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Saturday, October 12, 2024

Breaking Views Update: Week of 6.10.24







Saturday October 12, 2024 

News:
Peters and Jones clarify Waitangi Tribunal stance

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters wants it made clear ahead of an upcoming party hui, that he and Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones do not wish to scrap the Waitangi Tribunal but rather align it more closely with Government policy.

Peters says while the Tribunal, established 49 years ago this week, was created to address long-overdue Treaty claims, it has since interfered in government policy.

“They’ve got no mandate, as some unelected upper house to decide on government policy…
See full article HERE

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu proudly receives 21 Māori place names and narratives
With the presence and blessings of mana whenua Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua, Ngāti Tamaoho, and Te Aakitai Waiohua, the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board is delighted that the area has been enriched with Māori names and narratives, celebrating and honouring the area’s cultural heritage.

The board invited mana whenua to name 123 parks as dual names in March 2019.

Sixty-two names were adopted in February 2021 and a further 21 adopted in June 2023.

Mana whenua is now working on naming another 27 parks and three libraries.....
See full article HERE

Fast-track projects: Government told to strengthen ties with iwi in areas like aquaculture
The government is being encouraged to engage with iwi to foster Māori economic development in new aquaculture projects, a briefing shows.

The advice is contained in a briefing paper released on Friday detailing recommendations for projects that have applied for fast-track approval.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
John Porter: Why rob a bank when you can plunder the Treasury!

Barrie Davis: Sovereignty Denied

Propaganda:
Miriama Kamo: ‘I am going through a little bit of trauma’

How a Supreme Court Judge explains the Māori cultural renaissance  

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 October 11, 2024 

News:
Peters questions Waitangi Tribunal’s modern role
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says the Waitangi Tribunal is deliberating in judicial areas outside of its mandate making it no longer fit for purpose.

Mr Peters says he’s still supportive of the Tribunal but they’ve gotten out of control.

“I am for the tribunal, having a proper role doing it properly as many others never opposed it at the time. But when it gets out of control where it’s starting to say ‘We are the law, we make the decisions whether we’re elected or not’, then you know things are not right. I don’t care what their judicial background is, they have to accept, we all have to accept, the constitutional framework of this country is constructed by the people through their parliamentarians” says Peters…
See full article HERE

Unelected Mana Whenua Representatives Threaten Democratic Process
“Whilst the Council’s complete dysfunction is widely understood, these new developments, as reported by Vance, are deeply disturbing” said Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross.

“Vance reports that the two unelected mana whenua representatives, who do not sit on the full council where the vote will take place, are threatening to pull out of an iwi-council partnership over the vote. This is a blatant attempt to strong-arm elected representatives with the threat of feigned offence if the Council does not vote the ‘right’ way.

“But even worse, Vance reports that representative Holden Hohaia has a vested interest in the outcome as his iwi has aspirations in buying the shares. That should automatically disqualify him from having any input into the process or deliberations. It is therefore fortunate that he has no actual vote on the sale at the full Council. However, if Vance is correct, his threats are inappropriate and call into question the wisdom of having unelected representatives on councils or council committees.”....
See full article HERE

Māori Veterans push for tikanga respect
Māori military veterans’ calls for stronger adherence to tikanga in military services are being heard.

Today, a WAI 2500 Māori Military Veterans hearing is being held at Te Whare o Toroa (Wairaka) marae in Whakatāne, where veterans are sharing their kōrero with the Tribunal and high-ranking officers from the services.

NZDF Waitangi Tribunal project director, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Dransfield, says these hearings provide a valuable learning opportunity to address the wrongs and neglect the veterans are speaking about.

He says tikanga and whānau are the foundation.
See full article HERE

Concern over low percentage of Māori speaking te reo
There are now more te reo Māori speakers than ever before despite concern over the low percentage of Māori conversing in their own language.

Data from the 2023 Census shows that more than 200,000 people - or 4.28 percent of Kiwis - can hold a conversation in te reo.

Up 15 percent over the last five years it is New Zealand's second most widely spoken language.

Nonetheless, advocates are concerned that as a percentage of the population, the growth of Māori speakers of te reo has slowed.....
See full article HERE

Fast Track nod for Northport expansion a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi - hapū
A Northland hapū battling plans to expand the region's only commercial shipping port says members were disappointed to see the project given another potential pathway through the Fast Track Approvals Bill.

Its applications were denied by independent commissioners who found while a new dedicated container terminal would bring economic and social benefits, it would have adverse effects on tāngata whenua, recreation, and public access to the coast.

