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Saturday, May 9, 2020

Breaking Views Update: Week of 3.05.20







Saturday May 9, 2020

News:
Controversial iwi checkpoints to end at alert level 2
The controversial iwi checkpoints will not continue under coronavirus alert level two, as rules are relaxed about where people can travel.

But new random checkpoints run by police and iwi, and police reassurance patrols, will continue as long as needed, Far North area commander Inspector Riki Whiu said.

The need is waning for the iwi checkpoints, which had an important role in the alert level four lockdown, doing a job police were initially not legally allowed to do, Whiu admitted.......
See full article HERE

Ngā Iwi O Taranaki Announce End Of Iwi Community Checkpoints
As the country prepares for Alert Level 2, Ngā Iwi o Taranaki are announcing that today will be the final day of iwi community checkpoints in the Taranaki region.....
See full article HERE

Maori lawyers cast eyes over RMA changes
A member of the Iwi Leaders Group’s pandemic response group is praising the openness of the Government to allowing Māori input into its responses.

"And they’re not just conservative lawyers. We've got some of our more progressive lawyers like Dayle Takitimu and others keeping an eye on what the Government is up to and contributing to the formation of those laws. It's a struggle because I don't think the government legal teams are used to having Māoris come in the door and sit down with them to watch over their shoulders to say 'that's not right, it's incorrect what you're doing, what you should be doing is this,'" Mr Smith says.....
See full article HERE

PGF backs wildlife sanctuary upgrade
The Provincial Growth Fund has invested $2.5 million to expand and develop the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre in the lower North Island, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says.

The Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre at Mt Bruce will use the funding to upgrade and expand its sanctuary.

“Pūkaha has cemented itself as a successful wildlife centre and captive breeding facility, with almost 1000ha of native forest which has been returned to Rangitāne o Tararua and Rangitāne o Wairarapa. Iwi intend to gift the land to New Zealanders so it is important we invest in protecting and upgrading this incredible asset,” Shane Jones said.......
See full article HERE

Re-opening your centre using tikanga Māori
As part of our approach to tikanga we recommend whānau give some thought on how they are going to return to their learning environment. Māori tikanga is an appropriate way for whānau to reclaim the learning space after a term of absence. The use of karakia, mihimihi, waiata and kai will enable the shared values of whanāungatanga and kotahitanga between mokopuna and mātua to have greater significance. Therefore this is what we recommend centres use as part of your first gathering on your return physically and spritually to the learning space or work environment......
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 May 8, 2020

News:
Tauranga Council adopts naming policy
Tauranga City Council hs adopted updated policies for the naming of streets, reserves and other public places, and for coastal structures.

The policy’s purpose is to provide a consistent approach to naming streets, reserves, and other public places in Tauranga, and encourage locally significant names, including Māori names that increase visibility of mana whenua connections to Tauranga.

"We will prioritise local identity, historical significance and significance to mana whenua in the naming of new streets, reserves, community facilities, and other public places," says a council spokesperson.

"We will support dual naming (English and te reo Māori) of new and existing streets, reserves, community facilities and other public places. The English name will appear first on street signs and be used for addressing purposes.

"We will inform the community of new names provided by mana whenua for the purpose of increasing understanding, but will not ask the wider community to approve proposed Māori names."......
See full article HERE

Environmental And Ecological Research To Benefit From Generous Bequest To UC
The late Emeritus Professor Peter Holland, who was a leading expert in biogeography and environmental change, has left a bequest of over $1million that will benefit science research at the University of Canterbury for generations to come. Starting next year, the bequest will fund scholarship support for two full-time Māori or Pasifika postgraduate students in Ecology or Environmental Science at UC.....
See full article HERE

Bypassing RMA could result in protest, years of court action
What do Ihumātao and the Kaikōura highway rebuild have in common?

They were consented using types of legislation designed to bypass public consultation in order to build houses and roads faster.

The result: protest from tangata whenua and the public over the desecration of wāhi tapu, and in the case of Ihumātao, years of court action culminating in the largest land occupation since Bastion Point......
See full article HERE

Thursday May 7, 2020

News:
Maangai Maori appointments made by Waikato District Council
Waikato District Council today took a significant step toward strengthening the Maaori voice in its decision making by approving the appointment of two Maangai Maaori (Voice of Maaori) positions to its three major Council Committees.

