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Friday, February 7, 2020

Breaking Views Update: Week of 2.02.20







Friday February 7, 2020

News:
Waitangi Day 2020: 'Give us the courage to walk comfortably in each other's shoes' - PM
More than 2500 people gathered this morning at Waitangi to commemorate the 180th anniversary of the Treaty.

Among those offering their prayers were Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Police Commissioner Mike Bush, Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon, Waitangi National Trust Chairperson Pita Tipene and chairperson of the Rūnanga a Iwi o Ngāpuhi, Mere Mangu.

"People are starting to use more Māori in our public occasions and I thought it was absolutely fantastic that Andrew Little spoke in te reo Māori - it goes a long way to touching the hearts of the people, especially the hearts of the people that Andrew is working with."

Tipene reminded everyone of He Whakaputanga, otherwise known as the Declaration of Independence, which hapū of Ngāpuhi recognise as the senior to Te Tiriti.

"They go hand in hand - it is the senior and the Treaty is the junior and it enhances the Whakaputanga and that is what the hapū o Ngāpuhi have always known that authority has never been ceded and what we here believe at the national trust is to encourage the discourse about our nationhood.......
See full article HERE

Freedom campers moved on from Golden Bay river site
Simpson left her Waitapu Bridge campsite earlier this week after learning that the site was sacred to local iwi who were opposed to turning it into a designated freedom camping site.

In a submission on the Tasman District Council draft Responsible Camping Strategy, Ngāti Tama ki te Waipounamu Trust said the site was a wāhi tapu (sacred site) and sensitive cultural area for Ngāti Tama.
See full article HERE

What has Waitangi Day got to do with climate emergency?
As one XRW member, Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn (Ngāti Kuri, Te Rarawa), says, “Waitangi Day is a time to remember tangata whenua Tiriti rights to self-determination, our taonga (including thriving traditional lands, natural habitats and territories) and our customary obligations (such as kaitiakitanga over our natural environment).”

She reflects on the powerful history of Māori campaigns for the return of their lands, foreshore and seabed, fresh water ways, the restoration of thriving indigenous biodiversity and ecosystems, and social justice: efforts which tangata whenua continue to this day.....
See full article HERE

A group that's been trying to get back a piece of Maori land in south Auckland says the finer details of an agreement are being ironed out
Save Our Unique Landscape spokeswoman Pania Newton says there's been word about a deal but she can't speak about it.

She's happy with the progress so far.

She's fairly confident the land will be returned to a trust that would manage the land appropriately.

She thinks Fletcher Building will be appropriately compensated for the land but doesn't know how much money is involved......
See full article HERE

West Coast tech firms and iwi get Provincial Growth Fund cash boost
The Government has pledged almost $2.2 million for pounamu and technology industries on the West Coast.

A further $995,500 would be going to Ngāti Waewae from the fund's $100,000 Whenua Māori allocation.

The $995,500 allocation to Ngāti Waewae would allow the iwi to source and manage pounamu on their land and grow their carving and tourism ventures, Tabuteau said.

"While Māori own pounamu, it is currently sourced as a by-product from gold and coal mining, and iwi pay a significant fee to recover it.
See full article HERE

Māori flag flies between city and national ensigns in Palmerston North for Waitangi Day
The flags of Palmerston North and New Zealand were raised to flank the Tanenuiarangi flag of Rangitāne at the start of Waitangi Day activities in The Square.

Smith said Waitangi Day was significant for everyone who called Aotearoa home. It was important to continue investing time, effort and energy into relationships that would help Rangitāne maximise the potential of their treaty settlement.

"If we have a strong, vibrant Māori community, then we'll have a strong and vibrant city.".....
See full article HERE

Call for Northland Māori to co-drive major infrastructure spend
Northland Māori are being urged to step up and play a part in bringing the region's $1 billion central government infrastructure spend to life.

Tai Tokerau District Māori Council (TTDMC) chair Wiremu Puriri said the recent government infrastructure funding announced for Northland was a once-in-a-life opportunity.

He said there was now opportunity for a close Māori/Crown working relationship that would become a model for others around New Zealand working on central government infrastructure spends for their regions.

Puriri said Māori needed to be involved from the outset, at initial business case preparation and through all stages of the process.

