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Te Ahutahi (2005) 

 

LABOUR’S VISION

Māori are a unique people. Māori culture reinforces the dynamic identity of Aotearoa/New Zealand in a globalised society.

The Treaty of Waitangi underpins a shared history and future for all New Zealanders. Labour acknowledges the importance of the Treaty of Waitangi as New Zealand’s founding document, the cornerstone of the nation and the basis for constitutional government.

Māori are a valuable partner in the development of New Zealand's nationhood. Increasingly the positive development of Māori people, their assets, resources and enterprise, are contributing towards self-determination.

Labour seeks to encourage dialogue with Maoridom regarding the role of the Treaty of Waitangi, the rights and responsibilities of the Crown and Māori, and all New Zealanders. We will continue to promote public dialogue on the constitutional issues that underpin New Zealand’s unique identity and sense of nationhood.

Māori make a strong contribution to the economic, cultural and social fabric of New Zealand society.  This contribution can be strengthened. Labour’s strong and inclusive education, employment and enterprise policies will see Māori potential realised.

Our future is young, bright, confident and full of potential, hence the greater investment in rangatahi. By actively engaging peoples’ talents, a progressive, modern international economy, in which Māori have a leading role, can grow from a solid base of fast rising education achievements, together with Māori asset and enterprise development.

This will underpin opportunities and growth over the next decade. Treaty settlements such as Māori Fisheries restore a significant asset base to iwi and hapu.  Māori now have the means to progress their aspirations and accelerate their future development. Labour will continue to support initiatives that aim to improve governance structures to protect and grow Māori assets.

Māori are a creative, energetic, and dynamic people, confidently taking their place in on the national and world stage. We believe in celebrating Māori successes – across education, arts and culture, business and sport – strong whanau and a strong future.

Labour believes in the importance of Māori representation and participation in New Zealand politics. That’s why we will continue to support the will of Māori to retain the Māori seats in Parliament, to maintain fair and inclusive representation is guaranteed.

 

EMBRACING OPPORTUNITY

Labour and Māori share an impressive record of achievement. Together we have confronted the barriers of high unemployment and low educational participation that have previously constrained Māori development. While consolidating these gains, now it is time to focus on embracing the opportunities for Māori economic development and productivity.

We are confident that this approach will complement the entrepreneurial energy of Māori, in accessing and using their resources, using and developing traditional and contemporary knowledge, and increasing their sense of well-being.

Under Labour:

  • Over 40,000 more Māori in jobs since 1999 - 91% Māori able to work, are employed
  • Over 10,000 Maori graduated with a degree or higher level tertiary qualification from 2000-2003 including over 60 graduating with PhDs in 2003
  • Over 900 new Māori businesses have been established since 1999 through the Māori Business Facilitation Service alone.
  • The number of Māori on the unemployment benefit has halved (down to 22,500 in December 2004 from 44,000 in December 1999)

In 2001 the Māori commercial asset base was conservatively estimated to be worth nearly $9 billion. Māori economic development is inextricably linked to the nation's economic growth. Labour's focus on increasing productivity by fostering partnerships between Māori, business and workers will lead to greater returns for whānau, hapü, iwi and Māori communities contributing to the national wealth.

We will ensure Māori have opportunities to gain the knowledge, experience and skills needed to become more self determining in regards to their own tribal assets, structures and resources which will put the future of Māori in Māori hands.

 

QUALITY INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNANCE

Capable governance structures are vital to the success and quality of Māori institutions and to support Māori groups to best achieve their goals. Governance structures must also be able to be sustained through time so succession planning is important and this requires training and upskilling to ensure skilled Māori are available to participate in management and governance.

Labour will:

  • Continue to support the development and funding of governance courses and continue building relationships with Māori organisations, to assist Māori institutions to have high quality governance and leadership.
  • Support the development of governance structures capable of having a multi-dimensional role in managing resources from Treaty settlements and fisheries allocations.
  • Ensure better utilisation of existing funds (for example, the Māori Women's Development Fund) to support succession planning across the Māori development spectrum.

 

PROTECT AND UTILISE MĀORI RESOURCES

Supporting Māori development requires the protection and enhancement of remaining Māori natural resources and the provision of opportunities to utilise them for economic benefit.

Under Labour:

