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Saturday, June 24, 2023

Breaking Views Update: Week of 18.06.23







Saturday June 24, 2023 

News:
New Data Highlights Harm To Māori

According to the latest data, Māori are identified as being at high risk of rights violations on nearly all the human rights measured. This highlights the urgent need for the Government to pick up its work towards upholding the UN Declaration of Indigenous Rights," says Aphiphany Forward-Taua, Executive Director of JustSpeak.

"Māori are experiencing significant harm because of Aotearoa’s current justice system," says Forward-Taua. "The Government continues to ignore Māori-led solutions to enable equitable outcomes and transformational change in Aotearoa."

"This pattern indicates that transformational changes are needed across the prison system and in wider society. Importantly, the Government needs to work with Māori to continue progress towards upholding UNDRIP and to design a justice system that fully upholds Te Tiriti o Waitangi."....
See full article HERE

Local government review 'Brave, timely, and courageous' - Māori Council
A new report calling for local government to be a better Ti Tiriti o Waitangi partner is brave and timely, the New Zealand Māori Council says.

An independent panel that spent two years reviewing the state of local government has concluded a radical overhaul is needed, including stronger relationships with Māori....
See full article HERE

Labour MPs stake futures on winning Māori electorates
The battle over the Māori seats is heating up, with two Labour MPs opting for an electorate-or-nothing approach.

But the party insists it's not reviving its "do or die" 2017 strategy, which ultimately saw the Māori Party booted from Parliament.

Such a move was considered for this October's election, but the threat of a revived Te Pāti Māori prompted some of Labour's Māori MPs to seek the security of the party's list.....
See full article HERE

National Party makes fresh pitch for Māori votes
National Party leader Christopher Luxon has launched a fresh effort to mobilise Māori voters while making a pitch of inclusiveness at an event for the party’s two Māori seat candidates, list MP Harete Hipango and newcomer Hinurewa te Hau.

”We believe that actually there is a proud legacy of ... Māori doing well with National governments," he said. “I want to be clear that we're going to deliver for Māori, and we are going to deliver for non-Māori.”....
See full article HERE

Downer Group's plans to work more with Māori
Craig West (Ngāti Apakura), the head of Downer Group New Zealand, was recently granted the title Te Whatu Rangataua for his work in leading the charge for collaboration with indigenous communities.

"My journey and the opportunities we've had, both in Downer and also the willingness at Downer to embrace te ao Māori, both for what that means for us as Māori but also what it means for the opportunity for the development and growth of the organisation.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Mike Hosking: We got nowhere this week with the health equity scandal

Propaganda:
Māori most at risk of declining civil and political human rights 

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 June 23, 2023 

News: 
Auckland Council releases Māori seat options 
Auckland Council is asking Aucklanders for feedback on Māori seats.

Governance services manager Rose Leonard says the consultation, which will run from August 21 until September 24, is an opportunity for mana whenua, Māori and the wider public in Tāmaki Makaurau to say whether or not they want the council to introduce Māori seats.

Amending legislation would be needed to introduce the seats, including whether they would be elected or appointed.....
See full article HERE

Crown signs over quarter share of 5G spectrum to Māori
The Crown has handed over the 5G frequencies allocation set aside for Māori to the Māori spectrum working group at a signing ceremony in Wellington on Wednesday.

‘Today marks the vesting of a share of important 5G telecommunications frequencies in a Māori Spectrum entity," the working group's co-convenor Antony Royal said in a release.

Royal said new legislation was coming shortly that would enshrine a negotiated agreement of 20 per cent of all future spectrum allocations for telecommunications to Māori....
See full article HERE

A proud 35 year history of Te Hunga Rōia Māori
Law Society President Frazer Barton congratulates The Hunga Rōia Māori on 35 years of success and honours the special relationship between the Law Society and Te Hunga Rōia Māori, acknowledging the partnership is one that is crucial to a more modern, inclusive, diverse and representative legal profession here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Finally, as I reflect on this edition of LawTalk, I want to thank Te Hunga Rōia Māori for their extensive contribution to the legal profession, doing the work to ensure Aotearoa New Zealand is a place that is better for all people....
See full article HERE

Tapu status of Lake Māhinapua asserted
A challenge by mana whenua to acknowledge the tapu of Lake Māhinapua near Hokitika has been raised with the Te Tai o Poutini Plan.

