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Saturday, May 7, 2022

Breaking Views Update: Week of 1.5.22







Saturday May 7, 2022 

News:
Environment unit to be run by iwi, paid for by Taranaki Regional Council

An independent iwi environment unit is being set up as Taranaki Regional Council grapples with increasing Treaty of Waitangi obligations.

Two full-time equivalent workers will be chosen by iwi of Taranaki, paid for by the council, and administered by Te Kotahitanga o te Ātiawa.

As debate over co-governance with Māori heats up, many councils are getting on with finding ways to better include iwi in day-to-day management and operations......
See full article HERE

High Court Contradicts Māori Appellate Court On Iwi Representation
In December 2020, the Māori Appellate Court (MAC) handed down its judgment in a case involving Ngāti Paoa, the MAC found that s30 representation orders issued by the Māori Land Court (MLC) are binding on Councils. The Māori Appellate Court went on to find that “as a matter of law” Auckland Council acted unlawfully in failing to comply with a s30 order that granted the Ngāti Paoa Trust Board (the Trust Board) mandate to represent Ngāti Paoa. The finding of the specialist jurisdiction Māori court gave clear guidance to Councils throughout Aotearoa, and sent a strong message as to the “binding” effect of a s30 order on Councils.

That clarity and certainty has been thrown into disarray, following a decision of the High Court in Auckland on Friday, 29 April 2022 by Her Honour Justice Anne Hinton. The High Court case also involving Ngāti Paoa was a Judicial Review in relation to the controversial marina being developed by Kennedy Point Boatharbour Ltd (KPBL) at Pūtiki, Waiheke Island. Contrary to the finding of the MAC, Justice Hinton found that Auckland Council had not acted unreasonably or unlawfully despite Auckland Council’s failure to comply with the s30 Order. Her Honour went on to find that an iwi authority is able to transfer its representation status - although the Trust Board denies ever having transferred its s30 mandate to any other entity....
See full article HERE

New Zealand's open tourism market still not offering Māori jobs
First-quarter labour market data has been released today, showing total unemployment has stayed at a low 3.2 per cent but the Māori unemployment rate has stayed higher at 6.3 per cent.

But on the Māori unemployment level, Eaqub said that there was a "structural difference in terms of the quality of employment and the sustained level of high employment".

"This isn't going to be fixed simply by a strong economy. The reasons for that are the discrimination of Māori and the persistent disadvantages that many from a Māori community are coming from."....
See full article HERE

Whanganui River iwi hit back at Horizons Regional councillor’s claims
Whanganui River iwi are hitting back at a regional councillor's claims that they are holding up irrigation consents and say they are fed up with being wrongly accused of being a barrier to progress.

In an article in the Whanganui Chronicle, Cotton criticised the requirement for the council to consult with iwi on irrigation consent applications for rivers and streams in the Whanganui River catchment.

He said the long delays were because iwi were ill-equipped to play a role in consents and struggling with the workload....
See full article HERE

Proposed Māori names for Auckland train stations unveiled
Details of the proposed te reo Māori names for Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) stations have been unveiled, as part of plans to acknowledge the historic heritage of Tāmaki Makaurau.

Ngā ingoa tuku iho ( the traditional names) have been gifted to City Rail Link by the Mana Whenua Forum, which represents eight local iwi.

They are Maungawhau (Mt Eden), Karanga a Hape (Karangahape), Te Wai Horotiu (Aotea) and Waitematā (Britomart).

The names are due to go before the New Zealand Geographic Board for approval at the end of this month.....
See full article HERE

Government's $8m boost to Pacific health providers
The Government is investing $8 million into Pacific health providers over the next four years as part of its promise to take “bold actions” towards denormalising smoking.

The cash will help six organisations deliver tailored stop smoking services particularly for Māori and Pacific communities – who have the highest smoking rates in New Zealand.
See full article HERE

Tūwharetoa builds home for Taupō Council
Taupō District Council has agreed to a plan for a new headquarters building that will be shared with various Ngāti Tūwharetoa entities.

