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Saturday, June 5, 2021

Breaking Views Update: Week of 30.05.21







Saturday June 5, 2021 

News:
Crown decides against appealing latest foreshore and seabed decision

The Crown has decided not to lodge an appeal in the first major foreshore and seabed decision under the current law which awarded customary title in three parts of Eastern Bay of Plenty to six hapu of Whakatohea.

Instead, the Crown has applied to be an "intervenor" in the case.

The decision last month, by Justice Peter Churchman, is the first major case under the foreshore and seabed law, the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011, which replaced Labour's foreshore and seabed law......
See full article HERE

Marae bridge digital divide through nationwide scheme
Marae trusts have been boning up on digital technology as part of a $24 million plan to connect hundreds of marae around the country with broadband.

The Marae Digital Connectivity Programme to improve digital access in provincial and rural Aotearoa is funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and other Crown agencies and administered by Te Puni Kōkiri.

Spark corporate relations partner Anaru Tuhi says about 550 marae around the country are signed up to the programme, and the 400th digital marae was connected this month.....
See full article HERE

Teachers hope curriculum will close 'woeful' gaps
Teachers backing the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum say it will help close sometimes woeful gaps in young people's knowledge of this country's past.

They say it will also prompt schools to make closer links with hapū and iwi so they can teach local history and they are optimistic about its potential for influencing wider society.

Consultation on the draft curriculum ended this week, and the Education Ministry said it had received 4880 submissions......
See full article HERE

Māori get seat at table sorting out police bias
Māori make up nearly half of the 19 member panel and research team appointed for the new research programme into how New Zealand police can ensure they deliver fair policing.

The police are partnering with the New Zealand Institute for Security and Crime Science at the University of Waikato, and criminal justice advocate Tā Kim Workman for the programme, 'Understanding Policing Delivery'.

The programme is focused on identifying where, and to what extent, bias exists at a system level in the police operating environment.....
See full article HERE

New streaming platform 'owned by and for Māori' launches
A new Māori-owned streaming platform seeks to establish greater data and storytelling sovereignty for Māori film and television makers, but it needs more shows.

Māori Now launched on Friday, with a catalogue starring lauded astronomer Rangi Matamua​, celebrity chefs Karena and Kasey Bird​, and tikanga expert Pou Tēmara​.....
See full article HERE

Govt to inject $20m funds to support NZ's four Māori boarding schools
The three Maori boarding schools in Hawke's Bay will get the lion's share of a $20 million government investment, to enable them to address significant declining property issues and maintain their operations.

Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri said the investment, announced on Friday, would help grow New Zealand's future leaders.

"This government believes in the unique role Māori boarding schools play in helping to shape and develop rangatahi," the Labour Party MP said......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Challenging the agenda – Dr Muriel Newman

Journalism or Indoctrination? - Karl du Fresne

Propaganda:
Waikato teachers partner with local iwi to tell students histories 'never been told'

Teachers hope new curriculum will close 'woeful' gaps in knowledge of nation's past 

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 June 4, 2021 

News: 
Government kills off second language education bill after worries it would breach Treaty of Waitangi 
The Government has killed off a National Party members’ bill aimed at increasing second language education at primary and intermediate schools.

The bill, which Labour supported at first reading, would enable the Minister of Education to set a priority list of 10 languages, which schools would be forced to pick from and then offer as subjects. The priority list would have to include te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.....
See full article HERE

Te reo Māori: Tertiary provider 'revolutionary change' for top of the South
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) has been chosen as one of 13 providers to deliver a programme aimed at normalising te reo Māori in the education sector.

The $108 million government Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori programme, launched at the end of 2020, is designed to upskill 40,000 teachers and school staff, from early learning to secondary schools, in the language and culture.

The programme is being rolled out nationwide after a pilot in four regions. NMIT said it would provide the programme for staff to learn te reo Māori in English medium and Māori pathways with partnership across the iwi of Te Tauihu-o-te-Waka-a-Māui......
See full article HERE

Court rules against allowing recreational helicopter trips in West Coast park
Conservation advocates have welcomed a High Court decision that bans helicopter landings in Paparoa National Park for recreational purposes.

