Saturday August 10, 2019
Maori nationalist parties exploit Ihumātao protest
In recent weeks the New Zealand media has given intense media coverage to an occupation led by Maori activists protesting against a proposed property development at a historic archaeological site on the Ihumātao Peninsula in South Auckland.
While it is legitimate to oppose the destruction of an important archeological site, the protest organisers have exploited the issue to promote Maori nationalism. This in turn has been taken up by the media right at the point when major struggles of workers and young people have erupted.
The latter two Maori nationalist parties are seeking to use the protest to make a political comeback after failing to win a single seat in the 2017 election. Their program, based on demands for increased government payments to tribal capitalists, and discrimination against immigrants, is deeply unpopular in the Maori working class.
Harawira entered the Ihumātao protest campsite on July 28 accompanying Brian and Hannah Tamaki, leaders of the fundamentalist Destiny Church. The Tamakis recently founded a far-right, anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant party, with support from Mana.
Matthew Tukaki from the Maori Council, a state-funded organisation representing tribal business interests, openly declared that the proposed housing development showed the need to slash immigration.
Tukaki has also pointed to one of the underlying mercenary aims of Maori nationalist leaders. Speaking on Radio NZ on August 6, he warned of more protests and occupations, unless the law is changed so that privately-owned land can be acquired by the government and given to Maori tribes.....
See full article HERE
Māori engagement on water makes history
Auckland Council’s recent water future consultation saw the highest levels of Māori engagement on any council consultation; 18 per cent of the more than 7000 submissions received were from people identifying as Māori.
Auckland Waters Portfolio Manager, Andrew Chin says the high response rate reflects the strong interest Māori communities have in water.
“The responses reflected the breadth of ways in which Māori relate to water – as a food source, as a tupuna, as a space for recreation, as a life-sustaining force for all things.”.....
See full article HERE
Auckland Council rezones land bordering Ihumātao
Auckland Council has agreed to add almost nine hectares to the Ōtuataua Stonefields Reserve, which borders the land at Ihumātao.
It's among the 233 hectares the council's Planning Committee has decided to rezone to public open space in the city.
The 8.9 hectare land had been zoned for future urban development.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff told Morning Report rezoning the land was the council's gesture towards find a resolution at Ihumātao.
"It's council-owned land so there was no problem in rezoning it, there was no extra cost to the ratepayer, 9 hectares of land is a significant size piece of land, it adds to the Stonefields area and it says look we recognise this area is important, it's the area that's probably the oldest inhabited area in the whole of Auckland, Tāmaki Makaurau and that is something that we can put on the table...".....
See full article HERE
First person: Te reo Māori is simple in comparison to English
First Person: RNZ journalist Te Aniwa Hurihanganui was about to catch a plane home from Auckland when an Air New Zealand worker saw her name on her passport and asked, how on earth did you spell that as a kid? As she explains, it wasn't the first time.
It was the same bustling, frantic, reo-less scene when I arrived at Auckland Airport today. I may have only been a five-minute drive from Ihumātao, but it was an Air New Zealand worker's comment that reminded me just how far away I was.
Upon checking the name on my passport, the worker asked me: "How on earth did you spell that as a kid?"
Air New Zealand has since apologised on behalf of the worker......
See full article HERE
Hawke's Bay iwi snap up port shares
Four of the eligible iwi groups have received a priority allocation of shares in Napier Port, along with 90 percent of eligible port employees and a large number of Hawke's Bay locals.
The final price of $2.60 a share was at the top of the indicative price range for the initial public offer.
Napier Port chair Alasdair MacLeod says when it lists on August 20 the company will be 90 percent New Zealand owned.....
See full article HERE
Kaupapa Maori programmes for schools hosted on all Massey Uni campuses
Te Manu Taika concluded at the Wellington campus this month, having hosted the kaupapa Maori programme for years 12 and 13 secondary schools pupils earlier in the year at the Manawatu and Auckland campuses.
Maori recruitment adviser Tania Jahnke says it was an opportunity to host a one-day event on each campus for local Maori secondary pupils to examine cultural leadership and identity in the educational setting.
Maraea Golias, from Wellington Girls’ College, says, "It was great seeing how much support Massey gives Maori students and how much Te ao Maori is included at Massey."....
See full article HERE
Iwi consultation on Kermadecs 'rushed and superficial' - Chris Finlayson on previous National Govt
Former Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson has criticised the Government he was part of for what he calls "inadequate consultation" with Māori over the stalled Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary and other decisions affecting Māori.
He hints that there were very flawed processes undertaken within government to reach the decisions over the Kermadec sanctuary.
"In my years in office I often found that consultation with iwi was flawed – invariably rushed and superficial, often telling people what is going to happen rather than actually consult them.".....
See full article HERE
Ihumātao: Why Ardern and the Government couldn't order police out
Calls for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern or the Government to remove police from Ihumātao displayed a dangerous misunderstanding of a concept underpinning New Zealand democracy, a legal expert says.
Dr Bill Hodge said the suggestion the PM or even Police Minister Stuart Nash could direct police to pull out of a protest site was misguided.
He said the New Zealand Government should be careful not to meddle with the independence of police.
The oath, sworn in English or Māori, involved a person swearing to serve the Queen and her heirs and successors "without favour or affection, malice or ill-will".....
See full article HERE
World Indigenous People's Day: Maori blood speaks from the land - Destiny Church
Destiny Church Leader Bishop Brian Tamaki says, "Maori and Indigenous peoples have suffered deeply from colonisation over the years, stripping them of their land, their way of life, culture, esteem and freedom! These violations, committed on all Indigenous First Peoples, unfortunately left a deep-wound that begins a bloodline curse through unresolved injustices, crying through the generations, for liberation and healing.
