Breaking Views Update: Week of 5.7.26

Saturday July 11, 2026 

News:
Matariki Pā: Ancient site returned to local hapū after more than a century in private ownership
A significant ancestral pā site near the mouth of the Clarence River in Kaikōura has been returned to Ngāti Kurī, marking the end of more than a century of the land being in private hands.

The purchase of Matariki Pā — 45 hectares of land north of the Waiau Toa Clarence River — was finalised in June through Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura and the Murray family, who had owned the property since the early 1900s.

For Maurice Manawatu, kaumātua (elder) of Ngāti Kurī, a hapū of Ngāi Tahu , who has spent 15 years bringing groups of Ngāi Tahu to the site to share its history, the return carries profound meaning.....(paywalled)
See full article HERE

Mana whenua voices to inform flood resilience in South Wairarapa
As South Wairarapa reels from a string of devastating floods, mana whenua representatives are coming together to discuss their role in how the region rebuilds.

South Wairarapa District Council's Māori partnerships committee, chaired by Gillies Baker, is set to meet on Tuesday night to discuss flood management activities and the impact of recent flooding on the roads and environment.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Robin Grieve: The Medical Council's Shocker of a Consultation Document

Barrie Davis: A Republican Commonwealth for Aotearoa?

Propaganda:
King Charles marks Matariki with a message celebrating unity and Māori New Year

Amalgamation: “We’re going to be here forever,” say Maori councillors

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 10, 2026 

News:
Landmark 35-year energy deal secured for Pirirākau Marae
In a move set to secure community resilience for a generation, the Pirirākau Tribal Authority has signed a historic relationship agreement with Contact Energy, locking in free electricity for four local marae for the next 35 years.

The agreement, formally acknowledged in Tauranga today by Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge and Pirirākau Tribal Authority Chairman Jason Ake, represents far more than a utility arrangement. It establishes an enduring partnership centered on the health of the Wairoa Awa and reinforces Pirirākau’s foundational role as kaitiaki.

The core of the deal guarantees that the four Pirirākau marae – Tutereinga, Paparoa, Poutūterangi, and Tawhitinui – will be powered at no cost for three and a half decades....
See full article HERE

Articles:
A.E. Thompson: Censoring Psychologists

Fiona Mackenzie: Local Boards Driving Separatism

Propaganda:
Matariki: How Māori navigators use the stars to keep their waka on course

Happy New Year

Matariki ceremony site remains a symbol of Māori land issues

Auckland Zoo staff talk te reo to the animals

Thursday July 9, 2026 

News:
One MP, One Pint: National MP Greg Fleming’s hopes for a bilingual parliament
The National MP remains optimistic that tikanga could one day be embedded in the debating chamber and select committee.

Fleming keeps his reo sharp largely through spiritual practice: he switched to a Māori Anglican church a number of years ago (which is where he first met his now-colleague Tama Potaka) and worships entirely in te reo.

He gets giddy when recounting a recent hour-long kōrero with former Te Pāti Māori MP Te Ururoa Flavell, and beams with pride at the fact this his son Toby, who is one of five children, now works as a sports commentator at Whakaata Māori and likes to correct his father on his reo....

See full article HERE

State of Our Gulf report calls for stronger protection of Tīkapa Moana
Iwi-led restoration gains momentum as call grows to curb dredging and trawling in the Hauraki Gulf

The report also marks a shift from previous editions published since 2004 by placing greater emphasis on the work of iwi, hapū and whānau leading restoration efforts across Tīkapa Moana.

Those efforts include mussel restoration, beach clean-ups, the removal of kina barrens and monitoring the spread of exotic caulerpa.

The report follows the introduction of the Hauraki Gulf Protection Act, which provides greater protection for parts of the Gulf from harmful fishing practices.....
See full article HERE

Kaupapa Māori Event Fund Helps Māori-Led Events Flourish
“The Kaupapa Mori Event Fund demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when funding partners and local councils come together with a shared commitment to supporting kaupapa Mori,” says TECT Community Trust Community Impact Manager Paula Hudson.”

More events celebrating the stories, traditions and identity of Tauranga Moana and Western Bay of Plenty are becoming a reality thanks to the support of the Kaupapa Māori Event Fund.

Originally established in 2019 by Tauranga City Council and TECT Community Trust as the Kaupapa Māori Legacy Event Fund, this collaborative fund supports events that celebrate Te Ao Māori and strengthen connections to Tauranga Moana Tangata Whenua, creating opportunities for communities to experience and share local culture, history and tikanga. Bay Trust were welcomed to the funding partnership in 2022....
See full article HERE

IMSB undemocratic? Peters pitches in
New Zealand First, led by Winston Peters (Ngāti Wai), asserts that Auckland Council’s Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) should be disestablished.

As reported previously, Local Government Minister Simon Watts put the kibosh on unelected members voting in council decisions but, much to the chagrin of the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, the IMSB was exempt.

NZ First is now seeking to change this.

A member’s bill has been written and introduced – it will form part of the party’s election platform.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Spaniard: Provisions of the Treaty - all the ‘principles’ ever were

Yvonne Van Dongen: Frozen Myths

Bob Edlin: DoC’s lax partnership with Far North iwi.....

The Great Betrayal - Sandra Goudie

Parallel Societies - Dr Muriel Newman

Video:
Chris Trotter’s Dire Warning Of A Centre-Left Election Win

Propaganda:
Māori Roll, Voting Rights and Matariki Set to Dominate Political Debate

From the Andes to Aotearoa: Dale Stephens Says Māori Tourism Can Help Shape the Future

Aroha, Kauri and the quiet evolution of our naming habits

Wednesday July 8, 2026 

News:
Te Māra O Hine-Raraunga Framework Explores How IMPBs Can Protect Whānau Voice And Strengthen Māori Data Sovereignty
A new framework developed in partnership with Iwi Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) is encouraging kōrero about how whānau voice can be protected, governed and used in ways that uphold tikanga Māori, Māori data sovereignty and tino rangatiratanga.

