Pages

Saturday, July 30, 2022

Breaking Views Update: Week of 24.7.22







Saturday July 30, 2022 

News:
Māori left behind in flood fix

Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says the government’s emergency response to this week’s flooding ignores roads leading to Māori townships in favour of fixing roads to mainstream towns.

She says they’re not doing enough.

“We need to see a real emphasis on Māori roads and pathways. It’s not just about the road. We are seeing urupa that have been displaced and flooded, so there needs to be more done to recognise tangata whenua wāhi and recognition of our wāhi tapu,” she says.....
See full article HERE

Māori Housing: Urban Development Underway In Mt Wellington
Minister for Māori Development, Willie Jackson, congratulated Tauhara North No 2 Trust on the project that will comprise of 30 apartments once complete.

The Government has invested $12.31 million, through its Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga programme, to support the $25 million development. Of this, $4.8 million has been funded through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s Māori Infrastructure Fund.....
See full article HERE

Treaty advisory board members named
The members of a new advisory board to help ensure existing Treaty settlements are upheld under New Zealand’s new resource management system were named today.

The members of the Ministerial Advisory Board are:

* Karen Vercoe (MNZM), Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa

* Lisa Tumahai, Ngāi Tahu, Tainui

* Andrew (Anaru) Luke, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Rangitāne ki Wairau, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Maniapoto/Kinohaku

* Maui Solomon, Moriori, Ngāi Tahu.....
See full article HERE

Ngāti Toa and Whitireia open centre in Porirua to support Māori students
A new learning centre has been established to ensure the success and development of ākonga Māori (Māori students).....
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Professors unlock access to higher-knowledge platform 

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 July 29, 2022 

News: 
Calls for school zones to be dropped for Māori 
Jepsen has been travelling around the country visiting schools, in an attempt at what he calls "re-indigenising and decolonising" the education system. He says part of that endeavour is allowing ākonga Māori to be educated within their own rohe.

“We are tangata whenua, we are mana whenua and the mana and the whenua sits with our people. It's crazy to think that in this day and age we’d expect the indigenous and first peoples of this land to be in situations where they’re unable to attend kura in their own tribal lands,” he said......
See full article HERE

Tauranga Port expansion: MP Sam Uffindell wants agreement between port, iwi
Tauranga's new MP is calling on the Port of Tauranga and local iwi to come to an agreement on how the port can expand.

But the neighbouring marae says doing so would harm its community even further.....
See full article HERE

Schism in Bay of Plenty hapū amid move to extract it from Whakatōhea settlement
Three spokespeople of Te Ūpokorehe hapū, who asked not to be named through fear of the repercussions for their school-aged children, said they represented the majority of Ūpokorehe who have always considered themselves a hapū of Te Whakatōhea and are asking people of Whakatōhea to vote “no” to their removal from the mandate. They said it was just one whānau driving the separation from Whakatōhea.

"They are the same group who protested inclusion of Te Ūpokorehe in the Ngāi Tūhoe settlement. Their stand with Tūhoe was ‘we’re with Whakatōhea’. Now they’ve gone and contradicted themselves.”....
See full article HERE

Maori ward legislation – removal of democracy by stealth
“Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s move to make it mandatory for councils to consider introducing Maori Wards is unconstitutional and depicts a seismic shift in our democracy,” says Winston Peters Leader of New Zealand First.

“This is straight out of Stalin's ‘How-To’ guide.”

“Labour’s separatist agenda is now so overt it should frighten every New Zealander who cares about the future of our democracy.”
See full article HERE

Consistent measurement of Maori businesses - Stats NZ
The newly released Mâori business definition standard establishes a common approach to the identification of Mâori businesses, Stats NZ said today.

The standard, created in collaboration with a cross-sector working group, will allow for consistent collection and production of Mâori business data.

The new data standard provides guidance for collecting information related to Mâori businesses, and is now in use by Stats NZ. It is also available for use by other agencies.....
See full article HERE

Deed of settlement signed with Ngati Tara Tokanui - Andrew Little
A Deed of Settlement has been signed between Ngati Tara Tokanui and the Crown, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little says.

The Deed of Settlement includes acknowledgements and a Crown apology for the historical Crown acts or omissions that breached Te Tiriti o Waitangi and caused harm to Ngati Tara Tokanui. This includes the confiscation of land and the Crown’s promotion of policies and laws, which eroded the Ngati Tara Tokanui tribal structure and dislocated its people from their pa (fortified villages) and kainga (homes).

