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Sale of Fonterra’s consumer business expected to get shareholder approval

Source: Radio New Zealand

Fonterra is looking to sell its consumer business to French dairy giant Lactalis. 123rf / Supplied images

  • Fonterra shareholders asked to approve $4.22b sale of consumer brands business Mainland Group
  • France’s Lactalis to take ownership of well-known brands Mainland, Anchor
  • Farmer shareholders in line for tax-free bonus, pump billions into economy
  • Fonterra has multi-year contracts to supply Lactalis
  • NZ First leader Winston Peters strongly critical of sale
  • Meeting 10.30 AM, 30 October, result expected early afternoon

Fonterra’s farmer shareholders look set to approve the sale of the co-operative’s Mainland Group’s consumer brands business, giving themselves and ultimately the economy a multi-billion dollar payday.

The $4.22 billion sale to the world’s biggest dairy group, French-based Lactalis, was the final step in Fonterra’s transition from would-be global dairy giant in multiple markets, to a slimmed-down New Zealand-based supplier of raw ingredients and high-value products to other manufacturers.

The company pondered a share float of Mainland, but opted instead for what was likely to be a more lucrative trade sale to Lactalis.

Fonterra chair Peter Mcbride had no doubts about the sale.

“The Fonterra board is confident a sale to Lactalis is the highest value option for the Co-op, including over the long-term … [this] gives the board the confidence to unanimously recommend this divestment to shareholders for approval.”

Fonterra chair Peter Mcbride. RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Yes vote for a big pay day

ASB Bank estimated the sale proceeds would ultimately be worth about $4.5b to the economy, with farmer shareholders receiving an average tax-free payout of about $392,000 if the sale went ahead.

Forsyth Barr senior analyst Matt Montgomerie said there was strong support for the deal from shareholders, despite initial apprehension.

“I’ve been around the regions recently doing various presentations, and I think the feel we get is that the vote should pass, and should pass somewhat comfortably,” he said.

The chair of supplier organisation Fonterra’s Dairy Farmers Co-op, John Stevenson, said there had been many robust and emotional discussions about the future direction of Fonterra.

Stevenson said just one of 27 dairy farmers on the co-op’s council voted against selling off Mainland Group.

Among the concerns was a lack of detail about the long-term supply agreements with Lactalis, as well as an emotional appeal about the loss of famous New Zealand brands, including Mainland, Anchor, Kāpiti, and Fernleaf.

“Some of those (consumer) products are good brands because of the New Zealand grass-fed branding around the product,” Montgomerie said.

Because Fonterra produced a significant volume of milk, he said it would be hard for Lactalis to get supply elsewhere, while the broad agreement was along the lines of other large supply agreements.

Increases exposure to global demand

Those opposed to the sale were also concerned Fonterra would be more exposed to the ups and downs of global demand for ingredients.

“It does mean that they don’t have any significant levers to pull in the event of unforeseen circumstances, which in turn, I think means the board will take a more conservative approach to managing capital going forward,” Montgomerie said.

However, he said the potential growth in Fonterra’s Food Services and Ingredients business, particularly in Asia, could offset missed opportunities associated with the forecast future growth in the consumer business.

Fonterra had been allocating more milk away from the commoditised products offered on the global dairy trade, to earn higher returns on products, such as protein concentrates.

The backstory

Fonterra’s plan to sell Mainland followed a strategic review, led by chief executive Miles Hurrell, who was hired to turn the business around following a number of loss-making years.

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell. RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Saddled with debt, underperforming overseas businesses, and volatile commodity markets, Hurrell oversaw the sale of foreign assets to bring down debt.

The result was the end of costly adventures in Brazil, Chile, China and elsewhere, as well cost-cutting and the sale of non-core assets, such as ice cream maker Tip Top.

Fonterra decided a simplified, stripped-down business was the best option for New Zealand’s dairy products.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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What will farmers spend their $200,000 each on if Fonterra sale goes through?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Around 60 percent of shareholding farms could receive a windfall, if a Fonterra sale to a French dairy giant goes ahead. Supplied/ Greenpeace

Retailers in rural New Zealand could be set for a boost if farmers vote on Thursday to go ahead with the sale of Fonterra’s consumer businesses to France’s Lactalis.

ASB economists earlier said the deal was expected to deliver a tax-free capital return of about $3.2 billion to 8000 shareholding farms throughout New Zealand.

