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Saturday, November 30, 2024

Breaking Views Update: Week of 24.11.24







Saturday November 30, 2024 

News:
Whanganui council moves toward landmark iwi partnership

Whanganui District Council is going public with aspects of the Treaty settlement being negotiated by Whanganui iwi before it considers signing up to a binding "world-first indigenous-council partnership".

As part of redress for breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Whanganui Māori propose a platform for joint initiatives between the council and Takapau Whariki, the post-settlement governance entity for the settlement.

The proposal was revealed at the Strategy and Policy Committee meeting on Thursday.

Mayor Andrew Tripe emphasised the unprecedented nature of the partnership and the need for public engagement before final decisions were made.

He described the proposal as a "jointly governed local plan" and said council was excited by "daring to be different"....
See full article HERE

Government to appeal latest Nelson Tenths ruling
The government is appealing an interim High Court ruling that will entitle iwi from the top of the South Island to thousands of hectares of Crown land and millions of dollars in compensation for an 1830s land deal it did not honour.

In a judgement delivered last month, Justice Rebecca Edwards largely sided with kaumātua Rore Stafford who sued the Crown on behalf of the customary owners of the Nelson Tenths.

The Court of Appeal confirmed the Attorney-General filed an appeal on Wednesday. RNZ has contacted Judith Collins for comment.....
See full article HERE

Waitangi Tribunal calls on Govt to reconsider Māori health authority after Treaty ‘breaches’
The Waitangi Tribunal is calling on the Government to reconsider creating a stand-alone Māori health entity after it deemed the repeal of the Māori Health Authority breached Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

In a report released today, tribunal presiding officer Judge Damian Stone argued the Government’s disestablishment of the authority in June breached several principles of the Treaty of Waitangi by not engaging with Māori as treaty partners and failing to conduct a “robust policy process”.....
See full article HERE

Iwi are open for business, investors told
Ngāi Tahu and Tainui iwi had a message for national and international investors at the Murihiku Regeneration wānanga in Invercargill: they are multibillion-dollar operations and easier to do business with than the Government.

Ngāi Tahu kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa said a lot of political rhetoric was being thrown about at the moment. “But look, we want to see development and progress in our country. We want to partner [with developers] and we want to do things sensibly.”....
See full article HERE

World class visitor centre for Punakaiki
Sightseers to the iconic Punakaiki (Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Track) will enjoy a richer experience thanks to a world class visitor experience centre run by local Iwi, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says

Mr Patterson said the $45.47 million redevelopment project was jointly funded by $28.10 million from the Provincial Growth Fund, managed by Kānoa and $17.37 million from the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai. The work was delivered in close partnership with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae over several years......
See full article HERE

Māori lawyer goes viral for educating people on Treaty Principles Bill
Riana Te Ngahue (Ngāti Porou), a young Māori lawyer, started making TikToks for people like her uncles "who don't really care about the Treaty".

But now her bite-sized breakdowns of complex Māori issues are educating audiences far beyond Aotearoa.

Her recent breakdown of David Seymour's Treaty Principles Bill has sparked particular interest.....
See full article HERE

Propaganda:
‘The National Party is complicit in this reckless exercise’

Te Puia Launches ‘A Place That Changes You’ Campaign In Te Reo Māori And English  

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 November 29, 2024 

News:
New Police Commissioner denies systemic racism in Police
The Understanding Police Delivery report, commissioned by former Commissioner Andrew Coster, revealed that being Māori increases the likelihood of prosecution by 11% compared to Pākehā, even when all other factors are equal.

Chambers says this is more about “heat of the moment” decision-making or decisions made in reflection, which could have been handled differently.

“I do not agree with systemic racism, no. In my nearly 30 years of policing, I have never seen a situation where one of my colleagues has made decisions based on race. Policing is hard. It’s a challenging career,” says Richards.

