Whoa there – the Govt’s Clean Car scheme has gone into overdrive, leaving an unexpected fare (it seems) for taxpayers to pay

Buzz from the Beehive

The Beehive’s on-line bulletin board today brings news of another Minister headed overseas for very important business, another Māori housing project getting under way with the help of millions of government dollars, and beneficiaries being enabled by our beneficent government to beat inflation.

The travel plans unveiled were those of Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Phil Twyford, who will lead New Zealand’s delegation to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference at the United Nations in New York.

News of the urban Māori housing development – on land that has been blessed and  the sod turned in Mt Wellington, Auckland – was trumpeted by Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson, who  congratulated Tauhara North No 2 Trust on a project that will comprise 30 apartments.

The Government has invested $12.31 million, through its Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga programme, to support the $25 million development. Of this, $4.8 million has been funded through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s Māori Infrastructure Fund.

Then came news of a report which shows Government support has lifted incomes for beneficiaries by 40 per cent over and above inflation since 2018.

The report takes into account inflation data from up to March 2022 and reports a 43 percent rise in After Housing Cost incomes, said Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni.

Improved local government legislation? Not when Mahuta wants to make it mandatory to consider more Māori wards

When Nanaia Mahuta talks about improving local government processes, alarm bells should ring.

In a statement earlier this week, the Minister of Local Government said improvements to processes for electing councils at the next local government elections in 2025 have been introduced to Parliament in a measure called the Local Government Electoral Legislation Bill.

The legislation covers decisions about Māori wards, the number of councillors at Auckland Council, more consistent rules for a coin toss if an election result is tied, and filing nominations electronically, amongst other issues.

“The overall objective for the changes is to improve the processes for individuals and communities to participate and be represented in local elections,” said Nanaia Mahuta.

“The Local Government Electoral Legislation Bill brings together a range of diverse issues for improvements as an omnibus piece of legislation. It picks up recommendations that followed inquiries into the local elections in 2016 and 2019.”

Mahuta had a bit more to say about Māori wards.

Politicians nail down a plan for the construction sector – and there’s a role to be played by social engineers

Buzz from the Beehive

Two of five press statements issued from the Beehive over the past 24 hours have a Treaty of Waitangi focus, two include the interests of Maori in their considerations, and the fifth mentions the presence of local iwi at a sod-turning ceremony.

The Associate Minister of Transport, Kieran McAnulty, was joined at the ceremony by the Mayors of Carterton and Masterton, local Iwi and members of the Wairarapa community to turn the first sod on a package of “crucial” safety improvements for State Highway 2 in Wairarapa.

The work which started today includes three new roundabouts, flexible safety barriers in various locations on the highway between Masterton and Carterton, road widening  and new signage.

McAnulty will be hoping his press statement is given a good airing by media in the region and that voters are reminded:  

“As the local MP for Wairarapa I’m incredibly pleased to see this work begin and to have played a role in ensuring the concerns of Wairarapa community are addressed.

Oh, look – Sepuloni finds some money for the arts has not been spent, but it will be put to use in a trough for cultural “regeneration”

Buzz from the Beehive

News of the PM’s next overseas travel plans flowed from the Beehive along with a fanfaronade of self-congratulation for work coming along nicely, thank you, announcements of fresh projects and programmes for consuming our taxes, and advice aimed at enhancing our wellbeing.

The overseas travel is to Samoa – Jacinda Ardern will lead a Parliamentary and community delegation to Apia from the 1–2 August to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of “the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, between Aotearoa New Zealand and Samoa”

It is government policy, apparently, to  inject the word “Aotearoa” into all ministerial press statements.  The treaty signed 60 years ago was “the Treaty of Friendship between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of Western Samoa”.

The latest spending initiatives include an announcement from Agriculture Minister Damien  O’Connor that the Government is co-investing in a $22 million programme aimed at significantly reducing agricultural greenhouse gases and nitrate leaching.

The Government has committed $7.3 million over seven years to the N-Vision NZ programme through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund. The programme focuses on three technology streams:

Price of power looks likely to become an issue, now that the Tiwai Point smelter wants to keep operating

A  shot  in  the  arm  for  the  province of  Southland   came  this  week  with  the  news  that  the  Tiwai Point  aluminium  smelter  will not  shut  down in  2024 — and  could  have  a  long  term   future.

Since the  global  giant Rio Tinto  renegotiated the  last  electricity  contract, extending  the  life  of the  smelter for  three  years  from 2021, the  price  of aluminium soared as high  as  $US3800  a  tonne, and  although  it   has  retreated  from those  levels,  it is  still  high  at  around $US2400.

And  because the aluminium produced  at  Tiwai  Point  is  among the purest  in the  world, it is  not surprising   that Rio Tinto, and its Japanese partner, Sumitomo,  want  to  continue  production.