Mayor Allan Sanson said that he "looked forward to seeing the voice of Maaori strengthened in Council decision making and engagement. This is a positive thing for the Waikato district and our organisation." "Maangai Maaori has been a long-term goal of our Waikato Tainui Waikato District Council Joint Management Committee, so it’s pleasing to see us reach this milestone together," he said.

I look forward to working with them both," he said. Council decided that the appointments will commence immediately to enable an induction process to begin for both Maangai Maaori. Council approved the establishment of the Maangai Maaori positions, with full voting and speaking rights, as part of its 2019-22 governance structure.....
See full article HERE

Simon Bridges ignored proposals for Māori at Epidemic Response Committee, MP says
MPs sitting on the Epidemic Response Committee say Simon Bridges is to blame for the lack of Māori voices at the committee meetings.

The committee is tasked with challenging the government's response to Covid-19, but in six weeks only two Māori organisations have been invited to speak.

Labour's Ruth Dyson said she and other MPs had proposed a number of Māori spokespeople and organisations to appear at the committee, but most of those proposals had been ignored by Bridges......
See full article HERE

Huge jump in Māori population in Northland: Census
Work opportunities in the burgeoning tourism and forestry sectors has seen nearly 20,000 Māori moving to Northland in just five years— the biggest of any ethnic groups— latest census figures show...... (Herald paywall)
See full article HERE

Māori agency concerned Govt's plan to fast-track projects could put Treaty obligations on backburner
A Māori agency is concerned the Government's announcement last week to fast-track shovel-ready projects as an economic booster post Covid-19 could do more harm than good.

Federation of Māori Authorities Chair Traci Houpapa told TVNZ1's Breakfast this morning the proposed Resource Management Act law change could lead to both obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and the welfare of communities being overlooked.

"Right now, the concern around the RMA changes pending in June is really how do we maintain some line of sight for public in terms of the actions and decisions that are being made across regions and communities as well as how does the Government maintain and uphold its Treaty partnership with Māori during this time."

"The fact is, iwi Māori need to be represented there as a Treaty partner, as practitioners and as experts."....
See full article HERE

University of Auckland launches te reo Māori app to support language revitalisation
The University of Auckland is supporting the crown's Māori language strategy Maihi Karauna with the launch of Te Kūaha, a new interactive mobile app for staff and students to understand more about te ao Māori in their work and study.

The app follows the April release of Te taonga nō tua whakarere, he taonga mō āpōpō A treasure from ancient times, and for tomorrow: The University of Auckland Language Plan for the Revitalisation of Te Reo Māori 2020–2025. Its goals are to protect and promote te reo Māori and to demonstrate the University’s commitment to the value of te reo and its role in preserving this taonga for current and future generations.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Māori) Professor Cindy Kiro said that both the plan and the app are integral to putting into practice one of the key aspirations of the University’s strategic plan – to benefit Māori and the University through partnerships that acknowledge the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi......
See full article HERE

Māori Party Co-leader challenges Simon Bridges
Māori Party Co-leader and Te Tai Hauāuru candidate Debbie Ngarewa-Packer is challenging Simon Bridges and the Epidemic Response Committee on the fact that only two representatives from Māori organisations, and not one iwi representative or Māori health or education expert, have been invited to present to the committee over the last six weeks. Bridges, who chairs the Committee, is understood to have sole discretion over who is invited to present to the Committee.

“The pandemic has highlighted just how far Simon Bridges and the National Party are willing to go in inciting racism to appeal to the redneck sections of his voter base. He is using the committee to attack Māori, such as on iwi checkpoints, without giving us the same platform to respond or bring our voices to the table.

“One of the core reasons for the Māori Party is to call out politicians using their political power against our people. That’s why we are asking our people to return us Parliament at this years’ election to be an unapologetic voice for Māori,” said Mrs Ngarewa-Packer......
See full article HERE

Alert Level flouters force lagoon gates closure
The gates at the Browns Beach entry to Te Wherowhero Lagoon will be locked for the next three months.

They were locked yesterday morning due to concerns arising from people breaching Alert Level 3 and public gatherings at Te Wherowhero.

