The addition of an absurd Treaty of Waitangi clause in the Plant Varieties Rights Act raises the question whether “Maoridom” will claim royalties on new plant varieties, Hobson’s Pledge spokesperson Casey Costello said today.  

The Waitangi Tribunal’s call for compensation for under-funding Maori health providers unfairly implies a systemic failure by health professionals and further excuses Maori from taking responsibility, Hobson’s Pledge spokesperson Casey Costello said today.  

Last Wednesday’s auction of possibly the only remaining printed copy of Governor William Hobson's original proclamation of British sovereignty over New Zealand is a reminder of exactly how Britain took control of New Zealand.

If “kainga” means “Maori village” and “ora” means “our”, renaming state housing as “our Maori village”, as the Kainga Ora–Homes and Communities Bill intends, appears an accurate name for housing that is largely occupied by Maori families.

It is appalling to see that the Labour Coalition Government is turning the clock back 20 years to the absurd “Closing the Gaps” policy of the Clark Government, Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash said today.

Today’s allegation by the Maori Council that holding young alleged offenders in police cells breaches the Treaty of Waitangi is the height of nonsense, Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash said today.

The Ngati Porou coastal area bill, which passed its third reading this week, gives a clear picture of how the entire marine and coastal area of New Zealand is likely to be governed after the 600 or so current claims are either rubber stamped by the Minister or wind their way through the High Court.

The bill, which gives the tribe $15.3 million to enable Ngati Porou to exercise their rights and obligations, provides a framework for customary rights recognition for Ngati Porou subgroups in relation to the coastal and marine areas defined in the above map. Time in jail or a massive fine is specified for anyone who does anything in a tribal area without permission.

Govt carer takes boy to gang pad for a lesson

As you can see from the cartoon above, issues around the treatment of children in care had an inconvenient complication when news broke that a government carer dropped a boy at a gang pad in Hastings because he was getting cheeky.

Oranga Tamariki removed the boy from there and confirmed he was safe and with his family as soon as it was alerted to the situation, and is "working to wrap as much support as possible around him and his whanau due to the attention that this is gaining on social media." See https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/oranga-tamariki-carer-allegedly-drops-boy-gang-pad-being-cheeky

Hastings was in the news for a series of unwelcome reasons over the past week. It was where Mongrel Mob blocked Te Mata Peak for a gang ceremony while police did traffic duty. At a later urgent meeting, the council and police confirmed that such public events were quite OK. See https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12230447

The local iwi chair supported such gang gatherings subject to the gang correcting its manner of ancestor worship. See https://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/replace-gang-call-ancient-call-ngati-kahungunu-chair?fbclid=IwAR2NPyfNArX9-k1Olp03tnq7AIaKXVUYupyXoJlZEvulN4l5VFgezGwMXbc

The seven-three vote at the Otago Regional Council yesterday to include two voting un-elected tribal appointees on its policy committee shows race-based preferential treatment in action, Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash said today.

The Otago Regional Council tomorrow should reject a proposal to include voting un-elected tribal appointees on its policy committee, Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash said today.