On Monday the second stage of Waitangi Tribunal hearings concerning the Freshwater and Geothermal Energy Claim (WAI 2358) commenced. (One week of hearings is scheduled now, with a second week scheduled for early next year.) This is the Treaty claim of the New Zealand Māori Council concerned with what
Author: Seattle Ropiha
Last week the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Amendment Bill was read for a second time in Parliament, with the Committee Stage completed earlier this week. Yesterday the responsible Minister, Todd McClay, announced the third reading – with his speech indicating an expectation that the Bill would be passed in law
On Tuesday the Minister for the Environment, Dr Nick Smith, announced that an agreement had been reached between the National and Māori parties, which would allow the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill to pass its second and third readings in Parliament. By way of background, this Bill was introduced to
At this time of the year many iwi groups are publishing their annual reports (with a balance date of 30 June), in order to prepare for their annual general meetings. Over the next few editions of Pānui we will be progressively reviewing both financial and non-financial aspects of these
The New Zealand Wars (1840-1870s) are to be formally commemorated on 28 October each year. (This is the date of the signing of The Declaration of Independence in 1835 by some Ngāpuhi chiefs.) The first commemorative events will be held in Northland in 2017, and in following years the
In June we advised that Statistics New Zealand was reviewing and consulting on the statistical standard for iwi (i.e. how iwi, hapū, marae and non-kin groups can be better understood through official data collection processes). The review is now complete, and findings and recommendations have now been published (two
On Tuesday seven Ngāti Kahungunu hapū from the Napier cluster, Mana Ahuriri, signed a Deed of Settlement with the Crown to settle all historic Treaty of Waitangi claims. Along with an acknowledgement and apology, the settlement provides financial and commercial redress of $19.5 million, including the right to buy
This week the chair of Tūhoronuku, Hone Sadler, advised that the board was not able to commence negotiations on the transition to a new mandating structure, as set on in the Maranga Mai report of the iwi. This was said to be because the Tūhoronuku board is seeking an
Te Puni Kōkiri has uploaded onto its website a short brochure on the proposed functions of the Māori Land Service. (Note this Service will be established if the current Te Ture Whenua Māori reforms are passed into law.) For subscribers following these reforms there is no new information in
On Tuesday Statistics New Zealand released the Household Labour Force Survey results for the quarter to the end of September 2016.[1] The survey shows the national unemployment rate is now 4.9% (it was 5.0% at the end of June.)[2] For Māori the unemployment rate is now 10.6%, (down from
Appointments and Awards Last week Hinerangi Edwards (Taranaki, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Arawa) and Wayne Panapa (Waikato Maniapoto) were appointed to the board of Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori. Current board member, Ms Charisma Rangipunga, has also been appointed to the role of Deputy Chair. (Outgoing board members
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei are legally challenging the Crown’s perceived right to offer Treaty settlement redress to Ngāti Paoa in central Auckland. Ngati Whātua Ōrākei considers that it undermines their existing settlement, whereas Ngāti Paoa is of the view that commercial redress in the area is appropriate and required to
This week a former trustee of Te Uri o Hau, Mikaere Miru, indicated that he had sought to lay a complaint with the Police regarding trustee election processes (and had been referred on to the Serious Fraud Office). Mr Miru claims that votes were opened by an office staff
In addition to the Te Puni Kōkiri Annual Report, also released was a separate 34-page Minister’s report on the $195 million appropriated to Vote: Māori Development.[1] This document – essentially a positive report to Parliament on results achieved – reports on nine funds grouped into three areas: Whānau Ora;
On 20 October the Te Puni Kōkiri Annual Report to 30 June 2016 was tabled in Parliament. The purpose of this report is to outline the quality of services delivered, and to explain the organisation’s financial performance in the last year. By way of background, Te Puni Kōkiri received