The Government’s Drivers of Crime programme continues to make excellent progress in reducing offending and supporting victims, a new progress report released today by Justice Minister Judith Collins and Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples shows.
Launched in December 2009, Drivers of Crime coordinates the crime prevention work of the justice and social sector agencies to tackle the underlying causes of crime.
The first comprehensive public consultation on the Māori Community Development Act since it was passed more than 50 years ago will take place throughout September, Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples announced today.
Dr. Pita Sharples said “the Māori Community Development Act 1962 had its genesis in a national conference of Māori leaders – 51-years on Māori people are being consulted on its future.”
“We’re not asking you to turn into a Māori language expert overnight: We’re just asking you to give it a go.”
This is the call from Māori Affairs Minister Hon Dr Pita Sharples at the start of Māori Language Week 2013. This year’s theme is Ngā Ingoa Māori: Māori names.
“For those of us with Māori names – just knowing someone is trying to say your name properly means a lot.”
The Ministers of Economic Development and Maori Affairs have appointed a five member Advisory Board to assist in the implementation of the recently adopted Māori Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan, He Kai Kei Aku Ringa.
The strategy and action plan, prepared by the independent Maori Economic Development Panel, provides a blue print for Māori economic development through to 2040.
The Advisory Board’s responsibilities are on-going stewardship, monitoring and evaluation of the strategy and how it will be implemented.
Budget 2013 has provided more funding towards the highly successful Māori Affairs cadetship programme, which has supported more Māori into jobs and kept them there.
“We established this programme in 2009 to address Māori unemployment, and to provide Māori new to the workforce - or those with low qualifications - the opportunity to gain work experience and formal qualifications as a means of enhancing employment outcomes,” Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says.
Māori Affairs Minister, Dr. Pita Sharples has welcomed news that Waka Māori will be used in San Francisco during the America’s Cup, and says that the pavilion will show our Māori culture to the world.
Dr Sharples said “Waka Māori was a hit during Rugby World Cup 2011. It was used as a Māori cultural venue and events base, and clocked more than 400,000 visitors during the time that it was open.”
Poroporoaki ki a Parekura Tureia Horomia
Ka tanuku! Ka tanuku! Ka tanuku koa te tihi ki Hikurangi, ka tanuku!
Haruru ana te Tai Rāwhiti i te hinganga o Parekura, tangi ana te motu.
E te rangatira, kua moe koe i te poho o tō whānau, o tō iwi. Takoto mai, takoto mai.
E kī ana te kōrero: ‘Rārangi maunga, tū i te ao, tū i te pō; rārangi tangata, ka ngaro, ka ngaro.’
He maunga tangata koe – he maunga aroha, maunga kōrero, maunga o ngā tikanga tuku iho a ngā tīpuna.
Eight outstanding Māori leaders of tomorrow have been recognised with education scholarships totalling $115,000.
A pōwhiri and festival are to be held in Auckland to celebrate Maori and Chinese cultural bonds, and to consummate the relationship between the two cultures. The Minister of Māori Affairs, alongside hosts Ngāti Whātua o Orākei, and Auckland Chinese community leaders announced details of the ‘Taniwha & Dragon’ festival during the Prime Minister’s visit to China to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples today formally received a Māori feather cloak (kahu huruhuru) in Beijing, which will be temporarily loaned to Te Papa for display later this year.
The cloak was given to Chairman Mao Zedong in 1957 by New Zealand pioneer film maker Ramai Te Miha Hayward on behalf of the fifth Māori King, Korokī. It was presented to Dr Sharples and the Prime Minister’s delegation at a ceremony at the National Museum of China in Beijing, China today.
Minister of Māori Affairs, Dr. Pita Sharples, has congratulated Miraka, a Māori owned milk processing company for entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with Shanghai Pengxin.
The relationship signed today signifies the intent by Shanghai Pengxin to secure supply of milk from their New Zealand farms for processing at Miraka’s planned UHT plant once it has been completed.
The government is seeking feedback on five major proposals to streamline the complex rules governing Māori land, freeing its economic potential and strengthening guardianship, Associate Minister of Māori Affairs Christopher Finlayson and Minister of Māori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples announced today.
Minister of Maori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples has welcomed the news that today Australia’s House of Representatives unanimously passed an Act of Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as first peoples of Australia, which also commits the next Parliament to hold a referendum with the intention of recognising their indigenous status in Australia’s Constitution.
Dr Sharples said “I applaud the commitment shown by Australia’s House of Representatives to provide recognition for the rights and status of indigenous people in Australia.”
Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita R Sharples, today announced the appointment of Miriama Evans, Dr Rawinia Higgins, Hon Paul Swain and Nick Davidson to the Waitangi Tribunal. Each has been appointed for a term of three years, from 1 January 2013.
They will join Professor Sir Hirini Mead who was reappointed as a member of the Tribunal today.
“All of these new appointees bring their own set of skills and experience to the Waitangi Tribunal,” said Dr. Pita Sharples.
The community celebrations recognising the first section opening of the Pureora Timber Trail, part of Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail, which were held over the weekend are the first step to see visitors travelling through ancient rain forests and across the ancestral homelands of several Central North Island hapū.
“It’s a brilliant example of innovative Māori asset holders and government working together to realise the economic potential of their lands,” said Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples.
Ko Hikurangi te maunga, ko Waiapu te awa, ko Whangaokena te motu, ko Hinepare te marae. Te Whānau a Hunaara, Ngāti Porou whānui, e tangi! E tangi ki tō koutou koroua kua mate, ki tō koutou reo kōrero kua wahangū!
Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples says the establishment of a Māori Economic Development Unit in the new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will provide a new focus for New Zealand’s economic growth.
“The Māori economy is gaining strength, and revealing its potential to contribute to the New Zealand economy,” said Dr Sharples.
“Our traditional land-based assets are generating greater returns to owners, and supporting the development of the people through education scholarships, employment and in other ways.”
A new approach to boosting Māori economic performance will benefit all New Zealanders, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples say.
The Māori Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan, He Kai Kei Aku Ringa, released at Parliament today provides a blueprint for a productive, innovative, and export-orientated Māori economy that will support better paying jobs and higher living standards.
