher just thinks I'm stupid so never gave me any time," a Maori student in alternative education said.

A secondary student with an African background also told of the need for "basic ethnic/race knowledge and tolerance, things like teaching kids that the word N***** is bad and racist".

Many of the comments were from in-person interviews with 144 mostly Maori students, "who were not well served" by the education system, the report said.....
See full article HERE

Schools collaborating to learn better
ABOUT 180 educators met yesterday at Mangapapa School to take part in the first Gisborne Community of Learning (COL) — Kahui Ako activation day.

Representatives from 14 Gisborne schools attended the first of three days designed to help schools work collaboratively to improve the educational outcomes of students.

COL — Kahui Ako is the collective vision of 25 Gisborne schools with the goal of achieving their full potential by learning and achieving together.

Emeritus professor Russell Bishop, known in New Zealand and internationally for his research and successful development on what works best for Maori and marginalised learners, delivered the keynote address.....
See full article HERE

Teachers' council needs Maori seat
Principal's Federation chair Whetu Cormick says there needs to be a formal seat for Maori on the revamped Education Council.

The Federation is welcoming a bill to turn the ministerially-appointed Education Council into the Teaching Council with a mix of elected and appointed members.

Mr Cormick says it's a sign of trust that teachers will have a say in who sits on their main professional body.

He will make a submission to Education Minister Chris Hipkins on the need for a Maori position......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

31  January  2018

New course to focus on cherishing kaumatua
A NEW programme from Te Wananga o Aotearoa teaches tikanga Maori and health skills to those dedicated to looking after the elderly.

The Level 3 Te Kumana Raeroa programme starts in Gisborne in March.

It combines tikanga Maori with an understanding of health services to ensure kuia and koroua and their whanau are not only well looked after, but cherished, understood and empowered in the community.

It covers Maori and non-Maori aspects of caring for the elderly.....
See full article HERE

Wellington hoping to expand mentoring programme for Maori
Wellington is hoping to double its involvement in a national Maori mentoring programme this year, Wellington Mayor Justin Lester says.

Since 2011, Wellington’s Mayor has mentored a rangatahi (young person) each year as part of the Local Government New Zealand Mayors Taskforce for Jobs Tuia programme.

Tuia aims to develop the leadership capacity of young Maori by pairing them with mayors and/or deputy mayors, who mentor them on a one-on-one basis.....
See full article HERE

Taepa wins chance to transform Kapiti park
Papamoa-based artist Kereama Taepa has been selected to develop a project for Maclean Park in Paraparaumu.

The Kapiti Coast District Council deputy mayor Janet Holborow says the council’s public art panel was impressed with the quality of Taepa’s concepts and their flexibility, so his motifs can be integrated into different areas of the park now and in any future development.

Previous projects include public sculptures in Wellington and New Plymouth, toilet block screens and drinking fountains for Rotorua Lakes Council, and an ATM wrap design for ANZ bank......
See full article HERE

Rotorua's first charter school officially open
Rotorua's first partnership school has celebrated its official opening with a dawn ceremony attended by more than 200 people.

The school will be governed by Ngati Whakaue's education arm, the Te Taumata o Ngati Whakaue Iho-Ake Trust, which previously said support for the school had been phenomenal.

Once school starts it will cover the full New Zealand curriculum but with a focus on science and technology, teaching literacy and other learning areas through science topics defined in Maori terms such as whakapapa (genetics) and ahuwhenua (agriculture)......
See full article HERE

Rahui after beach tragedy
A ban on the collection of shellfish or fishing near a fatal crash scene on a Northland beach has been imposed until Sunday. Ngai Takoto has imposed a rahui on 10km of the beach, extending 5km north and south of Waipapakauri Ramp, on 90 Mile Beach.

The rahui will remain in place until Sunday......
See full article HERE

South Island rivers restored to original Māori names
One man's bid to stop a South Island river getting a name change because the proposed Māori version was "too long" has been shot down.

"Waiau Uwha River is not a long name," the New Zealand Geographic Board said as it officially renamed the Waiau River.

The Clarence River was also renamed, to Waiau Toa/Clarence River, after Ngāi Tahu made proposals to the board on behalf of Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura in 2015 and 2016 to have the rivers returned to their historical names.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

30  January  2018

PM looks to build partnerships with iwi
In an unprecedented move the Labour leader will be spending five days in the region, saying that she wants to form "strong, open transparent relationships" with Māori and signalling her time at Waitangi is "a fresh start".

Ms Ardern told Morning Report the government is looking for form partnerships with iwi in order to tackle issues such as housing, unemployment and child poverty.

She said home ownership rates for Māori were at 27 percent which was "unacceptable".

The government also aims to reduce the incarceration rate by 30 percent......
See full article HERE

Consider the name - Gisborne District Council
Feedback is being sought from the community on their level of support to change the name of our bay to a dual name ‘Turanganui a Kiwa / Poverty Bay’.

Gisborne District Council agreed in February 2017 to research the name of our bay and engage with the community to put forward a naming application to the New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa.

"Dual names recognise the special historical and cultural significance of both original Maori and non- Maori names," says Council Director of Transformation and Relationships, Keita Kohere.

"It’s a longstanding aspiration of many in our community to reinstate the name Turanganui a Kiwa for the coastal bay, promoting and recognising our bicultural heritage.".....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

29  January  2018

From the NZCPR archives by Karl du Fresne
Whatever this is, it’s not democracy
I’ve always thought democracy is a pretty good sort of system. Not perfect, of course, but as Winston Churchill said: “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”

In other words, it’s the best we’ve got until somebody comes up with something better.

Well, it seems someone has. In Masterton, of all places.

You probably thought, like me, that democracy works because it gives us the right to choose our representatives and to get rid of them if they don’t measure up.

But Masterton District Council has decided that’s flawed, or at least not appropriate for Masterton. The council wants to improve democracy by appointing iwi representatives with voting rights to two of its standing committees.

Yes, you read that correctly. They would be appointed, not elected. But like elected councillors they would have the right to vote on matters affecting the rest of us.

Whatever this is, it is not democracy. It’s something else for which we don’t yet have a term. Perhaps we could call it part-democracy or near-democracy or almost-democracy until someone comes up with a better name.

I don’t want to sound alarmist. The appointment of iwi representatives to two council committees isn’t likely to be the end of the world.

The genuine councillors – the ones actually elected by the people of Masterton – would still be in the majority. And it’s possible that iwi representatives would make a sincere attempt to make decisions in the best interests of the entire community. But that’s hardly the point.

Democracy is a package deal. It doesn’t come with optional extras that you discard if they don’t happen to suit you. And the danger is that once you start subverting democratic principles, even with the best of intentions, anything becomes possible.......
Continue reading Karl du Fresne’s article HERE 
June 19, 2016

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

28  January  2018

From NZCPR archives by Dr Hugh Barr
A violation of the Marine and Coastal Area Act
The facts clearly deny that Ngati Pahauwera have had the required exclusive and continuing use and occupation of this part of the coast as required by Section 58 of the Act – the Mohaka River mouth being in the middle of their claim.

There is no reason to believe that they have had “exclusive occupation and use” since then, as by law, the coast has been publicly owned since 1840,

In view of these undeniable historical facts it is both surprising and disturbing that the former National Party minister of Treaty Settlements, instead of throwing out the claim on the grounds that it clearly does not qualify for Customary Marine Title (as he did for numerous other claims), offered this tribe a Customary Marine Title.

This recommendation for a Customary Marine Title over the coast from the Waikare River mouth to the Waihua River mouth to Ngati Pahauwera is, in the light of the facts mentioned above, a violation of the Act as they cannot show continued and exclusive use and occupation without substantial interruption of any part of this coast from 1840 as required by the Act. It will now be over to the new Minister of Treaty Settlements, Labour’s Andrew Little, to deal with this shambles, and turn it down, as it clearly does not qualify.......

Read the listed facts Dr Hugh Barr’s well researched article HERE 
December 3, 2017

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

27  January  2018

Drivers license APPs to be translated into Māori and more 
A Māori couple and creators of New Zealand's only Restricted and Full driving license APPs are looking to translate their devices into several languages including Māori. Swaine Nelson says it's part of their move to engage more youth to get licensed and also to normalise te reo Māori.

It's the everyday youth language that has 19-year-old mid-wife student, Michelle Ellis, confident about attaining her restricted license.

“It's simple, it's straightforward. Like compared to the road code it's like all these big words that probably no one would understand,” said Ellis......
See full article HERE

Australian Indigenous Business Delegation Arrives
The Australian High Commission is delighted to be welcoming a delegation of senior Australian Indigenous business leaders to New Zealand from 28 January to 3 February. The purpose of the visit is to learn from the successes and experiences of the Māori economy and to to build linkages between Australian and New Zealand Indigenous business for mutual benefit.....
See full article HERE

Rangatahi unemployment – a key focus for the Government
Minister of Employment Hon Willie Jackson announced the first steps to tackle youth unemployment in the regions, as part of a broader Employment Strategy.

“Tackling youth unemployment is a priority for this Government, especially amongst young Māori and Pasifika,” says Minister Jackson.

“The crisis of entrenched unemployment is real for many rangatahi and their communities.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

26  January  2018

Māori set example for the kind of government we want to be - Jacinda Ardern
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says we should turn to Maoridom for an example of the kind of compassion and ethics the Government should show.

"I want to be a Government that brings back manaakitanga", she said.

Manaakitanga is a concept central to the Māori worldview, meaning to show respect, generosity and care for others.

That call to unity - a symbol that "we are on the same side" - was echoed in Ms Ardern's speech.......
See full article HERE

Ardern pledges commitment to Ratana
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the relationship between the Labour Party and Ratana is a living commitment rather than a moment in history.

"I'll tell you it's my belief we will never have fulfilled our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi ore the prophesies of Ratana until we make sure Maori are no longer over-represented in our unemployment statistics, that they are no longer over-represented in our prison population, that they no longer have tamariki living in poverty, and that our rangatahi, particularly those who live in the regions, have every opportunity for a decent job and a decent future," Ms Ardern says......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

25  January  2018

Reclassification of export mānuka honey may breach Treaty of Waitangi
A looming change in how mānuka honey is classified is being challenged as a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi with a claim Māori were not consulted.

The change in classification is being pushed through by the Ministry of Primary Industries in a bid to rid the highly lucrative trade of inferior honey.

But it could also reduce export earning by millions as honey currently classified as mānuka could be downgraded to bush honey, which does not attract a premium price....... 

See full article HERE

MWWL President to Government – It’s time for them to step back
It was only a small party that went on to Ratana for the Māori Women’s Welfare League. But there were some big words for the government, saying they need to step back.

At the special pōwhiri specifically for the Māori Women’s Welfare League, their President Prue Kapua talked about wanting to work with Ratana to help support Māori. Something she says the government has failed to do effectively.

Her message was that the government needed to take a step back.

“It’s time for them to step back and it’s time for us to be involved in the decision making and in providing the services that our people need,” she says......
See full article HERE

PM turns to tikanga Māori after pregnancy
The Labour Party have confirmed today they will increase the importance placed on tikanga Māori, after the announcement of Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern's pregnancy last week.

"At the news the Prime Minister was pregnant, there was a definite increase in importance placed upon the adheral to protocol on the marae" says MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, Peeni Henare.

"These are the protocol of our ancestors to protect and guard our women and children on the marae at all times. It is a substantial undertaking" says Henare.

"The whole idea of the whare tangata, the home of our unborn babies being protected is very much a part of the tikanga" says Henry.

She adds that from a traditional Māori epistemological worldview that the Prime Minister and her child are in the ultimate state of tapu, and all precautionary measures are welcomed whilst undertaking the sacriligious pōwhiri process.

"This is about the power of mana wahine, of mana tāne and I think that is something ancient and important in our culture that we have equality" adds Henry.......
See full article HERE

Omiha name change hits the rocks
Land Information Minister Eugenie Sage has squelched an effort to remove the Maori name from a Waiheke locality.

It gave the minister the final word, and she stuck with Omiha, adding a macron to the O.

The minister also agreed that Castle Rock southeast of Coromandel township has the alternate name Motutere.

The Clarence River, which meets the ocean northeast of Kaikoura, will also be known as Waiau Toa, while the Waiau River southwest of Kaikoura will be known as Waiau Uwha......
See full article HERE

Government needs to build on progress for Maori - Muller
The Government needs to explain how it will ensure Maori continue to make real progress, after axing the public targets which have helped drive improvements in everything from education to immunisation, National’s Crown/Iwi Relations spokesperson Todd Muller says.

"The Better Public Services targets have had an immense impact on the lives of New Zealanders - and led to real improvement in the lives of Maori.

"The National-led Government focused on working alongside Maori to make real inroads in areas including child immunisations, crime, economic development, education and domestic violence, leading to real results including:....
See full article HERE

Hastings District Council appointments voice for Maori interests
The appointment of two new advisers to the Hastings District Council will help the local authority build stronger relationships with iwi and hapu and better reflect Maori cultural values and concerns, says chief executive Ross McLeod.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

24  January  2018

Iwi assets swollen by tax loophole
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says the rapid growth of iwi assets is driven by special tax treatment.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “The corporate tax rate for Maori Authorities is 17.5%, compared to 28% for other businesses. And because of their ‘charitable’ status, many iwi-run businesses don’t even pay income tax.”

“These loopholes don’t just let iwi keep more profit – they allow iwi to gain a competitive advantage by undercutting their competitors.” 

“Look at Shotover Jet for example. Owned by Ngāi Tahu, it pays no company tax at all, and no guarantee whatsoever than a cent is returned to the community. It’s just a legalised rotten tax rort.”....
See full article HERE

Waikato-Tainui receive $190 million boost
The government says the recent Ngāi Tahu and Tainui-Waikato Treaty settlement payout won't affect other iwi negotiating a fair deal in the future. Both iwi received a combined $370 million as part of a special clause in their Treaty settlements.

Minister for Treaty Settlements Andrew Little says, "This gives them more investment capital to use to continue to grow the value of the asset base of those iwi and therefore the total Māori economy grows."

The two tribes have become economic powerhouses in the New Zealand economy and Little says this clause won't affect other iwi looking to complete their claims.

"All future negotiations have to be conducted in good faith and it is not right for the Crown to put arbitrary limits on how it is dealing with the claims because it's dealing iwi by iwi."

Both Tainui and Ngāi Tahu iwi have the right to seek further payment every five years once an evaluation is done of the Treaty settlements over that period......
See full article HERE

Iwi assets climb from $6b to $7.8b: new report
The asset base of New Zealand's approximately 70 iwi rose by $1.8b in the last year to $7.8b, a new study out today has found.

Phil Barry and William Turner of financial and investment business TDB Advisory in Wellington released the Iwi Investment Report 2017.

The growth was driven partly by six new settlements in the last two years totalling $222m, they said listing iwi as Ngati Hei ($8.5m redress), Ngati Tamaoho ($10.3m), Ngāti Tūwharetoa ($78m), Ngāti Tara Tokanui ($6m), Ahuriri Hapū ($19.5m) and Te Wairoa ($100m).

Barry said $4.8b of assets was controlled by the eight richest iwi as at June last year and excludes relativity payments to Waikato-Tainui and Ngai Tahu.

The eight iwi represent about 53 per cent of the Maori population throughout New Zealand. They have around $4.8b in assets and that is steadily growing. Last year, eight iwi had just $4.4b, TDB noted.

Barry predicted that by 2026, iwi assets nationally could climb to $12b......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

23  January  2018

Thousands snubbing Waitakere Ranges rahui despite reminders by park rangers
Thousands of people are snubbing an iwi-imposed rahui over Auckland's Waitakere Ranges - even after being approached in the park and told about it.

Results from an on-site survey, provided to the Herald, showed just a small number of those visitors approached chose to leave when told about the rahui.

Te Kawerau a Maki imposed the unofficial ban over the 16,000ha park last month.

Of more than 1100 people approached by one council-employed kauri dieback ambassador in the week before Christmas, only a dozen chose to turn back because of the rahui.

Another couple were reported as saying they knew about the rahui, but argued it was "up to the council" to close the ranges.

"We are Europeans, so we will listen and respect the final word of those who have the power to shut or leave the tracks open."

The iwi's executive manager, Edward Ashby, acknowledged there were no statutory powers to enforce the rahui, but was nonetheless saddened many visitors were ignoring it.

The reasons ranged from a lack of awareness and confusion to people not taking the threat seriously and not respecting iwi, he said......
See full article HERE

Dargaville High School
whatonga korero

Ko te Kura tuarua o Takiwira hei akonga tauira. Hei ngakau whakapuke ako, ki te angitu me te moihotanga. He takahoa hua Ki tenei rohe whanui.

culture
When developing policies and practices for the school every endeavour is made to reflect New Zealand Cultural diversity and the unique position of the Maori culture.

Dargaville High School will develop procedures and practices that reflect New Zealand’s cultural diversity and the unique position of the Maori culture, in consultation with our community. The school will take all reasonable steps to provide instruction in Tikanga (Maori culture) and Te Reo (Maori language). Dargaville High School’s core values are:

* Respect (Whakaute)

*Responsibility (Kawenga)

* Contributing (Aroha Hoatu)

* Integrity (Ngakau Tapatahi)....

See full article HERE

Fishing ban lifted from Taranaki coast but another may be soon imposed
The ban on collecting shellfish in coastal Taranaki following the scattering of human ashes has been lifted.

On Saturday, whānau and members of Parihaka Papakāinga Trust gathered at the Egmont Boat Club in Pungarehu where they held a formal ceremony to lift the rāhui.

​The rāhui, or ban, on collecting kaimoana and onshore fishing was put in place in December after ashes were scattered by a whānau near the boat ramp at Bayly Rd.

Trust chairperson Tina Mason said while restrictions were now lifted there would be a hui held soon to discuss whether a further ban was needed to replenish the area's fish stocks.

"We need to monitor our fishing as well as our kaimoana out there and any further need for a rāhui would be supported.".....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

22  January  2018

Ngāi Tahu and Tainui receive $370 million in Treaty payment top-ups, with more to come
Two iwi have quietly been paid huge top-ups, totalling $370 million, to their supposed "full and final" Treaty of Waitangi settlements.

Waikato-Tainui received $190m and the South Island's Ngāi Tahu $180m – more than they originally settled for in 1995 and 1998, respectively.

The Government made the payments on December 15 without any public announcement, but they were discovered by Stuff and confirmed by the Office of Treaty Settlements this week.

The payments were made because of "relativity" clauses the tribes negotiated during the "fiscal envelope" settlement process in the mid-1990s.........
See full article HERE
A further article on the above here > Govt walking a tightrope as Māori relations set to trip
And a further article here > Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little believes compensation is necessary to make right the horrific circumstances Māori faced.  

End of Life Choice Bill sparks debate about euthanasia and Maori values
Rotorua Maori are discussing how euthanasia fits with their values, as a bill legalising euthanasia makes its way through parliament.

While some kaumatua said the thought of euthanasia did not sit well with them culturally, they saw no need to stop a tangi of someone who chose euthanasia from being held on a marae.......
See full article HERE

New Wharekura opened after 10 years of planning
Dreamed of for a decade, joyful tears were shed as a new $2 million technology centre was opened and blessed at Te Pi'ipi'inga Kakano Mai Rangiatea in New Plymouth on Saturday.

Around 300 people gathered at the new wharekura for a pre-dawn blessing, principal Moana Kake-Tuffley said.

It was the first time any of the women involved, including Kake-Tuffley and project manager Kiri Wanoa, had been inside the two buildings.

Iwi tikanga dictates women are not allowed to enter the buildings until they were opened.

The design was inspired by the story of Rongo, God of Cultivated Food, taking shelter in the body of Papatūānuku, the earth mother.

The timbers of the ceilings in the two buildings reflected the tahu and heke of traditional whare and also the stem and veins of a leaf - representing the shelter the whare gives to the children within.......
See full article HERE

Industry heavyweights to gather for Maori business conference in Tauranga
More than 100 of the best minds in Maori business are coming together to take part in a national conference in Tauranga this year.

Te Hekenga III is the third instalment of the National Maori Business Networks and Maori Enterprises Conference, which will host up to 200 people, including Minister for Maori Development Nanaia Mahuta and Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones.

"It's also a great networking opportunity," Mikaere said......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

21  January  2018

Justice reform group suggests marae as bail address
Using marae as bail addresses would help those who struggle to get permission to stay in private accommodation while awaiting trial, a defence lawyer says.

The Sir Peter Williams QC Penal Reform League is pushing the move, saying it would help to reduce the number of people held in remand.

Auckland lawyer John Anderson, who supports the league's idea, said it would be a good option for people who identify as Māori.....
See full article HERE

Maori ward opponents bring brash to town
Don Brash, controversial spokesman for lobby group Hobson's Pledge, is to visit Manawatū on Wednesday to rally support for petitions that seek to overturn local council decisions on Māori wards.

Both the Palmerston North City Council and Manawatū District Council voted last year in favour of Māori wards.

Hobson's Pledge is a lobby group dedicated to removing what it sees as legislative favouritism for Māori.

Unattributed pamphlets inviting Manawatū District and city residents to sign a petition demanding a binding poll on Māori wards had been circulated to voters through letterboxes and rural mail boxes.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

20  January  2018

Hapū lays claim to school grounds with peaceful occupation
Overnight wind and rain dampened their tents but not the resolve of Taranaki hapū members occupying land they claim is theirs.

About 50 members and supporters of Ngati Tamāhuroa me Titahi hapū have occupied the former Pihama School site on State Highway 45 in coastal Taranaki since January 11, with up to 120 people some days.

The peaceful protest aimed to remind the Government and the two iwi whose areas the land lies in, that they wanted official recognition of their hapū and of their historical ownership of the school site, spokesman Garth Weston said
See full article HERE

Maori input vital for abuse inquiry
A group of leading experts says factors that led to the targeting of Maori families by child-welfare agencies need to be a major part of any inquiry into abuse of children and vulnerable adults in state and out of home care.

The Government has made setting up such an inquiry one of the commitments for its first 100 days.

They recommend the royal commission covers historic and contemporary abuse in care, hears evidence from a wide range of people, has powers to compel witnesses and the production of documents and has a significant research capacity.

It should also have responsibility for setting compensation and other redress.....
See full article HERE

Tikanga on the table as Waitangi prepares for Jacinda Ardern’s visit
Jacinda Ardern's speaking rights and where she'll be seated during the formal ceremony at Waitangi is being discussed today.

Misunderstanding of tikanga for women leaders has caused controversy in the past, with Helen Clark reduced to tears in 1998.

However, a spokesperson for the marae says it is important the timing is correct and that any tapu is removed before she speaks.

In some iwi, women traditionally sit behind male speakers during formal welcomes, which historically offered better protection for the child bearers of the tribe......
See full article HERE

Iwi needed for civil defence
The review was started last year by the previous Government with cross-party support, and headed by former National Party deputy leader Roger Sowry.

Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi says he will consider its recommendations as he meets with local authorities, iwi and other groups over the next few months.

The review calls for a national emergency management agency and “fly-in” teams of professionals for a rapid response.

Local authorities would retain a major role, with mayors responsible for declaring states of emergency but iwi would be added to the existing joint governance committees in each area.

“We found a compelling case for iwi to be represented at all levels of the group structure. As a result, we recommend clearer protocols with iwi, and full participation of iwi in coordination and planning structures,” it says......
See full article HERE

Millions spent on controversial Māori land bill
Millions of dollars were spent by the previous government on the failed Māori land bill, which one political leader labelled "a poisonous and destructive cancer".

Documents released under the Official Information Act reveal the National-led government spent $5.2 million on investigating how to establish a Māori Land Service despite widespread opposition and the bill not being passed into law.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

19  January  2018

Multimillion dollar boost for te reo
Efforts to get more people using te reo Māori at home and in the community are getting a boost with a new regional funding model.

Māori language body Te Mātāwai developed the new model over the last two years, with the Tainui region in Waikato set to receive its share of more than $10 million.

For the last two years, Maehe Paki has worked at a ground level in her role with the iwi organisation Waikato Tainui.

In that time she has also seen wider community interest in the language grow and last year worked with Westpac on the rollout of a Māori language option at Waikato ATM machines......
See full article HERE

Tuariki Delamere appointed new political advisor to the Maori King Tuheitia
A speech made on the king's behalf by Mr Delamere, who served as the Immigration Minister, has signalled the Maori monarch's unconditional support for the Labour-led government, despite his backing of the Maori Party in the lead up to last September's election.

Mr Delamere says he's humbled to be King Tuheitias' advisor on all things politics.

Tuariki replaces former Maori Party chairman Tukoroirangi Morgan......
See full article HERE

Myers Park's taniwha sculpture put on hold due to increasing costs
Auckland Council has put a moving taniwha sculpture on ice.

The $460,000 taniwha artwork, fully funded by Auckland Council, was meant to create a gateway beneath the Mayor Drive underpass.

It was designed to link the park to the city and improve the perception of Myers Park as a public space......
See full article HERE

Oranga Tamariki looks to recruit more social workers
Oranga Tamariki - the Ministry for Children - is needing more than just a new name, it needs to fill more than 100 social work jobs too.

It has hired about 200 social workers since changing from Child, Youth and Family nine months ago, bringing the number to about 1200, but it is still short.

Meanwhile, the $400,000 name-change for Oranga Tamariki comes into effect today.

The change is expected to cost $418,000 to update signs, stationery and a computer system.......
See full article HERE

Changing attitudes in the power game
Hickman believes that as a country, New Zealand benefits hugely from Māori values.

“I think they are a massive strategic advantage for us as they flow through to our whole culture. Māori have longer timeframes, they don’t look so much for short-term benefits. One local Iwi has a 1000-year vision.....
See full article HERE

Restoration and research of a nationally significant Māori storehouse to begin
The Dowse Art Museum's only permanent exhibition in Lower Hutt is getting a facelift.

Nuku Tewhatewha, the 162-year-old Māori storehouse, has a long history, from its creation as part of the Māori King movement to its years on a pākehā farm.

All up, the project would cost $148,500, funded by the Hutt City Council......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

18  January  2018

Poll on Maori seats looks likely to challenge Western Bay of Plenty council decision
A poll looks almost certain to be held to challenge the decision to have separate Maori seats on the Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

Councillors who opposed the decision to have a Maori ward or wards for the 2019 and 2022 elections have succeeded in raising the 1708 signatures needed to force the council into holding a district-wide poll on the issue.

''We are feeling comfortable about achieving 3000 signatures,'' Te Puke councillor Mike Lally said.

He and fellow councillor Margaret Murray-Benge believe they will gather more than enough signatures to guarantee a poll - even if a couple of hundred signatures on the petition turned out to be people ineligible to vote in the Western Bay District.

Murray-Benge said they had well over 2000 signatures already and there were still plenty to come in.

Mikaere was not surprised or disheartened the 1708 signatures would be reached, but he was slightly disappointed. ''It might not be this time.''

So when will it happen, he was asked. ''Biology will take care of that,'' he replied referring to intermarriage between Maori and Pakeha......
See full article HERE

Local govt, iwi in hospital rebuild group
Local government and iwi representatives are among Dunedin organisations invited to form a new group to advise on the rebuild of Dunedin Hospital.......
See full article HERE

Man tries using police lack of te reo Maori as defence in Rotorua District Court
A man facing three charges has been told by a Rotorua District Court judge his intention to argue he was not dealt with by police in te reo Maori will not be an adequate defence.

Tauhu Mitai-Ngatai, 58, appeared in court today facing three charges, including refusing to give police a blood sample on December 29, wilful damage and breaching court release conditions.

Mitai-Ngatai had asked the court to deal with his case in te reo however Judge Phillip Cooper said that was not possible as an interpreter wasn't able to be found in such a short time frame.

The judge said the law stated the court was required to provide an interpreter within 14 days of a request being made but Mitai-Ngatai's request was only made two days in advance.

Mitai-Ngatai, who represented himself, said he wanted to make the point people's desires to speak te reo Maori with government departments was not being taken seriously.

Judge Cooper said he understood where he was coming from and offered an interpreter to be in court when he was sentenced on February 16......
See full article HERE

High cardiac arrest rate in Māori prompts medical gift
A potentially life-saving gift has been donated to Marlborough maraes to help curb the high rate of deaths caused by cardiac arrest.

Two Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have been donated to Omaka and Waikawa maraes as part of a project geared towards reducing the number of cardiac arrest fatalities among Māori......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

17  January  2018

Decolonising the curriculum
An Auckland primary school teacher of 25 years, Tamsin Hanley has mortgaged her home to be able to research and produce 'A critical guide to Māori and Pākehā histories', a professional development package aimed at educating teachers about accurate histories of NZ.

"It's giving them local, accurate, decolonised critical histories for them to teach," says Hanley.

Her master's degree research found that some schools aren't teaching accurate histories.

"They teach generally what I call 'standard story' which is a kind of colonial version, like [Captain James] Cook discovered the country and the English Treaty is the [correct] Treaty version and all this stuff which we know now is inaccurate."

