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Saturday, July 13, 2024

Breaking Views Update: Week of 7.7.24







Saturday July 13, 2024 

News:
Outspoken councillor facing possible censure over Māori comments

That complaint was lodged by Cr Marie Laufiso late last year, following comments from the long-serving councillor, which included emails he later added to his own blog.

Those emails included one about the ‘Inappropriate Maorification of one of our gallery’s most significant artworks’, and another concerning tribal protocols.

Regarding the latter, Vandervis wrote: “I am not prepared to submit to the sexist, racist and tribal ritual requirements that have been spelled out in order for me to be able to enter “safely” on this marae“.

Vandervis also refused to participate in Te Pae Māori, which comprises of sitting councillors and local rūnanga representatives.

He noted: “I am a long-term high-polling elected representative of all the people of Dunedin and I am not prepared to be dictated to in an official council meeting by an elite claiming to represent 7 % of our voting public as detailed in the ward document“.....
See full article HERE

First Olympic Games glossary in Māori and English launched for Paris 2024
A new Olympic glossary featuring new Māori words has been created to encourage te reo use during this year’s games.

Te Reo Māori ki Parī 2024 is the first Olympic Games glossary in Māori and English.

The resource was crafted by Sky, the New Zealand Olympic Committee and the Māori Language Commission.

It contains more than 1000 terms and phrases across 30 Olympic Games sporting codes.....
See full article HERE

Whakaata Māori pushes sector unity as Governemnt dithers
Whakaata Māori chief executive Shane Taurima says the Government should pick up the blueprint for Māori media developed by the previous Labour government rather than start from scratch.

Whakaata Maori is hosting a wananga in Auckland today to discuss the future of Māori media, and tonight it holds a black tie dinner to mark 20 years as a national television broadcaster.

Mr Taurima says the sector has been under review for the past five years....
See full article HERE

Māori chill down as energy costs rise
An Otago University researcher says Māori households are overrepresented in energy hardship.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment data shows a 1.9 percent dip in household energy consumption over the last year, with 10 percent of Maori households saying they could not afford to keep their home warm compared to 6 percent overall.....
See full article HERE  

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 12, 2024 

News:
Youth and iwi leaders at the UN in Geneva discuss indigenous rights
A Māori youth group representative taking part in the UN’s Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous People hopes her trip will inspire other youth to step forward.

Ngā Rangatahi-A-Iwi and Tikanga Pou (National Iwi Chairs Forum) are both making submissions in Geneva on recent changes in Aotearoa.

“We want to make sure our voices are being heard on the issues we’re experiencing, especially with Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which is a document that has changed us in many ways. And a lot of other indigenous nations want to have the same thing.”…
See full article HERE

Jacinta Ruru awarded international honorary degree
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Otago has been recognised for her contribution to decolonising Aotearoa’s research sector and legal education.

Distinguished Professor Jacinta Ruru (Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui) received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Newcastle University in the UK on Tuesday this week.

The degree acknowledges Ruru’s work on Indigenous people’s rights and Indigenous law especially concerning land and water management and the legal personality of the environment.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Donald Foster: The Coalition Government’s Progress

Propaganda:
Māori lawyer Dr Valmaine Toki takes on important indigenous rights role at United Nations

Room for purakau in English class  

Thursday July 11, 2024 

News:
Pressure growing on Indigenous rights declaration
Advocates for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are counting on international pressure to overcome indifference and outright hostility by the New Zealand Government.

Human Rights Commission shared leader Julia Whaipooti and indigenous rights governance partner Dayle Takitimu are off to Geneva this week for the 17th annual session of the Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, where they will report New Zealand is backsliding on its Te Tiriti and international obligations.

Ms Takitimu says UN experts will visit Aotearoa later in the year to observe and give advice.

“There is some pressure now from that declaration being endorsed by the New Zealand Government in 2010 to actually get some points on the board in terms of implementation and move it out of that high level aspirational zone and into soemthign we can see tangibly affects the rights of Maori here in Aotearoa,” she says......
See full article HERE

Leaked emails on rewriting curriculum show process not followed - teaching association
Leaked emails indicate a ministerial advisory group is expected to overrule the Education Ministry on who would rewrite the maths and English curriculums.