Te Whare Hono o Tūwharetoa Limited Partnership, representing various Ngāti Tūwharetoa trusts and companies, will buy the former Taupō RSA site from the council, construct and own a three-storey building and lease 3000sq.m of it for use as council offices.....
See full article HERE

Rotorua Māori wards bill: Election candidate Robert Lee seeks judicial review of council decisions
Election candidate Robert Lee is taking Rotorua Lakes Council to court for a judicial review of its November decision to pursue a bill to change electoral rules for the district.

Rotorua Lakes Council chief executive Geoff Williams said in a statement today it would strongly oppose Lee's case, calling it "misconceived" and "containing inaccurate allegations".

Lee's statement of claim alleges the bill was "procedurally unfair" and "illegal"......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Graeme Reeves: Cooke on Partnership Treaty of Waitangi

Graham Adams: Brand destruction hits the mainstream media 

This Breaking Views Update monitors race relations in the media on a weekly basis. New material is added regularly. 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 6, 2022 

News: 
Hapori Māori Fund and Pāsifika Innovation Fund 
The purpose of the Hapori Māori Fund is to support Māori Development and Resilience through:

* Empowering Māori business

* Empowering Māori social and creative sectors.

Across the two Funds there is a total of $90,000 to allocate before 30th June.

Who Can Apply?
Any group or individual undertaking a project or initiative that will benefit Oraka Māori and Pāsifika communities within Ōtepoti/Dunedin.....
See full article HERE

Māori And Pacific Groups Join Forces With Chamber Of Commerce To Accelerate Business Growth
Te Awe Wellington Māori Business Network and Wellington Pasifika Business Network have joined forces with the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to supercharge the region’s businesses......
See full article HERE

Air New Zealand Highlights Māori Culture And Values In New Safety Video
The story follows Tiaki, a young man who boards a waka rererangi (flying canoe) and sets off on an adventure across Aotearoa. With the help of Air New Zealand and Julie (a character that embodies the rest of New Zealand), he visits four Māori guardians including Papatūānuku (the land), Tangaroa (sea), Tāne Mahuta (forest) and Ranginui (sky). Along the way he seeks advice from these guardians on how better to look after them.....
See full article HERE

SNA debate set to boil over again on West Coast
Te Tai o Poutini Plan Committee (TTPP) is a joint committee made up of the four West Coast councils and local iwi.

Te Tai o Poutini Committee iwi representative Paul Madgwick told the committee meeting last week the latest SNA report brought back "the whole nightmare" of the previous West Coast schedule two wetlands review process, which saw local iwi forced to take legal action to remove Maori reserve land from being compulsorily taken.

During the meeting, Mr Madgwick maintained that Maori land should remain outside the SNA process, as those lands have never been ceded to the Crown. The TTPP committee agreed last year to exclude Maori land from any SNA process.

West Coast Regional Council chairman Allan Birchfield said however there should be "one rule for all" if there were to be SNAs.

"I think it's a bit rough that the Maoris get their land excluded and everyone else is in," Councillor Birchfield said during a debate lasting nearly 50 minutes.....
See full article HERE

Local iwi oppose proposed sites for new Whangārei airport
Ruatangata West is one of three sites identified by the Whangārei District Council as a viable option for a new airport. The only problem? It's right on the doorstep of Ngāti Kahu o Torongare, Te Parawhau, and Te Orewai.

Hori Kīngi, kaumātua at Ngāraratunua Marae, says iwi are unhappy that the area is being considered a viable option for a new regional airport.

"I am not in support of establishing an airport at Ruatangata, Matarau and Pūrua.".....
See full article HERE

Ten-year Māori strategy for Wellington Council
Mayor Andy Foster says Tūpiki Ora establishes a new way for the community to work together and strengthen relationships.

Committee chair Jill Day says the agreed set of principles derive from Mana whenua and Māori, and will support the council to give effect to the strategy, bringing Māori values into everything......
See full article HERE


Thursday May 5, 2022 

News: 
Free healthcare for under-24s in Hawke's Bay, with a catch 
Some GPs say the DHB has forced them to now charge under-18s for visits.

