What Is A Mandate, Atihana?

Atihana: Well it is the way in which the Crown; Government: Office Of Treaty Settlements; Minister of Treaty Settlements decide who the claimants are for a particular claim registered with them such as Wai 45 which was originally registered by Rt.Hon. Matiu Rata for Muriwhenua Iwi.

Question: But isn't that a Crown/Government initiated process, Atihana?

Atihana: Yes it is, but so was the setting up of the Waitangi Tribunal which listens to claims lodged such as Wai 45. I went and took part in some of those hearings in Muriwhenua.

Question: What did the Tribunal decide after all the hearings were completed?

Atihana: They contracted researchers to research the claim and they recorded everything said at the hearings for Wai 45. Then Dr. Evelyn Stokes of the Tribunal wrote the "Muriwhenua Lands Report." 1997. This became the basis of the claim.

Question: Then what happened Atihana?

Atihana: Excellent question. Groups suspicious of Matiu Rata and the Muriwhenua Runanga fought each other for the MANDATE to negotiate with the Crown. The then Minister and Labour Govt. didn't really want to settle with Muriwhenua who were claiming the same as Tainui and Ngai Tahu.

Question: So what happened then, Atihana?

Atihana: Another good question! He piiki whawhai led by Ngati Kahu. Gradually each iwi (Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngai Takoto and Ngati Kuri and Ngati Kahu) decided to negotiate their own part of Wai 45 and were mandated to do so by the incoming Labour Govt. and Rt. Hon. Micheal Cullen became the Minister.

Question: And then what Atihana?

Atihana: You are getting better. Well, to cut a long story short everyone has settled except Ngati Kahu. 

Question: But...but...Bloody hell! Why not?

Atihana: Haua hoki. Patai kia ratou.

Question: So what now, Atihana?

Atihana: Those with the MANDATE will lose it which provides other Ngati Kahu groups to organise and seek the MANDATE to negotiate a settlement with the Crown based on the Crown's 2013 offer to Ngati Kahu.

Question: But is it worth it?

Atihana: Compared to the other four iwi settlements yes it is, but compared to what we have lost, hell no. 

Question: So why don't we go for what we are due?

Atihana: No one can calculate what that is in today's values. We can grow what we get to make the rawa and putea larger. Other iwi like Tainui have. They have also made a big contribution to the education of Tainui students. But the longer we stuff around the more we lose in "opportunity cost" that we won't get back. 

Question: Enough! What can I do, Atihana? I'm only one person.

Atihana: Tell your marae/hapu that you want a FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT. And support those who want to seek a MANDATE to negotiate.

What's Up Ngati Kahu Runanga?

I refer to our Treaty Claim not yet settled compared to our whanaunga of Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngai Takoto and Ngati Kuri.  Given our current leadership and inability to negotiate in good faith with the Crown I would certainly not claim that we are right and the other four are wrong. However we are led to believe that Ngati Kahu wants only a partial settlement. I have seen the Crown's offer for a settlement given to the Runanga in 2013 and received by me only in December 2014 via Ngati Tara. The difference between a full settlement and a partial one is like getting the whole cake or only a bit of it. Timoti Hetaraka puts it more succinctly; a partial settlement means no to  any settlement. I do not know the details of the bit of cake but since the Crown has already said NO to it we are wasting Ngati Kahu's time and resources on it. 

So what's the full settlement offer then Atihana? It's detailed and you will need to look up the offer. Ask the Runanga for it and the Minister's letter. Or better still contact the Office of the Minister of Treaty Settlements. I will try and find the links. Briefly; Ngati Kahu gets;

1. Some Crown properties "in fee simple" such as Taumarumaru at the end of Coopers Beach. 

2. Other Crown properties in our Ngati Kahu Rohe which includes some in Kaitaia.

3. The school properties in the Rohe for which we have to forfeit some of the cash assets. In  return we become the land lords and get paid rents. 

4. Rangiputa Block Farm. We have to pay part of our cash or the quantum (the value of the farm which we can negotiate downwards).

5. Cash assets of $23m.If we invest prudently and not spend it we can grow this annually until we have a large enough income earning asset base.

6. Cultural redress for our Ngati Kahu marae ( This will be money but I don't know how much)

7. A "Korowai" arrangement with other iwi to manage Te Oneroa-A-Tohe (90 Mile Beach)

8. Social & Health Funding in an arrangement with the other four Iwi. They have already started.

9. DOC and Ngati Kahu management of DOC land in Ngati Kahu. This was part of Ngati Kahu's Agreement In Principle signed by the Ngati Kahu Runanga, myself and others at Kareponia. 

