Shane Jones has been appointed New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Nauru, Mauritius and the Seychelles. Mr Jones will serve as High Commissioner in addition to his role as Pacific Economic Development Ambassador. Leith Comer has been elected as the Chair of Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust. This is
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Last Friday the Ministry of Social Development released the Benefit Factsheets for the quarter to 30 September 2014.[1] 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 294,321 New Zealanders (and their households) are
In addition to the Speech from the Throne, we note this week incoming Māori Party List MP, Marama Fox, reiterated the Māori Party position that incoming Members of Parliament should be able to swear allegiance to the Treaty of Waitangi, if they choose. She indicated that the Māori Party will
On Tuesday His Excellence Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae, delivered the ‘Speech from the Throne’ to open the new parliamentary term. By way of background, this speech is delivered by the Governor-General after an election, and sets out the incoming Government’s policy agenda. The speech covered twenty
This week Te Ururoa Flavell called for a review of the criminal justice system, indicating that young Māori are continually over-represented within this area, and stating that, “the justice system is filled with bias, prejudice and institutional racism”. The strong wording used by Mr Flavell naturally attracted media attention,
Following the election the Māori and National parties have entered into a Confidence and Supply agreement. The agreement, entitled Te Tatau ki te Paerangi – A doorway to our horizons’, was signed on 5 October, and commits the two Māori Party members of parliament to voting with and for the
Last month Judge Ambler issued a reserved judgement in the Māori Land Court in relation to the Parengarenga 3G block in Northland. This Māori land block comprises of circa 500 hectares of forestry, and since 2009 has been administered by seven trustees on behalf of 372 beneficiary holders. Judge Ambler
Chris Finlayson has been reappointed as the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, and Associate Minister of Māori Development. There are three Māori within the Government’s new Cabinet: Paula Bennett (rank 5); Minister of Local Government, Minister for Social Housing, Minister of State Services; Associate Minister of Finance, Associate
This paper provides a summary of key Māori interest news items to 12 noon, 3 October 2014. Analytical assessments of policy matters will be provided in regular Pānui briefs. The New Zealand Qualifications Authority together with the Tertiary Education Commission, have released a report on complaints relating to educational provision
Last Friday the New Zealand Māori Council released on its website a memorandum prepared for the Waitangi Tribunal on 12 September 2014, in relation to the National Fresh Water and Geothermal Resources claim (WAI 2358). By way of background, WAI 2358 was lodged by the Māori Council in February 2012.4
Sealord has announced it will reduce 97 jobs from its Nelson-based factory. Chairperson, Matanuku Mahuika, has indicated the change is required to maintain viability, and that the company should be able to return to profit this year, and make a payment to its shareholders. (Sealord is 50% owned by Aotearoa
On Wednesday compliance officers from the Ministry for Primary Industries undertook a raid on Hawkes Bay Seafoods. This company is the inshore fishing quota leasee for Ngāti Kahungunu (i.e. the company which catches inshore fishing quota provided to Ngāti Kahungunu through its Treaty of Waitangi settlement).4 The investigation is significant,
On Tuesday the New Plymouth District Council voted in favour (7-6) of a recommendation from its policy subcommittee to establish a Māori Ward. The ward is now scheduled to be introduced at the local government elections in 2016. However local government legislation provides that if there is a petition by
Within the last two editions of Pānui we have reviewed General Election policy statements which have high relevance to Māori. Edition 31/2014 reviewed political proposals concerning the Treaty of Waitangi and Māori wellbeing overall. I.e. topics such as whether Māori representative seats should be retained in parliament, whether Māori-specific policies
Our assessment of the 2014 Statement of Intent from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority is mixed. First, we note their environmental scan finds that, “the success of Māori learners is vital to New Zealand’s identity and its economy”. This may well be true, although the Authority may also wish to