The  question now is whether Meridian Energy, which supplies  the  bulk of Tiwai Point’s   electricity  from the  big  Manapouri   station,  will   be   willing  to  do  so  without  a  significant  price  hike.  The  last  price  negotiation  was  difficult,  with  Rio  Tinto  using  the  threat of  closure  to  screw  the  price  down.

Waititi is stung by failure to negotiate a “Tiriti-centric” free trade agreement and is soured by provisions on manuka honey

Buzz from the Beehive

New legislation has been a  feature of press statements from the Beehive over the past 24 hours or so. 

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta introduced a Bill aimed at improving processes for electing councils at the local government elections in 2025 (and citizens should be wary, when the Ardern Government sets about “improving” local government electoral procedures).  The legislation covers issues such as Māori wards, the number of councillors at Auckland Council, more consistent rules for a coin toss if an election result is tied, and filing nominations electronically.  

Broadcasting and Media Minister Willie Jackson spoke in favour of a Bill intended to create a new public media entity, Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media, during the first reading (and citizens should be wary when the Ardern Government is deciding on the structure and the regulation of broadcasting organisations that provide them with the stuff that politically inform them).

Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall spoke of the government’s aims – becoming free of the harm caused by tobacco – after the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill passed its first reading.

And Trade Minister Damien O’Connor enthused about “free trade” with the United Kingdom being a step closer with the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill having its first reading in Parliament (although “free trade” would not require a document comprising a hefty list of rules and regulations). 

Why the Govt is on course to be given a “fail” mark for its work in our schools and polytechnics

Covid-19 was never going to be kind to the country’s education sector, especially when our school children were already sliding down the OECD rankings for literacy, maths and science and there was a lack of equity in terms of at-home and online learning.

But it’s hard  to look  at  the sector and  not  conclude   there  has  been  a  colossal  failure.

• School  attendance rates  for  term 1 fell  below 50%.
• The  polytechnic  mega merger  is  said  to be  unravelling at  pace.
• The leaders of 10 regional principals’ associations say schools are at or near breaking point because of the stress of staff and student absences.  They have implored the government to reveal as soon as possible how it would help teens pass NCEA this year.

But  who  should be blamed?

Is  it  just  Covid   that  has  done the  damage?   Or  have  other  factors  been at  work?

Munificence for Mātauranga Māori – how the Ardern Govt is dishing out millions for projects from the arts to science

Buzz from the Beehive

The Point of Order Munificence for Mātauranga Māori Monitor picked up the announcement from the Beehive this morning of more money being heaped into a trough unabashedly reserved for people from just one of the country’s many ethnic groups. 

The latest handouts are being spruiked as further action taken by the government to protect Mātauranga Māori against whatever mischief Covid-19 might do to it.

The Government is continuing to take action to support Māori to safeguard at-risk mātauranga from the ongoing threat of COVID-19, through the extension of the Mātauranga Māori Te Awe Kōtuku programme.

 And:

“We’re continuing to lay the foundations for a better future by prioritising the protection of mātauranga Māori and its importance to Māori cultural identity and wellbeing, and to Aotearoa New Zealand,” Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni said.

“There is an urgent need to protect unique and vulnerable mātauranga Māori, working with kaumātua, tohunga, pūkenga and other knowledge holders to ensure its survival and resilience for future generations,” Carmel Sepuloni said.

James Shaw and the challenge for the Greens: how to get the politicking right when you want to steer clear of the centre

A  week  ago   Point  of  Order  noted   how James Shaw was  fending  off  challenges,  first  from  his  political  opponents on  his  climate  change policies,  and  then against  his co-leadership  of  the  Green  Party.  He   emerged  unscathed  from  the  first  but  then lost  his  co-leadership.

Yet  beneath that  quiet  exterior  lurks  a  man  with  intent.

He   truly  believes  in  what  he  is  doing in  shaping  the  country’s  climate-change  policy,  and he  is not  blinking in the  face  of  the  challenge  from within the  party  that  he  is  not  doing  enough  to  stave off  back  the  climatic  apocalypse.

Radio NZ’s Morning Report today  reported  he will contest the Green Party’s co-leadership after being ousted from the role.

“I’m not done,” he told  the  programme.

Shaw made the announcement after failing to get the 75% of delegates’ votes he needed at the party’s online annual meeting at the weekend (a formidably high threshold) to be reconfirmed in the role.

Co-leader Marama Davidson was reconfirmed by delegates.

Coming up with a new name for this commission was a walkover? Not when it is developing a Treaty partnership

The news from an outfit called the Walking Outdoor Access Commission was startlingly summed up in four words in a press statement headline:  We’re changing our name.

The fundamental change should have be no more than the removal of the  word “walking”,  because (as the press statement tells us):

“Our new name recognises more than the breadth of trail users, which range from people in tramping boots to fishing waders, sitting astride a horse or a bike, shouldering a rifle or pushing a stroller.”

And so, the new name will  be the Outdoor Access Commission?

Don’t be silly.