Hastings Health Centre has advised patients that 14 to 17 years of funding from the DHB has ceased, and fees will now be $30 or $13 with a Community Services Card.

However, Foster says demand has decreased, but the need for a ''co-design of health services, to better meet the growing needs of our rangatahi Māori and Pasifika population'', was identified.

"As a result, the DHB made the decision to extend free healthcare to Hawke's Bay rangatahi up to the age of 24 at selected practices to better meet these needs," Foster says.

The Te Kahui Waiora collective has a kaupapa Māori foundation and is in a transitional period, with full services operational by July 1.......
See full article HERE

Otago Polytechnic Strategic goals
* Be a responsive treaty partner in meeting the education aspirations of mana whenua

* ensure an effective partnership with Kāi Tahu and Ngāti Whātua

* attract, support and retain Māori staff proportionate to Māori learner participation

* ensure staff develop a baseline cultural competence: Māori cultural practices, Te Reo, Tikaka, Treaty, inclusive pedagogies, etc.

* ensure Māori learners participate and succeed as Māori, achieving at the same or a better rate as non-Māori

* embed Māori knowledge and perspectives in all programmes of learning

* foster Māori research and contribute to the advancement of mātauranga Māori

Note: Kāi Tahu is Mana Whenua in Otago, Ngāti Whātua in Auckland......
See full article HERE

National refuses to shut door on potential Māori Party coalition
National Party leader Christopher Luxon has refused to rule out a coalition government involving the Māori Party but deemed the talks premature......
See full article HERE

Horowhenua iwi speak of wāhi tapu on proposed golf course land
Horowhenua iwi have warned a group wanting to develop a golf course near the Ōhau River of wāhi tapu in the area, with a kaitiaki giving specific examples of the dangers involved.

Much of Wednesday involved Ngāti Tukorehe​ and Muaūpoko​ giving evidence, much of it about wāhi tapu in the area of the proposed course.

An especially significant site is Tirotiro Whetū​, a known site of occupation for Māori in the area.
See full article HERE

Māori health: King Tuheitia launches a home heart programme to help save lives
Hāpaitia te Hauora Manawa was launched today by the Māori King Tuheitia and co-chair of the Māori Health Authority, Tipa Mahuta, at Kirikiriroa Marae in Hamilton.

The programme, co-designed by Māori community leaders, nursing staff, specialist cardiologists, Waikato DHB management and executives, regional NGOs and industry partners, is the first of its kind for cardiac health in New Zealand and will be led by experienced Māori liaison specialist nurse, Patumahoe Leaf-Wright......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Don Brash: Our constitution is being changed before our eyes

Propaganda:
Moves to put people before process in reforms

NSW politician seeks help from iwi to protect Australian rivers 

Wednesday May 4, 2022 

News: 
Green Party scraps male co-leader requirement, adds Māori as part of Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitment 
The Green Party has scrapped its male co-leader requirement and added one to ensure Māori representation.

The two co-leaders now need to constitute one woman, and one person of any gender (providing leadership pathways for non-binary and intersex). One co-leader also needs to be Māori.

Party co-convenor Penny Leach said the new constitution would set them up for "another three decades of success by strengthening our commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi and our inclusion of everyone"......
See full article HERE

Bilingual school traffic signs launched in Napier
The first bilingual school traffic sign has been unveiled in Napier following a law change which will see both the Māori and English words for school featured on the signs.

The Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices (Kura/School Signs) Amendment 2022 came into force on April 5 which sees bilingual wording now a requirement for any new school signs.

It’s part of an initiative that aims to inspire communities to speak and learn te reo Māori.......
See full article HERE

Māori Authority pledge racially divisive
An urban Māori leader says Christopher Luxon’s promise to get rid of the Māori Health Authority shows National is committed to failed policies.

He says Mr Luxon’s formula is a recipe for racial conflict.

“What we argue is a rights-based proposition that is evidences, clearly, that this is the right thing we ae doing in standing up a Māori health authority. Every step of the way over the last five decades has demonstrated that Pākehā doing it for Māori has failed us......
See full article HERE

Te Marewa o Tautoru rises
Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi-o-Ngāpuhi has signed an agreement with Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, and the benefactor vehicle Māori Education Trust to match dollar for dollar of education scholarships the rūnanga gives to its members to attend university.

