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Saturday, January 25, 2020

Breaking Views Update: Week of 19.01.20







Saturday January 25, 2020

News:
National launches petition to overturn Motiti judgment 
National wants the Government to go back to the foreshore and seabed playbook and change the law to overturn a court decision that helped protect Māori rights.

Fisheries spokesperson Ian McKelvie says a Court of Appeal decision upholding the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s rights to create a protected marine area in the waters around Motiti Island meant local councils now have the power to apply fishing bans wherever they see fit.

He says National has launched a petition requesting the Government change the law to ensure this does not happen, leaving control of fisheries in the hands of the Fisheries Ministry......
See full article HERE

Fund to boost Māori and Pacific arts and culture
Economic Development Minister Hon. Phil Twyford has recently announced the new Creative and Cultural Events Incubator, which is funded through the Major Events Fund, will open on February 3.

Up to $1.5 million is available through to June 2022 for creative and cultural events which meet the criteria, especially events with a focus on Māori and Pacific arts and culture......
See full article HERE

Hamilton artists bring dull wall to life with mural featuring Waikato River, tūī
A large grey concrete wall in Hamilton has been transformed by what's thought to be one of the biggest murals in the country.

The design includes the awa, the Waikato River, tūī, the face of a wāhine representing Mātāriki, and references to the fertility of the area, as it's close to the site of early Māori gardens.
See full article HERE

Simon Bridges to Ratana: Challenge PM Jacinda Ardern on delivery to Māori
National Party leader Simon Bridges has told those gathered at Ratana that they should hold his rival Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to account for her claim that she would deliver for Māori.

He said they should now hold Labour and Ardern to account for delivering on what she had promised, before pointing to a ream of statistics such as unemployment and benefit numbers.

He pointed to National's history on Treaty settlements, and developments such as charter schools which some saw as giving Māori more self-determination.
See full article HERE

'Absolutely appalling': French lawyers accused of cultural appropriation after protest haka
STEAM Māori cultural adviser Karaitiana Taiuru told Newshub it was "absolutely appalling" and "disturbing" behaviour.

"There is no excuse in this modern age to claim ignorance with appropriating and mocking other people's culture.

"I would expect that the group make an open letter apology to Māori and New Zealanders who identify with the Haka......
See full article HERE

'Blatant cultural appropriation': Brazilian companies slammed for 'selling' Māori haka in corporate retreats
Brazilian companies selling corporate retreats where participants can learn haka have been slammed for "blatant cultural appropriation".

The founder of one of the companies, Haka Training, apologised for "hurting Māori" when approached by the Herald, stating the term "haka" is commonly used in Brazil out of love for Māori and respect for the ceremonial dance.

But Māori cultural advisor Karaitiana Taiuru says they, and similar company Haka Brazil, need to stop appropriating Māori culture and change their names......
See full article HERE

Labour's historic ties with Rātana church tested over handling of Māori issues
Labour's historic ties with the Rātana church are being tested over the Government's handling of several high-profile Māori issues, and a former Green Party candidate's deal with the Māori Party in the Rātana seat should have Labour worried.

Labour is facing a growing threat from a resurgent Maori Party this year. Rātana is in the Maori electorate Te Tai Hauauru and the current MP is Labour's Adrian Rurawhe.

Last election, Labour's candidate got 9791 votes, the Maori Party's 8752, the Green's got 2798.

That's nearly 3000 votes now up for grabs which could tip Labour's fragile majority or 1039.

The Prime Minister said she's "not worried" because Labour has an "excellent candidate".

National has no real hope of winning Rātana votes. But National leader Simon Bridges is building bridges and looking for mates. He's more optimistic about the Māori Party comeback......
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Opinion: Racist rhetoric has no place in gang debate

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 January 24, 2020

News:
Occupation ends, rahui beginsA four-day occupation protesting against a planned carpark and access road at the Kerikeri Inlet has ended, but opponents say they have placed a rāhui against any future development in the area.

Members of the hapū Te Uri Taniwha oppose plans by the Far North District Council and its commercial arm, Far North Holdings, to build a road to an existing jetty and boat ramp at Windsor Landing, off Kerikeri Inlet Rd. Built by a developer in the 1990s, then abandoned, the ramp is council-owned but has no official vehicle access. Currently boaties drive across a neighbouring private property to use it.

