On Tuesday the Leader of the House of Parliament, Gerry Brownlee, together with the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Chris Finlayson, advised that New Zealand First had retracted from an earlier agreement to allow for an extending sitting of Parliament to carry through to this Friday, in order to
Author: Seattle Ropiha
Last week we advised on the newly announced joint venture between the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust[1] and the Wellington Company to develop housing at Shelly Bay/Omarukaikuru in Miramar. We noted some iwi members were against the development, and called it a sale of iwi land “by stealth”. This
Last week we advised on the discussions between the Government and Te Ohu Kaimoana over the Kermadec/Rangitāhua Ocean Sanctuary. In essence Te Ohu Kaimoana believes creating the sanctuary would undermine the 1992 Māori Fisheries Settlement, whereas the Government considers that legal provision already exists for a sanctuary. By way
Subscribers will be aware we have been advising regularly on the prolonged mandating process for Ngāpuhi. At hand presently is a decision as to whether the existing ‘mandate’ – i.e. de facto Crown approval – to negotiate the settlement of all historic Treaty of Waitangi claims should be transferred
Last week the Ministry of Social Development released its annual report on household incomes. This report is important as it is often the key source document for many other reports and statements on household earnings and child poverty in New Zealand. The report is entitled, Household Incomes in New
Purpose This quarterly review provides a summary of significant Māori-focused social, economic and Treaty policy developments for the period 1 April to 30 June. Within the quarter we reviewed seven dataset publications, eleven reports, eight Government policy/legislative issues and five Government planning/strategic documents. Information summaries are provided in the
Following an announcement by the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, of an inquiry into racial disparities, Dame Tariana Turia (a former politician) has called for a similar type of review to investigate institutional racism in New Zealand. Dame Turia’s request has been supported by the Race Relations Commissioner, Dame
On Wednesday the Independent Police Complaints Authority released a report on ‘pre-charge warnings’. Such a warning is an alternative to prosecution for offenders who have committed offences with a maximum penalty of not more than six months imprisonment. It relies on Police discretion not to prosecute, even though there
Last week a new Statement of Intent (2016-2019) for the Māori Television Service (MTS) was tabled in Parliament.[1] By way of background MTS is a statutory corporation which means that it is governed by its own bespoke legislation, the Māori Television Service Act 2003, (and not subject to the
Last week we advised that the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Chris Finlayson, had indicated he accepts the recommendations of the ‘Maranga Mai’ report, centred on restructuring the Ngāpuhi treaty settlement entity, Tūhoronuku, which will negotiate a Treaty of Waitangi settlement on behalf of the iwi (Pānui 28/2016
This week some media outlets have reported that Victoria University of Wellington is seeking Crown approval to sell its Karori campus (the former teacher’s college). The issue at hand is that the multi-million dollar property was sold to the University by the Crown for only ten dollars in 2014
On Wednesday the Chairman of Te Ohu Kaimoana, Jamie Tuuta, announced that negotiations with the Government over the proposed Kermadec/Rangitāhua Ocean Sanctuary had failed. This means High Court action by the Trust against the Government will continue. [By way of background the Kermadec/Rangitāhua Ocean Sanctuary Bill currently before Parliament
Appointments Last Friday the Minister for Māori Development, Te Ururoa Flavell, announced the appointment of Professor Rawinia Higgins and Robin Hapi to Te Mātāwai. These two Ministerial appointments complete the appointment process for Te Mātāwai. Dale Karauria (Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu) has been appointed to the board of
Yesterday the Smoke-free Environments (Tobacco Standardised Packaging) Amendment Bill was read for a third time in Parliament – and passed – meaning it will become law upon receiving Royal Assent. This means plain packaging of tobacco products will likely be in effect next year. This policy shift is expected
Chair of the Federation of Māori Authorities (FoMA), Traci Houpapa, has indicated that while FoMA supports the principles of the Te Ture Whenua reforms, members continue to have concerns around aspects of the proposed changes, and if those concerns cannot be suitably addressed then the Federation will need to