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Māori News for the Week Ending 1 July 2016 (22/2016)

 

  • Last Thursday Statistics New Zealand released Ngā ara tatauranga Statistical pathways, which is a collection of six posters featuring successful young Māori commencing their professional careers.  The posters emphasise the importance of statistics in work environments, and collectively demonstrate the breadth of professional work opportunities available to Māori youth.

    http://www.stats.govt.nz/tools_and_services/find-resources-for-media-or-education/statistical-pathways.aspx

  • Whetu Fala has been appointed to the board of Maori Television.
  • Graham Pryor has been appointed to the board of Radio New Zealand.
  • This week in a Māori Affairs Select Committee meeting Nanaia Mahuta, the Labour Party spokesperson for Whānau Ora, questioned the Minister for Whānau Ora, Te Ururoa Flavell, on why there were no reported outcomes for the initiative.  Minister Flavell responded indicating that Te Puni Kōkiri does in fact provide reports to Ministers.  However such reports have not been made available to the public.  While we note the Labour Party – as the opposition party in Parliament – has a political element to its line of enquiry, we consider this questioning fair, and can see no reason why up-to-date performance monitoring information on Whānau Ora, from Te Puni Kōkiri as the monitoring agency, should not be made available for consideration by Māori – given Māori empowerment is one of the supposed core tenets of the initiative (not Ministerial empowerment).   Giving this matter more prominence is a May 2015 report on Whānau Ora by the Auditor-General, which is largely negative, particularly in regards to administration costs and practices (Pānui 15/2015 refers).  One of the main criticisms by the Auditor-General was that “comprehensive reporting on results achieved had not occurred”. [1]      (Note 2014/15 annual reports from Whānau Ora commissioning agencies are publicly available.)

[1] Minister Flavell has subsequently released a media statement indicating he considers there is sufficient reporting on Whānau Ora.

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Māori News for the Week Ending 24 June 2016 (21/2016)

 

  • This week the Minister for Māori Development, Te Ururoa Flavell, is leading a Māori business delegation on a six-day culture and trade mission to South Korea and Japan.
  • Jeremy MacLeod has been selected by a cluster of iwi from Te Tairāwhiti to be their representative on Te Mātāwai, the incoming Māori language entity.  (Te Mātāwai will have 13 representatives.  Seven of these will be selected by respective iwi clusters.)
  • Sir Ralph Norris and Sir Mark Solomon have both been acknowledged by ‘Kea’ (Kiwis Abroad) in its 2016 leadership awards.
  • Hone Harawira has indicated that he intends to relaunch his Mana Party at next year’s election and contest for the Te Taitokerau seat, (currently held by Kelvin Davis, Labour Party).
  • Yesterday the Minister for Science and Innovation, Steven Joyce and the Minister for Māori Development, Te Ururoa Flavell, announced the release of the list of successful recipients for the Te Pūnaha Hihiko – Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund, for 2016.   In total circa $4 million has been allocated across 33 new programmes/projects.  The fund is designed to develop Māori participation in science and innovation, whilst supporting outcomes that benefit New Zealand.  The table that follows outlines the successful initiatives.
Organisation/s (lead in bold) Title Funding & Term
Biological Husbandry Unit Organics Trust t/a The BHU Future Farming Centre

Te Runanga o Koukourarata Incorporated Society, Lincoln University

 Maara Kai and food science capacity building with Koukourārata Runanga and Ngāi Tahu $180,000

(24 months)
Cawthron Institute

Tiakina te Taiao

Tuia te here tangata, tuia te here mātauranga: Connecting people and weaving western science and mātauranga Maori to protect our freshwater $99,550

(24 months)
Cawthron Institute

Hikurangi Takiwa Trust

 Facilitating Co-management of Freshwater in Tairawhiti $180,000

(24 months)
GNS Science

Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou, He Oranga Mo Nga Uri Tuku Iho Trust, Ngai Tamanuhiri, Gisborne District Council ,Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority, Universitas Gadjah Mada

 Oho Ake Te Tai Rāwhiti – Enhancing Te Tairāwhiti natural hazard awareness and preparedness $100,000

