This week Māori Party Member of Parliament, Marama Fox, has indicated that she (and her party) no longer support the bid by former Prime Minister, Helen Clark, to become the Secretary-General of the United Nations. This is a change of political position for the Māori Party. The change is
Day: August 8, 2016
The Office of Treaty Settlements has now released its ‘Progress Report For The Year Ending 30 June 2016’. This report usefully tracks the progress of all Treaty settlements in a simple tabular format, although the redress amounts are unnecessarily excluded. During the reporting period 35 milestones were completed by
This week the trial of Sir Ngatata Love commenced in the Wellington High Court.[1] Sir Ngatata has been charged with two fraud related offences, totalling $1.5 million.[2] He has pleaded not guilty. The alleged fraudulent activities relate to payments made by a property development company in 2006 and 2007
This week the Ministry of Education released its annual School Attendance Report (2015 data). Using new methodology within this year’s report one finding is that Māori learners have the lowest attendance rates, with only 57% of Māori students attending for at least 90% of the time during term two
On Tuesday a new four year plan for the education sector was tabled in Parliament. This plan is called Ambitious for New Zealand, Ministry of Education Four Year Plan 2016-2020. The plan covers the early childhood, school, and tertiary education sectors, includes references to all seven education agencies, and
Te Puea Marae has advised that it will be concluding its respite housing initiative shortly. Marae Chairperson, Hurimoana Dennis, has indicated 60 whānau have been placed in accommodation, including 83 tamariki. They will continue to work with fourteen whānau who are still staying at the marae. On Monday the
On Wednesday the Government released a new economic development plan for the Hawkes Bay, entitled, Matariki Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan 2016. We advise the plan makes use of bilingual headings, and shows clear consultation and partnership with iwi (Ngāti Kahungunu), although it does not
Last Friday the Local Government and Environment Select Committee provided its report back to Parliament on the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill. [By way of background this Bill, if enacted, will create a 620,000 square kilometre marine reserve north-east of New Zealand (i.e. no fishing, mining, dumping, etc. within the
This month a renewed Statement of Intent (2016/21) and a Statement of Performance Expectations (2016/17) for Te Māngai Pāho (TMP) were tabled in Parliament. (I.e. a new strategic plan and annual business plan.) As with Te Taura Whiri, these documents respond to changes in the Māori language sector brought
Earlier this month the Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori/Māori Language Commission Statement of Performance Expectations for 2016/17 was tabled in Parliament. This is the annual plan of Te Taura Whiri. The plan deviates away from the previous 2015/16 plan and now has four new foci areas, all
Last Friday the Families Commission published its annual report on the status of families in New Zealand. (Note the Commission operates under the name Superu.) The 2016 report follows the basic format established last year in that it segregates families into six broad groupings and then applies existing Government