"After invasion from the colonisers, and many violations and injustices committed, our people were left in poverty, with loss of dignity and Mana, plagued with diseases; suffering from social, emotional, physical and spiritual abuse. Destructive addictions, crime, prisons, unemployment, and family breakdown, are the evidence of the Colonial Curse inflicted on our Indigenous Peoples......
See full article HERE
This Breaking Views Update monitors race relations in the media on a weekly basis. A summary of new material being added is emailed out during the week - to subscribe (or unsubscribe) to the mailout, please use the form at the top of the Breaking Views sidebar. If you would like to send Letters to the Editor in response to any of these articles, most media addresses can be found HERE.
Friday August 9, 2019
Multiple campaigns declare crisis for Māori rights
New Zealand’s Indigenous rights record is being called to account from numerous campaigns following weeks of flashpoints around the nation.
Thursday August 8, 2019
Protesters held signs that read "Jacinda = Traitor", "All colonisers are b*st*rds",
Protesters held signs that read "Jacinda = Traitor", "All Colonisers Are B*st*rds", and "No Profit from Stolen Land" at the demonstation.
Friday August 9, 2019
Multiple campaigns declare crisis for Māori rights
New Zealand’s Indigenous rights record is being called to account from numerous campaigns following weeks of flashpoints around the nation.
Campaign leaders are citing a lack of government leadership and protection around Māori land alienation, state removal of children, and water pollution as indications that the Māori nation are “under threat from the deeply entrenched colonial racism of the New Zealand
government”.....
See full article HERE
New Māori and Indian street names in Puketāpapa
Three new roads in Hillsborough have been newly created due to a subdivision development. Puketāpapa Local Board has adopted two Māori names - Karakia Lane meaning to recite ritual chants, say grace, pray, recite a prayer, chant, and Anahera Lane meaning angle – and one Indian name - Prakash Lane, meaning bright light.
Using Māori names for roads, buildings and other public places is an opportunity to publicly demonstrate Māori identity. This is encouraged in the Auckland Plan too as Māori identity is Auckland’s point of difference in the world......
See full article HERE
Māori partnership essential as abuse inquiry changes head
The outgoing chair of the Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-Based Institutions says preliminary work as exposed how much the problem of historic abuse was a Māori problem.
"One of the big themes in the middle is the partnership, the actual partnership that must occur strongly with the Māori dimension in the country and that’s what we have been working on, engaging with Māori a direct fashion, and we have had good pick-up," Sir Anand says.....
See full article HERE
Nurses conference to put ‘fire in the belly’ for Army of Māori Nurses
The Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference begins at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland tomorrow. NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says the conference will be unique in that it is Māori-run and about maintaining the authenticity and integrity of Tikanga throughout. But she says most of all it will be empowering.
The theme of the conference is ‘Raising an Army of Māori Nurses’, which harks back to words spoken by Māori politician Apirana Ngata early in the 20th Century, who called for just such an army.....
See full article HERE
Buddy Mikaere talks to Dale Husband
A Western Bay of Plenty councillor and mayoral candidate is trying to block land being returned to Maori after it was sold by missionaries who never owned it in the first place.
Listen HERE
Meng Foon labels councillor's comments about Māori "disparaging"
Council agreed in principle to gift the Mission Street site, formerly Māori land, to the Otamataha Trust which would, in turn, offer The Elms heritage site a peppercorn rent of $1 a year for at least 100 years to keep using it.
Murray-Benge said that agreement would mean Maori could "demand every piece of land" in her city.
Murray-Benge says the land should be transferred to the Elms Foundation Trust and not doing so would be "fraud" from Council as it was also planned for it form part of the future development of the Elms site......
See full article HERE
Ihumātao: These are the possible solutions for bringing the stand-off to an end
* Auckland Council could purchase the land at Ihumātao to help resolve a stand-off at the sacred Māori site.
* The Government could buy the land too, although experts fear a Crown purchase would set a costly and controversial precedent.
* It's possible that Fletcher Building could gift Ihumātao to the mana whenua without money changing hands.
The Fletcher development might proceed, but not until all parties have thrashed the issue out.....
See full article HERE
Ihumātao protest: Police presence to be reduced, says Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha
Police will be reducing their numbers at Ihumātao following the tensions of Monday night.
Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha visited the camp site on Thursday, taking a walk around the camp and meeting with protest leaders.
Haumaha said they plan to reduce the number of officers at the site, while increasing the number of Māori wardens to keep everyone safe.....
See full article HERE
government”.....
See full article HERE
New Māori and Indian street names in Puketāpapa
Three new roads in Hillsborough have been newly created due to a subdivision development. Puketāpapa Local Board has adopted two Māori names - Karakia Lane meaning to recite ritual chants, say grace, pray, recite a prayer, chant, and Anahera Lane meaning angle – and one Indian name - Prakash Lane, meaning bright light.
Using Māori names for roads, buildings and other public places is an opportunity to publicly demonstrate Māori identity. This is encouraged in the Auckland Plan too as Māori identity is Auckland’s point of difference in the world......
See full article HERE
Māori partnership essential as abuse inquiry changes head
The outgoing chair of the Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-Based Institutions says preliminary work as exposed how much the problem of historic abuse was a Māori problem.
"One of the big themes in the middle is the partnership, the actual partnership that must occur strongly with the Māori dimension in the country and that’s what we have been working on, engaging with Māori a direct fashion, and we have had good pick-up," Sir Anand says.....
See full article HERE
Nurses conference to put ‘fire in the belly’ for Army of Māori Nurses
The Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference begins at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland tomorrow. NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says the conference will be unique in that it is Māori-run and about maintaining the authenticity and integrity of Tikanga throughout. But she says most of all it will be empowering.
The theme of the conference is ‘Raising an Army of Māori Nurses’, which harks back to words spoken by Māori politician Apirana Ngata early in the 20th Century, who called for just such an army.....
