Category: New Zealand Government

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Auckland employment hubs benefit over 500 young job seekers

Minister of Employment Willie Jackson today visited the Auckland CBD Jobs and Skills Hub and the Southern Initiative in Auckland that have benefitted over 500 young workers and rangatahi in the city.
“There is outstanding work going on in the Hub in response to employment demands in the construction industry,” says Mr Jackson.
 “Auckland’s inner city skyline is testimony to the intense infrastructure development that is taking place in the largest commercial centre in New Zealand,” says Mr Jackson.
“Since the Hub’s establishment nearly a year ago it facilitated training for 500 job seekers and over 150 people have been placed into employment with early indicators of success, with 47 percent under the age of 25; 37 percent of Māori descent; and 32 percent of Pacific Island descent.
“The Auckland city centre, including Wynyard Quarter and the downtown waterfront, is the commercial, cultural and educational heart of the city as New Zealand’s ‘shop front’ for international tourists, migrants and investors.
“The Jobs and Skills Hub’s purpose is to support commercial activity in the city by connecting employers and local job seekers, facilitating workforce skills development opportunities and supporting sustainable employment.
“The Jobs and Skills Hub is a testament to how good collaboration is vital to improving outcomes for young people. These two initiatives are a partnership between a number of central and local government agencies, construction sector stakeholders, the Auckland Tourism, Employment and Economic Development (ATEED), and community groups.
“In the Wynyard Quarter alone, one of the largest urban regeneration projects in New Zealand, around 2,500 construction workers are needed within the next two years,” says Mr Jackson.
“It’s been pleasing to hear that the Hub is focused on ensuring that we have those workers in place to support the city’s growth and development projects.
“It’s also encouraging to see a programme like The Southern Initiative making significant contributions to the community of South Auckland.
“The place-based initiative included in the Auckland Plan works with a range of groups including whānau, local social change agents, grassroots entrepreneurs, local businesses and government agencies to create a prosperous and resilient South Auckland where children and whānau thrive.
“It’s important that we do more to reduce a lot of the disparities we have in places like South Auckland, and I like the way The Southern Initiative is doing that through various partnerships and a diverse range of programmes.
“The Southern Initiative places a major focus on shared prosperity which can be created by lifting the incomes of South Auckland households through quality and sustainable employment and enterprise opportunities.
“I’m particularly interested by the whānau-centric approach that they’ve adopted to build whānau capability, leadership and knowledge. We all know that strong whānau are essential to creating strong communities, and with that, a strong workforce.
“South Auckland is rich in job and investment opportunities, but our people here still experience high levels of unemployment, underemployment and low wages. This is something that I’d like to see addressed as the Minister of Employment,” Mr Jackson says.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Speech to the SHINE and SAFEINET International Women’s Day event