  • After a decade of exhaustive debate the Māori Fisheries Act was passed transferring control of around $750 million in assets and quota to Māori as a full and final settlement of claims to commercial fishing.
  • Māori interests in commercial marine farming space have been addressed by providing iwi, where possible, 20 per cent of marine farming space.
Labour will:
  • Support the process established by the Māori Fisheries Act to transfer assets and quota to Māori.
  • Work with local government authorities to develop best practice models for engagement with iwi and other Māori groups in a range of areas.
  • Support Māori interests in commercial marine farming space.
  • Accelerate the registration of Māori Land Court Orders in the Land Transfer system, making it easier for owners of Māori land to make best use of the land.
  • Provide training and mentoring for Māori landowners and local government on the application of the Resource Management Act, Foreshore and Seabed Act and Local Government Act. 
  • Review the role of the Crown Forest Rental Trust, Māori Trust Office and Poutama Trust in terms of their future role in financing Maori economic development.
  • Provide information to help Māori secure their land from investment failure and rates arrears.
  • Continue to build and support co-operation between management agencies, iwi and hapü in the conservation management of habitats and native species within rohe or tribal areas.
  • Promote the conservation and restoration of valued species of significance to Māori such as kereru, tuna [eel], harakeke, pingao and totara.
  • Promote conservation on Māori land through Nga Whenua Rāhui and Mātauranga Kura Taiao.
  • Continue the implementation of Māori customary fishing regulations.
  • Facilitate the development of taiapure and mātaitai reserves to enhance the sustainability of kai moana and to complement marine reserves.
  • Ensure thorough consultation with Māori in identifying potential marine reserves and other marine protected areas.
  • Promote protection of SILNA indigenous forest through conservation settlements, and encouraging other owners to manage their forests sustainably.
  • Support the development of protocols between Mäori groups and local authorities aimed at better protecting Māori taonga.
  • Continue to recognise the national importance of heritage buildings, places, objects and wāhi tapu, and encourage local communities, local government and central government agencies to retain, protect, restore and enhance their historic heritage.


BUILD MĀORI ENTERPRISE

Business development is about building up a sustainable collective Māori economic base and sharing it. It is about fostering enterprise opportunities for Māori in specific sectors of the economy such as tourism and primary industries. Business development also means creating an enterprise culture amongst Māori that includes a focus on research and development.

Labour will:

  • Support initiatives that assist Māori utilise their entrepreneurial talents and increase their contribution to New Zealand's economy.
  • Support the Māori Business Facilitation Service.
  • Support an educational programme for Māori Entrepreneurship.
  • Ensure that Māori business leaders/ decision makers can access appropriate training courses and support to enhance their skills and knowledge base. This will improve the quality of decision-making and the quality of decision makers.
  • Support the Whānau Development Enterprise initiative that will work on building Māori business networks and relationships with other regional organisations.
  • Encourage more research across all areas of Māori enterprise to assist business development.

 

Tourism

New Zealand’s tourism industry provides a significant opportunity to develop Māori enterprises for the local and international market.

Labour will:

  • Develop and support strong strategic mutually beneficial relationships with the public sector for the betterment of quality Māori tourism development
  • Support and facilitate the development and marketing of high quality Māori tourism with tourism operators and on a regional, national and international level
  • Develop and support Māori Regional Tourism Organisations and the National Mäori Tourism Council
  • Produce a central database of Māori tourism initiatives/operators, to inform Māori Regional Tourism Organisations strategy development
  • Assist Māori Regional Tourism Organisations with training, planning and sharing of best practice models
  • Support Māori Regional Tourism Organisations initiatives aimed at developing regional Māori tourism business networks and facilitate access to services which enhance their business capabilities.
  • Support the Māori Experienz programme to help Māori tourism operators get involved in the international tourism industry.

 

FOUNDING THE FUTURE – TREATY SETTLEMENTS

Labour is committed to honouring the Treaty of Waitangi and the spirit of partnership that it embodies. An integral part of honouring the Treaty is acknowledging the wrongs of the past. Labour recognises the importance of achieving durable Treaty settlements as soon as possible.

The acknowledgement and settlement of grievances provides benefits to Māori, the Crown and the nation.  Settlements provide iwi with an economic and cultural platform to move forward in the next phase of their development and provides the opportunity for a new future based relationship with the Crown to be forged. In turn, this allows for a stronger more confident nation.

Under Labour:

  • More Treaty claims have been progressed than ever before. Eight deeds of settlement have been signed between the Crown and iwi since Labour came into office.
  • Discussions and negotiations towards settlements have occurred with another 26 groups.

Labour will:

  • Require all historical claims to be lodged by 1 September 2008 so that we can proceed to settle all claims by 2020.
  • Continue to negotiate and settle claims with mandated groups.
  • Support the development of multiple iwi settlements
  • Keep Treaty settlement processes under review to ensure they meet the needs of both parties.
  • Work on streamlining the settlement legislation process so that settlements benefit those intended without being unduly held up by the complexities of passing separate enabling legislation through Parliament.
  • Work with Māori to establish post-settlement governance entities to ensure Maori have the appropriate mechanisms in place to manage their affairs and future development to meet their self identified goals.
  • Support the process established by the Māori Fisheries Act to transfer assets and quota to Māori
  • Continue to support the foreshore and seabed claims process
  • Support the Treaty information programme

 

STRONG WHĀNAU, STRONG FUTURE

Whānau are the foundation of Māori society. We know the building blocks for a confident and secure nation are confident and secure whānau. A society in which every whānau has a stake and sees a future makes our nation strong and secures the forward momentum we seek. Working for Families has delivered strongly for Mäori whänau and more than 468,000 Maori are enrolled in Primary Health Organisations.

 

Housing

Labour is committed to ensuring that all New Zealanders have access to affordable, sustainable, good quality housing that fits their needs. Labour's policies present real opportunities to build Māori home-ownership amongst hard working Māori families.

