On Thursday trade ministers from twelve Asian-Pacific countries signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement in Auckland. There was significant Māori (and other) protest and concern against the agreement, which included Ngāti Whātua o Ōrakei (and other iwi groups) determining not to pōwhiri to the visiting dignitaries. The Prime
Day: February 6, 2016
In December, the third annual ‘Child Poverty Monitor Technical Report’ was released by Otago University. This work is of interest given the large number of tamariki Māori living in poverty – which we calculate to be circa 94,000, based on Ministry of Social Development research (Pānui 29/2015/refers). In regards
In December the Ministry of Education released updated iwi education profile factsheets. These two page factsheets provide data on the participation and achievement of children affiliated to a particular iwi (there are 63 iwi profiles in total). The datasets include early childhood participation, school enrolments, national standard outcomes (ages
On Saturday the Minister for Māori Development, Te Ururoa Flavell, announced the release of an updated version of the proposed new Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill. This new version of the bill – 351 pages – puts into effect Cabinet decisions made last November on amendments to the bill.
In mid-January the Government announced consultation on the development of a new Marine Protected Areas Act which, if enacted, would replace the Marine Reserves Act 1971. In sum the proposed reforms entail moving to a system of four categories of protected marine areas; (i) marine reserves (full protections), (ii)
Last week Kura Limited filed its annual financial returns, to year end 30 September 2015 with the Companies Office. Kura is a holding partnership company – being 50% owned by Aotearoa Fisheries and 50% owned by Nippon Suisan Kaisha (a Japanese company). Kura is the owner of the Sealord
On Wednesday Statistics New Zealand released the Household Labour Force Survey results for the quarter to the end of December 2015. The survey shows the national unemployment rate decreased from 6.0% to 5.3%. For Māori the unemployment rate decreased from 12.6% to 10.6%. In whole numbers 32,800 Māori are
Vanessa Clark and Brian Morris have been appointed to the board of Te Māngai Pāho. Doug Hauraki and Professor Rawinia Higgins have also been reappointed to the board for further three-year terms. The following New Zealand Honours and Queen’s Service awards were conferred to Māori, or people giving services
Last December the former Chief Financial Officer of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Bronwyn Koroheke, resigned after she transferred wānanga funding – reportedly $118,000 – to an offshore bank account. She did this as she was tricked by an email scam; (the email purported to be from the wānanga Chief Executive
Māori news stories for the week ending 29 January 2015 On Tuesday a large fire destroyed part of a building at Te Wānanga o Raukawa. The building was being renovated. On Thursday the Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, confirmed her decision to terminate a service agreement with the Ngā Parirau
Political speeches also continued during the week, with the Prime Minister delivering his annual State of the Nation speech on Wednesday. The primary focus was on infrastructure developments, and housing in Auckland – no direct mention of Māori or the Treaty of Waitangi this year. Equally Green Party co-leader,
On 21 January the Minister of Social Development, Anne Tolley, announced the release of the Benefit Factsheets for the quarter to 31 December 2015. We have undertaken an analysis of the various factsheets and have consolidated Māori-specific data into the table that follows for your perusal. In total, at
In December Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa and the Crown signed a Deed of Settlement (the step after an agreement in principle), to settle the historic Treaty of Waitangi claims of the iwi. Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa is a northern iwi of approximately 2,500 people whose area of interest lies between the
In December Ngaati Hinerangi and the Crown signed an Agreement in Principle to settle the historic Treaty of Waitangi claims of the iwi. (Ngaati Hinerangi is an iwi from the Tainui waka confederation whose area of interest extends from Matamata to the Western Bay of Plenty, and encompasses the
The Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust is currently holding a series of hui to discuss the potential sale of its largest property asset, the former defence-base in Shelly Bay, Wellington. (The base was purchased by the Taranaki whanui iwi with its Treaty Settlement funds, and a sale requires 75%