Hanley says that under the NZ Curriculum, every school is meant to enact the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. However, she suggests that schools can't honour the Treaty if the teachers don't understand the accurate histories of NZ......
See full article HERE

Poll: More than 60 percent oppose Maori wards
More than 60 percent of voters and ratepayers in the Western Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, and Palmerston North disagree with a proposal by their councils to set up Maori wards, a poll commissioned by equality group Hobson’s Pledge revealed today.

The poll, conducted by market research company PureProfile, surveyed by email 340 people in the three areas in the second week of last month. There is no sign of any other poll on this question in those areas.

It found that in the Western Bay of Plenty area, a majority of 59.7% disagreed with the Maori ward proposal, with only 9.7% supporting the move, and the remainder with no opinion.

In Palmerston North, a majority of 63% disagreed with Maori wards, 5% supported the move, and the remainder with no opinion.

In Manawatu, a majority of 63% disagreed with Maori wards, 12% in support, with the others having no opinion.

Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash said that councils did not undertake any public consultation on the matter whatsoever before making their decisions.

“Had they bothered to consult the people they are supposed to represent, they would have seen the huge opposition to this separatist policy,” Dr Brash said.......
See full article HERE

Te Reo Maori needs relevance, not artificial feel-good factor
Victoria University of Wellington's Professor Rawinia Higgins says statistics show Maori people live outside of the language and choose not to see the relevance of the language to themselves because it appears to lack any relevance to society.

Ironically, in recent years, there's been a push by Caucasian Kiwis to "have a go" at speaking the language. Some of these noble good sorts do so, with the "look at me" attitude that goes with it, making their endeavours come across as disingenuous.

Language evolves and changes and the 'use it or lose it' rule applies.

But trying to prop up a language artificially, when it lacks daily relevance beyond the feel-good factor, is doomed to failure......
See full article HERE

Saving Te Reo is the Maori people's responsibility - Bill English
Bill English says it comes down to Māori to preserve Te Reo.

"The language will be saved by the people who own it and love speaking it," the National Party leader told The AM Show on Tuesday.

"Māori need to speak Māori if they want to preserve the language."

"The Government has some obligations through the treaty. It's met them in my view. We've spent a lot of money on TV, on resources for schools and so on......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

16  January  2018

Meeting iwi values crucial to success
Finding a framework for a proposed Remarkables National Park that addresses Ngai Tahu’s concerns is a key to the park’s creation, a proponent says.

Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC) president Peter Wilson says he is as optimistic about the park’s long-term prospects as he was last June, when FMC and Forest & Bird launched their campaign to lobby for the proposal.

FMC had discussed the proposal with Ngai Tahu and was keen to continue the talks to explore how to better address iwi values in the park’s framework, Mr Wilson said.

He was encouraged by an agreement reached by four Taranaki iwi as part of Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations that would give them sovereignty over land within Egmont National Park.

That provided a model that could be applied to the Remarkables proposal, he said......
See full article HERE

Voters urged to ignore Maori ward petition
Whakatane mayor Tony Bonne is urging voters to ignore a petition promoted by the Hobson’s Pledge lobby group seeking to overturn a council decision to create Maori wards for the next election.

Mr Bonne says the nation is maturing, and once Maori wards are in place people will ask why there was a fuss.

“I am confident that once (wards are) introduced our district will move forward so much quicker for the benefit of all.

Whakatane-based list MP Kiritapu Allen is also urging support for the seats, given that 43 percent of the population in the area is Maori......
See full article HERE

Explosive” book on Māori language released by academic
Historian Professor Paul Moon, from Auckland University of Technology, has released a short book on the present state of the Mori language, titled Killing Te Reo Mori: An Indigenous Language Facing Extinction

Among the main points of the book are:

* The Māori language is facing extinction as a living language

* Compulsory Māori language in schools will contribute to the language’s demise instead of saving it

* Many of the initiatives aimed to save the language are having the opposite effect

* The insistence on the correct pronunciation of Māori is damaging the language

Professor Moon has drawn on hundreds of reports and studies to show why the current approach to preserving the Māori language is having the opposite effect,.......
See full article HERE

Tensions at lake reignited
Tensions dating back more than 150 years were reignited amongst Lake Ferry residents this week as the mouth of Lake Onoke was once again reopened.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council used diggers to open the mouth of the lake to control rising water levels as part of its ongoing flood management scheme.

Lake Ferry resident, Mary Tipoki, strongly opposed the opening of the lake mouth and said the subject was an underlying cause of conflict in the area for almost 160 years.

But Adrienne Staples from the Greater Wellington Regional Council [GWRC] advised the opening of the lake mouth was necessary to prevent billions of dollars’ worth of damage to surrounding farms and residential properties.

Mrs Tipoki had written a 19-page document outlining the cultural significance of keeping the mouth closed, which had historically allowed Maori to rely on eeling at the lake for both food and trade.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

15  January  2018

From the NZCPR archives by Dr Muriel Newman
Speaking Freely
In fact, the agenda of those pushing the Maori language is far more sinister than many realise.

Marama Fox, the former co-leader of the Maori Party, which used to represent the tribal elite in Parliament, outlined their plan for the Maori language in an interview in the Listener before the election.

It involved replacing our Westminster model of Parliamentary democracy in New Zealand with a “unique form of governance that would favour Maori customs, principles and values.”

She explained it was all ‘plotted out’: “It would take 36 years – 12 election cycles – for a Maori sovereignty party to sharegovernment… it’s a radical vision… but if we believe in it, then we need to march towards it.”

She explained that the “critical step” in shifting the thinking of New Zealanders to make it all possible was “to make the Maori language a core subject in the country’s schools”.

Marama Fox argued that “people look at things differently once they’ve acquired te reo. It’s a world view. The Maori world view is different and that’s expressed in the language. The language unlocks our history and our thinking.”

In other words, the compulsory teaching of the Maori language is key to enable the Maori sovereignty movement to impose their self-serving agenda onto New Zealand.

That’s why Maori sovereignty advocates like Marama Fox are determined to have Maori taught in schools as a compulsory subject. It’s a tool for political control and is fundamental to the successful indoctrination of the next generation, which is a pre-requisite to gaining political governance.

It’s also why the attacks on anyone who speaks out against the Maori sovereignty agenda – particularly their plan to make the Maori language compulsory in schools – are so vicious.

It takes real courage to stand up to these sorts of personal attacks, which is why those who call a spade a spade need to be not only supported, but applauded for doing so. We congratulate Sir William Gallagher and Dave Witherow and the others who know that the right to speak freely is the cornerstone of democracy.

The reality is that collectively we need to take a stand against the bullies. We need to tell newspaper editors what we think because activists have the mainstream media and social media covered. If editors get bombarded with angry letters of complaint against those opposing the Maori sovereignty agenda – with few in support – it’s not difficult to see why they cave in.

They say there’s power in truth. And the truth is that New Zealand is an egalitarian society. While Maori supremacists are driven by their belief that the Treaty has given them superior rights, it’s up to the rest of us who believe in equality, freedom and democracy to speak out against their dangerous agenda.

It’s the same with the foreshore and seabed claims that now cover every square inch of New Zealand’s coastline. Unless the public stands up and says that the claims being made by tribal groups that they have used our coast “exclusively” since 1840 are rubbish, they may just get away with it. The Maori elite will then be a giant step closer to dictating to ordinary New Zealanders where and how we can use our beaches and the marine environment.

The changes they would introduce, would not be immediate, but over time they would become obvious. Tribal groups would seek to exclude the public from the coast, citing so-called environmental or sustainability concerns. Wardens would then be appointed to police the area and keep the public out, while retaining free access for themselves.

They would charge anyone they could for using their beach and marine area, especially those with commercial interests – because it’s about money not mana.........
Read Dr Muriel Newman’s full article HERE 

December 10, 2017

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

14  January  2018

Call for Maori voice on cannabis
The Government should consider a "double majority" for its intended referendum on cannabis to give Maori an equal voice on potential law reform regarding a drug which affects them disproportionately, an academic says.

As part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement between Labour and the Greens, a referendum on legalising the personal use of cannabis will be held at or by the 2020 general election.

Maori make up 51% of the prison population and 44% of those have been jailed for drug offences. Studies have found Maori cannabis usage rates are double that of non-Maori.

Given those statistics, the Government should consider sounding out Maori opinion on cannabis law reform by making the planned referendum a double majority referendum, University of Otago law professor Andrew Geddis said......
See full article HERE

Campaign to support more Auckland Māori business women
An Auckland business network is campaigning to increase their Māori businesswomen. The move is part of an initiative by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED).

The KidsCoin founder and CEO says the more Māori business women the better!.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

13  January  2018

Petition launched over Whakatāne Māori ward
The establishment of a Māori ward on the Whakatāne District Council has sparked fierce debate in the town.

It follows a six to five vote in favour of Māori wards by councillors last year.

Māori make up 43 percent of the Whakatāne population, and many residents, including local iwi, believe there should be a designated Māori seat at the decision-making table.

But not everyone agrees, including lobbying group Hobson's Pledge, who have launched a petition demanding a referendum.

Former councillor David Dowd has signed the petition and said Māori wards should go to a public vote.

"A six to five majority was not the way to make this decision. We had a ... referendum on the subject about 10 years ago, 70 percent of voters then opposed the formation of Māori wards.

"It's simply about democracy."

The push for a referendum has been met with fierce opposition.

A social media campaign led by Toni Boynton is encouraging people to post images of themselves holding signs backing Māori wards.....
See full article HERE

Māori climate change claims draw a long bow
OPINION: The Mātaatua District Mā​ori Council has lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal alleging that New Zealand has breached its obligations to Māori by failing to implement policies that will address climate change.

The council says that provisions of the Waitangi Treaty make the government responsible for the "active protection" of natural resources such as forests and fisheries on behalf of Māori. In short, the claim is that the government has reneged on the commitments it made at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference and this has negatively affected Māori interests, both economic and cultural.

Now this raises several interesting points.

The use of the Treaty to protect Māori interests is one thing but to include climate change as a specific issue is nothing short of ludicrous, a very long straw indeed.

Also, why is it that Māori consider themselves separate from the rest of New Zealand? Surely this is a time for collective responsibility not separatism based on race? Was it only Māori affected by the recent floods on the Coromandel?

Climate change is a reality for all of us so to raise this purely as a Treaty claim and base it on a US case that is spurious to say the least is nothing short of vexatious, especially given our change of government......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

12  January  2018

Axe attack on NZ Wars memorial
A self-described “anti-colonial activist group” is claiming credit for vandalising a New Zealand Wars memorial on the corner of Symonds Street and City Road in Auckland early this morning

An axe was stuck to the head of a statue of Zealandia and a poster reading” Fascism and White Supremacy are not Welcome Here” was placed over a plaque.

The anonymous group issued a statement saying: “The ‘Zealandia’ war memorial is an ode to the violent and brutal occupation of Māori lands. It celebrates the ongoing colonisation of Aotearoa, its lands and its peoples. The settler capitalist system imposed on this land is a poison that works to systematically oppress indigenous peoples throughout the world to the benefit of corporations and the super-rich. It is a system that is doomed to fail.”......
See full article HERE

Restrictions in place for Rotorua river over recent death
Restrictions have been placed on Te Awahou River in Rotorua due to an incident which led to Donald Bidois’s death, aged 51.

A coroner has yet to confirm the cause of Bidois death, however, the local iwi of Ngāti Rangiwewehi is urging swimmers or fishermen’s to respect their wishes.

“Now the rahui has been put into place to allow the wairua to seven days cycle to flow. Also to let the people know that somebody has drowned there.”.....
See full article HERE

New Zealand Wars commemoration set for 11th March
The famous flagpole chopped down by Hone Heke is at the center of the latest national remembrance event being facilitated by numerous tribal leaders of Northland.

“There will undoubtedly be a lot of people descending here due to their love of this initiative,” says Pita Tipene (Ngāti Hine).

The organising committee of the event, aptly named 'Te Pūtake o Te Riri', has met in Kawakawa to finalise arrangements for the proposed three-day national remembrance event.

“One thing is clear - we are looking at the 11th March 2018 as the day of national remembrance. That was the day that Kawiti, Hone Heke and the like began a siege on the government of the time,” says Mr. Tipene, the chairman of the board vested with organising the national event.

The Māori Party secured funding of $4 million, over four years, in Budget 2016 to support New Zealand Land Wars commemorations.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

11  January  2018

Holidaymakers claim threats made over Far North beach rahui
A Rodney man is warning other holidaymakers to steer clear of Cable Bay after his family was threatened by young men claiming to be enforcing a rahui.

Following the tragedy a rahui was imposed on part of the bay, prohibiting swimming or seafood gathering.

However, a Rodney man said he and his family had been threatened by young men enforcing the rahui. The men also claimed the rahui included a ban on playing on the beach.

They kept away for the first few days, then went to the beach about 5pm on Saturday for a game of touch. His group was approached by a man in his 20s, accompanied by two older women, who filmed beachgoers on their phones and told them to ''Clear off''.

''He told us 'You can't swim here, you can't fish here, you can't play on the beach, so get out of here'.''

On Monday afternoon his wife took their children, aged 2 and 3, to play in the stream at Cable Bay. They were joined by four other children ranging in age from 4 to 8.

She was approached by another man who told her to leave. Dan's wife said they were only playing on the beach, not going into the sea, so they had every right to stay.

''He got right up in her face and told her to leave. He threatened to bring some more people to the beach to remove them. It smelt like he'd been drinking. The kids were pretty upset.''

Hone Bassett, a trustee at the local Parapara Marae, said a lack of education about rahui and other Maori cultural practices was an issue around the country.

"If our partners who have been here for 170-odd years can't understand that, there's not much we can do," he said.

"We can't be in control of our young people when people are desecrating our culture."

"We have to put these rahui in place for protection of our culture, it's really protection for all people," Mr Bassett said. "When it comes to drowning, we take that very seriously."

Mr Bassett confirmed the rahui was lifted yesterday morning.....
See full article HERE

We’re keen to recruit a new generation of Māori candidates – English
National leader and former Prime Minister Bill English admits that the party needs to rethink their approach if they are to get Māori support in the next election and he is keen to get some fresh new Māori talent to do it.

As part of a series of sit-down interviews with the five political leaders in parliament, the National leader tells Te Kāea political reporter Heta Gardiner, “Having got a small proportion of Māori votes we will have to rethink how we achieve that in the future. It’s an important and influential group of voters. We’ll be keen to recruit a new generation of Māori candidates."

English believes his party’s approach is aligned with how modern Māori think.

"It’s taking control, it is Tino Rangatiratanga and we will stick to that, even if we didn’t do so well with Māori in the last election.”.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

10  January  2018

Winery and iwi look to develop alternative to controversial Te Mata Peak walking track
Craggy Range winery executives met with iwi and council members on Friday.

In a statement released on Monday, Wilding said the company remained committed to removing the track.

"However, it is clear that there is considerable public support for walking access on the eastern slopes of the peak, and today we have agreed to work together on exploring an alternative that can hopefully satisfy everyone."

Tomoana said the iwi "look forward to working collaboratively with [Craggy Range] and others to explore the development of walking access on the eastern slopes of the peak – this is a chance for us all to work together to create something exceptional. It has been great to have the opportunity to sit down and talk it over with all parties".

The company was developing a remediation plan and would soon apply for resource consent to remove the track. Work on removing the track was likely to start in autumn. The track remains closed.

A petition to keep the track as it is has gained more than 9000 signatures.......
See full article HERE

Solve Māori inequality with pan-Māori not iwi organisations – Peters
New Zealand First leader and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says that we need to invest in pan Māori Organisations to stop from ‘diluting’ the talent and resources into many different iwi organisations.

“Well it’s always been my belief that you can only solve it (Māori inequality) with sound pan Māori organisations, not iwi organisations."

"Pan-Māori organisations can be overseeing the iwi organisations and what we have in this country now is iwi by iwi development and you so dilute your talent you so dilute your skills you so dilute your cost structure when you’re paying over and over for the same thing."

Continuing on with his critique of Māori organisations Peters talked about the need to avoid favouritism among Māori

“In the Māori world, we need to understand far better that you need the best. Far too many of us and our relations don’t get that, they say blood is thicker than water. Not when it comes to money it’s not, you need the best possible person there even if they happen to be a European or dear I say it an Asian, or an American.".......
See full article HERE

Manawatū District Council invests $5m into roading upgrades
The contract to replace the bridge was awarded in March 2016, but was immediately halted after two problems with resource consents, engineer Jim Mestyanek said. Ngāti Kauwhata objected to the proposal and the hydrology calculations contained an error, which required redesign.

Without a consent, the council was forced to stand the contractor, Bailey Civil Ltd, down and the site was closed for 18 months.

The council struck an agreement with Ngāti Kauwhata in August to allow for a paid iwi observer during periods of excavation to produce a cultural report following any work in the stream bed.

Despite being stood down in 2016, Bailey Civil Ltd had shown a "significant amount" of goodwill by not claiming compensation for frustration or loss of profit, Mestyanek said........
See full article HERE

Preventing youth reoffending through indigenouspractice
A health and wellness program created by a Māori whānau is making use of indigenous practices to help empower youth prisoners and prevent reoffending.

The Turongo Collective is run by Karena Koria, his wife Milly Grant-Koria and Puriri Koria, all from Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga-ā-Māhaki and Ngati Kohuru.

The three tutors have spent the last six months teaching up to 30 young people twice a week at the Korowai Manaaki youth prison based in Manurewa, Auckland......
See full article HERE

Matakana Island blockaded with barbed wire and fence posts
Visitors to Bay of Plenty's Matakana Island were greeted with piles of a barbed wire and a sign saying "Bugga Off!" this morning.

Kewpie Cruise owner Brandon Stone said the one of his vessels discovered the debris this morning, supposedly marking a tribal boundary, and cancelled their trip to the island.

Stone says it is the latest act of aggression against his tour business from a few "bad apples" on the island.

A sign placed at the front of the Panepane wharf reads, "This is the tribal boundary of Tauwhao, Te Ngare, Tamawhariua, Tauairi, and Tuwhiwhia."......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

9  January  2018

A Māori perspective on the climate crisis
As part of the Living on the Edge series, reporter Deena Coster explores a Māori perspective on climate change.

Taranaki woman Emily Bailey believes climate change is a Treaty of Waitangi issue.

The environmentalist thinks the issue presents a direct threat to Māori and she's not the only one.

Last year, a statement of claim was lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal by the Mataatua District Maori Council.

The claim, made on behalf of all tangata whenua, asserts the Government had failed to fulfil its Treaty of Waitangi obligations to protect Māori land and property.

As a result, it said Māori will suffer serious consequences......
See full article HERE

$1 million research partnership with Maori business cluster
High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge has partnered with Nuku ki te Puku, a cluster of Māori-owned food and beverage businesses, in a $1m project to prototype how Māori businesses and some of the country’s top researchers can share science and cultural expertise to collaborate on the development of new food for health products for export.

Challenge Director Joanne Todd said, “This is very much a partnership with mutual benefit. The Nuku ki te Puku business cluster will build experience in translating research into high-value food products for commercialisation. For Challenge-funded researchers, it is an opportunity to gain insight into mātauranga, the Māori worldview, and learn from Māori businesses who already have a presence in the key markets the Challenge is focusing on.”......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

8  January  2018

From the NZCPR archives by Dr Muriel Newman
Defend your beach
As you and your family head off to the coast this summer, you might want to consider how long it will be before Maori tribal groups are dictating access rights to your favourite beach.

Few holidaymakers will realise that ownership of the beach they are visiting is under claim. It doesn’t matter where it is in the country, or how many generations of family and friends have been holidaying there, multiple claimants are trying to convince the High Court and the Minister of Treaty Negotiations, that they have exclusively used the area since 1840.

But before you dismiss the possibility of such claims succeeding – because the area has always been so popular with the public – consider this. The former Minister, Chris Finlayson has offered a Customary Marine Title to a tribal group that claimed exclusive use of an area of coastline that was used as a public road for almost 100 years!.......

.......In effect, gaining customary title is a grant of ownership. Claimants would own all the non-nationalised minerals in the area such as sand, gravel, iron ore, and rare earths, and could extract them for commercial gain. They would have the right of veto over all resource consent applications relating to their area, and they could seek to establish wahi tapu, to restrict public access.

Many applicants – including Ngati Pahauwera – want wahi tapu across their entire claimed area, right out to the 12 nautical mile edge of the Territorial Sea. Under the law, ‘wardens’ could be appointed to patrol the area and fine ‘trespassers’ up to $5,000.

The new ‘owners’ of your beach could also impose ‘rahui’ – another customary mechanism to keep the public out.

In areas not covered by wahi tapu or rahui, the public would still retain the right to visit. Not so lucky would be those locals who use the area for business purposes – such as surfing schools, hire companies (boats, kayaks, paddle boards), fishing charters, and the like – as the ‘owners’ could charge them for ‘access’ to the beach.

That’s what’s been going on in Taupo – the ‘owners’ of the lake are now imposing such exorbitant fees on tourism operators – some whom have been providing their services for decades – that they are being driven out of business.

So, what can New Zealanders who are concerned about these developments do?

The short answer is, defend your beach!.....

............Please don’t think something as ridiculous as granting Maori title to public beaches will not happen.

It is happening. And if you think that none of this will make a difference to the way you and your family use your beach, you might want to consider what it will be like in five, 10, or 20 years. With many claimant groups already saying they ‘own’ the coast, if they gain title and the power to flex their muscles, it could become difficult for the public to exercise their right of free access.

So my advice is, get involved. Defend your beach. Don’t let the opportunists win because not enough people made the effort to stand up and tell the truth about the strong attachment that generations of coast-loving Kiwis have had to New Zealand’s coastline – and how each year we return to the same beach and enjoy it as part of our tradition and culture.

Now is the time to stand up and refute claims that the area has been used exclusively since 1840. Let’s tell them it’s not true, and retell our stories of culture and family.

It was National’s misguided decision to put the rights of the tribal elite – who wanted the resources of the foreshore and seabed for themselves – ahead of the public good, that got us into this mess. And while National has paid the ultimate political price for their policies of appeasement, its beach-loving Kiwis who are paying the real price, by having to defend the public’s right to our beaches – doing, in fact, what our politicians should be doing for us.

If we do nothing, and the new Minister and the High Court Judges follow the lead established by the former Minister – in accepting oral tribal history as the truth that over-rides published historical records – then the opportunists will win.

If you care about your beach, please tell everyone you can this summer about what’s going on and encourage as many people as possible to take a stand and help to defend our coast......
Read Dr Muriel Newman’s full article HERE  
December 3, 2017
For background information, claims lodged, maps and how to oppose claim/s the NZCPR has arduously compiled information HERE 

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

6  January  2018

Waikato river marae to trial first nitrate wireless sensor
In a first, a scientific research charitable business is working with a Waikato marae to release a wireless sensor that measures nitrate levels in rivers. Lead project researcher Dr Leonie Jones says it will give local iwi the tools to care for their ancestral Waikato river.

The Waikato River of a hundred taniwha - at every bend a taniwha can be found. The ancestral waters will soon have sensors to take care of its waters

Dr Jones says, “The project gives kaitiaki tools to help them better monitor the river, so it allows them to get data that is substantial and comprehensive. So that gives them a footing in the door of councils.”

The wireless sensor prototype has been in development since 2016, with a $250,000 fund from the governments Science for Technological Innovation. It will measure nitrate levels in real time.......
See full article HERE

Mana motuhake for iwi to pursue
The country’s leading Maori jurist says mana motuhake or self determination needs to be tackled on a tribal level.

Justice Joe Williams has been promoted to the Court of Appeal after a decade on the High Court bench.

Justice Williams says the settlement process in New Zealand has been much quicker than in Australia or Canada, which are dealing with similar legacies of colonialism.

Whether it will lead to mana motuhake remains to be seen.

“I think the tribal runanga are still working out how to build that (mana motuhake) and it’s a matter of attitude as much as it a matter of real power on the ground and iwi are still working out their attitude to that on the ground and I think we are still a couple of generations away from resolving what the end product will look like,”....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

2  January  2018

From the NZCPR archives by Dr Muriel Newman
Tribal control of New Zealand's coast
If anyone was hoping the election would deliver some form of reprieve from the hundreds of overlapping claims for the foreshore and seabed, resulting from National’s disastrous Marine and Coastal Area Act, they will be sorely disappointed.

The only politician to campaign for a law change was Hone Harawira, leader of the Mana Party, and he wanted Maori control of the entire coastline: “I want people to know that a vote for me is to return the foreshore and seabed into Maori hands”.

The new head of the ruling Labour Party’s Maori caucus, Willie Jackson, claims the country has moved on from the foreshore and seabed debacle: “This waffle about foreshore and seabed is exactly that. I think most of our people don’t care – that’s why they voted against the Maori Party. What’s done is done, what’s gone is gone. We will never, ever do that foreshore and seabed stuff again.”

Hone Harawira’s response to these comments was derisory: “Now you’re a dirty low down skunk. You need a kick in the arse for saying that our people don’t care about the foreshore and seabed being stolen. We did then, we do now and we always will”.

Between them, tribal groups have lodged almost 600 claims under the Marine and Coastal Area Act, covering every square inch of New Zealand’s coastal marine area. That’s the distance between the average spring high tide waterline and the 12 nautical mile territorial limit. Included is the airspace above the area, the water, and the subsoil, bedrock and mineral wealth below.

Altogether, almost 10 million hectares of the country’s most precious natural resources is now under claim. That’s equivalent to more than a third of the land area of New Zealand.......
Read full article HERE

October 29, 2017

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

31  December  2017

From the NZCPR archives by Dr Muriel Newman
Two flags, two peoples, a divided nation
The racism debate needs to be discussed openly and honestly, and without fear or favour.

We need to ask which of two paths New Zealand wants to go down. The first is the path of the Maori sovereignty movement that looks to a future shaped by indigenous rights. We know from the experiences of Zimbabwe and South Africa where that path leads.

The alternative path – desired by most New Zealanders – respects indigenous culture but rejects tribalism and privilege for our so-called indigenous population.

Most people want the grievance gravy train to stop. Most people know the train has become a billion dollar industry that has gone beyond righting the wrongs of the past, and most can see that the motivations are now largely selfish.......
See full article HERE 
December 13, 2009

As we celebrate the New Year, The Mole wishes everyone success, a healthy long life and a fresh new start. Happy New Year!

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

30  December  2017

Iwi frustrated as locals take to Te Mata Peak track
The Hawke's Bay tribe that sought to have a track on Te Mata Peak removed is disappointed the path is proving popular with locals.

Craggy Range Winery has agreed to remove the new track and restore the land after it was criticised by Ngāti Kahungunu and the Environmental Defence Society.

Cycle tracks and walkways and even a road have covered the other side of Te Mata peak for years, but the iwi said the track disfigured the mountain which depicted the reclining figure of ancestral chief Rongokako.

People have been flocking to the track since it was unveiled however, something Ngāti Kahungunu Trust chair Ngahiwi Tomoana was unhappy about.

"There was no consultation when it was etched into the mountain, and now it is being used by the general public.

"Just because it is popular does not make it right."

Mr Tomoana said he had been assured by the winery it would restore the land, and he expected that to happen......
See full article HERE
More on the above here > Woman fights to keep controversial Te Mata Peak track
And here > Safety concerns prompt Craggy Range to fence off controversial track

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

29  December  2017

Rāhui not enough say Waitakere Ranges mana whenua
Te Kawerau a Maki says the rāhui it imposed on the Waitakere Ranges is not enough to stop the spread of the deadly kauri dieback disease.

It is now calling for the Waitakere Ranges to be closed completely.

But with over 16,000 hectares and endless entry points, Auckland Council says that's not possible.

A rāhui was imposed by mana whenua a month ago, to stop foot traffic through the Waitakere Ranges in hopes of minimising the spread of kauri dieback.

A rāhui can be lifted after an agreed lapse of time - but not before the spread of kauri dieback stops, or a cure is found.

Until then, Ashby says: "As long as there is a problem, the rāhui will stand.".....
See full article HERE

Whanau Ora about to be re-booted under new government
It was a key policy of the now defunct Maori Party but Whanau Ora, which helps at risk families, is now getting a re-boot under the new government.

The programme has helped nearly 13,000 families in seven years, costing the country $73 million this year.

Whanau Ora Minister Peeni Henare is pushing for more funding and wanting to know whether people from the Pacific are getting enough help.

He's also interested in expanding the programme by setting up businesses to employ those from struggling families.....
See full article HERE

Polytech reconsiders one chance drug test policy
Maori public health advocacy group Hapai Te Hauora is welcoming a move by Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology to rethink its student drug testing policy.

The polytechnic, which has campuses in Rotorua and Tauranga, introduced drug testing for trades students in 2016, picking up an 8 percent fail rate in its first semester.

Students who don’t pass are given one week to retest, at their own expense, or they are withdrawn from the programme.

Hapai chief executive Lance Norman says drug testing should not be a barrier for young people considering a career in the trades.

While testing is needed for safety reasons, any positive results should be followed up with offers of counselling and other appropriate supports to move students away from possible addiction and into their chosen career pathway.....
See full article HERE

Prison nursery for river restoration trees
Prisoners will work alongside iwi and volunteers in an effort to restore the Waiotaka River, which flows into Lake Taupo.