“Trails aren’t just for walkers, they’re for all of us – and so is Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, the Outdoor Access Commission, formerly the Walking Access Commission (from 28 July 2022).”   

Does that mean “Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa” is te reo for “Walking Access Commission”?

Again, don’t be silly.

“Herenga is a bond, obligation or tie. Nuku refers to Papatūānuku, the earth mother. She is the land in all her beauty, power, strength and inspiration. She sustains us.   

“Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa – connecting people, connecting places.”

The press statement provides some (but not much) background:

“In 2019 a government review of the Walking Access Act 2008 recommended the Commission change its name to better reflect its activities and its relationships with Māori.”

This would be an Ardern government review, we may suppose.

It should be noted that the emphasis was to go on the commission’s relationship with Māori, not its relationship with the public or with New Zealanders.

Consequently:

“The Iwi Chairs Forum supported cultural advisors Tūtira Mai to develop a new name for the Commission.” 

How, when and why the Iwi Chairs Forum was brought into the decision-making process is not clear.

But we do know that Tūtira Mai is not a charity and thinking up a new name for the Walking Access Commission would be challenging when “walking” is omitted.

The company’s website tells us it conducts cultural reviews, guides strategy development and implementation, and develops confidence in organisations “during their journey to becoming culturally capable.”

The company explains its own name in an impenetrable mix of English and te reo, typical of the  modern-day way of communicating with New Zealanders:

Tūtira Mai was born from the words of the waiata, ‘Tūtira Mai,’ composed by Canon Wi Te Tau Huata of Ngāti Kahungunu.

“We are guided by the words “whaia te māramatanga” and “me te aroha.”

We are a tira (team/group) of 10; six of whom provide the cultural capacity and the remainder are the hāpai ō (support).

Our manutāiko (cultural advisors) all sit on paepae in our respective areas as kaikōrero/kaikaranga, are former secondary school and university lecturers and are deep into marae life and iwi kaupapa, as well as being experienced facilitators.

We also bring big picture senior management expertise to our mahi as former or current, umuaki, chairpersons, board members, CEO and iwi leaders.

Our teaching / learning / experience comes not out of a textbook but straight off the marae. We are a tira (group) set on the goal of whakatira (bringing people together). To do this we provide cultural advice and guidance to organisations who are wanting to include te ao Māori in their workplace practices.

Through education / training and ensuring that Māori are always included at the decision-making table ( aroha ), we whakatira Māori and Pākehā. By doing so, the vision of the Tiriti ( Treaty of Waitangi ) as our tūpuna expected, is upheld.

One part of the business is to help with communications and branding:

Do you need help with naming or developing culturally responsive communications? We help you to generate trust and connection with your brand through powerful storytelling. We can assist in embedding Te Ao Māori worldviews that will inspire and embrace staff and clients alike.

Please send us your details below so we can help you to plan for your kaupapa (purpose/topic/occasion).

Kia whakapā mai || Contact a Consultant.

On the commission’s website, the name has yet to be changed and the English-language component  comes first:

“The New Zealand Walking Access Commission Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa provides leadership on outdoor access issues and administers a national strategy on outdoor access, including tracks and trails. It maps outdoor access, provides information to the public, oversees a code of responsible conduct, helps to resolve disputes and negotiates new access.

“The Commission has a small team in Wellington and a network of regional field advisors. It is governed by an independent board.”

In the most recent annual report, for 2020/21, chairman Don Cameron says:

“This is the first full year I have had the privilege of signing as Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa New Zealand.”

He further says:

“The Board has invested significant energy in the last two years developing a Māori Partnership Strategy that ensures the Commission meets its Tiriti obligations. This has changed our mahi in all areas and changed the way we reach out to and work alongside tangata whenua.”

 And CEO Ric Cullinane says:

“Our Māori Partnership Strategy proudly puts steps in place to focus on our allyship with Māori. Our staff at the Commission are also crafting individual Māori implementation strategies and I’ve enjoyed learning new waiata before our weekly hui. In the next 12 months, we’ll look at incorporating more waiata and more kupu into the Commission. We also look forward to welcoming our Strategic Relationships Manager to the team to further continue this journey.”

The annual report says total revenue for the year was $3,573,678 and total expenditure was $3,222,319.

The largest single item of under expenditure against budget was for Māori engagement which was underspent at year-end by $185,117.

“Work on Māori engagement during the year was very much foundation work with a significant amount of staff, board and regional field advisor time applied to the creation of the Commission’s first Māori Partnership Strategy and a detailed implementation plan and timeline. Embedding the commitment to te Tiriti and actively lifting the Commission’s leadership capacity and cultural capability resulted in several training initiatives and personal development plans during the year but most of the cost of this was staff time already included in personnel costs.”

The Commission has eight board members, three of them of Māori descent with experience in Māori Crown issues.

The press statement which tells us about the new name concludes:

“A trail gets us from A to B, but between those points is the journey. This name change is one step in the Commission’s journey, with many more to come.”

Many more name changes?

Surely not.