A University of Otago study published last week has found differences in health outcomes between Māori and New Zealand Europeans in regards to hospital care. The study is entitled Ethnic disparities in the quality of hospital care in New Zealand, as measured by 30-day rate of unplanned readmission/death. The researchers
Author: Paanui
On Tuesday the Minister of Labour, Simon Bridges, announced that the minimum wage would be increased from $13.50 to $13.75 per hour, commencing 1 April. This is effectively a $10 per-week increase to $550 for a full-time worker on this rate; which is an additional $520 per annum (or $28,600
This week the Supreme Court has been hearing the claims related to the ownership of the Waikato riverbed in the Pouakani area. (Note there are three Mighty River Power dams within the area concerned.) This hearing follows a ruling by the Supreme Court in June 2012 that the Crown did
Yesterday the Minister of Corrections, Anne Tolley, announced that over the next two years 2,000 prisoners will be enrolled in a new educational programme, focused on the achievement of NCEA qualifications. The Open Polytechnic will deliver the programme, which includes coaching and distance learning. This is positive for Māori, given
On Tuesday Statistics New Zealand released Births and Deaths: Year ended December 2012. The statistics show a decrease in Māori infant mortality; dropping from 7.0 per 1,000 live births in 2011 to 4.7 per 1,000 live births in 2012. (In whole numbers, in 2012 82 Māori infants under one died,
On Tuesday Associate Minister of Health, Tariana Turia, announced the Government will introduce legislation to put tobacco products into plain packaging. The plain packaging policy has been led by the Māori Party and will be supported by the National Party, as agreed in the parties 2011 Relationship Accord. (This measure
This week New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, has questioned the appropriateness of the Ministry of Health’s funding of rongoā. (The Ministry spends circa $1.9 million on rongoā initiatives per year.) Mr Peter’s questions relate to both whether there is an evidential basis for rongoā practices, and the quality of
Sir Mark Solomon has been appointed a director of Te Ohu Kaimoana. Dr Aroha Harris has been appointed to the Archives Council Te Rua Wānanga. (This Council has a statutory role to provide the Minister of Internal Affairs with advice on archives and record keeping issues.) On Monday the
On Tuesday the Prime Minister, John Key, announced that the Government was recommencing its negotiations with Skycity Casino to build a $350 million international convention centre in Auckland. The key tenet of the negotiations is that Skycity Casino will pay the full building costs for the centre, if the Government
This week the Government announced it will fund the first two weeks of the second stage of the Waitangi Tribunal Te Paparahi o Te Raki Regional Inquiry. This is the large northern regional inquiry, investigating 390 claims brought by Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whatua, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Hine, Patuharakeke, Ngāti Rehua and
Last week we noted the Fisheries (Foreign Charter Vessels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill was read in parliament, and then referred to the Primary Production Select Committee. We further advise that submissions are now open. Amongst other items, this bill seeks to implement the Government’s decision to ban, from 2016,
Yesterday the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Amy Adams, re-announced that the Government does not consider radio spectrum a taonga, and that the Government would continue with its plans to auction the 700MHz radio spectrum this year, without allocating any spectrum rights to Māori. However, she also announced that
Last week the Ministry of Education published CoREs and effect – which is an evaluative report on the impact of the seven Government ‘Centres of Research Excellence’ (CoREs). One of these centres has a specific Māori focus, Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga, and this Centre is the focus of a
Whaimutu Dewes has been appointed a director (non-executive) to The Treasury Board (a governance board that supports The Treasury’s leadership team). Tamati Nicholas, from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata, has been awarded a Top Subject Scholarship for Te Reo Māori. Te Korou Whangataua Roberts, from Te Kura Kaupapa
On Sunday the Department of Internal Affairs released a discussion document on land development contributions. This is part of the Government’s policy programme to improve land affordability for housing purposes, and will contribute to the review of the Local Government Act 2002. The document raises options for reforming the Act,