"[It] is really prejudicial to us because the only sort of Māori provisions that are in there relate to iwi that have got settlements, basically and much of the North do not have settlements so it's very prejudicial to the Whangārei tribes because we are not in that position yet and may be some time away."

The overarching legislation is a clear breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a retrograde step, Chetham said.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
John Robinson: The Crown should once again withdraw from negotiations with disruptive and extremist Ngapuhi

Dr Don Brash: Was sovereignty ceded in 1840?

Propaganda:
Waitangi Tribunal’s impact on Māori relations

Wairoa: Town that introduced NZ’s first Māori ward doesn’t seem bothered by it

Te Tiriti inspires Aotearoa education, not dampen it  

Thursday October 10, 2024 

News:
Contact Energy criticises iwi’s feedback
Contact Energy has taken issue with Ngāi Tahu’s stance on its proposed $1 billion Southland wind farm, saying the iwi sold part of the site 20 years ago "presumably for commercial reasons".

Contact also appears to imply Ngāi Tahu has overstated the cultural importance to iwi of the proposed wind farm site at Slopedown (Pawakataka), near Wyndham.

Ngāi Tahu has declined to respond to Contact’s comments, which appear in its response to feedback from affected stakeholders about the proposal.....
See full article HERE

Road naming decision finally made after five years
A five-year-long Whakatāne road-naming saga has finally ended with district councillors voting through 'Acacia Avenue' - the preferred name put forward by the developer.

But at last week's living together committee, three Māori ward councillors spoke against the adoption of the name for the road, off Bunyan Road at Piripai,

An alternative name, Waana Davis Place, endorsed by Ngāti Awa hapū Wharepaia and Ngāti Hokopū ki te Whare o Toroa, did meet the the policy’s preferences.....
See full article HERE

Ngāi Tahu prepares to host third national hui for Māori unity
South Island iwi Ngāi Tahu is preparing to to host this year’s third hui-ā-motu (national hui), Te Pūnuiotoka, at Tuahiwi Marae, not far from Christchurch, on October 22.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa said the hui would continue the conversation around kotahitanga (unity) and rangatiratanga (sovereignty), “indigenous economics“ and “tribal institution-building“....
See full article HERE

Council uncertainty over iwi partnership as RMA dismantled
West Coast iwi and regional councillors are looking for reassurance on the status of their partnership agreement, as the government rolls out its RMA reforms.

Ngai Tahu and its two Coast sub-tribes, Ngati Waewae, and Makaawhio (Ngati Mahaki) signed the country’s first Mana Whakahono a Rohe Iwi Participation Arrangement in 2020, with the West Coast Regional Council .

The agreement with its over-arching partnership protocol, Paetae Kotahitanga ki Te Tai Poutini, was set up under the RMA as an expression of the Treaty of Waitangi partnership between the council and iwi....
See full article HERE

360 International Award for Māori Students
An Award of up to $6,000 to provide support to Māori students while on an approved student exchange.....
See full article HERE

Auckland Council loses Watercare chair lawsuit
Auckland Council has lost its legal stoush with its independent Māori advisory board, Houkura, over the appointment of the new chair of Watercare.

The loss means there is currently no chair of the water entity so councillors will have to vote again at a closed-doors meeting on Friday.

Councillors voted to make engineer Geoff Hunt the Watercare chair in June over another candidate, leading Houkura to allege the council of subverting democracy by stealth with a surprise vote.

Houkura sought a High Court judicial review in July seeking for Hunt's appointment to be set aside because it was unlawful.

Houkura sued the council on three grounds: that the council didn’t follow its own processes, that it failed to consider whether knowledge of tikanga Māori may be relevant to the governance of Watercare and that it failed to consider the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral water.

The latter two points are required under the Local Government Act.

Houkura won the case because Justice Michele Marina Wilkinson-Smith agreed with the second of the three arguments......
See full article HERE

Articles:
Peter Williams: At last - a Treaty Debate

Propaganda:
Te reo Māori is a taonga that we simply cannot afford to lose - Hūhana Lyndon

Iwi vs Peewee Treaty debate shows hope - Shane Te Pou  

Wednesday October 9, 2024 

News:
Government and iwi partner to build affordable homes
The government is partnering with Waikato-Tainui to enable the construction of 100 affordable rental homes near Ngāruawāhia.

The government's $35 million investment will go towards the delivery of 57 homes, and enable the infrastructure for a further 43 at the Hopuhopu Housing Development.