See full article HERE
Buddy Mikaere talks to Dale Husband
A Western Bay of Plenty councillor and mayoral candidate is trying to block land being returned to Maori after it was sold by missionaries who never owned it in the first place.
Listen HERE
Meng Foon labels councillor's comments about Māori "disparaging"
Council agreed in principle to gift the Mission Street site, formerly Māori land, to the Otamataha Trust which would, in turn, offer The Elms heritage site a peppercorn rent of $1 a year for at least 100 years to keep using it.
Murray-Benge said that agreement would mean Maori could "demand every piece of land" in her city.
Murray-Benge says the land should be transferred to the Elms Foundation Trust and not doing so would be "fraud" from Council as it was also planned for it form part of the future development of the Elms site......
See full article HERE
Ihumātao: These are the possible solutions for bringing the stand-off to an end
* Auckland Council could purchase the land at Ihumātao to help resolve a stand-off at the sacred Māori site.
* The Government could buy the land too, although experts fear a Crown purchase would set a costly and controversial precedent.
* It's possible that Fletcher Building could gift Ihumātao to the mana whenua without money changing hands.
The Fletcher development might proceed, but not until all parties have thrashed the issue out.....
See full article HERE
Ihumātao protest: Police presence to be reduced, says Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha
Police will be reducing their numbers at Ihumātao following the tensions of Monday night.
Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha visited the camp site on Thursday, taking a walk around the camp and meeting with protest leaders.
Haumaha said they plan to reduce the number of officers at the site, while increasing the number of Māori wardens to keep everyone safe.....
See full article HERE
Thursday August 8, 2019
Protesters held signs that read "Jacinda = Traitor", "All colonisers are b*st*rds",
Protesters held signs that read "Jacinda = Traitor", "All Colonisers Are B*st*rds", and "No Profit from Stolen Land" at the demonstation.
Marama Davidson, co-leader of the Green Party, stood in the crowd alongside Green MPs Golriz Ghahraman and Gareth Hughes.....
See full article HERE
Crown Forests return to Rangitane Iwi
Rangitane Ta Mai Ra Trust - the Post Settlement Governance entity for the Rangitane Treaty Claims, have regained possession of three former Crown Forestry Blocks - Castlehill, Tinui and the Waihora portion of Whareama. The return of the Ngaumu forests represents the most significant property transaction in the Ta Mai Ra settlement at nearly 6,000 hectares
At present Ta Mai Ra are seeking interest from their iwi membership to access these blocks for hunting. Any whanau hunters who are registered with the iwi can apply. You can register by contacting info@tumaira.iwi.nz or 0800 Tu Mai Ra (88-624-72).....
See full article HERE
Research looks to improve neonatal care experiences for Māori
Research led by Victoria University of Wellington academics that aims to improve the care provided to Māori families in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) has had a Health Research Council funding boost.
To address this issue, Dr Stevenson and her fellow researchers have proposed a new care pathway for neonatal intensive care units. This pathway builds on existing care processes to address the difficulties faced by Māori families, with a strong focus on instilling whakawhanaunga through NICU policies and practices......
See full article HERE
Partial review of Conservation and National Parks coming
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage and the New Zealand Conservation Authority have directed the Department of Conservation (DOC) to undertake partial reviews of the Conservation General Policy and the General Policy for National Parks, to give better effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
The direction is in response to the recent Supreme Court decision in Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, a case which examined the way DOC considered Treaty principles when it granted two commercial tour concessions on Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands.
“Improving the way Treaty principles are considered in conservation decisions is also a priority for the New Zealand Conservation Authority,” says the Authority chairperson, Edward Ellison.....
See full article HERE
Government 'abandons construction industry'
Government has demonstrated its contempt for developers and the construction industry in its handling of the Ihumatao protest.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has this morning tried to simplify this issue, suggesting it is about talks between Maori who are seeking a "for Maori by Maori solution." She has said the Government’s role is to support talks taking place.
"In this message the government has distanced itself from its legal obligations to protect private land ownership, and has thereby created far reaching uncertainty for all construction companies committing to land development," says Leighton Baker, New Conservative leader......
See full article HERE
Ihumātao protest movement has 'based its campaign on misinformation' – iwi advocate
Tensions at disputed site Ihumātao have "lifted the cauldron on Māori dissatisfaction", an iwi advocate says.
Pita Turei said: "The first thing we need to understand is that a million-and-a-half people in New Zealand live on stolen land", adding that we "can't change the rule book without a wider discussion"......
See full article HERE
New name, new visitor centre for Wanganui's Bushy Park
Wanganui's Bushy Park has a new name ahead of the opening on a new visitor centre in September.
The combined forest sanctuary and historic homestead is now Bushy Park Tarapuruhi - with tarapuruhi meaning "place of abundant bird life".....
See full article HERE
Racist undertones in submissions on prospect of land being gifted back to Tauranga iwi
A Western Bay of Plenty councillor and mayoral candidate is trying to block land being returned to Māori after it was sold by missionaries who never owned it in the first place.
Margaret Murray-Benge says giving 11 Mission Street, in Tauranga, to the Otamataha Trust, who represent Ngāti Tapu and Ngāi Tamarāwaho, to right a historical wrong should not occur as Māori cannot be trusted to keep their word.
The Trust plans to lease the land to neighbouring heritage building society, The Elms, at a peppercorn rent of $1 per year for the next 100 years.
But Murray-Benge says if the transfer goes through Māori would "demand every piece of land in Tauranga".....
See full article HERE
Little rules out law change to allow return of privately owned land to Māori
reaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little is ruling out a law change to open up private land for return to Māori in treaty settlements.
The protest has driven calls for the return of confiscated lands to Māori but many MMP's refuse to say where they stand on the issue
But that's not how it works. The Waitangi Tribunal can't legally order the Crown to acquire or return private land that was confiscated to Māori.