Named Te Marewa o Tautoru, the agreement will have the three partners work together for the educational betterment of the iwi.

Members of the iwi met at Kohewhata Marae in Kaikohe to sign the agreement, and it means Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi-o-Ngāpuhi will be able to support more Ngāpuhi into tertiary education at Te Herenga Waka through the annual education scholarship scheme.

"There was an agreement to have a dollar for dollar scholarship partnership. In terms of Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi-o-Ngāpuhi input, we allocate $97,000 per year."....
See full article HERE

Age dropped for Māori and Pasifika flu vaccine eligibility ahead of flu season
While those 65 and over still have free access, that age has been dropped to 55 for Māori and Pasifika, the Northern Region Health Coordination Centre​ announced on Tuesday......
See full article HERE

Auckland Council agency heads to human rights tribunal in protracted legal battle
Auckland Council development agency Eke Panuku is heading to the Human Rights Review Tribunal this month as part of an ongoing legal battle with former Māori Party co-leader John Tamihere.

And according to the council-controlled organisation’s chief executive David Rankin, the agency and the council have already spent $605,750 in legal fees in relation to the case.....
See full article HERE

Logo represents hopes for nation's unity during Matariki celebrations
Te Tohu o Matariki - the new logo for Matariki - has been unveiled as the historic first matauranga Māori public holiday is soon to be observed.

Speaking at the gifting, Ardern said introducing Matariki as a public holiday will help shape Aotearoa's future identity.

"In the many many things that we will do as a government this, alongside our children learning New Zealand's history in schools, I think will lay a foundation for New Zealand's future.....
See full article HERE

A Useful Document To Explore Opportunity In Conservation
“The report will help inform how the Department of Conservation and the Authority interpret conservation law in light of the Department’s Te Tiriti o Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi obligations”,

“The report is a well-researched piece of work, by a collective that has variety of background and considerable expertise in conservation issues and practice, tikanga and mātauranga taiao, and in applying the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi”........
See full article HERE

Articles:
Philip Temple: Nothing to fear? 

Tuesday May 3, 2022 

News: 
Māori even more overrepresented in prisons, despite $98m strategy 
The proportion of Māori in prison has increased in the past three years, after the Government launched a $98m strategy to address the justice system overrepresentation.

This is despite the prison population falling to its lowest number in 14 years, with new Department of Corrections figures showing 7669 people were in jail in March.

Justice reform advocates said the figures showed that more sweeping reforms were needed......
See full article HERE

New training facility opens to give young Māori a 'springboard' into work
Twenty-four weeks to prepare and help young people to get into jobs is the Māori Trades and Training 'Mahi Whakaara' programme's goal.

Brainstormed by the foundation trust Te Tautoko Ora, the Mahi Whakaara programme is part of the Māori Trades and Training Fund (MTTF), a $18.5 million government leg up, including $1.3m for the top of south, to support more than 500 Māori jobseekers.

“It's all wrapped around and led by a Māori approach,” Tirikatene said.

“We are the first of a kind because it's by Māori for Māori.

“Because at the end of the day, when it comes to the Treaty of Waitangi, we are in partnership.......
See full article HERE

Regional oversight role for iwi in 3 Waters
Minister Mahuta says there will two layers of governance, with mana whenua and Māori representatives operating at a strategic level.

“What we need is for entities of that scale and size to have professional, skills-based, elected members who are able to undertake the significant challenge of running those entitles. That has been well foreshadowed not only to councils but iwi mana whenua and the strongest role iwi mana whenua can play is at the strategic level through the regional representative group,” she says.....
See full article HERE

Health insurer Southern Cross is partnering with Waikato-Tainui to offer up to $1250 a year for day-to-day cover to each of the iwi’s 14,000 kaumatua (elders).
At present, the iwi offers annual medical grants to registered members aged 60-plus. But for the first time, kaumatua can now use this money to pay for a basic Southern Cross health policy. At this point it doesn’t cover mental health issues, nor does it cover surgery.

