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Saturday, October 5, 2019

Breaking Views Update: Week of 29.09.19







Saturday October 5, 2019

News:
Pacific and Māori voyaging heritage celebrated for Tuia 250
New Zealand’s Pacific and Māori voyaging heritage is acknowledged and celebrated today as waka of the Tuia 250 voyage flotilla arrive in Tūranga / Gisborne.

“Today we celebrate Tangata Whenua, the first people of Aotearoa, and the triumphs of the voyaging tradition that brought our ancestors here from Polynesia 1000 years ago,” Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Kelvin Davis said.

“Today is an historic opportunity for the whole of New Zealand to celebrate the navigational feats of Paikea, Ikaroa-a-Rauru, Horouta, Tereanini and Takitimu,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.....
See full article HERE

Emotions run high ahead of Tuia 250 in Gisborne
Preparations in Gisborne are ramping up ahead of the Tuia 250 commemorations, as the East Coast region confronts its fraught colonial history.

It has taken 15 years to get off the ground but it will kick off tomorrow in Gisborne, with over 10,000 people expected to converge upon the city for the commemoration.

On 8 October, the tall ships will arrive on shores, and join the waka to make up the flotilla, which will travel around the rest of the country together.......
See full article HERE

Jacinda Ardern calls on New Zealanders to 'talk about our history much more openly' during Tuia 250
The Prime Minister said New Zealand should continue to learn and tell the full story of the country's colonial past, even after the commemorations have ended.

"We are a young country and I think, actually, sometimes, we lose sight of that because there is so much wisdom and knowledge in the Māori culture that we, sometimes, I think, forget actually, our encounters, they weren’t so long ago," she said......
See full article HERE

Articles:
New Zealand police sergeant shares insight on colonialism and restorative justice.

Turning the clock back makes a tragedy of the present for Māori

The forgotten history of Pākehā slaves

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 October 4, 2019

News:
Algae research blooms with exploration of taonga seaweed speciesThe funding is part of the High-Value Nutrition's (HVN) National Science Challenge, and is looking into developing a Māori taonga species of seaweed closely related to Japanese nori into a high-value product.

Cawthron is working in collaboration with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Wakatū Incorporation to explore the potential of the seaweed karengo, and has received $596,000 from HVN towards that work....
See full article HERE

Rātana largest Māori religion
Rātana continues to be the largest Māori religion, with 43,821 people identifying with the haahi in Census 2008.

Ringatū counted 12,336 adherants.

Some 3699 people said they followed Māori religions, beliefs and philosophies without specifying a denomination, and 1194 said they were followers of Paimārire.

Destiny Church had 1722 admitted followers......
See full article HERE

Iwi keen for say in Auckland Port move
Tāmaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare wants to see a strong Māori presence in any discussions about the future of the Port of Auckland in the wake of a report calling for the relocation of port operations to Whangārei and Tauranga.

Mr Henare says whatever happens with the current study, some change is inevitable and iwi including Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei want to be involved in the decision making.

"It would have a significant look on at least the way our port looks, the kind of traffic in our harbour, and it will spread those jobs elsewhere in the country. In my discussions with Ngāti Whātua, they have always been big advocates of redesigning and making sure the waterfront down there is utilised the best it can be and has a really strong Māori flavour to it," he says......
See full article HERE

New challenge for Distinguished Professor Ruru
University of Otago law professor has been named one of seven professors singled out for acknowledgement as part of the university's 150th anniversary celebration.

Professor Ruru, who started her academic career there as an assistant lecturer in 1999, says she's grateful for the freedom the university gave her to teach in a way that made sense for Māori students and the support it offered to forge a research career in areas that were dear to her heart.

"Challenging the status quo, challenging our legal system to think about new ways for our legal system to find solutions that make sense to Māori particularly around our rights and interests in land and water, our ownership, governance and management," she says.....
See full article HERE

Te reo loanwords in National Science Challenge discourse
New Zealand English is recognised for its heavy borrowing of words from Māori, a characteristic which is currently increasing. It is suggested that this adaption is used to self-differentiate New Zealanders from inhabitants of other English-speaking countries such as England or Australia.

Motivation behind the use of loanwords in Aotearoa is complex; there is still a big question of whether use is positive or perpetuating negative stereotypes. Nonetheless, it is strongly encouraged by many groups, including the Māori Language Commission.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
New Zealand braces for protests ahead of anniversary of Captain Cook's landing

Thursday October 3, 2019

News:
Public support for Walking Access ActThe Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) recently announced strong public support and need for the Walking Access Act 2008.

