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
Day: May 23, 2016
In Pānui 14/2016 we advised on the annual report on Māori Education, Ngā Haeata Mātauranga. We noted that the Ministry had not met the reported target of ensuring 22% of Māori learners were learning within the Māori medium. Since that edition the Ministry has contacted us to advise that
This week Statistics New Zealand released the 2015 Māori Population estimates. The total population is estimated at 712,300 tangata, a 1.5% increase from last year. The population remains mostly youthful – 33% are aged 15 years or younger, although the median age has risen slightly to 24 years. The
Last week the Social Security Rewrite Legislation Bill passed its first reading in Parliament, and was then referred on to the Social Services Select Committee. The aim of this Bill is to repeal and replace the Social Security Act 1964 (and other related legislation), with a clearer and more
In addition to changes to the Resource Management Act, we advise the Government is also planning other changes within the local government sector (for the 78 councils and 66 water authorities). These are called the Better Local Services reforms. The reforms are three pronged: (i) foster more collaboration between
Last month submissions to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee concerning the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 were released on the parliamentary website. There were 675 submissions, of which only thirteen were from Māori organisations. Oral submissions are now being heard – including from Federated Farmers this week,
This week there has been a Ministerial information release on Government Budget changes relating to Māori and Pasifika Trades Training. [By way of background, the Minister of Finance, Bill English, is scheduled to release the Government’s 2016 Budget next Thursday. In anticipation of this, the Government’s approach is that
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
This week Rangitaane o Wairarapa / Tāmaki Nui initiated a Deed of Settlement with the Crown to settle historic Treaty of Waitangi claims. The settlement provides for $32.5 million in commercial redress, along with an apology, historic accounts, and cultural redress properties.
Last Saturday Ngāti Kahungunu Ki Wairarapa Tāmaki Nui ā Rua signed an Agreement in Principle with the Crown, to settle all historic Treaty of Waitangi claims of the iwi. The settlement includes commercial and financial redress totalling $93 million, the return of the lakebed of Wairarapa Moana, and the
At the end of last month the University of Otago published its second report within a series of three focused on the health of Māori children and young people. The report is entitled, Te Ohonga Ake: The Determinants of Health for Māori Children and Young People in New Zealand:
Last week Statistics New Zealand released the Household Labour Force Survey results for the quarter to the end of March 2016. The survey shows the national unemployment rate increased from 5.4% to 5.7%. For Māori the unemployment rate increased from 10.6% to 12.8%. Subscribers will also note that the
This week there have been Ministerial information releases on Government Budget changes relating to Whānau Ora and Māori housing. [By way of background, the Minister of Finance, Bill English, is scheduled to release the Government’s 2016 Budget in two weeks, on Thursday 26 of May. In anticipation of this,