“I’m committed to picking up more of the recommendations from the Ministerial Committee on Poverty and implementing Māori-driven strategies in health, housing, education, family violence, economic development and te reo Māori,” Mr Flavell.

The Māori Party signed a Relationship Accord with the National Party yesterday afternoon called Te Tatau ki te Paerangi (a doorway to our horizons).

“The Māori Party is in Parliament to make a difference. We look forward to working constructively with the Government to progress issues that are important to whānau,” says Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell.

Mr Flavell said that after an intensive week of consultation with Māori Party members the message was clear.

“Our people said it’s vital for the Māori Party to be in Government so we can help reset the current landscape and deliver more tangible gains for Māori.”

Te Tatau ki te Paerangi provides confidence and supply in return for support of policy priorities. Those policy priorities include ongoing investment in Whānau Ora, a sustained focus on eliminating poverty through the Ministerial Committee on Poverty, a focus on Māori economic and regional development and encouraging greater Māori participation in the electoral process.

Te Ururoa Flavell will be appointed the Minister for Māori Development (formerly the Minister of Māori Affairs), Minister for Whānau Ora and Associate Minister for Economic Development. The name change for the Minister for Māori Development signals a more forward-looking approach.

“I’m committed to picking up more of the recommendations from the Ministerial Committee on Poverty and implementing Māori-driven strategies in health, housing, education, family violence, economic development and te reo Māori,” said Mr Flavell.

Māori Party Co-leader Tariana Turia added, “While the two parties have disagreed more than we have agreed with each other on policy and legislation over the last six years we have always worked with each other in good faith and built a relationship on mutual respect.”

The two parties have also committed to an engagemed Māori organisations so it has a clear understanding of how policies are impacting on communities at a local level.

The Māori Party will continue to provide a strong and independent Māori voice in Parliament, raising issue and vote according to what it believes is in the best interests of Māori.

“I’m thrilled to have Māori Party List MP Marama Fox on board with me for the next three years. We’ve got a lot of work to do and I know she will be a great advocate for Māori and the party,” concluded Mr Flavell.

“The United Nations recommended that the New Zealand Government examine ACC’s processes for assessing compensation and asked the Government to ensure the system has a human rights focus.” Dr Denise Powell

The United Nations, after examining New Zealand against the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has made key recommendations regarding ACC to the NZ government to look into.

The UNs’ recommendations are based on Acclaim Otago Shadow Report: The Costs of Paradigm Change: Access to Justice for People with Disabilities Caused by Personal Injury in New Zealand.

Acclaim Otago Spokesperson Dr Denise Powell and Mr Warren Forster, representing Forster and Associates who prepared the shadow report have just arrived back in New Zealand after presenting the Report to the United Nations in Geneva. They are “pleased with the results,” according to a press statement issued yesterday.

“The United Nations had no problems accepting that the Convention applies to people who have disabilities caused by injury and that ACC must comply with the rights of these people” said Mr Forster, the lead author of the Shadow Report.

Dr Powell, who has lived with a disability for over 25 years said “I am delighted that the United Nations has recommended that the New Zealand Government examine ACC’s processes for assessing compensation and has asked the Government to ensure the system has a human rights focus.”

The UN Committee also made recommendations about the proposals to remove access to the District Court and replace it with a Tribunal, and educating judges about the rights of persons with disabilities.

“It is an exciting time for injured New Zealanders and we look forward to working with the new Ministers for Justice, Courts and ACC to address these problems and make our Accident Compensation system a world leader again” said Dr Powell.

“We hope that the United Nation’s findings are taken seriously by the Government and they take this opportunity to work with injured people to improve ACC” said Mr Forster. He added “Providing proper access to justice will ultimately improve ACC as it will allow problems with the system to be identified and fixed, rather than rumbling away under the surface.”

New Zealand ratified the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities on 2 September 2008.

By Poto Williams

The Labour Party Pacific caucus has welcomed Jenny Salesa of Manukau East and Carmel Sepuloni of Kelston, successful MP’s in the recent General Election and reflects the high calibre pacific candidates that contested including those who were unsuccessful, Jerome Mika, Lemalu Herman Retzlaff and Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki

Salesa and Sepuloni join Poto Williams (Chch East), Kris Faafoi (Mana) and the head of the caucus Su’a William Sio (Māngere) that provides not only a good representation across Pacific nations but coverage across the country as well.