The ban did not apply to non-powered aircraft such as hang-gliders, or helicopters landing in the park for other reasons. Those purposes included flights approved by DOC for park management, research, equipment maintenance, and wild animal control.

Helicopters supporting Ngāi Tahu cultural purposes could still land in the park.....
See full article HERE

Maori wardens design structure for independence
Māori wardens have held their annual conference in Rotorua, with the long standing push for autonomy high on the agenda.

Thomas Henry from the South Auckland Māori Wardens says they’re working on a plan to divide the country into six or seven regions, with his group holding a roadshow through Tāmaki Makaurau and Taitokerau to explain what’s needed in terms of new governance structures.

He says the wardens are ready to look after themselves.....
See full article HERE

DHB chair sees more room for Maori in reforms
The chair of Northland District Health Board believes the health reforms will allow Māori to be more closely integrated with the whole health system, rather than being siloed into a Māori Health Authority.

Harry Burkardt from Ngāti Kuri says the current DHB structure has reached its use-by date, and change is necessary......
See full article HERE

Fair policing and racial bias: Sir Kim Workman to lead panel
Nineteen people have been appointed to an independent group to advise a research project investigating bias towards Māori within the New Zealand Police force.

"We welcome the appointment of the panel and the diverse range of expertise and experience they bring to this complex issue."

The panel members are:......
See full article HERE

Hate video shows struggle ake ake ake
Māori Party leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says police should not treat a hate video posted on social media as a one-off or individual action.

The party has called for a joint taskforce between the NZ Security Intelligence Service and the Police to investigate targeting of Māori by right wing extremist groups.....
See full article HERE

Reserve Bank spends $100,000 on rebrand
The Reserve Bank has spent about $100,000 on a rebrand, including a new logo, which it says better reflects its role as a kaitiaki (guardian) of the financial system in Aotearoa.

The new logo is inspired by Tāne Mahuta, the Māori god of the forest who legend says helped the sun shine on New Zealand......
See full article HERE

Iwi elated as Ōpōtiki District Council votes to return reserves
Bach owners on East Coast land being returned to iwi under Treaty of Waitangi settlement can continue to use an illegal road to get to their homes while the council works to solve the access issues.

Te Whanau-a-Apanui were elated and celebrated with applause and waiata as Ōpōtiki District Council voted to return reserve land into iwi management on Tuesday......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Bruce Scott-Hill: Letter to MPS

Tony Sayers: The report of Matike Mai Aotearoa

Time for the lying to stop

Propaganda:
Fear of New Zealand's history shows how important it is we teach it

White supremacy 'very normalised' in New Zealand, Māori 'not believed' when saying it affects them - Professor Margaret Mutu 

Thursday June 3, 2021 

News: 
Course aims to inspire Maori entrepreneurs 
A group of Maori secondary school pupils are in Dunedin this week to be inspired to embark on business careers.

Twenty year 12 and 13 Maori economic and accounting pupils were picked from secondary schools throughout the country to attend Nohoaka Pakihi.

The boot-camp-styled programme, organised by the University of Otago’s Business School, is aimed at developing skills in innovation, collaboration, entrepreneurship, economics, sustainability and Maori business frameworks.......
See full article HERE

Rūnanga accuses Gore District Council of having a 'culture of ignorance'
The Hokonui Rūnanga is highly critical of the Gore District Council, saying it may be in breach of its responsiblities under the Local Government Act for not consulting with Iwi over its long term plan.

The Rūnanga also went further saying the council’s lack of consultation during a resource consent process was ‘’a clear example of a culture of ignorance towards, or, at worst, active exclusion of mana whenua from planning processes.”......
See full article HERE

Māori housing - where the Budget money will go
There was a lot of money for Māori housing and infrastructure in the Budget - $730 million in total. But what is Māori housing, and how will the money be used?

The Government is pouring $380 million specifically into Māori housing over the next three years. It’s a step toward addressing the inequity in home ownership, and the high percentage of Māori in social and emergency housing queues......
See full article HERE

Greens' Maori caucus call for Matariki Ahunga Nui to be expanded in school curriculum
The Green Party are calling for an expansion of the current school curriculum on Matariki, so that a deeper understanding of how it relates to managing and harvesting food is explored. This push comes at the start of the Matariki season, the final year before it is set to become a public holiday on 24 June 2022.