It includes a highly popular Department of Conservation camping and visitor site and the area has been used for water recreation since the 1900s.

"It is tapu. We have put certain safeguards in (the TTPP) to protect our Poutini Ngāi Tahu rights."

Ngāi Tahu owned the lake bed and the "special relationship" was acknowledged.....
See full article HERE

Te Pāti Māori demands OT services devolved to Iwi
Co-Leader of Te Pāti Māori is demanding Oranga Tamariki services be devolved and placed in the hands of whānau, hapu, Iwi Māori.

The tono comes following allegations of “inappropriate sexual behaviour” against two staff members at OT.

“There needs to be transformation in this space, devolution of Oranga Tamariki should go to hāpu, iwi to look after their own mokopuna.” says Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi....
See full article HERE

Devolution happening but more can be done Te Paati Kakariki Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson
Te Paati Kakariki-Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson supports calls for Oranga Tamariki services to be devolved to Māori following the latest allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour against two staff members at its facilities.....
See full article HERE

Innovation Partnerships Help Kiwis Into Affordable, Quality Housing
Three housing initiatives supporting Māori, Pasifika and people buying through co-ownership have recently been granted funding from the Westpac NZ Government Innovation Fund. The initiatives were selected as part of its most recent funding intake - ‘Bringing quality homes within reach of more New Zealanders’ - with the aim of enabling systemic change in the housing sector.

“Ka Uruora is an innovative Taranaki iwi led engagement initiative offering education, services, support, and pathways for Māori to achieve home ownership and quality housing....
See full article HERE

First round of Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia and Latin America announced for 2023
So far this year, at least 50 percent of the scholarships have been awarded to individuals with a Kaupapa Māori focus,” Jan Tinetti said.....
See full article HERE

Town's murals paint a path forward
Just as Pukekohe Library is a paataka korero – a food bowl for the mind - artist Regan Balzer’s mural on the side of Franklin: The Centre, is a kumete – a food bowl.

Now blessed by mana whenua, the mural is the latest added to the Pukekohe townscape, the artist helped by Pukekohe High School students....
See full article HERE

New look for notable iwi-owned New Plymouth building revealed
Ngāmotu House, formerly known as the Atkinson Building, is owned by Te Atiawa, and has been undercover while major renovations have been underway.

Each of the separate designs are infused with stories reflecting the history of Te Atiawa.

The six-storey building was purchased by the commercial arm of Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa in April 2022, for $1.8 million.....
See full article HERE

Māori sought for extra med school places
The acting dean of the Auckland University medical school says efforts to increase the proportion of Māori and Pasifika doctors will continue with an extra allocation of training places.

Professor Warwick Bagg says 30 of the new places will be in Auckland and 20 in Otago, compensating for an historic impalance towards Otago.

He says in recent years Waipapa Taumata Rau has aimed for 40 percent of places to be filled by Maori and Pacifika students, matching the demographic in the 19 to 25 age group....
See full article HERE

Animation on cards for NZ Wars museum
Māori historian Buddy Mikaere is on a study trip in the United States looking at how museums there tell the story of the American Civil War.

The Tauranga kaumatua wants ideas on exhibits for the New Zealand Wars Centre which will be built on the site of the Battle of Pukehinahina-Gate Pa.....
See full article HERE

Polytech unionists eye titiri plans
The Tertiary Education Union says it wants to see how te tiriti outcomes are embedded in the new Te Pukenga framework.

The organisation which brings together the country’s polytechnics and vocational training organisations has revealed its restructuring plan – including flagging more than 400 jobs will be disestablished.....
See full article HERE

Dog whistle riles Jackson
Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson says he’s shocked by this week’s blatant dog-whistling by the ACT and National parties over a new wait list system to ensure Maori and Pacific get a fair chance at elective surgeries.

