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Aquaculture Economic Fisheries Mining Protests

Ngāti Ruanui Successful in Opposition to Iron Sand Mining; 20 June 2014 (edition 21/2014)

On Wednesday a decision-making panel of the Environment Protection Authority released their decision on an application by Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) for marine consent to mine for iron sand.  The panel declined the consent application. By way of background, the proposal was to extract iron sand in a 66 square kilometre
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Settlements Treaty

Ngāruahine Treaty Settlement; 20 June (edition 21/2014)

Ngāruahine negotiators also initiated a Deed of Settlement with the Crown on 4 June, to settle all of their historic treaty claims.  As above, the Office of Treaty Settlements has only just released relevant materials for public review.  For this settlement the proposed financial / commercial redress is $67.5 million.
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Settlements Treaty

Te Atiawa (Taranaki) Treaty Settlement; 20 June 2014 (edition 21/2014)

Earlier this month (4 June) Te Atiawa (Taranaki) negotiators initiated a Deed of Settlement with the Crown, to settle all of their historic treaty claims.  We advised that while this was reported in the media, the Office of Treaty Settlements has only just released relevant materials for public review.  As
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Treaty Tribunal reports

Te Aroha Maunga Settlement Process Report; 20 June 2014 (edition 21/2014)

On Monday the Waitangi Tribunal released a report on claims relating to the Hauraki iwi collective, and in particular Te Aroha Maunga. By way of background, in 2006 the Tribunal found iwi in Hauraki had well founded historic claims relating to breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.  In response to
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Government

Te Puni Kōkiri Review; 20 June 2014 (edition 21/2014)

This week Māori media outlets have discussed proposed restructuring at Te Puni Kōkiri; including the possibility of the closure of some smaller offices, and possible staffing level reductions from 366 positions to 292 positions.  (This is a reduction of 74 positions, although the agency already has 80 vacancies due to
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Education

Report on Tertiary Education Outcomes for Māori Released; 20 June 2014 (edition 21/2014)

This month the Ministry of Education released a new report on tertiary education results for Māori.  The report is entitled, The outcomes of tertiary education for Māori graduates – what Māori graduates earn and do after their tertiary education. We advise this is an 88-page technical report which undertakes statistical
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Social Welfare

Glenn Inquiry Report Released; 20 June (edition 21/2014)

On Monday the Glenn Inquiry released a research report on child abuse and domestic violence entitled, ‘The People’s Report’.[1] [By way of background the Glenn Inquiry is an independent, non-Government, initiative sponsored by Sir Owen Glenn to identify means to reduce child abuse and domestic violence.  The Inquiry is chaired
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Uncategorized

Māori news stories for the week ending 13 June 2014 (edition 20/2014)

The Ahuwhenua Awards are being held tonight in Tauranga.  The three finalists nominated for the Ahuwhenua trophy are Putauaki Trust’s Himiona Farm, Ngakauroa Dairy Farm (Ngāti Awa), and Te Rua o Te Moko Ltd. On Monday The Health Research Council confirmed funding for three Māori-focused research projects, totalling circa $3.6
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Settlements Treaty

Te Wairoa Agreement in Principle Reached; 13 June 2014 (edition 20/2014)

Also on Wednesday another Agreement in Principle for the settlement of historic Treaty breaches was entered into between the Crown and iwi and hapū associated with Te Wairoa.   The Te Wairoa cluster includes Ngāti Rākaipaaka, Rongomaiwahine/Ngāi Te Rākatō, the Wairoa Waikaremoana Māori Trust Board, Ngāi Tamaterangi/Hinemanuhiri, Whakakī Nui-ā-Rua and Te
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Settlements Treaty

Heretaunga-Tamatea Agreement in Principle Reached; 13 June 2014 (edition 20/2014)

On Wednesday Heretaunga-Tamatea, a Ngāti Kahungunu large natural grouping (southern Napier to Takapau), entered into an Agreement in Principle with the Crown to settle all historic Treaty of Waitangi breaches.  The tentative agreement provides for financial redress of $100 million, including $2 million to establish a habitat restoration fund for
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Economic Land

Economic Report Released; 13 June 2014 (edition 20/2014)

On Tuesday the Minister of Finance, Bill English, and the Minister for Economic Development, Steven Joyce, released an economic development report entitled, Business Growth Agenda, Future Directions 2014.  Despite the title, this is actually a report back on activities to date relating to the Government’s Business Growth Agenda, (i.e. not
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Health Social

Mental Health and Addiction Services Data; 13 June 2014 (edition 20/2014)

This week the Ministry of Health has released data on the use of mental health and addiction services, in the year 2010/11.  These tables show Māori have a disproportionally high rate of service use in these areas.  Of the total 137,346 clients seen by mental health and addiction services, 33,016
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Education

Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board and Te Pataka Ohanga Limited; 13 June 2014 (edition 20/2014)

This week the Serious Fraud Office released a statement indicating that its investigation into Te Pataka Ohanga Limited (TPO), a subsidy of the Kōhanga Reo National Trust, did not identify any criminal offending.   Accordingly the Office has indicated it will take no further action on this matter. The statement notes
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Social Welfare

Benefit Funding Changes – Sole Parents; 13 June 2014 (edition 20/2014)

On Tuesday the Minister for Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, conjointly with the Minister for Social Development, Paula Bennett, announced policy changes to better facilitate access to tertiary education for people on the sole parent benefit.  These changes will impact on the circa 35,000 Māori in receipt of this benefit; (which
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Uncategorized

Appointments and Awards (edition 19/2014)

On Monday Queen’s Birthday Honours were announced.   This list included: DNZM (Dame Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit): The Honourable Lowell Patria Goddard, QC, of Wellington. For services to the law. Ms Patricia Lee Reddy, of Wellington. For services to the arts and business.  (Dame Patricia is not