Labour will:

  • Expand opportunities for home ownership for low and middle-income whānau. We will continue to support Mäori to purchase their first home with extensions to the Mortgage Insurance Scheme and a new deposit subsidy of up to $5,000 for a single person or $10,000 for a couple through the new KiwiSaver Scheme.
  • Ensure that those on low and modest incomes, and those with special housing needs, have access to affordable housing options
  • Continue to improve the quantity and quality of state housing
  • Further encourage development of kaumātua housing and papakāinga housing.
  • Work with Māori communities to identify best practice in community based social housing including initiatives such as those of iwi organisations such as rünanga.

 

Health and well-being

Whānau are seeking a higher level of health and well-being that allows them to fully participate in the range of opportunities that exist today. Labour will continue to work with Māori to ensure this is achieved.

Labour will:

  • Work to improve Māori health including by supporting the ongoing implementation of the Māori Health Strategy (He Korowai Oranga).
  • Work to build the health and disability workforce to ensure Māori health and well-being is improved.
  • Fund Primary Healthcare Organisations and Māori Health Providers to ensure Māori receive accessible and affordable healthcare, with low cost health care available to all ages.
  • Support the Kapohia ngā Rawa for outreach and community workers to work with whānau to provide information and advice on education, career planning, financial management and housing.
  • Encourage Māori to join the new KiwiSaver scheme to help them save for their retirement. We will contribute a $1000 kickstart to each account and subsidise fund management fees.

 

Community and regional development

Strong whānau are better able to engage more widely to contribute their talents not only to the development of their whānau, but further to the communities in which they live.

Labour will:

  • Actively engage whānau, hapu, iwi and Māori communities in regional social development and economic planning and delivery.
  • Support Māori governance and mentoring services to assist groups in governance practices and understanding to meet the goals set by their communities.

 

THE NEXT GENERATION

Māori children comprised 25 per cent of all children in New Zealand in 2001, and that proportion is projected to rise to 28 per cent by 2021. The ability of Māori children and young people to stand tall and make a big contribution to our country’s development and well-being is critical to our common future.

Across the country, 23,352 Māori trainees participated in the Modern apprenticeship and Industry Training schemes in 2004.

Labour will:

  • Whakatau reo, Kia tau reo - Support Māori educational institutions like Kāhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Māori and Wananga and will work with them to ensure they provide high quality educational programmes.
  • Aim to provide a köhanga reo choice for all Māori children as part of our commitment to ensure that from July 2007 all 3 and 4 year olds will be able to get 20 hours of free early childhood education.
  • Support Whakaaro Mātauranga, which will maintain the Te Mana information programme and increase the number of Māori liaison officers, pouwhakataki, working between communities and the education sector.
  • Encourage more Māori, especially Māori living in rural areas, to gain qualifications in early childhood education.
  • Support the inclusion of Māori culture/language/history in mainstream curriculum.
  • Ensure that all Kura Kaupapa Māori/Te Köhanga Reo teachers are registered or receive the educational support needed to gain registration.
  • Ensure that all teachers demonstrate competency in reo-a-waha, enunciation and pronunciation before gaining their teacher training qualification.
  • Ensure that transitional services, such as the Gateway programmes, are promoted in secondary schools.
  • Re-ignite Māori Trade Training by identifying opportunities for Māori in industries based on the current and future economic environment. 
  • Ensure a range of skill development programmes across trade, finance, business management and vocational development opportunities for Māori youth.
  • Aim to increase participation of Māori women in training especially through Modern Apprenticeships, Industry Training and by working with industry.

 

MĀORI CULTURAL EXPRESSION

Māori are at the cutting edge of New Zealand’s innovation and creativity that has brought so much success in the arts, culture, and heritage sector. Māori have helped to raise the profile of our nation to new heights through film and the performing and visual arts giving us a stronger sense of national identity. That makes us a stronger nation. It builds our resilience for the challenges ahead. It builds our capacity to work together to succeed in meeting those challenges.

Under Labour:

  • The Māori Language Strategy was revised to reflect the growing security of the language in the modern world.
  • The Māori Television Service was launched in March 2004.
  • The Toi Iho brand was launched in February 2002 in response to several decades of Māori calls for a way of identifying authentic quality Māori arts.
  • There has been a significant investment in iwi broadcasting to enable Māori radio stations to meet the expectations of Māori audiences.

Labour will:

  • Support national Māori performance events.
  • Support Māori artists including through the high quality Toi Iho branding and training opportunities.
  • Consider further opportunities to support National kapahaka competitions in junior and secondary schools and to actively uphold the cultural expression of Māori.
  • Work to develop opportunities for young artists to promote their talent and product through NZ Trade and Export.
  • Support and fund the Māori Television Service and Māori participation in the television industry.
  • Support and fund iwi radio.
  • Advance the Māori Language Strategy and encourage the learning and use of the language in New Zealand’s society.
  • Support Māori sporting potential and success, including through the Whānau Development Sport and Culture Fund.
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