This is not the total. We can still negotiate some changes that will benefit us and that's where we should be instead of wasting time on a bit of  cake or at Iwi Chairs Forums in Ngapuhi. If you see this offer as a pittance compared to what the Crown and colonisation took from us since 1840 then you are right. However whether you think so or not it's close to the best deal we can expect and we have to get real about it. So what do you think then Atihana? I say go back into negotiations promptly. But if the Runanga still thinks a bit of cake is worth more than the whole cake then we will have to by pass them and those in Ngati Kahu who want a full settlement should go and get one.

Noho ora mai

Atihana  

2014 And Xmas

This has been a turbulent year. In politics National won handsomely only to suffer after election headaches as the "dirty politics" saga rolled on as if their was no election and the questions in and out of parliament dug into some uncomfortable places and the new Labour leader told the PM to "cut the crap. The PM's smooth patter was shattered not only by Andrew Little but by the cartoon face of one Cameron Slater who was on txting contacts with the PM. Labour finally chose the right leader after a tortuous selection process. 

The Rock Star economy was nothing more than propaganda as National squandered the nine years of surpluses achieved by Labour only to borrow for its fiscal measures reduced by tax cuts for the well off and benefit cuts for beneficiaries while the medium and low paid not to mention child poverty bore the austerity that followed. And no. The predicted surplus this year did not happen. 

What about the Maori world? The Tainui, Ngai Tahu, Kahungunu and other iwi conglomerates go from strength to strength. Like others in business there has been some failures but by and large the future is looking good for Iwi. However the trick is whether Iwi members get some benefit at the grass roots. This is as difficult as any enterprise in NZ. The structure of corporates often does not get down that far. However if the education levels of Iwi Whanau can be lifted then whanau have a much better chance of benefitting in employment, economically and socially. That is where Iwi Corporates should put their investments initially. 

Well so much for the heavy stuff. These twin great grand daughters are what I got for Xmas this year. They are not two of the many children living in poverty according to the stats. Neither do they live in luxury. They are two of six children whose parents were fortunate enough to benefit from a social housing initiative from a housing charity. My many thanks to that charity. Their father works for  an enterprise now owned by an Iwi Corporate. These Angels look out to a  better world hopefully. 


Any way Merry Xmas to all of you whether you followed this blog or not. My two mokos also wish you all the best. Ma te Atua  tatou katoa e tiaki e manaaki i nga wa katoa. 

Atihana M. Johns

Andrew Little: Labour's New Leader

I must admit. I know little about Andrew. Good to know that he is a lawyer and in the last three days the huhaa over the CEO of Cera's behaviour towards women, and the State Services head's ineptitude re the case has seen him take the initiative over the case and call for the sacking of Mr. Rennie. I think he will be a formidable opponent of National and has already made his stamp. This is also the week that we learn how petrol pump employees have had their pay deducted when drivers fill up and take off without paying! In some cases the amount is over $700! As a Union Leader this is just up his street. As a union member all my working life this nonsense would never have happened to any member. And this is the same week almost when the Govt. has taken away the workers tea break in the name of flexibility. Come on Andrew, do something about all these anti-worker measures. 

You can also disabuse your caucus of any middle class notions they may have about the unemployed and those working class people who actually have a job. Unemployment is still high and hidden. The "Rock Star" economy is just Tory propaganda. When this country can say that there are more jobs than the country has workers then we will have a really Rock Star economy. 

You also know how hard it is to buy your own home now. We have homeless whanau and individuals. As someone who grew up in the 1950s, 60s and 70s when so many houses were built by the state and loans from State Advances  and Maori Affairs I do0n't quite understand why the current modern technology savee generations and governments (Labour and National) can't build an outside loo. 

Finally I think, focus on jobs, affordable homes, a fair tax system (more from those who can afford to and much less for those under $25k per year), reduce GST to 10% and free education and health from early childhood to 17 years. Above all lead a truly Labour Party of workers and small business.

But that's just my whakaaro.

John Keys; Fools Rush In Now That The Election's Won

With the elections won and a youthful cabinet line up ready to go, our popular PM turns his attention to the Middle East minefields of Iraq and Syria. After equivocating before the election he is now brave enough to suggest that the nation sends the SAS to Iraq to identify targets for the planes circling above ISIL. We have all been disgusted and morikarika at the beheadings of British and US personnel captured by these fanatics in black. How dare they murder westerners. However, we haven't seen any beheadings of Syrians and Iraqis which are numberless. We certainly don't know their names and this is our PM's problem. He, like us is responding to these TV shows put on by ISIL for the expressed purpose of racking us up and drawing us into their fanatical vision. Meanwhile Iraq with all its resources and help can't stop ISIL. Thanks to western intervention, corruption and stupidity, Iraq is so dysfunctional that ISIL is an hour from their capital. 

What targets can our SAS identify that an Iraqi can't do better? Isn't the PM grandstanding prior to a big hui of nations and to impress the UN in order to get a temporary seat on the Security Council? Wouldn't it make more sense to send medical and aid teams to assist refugees streaming into Turkey? Doesn't a military involvement make us a target internationally? Will the PM be accountable  for any military misadventures?