Waikato Regional Council’s Natural Heritage Fund has given $126,750 to Project Tongariro for the three year project.

The committee has also approved a grant of $84,000 for the Waikato Raupatu River Trust and Nikau Whanau Trust towards the purchase of 13 hectares of the Matahuru Wetland at Lake Waikare, and $154,990 for Mahakirau Forest Estate Society Inc to help with the next four years for predator control work......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

28  December  2017

Intellectual property lawyer cautions businesses over use of Māori words
An Intellectual Property lawyer says the use of the word haka on food franchise burger fuel products is inappropriate. The kūmara fries product says Kūmara Fries at Burger Fuel is like eating a Haka'. Burger Fuel says no offense was intended and apologise for any offense caused.

Burger Fuel has likened the eating of kūmara fries to a haka and has some customers thinking twice.

An intellectual property lawyer Lynell Tuffery Huria says the use of the word haka on their food packaging is inappropriate.

“Incorporating something that refers to the Haka which is an important part of Māori tikanga and it forms an important role within Māori society being associated with food in a flippant way is clearly inappropriate.”......
See full article HERE

Kaikōura aims for the Great Walks map
Local authorities and iwi in north Canterbury have applied to have popular walkways around Kaikōura elevated to 'Great Walks' status.

Kaikōura community stalwart Gina Solomon said the aim of getting the tracks official status was to help boost the recovery of small towns like Waiau, Mt Lyford, Ward, Seddon and Hanmer, and reinvigorate an element of iwi history in the area......
See full article HERE

Māori Education Overview
There have been incremental shifts in Māori succeeding in education however significant equity gaps still exist between Māori and the total population......
See full article HERE

Time to sort out Te Mata Peak track shambles
There is no doubt that before any construction on the track was started, our local iwi, Ngati Kahungunu, should have been consulted. Craggy Range Winery, it seems, was genuinely trying to do something good.

However, the winery was probably a bit naive in not realising that this was always going to be politically and culturally sensitive and they could have done more......
See full article HERE

The Court of Appeal’s New Judge Joe Williams: Could He Be New Zealand’s First Chief Justice
And he raises the possibility of being the country’s first Maori Chief Justice, following the retirement of incumbent Dame Sian Elias.

Justice Joe Williams has been the chief judge of the Māori Land Court, chaired the Waitangi Tribunal, a justice of the High Court before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.

In an interview on Radio New Zealand, he said he was inspired by early contemporaries at university including Māori lawyer Annette Skykes and Shane Jones.

“I discovered the idea of aboriginal title, of aboriginal self governance which was very mainstream in Canada … and brought them back to New Zealand.”

Justice Williams worked on major treaty claims in his role on the Waitangi Tribunal such as the Wai 262 claim which looked at law reform affecting Māori culture and identity.

As historical claims come to a close, he said the next issue was working out how the treaty fitted into modern law policy.

“I think there’s a big conversation to be had both within the community and within the government about the role of a treaty specialist tribunal once historical claims are completed,” he told RNZ.......
See full article HERE

Palmerston North Airport adopts the legend of Hau
Visitors to Palmerston North Airport are being greeted by a new collection of art works celebrating a Māori legend.

A love story and a traveller's tale, the Legend of Haunui-a-Nanaia has been adopted by the airport to illustrate its place and role in the central North Island.

Working with Rangitāne kaumatua, the walls around the baggage claim carousels have been painted to depict the story of Hau and his journeys that gave names to the Whanganui, Rangitīkei, Manawatū and Wairarapa rivers......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

24  December  2017

Council leases boat to Tauranga tribe
A powerful inshore boat owned by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council is to be leased to Tauranga iwi Ngai Te Rangi.

The council has agreed to ''strengthen its relationship'' with the tribe by entering into a three-year lease of its vessel Taniwha for a peppercorn rental of $1 a year.

''Ngai Te Rangi are keen to collaborate with council staff in support of key management responsibilities,'' council regulatory services manager Eddie Grogan said.

He told a recent council meeting that the iwi was deeply concerned about its lack of ''connectedness'' with Tauranga Harbour......
See full article HERE

Backtrack on Te Mata Peak zig-zag path
A controversial zig-zag walking track on one of New Zealand's most iconic hillsides is to be removed.

Craggy Range Winery said today the walkway on Te Mata Peak in Hawke's Bay would be removed.

"Following discussions with Mana Whenua and other concerned groups this week, Craggy Range Winery has decided the best resolution to the concerns surrounding its new walking track on Te Mata Peak's eastern slopes is to remove the track, restore the land and return it to the previous owner," Craggy Range said in a statement......
See full article HERE

Māori ancestral knowledge about fungi to be taught in schools
A new resource to reconnect students to Māori ancestral knowledge about fungi. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research have launched their new book Fungi of Aotearoa at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Maungarongo in Auckland.

Co-author Georgina Stewart says, “Traditional knowledge from ancient times has been included regarding the uses of some fungi species present in New Zealand.”

Manaaki Whenua Land Researcher Peter Buchannan says, “It occurred to me that this knowledge is not European knowledge, this is Māori knowledge- and do Māori know it? Is it in the pūtaiao, the Māori science curriculum, is there a way to get it there?”

“There will be other knowledge within Māoridom which is not known outside, but what we tried to do is at least collate the knowledge which is in written form and reintroduce it back into the schools. Students can understand a little about the importance of fungi.”

The booklet and teacher guide that will be going to 108 maori immersion schools across NZ.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.


The Mole thanks everyone for the great support throughout the year and wishes you all the best the festive season has to offer and a very Merry Xmas to all. 


23  December  2017

Ingidenous rights under scholar's microscope
An Auckland researcher has been given an international scholarship to investigate how United Nations guidelines on indigenous rights can be applied to New Zealand law.

Auckland University law lecturer Andrew Erueti has been named the Fulbright Ngā Pae o te Maramatanga Scholar recipient for 2018 and will conduct research at the Univeristy of Colorado in Boulder.

He will focus on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was endorsed by the New Zealand government in 2010.

"I'm essentially looking at the implications for that endorsement or reforms related to Māori rights in Aotearoa New Zealand," Dr Erueti said.......
See full article HERE

Call for better iwi consultation on filming at national parks
The Department of Conservation in the top of the South Island is urging filmmakers to brush up on protocols and cultural awareness when filming on public land.

The eight iwi in the northern South Island, Te Tau Ihu, are still trying to bed in systems post Treaty settlement and are struggling to cope with late requests for permits.

The Department of Conservation processes applications for filming permits then considers how much iwi need to be involved in the decision.

Regional operations director Roy Grose said iwi must normally be given at least 20 days to respond, but that was not always happening.....”
See full article HERE

Manawatū River Accord Community Grant Funding Awarded
Seven community groups have been successful in securing financial aid from the Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord community grants.

The grants aim to assist non-profit organisations such as community groups, schools, catchment care groups and iwi/hapu with projects that will help increase engagement with Manawatū waterways and improve water quality in the catchment. This year there was $80,000 to award to community projects that met the criteria.

The sixth project will reinforce Kaitiakitanga (guardianship/convservation) values of customary taiao ūkaipō landmarks within the Ngāti Te Rangiwhaka-ewa hapū of the Rangitāne tribal district of Tamaki Nui A Rua......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

22  December  2017

Mt Egmont/Taranaki will become a legal personality
Mt Egmont/Taranaki will become a legal personality, in its own right, with joint responsibility shared between local Māori and the government in an agreement signed with the eight iwi of Taranaki in parliament today says Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little.

“At the heart of iwi aspirations is the importance of upholding the mana of Ngā Maunga, and recognising the traditional tikanga-Maori relationship between Taranaki iwi and their Maunga.

“The legal personality requirement recognises the mountain’s status in a similar approach taken with Te Urewera and Te Awa Tupua Whanganui River as all Crown-owned land within the National Park will be vested in a legal personality,” says Andrew Little......
See full article HERE

Baseball NZ to incorporate Māori designs into new logo
CEO Ryan Flynn is hoping to incorporate Māori designs when the new logo launches next year.

Baseball New Zealand has been consulting with Professor Robert Jahnke from Massey University, and Dave Bishop from the Porirua City Bombers club over suitable Māori designs.

“I would like to see a respect paid to our indigenous culture.....
See full article HERE

Ngāti Maru and the Crown sign Agreement in Principle
The Crown and Ngāti Maru have signed an Agreement in Principle to settle the historical Treaty claims of Ngāti Maru, the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little announced today.

Ngāti Maru are an iwi in the Taranaki Region with about 1000 registered members at the last census.

“In 1865 the Crown’s confiscation of land in Taranaki took half of Ngāti Maru’s traditional rohe from them.

The agreement includes a total value of financial and commercial redress of $30 million. It outlines, in broad terms, the shape of a future settlement which is to be negotiated in the coming months......
See full article HERE

New Zealand Community Trust Bay of Plenty grants for November
New Zealand Community Trust awarded the following grants in the Bay of Plenty region in November.

* Katikati Maori Wardens Charitable Trust Association - $4000 - Towards accommodation costs to attend a camp in Kaimai.

* Ohinemutu Kapa Haka- $5000- Towards kapa haka uniforms, poi and guitars.

* Rangiuru 2H Maori Reservation - Makahae Marae - $3085.95 -Towards a defibrillator and a first aid kit.

* Te Arawa Kapa Charitable Trust- $30,000 - Towards venue hire for Te Arawa Kapa Haka Regional Festival. ......
Other grants HERE

Te Arawa working group to focus on climate change
The group has been established following feedback from iwi and hapū and aims to ensure tangata whenua are leading the discussions about what can be done on a local level.

Ms Douglas believes it is crucial to consider issues like climate changes through a cultural lens.

“It’s in our history to respond to environmental changes and look for alternative pathways. Look at the Mt Tarawera eruption. We have a history of being adaptable and moving forward.

“We also are very innovative. Often iwi Māori are at the front of new technology and innovation and this is a real opportunity to show that.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

21  December  2017

Maori mood growing for name change
Maori constitutional scholar Dr Moana Jackson says there would be an appetite in Maoridom for a change in the country's name.

Moana Jackson says the issue of a name change came up surprisingly often during the 250 hui he has held on constitutional change based on Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

"There's been discussion about it already in the sense more and more people are now suggesting we should use names like Te ika a Maui and Te Waka a Maui and so on instead of the hardly romantic and evocative names of North Island and South Island and the fact more people are calling the country Aotearoa," he says.....
See full article HERE

Museum improvements
Things are changing next year at the Dargaville Museum with a new name, refurbishment of the Lighthouse Function Centre and renovations on the Maori display area.

“I also thought we needed a Maori name to bring us in line with bilingual New Zealand and a name with a point of difference. So I looked up the history of Joseph Dargaville and how chiefs from different iwi sold him the Tunatahi block which Dargaville now sits on. I thought it was a very inclusive and cooperative story.

“So we called a hui with local Maori to discuss the name ‘Te Whare Taonga O Tunatahi,’ (Whare Taonga translates to museum) and that had support.”

Therefore the museum now has two new signs bearing it’s new name at the entrance and on the outside wall. Matching signs are also above the door to the museum and the lighthouse function centre. “It’s just unified and taken ownership of the building.”

A blessing and celebratory event for the signs, and to honour the gift of the new Maori name, is happening on Wednesday, December 20......
See full article HERE

Kaikoura vote for Maori Ward
Kaikōura District Council has voted to create a Māori ward. They say it's a natural progression from the positive working relationships forged between Māori and Pākehā during the community's earthquake recovery. But as Irena Smith reports, the decision now hangs on the public's response, and Kaikōura’s sole Māori councillor says this needs to change
Watch HERE

Maori perspective needed in death debate
The Anglican Bishop of Te Tai Tokerau wants discussion on David Seymour's euthanasia bill to encompass wider questions of end of life and palliative care.

"I would welcome a discussion about how we understand life, how we understand death and the phases of life just before death. All the wisdom of our culture and the Maori world view I believe would speak very well on this issue.....
See full article HERE

Ngāti Tuwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill passes First Reading
Minister Andrew Little welcomed and acknowledged the rangatira of Ngāti Tūwharetoa who were at Parliament today as their claims settlement Bill passed its first reading this morning.

“The government is committed to settling historical Treaty grievances and to building a new partnership between the Crown and Māori.

The settlement includes the following redress:

* Cultural funds, totalling $3,950,000, to support the aspirations for cultural and environmental revitalisation of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

* Transfer of 32 sites of cultural significance to Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

* 8 geographic name changes.

* The establishment of the Tongariro Trout Hatchery and Freshwater Ecology Centre Trust, to be managed by Ngāti Tūwharetoa, the Minister of Conservation and the Tongariro National Trout Centre Society Incorporated (who will each appoint two trustees). The Downs whānau (a whānau of Ngāti Tūrangitukua who are a hapū of Ngāti Tūwharetoa) will also appoint a trustee.

* The establishment of a statutory board, Te Kōpua Kānapanapa, to restore, protect and enhance the environmental, cultural and spiritual well-being of the Taupō catchment.

* Membership on the Rangitāiki River Forum.

* Financial redress of $25 million.

* Commercial redress including Taurewa Station and part of Karioi Forest on settlement date, and the right to purchase other Crown properties.

In 2008 Ngāti Tūwharetoa received a share of Crown Forest Land in the Central North Island valued at $203 million as part of the Central North Island Forests Iwi Collective settlement.

Ngāti Tūwharetoa are also part of a collective of iwi the Crown will engage with in future negotiations regarding the Tongariro National Park......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

20  December  2017

Fire signals outrage at Moungaroa sale
Descendents of the original owner of Moungaroa, or Blagdon Hill, have lit a fire evoking the signal fires of the Taranaki wars, in protest against its sale by Chorus.

They said the telecommunications company's sale of the hill near New Plymouth threatens to destroy the archaeological site there.

New Plymouth District Council originally acquired Moungaroa from Te Kaho Heremia of Te Atiawa in the 1930s under the Public Works Act, for a reservoir that was never built. 

Two fire crews, supported by police, arrived about 9pm and extinguished the fire. No arrests were made......
See full article HERE

Most teachers are using te reo Māori
The Council for Educational Research council's national survey of primary and intermediate schools found just 1 percent never use the language with students.

"Increasing the number of teachers who speak te reo Māori, and the level at which they can speak it and use it with their students, should also be a priority," the survey report said.

The survey found of the 771 teachers who responded, 10 percent used Māori most of the time in their classrooms and 44 percent spoke it quite often......
See full article HERE
More on the above here > Ministers welcome commitment to te reo 

Hosking comments 'inaccurate and misleading' - BSA
The Broadcasting Standards Authority has upheld a complaint that comments made about the Māori Party by Seven Sharp host Mike Hosking were inaccurate, misleading and breached the accuracy broadcasting standard.

In this discussion, Hosking asserted that only those enrolled in a Māori electorate were able to vote for the Māori Party. He said “…you can’t vote for the Māori Party because you’re not enrolled in the Māori electorate”.

The Authority upheld the complaint and say that the alleged clarification broadcast on 24 August 2017 was flippant and too general to correct the inaccurate information for viewers.

Voters not enrolled on the Māori electoral roll can cast a party vote for the Māori Party, or vote for one of the 18 Māori Party candidates representing general electorates in the 2017 General Election......
See full article HERE

Iwi Chairs have questions for the Government over charter school closures
The Government looks set to face tough questions from iwi leaders at Waitangi next year over plans to close charter schools.

The Labour-led Government is following through on its campaign promise to shut down charter schools and is working with each one to see if they can transition to a special character school.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins has written to the sponsors of the country's 10 charter schools saying the Ministry of Education will meet with them in February, but until then all contractual agreements remain in place.

It's understood the ICF is suggesting closing the schools could breach Treaty of Waitangi principles......
See full article HERE

Reo strategy will require crown effort
Maori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta is keen for the crown to hold up its end in revitalising te reo Maori.

"The focus will be on the crown and having a reo revitalisation strategy that we can work in partnership with Te Matawai to achieve. The key agencies that will be critical to help deliver that will be Te Taura Whiri, Te Mangai Paho and Maori TV. Obviously Maori radio is caught up in that aspiration as well," she says.....
See full article HERE

Iwi part of climate strategy
Climate Change Minister James Shaw says iwi and landowners will be important allies as he develops plans for a zero carbon economy.

He says Maori assets are heavily affected by climate change, whether through rising seas or extreme weather.

"I actually find working with iwi in particular to be a real breath of fresh air because most of them are saying we are in this for the really long term and also climate change is one of their highest priorities," Mr Shaw says.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

19  December  2017

Datacom and MIT Bachelor of Digital Technologies Scholarships
Datacom and Manukau Institute of Technology are backing two new scholarships for students studying towards a Bachelor of Digital Technologies degree. The two scholarships aim to encourage increased diversity in the tech sector with one available to a female student and the other to an applicant of Pacific or Māori descent.

With the new government announcing that first year fees will be free in 2018, the scholarship is structured to cover half a student’s tuition fees in second and third year between Datacom and MIT. As part of the scholarship, Datacom will be mentoring these scholarship students and offering an internship during their third year of study.

To qualify for the scholarship you must:

* Be either female or Māori or Pasifika......
See full article HERE

Scholarship to attract Māori and Pasifika young leaders
A new Lincoln scholarship is hoping to draw young Māori and Pasifika leaders into tertiary study by reducing some of the costs of living on campus.

Coming on the back of the fees free announcement by the Government, the Lincoln University Māori and Pasifika Accommodation Scholarship offers up to 20 students $5000 towards their on-campus accommodation costs.

Applicants need to have demonstrated commitment to Māori or Pasifika leadership and advancement within their school or extended community.....
See full article HERE

Whangārei to host next Rangatahi Court
Northland will be the next region to have a Kōti Rangatahi, Rangatahi Court, to be hosted by Terenga Parāoa Marae in Whangārei.

It will become the 15th Rangatahi Court since the first court was established in Gisborne in 2008, and will be opened officially at a ceremony on 24 February 2018.

Rangatahi Courts aim to provide the best possible rehabilitative care for young offenders by reconnecting them with their cultural identity, and meaningfully involving local Māori in the process.....
See full article HERE

Iwi will seek return of plaque marking its blessing of Craggy Range winery
The iwi that blessed the Hawke's Bay's Craggy Range winery feels betrayed by the cutting of a track on Te Mata Peak and will be seeking the return of a commemorative plaque.

Ngāti Kahungunu blessed the winery at the foot of the eastern flank of the peak when it opened in January 2003.

Iwi chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana was so infuriated by the winery's cutting of the new track up the eastern face of the peak, that he has arranged a meeting with the company in the coming days, and will request the return of the plaque.....
See full article HERE

Ngāi Tahu mapping project reveals original Māori placenames in Southland
An online atlas developed by Ngai Tahu could open up a conversation about recognising Māori placenames, Southland iwi say.

The website Kā Huru Manu launched only a few weeks ago and features the Ngāi Tahu Atlas - an interactive map showing the original Māori place names and associated stories within the Ngāi Tahu tribal area.

The atlas shows Te ana-au is the correct spelling for Lake Te Anau, and Moturau is the correct Māori name for Lake Manapouri.

There was potential for dialogue about using these names officially.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

17  December  2017

Auckland Domain parking ban to be enforced
Pukekaroa, the volcanic mound in the middle of the sportsfield area, was once a pā site and is of great significance to the mana whenua of Tāmaki Makaurau. The enforcement of the parking ban provides a tool to protect this taonga and site of significance.

Independent Māori Statutory Board spokesman Renata Blair says Ngati Whatua Orakei and Waikato-Tainui in particular are very pleased that the parking ban will now be enforced.

“This was the site where the first Māori King, Potatau Te Wherowhero resided."

“In previous times it was a thriving Tainui village and any archaeological taonga on the maunga will be protected by the measures taken by the Domain Committee."

“The original carvings on the sacred site were recently restored in 2017 at Pukekaroa and I am pleased that these will also be protected.”.....
See full article HERE

Bilingual Rotorua moves into the first phase
Bilingual Rotorua is entering into its first phase - with bilingual signage at city entrances and the creation of te reo zones in playgrounds and reserves among the first steps.

At a Rotorua Lakes Council Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee meeting last week Te Tatau o Te Arawa chief executive Te Taru White and lawyer Kerri Anne Hancock presented the business case for Rotorua Reorua (Bilingual Rotorua).

In August Rotorua was declared New Zealand's first bilingual city......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

16  December  2017

Maori greetings on way for welcome signs
Visitors travelling into Dunedin could soon be met by Maori greetings alongside the Gothic font on the city's new signage.

Enterprise Dunedin director John Christie, said the Maori Participation Working Party would consult with local runaka over coming months on suitable greetings.

Once the greetings have been agreed, they would be added to the existing six Dunedin signs.......
See full article HERE

Maori demand voice in mental health regime
Maori health workforce development organisation Te Rau Matatini is backing a national group representing Maori who uses mental health services.

"We tend to find western mental health services become individually focused and forget our whanau. For Maori that is not OK. We need to increase the recognition of Maori and their preferences and views of what they need to help them heal and support their recovery of any mental health challenges they may be experiencing," Ms Baker says.......
See full article HERE

John Drinnan: Maori news unit to boost te reo?
Maori broadcasters are forming closer ties, boosting the prospect of a Maori news unit that would service multiple media, sources say.

The moves coincide with the new Maori language agency Te Matawai and its attempts to lift the slow uptake of te reo.

All Maori media are coming to grips with that lack of progress, but Maori TV gets most flak because it was created specifically to boost te reo......

See full article HERE

Kawerau shooter's appeal on basis of Maori sovereignty dismissed
An attempt by Kawerau siege shooter Rhys Warren to have his conviction overturned on the basis of Maori sovereignty has been dismissed.

Warren sought leave to appeal from the Supreme Court on the basis that New Zealand courts had no jurisdiction over him, and he was a different person from the "legal fiction" of Rhys Warren.

The Supreme Court justices ruled that Warren had no basis for appeal......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

15  December  2017

Multicultural NZ Briefs Govt on Promoting Inclusive Aotearoa 
Multicultural New Zealand has delivered a briefing to the Incoming Ministers outlining key issues and opportunities facing ethnic, migrant and refugee communities in New Zealand.

Multicultural New Zealand has made a commitment to raise the consciousness about the Treaty of Waitangi and the status of Māori. Multicultural New Zealand believes that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is for all peoples living in Aotearoa.

“Huarahi Hou is one component of a much bigger effort to help move us towards a truly Treaty-Based Multicultural Aotearoa New Zealand” said Mr. Narayanan.
See full article HERE

Nongfu Spring seeks combined consent hearing
“If consent is granted, we will create real local jobs for local people, particularly Māori,” says Gleissner. “When completed, the plant will employ 60 staff (up from eight staff currently) and will deliver considerable benefits to the communities of Te Teko, Kawerau and Whakatane.”

Most of the positions have been earmarked for local Māori as was promised by Nongfu Springs’ Chairman Zhong during meetings with iwi last December, he adds......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

14  December  2017

Waiheke Island marina plan drives wedge between Māori groups
Waiheke Island Māori leaders are railing against Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust for not joining their opposition to a planned marina.

Piritahi Marae trust member Paora Toi Te Rangiuaia said he was "really angry" that the iwi trust, which has mana whenua status on the island, has not supported groups that are trying to stop a 186-berth marina being built at Kennedy Point on Waiheke.

The island's marae has joined the appeal by SKP (Save Kennedy Point) against Kennedy Point Boatharbour Limited's plans to construct a marina and floating car park that would occupy 7.3 hectares of Putiki Bay. Island resident Ron Walden has also lodged an appeal....
See full article HERE

Northland's Maitai Bay faces seafood ban to replenish stocks
“A rāhui is about to be put in place at a popular Northland holiday spot in order to replenish sealife stocks.

Local iwi, hapū and community members will declare Maitai Bay and neighbouring Waikato Bay on the Karikari Pensuila a no-take zone from next Wednesday, December 20.

It will last for more than two years until March 2020.

Rāhui coordinator Whetu Rutene says it comes after extensive hui and consultation.....
See full article HERE

Young Māori students attempt to heal Lake Taupō
At 12pm today parents and students of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Whakarewa i te Reo ki Tūwharetoa will visit eight sites around Lake Taupō to recite karakia, pao and waiata in the hope it will help heal the moana from all the toxins in it.

With the temperatures set to rise over the festive season, local iwi of Lake Taupō are concerned about the algae bloom that is poisoning the heart of the city.

Although some areas have been given the all clear, the heat could do more damage to the moana and the people.

Earlier this year the kura kaupapa students paddled around the edge of the lake to hear its stories and to feel the mauri of its waterways and bays......
See full article HERE

Historical trauma behind high suicide stats
An expert in indigenous suicide says the crown was told 30 years ago of the links between colonisation and Maori suicide and chose to ignore it.

She says colonisation disconnects whanau from their whakapapa, their land, their cultural knowledge and their language, adding up to massive historical trauma......
See full article HERE

Wishlist: Goff wants govt to kick in for new stadium
Auckland mayor Phil Goff's wishlist includes getting the government to kick in for a new downtown stadium, and a law change to allow Māori seats on his council.

He noted the council's recent vote to seek a law change allowing the creation of Māori seats on the council, without needing to reduce the current number of general seats.....
See full article HERE

Pukekohe High School opens house of learning for Māori, Pacifica and international students At 5.55am on December 16, the sun will rise in the east, lighting up the face of Pukekohe High School's new whare waananga.

It's been a long time coming, 15 years to be exact, but after two years of planning, consulting and constructing, PHS will open the doors to its new whare waananga on Saturday morning.

"It is important to preserve our Māori culture and to normalise aspects of it in a safe way so it isn't considered a taboo subject and so that we can celebrate Māori culture as a bi-cultural society under the Treaty of Waitangi."

"It's a building of cultural significance and [it should be] used correctly with the right tikanga and kawa (the Māori way of doing things)," said Tipene......
See full article HERE

Embedding cultural practices into mental health services
Despite growing evidence for the role of culturally-centred programmes in addressing mental health needs, few programmes have been embedded into practice, says one researcher who hopes to change all that.

Dr Kahu McClintock, Research Manager with Te Rau Matatini, has just been awarded $789,771 to test the use of indigenous approaches for helping at-risk Māori and Pacific youth....
See full article HERE

Don Brash at Whangarei play to learn why te reo should be spoken more
Former National and Act party leader Don Brash will attend the powerful Whangarei Girls' High School play Waiora tomorrow night to receive a lesson of his own.

After hearing Mr Brash asking why he should have to listen to Maori being spoken on National Radio during an interview with the station earlier this month, the show's director decided to invite him along to the show to find out.

Mr Walker contacted Mr Brash and invited him to attend Waiora in the hope that he might find the answer to his question in the performance and Mr Brash has taken up the challenge and confirmed that he will be attending at 7pm tomorrow night......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

13  December  2017

Māori Student Centre established at Massey
Māori students at Massey will be well supported in the future with the establishment of Te Rau Tauawhi, the Māori Student Centre.

The centre aims to enhance and inspire educational success and will have staff on all three campuses who will also support distance students.

Founded on tikanga Māori principles of whānau manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and mātauranga the centre will provide a range of general and pastoral care services to help prospective and current students and their whānau to engage with the University. Services will include promoting Māori student participation and success, mentoring programmes, helping to connect students to existing Massey services, facilitating relationships with career and employability services, and establishing Māori cohort learning supports.......
See full article HERE

No right to platform for racist views
An Otago Ngai Tahu leader has slammed his local newspaper for running an opinion column attacking use of te reo Maori by broadcasters.

The column in the Otago Daily Times by fishing writer Dave Witherow drew widespread criticism, including a rebuke from Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy.

Tahu Potiki says Mr Witherow is known in the region for voicing anachronistic red neck views and it is to the ODT’s shame that it gave him a voice.

Mr Potiki says the same applies for former National and ACT Party leader Don Brash, whose only role now seems to be stirring up controversy by attacking things Maori......
See full article HERE

Removing Ngā Whanaketanga Rumaki Māori and National Standards
The following Cabinet paper covers decisions relating to:

* The removal of the requirement for kura and schools to use and report on Ngā Whanaketanga Rumaki Māori and National Standards from 2018

* Strengthening the focus on progress and good quality assessment in aromatawai information in teaching and learning and in reporting to parents, whānau and boards of trustees

* Beginning work, in 2018, to design a new approach to assessment and reporting, based on child progress across the curricula

* Stopping the proposed transfer of teacher professional learning and development to the education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand......
See full article HERE

Engaging with Māori
If you want to make an application, first make sure you have spoken to all the right people and consider how your plans might impact iwi every step of the way.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

12  December  2017

Bloody oath! Aussie's te reo request inspires change
Natalie Evans, originally of Australia, will officially become a New Zealand citizen tonight at Auckland’s Town Hall, alongside 510 other candidates.

She asked to recite her oath and affirmation in Māori and her request inspired the Auckland Council to make some major changes to the ceremony.