The council wants to put in an access road and a 20-space carpark to take pressure off overcrowded boat ramps on the other side of the inlet, which is opposed by some hapū members and local residents.......
See full article HERE

Government-Māori relationship to be highlighted at Rātana
The political year officially kicks off tomorrow with politicians' annual pilgrimage to Rātana and being an election year the stakes are even higher.

The government will front up to Rātana Pā near Whanganui with the Ihumātao dispute unlikely to be resolved.

With prominent Māori leaders also seeking an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing over Whānau Ora funding, politicians are under pressure to avoid further straining the relationship.....
See full article HERE

Rātana Pā goes high-tech with UFB
Iwi, hapu and visitors to Rātana Pā near Whanganui now have access to ultra-fast broadband following its connection, completed in time for annual Rātana celebrations, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says.

The connection and associated hardware were funded from the Provincial Growth Fund’s $21 million Marae Digital Connectivity programme, which aims to connect rural communities to the internet.

“I am delighted to see Rātana pā, such an important and spiritual place, connected to the ultra-fast broadband network,” Shane Jones said.....
See full article HERE

Ardern set to offer olive branch to Whānau Ora claimants
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is set to invite the Māori women leaders behind the Waitangi Tribunal claim on Whānau Ora to an urgent meeting with her following Whānau Ora Minister Peeni Henare's announcement of a small increase in direct funding.

The Herald understands the PM wants to hold a meeting before the start of Waitangi week on February 3 to thrash out their complaints......
See full article HERE

Māori leaders agree to meet Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern over Whānau Ora funding
The leaders seeking an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing over the handling of Whānau Ora money have agreed to meet with the prime minister to discuss solutions.

They said the government had breached the Treaty of Waitangi by refusing to adequately and transparently fund Whānau Ora.

Earlier today, he announced that $20m which was earmarked by the minister to explore new localised Whānau Ora commissioning, $3 million of that will now be redirected back into the commissioning agencies this year.

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait said she was thankful for the extra funding - but said it was not enough.

Raukawa-Tait believes the announcement is a direct result of filing the claim and shows that the minister is feeling pressure to deliver.

"He must be really feeling it because of the reaction from around the country, particularly from Whānau Ora providers and the support from the Māori community has been absolutely overwhelming,.....
See full article HERE

Whānau Ora commissioning agencies secure $3 million funding
The Whānau Ora Minister has announced a $3 million funding boost to go directly to whānau ora commissioning agencies.

It comes as this week Māori leaders seek an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing over the government's handling of Whānau Ora funding.

Their claim says funding is being withdrawn from the initiative, with the money being picked up by government agencies instead.

Peeni Henare denied this, and said $20m was earmarked in the Budget to explore new localised Whānau Ora commissioning.

Henare said $3m of that would now be redirected back into the commissioning agencies this year.....
See full article HERE

Stardome gains long-term security
The Tūpuna Maunga Authority is pleased to confirm that the popular Stardome Observatory and Planetarium has been granted a long term lease at Auckland’s Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill through to 2034.

“Maungakiekie is of course a site of immense significance to Mana Whenua, being the location of one of the largest Māori pā in pre-European times. A focus of the Authority now and into the future is enhancing the visitor experience through learning and education, about the significance of the Maunga, and also about Māori culture and the value of Mātauranga Māori (knowledge) especially in relation to the natural environment.”

“Stardome already has some great programmes around Matariki, and there’s exciting potential to further explore Mātauranga Māori in relation to the stars and planets, through stories of early navigation through to Maramataka (the Māori lunar phases) and its many applications in Māori life. What better place to learn that, than at Maungakiekie,” says Majurey......
See full article HERE

Hawke's Bay to get a Rangatahi Court as fight to keep troubled teens out of gangs ramps up
A marae-based Māori youth court is being set up in Flaxmere, a first for Hawke's Bay that is being described as a potential watershed moment in the fight to keep troubled teens out......(NZ Herald paywall)
See full article HERE

Articles:
Barry Soper: Time ripe for Māori Party resurgence

Propaganda:
Ihumātao: Six months since eviction notice, protesters still adamant about cause

Supporting waka and traditional navigation front and centre on the PM's radar

Time for a total revision of Te Tiriti O Waitangi

Thursday January 23, 2020

News:
Partnership focus for Maori academic's Fulbright studyA prestigious Fulbright New Zealand Scholar Award will enable a Massey University academic to research partnerships between indigenous communities and higher education institutions in the United States.