He says Labour will hold firm on healthcare equity.....
See full article HERE

A helping hand – a Māori strategic adviser
Mark Brunton’s mother was beaten for speaking te reo, now a generation later he will be helping our University form true partnerships with Māori as our Operations Group’s Kaitohutohu Rautaki Matua Māori, Senior Strategic Adviser Māori.

Willis says embedding Māori knowledge, values and language in our planning, day-to-day thinking and mahi (work) will propel our University towards achieving its vision of truly partnering with mana whenua (the Indigenous people of the land).

In his new position, he will be responsible for leading the group’s implementation of the Māori Strategic Framework and coaching its leaders in applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi, rangatiratanga, tikanga, and kaitiakitanga.....
See full article HERE

Anger over apparent use of Māori tā moko on character in Xbox game Starfield
The appearance of a tā moko on a character in one of the year's most hotly anticipated and ambitious video games has prompted anger online.

"Use of tā moko in games without Māori consultation is a huge no-no.....
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Divisive surgeries debate alarms Deputy PM

Māori Vote Will Determine The Next New Zealand Government

Māori wāhine bounced five times off waiting list receives new appointment five minutes after Herald inquiry 

Thursday June 22, 2023 

News: 
Future for Local Government review: What you need to know 
Introduce statutory provisions to reinforce and give effect to the purpose of local government in the Local Government Act 2002, by:

* councils setting wellbeing goals and priorities each term, in conjunction with community and hapū/iwi and Māori

* central and local government committing to align wellbeing priorities and agree place-based investment plans.

[Bb Growing authentic Te Tiriti-based partnerships

- Introduce new provisions in the Local Government Act 2002 that explicitly recognise local government as a partner to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te ao Māori values to strengthen authentic relationships in the local exercise of kāwanatanga and rangatiratanga.

- Introduce a statutory requirement for councils to develop partnership frameworks with hapū/iwi and Māori to give effect to new Te Tiriti provisions in the Local Government Act 2002 that create new governance arrangements and complement existing ones.

- Central government leads a comprehensive review of requirements for engaging with Māori across legislation that impacts local government, considering opportunities to streamline or align those requirements.

- Amend the Local Government Act 2002 to require councils (elected members and chief executives) to prioritise and invest in developing and strengthening their capability and capacity in the areas of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, te ao Māori values, mātauranga Māori, tikanga, and the whakapapa of local government in order to make local government a better Te Tiriti partner.

* support and enable the health of the Māori-local government relationship

* lowering the threshold for the establishment of Māori wards

* enabling Te Tiriti-based appointments to councils

* supplementing local government capacity funding to enable hapū/iwi and Māori to partner with councils

* supporting councils to: build Te Tiriti and te ao Māori capability and grow mana whenua relationships; lift their immediate capacity and capability to innovatively deliver wellbeing priorities for their communities; trial and grow participatory and deliberative democracy practices.....
See full article HERE

New Māori health model developed
A "ground-breaking" new Māori-centred approach to mental health has been created by researchers, and there are hopes it will soon be piloted around the country.

Funded by the Oakley Foundation, researchers from Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Southern (HNZS), Auckland University of Technology, University of Waikato and the University of Otago have developed "Pou Herenga" — a health model to ensure the cultural differences and needs of Māori mental health patients will finally be taken into consideration.....
See full article HERE

Transformational Joint Venture To Restore Waihī Estuary
Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council and iwi collective Te Wahapū o Waihī have partnered to return 30ha of low-lying farmland to coastal wetland in an effort to improve the ecological health of Waihī Estuary.

This significant collaborative project, and the shared aspiration to return mauri to the Waihī Estuary, was acknowledged yesterday with both groups coming together to karakia onsite.

“We value the deep cultural connection tangata whenua have to the land, and recognise the strength that their knowledge holds in environmental conservation and restoration.....
See full article HERE

Heather Te Au Skipworth ditches Māori Party role after Meka Whaitiri switch
Te Pāti Māori has lost one of its most prominent candidates, Heather Te Au Skipworth​.