"The Green Party welcomed the Government’s announcement about Matariki becoming a public holiday on 24 June next year, but we want to go further, faster to enrich the understanding of Maori culture, tradition and knowledge in this country, particularly when it comes to Matariki, which is a time for renewal and reflection for Maori", says Green Party spokesperson on Education Teanau Tuiono.....
See full article HERE

Lakeshore access agreement to iconic Taupō site signed off
An agreement ensuring continued public access to the iconic flat rocks of Lake Taupō’s Whakamoenga Point has been formally signed off.

At a signing ceremony at Nukuhau’s Rauhoto Marae on Friday, the agreement between the Taupō District Council and Rangatira Point Block Incorporation was hailed by both parties as an opportunity for further collaboration.

The lease, which will ensure access to the point via Rangatira Point walkway, replaces an arrangement the Department of Conservation had with Māori owners.

The council will pay $63,000 per annum in the 10-year agreement that covers 18.5 hectares (with renewal clauses for two more 10-year periods)......
See full article HERE

Bay of Plenty school renames 'mufti' day due to cultural insensitivity
A Whakatāne secondary school has dropped the term "mufti" day amid concerns the word is culturally insensitive.

Trident High School opted for the term "kakahu kainga" for its non-uniform fundraising day for animal charities last week, as staff and students felt the term mufti was inappropriate.

A spokesperson for the Human Rights Commission said the word 'mufti' was an Arabic word used to describe a Muslim scholar of high standing but in the course of colonisation, the term was appropriated......
See full article HERE

Civil defence: Iwi capability helps shape Whanganui-Manawatū disaster planning
A regional civil defence group has begun working with tangata whenua on disaster response planning.

Whangaehu Marae trustee Alan Turia, of Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa, attended the workshop in Marton. He says responding to immediate need and looking after people and the environment is "second nature" for iwi Māori......
See full article HERE

Boost for marae justice panels
The Pae Oranga system of iwi community panels to deal with low level offending is to be extended.

At Hopuhopu this morning, Police Minister Poto Williams announced $70 million more for the programme, which will fund an additional 12 panels including nine new rangatahi panels as well as 35 full time equivalent positions within Police......
See full article HERE

Te Pāti Māori Call For Joint Taskforce To Investigate Anti-Maori Hate Speech From White Supremacist Organisations
Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi are calling for the establishment of a joint taskforce between the NZ Security Intelligence Service and the NZ Police to investigate the specific targeting of Māori by right wing extremist groups.

“We are experiencing an unprecedented increase in racist rhetoric across social media by white supremacist organisations that is inciting hate speech and violence against tangata whenua” says Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

“Our own research tells us that these organisations are recruiting followers and becoming smarter in the ways they mobilise their platforms. This makes them more difficult to investigate and more dangerous......
See full article HERE

Shaw calls taihoa as councils jump gun on SNAs
Associate Environment Minister James Shaw says he will ask council to taihoa on designating significant natural areas until a national policy statement is approved.

Mr Shaw says the work on the national policy statement was started by Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta, who was clear that councils were supposed to work with iwi, but some councils seem to be getting ahead of the process.

Mr Shaw says given the history of colonisation, it is no wonder iwi are suspicious of policies affecting land.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Be careful what you wish for!

In the light of the recent Foreshore and Seabed ruling

Police budget was trimmed but $70m will be invested in scheme to let some offenders be dealt with by iwi panels 

Wednesday June 2, 2021 

News: 
Hapu need pay to share histories with schools 
Tāmaki Treaty Workers says the Education Ministry needs to fund hapū to contribute to the new history curriculum.

In its submission on the draft history curriculum, the network of organisations and individuals says there is an expectation hapū and iwi will share their histories with students from schools in their rohe, without resourcing for such a huge demand......
See full article HERE

Auckland Transport takes action over conspiracy flyer on Auckland bus
Auckland Transport says it will remove a conspiracy theory flyer found on an Auckland bus which accused Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of "destroying NZ democracy" by giving Māori people more power.

The person who found the flyer posted a photo of it to the New Zealand Reddit thread on Monday.