Kerry Boielle, chief sales and marketing officer at Southern Cross, says the scheme is a first for the insurer. Kaumatua who take up the offer can access services such as GP visits, dental care, optometry, physiotherapy and chiropractic care up to the $1250 cap......
See full article HERE

Reforms to provide for Māori voice of rangatiratanga on health issues
One of the health reforms’ aims is to give expression to the voice of Māori rangatiratanga, health minister Andrew Little says.

One of the Government’s priorities in designing the reforms has been to ensure the health system honours and embeds the Crown’s obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Mr Little says........
See full article HERE

Mental health units too quick to seclude
He says the fact Māori patients are disproportionately put in seclusion makes it a treaty issue.

“You can’t just say that you’re taking steps to reduce seclusion, You’ve got to do it. And yet we find in the case of Te Whare Maiangiangi, Māori were 40 per cent of admissions but 57 per cent of seclusion events related to Māori. That’s not good enough,” he says......
See full article HERE

‘Kia ora’ fail: Auckland Airport’s $40k welcome sign at wrong end for first arrivals
Auckland Airport and Tourism New Zealand spent $40,000 painting the greeting on the grass at the north-eastern end of the runway in honour of the occasion......
See full article HERE

Call for hapū-led solutions to impacts of sea level rise
It is the first ever long term infrastructure strategy - with 68 recommendations which include strengthening partnerships with Māori across the infrastructure system such as undertaking a stock take of current engagement with Māori.

The strategy calls for the establishment of a Māori advisory group to develop a framework focusing on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tikanga Māori - which considers the evolving role of Māori in the infrastructure system and options for ongoing governance and oversight of the framework.....
See full article HERE

Two questions to fix Rotorua Māori seat bill
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick sees a path to getting her council’s preferred voting system through parliament.

Mayor Chadwick says the council wants to honour the spirit of the Fenton Agreement under which Te Arawa iwi leased land for the establishment of the township.

She says what’s been missed in the commentary is there are also four at large seats, which voters can vote for whether they are on the Maori or the general roll.

“So I think that’s where the parity argument comes in and that is sort of what the Attorney General was asking: Is an individual’s rights infringed? That was one question; and is that appropriate and justified? So if we answer those two questions then I think this bill will move again,” Ms Chadwick says......
See full article HERE

Waiheke marina: Ngāti Pāoa Trust Board loses High Court challenge
The High Court has ruled there will be no judicial review sought by the Ngāti Pāoa Trust Board to overturn the resource consent granted for the Kennedy Point Marina.

Ngā uri o Ngāti Pāoa (descendents of Waiheke Island's tangata whenua Ngāti Pāoa) are the force behind the occupation, and after a year of fighting against the construction of the Kennedy Point marina, still had not given up hope.

“Until the Māori processes are adhered to and respected under Te Tiriti you’re going to have these arguments,” he told Stuff earlier this year.......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Joe Bennett: Evolving language scoffs at moral or political aims

Mike Hosking: Three Waters another attack on democracy

Ward Kamo: Maori victims of crime

David Alexander Lillis: Systemic racism and bias in New Zealand?

Graham Adams: Three Waters looks like the government’s suicide note

Bryce Edwards: Is Three Waters really about water infrastructure or iwi co-governance?

Propaganda:
Learning from Moana Jackson

Te Tiriti and democracy: The principle of equal representation

Surviving Battalion soldier says Māori are no better off now than before two world wars 

Sunday May 1, 2022 

News: 
Council leaves anti-three waters reform group over its 'emotional' reactions 
In February, almost all of Queenstown's district councillors were keen to join anti-Three Waters reform group. Two months later, almost all are keen to leave.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council is the latest to leave the group, with councillors citing concerns for their ongoing relationship with iwi and the group’s strategy as reasons for changing their minds.

Queenstown Lakes councillor Craig Ferguson​, who also initially voted to join the group, did not think staying was worth jeopardising the council’s relationship with Kāi Tahu​.

