Category: MIL-OSI

Source:

Te Pāti Māori is absolutely disgusted by the Government’s announcement to review the Waitangi Tribunal- a deliberate and dangerous escalation in its ongoing campaign to undermine Te Tiriti o Waitangi and silence tangata whenua.

“The Government’s onslaught against Te Tiriti continues with this latest move to review the Treaty of Waitangi Act and the role of the Waitangi Tribunal,” said Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Te Tiriti o Waitangi and MP for Te Tai Tonga, Tākuta Ferris.

“This is nothing short of a continuation of colonial violence- enabled by a weak, Luxon-led Government that gutlessly gambles with Te Tiriti and the lives of tangata whenua.”

The Waitangi Tribunal, established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, is one of the few instruments available to Māori to seek redress for breaches of Te Tiriti.

“The mere suggestion that the Act and the Tribunal should be reviewed signals this Government’s belief that the Crown alone should define the meaning, relevance, and limits of Te Tiriti,” said Ferris.

“Let’s not forget- Te Tiriti is the very agreement that gave the Crown its legitimacy to exist in the first place.

“Make no mistake, this review is a continuation of efforts to erase our voices and control the narrative of our dispossession, for the economic benefit of those who desecrate our people and our whenua.”

By comparison, last year Ferris introduced a Member’s Bill to strengthen the Tribunal’s powers to make binding recommendations — empowering it, not dismantling it.

“This Government already failed with its racist Treaty Principles Bill,” said Ferris. “Te Pāti Māori will continue to stand in the way of any attempt to dismantle our rights and our future as a Treaty nation.”

Source: New Zealand Police

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Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the man who died following a crash on Lake Sumner Road on 27 April.

He was 76-year-old Jens Lauritz Christensen, of Sumner.

Police extend our condolences those close to him at this difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Team.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the man who died in a crash on State Highway 5, Mamaku on 22 April.

He was 52-year-old Paul John Coleman, of Melville.

Our thoughts are with those close to him at this difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Team.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are at the scene of an unexplained death in Parakao this afternoon.

The body of a man was found by ambulance staff at a rural property off Mangakahia Road (State Highway 15) just before 4pm.

The death is being treated as unexplained and enquiries are underway into the circumstances.

The property has been cordoned off and a scene examination will take place.

A scene guard is in place with a post mortem to be carried out at a later stage.

These enquiries are in the very early stages and no further information is currently available.

Anyone with information to assist Police can call 105 using the reference number P062498068.

ENDS.

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

The Palestine Forum of New Zealand extends its heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

We recognize this moment as a significant chapter in the Church’s history, and we pray that His Holiness will be a voice of courage, justice, and compassion for all oppressed peoples, especially in Palestine.

We remember with deep gratitude how the late Pope Francis stood by the Christians of Gaza in their darkest hours, calling them nightly until his final moments to offer prayers and words of hope. That extraordinary act of solidarity was a message not only to the Christians of Gaza but to all Palestinians: their suffering is seen, and their humanity is sacred.

Today, we call upon His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to continue this noble legacy — to be a steadfast advocate for peace, justice, and the dignity of the Palestinian people, including the Christian communities under siege in Gaza.

From Aotearoa New Zealand, we reaffirm our solidarity with all those who work for justice, peace, and the protection of human dignity.

Palestine Forum of New Zealand

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the man who died in a crash on Cromwell-Clyde Road in Central Otago on 11 March.

He was 26-year-old Mitchell Douglas McLeary, of Cromwell.

Police extend our condolences to his loved ones.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Team.

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The Government’s plans to limit the powers and scope of the Waitangi Tribunal is a disgrace. 

“This attack on the tribunal is nothing more than an attempt to limit the accountability the Government has to Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Māori Development, Hūhana Lyndon. 

“The Waitangi Tribunal plays a pivotal role in holding Aotearoa true to its founding agreement. Te Tiriti o Waitangi is something that binds us together in building a future for all of us, it is not something that should be used to drive us apart. 