The email dismissing the Treaty of Waitangi was worrying, Tinning said.

The email in question listed examples of Māori writing which would be included in the English curriculum.

“These writers and works are included for one reason – their quality ensures them a place in the New Zealand literary canon. I do not recognise the revisionist interpretation of Treaty Articles 2 and 3 as a justification for inclusion,” the message said.

“Mātauranga Māori as a belief system and traditional practices is not included in the English programmes. However, content that will require teaching about the beliefs and practices is included.”

Tinning said Māori students were not achieving at the same rates as other students and schools should be good Treaty partners by adhering to the articles of the Treaty.

“Looking at Mātauranga Māori as an afterthought, as something that might be worthwhile looking at, that’s unacceptable. It needs to be woven into the fabric of what subject English in New Zealand actually is.”.....
See full article HERE

Te reo Māori names gifted to the Eastern Busway
Auckland Transport (AT) is honoured to have been gifted te reo Māori names by mana whenua for the new bus stations and structures being built for the Eastern Busway.

The Eastern Busway will bring rapid public transport to East Auckland and as part of this, four new bus stations and three new structures are being built. These have been gifted te reo Māori names by local mana whenua Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Ngaati Whanaunga.

Zaelene Maxwell-Butler of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki says “our partnership with AT has enabled us to revive ancient stories and restore the cultural identity to the local landscape through te reo Māori naming and mahi toi (artwork) design”.....
See full article HERE

Ngāi Tahu forestry partners with Canadian investment firm
Ngāi Tahu Holdings has agreed to a 35-year cutting right of its West Coast forestry operations to Canadian investment firm Fiera Comox to stay on top of rising interest rates.

The iwi-led company announced its decision to sell an 85% stake in the above ground assets for Te Tai o Poutini-West Coast.

Chief executive officer Todd Moyle told The Post the sale would free up the capital needed to maintain the business through tough economic headwinds....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Graham Adams: Low-calibre hit jobs on Seymour miss mark

Propaganda:
Taranaki Whānui cleans up urupa to make it plastic-free with lots of native trees  

Wednesday July 10, 2024 

News:
New Saltwater Creek bridge connects water and land through toi Māori design
A much-anticipated new Saltwater Creek bridge with artwork designed by toi Māori artist Fayne Robinson has opened, combining striking design with modern, safe access for cyclists and pedestrians in the central city.

Te Arawhiti ki Matangi Āwhio, replaced the previous bridge spanning Saltwater Creek near the Trafalgar Centre. It was officially opened by Nelson Mayor Nick Smith and kaumātua on Friday 5 July.

The artwork, designed by toi Māori artist Fayne Robinson, is an eye-catching design made up of two alternating triangular panels, the wheku and the kōwhaiwhai.

He says the panels acknowledge the eight iwi of Te Tauihu.....
See full article HERE

Wahine Māori Appointed As New United Nations EMRIP Chair To Advance Indigenous Rights
The National Iwi Chairs Forum congratulates and celebrates Dr Valmaine Toki (Ngāti Rehua, Ngāti Wai, and Ngāpuhi) on her appointment to the role of Chair of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Geneva today, 8 July 2024. Dr Toki has been a member of EMRIP since 2022 and contributes to the international advancement of Indigenous rights through her work there as a Professor of Law at the University of Waikato.

Professor Margaret Mutu said, “Dr Toki was previously a member of the Aotearoa Independent Monitoring Mechanism who last week submitted a damning 10th annual performance report on the New Zealand government to the Expert Mechanism. Our rangatahi and Pou Tikanga representatives will share this report with other states and indigenous peoples in Geneva this week.”.....
See full article HERE

Otago Regional Council launches new, mobile-friendly website
“This has been the culmination of much hard work over the past year and I’m incredibly proud of this team effort, on behalf of the staff at ORC, Aukaha and Kāi Tahu, and Effect, digital web development partner, and we are especially proud of the partnership aspect of this project with the use of contemporary Māori designs,” she says.....
See full article HERE

All-year-round vehicle ban step closer at Waimārama Beach
Vehicle use on Waimārama Beach was thrust into the spotlight late last year, at the start of summer, when iwi leader and Waimārama resident Bayden Barber placed large rocks in front of access to the beach to stop vehicles driving on the sand.