Skipworth had been announced as its candidate for Ikaroa Rāwhiti before ex-Labour minister Meka Whaitiri defected to Te Pāti Māori, and replaced Skipworth​ as its candidate in the eastern Māori seat.....
See full article HERE

Ruapehu in liquidation as rescue plan fails
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts has entered liquidation after a proposal to salvage the business operations of Whakapapa and Tūroa, the North Island's primary skifields was rejected by creditors.

The Auckland High Court, presided over by Justice Christine Grice, oversaw proceedings Wednesday morning.

Patutokotoko, a collective representing Ruapehu/Whanganui hapū, has sent a letter to Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, urging authorities to consult with iwi before finalising any commercial agreements to do with the acquisition of the skifields.....
See full article HERE

Nurses’ organisation backs ethnic equity adjustor to support better health outcomes for Māori and Pasifika
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) supports ethnicity being part of the algorithmically derived Equity Adjustor Score currently applied to decisions over surgical wait times in Auckland.

NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says the approach should be adopted nationally as a way of upholding te Tiriti o Waitangi across the health system and addressing historic institutional racism in health, which has disadvantaged Māori and Pasifika people in particular for decades.....
See full article HERE

Independent MP, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere Reinforces Call That Ethnicity Equals Need For Māori Health
"Decades of health research shows persistent inequities for Māori and Pasifika in accessing healthcare, diagnosis, referral and treatments – including delays on the waiting list. That is why ethnicity equals need.”

“Equity-based tools - such as those used for waiting lists - do not put people ahead of others. They seek to level the playing field, ensuring those who have historically been marginalised receive the support that lifts them to the same level as everyone else."

“Pretending disparities do not exist or should not be named, will not make them go away. If equity-based approaches are not used widely in the health sector, inequities will continue, and Māori will continue to die younger. It’s that simple.”

“The righting of historical wrongs will likely feel like a loss of power for those who have enjoyed the systemic privilege of colonisation. Refusing to consider or even talk about how ethnicity is a factor in health, undermines the urgent rights of Māori and Pasifika people to the healthcare they need.....
See full article HERE

ACT's Brooke van Velden calling for open, public conversations around new surgery equity tool
ACT Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden told AM Early on Wednesday the antics in Parliament on Tuesday show a Government that is under pressure.

Van Velden believes what happened with Davidson is not good for New Zealand's democracy, as ACT MPs wanted to figure out why ethnicity plays a factor in deciding wait times for non-urgent surgeries.

She told AM Early Kiwis are concerned and anxious about what the new waitlist tool could mean for them and are choosing to keep quiet.

She believes conversations need to start happening now and need to be public.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Don Brash: Is racism justified in the health sector?

Barry Soper: The Government intended to roll out equity adjustor scores before media scrutiny

Barrie Davis: The Doctrine of Discovery Essay

CA Daverick: Equity Adjuster Tool - Fair Go or Vote Catcher?


Bruce Moon: “At Last Bygones Were Bygones”

John Robinson: Hipkins is wrong when he claims discrimination by medical workers

Propaganda:
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: When subject is crime, cue old blame and shame game

Measuring Indigenous economies: A Tatauranga umanga Māori perspective  

Wednesday June 21, 2023 

News: 
The phenomenal growth of rongoā Māori 
As of May 2023, we've partnered with 152 rongoā practitioners (from Kaitaia to Stewart Island) to deliver over 37,800 rongoā sessions for 5,157 kiritaki (clients).

Our data shows rongoā Māori claim volumes have doubled since the same time last year – there were more than 22,000 rongoā sessions delivered in the 12 months to May 2023.

Over the same period, the number of rongoā providers around Aotearoa has increased by 40 per cent.....
See full article HERE

Executive Manager Maaori Partnerships
Are you passionate about promoting Maaori cultural awareness, protocols, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles? Do you thrive in providing specialist advice on complex political issues related to Maaori matters? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as an Executive Manager - Maaori Partnerships!