It’s wonderful to be here today to mark international women’s day with all of you.
Firstly I would like to offer my sincere thanks to SHINE for hosting us today, in the midst of their week-long event “Light it Orange” I love that you’ve created a series of events shining a light on domestic violence.
I suspect you are all embracing the “press for progress” theme of International Women’s Day this year. I know you’ve been pressing for progress for decades now. I also know that the reason you’ve been pressing for progress is because you see and feel the trauma created by domestic and sexual violence. You are in the struggle everyday against a wider system that doesn’t help and in fact all too often makes things worse. I’ve been away from the front-line for a while now, I am emotionally and physically safe, but I still feel the urgency and responsibility.  I am here to say I too am “pressing for progress”
I want to acknowledge the many people in this room and those not here with us today, for all those years of feeling as if we are banging our heads against a brick wall of minimisation, denial, victim blaming and political rhetoric. I believe right now however, that we do have an opportunity for fundamental change. 
This is my first time speaking at an engagement as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary with responsibility for domestic and sexual violence issues. I acknowledge that this is also the first time we have had a dedicated person in the Executive of our Government focussed on family and sexual violence. In a nutshell, my job is to be a champion for ending domestic and sexual violence, and rest assured this isn’t only a job for me.
Preventing domestic and sexual violence is one of our greatest opportunities for improving wellbeing and building a cohesive society.
My position is to explicitly lead work with the NGO sector, and across government to improve our current systems, and there is no shortage of work there, and to develop our Government’s approach to ending domestic and sexual violence.
You have heard the Prime Minister and other Ministers in government talking about our commitment to wellbeing, to improving mental health, to lifting people out of poverty, and building meaningful Crown/Maori relationships.
It goes without saying that a person’s physical and psychological integrity-their safety- underpins their wellbeing, to improving mental health, to lifting people out of poverty, and building meaningful Crown/Maori relationships.
This government is committed to progress some of the most complex social issues confronting our nation; wicked problems that won’t be solved quickly or by any one intervention.  This clearly includes domestic and sexual violence.
I want to acknowledge up front, that we know that this will require Government working with you. We need to build from your knowledge and enable your passion and drive to achieve more for women in Aotearoa. We have made too little progress over too long a time, and that cannot continue.
So today I want to talk to you about how we move forward from here. Hopefully you will hear many of your own views reflected in this.
Firstly, it seems appropriate on International Women’s Day to recognise domestic and sexual violence as forms of gender based violence, and also in light of recent conversations to specifically acknowledge sexual harassment as a subset of sexual violence.
Of course, gender-based violence is an issue for men, women and people of diverse genders. We need healthy happy men in our families and our communities; men feeling confident and safe in their masculinity and able to safely express all their feelings and not just those that are stereo typically male. We also need to acknowledge that not all people fit into this binary and may be at more risk of violence.
But on this day, international women’s day, we reflect on the status and wellbeing of all women.
I am pressing for progress for women in Aotearoa New Zealand so that we can all live free from violence.
I am pressing for progress for women because time is up.
There are no excuses;
for turning a blind eye to sexual harassment
for silence when women are objectified and belittled
for tolerating violence in our homes, our workplaces and everywhere in our society
for blaming victims
for accepting rape culture
It’s time to challenge the beliefs and behaviours that have continued to subject women to abuse.
Current data shows one in three women experience physical emotional and or sexual violence from a partner in their lifetime; women are twice as likely as men to suffer partner abuse; women are more likely to be killed; and women living with a disability, young women, Maori women, queer and trans women experience higher rates of violence but are also more likely to be re-traumatised by our current systems.
We all know that women’s experience of violence reflects under lying issues of gender and inequality – it’s basically about power. This means prevention and responses need to be inclusive and seek to minimise other power inequalities. We also know addictions, poverty and mental health and housing challenges can all be an outcome of domestic and/ or sexual violence.
We need a cultural shift and that shift will also need to recognise the role colonisation has played and continues to play in fuelling gender based violence. For too long Maori have been told they are the problem and we have ignored the role of the State and the perpetuation of institutional racism which has all too often denied the meaningful engagement with Maori. We need to re-centre Kaupapa Maori responses to violence; not because Maori are a problem but because Maori hold the knowledge of what works for Maori.
We have to build trust between us so we can bring together government resources and community expertise to really start to turn these issues around.
I want to acknowledge at this moment the Backbone Collective and their 1200 plus members who provide an explicit victim’s voice, and who have willingly shared access to the experiences of victims of domestic violence through their advocacy and reports.
It is crucial to have the voice of those we seek to help and keep their safety at the centre of our thinking.
We can only change this if we are prepared to think and do things differently. And we need all of us to do this.
We here know, women their partners and whānau need us all to work differently to be prepared to transform the system and to do so in partnership with communities.
An individualised response or one pathway is not going to be enough. We need to ensure our system is well co-ordinated and integrated, and working significantly better for victims, their whānau, children and perpetrators. And we must be working in a way that is focused on wellbeing and safety. 
Over the past 15 years, survivors, whanau, experts and front line workers have told the government that the system is broken. People have said it doesn’t work for those affected by violence, they are re-victimised, and it’s too hard to find the support they need.