Minister for Police Mark Mitchell also denies there is systemic racism in the police.....
See full article HERE

Whangaroa descendants urged to join hui for te Tiriti draft mandate
Following the recent Toitū te Tiriti hīkoi, Whangaroa Papa Hapū is calling on descendants of Whangaroa to have their say on a Tiriti draft mandate at a special hui this Saturday .

Ngā Takenga Mai comes after more than a decade of Whangaroa Papa Hapū working with Whangaroa hapū and whānau to research and prepare historical land claims submitted to the Waitangi Tribunal between 2011 and 2018.....
See full article HERE

Port Nelson Welcomes New Pilot Launch Mānuka With Blessing Ceremony
The arrival of Port Nelson’s new Pilot Launch, Mānuka, was marked with a blessing led by local iwi representatives on Thursday morning.

Held at Port Nelson's Coastal Berth, the ceremony brought together representatives from Port Nelson, iwi, and members of the Nelson City and Tasman District Councils.

The name Mānuka was gifted to the vessel by iwi and holds significant local meaning, referencing Haulashore Island, which is also known as Mānuka.....
See full article HERE

Anonymous donor buys Te Tiriti handbook for every secondary school in New Zealand
An anonymous donor has facilitated the dispatch of hundreds of copies of Understanding Te Tiriti: A handbook of basic facts about Te Tiriti o Waitangi by barrister Roimata Smail (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, England, Scotland, Ireland) to high schools all over the country.

The donor met Smail at an event on Te Tiriti o Waitangi held at The Women’s Bookshop in Ponsonby on June 13 this year. “I gave a brief 20-minute presentation and signed copies [of my book],” said Smail. “[The donor] went home, read the book, and was struck by how easy to understand it was. Inspired, they decided to help others discover it too.”

Smail’s 32-page guide is the result of over 20 years of work at the Waitangi Tribunal, and teaching Te Tiriti workshops. The book covers the three articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Treaty vs Tiriti differences, law-making by the Crown, Treaty principles, Treaty settlements and more, and is aimed at readers of all ages looking to learn about Te Tiriti for the first time.....
See full article HERE

Packed Public Gallery Supports Groundswell NZ at Gore District Council
Groundswell NZ’s campaign to stop the new District Plan in Gore from including sites and areas of significance to Maori stepped up a notch this week, with leaders presenting to council.

Co-founders Laurie Paterson and Bryce McKenzie spoke to the Gore District Council on Tuesday about what they think are blanket and arbitrary rules across the district regarding the Resource Management Act (RMA).

The proposed District Plan includes a chapter under Section 6 of the RMA that respects Ngai Tahu’s understanding of their cultural values, with regard to all of the land and water being significant to them.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Gary Judd KC: KCs are not a special elite

David Farrar: More on Marsden funding

Propaganda:
The Annual Report: ACT, NZ First move on Treaty angst as National seeks moderate ground

Māori health services struggle amid Te Aka Whai Ora disestablishment and cuts - Rob Campbell

Te Whatu Ora cuts affecting communities

Tongan youth advocate calls for Treaty Bill submissions

Fertility NZ Research Shows Māori And Pacific People Face Barriers To Treatment

Māori iwi turn to infrastructure investment for sustainable futures – David Harrison

ACT says it wants equal rights for all, so what about fair Treaty settlements?

Seymour should heed his own advice and stick to what he knows

Māori unemployment and socioeconomic disparities: ‘Our people need real solutions’

Waititi Orders Police Withdraw from Matapihi  

Thursday November 28, 2024 

News:
$82 million for Māori housing providers for affordable rentals
The government has announced an investment into Māori housing providers to deliver 198 affordable rentals that will be capped at 80 per cent of market rent of the location.

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said the government was committed to fixing the housing crisis and addressing housing challenges faced by whānau Māori.

“The developments announced today are not just about building houses. Each of these homes represents a fresh start and a secure foundation for whānau and tamariki to grow, thrive, and stay connected to their whenua in a community where the need for safe, affordable homes has never been more urgent.”....
See full article HERE

David Seymour demands apology from Willie Jackson before Treaty debate
Labour MP Willie Jackson has announced he will debate David Seymour on Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill.