(12 months)
GNS Science

Te Runanga o Makaawhio Incorporated (“Makaawhio”)

 Whatungārōngāro te tangata, toitu te whenua – Developing the Earth Science capacity and expertise of Makaawhio $100,000

(24 months)
iPansophy Limited

Wakatu Incorporation, Plus Group Horticulture Limited, Waka Digital Limited

 Ma te matau ka ora – Part #2, creating shared value through understanding our land and its potential $180,000

(24 months)
Scion Research

Lake Taupo Forest Management Limited

 Clonal Forestry in Māori-owned Plantations $142,883

(24 months)
Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd

Ngatiwai Trust Board

 Mana moana o Ngātiwai: A research framework that supports the reinstatement of Ngātiwai’s cultural stewardship over their offshore islands and seascape $180,000

(24 months)
Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd

Maungaharuru-Tangitu Trust

 He Kainga Taurikura – A Treasured Environment $100,000

(24 months)
Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd

Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou

 Identifying land use opportunities to enhance the economic, cultural, and environmental prosperity of Ngāti Porou $100,000

(19 months)
Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd

Te Kopere o te iwi o Hineuru Trust (Te Kopere)

 Whakapapa o te Taiao $100,000

(24 months)
Lincoln Agritech Limited

Kai Tahu ki Otago Ltd

 Otago Rūnanga responses to changing mahinga kai and regional water policy conditions $180,000

(24 months)
Lincoln Agritech Limited

Mahaanui Kurataiao Limited, Te Taumutu Runanga

 

 Innovation to improve both the mauri and life-supporting capacity of ground water $100,000

(18 months)
Lincoln University

Mangatu Integrated Foods

 Improving beef profitability in Mangatu Integrated Foods Hill Country Farms Using Fodder Beet Systems $100,000

(24 months)
Mahaanui Kurataiao Limited

Shareholder Council (representing the six runanga shareholders)  

 Kura-Taiao CONNECT Te Waipounamu $100,000

(24 months)
Massey University

Lake Horowhenua Trust, Muaupoko Tribal Authority

 Horo Whenua: Measuring the moving land through precision geomorphic analysis of the Punahau/Lake Horowhenua lakebed and surrounding areas $179,738

(24 months)
Massey University

Eastland Community Trust

  

Connect Tairawhiti

 $95,000

(24 months)
Massey University

Tahuri Whenua Inc. Soc.

 Kaore te kumara e korero mo tona ake reka $100,000

(24 months)
Massey University

Nga Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara Development Trust – PSGE for Ngati Whatua o Kaipara

 Using the internet to empower Ngati Whatua o Kaipara to awa management $100,000

(24 months)
Massey University

Ngati Rangi Trust, OSPRI

 Monitoring the environmental effects of 1080 pest control in the Southern Horopito area $100,000

(24 months)
Massey University

Hato Paora College, Te Kura o Kauwhata, Murupara Area School

 Māori STEM Engagement $100,000

(24 months)
Maungaharuru-Tangitu Trust

Shore Whariki Research

 Realising the potential of Rongoā in MaungaharuruTangitū $177,210

(24 months)
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

Maniapoto Maori Trust Board (MMTB)

 Ngā repo o Maniapoto $100,000

(24 months)
PlusGroup Horticulture Limited

Waka Digital Limited, iPansophy Limited, Wakatu Incorporation

 Ma te matau ka ora – Part #1, creating shared value through understanding our land and its potential $100,000

(24 months)
Te Ohu Tiaki o Rangitane Te Ika a Maui Trust

Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University

 Building skills and research capability for Rangitane North Island around assessing tuna populations and factors influencing tuna recruitment $180,000

(24 months)
Te Runanga o Arowhenua Society Incorporated

Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu ,NIWA – National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Environment Canterbury, University of Otago

 Te Umu Kaha te Awa $100,000

(12 months)
Te Runanga o Koukourarata Incorporated Society

Biological Husbandry Unit (BHU),Lincoln University, Koukourarata Development Company, Te Roopu Manukuia (Steering Group led by Koukourarata, with the BHU, Lincoln, Whenua Kura and the Department of Corrections

