Sunday April 12, 2026
News:
New Plymouth deputy mayor defends handling of meeting causing division in council ranks
It’s caused division in council ranks but New Plymouth deputy mayor Murray Chong has defended his handling of a controversial speaker peddling falsehoods about Māori land confiscations at a committee meeting he chaired.
Chong has come under fire for allowing former rural real estate agent Ivan Howe to continue to speak to the Public Engagement Committee on Wednesday about his views on early Taranaki history despite protests from fellow councillors.
Included in the speech was Howe’s belief that Māori land had not been confiscated in North Taranaki, Māori were not indigenous to the area and council was having “the wool pulled over their eyes” by iwi......(paywalled)
See full article HERE
More on the above here > New Plymouth councillors rebuff ‘pulling the wool’ iwi history claim
What is a cultural report? Gore’s council stays silent as farmers label new rules ‘impossible’
The Gore District Council has been criticised for including cultural value assessment requirements in its district plan, but neither the council, the mayor or the iwi are willing to explain what a cultural assessment is, or how it one is assessed.
The plan contains a controversial requirement for some resource consent applicants to gain mana whenua cultural impact assessments, which has been criticised by some politicians.
In a recent press release, Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick said the organisation had raised some legitimate concerns on behalf of local farmers.....(paywalled)
See full article HERE
Whanganui council accused of 'downplaying’ rebrand cost by more than $55k
New figures reveal that the “total costs” of the Whanganui District Council’s logo redesign and rebranding are significantly higher than originally disclosed.
Information obtained by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union (NZTU) shows the council’s rebranding project cost $116,899 – nearly double the $61,800 design figure previously cited.
“The council has tried to downplay the cost of this rebranding,” NZTU investigations coordinator Rhys Hurley said.
The council had earlier said $61,800 (excluding GST) was paid to Auckland design agency Extended Whānau for brand strategy, design and templates.
Following a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) request, the new total disclosed includes $33,125 paid to a brand advisor and $10,192 to a toi Māori arts advisor.....
See full article HERE
Māori power retailer secures major deal to keep whānau lights on
After 18 months of being unable to take on new customers, kaupapa Māori power retailer Nau Mai Rā has reopened its doors with a mission to grow its Whānau Fund.
The retailer was previously forced to pause new sign-ups due to a volatile wholesale market that made it impossible to secure affordable power.
Now, a first-of-its-kind five-year deal provides the stability needed to expand the Whānau Fund, a social initiative that redirects power profits back to families in need, through a new partnership called the Pool of Power....
See full article HERE
Articles:
Watered Down Democracy
We will all drown eventually?
Colinxy: Tova O’Brien - A Case Study in Race‑Obsessed Critical Media Framing
Bob Edlin: Northland council has replenished a trough to provide scholarships.....
Bob Edlin: No, matauranga Māori has not been forgotten.....
Propaganda:
Tāngata whenua - NZTA
Fine, we'll make our own: Reo Māori Certificates for Tamariki
Is 'reo trauma' holding back the revitalisation of te reo?
See full article HERE
More on the above here > New Plymouth councillors rebuff ‘pulling the wool’ iwi history claim
What is a cultural report? Gore’s council stays silent as farmers label new rules ‘impossible’
The Gore District Council has been criticised for including cultural value assessment requirements in its district plan, but neither the council, the mayor or the iwi are willing to explain what a cultural assessment is, or how it one is assessed.
The plan contains a controversial requirement for some resource consent applicants to gain mana whenua cultural impact assessments, which has been criticised by some politicians.
In a recent press release, Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick said the organisation had raised some legitimate concerns on behalf of local farmers.....(paywalled)
See full article HERE
Whanganui council accused of 'downplaying’ rebrand cost by more than $55k
New figures reveal that the “total costs” of the Whanganui District Council’s logo redesign and rebranding are significantly higher than originally disclosed.
Information obtained by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union (NZTU) shows the council’s rebranding project cost $116,899 – nearly double the $61,800 design figure previously cited.
“The council has tried to downplay the cost of this rebranding,” NZTU investigations coordinator Rhys Hurley said.
The council had earlier said $61,800 (excluding GST) was paid to Auckland design agency Extended Whānau for brand strategy, design and templates.
Following a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) request, the new total disclosed includes $33,125 paid to a brand advisor and $10,192 to a toi Māori arts advisor.....
See full article HERE
Māori power retailer secures major deal to keep whānau lights on
After 18 months of being unable to take on new customers, kaupapa Māori power retailer Nau Mai Rā has reopened its doors with a mission to grow its Whānau Fund.
The retailer was previously forced to pause new sign-ups due to a volatile wholesale market that made it impossible to secure affordable power.
Now, a first-of-its-kind five-year deal provides the stability needed to expand the Whānau Fund, a social initiative that redirects power profits back to families in need, through a new partnership called the Pool of Power....
See full article HERE
Articles:
Watered Down Democracy
We will all drown eventually?
Colinxy: Tova O’Brien - A Case Study in Race‑Obsessed Critical Media Framing
Bob Edlin: Northland council has replenished a trough to provide scholarships.....
Bob Edlin: No, matauranga Māori has not been forgotten.....
Propaganda:
Tāngata whenua - NZTA
Fine, we'll make our own: Reo Māori Certificates for Tamariki
Is 'reo trauma' holding back the revitalisation of te reo?
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.
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