Recently the family violence sector have worked with government to develop two frameworks, one for workforce development and one for risk assessment and management. These two documents describe the capabilities actions and knowledge that domestic and family violence workers need to be most effective. These include a common approach to screening assessing and managing risk of family violence. These are good pieces of work that were done in partnership with community experts. I acknowledge these resources do not adequately include sexual violence, and we will remedy that.
Since their publication, these frameworks have been tested with organisations who have been early adopters and the cross government multi agency team for family and sexual violence has done further work to develop practice guidelines in support of their implementation. The frameworks have also been provided to CareerForce so that they can be integrated into their health and wellbeing diploma.
A great deal more work is required however to ensure the widespread incorporation of the frameworks into organisation’s policies, workforce training and development.
It is this opportunity that I want to highlight today.
Developing the workforce in government and in community requires a two-way exchange of knowledge. Although Government is where the biggest workforce is, I don’t need to tell you, that not all of the knowledge resides there.
A good example of Government learning from the community is the work SHINE has embarked on with the Ministry of Justice. There, every manager and employee is receiving information about family violence and the support available to them with managers receiving training on how to respond to it in the workplace. SHINE as a community provider is bringing its expertise into the training provided to Ministry staff enabling significant workforce development. This aims to ensure staff get the support they need and all staff are better informed and skilled when considering how to respond to family and domestic violence affecting their staff.
The second phase will be training for more than 2000 frontline staff to enable greater responsivity to the needs of court users affected by family violence or sexual violence.
I believe we can build community capacity, while we upskill our public sector, and I know we have a lot of work to do. We will be on the road to ending gender based violence when
Victims of violence are heard and supported to recover from trauma
People who use violence are supported to gain insight into their own behaviours and be accountable.
Whanau and workplaces and communities are supported to be resilient and promote safety and wellbeing
Government agencies are domestic and sexual violence informed and responsive to victim and community feedback, and
Communities are empowered to solve local problems.
When we talk, listen and learn together respectfully – government with communities and people with direct experience of issues like domestic and sexual violence the solutions we create will be effective and sustainable.
I want to now tell you about the passionate public servants within government agencies, who are dedicated to working with you all and the sector. The Ministry of Justice has a real commitment to co design. We know that we need your expertise to fix our system. There will be times when small groups are involved and other times when broader consultation will be required. I am keen to see us create systems that enable victims to directly input.
The Ministry of Justice is already putting this approach into practice. I know that some of you have been and are involved in the design of new service prototypes like the perpetrator risk and needs assessment service that will be needed when the currently named family and whanau violence bill comes into force. Others have been involved in discussions about how to ensure safety of victims in bail decisions and the re-design of Care of Children forms. The process for redesigning protection order application forms is also commencing and community stakeholders, and the people they represent, will be involved in that work.
I want to acknowledge the pressure our community providers are under. You are all doing your work so that you can support and ultimately end domestic and sexual violence, and often without resources and at full capacity. Being in this situation takes a real toll on the people doing this work and I want to say to providers – thank you, and you matter.
I have heard some people express concern that we are putting family and sexual violence together in a government response. I understand the concern, there is a very long history of the focus shifting between domestic and sexual violence. And: when out of focus there have been too many instances of sexual violence being subsumed into domestic violence. I am committed to ensuring we maintain the distinction between the two areas while holding both in view. I hope this will enable us to respond more coherently to the common elements and ensure we develop and understand the distinct dynamics and responses required for each.
In recent weeks I’ve been meeting with Ministerial colleagues and officials to discuss our approach to cross-government work. I had a couple of days sitting in our district courts, and talking with court staff and court victims advisors. I’ve visited many agencies involved in the integrated safety response pilots in Christchurch and Hamilton. I’ve had discussions with the Chief Victims Advisor and EEO Commissioner and met with SHINE, Women’s Refuge, TOAHNNEST, MSAC, Shakti NZFVCH, FVDRC, Children’s advocates, the Backbone Collective and NCW and the coalition for the safety of women and children, and many more wonderful NGOs. My commitment is to continue listening and working with you all. And I’m here to listen even when you don’t think we have been doing enough.
I am working with the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety to look at how we can ensure our workplaces are safe from sexual harassment, and I will also be working with the Minister for Immigration on ensuring our immigration policies support our commitment to ensuring the safety of all women and children. Living free from violence is a fundamental human right and we recognise the need for action across government and at all levels of society.
In the next few months I anticipate engaging with sexual violence services and the legal profession as I develop proposals for reform in response to the 2015 Law Commission report on the Justice Response to Victims of Sexual Violence. I am confident that we can make progress on these important issues and look forward to working with relevant agencies to do so.
My vision is for an integrated responsive system informed by the best evidence and the voices of those affected by violence; where prevention and early intervention is funded adequately so that we can stem the tide; and where our responses to violence enable victims to recover from trauma and people who use violence to take responsibility for attitudes, beliefs and behaviours.
This is about all of us, shining a light on violence and taking action together… for the wellbeing of women, for the wellbeing of all of us, we must continue to #pressforprogress
I look forward to working with you all as we do this.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Bobby calf deaths down by half for the second year running