 Koukourārata Wānanga Taiao (Māra Kai Innovation) $100,000

(13 months)
Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Limited

Cawthron Institute

 Algae Potential $100,000

(17 months)
Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi

Te Arawa Lakes Trust

 Through a weavers lens $100,000

(24 months)
The Research Trust of Victoria University of Wellington

Ngati Rangi ,Department of Conservation, University of Copenhagen

 The Future of Our Taonga Tipu $100,000

(24 months)
Tuhoe Trust Custodian Trustee Company Limited

GNS Science, Victoria University of Wellington

Taniwha ō Te Urewera $100,000

(24 months)
Unitec Institute of Technology

Te Uri O Hau Settlement Trust, Environs Holdings Ltd

Te Uri O Hau kaitiakitanga: Connecting and sharing science and mātauranga o te taiao $16,000

(7 months)

University of Otago

Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu

 Using mātauranga to inform management strategies for customary finfish fisheries $180,000

(24 months)

 

Posted by admin

General Matters and Māori News for the Week Ending 17 June 2016 (20/2016)

 

  • Yesterday the Minister for Māori Development, Te Ururoa Flavell, released Māori me te Ao Hangarau 2015; The Māori ICT Report 2015.   This research report has been produced under the branding of the Government’s Māori economic strategy and Panel, He Kai Kei Aku Ringa.  (Although it reads as if it was prepared by officials for the Panel, rather than by Panelists themselves.)  The report makes the point that there are gaps in Māori uptake of ICT in comparison to others (few Māori working in the sector, lower levels of home internet and broadband, etc).  We will provide a full review in Pānui edition 21/2016 next week.

    http://www.mbie.govt.nz/publications-research/publications/economic-development/maori-ict-report-2015.pdf/view

  • Last week we advised that the Minister for Social Housing, Paula Bennett, was visiting Te Puea Marae to discuss the respite housing support the marae is providing.  This was incorrect – as the Minister later clarified that she was “too busy” to go to the marae itself, but was instead meeting with the marae chairperson, Hurimoana Dennis, at a café.  However, perhaps noting the negative publicly her “too busy” statement caused in the media, and also the visit to the marae by Labour Party Leader Andrew Little, on Monday this week Minister Bennett did manage to adjust her diary and find time to visit the marae itself, where she talked with one person without housing.  As an outcome, some officials will now be located at the marae on occasion, to better assist whānau with housing needs.   After the visit, however, Minister Bennett was then required to call and apologise to Mr Dennis because her office had advised the media that Mr Dennis is a senior police officer who is currently stood down, while being investigated. (Mr Dennis held the role of National Māori Strategic Advisor within the Police.  Last week he disclosed to Minister Bennett that he was being investigated.  The matter being investigated is not public.  Minister Bennett considers the information leakage was inadvertent, although there is some speculation that it was a more deliberate ‘smear’ campaign.)
  • As previously advised, this week the outgoing Mayor of New Plymouth, Andrew Judd, is undertaking a 44-kilometre ‘peace walk’ from New Plymouth to Parihaka, with supporters (starting at circa 300 people).
  • On Wednesday the Minister for Justice, Amy Adams, announced that on the balance of probabilities Teina Pora is innocent of the charges for which he was convicted, and that the Government now accepts that.  She advised that Cabinet has accepted a recommendation from retired High Court Judge Rodney Hansen QC, to provide just over $2.5 million in compensation to Mr Pora, given his wrongful convictions and imprisonment for twenty years.  She also advised that she has written to Mr Pora to acknowledge his innocence and unreservedly apologise to him.