It makes the unfounded claim: "Jacinda supports 50 percent Māori rule. Pakeha votes will be worth less than Māori votes. Jacinda is destroying NZ democracy behind your back. Wake up Kiwis! Has Jacinda fooled you?".....
See full article HERE

District council writes off $773,000 in unpaid rates
A Gisborne district councillor has questioned whether writing off more than $770,000 in unpaid rates can be avoided.

Unpaid rates from the 2015/16 year totalled $773,000 and will be written off in the 2020/21 year.

But of that figure, $640,000 is from Maori freehold land - which can include land that had no title, is unoccupied, or where there is difficulty contacting the multiple “fragmented” owners......
See full article HERE

Offering Tauranga Māori right of refusal on council land met with legal warning
Opponents of proposed changes to the way Tauranga City Council buys and sells property have warned commissioners of potential legal action if they go ahead with plans to offer Māori first right of refusal.

Tauranga City Council met yesterday as part of its consideration of a draft Acquisitions and Disposals Policy......
See full article HERE

Northland trust board says Significant Natural Areas policy should not be used on Māori land
Ngātiwai Trust Board has come out against the Significant Natural Areas policy being rolled out across Northland, saying the plan should not be used on Māori land as it would reduce their ability to use the land.

Te Poari o Ngātiwai (Ngātiwai Trust Board) opposes the implementation of Significant Natural Areas (SNA) on whenua Māori......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Derek Mackie: Has apathy become New Zealand's new national sport 

Tuesday June 1, 2021 

News: 
Treaty of Waitangi in the spotlight as National leader calls for conversation on its status 
Is the Treaty of Waitangi becoming more embedded in our everyday lives?

The issue was raised after National Party leader Judith Collins said there needed to be a national conversation around the status of the Treaty.

It comes as change gathers pace on the ground; an example of Treaty partnership in practice is marae delivering driving licenses to those sitting tests.....
See full article HERE

Submission to the Waitomo District Council (wdc)
on the draft long term plan 2021-2031
2. The recognition and acknowledgement that states Iwi as a treaty partner with a commitment to strengthen the relationship between Maniapoto Iwi and the WDC. Improvements in the LTP document in relation to this matter include:

a. the recognition of Maniapoto Iwi as Tangata whenua and understanding that there are many Mana whenua groups within the district.

b. the recognition of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a founding document of the New Zealand

c. a narrative regarding the collaborative nature of the relationship to date with a commitment to strengthen this relationship further. An example of this is would be the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board Engagement Strategy.

d. kotahitanga should underpin the relationship between iwi and WDC

e. a dedicated section for Māori/Mana whenua partnerships and working with iwi to develop this section

3. There is an opportunity to provide more clarity and specificity regarding “Fostering Maori participation in Council decision-making”. Suggested improvements in the LTP document in relation to this matter include:

a. Council member and/or staff training and development in this area

b. Involvement and engagement of Iwi in the early stages of planning processes rather than only in the consultation phase

c. Seeking to identify and understand the strategic aspirations of Maniapoto Iwi

d. Ensure that Māori/Iwi presence is embedded within the council including but not limited to legislative documents, communications, website

e. Implement a service level agreement between Iwi and WDC which would cover a range of matters including but not limited to; Environmental matters, resource consents, planning and monitoring......
See full article HERE

Public consultation underway for changing Maxwell township's name back to Pākaraka
A name change for a small township on the outskirts of Wanganui is another step closer.

Public consultation is underway on a proposal to change the name of the settlement of Maxwell - which has links to a bloody incident during the New Zealand Wars - back to Pākaraka.

The name change is being pushed for by the Wanganui District Council, iwi Ngā Rauru and its hapū Ngāti Maika.....
See full article HERE

New Plymouth council fund gives $46k for urupā maintenance
Almost $50,000 has been given from a New Plymouth District Council fund to help maintain urupā.

Te Ātiawa kaumatua Peter Moeahu had pushed for the Manaaki Urupā Grant for a few years.

He had pointed out to New Plymouth district councillors that NPDC maintained district cemeteries but not urupā (Māori burial grounds)......
See full article HERE

Councils ponder Maori procurement options
Auckland Council is considering ways to hand over management of selected reserves to mana whenua.

Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor Angela Dalton, who holds the council's Māori outcomes portfolio, says the council is reviewing its reserves policy.