The number of bobby calves that die between the farm gate and the works is now down to 6 calves for every 10,000 and that is a victory for our animal welfare regulations, says the Associate Minister of Agriculture responsible for Animal Welfare Hon Meka Whaitiri. 
“This improvement is just great to see and represents a lot of hard work done by MPI and the industry to improve the welfare of bobby calves. 
“In 2008 the mortality rate was a depressing 68 calves per 10,000 and that prompted changes in the industry that saw that rate start to fall. 
“The regulations that were introduced in 2016 have seen the deaths continue to drop every year. 
“Improvements in the mortality rates show that these regulations, alongside the industry’s own initiatives have made a real difference. 
“The welfare of calves is a collective responsibility so it’s important that we keep up the good work to make sure calves are treated humanely.” 
MPI developed the Animal Welfare (Calves) Regulations and implemented four of them in 2016, with the final three regulations coming into force in 2017. 
“I am delighted that there is yet another improvement in the mortality rates around bobby calves but we must remain vigilant,” says Meka Whaitiri. 
For the full ‘Mortality rate in young calves in the 2017 spring calving season’ report see the MPI website: www.mpi.govt.nz/calves

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: $1 billion of drug harm stopped at the border

Customs seizures  at our border in 2017 prevented at least a $1 billion of potential harm to New Zealand communities, says the Minister of Customs Hon Meka Whaitiri. 
Methamphetamine and its precursor ephedrine made up the bulk of the seizures at nearly 897kg. Other interceptions included cocaine, MDMA, cannabis, LSD, Class C analogues, psychoactive substances, plus over 238,000 ‘items’ such as tabs and pills.  
“I congratulate Customs for stopping over a tonne of illicit drugs entering the country preventing potential harm to New Zealanders. This is fantastic work. 
“When I started in my role as Minister, I was clear to my officials that keeping methamphetamine off our streets and away from communities should be a big priority.  
“These destructive drugs would have been worth hundreds of millions of dollars on the streets – it’s pleasing to know these seizures would have stopped many criminals in their tracks. 
“More importantly, these seizures have protected our families, whānau and the wider community from a considerable amount of potential harm.  
“As Minister of Customs, it is so heartening to know the passion and commitment that our Customs officers share to protect this  country. I commend Customs and the great job they are doing,” says Meka Whaitiri.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Working group to develop solutions to freedom camping

Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis has announced the establishment of a working group to develop solutions to freedom camping issues.
This morning Mr Davis met with 32 mayors and deputy mayors from across the country about freedom camping.
“The meeting was very productive and I want to thank the mayors and deputy mayors for sharing their views and experiences. It was really valuable. The issues with freedom camping are not insurmountable and there is a clear willingness from everyone to work together and find solutions.
“Freedom camping is a complex area. Freedom campers bring economic benefits to our regions, but the behaviour of a small percentage and the sheer increase in volume of freedom campers is causing real problems for some councils.
“The mayors talked about the need for a more consistent approach, including around enforcement and signage, more infrastructure needed in some areas, and the need to look at the Freedom Camping Act. 
“The mayors fully supported the establishment of a working group – made up of central and local government, the tourism industry, and other stakeholders – to discuss and work through the issues. 
“I am keen to get the working group established as quickly as possible. We need to come up with some solutions in time for the next summer peak season. Other issues, such as looking at the Freedom Camping Act, will take more time.” 
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta has welcomed the establishment of the working group.  
“This is a significant issue for many local authorities who face significant stress and challenges to respond to seasonal influx of freedom camping.
“The Government recognises that tourism is an important industry – it’s our biggest export earner – but it’s also important that councils have the necessary tools and powers to respond when their communities are feeling the impact of high visitor numbers. 
“Collaboration is key in this situation and it’s great to see central and local government are committed to working together, with the tourism industry and other stakeholders.”
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, in consultation with other agencies, will develop a terms of reference for the working group.
  