The redress package contains financial redress of $6 million and the return of nine sites of cultural significance including Nga Ure Tara, Mimitu Pa, Tawhitiaraia and Karangahake......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Heather du Plessis-Allan: Māori ward legislation change is clever politics from Nanaia Mahuta

Propaganda:
Pūhoro education programme achieving equity for Māori

Iwi soothe Coasters’ property fears 

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

Thursday July 28, 2022 

News: 
Nats deputy says Māori authority a distraction 
National Party deputy leader Nicola Willis says nothing she has seen about the new Māori Health Authority has changed her mind that it needs to be scrapped.

Both National and ACT are making ending Te Aka Whai Ora an election promise.

Ms Willis says she doesn’t like the idea of a separate Māori entity, and she can’t support something that will take years to show results......
See full article HERE

Local Government election processes looking up for 2025
Improvements to the processes of electing councils at 2025 local government elections have been introduced to Parliament.

Local Government Minister, Nanaia Mahuta said the legislation covered decisions about Māori wards, councillors numbers at Auckland Council, more consistent rules for ‘coin toss’ election ties, and electronic nomination filing.

The Minister said Councils have been able to create Māori wards to improve Māori representation for 20 years, but the option was underutilised until Parliament removed the barrier of the binding poll provision last year. This legislation is the second stage of improvements.

“Under the proposed changes, when councils undertake their regular Representation Review every six years, the first step must be a decision about whether to establish Māori wards or constituencies. Currently there is no obligation to consider Māori wards at all,” said Ms Mahuta.

Other changes remove the cap of 20 elected representatives at Auckland Council, to reflect the city’s growing population and allow for potential Māori wards, the Minister said.....
See full article HERE

The Iwi-Māori Partnership Board
Te Kāhui Hauora o Te Tauihu is the Iwi-Māori Partnership Board in Te Tauihu (top of the South Island). The Board play a vital role in working closely with Te Aka Whai Ora – Māori Health Authority and Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, in the design and delivery of local health services for Māori in Te Tauihu. Locality commissioning from assessing the health needs of whānau, identifying priorities and monitoring the services provided are also core functions of the Board.....
See full article HERE

West Coast landowners reeling at new rules, Te Tai o Poutini Plan Committee scrambles
Some West Coast landowners are reeling after receiving letters informing them of new legal planning rules affecting their land - leaving the Te Tai o Poutini Plan Committee scrambling today to respond.

The letters to multiple property owners reveal rules which have immediate effect on their land, around historic heritage, areas of significance to Māori, ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity, natural character and margins of water, activities on the surface of water, and designations.
See full article HERE

ACC heads north to design kaupapa Māori pathway
At ACC, we understand that to do better by and for Māori we need to do things differently.

We’re partnering with Māori providers across the motu (country) to help us develop new regional kaupapa Māori health services.

We want to provide whānau with a choice of services that deliver culturally appropriate care and uphold our responsibilities to Te Tiriti o Waitangi......
See full article HERE

Greater understanding of te ao Māori a focus for 2022 Most Influential Lawyers
For several of NZ Lawyer’s Most Influential Lawyers for 2022, championing a greater understanding of te ao Māori was a crucial area of focus for them over the past year.....
See full article HERE

Māori to benefit substantially from NZ-EU FTA
The agreement includes a ‘Māori Trade and Economic Cooperation’ chapter, providing an important new platform with the EU to enable Māori to benefit from the agreement and cooperate to advance Māori economic aspirations. This is the first time the EU has included such a chapter in a FTA and it presents a new opportunity for Māori to advance trade interests in the European Union.....
See full article HERE

Treaty at centre of latest smokefree bill
Māori tobacco health researcher Andrew Waa is excited by the inclusion of Treaty of Waitangi provisions in the latest bill aimed at creating a smoke-free Aotearoa.

If passed, the amendments to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act will require the Director General of Health to consult with Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority), iwi-Māori partnership boards and “any iwi or other Māori who the director-general considers have an interest” when considering applications by would-be tobacco retailers.

“For a piece of health legislation, I can't recall one that makes so many references to Māori, the Māori Health Authority, iwi and other Māori that they might want to talk to, especially the community voices, he says. "I think It's all about making sure it's done with Māori, and Māori communities are a part of it.”......
See full article HERE

Treaty claim likely if hospital put on racecourse
The future of Tauranga’s racecourse is once again out for public consultation, but council’s preferred option could trigger a Treaty of Waitangi claim.

The Tauranga City Council led Greerton Maarawaewae Study has been looking at future options for the Greerton Racecourse Reserve.