As the Executive Manager - Maaori Partnerships, your primary responsibility will be to lift the council's capability, understanding, and practice of Maaori cultural awareness and protocols. You will drive the development and implementation of a Te Tiriti o Waitangi strategy, ensuring its integration into all aspects of the council's operations. Additionally, you will provide specialist advice and solutions on complex political issues to the Mayor, Councillors, and the Executive Leadership team.....
See full article HERE

Waka raises mana of suppressed iwi
The discovery of a waka believed to more than 150 years old in the Pātea River has reignited a battle to have Te Pakakohi recognised as the ninth iwi of the Taranaki region.

Manutahi Marae chair Dean Kahukuranui says Te Pakakohi was decimated when 74 of its warriors were arrested in 1869 for so-called rebellion against the Crown and imprisoned in Dunedin for three years.

He says their land was confiscated and there was also a concerted effort to write the iwi out of the history books....
See full article HERE

Māori deserve to live longer; Minister Kelvin Davis
Māori Government Ministers are defending an algorithm designed by Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ, to address inequities within the health system.

The “Equity Adjustor Score”, is an algorithm that ranks patients according to clinical priority needs, time spent on the waitlist, geographic location (isolated and rural areas), deprivation level and ethnicity.

In the ethnicity category, Māori and Pacific are top of the list, while all other non-Māori are lower-ranked.

Minister for Corrects and MP for Te Tai Tokerau Kelvin Davis says that it’s a essential that we focus on the issue and that is that Māori have the right to live as long as anyone else in New Zealand and not die on average seven years earlier....
See full article HERE

Labour Failing Māori In Education
Labour’s performance in education has failed Māori whānau and communities throughout New Zealand, National’s Māori Development spokesperson Tama Potaka says.

“Only 38 per cent of Māori children attended school regularly in Term 4 of 2022. That is a shocking statistic.

“Our education system needs to support young Māori to realise their potential. Not enough Māori kids are even getting to school to develop basic skills like writing, reading and maths.....
See full article HERE

Prime Minister leads trade delegation to China
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins will lead a 29 strong business delegation to China, visiting Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai.

“Te Whānau a Apanui, champions of Te Matatini, will accompany the delegation and help promote New Zealand as a world class tourism destination.....
See full article HERE

Streaming symptom of wider education racism
A leading expert on Māori education says the Post Primary Teachers Association’s call for an end to streaming doesn’t go far enough.

- says the practice of streaming students into different class levels is an expression of the racism that exists throughout the education system.

Professor Berryman says schools also need to be careful that the way they incorporate Maori knowledge and culture isn’t a case of manipulating it to fit the intentions of the mainstream....
See full article HERE

Election season for gang bashing
National Party leader Chris Luxon is promising to change the Sentencing Act to make being a gang member an aggravating factor, regardless of the offence committed.

Lady Moxon sees that as an attack on all Maori who have whanau who have been in gangs or gone through the Corrections system.....
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Gangs are the result of many problems - being Māori is not one of them

Under the knife fight: 4 Reasons Māori surgical priority shouldn't be for debate

Meng Foon Leaves A Legacy Of Community Empowerment Behind Him

Requiring Māori to ‘opt in’ to Māori roll impacts how we engage in politics

Māori-centred approach to mental health care highlights role of whānau 

Tuesday June 20, 2023 

News: 
National Party health spokesman Dr Shane Reti slams new surgery ranking policy based on race 
National’s health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti has slammed the Government’s new policy which ranks ethnicities to determine who should get an operation first, calling it “offensive” and “wrong”.

As a medical doctor himself, Reti said race should have no place in surgical priorities and he is urging the Government to drop the criteria.

“The way to improve Māori and Pasifika health is through better housing, education and addressing the cost of living, not by disadvantaging others.”

He said he would refuse to rank patients on their ethnicity......
See full article HERE

Carbon plan confiscation of Maori assets
Māori Climate Commissioner Donna Awatere Huata says proposed changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme are a massive confiscation of value from Māori.