The new citizens will say the oath and affirmation first in English followed by an option of saying it in Māori, with the words displayed onto a screen.

Karem Colmenares of the Auckland Council says the change is a positive step and will be offered at future ceremonies......
See full article HERE

Māori Party president resigns, calls on leaders to do the same
Māori Party president Tukoroirangi Morgan has resigned and is urging the party's co-leaders to do the same.

Te Ururoa Flavell and Marama Fox remain in their positions after the party's disastrous election result.

Ms Fox says she'll do whatever party members want......
See full article HERE

New Dunedin boundary signs
Ongoing discussions with the Maori Participation Working Party are leading towards the inclusion of culturally appropriate Maori greetings that are aligned with the local Runaka. Once confirmed, these greeting signs will be added to the scope of boundary city signage work.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

11  December  2017

Crown and iwi negotiate Wanganui lands 
Negotiations between the Crown and iwi over Wanganui land have reached a "crunchy hard bit", chief Crown negotiator Richard Barker says.

He spoke to Wanganui District Council on Wednesday, saying the Office of Treaty Settlements was active in this area at present.

An agreement in principle between the Wanganui Land Settlement Negotiation Trust and the Crown is expected by mid-2018. A settlement could be agreed a year later.

Mr Barker said the settlement would create a powerful new entity in the district, a post-settlement governance entity, essentially a trust, that would have assets and opportunities.

In the settlement the Crown would hand over cash, Crown property and the rights to purchase further Crown property.

"They will have things that they didn't have before," Mr Barker said.....
See full article HERE

Complete treaty settlements by 2020, officials urge
The Office of Treaty Settlements has urged its new minister, Andrew Little, to complete historical settlements with all willing and able groups by 2020.

According to briefing documents to the incoming minister as at October this year, 61 percent of Treaty settlements had been signed by the Crown and claimant groups.

The report said a funding boost of $12.2 million in this year's budget had been successful in implementing a strategy that was leading the way to complete historical Treaty of Waitangi settlements in the next three years.....
See full article HERE

Sir Tipene counsels calm conversation on Whakatipu
Sir Tipene O’Regan has shut down Otago regional councillor Michael Laws after he said it was "madness" to change Queenstown’s Maori place-name spelling from Wakatipu to Whakatipu......
See full article HERE

Ka mau te wehi, Te Puni Kokiri
“The Labour-led government appreciates the significance and importance of Te Puni Kokiri and its’ role in Māori development, which is why we’ve placed the portfolio back inside Cabinet. It means the crucial calls for Māori receive top level consideration.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

9  December  2017

PM promises Māori relations re-set
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern used a visit to Rotorua to spell out what her focus would be for Government, listing confidence, strength, collaboration and something she said had been missing - kindness.

She also promised a new beginning for Crown and iwi relations with Kelvin Davis taking on the new role of Crown/Maori Relations Minister.

"How do we work in partnership beyond the Treaty negotiation process? Us being here is an acknowledgement that Labour holds all the Māori seats, but with that privilege comes huge responsibility," she said.

Ardern also promised a Government that would be accountable to Māori.

"No-one will hold us to account more than our Māori caucus."....
See full article HERE

Iwi Forum not going away
An advisor to the Iwi Chairs Forum says the Government will have to deal with the Forum whether it likes it or not.

Willie Te Aho says the forum represents a collective of the Maori treaty partners.

"The crown signed agreements with various iwi that have settled. They apologised for breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and basically said they would b better treaty partners going forward so it’s not a case of if the crown deal with us. They must deal with us," he says.

Willie Te Aho says there is still action before the courts over Maori rights and interests in water, and the Iwi Chairs are one of the groups the Government has to deal with over that......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

8  December  2017

Harold Maniapoto: 'We have a right, according to the law, to have a seat'
Powerful words were used to illustrate disappointment at Waipa District Council's decision to deny Māori a ward at the next election.

Harold Maniapoto, a member of the council's Iwi Consultative Committee, described it as "a tragedy".

He spoke about the matter to the committee when it met on Wednesday.

He suggested other committee members were also disappointed at the decision.

"We have a right, according to the law, to have a seat," Maniapoto said.

"But non-Māori voted that we should not have that seat. Our democratic right has been undermined something terrible."

"But what I'm pointing out here is a great injustice has been done. Not to Māori, but to citizens of New Zealand - both Pākehā and Māori.

"Your view is your view, and your right is your right, but denying someone else their democratic rights in their own country - I think that's a tragedy."......
See full article HERE

Work begins to get Peka Peka to Otaki expressway project moving
Ms Speight has also congratulated Fletchers Construction, the project's constructor, for winning Nga Tohu Reo Maori 2017 — at the Maori Language Awards.

Fletchers was nominated alongside community partners Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rito in the Pakihi — Business category for bi-lingual site signage on the Peka Peka to Otaki Expressway.

"The award is recognition of Fletchers' commitment to developing of constructive relationships with communities it's working in and for.

"There are four kohanga, two Maori immersion schools and two bilingual units within mainstream schools in Otaki, so the signage has added real value from a health and safety perspective as well as cultural one.".....
See full article HERE

Teachers seek to understand matauranga
Teachers have been wrestling with the question of matauranga Maori or Maori knowledge and how it can be brought into the classroom.......
See full article HERE
More on the above here > Te Putahi a Toi 20 years championing Maori knowledge

High school students build little play house for preschoolers over hundreds of hours
High school students spent hundreds of hours building a whare iti playhouse for the children at Golden Kids early learning centre in Golden Bay.

A whare iti, or little house, was built over the year by students from Golden Bay High School's building class, and embellished throughout with artworks, tukutuku panels and contemporary carvings by students from years 7-10.

A blessing for the structure was held on Tuesday morning with iwi manawhenua ki mohua.....
See full article HERE

Over $2m to engage young Kiwis in Science
Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods today announced over $2 million of funding for 33 innovative science projects through the 2018 Unlocking Curious Minds contestable Fund.

“The 33 projects are of the upmost quality and will increase engagement in science and technology within communities, in regions and at a national level,” says Megan Woods.

Some of the exciting new projects funded through this new round include:

The Unlocking Curious Minds contestable fund is an initiative under A Nation of Curious Minds – He Whenua Hiriri I Te Mahara – a National Strategic Plan for Science in Society, and is jointly run by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Education, and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.....
See full article HERE
A full list of the 33 successful Unlocking Curious Minds projects (10 are Maori focused) can be found HERE 

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

7  December  2017

Iwi to take Crown to Supreme Court
An Auckland iwi says it will go to the Supreme Court to block a Crown bid to hand over pieces of what it considers its land to other iwi in treaty settlements.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Trust is prepared to go to the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal rejected its bid to stop the Crown from giving land they say is in their heartland to other iwi as part of their treaty settlements.

The Court of Appeal rejected Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Trust's bid to stop properties in Grafton Road, Dominion Road, Auckland Grammar School and Epsom Girls' Grammar being part of the Marutūāhu and Ngāti Paoa treaty settlements.....
See full article HERE

UN's number one parenting programme adapted for Maori families - and it's working
A culturally-adapted parenting programme for Maori families has increased parents' confidence, reduced conflict between partners and improved children's behaviour.

The programme, Te Whanau Pou Toru, was adapted from the Triple P - Positive Parenting Program - which has been rated as the number one parenting programme in the world by the United Nations.

Parents learned a variety of positive parenting techniques during discussion groups, which encouraged families to share ideas about parenting and learn from other whanau about how they interact with their kids......
See full article HERE

Te Reo Māori scrabble has just dropped and it's incredible!
"Kuputupu" is the new board game based on the popular word game called Scrabble. It has been developed by Hutt Valley library to increase the use of Te Reo Māori. Kapai Poneke this is amazing......
See full article HERE

Public commitment given for Te Henga marae land
An influential Auckland councillor has promised an iwi land to build its marae on.

Penny Hulse made the comments to Te Kawerau ā Maki at an Auckland Council environment committee meeting on December 5.

"We will resolve the Te Henga (Bethells Beach) marae issue," she said.

"It's untenable that it has taken this long, and for that I apologise."....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

6  December  2017

Māori business interest at NZ-China mayoral talks
Porirua Mayor Mike Tana says "the Chinese mayors are here to talk about commerce, to talk about the opportunities that they see here in New Zealand. In particular what they've been talking to me about are those cultural opportunities."

Mayor Tana says the forum's key topics- education, primary industries and tourism- align with some of Māoridom's biggest business sectors, which could further grow the $50-billion Māori Economy.

China is New Zealand's largest trading partner and the Chinese mayors collectively represent around 80 million citizens.....
See full article HERE

Sale of New Plymouth landmark sparks upset
The imminent sale of part of a prominent New Plymouth landmark acquired under the Public Works Act in the 1930s has upset Taranaki Māori.

Chorus has put Blagdon Hill or Moungaroa on the market, but Māori say the company should have spoken to them first......
See full article HERE

Health Minister sets up urgent expert group to examine system
Tipene-Leach is a professor of Māori and Indigenous Research at the Eastern Institute of Technology. He has a distinguished medical practice and academic history, and has led innovative public health projects on prevention of long-term conditions, particularly diabetes.

Tūnoho is president of E tū, one of New Zealand's largest unions and national coordinator for Healthcare Aotearoa, which represents many community and iwi-controlled primary health providers. She is also involved with Hutt Union & Community Health Service and is an executive member on the Living Wage Movement Aotearoa board....
See full article HERE

Support for Māori
Waikato DHB has Kaitiaki and Kaitakawaenga teams to support Māori patients and their whānau.......
See full article HERE

Jacinda Ardern and Maori caucus to launch Tamati Coffey's Maori advisory group
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Maori caucus are coming to Rotorua to launch Waiariki MP Tamati Coffey's Kahui Koeke.

Coffey will unveil his Kahui Koeke, an advisory council of selected kaumatua, ready to support and advise him on his new political journey.

"Having such wise heads around me, will allow me to make decisions collectively and hear the various issues affecting Waiariki iwi."

Coffey's premiere advisory council consists of; Dr Kihi Ngatai - Tauranga Moana, Rereamanu Wihapi - Tapuika, Ngati Moko, Waitaha, Tuhourangi ki Tai, Hemana Eruera - Ngati Awa, Ron Tahi - Ngai Tuhoe, Robert Edwards - Te Whakatohea and Dr Keneti Te Whainga Kennedy - Te Arawa, among others.

Lawyer and political figure Annette Sykes is included in the line-up of presenters......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

5  December  2017

Kermadec sanctuary breaches Treaty fishing rights - Māori group
Māori fishery trust Te Ohu Kaimoana has expressed frustration at National's second attempt to make the Kermadec Ocean a sanctuary.

MP Nick Smith has submitted another Member's Bill to protect more than 600,000km/sq of ocean.

Te Ohu Kaimoana chief executive Dion Tuuta says the sanctuary would breach Māori fishing rights under the Treaty.

"If Government wishes to pursue new forms of marine protection, that [should be] done in consultation and partnership with its Treaty partner," he said.

Mr Tuuta also has a word of warning for the Greens, who have expressed support for the sanctuary.

"Does [the Green Party] want a short-term relationship of convenience with Nick Smith to get the sanctuary across the line, or does it want a real and enduring relationship with the Treaty partner?".....
See full article HERE

Bay of Islands fishing rahui still alive
Fishers planning to be in the Bay of Islands over the summer holidays are being reminded about the rahui at Maunganui Bay/Deep Water Cove.

The rahui does not stop visitors who wish to dive, swim or anchor in the bay, but the taking of fish and shellfish other than kina (sea eggs/urchins) is prohibited.

The area near Rawhiti in the eastern Bay of Islands is closed to all fishing, except for gathering kina, until October 13, 2018, under section 186A of the Fisheries Act.

Local hapu Ngati Kuta and Patukeha of Te Rawhiti initiated the rahui (temporary closure) in 2010, to enable fish stocks to replenish.

Fines up to $100,000 apply to anybody caught breaching the rahui/fishing ban......
See full article HERE

Victoria University plans for Māori academic success
The purpose of the gathering is to build partnerships to boost opportunities for Māori students and to foster research alliances.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) Rawinia Higgins says, “This year, we are delighted to be hosting more than 20 iwi organisations, representatives of Māori trusts and other organisations from around the country at the marae- signaling their commitment to work with us to support Māori education."......
See full article HERE

Maori a priority in Kiwibuild
Housing Minister Phil Twyford would like to see the Kiwibuild policy deliver the kind of levels of Maori home ownership as Maori Affairs housing achieved in the past.

He’s working with Maori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta on ways to add a Maori dimension to Kiwibuild which aims to build 100,000 houses over the next 10 years and also work with iwi on housing.....
See full article HERE

Young Catholics keen to increase Maori focus
Young catholics are looking at how they can better work with Maori.

More than 600 Catholics aged from 15 to 29 were in Auckland over the weekend for the first Aotearoa Catholic Youth Festival of worship, discussion and performance

Maori organising committee member Arama Pou says the festival included extensive bilingual signage and people were encouraged to use te reo words and phrases where they could......
Young Catholics keen to increase Maori focus....
See full article HERE

Ngati Whatua Orakei loses appeal on exclusivity
Hauraki iwi have welcomed a Court of Appeal decision rejecting Ngati Whatua Orakei's assertion of exclusive Treaty rights across central Auckland.

The court upheld an earlier High Court ruling.

He says Auckland has many mana whenua and no one tribe has superior and exclusive rights over the others......
See full article HERE

Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust delivers another strong result for Iwi
Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust has helped Ngāti Tūwharetoa to post a $1.7 million profit for the 2016/17 year.

The annual results were announced on Saturday at Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust's AGM, held at Wairakei Resort in Taupō.

The trust's total comprehensive income after tax for 2016/17 was $4.7m.

"The organisation has gone from strength to strength over the last four financial years due to the dedication of its trustees, whose five-year terms end this month," trust chairman Rakeipoho Tairaroa said.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

3  December  2017

Victoria signs partnerships with Māori organisations
Victoria University of Wellington is building partnerships with iwi and other Māori organisations to boost opportunities for Māori students and foster research collaborations.

The agreements are part of the University’s commitment to improve its engagement with key Māori stakeholders and to work in partnership with them to support the academic success of current and future Māori students, through activities such as internships and scholarships.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) Professor Rawinia Higgins says that Victoria is proud to be matching dollar-for-dollar the funding provided by Māori partners, to maximise the study and research opportunities for Māori students......
See full article HERE

Te reo on the radio too much for some
A controversial column condemning the use of te reo Māori on RNZ sparked debate about racism, free speech and even hate speech this past week. Mediawatch looks at the responses and asks a veteran Māori broadcaster if this is a big deal or a storm in a teacup.

"A few seconds of a reporter signing off in Māori language or greeting the listening public - it's nothing," she said......
See full article HERE

New library cards available now
If you are a current library member or thinking of joining, new Te Aka Mauri cards are available for free from Friday 1 December.

The card features new Te Aka Mauri branding and includes our new logo, tukutuku pattern and an image of the building itself.....
See full article HERE

Iwi partners
The University's southern roots are anchored in a special relationship with the communities of Otago, Southland (College of Education, Murihiku Campus) and Canterbury (Christchurch School of Medicine), including a special partnership with Ngāi Tahu, by way of a Memorandum of Understanding with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Both parties acknowledge however that the University extends beyond the Ngāi Tahu takiwā (tribal area) and relationships with a number of other iwi have also been formed, as well as memoranda signed. These relationships are the foundation of the University's Treaty responsiveness: feel free to download the following documents to view the detail of each MoU......
See full article HERE

Labour tells iwi leaders they're not doing their job properly signalling it's time to steer a new course
Maoridom's most powerful leaders have been told they're not doing a proper job by the Maori Development Minister, Nanaia Mahuta.

Their focus has been on issues such as the ownership of water. But there has been little progress on this during National's nine years in power.

Now the new Government is signalling it's time to steer a new course.

"Noting that we are a coalition Government, a big head issue will be the discussion going forward on water. That will be a very slow conversation," Ms Mahuta said......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

2  December  2017

Iwi leaders navigate government relations
Iwi leaders are meeting in Wellington, with a big question mark around its relationships with the new Government.

The Iwi Leaders Forum had strong links to the Maori Party, and made much of its access to ministers in the previous Government.

Topia Rameka from Ngati Tuwharetoa says it's now a different environment.

"The forum needs to understand what are all the roles the different ministries now play so that's one thing we need to get our heads around. The kaiupapa of the Iwi Chairs Forum stays the same regardless of what government is in place and our kaupapa is quite simple. It's about advancing the interests of our people, ahakoa no hea," he says......
See full article HERE

Māori Television holds staff kura reo to help reach 2020 target
Today, Māori Television took its first step forward in the process to become completely bilingual. However, will the government continue to support the station in its new drive to grow the language?

From cameramen to sound operators - the many faces of Māori Television today began their very first exclusive Māori language acquisition course in the company's 13-year history in the hope that those broadcasting in the language can be exposed to a new Māori experience of their own.

Another level definitely reached - but at what cost? $50,000 alone has been reserved for promoting the Māori language strategy this year, with the hope to fatten the figure in the new year.....”
See full article HERE

City of Literature’s Maori name can have racy meaning
Dunedin City of Literature has been recast as a "spring of orgasmic energy" with its new Maori translation.

Paulette Tamati-Elliffe told the story behind the translation at the Creative Cities Southern Hui yesterday morning.

Otepoti — He Puna Auaha is the Maori name she has developed for the City of Literature after a request to do so by the Dunedin City Council......
See full article HERE

Kura counting on research
Huntly’s Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga will be the test bed for a new project aimed at finding new ways to teach pangarau or mathematics in Maori medium setting.

University of Waikato researchers Ngarewa Hawera and Leeana Herewini have secured $130,000 for the two-year 'Maku ano e hanga, i toku nei whare ' project from the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative administered by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research - Rangahau Matauranga o Aotearoa.

Also up for a $200,000 grant are Nancy November and ‘Ema Wolfgramm-Foliaki from the University of Auckland, who want to look at the low enrolment and pass rates of Maori and Pasifika students in university history courses.....
See full article HERE

History etched in new carvings for Nelson College wharenui
The changing face of Nelson College is etched into new carvings for the school's wharenui.

The first of three new carvings for the meeting house, Te Ara Poutama, was added to its facade last week to join the solitary pou erected by local iwi Ngāti Tama about three years ago.

Coloured in the school's Oxford and Cambridge blue, the carving referenced the school's history, from its sporting legacy, its place as the first school to teach music in New Zealand. The protons created in pāua, represent its most famous old boy Lord Ernest Rutherford......
See full article HERE

Maori housing a priority in Twyford plan
Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford says Maori housing will be a major feature of the Government’s reshaping of the sector.

Maori have been hammered by the housing crisis and he is working with Maori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta and the Maori caucus on specific programmes......
See full article HERE

Confident of poll on Maori wards
Among them is former Te Puke Community Board candidate Richard McNair, who's been helping to organise a petition to gain the necessary signatures to force a public vote.

Richard says he's spoken to several people from Te Puke, as well as residents living in Katikati, Waihi Beach and Omokoroa, all of whom are keen to see a poll taken.

“I'd be surprised if we don't get the required signatures very quickly.”

Kaimai ward councillor Margaret Murray-Benge, who voted against the decision to introduce Maori wards, says there's been a ‘groundswell of support' for a poll......
See full article HERE

Airport occupiers lose appeal against conviction
The High Court has dismissed an appeal against conviction of six Ngati Kahu members who occupied Kaitaia Airport in protest against a $100 million Treaty of Waitangi settlement.

Eva Crockenberg, Anthony Housham, Barney Popata, Robin Popata, Reti Boynton, and Selwyn Clarke were convicted of trespass after a judge-alone trial in the Kaitaia District Court in 2015.

They were ordered to come up for sentencing if called upon within six months.

The six were arrested on September 9, 2015, after a 28-hour occupation and then Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson labelled them miscreants and oafish......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

1  December  2017

Māori freshwater rights set to be a stumbling block for coalition Government
Māori ownership of freshwater is set to boil over at Waitangi this year unless the Government commits to addressing iwi rights and interests.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will meet with the Iwi Chair Forum (ICF) ahead of Waitangi events on February 5 and 6 and forum adviser Willie Te Aho has made it clear the group will go back to the Supreme Court if there's no progress on iwi rights to fresh water.

While Labour talked up dealing with the issue ahead of the election, any hope of a freshwater tax and Māori interests being recognised came to a grinding halt when it did a coalition deal with NZ First, which is strongly against the idea....
See full article HERE

Support grows against te reo Maori moaners
Race Relations Conciliator Dame Susan Devoy says the response to a column complaining about the amount of te reo Maori heard on RNZ National shows how the language is becoming normalised.

Rather than it just being herself speaking out, a wide range of people condemned the piece in the Otago Daily News as outdated and unacceptable.

She says the more people hear Maori words and phrases used, the more they will have confidence to try it themselves.

"I looked at Maori Language Week this year and thought it’s such an overwhelming change of people embracing and enjoying it. It’s certainly not something inflicted on people and I think people are beginning to understand it is a real treasure and the revitalisation of our language is really important," Dame Susan says.....
See full article HERE

Rise in school absence rates 'atrocious'
School absence rates are getting worse, Ministry of Education figures reveal.

The ministry says the number of students regularly attending school fell from nearly 70 percent in Term 2, 2015 to 67 percentin the same period last year. Only 55 percent of Maori students were regularly showing up and 57 percent of Pacific students.

The ministry defined regular attendance as being at school 90 percent of the time, so the figures include all reason for absence, including truancy and illness.....
See full article HERE

Date set for rāhui on walking in the Waitākere Ranges
Those walking in a large Auckland park will soon be doing so against the wishes of local iwi.

Te Kawerau ā Maki would hold a ceremony to place a rāhui over the Waitākere Ranges on December 2, its trust's executive manager Edward Ashby said.

The ban on entering the 16,000 hectare park would be a ritual prohibition, imposed in order to protect it from kauri dieback disease being spread by human feet.

The iwi's ban would be in place three days ahead of a meeting of Auckland Council's environment committee on December 5, which would consider options to deal with kauri dieback.....
See full article HERE

New era of policing announced in Kaitaia
A new era in policing was officially launched in Kaitaia on Monday.

"Whiria te Muka is about enabling a space of advocacy and systemic change, cloaked in the narratives of Te Hiku," he said.

The Whiria te Muka team will review family harm incidents reported to the police with other agencies, which will collectively share knowledge, provide cultural intelligence, whakapapa, and employ a whanau approach to be best connected with that whanau......
See full article HERE

Iwi Chairs Forum Oppose Seismic Testing.
Today during a national gathering of Māori leaders at Te Papa, an historic agreement was made to oppose all seismic testing and oil exploration in the waters of Aotearoa.

Many iwi have been opposed to seismic testing in their waters as the permits for exploration expanded around the coast of the country during the last decade.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

30  November  2017

Petition for Maori wards vote launched 
A petition for a poll on the proposal to set up Maori wards in the Western Bay of Plenty District has been launched.

Western Bay of Plenty district councillors voted 9-3 on November 21 to create Maori wards in the area.

Lead petitioner Richard McNair says he believes Maori wards are not necessary for council decisions, which are mainly to do with roads, clean drinking water, sewage, drainage, libraries, sports facilities and cultural centres, all of which are for the benefit of everyone irrespective of ethnicity.

"This is an important issue. Residents and ratepayers in those four areas are entitled to have a say in such a radical shift in representation arrangements.”

A total of 1705 signatures must be delivered to Western Bay of Plenty District Council by 5pm on February 21, 2018, to trigger a poll which would then be held between February and May of 2018.

Those who wish to sign the petition and/or help collecting signatures should contact Richard on 0274749812 or via email richardmcnair02@gmail.com
See full article HERE

Native Affairs - Taranaki Tales
Former New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd is ready to confront the government, urging them to establish Māori wards on every district council in New Zealand.

“I have a petition to Parliament challenging that legislation. It’s unfair, it’s biased. Now that I see how broken we are, I was brought here for a reason.”

“I’m a Pakeha New Zealander and I’m proud of that. Maori allowed for me to have a place in the world here In Aotearoa, through the treaty. It’s important that our children aren’t still divided and raised like I have been raised by the ignorant, biased, racist, policies.”

He says his fight for Māori has just begun. He’s expecting to present his petition to Parliament next year......
See full article HERE

Motorway threat to Manukau edge lingers
Ngati Whatua Orakei is calling on the Government to withdraw consents for Auckland’s East West Link.

Despite the new Government saying the $2 billion project is a non-starter, the Environmental Protection Authority approved its resource consent.

Ngati Whatua’s Ngarimu Blair says that consent has a 15 year life, meaning culturally and ecological areas from Penrose to Onehunga will continue to be at risk from a future government unless the project is formally killed.

"I always knew that history would be on our side on this one, that we were holding on to our matapono, our tikanga, the mana of the harbour first, that’s what we held on to along with Makaurau Marae and Te Kawerau a Maki," he says.....
See full article HERE

DHB hoping to attract more young Maori
The Canterbury DHB's tackling the under-representation of Maori in health roles.

In two years, the percentage of Maori first-year post-graduate doctors at the DHB has jumped from two to 24 per cent.

Executive Director of Maori and Pacific Health Hector Matthews said our medical schools and DHBs are doing more and more to attract young Maori.

He said iwi are responding to the visits to high schools, scholarships, and support for first-year students.....
See full article HERE

Jack Tame honoured for championing Te Reo Maori on TVNZ 1 Breakfast
TVNZ 1's Breakfast presenter Jack Tame was honoured with an award for championing Te Reo Maori.

The presenter is well known for his efforts speaking the language, which is one of three official languages in New Zealand, while on air.

"Through doing so he's made a huge impact," said Ngahiwi Apanui from the Maori Language Commission.

"When we look at the Maori language award, that's what we're looking for."

"For Maori people it's about 'wow, someone appreciates our language' - someone who is not Maori is using our language."....
See full article HERE

Climate change a treaty issue
Health professionals have gathered in Wellington last week to discuss climate change and how it will affect their work, with the effect on Maori high on the agenda.

She says in New Zealand the connections between hauora and the environment are well appreciated, and there is also growing awareness that climate change is a Treaty of Waitangi issue because of the disproportionate impact it will have on Maori.

"Maori communities already suffer from structural injustices which mean they have worse health outcomes and that means they are more vulnerable to climate change impacts and iwi are invested things like farming, fishing, and forestry, all of which will be impacted by climate change," Dr Macmillan says......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

29  November  2017

South Waikato says no to Maori seats for now
The South Waikato District Council has decided not to introduce designated Māori seats for the 2019 local government elections.

Elected members made the decision at the completion of a hearing on Thursday and also decided to revisit the issue in three years rather than wait for the allowable statutory timeframe of six years.

During a feedback period it came to light that engagement with Māori, and in particular with iwi, was different to having designated Māori seats on the council.

The council received 84 submissions, survey responses, and feedback about the concept of designated Māori seats. Of the 84 responses, there was an even split, with 42 respondents wishing the council to introduce Māori seats and 42 against......
See full article HERE

Tikanga Māori food verification system extends to other cultures
Hua Parakore is the world's first indigenous food verification system based on tikanga Māori and is expanding to other cultures. The system was showcased at the Mātauranga Māori symposium, a gathering of Aotearoa's most unique, innovative and creative minds to share new developments in indigenous education.

Māori educators unite to share new insight and knowledge, including the Hua Parakore initiative created by the late Percy Tipene......
See full article HERE

Ngāi Tahu wealth grows to $1.3 billion 20 years on from settlement
Ngāi Tahu is the wealthiest iwi in New Zealand, with a net worth of $1.3 billion. Newly elected Ngāi Tahu CEO Lisa Tumahai says that corporate leadership is a strong point for the iwi but there's a need to develop leadership among the people, on the marae and in the regions.

In 1997 the South Island iwi was among the first to reach settlement with the Crown, since then they've turned $170mil into $1.3bil......
See full article HERE

Council behind pace in delivering on Māori outcomes
An independent assessment of Auckland Council’s activities to improve Māori economic, social, cultural and environmental development in Tāmaki Makaurau highlights ongoing and significant missed opportunities, not only for Auckland Māori, but for the region as a whole, Chairman of the Independent Māori Statutory Board, (the Board) David Taipari, says.....
See full article HERE

Petition for Palmerston North Maori wards vote launched
If you are currently on the Palmerston North City Council electoral roll and want voters to decide this important question then please sign the above petition and encourage others (neighbours, family, friends, workmates) to sign as well.

A total of 2,727 signatures must be delivered to the Palmerston North City Council by 5pm on February 21, 2018, to trigger a poll which would be held between February and May of 2018.

Those who wish to sign the petition and/or help collecting signatures should contact me, he said.
See full article HERE

Take a look at... Funding for research into Pasifika and Māori remedies
A Victoria University PhD student has been awarded $345,156 to research the chemical and biological properties of traditional Pacific medicinal plants.

Helen Woolner received the funding through the Health Research Council's Pacific Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship programme.