But Seymour said he wants an apology from Jackson for calling him a liar first.

Jackson was booted out of the debating chamber at the first reading of Seymour’s Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill had its first reading on November 14.

In his speech debating the bill, Jackson called Seymour a liar, saying his comments were driven from the people he had spoken to on the national hīkoi, which travelled the country seeking support and opposition to Seymour’s Bill.....
See full article HERE

Shane Jones prioritizes Māori economic growth
Jones says while the hīkoi to Parliament demonstrated a significant outpouring of Māori sentiment, it is his government’s fast-track plans that will deliver tangible economic growth and opportunities for Māori.

“Now I accept that’s not a view that everyone embraces, but we’re in politics. And the views that prevail are the views that capture the imagination, and the minds and the love of the public – and that has fallen to our government – at least till 2026,” says Jones.

Shane Jones says the real question for those involved with the hīkoi is: where do they go from here?
See full article HERE

Tikanga not blocking seabed miners, Taranaki leaders say
South Taranaki leaders say the Government is wrong to claim would-be seabed miners are being held up by tikanga Māori.

Minister for Resources Shane Jones is a vocal supporter of an Australian company’s bid to mine ironsand off the Pātea coast under the Government’s new Fast-Track approvals process.

“Depriving regions of investment due to tikanga Māori, a la Taranaki iron sands, is a fool’s paradise,” he wrote in an opinion column for The Post last week.....
See full article HERE

Auckland Council awards grants to advance community climate action
The grant programme aligns with Auckland Council’s commitment to prioritising Māori-led projects, with three of the 11 funded initiatives directly led by Māori organisations. These projects integrate Te Ao Māori principles and actively support Māori communities in leading climate solutions.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Guest Post: Koru-Koi

DTNZ: The All Blacks and freedom of expression

Dr Bryce Edwards: Democracy Briefing - Foundations of a constitutional crisis?

Propaganda:
Treaty Principles Bill: David Seymour’s acknowledgement of rangatiratanga raises ‘a whole lot of questions’

Treaty Principles Bill is harmful and false - Māori health advocate Lisa Te Morenga

Missed opportunities of the hīkoi, and the missing PM

Sharples defends Perenara’s Toitū Tiriti stand

Government’s First Year A ‘Catastrophe For Māori’ - Te Pati Maori

Indigenous sports awards showcasing Māori Olympic success  

Wednesday November 27, 2024 

News:
No winners in 3-year dispute between hapū and landowners
A three-year dispute between a couple wanting to build a house and a hapū that said the site was culturally significant has ended with a dream dashed and a hope crushed.

The dispute revolved around a 1.7 hectare property at Te Puna, a semi-rural area near Tauranga.

For Pirirākau, which is a hapū of Ngati Ranginui iwi, this area is part of a wider area of some 100ha, known as Tahataharoa.....
See full article HERE

Kaikōura welcomes 2000 Ngāi Tahu whānau
More than 2000 Ngāi Tahu whānau gathered in Kaikōura at the weekend.

Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura chairperson Hariata Kāhu said this year’s Hui-ā-Iwi was a chance to express appreciation for support following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2016.

‘‘Hui-ā-Iwi is such an important occasion for our iwi, and it was incredible to see more than 2000 of our whānau reconnecting and celebrating together.’’....
See full article HERE

Iwi boards drive Māori health progress
Health Minister Shane Reti says a highlight of his 2024 has been the continued progression of iwi partnership boards.

Earlier this year, when the government disestablished Te Aka Whai Ora, Reti made it clear that iwi partnership boards would serve as the avenue to address Māori health issues.`

He says the iwi partnership boards have highlighted multiple health issues, rohe by rohe, allowing Te Whatu Ora to focus on resolving these challenges for Māori health.....
See full article HERE

No debate allowed: Wellington mayor publicly apologises to mana whenua
Wellington mayor Tory Whanau made a public apology to mana whenua on Tuesday morning ahead of what was one of the most crucial meetings of the year and is warning councillors there is no room for debate.