It is at the discretion of the government whether to consider negotiating for the return of private lands, but it generally does not.
Some Māori leaders have spoken out that the rule is unfair and needs to go, but the Minister Andrew Little said that's not going to happen.
"I don't ever see a time where we would pass a law that says the Waitangi Tribunal can make orders in relation to privately owned land," he said.
"That would be a hornets nest that no-ones going to bite off."
He said in short, the Crown cannot return what it no longer owns......
See full article HERE
Wednesday August 7, 2019
Calls for government to allow return of privately owned land to Māori
The government is being urged to revoke a law that prevents Māori from getting their confiscated land back if it has moved into private ownership.
Māori Council executive director Matthew Tukaki said the law needed to be revoked.
"Ihumātao is just going to be one of the first sites that our people are making a stand on. It wouldn't surprise me if Shelly Bay down in Wellington is going to be the next.
"There are sites around the Gate Pā area in Tauranga ... it wouldn't surprise me if there was going to be a protest at some point."....
See full article HERE
Crown sidelined as King enters Ihumatao row
Māori-Crown Relationships Minister Kelvin Davis hopes the intervention of the Kiingitanga can bring some resolution to the stand off at Ihumātao
Kiingi Tuheitia visited Ihumātao on Saturday and invited the parties to meet at Hopuhopu later in the week.
Kelvin Davis says a lot of discussion led up to that point, and he hopes it will continue in a similar positive vein.
He's not sure what role if any the Government will play.
"That's up to the participants really. We're told as the crown to stay out of Māori issues.
Māori have sought a Māori-focused resolution and I really welcome that. That is the way it should be and the crown comes in if and when we're invited," he says.....
See full article HERE
The legal threat and the big opportunity in Māori engagement on climate change response
As local councils respond to the effects of climate change, they'll need to properly consider Māori interests, new research warns. Treaty breaches and litigation will follow if they don't. Carmen Parahi reports.
The Waitangi Tribunal has already found the RMA is not fully Treaty compliant, says Iorns. A local council could make a decision that complies with the RMA but still violates Māori interests and breaches the Treaty.
"At the moment, local councils are not treated as being liable as Treaty partners, that falls to the Crown.
"Therefore, local councils could be making decisions that create problems for the Crown for modern Treaty breaches.".....
See full article HERE
Teuila Fuatai: Nasty criticism surfaces at Ihumātao
The evolving media coverage of the protest at Ihumātao tells an interesting story.
As those backing the protest group Soul (Save Our Unique Landscape) prepare for a third week of occupation, negotiations involving interested parties continue.
King Tūheitia's visit to the disputed site at the weekend was a significant achievement for Soul. Until then, the group's objections to the planned Fletcher housing development had not been publicly acknowledged by the Kingitanga — despite its location on the northern edge of the Waikato-Tainui rohe......
See full article HERE (Paywall)
Labour MP vents on Ihumātao: 'Back-room deals must stop'
The Government has talked to other iwi about the possibility of the Crown buying back disputed land as a way to break the Ihumātao deadlock, Labour MP Peeni Henare says.
But the suggestion was rebuffed, with other tribes threatening to re-litigate their Treaty of Waitangi settlements if the buy-back plan went ahead, according to Henare.......
See full article HERE
Government spends $10 million on Ngāpuhi over 10 years
The government has spent more than $10 million of taxpayer money trying - and failing - to get Northland iwi Ngāpuhi to enter into treaty settlement negotiations since 2009.
Figures obtained under the Official Information Act show its latest attempt to establish a new mandate - which was voted down by hapū in December last year - cost $1.4 million.
The total of $10,188,633 spent over a decade excludes Te Puni Kōkiri costs, Te Arawhiti permanent staff costs, and funding of staff working in the Treaty Settlement Office......
See full article HERE
Ihumātao protest: Jacinda Ardern has 'no intention' to visit site
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she has "no intention" to visit the Ihumātao protest site at this stage.
Ardern wouldn't rule out the Government purchasing the land, but said that was a hypothetical at the moment.....
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/08/ihum-tao-protest-jacinda-ardern-has-no-intention-to-visit-site.html
Ihumātao protesters move past frontline: ‘We’re in for the long haul'
Occupiers have moved down Ihumātao Quarry Road about 50m over the weekend, past the previous police-guarded frontline and the police headquarters onsite.
A handful of tents have been set up in a previously-blocked field, breaching a line that a dozen or so officers were holding earlier last week. There are now only two officers at that line.
Previously the front line had been at the top of the road, about 50 metres away. However, the police said there was never an agreement for people to walk up the maunga.....
See full article HERE
Māori Party casting for direction forward
President Che Wilson says the 5 percent threshold is too high at this time, so that path involves winning a seat, with Te Tai Hauāuru or Waiariki the best prospects.
While the Greens' conference at the weekend was unsettled by a debate over the party was becoming too centrist, he says his party is only concerned about being Māori.
"Whether it’s left or right, that’s not a Māori way of seeing politics. That’s a Pākehā way of seeing politics and we’re just focusing on being the Māori voice that doesn’t need to ask permission from anyone else to be Māori, to celebrate being Māori, and not to focus on universalism or trying to give an equal share to everyone," Mr Wilson says......
See full article HERE
Rent to Buy does nothing when it comes to Maori housing
“What we would like to see is every one of our people owning their own home – free of the rental market.” Said Matthew Tukaki, Executive Director of the Maori Council.
For Maori what would work is a national Maori Housing Authority where we could begin really taking a look at the ownership structure of Maori land, the business and capital case for building more homes and houses as well as more targeted forms of co-investment into building the housing base.” Tukaki said
“By pulling everything under a Maori Housing Authority, including the Papakainga investments, we can also look at the shift of housing stock currently owned by the Crown into iwi or hapu ownership.....