“The average return (to shareholders) would be around $392,000 if the sale goes ahead, and we estimate around 60 percent of shareholding farms could receive at least $200,000,” ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley said.

But what will they do with it?

Mike Jones, chief economist at BNZ, said the extra cash flow for farmers would give them options.

“I think we will see a mix of retiring debt, addressing deferred maintenance, probably having a good look at expansion, whether it’s extra land or herd size… and probably a bit of a smattering of discretionary spending in there as well. But overall I think it’s probably going to depend on the age and stage of the participants receiving the money.”

He said farmers were likely to be prudent. “It’s not going to all go on gold-plated utes and tractors.”

But he said, in combination with strong conditions in the primary export sector generally, it was likely to be a boost.

“We’re just starting to see some evidence of a little bit of extra spending and investment. If you look at things like farm sales, tractors, fertiliser imports, rural building consents, all of those areas are starting to show a little bit of growth just in the last two or three months, that wasn’t there before. You wouldn’t say things are roaring away by any means, but there’s definitely some growth that’s coming through. And I think kind of that in collaboration with lower interest rates doing their work as they do throughout the economy is certainly going to help us.”

He said a lot of the money was likely to stay in the regions.

Economist Cameron Bagrie said he expected more spending than debt repayment.

“If you look at the $3.2 billion, it’s going to get ploughed into the economy in some shape or form. That’s about 0.7 percent of GDP. So, if you’re talking about a sizable injection that’s going to hit rural New Zealand, then that will proliferate through to the city centres as well.”

Economist Cameron Bagrie expects more spending than debt repayment. RNZ / Alexander Robertson

He said tractor sales were already up 13 percent on a year earlier, and that sort of import activity helped boost port cities.

There were many factors working for farmers, he said, such as the lower New Zealand dollar, higher commodity prices and higher payout.

“It looks like the icing on the cake will be subject to approval, this $3.2 billion, which is going to get redeployed into farmers.”

He said there was more optimism in rural New Zealand than in other parts of the country. “Auckland in particular is really struggling.”

But Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan said farmers were notoriously conservative about spending so it was likely many would prioritise debt repayment.

“It’s a capital payment effectively rather than an income payment, I’d expect them to probably be cognisant of that and any spending they do undertake is probably going to be more in that sort of capital area rather than rushing off down to the shops to buy a new lounge suite.”

But he said it would help lift activity. “Give it 12 months, 18 months, I think it does help add a bit of momentum to those provincial economies because some of that capex will flow through into more economic activity. But you’re pretty muted in the first instance and I think it will be selective spending.”

Kiernan said the provincial economy should help to improve New Zealand’s overall economic outlook into next year.

“We have been watching the trends in dairy prices and to a lesser extent, horticulture prices over the last probably four months now or so, and they just have been softening a bit. They’re still at good levels but there’s a little bit of caution around that.

“But the fact they’re still high does suggest to us that there will still be money flowing through the provinces.”

Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Corelogic chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said it was hard to say whether it would mean a boost for activity in the property market, such as in demand for holiday homes in areas adjacent to farming regions.

“I think some farmers are likely to buy property, but others will no doubt pay down some debt, or buy plant and equipment.

“I know anecdotally that farmers in Southland for example have currently got much bigger fish to fry in terms of ensuring consistent milk production without power, and any extra cash they might have may well go to storm clean-up.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Rawiri Waititi blames two ‘rogue’ MPs for turmoil within Te Pāti Māori

Source: Radio New Zealand

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Rawiri Waititi is blaming two of his MPs for turmoil within the party, accusing them of going “rogue” and trying to roll the leadership.

On Monday, party president John Tamihere called on Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris to “do the honourable thing” and step down.

But neither MP looks like leaving of their own accord. In a statement, Kapa-Kingi told RNZ she was “not going anywhere”. Ferris has yet to publicly respond, but his electorate branch is calling for Tamihere instead to resign.

Arriving at Parliament on Tuesday morning, Waititi told media the party’s national council now had a “process in play” regarding whether to expel Kapa-Kingi and Ferris from the party.

“That’s not a decision for me. That is a decision for the electorates. We’ve taken it back to the people.”

The party’s national council includes representatives from all six electorates held by the MPs.

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. VNP / Phil Smith

Asked whether the party might invoke the waka-jumping provision to eject the two MPs from Parliament altogether, Waititi said their electorate seats had been “determined by their voters”.

