The New Zealand Centre for Political Research (NZCPR) has launched a campaign to have the foreshore and seabed returned to public ownership. This would mean repealing the Act, but acknowledge this will not happen without a tsunami of public concern. You can read more about this campaign in a recent NZCPR article ‘Return the Coast to Public Ownership’. Continue reading

Environment Canterbury Regional Council is promoting a Local Bill to Parliament - the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngai Tahu Representation) Bill - which, if passed, would ensure Maori representation on the Council beyond next year’s election. Please click HERE for a link to the bill. Continue reading

The Waitangi Tribunal has recently been hearing the final part of stage of two of its inquiry into a variety of claims relating to New Zealand’s fresh water resources. (A list of the matters the Tribunal is focusing on is available on the Waitangi Tribunal website, see HERE.) Continue reading

In response to a claim by Ngarimu Blair of Ngati Whatua o Orakei that the land on which Auckland University's Epsom campus is situated was part of a “gift” of land to the Crown in 1841, (see NZ Herald 30 Sept HERE), we have contacted Archives NZ, and have received a copy of the Deed of Sale for this - the Waitemata to Manukau block. The deed confirms the land was sold, and not only the land, but also mentions “the whole of the water, and everything above and below the land.” (If you would like a copy of the deed, please email us at: [email protected]) Continue reading

A year ago, Dr Bruce Moon wrote an article, published on the Breaking Views blogsite, warning of the dangerous situation being created by the distortion of the history of New Zealand. (Bruce is deeply engaged in studying New Zealand history, and the author of "Real Treaty; False Treaty - The True Waitangi Story”). A link is to his article, ‘Our Reversion to Tribalism’, is available HERE. Continue reading

With the summer break coming up for many of us, we have put together a list of recommended reading. (Hardly light entertainment, but enlightening!) Continue reading

Taking up the challenge from Mike Lee to become better informed about our history, please see below a list of suggestions from members of the Democracy Action working group: Continue reading

Such policies outlined above will embed a further layer of consultation and bureaucracy based along racial lines into everyday running of Government. (See Auckland Council’s advice page HERE.) Yet both local and central government already undertake extensive consultation with iwi groups. For example, let’s look at the consultation with ‘mana whenua’ groups Panuku Development Auckland has undertaken in relation to resource consents for the infrastructure and related activities associated with the America’s Cup. Continue reading

Despite NZ First scuppering the inclusion of the word "partnership" in the new Maori Crown agency's name – it is still used in the description of what the new agency will do. Crown-Maori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis said the new agency, Te Arawhiti, would help facilitate the next step in the Treaty relationship, moving beyond the settlement of Treaty grievances into "what it means to work together in partnerships". Continue reading

Over the years the NZ public have been assured by successive governments that the Treaty of Waitangi settlements are full and final, that Treaty issues will be settled once and for all, and the country will then move on. Continue reading