See full article HERE
Ihumātao: Auckland councillors call for reduced police presence
Two Auckland city councillors say an increased police presence at Ihumātao has run roughshod over the prime minister's commitment to enter peaceful and honest talks with protesters.
Councillor Efeso Collins said he was disappointed and saddened.
"The police presence is a complete overkill, it's unjustified," he said.
Councillor Cathy Casey said the council unanimously supported a motion to bring all parties together to facilitate a peaceful outcome and the prime minister was also seeking a negotiated settlement.
"We call on the government to show good faith in their commitment to resolving the crisis by reducing the police presence," she said.....
See full article HERE
Tuesday August 6, 2019
Iwi corrects New Zealand Geographic Board
Ohakune-based iwi Ngāti Rangi has corrected the New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) on their recent incorrect spelling of Ohakune as “Ōhakune”.
Chairman Che Wilson said he was shocked and disappointed that the NZGB failed to consult with Ngāti Rangi during the name change process.
“Ohakune has an important meaning to us as Ngāti Rangi and to our communities. The NZGB need to consult with all of us before making ill-informed decisions.”
See full article HERE
Armed Police at Ihumātao is history repeating itself
‘Armed Police at Ihumātao is history repeating itself’ The Māori Party condemns the actions of armed Police who attempted to block Ihumātao protectors from access to the maunga to conduct waerea, karakia and waiata today.
“What is the state of relations between tangata whenua and the State when peaceful whenua protectors are subjected to the terror of Police bearing arms?”....
See full article HERE
Social licence to develop Ihumātao lost
A leader of Save Our Unique Landscape says Fletcher has lost the social licence to build at Ihumātao.
"I think it's been made clear Fletchers has lost the social licence to build. What we have seen around the motu has been a huge awakening of what has been happening here at Ihumātao in terms of the bigger picture of what the people of Ihumātao have had to face around the desecration of the awa, the moana, the maunga and all of those sorts of things," she says……
See full article HERE
Complex health system harms Māori outcomes
University of Auckland experts are blaming a complex and fragmented health system for compounding the inequalities Māori and other groups are experiencing in access to care and health outcomes.
They recommend a major overhaul, including a far greater focus on prevention and tackling the underlying drivers of health inequities, such as housing, institutional racism, and food and alcohol industries.
They also want to see Māori groups to lead and govern indigenous health services......
See full article HERE
Te Mata Peak park application sent back over failure to consult with tangata whenua properly
But the council has returned the trust's application because it failed to include various pieces of information. One of these was the detail showing there had been genuine and meaningful consultation with tangata whenua.
"Consultation means a little bit more than ringing someone and asking 'what do you think?'. It's not a difficult procedure, but it has to be done properly. I've always told them that in light of what happened we would need to go through the correct process. I'd need to take it back to our people and see what they think. That hasn't occurred," MacDonald said......
See full article HERE
Marae at risk of being 'totally consumed by rising sea'
Mrs Tumahai said the symposium was an important step for the iwi in its commitment to addressing the growing threat of climate change.
"Many of our marae are found in low-lying, coastal areas and as such are at risk of coastal erosion and in some cases, of being totally consumed by rising sea levels in the coming years....
See full article HERE
Monday August 5, 2019
RNZ: Ihumātao: Protesters accept Kiingitanga's offer to host hui
Those against a development at Ihumātao have accepted the Kiingitanga's offer to host a hui for all mana whenua to find a resolution.
"The Kiingitanga is here for all mana whenua. The issues are complex, which is why all mana whenua have been invited.
The government nor Fletcher building will be part of the hui (meeting).
The Kiingitanga have suggested meeting before 14 August.....
See full article HERE
Scoop: King Tūheitia visits Ihumātao
Wilson stated, “you couldn’t help but cry as you heard the shared history, blow by blow, as you reflected on the Crowns deliberate attempts to eliminate the people of Ihumātao and all of Tainui as staunch supporters of the Kīngitanga.”
However, the government must front up and pay to seek resolution as the Crown created this mess.” says Wilson....
See full article HERE
Maori Everywhere: NZ Maori Council calls on National Leader to apologize; Reminds National it failed Maori
“Across the parties, and moving forward, we need to strengthen Maori Crown relations and our focus must be around hope, aspiration and opportunity for our people ....”
See full article HERE
Sunday August 4, 2019:
Waatea News: Hauora Coalition expands reach into Waikato
The National Hauora Coalition will double its enrolled population to more than 200,000 patients by bringing another 23 general practices under the Primary Health Organisation.
This includes an increase of Māori enrolled patients from 18,000 to 42,000.
Seventeen practices in Waikato and six in Waitematā will join in October, adding to the 30 practices the coalition now services in Auckland, Counties- Manukau, Waikato and Whanganui District Health Boards.
"We are very conscious around Māori values, tikanga Māori. We are very conscious around Māori preferences, Māori aspirations. It is a very explicit part of our charter and it is a crucial and important part of the advancement of Māori industry interests in primary care which I hope over the next 10 years will grow," he says.......
See full article HERE
Waatea News: Government funding boost as Ahuwhenua embraces horticulture
Government funding for the Ahuwhenua Trophy will increase as the competition expands to include horticulture.
Part of the sponsorship will include 12,000 tree seedlings supplied by the Minginui Nursery, and made possible through the One Billion Trees Programme.
Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta told delegates at today’s Horticulture New Zealand conference in Hamilton that Māori are now major players in the horticultural sector, producing at least 10 percent of the annual kiwifruit crop, as well as avocados and berries as rapidly expanding crops.....
See full article HERE
Stuff: Meng Foon, te reo Māori speaker, race relations commissioner
Now, 59-year-old Foon hopes to use that ability to immerse himself in other cultures in his new role of Race Relations Commissioner.