“Whether people like it or not, the country is changing, and Kāi Tahu are an important part of our DNA in this district. That will only continue to grow.”

Both Kāi Tahu and C4LD sent letters to the council before Thursday’s full council meeting.

All six Kāi Tahu rūnanga who connect to the district said they were disappointed the council had not talked to them before joining C4LD.....
See full article HERE

Rotorua Lakes Council Māori wards bill discussion unlawful - legal experts
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick was "unlawful" when she decided a discussion on Rotorua's controversial Māori wards bill would be held confidentially, two public law experts believe.

Some councillors now want to share how they voted and have revealed a motion to withdraw the bill was narrowly defeated with a casting vote from Chadwick.

Rotorua Lakes Council has also revealed the updated cost to ratepayers of pursuing the bill is more than $74,000.

Public law expert and lawyer Graeme Edgeler told Local Democracy Reporting, in his opinion, there were several issues with the proceedings in Thursday's council meeting.....
See full article HERE

Kermadec Sanctuary on Cabinet’s hook but no deal yet
Much of the blame for the lack of progress in the last Parliamentary term was put at the foot of New Zealand First - Labour’s then-coalition partner.

But New Zealand First's position and concerns only echoed those of Te Ohu Kaimona (TOKM) - the organisation that represents Māori commercial fishing interests.

The sanctuary would cover a 620,000 sq km area in New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone around the Kermadec Islands, northeast of the country’s North Island.

There is no fishing there currently due to distance more than anything, but TOKM is opposed to it being a permanent no-take sanctuary because of the ramifications that would have for rights under the Treaty of Waitangi.

TOKM has been continuing to work with the Government to strike a deal but maintains the sanctuary must balance commercial customary rights with the role of Māori as kaitiaki (guardian) of the area.....
See full article HERE

New partnership deal between Wellington City Council and iwi
Wellington City Council needs to acknowledge its past failures towards mana whenua to help build and strengthen its relationship moving ahead, a councillor says.

The call follows the signing of a new partnership agreement between Wellington City Council and mana whenua groups from Te Whanganui-A-Tara at Pipitea Marae on Friday.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Roger Partridge: A victory for democracy?

Heather Du Plessis-Allan: The longer it goes on, the more it looks like it isn't really about cleaning up water

The Crisis of State Overreach – by Dr Muriel Newman.

Democracy and the free market economy – Anthony Willy

Denis Hall: Note to all political parties.

Point of Order: The legality of the mayor’s secrecy motion has gone unquestioned

If Labour fears a co-governance debate will damage them, it’s too late

Propaganda:
'A beautiful koha': The pentecostal church that is handing its land back to iwi 

This Breaking Views Update monitors race relations in the media on a weekly basis. New material is added regularly. If you would like to send Letters to the Editor in response to any of these articles, most media addresses can be found HERE

3 comments:

Ray S said...

So, Queenstown district councillors are afraid joining the anti three waters bloc will upset their relationship with local Maori. I read that they are not opposed to three waters at all. If they were genuine with their concern about three waters, upsetting local Maori should be the last thing of concern to them.

Perhaps they will have a rethink when they realize three waters in not really about water its about money and water ownership.

Anonymous said...

i wish there was an equivalent of john stossel here to ask them 'are you on the take'?

Anonymous said...

here is a useful guide you might need for reading the linked articles (5-may-22):

rangatahi: young people
kaupapa Māori: Māori way
mana whenua: customary authority
Te Reo: the language (Maori)
Tikaka: general behaviour guidelines
mātauranga Māori: Māori knowledge
Tangata Whenua: people of the land (indigenous)
Tangata Tiriti: People of the Treaty (who have a right to live New Zealand under the Treaty of Waitangi)
Te Tiriti: The Treaty (of Waitangi)
Aotearoa: New Zealand
iwi: tribe (large social unit)
wāhi tapu: sacred place
kaitiaki: guardian
tapu: sanctity
taonga: treasure
whenua: land
pā: fortification
kaitiakitanga: guardianship
manaakitanga: generosity
wairua: spirit
whānau: family, usually extended

happy reading!