The makeshift blockade - which has remained in place - also coincided with Hastings District Council investigating a further ban of vehicles on that beach.....
See full article HERE

Former Northland councillor John Bain calls for early Māori ward polls in Te Tai Tokerau
Northland councils that want to keep their Māori wards at the next local elections should have to poll their communities beforehand, former local government leader John Bain says.

At next year’s local elections councils which have brought in Māori wards without polling residents will need to do so if they want to keep the wards or scrap them ahead of that time.

He said Northland councils should have to hold such polls ahead of, rather than at the time of the 2025 elections......
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
Racism against Māori medical students and doctors widespread, study finds  

Tuesday July 9, 2024 

News: 
Government considering new marae and cultural hub in Ruapehu, following ‘flawed’ engagement with iwi
The previous Government sent an apology letter to iwi groups representing the Ruapehu District last year, after a “flawed” engagement process with iwi took place around the skifield. A year later, documents released under the Official Information Act by departmental agency Te Arawhiti, the Office for Māori Crown Relations, reveals not much has materially changed since previous ministers said sorry.

The Herald can reveal the Government is considering a “reconciliation package” to hapū Patutokotoko, after the group raised red flags about the commercialisation of the Tūroa family name on Mount Ruapehu.

In addition, the document reveals the Government’s package is set to include funding to enable the purchase of land, to build a marae or cultural hub, and “assistance resolving concerns” about the use of the name Tūroa for the skifield.

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Paul Goldsmith said “my officials and representatives of Patutokotoko are exploring the development of a reconciliation package.”.....
See full article HERE

Green issues ‘no longer the poor cousin’ for Waimakariri
The council will work with Ngāi Tūāhuriri to grow its knowledge of the district’s ecosystems and build mātauranga Māori into its policies to achieve strong outcomes for te taiao, the natural environment.....
See full article HERE

New Zealand’s Commitment To Indigenous Rights Under International Spotlight
Tatau Urutahi shared leader, Julia Whaipooti will express concerns to the UN body that New Zealand is backsliding on its Te Tiriti and international human rights obligations regarding Indigenous peoples. Whaipooti will deliver statements to the expert mechanism, engage with other Indigenous rights experts, and support the National Iwi Chairs Forum’s Aotearoa Independent Monitoring Mechanism, which delivers its tenth annual monitoring report for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).....
See full article HERE

PSA criticises coalition Government’s English first policy, says mixed messages ‘confusing’
The roll-out of the Government’s controversial position on te reo Māori in the public service has been labelled “confusing as hell”, as departments take different approaches to implementing the coalition’s English first position.

The position was adopted into the National / New Zealand First coalition agreement, which states the Government will “ensure all public service departments have their primary name in English” and “require the public service departments and Crown Entities to communicate primarily in English”, except for those specifically related to Māori.

After the issue was taken to Cabinet in May, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis announced an all of government directive would not be sent out, with her instead delegating the issue to each minister to manage with their own department on a case-by-case basis.

The Public Service Association’s Te Rangai Kaitakawaenga Maori or Māori national lead Marcia Puru told the Herald it’s led to an inconsistent approach across departments, with ministers from different political parties “not aligned in their thinking”.....
See full article HERE

Te Tuhi Māreikura Trust Launches Campaign To Protect Tino Rangatiratanga Flag
The Tino Rangatiratanga flag is a powerful symbol of Māori identity and self-determination. Designed by Linda Munn, Hiraina Marsden and Jan Smith in 1989, the flag embodies the kaupapa (movement) for the betterment of Māori culture and traditions.

This campaign aims to establish clear legal parameters for the flag's use, ensuring its authenticity and protecting its integrity.....
See full article HERE

Funding to critical research to close gap between Māori and non-Māori cancer deaths
Lung cancer is the greatest single cancer contributor to the life expectancy gap between Māori and non-Māori. University of Otago researchers are hoping to change that.

Te Oranga Pūkahukahu has just received a $5 million funding boost from the Health Research Council.

