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Hiring more Māori researchers

The $315-million-a-year Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) will reward work by Māori researchers at 2.5 times the rate of non-Māori academics, while Pasifika academics' work will be funded at two times the non-Pasifika rate.It will also give research into Māori knowledge a funding weighting of 3 - higher than the current rate of 2.5 which applies to the most expensive sciences.University of Auckland sociology lecturer specialising in higher education, Dr Sereana Naepi, said the change had...

Dramatic rise in teachers being investigated

The number of Teaching Council decisions reached a five-year-high in 2020, with physical abuse of young people and inappropriate relationships with students the most common reasons for investigations. LEE KENNY reports.It was the final lesson of the day and students in the year 10 class packed away their things.The teacher said everyone would have to wait for the bell, but – after a brief exchange – a 14-year-old boy, swore, got up and walked out into the hall.Things escalated quickly. The t...

'It's going to be a very interesting few years' - expert discusses pressure points

A “significantly ageing population” and declining fertility rates were just some realities the New Zealand population faces the coming decade, an expert says.Professor Paul Spoonley said that by 2030, there may be six million kiwis, with 1.5m of them living overseas.The former vice-chancellor of Massey University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, who retired in April this year, spoke to members of the public at Havelock North’s function centre on Wednesday evening.Spoonley sai...

Is Labour funding the Mongrel Mob with drugs programme?

One of the National Party's current lines of attack against Labour is an accusation that the governing party has funded the Mongrel Mob to the tune of $2.75 million.The money, from the Proceeds of Crime Fund, was signed off by those at the top of Labour, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.It was for a methamphetamine rehabilitation programme called Kahukura in the central Hawke's Bay.Link to article: Is Labour funding the Mongrel Mob with drugs programme? What you need to know - NZ Her...

Plunket admits it has been failing

But a review of the programme for under-fives has found it has been falling short for Māori, Pacific, disabled and high needs children and whānau.Plunket's chief executive Amanda Malu said some families have been failed by both the programme and her organisation, and it needed to do better."We absolutely acknowledge that the health system and the Well Child Tamariki Ora programme has failed Māori and Pacific families and we absolutely acknowledge our part in that," she said.Link to article:&n...

Families turn to portable cabins

Families are turning to backyard solutions to house loved ones as the national housing crisis limits other options.The rental house market in Horowhenua is like much of New Zealand, the few properties that are available are out of reach for most.When two teenagers showed up on Nina Pilkington’s doorstep, her Shannon home was already out of space for the extended family. But she was not out of aroha.Link to article and video: Families turn to portable cabins as rental prices soar | Stuff.c...

Iwi and environmental groups'

Environmental groups and local iwi are banding together to fight the Dome Valley landfill, north of Auckland.Chinese-owned, Waste Management New Zealand, bought the 1000 hectare site near Wellsford, and won resource consent from Auckland Council, to fill 60 hectares with rubbish.A community group called "Fight The Tip" has joined forces with Ngāti Whātua and Ngāti Manuhiri to lodge appeals to the Environmental Court. So far nine appeals have been filed.Link to article: Iwi and environmen...

Huge Oranga Tamariki uplift

A sprawling family with children who didn't officially exist was the focus of a major Oranga Tamariki uplift which led to Beehive briefings after it threatened to spiral out of control.It came after social workers and police turned up at a remote and rural property to take a number of children into care.The visit led to Oranga Tamariki realising there were more children than believed in the wider family grouping - and no idea who they were or where they might be.The problem confronting those who...

Oranga Tamariki wrong

Oranga Tamariki got it wrong when it decided not to investigate nine out of 14 reports of possible abuse or neglect.An internal review has found shortfalls in the way these reports of concern were initially accessed - and two-thirds should have been referred for further action.A report of concern is when a member of the public or someone like a teacher or doctor notifies Oranga Tamariki that a child or young person may be at risk of harm.If Oranga Tamariki is worried about a child's wellbeing, a...

Alison Jones:

The legendary Māori-language advocate Sir Tīmoti Kāretu says about Pākehā learning te reo: “Anyone who wants to come on board, we say: ‘Hop on the waka and let’s go. If you don’t want to, then stay on shore.’” Timoti’s big-hearted invitation to join the waka is being taken up with enthusiasm by Pākehā. Free classes in introductory Māori language are crowded, and many have waiting lists. Pākehā presenters on RNZ National make valiant, though sometimes excruc...

'We cursed ourselves for not seeing the signs':

Tears and raw emotion have been laid bare in Parliament as MPs tackled one of the heaviest and most personal topics: suicide prevention. The special parliamentary debate on Thursday afternoon was an acknowledgment of the Zero Suicide Aotearoa report released last year on World Suicide Prevention Day. The report was commissioned by the Mental Health and Addiction Wellbeing Group, a cross-party committee including Labour MP Louisa Wall, National MP Matt Doocey, ACT leader David...

'Nothing to be scared of':

A senior Labour MP says there's "nothing to be scared of" in how the Government plans to live up to a UN declaration the National Party signed New Zealand up to. In 2010, the National-led Government - in coalition with the Māori Party - said New Zealand would support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The previous Government, led by Labour under Helen Clark, refused to sign it, then-Māori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia saying it was "fu...