The council is consulting on three options: Option A includes a health precinct, sports fields and the golf course - this is the council’s preferred option. It includes a fallback provision that if the health precinct isn't approved it will revert to Option B.....
See full article HERE

Co-governance for golf course
The original Māori owners of a New Plymouth golf course have teed up an agreement with the golf club to jointly manage the land.

For months Ngāti Tawhirikura and the Fitzroy Golf Club have been negotiating future plans for the reserve land, which is controlled by New Plymouth District Council.

Councillors yesterday [26/07] unanimously agreed to grant a 15-year lease of the golf course for one dollar a year.

The club might initially take on the lease alone, or in a joint entity with the hapū: either way the two sides would co-manage the land.....
See full article HERE

Te reo and tikanga Māori have a place in the council chambers
"Having Māori at the table from a strategic point of view through to completion is really important. Māori issues, Māori challenges, can only be solved by Māori in a Māori way. If you're wanting the space to represent the aspirations of iwi, you need to start with that process."....
See full article HERE

Articles:

Graham Adams: Richard Prebble using the C-word is a step change.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Māori ward legislation change is clever politics from Nanaia Mahuta

Propaganda:
Criticism of Reserve Bank's Māori engagement 'racist'

New Zealand Wars massacre was real - Nanaia Mahuta

Posse frontman still fiercely fighting for Māori sovereignty

What Māori place names can tell us about water safety


Academic questions why Te Matatini isn't receiving equitable funding in performing arts sector 

Wednesday July 27, 2022 

News: 
Government takes further action to protect Mātauranga Māori 
The Government is continuing to take action to support Māori to safeguard at-risk mātauranga from the ongoing threat of COVID-19, through the extension of the Mātauranga Māori Te Awe Kōtuku programme.

“We’re continuing to lay the foundations for a better future by prioritising the protection of mātauranga Māori and its importance to Māori cultural identity and wellbeing, and to Aotearoa New Zealand,” Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni said.

“Many of these projects are ongoing, and this additional $4.5 million investment responds to the real need to support Māori communities in the transmission of mātauranga from one generation to the next, an area which often lacks financial resources. This funding will enable the mahi of participating agencies to continue with momentum.”.....
See full article HERE

Police weave in cultural skills to prevent sudden infant deaths
Counties Manukau police will weave wahakura (flax bassinets) as part of an initiative to reduce sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) in South Auckland.

Hāpai Te Hauora, a public health and policy service, will host a wānanga wahakura (bassinet-weaving workshop) with the district's police workforce......
See full article HERE

Working with Māori
We aim to ensure the cultural values and perspectives of Māori people who use Pact services are respected and that Māori staff within Pact are supported to enhance their knowledge and skills of Tikanga Māori......
See full article HERE

Māori data specialists not consulted on facial recognition technology - data sovereignty expert
Māori data specialists are accusing the government of ignoring them while going ahead and expanding the reach of facial recognition technology......
See full article HERE

Gang meets with Oranga Tamariki chiefs to discuss solutions to Māori babies in care
Mongrel Mob Kingdom Wahine Toa has met with Tā Mark Solomon, chairman of the Oranga Tamariki Ministerial Advisory Board, to talk about Māori tamariki and how being ripped away from whānau into state care has long and ever lasting consequences for Māori babies.

Solomon and Oranga Tamariki Ministerial Board member Shannon Pakura met with Wahine Toa Mongrel Mob Kingdom representatives in Rotorua yesterday......
See full article HERE

Wāhi tapu on proposed Ōhau golf course land protected by consent decision
A Xero co-founder’s plans to build a golf course on wāhi tapu have been rebuffed, with commissioners saying even a “light touch” could have dire consequences for the relationship between iwi and whenua.

The decision does not necessarily mean the end of the course proposal, but it would require significant redesign or further legal action.....
See full article HERE

Te Pāti Māori To Oppose UK Free Trade Deal
Te Pāti Māori Co-leader and trade spokesperson Rawiri Waititi is today announcing that Te Pāti Māori will oppose the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill, a trade deal which shut Māori out of negotiations, and that fails to protect Māori rights and interests.

“This free trade agreement signed between our Government and the UK is yet another failed opportunity to reimagine trade policy and move away from this colonial model that has been imposed on us,” said Mr Waititi.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Professor Elizabeth Rata: In defence of democracy

Jerry Coyne: Indigenous psychiatry - how valuable is it?