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said Waikato has the highest number of emergency housing use, and "nearby Hamilton has the third highest number of applicants on the Housing Register of any territorial authority."

The partnership showed how the government would work with iwi to address the housing shortage, Potaka added.....
See full article HERE

Iwi Māori Partnership Boards serve as the voice of Māori health - Louisa Wall
The journey towards equitable health outcomes for Māori is deeply rooted in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The significance of this Treaty cannot be overstated, as it serves as the foundational document guiding our efforts to ensure that Māori health is prioritised. Section 6 of the Pae Ora Act explicitly outlines the responsibility of IMPBs to engage meaningfully in the planning and design of local health services.....
See full article HERE

Plan launched to build up Māori tradies
In Wellington today, the Kaitaka Paepaeroa Māori Workforce Development Plan is being launched with the goal of upskilling Māori construction workers into higher management positions.

Census 2023 data shows that the construction industry is the largest Māori employer, with 25 percent of the workforce being Māori.

“Time and time again, we see a lot of Māori in machines, a few in supervisory management roles, and then it starts to thin out from there. So we need to push and get Māori up into those higher levels,” Mr Paul says.....
See full article HERE

Gisborne iwi data reveals youth dominance and te reo Māori proficiency
“Power in our region is going to shift towards our rangatahi, and most of our rangatahi are reo speakers, they’ve grown up through kura kaupapa. It is this generation who will be leading and driving the Māori economy into the future,” he said.

“Gisborne is not somewhere you just come to retire. We are a growing and thriving community which will be led forward by Māori.....
See full article HERE

New path to home ownership on Māori land: BNZ expands innovative funding framework
More Māori and whānau across Aotearoa will benefit from home ownership opportunities, thanks to an expanded funding framework that enables lending for housing on Māori freehold land.

Under the expanded model, individuals and whānau who meet BNZ’s standard home lending criteria can secure a home loan for housing on Māori land managed by land trusts or incorporations, at standard home loan interest rates.

This is an extension to Bank of New Zealand’s (BNZ) innovative funding model, initially developed in collaboration with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, to support more Māori to achieve home ownership on their whenua (land).....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Ewen McQueen: Kāwanatanga katoa was the fundamental question at Waitangi

Propaganda:
Greater Pākehā visibility needed in opposition to Treaty Principles Bill - Catherine Delahunty

15% reo speaker rise done over generations

Stop weaponising Te Tiriti to divide New Zealanders, says Ngāti Toa leader Helmut Modlik  

Tuesday October 8, 2024 

News:
Government’s Fast-track bill sparks controversy
The Fast-track Approvals Bill marks the fourth attempt by Trans Tasman Resources to mine sand off the Taranaki coast.

The Government announced that 149 out of nearly 400 projects, including TTR’s proposal for a 65.76 square kilometre operation near the Kupe oil rig, are now included in the bill.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngārewa-Packer says the Government is flexing its legislative power to gamble on an experimental sector that has repeatedly failed in the courts....
See full article HERE

Rongowhakaata and British High Commissioner to revisit historic ‘Expression of Regret’
Rongowhakaata will meet with British High Commissioner Iona Thomas in Manutūkē near Gisborne today, five years after the British Government’s historic ‘Expression of Regret’ delivered to the iwi at Whakatō Marae.

The hui will revisit the British Government’s acknowledgment of the actions of Captain Cook and his crew during their 1769 arrival, which was delivered to the iwi in the form of an ‘Expression of Regret’ by former British High Commissioner Laura Clarke on October 2, 2019.....
See full article HERE

New Dunedin commercial development with iwi backing getting attention
The building has been named Mataukareao by Ōtākou Rūnaka. Mataukareao was a nohoaka and tauraka waka (landing place for waka) at the bottom of present-day Hanover Street. Matau is a hook and Kareao (supplejack) were recorded as growing on the flat below Hanover and Frederick Street.

Ōtākou Rūnaka chair Nadia Wesley-Smith, welcomes the opportunity for mana whenua to impart their history and narrative on the building, and Dunedin, adding the development with Hāpai presents an opportunity for Ōtākou to set out an authentic narrative in the city, in addition to enabling an investment in commercial property.....
See full article HERE


Monday October 7, 2024

News:
Sculpture series to tell iwi history on Forgotten World Highway
A series of sculptures will soon be installed along SH43, the Forgotten World Highway, between Stratford and Taumarunui.

