Breaking Views Update: Week of 9.8.26

Wednesday August 12, 2026 

News:
Citizenship test: Govt agency questioned whether Māori born overseas should have to sit test
Māori who are not New Zealand citizens won’t be exempt from taking the citizenship test being introduced next year.

A 20-question multi-choice test is being rolled out from late 2027 to people applying for New Zealand citizenship by grant.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 2.8.26

Saturday August 8, 2026 

News:
MMP Referendum Must Include Vote On Māori Seats - Hobson’s Pledge.
Hobson’s Pledge spokesperson and former National Party leader Don Brash says Prime Minister Christopher Luxon must honour long-held National Party policy by including a vote on the future of the Māori seats in any upcoming referendum on the voting system.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 26.7.26

Saturday August 1, 2026 

News:
Ngāi Tahu Farming chosen to operate country’s largest farm, Molesworth Station
Ngāi Tahu Farming has been chosen by the Department of Conservation to operate the country's largest farm.

Molesworth Station, an iconic 180-thousand hectare high country farm that spanned Marlborough and North Canterbury, was run as a cattle farm by state-owned Pāmu Landcorp.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 19.7.26

Saturday July 25, 2026 

News:
Reappointments to Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori Board strengthens continuity and leadership - Potaka
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka has confirmed the reappointment of Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod as Deputy Chair and Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand CNZM as a Board member of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori.

The appointments are for a three-year term commencing on 2 September 2026 and provide continuity for Te Taura Whiri as it continues its work to revitalise and promote te reo Māori.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 12.7.26

Saturday July 18, 2026 

News:
Environment Canterbury mulls protecting Ngāi Tahu interests ahead of local government reform
Environment Canterbury (ECan) wants to ensure Ngāi Tahu has a permanent, statutory role in governing the region’s resource management after the regional council is abolished.

The proposal is that ECan, Ngāi Tahu and eight of the 10 Canterbury rūnanga would sign a Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreement that would give those organisations mandatory and permanent participation in plan making, resource consent processes, monitoring and reporting.

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.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 28.6.26

Saturday July 4, 2026 

News:
Papakura High School unveil new waharoa, paying tribute to kaumātua
Papakura High School has unveiled a new waharoa at the entrance to the kura, marking its ongoing commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and kaupapa Māori while honouring respected kaumātua whose legacy continues within the school.

Students, staff, whānau and guests gathered at the school early on Friday morning for the blessing of the newly established waharoa, Te Rangimārie.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 21.6.26

Saturday June 27, 2026 

News:
Govt spends millions on unprecedented Waitangi Tribunal inquiries
The Government has spent well over $4 million defending legal challenges by Māori since taking office, with the number of urgent inquiries by the Waitangi Tribunal soaring to record highs.

But critics say the real cost is the strain on the Māori-Crown relationship and a former senior National minister agrees. Māori and Government have collided on a number of issues since the coalition Government came into office in 2023.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 14.6.26

Saturday June 20, 2026 

News:
Next steps for pathway programmes supporting young Māori players
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has today confirmed the next steps for its Māori U18 Ngā Whatukura and U18 Mareikura programmes, strengthening development pathways for young Māori players and emerging talent across the game.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 7.6.26

Saturday June 13, 2026 

News:
United for Kauri: Major Funding Boost Backs Iwi-Led Protection in Te Tai Tokerau
A significant investment in the future of Northland’s iconic kauri forests has been announced, with Foundation North committing more than $1.2 million to support iwi-led protection efforts across Te Tai Tokerau.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 31.5.26

Saturday June 6, 2026 

News:
Iwi owing DOC $2m in campground revenue welcomes external review
A North Island iwi estimated to owe the Department of Conversation (DOC) nearly $2m in campground revenue says it welcomes an external review.