It is one of seven programme and project grants, worth a total of $12.2m, that have been announced for Otago in the latest HRC Projects and Programmes funding rounds.....
See full article HERE

Stereotypes leave Māori starved for treatment
Stereotypes that eating disorders are something that happens to thin white women may be leading to Maori missing out on timely treatment.

That’s a hypothesis clinical psychologist and Victoria University lecturer Gloria Fraser is drawing from a University of Auckland study that found hospital admissions for eating disorders went up by 50 percent during Covid-19 lockdowns – with wahine Maori disproportionately affected.

Dr Fraser, who chairs the national Māori eating disorders network Te Tira Wānanga Māuiui Kai, says Maori are over-represented in eating disorders because of greater exposure to risk factors, such as food insecurity and stressful life events.....
See full article HERE

New Zealand leads world’s first trade agreement between indigenous people
The world’s first trade agreement for indigenous people is being led by Aotearoa New Zealand, with Northland’s Pita Tipene as co-chairman.

The Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Co-operation Arrangement (Ipetca) aims to strengthen indigenous businesses, increase trade between indigenous people and promote indigenous values like sustainable economic development.....
See full article HERE

Tibble to bring Māori view to Barnados
Children’s charity Barnados has appointed statistician and public policy specialist Atawhai Tibble as its new kaihautu.

Chief executive Matt Reid says the organisaiton, which has been in New Zelaand for more than 50 years, offers a range of serices including early learning, social work, the 0800 what’s up helpline for 5 to 19 year olds and care services including residential homes and foster parents.

Mr Tibble will lead the further integration and advancement of te ao Māori principles into its mahi, support kaimahi development and strengthen strategic relationships.....
See full article HERE


Monday July 8, 2024 

News:
Welcome to Te Aho o Te Kahu, the Cancer Control Agency
Te Aho o Te Kahu is a government agency created in recognition of the impact cancer has on the lives of New Zealanders. We lead and unite efforts to deliver better cancer outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Aho o Te Kahu is guided by the goals and outcomes in the National Cancer Action Plan 2019-2029.

Our name Te Aho o Te Kahu means the central thread (Te Aho) of the cloak (Te Kahu) and refers to the role we play in uniting and aligning all the service providers, organisations and people across the cancer continuum who wrap a protective cloak around those with cancer. The name was gifted by Hei Āhuru Mōwai, the Māori Cancer Leadership Network.....
See full article HERE

Simeon Brown wants councils to focus on core services and “value for money”
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has concluded the Future for Local Government Review and confirmed that the Coalition Government will not be responding to the review’s recommendations.

While the review was initiated in response to the previous government’s reforms, the review lost its way with recommendations focussing on issues such as lowering the voting age, changing the voting system, and removing local voices from establishing Māori wards.

“These issues are a distraction from the key issues facing local government....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Richard Treadgold: Maori Paradise Lost - Evil English wrecked our flawless life

Propaganda:
Te Tiriti o Waitangi could be what unites our diverse nation

How Māori health providers are getting on after the end of Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority

Mihingarangi Forbes: I’ve still got heaps of gas in the tank

Let’s do better for Māori in civil service  

Sunday July 7, 2024 

News:
Education ministry goes ‘too far’ in stripping kindy of licence
Country Kindy, between Feilding and Palmerston North, has been stripped of its licence by the ministry over curriculum issues. Its final day of operation is Monday.

The Education Review Office’s April 2022 report on the centre said affirmation of children’s culture, language and identity was not consistently reflected in the curriculum; learning partnerships with tamariki and whānau Māori were not evident; and the service had not made clear progress with previous recommendations in this area.

The Education Review Office’s April 2022 report on the centre said affirmation of children’s culture, language and identity was not consistently reflected in the curriculum; learning partnerships with tamariki and whānau Māori were not evident; and the service had not made clear progress with previous recommendations in this area.

The improvements needed were to establish culturally responsive practices in the curriculum; ensure te reo and tikanga Māori were an integral part of the curriculum and further promote educational success for Māori children; and develop an understanding of internal evaluation.....
See full article HERE

Linton Camp School unveils new Māori artwork
A Manawatū school is celebrating its connection to Māori culture with some new artwork.