While final counts are yet to be confirmed, the National party only have 2 Pacific MP’s, Peseta Sam Lotu Iiga and Alfred Ngaro, while Fia Turner waits to see if she is successful on the list.

Sepuloni returns to Parliament where she can renew her commitment to improving educational and health outcomes for marginalised and vulnerable groups. Salesa brings a strong sense of advocacy for a fair and just society as well as opportunities for all New Zealanders with a wealth of public sector experience and a strong background in community contribution.

The head of the Pacific caucus Sua William Sio is excited with the team and its prospects. “its historic and it’s a step in the right direction. Its a new beginning which is a step towards achieving our ultimate dreams and aspirations. Making sure we have good people at the very top”.

The members of the 51^st Parliament will be sworn in 20^th October 2014.

“It would be disingenuous for John Key to claim he wants to solve child poverty when he won’t release the real extent of harm his welfare reforms are causing.” Metiria Turei

The Government needs to start reporting the effects of welfare reforms on children, the Green Party said today.

A report released today by the Child Poverty Action Group notes that the Ministry of Social Development is providing no reporting on how children are impacted by benefit penalties and sanctions, which can see income support halved.

“Halving a family’s income is likely to have a very negative impact on children but the Government isn’t even looking into the effects of their policy on kids,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

“If John Key is serious about tackling child poverty, he needs to come clean on how children are affected by his welfare reforms.

“It would be disingenuous for John Key to claim he wants to solve child poverty when he won’t release the real extent of harm his welfare reforms are causing.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to prove that cutting incomes to the poorest families will have a negative impact on kids. That is less money for the basics like food, health and clothes.

“We know the number of children living in poverty has gone up in the last six years, under National, with over 205,000 children now living in severe poverty.

“You don’t solve child poverty by cutting incomes to the poorest kids.

“The Green Party’s School Hubs policy is a great way to bring social services to children and families and ensuring that they are able to access health care and meals.

“The Green Party has a plan to help solve child poverty in this country and we once again call on John Key to engage on a cross party level to help the children of New Zealand,” said Mrs Turei.

“Human rights for citizens to dissent is a critical issue all over the world but it is particularly important in the Pacific and in Aotearoa that we maintain a strong stance on that.” Catherine Delahunty.

Returning Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty joined thousands across Australasia this week protesting against French and local journalists imprisoned by Indonesian authorities in West Papua.

Ms Delahunty told Pacific Guardians she’s protesting because “we believe in human rights and we believe that a genocide is taking place [in West Papua].”

But it’s also out of frustration as it was only in July this year, that all members of parliament, including the government, supported the Green Party’s motion to call on Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, to commit to genuine press freedom in West Papua.

Yet shortly after gaining the unanimous support of parliament, two French journalists, Thomas Dandois and Valentine Burrat, were arrested in West Papua by Indonesian police for allegedly illegally working when on tourist visas.

“The were arrested supposedly for ‘treason’ but we all know they were only trying to make a documentary about the real situation in West Papua. They were interrogated, are still in prison and being threatened with these ridiculous charges.”

Ms Delahunty has continued her call on the New Zealand government to step-in and use its diplomatic resources to advocate for the two French journalists.

But the lack of government response is frustrating.

“This is very frustrating because we have passed this motion for media freedom but the government will not give it teeth,” said Ms Delahunty.

“Without any journalists on the ground, the future for West Papuans and their human rights will continue to be very bleak.

“It is important for New Zealand and Australia to continue to advocate for not only for media freedom in West Papua but also hold Indonesia to account for numerous well documented human rights abuses in West Papua.”

The main push is for New Zealand to become a facilitator in helping West Papua gain its independence. The push therefore is to put pressure on the New Zealand government to put pressure on Indonesia.

She admitted that gaining greater New Zealand support for West Papua is tough going as awareness of West Papua and its situation gets very little coverage in New Zealand.

“It’s regrettable that we are still at the stage of trying to get New Zealanders to understand where this country is and what its history is. And why we, as neighbours, have a duty of respect to stand up for human rights,” said Ms Delahunty.

“Human rights for citizens to dissent is a critical issue all over the world but it is particularly important in the Pacific and in Aotearoa that we maintain a strong stance on that.”

The lack of awareness thus far caused her to vent in frustration at New Zealand’s mainstream media, with the exception of Radio New Zealand and Pacific Guardians.