"We need to be equal partners in these initiatives at all levels," he said......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Mike's Minute: Race-based solutions asking for trouble

NZ First pumps PGF millions into Maori projects in Northland – then accuses Bridges of politicking at Waitangi

Propaganda:
Te reo on the backburner for Dunedin mayor due to teaching shortage

What does Waitangi Day mean to you? He aha te tikanga o te Rangi o Waitangi ki a koe?

History created as Muslims invited at Waitangi Day commemorations

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 mailoutplease 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.

Thursday February 6, 2020

News:
The Crown must address rights and interests in freshwaterNgāi Tahu shares the view of Iwi Chairs that the government needs to progress engagement with iwi, hapū and whānau on their rights and interests in freshwater. Our waterways are in crisis, says Kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai at Waitangi.

“At least 62% of Aotearoa’s surface water resources and 81% of total groundwater volume resides within the Ngāi Tahu takiwā (tribal area).”

“It’s in the interests of all New Zealanders for the government to invest in a process for meaningful engagement with its Treaty partner.

“We have strong partnerships with our communities and stakeholders in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā. We have an inherent right of rangatiratanga over freshwater and are working with our communities to advance this with pace.”....
See full article HERE

Waikato-Tainui calls government to account on freshwater
Waikato-Tainui leaders are calling on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s government to deal with the issue of iwi rights and interests in freshwater without further delay......
See full article HERE

Iwi Chairs united on freshwater rights and issues
“The government must grasp the nettle of ownership – something that successive governments have put in the ‘too hard basket’,” Mrs Schaafhausen says.

“The Waitangi Tribunal has recognised the proprietary interests of Iwi and hapū in freshwater. We are prepared to take action to assert those rights but prefer to work with the government to resolve this issue.

“We maintain that ownership of our taonga – including freshwater – has never been ceded to the Crown. Nō tātau te wai. We own the water.”....
See full article HERE

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern assures iwi leaders over water and land issues
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has managed to smooth things over with iwi leaders, despite iwi concerns over a lack of influence in the government.

Ardern met with the National Iwi Chairs Forum today in Waitangi, where they agreed to work together to resolve concerns around state care, water, and Maori land.

"We all want to make sure that we have decent water that our lakes our rivers are swimmable. We also want to see underutilised land, as has been the case with Māori land, utilised - and so there's work there that we can do together."

Te Rarawa iwi leader Haami Piripi said the forum feels much more positive about its working relationship with the government.

I think this was one of the best meetings that we have had yet between ourselves and the government," he said......
See full article HERE

New commuter rail service gets a name: Te Huia to fly between Hamilton and Auckland
It might have been already unofficially dubbed The Tron Express by some, but the new Auckland-Hamilton passenger rail service now has a proper name: Te Huia.

The moniker for the service, due to start operating in July, was discussed and unanimously endorsed in a Hamilton City Council meeting on Tuesday.
See full article HERE

Training the next generation of Māori teachers
Teaching graduates with a kaupapa Māori background are in demand. Study to become a bilingual, early childhood or te reo Māori immersion teacher at Te Wānanga o Raukawa. All courses are grounded in mātauranga Māori, giving you the perfect foundation to start in kura kaupapa, bilingual or mainstream settings. You will be well prepared to teach a range of subjects while offering perspective into a Māori worldview. As part of your training you will undertake Iwi and Hapū Studies which will strengthen your sense of self and connection with your whakapapa.....
See full article HERE

Hannah Tamaki will remove all 7 Māori Seats from Labour
I have an obligation to the next generation, and the one after that, until one day our people might no longer need them.Hannah Tamaki will remove all 7 Māori Seats from Labour permanently

She said Māori are not stupid but are victims suffering post colinisation trauma that leads them back to the abuser every time an election rolls around.

Mrs Tamaki believes if we don’t do this, we should just abolish them to prevent them being used to do more damage than good for Maori......
See full article HERE

$40K Matariki harvest from city coffers incurs councillor's concern
A six-week festival celebrating a traditional time of cultivation and harvest in the Maori calendar has received a $40,000 boost from the Hamilton City Council.

However not everyone is happy with what was an unseasonal harvesting of funds from the council's coffers.

Councillor Mark Bunting was the main voice of dissent to the granting of the money to Te Ohu Whakaita charitable trust to help run the Matariki ki Waikato 2020 event......
See full article HERE

Jacinda Ardern marks free dental care as potential election issue at Waitangi
Isiah Apiata - nephew of Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata - wants vulnerable Kiwis to receive free dental care.