“They are MPs of those particular electorates,” he said.

Asked for clarification later in the day, Waititi said the waka-jumping option had not been considered “at this time” but remained a possibility.

“We’re allowing our national council to work through the constitution and we need to be able to allow them to do that without having to deal with that through the media.”

Waititi said he stood by Tamihere as president and pinned blame for the internal ructions on “allegations and two rogue MPs” gearing up for a leadership coup.

“All in good time you will find that out,” he said.

Waititi confirmed he would meet with representatives from the Iwi Chairs Forum later today to “solidify the kaupapa”.

“We’re cleaning up our whare,” he said. “Our tipuna traversed the oceans to get here and many storms, and we will get through this.

“We will go through a reset. Resets don’t happen overnight and resets will continue as we continue to build the momentum of our Māori voice here.”

Fellow co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer later told reporters at Parliament it was an “honour” to meet with the iwi leaders.

“I know that it’s been disruptive, and I know that we’ve made the headlines for the reasons we don’t want to, but it’s actually been really great to know that we are owned and they feel aligned and they feel whanaungatanga [kinship] to us to be able to turn up. That’s an honour.”

Tākuta Ferris. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Iwi Chairs Forum spokesperson Bayden Barber told RNZ on Monday iwi leaders were going to “give it our best shot” to reconcile the differences.

Tamihere avoided reporters on his way into Parliament on Tuesday morning, ducking into an apartment building’s parking lot.

Earlier, he told RNZ’s Morning Report the party’s leadership would “very shortly” consider whether to expel Kapa-Kingi and Ferris.

When asked directly if he still wanted the two MPs in the party, Tamihere said: “Not if they continue to be rogue.”

In a statement to RNZ, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi said Tamihere did not speak for her Tai Tokerau electorate.

“The people voted me as an electorate member, I’m proud to say, and therefore I’m not going anywhere. I have a job to do and I plan to continue to do it best way I know how – show up, prepare and remember who you represent.”

Asked for comment, Ferris said only that his electorate’s executive would be sending out a statement “in due course”.

Speaking before a caucus meeting on Tuesday, Labour leader Chris Hipkins reiterated his calls for Te Pāti Māori to “sort themselves out”.

“But I’d also remind people that four years ago, the National Party was tearing itself apart, and now they’re in government.”

Senior Labour MP Willie Jackson, a long-time friend of Tamihere, said he would not be taking sides.

“We’re sitting back … and just watching how this rolls out.”

Jackson said Labour would not be welcoming any defectors. He said the party was prepared in the case of any by-elections.

“We would be irresponsible if we weren’t ready … given all the talk coming out of Te Pāti Māori.”

ACT leader David Seymour said Labour had a big problem because it needed Te Pāti Māori’s numbers to take power.

“They’ve got more coup-papa than kaupapa.”

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Māori academic warns draft curriculum erases children’s rights to local histories

Source: Radio New Zealand

Raupatu Hetaraka from Ngāti Kahu watching the kaihoe at Waitangi Day 2025. Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ

A leading Māori academic says removing the requirement to teach Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories would be a step backwards – and a breach of children’s right to understand the country they live in.

Margaret Mutu (Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Whātua), professor of Māori Studies at the University of Auckland, told RNZ teaching local histories gives tamariki a stronger sense of belonging and helps all students understand the places they live.

“Every single school in this country sits within a hapū’s rohe. For children to grow up there and not understand who the hapū is, where their marae are, or what the place names mean, that’s a huge gap,” she said.

“Every child has a right to know whose land they stand on.”

RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell

The proposed changes are part of a growing wave of criticism of the government’s approach to Māori language, culture, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi in schools. On Tuesday, the government announced it would remove schools’ legal obligation to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, a move that has alarmed educators and Māori leaders.

In October, Education Minister Erica Stanford released the full draft of the new Years 0-10 curriculum, ahead of a six-month consultation period. It includes plans to fold Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories into the broader social sciences learning area.

The Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories curriculum was introduced in 2023 after years of advocacy from educators and iwi. It made learning about local hapū, colonisation, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi compulsory in all schools, which was a major shift from previous approaches that focused largely on European history.

An Education Review Office (ERO) evaluation found the curriculum was being well received, with Māori and Pacific students among the most engaged. It also found that many teachers felt more connected to their communities.

