Millions beings spent on Waitangi mollifiers? That’s what it looks like, but Shane Jones threatens to take some back
Somewhat like the three wise men bringing gifts to the Baby Jesus, government ministers have been dishing out good news to please – and/or appease – the pilgrims who have flocked to the birthplace of The Treaty to commemorate Waitangi Day.
One point of difference: it took several ministers to bring the glad tidings.
Land Information Minister Chris Penk announced –
- Fairer compensation and safeguards for Māori landowners
The Government is beginning its overhaul of the Public Works Act by addressing inequities faced by Māori landowners, Penk said.
Last year’s independent, targeted review of the Act had highlighted significant issues with how successive governments have acquired land for public projects like roads, rail and water services.
“The historic confiscation of Māori land remains a deep source of pain for many New Zealanders. For this reason, and due to the special significance of Māori freehold land, the Government reaffirms its commitment that acquiring Māori land for public works is and will remain a last resort.
“The current Act has added injury by undervaluing Māori freehold land compared to other land types. The Government is ending this discrepancy and making it law that Māori freehold land must be valued equally, ensuring landowners finally receive fair compensation.
“Furthermore, in recognition of the communal nature of Māori land ownership, compensation will no longer be provided as a single lump sum – but will be extended to all separately owned dwellings on the land.
“Where compulsory acquisition is unavoidable, the process will now require the joint approval of both the Minister for Land Information and the Minister responsible for the relevant Māori portfolio – a safeguard that ensures decisions about Māori land are considered from all appropriate ministerial perspectives.
“For generations, these laws have not treated Māori landowners fairly. Today, we take a step toward putting that right.”
The Public Works Act Amendment Bill will be introduced to Parliament around mid-year.
The public will have an opportunity to provide feedback during the select committee process.
Maori Development Minister Tama Potaka and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones announced –
- Support for Māori economic development projects
This was a mix of progress reporting (a major infrastructure upgrade at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, supported by $10.2 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, is progressing well with some new facilities opening in time for the 185th Waitangi Day commemorations this week, ) and what looks like a new dollop of spending ($7.1m funding for Māori economic development projects in Northland and Taranaki).
The remaining upgrades at Waitangi are expected to be finished by November 2026. The total cost of the upgrades is $10.65m.
The Ministers announced the funding in November last year, along with $10.1m for infrastructure improvements at Rātana Pā near Whanganui.
Tama Potaka (as Associate Minister of Housing and without a ministerial colleague to help him) announced –
- A housing investment that will deliver 400 affordable homes for whānau Māori
The Minister yesterday announced $200 million in funding will be accelerated into Māori housing projects across the country that will enable the delivery of 400 affordable rentals in high-need areas by the end of June 2027.
The projects are focussed on priority regions for new affordable housing, including Te Tai Tokerau, Te Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, and Waikato.
Potaka noted that this announcement comes soon after the commitments made in October when the government announced $35 million to enable 100 affordable rentals in partnership with Waikato-Tainui and in November to provide funding of $82 million for 12 projects with Māori housing providers to enable about 200 affordable rental homes. This brings the total to 700 affordable homes.
“Supporting Māori organisations to deliver affordable housing will tautoko whānau who have been living in severe housing deprivation including emergency housing.”
PoO supposes it is a good thing to tautoko whanau, but we stand to be corrected.
But wait. There’s more, if you care to include this:
Paul Goldsmith (Minister of Treaty Negotiations) and Tama Potaka (Minister of Conservation) on Monday announced –
- The Crown’s Commitment To The Ngāpuhi Settlement
This was an announcement the Crown has shown its commitment to settling with Ngāpuhi by initialling the proposed transfer of Kororipo Pā to Ngāti Rēhia.
“This initialling is an important step in beginning to provide reparations to Ngāpuhi and will be the first redress the Crown provides,” Mr Goldsmith says.
“Ngāti Rēhia has long sought the return of Kororipo Pā, and since 2022 Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia Trust has formally engaged with the Crown on its proposed early vesting. The Trust intends to hold the site as kaitiaki on behalf of Ngāpuhi.
“I need to emphasise that public access to the reserve will not be affected.”
But whoa. Before the deed can be signed, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia Trust will seek support for the proposed vesting from its hapū members.
All going well, Kororipo Pā will transfer to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia Trust as a historic reserve and on-account of a future comprehensive Ngāpuhi settlement.
Potaka said the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai and Ngāti Rēhia had a long-standing partnership and he was glad that “mahi will continue to protect the significant historic taonga and conservation values of Kororipo Pā.”
Oh – besides the numbers of people who brought glad tidings to those who regard themselves as “special” thanks to the Treaty, there’s another difference from the Nativity story.
There was no suggestion the three wise men would take back the gold, frankincense and myrrh that they brought as gifts to the baby in the manger in Bethlehem.
But PoO heard today that Shane Jones has made a somewhat veiled threat to Ngāpuhi over the handling of today’s political pōwhiri at the Treaty Grounds.
It seems he has been taking diplomacy lessons from Donald Trump, on the strength of an RNZ report headed –
Shane Jones’ threat to cut future funding for Waitangi Trust over pōwhiri disruption
A large group of women from Te Tai Tokerau stood and turned their backs to National and ACT ministers delivering speeches – we are told – and ACT leader David Seymour’s microphone was removed, then replaced, then removed and replaced again during his speech.
Jones criticised the hosts, bearing in mind the millions they were being given.
“Obviously this is an independent body but I just gave them $10m, so if you want to take the money you take the responsibility of looking after your manuhiri.
“There’s an expectation that when the manuhiri come to an area like this, they’re not going to come back if they’re mistreated.
“I’ll be very specific here, the Waitangi Trust have received $10m from our government to address infrastructure … obviously the money’s already been allocated but if they don’t buck their ideas up, don’t look to central government to fund an organisation that’s independent and can’t raise enough revenue to look after itself.
“I’ve certainly lost my zest in pushing future grants forward unless they buck their ideas up and look after their manuhiri.”
It’s easy to imagine many of the Beehive’s occupants have buzzed off to Waitangi to be abused, humiliated, or whatever this week (except the PM who has had the good sense to fly south for Waitangi Day).
But ministers have managed to produce a good dollop of grist of the media mill –
Latest from the Beehive
5 February 2025
The Government is beginning its overhaul of the Public Works Act by addressing inequities faced by Māori landowners, Land Information Minister Chris Penk has announced.
A major infrastructure upgrade at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, supported by $10.2 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, is progressing well with some new facilities opening in time for the 185th Waitangi Day commemorations this week.
4 February 2025
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has acknowledged today’s High Court decision which saw Janet Dickson’s claims in her case against the Real Estate Agents Authority dismissed.
Two new board appointments will bring infrastructure governance experience and capability to the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, says Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop.
Kāinga Ora’s turnaround plan will refocus the agency on its core mission of building and managing government-owned social housing in a financially sustainable way, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.
Whānau across the country will benefit from greater access to affordable homes thanks to accelerating $200 million Government investment in Māori housing, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
1 comment:
Ten million each to a couple of insurrection Coordination Centres seems generous. With the approach to taking of maori lands for public works, notably roads, we are going to see the spectacle of prime pasture and market gardening land sacrificed whilst often poor under utiised maori land remains that way. Levin bypass apparently an example. Public releases conceeding past injustices without qualification is folly. Maori never concede to any of their making.
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