It has taken just over a month for this new coalition Government to render Māori an almost nullity. The last time that occurred was in 1877 when the then Chief Justice James Prendergast proclaimed the Treaty was “worthless” because it had been signed “between a civilised nation and a group of savages” who were incapable Read more
New Zealand’s Catholic bishops are deeply concerned for Palestinians who for decades “have been reduced to the status of refugees in their own homeland”. In a statement released last week, they said: “Attempts to find a lasting peace in the Holy Land that would provide security for Palestinians and the ordinary people of Israel have Read more
An ACT Party bill for Easter trading law reform was doomed before its first reading last Wednesday. The private member’s bill came from small business spokesman Chris Baillee. It sought to give retailers more choice over whether they operate during the religious holiday. Baillie said his bill would also look after workers by keeping existing Read more
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has rejected a plea from 59 organizations to lift the level of welfare payments before Christmas. Trade unions, charities and poverty action groups were among those asking the government to address mass unemployment and poverty. Working through umbrella group ActionStation Aotearoa [New Zealand], the groups published an open letter, saying the Read more
Calls are coming in for the government to fast-track its child poverty mandate. The Child Poverty Action Group is one of several advocating for the new government, led by Child Poverty Reduction Minister Jacinda Ardern, to immediately raise income support. Campaigner Janet McAllister said benefit levels were so low they locked many children into severe Read more
Papua New Guinea (PNG) should discuss resettling Manus Island refugees in New Zealand, says the Catholic Church in PNG. The general secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG, Giorgio Licini, wrote to PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape in January about this. In the letter Licini reminded Marape of New Zealand’s long standing offer to Read more