Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation and Tainui Group Holdings have jointly purchased the ‘Go Bus’ company from Next Capital. The purchase price is reportedly $171 million.[1] On Tuesday a meeting between Te Rarawa iwi members and Statoil ended in disarray with protesters up-ending the table of the oil representatives. Te
Day: August 15, 2014
On Saturday Te Atiawa (Taranaki) signed a Deed of Settlement with the Crown to settlement historic treaty grievances. The settlement includes financial and commercial redress of $87 million. The settlement also provides for the joint vesting of Ngā Motu/Sugar Loaf Islands in Te Atiawa and Taranaki iwi. Other cultural
This week the Minister of Māori Affairs, Dr Pita Sharples, has announced that Te Māngai Pāho will administer the new $30 million Māori ICT fund. To commence with the agency will receive an allocation of $500,000 this year to plan out criteria and uses for the fund. By way
Yesterday the Police Commissioner, Mike Bush, lead a contingent of Police Officers to Te Rewarewa Marae in Ruatoki, and apologised to the community and Ngāi Tūhoe for aspects of the 2007 ‘Operation Eight’ Police actions/raids. The community apology (closed to media) followed a series of separate individual apologies to
As previously advised statements of intent for Government ministries and departments are published and released annually, after the Government budget in May, and after being tabled in parliament. These are strategic business plans, commencing on 1 July each year, although many 2014 plans are still to be released.[1] This
Patrick Rata has been appointed as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Italy. The Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy, has announced that proposals to better protect longfin eels are being established, and will be formally consulted on early next year. The proposals include a review of longfin eel catch limits, stock
On Saturday the Associate Minister of Māori Affairs, Chris Finlayson, announced that nineteen hui have been scheduled for this month to discuss reforms to the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993. His statement notes that the purpose of the hui is for officials to report on progress of proposed legislative
On Tuesday a Board of Inquiry established by the Environment Protection Authority released their draft report in relation to the proposed Ruakura Land Development Plan. The Board has determined to approve the plan, subject to some amendments. [By way of background, the Ruakura proposal has being made by Tainui Group
Following the Government’s Budget in May, Statements of Intent for Government ministries and departments are published and generally released throughout June and July, after being tabled in parliament. These are strategic business plans commencing from 1 July each year.[1] This week we have reviewed the 2014 Statements of Intent
The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment has an extremely wide policy and operational brief, covering areas such as employment / unemployment, labour market regulations (such as the minimum wage), housing, building, commerce, science and innovation. Given this breadth the agency has done well to distil its focus down
Last week the General Manager of the Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust, Temuera Hall, issued a notice of a special general meeting of beneficiaries. There are two resolutions for consideration. The first relates to iwi members receiving a summary report on the outcome of the CNI adjudication process (Pānui 14/2013 outlines
On Tuesday a collective of Whanganui iwi, (the Whanganui River Maori Trust Board), signed a Deed of Settlement with the Crown in relation to the Whanganui River. This settlement will, if passed into law, establish the Whanganui River as a separate legal entity, and will provide for the recognition of
This week three reports were released on Māori palliative health care (of which one is a summary of the other two reports). The reports are; Māori health literacy and communication in palliative care: Kaumātua led models.[1] Kia Mau te Kahu Whakamauru: Health Literacy in Palliative Care.[2] Palliative Care and
On Wednesday Statistics New Zealand released the Household Labour Force Survey results for the quarter to the end of June. The survey shows national unemployment has fallen to 5.6%, from 6.0% at the end of March. The Māori unemployment rate decreased as well to 11%, from 13.2%. This means the
Māori news stories for the week ending 1 August 2014 Last Friday the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Chris Finlayson, announced that applications are now open for Waitangi Day funding. Next year will be the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty at Waitangi, and funding is available