There are more questions than answers. However it is obvious that the west has failed dismally in anything it has done in the Middle East and is seen as having a double standard with regards to democracy in its application of foreign policy for example re the oil rich Saudi Arabia and its horrible application of Sharia law.

But that's just my opinion.

      National Wins-Labour's Worst Election

Since 1922.

It's been a weird campaign compared to the last 10; dirty politics, Nicky Hager's book, Cameron Slater and his pal Judith Collins, the spy saga claiming that the NSA is collecting everything on the internet and telecom including this blog, Dot.com's moment of truth which boosted National's support even more, and so on. In fact Labour came out of this election squeaky clean but thoroughly defeated. The Greens fared better but still got it's support pruned. 

The stats that were not available on our screen on the night were the proportion of those eligible to vote who actually voted. As it turns out 77+% voted which was better than 2011 (74+%) but it wasn't high which partially accounts for Labour's poor result. Still there are 300,000 specials yet to be counted and there may be a slight improvement to the losers' results. 

Labour did have one great result. Maori voters in the Maori electorates did heed one Labour message which was to vote positive. They now have 6 of the 7 seats.  It looks as though Maori have forgotten the FS&SBed Act which caused the biggest hikoi to parliament and formed the Maori Party, not to mention the market economics of Rogernomics that was introduced overnight and gutted the industries and jobs that employed thousands of Maori. Te Ururoa Flavell and the Maori Party did win Waiariki but again Labour's Waititi came second ahead of  Internet-Mana. This achievement in all 7 Maori seats was in spite of what seems to be an even lower turnout than the general seats. Saddest of all was the loss of Hone Harawira in Taitokerau to Kelvin Davis. I voted for Te Ururoa in Waiariki and the Maori Party. 

Well so much for the brief analysis. In the next parliament, the six Maori members in the Labour Caucus must play hardball. Nanaia Mahuta and Rino Tirikatene deserve a place on the front bench and spokes people of Maori Affairs, and other portfolios. They must not be treated like Helen Clark's Shrek The Sheep but must have a strong voice in policy and strategy. They can even work openly and collaborate with Te Ururoa on projects like Whanau Ora. They could also contribute a thing or two to their party about how to win votes. 

Is It Curtains for John Keys, Putin, And Iraq?

The PM:

Personally I don't think the PM is done for. It.s been a shaky few days  no doubt. But if their propaganda (eg adverts) is anything to go by their backwards rowing skiff should get there before the row boat; but only just. It will be heavy with Cameron Slater, but lighter after Judith Collins was dropped into the water. She's still swimming to the bank and spluttering revenge. The well mantra-ed "Left wing conspiracy" is no longer believed and one does not have to be left to believe Nicky Hager. However I think the Nats will get enough support to form a govt. with any centre-right friends they still have.

President Putin of Russia:

Russia is on the border of Ukraine's civil war whose armies both have Russian weapons. Both the Kiev Govt. and the East Ukraine Russian speaking rebels have won some and lost some but like all wars the first corpse is the truth as each side accuses the other of atrocities. Russia is being accused of entering the war on behalf of their Russian speaking whanaunga and maps, and photos galore are shown on TV to produce "proof." I even saw a CNN TV journalist saying that Russian heavy tanks were  "over there" as he pointed. However for some reason he didn't have a camera man with the ability to point the camera "over there." Other photos showed tanks and vehicles that were actually on Russian soil. The 10 Russian border patrol soldiers who wandered into Ukraine in the dark were released. It certainly isn't curtains for Putin and Russia whose western and European enemies miss the cold war and the iron curtain. That has been replaced by new NATO partners on Russia's border and US Military bases. Also any more economic sanctions by the EU will boomerang. EU producers who sold their produce to Russia are now dumping it in their city centres in protest. 

Iraq?

This country's full of disasters. First it was Saddam Hussein who ruled as a dictator and subjugated every religious, tribal and ethnic group in Iraq. His rule was bloody. Along comes Hop-a-long Bush and his side kick Blair who claim that there are weapons of mass destruction in Saddam's arsenal. That excuse turns to regime change with a blood bath of mainly civilians in a shock and awe overkill. Trying to install a democratic govt with a selected PM doesn't work either in a country that knew only dictatorship and sectarian, tribal and ethnic rivalry. The US and Britain walk out after billions spent on security and military contractors and eyes firmly on Iraq oil. The army and police they leave behind can't control the almost daily bombings, the Shia PM can't get on with the Sunnis, and the ISIS takes over much of North Iraq as the Iraqi Army runs  back to Bagdad leaving their weapons behind for ISIS.  It looks like curtains for Iraq as a nation that existed under Saddam. The outcome will take years but the catalyst was Bush's and Blair's intervention.