In the 100 years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori land and the commerce they conducted on it were devastated. Poverty followed and the introduction of new, foreign diseases ravaged the Māori population. Over the past 25 years, the Government and iwi across New Zealand have been working to acknowledge the historical grievances. In most cases, Read more
For four days over the last weekend, I travelled with friends down from Auckland through the Waikato and King Country to Taranaki, seeking insights from history and hope for the future. Our journey was an early celebration of Waitangi Day, anguish, reconciliation and all. Our first stop was St John’s church in Te Awamutu, Waikato’s Read more
A leading Maori historian says the churches have an ongoing responsibility to the Treaty of Waitangi. Manuka Henare presented his thoughts to a recent church hui at Manukau Institute of Technology on the treaty and theology. He says it was a chance to review the greater understanding historians now have of the early contacts between Read more
The Minister of Treaty Negotiations, Chris Finlayson is keen that iwi are better supported in a post-settlement world. Mr Finlayson says he is keen that iwi are not left on their own once their Treaty of Waitangi legislation was passed and the Crown could do better to help iwi make the transition, reports Radio New Read more
Maori have a difficulty with the current 4G spectrum auction. They cannot accept the notion that they must join a long queue of very wealthy bidders at auction for a piece of the scarce spectrum resource, with the Crown as seller. There will be roaring levels of commercial testosterone at this auction, and the Treaty Read more
The Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae says the conflicts that arise on Waitangi Day are only a small part of the holiday. “There are events happening all around the country which are about celebration… I think there’s a whole lot of New Zealanders that are celebrating.” He says that while he thinks there is “a Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has made a submission to the Consultation with Maori about the Mixed Ownership Model being proposed by the Government. Caritas supports the retention of Section 9 of the State Owned Enterprises Act 1986 as it relates to the new legislation being proposed under the Public Finance Act and believes insufficient time has been allowed for meaningful consultation. The Read more
On Saturday The Waitangi Tribunal released its report, Ko Aotearoa Tēnei, in response to the Wai 262 claim It recommends wide-ranging reforms to laws and policies affecting Māori culture and identity and calls for the Crown-Māori relationship to move beyond grievance to a new era based on partnership. In the Report the Tribunal has called for a Read more