Salient Māori News Items for the Week to 24 November 2017 (edition 39/2017)

• Te Puni Kōkiri is continuing to publish regional profiles of the Māori population, and has now uploaded onto its website a profile for Te Tai Hauāuru. This is a one page infographic setting out key statistics, such as population age, education, housing, and other data.

http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/a-matou-mohiotanga

• Manawatu District Council has voted to establish one or more Māori wards at the next local body elections (unless overturned by a voter referendum). Panui 38/2017 outlines this matter further.
• Prime Minister Jacinda Arden attended the conference of the Federation of Māori Authorities (FoMA) last Saturday, noting that she sees potential for an improved working relationship between FoMA and Government to create employment and economic growth within communities.
• A grouping of Ngāi Tūhoe marae, called Te Kohinga o Ngā Whānau o Ngāi Tūhoe, has indicated they may remove their support for the tribal development entity, Te Uru Taumatua, unless their request for independent review is agreed upon. We advise such discords between hapū and marae groups within broader iwi entities is not uncommon in light of Treaty settlements.  However, given the renewed emphasis the Waitangi Tribunal is now placing on ensuring informed and ongoing support from hapū/marae to iwi ‘super-structure’ entities, the risks relating to such disharmony have now escalated (with Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Wai being recent examples of mandate risks presenting, Pānui 38/2017 refers).  The Te Uru Taumatua AGM is scheduled for 2 December, so potentially the iwi can avoid potential litigation through discussions then.
• The Ministry for Primary Industries has announced further funding of $7.4 million for erosion protection initiatives, such as tree planting and land retirement, in the Gisborne district. The Ministry will be working in partnership with Ngāti Porou and the Gisborne District Council to progress the initiative.
• Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu has elected Lisa Tumahai as its new kaiwhakahaere. Ms Tumahai has been acting in the role since April 2016.
• Inspector Hurimoana Dennis and Sergeant Vaughan Perry were found not guilty of kidnapping in the Auckland High Court this week. The pair had sought to assist two whānau groups who were upset about a relationship between a 17-year old boy and a 15-year old girl, and had shown the boy Police cells and allegedly facilitated his prompt departure to Australia.  An internal Police review into the matter is still continuing, although to us the matter reads like a tale of cultural misunderstandings, set sometime in the 1950s.