Yesterday Kīngi Tūheitia announced that he was endorsing Rahui Papa as the Māori Party candidate to contest the Parliamentary seat of Hauraki-Waikato at this year’s general election. This follows previous comments from Kīngi Tūheitia that he would no longer vote for the Labour Party. The seat has been held
Author: Seattle Ropiha
The major political announcement this week is that the Government intends to raise the age of superannuation entitlement from 65 to 67 years of age, in six month increments from 2037 to 2040 (i.e. eligibility changes in twenty years’ time). In addition, the New Zealand residency requirement will increase
Te Puni Kōkiri has purchased a ‘trade-show’ type van/light truck, to take to events to promote its services. For example, information on how to access community funding administered by this Ministry will be available from the vehicle. Given Te Puni Kōkiri often has a tent or a stall at
On Tuesday the Supreme Court issued its judgement in regards to land claims made by the Wakatū Incorporation, concerning a historic purchase of land by the New Zealand Company in 1839 in the top of the South Island. The original purchase involved 151,000 acres, of which 10% was to
In defence of the high immigration numbers of net 71,300 people last year, this week the Prime Minister, Bill English, indicated there was still a need for unskilled immigrants, because too many young New Zealanders have drug issues that prevent them from working. He was criticised by political opponents
On Tuesday two economic action plans/reports for Te Tairāwhiti were released. The first is called He Huarahi Hei Whai Oranga – Tairāwhiti Economic Action Plan, and the second is called Tairāwhiti Māori Economic Development Report/ Kimihia He Oranga. The first document – He Huarahi Hei Whai Oranga – has
This week a two-day Taniwha Dragon Economic Summit was held in Hastings, with the aim of facilitating great Māori/Chinese business relationships. The summit has a target of achieving $100 million worth of business outcomes, and reported that this was exceeded by $30 million. (We note, however, what the total
Te Ataarangi Whui has been appointed as the incoming Chief Executive of Te Mātāwai. Taika Waititi has been named the 2017 New Zealander of the Year.
This week the Local Government and Environment Select Committee has been hearing submissions considering the Point England Development Enabling Bill. If passed into law, the bill would facilitate the use of circa 12 hectares of an approximately 48 hectare reserve for housing. In accordance with a Treaty settlement negotiated
On Monday the Ministry of Health published a Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Action Plan 2017 – 2021. The idea is that a plan is needed to improve and grow this part of the health sector workforce. The plan acknowledges the “special relationship between the Crown and Māori under
On Monday the Māori Party and Mana Movement (Mana) political parties entered into a formal agreement with each other that for this year’s General Election the Māori Party will not stand a candidate in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate, and Mana will not stand candidates in the other six
On Tuesday the Minister for Youth, Nikki Kaye, announced that Ngāi Tahu was the first successful iwi applicant for the youth ‘partnership fund’ which provides for co-investment in youth development initiatives. Her statement advises the Government and Ngāi Tahu will each contribute $50,000 to support circa 250 young people
Yesterday the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment released a report entitled Māori in the Labour Market. This report collates existing information from the household labour force survey from 2011 to 2016.[1] The first half of this circa 60-page report outlines national trends for Māori in regards to employment
Since the Green Party (re)announcement of their desire for compulsory Te Reo Māori education earlier this month there has been heightened media interest and discussion on the role and place of the Māori language in schools, and the wider New Zealand society. Recently reported comments of note within the
This week Māori Party Member of Parliament, Marama Fox, indicated that her level of disagreement with the Children, Young Persons and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Bill is significant, with some media suggesting she is now threatening the Māori Party will terminate its Confidence and Supply Vote agreement with the