“I’m disappointed that apart from a few of you, the majority of journalists in New Zealand act that this is a non story. And I find it disturbing that they spend a lot of time on celebrity politics and leadership spats rather than the fact that actually more people have died in recent weeks, being killed by the military [in West Papua].

“If it was Fiji there would be more coverage. So this kind of silence has to be broken and we’ve got a long way to go to break that silence around West Papua – just in terms of reporting here in New Zealand!”

With the low level of media coverage, Ms Delahunty’s fight will also be tougher this term in parliament with the loss of Hone Harawira and Maryanne Street who were her main supporters in the House.

However, the way forward remains clear, it is about building cross party consensus on West Papua. She is optimistic that some new MPs including new Pacific MPs could join her cause.

“I would say to them that this is an opportunity for solidarity. An opportunity not only to support West Papua but also the emerging groups of young people not only in Auckland but also in Wellington.

“In Auckland they have a group called Oceania Interrupted led by Leilani Salesa and others – so we are seeing the emergence of these youth support and it’s a great opportunity for these MPs to participate and support the work that I’m trying to lead in parliament. And I really hope they will help us put pressure on the government put pressure on Indonesia because that is the main avenue to support West Papua.”

But if that comes to nought, at least she gained some wins on Wednesday this week as the Pacific Student Council from Victoria University joined her protest.

“It was really impressive when I was standing outside of parliament thinking it was just going to be me. And then all these young Pacific people with their banners turned up,” she told Pacific Guardians.

“I was delighted they came down in strength with one of their lecturers Teresia Teaiwa. To me one of the exciting things happening in Aotearoa is the involvement of Pacific young people because for many years, its been a few non-government groups, the extraordinary leadership of Maire Leadbeater in Auckland, that when Pacific youth embrace that it will help grow the movement and put pressure on the government to act.”

The long game is about building a consciousness.

“If we can build up a Pacific consciousness about the West Papuan people, I believe it is really important for our region. There is a need to really support the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to show a lot more courage.

“What we’re up against is the Indonesians having the money to shut down some Melanesian countries who are supportive of West Papua, which is a very, very sad thing for West Papua. But it means we need to build that solidarity in every setting that we can.

“This issue cannot stay under the radar. We are making traction internationally but on the ground, the suffering continues.”

In a report from Radio New Zealand earlier today, Vanuatu’s West Papua Unification Committee has confirmed its conference in Port Vila on the 4th of December following the National Day and flag raising ceremony on 1 December.

The conference is to provide an avenue for the different groupings in West Papua to come to an agreement on a unified bid for membership in the MSG.

A formal membership application by the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation was knocked back by the MSG earlier this year, whose leaders called for a more representative bid.

 

 

“The environment and workers’ rights are seriously threatened by these two pieces of legislation, which is why National couldn’t get them passed in the last parliamentary term,” Mrs Turei.

The Green Party’s campaign machine hasn’t missed a beat as it ramps up efforts to defend both the environment and workers from National plans to bring in changes to two laws.

The campaign this time seem to aim at securing the lead Opposition party to the 2017 elections status. With Labour soul searching in one of its worst elections and bracing for the upcoming leadership battle, the united Greens march onwards. This time heading the fight against National’s move to make changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) and the Employment Relations Act (ERA) laws.

Green co-Leader Metiria Turei, said National has signalled it will attempt to get planned changes to the RMA and ERA passed as quickly as possible, “in order to please its big business backers,” she said in a statement today.

“The environment and workers’ rights are seriously threatened by these two pieces of legislation, which is why National couldn’t get them passed in the last parliamentary term,” Mrs Turei said.

To be fair, the only reason why changes to Part 6A of the ERA didn’t go through last parliamentary term was John Banks. His vote would have been enough to pass it, but he had to resign when found guilty of filing a false electoral return.

Mrs Turei emphasised the importance that these two laws must not pass if New Zealand is to stay a fair and clean place to live.

“National’s proposed changes to the RMA will remove vital legal protections for the environment, and fundamentally change the Act’s sustainable management purpose to put the interest of business ahead of the environment,” she said.

“The Employment Relations Amendment Bill is designed to weaken workers’ rights, making it much harder to negotiate for better conditions, even removing workers’ automatic right to a break.

“These two Bills show National’s true colours as the party that puts the interests of the few ahead of everything else.

“John Key should honour the respect and love that New Zealanders have for their environment, and honour our workers by abandoning these regressive law changes immediately,” Mrs Turei said.

She pointed examples of how shows of public action were effective in the past, such as forcing changes to proposed mining legislation.

