Category: Te Pati Maori

Source: Te Pati Maori

Te Pāti Māori have launched a petition to stop the repeal of Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act. This announcement comes prior to the first reading of the Section 7AA repeal bill in Parliament today.

“Section 7AA forces the Government to adhere to Te Tiriti o Waitangi with respect to the care and protection of our babies; our taonga,” said Spokesperson for Children and Te Tai Tokerau MP, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi.

“It asserts that our babies should be placed with and reconnected to their whakapapa.

“This repeal, this system, this Government and the Minister is trying to make us believe that we are better off handing our flesh and blood to Pākehā; that we are not good enough to raise our own.

“We will no longer allow our mokopuna to be exterminated from the inside out by ripping them away from their culture and identity. Every single attempt by this Government to erase whakapapa from mokopuna lives must be stopped” said Kapa-Kingi.

“Te Tiriti was created so the Queen of England could control her unruly Pākehā in Aotearoa. Te Tiriti never envisaged Pākehā taking our babies away from us. That was only ever to be the prerogative of whānau, hapū and iwi. Nōku ōku uri! Kauaka rā ō ringa e Te Kāwana.

“Our petition seeks to empower the right of Māori babies to be placed with whakapapa through the maintenance of Section 7AA.

“Only Māori can understand the prevalence of our identity and culture, and though our whakapapa can never be taken away, it can be erased from our reality.

“We are asking people of Te Tiriti to support this petition to stop this action by the Government to remove mokopuna Māori from themselves,” Kapa-Kingi said.

The petition is available for signing on the Te Pāti Māori website.

Source: Te Pati Maori

Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill.

Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a random draw for one of 550 presenting slots.

“Te Pāti Māori is disappointed that submissions on the governments Fast Track Approvals bill will be subject to a lucky-dip,” said co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

“It is way too casual for such a critical moment in the legislative process when it comes to a bill that could have devastating effects on our communities for nothing but profit.

“Our whānau have put so much time and effort into their submissions. More than 1,400 used our templates socialised across our platforms. People have an expectation that they will turn-up and speak to their submission.

“It is vital that a fair, balanced and just process be endured to ensure we hear a range of voices and views.

“Aspects like the unique impact of this legislation, and general position needed to be considered to ensure balance in the submissions that will be heard.

“What we have seen from the submissions, from the rallying of iwi like Ngāti Toa and from the collective effort of our communities is that this kaupapa means so much for Māori.”

Co-leader Rawiri Waititi said whānau Māori have made their views clear over a kaupapa that means so much.

“Māori have and are more than ready to stand-up and tell the government ‘kao’. It is our kaitiaki responsibility over our taiao to do so,”

“We will not allow this Govt to use the lives of Māori as a raffle. Our people and taiao deserve more than a ‘lucky dip’.

“Our taiao should not be in the hands of a govt with a three-year mandate, when these decisions have a hundred-year impact.

“Te Pāti Māori will ensure that we do what we must to allow our people to be heard. If that means setting up our own forum, so be it.

Source: Te Pati Maori

Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops.

Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of the bodies show evidence of torture, mutilation, and mass execution. Some have been found stripped naked with bound hands, while others still had medical tubes attached to them indicating that they were likely buried alive.

In the same week the United States pledged a further $17bn to the Israeli war machine. The US is now calling for an investigation into the mass graves to be led by Israel with no independent international oversight.

“This is a new level of horror that we haven’t seen before” said Te Pāti Māori co-leader and human rights spokesperson Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

“We won’t accept the findings of any investigation that is not independent of Israel and the United States. To do so is to be complicit in covering up one of the worst atrocities to ever be witnessed.

“Israel has proven beyond doubt that they have no regard for the humanity of Palestinian people, or international law. The international community needs to stop viewing them as though they are anything more than a rogue state.

“Israel is demonstrating the depths of depravity that humanity can sink to. It is unconscionable that Aotearoa still maintains diplomatic relations with a nation that is actively committing war crimes” said Ngarewa-Packer.

“We need to impose immediate sanctions on Israel, and end all talks with the AUKUS war machine.

“The United Nations has called for an independent international investigation into the mass graves uncovered at Al-Shifa and Nasser hospitals, and the New Zealand Government must back this call” said Ngarewa-Packer.

“Our government must exert as much pressure as we can to hold Israel accountable for their crimes against humanity.