Pharmacy Today requested an interview and was declined but, according to a media release, Ms Woolner hopes her research will elucidate the science behind the tradition, and help Māori and Pasifika people harness the full potential of their natural health practices......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

28  November  2017

New Ngāi Tahu website map and book part of 'cultural revitalisation' for iwi
A new atlas puts Ngāi Tahu at the centre of the South Island with the aim of fostering a "cultural revitalisation" of iwi culture and identity.

Five years in the making, Kā Huru Manu provides a Ngāi Tahu perspective on the South Island through an interactive, cultural map launched on Sunday.

The website and a book, Tangata Ngāi Tahu, People of Ngāi Tahu were part of the iwi's programme of "cultural revitalisation", Ngāi Tahu archive adviser Tā Tipene O'Regan told members at the launch.

A team of eight archivists began working on Kā Huru Manu in 2012 and, in the process, had mapped more than 5500 places including rivers, mountains, lakes, pa and trails used by Ngāi Tahu with Geographical Information System (GIS) technology.

The website contains more than 1000 place names and each one has a pop-up box containing the history or story behind it......
See full article HERE

Ngāti Porou launch pilot to facilitate family group conferences
Ngāti Porou has become the first iwi in the country to facilitate it's own Family Group Conference for it's young people that offend, it's part of a unique pilot programme that gives Ngāti Porou youth a choice to work with iwi to address their offending.

"They are directed by the judge to take part in what's called a Family Group Conference, the FGC, is a place where we come together as a whānau to support our young people to put a plan in place to help reduce their re-offending," says Youth Justice Co-ordinator for Ngāti Porou, Simon Wharehinga......
See full article HERE 

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

27  November  2017

Sir William Gallagher claims Treaty of Waitangi cover-up
Waikato business leader Sir William Gallagher is under fire after claiming the Treaty of Waitangi is a farce.

While Sir William, who made his fortune in fencing, made the comments during a speech to businesspeople at Waikato Stadium on Friday, he was happy to expand on the topic on Sunday.

The Treaty papers on display at Te Papa were fraudulent documents and the concept of the Treaty itself was a rort, he said.

"It was addressed to all New Zealanders, not native New Zealanders," he said.

"There is no doubt [Māori] gave up sovereignty ... and now we have these bloody reparations going on."

The Foreshore and Seabed Act was an example of the Government handing over the rights of all New Zealanders to Māori, he said.

"Don't think it's not happening. Just go to the south end of the beach at Whiritoa and try to go for a walk there. There is netting there - that's the Māoris trying to fence it off.

"It's separatism. This is apartheid. There is no definition of Māori ... You are Māori if you feel you are Māori.".....
See full article HERE

Migrants visit marae to learn about Māori culture
A new Wellington program is helping migrants and former refugees get better acquainted with Māori culture.

About 120 migrants and refugees and eight translators have paid a visit to Te Wharewaka o Pōneke on Wellington's waterfront to learn about Māori history and traditions.

They were welcomed to the land with a traditional pōwhiri and later swapped creation stories with their iwi hosts

The one-year-old project is designed to give migrants "that feeling of home" Molly Kennedy Chief Executive of the Multicultural Learning and Support Services (Mclass) said.

Mclass – which is the biggest provider of beginner English classes in Wellington – came up with the idea of the marae visits as part of a wider strategy to integrate te reo and Māori culture into language classes, Molly Kennedy said.....
See full article HERE

Flax weaving takes Te Wananga o Aotearoa students to happy places
Raranga, traditional Maori weaving tuition, is provided by the wananga as part of the Kawai Raupapa-Certificate in Maori Visual Arts.

The 36-week, level-4, no-fees course provides learning in raranga patterns and designs, basic techniques, growing and caring for flax and tools, drawing and design, tikanga Maori relating to raranga and as well as whakapapa, whanau, hapu and iwi traditions......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

26  November  2017

Iwi marks big day at Splash Planet
Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated stages its annual meeting and 12th Pa Sports today at water park Splash Planet in Hastings with more signs of the growing benefits for members as the iwi continues its growth as a major player in the economy of Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa.

The iwi is launching its Iwi Membership Card, which has benefits on the day with holders able to use the card to get their Splash Planet Superpass at the iwi discounted price of $5 (normally $19.50-$26). Earlier this year the iwi bought 20,000 tickets to national biennial kapa haka festival Te Matatini in Hastings, around which the iwi built its own Kahungunu Festival.

But iwi chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana says that's only the start with further benefits expected to develop within the iwi's strategic plan Kahungunu 2026, a 25-year vision established in 2001.

The plan includes promoting and assisting education of members, custody and preservation of the beliefs, customs and language, social and economic welfare and advancement of employment training and opportunities, community and personal physical, spiritual and mental health and fitness, generally raise living standards of members of the iwi, and promote high quality communications to or for the benefit of members of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated......
See full article HERE

Mural on CAB hoardings will launch city-wide art on walls programme
A new public artwork being put up near Civic Square will kick off Wellington City Council’s Art on Walls programme.

The artwork, Ngā Kākano: The Seeds by Johnson Witehira, is being installed on the hoardings around Council’s Civic Administration Building (CAB), which has been closed following the November 2016 earthquake....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

25  November  2017

Deal clears way for wastewater disposal on island
Horowhenua Māori have agreed under a confidential deal to drop court action aimed at stopping the spraying of Foxton's wastewater onto an island in the Manawatu River.

It was signed in September and has only come to light now.

The signatories, Horowhenua District Council and Te Runanga o Raukawa, say it's confidential and have declined to release details.

A draft of the agreement showed the council would pay the iwi about $640,000 over five years to employ an environmental manager and do fencing and archaeological work on the island......
See full article HERE

Western Bay of Plenty Council patronizing Maori
A decision by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council two days ago to establish one or more Maori wards is patronizing nonsense, Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash said today.

“What the decision implies is that Maori are somehow not quite capable of being elected to the council on their own merits, and have to have special assistance to make it,” Dr Brash said.

“There are 29 Maori Members of Parliament, only seven of them getting there in Maori electorates,” he said.

“The Deputy Leaders of both the National and Labour parties are Maori, as are the Leader and Deputy Leader of New Zealand First. They got there on their own merit, not because some paternalistic Pakeha gave them a preferred status,” he said.....
See full article HERE

Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei to host America’s Cup 2021
Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei have thrown their support behind the Auckland Council’s decision to base the 2021 America’s Cup at Wynyard Basin.

“We’ll support his decision provided that there’s minimal impact on the environment and the taku tai moana.”

Blair said Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei will play a key role in advising on any Māori designs that may adorn the development at Wynyard Basin as well as provide tikanga Māori advice to the event organisers in 2021......
See full article HERE

Qualification to help more Maori into primary healthcare workforce
New Zealand is well positioned to see more Maori enter the primary health care workforce thanks to a new tertiary qualification developed collaboratively by Wintec and PHO Pinnacle Midlands Health Network (MHN).

The first lot of six students, all of whom are current community health workers from Waikato, Rotorua, and Hauraki-based Maori health providers, finished the New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Primary Care Practice Assistance 4 (Te Mahi awhina Tuatahi 4) course last week.

Pinnacle MHN Maori health manager Rawiri Blundell said the one-year course is designed for Maori already working in the health environment who are specifically interested in developing a career in a primary care practice.....
See full article HERE

This is Aotearoa New Zealand: Get used to it – Susan Devoy
A Dunedin man who slammed anyone who supports te reo Māori as a “boring bigot” in a recent opinion piece in the Otago Daily Times needs to remember exactly where he lives, says Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy.

“Anyone who complains about te reo Māori being used and celebrated in this country need to get one thing straight: this is New Zealand. Aotearoa New Zealand – so get used to it,” said Dame Susan.....
See full article HERE
The article to which Susan Devoy was referring to > Haere mai? Everything is far from ka pai!

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

24  November  2017

Matamata-Piako District Council will not introduce Maori Ward in 2019 elections
Matamata-Piako is following other councils opting not to establish Māori wards for the 2019 local government election.

Waikato and Bay of Plenty regional councils have Māori wards and Wairoa District Council in Hawke's Bay is looking to set up Māori wards.

Waipa, Waikato district councils and Hamilton city council also voted against setting up Māori seats.

Matamata-Piako District Council has followed and decided to report on other options to engage Māori and review the situation in three years.

There was a concern establishing Māori seats could divide the community......
See full article HERE

PM applauds push for Maori seats
Division in the coalition over the growing number of councils opting for Maori wards.

Councils are going through a regular exercise of deciding their composition for the next two terms, and so far Palmerston North, Opotiki and Western Bay of Plenty have opted for Maori wards.

Auckland Council says it will go that way if the Government changes the law so the decision can’t be overturned by a forced referendum, while Napier, Taupo, New Plymouth and other councils have opted to look at other ways to interact with Maori.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters remains implacably opposed to Maori seas, and if Maori want council representation they need to vote for Maori candidates.

But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she sees progress.

"You know when I saw the leadership, particularly in Whakatane, to say 'there is under-representation here. We've got to make sure all our communities are represented and that is one way to do that.' I really applaud that leadership that’s been shown," she says.

Ms Ardern says the new Government hasn’t had a chance yet to consider whether changes to the legislation are on the cards......
See full article HERE

Symposium aims to build Māori and Ainu indigenous relations
Gisborne District Councillor Josh Wharehinga is part of a small delegation travelling to Japan to strengthen indigenous ties between Māori and Japan's Ainu people. The trip comes after the former Māori Development Minister visited the Ainu people last year.

Josh Wharehinga is one of five representatives hand-picked to be hosted by The Government of Japan for the Ainu-Māori Symposium.

Wharehinga says the trip, sponsored by The Asia New Zealand Foundation and Te Puki Kokiri, provides a platform to further discussions around government investment with indigenous peoples and the backing of indigenous rights......
See full article HERE

Lender looks to up Maori staff
Heartland Bank is looking to increase the number of its Maori staff.

Chief executive Jeff Greenslade says Maori are underrepresented in Heartland's 360-strong workforce when compared to New Zealand's working population.....
See full article HERE

Kaupapa Māori school's ongoing search for te reo teacher puts opening date in jeopardy
The first kaupapa Māori school in Marlborough cannot find a te reo teacher, putting its January opening date in doubt.

Te Pā Wānanga, at Omaka Marae in Blenheim, was expected to open in time for term one next year.

It has the pupils and the funding, and new buildings on the way, but no te reo Māori teacher.

The Ministry of Education announced in June it would provide $1 million in funding to create the school at Omaka Marae, as a satellite of Renwick School.

The bilingual school was expected to play an important part in integrating te reo into the playground, the home and the community.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

23  November  2017

'Silent' council file to record significant Māori coastal sites
The Taranaki Regional Council is proposing to put together a list of significant Māori cultural and historic sites along the coast but strictly limit those who can see it.

Dubbed a 'silent file' it would allow the areas such as ūrupa better protection and management, but would only be accessible to council staff and iwi, the council's policy and planning committee was told on Tuesday.

The committee's recommendation on the "silent file" is part of the council's proposed coastal plan to identify sites and places along the coastline which are spiritually, historically and culturally significant to iwi......
See full article HERE

Grant a boost to Alfriston College's Māori medicinal garden project
Students at a south Auckland school are getting their hands dirty on their newest environmental project.

Alfriston College is using a $1900 Manurewa Local Board grant to create a Māori medicinal garden and wetlands ecosystem at the school.

Teacher Mary Mason says the garden and ecosystem "integrate with curriculum subjects such as science, maths, tikanga Māori, food technology, biotech health and physical education".....
See full article HERE

Whakatane road to be researched
Ngai Taiwhakaea and the Whakatane District Council have agreed to jointly research the history of the road between Taiwhakaea Marae and Te Paroa Beach, which the Council believes to be a public road.

Hapu members of Ngai Taiwhakaea asserted their Mana Whenua and closed the road on September 28, claiming ownership and seeking acknowledgement from the Whakatane District Council, as tangata whenua from Taumata Kahawai to Tarawera River.

In the meantime, the gates which were preventing vehicle access will be opened from 6am to 7pm each day, as a sign of good faith......
See full article HERE

Tūhoe marae remove support for Te Uru Taumatua
Factions have appeared in the governance of Ngāi Tūhoe, with two tribal marae possibly removing their support for Te Uru Taumatua, the tribal entity vested with the social and economic development of the iwi, and another three understood to have engaged discussions to follow suit.

The faction group, Te Kohinga o Ngā Whānau o Ngāi Tūhoe, a collective of Tūhoe beneficiaries who believe the leadership of Te Uru Taumatua is failing the tribe is threatening legal action if three resolutions are not supported at the tribes AGM on Saturday 2 December 2017.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

22  November  2017

Western Bay of Plenty District Council votes 'yes' to Maori wards
Western Bay of Plenty District Council has voted 'yes' to getting Maori ward representation.

Councillors voted today 9-3 to establish one or more Māori wards to enable Māori representation around the council table in the 2019 and 2022 local body elections.

Today's decision follows a unanimous vote by the council's Tauranga Moana/Te Arawa ki Takutai Partnership Forum earlier this month recommended the move.

Margaret Murray-Benge, Kevin Marsh and Mike Lally were the three councillors who voted against the idea.

Murray-Benge said she intended to challenge the decision with a poll......
See full article HERE

Council and iwi to look for what's best for Taupo District
Taupo District Council has chosen not to establish Maori seats and will instead look for alternative options alongside the district’s iwi.

At an extraordinary meeting today, the Council voted unanimously to investigate other options, remaining focussed on identifying what works for the Taupo District.

Mayor David Trewavas said the Council had looked to what other districts had done and as a result identified a real opportunity to better engage with Maori in the Taupo District going forward.

"Elected members have also met with our iwi partners and discussed the co-design of something special, which considers our existing touch points, our new post-settlement space, and the potential for a great partnership."....
See full article HERE

Volunteers wanted for Porirua harbour shellfish health survey
The survey, to be conducted on behalf of Ngāti Toa Rangatira with the support of Greater Wellington Regional Council, will play a significant role in assessing the cultural health of the resource for mana whenua, Ngāti Toa Rangatira.

Capturing the data is important from a number of perspectives. Greater Wellington needs to understand the health of these species. It is essential to local iwi exercising kaitiakitanga over the harbour, their guardianship role is vital to ensuring the health of these species......
See full article HERE

Hapu member threatens rahui for entire Kaikohe Intermediate over classsroom's name
A Northland principal will seek advice from the Education Ministry if a Kaikohe hapu member places a rahui on the entire school.

David Rankin, of hapu Te Matarahurahu, placed a rahui on a newly opened classroom block named Te Ahi Kaa Roa at Kaikohe Intermediate School and said if the name did not change by the end of the week he would extend the rahui to the entire school.

He said Te Ahi Kaa Roa was inappropriate as it was the name of a papakainga which was abandoned following a series of tragedies involving children in the 1940s and 1950s.

A rahui is a ritual restriction on access to, or use of, an area or resource......
See full article HERE

Coastal Plan in clearer sight
Items of interest from today’s meetings of the Taranaki Regional Council’s two key committees, Consents & Regulatory, and Policy & Planning:

The review of the Regional Coastal Plan is nearing completion and a proposed new document will formally notified for public consultation early in the New Year,

The Committee was told that good progress has been made in identifying coastal sites of significance to iwi, so that appropriate recognition can be incorporated into the new Plan, and so that Iwi can be involved when decisions are made on activities that may impact on the sites. This has been a lengthy and intricate process for Iwi and Council officers, and discussions are continuing. Iwi would have opportunity for further site information input during the formal consultation period.......
See full article HERE

Moana Jackson set to receive honorary doctarate
One of Māoridoms most important legal scholars Moana Jackson (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine and Ngāti Porou) will receive an honorary doctorate from Victoria University of Wellington at a graduation ceremony in December.

The doctorate in law acknowledges the outstanding contribution Mr. Jackson has to legal scholarships around the Treaty and to debates about how Māori are treated by the justice system and their place in New Zealand society.

Victoria University Chancellor Sir Neville Jordan says, "As well as leading debates about the Treaty of Waitangi and the treatment of Māori by the criminal justice system, Mr Jackson is considered one of the world's foremost experts on indigenous peoples' rights.”.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

21  November  2017

PM Jacinda Ardern says Labour wants to fulfill Māori economic aspirations 
PM Jacinda Ardern says fulfilling Māori economic aspirations is a major concern for the Labour Government after winning all seven of Māori seats in September's General election. She spoke publicly at the 30th-anniversary national Māori business forum 'FOMA' in Rotorua.

The Prime Minister's promise to enrich Māori prosperity was clear and simple.

"We have to deliver for Māori and no one will be holding us to account for that more than our own Māori MP's."

FOMA Chairperson Traci Houpapa says this new relationship is to also ensure that the $1 billion regional economic development still aligns with their goals.

Chairperson Traci Houpapa says, "We'll be working hard on the areas like climate change, water, trade, and export growth. We'll be focussed more on the distribution models of that wealth through into our whānau and our hapū.".......
See full article HERE

Children’s Commissioner: NZ’s second chance for Māori
And in keeping with the outspoken tone of his address, Becroft also offered an interesting framework for a future New Zealand:

“I often thought if a visitor from Mars came to New Zealand and looked at our care and protection system [for children], they would say there’s no sign of intelligent life on Earth - because it is a Pākeha system with Māori add-ons, sadly for a clientele - 63 per cent - who are Māori.

“Surely, we should have a Māori system with some clip-ons who are Pākeha?”

“This [new legislation] provides the basis for it.”.....
See full article HERE

Maori animal game
zebra - hepapa
camel - kāmera
deer - tia
elephant - arewhana
giraffe - kakīroa
tiger - taikā
turtle - honu
snake - nākahi
monkey - makimaki
penguin - kororā
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

19  November  2017

Jacinda Ardern makes visit as Prime Minister to Rotorua
Jacinda Ardern made her first appearance as Prime Minister in Rotorua this morning and said she would not rest until "Maori and non-Maori are true partners in Aotearoa".

The Prime Minister spoke at the Federation of Maori Authorities (FOMA) National Conference at the Energy Events Centre and her main focus was on Maori development and the growth of primary industries.

"I don't want us to rest until we achieve a country where someone's Maori heritage has no link at all to negative life outcomes."

The Prime Minister said through growth of primary industries such as the forestry sector she wanted to change the outcomes for Maori in the area.

"Maori own 30 per cent of the land under New Zealand's plantation forests, we need to build on that investment and expand Maori in forestry and the wood processing sector."

The Government made an announcement to plant one billion more trees in the next 10 years which Ardern said included native species.....
See full article HERE

Cambridge teachers asked to be 'sensitive to how different cultures work'
New Zealand's education system came under fire for its racist, marginal and colonisation practices.

Around 140 educators ranging from pre-school to secondary teachers in Cambridge have been challenged to cease exerting their own culture on their students.

The challenge came from researchers Dr Cath Savage and John Leonard, from Ihi Research.

The were invited by the Cambridge Community School of Learning, to speak to Cambridge educators on their presentation: "What is Culturally Responsive Practice?"......
See full article HERE

Maori governance course for WITT
A community leader is welcoming a course which teaches business skills with a tikanga Māori perspective.

The level four New Zealand Certificate in Māori Governance will begin at WITT in December and comes soon after WITT signed a memorandum of understanding with two Taranaki iwi, Taranaki and Te Atiawa......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

18  November  2017

Manawatū District Council guarantees Māori seats at next election
The Manawatu District Council will have guaranteed Māori seats at the council table come the next local government election after a close-run vote.

The council on Wednesday voted 6-4 in favour of having one or more Māori wards at the next local government elections in 2019.

The proposal allows those registered in the Māori electorate to elect a person to the council table and can be challenged if 5 per cent of voters demand a poll before February 21.

The decision was met with praise from some councillors, who said it would enable the council to uphold its Treaty of Waitangi obligations, but drew criticism from others, who said it was unnecessary......
See full article HERE

Mahuta says government will consider legislating Māori Council seats
The Minister for Local Government Nanaia Mahuta says the government will consider legislating Māori seats on councils in the future. This follows the latest resolution by the Whakatāne District Council to establish one or more Māori Wards.

Whakatāne District Councils decision to support Māori Wards may one day become law for all councils.....
See full article HERE

New Zealand Māori Tourism rolls out the red carpet
New Zealand Māori Tourism is welcoming a high profile Chinese delegation, led by Mr Li Shihong, Vice Chairman China National Tourism Administration, to Wellington on Friday 17 November.....
See full article HERE

Maori lawyers needed for regular courts
The hui is broken into separate streams covering different areas of law, but Ms Cassidy says many young lawyers go into commercial or treaty law rather than family, youth and criminal law.

"A lot of our people are in these courts and it is important to have our people appearing for them, advocating for them," she says......
See full article HERE

More support needed for te reo Māori learners
Tertiary education organisations need to do more to support te reo Māori learners, according to a report published by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research.

For institutions currently providing little or no support to te reo learners, the study recommends offering free te reo Māori courses, ensuring that te reo can be heard in the institution and developing whanaungatanga between the institution and Māori communities.

Those already supporting te reo learners could go further, the study says, by normalising the use of te reo at any time, ensuring te teo Māori learners, whānau, hapū and iwi make decisions about how to support te reo Māori, and supporting the development of te reo in the wider community.....
See full article HERE

Plans to build NZ's biggest water-bottling plant
Plans have been submitted to build the largest water-bottling plant in New Zealand.

A Kiwi firm, foreign investors and iwi are applying to bottle three million litres a year in Murupara, a remote Bay of Plenty town with a population of 1700.

NZ Aquifer is Kiwi-owned, but more than half a billion dollars will come from a foreign investor, who is yet to be revealed. They'll need clearance from the Overseas Investment Office first. Local iwi Ngati-Manawa will lease the land and be a shareholder.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

17  November  2017

Acting PM Kelvin Davis committed to integration of Te Reo Maori in schools 
The Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis says he's committed to integrating te reo Māori into every ECE, primary school and intermediate by the year 2025. This comes after a High Court ruling overturned a Family Court judgement that forced the withdrawal of a Māori child from total immersion education.

In the High Court judgment, the judge questioned why Māori language is not compulsory in mainstream schools, given the Māori Language Act. I spoke to Kelvin Davis today and he was pleased that a High Court judge came forward with this question because he was backing the Māori language becoming a compulsory subject in all New Zealand schools. Kelvin Davis says that according to The Treaty of Waitangi, all Māori should have the right to learn their language.

New Zealand's acting Prime Minister Kelvin Davis says he hasn't forgotten his promise to integrate te reo Māori into every child's education from Year 1 to Year 10 over the next 8 years.......
See full article HERE

Hawke's Bay Regional Council votes against establishing Māori seats
Hawke's Bay Regional Council has rejected the idea of Māori wards at the next two local body elections.

At a meeting on Wednesday, the council voted against establishing Māori wards at the 2019 and 2022 elections by a vote of 5-4.

Councillors Peter Beaven, Debbie Hewitt, Fenton Wilson, Tom Belford and Alan Dick formed a majority against the idea, defeating councillors Neil Kirton, Paul Bailey, Rick Barker and chairman Rex Graham, who were all in support of introducing Māori wards.......
See full article HERE

Waikato District Council retain status quo of not having Māori wards
Māori wards will remain non-existent within the Waikato District Council.

The recommendation to retain the status quo was passed 10-2 at November's council meeting.

Those who voted in favour were councillors Jacqui Church, Dynes Fulton, Stephanie Henderson, Shelley Lynch, Rob McGuire, Frank McInally, Eugene Patterson, Jan Sedgwick, Noel Smith and Mayor Allan Sanson. Those who voted against were councillors Aksel Bech and Lisa Thomson. Councillors Bronwyn Main and Janet Gibb were absent.

Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson strongly believed councillors didn't have the mandate to change the democratic process.

"To achieve a mandate you actually need to canvas your community," Sanson said......
See full article HERE

Finlayson vents spleen on Tau
There’s been an extraordinary attack in parliament on Ngapuhi leader Sonny Tau over the Northland tribe’s stalled treaty settlement talks.

Speaking in the opening address and reply debate, former treaty negotiations minister Christopher Finlayson said nothing will happen until Mr Tau changes his ways.

He accused the Ngapuhi runanga chair of bullying, and said he needed to adopt a generosity of spirit in his negotiations......
See full article HERE

Te Iti Kahurangi force online shopping site to 'back-down'
An overseas online shopping site has been forced to remove household items bearing images of nationally acclaimed kapa haka, Te Iti Kahurangi.

The head tutor and male leader of the group, Kingi Kiriona says, "Māori need to be alert and have a good think about how we eliminate this from happening again"

"These are faces that have been put on pillows. Pillows that are used for sitting on. A pillow that a human behind will be on, a pillow that will be dribbled on, sweat upon. It's a clear breach of custom" argues Kiriona.......
See full article HERE

Māori lawyer says it's time to abolish prisons
A Māori lawyer and social justice advocate says it's time to abolish New Zealand prisons and take lessons from how law and order was historically approached by Māori.

Moana Jackson will give an address tonight in Wellington explaining why Māori and other indigenous peoples didn't have prisons prior to colonisation.

Mr Jackson said the United Nations and other international human rights bodies have found the operation of prisons in this country to be in breach of human rights.

Mr Jackson said Māori traditionally dealt with crime differently, with an emphasis on restoring the relationship between the person who caused harm and the person whom harm was inflicted upon.

He said Māori sought to impose sanctions for the wrong and in the long-term, rebuild the relationship that was damaged.

"In the Pākehā system if someone is charged with something the question they're asked in court is do you plead guilty or not guilty?

"There's no word for 'guilty' in the Māori language and so the question asked instead was, 'do you know who you have harmed'? In other words, do you know what the relationship or the potential relationship is that has been damaged?....
See full article HERE

City’s te reo policy to honour Billie Tait-Jones
“The proposed policy, Te Tauihu – Te Kaupapa Here Reo Māori o te Kaunihera o Pōneke, is the first step in the Council’s aspiration to ensure that te reo is more visible in the everyday lives of Wellingtonians,” says Deputy Mayor Jill Day, who has been leading the development of the policy.

“We want to lead the way in making this part of the cultural fabric of our city. This is a public statement of our commitment to Te Reo Māori, an acknowledgement of the mana of Māori culture and values, our joint history and the whakapapa of our rohe.”

Cr Day said the policy has been developed in part as a recognition of the fact that Te Reo Māori is an official language of New Zealand.

“Te Tauihu supports the principles set out in Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori 2016 – the Māori Language Act 2016 – and also recognises the partnership principle of Te Tiriti.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

16  November  2017

Whakatane District Council votes in favour of Maori wards
Whakatane District Council elected members have voted in favour of a resolution that would enable the establishment of Maori wards.

The elected members heard submissions from the public last night before deliberating and voting six to five in favour of supporting the introduction of one or more Maori wards.

Mayor Tony Bonne said this result was testament to the importance of fostering strong and meaningful relationships with Maori across the district and ensuring that Te Ao Maori was recognised and supported at the council table......
See full article HERE

Ngati Kahu seek binding recommendations for return 6000+ ha
Ngāti Kahu is seeking binding recommendations from the Waitangi Tribunal for the return of over 6000 hectares held in State-Owned Enterprises and Crown Forests.

The case is the subject of a judicial conference this week following a Court of Appeal decision in their favour.

But the conference heard counsel for the Crown pushing for a return to the beginning of these claims over 30 years ago.

"It's been conducted over a long period. It's not as if these things are fresh. So in those circumstances, we say the safer course is to remain with the default and start again."....
See full article HERE

Prime Minister to meet with Federation of Māori Authorities
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will meet with the Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA) this week as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

The federation, comprising of 150 Māori authorities, is an advisory group to the government on policies related to Māori land, interests and people.

It will hold its annual conference in Rotorua on Friday to discuss what it has achieved and where it plans to go in the future.

Chairperson Traci Houpapa said the federation had been integral in keeping Māori at the forefront of decision-making.

"Never before in our history have Māori been as welcomed and as influential at decision making tables in New Zealand and internationally.

"That's a big win for FOMA, it's a big win for Māori and for Aotearoa.".....
See full article HERE

Māori call to ban access to large Auckland regional park to save the kauri
An iwi will press ahead with a public ban on entering one of Auckland's largest parks before the end of this year.

Kauri in the Waitākere Ranges have been extensively logged in the past, and now an incurable disease was killing what's left – spread by human feet.

They were the life-force and spirit of the forest and their destruction was an existential threat to Te Kawerau ā Maki, its executive manager Edward Ashby said in a letter to Auckland Council.....
See full article HERE

Māori Population Estimates: At 30 June 2017
Overview of the year ended June 2017

During the June 2017 year:

* The Māori population grew 10,900 (1.5 percent).

At 30 June 2017:

* New Zealand's estimated Māori population was 734,200, up 1.5 percent from the estimate for the previous year.

* There were 358,400 Māori males and 375,800 Māori females.

* The median ages for Māori males and females were 22.9 and 25.9 years, respectively.

The following tables are available from the ‘Downloads’ box. If you have problems viewing the files, see opening files and PDFs.