Where better to start, you might think, than making te reo compulsory in schools. Foon reckons all primary school children should learn Māori,
From the wars, land confiscations and cultural suppression endured by Māori to the poll tax and discrimination suffered by the Chinese immigrants who came before him.
See full article HERE
Herald: Kīngitanga flag raised at Ihumātao, to stay until resolution reached
The King has raised the Kīngitanga flag just outside the main tent which is on the front line.
A Kīngitanga spokesperson says the flag will stay at Ihumātao and be returned to the King once a resolution has been reached at this whenua.
See full article HERE
NZ City: Hundreds have descended upon south Auckland in response to the Maori King's call for solidarity
Nineteen buses from the Waikato made the journey to the disputed Ihumatao land early this morning, to show a united front.....
See full article HERE
This Breaking Views Update monitors race relations in the media on a weekly basis. A summary of new material being added is emailed out during the week - to subscribe (or unsubscribe) to the mailout, please use the form at the top of the Breaking Views sidebar. If you would like to send Letters to the Editor in response to any of these articles, most media addresses can be found HERE.
See full article HERE
Crown Forests return to Rangitane Iwi
Rangitane Ta Mai Ra Trust - the Post Settlement Governance entity for the Rangitane Treaty Claims, have regained possession of three former Crown Forestry Blocks - Castlehill, Tinui and the Waihora portion of Whareama. The return of the Ngaumu forests represents the most significant property transaction in the Ta Mai Ra settlement at nearly 6,000 hectares
At present Ta Mai Ra are seeking interest from their iwi membership to access these blocks for hunting. Any whanau hunters who are registered with the iwi can apply. You can register by contacting info@tumaira.iwi.nz or 0800 Tu Mai Ra (88-624-72).....
See full article HERE
Research looks to improve neonatal care experiences for Māori
Research led by Victoria University of Wellington academics that aims to improve the care provided to Māori families in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) has had a Health Research Council funding boost.
To address this issue, Dr Stevenson and her fellow researchers have proposed a new care pathway for neonatal intensive care units. This pathway builds on existing care processes to address the difficulties faced by Māori families, with a strong focus on instilling whakawhanaunga through NICU policies and practices......
See full article HERE
Partial review of Conservation and National Parks coming
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage and the New Zealand Conservation Authority have directed the Department of Conservation (DOC) to undertake partial reviews of the Conservation General Policy and the General Policy for National Parks, to give better effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
The direction is in response to the recent Supreme Court decision in Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, a case which examined the way DOC considered Treaty principles when it granted two commercial tour concessions on Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands.
“Improving the way Treaty principles are considered in conservation decisions is also a priority for the New Zealand Conservation Authority,” says the Authority chairperson, Edward Ellison.....
See full article HERE
Government 'abandons construction industry'
Government has demonstrated its contempt for developers and the construction industry in its handling of the Ihumatao protest.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has this morning tried to simplify this issue, suggesting it is about talks between Maori who are seeking a "for Maori by Maori solution." She has said the Government’s role is to support talks taking place.
"In this message the government has distanced itself from its legal obligations to protect private land ownership, and has thereby created far reaching uncertainty for all construction companies committing to land development," says Leighton Baker, New Conservative leader......
See full article HERE
Ihumātao protest movement has 'based its campaign on misinformation' – iwi advocate
Tensions at disputed site Ihumātao have "lifted the cauldron on Māori dissatisfaction", an iwi advocate says.
Pita Turei said: "The first thing we need to understand is that a million-and-a-half people in New Zealand live on stolen land", adding that we "can't change the rule book without a wider discussion"......
See full article HERE
New name, new visitor centre for Wanganui's Bushy Park
Wanganui's Bushy Park has a new name ahead of the opening on a new visitor centre in September.
The combined forest sanctuary and historic homestead is now Bushy Park Tarapuruhi - with tarapuruhi meaning "place of abundant bird life".....
See full article HERE
Racist undertones in submissions on prospect of land being gifted back to Tauranga iwi
A Western Bay of Plenty councillor and mayoral candidate is trying to block land being returned to Māori after it was sold by missionaries who never owned it in the first place.
Margaret Murray-Benge says giving 11 Mission Street, in Tauranga, to the Otamataha Trust, who represent Ngāti Tapu and Ngāi Tamarāwaho, to right a historical wrong should not occur as Māori cannot be trusted to keep their word.
The Trust plans to lease the land to neighbouring heritage building society, The Elms, at a peppercorn rent of $1 per year for the next 100 years.
But Murray-Benge says if the transfer goes through Māori would "demand every piece of land in Tauranga".....
See full article HERE
Little rules out law change to allow return of privately owned land to Māori
reaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little is ruling out a law change to open up private land for return to Māori in treaty settlements.
The protest has driven calls for the return of confiscated lands to Māori but many MMP's refuse to say where they stand on the issue
But that's not how it works. The Waitangi Tribunal can't legally order the Crown to acquire or return private land that was confiscated to Māori.
It is at the discretion of the government whether to consider negotiating for the return of private lands, but it generally does not.
Some Māori leaders have spoken out that the rule is unfair and needs to go, but the Minister Andrew Little said that's not going to happen.
"I don't ever see a time where we would pass a law that says the Waitangi Tribunal can make orders in relation to privately owned land," he said.
"That would be a hornets nest that no-ones going to bite off."
He said in short, the Crown cannot return what it no longer owns......
See full article HERE
Calls for government to allow return of privately owned land to Māori
The government is being urged to revoke a law that prevents Māori from getting their confiscated land back if it has moved into private ownership.
Māori Council executive director Matthew Tukaki said the law needed to be revoked.
"Ihumātao is just going to be one of the first sites that our people are making a stand on. It wouldn't surprise me if Shelly Bay down in Wellington is going to be the next.
"There are sites around the Gate Pā area in Tauranga ... it wouldn't surprise me if there was going to be a protest at some point."....