“Alongside political leadership from the Green Party there will need to be more, much stronger public opposition to prevent National passing these and other damaging laws in the future,” she stated.

 

 

 

Mana candidate Annette Te Imaima Sykes says Meri Mangakāhia has been the wahine toa guide throughout her career.

Much is made about New Zealand being the first nation to grant women the right to vote – and rightly so.

There is a lot of information available on this part of history but most of it tends to focus on Paheka women. What is less known is that Māori women also won the right to vote at the same time in September of 1893.

The most prominent of them was Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia, of Te Rarawa. Born in the Hokianga district, she grew up to marry Hamiora Mangakāhia of Hauraki, who was elected Premier of the Māori Kotahitanga parliament in 1892.

At a meeting of the parliament in Hawke’s Bay in 1893, Meri Te Tai presented a motion requesting that women participate in the selection of members. She later addressed the parliament on her motion – the first woman known to have done so.

During her speech, ‘So that women may receive the vote’, she urged that women should not only be allowed to vote, but also to sit in the Māori parliament as members. Many Māori women owned land in their own right and were entitled to have their say in decisions affecting them.

This is what she said, in Te Reo and in English.

E whakamoemiti atu ana ahau kinga honore mema e noho nei, kia ora koutou katoa, ko te take i motini atu ai ahan, ki te Tumuaki Honore, me nga mema honore, ka mahia he ture e tenei whare kia whakamana nga wahine ki te pooti mema mo ratou ki te Paremata Maori.

1. He nui nga wahine o Nui Tireni kua mate a ratou taane, a he whenua karati, papatupu o ratou.

2. He nui nga wahine o Nui Tireni kua mate o ratou matua, kaore o ratou tungane, he karati, he papatupu o ratou.

3. He nui nga wahine mohio o Nui Tireni kei te moe tane, kaore nga tane e mohio ki te whakahaere i o raua whenua.

4. He nui nga wahine kua koroheketia o ratou matua, he wahine mohio, he karati, he papatupu o ratou.

5. He nui nga tane Rangatira o te motu nei kua inoi ki te kuini, mo nga mate e pa ara kia tatou, a kaore tonu tatou i pa ki te ora i runga i ta ratou inoitanga.

Na reira ka inoi ahau ki tenei whare kia tu he mema wahine. Ma tenei pea e tika ai, a tera ka tika ki te tuku inoi nga mema wahine ki te kuini, mo nga mate kua pa nei kia tatou me o tatou whenua, a tera pea e whakaae mai a te kuini ki te inoi a ona hoa Wahine Maori i te mea he wahine ano hoki a te kuini.

In English

I exult the honourable members of this gathering. Greetings.

The reason I move this motion before the principle member and all honourable members so that a law may emerge from this parliament allowing women to vote and women to be accepted as members of the parliament.

Following are my reasons that present this motion so that women may receive the vote and that there be women members:

1. There are many women who have been widowed and own much land.

2. There are many women whose fathers have died and do not have brothers.

3. There are many women who are knowledgeable of the management of land where their husbands are not.

4. There are many women whose fathers are elderly, who are also knowledgeable of the management of land and own land.

5. There have been many male leaders who have petitioned the Queen concerning the many issues that affect us all, however, we have not yet been adequately compensated according to those petitions. Therefore I pray to this gathering that women members be appointed. Perhaps by this course of action we may be satisfied concerning the many issues affecting us and our land.

Perhaps the Queen may listen to the petitions if they are presented by her Maori sisters, since she is a woman as well.

Exactly 121 years today, Mana candidate Annette Te Imaima Sykes says Meri has been the wahine toa guide throughout her career.

Annette who is ranked third on the joint Internet Mana list is a well known Rotorua activist and lawyer who fights for the rights of Māori tribes to be self-governing.

“I will honour today the struggle of many Maori suffragists like Meri to find empowerment after the tumultuous times of the New Zealand Land Wars.  Maori women had to support each other out of necessity to protect themselves and their hapu,” said Annette.

“And today’s Maori women have to do it again.”

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew celebrated the 121st anniversary  with an event recognising women leaders in innovation.

The event is part of the Leading Edge series that was  held at Wellington’s National Library. The series looks at New Zealand, both past and present, through the lens of innovation.

“In celebrating our women leaders in innovation, I acknowledge the women and men in 1893 that were innovative in their struggle to give women voting rights,” Mrs Goodhew said.