The award will allow Huia Jahnke, Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Toa Rangatira, Ngai Tahu, and Ngati Hine, Professor of Maori and Indigenous Education at Massey University’s Te Patahi-a-Toi/School of Maori Knowledge, to explore the kinds of partnerships that could help to advance Maori education goals.

"In Aotearoa New Zealand, for example, the Minister of Social Development’s newly-released discussion document Te Pae Tawhiti emphasises that what matters most for Maori in the education of Maori learners is for Maori to exercise agency and authority over their learning. This means a genuine partnership approach across the education system is vital to Maori education success."....
See full article HERE

No sign of an enduring deal for Ihumātao
There is no clear indication yet that an enduring deal to settle the land dispute at Ihumātao is on the horizon, Leader of the Opposition Simon Bridges says.

“The land at Ihumātao isn’t leaving Fletcher's hands without some form of compensation, and that could mean taxpayers end up forking over millions to make this problem go away.

“Whatever deal the Government cuts isn’t going to be the end. In fact, it may just be the beginning because the reality is, any sort of Government interference will call into question full and final treaty settlements......
See full article HERE

Māori King's flag lowered at Ihumātao with resolution to land dispute expected by Waitangi Day
The Māori King's flag has been lowered at the disputed Ihumātao site in South Auckland today amid speculation there will be a resolution soon to the ongoing land protest.

Kiingi Tuuheitia's office released a statement today saying the flag was lowered "in the expectation of a resolution of the disputed whenua".

Kiingitanga spokesperson Rahui Papa says the King’s work is largely concluded with the expectation of a positive resolution ahead of Waitangi Day......
See full article HERE

IP experts tackle trade wall for Maori
The chair of the group representing Māori in international trade discussions says it’s critical to get the first one right.

Te Taumata was formed last year to work with New Zealand’s negotiators in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Chris Karamea Insley says intellectual property has been highlighted as an issue critical to Māori, including the use of Māori symbols and the stoush with Australian honey producers over the use of the term manuka honey.....
See full article HERE

Why are taxpayers funding astrology-based health services?
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is alarmed to learn that taxpayers are funding astrology-based health services, in the name of “traditional Māori healing”.

In a comment to Stuff, the Ministry of Health says it is encouraging its Healthy Families providers to incorporate ‘maramataka’ into their services. Maramataka is the traditional study of lunar cycles.

The Ministry explains: “The work of Healthy Families NZ is part of the growing movement to place indigenous knowledge and practices on an equal level with western epistemologies.”

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “The ‘Healthy Families’ approach to Māori health is not just ineffective, but actively harmful. There’s a risk that ill families will see these traditional techniques as a substitute for scientifically-backed measures. Moreover, every health dollar that is spent on astrology is a dollar that cannot be invested in core services.”

“Community groups are welcome to preserve traditional beliefs and advocate for alternative medicine, but it is madness to include this in the taxpayer-funded health system.”....
See full article HERE

Tairāwhiti leaders head to climate summit: 'We've got to work collectively'
The people of Tairāwhiti are being warned that crayfish, pāua and kina could die out as a result of climate change.

It's one of the key issues being presented at a climate summit in Tairāwhiti at Te Tini o Porou conference centre, that 150 locals, including councillors, iwi representatives and industry leaders are attending......
See full article HERE

Maori Council to establish a national taskforce
The New Zealand Maori Council has announced the establishment of a National Taskforce for Science and Technology. Council Executive Director, Matthew Tukaki, has said that Maori are and will play an increasing role in the sectors from a social, economic, environmental and research-based perspective.

“We want to make sure that a very Maori perspective is brought to bear on science and technology, growth, development and more. This is also a chance to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity and capability building.” Tukaki said......
See full article HERE

Catholic Church called on to apologise for colonial land confiscations
According to Tukaki, the Catholic Church in New Zealand said it was open to the council's request for an apology.

Bishop Patrick Dunn, president of the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference and Bishop of Auckland, said the Church was currently consulting over the matter before the release of a definitive statement.