    [By way of background, in 1994 Mr Pora was found guilty of the 1992 rape and murder of Ms Susan Burdett, on the basis of his confessions to the crimes.  However, two years later, in 1996, scientific (DNA) evidence linked Malcolm Rewa to the rape of Ms Burdett.  In 1998 Mr Rewa – who was already a convicted serial rapist – was then found guilty of Ms Burdett’s rape, but not her murder (there was a hung jury on that charge).  Following this, Mr Pora’s case was then reheard, however in 2000 he was again found guilty of the rape and murder of Ms Burdett (i.e. that he was with Mr Rewa).  This conviction ultimately led to the appeal to the Privy Council, which centred on both the reliability of Mr Pora’s confessions – given at age 17 after alleged duress from police officers – and on the fact that another person had already been convicted of the rape.    In 2015 the Privy Council quashed the convictions of Teina Pora.  The Law Lords found that the effects of Pora’s foetal alcohol disorder meant reliance on his confessions gave rise to the risk of a miscarriage of justice.  Mr Pora was released at that time.]

  • Last Thursday the Supreme Court issued its judgements in regards to the March 2014 sale of the Whārere farm by Landcorp to Micro Farms Ltd, against the wishes of Ngāti Whakahemo.  The Supreme Court was unanimous in agreeing with the High Court and Appeal Court that Landcorp – via its board representative Traci Houpapa – did not act in bad faith towards Ngāti Whakahemo.[1]

    However, the Court found (by majority 3-2) that Landcorp’s decision to sell Whārere was susceptible to judicial review, and that the decision of Ministers not to intervene in 2013 to prevent the sale constituted a wrongful exercise of public power – because Ministers relied on incorrect advice from the Office of Treaty Settlements.   Despite that finding, the Court (by majority 3-2) determined not to set aside the Landcorp/Micro sale, as doing so now would inappropriately impact on an innocent third party (Micro).  Given this outcome, a spokesperson for Ngāti Whakahemo, Willie Te Aho, has now indicated the iwi may seek a binding ruling from the Waitangi Tribunal for the resumption of the land.

    [By way of further background, in 2013 Ngāti Whakahemo was interested in purchasing this farm, but at the time the Office of Treaty Settlements considered that all of the iwi’s historic Treaty of Waitangi claims had been extinguished, and therefore advised both Landcorp and shareholding Ministers that the property was not required for Treaty settlement purposes, (effectively allowing the property could be sold on the open market).  The Office of Treaty Settlements now accepts this was erroneous advice.

    Accordingly, Landcorp progressed the tender process to sell the property in late 2013.  At this time another iwi, Ngāti Mākino, begun discussing the possible purchase of Whārere in the course of their Treaty settlement negotiations.  To that end, and because of Ministerial intervention, after the tender closed (with the highest bid being from Micro Farms), Ngāti Mākino was given a circa 10-week window to determine whether they could purchase the property, with a consortium, at the market price.   Ngāti Whakahemo was engaged in these discussions, but not made aware of the final deadline.  Ultimately Ngāti Mākino determined not to pursue the property, and Landcorp thereby resumed the sales process with Micro, which was concluded on 5 March 2014.

    Ngāti Whakahemo, however, was not aware of the sale proceeding until after the fact, and had felt that they were still in negotiations for the property with Landcorp.  Accordingly, they alleged ‘bad faith’ from Landcorp in this regard.  Their various High Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Court claims centred on both the actions of Landcorp, and their view that Landcorp shareholding Ministers had the power to prevent the sale but did not, because of the incorrect advice from the Office of Treaty Settlements.

    https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/from/decisions/judgments-supreme/supreme-court-decisions-2016

  • On Wednesday the Health Research Council announced the projects, programmes and emerging researchers it would provide grants to from 2016.  Circa $60 million of funding was allocated, and we estimate circa 20% ($11.8 million) was allocated to research focused specifically on Māori.[2]   Māori focused initiatives are summarised in the table below.