People had been seen on the beach and congregating with others who did not live in the Muriwai area, said Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust taiao kaimahi Soraya Pohatu.....
See full article HERE

Iwi Ask For Patience And Respect
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ahipara Takiwā, a collective representing the hapū interests in the area, established a checkpoint at the Te Kohanga (Shipwreck Bay) to protect the community at Tauroa Point and restrict visitors from entering.

As the Government announced the downgrade to Level 3, Ahipara Takiwā confirmed these restrictions will be maintained on the privately-owned Te Rarawa tribal lands.

“We've had to take further steps and we’ve closed the gate at the top of Shipwreck Road, because a lot of people don’t realise that is Māori land and we have the right to close that road”, said Mr Porter.......
See full article HERE

Auckland's City Rail Link's tunnel boring machine has been named after Maori land rights campaigner Dame Whina Cooper.
Dame Whina Cooper's name topped a nationwide poll ahead of internationally recognised Antarctic scientist, Dr Margaret Bradshaw, and the world's first elected openly transgender mayor and Member of Parliament, Georgina Beyer.

"The project is both proud and honoured that our tunnel boring machine will carry the name of a woman of such mana – Dame Whina Cooper," said City Rail Link chief executive, Dr Sean Sweeney.......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Henry Armstrong: Politics and the Pandemic - who to believe?

Wednesday May 6, 2020

News:
Iwi checkpoints stop, move to random checks under level 3
But the community patrols have changed since Saturday and are now being run with times and locations chosen at random.
The aim is to have an impact where people might not expect them, Harawira said in an email. The checkpoints will still be run by Northland iwi leaders forum Te Kahu o Taonui and police......
See full article HERE

Wintson Peters urges New Zealand public to ignore Iwi roadblocks: 'Just drive through them
Speaking with Peter Williams, Winston Peters asks the New Zealand public to ignore Iwi roadblocks without the presence of Police.

On the topic of the self-acclaimed 'legal checkpoints', the Deputy Prime Minister shares his thoughts.

“They're not Iwi roadblocks. If the Iwi are standing there and you're driving by just keep going.”....
See full article HERE

‘Smacks of white privilege’ - Lack of Māori voice in education Epidemic Response Committee slammed
A kura principal has called the lack of Māori representation on the education Epidemic Response Committee “absolutely disgusting”.

Ripeka Lessels, Tumuaki (principal) of Kawerau-based Māori medium school Te Whata Tau o Pūtauaki, said the fact there was no Māori education voice to give feedback on the Covid-19 pandemic was “disappointing”.

“It just so smacks of white privilege, it smacks of it… they should have at least reached out to at least have a voice of a Māori medium school,” Ms Lessels said.

“At a time and place when Māori... this Covid has just highlighted the inequity.”.....
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Iwi checkpoints were about safety and discretion

Tuesday May 5, 2020

News:
Maori offered track into legal cannabis industry
The co-founder of a medical cannabis company says the proposed legislation covering recreational cannabis should allow Māori to get a stake in the industry.
Manu Caddie from Rua Bioscience says the bill includes specific references to Māori in-licensing and job creation and creates incentives for firms to partner with iwi or Māori communities.

Manu Caddie says a new national cannabis authority will be able to allocate a share of cannabis production to ensure Māori and economically deprived areas are able to fairly participate......
See full article HERE

Māori Party Calling On Govt To Ensure RMA Changes Don’t Undermine Māori Rights Or The Environment
Māori Party Co-leader and Te Tai Hauāuru candidate Debbie Ngarewa-Packer is concerned by the Government’s new proposed RMA changes that would fast-track “shovel-ready” projects, and is calling on them to work with Māori to find projects that will create jobs while still protecting environmental concerns and Māori interests.

“The significant challenge ahead of us is ensuring that we recover our economy and create jobs in a way that addresses the needs of Māori and doesn’t further displace us from our natural environment.

“Among many things the proposed new legislation intends to lower the threshold of permitted activity, apply designation processes that could compromise Māori whenua and wāhi tapu....

“Any proposed reform to the RMA needs to assert and uphold Te Tiriti and rights of Māori....
See full article HERE

Maori views considered in RMA fast tracking
Crown Māori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis is confident Māori rights won’t be swept aside in changes to the Resource Management Act to fast-track shovel-ready infrastructure projects.