1. Total Māori estimated resident population of New Zealand, by single-year of age, five-year age group, broad age group, and median age, 1991–2017

2. Male Māori estimated resident population of New Zealand, by single-year of age, five-year age group, broad age group, and median age, 1991–2017

3. Female Māori estimated resident population of New Zealand, by single-year of age, five-year age group, broad age group, and median age, 1991–2017.....
See full article HERE

Toi Ohomai gets $700k for Maori health research project
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology has received $700,000 in National Science Challenge funding to research new designs for sustainable and affordable homes and identify how these contribute to health and wellbeing for Maori......
See full article HERE

Police kidnapping trial: Officers were using kaupapa Māori approach, court hears
A police officer who allegedly kidnapped a teenager has described his actions as being in line with a Whānau Ora strategy to reduce Māori crime.

Inspector Hurimoana Dennis and Sergeant Vaughan Perry are on trial in the High Court at Auckland over the mock arrest of the young man, who has name suppression......
See full article HERE

Strong result for iwi marks 20 year milestone
Twenty years on from the settlement of its claim with the Crown, South Island iwi Ngāi Tahu continues to grow its wealth and has achieved a net profit of $126.8m for the year ended 30 June 2017.

“I’m also pleased to report growth in our net worth, which has increased by $89m to $1.36b.

“We must however remain mindful of why we are here – to fulfil the dreams of all those who fought hard over many generations to settle 150 years of grievances with the Crown
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

15  November  2017

Maori tourism poised to boom
Tourism stands out as a huge opportunity for the Maori economy, benefitting the whole of New Zealand, according to a business advisory expert.

Kylee Potae, Head of the Maori Sector group for global business and accountancy network BDO, says the accepted figure for the Maori economy is now $50 billion, boosted by various iwi as they expand their business interests well into the Treaty of Waitangi post-settlement phase.

That figure will only increase when Ngapuhi, the biggest iwi in the country, settle their treaty claim before 2020, the deadline for all such claims to be completed......
See full article HERE

Graduate urges lawyers to learn te reo
A Māori law graduate from Hamilton has started teaching te reo Māori lessons at a law firm in Invercargill in a push to see the language more commonly used by lawyers.

Georgia Woodward said te reo had an important place in the law profession because a large proportion of people who passed through the justice system were Māori.

She said if lawyers wanted to build better relationships with their Māori clients, knowing how to speak some reo was important.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

14  November  2017

Iwi seeks to enforce Lake Taupō toll
The tribe that owns Lake Taupō is taking court action to ensure they can charge all commercial operators that use it.

Central North Island iwi Tūwharetoa was confirmed as owner of the lake bed and the space occupied by the water and the airspace above the lake by the Government in 1992 and in modifications to the deed in 2007.

It does not own the water, but Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board chief executive Topia Rameka said they do have the right to charge commercial operators for a licence to operate on the water.

In 2007, then Māori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said changes to the deed gave Tūwharetoa the right to charge fees......
See full article HERE

Mongrel Mob and Waikato DHB partner up at Hearty Hauora
When the Mongrel Mob presented a strategic health plan to Waikato District Health Board executive Darrin Hackett, he knew he needed to get radical.

So on Saturday, Hearty Hauora took place. It's thought to be the first time a gang and a DHB have partnered for a health initiative.

More than 200 gang members and their families met up with 24 health providers at the YMCA on Pembroke Street in Hamilton......
See full article HERE

Māori woman candidate targeted in billboard attack
A Māori woman standing in a Whangarei council by-election has complained to police about the systematic destruction of her billboards.

She believed the vandalism might be linked to her recent unsuccessful campaign for Māori wards in Whangarei District Council.

Ms Lyndon, who is Ngāti Wai and Ngāpuhi, said it was important for northern Māori to play a part in local governance because they were the guardians of the Treaty of Waitangi and the Declaration of Independence......
See full article HERE

Hamilton mayor apologises for ignoring NZ Land Wars
The Mayor of Hamilton has apologised for seeming to overlook the New Zealand Land Wars in his Armistice Day speech.

During the city's Armistice Day commemorations on Saturday, Andrew King commented that New Zealanders were fortunate never to have seen war and conflict in their own country.

His speech was met with a public backlash, and Mayor King was criticised for seeming to forget about the Land Wars, a series of 19th-century conflicts over land ownership that killed thousands of people, most of whom were Māori.

Mr King released a statement on Monday apologising for his omission of the wars, which spanned from 1845 to 1872......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

12  November  2017

Tikanga sought in treaty settlements
The author of a new book on treaty law wants to see more tikanga Maori reflected in treaty settlements.

The Victoria University law lecturer says the treaty of Waitangi sets out key ideas on the relationship between Maori tino rangatiratanga and kawanatanga or state authority which allow for flexibility as society changes.

Neither the treaty nor tikanga Maori are stuck in the past, but speak to modern circumstances.

He would like to see constitutional change that better reflects the indigenous sources that sit in the New Zealand constitution alongside ideas from the common law and Westminster traditions.....
See full article HERE

Auckland Bikes
Māori Connections
Each bridge has a large carved pou whenua (land post) or waka maumahara (memorial pillar).

AT has specially sourced the Tōtara for the pou at the Te Piringa and Soljak bridges. The wood was originally extracted from a swamp on the South Island’s West Coast.

Other Māori design elements have been incorporated into the bridges and Māori artworks appear at various locations along the shared path, including kōhatu (carved rocks)......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

11  November  2017

Investment fund gets $100 million in indicative commitments
The New Zealand Superannuation Fund says it has received indicative commitments up to $100 million for a proposed iwi and Maori direct investment fund.

The fund would see groups pooling capital to make collective investments with a 15 to 20-year investment horizon. Commitments have been made by more than 35 iwi, pan-tribal organisations,

Maori land trusts and Maori incorporations, including various TOwharetoa organisations aggregating together as a single investor, Te Tumu Paeroa, and various Taranaki iwi entities, the Super Fund said in a statement.....
See full article HERE

Closed adoptions a form of violence
A team of scholars say the legal practice of closed adoption raised "disconnected" people, and is a form of violence.

The scholars are part of a three-year project entitled Whangai and the adoption of Maori: healing the past, transforming the future.

The project has been successful in this year's round of Marsden Fund applications, receiving $845,000.

Te Wananga o Raukawa spokeswoman Ani Mikaere said that the practice of placing infants with strangers and effectively severing their relationship with their roots and whakapapa, is completely foreign to Maori. .....
See full article HERE

Academics Call for More Responsiveness to Māori Health Needs
A group of University of Auckland Māori health academics are calling for all health researchers in Aotearoa New Zealand to be accountable under the Treaty of Waitangi and be able to act and respond to Māori health needs.

They say this will help ensure Māori are not left behind in the health system, and will ensure current researchers and those still in training will be ‘future proofed’ to ensure responsiveness to Māori is achieved.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

10  November  2017

Jesus, Queen dropped from Parliament prayer
References to the Queen and Jesus Christ have been dropped from the parliamentary prayer delivered in Te Reo by the new Speaker of the House.

And some opposition MPs are concerned that while the period of consultation has not yet finished, Trevor Mallard has already started using the new version.

Mr Mallard said he was still getting feedback from MPs and would take their views into account before any final decision about changing the prayer was made.

Proposed new version:
Almighty God, we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on New Zealand.

Laying aside all personal interests, we pray for guidance in our deliberations, that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom and humility, for the public welfare and peace of New Zealand.
Amen

E Te Atua Kaha Rawa, ka tuku whakamoemiti atu matou, mo nga karakia kua waihotia mai ki runga o Aotearoa.

Ka waiho nei i o matou panga wahiaro katoa ki te taha, nei ra enei e inoi atu ana mo To arahitanga, i roto i o matou whakaaroarohanga, a, kia whakehaere ai e matou nga take o Te Whare nei, i runga i te mohio, me te whakaiti mo te oranga, te maungarongo, o te tumatanui o Aotearoa.
Amene......
See full article HERE

No Maori wards for Napier
Although Maori wards will not be established in Napier, its council has been encouraged to ensure Maori representation grows.

Yesterday the Napier City Council agreed to not establish Maori wards for the next two local elections, by accepting a recommendation from their Community Services Committee.

Maori wards work by giving those on the Maori electoral roll the opportunity to vote for Maori ward members, while those on the general roll vote for general elected members.

There could have been two Maori ward members. However consultation showed 78 per cent of 477 surveyed residents were against the idea.
See full article HERE

New Citizens Sworn in at Turangawaewae
For the first time, Waikato District Council held its Citizenship Ceremony on the marae at Turangawaewae yesterday [Wednesday 8 November].

The ceremony began with a full powhiri for 35 new citizens and their families. Following the powhiri, the citizenship ceremony, led by the Mayor, took place on the Marae Atea (formal area) in front of the carved wharenui (meeting house) Mahinaarangi.

Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson said, “We want to provide new citizens to the Waikato District with an introduction to tikanga Maaori [Maaori protocol] and to acknowledge the Council’s partnership with Iwi, so we are looking to undertake at least one citizenship ceremony on the marae each year from now on.”.......
See full article HERE

Building culture: why good urban design requires a better understanding of Tikanga Māori
Architecture and design are an expression of culture. And, increasingly, New Zealand’s Māori culture is being acknowledged in our new buildings and public spaces.

As a starting point, we all need to celebrate the Treaty partnership between Māori and the Crown,

Once the Treaty was signed in 1840, over time our thriving economy was lost, lands taken, gifted or sold, and our language neared extinction.

“In terms of the Treaty, we shouldn’t be sitting here talking to you today about the need to promote architecture in your magazine or talk about it: you should be able to look out the window and it’s there.”......
See full article HERE

Christchurch sky show could follow capital's lead and flare on Matariki
Christchurch's sky show at the pier could switch from November to a mid-winter celebration of Matariki if a move by city councillor Sara Templeton wins favour.

There would be no reason to move the display from New Brighton, she said.

"On the contrary, with the focus on mahinga kai and regeneration in the area, it makes sense to continue to host it there.".....
See full article HERE

Tertiary sector gets word to up support for reo users
The New Zealand Council for Education Research and tertiary sector support organisation Ako Aotearoa have put together tools to help tertiary education organisations support the language aspirations of te reo Maori learners.

The initiative is in response to a study showing while the language is central to learners’ identity, support at tertiary level is variable.

Sheridan McKinley, the council’s general manager Maori, says for many learners te reo Maori is more than an academic subject.

It is connected to their sense of who they are and connects them to whanau, hapu, and iwi......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

9  November  2017

Native Affairs - Religious Education
For over 140 years, religious instruction has been taught in state schools across Aotearoa.

But now, the Secular Education Network has started a campaign to ban it from classrooms.

Ngaire McCarthy from the Network says, “There should be no religious instruction in state primary schools in New Zealand. If a parent wants their children to learn religion then they should teach their 5 year old about religion at home.”

Peter Harrison is the founder of the Secular Education Networks. He also questions the use of prayers in te reo Māori, saying if it is religious then it needs to go. Harrison says, “I don't believe that we should have explicitly Christian karakia because we have roughly 50% of Māori who are non-religious. So it’s sort of excluding those people or at least making them feel alienated. I would rather see an inclusive karakia that makes all the children feel welcome in the school.”

But Abbey Allen from Churches Education Commission says, “We use karakia or prayer as an example within our lesson and it’s always given as a choice whether the children participate or not. We are there to teach about Christian religious education and prayer is part of the lesson. .....
See full article HERE

Housing frenzy hitting Whangarei rents for Maori
Whanau Maori in Whangarei are being priced out of housing by Aucklanders wanting to get on the property ownership ladder.

She estimates out of town buyers have pushed up prices 15 to 20 percent, and the rents have been jacked up to cover their mortgages - which has a real impact on the large number of whanau Maori who are renters.....
See full article HERE

Government of transformation and aspiration pledge
The Government is promising to work with hapu and iwi and Maori organisations to ensure that Maori have fair and equal access to housing and opportunities for home ownership.

In the speech from the throne delivered at today’s opening of parliament, Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy said the Government also intended to review the Whanau Ora delivery model so it can achieve its full potential, support the teaching of te reo Maori in schools, and strengthen programmes to enhance Maori educational achievement.

It committed to completing treaty settlements as quickly and fairly as it can, and to consider what the treaty relationship might look like after historical grievances are settled....
See full article HERE

Defence Minister keen to make Maori proud
New Defence Minister Ron Mark says being the first Maori to hold the position weighs heavily on his shoulders.

He says since being named in the position he has heard from many Maori about how they see his role.

"So many of our whanaunga have served in the military and we are not prone in New Zealand First to lean on that sort of thing but it has been made very clear to me the clear expectations of many of our people that I perform my role as Minister of Defence and Veteran's Affairs in a way they know will make them proud," Mr Mark says.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

8  November  2017

Time for Maori Party to stop preaching to choir
"It’s a movement of the people. It's about kaupapa Maori. It's about rangatiratanga. But 90 percent of our whanau don't live in that kaupapa Maori environment because they live in the mainstream society we all grew up in so

 we actually need to stop talking to the converted and start growing political literacy with our wider whanau," Ms Fox says......
See full article HERE

Integrate te Ao Maori into workforce
Technology innovator Kiwa Digital is gaining momentum in its mission to integrate te Ao Maori into workforces in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Kiwa works with business, government and community organisations to develop their own Cultural Intelligence (CQ) app with features that include interactive te Reo Maori expressions and pronunciation, tikanga Maori, and the history and values of the organisation.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

7  November  2017

Dame Tariana Turia the new voice of Whanganui River
Earlier this year the Whanganui River was granted the same rights as a person - now it has its own voice.

Former minister Dame Tariana Turia and educator Turama Hawira will act as the human face of the river to ensure its rights are protected.

In a world-first in March, as part of a Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlement, the Whanganui River gained its own legal identity, giving it the same rights as a person.

The former Māori Party co-leader and historian Mr Hawira were this weekend appointed to speak on behalf of the river. Their job is to uphold the river's rights and cultural values. This includes recognition it is a source of both physical and spiritual sustenance to local iwi and hapu, and that it is a single entity - and the entire river from Mount Tongariro to the sea must be protected.

Dame Tariana and Mr Hawira will oversee a $30 million fund, which will go towards environmental initiatives.......
See full article HERE

Four new partnership schools cancelled without telling them
Reports today that Chris Hipkins has cancelled four new partnership schools with signed contracts with the Crown due to start in 2019 will be hugely disappointing for the promoters of the schools and families planning to send their children there, National Party Education Spokesperson Nikki Kaye says.

* Tūranga Tangata Rite in Gisborne, sponsored by Te Runanga o Tūranganui a Kiwa, will focus primarily on Māori students with a, ‘by iwi for iwi’ approach. It will be a co-educational junior secondary school for years 9-11 with an opening roll of 45 students and a maximum roll of 55 students.

* Waatea High in South Auckland, sponsored by Te Whare Wananga O MUMA Limited, a subsidiary of the Manukau Urban Māori Authority, will focus on priority learners and have a ‘Māori for Māori’ philosophy. It will be a co-educational bi-lingual secondary school for years 9-13, with an opening roll of 50 and a maximum roll of 145 students. The school will complement the sponsor’s existing early childhood education centre and primary year partnership school, Te Kura Māori o Waatea to provide a complete education pathway.......
See full article HERE

Maori Party look to the future
Mr Flavell's says the big questions now are whether Maori still want the movement, what it can do outside parliament to benefit Maori,

The Mana Party also met this weekend to consider its future.

Leader Hone Harawira says at this time it has not committed itself to trying to get back into parliament, but it will focus on community activism......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

5  November  2017

Ngāti Whakaue confident for new Rotorua charter school
Charter school owners expect the government to change their status with some becoming special character state schools. Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue, who will be opening their new charter school in Rotorua, are confident the move will improve the way charter schools operate.

The new charter school for years 1-10 will foster Ngāti Whakaue history and customs.

"This method suits Māori and returning to the way our ancestors engaged with their different environments, even though they didn't only learn in the classroom."....
See full article HERE

New online Māori language resource aims ease accessibility to te reo Māori education
Wheako is the newest online Māori language resource developed with the goal of increasing the amount of te reo Māori being learnt by students in mainstream education.

Ngā Whātua descendant Mihi Shaw says, "Mainstream schools have the ability to have our language at the schools without having the pressure of having to resource it."

The Shaw family has created the programme independently in an effort to make te reo Māori education more accessible......
See full article HERE

Tipa Mahuta: Don't be scared of adding Maori wards to councils
Waikato Regional Council's deputy chairwoman is asking elected members of other councils not to be scared when it comes to introducing Māori wards.

Tipa Mahuta said she remembered the "polarising" conversations around the regional council's decision to include two Māori seats about six years ago.

"But regional council works across a large amount of RMA issues which need the inclusion of Māori, such as Treaty settlements.

Mahuta said most iwi want to partner with councils but there was no one there to make that connection.

"Māori are key investors, natural partners and we're not going anywhere. Our grandchildren and your grandchildren will probably be related one day.

"It [Māori seats] was a proactive way to include the partnership principle of the Treaty, so the council's not just engaging people on specific sets of issues, but on a broad range the council covers."......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

4  November  2017

More Maori win Marsden grants
The proposals involving Maori researchers have been judged by top international referees as highly novel. In many cases, the proposals are multidisciplinary, use Matauranga Maori, and confidently incorporate scientific and other disciplinary knowledge.

Dr Helen Potter from Te Wananga-o-Raukawa was granted $845,000 to research whangai and the adoption of Maori.

Dr Gerard O'Regan from the University of Auckland has $300,000 to develop Maori archaeology of threatened North Island rock art.

Dr Hirini Kaa, also from Auckland, gets $300,000 for his study of the Young Maori Party which he describes as Leading Iwi into Modernity.

The grants are distributed over three years and are fully costed, paying for salaries, students and postdoctoral positions, institutional overheads and research consumables......
See full article HERE

Government's 100-day plan looks good for Māori
Scrapping of the "three-strikes" law will have a huge impact on the Māori prisoners who make up more than half the prison population, and is just one new government policy which will have a positive impact on Te Iwi Māori, writes Mihingarangi Forbes.....
See full article HERE

NZ firms could learn from Māori business approach – KPMG
A new report has found kaitiakitanga is at the centre of the way Māori do business.

Kaitiakitanga is central to Māori organisations business practices, the latest corporate responsibility report by KPMG has found.

Māori organisations were included in KPMG's The Road Ahead Survey of Corporate Responsibility Report for the first time.

The survey found four of the top 10 highest revenue earning Māori organisations in New Zealand engaged with corporate responsbility reporting, with Katiakitanga being a key practice of Māori companies.

Kaitiakitanga focuses on guardianship and protection in relation to the environment and its resources......
See full article HERE

Achieving equity and excellence in education for Māori
Recent Rutherford Discovery Fellowship recipient Dr Melinda Webber will present a talk on raising the success of Māori students in Whangarei on Wednesday as part of the University of Auckland’s International Speaker Series.

Last month Dr Webber received a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship worth $800,000 for a five-year research project entitled: Kia tu rangatira ai nga iwi Māori: living, succeeding, and thriving as iwi Māori. In 2016, Dr Webber received a Marsden Fast-start Grant worth $300,000 for another project entitled: A fire in the belly of Hineāmaru.......
See full article HERE

HRC funding awarded for studies focusing on Maori and Pasifika
A Massey University academic and two students have been awarded funding from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, for three separate projects.

Belinda Borell of Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi and Whakatōhea, has been awarded more than $350,000 for her study entitled Privilege and health inequity: the role for Mātauranga Māori.

Master of Arts student Nari Hann, who is majoring in Psychology, has received the Māori Health Research Masters Scholarship of $25,000 for her project entitled Foster caregiving relationship with newborns who have feeding difficulties.

The HRC granted $125,000 to Master of Science student Veisinia Pulu-Lakai, who is majoring in Health Psychology. Her grant, from the Pacific Health Research PhD Scholarship fund, is for her project entitled Co-designing a community-based intervention programme for prediabetes. Mrs Pulu-Lakai’s grant is one of 26 Pacific health research career development awards for 2018......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

3  November  2017

Te reo lessons could ease prison tension
A new guide for learning te reo Maori may have a role in easing tensions in prisons.

The Howard League for Penal Reform has picked up Scotty and Stacey Morrison’s Maori Made Easy as part of its literacy drive.

Mr Morrison says league head Mike Williams saw its potential for giving inmates some focus.

He says a trial at Wiri Prison met with an enthusiastic response, and the league has ordered 300 copies to distribute to other prisons.

"All the prisoners want to learn it and all the guards are getting involved as well because they can learn together and start to build a bit more congeniality and strengthen the relationship between prisoners and prison guards, so it is having that effect, that prisoners and guards are learning together," Mr Morrison says.

Learning the language can help build the prisoners’ mana and self esteem and make them more valuable to their whanau and hapu when they get out of jail.
See full article HERE

Maori seat a thorny issue at ORC table
A decision not to create a Maori constituency for the Otago Regional Council has raised concerns from councillors about the organisation properly engaging with iwi.

Yesterday the council followed the advice of a council report and resolved not to create a dedicated Maori constituency for its 2019 election.....
See full article HERE

Historic Catholic Maori hui for Akld
In a first for Auckland diocese, a hui for Catholic Māori in the diocese is to be held in November.

The hui, titled “Te Iwi Māori Katorika”, is to be held at Whaiora Marae in Otara on November 1718. It aims to strengthen “Mana Māori” within the Church and the diocese and to “consider what leadership structure might be needed to develop this kaupapa”.

They will describe the present situation of Māori in the Church and the challenges that lie ahead.

Speaking on behalf of the Diocesan Bicultural Committee for Auckland diocese, Fr Bernard Dennehy told NZ Catholic that “although the 1979 diocesan synod committed the diocese to promote a bicultural church and a bicultural society, there is little Māori participation in the structures of the diocese”.

So questions arise concerning Māori representation in the structures of the diocese, and the meaning of “Mana Māori” in the Church......
See full article HERE 

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

2  November  2017

Traditional Maori waka for New Brighton playground
A main feature of the New Brighton seaside playground will be a traditional waka.

A ship was originally planned in the initial design phase. However, the waka design will reflect discussions during the consultation process about interweaving cultural elements.

Development Christchurch Ltd worked with Matapopore Charitable Trust and Ngai Tahu to develop the waka concept.

Matapopore general manager Debbie Tikao was pleased about the waka and wants to see more cultural equipment in playgrounds.

“I think we will be seeing more of this sort of thing happening, there is some integration of Maori design components in playgrounds within the North Island and we are certainly seeing more of that happening it the South Island,” she said.

Matapopore is a charitable trust which works alongside Ngai Tahu to ensure Maori culture and values are included in the regeneration of Christchurch......
See full article HERE

Taranaki Land War Continues
Waitara Māori say it’s hard to commemorate the New Zealand Land Wars when they’re still fighting for their land.

In 1860, the first shot fired in the Taranaki Land Wars was in Waitara between the Crown and Māori.

157 years later, Waitara Māori believe they’re still in the same war.

Doorbar says because Māori history has never been taught in schools, it’s caused problems for race relations between Māori and Pākehā.....
See full article HERE

Tūhoe and Te Kooti's history reclaimed

Tūhoe were vilified for providing sanction to the Crown’s number one enemy, Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki, but Tūhoe has a different story.

Ringatū founder, Te Kooti wrote a letter to Tūhoe after escaping the Chatham Islands seeking permission to pass through Te Urewera. Quite rightly so, Tūhoe were hesitant. Professor Taiarahia Black of Te Wānanga o Awanuiārangi describes Tūhoe as protecting their own sovereignty and eventually agreed to let him through.

"Every archival scribe will tell you what greater New Zealand want to hear, that Tūhoe provided sanction to the presence of Te Kooti in Te Urewera, I think the wrong term is sanctioned," says Black.

Tūhoe didn't sign the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, but the Crown assumed sovereignty over their territory nonetheless. So when the Crown attempted to capture Te Kooti while he was on Tūhoe territory, Tūhoe needed to maintain their mana motuhake.....
See full article HERE

Labour MP argues Fairfax cartoons were 'insulting' of Maori and Pacifika
A Labour MP is appealing a Human Rights Tribunal decision by arguing two Fairfax Media cartoons displayed racist tones.

The cartoons by Al Nisbet were published in Fairfax New Zealand newspapers the Marlborough Express on May 29, 2013, and in the Press the following day.

The images portrayed the issue of the food in schools programme, "a measure intended to mitigate some of the worst consequences of child poverty", the Human Rights Tribunal decision from May reads.

Labour MP for Manurewa Louisa Wall took exception to the images and claimed the cartoons breached the Human Rights Act by promoting racial disharmony.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

1  November  2017

Maori denied representation on Waipa District Council
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed 177 years ago but it appears local government is still no closer to understanding its treaty partner.

Waipa District Council has denied Māori a seat at its table - following a representation review - and instead has ordered a report to show how it could better engage with Māori.

The report would recommend how to improve Māori representation on the council.

It follows a meeting where councillors discussed a recommendation to establish a Māori ward for the next two elections.

The recommendation was supported by the council's Iwi Consultative Committee but given the thumbs down in an 8-5 vote by councillors......
See full article HERE

Taranaki Regional council says no to Maori ward but yes to poll if ratepayers demand it
Taranaki regional councillors have voted against establishing a Māori ward at the next local body elections but left open the opportunity for a public poll on the matter if more than 5 per cent of electors demand it.

In August the council introduced six permanently appointed iwi representatives to council standing committees in accordance with Treaty of Waitangi settlements with three iwi, Ngāruahine​, Te Atiawa and Taranaki.

There was also opportunities for consultation between Māori and council staff, the meeting heard on Tuesday......
See full article HERE

Threat of Antibiotic Resistance Worse for Māori
A University of Otago PhD student is doing his bit to curb antibiotic resistance and subsequently reduce the threat of infectious disease among Māori communities.

“Resistance mechanisms have been observed for nearly every antibiotic in our arsenal,” says Maxwell, who adds “we are rapidly approaching a post-antibiotic era where no treatment will exist against seemingly insignificant infections”.

Māori, he says, will be particularly vulnerable if this happens, due to both increased susceptibility to infectious organisms and reliance on antibiotics.

The Ministry of Health has acknowledged that Māori are disproportionately burdened by infectious diseases and that antibiotics are dispensed to a higher proportion ofMāori than non-Māori, says Maxwell.

Maxwell was first introduced into the research environment last summer, where he conducted a short research project within the Fineran Laboratory at the University of Otago. The $129,900 grant from the HRC will help him build on that work and build his research expertise.....
See full article HERE

“Game changing” Master of Māori and Indigenous degree
Responding to the need for top-level business expertise and leadership within the burgeoning Māori economy – now worth over $42 billion and growing faster than the wider New Zealand economy – the Business Schools at the University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, Massey University, the University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Waikato are joining forces to offer a new, part-time online Master of Māori and Indigenous Business in 2018......
See full article HERE

Iwi trust doubles its asset base in 10 years to $18.3m
Ngati Whakaue Assets Trust has doubled its asset base to $18.3m in less than a decade and has revealed plans to distribute over $460,000 to its beneficiaries in the next year.

Trust chairwoman Katie Paul signalled a future focus on housing issues in addition to ongoing financial support for local marae and cultural activities.

In 2009 the trust was given a $9.2m Kaingaroa Forest settlement fund to invest for the collective benefit of Ngati Whakaue. Thanks to "astute and strategic investment plays", Ms Paul confirmed the asset base had since doubled and was on track to surpass $20m by 2020......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

31 October  2017

Site confirmed for Ngati Whakaue partnership school
Rotorua's first partnership school, to be run by Ngati Whakaue, has confirmed its venue ahead of its official opening early next year.

Te Rangihakahaka Centre of Science and Technology will be based in a two-storey building on Dinsdale Rd.

Te Rangihakahaka Centre of Science and Technology will cover the full New Zealand curriculum but with a focus on science and technology, teaching literacy and other learning areas through science topics defined in Maori terms such as whakapapa (genetics) and ahuwhenua (agriculture).

It will be "trilingual" in English, Maori and computer coding......
See full article HERE

Minister begins planning for te reo in schools
The Labour-led government is looking to press ahead with plans to extend the use of te reo Māori in schools.

Labour promised to make te reo compulsory in primary schools by 2025 and wants to increase Māori teaching in this term.

Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta said she wanted to start by increasing the number of Māori language teachers......
See full article HERE

Move for bi-culturalism at the synod
For Frances Peho Wilson, of Te Ngakau Tapu parish in Porirua, the synod was an event of “total reliance on the Holy Spirit”.

“Before we can embrace multiculturalism, we need to grow our biculturalism,” said Ms Wilson, which in her eyes is a place “where the indigenous peoples are recognised in a monocultural dominant Church”.

Her parish of Te Ngakau Tapu (Sacred Heart) is a Māori parish, open to anyone.

There is Miha Māori (Mass) every Sunday at 10am in a bicultural theme, and a 5pm Mass in English — “something for everyone” she said.

She is waiting for the time when “we can embrace true biculturalism within Catholicism and everyone is aware of their own culture. Once achieved then we can successfully move into multiculturalism”.......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

30 October  2017

Principals back compulsory te reo Maori plan
The Principals' Federation is backing the Government's move to make te reo Māori compulsory in schools.