“We are all proud that New Zealand was the first nation in the world to grant women the vote on September 19^th, 1893.

“However, we should never be complacent about that right.  Rights are only secured by using them. I urge all New Zealand women to exercise that right by voting on Saturday.

“As Kate Sheppard said, ‘Do not think your single vote does not matter much. The rain that refreshes the parched ground is made up of single drops’.”

The Green Party’s Women’s spokesperson Ms Jan Logie decided a while ago that she would cast her vote to commemorate suffrage day, and she did.

She said the achievement by women like Meri Mangakāhia and Kate Sheppard cannot be measured.

“We are here because of them,” said Ms Logie. “It was not an easy battle back then for the suffragists—24 years, 31 petitions, seven failed bills, and decades of ridicule, abuse, and antagonism. But they kept fighting, not just for the right to vote but for the right to improve the status of women and children.”

In regards to Maori, “We are proud to stand alongside all the wāhine Māori working to reclaim tino rangatiratanga,” she said.

Labour’s Women’s Affairs spokesperson Ms Carol Beaumont said in a statement that women have come a long way in 121 years, but there is still more to be done.

Under a Labour government, she promised they will make their lives better by, “extending paid parental leave to 26 weeks, raise the minimum wage by $2 an hour to help address the gender pay gap, provide a $60 a week Best Start payment to new parents and give pregnant women free dental care.”

And they will adopt a collaborative, long-term action plan in consultation with other parties to stop the epidemic levels of violence against women and children.

 

Following a complaint to Parliamentary Services today, items which had been taken from NZ First MP Andrew Williams’ Wellington parliamentary office without his knowledge have been recovered and returned, according to a press statement this afternoon.

In the  statement, Mr Williams said, “I am greatly disappointed and disturbed to learn that some of the items were recovered from Deputy Leader Tracey Martin’s office.”

Mr Williams said what happened “amounts to theft and Tracey Martin and others involved should be taken to task for their actions.”

He added, “No MP has any right to enter another MP’s office and help themselves to valuable items. These items were assets for which I was responsible to Parliamentary Services during my term of Parliament.”

Mr Williams said that on a visit to the office three weeks ago, he found his flat screen TV and printer missing. He asked Parliamentary Service to investigate, and was told the items were going to be put back.

However, when he entered his parliamentary office in Wellington yesterday, he discovered a number of items missing.

“Feels like a burglary almost. To walk into what you think is your own secure Parliamentary office and find all sorts of valuable things taken is a real invasion of your personal space (flat screen TV/printer/private filing cabinet/meeting table).”

NZ First leader Mr Winston Peters said Mr Williams was wasting his time by complaining.

“It’s a futile complaint, and baseless. The reality is that these items don’t belong to the MPs. They belong to the taxpayer.

“It’s a humbug complaint without merit. I’ve never heard something so extraordinary.”

However, when it was confirmed that some of the missing items were found in Ms Martin’s office, Mr Williams stated, “This was not a ‘humbug complaint’ as New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters is quoted as saying today. Parliamentary Services have taken this matter very seriously, as has the NZ First Chief of Staff, as this unprincipled behaviour is unacceptable within the Parliamentary precinct.”

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Internet MANA is floating the idea for the new government to consider granting safe passage and residency in New Zealand for global surveillance whistle blower Edward Snowden.

This has been ridiculed by both National and Labour.

John Key says the suggestion is ridiculous and shows just how mad Internet Mana are.

“Do we really want Edward Snowden hanging out in New Zealand? He might want to come to New Zealand, but no thanks.”

While Labour Leader David Cunliffe says it’s out of the question, he won’t allow it, and there’s no case for it.

“Case against it is that he’s arguably somebody who’s acted against the law in a friendly country.”

But Internet MANA Leaders Hone Harawira and Laila Harré say Mr Snowden had made enormous personal sacrifice to tell the world about the shocking global surveillance spiderweb that is the Five Eyes network in which New Zealand is an active participant.

“Edward Snowden was motivated by a deep ethical concern with the systematic misrepresentation by governments of their surveillance activities to their own populations. His actions have revealed multiple breaches of national and international law and privacy intrusion on a massive scale.

“We know that Edward Snowden wants to return home to the United States. However, until his safety there can be guaranteed he should be offered the option of moving to a democratic English-speaking country. That is what we want the new government to enable. We are sure that New Zealanders would want to see him protected while he pursues all his options for returning to the United States.”