The news comes after a mandatory review of the Act, which the MPI completes every 10 years. The review looked at whether the Act is fit for the future and what improvements are needed. This included considering access to the outdoors in cities, towns, rural areas and further afield, and access to wāhi tapu and other areas of cultural significance.

The review has made 30 recommendations and proposed six technical legislative changes. Amongst those recommendations are changing the name of the Act and the commission to reflect its work leading and supporting public access to the outdoors generally, rather than solely walking access. They also include acknowledging the Māori-Crown relationship under the Treaty of Waitangi through a partnership approach between the commission and Māori......
See full article HERE

Sorry not enough for Cook rampage

One of the organisers of protests against Tuia 250 commemorations says while she respects the right of Gisborne iwi and hapū to receive a statement of regret from the British government for those killed and wounded when the Endeavour landed in Tūranganui a Kiwa, the rest of Māoridom is also owed an apology.

Tina Ngata says the arrival of Lieutenant James Cook in 1769 was the birth of colonialism on Aotearoa.

She says any celebration of Cook ignores multiple killings around the country.

"He barely went a week in his time here without shooting at people or torturing them or killing them. We really need to pull the veil back on a lot of those experiences, and as much as Tuia 250 has tried to maintain that it is about honest conversations, more often than not it has suppressed and sanitised and watered down the truth of what happened," Ms Ngata says.....
See full article HERE

Brash wants UK ambassador removed over Captain Cook deaths regret.
Brash has now accused Clarke of getting involved in New Zealand race relations and meddling in the "politicised" 250-year anniversary commemorations of Cook's arrival, calling for her to be withdrawn.

"She acknowledged Cook's regret over the deaths but inflated the death toll to nine without acknowledging that he recorded in his diary four or five deaths at Gisborne," he said.

"Unwittingly, the British High Commissioner sided with activists and helped them score a major propaganda point.".....
See full article HERE

'Extremely unhelpful': Prominent historian Anne Salmond criticises Brash's claims about Māori deaths
Dame Anne Salmond, a prominent historian from Gisborne who has been part of conversations about the deaths with Tūranga iwi, said the truth was there was uncertainty about what had happened and that direct witnesses to the events had disagreed.

She said it was generally agreed nine people had been shot, at least four or five fatally, but it was not clear how many of the others were killed.

"Trying to make this a simple matter is extremely unhelpful, which is what Don Brash is trying to do … because the fact of the matter is the accounts themselves are confused about how many people died," she said.

"When you're shooting people with muskets you can't necessarily see who's dead and who's not.".....
See full article HERE

Environment top concern for Māori
Māori were more likely than other ethnicities to identify environmental problems.

That’s one of the findings of Statistics New Zealand’s 2018 General Social Survey, which interviewed people about a range of topics.

Wellbeing and housing statistics manager Dr Claire Bretherton says recent migrants, who had moved to New Zealand within the last five years, were the least likely to identify environmental problems compared with longer-term migrants and those born here.

Four out of five New Zealanders are concerned about freshwater quality in rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands......
See full article HERE

Awarua Runanga proposes traditional fishing reserve
A Mataitai reserve - an identified traditional fishing ground - has been proposed for the coastline around Omaui in Southland.

''They recognise the special relationship between tangata whenua and their traditional fishing grounds''.

Customary fishing rights were guaranteed to tangata whenua under the Treaty of Waitangi, Mr Anderson said.

''These rights are protected by law. As part of the settlement of Maori claims to fisheries resources, regulations were promulgated that allow, on application, for the Minister of Fisheries to declare areas to be mataitai reserves and appoint tangata tiaki/kaitiaki.''

It would join 45 other mataitai reserves in the country, 34 of which are in the South Island.....
See full article HERE

Māori Women's Welfare League says government failing Māori
The government has failed to deliver transformative change for Māori - that's the clear message the Māori Women's Welfare League president has sent to members at this year's national conference.

She said in three years the government had made little progress in reducing inequities for Māori women and whānau in the justice, health, education, and state care system.

"We are very clear as a people, our tīpuna were very clear, that we as Māori have the solutions for us as Māori.

"We don't need to be empowered by structures that are institutions of colonisation."....
See full article HERE

Maori generously gift another name
The official opening of the Te Puke Centre will be at 6am next Monday with a blessing and the gifting of a name and whakatauki by local iwi.....
See full article HERE

Radical new housing programme launched by Organise Aotearoa
Community-led socialist organisation, Organise Aotearoa, has launched a radical new programme and set of demands to improve the state of housing and eliminate homelessness in New Zealand.