See full article HERE
Crown sidelined as King enters Ihumatao row
Māori-Crown Relationships Minister Kelvin Davis hopes the intervention of the Kiingitanga can bring some resolution to the stand off at Ihumātao
Kiingi Tuheitia visited Ihumātao on Saturday and invited the parties to meet at Hopuhopu later in the week.
Kelvin Davis says a lot of discussion led up to that point, and he hopes it will continue in a similar positive vein.
He's not sure what role if any the Government will play.
"That's up to the participants really. We're told as the crown to stay out of Māori issues.
Māori have sought a Māori-focused resolution and I really welcome that. That is the way it should be and the crown comes in if and when we're invited," he says.....
See full article HERE
The legal threat and the big opportunity in Māori engagement on climate change response
As local councils respond to the effects of climate change, they'll need to properly consider Māori interests, new research warns. Treaty breaches and litigation will follow if they don't. Carmen Parahi reports.
The Waitangi Tribunal has already found the RMA is not fully Treaty compliant, says Iorns. A local council could make a decision that complies with the RMA but still violates Māori interests and breaches the Treaty.
"At the moment, local councils are not treated as being liable as Treaty partners, that falls to the Crown.
"Therefore, local councils could be making decisions that create problems for the Crown for modern Treaty breaches.".....
See full article HERE
Teuila Fuatai: Nasty criticism surfaces at Ihumātao
The evolving media coverage of the protest at Ihumātao tells an interesting story.
As those backing the protest group Soul (Save Our Unique Landscape) prepare for a third week of occupation, negotiations involving interested parties continue.
King Tūheitia's visit to the disputed site at the weekend was a significant achievement for Soul. Until then, the group's objections to the planned Fletcher housing development had not been publicly acknowledged by the Kingitanga — despite its location on the northern edge of the Waikato-Tainui rohe......
See full article HERE (Paywall)
Labour MP vents on Ihumātao: 'Back-room deals must stop'
The Government has talked to other iwi about the possibility of the Crown buying back disputed land as a way to break the Ihumātao deadlock, Labour MP Peeni Henare says.
But the suggestion was rebuffed, with other tribes threatening to re-litigate their Treaty of Waitangi settlements if the buy-back plan went ahead, according to Henare.......
See full article HERE
Government spends $10 million on Ngāpuhi over 10 years
The government has spent more than $10 million of taxpayer money trying - and failing - to get Northland iwi Ngāpuhi to enter into treaty settlement negotiations since 2009.
Figures obtained under the Official Information Act show its latest attempt to establish a new mandate - which was voted down by hapū in December last year - cost $1.4 million.
The total of $10,188,633 spent over a decade excludes Te Puni Kōkiri costs, Te Arawhiti permanent staff costs, and funding of staff working in the Treaty Settlement Office......
See full article HERE
Ihumātao protest: Jacinda Ardern has 'no intention' to visit site
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she has "no intention" to visit the Ihumātao protest site at this stage.
Ardern wouldn't rule out the Government purchasing the land, but said that was a hypothetical at the moment.....
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/08/ihum-tao-protest-jacinda-ardern-has-no-intention-to-visit-site.html
Ihumātao protesters move past frontline: ‘We’re in for the long haul'
Occupiers have moved down Ihumātao Quarry Road about 50m over the weekend, past the previous police-guarded frontline and the police headquarters onsite.
A handful of tents have been set up in a previously-blocked field, breaching a line that a dozen or so officers were holding earlier last week. There are now only two officers at that line.
Previously the front line had been at the top of the road, about 50 metres away. However, the police said there was never an agreement for people to walk up the maunga.....
See full article HERE
Māori Party casting for direction forward
President Che Wilson says the 5 percent threshold is too high at this time, so that path involves winning a seat, with Te Tai Hauāuru or Waiariki the best prospects.
While the Greens' conference at the weekend was unsettled by a debate over the party was becoming too centrist, he says his party is only concerned about being Māori.
"Whether it’s left or right, that’s not a Māori way of seeing politics. That’s a Pākehā way of seeing politics and we’re just focusing on being the Māori voice that doesn’t need to ask permission from anyone else to be Māori, to celebrate being Māori, and not to focus on universalism or trying to give an equal share to everyone," Mr Wilson says......
See full article HERE
Rent to Buy does nothing when it comes to Maori housing
“What we would like to see is every one of our people owning their own home – free of the rental market.” Said Matthew Tukaki, Executive Director of the Maori Council.
For Maori what would work is a national Maori Housing Authority where we could begin really taking a look at the ownership structure of Maori land, the business and capital case for building more homes and houses as well as more targeted forms of co-investment into building the housing base.” Tukaki said
“By pulling everything under a Maori Housing Authority, including the Papakainga investments, we can also look at the shift of housing stock currently owned by the Crown into iwi or hapu ownership.....
See full article HERE
Ihumātao: Auckland councillors call for reduced police presence
Two Auckland city councillors say an increased police presence at Ihumātao has run roughshod over the prime minister's commitment to enter peaceful and honest talks with protesters.
Councillor Efeso Collins said he was disappointed and saddened.
"The police presence is a complete overkill, it's unjustified," he said.
Councillor Cathy Casey said the council unanimously supported a motion to bring all parties together to facilitate a peaceful outcome and the prime minister was also seeking a negotiated settlement.
"We call on the government to show good faith in their commitment to resolving the crisis by reducing the police presence," she said.....
See full article HERE
Tuesday August 6, 2019
Iwi corrects New Zealand Geographic Board
Ohakune-based iwi Ngāti Rangi has corrected the New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) on their recent incorrect spelling of Ohakune as “Ōhakune”.
Chairman Che Wilson said he was shocked and disappointed that the NZGB failed to consult with Ngāti Rangi during the name change process.