However, the proposed changes to the curriculum have drawn widespread criticism from educators, principals, and Māori education leaders who say they undo hard-won progress in teaching local histories and Māori perspectives.

Importance of learning local history

Central to the current Aotearoa New Zealand Histories curriculum is teaching local history. It requires ākonga (students) learn about the rohe (region) they live in and the mana whenua of that area – a requirement removed in the new draft curriculum.

But Mutu said learning local history is important for tamariki and staff, to not only understand the country they live in but make sense of global issues.

“Whether you’re Māori, Pākehā, or Hainamana (Chinese)… It’s important that they can identify themselves within the place they live and relate that more widely when they go elsewhere.

“This kind of knowledge is crucial for teaching values – about relationships between people, how you build them, and how you relate to mana whenua.”

Mutu said in her iwi of Ngāti Kahu, the approach is to start by learning about your own place and people, then expand outwards – regionally, nationally, and internationally.

“If you’ve got that foundation of who you are and where you live, it makes a huge difference to how you approach everything else.”

Understanding your own rohe is essential for understanding the wider world, she said.

“If you understand mana whenua, and the realities of having your land and histories taken, you understand what’s happening in Gaza or Ukraine.

“What’s happening there happened here.”

University of Auckland Professor of Māori Studies and linguist Margaret Mutu (Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Whātua). Supplied / University of Auckland

Mutu said the demand for local resources came directly from teachers, who wanted tools to bring the histories of their communities into the classroom.

In 2017, she published Ngāti Kahu: Portrait of a Sovereign Nation – a book detailing an in-depth history of Ngāti Kahu through the traditions of each of the sixteen hapū of that rohe.

“Teachers were asking for resources to teach about the rohe they were in,” Mutu said. “It was there, in the book. But they didn’t know how to teach from it.”

To fill that gap, Mutu created a 10-week postgraduate course showing educators how to use Ngāti Kahu’s histories in the classroom. The response, she said, was “stunning”.

“The first course was funded for 20 people – I had 50 enrol. The second had 70, and around 100 observers.”

The course gave teachers confidence to weave He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi into lessons in a way that connected with their ākonga, she said.

“Over half the students in many of our schools are Ngāti Kahu, and teachers now understand how to relate to those tamariki.

“Principals came back and said it’s made a huge difference to how they teach.”

This approach could easily be replicated across Aotearoa, Mutu said, if the Ministry supported hapū and iwi to develop local resources and lead courses for teachers.

“This kind of teaching enables them to connect to every child in their classroom.”

RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Associate Minister of Education and ACT Party leader David Seymour celebrated the draft curriculum as a way to “restore balance” to the teaching of history in schools.

He described the current Aotearoa New Zealand Histories curriculum as “highly political” and said it drove a “simplistic victims-and-villains narrative.”

“The Marxist ‘big ideas’ such as ‘Māori history is the foundational and continuous history of Aotearoa New Zealand.’ and ‘The course of Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories has been shaped by the use of power’ are GONE,” Seymour posted to social media.

“In their place is a new and balanced History Curriculum. In line with the ACT coalition commitment to ‘Restore balance to the Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories curriculum.'”

However, Mutu believes Seymour’s comments reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of place, belonging, and tikanga.

“It makes me sad, because it means David is not familiar with his own background or doesn’t understand the underpinnings of his own hapū.

“Those sorts of comments are totally inappropriate. A Marxist analysis doesn’t belong in te ao Māori. We don’t operate like that, we operate on tikanga.”

He Whakaputanga o Te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni RNZ / MARK PAPALII

Mutu said if people truly understood Aotearoa’s history, race relations would look very different.

“If people knew the truth, we’d have a much kinder country. But they don’t, and they accept racist narratives that blame Māori.”

Mutu hoped future generations are not denied knowledge of their place and history.

“Every person here has a right to understand the country they live in. That knowledge comes from each hapū’s rohe, not from the government.”

She said its “very sad” that most people in Aotearoa don’t understand “its true history”.

“That’s a human rights violation.

“Please stop depriving future generations of the knowledge of whose rohe they live in, who they are, and why this country is the way it is.

“Build a better place for everyone by helping us understand each other.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Iwi leaders step in as Te Pāti Māori tensions escalate

Source: Radio New Zealand

Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere. RNZ / MARK PAPALII

Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere says the party’s leadership will “very shortly” consider whether to expel its MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris.