It's part of Labour's pledge to have all early childhood, primary and intermediate schools teaching the subject by 2025.

Minister for Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta told Three's The Hui they'll be getting as much done as they can in the next three years.

"We certainly will see some inroads in this term of Government around the teaching aspects of it, and certainly at the primary school level. Integrating history into the curriculum is something we're committed to as well."

"We do know we have to be realistic that if we want this to happen, we're going to have to sufficiently resource early childhood to primary, and also secondary teacher training to get teachers ready to be able to do this."

"We want quality te reo Māori to be taught. At the moment we have a supply issue - there are not enough teachers to teach in mainstream schools."

During the election campaign, Labour allocated $14 million over four years to get 3000 teachers at all levels on te reo Māori language courses......
See full article HERE

'Easily we call him our friend' - praise for Chris Finlayson from iwi leaders, political opponents
Outgoing Treaty Negotiations minister Chris Finlayson is leaving with the respect of iwi leaders and political opponents alike after signing off 59 Treaty settlements, a record during anyone's time in the portfolio.

After nine years in the role, Mr Finlayson is handing over his Treaty Negotiations portfolio to former Labour leader Andrew Little.

The new Minister for Maori Development, Nanaia Mahuta, said Mr Finlayson absolutely understood the complexities of New Zealand history.

Tuhoe negotiator Tamati Kruger said Mr Finlayson "has an ability to connect emotionally as well as intellectually with what's going on and he has a very fair assessment of how things can proceed towards a settlement".

"Easily we call him our friend."

For his part, Mr Finlayson, said the role has been an education for him.

"I call it the education of a public man because I've learned so much about my country, about it's history and about some of the challenges it faces," he said.

"I consider that I've been the most fortunate person in the entire government because I've always got what I wanted."

He faced criticism over how he dealt with cross claims, but the Tuhoe settlement and Parihaka apology remain highlights.

The only large historical settlement left for Labour to complete is the Ngapuhi deal and the outgoing minister is watching with interest.

His legacy though is moving Aotearoa New Zealand towards an honest future, set free from the past.....
See full article HERE

$750K for Whangarei Maori arts and culture centre
The vision for a Whangarei centre to honour, teach and showcase excellence in Maori culture and art has been boosted by a $750,000 grant from Foundation North.

While there is no start date for the Hihiaua Cultural Centre, the grant announced yesterday brings funding for the $2 million first stage to well over the half way mark.

Whangarei District Council pledged $500,000 for the mixed-use cultural precinct in its 2015-2025 Long Term Plan. Hihiaua will be a focal point of both traditional and contemporary Maori arts and culture.....
See full article HERE

Auckland Council approves community initiatives funding
Through the Māori cultural initiatives fund, nine organisations received $998,869 in funding for marae and papakāinga development in locations such as Kaipara, Great Barrier Island, Panmure and Manurewa.....
See full article HERE

Pillowcase colour helps reduce infection and respect Maori (2011)
The colour of pillowcases at hospitals in Canterbury is helping to reduce the risk of infection and at the same time respect Maori cultural values.

Canterbury Health Board has started using different coloured pillowcases to support different parts of patients' bodies - blue for the head, and white for the rest of the body.

It means pillows touching the body won't come into contact with the head.

The idea came from infection control staff and Komiti Whakarite, the Maori Advisory Committee.

Tahu Potiki Stirling from Maori Health Services says the head is considered to be tapu, or sacred, in Maori culture.

He says the move shows Canterbury DHB is attuned to Tikanga Maori protocols.
See full article HERE

Call for councils to step aside on Waitara Lands Bill compensation
A former Te Atiawa treaty claims negotiator has urged the incoming coalition government to pass the controversial Waitara Lands Bill "unencumbered".

Peter Moeahu has petitioned newly appointed Minister of Local Government, Nanaia Mahuta, to transfer the land fully to Waitara leaseholders.

This would leave out New Plymouth District Council, and Taranaki Regional Council from retaining a financial share, he said.

Moeahu said the New Plymouth District Council (Waitara Lands) Bill should be amended by transferring the land and accrued income from rentals fully to Waitara iwi, together with caveats over reserve land for public use. ......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

28 October  2017

Whangarei District Council opt not to introduce Maori wards
Whangarei councillors have opted not to introduce Maori wards, but have not closed the door on holding a poll on the issue at the next election.

The debate went on for more than half an hour yesterday as councillors offered their opinions on the issue.

There were four options on the table: take no action, introduce wards, hold a stand-alone poll, or hold a poll at the next election.

Mayor Sheryl Mai was a firm supporter of introducing Maori wards. She said about a quarter of Whangarei's population was Maori and that was not reflected in the council makeup......
See full article HERE

Ngāpuhi settlement "priority" for new Minister of Treaty Negotiations Andrew Little
With the country's 52nd government officially sworn-in Andrew Little becomes the new Minister of Treaty Negotiations. He says he's ready for the challenge.

Sworn-in as the new Treaty Negotiations Minister, Andrew Little welcomes the challenge.

"This is a huge honour and a huge privilege. I'm thrilled with the responsibilities I've been given. I know there are going to be huge challenges in the Treaty Negotiations Portfolio but I relish that."

Top of his priority list is the Ngāpuhi settlement.

"Ngāpuhi is probably one fo the tractable issues that we've got to get through so that would be a high priority for me and I give the hard problems the biggest priority because I like to fix them."

He replaces National's Chris Finlayson who during his time signed-off 59 settlements. The pair will meet in the next few weeks.

"I'll be looking to my predecessors for advice and guidance. I'm not going to do this on my own and in the end we're all motivated to do what's right for New Zealand and for the Treaty.”.......
See full article HERE

Water row: 'We are going to exercise our rights'
The Māori owners of Porotī Springs in Northland are going ahead with plans to develop their resource without council consent.

Hapū have been fighting without success for a share in the water rights at Porotī, and have opposed plans for a bottling operation nearby.

Mr Ruka said holding back water at the Porotī Springs source could affect the quality of that taken downstream by the Whangarei District Council and local irrigators, but that was no longer the trustees' concern.

"We have no other pathway of action."

"We are not asking the council, the Whangarei District Council or the Northland Regional Council. We are just telling them of our right and they will just have to work with us and we will just have ensure that we stay legal within the Resource Management Act."

He said no-one has ever given serious consideration to Māori interests at the springs, despite years of effort by the hapū.

"We have to focus on looking after ourselves."......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

27 October  2017

Hamilton says no for now to Maori wards
The potential for divisive debate around Māori electoral wards in Hamilton has caused iwi groups to drop the idea for now.

But the council will look into other options, such as appointing external Māori members to council committees.

A citizen-initiated poll would be an "ultimate inevitability" if the seats were brought in, Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa spokesman Glenn Tupuhi told councillors at an October meeting.

"That would subject our community as a whole and our Māori sector of that community to a degree of stress that we all do not need," he said.

Tupuhi said iwi support the idea of appointing Māori to council committees.

Local Māori want to make a contribution and need to be at the decision-making table, Te Ha o te Whenua o Kirikiriroa spokesman Rawiri Bidois said.

"[There is a] big difference between consultation and decision-making," he said.

"We believe that the wards process is probably not the one to go down at the present time ... given the potential divisiveness it might create, given the Māori problem participating in local politics anyhow."

Hamilton Councillor Dave Macpherson agreed that would "excite unreasonable and unnecessary debate and divisive debate".

Including Māori voices on existing committees could be an interim step, he said......
See full article HERE

Surplus Ihumatao land could go to iwi
Fletcher Building is considering gifting up to a quarter of its land at Ihumatao to iwi as a reserve in perpetuity.

The company fielded questions at its annual meeting in Auckland yesterday about its plan to build 480 homes on land next to the Otuataua Stonefields near Auckland International Airport.

A United Nations committee has criticised the consultation over the zoning of the land as a special housing area.

Fletcher Building’s chief executive for residential and land development, Steve Evans, says it’s up to the government to respond to the committee, not the company.

The company has identified a buffer area adjacent to the stonefields covering about 25 percent of the site, which could be gifted to Auckland Council, the Tupuna Maunga Authority, the local marae committee or some other suitable body which can take responsibility for its maintenance.......
See full article HERE

Peters delivers Maori influence to cabinet
Former Maori affairs minister Dover Samuels says Maoridom should thank Winston Peters for putting Maori in such a strong position in Government.

Eight Maori from Labour and New Zealand First were this morning sworn in as Ministers in the new coalition government.

Between them they hold 18 portfolios.

"The thanks should be given to the leader of New Zealand First, Winston Peters. He's the one that has created the landscape for Maori to take advantage of the coalition agreement made up from the Greens, New Zealand Labour and New Zealand First. I think the culmination of their kaupapa and their principles actually reflect tikanga Maori and Maori kaupapa and Maori aspirations......
See full article HERE

Maori seats to be retained at Waikato Regional Council
The two Maori seats on Waikato Regional Council will be retained following a vote by councillors.

The current Maori constituencies are Nga Hau e Wha and Nga Tai ki Uta and have been in effect for almost four years.

Today a majority of seven to three councillors re-confirmed the status quo of having two Maori constituencies for electoral purposes......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

26 October  2017

Palmerston North City councillors votes for Māori seats
Palmerston North City councillors have taken up mayor Grant Smith's challenge to be "brave enough" to support a move to guarantee Māori seats at the council table.

The city council on Tuesday voted 11-4 in favour of having one or two Māori wards at the next local government elections in 2019.

The decision was made despite two thirds of the submissions it received opposing the move.

Smith said the change would enable the council to uphold its Treaty of Waitangi obligations, even though it might be divisive.......
See full article HERE

Whangarei District Council to vote on Maori wards
A poll on the whether to introduce Maori wards in Whangarei is being held for the first time in at least 15 years.

Councillors will vote tomorrow on whether to introduce Maori representation to the ward system.

The councillors will have four options - to maintain the status quo, to establish Maori wards, to conduct a poll on whether to introduce them for the next election or to conduct the poll as part of the next election........
See full article HERE

Second commercial boating operation for Mackenzie
Boat tours on Lake Tekapo could soon become a reality.

TEO Limited has lodged a resource consent application with the Mackenzie District Council to operate High Country Cruises, a commercial boating operation on Lake Tekapo.

If approved, the operation would be the first commercial boating operator on the lake, one of the company's directors says.

Linz had granted approval as the venture planned to be operated on land at the edge of the lake, which was Linz owned land.

Approval had also been granted by Kāi Tahu ki Otago Ltd on behalf of Te Rūnanga o Waihao.

Ward said it was important to have approval from iwi as Lake Tekapo was a significant part of Maori history......
See full article HERE

Māori Health Scientist awarded for work on indigenous health
Dr Matire Harwood is a clinical researcher at the University of Auckland and has dedicated her career to discovering the inequities in the health outcomes for indigenous people.

She says, "New Zealand are world leaders in this space, we collect the data and we collect really good ethnicity data and have been showing for a number of years now. Ever since i trained as a Doctor, it shows that there are inequities between Māori and non-Māori."

Now she hopes a $25,000.00 grant that comes with the acclaim will turn her data into action and improve the health outcomes for the 400 million indigenous people around the world.......
See full article HERE

Te Takawaenga relationship accord signed at union conference
A strengthened relationship between the national representatives of Māori workers and the trade union movement has been marked in Wellington today.

Leadership of the trade union movement have this morning signed Te Takawaengarelationship accord at the Biennial Conference of the Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, which got underway at the Michael Fowler Centre this morning......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

25 October  2017

Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary put on ice by NZ First, catching Greens unaware
New Zealand's biggest ocean sanctuary is dead in the water, in a Winston Peters deal that has blind-sided the Greens.

The 620,000 sq km Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, announced by John Key at the United Nations in 2015, was hailed around the world and passed its first reading in Parliament unopposed.

But fishing companies and iwi bodies filed legal action opposing it, saying the sanctuary would deny them fishing rights agreed in Treaty settlements. 

NZ First, whose senior MPs are close to the fishing industry and whose campaign was partly bankrolled by players in the fishing industry, demanded Labour stop the sanctuary.

And it is understood Jacinda Ardern agreed a Labour-NZ First government would not progress legislation to establish the sanctuary in this three-year Parliamentary term. That will disappoint some of her MPs and supporters, but will win favour among her Maori MPs who argued it undermined iwi commercial fishing rights......
See full article HERE
More on the above here > Kermadec Sanctuary still on table, but iwi consultation key – Labour  
And more here > NZ First refuses to say if Kermadec plans are afloat

Wisdom of Maori road safety signage questioned
THE wisdom of having road safety signs solely in Maori was questioned at the Regional Transport Committee meeting — but the meeting was told English translation had been added later.

Graeme Thomson said he supported the use of te reo but felt this was not the right place. People needed to understand a sign and know what it was about.

If signs were needed to prevent accidents and it was that important, they should be kept simple so that 100 percent of people could recognise them immediately......
See full article HERE

Viewer tells Tamati Coffey stop speaking Māori but TV boss ignoring the "rednecks
TV presenter-turned-Labour MP Tamati Coffey has been warned by a viewer against speaking Māori too often.

The freshly elected MP for Waiariki tweeted a note he was sent by a viewer of his new TVNZ show Moving Out which criticised his use of te reo Māori on the programme.

"Congratulations on your appointment but just a quick note after listening to you on your new television program," it read.

"The maori [sic] language your are speaking is getting a bit boring and you need to be very careful that the public will not turn off very soon." ......
See full article HERE

Maori Ministers take the reins
New Zealand is set to have the largest number of Maori ministers yet, but their roles won’t be revealed until later this week.

Labour’s caucus voted senior MPs Kelvin Davis and Nanaia Mahuta into Cabinet, and presumptive prime minister Jacinda Ardern picked Peeni Henare, Meka Whaitiri and Willie Jackson to serve as ministers outside cabinet.

Mr Davis has expressed a desire to continue working in the Corrections portfolio, which could mean Ms Mahuta is given the lead Maori affairs role.

On the New Zealand First side, Winston Peters, Ron Mark, Shane Jones and Tracy Martin will sit around the cabinet table.

The Greens will get three ministers outside cabinet and one-under-secretary position, but its sole Maori MP, Marama Davidson, missed out on a spot......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

24 October  2017

From the NZCPR archives by Dr Muriel Newman
Next steps in coastal claims
The Minister of Treaty Negotiations has advised that public submissions will be called on claims being considered through the Direct Negotiation pathway, but unlike the High Court submission process, no fee will be required.

One group that has been through the Direct Negotiation process is the Northern Hawke’s Bay iwi Ngati Pahauwera, which is presently deciding whether to accept the Deed of Agreement that has been negotiated with the Crown. In particular, the Independent Assessor’s report on the case provides some useful information about the sort of considerations that will be involved in determining the validity of these marine and coastal area claims.

Since the closing date for claims in early April, the Attorney General and the High Court have been working on procedures to rationalise the process for dealing with the claims, especially since so many claims are overlapping, with some submitted to both the Minister and the High Court.

Accordingly, the country has now been divided into 21 application groups, for case management purposes. These are labelled ‘A’ to ‘U’ on maps that have been provided by the High Court.

All of this information is now posted on the Countering Coastal Claims Campaign page of our NZCPR.com website, providing a comprehensive resource for the claims process, with updates added as they comes to hand.

In particular, the Campaign page contains links to the newspaper advertisements of claims, to the claim applications lodged with the High Court (by CIV number), to the High Court maps of all of the claims to the coast, and to the High Court spreadsheets containing map references and claimant group information including contact details. A list of all claims lodged with the Crown for Direct Engagement is also provided, as is the link to the Ministry of Justice website which provides details of the processed claims.

During the six years since the Marine and Coastal Area Act was passed, the only reported High Court claim to have been finalised was CIV-2011-485-806 for an area to the south west of Stewart Island covering two Muttonbird Islands. With only the Attorney General opposing the claim, the Judge found in favour of the applicant group.

That’s why the NZCPR believes that strong public opposition to all claims is crucial.

Accordingly, we are helping to cover the tens of thousands of dollars in application fees and other costs that fishing and recreation groups are incurring – on behalf of the New Zealand public – to fight these claims. While Maori claimants can receive over $400,000 in taxpayer assistance to prepare their cases, those opposing them have to pay $110 to the High Court for each claim.

With almost $30 million allocated to the claims process in this year’s budget alone, it is a gross injustice that taxpayers are being forced to fund groups who want to exploit the coast for their own selfish ends, while those who want to oppose their greed are not only not eligible for any financial assistance at all, but are forced to pay! If you would like to help those who will be standing up for us in the Court against those well resourced claimants..........
Read what is at stake HERE
July 2, 21017

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

22 October  2017

Waitangi Tribunal hearings 'chance to move beyond victimhood'
The Waitangi Tribunal hearings which ended yesterday after seven long years are a chance to finally move beyond victimhood, a hapu leader says.

Last week the Crown made its closing submissions in Te Paparahi o Te Raki, the inquiry into Ngapuhi's 600-plus treaty claims. The claimants had their final say in July.

Ngapuhi is the last of the major iwi to complete its treaty hearings. It is also New Zealand's biggest tribe, hence an inquiry which has required hundreds of witnesses, 31 weeks of hearings and 500,000-plus pages of evidence.

"The tribunal, more than the Crown, has listened to what we've said. We have faith they will produce a document that will enable us to settle our grievances and move forward, out of the state of victimhood into a more progressive, enlightened people. We've been victims for too long," he said.......
See full article HERE

New Labour-led government have 18 Māori Mps.
The parties that make up the new Labour-led government have 18 Māori Mps.

One New Zealand First policy looks to be already off the table - Winston Peters said his party didn't get enough support to hold a referendum on the Māori seats, which means they're staying for at least the next three years.

Rihari Dargaville said he was proud Mr Peters decided to go with the will of the people for a change of government.

He also said National was to blame for the current socio-economic state of Māori.......
See full article HERE

Senior Maori Engagement Implementation Advisor
Auckland Council is working to achieve a transformational shift with and for Māori and deliver on Council's vision of celebrating Tāmaki Makaurau Māori identity as our point of difference in the world. As part of this journey, we are working with Māori to develop a bold and contemporary response to Te Tiriti o Waitangi as it applies to Auckland Council - ensuring that we honour both our legislative obligations and the spirit of Te Tiriti relationships.......
See full article HERE

Wharekura kaiako toi
Full time, Permanent
Area / composite (Years 1–15), Certificated teacher
Ngā Toi
MITA, HPTSR, Units negotiable

He tūranga mo te kaiako Toi. Me matatau ki te kawe hotaka i roto i te reo Māori. Me mārama ki te whakamahi NCEA, ka mutu, ko te ngākau hihiko ki te tautoko i ngā momo huarahi ako o te mahitahi. 'Kia Tū Marae te hanga, Kia Mātauranga Māori te whakaaro, Kia Aho Matua te tōpito o te ako, Kia Matatau te reo Māori, Kia Ngākau Māhaki te wairua'.Ka tīmata hei te tīmatanga o te Wāhanga 1, 2018....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

21 October  2017

MPs keen to keep faith with Maori
Labour deputy leader Kelvin Davis says retention of the Maori seats was a bottom line for Labour in coalition talks.

In choosing to go into coalition with Labour, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters told journalists he did not get enough votes to push his campaign promise of a referendum on the seats.

Mr Davis says Labour is keen to start work on a government that delivers for all New Zealanders and Maori are a vital part of that mix.

"Really our only bottom line was that the Maori seats don’t go. We’re acutely aware as the 13 Maori MPs in Labour, I think half of New Zealand First’s caucus is Maori and Marama Davidson in the Greens, there is massive Maori representation and we know we have to get some wins for our people," he says.

Mr Davis says Labour realises what is good for Maori is good for all new Zealand and gains in Maori education, health, employment and housing are high on the agenda.....
See full article HERE

Napier ratepayers strongly opposed to establishing Māori council seats
Napier ratepayers have voted overwhelmingly against establishing Māori seats on the Napier City Council.

A survey carried out by the council saw 72 per cent of respondents opposed to establishing the wards and 22 per cent in favour.

A paper going before council next week said key themes from comments in favour of Māori wards were that "Tangata whenua were entitled to more of a voice as per the Treaty of Waitangi", and they would be "a way of assisting the Māori community to be represented on council".

Key comments from those opposed included "Candidates should be voted for on their merits, not by ethnicity" and "Māori wards are perceived as creating a division in council and the community".......
See full article HERE

Submitters share views on Maclean Park Draft Management Plan
The Council will now take a pause while it analyses all submissions received and makes appropriate changes to the Draft Management Plan. A decision on whether the Plan should be adopted is expected before the end of the year.

"It is important that we take the time to consider the views of our local iwi as treaty partners, people that operate businesses in the Maclean Park area, the Kāpiti Boating Club, Coastguard Kāpiti Coast, the Kāpiti Underwater Club, Park users and the wider community before making a decision on the Park’s future," said the Mayor. "This is not an easy task as we need to manage the many demands placed on what is a relatively small reserve."....
See full article HERE

Northern iwi cheer new government decision
There's elation at Waitangi over New Zealand First's choice to go into government with Labour.

Pita Tipene, who co-chairs the hapū alliance Te Kotahitanga - said a loud cheer went up at the announcement of the new government.

He said New Zealand First had made the best choice for the region, and for Māori......
See full article HERE

Gang leader argues seized land with links to money laundering has cultural significance
Seized land with links to a $1.17 million drug supply and money laundering operation may return to its gang owner following an appeal on cultural and spiritual grounds.

The Commissioner of Police obtained asset and profit forfeiture orders for Bay of Plenty property belonging to Valentine Barclay Nicholas and his partner Sheila Payne.

While he did not challenge the drug and money laundering finding, he argued the land is of cultural, spiritual and whanau significance and that its seizure would create undue hardship.

Yesterday, a decision by Justices Rhys Harrison, Ailsa Duffy and Joseph Williams said there is evidence strongly suggesting that some of the property is ancestral land......
See full article HERE

Ruha contribution to te reo recognised
Musician Rob Ruha’s efforts to promote te reo Maori through music will be helped by a $50,000 Laureate Award from the Arts Foundation.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

20 October  2017

Outward Bound invests in cultural heritage with three new waka
The trio were each blessed at a special naming ceremony at Anakiwa in the Marlborough Sounds on Sunday in front of a crowd of about 50 people made up of members of Te Atiawa iwi , Nelson and Waikawa Waka clubs and Outward Bound staff.

School director Simon Graney says the $900,000 outrigger canoes and equipment are part of their commitment to the region's cultural heritage and have been planned for about a decade.

"Cultural engagement is what we wanted to achieve as we do feel a sense of obligation to the Treaty of Waitangi and have a duty there but it's more than that too.

Named Kiwa, after a sea god, Tai Timu, an outgoing tide, and Tai Pari, an incoming tide, the waka are set to offer students an "enhanced" experience, Simon says.

"Most of the adventure experiences at Outward Bound are based on a European cultural heritage, with which Māori and Pasifika students may not engage so readily. As a result, instructors have observed Māori and Pasifika students not having the opportunity to lead their watch mates in an activity that they identify with.

"This has completely changed on the courses where Outward Bound has been able to offer waka ama by using vessels borrowed from organisations we work closely with. We have the potential to dramatically change this dynamic with waka ama," he says.......
See full article HERE

Maori Health and Neighbourhood Fun Day
Nau Mai Haere Mai. Te Whare Roimata welcomes everybody to this important day.

Come and get your yearly Warrant of Fitness check on your body - have 3 or more checks and get a free Hangi lunch......
See full article HERE

Farmers learn about protecting Maori food sources
Environment Canterbury has appointed a cultural land management adviser to help farmers on land near Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere understand and comply with new rules designed to protect mahinga kai – traditional Ngāi Tahu food resources and their ecosystems. .....
See full article HERE

Cultural identity and community in whitestream schools
Dr Ann Milne speaks at CORE Education's uLearn17 conference in Hamilton. She asks us to think about what community and collaboration look like for the learners our system marginalises and minoritises. When we talk about educational success “as Māori”, what does this actually mean and how do our institutionalised practices and solutions actually work against this goal? In the pressure we face to collaborate, who is our community and how does our practice reflect their reality?.....
See full article HERE

Māori teacher
Full time, Permanent
Secondary (Years 7–15) / wharekura, Certificated teacher
Te reo Māori
Suitable for beginning teachers.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

19 October  2017

Constitution could boost treaty enforcement
A leading Maori constitutional scholar will look at whether a written constitution would offer Maori more protection than current arrangements.

Associate Professor Claire Charters from the University of Auckland school of law has been awarded a Rutherford Fellowship to support her next five years of research.

She intends to look at how the rights of indigenous peoples around the world are accommodated or addressed.

Dr Charters says New Zealand has some of the weakest legal protections for its indigenous people of any constitutional structure.....
See full article HERE

Our school posters help migrant kids master Te Reo
Addington’s Sacred Heart School pupils are among the first Christchurch kids to get their hands on innovative posters that use humour to promote Te Reo Maori.

The colourful posters, designed and produced by CrestClean, also contain important health and hygiene messages.

Depicting cartoon characters, the four unique designs immediately struck a chord with principal Frank McManus who was in no doubt they would be a big hit at the school.

Good resources in the Maori language were scarce, he said, and the posters would also double up as a teaching aid as part of the school’s Te Reo programme......
See full article HERE

Locals block sports hub construction
A small group of local Māori in Kaitaia set up a road block early this morning to stop workers from accessing the Te Hiku sports hub construction site.

Workers have been excavating land in Kaitaia for the new sports centre that some local Māori say is close to many significant sites of their hapū, Te Paatu.

Te Paatu spokesperson Wikatana Popata said they were not against the sports hub and that it would be great for the local community, but were angry they were not consulted before construction started......
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

18 October  2017

Trampers told not to climb Tongariro Crossing's Mount Doom
Trampers seeking to climb Mt Ngauruhoe, or "Mt Doom", will be asked to show "respect" for the mountain by giving up their quest.

The popular trek up Mt Ngauruhoe, a feature of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, is an added bonus for keen walkers who embark on the 20-kilometre journey along one of New Zealand's nine Great Walks.

The mountain holds a special attraction for some visitors thanks to its famous role as Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings.

But the Department of Conservation (DOC) wants people to stop walking up Ngauruhoe as its peak, along with Mt Ruapehu's peak, are considered sacred.

People would be advised it was a culturally significant area, but DOC could not stop them from going up the mountain.

It was time to show respect for the sacred land, he said.

In a statement, iwi spokesman Te Ngaehe Wanikau said the mountain peaks and all waterways and peaks on Tongariro were sacred to the local hapū Ngāti Hikairo Ki Tongariro.

People should respect the sanctity of the sacred mountains, Wanikau said.......
See full article HERE

Marlborough District Council's 'iwi engagement' tested in Taylor River Project
Iwi want more than token engagement in the governance of the region, and specific projects such as Taylor River improvement can help that happen, says an iwi representative.

Marlborough District Council aims to fund $209,600 over four years to enable stage two of the Taylor River Improvement Project, matching a government grant.

The council told government funding providers the index would be able to provide "a quantative measurement of improvements of spiritual experience ... through feedback from iwi"......
See full article HERE

Labour considers lessons of Tuhoe raids
Labour's deputy leader Kelvin Davis says the police should be more ready to consult iwi liaison officers when dealing with Maori issues.

It's 10 years since the so-called Tuhoe raids, when police set up illegal road blocks at Taneatua and Ruatoki as they sought to round up people who had taken part in what were alleged to be military style training camps.

Most of the arrests fell apart on procedural grounds, and the four people eventualy prosecuted on arms charges are new seeking pardons.....
See full article HERE

$40,000 MPI funding to get high value ginseng exporting
A South Waikato ginseng producer is ready to approach potential investors to increase its production and exports with the help of funding of up to $40,000 from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

Maraeroa has 20 hectares of high value wild simulated Asian panax ginseng growing on the forest floor of its 5,550 hectare pine plantation. The group is looking to double the size of its ginseng plantation by raising capital and having a purpose designed processing factory built at Pureora.

MPI’s Māori Agribusiness team helps Māori make the most of their primary sector assets from production and processing, through to exporting via tailored support.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

17 October  2017

from the NZCPR archives by Dr Muriel Newman
The Ureweras – the real story
It is the domination of propaganda over reality that led to a serious bias in the reporting of the case against those arrested on suspicion of terrorist activities in the Ureweras. A sophisticated propaganda war has been waged to convince the public into believing that the events that took place in the Ureweras were innocent and legitimate – nothing more than bushcraft and training for wannabe security guards. One of the defence lawyers even earnestly told the jury that ringleader Tama Iti is a prophet no less – New Zealand’s version of Nelson Mandela!

Left-leaning political commentator Chris Trotter, in a recent column, In a Weakened State, explains that in the Urewera case, the “vigour and sophistication of the Left’s propaganda capabilities… in the struggle for hearts and minds” have been utterly underestimated. He describes how skilful the Defence were in using “sympathetic journalists strategically located throughout the news media” – along with social media and the Internet – to shape public opinion.