Health Research Council – 2016 Funding Grants
Dr Margaret Dudley

University of Auckland

A Māori approach to the assessment and management of dementia

$1,056,270

48 months

Lay summary
  • Dr Lis Ellison-Loschmann

Massey University

Cancer support programmes for Māori whānau

$1,036,429

36 months

Lay summary

 
  • Dr Cameron Lacey

University of Otago, Christchurch

Māori and bipolar disorder

$1,181,030

36 months

Lay summary

 
  • Dr Leonie Pihama

University of Waikato

He oranga ngākau: Māori and trauma informed care

$1,190,130

36 months

Lay summary

 
  • Dr Leonie Pihama

University of Waikato

Honour project Aotearoa

$1,186,804

36 months

Lay summary

 
  • Mr Andrew Waa

University of Otago, Wellington

Te ara auahi kore

$1,189,413

48 months

Lay summary

 
  • Associate Professor Beverley Lawton

University of Otago, Wellington

Whānau manaaki

$4,697,066

60 months

Lay summary

 Dr Mihi Ratima

Te Pou Tiringa Incorporated

Te Kura Mai I Tawhiti

$150,000

12 months

Lay summary

 
  • Dr Anneka Anderson

University of Auckland

Māori experiences of antenatal care in Tāmaki Makarau

$149,947

30 months

Lay summary

 


[1] More precisely the Supreme Court found such claims were not sustainable.

[2] Note Māori will, of course, likely benefit from all success research projects.

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Appointments and Awards – 10 June 2016 (19/2016)

 


[1] Note it is possible there were also other Māori recipients of awards that were not identified as Māori, or for providing services to Māori.

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Māori News for the Week Ending 10 June 2016 (19/2016)

 

  • This week Te Puni Kōkiri has released ‘A guide to Te Ture Whenua Māori Reforms’.  This is a short (16-page) booklet that sets out how the reforms propose to ensure Māori land protections are upheld, owners have greater autonomy, and are better supported in their aspirations for their lands.  Also released are the regulatory impact statements and Cabinet papers associated with these reforms.  We will further outline of these materials in Pānui next week.

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

  • On Wednesday the Controller and Auditor-General, Lyn Provost, tabled a Māori education report in Parliament.  This is the third report in a series of five on Māori education, and the focus this time is on the use of information to improve Māori educational outcomes.  We are reviewing the report and will provide a briefing on it in Pānui next week.

    http://www.oag.govt.nz/2016/education-for-maori

  • This week He Korowai Trust in Kaitaia was able to commence its housing programme, with nine houses being passed over to whānau in need of accommodation.  By way of background, this Trust has developed a housing scheme for low-income whānau with severe housing needs, which allows for selected whānau to purchase affordable housing from the Trust.  To develop the scheme the Trust received Government grants to transport former Auckland state houses to Kaitaia and to upgrade these buildings. (New social housing was then built in Auckland on the previous sites, to increase quality and density.)  The Trust’s programme was delayed last year due to potential tax implications, which have now been resolved, Pānui 34/2015 refers.
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He mihi ki Tā Kereama Latimer

He mihi ki Tā Kereama Latimer

He aha rā te hau e wawara mai nei? He hau tonga rā e kawe ana i te aroha o te motu ki runga i ngā iwi o te Taitokerau, e tangi ana ki te taniwha kua riro nei. Ko Tā Kereama tērā kua takahi atu rā i te ara roa a Tāne ki ōna mātua, ki ōna tīpuna. Haere, haere, haere rā e Tā. Tēnā tātau e noho morehu nei ki te mata o te whenua. Ka nui te aroha ki te whānau tonu. He tika tonu tā tātau tangi ki a Tā Kereama me te whakamaioha atu ki āna mahi nunui ki roto i ngā tau maha hei hāpai i te iwi Māori. Nāna i ārahi te Kaunihera Māori me āna mahi nui ki te whakaora mai i te Tiriti o Waitangi ki roto i te rāngai hī ika, ki roto i ngā mahi ngāherehere, ki roto i ngā mahi pāho me te reo Māori hoki, me te maha noa atu. He kaiārahi hoki ia mō ōna iwi o Te Taitokerau, he kaiwhiriwhiri mō Te Uri o Hau. Kia kaha tātau ki te hāpai i ngā mahi nui nei kua waiho mai ki a tātau.

