Māori news stories for the week ending 31 May 2013
• This week some media outlets reported that the Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust had lost $29 million on low quality investments. Today, however, the Chairman of the Trust, Rakeipoho Taiaroa responded indicating that figure was inaccurate, and that the Trust expects to make an operating profit for the current financial year. (We intend to review materials relating to this matter, and will advise further if required.)
• On Wednesday the Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, announced decisions relating to school closures and mergers in Christchurch. Amongst those decisions she determined that two Christchurch Kura Kaupapa Māori – which had an interim decision to remain open but for one school to relocate – will now both stay open on their current sites. The kura are Te Kura Kaupapa Māori, Te Whānau Tahi and Te Kura Whakapumau Te Reo Tūturu Ki Waitaha. Last September both kura formally rejected the relocation suggestion, lodging a joint complaint over the matter with the Waitangi Tribunal (which was placed on hold in January).
• This week the Marlborough Express and Christchurch Press both ran cartoons on the announcements of the breakfast in schools programme. One cartoon portrayed images of Māori or Pacific adults participating in the breakfast in schools programme along with children (i.e. freeloading adults); and the other showed a whānau spending their money on alcohol, cigarettes and lotto tickets instead of breakfast for their children. Both cartoons were drawn by Al Nisbet. On Thursday the Race Relations Commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy, criticised the cartoons. She found the cartoons to be personally offensive, but not racist. Despite that, she then called for complaints to be lodged with her on the matter. In our view the images are clearly derogatory towards Māori and other Pacific peoples. However it appears, from Dame Susan’s comments, she has already determined that there was no breach of Human Rights legislation.
• This week several media outlets have reported on Claire Nathan, a Māori woman who was refused a job as a flight attendant with Air New Zealand because she has a ta moko / traditional tattoo on her forearm. Ms Nathan has now contacted the Human Rights Commission to determine if Air New Zealand has unlawfully discriminated against her. Also this week, in a non-related case, the Human Rights Review Tribunal ruled in favour of the Spit Roast Catering Company and awarded $15,000 in costs against the Director of Human Rights Proceedings – after the Tribunal found the catering company had not discriminated against a Māori employee by asking her to cover a ta moko with clothing whilst working.
• Te Kokoti Moeroa a Tangiharuru are planning a land occupation in protest at the failure to settle iwi land-ownership proportions relating to the Kaingaroa Forest. Te Kokoti Moeroa a Tangiharuru is associated with Ngāti Manawa. Pānui E14/2013 provides details on the concerns of this group.
• This week media outlets have reported further on the inability of the Crown Forestry Rental Trust to make funding determinations relating to some Waitangi Tribunal matters. In particular, claimants involved in the large Te Paparahi o Te Raki (Northland) inquiry are concerned that the next stage of funding for their hearings has not yet been approved. (This next stage is scheduled for July.) The Federation of Māori Authorities and the New Zealand Māori Council appointment three of the Trustees, and it appears these two organisations are unable to agree the appropriate means to appoint alternatives, when a conflict of interest presents for a standing Trustee. This is preventing the Trustees from meeting and making decisions. Refer Pānui 11/2013 for further details.