"My people cannot afford dentistry. On the small benefit they get, they fail to provide the necessary support, so they avoid going to the dentist," he said.

"I ask you humbly to consider free dentistry for those of our iwi Māori who cannot afford it."
See full article HERE

Corrections reviews woman's clearance to visit prisoners after learning of her 'court'
Michelle Reti-Kaukau doesn't recognise New Zealand laws and claims to have the authority to sentence people, yet she receives taxpayer funds to write cultural reports for defendants and has permission to visit prisoners.

Her permission to visit Hawke's Bay Prison is now under review by Corrections, following a Stuff article this week that revealed she was running her own "court" in Hawke's Bay.

Reti-Kaukau runs an organisation calling itself Māori Restorative Justice, which approaches defendants and "sentences" them in a fake court held in a building in central Hastings.....
See full article HERE

Mark Mitchell: Māori Party potential partner for National
National may have closed the door on New Zealand First, but is leaving it ajar for the Maori Party.

National MP Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking he is predicting a resurgence in the Maori Party and says National could team up with them again.

Mitchell also believes the Act Party is a strong partner to National.

"I'm at Waitangi and there's a lot of dissatisfaction among Maori about what Labour has failed to deliver."....
See full article HERE

Public policy requires te Tiriti o Waitangi compliance
CTA evaluates the strength of Māori participation in policymaking and the extent to which Māori aspirations and expectations are positioned to influence policy.

A previous study shows that health policy documents under the Clark and Key governments, from 2006 to 2016, rarely addressed te Tiriti or the Treaty.

Dr Came says, it is timely to reconsider te Tiriti and its place in health policy, given the compelling evidence presented at the Waitangi Tribunal Health Services and Outcomes Inquiry (WAI 2575), the government’s commitment to health equity and this year’s general election.....
See full article HERE

PM vows Dame Whina's legacy will be taught in schools
Northland kuia Dame Whina Cooper's legacy will become part of New Zealand's school history curriculum and will never be forgotten, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has vowed.

The promise came during the unveiling of a statue to one of the country's most revered leaders, dubbed the Mother of the Nation, at Panguru.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
The Treaty: We have to move into a truth and reconciliation stage

Mike's Minute: Race-based solutions asking for trouble

Propaganda:
Treaty of Waitangi: A legacy of colonialism, conflict and contradiction

Jacinda Ardern takes to a waka ahead of Waitangi day

Te Tiriti o Waitangi - The Treaty, explained

How the treaty is and isn't honoured

The treaty of Waitangi was forged to exclude Māori women – we must right that wrong 

Wednesday February 5, 2020

News:
Hamilton City Council bolsters Maori representationHamilton City Council today reaffirmed its ground-breaking Maaori representation initiative, more closely aligning it with the new governance structure put in place by Mayor Paula Southgate.

Changes to the Council’s Maangai Maaori arrangements for the 2019-2022 triennium were unanimously approved at today’s meeting, to provide additional support to the five committee representatives.

The annual budget to fund Maangai Maaori was increased by $34,400 to reflect additional hours required of the representatives. Council also confirmed that professional development for Maangai Maori representatives would be provided.

Maangai Maaori, meaning the voice of Maaori, were first appointed in 2018, to five Council committees with full voting rights.

Following a review process which included feedback from current and past elected members, Maangai Maaori now sit on eight committees and an advisory group, to align with the Council’s new governance structure......
See full article HERE

Government invests $1.75 million to build on knowledge of waka traditions
The government is investing $1.75 million over the next three years so that New Zealanders can learn more about the navigational and voyaging skills of early Māori and pacific settlers.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the funding at Waitangi today.

Spent over three years, the funding will set up a National Body of kaupapa waka hourua experts to strengthen the mātauranga and tikanga or knowledge in Māori and Pacific voyaging traditions.....
See full article HERE

Māori and the Transport Agency
The Transport Agency recognises and respects Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) and will work with Māori as partners to build strong, meaningful and enduring relationships to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

The Transport Agency is responsible for delivering an integrated transport system.

We have an important role to play in finding opportunities to better respond to Māori aspirations while delivering transport solutions. We can contribute by working with Māori and other government agencies to support Māori to achieve their aspirations.