 

It is with sadness that we note the passing of Sir Graham Latimer. We wish him a safe journey on the long path of Tāne to his elders and ancestors, and we send our aroha to his whānau and the people of the north. Sir Graham was an exceptional leader who guided the New Zealand Māori Council for many years. He was at the forefront of its endeavours to elevate the status of the Treaty of Waitangi across many fields, including fisheries, forestry, broadcasting and Māori language issues, to name a few. He was recognised as a tribal leader for his northern iwi and as a Treaty settlement negotiator for Te Uri o Hau. He has left an outstanding legacy and there is a challenge for all of us to uphold and strengthen it. Haere rā, e Tā.

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Māori News for the Week Ending 3 June 2016 (18/2016)

 

  • Rakaia Incorporated won the 2016 Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming award (on May 20th).[1]
  • Māori media outlets have been reporting on the fairness of custodial sentences imposed on two Māori men who were, in 2014, convicted of stealing/taking trout from a protected waterway.  (The men had argued the trout were taken with kaumātua permission for a funeral, but the Court found the men did not have appropriate kaumātua/iwi consent.)  After conviction one of the men failed to appear for sentencing, and was only recently arrested and imprisoned, which has brought the matter to media attention.
  • Whitireia New Zealand and the Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) have opened a shared institute, Te Auaha, focused on Māori performing arts.   A new $22.5 million facility for Te Auaha is scheduled to open in 2018.
  • Last week we advised that $1 million per annum has been included within the Government’s Budget to commemorate the nineteenth century New Zealand land wars.  This week the Minister for Māori Development, Te Ururoa Flavell, indicated he is consulting with iwi leaders as to how the funds should be appropriated, and on what type of events.  (For example whether a particular day should be set aside for national commemorations.)  It is unclear why the wider New Zealand public has not been invited to comment, given the breadth of interests in national historical events.
  • Next Wednesday the outgoing Mayor of New Plymouth, Andrew Judd, will commence a 44-kilometre walk from New Plymouth to Parihaka.  During the three-day walk/hikoi meetings will be held to discuss race relations.  (By way of background, during his tenure as Mayor Judd advocated for the New Plymouth Council to adopt a Māori ward.  He was criticised for this, and has indicated that by raising the matter he no longer has sufficient support within the community to be re-elected as Mayor.)

[1] We did not advise on this last week due to our focus on the Government’s Budget.

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General News Article: Appointments – 3 June 2016 (18/2016)

 

  • Willie Jackson has been appointed to Te Mātāwai by the National Urban Māori Authority.
  • Christopher Mace has been reappointed as member of the board of the Tertiary Education Commission.
  • Traci Houpapa has been appointed to the Council of Victoria University of Wellington.
  • Anne Carter, Daphne Luke, and Edward Ellison have been reappointed to the Council of Te Wānanga o Raukawa.
  • Charlie Tawhiao and Adrienne von Tunzelmann have been appointed to the Council of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.  Rauru Kirikiri and Tuihana Pook have been reappointed to the Council.
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General News Article: Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill – 3 June 2016 (18/2016)

 

  1. This week the Local Government and Environment Select Committee has been hearing oral submissions concerning the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill.  Some iwi groups, and Te Ohu Kaimoana, are against this Bill, as they are of the view that it will undermine the Māori Fisheries Settlement.  Jamie Tuuta, Chair of Te Ohu Kaimoana outlined these concerns to the Committee.  (Pānui 12/2016  provides further details on this matter, and note we are also reviewing the written submissions received by the Committee, and will advise further as the matter progresses.)
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General News Article: Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill – 3 June 2016 (18/2016)

 

  1. The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill passed its third reading in Parliament on Tuesday, and will now become law once Royal Assent is given.   This new law will require that all rental homes have smoke alarms.  Landlords will also be required to include in tenancy agreements declarations of the level of insulation in rental houses.[1]  In addition, new (higher) house insulation requirements will apply to all rental properties from 1 July 2019.[2]

[1] From 1 July 2016.

[2] Social housing insulation standards will apply from 2016.