The project is being led by Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Hāua and Ngāti Ruanui to bring focus to the cultural significance and tūpuna history of the area.

Funded by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, it is part of a programme of improvements to the Forgotten World Highway to increase tourism, make the road safer and increase the resilience of the Central North Island transport network.....
See full article HERE

Iwi-led and partnered projects among those referred for Fast Track approval - Tama Potaka
Projects referred for Fast-Track approval will help supercharge the Māori economy and realise the huge potential of Iwi and Māori assets, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says.

Following robust and independent review, the Government has today announced 149 projects that have significant regional or national benefits to be included in the one-stop-shop Fast-Track Approvals Bill when it is reported back to Parliament.

“It’s great to see at least 15 significant Iwi-led or partnered projects among those spanning a variety of industries that will help rebuild the economy, boost renewable energy, grow infrastructure, develop aquaculture and mining, and build homes to fix the housing crisis,” Potaka says.

“Iwi and Māori business are making increasingly significant contributions to our economy. Enabling the use and growth of Iwi and Māori assets is essential as we work toward closing the economic delta between Māori and the rest of New Zealand.

“The seven aquaculture and farming projects, for example, can strengthen partnerships with Iwi to boost Māori development with an expected output of up to 143,000 tonnes per annum.

“We’re creating the right conditions for boosting Māori economic growth that will fire-up Aotearoa New Zealand to be a small leading advanced nation with greater equality of opportunity. This will support stronger whānau and stronger communities.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Professor Jerry Coyne: Māori academics finally admit that their way of knowing is not science....

The Marine and Coastal Area Amendment Bill – A step not far enough - Frank Newman

The Judiciary on Trial - Dr Muriel Newman.

Propaganda:
Becoming Aotearoa: Why we must look to the past to move forward

Te Reo Māori trauma: Barriers to language revival unveiled in new report

Te reo is not a Pākehā asset

‘An attack on science and good medical practice’

Turanga Health and Meningitis Foundation launch bilingual colouring book for kids  

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

15 comments:

Robert Arthur said...

Nov 7. No mention of what the SH43 "sculptures"cost. Presumably most payments directed to maori providers. I do not suppose provided on the cheap to advance maori presence. The use of deep engraved steel, representative of colonisation, surprising. Although angle grinder damage very difficult to correct, presumably chosen as resistant to truly traditional axe and fire. Some passers by may be interested in a succinct history of the area but rambling mixes of fable and fact, laced with te reo, completely turn off most. Hopefully the mere colonist achievements of farming, road and rail will receive mention. Very many of stopping points throughout the country have outlook now obstructed, and the surroundings an open toilet. Unless the views are exceptional, I avoid.

Robert Arhtur said...

Whether or not maori truly appreciate Potaka's efforts is hard to judge. The insider look into National workings should be treasured. On Hui RNZ Sunday Julian Willcox, as a major exponent in the RNZ pro maori campaign, hammered Potaka mercilessly because he would not venture to explain exactly how maori ceded "sovereignty".

Anonymous said...

Yes Robert, I also watched Wicoxs' embarrassing and unprofessional antics on the Hui. He was acting the big bully boy. Tama Potaki did very well and did not give in to Wilcox. I'm sure I wouldn't have been so cordial under that extreme provocation

Robert Arthur said...

Nov 8. Incredibly the British High Commissioner has allowed herself to be conned into perpetuating the Gisborne apology for Captain Cook made a few years ago. The visit of the Endeavour and celebration of Cook's incredible achievements was completely nullified by the artful govt supported maori reinterpretation of Cook's self defence actions. Have maori formally apologised for the betrayal and slaughter and cannibal consumption of the crew of Cooks support vessel in the Sounds?
Now the turn of maori in Dunedin to swing a mana gaining leg pull naming triumph. "Mataukareao" combines all the essential features of length and horrendously difficult to remember and pronounce spelling.

Robert Arthur said...

(Like Helen Clark) I am of a generation which has learned a great wariness of maori conniving and cunning. My concern is that the RNZ interview may have been preceded by a conversation along the lines "' Being in the heart of National you are very useful to us. So I will give you a hard time to placate any wary Nationalites"

Anonymous said...

Maori apologise for their treatment of Cooks support vessel crew?? Yeah, right. All the apologies only go one way

Anonymous said...

Talking of Maori apologizing, has any apology been given to descendants of Mori Ori on Chatham Islands in 1830s? It was the muggins taxpayer again who paid reparation for that travesty by Maori. Willy Jackson treated it as a joke and admitted his ancestors were responsible! Imagine the uproar, if Pakeha had laughed off the Land wars. The double standards are what is quickly becoming normal behaviour

Robert Arthur said...