"The Catholic Church of Aotearoa New Zealand takes this matter seriously indeed.

"As a result of representations made by the Maori Council and others, the Catholic Bishops are consulting with appropriate people including relevant experts. This process is likely to take some time as it needs careful scrutiny before we can make a considered response."....
See full article HERE

Waikato Community Stakeholders seek reinstatement of Hui
Our collective states, “that there is a lack of accountability and a lack of consultation. These have been our concerns since the inception of such policing decisions of the arming of NZ Police. We will now take further action. We have identified that the Crown acted or had an omission or is inconsistent with the principles of Te Tiriti and have submitted a Waitangi Claim”.

The refusal to meet by Waikato Police comes a little over two months since the refresh of Te Huringa o Te Tai, NZ Police’s Maori strategy which is meant to continue to strengthen the Police’s relationship with Tangata Whenua. The strategy states “we will see local action plans co-designed, and implemented in partnership with Iwi Māori based on the specific needs, context, and values of local communities”.......
See full article HERE

Wednesday January 22, 2020

News:
Ihumātao: Fletcher Building denies backing down on disputed landOn Tuesday, SOUL spokeswoman Pania Newton said Fletcher Building representatives had informed the protesters that they would be leaving the site.

Newton said this news meant a possible resolution is on the cards.

"They're packing up all their fences and have removed the majority of their property," Newton said.

But Fletchers said it was simply making some changes to its traffic management plan in response to reduced activity at the site......
See full article HERE

PGF to fund Waipukurau cultural development and tourism
The Ngā Ara Tipuna - Waipukurau Pā Site Interpretation project will receive $2.798 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to create an authentic cultural tourism experience, Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today

“The project will inform visitors about the history of six pā sites in Waipukurau with a combination of whare korero (carved gathering spaces), pou whenua (carved posts), interpretative signage and digital storytelling unique to Central Hawke’s Bay.....
See full article HERE

21 new judges boost diversity, improve access to justice
Twenty-one new District Court judges have been appointed in a move that will improve access to justice and boost diversity on the bench.

Ten of the new judges are Māori, eight Pākehā, one Māori/Chinese and two Samoan. Twelve of the new judges are women.....
See full article HERE

Dames head to tribunal over Whānau Ora turmoil
Five Māori women leaders including Dame Tariana Turia have filed an urgent claim to the Waitangi Tribunal alleging that the Government is underfunding and undermining Whānau Ora and they have told the Prime Minister they have lost confidence in Whānau Ora Minister Peeni Henare.

Turia, the founder of Whānau Ora, says Jacinda Ardern is out of her depth.

The three agencies have received $71 million a year between them. The Government announced a $19.8 million increase in the 2019 Budget but it turned out that only half of that was going to the Whānau Ora commissioning agencies and only $4.6 million of that to the largest one........
See full article HERE

Minister Peeni Henare 'refutes' Waitangi Tribunal claim over Whānau Ora funding
Whānau Ora Minister Peeni Henare says a Waitangi Tribunal claim over his funding decisions is a misguided political gambit launched in the lead up to Waitangi Day.

At the centre of the stoush is a promised $80 million in funding for Whānau Ora, which the group says is being snaffled by the Labour-led Government for state agencies.

But Henare said the claimants "had their facts wrong", and other Government agencies were not managing Whānau Ora money or contracts.....
See full article HERE

UC-led research wins grant for study on te reo, adult language acquisition
New Zealand adults who don’t speak te reo Māori nevertheless grow up hearing and seeing Māori words throughout their lives. With the support of a $660,000 grant from the 2019 Marsden Fund Te Pūtea Rangahau, a University of Canterbury-led research team will explore whether adult language acquisition can be facilitated by awakening this latently acquired knowledge called ‘a proto-lexicon’.....
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Māori pronunciation is easy if English norms are put aside

Tuesday January 21, 2020

News:
Maori Council is calling for an investigation into the Kaikōura rebuildMāori Council executive director Matthew Tukaki said he was asked to intervene after being told the ongoing construction was "killing the heart and soul" of the community.

Tukaki had concerns the construction of "unnecessary" barriers meant Māori had been denied customary rights in accessing kaimoana and sites of cultural significance.

"There's concrete through bays and beaches, barred fencing, blocked beach access and non-essential guard rail littering the entire coastline," Raynor said.