Iwi leaders will meet with Te Pāti Māori leadership at Parliament on Tuesday in an effort to put a stop to extraordinary infighting.

It comes after Tamihere publicly called for MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris to quit politics, accusing the pair of conspiring to overthrow the leadership. Ferris’ Te Tai Tonga electorate has separately called for Tamihere to stand down.

Kapa-Kingi last night told RNZ said had no plans to leave politics.

“JT [Tamihere] doesn’t speak for Tai Tokerau – only people of Tai Tokerau do. The people voted me as an electorate member I’m proud to say, and therefore I’m not going anywhere. I have a job to do and I plan to continue to do it the best way I know how – show up, prepare and remember who you represent.”

Ferris has not made a public comment yet, saying only that his electorate’s executive would be sending out a statement “in due course”.

Appearing on RNZ’s Morning Report, Tamihere said he did not know what issues the two MPs had.

“At no time have the Kapa-Kingis or Ferris ever put their gripe or their problem on the table. This is despite a whole range of meetings,” Tamihere said.

“We have been deeply constrained because we have to follow our constitution and our tikanga. So, as a consequence, we’ve not been able to go to the media until very recently.”

When asked directly if he still wanted the two MPs in the party, Tamihere said: “Not if they continue to be rogue.”

Tamihere said the party’s national council would be having a conversation “very shortly” about whether to expel the two MPs, but he reiterated his call for them to go of their own accord.

“If you haven’t got the numbers to change the leadership in the caucus, you haven’t got the numbers to change the leadership in the electorates. You should do the honourable thing, understand that, and go and do a Hone Harawira.”

Harawira quit the Māori Party and Parliament in 2011 and then won his way back in during the by-election as leader of the new Mana Party.

In response to calls for his own resignation, Tamihere said he would not still be in the position if there were widespread calls in the party for him to go.

“I’m not overly worried about that [petition]. That’s just the people’s choice. And it’s not running as hot as it should,” he said. “Where’s the revolution?”

He refused to respond to the MPs’ claims that he was running a dictatorship, saying they should first provide evidence of that.

“In any caucus, it’s about being disciplined. It’s about being organised. It’s about having some form of teamwork.”

Ngāti Kahungunu chairman Bayden Barber is among a handful of iwi representatives that will sit down with the party’s co-leaders and president on Tuesday to work out what, if anything, can be salvaged from here.

“We’re going to try. We’re going to give it our best shot. There’s a lot at stake in terms of an upcoming election. We’ve been challenged like no other generation from this government.

“That’s why we see it as really important to offer an opportunity for reconciliation between both parts of the party and hopefully find a solution going forward.

“Those posts that came out [on Monday] from both sides were unhelpful and unnecessary.”

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Barber said the Iwi Chairs Forum wanted to meet with Kapa-Kingi and Ferris too, with the ultimate goal to get everyone together for a hui at a marae in Wellington “sometime in the near future”.

The forum wanted the party to focus on policy, he said.

“We have a government that has attacked us from every front the last couple of years, so having the only kaupapa Māori party imploding is not helpful to the cause of iwi and aspirations that we’re trying to achieve for our people.

“At the moment, there’s a big distraction and it’s been caused by the in-fighting in the party at this time, and we felt it’s important to try and get that back on track because we have a vested interest.

“This isn’t just about Te Pāti Māori supporters, this is about Māori community right around the country all feeling a bit disappointed and overwhelmed by all the tit-for-tat happening on social media.

“So we’re trying to reach out to build a bridge and find some common ground and reconcile hopefully the relationships, but the longer this goes on, the harder that is going to be.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins told Morning Report Te Pāti Māori had “major issues” it needed to sort out, but added it’s not uncommon for political parties to have internal turmoil.

He did not rule out working with the party after the election.

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‘Greed, avarice, and entitlement’ – Te Pāti Māori president urges MPs to quit

Source: Radio New Zealand

Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere has fired the latest salvo in an increasingly public fallout between the party leadership and two MPs. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere has told MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris to “do the honourable thing” and quit Parliament, accusing the duo of “greed, avarice, and entitlement”.

It is the latest salvo in an increasingly public fallout between the party leadership and the two MPs.

The party’s National Council last month voted to suspend Kapa-Kingi, who is MP for Te Tai Tokerau.