Additional information:  
Over the last two years, international visitors who did some freedom camping spent an average of around $4,700 and stayed around 51 days in New Zealand, compared with the average for all visitors of $3,200 and 18 days. 
Over the last three years, international visitors who did some freedom camping spent an average of around $526 million a year in New Zealand. 
Over the past ten years, the number of international visitors doing at least some freedom camping during their stay has risen from around 30,000 to 115,000 annually.
In December the Government announced $14 million funding for 32 infrastructure projects through the Tourism Infrastructure Fund. The next $10 million round of the fund will be launched soon.  
Mayors were invited from Buller District, Central Otago District, Christchurch City, Clutha District, Dunedin City, Far North District, Gisborne District, Grey District, Hauraki District, Hurunui District, Kaikōura District, Mackenzie District, Marlborough District, Napier City, Nelson City, New Plymouth District, Queenstown Lakes District, Rotorua Lake District, Ruapehu District, Selwyn District, Southland District, Tasman District, Taupō District, Timaru District, Wairoa District, Waitaki District, Waitomo District, Wellington City, Western Bay of Plenty District, Whanganui District, Whakatanē District, and Whangarei District.  

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Government to work with Mayoral Housing Taskforce

The Government today committed to working with the Auckland Mayor’s Housing Taskforce aimed at ramping up the pace and scale of housing building in our largest city, Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford and Building and Construction Minister Jenny Salesa says.
The Taskforce is a multi-sector group made up of private sector housing organisations and public sector agencies. It will be a key forum for reviewing and developing housing policy to better address shortages and unaffordability in Auckland.
Phil Twyford says there is a strong overlap between the Taskforce’s objectives and the Government’s own reform projects.
“It’s great that Auckland Council is taking the lead on this work. Government officials will be doing all they can to work with the Taskforce to implement the necessary reforms.
“Fixing Auckland’s housing issues is the key to addressing the national housing crisis. Central government can’t do this alone; we must partner with Council, the community, business and iwi.
“The social cost of the housing crisis on Auckland’s most vulnerable – and especially its children – means this work must be a priority,” Phil Twyford says.
Jenny Salesa says Council and the private sector have stressed the need for standardised solutions that can accelerate house building.
“A key priority for me is developing a skills strategy for the construction sector. We have ambitious house building targets and need the right people with the right skills to help deliver it.
“For this to be successful, the sector and government must work together to make sure immigration, training and education are matched by the construction sector’s efforts to be seen as an attractive career to a diverse range of Kiwis,” Jenny Salesa says.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Changes to New Zealand Super for Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced proposed changes to New Zealand’s superannuation requirements that will make the system fairer for residents of Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.
“The New Zealand Cabinet has agreed to make changes to the eligibility requirements for receiving New Zealand Superannuation and the Veteran’s Pension that will help level the playing field for people residing in the Realm counties,” Mr Peters says.
“Under the current system people must have lived in New Zealand for five years after turning 50 in order to be eligible for New Zealand Super. We will now allow residency in Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau after the age of 50 to count towards the eligibility requirements.
“This will mean that people who are eligible for New Zealand Super will be able to remain in these countries and contribute to the local economy without having to return to New Zealand just to qualify for their pension.
“These are changes which the Governments of Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau have advocated for. We will continue to work with them to ensure New Zealand’s superannuation requirements recognise the special constitutional relationships we have with the Realm countries,” Mr Peters says.
Minister for Social Development Hon Carmel Sepuloni will continue to progress these changes as a matter of priority.
The changes will take place by no later than January 2019.
ENDS

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Funeral of Alfred ‘Bunty’ Preece