Sick babies cared for in playroom

The number of beds for older children is also down, leaving families and already busy staff stressed as they decide who can be admitted and who should be cared for at home.The bed cuts were because of building work taking place and come as a big spike in respiratory illnesses hit the hospital.Counties Manukau District Health Board said the hospital was initially down 26 beds across both neonatal and paediatric care.But since a surge in sick children about three weeks ago, it set up eleven beds i...

Concerns raised over training of Oranga Tamariki staff

None of the staff at a care and protection residence where youth workers allegedly used excessive force on a teen had received refresher training on techniques for physical interventions, a union says.Oranga Tamariki chief executive Sir Wira Gardiner announced on Thursday that the agency would close care and protection residence in Christchurch, Te Oranga.It comes after a video, published by Newsroom on Tuesday, showed three staff members at the facility twice tackling a boy aged about...

Simon Bridges is proof Māori don't need

Dr Brash, who also led the ACT Party for a short time and currently spokesperson for lobby group Hobson's Pledge, says the controversial He Puapua document is "dangerous for our future" by forcing Kiwis to "choose between their Māori ancestors"."Every single person who identifies as Māori in this country also has Pākehā ancestors," he told The AM Show on Thursday.He Puapua is a report written by the Government's Declaration Working Group, but not Government policy. It's essent...

Oranga Tamariki tackling video

Condemnation of Oranga Tamariki continues to pour in thick and fast after video emerged of staff assaulting a young teen at one of its care facilities.Oranga Tamariki acting chief executive Sir Wira Gardiner told a select committee at Parliament on Tuesday "a number" of staff had been stood down since the video was posted on the Newsroom website on Tuesday.That video showed the young person being surrounded by staff, tackled, restrained and held in a headlock at one of the ministry's c...

Lake Alice abuse:

Solicitor-General Una Jagose has acknowledged the courage and persistence of survivors of abuse at the Lake Alice Psychiatric adolescent unit in the 1970s.Jagose is giving evidence to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care in Auckland.She also acknowledged those who had bravely spoken in public before the commission about their experience at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital, the pain and suffering they had endured and the impacts on their lives."Along with many other survivors you wil...

Whistleblower video

The boy is around 13 years old. He takes a couple of steps towards the Oranga Tamariki staff member, who is wearing black gloves. The man grabs the boy’s legs and tackles him to the ground. Two more staff members join in. The boy is held on the floor on his back. They hoist him up and walk him a few steps before pushing his face into a wall. Soon after, in a secure timeout room, his arms are twisted behind his back and he is again thrown to the ground. Our whistleblower says if police did this...

Trade courses offered for rangatahi

A Hamilton high school principal is hoping that trade papers translated into te reo Māori will allow students to see the value in their language.The Building, Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) have released the first building, construction and allied trades skills (BCATS) units in te reo Māori.Presented and blessed at Hamilton school Ngā Taiātea Wharekura the qualifications have been developed to help engage with Māori secondary schools and encourage more Māori to conside...

Māori ancestor-inspired mural in Auckland

Urban artists Janine and Charles Williams of The Most Dedicated crew have painted a new mural in central Auckland inspired by the Māori ancestor Hape.It's part of a global campaign called Converse City Forests. Instead of using traditional spray paint, they used innovative paint that cleans the air and is the equivalent of planting 182 trees.Janine, of Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara and Ngāti Pāoa, says the art piece was inspired by the legend of Hape and connects the essence of staying true to yo...

My stars of Matariki

I would like to imagine that the Matariki cover of Woman magazine, out this week, has set a precedent for the industry. When have you ever seen a collective of wāhine Māori in a gate-fold front page on a mainstream consumer title?Like, never.That constellation of nine captured with such splendour by Taaniko and Vienna Nordstrom of Soldiers Rd epitomises tino rangatiratanga – each of those women has forged her own path in a uniquely wahine Māori way, from the venerated author Patri...

Supporting Māori to be successful

Tamati and Jude Campbell are on a mission. They live and breathe academic excellence and are raising a whānau committed to te reo and tikanga Māori in their home and communities.Through pure grit and dedication, Tamati Campbell topped his faculty in his undergraduate studies, came away with the Dean's Award, Top Academic Scholar across both Auckland University campuses, was awarded a Kupe Leadership Scholarship and received a master’s degree with first-class honours.Jude Campbell is as dedic...

Mount Maunganui marae still on quest for industrial neighbours to move:

But a nearby company say their staff do not suffer poor health and local councils believe a managed retreat of heavy industry would be very challenging.Whareroa Marae is tucked into the inner Tauranga Harbour moana and its community have been voicing concerns about air quality for years.In 2019, the air over the Mount Maunganui industrial area - which includes the marae - was officially classed as polluted and last year, a working group was set up to address the issue.This year, alarm ...

Report complaining about use

A community board member’s report complaining about use of te reo Maori at a local government conference has been deemed unacceptable by the Dunedin City Council.Brian Peat, of the Mosgiel Taieri Community Board, referred to ‘‘a young Maori chap’’ talking in te reo for at least 20 minutes without translation into English, but his recollection has been challenged by one of the conference organisers.Mr Peat has called for all Maori content to be translated.His rejected report included th...

Christchurch teen elevating te reo Māori usage -

A Christchurch teenager has elevated her native language by battling for two years to get te reo Māori programmed into her school lifts.Rangimarie Te’evale-Hunt was only 13 and new to mainstream schooling when she made moves to have te reo Māori spoken in the lifts at the inner-city Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery school.It took research, a consumer hero award on television show Fair Go, and the commitment of the lift company to realise the idea, which Rangimarie believed should not...