Nov 9. If maori wish to hold senior trade positions they will need to divert energy from stone age te reo and become adept at arithmetic and English.
If banks have figured a way of genuinely covering themselves for houses on maori land, good for them. But my concern is that ghettos will be created with population congregated far from the risk of work and demanding services from ratepayer others. In many situations mortgage payments are in large part picked up by Social Welfare. Will that be the case here?
With maori dominant and in control and many wallowing in te reo, the future of Gisborne would seem questionable. A bigger Ruatoria/Wairoa?

Ray S said...

October 9
In most civilised societies, promotion to management roles are determined by merit. Exceptions are the public service and now Maori. Maori is probably the better option as there is little or no change of being laid off.
What next.
Housing development at Hopuhopu in partnership with government? The second most profitable Maori enterprise in the country and they still can't act without taxpayer help.
The article says the houses are rentals, who is prioritised for a house, by need or some other requirement?
Will the taxpayer get a return on the investment of $30M or is it a loan to be written off like so many others.

" ensure that Māori health is prioritised." I thought all this crap was past when it was deemed that service was to be provided on need, not race.
Wrong again it seems.

Anonymous said...

“Government and iwi partner to build affordable homes
The government is partnering with Waikato-Tainui to enable the construction of 100 affordable rental homes near Ngāruawāhia”.

Public Private Partnership (PPP) or Stake Holder Capitalism, or Partnering or Co-Governance?
All masquerade as Fascism/Corporatism, by another name, where a corporate Government and other Corporations collude to achieve their specific agenda, without the consent of the taxpayer/voter.

Robert Arthur said...

I never cease to be amazed at the naivety and gullibility of parliamentarians and councillors in adopting so many requirements for maori consultation and consideration of tikanga, mauri, wairua, relation with "ancestral water" and other hocus. No help from the legal profession can be expected. The tradition of ensuring and creating work for the profession ensures continued perpetuation of absurdity. Endless opportunity for extortion has been created, if only as payment for "consultation" time.
Whilst both names are flawed, the opposition in Whakatane to the developer and local's choice of street name is typical of the deliberate mana seeking obstruction which characterises and will extensive race based council positions. With the topic of maori wards sensitive at the moment one would expect a low profile from maori. But the instinct to gain mana by high profile obstruction exceeds prudent logic.
Another huge insurgency coordination hui being organised by maori. This time by Ngai Tahu. Yet another social outing for the many maori with time on their hands.Those who thought this "tribe" (corporation) an exception moderate and reasonably aligned with the greater community are being rapidly relieved of their delusion.

Robert Arthur said...

Oct 11. The Wellington Council airport shares fiasco points up the folly of (maori) race based appointments to committees and as ward councillors. Whist others presumably often have their own agenda not necessarily in the greater public interest, few would be so blatantly self centred and directed and controlled from outside organisations as are maori. The Wellington situation should ensure whole scale rejection of maori wards at the upcoming nation wide ward votes. But in the current manner the msm will not widely publicise. And there is unlikely to be any critical discussion on RNZ. Besides, the situation is complex and almost beyond the grasp of current msm reporters. Am looking forward to Platform coverage.
If maori appointments and ward councillors become extensive, local government wil become hopelessly disrupted. Truly public spirited potential councillors will despair and control will devolve to maori even more so than currently.

Anonymous said...

Peters and Jones clarify their position on the apartheid Waitangi Tribunal, that being, they do not wish to scrap the apartheid Waitangi Tribunal but rather align it more closely with corporate state Government policy.
So, the corporate state governments apartheid agenda is not going to be stopped by NZF. Good to know.

robert arthur said...

Oct 12. The text states that the maori names are "added" in Onehunga/Otahuhu. In fact appear first and in largest letters. I do not suppose the Local Board assembles total costs, including all consultation payments, koha and expenses, Council time, and sign remaking and extension. The cost of the confusion generated is immeasurable. With less official use of the English, and the maori too difficult to remember, most of the public will revert to some off the cuff description to identify places.ie the "beach park with the wooden walkway", "the lagoon park Onehunga side of motorway" etc, negating the object of naming in the first place.

anonymous said...

The WT may never be abolished. Even if restrained, its strength would return in spades under another Left government. And so on ... till 2040 when the He Puapua agenda will be achieved.