“These struggles have informed our kaupapa. They are all connected under the capitalist system that was brought to Aotearoa by the British Empire - a system that we must move beyond if we’re to ensure the wellbeing of all people.” ......
See full article HERE

Māori can take lead in international legal climate change
Activist Mike Smith is in Canada building up support for an international indigenous legal challenge to climate polluters.

Mr Smith, who chairs the Iwi Chairs Climate Change Forum, has been in Mexico with the United Nations Indigenous Caucus and in New York for the UN Secretary General's Climate Action Summit.

He says Māori are able to take the lead among indigenous peoples not just because of their experience using the courts to pursue treaty rights but because of the protection New Zealand offers.

"For a lot of indigenous communities, they are under the boot of some very repressive regimes that routinely kill their leaders if they are standing up for the environment or standing up for indigenous rights. In some countries there are death squads that go out and target leaders. In Aotearoa New Zealand we have the benefit of not getting assasinated and so I think we have a responsibility to give voice to these types of things whereas in other countries it is quite dangerous," Mr Smith says......
See full article HERE

Wednesday October 2, 2019

News:
Iwi to receive apology for Māori killed in James Cook meeting
Gisborne iwi are set to receive an apology this afternoon from the British High Commissioner for the Māori killed when James Cook arrived in 1769.

Laura Clarke will deliver an expression of regret to Rongowhakaata and other local iwi on behalf of the British government.

Clarke will deliver the apology at Whakato Marae.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page the Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust says the ceremony is to acknowledge the hara or atrocities committed 250 years ago.....
See full article HERE

Hopes iwi data tool will encourage greater voter turnout
The creator of a new online iwi data tool believes it will allow iwi to register more of its people, and see a greater voter turnout at elections.

The tool, called 'Your Iwi', allows people to plug in and find multiple iwi through an online portal. Their respective iwi or hapū are then notified, and can verify the person has the correct whakapapa....
See full article HERE

Cardinal speaks at Maori King occasion
“The Pope and the King spoke about issues pertaining to indigenous peoples and issues for Māori. I believe that it is true that Pope Francis is in tune with issues that face indigenous peoples throughout the world today,” Cardinal Dew said.

Cardinal Dew said 33 years ago St Pope John Paul II noted that the strengths of Māori values are the values that modern society is in danger of losing.....
See full article HERE

Iwi partnership highlight of Waikato council work
The chair of the Waikato Regional Council says strong partnerships with iwi are helping the council to achieve progress on issues like cleaning up the Waikato River.

Alan Livingston says the council achieved a small surplus this year against a forecast deficit of $1.6 million.

It also achieved a 15 percent reduction in carbon emissions, although this was largely due to less rainfall which meant less use of flood pumps.

He says partnerships and joint management agreements with iwi got further than just being a treaty obligation.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Bruce Moon: Death Ship Comment and Response

Much to learn from the ahi kaa of Ihumātao

Tuesday October 1, 2019

News:
The other names proposed for the Hawke's Bay Opera HouseThe Hawke's Bay Opera House and wider precinct has had many names over the years.

But the latest - Toitoi – Hawke's Bay Arts and Events Centre, has rankled some.

The Māori term, which means the pinnacle of achievement, is linked to ideas of excellence, encouragement and motivation, was chosen.

Hastings District Council said the four other options were; Ura, Wiri, Ioio and Aria.....
See full article HERE

Government isn't delivering for Māori
The Government’s failure to distribute the lauded $80 million funding boost for Whānau Ora to Whānau Ora providers is yet another example of its inability to deliver, National’s Māori Development spokesperson Jo Hayes says.

“In this year’s Budget, the Government announced $80 million of funding after it ignored Whānau Ora last year and didn’t give commissioners the funds they needed to continue with the positive, successful work of the programme.

“But it appears that Budget 2019 will be yet another disappointment for whānau. Holding back budgeted funds means that, once again, much-needed support won’t be delivered by frontline navigators and whānau will miss out.....
See full article HERE

Tararua iwi seeks to transform disused Woodville depot into cultural tourism centre
A Tararua iwi is looking to turn a disused depot into a vibrant cultural tourism attraction.

Council chief executive Blair King said the iwi's plans for the site offered the biggest benefit for the district, creating jobs, bringing in visitors and teaching Māori culture and history.

Ngāti Kahungunu's proposed visitor centre would house exhibitions and virtual reality experiences on Māori atua (gods), the history of the Manawatū Gorge and wind energy.