“Ohakune has an important meaning to us as Ngāti Rangi and to our communities. The NZGB need to consult with all of us before making ill-informed decisions.”
See full article HERE
Armed Police at Ihumātao is history repeating itself
‘Armed Police at Ihumātao is history repeating itself’ The Māori Party condemns the actions of armed Police who attempted to block Ihumātao protectors from access to the maunga to conduct waerea, karakia and waiata today.
“What is the state of relations between tangata whenua and the State when peaceful whenua protectors are subjected to the terror of Police bearing arms?”....
See full article HERE
Social licence to develop Ihumātao lost
A leader of Save Our Unique Landscape says Fletcher has lost the social licence to build at Ihumātao.
"I think it's been made clear Fletchers has lost the social licence to build. What we have seen around the motu has been a huge awakening of what has been happening here at Ihumātao in terms of the bigger picture of what the people of Ihumātao have had to face around the desecration of the awa, the moana, the maunga and all of those sorts of things," she says……
See full article HERE
Complex health system harms Māori outcomes
University of Auckland experts are blaming a complex and fragmented health system for compounding the inequalities Māori and other groups are experiencing in access to care and health outcomes.
They recommend a major overhaul, including a far greater focus on prevention and tackling the underlying drivers of health inequities, such as housing, institutional racism, and food and alcohol industries.
They also want to see Māori groups to lead and govern indigenous health services......
See full article HERE
Te Mata Peak park application sent back over failure to consult with tangata whenua properly
But the council has returned the trust's application because it failed to include various pieces of information. One of these was the detail showing there had been genuine and meaningful consultation with tangata whenua.
"Consultation means a little bit more than ringing someone and asking 'what do you think?'. It's not a difficult procedure, but it has to be done properly. I've always told them that in light of what happened we would need to go through the correct process. I'd need to take it back to our people and see what they think. That hasn't occurred," MacDonald said......
See full article HERE
Marae at risk of being 'totally consumed by rising sea'
Mrs Tumahai said the symposium was an important step for the iwi in its commitment to addressing the growing threat of climate change.
"Many of our marae are found in low-lying, coastal areas and as such are at risk of coastal erosion and in some cases, of being totally consumed by rising sea levels in the coming years....
See full article HERE
Monday August 5, 2019
RNZ: Ihumātao: Protesters accept Kiingitanga's offer to host hui
Those against a development at Ihumātao have accepted the Kiingitanga's offer to host a hui for all mana whenua to find a resolution.
"The Kiingitanga is here for all mana whenua. The issues are complex, which is why all mana whenua have been invited.
The government nor Fletcher building will be part of the hui (meeting).
The Kiingitanga have suggested meeting before 14 August.....
See full article HERE
Scoop: King Tūheitia visits Ihumātao
Wilson stated, “you couldn’t help but cry as you heard the shared history, blow by blow, as you reflected on the Crowns deliberate attempts to eliminate the people of Ihumātao and all of Tainui as staunch supporters of the Kīngitanga.”
However, the government must front up and pay to seek resolution as the Crown created this mess.” says Wilson....
See full article HERE
Maori Everywhere: NZ Maori Council calls on National Leader to apologize; Reminds National it failed Maori
“Across the parties, and moving forward, we need to strengthen Maori Crown relations and our focus must be around hope, aspiration and opportunity for our people ....”
See full article HERE
Sunday August 4, 2019:
Waatea News: Hauora Coalition expands reach into Waikato
The National Hauora Coalition will double its enrolled population to more than 200,000 patients by bringing another 23 general practices under the Primary Health Organisation.
This includes an increase of Māori enrolled patients from 18,000 to 42,000.
Seventeen practices in Waikato and six in Waitematā will join in October, adding to the 30 practices the coalition now services in Auckland, Counties- Manukau, Waikato and Whanganui District Health Boards.
"We are very conscious around Māori values, tikanga Māori. We are very conscious around Māori preferences, Māori aspirations. It is a very explicit part of our charter and it is a crucial and important part of the advancement of Māori industry interests in primary care which I hope over the next 10 years will grow," he says.......
See full article HERE
Waatea News: Government funding boost as Ahuwhenua embraces horticulture
Government funding for the Ahuwhenua Trophy will increase as the competition expands to include horticulture.
Part of the sponsorship will include 12,000 tree seedlings supplied by the Minginui Nursery, and made possible through the One Billion Trees Programme.
Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta told delegates at today’s Horticulture New Zealand conference in Hamilton that Māori are now major players in the horticultural sector, producing at least 10 percent of the annual kiwifruit crop, as well as avocados and berries as rapidly expanding crops.....
See full article HERE
Stuff: Meng Foon, te reo Māori speaker, race relations commissioner
Now, 59-year-old Foon hopes to use that ability to immerse himself in other cultures in his new role of Race Relations Commissioner.
Where better to start, you might think, than making te reo compulsory in schools. Foon reckons all primary school children should learn Māori,
From the wars, land confiscations and cultural suppression endured by Māori to the poll tax and discrimination suffered by the Chinese immigrants who came before him.
See full article HERE
Herald: Kīngitanga flag raised at Ihumātao, to stay until resolution reached
The King has raised the Kīngitanga flag just outside the main tent which is on the front line.
A Kīngitanga spokesperson says the flag will stay at Ihumātao and be returned to the King once a resolution has been reached at this whenua.
See full article HERE
NZ City: Hundreds have descended upon south Auckland in response to the Maori King's call for solidarity
Nineteen buses from the Waikato made the journey to the disputed Ihumatao land early this morning, to show a united front.....
See full article HERE
This Breaking Views Update monitors race relations in the media on a weekly basis. A summary of new material being added is emailed out during the week - to subscribe (or unsubscribe) to the mailout, please use the form at the top of the Breaking Views sidebar. If you would like to send Letters to the Editor in response to any of these articles, most media addresses can be found HERE.
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