It’s good to be here, even though it’s a very sad event that has brought us all together today.
May I take the opportunity to pass on the condolences of the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern,  and a personal message of condolences from the Right Honourable Winston Peters,  who said in a text message to me last night that he knew Bunty very well, and there were many times where they’d had a quiet korero.
I’d like to acknowledge my parliamentary colleagues, the Hon Willie Jackson and Rino Tirikatene, and also Sir Wira Gardiner, who are here today.
We’re here to honour a truly great New Zealander. And it is an honour and a privilege to be able to address you and your whanau today, Bunty.
Lieutenant Alfred “Bunty” Preece, Chatham Islander, was born in 1922.  He answered the call to arms to defend our way of life against one of the most professional, well-trained, best-equipped, best-organised, military forces of evil to ever threaten mankind and our way of life. Bunty,  you did that, and you didn’t have to. The Chatham Islands is about as far away from the horrors of Europe and the war in Europe as you could imagine. But like so many, Bunty, you answered the call and volunteered.
It was interesting for me to read that Bunty actually joined the Army Service Corps originally. Not of his choice, but that’s where they suggested he should be. But undeterred in his quest to become part of the 28th Māori Battalion, he corrected that when he was deployed to Egypt. There he became a member of D Company,  affectionately known as Ngati Walkabout, because D Company was made up of tribes, iwi and people from everywhere including people from Ngāti Kahungunu rohe in the Wairarapa, and I know it included people from Rarotonga, people from Tonga, people from Samoa, and I’m of the understanding there was even a Pawnee Indian.
Bunty saw the horrors of war, more than many, and he is quoted as saying Italy is where he truly found out what it was like to be afraid. That was a feeling that was reiterated by my foster uncle Sergeant Lou Thorburn, who served in Italy as well. But that didn’t stop Bunty and in an attitude that would define his life he just kept going. He was wounded in Monte Cassino, quite badly, but he was back at the front three months later.
He would be wounded two more times before the war was out, and would also have the honour of being mentioned in dispatches.  People don’t get that for turning up, they get that for distinguished conduct.  Commissioned in the field, commanding a platoon, and briefly D Company, is recognition of his bravery and skill as a soldier and an officer.
Bunty also served in J-Force so his service was longer than just World War 2. 
He saw first-hand the effects of nuclear weapons and the total devastation that it brought. He is one of the small number who served in Egypt, Italy and with J-Force.
He returned to the Chatham Islands and raised a family, only to suffer more tragedy with the death of his son. 
He demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities not only on the battlefield, but like many of the officers of theMāori Battalion, continued in a post-war leadership role for his comrades, their families, his community and our wider community.
Today we thank you and recognise you, Bunty, for your loyal service, including service as Mayor of theChathams and National President of the 28th Māori Battalion.
Bunty’s service to New Zealand was recognised with a Queen’s Service Order.
His legacy is very much that of personal courage and leadership on the battlefield, and in the community. He was an outstanding Māori leader and New Zealander. One we should all look up to.
As Minister of Defence, and a former serving Māori soldier, I am proud of the fact that the battle honours won by the Māori Battalion are today carried by the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, creating an enduring link between the men of the Māori Battalion and those men and women serving in the New Zealand Defence Force today.
Lieutenant Alfred “Bunty” Preece QSO did his duty unwaveringly,never asking for anything other than that which would make life better for others. We would do well to emulate his example.
As a Minister it’s not often I quote from the media. But I believe words used by Mike Crean from Fairfax are very apt at a time like this. Mike interviewed Bunty at the Māori Battalion’s last reunion in December 2012. Of him he said:“He marched with 28 (Māori) Battalion of the NZ Army 2nd  Division, right through Italy, in 1944 and 1945. He marched through fire, through woundings, through the loss of comrades.
“He marched through the stench of dead soldiers left lying in the open because enemy snipers were watching. Now he marches through memories.
“Pride in his battalion surges through a body bent by years of rain-laden winds that storm off southern seas to enshroud his islands.
“His head bows as he explains how immediate his memories of those traumatic days in battle are. His sheet of white hair flops over closed eyes. Again the poet in him speaks – ‘The most gentle became savage, and the savage would weep’. These were the two extremes. These were what the Māori Battalion was all about.”
I want to take a moment to share two observations of the men of the 28th Māori Battalion from two men you may never know nor meet. . Just last night I pulled out the memoirs of a foster uncle, Sergeant Lou Thorburn, who served in World War 2 with Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Riflesand then with the 26th Battalion. As a Māori child growing up with numerous foster families, I didn’t have much contact with my Māori whanaunga. Uncle Lou was one who would spend time with me when he and Aunty Eva visited. One moment I have never forgotten is of this man, who fought in Egypt, Libya and Italy to the end of the war and who never talked about the war. One day whilst sitting beside me on the porch he said “you know Ronnie, if you had seen what I have seen the Māori soldiers of the 28th Battalion do, you would forever be proud that you are a Māori, never forget that.”
And then this morning on my way to the airport my driver overheard me talking to one of my staff about today’s events and Bunty. When I finished my call he said:  “Minister, I’m very sorry to hear of the loss of another soldier from the Māori Battalion. My dad served in the 21st Battalion and he always said ‘if you were going into battle you always wanted the Māori beside you or behind you because they were fearless and they looked after everyone’.”
Bunty epitomised those men, who chiselled that reputation in the minds of their fellow soldiers.
Bunty, you led your men well. You were a credit to your whanau, your battalion, your island, your tribe, your country. You stood up for the side of good, in the most harrowing time the world has seen.
Be with your tipuna, be at peace with your old comrades.
We will remember you.