“Palestine is the last bastion of resistance against global Western colonisation. If Palestine is not free, neither are we,” Ngarewa-Packer said.

Source: Te Pati Maori

Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi.

“The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when it comes to decisions for Māori, without evidence and without including us in the conversation. It’s enabling another stolen generation” said Te Tai Tokerau MP, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi.

“To do away with Section 7AA is to continue the Crown’s rotten agenda that harms our vulnerable Māori babies. It disgusts me that a Seymour-proclaimed mana wahine is proud of her actions to oppress our children.

“This decision socks it to the nation and Māori babies, with the governments idiopathic agenda to steal the right tamariki Māori have to be with whakapapa and the organisations duty to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“This government is hellbent on overriding, creating laws and overturning evidence based and informed policy. The Minister has no evidence to back up the repeal of 7AA.

“It is only fair that the summons asks Karen to present evidence to the Waitangi Tribunal on behalf of the government portfolio she has responsibility for. It is the sheer arrogance of Karen and her government she represents.

“Te Pāti Māori is focused on creating an Aotearoa where this nation’s tamariki and mokopuna will thrive and be proud of. This government is on a fast track to destruction and are willingly trying to create yet another stolen generation of Māori babies,” said Kapa-Kingi.

Source: Te Pati Maori

The government’s decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today.

During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received over 50% of the strikes, and 63% of those with a second strike were Māori.

Ministry of Justice briefs established that there was no evidence of this policy reducing crime, or having any obvious effect on crime rates at all.

“We know unequivocally that being harder on crime equates to being harder on Māori and those too brown to be white. These numbers demonstrate it,” said Ferris.

“Modelled on US law that disproportionately targeted African Americans, Three Strikes has unjustly perpetuated racism and ensnared Māori with no evidence of reducing crime.

“We only have to look at 2022 research out of California1 showing that Three Strikes has no measurable deterrent effect, that it locks up African Americans, and that it does not address crime.

“This reckless law-making will result in unjust sentences and accelerate mass incarceration of Māori and Pasifika. It lacks evidence and is full of racial bias,” said Ferris.

“Intelligent policy and rehabilitation, not punitive measures, are essential for a just society. This is not intelligent; it’s grandstanding for political perception.

“The only time Māori receive special treatment is when we are dealing with the criminal justice system. It has profiled and targeted tangata whenua for as long as it has existed in this country.

“The reintroduction of Three Strikes is to maintain this status quo,” concluded Ferris.

Source: Te Pati Maori

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April).

The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both MPs and the Party to build on connections with whānau Māori in Australia as well as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The programme includes engagements with performing kapa haka, their whānau and communities. MP’s will also be the masters of ceremony at the kapa haka event which determines which groups from Australia qualify for Te Matatini 2025.

The programme will also include a meeting with independent indigenous Senator for Victoria, Lidia Thorpe, on Thursday, April 18.

“There are over 180 thousand Māori who are living in Australia according to the last census. It is important that we build connections with them and their whānau, as part of our role to represent their interests,” said Rawiri Waititi.

“Our visit will focus on creating awareness of the issues grappling our people in Aotearoa, what their specific aspirations and challenges are and why it is important that they enrol and participate in elections.

“I also want to create some awareness around our indigenous responsibilities when living abroad. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the oldest indigenous culture on this planet.

“As manuhiri to this sacred whenua, it is important that Māori understand their responsibilities as manuhiri but also their accountability to the whenua and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples of Australia.

“We are really looking forward to creating ties with indigenous counterparts including Senator Thorpe who shares very similar values and approaches to the representation of indigenous Australians, as we do in Aotearoa.” Said co-leader, Rawiri Waititi.

The pōhiri for the Kapa Haka Festival will take place on Friday (19 April 2024), with the competition starting Saturday (20 April 2024).

Source: Te Pati Maori

Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday.

“I’m calling on all political parties to support my bill to remove GST from kai,” said bill sponsor and Te Pāti Māori co-leader, Rawiri Waititi.

“It shouldn’t matter where you sit on the political spectrum. Removing GST from kai should be a no brainer for any party who is serious about supporting whānau during a cost of living crisis.

“Food is a right and a necessity that shouldn’t be taxed. We know that GST hits lower income whānau the hardest.