“Across this term, we have seen the actions of this Government trigger a record amount of urgent claims with the Waitangi Tribunal. 

“Let’s be clear, this is not about improving the Waitangi Tribunal like the Minister says, it is about making it easier to trample all over Te Tiriti and punch down on tangata whenua. 

“From the Treaty Principles Bill and undermining marine customary title, to the removal of 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act and now this, the assaults and insults to our founding agreement and our people have been relentless from this Government. 

“Te Tiriti o Waitangi provides a place for us all in Aotearoa. It provides a layer of protection for our people and our lands. This does not suit the Government’s agenda to make the rich richer by allowing big corporations to exploit our people and abuse our environment for profit.

“We know our communities will not stand for this. We saw thousands flood the streets and submit in droves against the Treaty Principles Bill, calling for a country that acknowledges its past and strives for a better future,” says Hūhana Lyndon.

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Wairarapa flood resilience has been shored up with the completion of five projects funded by the Regional Infrastructure Fund, with more on the way, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says.
“These five projects, supported by Greater Wellington Regional Council, were among 42 priority flood resilience projects across 11 regions announced last year and approved for a total of $101.1 million in funding through the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF).
Greater Wellington Regional Council was approved for funding up to $16.1m across Kāpiti and Wairarapa.
“The completed Wairarapa projects are an upgrade of Pukio East Stopbank, protection upgrades at two sites on Waipoua River, and Stages 2 and 3 of the River Road Flood Protection Upgrade on Ruamāhanga River.
Mr Jones today attended an event hosted by Greater Wellington Regional Council at Fullers Bend on Waiōhine River to mark the completion of the five projects and to view progress of another 11 flood protection projects underway.
“I announced the first tranche of projects about this time last year. We wanted projects that would be ready to start as soon as they got the green light – what we have here is delivery on our promises,” Mr Jones says.
“Doing this work now protects local communities, provides local jobs, and builds a sense of security and confidence. It underpins a broader willingness to invest in our local economies
“It also protects Crown assets such as roads, railways, hospitals and schools. It also saves the costs of deploying government emergency services in clean-up operations and eases the demand on other social services. 
Minister Jones also today held a joint regional growth summit for Kāpiti and Wairarapa in Carterton today where he engaged with stakeholders on economic growth, regional priorities, prosperity and resilience.
“Today’s summit was a great chance to discuss further growth opportunities for both of these regions and I look forward to seeing RIF applications through this engagement,” Mr Jones says.
GWRC Projects
To support councils to deliver essential works at pace, the RIF invested as grants to 42 flood resilience projects across 12 councils.
Flood resilience projects in Kāpiti benefitting from RIF investment are:

Otaki Cliffs River Bank Protection: $2.50 million.

Flood resilience projects in the Wairarapa benefitting from RIF investment are:

River Rd Masterton Flood Protection Upgrade – Stage 2: $1.48 million (completed)
River Rd Masterton Flood Protection Upgrade – Stage 3 Remaining Groynes: $2.11 million (completed)
Waipoua SH2 Left Bank Protection Upgrade: $80,000 (completed)
Waipoua Industrial Site – Akura Road Edge Protection Programme: $880,000 (completed)
Fullers Bend Protection: $1.39 million
Awaroa Floodway Spillover Sill: $530,000
Tawaha Floodway Spillover Sill: $1.02 million
Pukio East Stopbank Upgrade, South Wairarapa: $540,000 (completed)
Flood Gates – Fish Passage Upgrades, South Wairarapa: $220,000
Masterton Water Supply Protection Project: $570,000
Hood Aerodrome Masterton Waingawa River Flood Protection: $950,000
South Masterton Stopbank Upgrade: $520,000
Homebush Wastewater Treatment Plant Resilience Works: $270,000
Upper Ruamāhanga Buffer Establishment: $2.16 million
Whakawhiriwhiri Stream – Project Rescope: $860,000