RNZ revealed last week that DOC had launched an external investigation following concerns regarding relationships with iwi and processes such as procurement and debt management.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 24.5.26

Saturday May 30, 2026 

News:
Iwi leaders furious about Budget 2026, call it ‘economic apartheid’
Representatives of the Iwi Leaders Forum arrived at Parliament furious about the Government’s Budget, accusing it of creating an “economic apartheid”.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Nicola Willis handed down her third Budget. It was delivered amid a backdrop of significant economic uncertainty, with clear issues at home and abroad.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 17.5.26

Saturday May 23, 2026 

News:
Te reo Māori advocate Vincent Olsen-Reeder criticises govt branding changes
A Māori language advocate says the government's move to prioritise English over te reo Māori in official branding sends a damaging message about the status of te reo in Aotearoa and risks undermining ongoing reo revitalisation efforts.

Earlier this week, the government updated its official branding to give greater prominence to English over te reo Māori, following a directive from new Public Service Minister Paul Goldsmith.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 10.5.26

Saturday May 16, 2026 

News:
Govt agrees to change or scrap Treaty of Waitangi references in 19 laws
The Government will change or remove references to the Treaty of Waitangi that are included in 19 pieces of legislation.

In a statement, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed two references would be amended, seven would be repealed and in 10 pieces of legislation, it would be specified that Treaty provisions should be considered by no higher standard than “take into account”.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 3.5.26

Saturday May 9, 2026 

News:
Whangārei District Council has taken a step closer to strengthening how it embeds the principles of Te Tiriti
Whangārei District Council has taken a step closer to strengthening how it embeds the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi across its organisation, after a proposed implementation plan was presented to a key standing committee.

The council’s Te Kārearea Strategic Partnership Standing Committee on Tuesday heard about the proposed plan, which responds to improvement recommendations from a council‑wide Te Tiriti o Waitangi health check commissioned by Whangārei District Council (WDC).

Breaking Views Update: Week of 26.4.26

Friday May 1, 2026 

News:
Te reo Māori first in name for Cromwell’s $45.8M events centre
Cromwell’s new $45.8M events facility will be known as Te Puna Mahara - Cromwell Memorial Events Centre.

The name was confirmed at a Central Otago District Council meeting in Alexandra on Wednesday (April 29).

Breaking Views Update: Week of 19.4.26

Saturday April 25, 2026 

News:
Govt risks another colossal hīkoi if it weakens Treaty obligations
1News Māori Affairs Correspondent Te Aniwa Hurihanganui explains why the Government’s plan to weaken legal obligations to the Treaty of Waitangi could become as controversial as the Treaty Principles Bill.

Rumblings of discontent

Breaking Views Update: Week of 12.4.26

Saturday April 18, 2026 

News:
Shane Jones invited to support law change to protect local democracy
ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton is calling on NZ First Minister Shane Jones to back a simple law change to protect democratic accountability, following his comments on the Far North District Council.

“After an unusual attack on Councillor Davina Smolders, who stood up against co-governance by stealth at the far North District Council, Mr Jones now says he opposes co-governance after all. There’s an unmistakable signal he can send, if he’d like to support elected councillors like Davina, and reinforce his commitment to one person, one vote at every council in this country,” says Mr Luxton.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 5.4.26

Saturday April 11, 2026 

News:
Council staff ‘didn’t know’ red-zoned property was Māori cemetery before they proposed selling it
Redcliffs residents are pushing back against a council proposal to sell off a piece of red-zoned land that was once a Māori cemetery - something council staff say they didn’t know about.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 29.3.26

Saturday April 4, 2026 

News:
Preparing for reforms: new co-chairs for Regional Leadership Committee
News from Greater Wellington Regional Council Te Pane Matua Taiao
Regional council chair Daran Ponter and Ngāti Toa Rangatira Chief Executive Helmut Modlik will chair the Wellington Regional Leadership Committee (WRLC) for the 2025-28 triennium. While appointed as chair and deputy, the two will act as co-chairs.