Climate Minister James Show is set to release the results of his review of the ETS this week.

Ms Awatere Huata says the Greens’ co-leader James Shaw and Climate Commission chair Rod Carr have come up with a plan to nationalise the ETS market by making the crown the sole buyer of carbon credits.....
See full article HERE

Mercury Energy – Iwi
At Mercury we recognise and respect the close links that iwi have with natural resources, including water and the tupuna awa relationship held by the Waikato River iwi.

Our relationships with iwi are based on shared values and a long-term focus. In every area of our business we respect the kaitiakitanga (guardianship) approach of our partners and iwi.....
See full article HERE

Emissions Trading Scheme: Plans for revamp to be released
The cabinet paper said the redesign aimed to help Māori realise aspirations for their land.

And the redesign should also "better support the government's objectives for forestry, including establishing long-term indigenous carbon sinks"....
See full article HERE

Consent, licencing and environmental monitoring support for Māori and iwi – Auckland City Council
This service provides guidance for iwi and Māori who are applying for resource consents, building consents and licences, or need support with environmental monitoring.

Monday June 19, 2023 

News: 
Auckland surgeons must now consider ethnicity in prioritising patients for operations - some are not happy 
Auckland surgeons are now being required to consider a patient’s ethnicity alongside other factors when deciding who should get an operation first.

Several surgeons say they are upset by the policy, which was introduced in Auckland in February and gave priority to Māori and Pacific Island patients - on the grounds that they have historically had unequal access to healthcare.

In the ethnicity category, Māori and Pasifika are top of the list, while European New Zealanders and other ethnicities, like Indian and Chinese, are lower-ranked.

Some surgeons, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the new scoring tool was medically indefensible. They said patients should be prioritised on how sick they were, how urgently they needed treatment, and how long they had been waiting for it - not on their ethnicity.

One of the surgeons said he was “disgusted” by the new ranking system.

“It’s ethically challenging to treat anyone based on race, it’s their medical condition that must establish the urgency of the treatment,” the surgeon said.....
See full article HERE

LIANZA guide to tikanga Māori – Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa
The purpose of this booklet is to provide a general guide for members of LIANZA to familiarise and practice tikanga and te reo Māori at face to face meetings. Experience shows regular practice will help you retain information, improve pronunciation and become confident in the application of tikanga and te reo Māori for any occasion where it is appropriate to observe cultural protocol....
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Why did Māori never have prisons?

'It's more than a language, it's a soul searching experience' 

Sunday June 18, 2023 

News: 
Tribunal hears claims of hidden evidence about Tararua Ranges land dealings 
A Ngāti Raukawa claim to the Tararua Ranges was presented to the Waitangi Tribunal by researchers Te Kenehi Teira and Heeni Collins at Te Awahou Foxton recently.

They found that rangatira of Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa and Te Āti Awa had been paid small sums of money in 1873 to pacify them in the meantime, acknowledging their mana in a tokenistic way, then publicly the ranges were bought from Muaūpoko, Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu by the Wellington Provincial Government for a much larger sum of money.

“Our grievance is not with Muaūpoko however, it is with the Crown”, said Collins. “The process was the responsibility of the Crown and we uncovered some seriously unethical, unjust and dodgy dealings.”.....
See full article HERE

Iwi, farmer partnership to help improve catchments
DairyNZ is partnering with the Raukawa Charitable Trust in the Pokaiwhenua catchment, where the programme has launched. Raukawa Charitable Trust tumu whakarae (general manager) Maria Te Kanawa says her organisation is excited to be involved with this programme.

“Raukawa are committed to our responsibilities as kaitiaki throughout our takiwā (region). As such, we have a key role to play in the revitalisation and restoration of the wider Pōkaiwhenua catchment. We believe, through the inclusion of Mātauranga Māori alongside western science, that we can bring about positive change.

“We are pleased to be partnering with DairyNZ and local farmers as we collectively work towards healthier waterways in this catchment area.”....
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
New $60m luxury hot springs and spa facility opens in Rotorua

What happened when Ireland got bilingual road signs? 