The Wellington City Council long-term plan committee met at 9.30am on Tuesday to try to find hundreds of millions of dollars in savings needed after the council decided against selling its 34% stake in Wellington Airport.

But it was the October ructions beneath the no-sale that will be high on the agenda with the mayor tabling an apology. The council has two mana whenua representatives, appointed by iwi, who can vote on committees but not the full council.....
See full article HERE

New $20.1 million library complex with information centre, art gallery, cafe opens in Hāwera
After almost 130 years Hāwera has a new $20.1 million library incorporating a visitor information centre, cafe and art gallery.

Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga was officially opened on Monday, 128 years after the original Hāwera Library was built in 1896.

Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga means the beacon or signal fire of Ruapātahanga, a legendary wahine toa who would light a beacon as a signal for iwi to meet to talk, share ideas and knowledge.

Nixon said the name perfectly symbolised the new centre's purpose as a place for the community to come together.......
See full article HERE

3000 more people on the Māori electoral roll after Treaty Principles bill hīkoi
The Māori electoral roll has grown by more than 3000 people - after organisers of the hīkoi mō te Tiriti promoted a switch from the general roll.

Data from the Electoral Commission up to 25 November showed 2262 people changed from the general roll to the Māori roll - up from 59 in October. Just 28 people changed from Māori roll to general roll.

There were also 862 new enrolments on the Māori roll - up from 29 the previous month. All up, there were 3096 more people on the Māori roll than at the start of the month.....
See full article HERE

Willie Jackson to debate David Seymour on Treaty Principles Bill
Labour MP Willie Jackson has announced he will debate ACT leader David Seymour on the Treaty Principles Bill.

Speaking to Waatea News, Labour’s Māori development spokesperson said he had made the decision “in the last couple of days”.

In the House at the time, Jackson called it “a six-month hate tour” and said he had a “message” for Seymour, given to him by people who were at the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti in Auckland.

“To you, David Seymour: you fuel hatred and misinformation in this country, you bring out the worst in New Zealanders, you should be ashamed of yourself, and you are a liar,” Jackson said in Parliament.

He was then kicked out of the House after refusing to apologise to Seymour for calling the associate justice minister a “liar”.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Better to shine a light on problematic Treaty issues - Gerrard Eckhoff

Centrist: Debbie Ngarewa-Packer admits Māori have ‘different rights’

Tom O'Connor: That Bill

Caleb Anderson: The Emergence of a New Religion and the Deification of the Treaty

Propaganda:
Are kids being taken out of maths and science to learn te reo Māori?

Mokopuna prioritize safety, love, trustful relationships

Do politics belong on the field? All Black’s haka sparks debate

On What’s Wrong With The Treaty Principles Bill

Gang patch ban distraction, says O’Reilly

David Seymour spoke at an Act meeting in New Plymouth, now it’s my turn to speak – Kate Paris  

Tuesday November 26, 2024 

News:
TJ Perenara's Tiriti haka addition welcomed by both Te Pāti Māori and David Seymour

"Because someone is very good at rugby, for example, doesn't mean that they have any extra expertise. In fact, the point of the Treaty Principles Bill is that everybody can read it and make up their mind, regardless of how famous they are."

He [David Seymour] welcomed Perenara raising awareness of the bill, but wished the 32-year-old 89-test veteran had focused more on the game.

"What TJ Perenara has done is point people to the bill, encourages them to go and read it so people can make up their own mind and the arguments we're advancing for it. So, yes, I mean, in a way he's doing exactly what I hope people would do....
See full article HERE

Reimagining Māori Public Health: Oranga Whenua, Oranga Tangata Symposium To Drive Transformative Change
The Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata Symposium, hosted by Hāpai Te Hauora, will bring together community leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to explore culturally grounded solutions for improving Māori health. This event redefines public health through a Te Ao Māori lens.....
See full article HERE

Rotorua iwi-led housing development opens in Ōwhata
The Ōwhata Kōhanga Rākau iwi-led housing development on the east side of Rotorua officially opened on Friday with the first 16 homes of what will eventually be 93 new houses.