Propaganda:
‘It really did lift my heart’: Minister moved by Māori mental health efforts

Endangered Indigenous Māori Construction Methods Revived To Rebuild And Strengthen Historic Wharenui 

Tuesday July 26, 2022 

News: 
Tauranga council to consider co-ownership with Māori of $16m CBD land 
A core chunk of Tauranga CBD real estate worth $16 million is being considered as part of a co-ownership deal that could see mana whenua lease the land for $1.

Tauranga City Council will meet today to decide on a potential partnership with Otamataha Trust - a trust that oversees property on behalf of Ngāti Tapu and Ngai Tamarawaho.

However, this would only happen following public consultation.....
See full article HERE

Honouring of Maori midwives planned
A new subdivision in Karitane could honour the legacy of Maori midwives by naming a street Whanau Awhina Ave, in recognition of the small town being the birthplace of Whanau Awhina Plunket.

"I thought it would be an honour for the selected name, not only for the Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki, but especially for the various whanau directly involved in the evolution of Whanau Awhina.

"The name is the Maori name used by Plunket since its restructuring in recent years, but I believe it was also used years ago.".....
See full article HERE

New mayor needs Māori advisor
Auckland Council’s Māori portfolio holder believes the next mayor needs to have a senior Māori advisor in his or her office.

Councillor Angela Dalton says looking at the candidates lining up to replace Phil Goff, she’s concerned some seem opposed to the idea of co-governance, which is becoming an increasingly important part of local government.

She says the mayor needs advice on how to achieve the best outcomes for Māori......
See full article HERE

Tiriti to fore in local government review
The role and involvement of iwi, hapū and Māori in local government are set to be strengthened after October’s elections.

Delegates to the Local Government New Zealand conference in Palmerston North were given a preview by review panel members, Jim Palmer and Penny Hulse on what’s likely to be in its draft report due for release in mid-October.

Mr Palmers says the place of Te Tiriti o Waitangi needs to be more explicitly stated within the system of local government.....
See full article HERE

Groundswell accused of 'fear mongering' on West Coast
A letter circulated by a rural lobby group about the draft Te Tai o Poutini Plan has been described as "mischief making"

In the letter, Groundswell describes provisions in the new plan - including the yet to be finalised Significant Natural Area (SNA) identification - as a "land grab", and calls for the plan to be immediately withdrawn.

However, fellow plan committee member and Te Runanga o Makaawhio chairman Paul Madgwick described the letter as "mischief making".

The sites of significance to Māori was required by the National Planning Standards rolled out nationwide, Madgwick said......
See full article HERE

Joint resource consent for water supply between iwi and council recognised
A joint water supply consent has been described as a "great step forward" for iwi and council relationships nationwide.

Te Puna a Pekehaua partnership between Rotorua Lakes Council and Ngāti Rangiwewehi was recognised at this year's Local Government NZ Excellence Awards on Friday where it was one of six finalists in the Environmental Wellbeing section.....
See full article HERE

Power to the people success - but 'not Māori enough'
Kia Tuakana is aiming for 10,000 new customers by the end of the year in the hope that existing customers can help others achieve affordable power in their homes.

Nau Mai Rā claims to have saved its customers over $100,000 since launching in 2019, with some of those customers passing on more than $40,000 of their savings to other Nau Mai Rā initiatives,.....
See full article HERE

National protest in Tamihere destiny plan
Waipareira chief executive and Māori Party president John Tamihere are taking notes from Brian Tamaki’s motorway protest.

“Without standing up to the government and without standing up to inequity, inequality before the law, Māori would never have gotten to where we have got. Land marches, te reo marches, all of those, they count, but you’ve to turn out numbers, and sooner or later we will have national Māori days of action where we will close the country down for the day,” he says......
See full article HERE

Students sue Government for letting companies search for fossil fuels
A group of students has taken Energy Minister Megan Woods to court for letting oil and gas companies look for new fossil fuels.

Under the Treaty of Waitangi and the Crown Minerals Act, Minister Woods has a responsibility to consult Māori as part of the process to issue oil and gas permits.

Iwi advice on places of cultural and environmental significance have meant some areas have been deemed off limits.....
See full article HERE

Council appoints Māori reps to its four committees
Five Māori representatives have been appointed to council committees and will take up their roles late this month.

The council decided to add non-elected representatives with Te Ao Māori expertise to its four committees after establishing Māori wards last year. The committees consider specialist council functions and activities and were established in December 2019....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Michael Bassett: The gradual collapse of Jacinda's New Zealand

Bob Jones: Contrived racism

Denis Hall: The new synthetic language

Propaganda:
The persistent gender pay gap, particularly in relation to indigenous women, shows we don't value motherhood

For Māori, co-governance is what’s required to manage these challenges of climate change, mitigation, adaptation, and coastal retreat. Because of our values, that can create benefit for all.