"Blocked access to mahinga kai food gathering areas, disregard to our urupa, desecration of a significant cultural talisman, trampling through wahi tapu sites and turning our beautiful natural coastline into a sideshow for tourism," she said......
See full article HERE

Christchurch's Puari Village aiming for October opening, despite planning setbacks
A planned Māori cultural centre should open in Christchurch later this year despite setbacks in the planning phase.

Māori cultural experience company Ko Tāne is building the $3.5 million Puari Village at 794 Colombo St.

Puari Village has been designed as an interactive tourism attraction, with art, exhibitions and contemporary Māori cuisine, while also serving as a launch site for waka tours on the Avon River.

He said Christchurch had come a long way from being an English city to one that celebrates its Māori heritage......
See full article HERE

Debate heats up on proposal to drop Taupō's Waihaha ski lane
A proposal to remove the ski lane at Waihaha on Lake Taupō is creating waves.

Tension mounted at a public meeting to discuss it and two other proposed amendments to the Lake Taupō Navigational Safety Bylaw last week.

Debate got most heated with the third item - the suggested removal of the ski lane at Waihaha - with some of those in the room putting it down to a 'them and us' argument between boaties and Māori landowners.

Hapu representatives in attendance indicated they had an opinion that, other than one property, Waihaha Bay was Māori land and went right to the water.

While Freeth and Cairns said they had been unable to verify this through Land Information New Zealand, archaeologist and local historian Perry Fletcher said on Sunday that the rising of the lake level due to the construction of the Control Gates in 1941, meant Māori land at Waihaha went not just to the water but that it extended past the lake edge.

"It goes out a good 50 metres into the existing lake."....
See full article HERE

Refurbished training hostel soon to be rental apartments
Breathing new life into an iconic Ōtautahi building will revitalise the local community and add to the inner-city housing supply for whānau Māori.

The old Māori Trade training hostel, Te Kooti te Rato, located a Rehua Marae will soon be repurposed into six modern apartments for local Christchurch whānau.

Te Puni Kōkiri has a long-standing relationship with Te Whatumanawa Māoritanga o Rehua and has committed $2.4 million into the project, with the Trust contributing a further $780,000......
See full article HERE

Sunday January 19, 2020

News:
Northland hāpu occupy Kerikeri InletWhānau of Te Uri Taniwha hapū, up in arms over plans which threaten to damage archaeological and Māori cultural sites, are occupying Kerikeri Inlet in Northland to prevent further development.

Te Uri Taniwha hapū and Kerikeri locals say they are worried about the future of the cultural sites.

This follows Far North District Council's grant of consent to Far North Holdings to extend a boat ramp, build a coastal road and create parking facilities at Windsor Landing.

As a result, the hapū have begun occupying the area to stop further development.....
See full article HERE

Iwi headed to High Court over water bottling consent

A Whakatane iwi and an environmental group are appealing a court decision allowing China's largest water bottler to take more than a billion litres of groundwater a year.

Creswell NZ, a subsidiary of Nongfu Spring, received resource consent to expand its Otakiri Springs plant south-west of Edgecumbe about 18 months ago.

The Environment Court declined an appeal to overturn the consents in a two to one majority last month, and Ngāti Awa is now taking an appeal to the High Court alongside environmental group Sustainable Otakiri.

Creswell's consent allows it to increase its bottling capacity by almost four times to 5000 cubic metres a day......
See full article HERE

Judges reduce jail time by up to two years for cultural factors
Offenders are getting up to two years off their prison sentences for factors like an abusive childhood but a decision to cut funding for 'section 27' cultural background reports has led to criticism. Harrison Christian reports.

Counsellors Association spokeswoman Gay Puketapu-Andrews said the reports acknowledged the links between criminal offending and the generational shame and trauma of colonisation.

Pākehā settlers imposed a Western justice system onto Māori that continued to perpetuate racial inequity in New Zealand, she said.

"An accumulation of things can result in a person who doesn't know who they are and doesn't have the sense of connection to the world that would potentially sustain them, and they find themselves on a road to destruction."....
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Southern Spotlight: the incredible life of Uekaha Taanetinorau

Ministry of Health stands by funding of 'hocus pocus' traditional Māori system

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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