She says it’s time to acknowledge the role of mana whenua iwi as kaitiaki.....
See full article HERE

Harete Hipango will take Nick Smith's place in parliament, says National should increase 'relevance' to Māori
Harete Hipango has confirmed she will return to Parliament following the sudden resignation of National MP Nick Smith.

The former National MP will single-handedly increase National’s Māori representation by 50 per cent, and told Stuff it was important that the party increase its “relevance” across New Zealand.

Smith announced his imminent resignation on Monday, citing an ongoing employment case in his office and his loss of the Nelson seat in the 2020 election.

His resignation on June 10 will open up a spot in Parliament for the next MP on the list – Hipango.....
See full article HERE

Ngāi Tahu launches legal action over conservation land
Ngāi Tahu is taking legal action against the government - saying it has been shut out of discussions about the protection given to ecologically important land.

The land - called stewardship land - makes up about 10 percent of the country and contains valuable forests and homes to threatened species.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government has announced plans to follow through on its 2020 election promise, which would streamline the process and bring in expert panels to advise it, but that move has prompted outrage from South Island iwi Ngāi Tahu......
See full article HERE

First school in New Zealand to follow Māori calendar
It has been 18 months in the making but, finally, Education Minister Chris Hipkins and the Ministry of Education have allowed Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai to rearrange its dates of schooling for the year and reset to the Māori calendar away from the Gregorian calendar (The Gregorian calendar is a solar dating system used by most of the world).

Tukiterangi and Renata Curtis, co-principals of the school in Rotorua, say they were thrilled to learn they can go ahead. This now means the school can change term one, which will start at the middle of the year when every other school starts term three. There will be four weeks' holiday instead of two weeks for every end-of-term holiday. This is done to align the tauira to the Maramataka Māori and rest and work with students in sync with the Maramataka also.......
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Race relations: what happens if we ignore this white reservoir of rage? 

Sunday May 30, 2021 

News: 
ACT Releases Submission On NZ History Curriculum 
“The Government’s New Zealand history curriculum threatens to indoctrinate students in left-wing ideas and requires a radical rewrite,” says ACT Education spokesperson and former teacher Chris Baillie.

ACT has today released its submission on the draft New Zealand history curriculum and set up a petition calling for a complete overhaul.

“The draft history curriculum divides history into villains and victims, contains significant gaps, and pushes a narrow set of highly political stories from our past.......
See full article HERE

Submission on the proposed school history curriculum – Don Brash
The proposed History curriculum is so bad that it is hard to know where to start. Indeed, in the limited time I have to write a submission, I will confine myself to a few important observations.

My own credentials to comment on the curriculum relate mainly to having studied History for three years at the University of Canterbury, getting an A grade in each year. I subsequently did a Masters degree and a PhD, but in Economics. I have read widely in New Zealand history.

I make just seven observations:....
See full article HERE

A reminder to have a say on the Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories in the New Zealand SUBMISSIONS CLOSES ON MONDAY 31 MAY.The survey is available at here > https://www.education.govt.nz/our-work/changes-in-education/aotearoa-new-zealand-histories-in-our-national-curriculum/

Treat Maori like other ethnic groups says ACT
ACT MP Nicole McKee says the party wants to see Māori health improve - but a separate Māori Health Authority is not the right way to do it.

The party held its annual conference last Sunday and presented its alternate Budget.

Ms McKee says ACT is getting a lot of flak for is statements on Māori, but it’s the Government which has put race-based policies on the table......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Bob Edlin: Rio Tinto deal with the Ardern govt includes Ngai Tahu

Clive Bibby: Running Out of Options

Gerry Eckhoff: The staff of life

Henry Armstrong: The Transfer of Political Power: Unconstitutional; Undemocratic; Underhand; Unwise

Maori Party v the rest of us – Rodney Hide

We're all in the same waka – Karl du Fresne 

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

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The TVNZ driver licensing story is simply a contracting out of driver licensing services in much the same way as provided by the Automobile Association. It will be great if it helps more Maori obtain drivers licenses, but it isn't an example of co-governance under the treaty

CXH said...

When did economics or accountancy grads become the new entrepreneurs? Waste of time, should have got some of the science, or even arts students before this lot.