We invest time and effort that reflects the importance of this partnership. Both Treaty partners benefit from working closely together, focusing on long-term outcomes and building strong and enduring relationships....
See full article HERE

'A dog's breakfast': Former Treaty Settlement Minister Chris Finlayson slams Ihumātao process
Former Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson says the way Ihumātao has been handled is a "dog's breakfast".

A resolution to the dispute is expected to be announced this week, but Finlayson says the Government stepping in to broker a deal is "troubling".

"It's idle to speculate until we know the detail but it seems to me that if people go on land and won't go off, the Prime Minister says we'll negotiate with them and Fletcher walks away with $45 million, having invested $24 million - is that particularly clever?" Finlayson told The AM Show on Tuesday.

"Let's wait until we get the details, but it is troubling.".....
See full article HERE

New programme to grow future Māori leaders launched today
The Government’s drive to support Māori educational success takes a new step forward with a programme launched by Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis today.

Te Kawa Matakura, known as Tauranga Kōtuku Rerenga Tahi for its delivery in Te Tai Tokerau, is based on traditional models of education where students will learn knowledge and tikanga including mōteatea, hītori Māori, whaikōrero, karanga, navigation, weaving, and whakapapa.

“Even better, it’s been developed by Māori, for Māori to improve outcomes for rangatahi Māori....
See full article HERE

Breakaway group occupies Kaikōura coast to protest ongoing rebuild
A peaceful occupation has started on the Kaikōura coast to stop new works near culturally significant sites.

The breakaway occupiers, who were previously part of community group Protect Our Unique Kaikōura Coast (POU), have set up camp about 15 kilometres north of the Kaikōura township.

"This occupation is to protect our Kaikōura coast and whenua, tīpuna ... and wildlife from any more desecration," Rayner said.

She intended to occupy the site until the works stopped....
See full article HERE

Articles:
The PM’s Waitangi challenge: delivering enough transformation to ensure the Maori Party is not re-energised

Propaganda:
The survey also indicated that Māori participants felt more negative towards the state of the environment than other ethnicities.

Can Te Tiriti help solve our big problems?

Celebrating the life of Dame Whina Cooper

Dame Whina Cooper's 'vast contribution' to Aotearoa recognised with 1975 land march statue

Winston Peters to Simon Bridges: 'You looking for trouble?'

Politicians address iwi, hapū and whānau at the treaty grounds at Waitangi

Tuesday February 4, 2020

News:
Oranga Tamariki review: 'Treatment of Māori women has been inhumane' - Dame Naida GlavishA report on Oranga Tamariki has revealed harrowing stories of the removal of Māori babies and is calling for a complete overhaul of the ministry.

Dame Naida Glavish, who chaired the governance group overseeing the review, said the report confirmed systemic failure and discrimination.

"The Crown is not honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi. There's been unprecedented breaches of human rights and the treatment of Māori women has been inhumane."

"We can clearly see from the volume of evidence and the heavy handed approach inflicted on this whānau that something is so systemically wrong. This entrenched behaviour is plain unjust," Dame Naida said.....
See full article HERE

Maori hemp businesses look to exports
A Māori hemp and cannabis business cluster are trying to identify new products with export potential.

Because New Zealand has been slower than other countries to open up to hemp and cannabis products, the members felt they needed to develop high-value hemp-derived products that incorporate Māori values and culture.

He says the market research may indicate whether there is value in marketing products under an indigenous brand.....
See full article HERE

Tikanga option in farm debt scheme
Farmers can opt to use tikanga Māori protocols when they take part in a new Farm Debt Mediation Scheme.

Karen Adair, the Ministry for Primary Industries' deputy director-general agriculture and investment services, says this could help get better engagement and outcomes.....
See full article HERE

Gov’t told to stop granting consent to foreign water companies
“Our water is one of the most precious resources we have and we must move to protect it. Selling millions upon millions of liters offshore is nothing more than pillage.” Matthew Tukaki, Executive Director of the New Zealand Maori Council

The New Zealand Maori Council will tell the Government to put a stop to foreign water bottling companies taking New Zealand water and shipping it offshore – this includes an overhaul that allows Regional and District Councils to grant consents for its extraction. The Council’s Executive Director, Matthew Tukaki, has said that “I am sure all Maori and, for that matter, many New Zealanders would agree that this sort of profiteering at the expenses of our resources must end.”

