ASHLEIGH PUTT-FALLOWS (SHE/HER) | NGĀTI WHĀTUA, NGĀPUHI, TŪHOE
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua Criticises Amendment of Customary Marine Title Act
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua has initiated High Court action against the Government’s amendment of the Marine and Coastal Area (MACA) Act, arguing that it unjustly complicates the process for obtaining customary marine title. Co-Chairs Rev John Marsden and Dame Rangimarie Naida Glavish criticized the government for its lack of consultation, and arbitrary cutoff date of July 25, 2024, which they believe undermines iwi rights and interests. They seek judicial declarations and damages for breaches of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. The legal challenge could affect ongoing cases in the Whangārei Harbour and Coast.
Victoria University of Wellington Presents: Pasifika Roadshow
Associate Professor Hon. Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika) at Victoria University of Wellington, highlights the importance of the upcoming Pasifika roadshow information evenings. These events are designed to bring the university closer to Pasifika communities, offering direct engagement with local families and potential students. Dame Laban emphasizes the value of these evenings for discussing and understanding the aspirations and perspectives of Pasifika individuals in regards to higher education. The goal: collaboratively foster academic excellence and growth within the Pasifika community. The information evenings will cover a range of topics including study options and support services, and feature insights from Pasifika alumni, current students, and staff. They also offer a chance for alumni to explore postgraduate opportunities and second chance pathways at the university.
Anyone is invited to attend these events, which will take place from Thursday 1 August to Wednesday 14 August in various locations: Porirua, Levin, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Wairarapa, and Wellington.
Te tū Ngāpuhi: Hikoi Against Crisis in State Care
Ngāpuhi iwi, hapū, and whānau are mobilizing in light of the high number of Ngāpuhi children in state care, as revealed by the recent Whanaketia report and ongoing issues highlighted in Oranga Tamariki reports. The Ngāpuhi spokesperson noted the alarming disproportion of Ngāpuhi children in care—827 as of April 2024—three times higher than any other iwi, and a third of all Māori children in state care.
To address this crisis, Ngāpuhi is organizing two hikoi: the first on August 3 in Kaikohe, starting at 10am near Broadway and Orrs Road, and ending at 65 Broadway, and the second on August 5 on Parliament grounds from 12 to 1 pm. These events aim to raise awareness, advocate for whakapapa-based solutions, and support Ngāpuhi-led strategies for tamariki mokopuna. Ngāpuhi seeks devolution of resources to implement their own solutions, emphasizing that Crown-led strategies have failed. They are advocating for their whānau to be safe and connected, pushing for an end to the trauma experienced in the current state care system.
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