Iwi Chairs met with senior Cabinet Ministers on the Friday before Waitangi Day, at Waitangi. Following the meeting the Minister for Economic Development, Simon Bridges, and the Minister for Māori Development, Te Ururoa Flavell, announced the establishment of an Iwi-Crown Economic Taumata. This will be a biannual meeting between
Author: Seattle Ropiha
The Salvation Army has released its 2017 ‘State of the Nation’ report, which this year is subtitled ‘Off the Track’. This is an annual report on social wellbeing matters, and as with previous years, the report is divided into five chapters: care of children; crime and punishment; work and
The Ministry of Education has released updated iwi education profile fact sheets. These two page fact sheets provide data on the participation and achievement of children affiliated to a particular iwi (there are now 65 iwi profiles in total). The datasets include early childhood participation, school enrolments, national standard
Last week we advised on labour force data, released by Statistics New Zealand, for the period to 31 December 2016. The information released showed an increase in unemployment – for Māori up to 11.9% of the labour force (40,200 people). The Department has now supplied us with supplementary data on
The other political alliance of note this week was Shane Jones attending a church event with Winston Peters. Mr Jones’ term as Ambassador for Pacific Economic Development ends in May, so speculation is mounting again as to whether Mr Jones will join the New Zealand First Party list. (He
As previously advised, this week Willie Jackson has been confirmed as a Labour Party list candidate – which means he will go through the Party’s selection process for their Parliamentary list, including seeking an exemption for not even being a member of the party. (I.e. he is not simply
Waitangi Day commemorative events were held over the weekend and on Monday, with debate continuing as to whether Te Tii Marae (below the Waitangi Marae and the Treaty grounds) is a suitable place for the initial dignitary’s pōwhiri, held on the 5th of February each year. This year a proposed
On Tuesday Parliament recommenced for the year. The first item of business was the Prime Minister’s Statement to Parliament, which sets out the Government’s policy agenda for the year. Largely the plan is business as usual, with modest economic growth of 3% forecast for the next few years.[1] A
The Green Party has (re)announced its policy commitment for compulsory Māori language learning in schools. Media outlets report a new plan, although at present no details are available on the Green Party website. Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell has stated New Zealand should increase its quota of refugees,
On Wednesday the Prime Minister, Bill English, announced the General Election will be held on 23 September. He followed this up by saying if his party wins but is required to partner-up then existing partners – ACT, United Future and the Māori Party – are the probables. New Zealand
In late December the Māori Affairs Select Committee provided a briefing to the Government on the Right of First Refusal clause used in Treaty settlements. This Committee consider that these clauses need a review by the Government, to improve future settlements. In particular, they consider that exemptions relating to
This week The Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust has reconfirmed that it will go ahead with a joint venture between its commercial arm (Taranaki Whānui Limited) and The Wellington Company, to develop housing at Shelly Bay / Omarukaikuru. By way of succinct background, early last year beneficiaries of this
The Ministry of Social Development has released Social Housing Register data to 31 December 2016. This data provides an overview of (reported) housing difficulties being experienced by New Zealanders. Overall there are 6110 people on the register, including 2690 Māori. (Note this is a count of individuals on the
The Ministry of Social Development released Benefit Fact Sheets for the quarter to 31 December 2016. We have undertaken an analysis of the fact sheets and consolidated Māori specific data into the table that follows. In total, at the end of the quarter, 297,010 New Zealanders (and their households)
On Tuesday Statistics New Zealand released the Household Labour Force Survey results for the quarter to the end of December 2016. The survey shows the national unemployment rate has risen to 5.2% (it was 4.9% at the end of September.) For Māori the unemployment rate is now 11.9%, (up