We must never allow the perfect to defeat the good, but the fact that it’s taken 138 years to formally apologise for the tragedy of Parihaka speaks volumes about the cultural denial of the negative effects of colonialism.
The Māori Party have selected the exceptionally talented Debbie Ngarewa-Packer as their candidate in the very vulnerable seat of Te Tai Hauāuru and it represents the biggest threat to Jacinda’s dreams for a second term than any other political challenge.
Our mokopuna and rangatahi have led last week as they took to the streets in the largest political protests in modern NZ history.
Two major events occurred last week that require comment. Minister for Children, Tracey Martin, finally criticised Oranga Tamariki staff last…
The power to take your children from you is the most coercive power there is, it is a power that demands the highest thresholds of check and balance, none of which exist within Oranga Tamariki.
The Minister responsible for Oranga Tamariki has finally responded over the weekend to the outrage within Māoridom at the Oranga Tamariki uplifts and her response is disgracefully tone deaf.
How hard will Jacinda and Grant make it for Willie Jackson to deliver the Māori vote for Labour again?
I think the manner in which dead infants are being used to justify the deeply flawed child uplift policy by Oranga Tamariki is a new low in this depressing and increasingly ugly debate.
If there is any winner in this budget, it’s Māori.
The debate over Prisoners being able to vote has begun in the Waitangi Tribunal as argument is heard that the ban is a breach of the Treaty because it is so disproportionately unfair to Māori.