The executive of Te Tai Tonga electorate – which covered the South Island and parts of Wellington – abstained from the resolution, and later called for a vote of no confidence in Tamihere.

Ferris, the MP for Te Tai Tonga, has previously backed Kapa-Kingi, telling 1News he did not support her suspension. Members of Te Tai Tonga electorate have now petitioned for Tamihere’s resignation as president, saying he has not acted in good faith.

In response to the petition, Tamihere has posted a lengthy statement on Facebook, alleging Kapa-Kingi and Ferris were destabilising due to a “desire to take over leadership” of Te Pāti Māori.

But Kapa-Kingi told RNZ she was not going anywhere and Tamihere did not speak for Tai Tokerau.

“The people voted me as an electorate member I’m proud to say and therefore I’m not going anywhere. I have a job to do and I plan to continue to do it best way I know how. Show up, prepare and remember who you represent.”

Tamihere alleges that in July, he was contacted by a Te Tai Tokerau iwi leader who had expressed concern that Kapa-Kingi had asked iwi leaders whether they would support her in a challenge for the party leadership against Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, and Ferris against Rawiri Waititi.

He said he rang Kapa-Kingi on the evening of 18 July.

“I indicated to her that if there was a case for change of leadership there had to be some reason or some cause and could you please advise me what it was. Ms Kapa-Kingi was unable to do so.”

Tamihere’s statement also references the release of documents suggesting Parliamentary Services had warned Kapa-Kingi she was on track to overspend her budget by up to $133,000, as well as the accusations Kapa-Kingi’s son Eru had unleashed a profane and threatening “tirade of abuse” at Parliamentary security last year.

“There is no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of anybody in Te Pāti Māori leadership. It is not the fault of Te Pāti Māori that Kapa-Kingi overspent her budget. It is not the fault of Te Pāti Māori that payments to her family have been disclosed,” Tamihere said.

“It is not the fault of Te Pāti Māori that Eru Kapa-Kingi seems to be the only bully in the party. It is not the fault of Te Pāti Maori that the personal interests and entitlement of Ms Kapa-Kingi and her family are now known to everyone.”

He also claims that the Kapa-Kingi family had disagreed with the 2023 draft list placings, which put Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke ahead of Mariameno Kapa-Kingi.

“Their argument was that ‘somebody in nappies’ should not be placed ahead of a Wahine Rangatira from Te Tai Tokerau. It came to pass that the Kapa-Kingi’s had no process or policy to determine anything other than Mariameno Kapa-Kingi should be number one on the list,” Tamihere said.

“The outcome of that hui was she was invited to tender her resignation as our candidate if she felt that aggrieved and we would open nominations in Te Tai Tokerau. Faced with that ultimatum we all ended up going into the wharekai for a cup of tea and the rest is history.”

Tamihere said Kapa-Kingi and Ferris should “do the honourable thing,” referencing Hone Harawira, who in 2011 quit the party and Parliament. Harawira’s resignation prompted a by-election in Te Tai Tokerau, which he won as the leader of the Mana Party.

“I guarantee Kapa-Kingi and Ferris will not do the same thing because their conduct is not based on mana, is not based on integrity and honesty or on principle. Their conduct is based on greed, avarice and entitlement,” Tamihere wrote.

RNZ has approached Te Pāti Māori and Tākuta Ferris for comment.

‘I don’t really care’ – PM

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was asked about Te Pāti Māori’s internal problems at his regular post-Cabinet press conference on Monday afternoon, and did not mince his words.

“I don’t think Te Pāti Māori are a serious outfit. I think they are activists, I think they’re performative,” he told media.

“I’ve never heard of a single policy idea from Te Pāti Māori about how they’re going to improve outcomes for Māori students, Māori health, Māori achievement, and so, you know, I don’t take them seriously.”

He said questions about working with Te Pāti Māori should be directed at Labour’s Chris Hipkins because “they have the same voting record”.

He would not say if National would rule out working with Te Pāti Māori if there was a change in the latter’s leadership.

“We came here to do serious things. This is a country that has been through a difficult set of times. We are fixing the basics and we have an awesome future that we’re focused on realising for this country, and that’s what I’m getting out of bed to do every day.

“What the hell everyone else does, I don’t really care, frankly.”

Hipkins said Te Pāti Māori’s internal issues were for it to resolve.

He repeated his call for the party to “prioritise” sorting itself out, and that the party was a “long way away” from playing a constructive role in government.

