Today the Attorney General Chris Finlayson (supported by Chief Justice Sian Elias) will deliver a Crown apology to the Parihaka community for the Government invasion of the settlement in 1881, and the wrongful imprisonment of Parihaka whānau members, and noted leaders, Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi. There will
Author: Seattle Ropiha
Appointments and Awards As noted above, Tiaki Hunia has been appointed Director, Māori Land Service, Development and Design. Last weekend Omapere Rangihamama, a 900 hectare farm near Kaikohe, won the 2017 Ahuwhenua Trophy for Māori farming excellence. Salient Māori News Items for the Week Ending 02 June 2017 The Minister
Last week the Court of Appeal considered the appeal against the conviction of Sir Ngatata Love.[1] They have reserved their decision (meaning at a later date their written decision will be issued). By way of succinct background, last year Sir Ngatata was found guilty of obtaining property by deception. Justice
Last week, the Point England Development Enabling Bill 2016 was read a second time in Parliament. This bill, if passed into law, will allow for a 300-home development on part of the Point England Reserve. The bill would facilitate the use of 11.7 hectares of the 48 hectare reserve for
Last month we advised on labour force data, released by Statistics New Zealand, for the period to 31 March 2017. The information released showed a decrease in unemployment, with Māori unemployment falling to 10.4% of the labour force (35,700 tangata). The Department has now supplied us with supplementary data on
This week the Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill was further progressed in Parliament, within the Committee of the Whole House stage. This is a step after a second reading, which is required if further Supplementary Orders (changes) are being proposed, which is the case with this Bill. Speeches about the
Last week we advised on the Government’s overall Budget 2017/18 and specifically on fiscal changes within Vote: Māori Development and Vote: Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations. We have now reviewed other funding votes within the Budget, to identify further impacts on direct Māori focused funding allocations.[1] This information and our assessments
On Budget day the Minister of Finance (Steven Joyce) releases both revised financial estimates for the Government’s current year of activity – i.e. to 30 June 2017; and also renewed Budget estimates for the four years ahead. The main focus each year is always on the immediate year ahead, namely
Maori Organisation Pānui Assessment and Summary of Key Points Hapai Te Hauora Tapui Limited · Treaty principles are paramount and should guide legislation. · Tīkanga Māori approaches are required (including Māori whānau placements as a priority). Rodney Women’s Refuge Māori Caucus ·
This week Cabinet approved the Riccarton Racecourse Development Enabling Order, which lifts the land’s reserve status and allows for a housing development programme to commence on land adjacent to the racecourse. Ngāi Tahu Property is a key leader in the housing development project of circa 600 homes. In a media
The Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Maggie Barry, has appointed Kim Ngārimu (and others) to the Board of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. She also appointed Chris Cochran, Rebecca (Liz) Mellish and Paul White to the Māori Heritage Council. (The Māori Heritage Council’s responsibilities include listing Māori sacred sites
Long-term subscribers may recall that in 2015 the Productivity Commission released its final report on the Social Services sector. It was a colossal 364 page report which focused on how social services are organised (not the quality of any individual service). In total 89 findings and 61 recommendations were made,
This week the Office of the Children’s Commissioner released their third annual monitoring report on the Ministry for Vulnerable Children / Oranga Tamariki. [Notes: The previous two reports were about the former Children, Young Persons, and Family Service, which has been replaced by the new Ministry. Pānui 21/2016 and 31/2015
Last month the Ministry of Health released its Health and Independence Report 2016. This is an annual overview of the state of health for New Zealanders, bringing together statistical information to provide an overview picture of health trends. In the report’s foreword the Director-General of Health, Chai Chuah, considers that
This week mental health advocate, Mike King, resigned from the Government’s Suicide Prevention Panel, as he considered that the Government’s draft strategy is flawed. He indicated it was a ‘vanilla’ repeat of the past strategy, and lacked clarity of language and meaningful targets. Subscribers may recall we reviewed this strategy