The reality is that a group of radical Maori sovereignty activists had come together with extreme environmentalists and so-called peace campaigners, to support the Tuhoe “cause”. Combined they created a potent mix of anti-establishment fanatics and career protestors with a potential for revolutionary action. Thanks to the leaking of a detailed Police affidavit that outlined the case against the group, and the brave decision of the former Editor of the Dominion Post Tim Pankhurst to publish the story by investigative journalist Phil Kitchin in November 2007, New Zealanders were able to see for themselves what was really going on. You can read the news story, “The Terrorism Files” here>>>

At training camps deep in the Ureweras, these activists dressed in camouflage gear and participating in military-style drills, were using lethal weapons and firing live ammunition. They undertook counter-intelligence training, they were shown how to ambush vehicles and extract passengers under live fire, and they practised throwing Molotov cocktails. They talked about plans to bomb strategic facilities and kill people.

As a result of the mounting evidence the Police quite rightly launched what they called Operation 8. On the morning of October 15th 2007 some 300 Police, including members of the Armed Offenders and anti-terror squads, executed search warrants relating to the offences of participating in a Terrorist Group and unlawfully possessing firearms and restricted weapons, in Ruatoki and nearby Whakatane, Auckland, Wellington, Palmerston North, Hamilton, Tauranga, Gisborne, Wairoa, and Taupo. Altogether 18 people with links to the alleged weapons-training camps were arrested. Guns and ammunition were seized.

The case itself was dogged by a succession of unfortunate events. The Terrorism Suppression Act, under which charges were to be laid, had been passed in a hurry by the Clark Government in 2002, following the 911 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Warnings had been given at the time that the Act was being rushed too quickly and would prove to be unworkable. That turned out to be the case, and while the Solicitor General concluded that the Police had a “sufficient and proper basis” for concern about the activities in the Ureweras, he nevertheless ruled that the Terrorism Suppression Act could not be used. As a result, some of the evidence crucial to the case was unable to be used in court.

Over the years that followed, there were numerous appeals and counter appeals to the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Suppression orders were granted over a wide range of issues, some of which were later revoked. It was ruled that defendants would be tried by a judge-only, but then it was changed to a jury trial. A jury member had to be discharged due to the death of a close relative, and one of the accused awaiting trial died from medical complications.

Thirteen of the accused, who faced charges of unlawful possession of firearms and restricted weapons under the Arms Act, had their charges dropped for legal and technical reasons. Since they were being charged under the Arms Act – while the four main accused also faced charges of participating in an organised criminal group under the Crimes Act – their cases could not be heard together. With the main trial scheduled first, the 13 accused would have been forced to wait for a period of more than four and a half years for their trial – and if it went ahead, the main trial would have needed to be subjected to a wide range of suppression orders. Given those considerations and the fact that the accused had been remanded in custody following their arrest and had been on restrictive bail conditions for much of the time since their release, the Crown decided that a continuation of proceedings against them was not in the public interest.

So what was the evidence that caused the Police to believe that a private army was being established to.......
Read the full article HERE
June 4, 2012

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

15 October  2017

Auckland Council are asking their suppliers tendering for work if they are a Maori business!!! 
Info on the Auckland Council’s procurement processes below. Unfortunately you have to register to get to the form filling stage but the question 5 is on the Dropbox link below.

Council’s Website Procurement Intro page:
https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/about-auckland-council/working-with-us/Pages/our-procurement-principles.aspx

Our procurement principles
Ā mātou mātāpono ā-whiwhinga
Our procurement principles support our shared vision to create better value for money for Aucklanders.

Work together
We are committed to making our size work by group sourcing procurement with council-controlled organisations (CCOs), and doing more with less while creating better value for ratepayers.

Value te Ao Māori
It is important that our processes:

* support and consider our Maori Responsiveness Framework (Te Toa Takitini) in all procurement activity

* are aligned with The Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) in both spirit and form.

Etc, etc. Then there’s the - Registration pages (wherein the question 5 came from):
https://service-2.ariba.com/Register.aw/128536034/aw?awh=r&awssk=606RSxgH&dard=1&ancdc=1#b0

Our tendering process
Ā mātou tikanga whakahaere tono hoko

Tendering process steps​
1. Register to SAP Ariba and Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS)
Create an account in SAP Ariba and complete the online profile.

This is required to be completed by all companies/businesses seeking to engage with Auckland Council’s new procurement plan, and review and respond to Auckland Council tenders. It requests standard information regarding compliance certification, insurance information, details of services provided, annual turnover, number of employees etc AND WHETHER YOUR BUSINESS IS CONSIDERED TO BE A “MAORI BUSINESS”.
See Question 5 HERE

Maori values to help treat wastewater clean up
Rotorua Lakes Council is taking a lead incorporating Maori values and matauranga into its wastewater treatment programme.

Infrastructure general manager Stavros Michael and Te Arawa kaumatua Te Taru White, a trained engineering geologist, have been sharing with the wastewater industry its planned solution to replace spraying partially-treated effluent in the Whakarewarewa Forest.

"It was very important to work together with Te Arawa, to vary the scientific treatment of wastewater in conjunction with the spiritual and cultural cleansing of water through a land contact system," he says.
See full article HERE

Union takes IRD to court over personality testing
The Public Service Association is taking the Inland Revenue to the employment court over its plans to use psychometric tests on employees reapplying for their jobs.

The Inland Revenue is planning to cut the number of its staff by around 30 per cent by 2021 as part of its business transformation plans.

Erin Polaczuk, PSA national secretary, said workers, many of whom had been with the IRD for years - were being coerced into taking psychometric tests just so they can reapply to keep their jobs.

"Often these 'new' jobs involve the same work the employees have been doing for many years."

"If you wanted to get a good sense of a person's skills and abilities, it would be more rational to consider the ample information stored within the department from years of performance reviews and evaluations."

Polaczuk said the move was offensive to long-serving staff and may breach the both Treaty of Waitangi obligations and the departments compliance with the State Sector and Human Rights Acts........
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

14 October  2017

Māori Representation Act introduced 150 years ago
10 October 2017 marked 150 years since the introduction of the Māori Representation Act 1867.

The Act was considered a radical document at the time as, prior to its introduction, European politicians controlled Parliament and the rights of the indigenous people were not always considered in the government’s law-making process.

Upon its passage, the Act had two major impacts: Four Māori electorates were established, three in the North Island and one in the South Island, and ALL Māori men aged from 21 years were given the right to vote; previously only men aged 21 and over who owned property under individual property ownership laws had this right.

The beginning
Before the Māori Representation Act 1867, laws surrounding voting rights were meant to be colour-blind, but they are widely seen as having favoured European settlers.

Voting law was established based on the traditional European laws of individual property ownership titles; if an individual owned property, they could vote. Māori owned property communally, no individual retained full ownership, so many didn’t participate in elections.......
See full article HERE

Gang whanau offer research insights
An academic who has been honoured for her work on Maori well being says her peers need to recognise marginalised communities are experts in their own condition and can think through their own solutions.

"There needs to be the ceding of power. There needs to be the ceding of power from government. There needs to be the ceding of power in the research environment from researchers so it is far more community-driven, that the type of research questions being asked are the type of research questions relevant to the communities, ....
See full article HERE

Whakatane Mayor pushes for Māori seats
Whakatāne mayor, Tony Bonne says it's unfair that Māori seats are determined by a general vote in local government. Submissions have already been sent out to local iwi in regards to establishing three new seats on the Whakatāne District Council.

Former Whakatāne District Councillor Pouroto Ngāropo says having three new Māori seats on the council table will create change for Whakatāne.

Pouroto Ngāropo says, “Now it’s up to our people to make a decision. If we want our language and have Māori representation at the forefront of the Whakatāne District Council than this is it.”....
See full article HERE
More on the above here >  Ngāti Awa CEO encourages Māori to vote for Māori seats on council  

Tūwharetoa Purchase Iconic Taupō Tourist Attraction
One of New Zealand’s most popular and iconic tourist attractions in Taupō has been purchased by Central North Island iwi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

The Lake Taupō Hole in One Challenge is considered to be one of Taupō’s must-do attractions and has been operating for 24 years. The tourism activity, which offers punters the chance to hit golf balls out to a floating lake pontoon, has been purchased by the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board through its commercial subsidiary, Taupō Moana Group Holdings Limited (‘TMGH’)......
See full article HERE

Law Commission looks to rewrite property law to include tikanga Māori
The New Zealand Law Commission is investigating the Property (Relationships) Act and whether or not it can extend to recognise tikanga Māori when relationships end and property is divided. Public submissions open next week.

The Law Commission is investigating the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 and how it could extend to include tikanga Māori.

Law Commissioner Helen McQueen says "We think that the law should acknowledge tikanga [Māori protocol] and we want to know whether the Property (Relationships) Act allows tikanga to operate."

The Act handles married couples, civil unions and defacto relationships where partners have been together for a period of three years.

McQueen says "we would like to know whether whanaungatanga is sufficiently taken into account in the Act through things like excluding Māori Land and excluding taonga so that important items of property are dealt with in a way that is consistent with tikanga.".....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

13 October  2017

Iwi chairs want Independent Māori Land Services in the regions
Iwi chairs are calling for Independent Māori Land Services in the regions to increase productivity on Māori Freehold lands. It follows the completion of case studies in five regions to gauge the potential for Māori land use.

Walter Wells is the Deputy Chair of the Ngāti Kuri Trust Board and co-leads the case study looking at the potential to boost annual productivity on Māori Freehold Land in Northland by $150M per annum.

He says, "What’s been clear in the discussions that we've had with landowners is that it's not necessarily their focus. Productivity for economic benefits is one thing but actually being connected to their whenua is more important and having a much more holistic view of what opportunities for land use are."....
See full article HERE

Councillors to vote on returning holiday park land to Ngati Whakaue
The return of the Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park land to Ngati Whakaue could take a leap forward today.

At the Rotorua Lakes Council strategy, policy and finance committee meeting, councillors will vote to either retain the status quo (Option 1) - which means reneging on past assertions the land would be returned to Ngati Whakaue by way of the Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust (POT) - or to return the land to Ngati Whakaue (Option 2).

A report by the council's recreation and environment manager, Rob Pitkethley, and legal property manager Tyron Tomlinson says Ngati Whakaue has long-argued the land -
on Old Taupo Rd next to Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology - should be returned because, over time, its use has been inconsistent with what would be expected to be found on a recreational reserve.

Background
- The land was originally gifted to the Crown by the people of Ngati Whakaue for public recreation purposes and was later vested in the council to administer.

- Parts of the land are leased by Toi Ohomai, which has a 33-year lease that began in 2005, with a right of renewal for 33 years.

- Toi Ohomai pays an annual lease of $106,695 to the council.

- By mutual agreement, Toi Ohomai will retain the lease if the land is given back to Ngati Whakaue by way of the Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust.

- The underlying ownership of the land lies with the Crown and it will revert back to the Crown if the council revokes the reserve status......
See full article HERE

Study aims to support Māori joining KiwiSaver
University researchers are on a mission to find out why Māori are falling behind with KiwiSaver participation, in a bid to better support the population with financial decisions.

“We want to know what kind of financial products and services may change this imbalance,” Dr Houkaumau says.

The Māori economy is an important part of the country’s economy and is growing; by 2020 the population will be a significant proportion of the working-age demographic, she says......
See full article HERE

Northern iwi have numbers
Northland Māori have come up trumps post-election with a record nine members from Northland iwi.

Three new members join six who retained their seats and, once coalition talks are complete, they will know which side of the house they will be sitting on.

Hailing from Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai and the Hokianga, New Zealand First's newest MP Jenny Macroft joins her not-so-new colleague Shane Jones from Te Aupouri, Ngāi Takoto and Ngāti Kahu.

Labour welcomes Willow Jean-Prime of Ngāti Hine and Ngāpuhi.

They join Winston Peters, National's Shane Reti, Labour's Peeni Henare, Kelvin Davis, the Green's Marama Davidson and Act's David Seymour.....
See full article HERE

Te Urewera Raids - A Decade of Rebuilding
October 15 marks ten years since the terror raids that shocked the nation and shattered the lives of people in Te Urewera.

Ruatoki activist, artist and kaumātua, Tame Iti, was dubbed the ringleader of alleged terrorist training camps and sentenced to two and a half years in jail.

A decade on Ngāi Tūhoe has settled with the Crown and were given a police apology in 2014. Chairman of Tūhoe Te Uru Taumatua, Tamati Kruger says the tribe has moved on.

As for Tame Iti, he’s forging a relationship with Kiwi Chinese, hoping to bring the dragon and taniwha together in the inner Bay of Plenty region. Just days before the raids anniversary Iti hosted a Kiwi Chinese delegation to Ruatoki and Tāneatua.

“It’s important for us for Tūhoe to go in collaboration on an international level. And so we bring the people with skills and work in our space. And I’m keen. I think they got more to offer than our treaty partner.”....
See full article HERE

Greens' Kermadec card worries TOKM
Te Ohu Kaimoana fears the proposed Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary could be a bargaining chip in coalition negotiations.

National delayed passing the sanctuary into law after the iwi raised concerns it would confiscate development rights that were part of the Maori Fisheries settlement.

It’s still on National’s to do list, and the Greens are also pushing hard for the sanctuary.

Te Ohu Kaimoana chief executive Dion Tuuta says all political parties say they honour the Treaty of Waitangi, but struggle with allowing Maori to use their taonga as they see fit.....
See full article HERE

Westpac ATMs offer Chinese language option
People using Westpac automatic teller machines will be able to choose a Simplified Chinese language option from next week.

Te reo Māori was introduced on Westpac ATMs in July 2016 and was followed by a dialect specific to Waikato-Tainui last month.

The latter is the first language option distinct to one iwi to be introduced on an ATM and Westpac is talking to other iwi about adding more dialects in the future.....
See full article HERE

Muriwhenua claim may be reopened
There is further delay to a settlement for far north iwi Ngati Kahu after the crown said the Waitangi Tribunal may hear its claims afresh.

A judicial conference was scheduled this week to discuss the next steps in the long-running claim.

But presiding officer Carrie Wainwright says it will be delayed until next month to give claimants a chance to respond to the crown memorandum.

Te Runanga o Ngati Kahu has walked away from the negotiating table and wants the tribunal to make binding recommendations to return crown and former state owned enterprise land blocks in its rohe.

The runanga also objected to the same judge who had turned it down previously continuing to sit on the claim.....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

12 October  2017

From the NZCPR archives by Dr Muriel Newman
Freshwater Deals
After the 2008 election, one of the demands made by the Maori Party as a condition of their support for John Key’s newly elected National government was a constitutional review. Their objective was to entrench the Treaty of Waitangi as higher law into a new New Zealand constitution.

In fulfilment of that demand a Panel was chosen to guide the process, meetings were held, public submissions were called for, and in late 2013 a report was produced for the government. During that process New Zealanders clearly demonstrated that they had no appetite for elevating the Treaty into a central role in our legislative and constitutional affairs.

During the early stages of the review, the New Zealand Centre for Political Research became increasingly concerned that the general public were not taking the matter seriously enough. While constitutional issues are not regarded as especially riveting by most people, the changes being proposed by the Maori Party and Iwi Leaders were so radical that they had the potential to permanently and detrimentally alter the future course of New Zealand.
 We decided we could not sit by and let it happen.

Accordingly, we established a shadow constitutional review process, appointed our own panel of experts, invited submissions, and produced our own report on the matter. Most importantly, we gathered sufficient support to run a high profile public information campaign to alert New Zealanders to the dangers being posed by the constitutional review. In our newspaper advertisements, we encouraged as many people as possible to have their say in the government’s submission process.

The campaign was exceedingly effective. Literally thousands of people responded with submissions against a Treaty based constitution, to the extent that the government’s Panel was swamped with submissions and had to extend their deadline by another month.

In the end, people power prevailed and the NZCPR played an important role in preventing a vested interest group taking New Zealand down a dangerous separatist path.

But as history shows only too frequently, privilege seekers never give up. While, in this case, the Maori Party and iwi leaders did not succeed in changing our constitution, their desire to secure special power and control over the governance of New Zealand in general, and the country’s natural resources in particular, has not halted.

There is an old saying that ‘the price of freedom is eternal vigilance’. In a democratic society like New Zealand, that means being on constant guard against those who seek control through unelected power.

Right now Iwi Leaders are demanding the ownership and control of New Zealand’s freshwater. That is their new agenda.

But the law in this area is clear. Even though water may pass over privately owned stream and river beds, nobody owns water until it is contained in a tank, pipe, bottle, or some other vessel. At that stage it becomes the property of the person who owns the vessel......
See full article HERE
September 20, 2015

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

11 October  2017

Maori option chance to push for eighth seat
It's 150 years today since the Maori seats were established, and Maori political advocacy group Te Ata Tino Toa want to increase their number.

Spokesperson Teanau Tuiono says the Maori option, held after next year's census, is a chance to do that by getting Maori to switch to the Maori roll.

Part of the change to MMP was that maori seats would have a similar number of electors to general seats, and the number increased for the 1996, 1999 and 2002 elections.

It has stayed on seven since then, despite there being the option for voters to switch in 2006 and 2013.

A quarter of a million Maori are already on the roll, which is why Mr Tuiono there is a stronger case for entrenching the seats than holding a referendum on whether they should be scrapped.......
See full article HERE

Iwi defends Hamurana Springs fee as legal
Ngati Rangiwewehi say they have "absolutely sought legal advice" over the legality of a proposed fee at Hamurana Springs.

The iwi announced the new entrance fee last month......
See full article HERE

Planning works underway for proposed west Auckland marae
Te Atatū's marae is a step closer to being built.

Plans were being drafted for the marae, which would sit on 2.5 hectares of land on Harbourview, west Auckland.

The reserve land, zoned for a marae, was the subject of a legal battle in the past.....
See full article HERE

Massey to support Maori farming competiton
Massey University is demonstrating its support for the Māori agricultural sector by becoming a sponsor of the Ahuwhenua Trophy, BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming Award.

The College of Sciences signed the sponsorship deal at a ceremony on the Manawatū campus attended by the Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee Chairman, Mr Kingi Smiler, Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas and the Pro Vice-Chancellor College of Sciences Professor Ray Geor......
See full article HERE  

Tikanga Maori a topic for property law rewrite
The Law Commission wants to know whether tikanga Maori is recognised when relationships end and property is divided up.

It’s one of the questions that will be asked in a review of the 40-year-old Property (Relationships) Act.

Commissioner Helen McQueen says a lot has changed in New Zealand over that time, including the way relationships and families form, how they function and what happens when relationships end.

That’s why the commission wants to know: When should the law treat two people as a couple?....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

8 October  2017

From the NZCPR BreakingViews archives By David Round
The insidious creep to Maori sovereignty
How did it come about that we are now even prepared to consider such preposterous possibilities? It did not happen overnight, but one step at a time.

Ask for one thing ~ the righting of historical injustice, real or alleged, even if previously settled ~ then, if you succeed with that, ask for something more ~ and then more ~ and eventually we find ourselves in the situation we are now in, where already our government flies the Maori sovereignty flag, recognises special rights in indigenous peoples declared in a United Nations charter, and where, in the words of the Otago Daily Times speaking of foreshore and seabed, it ‘seems a new class of property owner is to be created with superior rights, as well as unlimited opportunities for the courts to create precedent exclusive to one ethnicity. ‘One law for all’ has thus been abandoned on the cusp of indigeneity.’

And now Maori want sovereignty as well. As no more than the absolutely logical and inevitable next step, the key to our entire country, everything your ancestors and mine and we ourselves have laboured to create over a century and a half is at least on the table and liable to be given away by our enlightened governors. It is the old story of the frog sitting in the pot of gradually warming water, not noticing the heat and eventually being boiled to death. It is Hitler making one last, and then another last, and then another absolutely last territorial claim in Europe. The first claims may be reasonable, the last are anything but. And all our leaders do is wave pieces of paper and promise us peace in our time.

Just cast your mind back a few years. Have we not been assured, time and time again, that there was nothing to worry about because the settling of Treaty claims was just a stage, one that would take a few years to get through, but that once these old historical injustices were settled we could all settle down and be New Zealanders living happily together? I did not believe that then and I most certainly do not believe it now. Each new Maori claim and settlement is another Munich. The fatuous high-minded statesmen ~ the pompous arrogant racist windbag Sir Douglas Graham springs immediately to mind ~ who made us these promises are at best no more than our own Neville Chamberlains.

Our unhappy situation has not arisen out of any actual constitutional development or as a necessary consequence of our laws or constitution. Nothing has forced or obliged us to go down this road. It has happened only because a tiny vocal and fashionable minority wielding an influence out of all proportion to its minuscule size has managed to capture the debate, to insinuate itself into the public service and education system, to propagandise and eventually make the unthinkable seem reasonable. ‘Has managed to’? Has been allowed to, by the very people who should be carefully watching over the welfare of the state. They have betrayed us. As I observed some time ago in my review of Professor Brookfield’s very foolish book on the Treaty, not least among the causes of the French Revolution was the hospitality shown to revolutionary ideas by the influential and fashionable but unthinking upper class who were later to be destroyed by their awful fosterlings. Maori sovereignty, too, is conceivable only because of the intellectual climate fostered by our own dim-witted chattering classes.

Many people, then, have to share in the blame for this unhappy state of affairs, even down to the good men who stand by and do nothing, to echo Burke. We must blame politicians for inventing, and failing to define, the phrase ‘principles of the Treaty’. We must blame the intellectuals of the universities who with their adolescent mentality have embraced this latest rebellious cause, and their allies in primary and secondary education. Nor must we forget to lay a fair share of the blame at the feet of certain members of the judiciary, in particular (but not solely) the politicians manqués Sir Robin Cooke, late unlamented President of the Court of Appeal, and our present unimpressive Chief Justice. Sir Robin led the Court of Appeal in its political judgment in the big 1987 Maori Council case, which brought the ‘principles of the Treaty’ to life. That decision unleashed the idea of ‘partnership’ on our poor country. To be fair, the Court of Appeal may not have realised what a monster it had created by its references to Treaty partners and partnership, for Sir Robin did make later remarks explaining, although not with a great deal of force, that he had spoken only of a relationship ‘in the nature of a partnership’, that in any case not all partnerships were of equals, and that he had used the word ‘partners’ loosely and interchangeably with ‘parties’. Since then partnership has taken on a life of its own. Nevertheless, as I have previously explained, the decision was a consciously political decision, and an openly-admitted defiance of Parliament’s will. The damage the present Chief Justice has wrought by the 2003 Ngati Apa decision, which began the whole foreshore and seabed business, is immeasurable. The white fellow-travellers of the Treaty industry include a great number of fools ~ folly, indeed, is a prerequisite ~ but the damage they do is usually insidious and slow. I cannot think of anyone who has done so much damage in single identifiable acts as Cooke and Elias and their fellow judicial ‘useful idiots’.

Partnership and Maori sovereignty might seem to be two quite distinct things, but in fact they are intimately linked. Even partnership has implicit within it a denial of the sovereignty of the Crown. If Maori are ‘partners’ with the Crown then they cannot be subjects of the Crown at the same time. Rather, they are ‘partners’ in the government of New Zealand. Whom do they govern? Why, everyone else ~ us. The very concept of ‘partnership’ releases Maori from the position of being subjects. It is the first major step on the way to complete sovereignty. By partnership Maori already share sovereignty with the Crown. The job is half done. They then merely need to dispose of their Treaty partner, the Crown, and they are completely in charge.

The very idea of partnership’s two sovereignties in one state should have been enough to cause anyone with the slightest knowledge of history, human nature and logic to run screaming in the opposite direction. We have it on the very highest of authority that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Where there are two rival sources of authority in a state then a contest between them, civil strife, and very possibly even civil war and its attendant horrors follow shortly behind. The trouble is that our rulers think so little and are so sunk in their own ignorant smug complacency that they cannot believe that anything like this will ever happen.....
Read David’s full foreboding article HERE
June 21, 2010

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

7 October  2017

Democracy at heart of Māori ward debate for Rodney Councillor
Goff said polling in other areas on Māori representation had consistently seen around 80 per cent opposed to the idea and he feared a referendum would end up dividing the city.

However, Sayers is concerned the way the options were stacked meant democratic process wasn't followed, and the proposal that the public should have a say, by way of a referendum, never came to the vote.

Having Māori wards is a constitutional matter, and it was correct for it to be put to a referendum, he said.

"Any Councillor opposing a referendum is not respecting the democratic right of Auckland's citizens to have a say about what any Māori representation should be for Auckland city," he said at the meeting.

Ordinary Māori were better served democratically by Māori wards as it gave them the same voting rights as chiefs, Waitematā and Gulf ward Councillor ​Mike Lee said.

Piling appeared to an issue with Lee also. He felt the role of the IMSB would need to be looked at as they would have two votes on things like rates as well as the elected Māori ward councillor also having a vote......
See full article HERE

New Plymouth Māori language immersion preschool facing eviction over rent arrears allegations
A full Māori language immersion childcare centre is facing eviction from its New Plymouth premises after allegedly failing to pay about $23,000 in rent.

Te Kōpae Tamariki Kia Ū Te Reo kōhanga reo is 19 months in rent arrears for land it occupies at the Rangiatea Campus in Spotswood, said Ngati Te Whiti Whenua Topu Trust spokesman Peter Moeahu.

He said the Trust, which owns the land, had been patient and tried to work out a deal with its tenants.

"After 19 months our patience has run out," he said. "An eviction notice will be served."

Moeahu expected there would be "significant furore" over the eviction of the kōhanga.....
See full article HERE

Maori scholars get career boost
​Two Maori scholars are among the 10 early ­to mid-career researchers that have been awarded this year’s Rutherford Discovery Fellowships.

Each fellow gets $800,000 over five years to support their work, with the aim to help them establish a track record for future research leadership.

University of Auckland associate professor Claire Charters, who has Ngati Whakaue, Tuwharetoa, Nga Puhi, and Tainui whakapapa, will look at examples around the globe that may help New Zealand come up with better constitutional recognition of Maori rights and interests.
See full article HERE

Local board partners with Māori
Henderson-Massey Local Board is committed to working with local Māori to support their rights, interests and aspirations and to provide opportunities for Māori to contribute to Auckland.

“The council has affirmed the Māori Responsiveness Framework to help the Auckland Council whanau implement its responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” says Henderson-Massey Local Board member and Māori issues lead Paula Bold-Wilson.

“Our board takes these responsibilities seriously. We are developing our own Māori Responsiveness Plan."....
See full article HERE

West Auckland councillors divided over Māori ward
All but one of west Auckland's councillors are against introducing a Māori ward.

Auckland Council will seek a legislative change to allow it to make an elected Māori councillor role compulsory.

It comes after 10 Auckland councillors voted in favour to establish a Maori ward, in principle, while five voted against it. Six did not vote because they were not at the meeting.....
See full article HERE 

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.

5 October  2017

Business embrace of kaupapa Māori is real
Many companies have been incorporating Māori initiatives into their advertising and making themselves more kaupapa Māori-friendly.

Spark launched its first Te Reo Māori narrated advertising, Vodafone released its Say it Tika app with Google to help correct the pronunciation of Māori place names, and Stuff introduced macrons for Māori words on its site and in newspapers.

Asked if the apparent embrace of kaupapa Māori, or Māori approach, by business was real, Renata Blair said on Tuesday's Media Take that it was "absolutely real.

"Big business, banks - BNZ, ANZ, ASB - you've seen the phone companies, they're all gearing up, Fonterra, real estate companies, they are gearing up for this Māori economy, and it's real," said Blair, a Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei member.....
See full article HERE

Alternative to court for some South Island offenders to be offered next year
The new Southern Police District Māori responsiveness manager wants to reduce the over-representation of Māori in the criminal justice system.

Māori account for 9 per cent of Otago and Southland's population, but 21 per cent of criminal offending.

To help reduce those numbers, police are working with other agencies and rūnanga to set up iwi community panels as an alternative to court-based justice for some offenders.

"It's sole purpose is to have alternative actions in place for people to avoid them going into court," Rangitutia said......
See full article HERE

Help to weave reo into early childhood classes
Private teacher training establishment the New Zealand Tertiary College has developed a teaching and learning guide to help early childhood practitioners incorporate te reo Maori into their centres.

Chief executive Selena Fox says it’s part of the college’s commitment to bilingualism and biculturalism.

The 48 page guide draws on its successful Maori language learning resource - Te Reo Maori: He taonga mo a tatou mokopuna......
See full article HERE

Take a look at…public health doctors' prescription for the minister
“Improve Māori health” is the first item on public health doctors’ script for the person who next takes up the job of health minister.

Large, pervasive inequities between Māori and non-Māori persist throughout the lifespan, and inaction in the face of need is widely recognised as institutionalised racism, says the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine.

Ongoing inequities are considered by many to be a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi, the public health doctors argue in their challenge issued during the post-election gap between governments. .....
See full article HERE

Mole News is published on a regular basis to expose the on-going build up of race-based privilege in New Zealand. The Mole welcomes tips - please send to mole@nzcpr.com. Older news items can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE  and HERE and HERE.