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General Article: The Children, Young Persons and Their Families (Advocacy, Workforce, and Age Settings) Amendment Bill – 3 June 2016 (18/2016)

 

  1. On Wednesday the Minister for Social Development, Anne Tolley, introduced The Children, Young Persons and Their Families (Advocacy, Workforce, and Age Settings) Amendment Bill into Parliament.  This is part of restructuring the services of the Children, Young Persons service (CYF) within the Department of Social Development.  The Bill introduces four key changes by:
  • extending the age of state care to a young person’s 18th birthday;
  • better ensuring the views of children and young people are taken into account at both a case level, and in service delivery;
  • establishing an independent youth advocacy service; and.
  • enabling a broader range of professionals to perform some functions under the Act. (Social workers would still be the main professionals responsible for carrying out these functions.)
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General Article: Plain packaging of Tobacco Products Proposed – 3 June 2016 (18/2016)

 

  1. On Tuesday the Associate Minister of Health, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, released draft regulations and a consultation document which aims to standardise the look of cigarette packets.  This release coincided with ‘World Smokefree Day’, and the regulations are those associated with the Smokefree Environments (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Amendment Bill, which the Government intends to pass into law later this year.  In this information release Mr Lotu-liga also positively notes that raising tax on tobacco products is an effective measure for reducing smoking levels. However, a Māori health researcher, Dr Marewa Glover, has publicly opined that increased taxation has not reduced Māori smoking levels, and is instead a punitive ‘bash’ for Māori smokers.  (Circa one third of the Māori adult population is said to consume tobacco products on a regular basis, leading to circa 600 Māori premature deaths per year.)   Consultation on plain packaging matters is open until 29 July;

    http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/standardised-tobacco-products-and-packaging-draft-regulations

     

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General Article: Iwi Statistical Standards Being Reviewed – 3 June 2016 (18/2016)

 

  1. Statistics New Zealand is reviewing the statistical standard for iwi, and consultation on this topic is now open.  The review provides an opportunity to reconsider the present concepts, definitions and criteria used across official Government datasets, which were established in 1994.  Submissions close on 12 June.

    http://www.stats.govt.nz/methods/classifications-and-standards/current-classifications-and-standards-review/review-statistical-standard-iwi.aspx

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Māori News for the Week Ending 20 May 2016 (16/2016)

 

    • Last Friday the Aotearoa / New Zealand Māori Business Awards were held in Auckland.  Award winners were:
      • Jason Witehira – Māori business leader;
      • Jamie Tuuta – Young Māori business leader;
      • Miriana Stephens – Māori woman business leader;
      • Karen Vercoe – the Dame Mira Szaszy Maori Alumni award; and
      • Ngai Tahu Holdings – Māori business leadership (by an organisation).
    • Te Rūnanga o Ngāpuhi has extended the stand-down period/leave for its Chairperson, Sonny Tau, until July.   This follows his convictions for possession of five protected birds (kereru), and for attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to the incident.  Mr Tau has also resigned as a director of Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services, and remains stood-down as a director the Ngāpuhi Asset Holding Company.  Final decisions as to whether he can return to his Chairman’s role within the rūnanga likely depend on debate within the iwi – some of which is being playing out in the Māori media – and the actual wording of the Trust Deed of the rūnanga in relation to convictions of that nature, and any character test requirements.
    • A new Māori forestry collective has been established in Northland, called the Taitokerau Māori Forestry Incorporation.  Chairperson, Pita Tīpene, has indicated ten existing Māori land trusts have already joined the incorporation (including Ngāti Hine Forests), which is focused on greater commercial leveraging through an economy of scale.
    • An academic paper released last week has proposed that fish caught in New Zealand waters in the sixty year period between 1950 and 2010 was 2.7 times higher than official statistics suggest.  The paper has been prepared by an organisation called the Sea Around Us, associated with the University of British Columbia.  (Although the lead researcher, Dr Glenn Simmons, is associated with Auckland University and the New Zealand Asia Institute.)   Aside from concluding that improved catch transparency is required, the report also indicates that “Māori ought to play a greater role in fisheries management”, given kaitiaki responsibilities.We note the report has been rejected as inaccurate and relying on anecdotal views – rather than measured catches – by the Ministry of Primary Industries.  The report has also been rejected as inaccurate by fishing companies, including Aotearoa Fisheries (owner of 50% of Sealord).    In our assessment it is difficult to assess historic catch records from the 1950s to 1980s era, particularly before the fishing quota management system was introduced; and the value of doing so now to guide present policy settings – and to then also advise Māori what to do – is highly questionable.  We agree with comments from Aotearoa Fisheries that the report covers a period when Māori were largely excluded from the commercial fishing sector.