“We should not be relying on people who are struggling to feed their tamariki to prop up our tax system.

“On some kaupapa, parties must put the rubbish politicking aside and come to a mutual agreement for the wellbeing of our mokopuna.

“I would think the removal of GST from food is one of those kaupapa. It will give some real relief to the pockets of whānau and should be one of those instances where all political parties see eye-to-eye.

“The coalition said they’d do something to address the cost of living. This bill is an opportunity for them to have a positive impact after a terrible start to their governing term.

“Removing GST from kai is only one of the changes needed to rebalance our tax system and ease the burden on whānau. It is a change that can be made over night that will have an immediate impact,” Waititi said.

The letter was sent to all party leaders today requesting them and their parties to support the bill.

Source: Te Pati Maori

After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This is despite failing every environmental threshold and having their consent revoked by three separate courts.

“It’s clear these corporations are feeling emboldened by this government and their fast-tracking legislation” said Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

“TTR have already invested $50 million into their bid to pillage our seabed of minerals, and now they have the government backing them. We are gravely concerned for what this means for our rural communities who cannot afford endless court cases.

“Iwi have won every court case against TTR, and have proven beyond doubt that this company cannot meet the environmental threshold. But here we are, back at this point.

“If TTR fails to meet the EPA’s environmental threshold again, which we are certain they will, there is nothing stopping this government from fast tracking their consent anyway.

“This is what the erosion of Te Tiriti looks like. It is why they stole our Foreshore and Seabed in 2004: so they could sell it off to these companies who care about nothing but profit.

“Te Pāti Māori will not rest until seabed mining is banned in Aotearoa once and for all. We will fight this company, and the government backing them, every step of the way” Ngarewa-Packer said.

Source: Te Pati Maori

The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori.

“The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

“Our health system sees Māori die seven years earlier than non-Māori. We are two-to-three times more likely to be engulfed with cancer and sixty percent more likely to die after diagnosed.

“The writing is on the wall, it’s in the wards and oncology units across the country.

“Together with the move to repeal smokefree laws, going back to a system which is entrenched in 180-years of failure is a decision by Minister Reti to commit those he shares whakapapa with to an earlier death.

“The abolishment of Te Aka Whai Ora this morning has undone decades of work, and is a fundamental breach of our tino rangatiratanga rights asserted in Te Tiriti.

“The campaign for a smokefree Aotearoa was led out by Hone Harawira and Dame Tariana Turia in their time in office, setting targets for smokefree 2025.

“Māori will not reach that 5% target until 2040 on current figures which show Māori smoking rates at 17.1% compared to European and Other at 6.1%.

“That is no fault of our own. Aotearoa was colonised with tobacco and disease. Our communities are plagued by four times more tobacco retailers then others.

“It is my intent to hold the government to account, and assure Minister Reti keeps his promise to deliver better outcomes than the Māori Health Authority,” concluded Ngarewa-Packer.

Source: Te Pati Maori

Te Pāti Māori has this morning written to the speaker of the house requesting an urgent debate around the use and abuse of urgency to expedite the progression of its agenda, including the disestablishment of the Māori health authority.

“The governments use and abuse of urgency has created a dictatorship in what should be a Tiriti-led democratic state,” said co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

“The Executive has destroyed public, judicial and legislative oversight and participation. Urgency has been used in every sitting week of the 2024 sitting year – it is an abuse of government’s power.

“We have seen urgency used to abolish three waters legislation, workers’ rights including fair-pay agreements, 90-day trials, and section 27 cultural reports.

“Urgency deprives both legislators and the public of adequate time for scrutiny and deliberation on significant legislative measures such as the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority and abolishment of Smokefree legislation.

“In addition, a pre-dated hearing had been scheduled by the Waitangi Tribunal into the disestablishment of Te Aka Whai Ora. Tabling of the bill ahead of the hearing defeats judicial scrutiny.”

“This is an intentional approach adopted by the government to ram-raid public, judicial and legislative participation,” said co-leader, Rawiri Waititi.

“Such a debate would provide an opportunity for representatives from all parties to voice their concerns, and ultimately ensure that legislative processes remain fair, inclusive, and respectful of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and democracy.

“Te Pāti Māori await the speakers response. Our oranga and health demands that he will schedule an urgent debate on the use and abuse of urgency,” concluded Waititi.