As part of its Matariki celebrations, Linton Camp School has just unveiled a new carving at its tomokanga, or entranceway, and four panels of art in its school meeting room.

“The big thing I love about this is te ao Māori a central pou (pillar) of our school.

“Having this is a visual reminder as everyone walks through the gate, it’s an important statement to make that te ao Māori lives here.”....
See full article HERE

Hapū urges council to protect Te Puna area with ‘significant mana’
A Western Bay of Plenty hapū wants a slip damaged road in Te Puna to remain closed because it is an “incredible site of value”.

Slips damaged Te Puna Station Road in the rural settlement of Te Puna in October 2022. Severe weather further eroded the area in January 2023, forcing a 600m section of the road to be closed.

Hapū are concerned for Pukewhanake Pā, which sits above the road and has been eroded by the multiple slips.....
See full article HERE

Propaganga:
Newsmakers: How a phone greeting helped revitalise te reo Māori  

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

11 comments:

Robert Arthur said...

Seems the country kidergarten is a prime case fro intervention. Are maorified kindergartens also required to foster cutural links of predominantly non maori attending? When the kindy reopens it will be swamped with applicants.

Anonymous said...

"also required to foster cutural links of predominantly non maori attending?"

I've had exposure to kindys in Rotorua (large Maori population), and I've seen an environment of sensitivity to all cultures of children attending the centre. They celebrate Matariki, but also Diwali (huge celebration at the centre, as many children are Indian), Thanksgiving (three American kids there), Cinco De Mayo day, Anzac Day, as well as Christmas, Easter, etc etc.

All cultures are celebrated at my grandkid's kindy programs. I've been to lots of the parties.

Anonymous said...

Is celebrating everyone’s diverse cultures the core purpose of kindergartens? Or for that matter of schools, universities, businesses, local govt, regional authorities, the entire public service? It’s beyond ridiculous. Time to revert just being ourselves in a live and let live environment. No need to relentlessly ram anyone’s particular “culture” down everyone’s throat. Enough already!!!

Robert Arthur said...

9 July The English first policy has been handled abysmally. It should have been a simple matter to organise Caucus to agree. In several cases, instead of being in brackets and reduced font, the te reo fabrication has been tacked on the end to form one ludicrously long name.
The symbolism of the Rangatiratanga flag (dark surfing in on the back of white over a sea of red) is such that it should be outlawed now to reduce the chance of it advancing to reality.
From observation at my local supermarket it is not prdominantly white women with (over)eating disorder.

Robert Arthur said...

Will the Waimarama beach ban apply yo maori whose vehicles are not uncommon? Is presuambly boat lauching will continue or is it a ploy to concentrate boat launchers through a controlled pay maori entrance? (unreceipted cash discount?)

robert Arthur said...

How many molecules of indigenous blood does the UN require for anyone to qualify as indigenous? Is any other country as absurd as NZ?
I trust all the busway names were true gifts ie free (including consultation meetings) with no expectation of reciprocal favour. Maori names hard for non hobbyists to remeber, will not make for universally simple operation. I guess the assumption is that everyone relies on a smart phone.

Anonymous said...


RE: UN/HRC
Complaints of the NZ/HRC re. UNDRIP's non- application .
This is Minister Goldsmith's area.

What is he doing to state the facts re. equality of all NZ citizens?

Robert Arthur said...

re 12th. Curious how trips to Geneva funded. Hopefully not from tax free maori "charity" organisations. Political activity is not charity.

Anonymous said...


Is NZ the only country in the world which used tax payer funds to pay for its own destruction - and humiliation on the world stage as a human rights villain?
ACT is right - abolish the NZ/HRC. It is a nest of belligerent activists - paid for by tax payers.

What a farce!

robert arthur said...

It is absurd that public money has been used to contrive a myriad expressions to cover the Olympics. It just illustrates what a limited primitive language te reo is/was. And the self propogating sinecure that is the language commission. Many PC souls who undertook to learn maori a decade or so ago must dspair at the ever expanding complexity. Missionary Williams and his many close maori contacts would be quite lost in modern te reo. Even after they got their heads around the pronunciation which often bears little relation to the phonic noted by early visitors.

Anonymous said...

More made up maori. What a joke.