      http://www.seaaroundus.org/about/

       

    • Ngāti Ruanui is supporting fifteen secondary school students to visit technology companies in San Francisco, such as Apple and Google, to extend its 2NuiCode programme.  (This programme has been designed to engage and support rangatahi in education via the medium of information technologies – paralleling a sports-type of academy).
    • A Māori regional economic hui was held in Kerikeri this week.  In addition the Minister of Māori Development, Te Ururoa Flavell also presented in Auckland at a sister cities summit (Los Angeles/ Gunagzhou/Auckland) to promote cultural and economic ties between the cities. (He noted that Māori owned businesses are developing initiatives within Guangzhou and Los Angeles).
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Māori News for the Week Ending 13 May 2016 (15/2016)

 

    • On Wednesday the Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill was read for the first time in Parliament.  A party vote was called for, and the Bill was successful (63-58).  The Bill was then referred on to the Māori Affairs Select Committee.  Public submissions are now open (and will close on 23 June).  The Committee is then expected to report back to the House of Representatives by 11 November.  However Labour Party Member of Parliament, Meka Whaitiri, also tabled a petition against the Bill on behalf of Marise Lant, which sought to have the Bill withdrawn.  Ms Lant – who had previously filed a Waitangi Tribunal claim against these legislative reforms – received 5270 signatures supporting her petition.  Pānui 12/2016 provides detailed information on matters relating to this Bill.

       

    • Sonny Tau (Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāpuhi) has been convicted of killing protected birds (kereru), and then attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to this.  He is presently on leave from the Rūnanga.  (A fine of circa $25,000, and 100 hours of community work are likely.)  Pānui edition 25/2015 provides further details on this matter.

       

    • The New Zealand Māori Council has expressed its disappointment that the Waitangi Tribunal did not uphold its Treaty claim in relation to the Trans-Pacific Partnership.   The Council is concerned the tradeagreement will not protect Māori claims to freshwater and geothermal energy.  Another claimant, Hone Harawira , also indicated his group would now need to give consideration to further actions, such as lodging its concerns with the United Nations, as a potential breach of New Zealand’s commitments to indigenous peoples (Māori) made to the United Nations.  Conversely the Minister of Trade, Todd McClay, welcomed the Tribunal’s findings, and then introduced the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Amendment Bill to Parliament.  (Pānui 14/2014 provides deals of the Tribunal’s views on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.)

 

    • Governance issues within the New Zealand Māori Council and its wider substructures have also re-emerged, with a vote of no-confidence in Melanie Mark-Shadbolt being successfully carried within the Te Waipounamu District Council.  Ms Mark-Shadbolt had indicated her concerns with the appointment of Sir Tāihakurei Durie as the Chair of the Council (Pānui 13/2016 refers), but her district council considered she had acted without mandate on that matter.  Norm Dewes has now been appointed the Chair of the Te Waipounamu District.

 

    • Last month Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government and the Hobsonville Land Company to develop over 400 new homes within Auckland (on the site of the former Hobsonville air base, land which was returned to the iwi through Treaty settlement processes).  The plan includes ‘affordable housing’ – relative to Auckland real estate (i.e. 15% of houses will be sold below $450,000, 7.5% below $500,000 and 7.5% below $550,000 – all to owner-occupiers, and at least 50% of these houses to first home buyers).

 

    • The Ministry of Education has contracted Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to provide ‘learning hubs’ to senior Māori learners in  secondary schools to gain NCEA.  (The hubs will offer evening learning sessions, with a whānau orientation.)  The provision is to be trialled in Kaikohe, Mangere, Hamilton, Kawerau and Gisborne.
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