The development is on 3.5 hectares of Māori-owned former forestry land behind Fresh Choice supermarket on Te Ngae Rd.

The land is owned by Ōwhata 2B and 7 Ahuwhenua Trusts and the Government has chipped in with $55 million to help with the build process.

Those renting the homes will pay 80% of market rent. Buyers of the homes for sale will pay 75% of the house price with a mortgage and deposit through a bank with the remaining 25% coming from an interest-free loan through Ōwhata Kōhanga Rākau.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Dave Witherow: Treaty weather

Treaty Principles Debate - Dr Muriel Newman.

Mike's Minute: TJ Perenara haka is a sign of the times

DTNZ: Fiery reaction as All Blacks make divisive ‘political’ statement

Damien Grant: A haka makes for great theatre. It isn’t an argument

Guest Post: Peter Ellis Case Blows Up New Zealand – Twice

Propaganda:
Sparks fly as political tinder of Māori anger builds

Treaty Principles Bill: ‘I have never seen a bill more damaging to our race relations’ – former Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres

An All Black display of support for toitu te tiriti - is igniting conversations about politics in sport

Māori All Blacks adviser Te Wehi Wright calls for unity after TJ Perenara’s final haka

Waititi defends Māori identity, challenges Parliament

Monday November 25, 2024 

News:
Seymour criticizes haka, sparks tikanga debate
Seymour called Maipi-Clark a thug and described her actions as intimidating when he failed to understand the meaning behind them.

As the sponsor of the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, Seymour says if you can’t use your words, then you have no argument.

“I think it actually is thuggery, yes, to say that you’re going to use force and intimidation, getting in someone’s face, physical actions over words in a place that is clearly set out to be a chamber of debate that is thuggery. And I ultimately say to people, if you have to do a haka to get your point across, maybe you don’t have a good argument,” says Seymour....
See full article HERE

Treaty bill: ACT leader Seymour on coalition partners' disagreement
ACT Party leader David Seymour says his coalition partners "find it exceedingly difficult" to act in good faith over the Treaty Principles Bill, but asserted that the Government remains "very robust".

Seymour said: "I think one of the most interesting questions about this whole debate is, why are people so het up about a bill that they will say won't go anywhere?

"The reason for that is that it has gone somewhere already – just by introducing those two simple ideas, equal rights and an equal right to have a say."....
See full article HERE

Articles:
John McLean: Jolly Rogers, Nga Mihi...Ngarangi

Professor Robert MacCulloch: Mr Prime Minister: Lead, Goddammit.....

Propaganda:
X marks the spot: Māori tourism maps out its Auckland treasures

What does it mean to be a Māori athlete?

Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti: Is this what peace feels like?

If they knew our history, they wouldn’t be talking about parliament’s ‘dignity’

Resisting battle fatigue

Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti: Walking into the future

Hīkoi hats: Why the red beret is having a moment

Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti: Flags of hope

TJ Perenara's Treaty message in All Blacks haka 'a sign of unity'

Principles Bill debate is not a binary argument  

Sunday November 24, 2024

News:
Dr Aikman tackling ‘tension’ between indigenous and settler knowledge

One of the “new wave” of Māori thinkers will spend the next several months focused on whose knowledge is prioritised in Aotearoa today, for a new book of essays about the tension between indigenous and settler knowledge systems.

Kaupapa Māori scholar, Dr Pounamu Jade Aikman, will assume a three-month residency for emerging Māori writers at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in February, with joint support from Creative New Zealand.....
See full article HERE

Hikoi showcases frustration over Treaty Bill and NZ life - Potaka
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says Tuesday’s Parliament hikoi showcased kotahitanga among many New Zealanders, not just Māori, expressing their frustration over the Treaty Principles Bill and where New Zealand has ended up in recent times.