Mr Davis says the proposals are being discussed by Cabinet today, and he will also canvass them with representatives of the Iwi Chairs Forum.....
See full article HERE

Waipareira Nurses Granted Wider Medical Powers
The under pressure health system exposed by Covid-19 has opened the door for highly qualified nurses to carry out vaccinations, provide medicines and treat asthma patients and strep throat – once the sole domain of senior clinicians and GPs.

Waipareira CEO John Tamihere said the relaxation rules were much needed and long overdue. He said this small change will give Māori health care workers the ability to care and look after their own communities.....
See full article HERE

Police Commissioner: Community-run roadblocks are now close to zero
Coster revealed the number of road blocks set up by communities and iwi had fallen from 30 to 50 to about seven, and he was confident this would drop to zero soon. Police had earlier promised there would be police presence at all road blocks.

He said the case of an NZ Herald journalist who came across a road block without a police officer present in Northland happened after a police staff member was called away to a critical event. The staff member soon returned.

Coster told Hosking the journalist was based in Auckland hundreds of kilometres from home - in fact, the journalist lives and works from Kerikeri......
See full article HERE

Fresh bungle on roadblock - and it's come from the top
There's a fresh police bungle over the Far North roadblock where an essential worker was unlawfully stopped from travelling on State Highway 1.

This time it comes from the top, with new police commissioner Andrew Coster making inaccurate comments during a Newstalk ZB interview with Mike Hosking.

And claims have also emerged that police have instructed officers to head directly to any roadblocks established immediately - and not leave there, even if an urgent call for help has been made.

The latest police slip-up followed police apologising for supporting a block on an NZME journalist with essential worker documentation travelling on State Highway 1 north of Houhora.

Having apologised for that, police were also then forced to admit the officer meant to be on the checkpoint had been called away for 70 minutes on an urgent job. It was a backtrack on a senior commander's claim the officer was present, just not in the journalist's "eyesight".......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Mike Hosking: Why are we accepting these 'checkpoints?'

Monday May 4, 2020

News:
Jacinda Ardern explains what the Government's doing to help Māori during the pandemic
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Māori are at the decision-making table during the COVID-19 response - despite calls Māori are being left out.

Ardern says there's been a real effort to make sure the Government is engaging with Māori as early and as quickly as possible.

The Provincial Growth Fund Ardern believes is one way of helping to support Māori communities - with $400 million pumped into Māori communities from the fund so far.

"This job is not done - we're only just at the beginning."....
See full article HERE

State Highway 1 blocked as iwi halt travellers to protect community
An iwi-run roadblock is barring people from travelling to the northernmost reaches of State Highway 1 and has done so without police present.

It has stated that the roadblock would continue operating throughout alert level..... (Herald paywall)
See full article HERE

Northland iwi ends lockdown community-led roadblocks
The iwi group responsible for setting up road checkpoints around Northland has now shut them down.

Under Level 3, the checkpoints had to have police present.

But police and iwi say they've come to a mutual agreement that the checkpoints are no longer required.

The only one that remains in place is north of Kaitaia, in Ngataki.......
See full article HERE

First Māori King used as beer label
A made-up image of the first Māori King, Potatau Te Wherowhero, on a Canadian beer label has surfaced on the internet and caused outrage within the Māori community.

While this is not the first time prominent Māori figures or Māori culture have been used on beer labels, the Canadian bar Ras L'Bock says their intention was never to offend anyone. However, Rahui Papa (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Waikato) says it is an outrageous move.

"It's something that has been made up and it's something foolish to add his name to a face on a beer bottle."

He also says this would never have happened if the company consulted with Māori.....
See full article HERE

How Māori media will prove vital in the future
The role Māori media play in the future of the industry is in the spotlight after the Government made a multimillion-dollar bid to keep the media industry afloat.

Broadcast minister Kris Faafoi announced a $50 million lifeline to the media industry to support it through the COVID-19 pandemic - and there is a promise of more to come in the upcoming budget....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Iwi-run coronavirus checkpoints are a nonsense but police aren't stopping them – By Steve Elers

For the month of April 'Breaking Views updates' recorded 18 articles on race relations published in media across the country, with 9 promoting Maori sovereignty and 9 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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