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:

Anonymous said...

The difference between irish bilingual signs and maori bilingual signs is that in treland people speak both languages. Here in nz currently 2% speak te reo. I know a lot of maori people who don't want to learn it. In ireland it fulfills a practical purpose. Here is would just be for show, much like in nth korea where nothing you see as a tourist is real.

Robert Arthur said...

Hi Anonymous
Further, in Wales and Ireland many of the names have applied to significant continuous communities and to places significant to those from centuries back. Many of the names would have been known to visitors. Whereas many maori names were for small settlements and /or mere vicinities or occassionally visited. Most outsiders visited at risk of providing the meat for a hangi. Then there are the very many which are purely recent confections.

Robert Arthur said...

Re 18 It is amazing what maori wil spend time dredging up. Ngati Ruakawa are miffed that having invaded the Horowhenua area they were apparently not handsomely paid for the Tararauas, into which they would have very rarely ventured, if at all. Meanwhile the near eliminated local Muapoko cleaned up. Elsewhere the conquerors were handsomely recognised. The NZ wars originated through the conquerors being paid for land in favour of the conquered.


Robert Arthur said...

Re 19th It will be interesting to see what the MSM, especially the newspapers make of the favoured treatment of maori. How will trace maori, some blue eyed, ensure thet thye are recognised as maori, as distinct from physically obvious examples in gang regalia, scribble tattoos etc..

Robert Arthur said...

Rev 20th. The mild response to the intended race based favouritism of maori for surgical operations is remarkable. If selection based on remaining quality of life had been proposed what then? Does anyone remember the 1981 reaction to the race based Springbok team? Seems to me, apart from their traditional culture, the high birth rate from a young age is the main factor limiting maori achievement. Promotion of vasectomies with priority would seem more appropriate. But with maori health delivered largely by maori, and all intent on maori domination, anything which delays the democratic takeover wil not be supported by maori.

Governments seem incredibly inept at foreseeing situations. In the fisheries settlement insufficent regard seems to have been given to the maori reaction when any conditions are dialled back, even when the same for all. Despite being the claimed great stewards of the natural and traditional maori have blocked the Kermandec proposal and now advocate for all secondary land in NZ to be covered by bleak exotic pines.

For the ordinary person to fathom Auckland Council requirements for housing etc requires enormous ability and persistence with their web site. And the public is granted just a few minutes of question time at the counter. Acceptable if very able and chance to get an informed helpful staff member. But otherwise all very confusing. Not so if maori. A special team will oblige. Presumably im maori time without the constraint applied to others.

Robert Arthur said...

Re 21st It is unbelievable that ACC recognise rongoa. Presumably they also recognise homoeopaths and witch doctors. Yet another make work maori industry. Like all the "consultants" handsomely paid to provide studies of the effect of matauranga on kauri dieback etc.

Robert Arthur said...

Re 22nd. I am curious of the compostion of the group that carried out the Local Govt Review. These many hundred page documents represent laziness on the part of the preparers.And a myriad angles can be hidden within. Apart from maori activist leaders looking for openings, how many persons actually read the lot with careful attention? The Review plays totally into maori hands. For others to become elected requires considerable effort. To put oneself forward with a view to advancing the common good,and then be faced with guidelines and opponents who obscurely complicate and oppose near every constructive proposal will be so dispiriting that few will bother. The general competence of local government will decline even further than present. Another absurdity not mentioned is the recommendation that the voting age be lowered to 16. Competing for this immature and fickle vote a woeful task for mature adults removed from the trivial idol and trend obsessed world of teenagers.

Robert Arthur said...

Re 23rd. Animation of events of the NZ Wars will be yet another example of blatant funded anti colonist propoganda. Animation of aspects of the Musket Wars would be far more engrossing for boys in particular. Depiction of the victory feasts would attract great interest.
I suppose with the dwindling supply of traded slave heads heads from overseas museums requiring fawning personal accompaniment, the chances for a paid overseas jaunt are reducing, So every other opportunity needs to be exploited.