Why we need to abolish prisons and honour te Tiriti o Waitangi 

Sunday July 24, 2022 

News: 
New Local Government candidate campaign guidelines out 
The guide encourages candidates to consider how they can respect and uphold the Treaty of Waitangi, value te reo Maori, reframe debates to avoid racism and race-baiting, avoid perpetuating stereotypes and identify actions they would take in office to support diversity and "build belonging".

It refers directly to debates about Three Waters and Maori wards, "which have, at times, become derogatory to Maori".

The guidance was developed by Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), written in partnership with the Human Rights Commission, and included comment from race relations commissioner Meng Foon.

Otago regional councillor Michael Laws called the guide an abomination - it was a "biased attempt to stop freedom of speech and thought around Three Waters, around Maori wards, around co-governance, around the Government’s so-called reform agenda".......
See full article HERE

New Local Government candidate campaign PDF HERE 

Ōtorohanga District Council is committed to strengthening our partnership with Iwi/Māori.
To support this kaupapa, we have created a new senior role reporting directly to the Chief Executive, and working closely with the Mayor and Councillors

As the Kaitakawaenga, you will provide strategic advice and guidance on embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi into our organisation, engagement with Iwi/Māori and tikanga to help develop Council's internal culture to be welcoming, inclusive and culturally competent......
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Cultural appropriation called out in plan change hearing closing statements

The toka tūhua from Tauranga that made its way to Parliament 

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

8 comments:

Mudbayripper said...

Strange isn't it. Instead of learning to respect and embrace all things Maori. The exact opposite is happening.

Robert Arthur said...


Re the 24th report of guidelines for council candidates, they are encouraged to "look at partnerships with mana whenua and maori in local government". Examination of the Auckland Tupuna Maunga Authority which stripped all the exotic trees from local hilltops would be a good start. As with the use of maori words generally, not clear if mana whenua used here has a general or specific meaning. Now defined as the custodians or somesuch; nice to realise it not restricted to descendants of those who chanced to survive in the area 200 years ago.
Candidates also encouraged to use inclusive language. Presumably this will mean the end of routine use of the exclusive "our people."

Ray S said...

Tamihere's at it again, "national Māori days of action where we will close the country down for the day,”
As long as he has his snout in the taxpayer's Maori trough, otherwise he would have to stay at work like everyone else.

Robert Arthur said...

Re the 26th, woke Auckland Councillor Angela Dalton reckons the new mayor will need a personal advisor. Presumably some Council actions have eluded the obstructive influence of the Maori Statutory Body. Hopefully if Brown gets the mayoralty his experience from up north will fit him to handle maori without further "advice".

Robert Arthur said...

Re the 27th, the proposed $4.5 million for matauranga is preposterous. The total cost for all the info positively recorded in writing by dependable, disinterested missionaries, and from Polak to Elsdon Best, and a myriad others, would be less. No doubt some maori staffed consultant will go marae to marae sewing memories then recording same as matauranga. Is there any other country so obsessed with recognising recently "remembered" stone age folklore?

Anonymous said...

Once the queen dies and the monarchy get voted out by propaganda such as: we need to stand in our own two feet etc, i think land owners wlll be in trouble. Reading about the west coast council saying "don't worry about the recent letters we sent, land owners just need a permit from iwi, to allow them to do what they want to do on their own land. Nothing to see here.." Excuse me? This is clearly the start of things to come. Why can't the nz govt negotiate with the crown and reinstate uk passports for those of us who would gladly leave nz. In zimbabwe many of the white farmers there also had uk or dutch passports so had somewhere they could go. Many of us here have only aotearoan passports so can't easily leave.












Robert Arthur said...

Re 29th.The maori claim that students should have access to all schools in their rohe is yet another example of "Hoatu he koromatua tango te waewae." Presumably as with maoriness itself any ancestral trace of presence in a particular rohe would jutify accesss. In any case rohe are based on areas of empty country wandered by small numbers of successive tribes at various stages of past time. The number of trace maori with trace local rohe connection qualifying for say Auckland Grammar would be thousands. As with the education system generally, they would be obliged to lower education standards generally to suit.

Anonymous said...

allowing parents to homeschool their kids is a liberty available to all (maori or not). what really prevents anyone from doing this instead of using a word salad to complain is hard to understand!