The New Zealand Maori Council will now look at a standalone Maori Water Commission and it will be on the agenda for the next national hui of the Council in early May......
See full article HERE

Whangarei prepares for investment surge
That's the wish list from Whangarei mayor Sheryl Mai as new funding is unveiled for the region.

She says it's important iwi and hapū are involved early in the planning process for the wave of investment and jobs in the north that will be unleashed by the Government's infrastructure spend.....
See full article HERE

Almost $800k boost for conservation efforts in Northland announced
Community conservation efforts in Northland are getting a nearly $800,000 boost from the government.

Grants from the Department of Conservation's Community Fund will go to iwi, hapu, and community conservation organisations to help with more predator and weed control and ecosystem restoration.....
See full article HERE

Jacinda Ardern won't commit to 'Aotearoa' country name change
Māori leaders - including the woman who fought to greet customers with 'kia ora' - want 'Aotearoa' to be recognised as an official name of our country.

Dame Naida Glavish famously challenged the right to greet callers with "kia ora" while she was working at the post office 30 years ago - and she's right in behind the case.

"It was Aotearoa before we got a foreign sailor coming in here," she said. "Why should we have to go through the trials and tribulations to be who we are in our own country?"...
See full article HERE

Articles:
Water bid should concern us all

What is happening up at the lake

Propaganda:
Armed police involved in uplift of Māori baby, Oranga Tamariki inquiry reveals

We must dismantle our colonial system and rebuild it with Māori at the heart

Ihumātao hikoi meets Ardern during commemorations marking Waitangi week

Jacinda Ardern brings Neve to honour Māori land activist as Ihumātao protest leader Pania Newton watches on

Jacinda Ardern: Use of 'Aotearoa New Zealand' will rise as more people speak Māori

Monday February 3, 2020

News:
Law change to scrap rates arrears on Māori land All unpaid rates arrears on Māori freehold land will be written off under new legislation to be introduced to Parliament within months.

The announcement was made by Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta on Sunday and greeted by loud cheers from an audience of about 300 at a Kaikohe vineyard, the first event of a packed Waitangi week.

Other announcements yesterday included $30 million in Provincial Growth Fund grants for projects to develop Maori land, of which $6.2m is destined for Northland.

The scrapping of rates arrears is likely to have a big impact in the Far North, where the Far North District Council is owed about $20m in unpaid rates on Māori land......
See full article HERE

Iwi leaders discuss billion dollar water rights deal ahead of Waitangi
Iwi leaders could pull back on threats to sue the Government over water rights if a deal can be done that would see $1 billion invested in water storage schemes.

“Te Tiriti o Waitangi guaranteed certain rights to us and freshwater is a guaranteed right, the equivalent term in 1840 I guess was ownership," iwi leader Willie Te Aho told 1 NEWS today.

Mr Te Aho is proposing a partial solution to the long-running, politically fraught issue of Māori claims of water ownership.

In exchange for dropping legal action for five years, iwi chairs would ask the Government to increase an existing provincial growth fund that is tagged specifically for Māori land.

It would rise from $100 million now to $200 million, for $1 billion over five years.

The situation would then be reassessed in 2025......
See full article HERE

Government allocates $30m to help develop underutilised Māori land across NZ
The Government has earmarked $30 million to make investment in underutilised Māori-owned land easier and will change the law to reduce the barriers to developing that land.

The sum comes from the $100 million Whenua Māori investment fund, created last year, which draws from the $3 billion Provencal Growth Fund (PGF).

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones, the Minister in charge of the fund, said the $30 million in grants covers 30 initiatives across eight regions of the country.

A further $40 million worth of applications is currently being assessed by officials, he said......
See full article HERE

Otago Mataitai Reserve
Te Rūnanga o Awarua has applied for a mātaitai reserve over the lower reaches of the Tautuku and Fleming Rivers, Otago. Fisheries New Zealand and Te Rūnanga o Awarua will hold a public meeting on the application and invites submissions on the proposal.
Learn more HERE 

Articles: 

For the month of January 'Breaking Views updates' recorded 27 articles on race relations published in media across the country, with 23 promoting Maori sovereignty and 4 reflecting an equal rights perspective.

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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