Potaka says this frustration stems from communities bearing the brunt of health, education, housing, and other challenges over numerous governments, not just the current or previous Labour government.

The message from over 40,000 New Zealanders is clear: many Māori and non-Māori are concerned with inequality, which is the main reason why he got into politics.

“Now the recent passing of Bom Gillies and why the 28th Māori Battalion went to war in World War Two, and those writings Tā Apirana Ngata to know that the price of citizenship has still not been fully paid. So for me, I’m really focused on those matters,” says Potaka.
See full article HERE

Articles:
Derek Mackie: For what it's worth

Chris Lynch: Justice Committee won’t accept Treaty principles bill submissions which describe people as ‘racist’

Professor Robert MacCulloch: The Royal Society of NZ's Race-Based Funding is a constitutional requirement....

JC: Hīkoi No More Than a Hiccup

Propaganda:
A year ago, Luxon promised to unite the nation. Then came the Treaty debate

Behind the Banner: Inside the hīkoi mō te Tiriti

Journey of understanding leads from Parihaka to hīkoi

A triumphant year in Māori politics

The Wrong Answer To A Question That Does Not Exist  

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

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

And just who is paying for this propagandized 'book of essays' by a "Maori thinker", who wants us to believe that tangata Maori were indigenous? Not much of a thinker then.

Anonymous said...

The haka needs to be removed from rugby games. It has become so embarrassing and cringe and other teams probably think nz are show-offs. Nz's reputation is getting damaged on the world stage.


anonymous said...

Good point. Recently a former Irish international player remarked that, when the haka - i.e. a war dance and a challenge to opponents - is performed just before a match, the other team should have the right of reply. Otherwise there is no balance and it seems that intimidation by one team only is condoned.

Ray S said...

It is probably unwise to assume TJ Perenara actually read the bill as tabled. More likely he thought to go along with the people protesting on the "buskoi".
Interesting that playing the game the colonists brought to NZ has given him more that he ever imagined.

Ray S said...

The current owners of the land at Te Puna need to either, keep fighting, offer the land to the iwi at market rate, make a cash offer to iwi to make the problem go away.
Whatever is choosen, do not walk away.
While there may be historical item found anywhere, this case hilites a problem with the RMA when iwi have to give the OK for any work to proceed.

R White said...

Hopefully they can get the housing crisis sorted in a way that is fair to everyone.

Anonymous said...

No one asks the activists what their end game is? What do they want? Because they also know that two separate states or a series of mini states will not work. Who would fund this? What would happen to non- maori kiwis who have property in nz?

Anonymous said...

Re: the Spinoff article: "Anonymous donor buys Te Tiriti handbook for every secondary school in New Zealand" - Is there no end to the spreading of these falsehoods while truth tellers like Tross Publishing are blackballed? For pity's sake, let's have a few thousand more signatures on the Hobson's Pledge petition to END THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL - It is well past the time that the gravy train was put in the bin.

Anonymous said...

Do all NZ secondary schools have a copy of ‘The Treaty of Waitangi An Explanation’ by the Hon Sir Apirana Ngata M.A, LL.B., Lit.D. printed by NZCPR, or has it been banned?
Roimata Smail BA, LLB says “They’ll (secondary school students) get access to the clear, correct basic information before they leave high school” if they read her book. I haven’t read Ms Smail’s book, but I do like to think students are given the opportunity to gather information from a range of sources.

Anonymous said...

This is the problem, the left bias of libraries and the education system seeks to preclude critical thought and moreover seeks to hide from view any material that challenges their view of the World. We end up with a populace that is unable or unwilling to think for itself and never really digs into things to seek the truth. Mile wide and inch deep thinking has supplanted the ability to go an inch wide and a mile deep in the search for truth.