The trail would run through Te Āpiti Wind Farm, with turbine towers along the trail decorated with murals of atua, painted by world-renowned street artist Graeme Hoete.

The council has agreed to sell the Infracon depot site to the iwi for $400,000 – the highest offer received for the site – with $280,000 to be paid upfront and the rest going on the books as a loan from the council.

If the iwi meets certain conditions, the loan will be written off and effectively act as a grant towards the tourism project.....
See full article HERE

Owners picket as Pāpāmoa whenua exploited
Shareholders and trustees are at odds over mining of sand from whenua at Pāpāmoa and plans for development of a mini-city on the block.

Shareholders today picketed Tumu Kaituna 14 at the southern end of Pāpāmoa to protest the trustees' application for a new resource consent, tripling the amount of sand to be taken.

Spokesperson Renee Kiriona says it has been hard for shareholders to monitor the land, but photos from an owner who got onto the land and from Google Earth revealed three huge holes filled with contaminated water.....
See full article HERE

Wahine Toa path for gang reform
A woman trying to organise a Wahine Toa arm of Waikato's Mongrel Mob Kingdom says the gang is changing and should not be judged on past perceptions.

"The gangs are a direct effect of colonisation and assimilation in this country.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Ihumātao: What are the options for the Labour Government?

Monday September 30, 2019

News:
Iwi join water governance body 
Two iwi groups have joined the committee overseeing Wellington Water, the joint, council-owned organisation responsible for drinking, storm and waste water management for metropolitan Wellington and South Wairarapa.

Ngāti Toa and Taranaki Whānui will now each have a seat on the Wellington Water Committee, which also comprises a single member of each shareholding council.......
See full article HERE

Use of Te Reo Māori in exams
The University recognises and supports students who wish to use Te Reo Māori in assessments (including examinations).

A student intending to present work in Te Reo Māori will need to inform the Course Co-ordinator in advance so that they are able to meet the time frames below. The purpose of the notice of intention period is to allow the University sufficient time to make arrangements for translation and marking......
See full article HERE

Waitara battle sites focus of land wars commemoration
Battle sites around Waitara and particularly Te Kōhia pā - where the first shots of the New Zealand land wars were fired - will be the focus of commemorations of the conflict in Taranaki next month.

"The war in Taranaki started on 17 March in 1860 and lasted for about 21 years. There were battles and conflicts taking place across the entire region during that time - at Te Kōhia near Waitara, Puketakauere, Mahoetahi, Waireka, and also Turuturu-mōkai, Te Ngutu o te Manu and Tauranga-ika in south Taranaki just to name a few......
See full article HERE

Trust pleased with Crown decision to continue negotiations
Whakatōhea Pre Settlement Claims Trust (the Trust) is pleased with the Crown’s decision to continue settlement negotiations with Whakatōhea without delay, and in parallel to the Waitangi Tribunal District Inquiry into claims for the north-eastern Bay of Plenty area.

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Hon Andrew Little confirmed this decision today in an open letter published online where he outlined the Crown’s rationale for resuming negotiations with the Trust......
See full article HERE

Government improves participation with the public
Open Government Partnership's independent report on NZ's National Action Plan Design finds improved public engagement and seeks more aspirational open government commitments in 2020.

Government improves participation with the public on open government issues and could develop aspirational commitments for 2020-2022 through even more engagement with New Zealand’s Māori, Pasifika and migrant communities.....
See full article HERE

Rangatahi court lessons taken to district courts
The new District Court Chief Judge is keen to push what has been learned in ground-breaking specialist courts into the district courts.

Heemi Taumaunu from Ngāti Porou and Ngāi Tahu is the first Māori to head the court.

As 95 percent of New Zealanders will continue to interact with the justice system through the district courts, it's important what's learned in the specialist courts filters through......
See full article HERE

Māori authorities told to step into policy debates
A leading member of the Federation of Māori Authorities believes Māori organisations need to take a more high profile role in public policy formation.

"We've got many many matters that impact on Māori landowners so the critical issue is getting Māori to participate in the various policy work programmes, getting themselves informed because they impact on their businesses, they impact on them as employers, they impact on them in markets," he says.

Mr Morgan says Māori entities are outperforming the general business community......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Teaching history to schoolkids is a task that would defeat even Freyberg

WINZ tougher on beneficiaries in regions with high Maori populations

The Detail: The wrongful arrest of 20th-century Māori prophet Rua Kēnana

Hapū from Northland's Bay of Islands sad its story missed from Tuia 250 events

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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