The report is the second release in the Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board’s, Puanga - Matariki Insights Series 2026: a collection of reports reflecting the journey from listening to whānau, understanding aspirations and identifying actions that will improve hauora outcomes. Released between Puanga and Matariki, the series reflects this season of preparation, reflection and setting direction for the future.

Te Māra o Hine-Raraunga, explores how IMPBs can safely collect, store and use whānau voice information while ensuring whānau retain meaningful influence over decisions affecting their data....
See full article HERE

Ngāti Kahungunu leader slams removal of dedicated marae funding body
Ngāti Kahungunu chairman Bayden Barber has hit out at the Government’s removal of the Oranga Marae Lottery Committee, saying it will fail Māori and the communities that marae serve.

The changes were announced in April by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden, and came into effect on July 1.

Barber said the decision placed marae in the same grant funding pool as community halls, sporting clubs and every other community facility, and ignored the “unique role” marae played in Aotearoa.

“The Government has once again failed Māori and the communities our marae serve,” Barber said.....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Pee Kay: National… the Enemy Within?

David Farrar: We need transparency over when Iwi are paid not to object

Propaganda:
Growing the next generation of Māori startup founders

Trade, Security and Sovereignty: Matthew Tukaki Says Aotearoa Must Put Māori Interests First

Tuesday July 7, 2026 

News:
Horizons Regional Council keeps final say on resource management iwi agreements, backs $10k funding
Final approval for resource management agreements with iwi will stay with Horizons regional councillors, rather than being delegated to staff.

 
In a marathon sitting over two days, councillors overturned a staff recommendation to delegate authority to staff, instead voting to keep final say on the legally binding Mana Whakahono ā Rohe (MWāR) agreements.

Councillors also committed up to $10,000 per iwi entity to support them to participate in developing the agreements......

See full article HERE

Iwi-led Programme Reshapes The Future Of Nursing
A powerful story of aspiration, identity, and community is reshaping the future of nursing in Aotearoa. At its heart is an innovative programme that shows what’s possible when learning is grounded in kaupapa Māori and shaped by iwi, for iwi.

Led by Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa and delivered in partnership with Whitireia and WelTec, the Bachelor of Nursing Māori ‘Matariki’ programme is strengthening whānau, building community capability, and redefining what success in education can look like....
See full article HERE

More than half of Māori voters now on Māori electoral roll
More than half of enrolled Māori voters are now registered on the Māori roll, with younger generations continuing to drive a long-term shift towards Māori representation.

Electoral Commission figures show 507,647 Māori voters are enrolled on the Māori roll, compared with 455,295 on the general roll.

Enrolled voters of Māori descent have until midnight 6 August to decide whether they want to remain on their current roll or switch ahead of the next general election.....
See full article HERE

Iwi say mussel spat venture could reduce reliance on wind
A group of Far North iwi is setting up a mussel spat venture they say will reduce a multi-million-dollar industry's reliance on the vagaries of the wind.

Te Aupōuri fisheries general manager Penetaui Kleskovic said New Zealand's greenshell mussel industry relied almost entirely on spat - or baby mussels - collected from Ninety Mile Beach over a 12-day period each year during easterly winds.

Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson said the government's Regional Infrastructure Fund was providing a $4.5 million loan to get the spat nursery up and running.

Iwi would contribute $1.3m in co-funding......
See full article HERE

Articles:
It Must Be So Embarrassing Being Different

Graham Adams: Five years on, the tide turns against ideological censors

Bob Edlin: Why the PPTA needs PoO.....

Spaniard: Tikanga plays third rail in public land changes

John McLean: Infectious Medical Council Maori Madness

Dr Michael Johnston: Grading your grandmother

Propaganda:
Hona Black: The journey of te reo is a shared one

Tackling the questions in ‘the too-hard basket

March for Nature Campaign Launched to Defend Aotearoa’s Conservation Estate

Sunday July 5, 2026 

News:
Judge La-Verne King appointed as Principal Family Court Judge, first of Māori descent to hold the role
District Court Judge La-Verne King has been appointed New Zealand’s next Principal Family Court Judge, becoming the head of the country’s Family Court from November.

Attorney-General Chris Bishop announced the appointment on Friday, confirming Judge King will take over following the retirement of Jackie Moran, who has held the role since 2018.

Judge King, of Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa and Ngāti Paoa, was admitted to the bar in 1989 and has spent more than three decades working across the legal system, with much of her career focused on children, young people and whānau.

She is the first person of Māori descent to be appointed as the Chief Family Court Judge.....
See full article HERE

Nelson Tenths: Nick Smith concerned settlement will mean loss of protection for Abel Tasman
Nick Smith is calling for changes to a bill that seeks to return sections of the Abel Tasman to Māori as part of a historic resolution agreement, over concerns it could weaken the national park's long-term protection.

Last year, the Crown reached a settlement with Māori in the top of the South Island after a long-running dispute, that would see more than 3,000 hectares returned to the descendants of the customary landowners, including coastal sections of the Abel Tasman National Park and the Totaranui campsite.

Smith, Nelson's mayor and a former conservation minister, has launched a petition seeking that the Abel Tasman should remain protected under the National Parks Act.

"I have no difficulty with the new Tenths Trust owning a portion of the Abel Tasman National Park, but I wish to see those protections for nature retained in perpetuity."....
See full article HERE

Articles:
Andy Oakley: For Social Cohesion, Should We Scrap the Terms Pākehā and Māori in New Zealand?

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.