“We’re here to represent the people that put us here, we’re here to make decisions on behalf of the whole country, not just the people that vote for us. Everybody needs to keep that in mind in discharging their duties as a Member of Parliament.”

Hipkins said Labour would be competing “vigourously” in the Māori seats at the next election, but he would set out beforehand where Labour had common ground with other parties, and the bottom lines it would not cross.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Freshwater allocation system degrading water quality and shutting Māori out, court hears

Source: Radio New Zealand

Members of the Wai Manawa Whenua coalition outside the High Court in Wellington. RNZ/Pokere Paewai

A group of Māori landowners taking the government to court over freshwater rights allege the current system of water allocation is degrading water quality and shutting Māori out.

Wai Manawa Whenua is seeking timely and effective Crown action to halt further decline in water quality and a fair and durable water allocation system.

The case is [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/577593/landmark-maori-freshwater-rights-case-in-court-this-week set down in the High Court] in Wellington for Monday and Tuesday, the Crown is expected to present its evidence on Tuesday.

Lawyer Matthew Smith KC told the court that a key problem is the “first in, first served” water allocation system.

Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA) chairperson Traci Houpapa said in many catchments water has either been fully or over allocated, which has led to a degradation in water quality.

“As ahuwhenua, we need water in order to operate our farms, our landholdings. Māori are a significant holder in the primary industries, but more importantly, we’re calling on the Crown to recognise our rights as Māori, to create a fair and equitable water allocation system with us, and then also to recognise our role as kaitiaki.”

Federation of Māori Authorities chairperson Traci Houpapa RNZ/Pokere Paewai

Sometimes water isn’t available for Māori authorities because its already been allocated to other entities in the region, she said.

“What we’re saying is we need to be part of the redistribution of those allocations and to look at a new allocation system.”

Wai Manawa Whenua chairperson Kingi Smiler said Māori have been trying to resolve their rights and interests with the Crown very actively for over three decades.

Starting when the Resource Management Act was first being put in place in 1991, then again in 2012 during the policy to partially privatise state-owned enterprises, he said.

Then Deputy Prime Minister Bill English gave assurances that the Crown was committed to recognising and making appropriate provision for Māori rights and interests in water and geothermal resources, he said.

“They gave solemn promises in the Supreme Court and there have always been annually reviews by the Crown with Māori and others as to what the rules should be for allocating water in the country but they continue just to be cynical promises, not meaningful at all and simply empty promises where no action has been taken.

“Until there’s action being taken on the first-in-first-served allocation system and that system is changed, then no improvement in water quality will result.”

Wai Manawa Whenua chairperson Kingi Smiler RNZ/Pokere Paewai

Smiler said in his region of Wairarapa the water quality of Lake Wairarapa has degraded dramatically to the point where it is considered super-trophic.

“So this is a very serious situation and for many years as part of treaty settlements we’ve tried to have the opportunity to have this resolved with the government but there’s no clean-up fund that’s been put in place that will address the issues that are there.”

Houpapa said there have been a number of initiatives between Māori and the government to improve water quality, including Kāhui Wai Māori/the Māori Freshwater Forum and Te Mana o te Wai, but they have only gone so far.

“In our discussions with government, we have been unhappy with the lack of progress and the lack of action. We believed coming to High Court was the course that needed to be taken in order for us to hold the Crown to account.

“What we’re doing today is asking the Crown to deliver. This is a matter important for whānau, hapū, for ahuwhenua, our trusts, Māori trusts and corporations, Māori landholding, so that we can be part of the conversations and the design of a fair water allocation system for our whenua and for ahikā.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Pacific Championship rugby league: What you need to know about NZ Kiwis v Toa Samoa men’s final

Source: Radio New Zealand

Samoa issue a cultural challenge to the Kiwis at Go Media Stadium. Brett Phibbs/www.photosport.nz

Pacific Championship (men) – NZ Kiwi v Toa Samoa

Kickoff: 6.05pm Sunday, 9 November

CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Live blog updates on RNZ

History

Toa Samoa have never beaten NZ Kiwis in six previous meetings.

That said, they have come very close a couple of times and probably should have won their last meeting three weeks ago, when they bombed at least two prime scoring opportunities in the final 10 minutes of a 24-18 defeat at Go Media Stadium.

In 2014, New Zealand needed a late try from centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall to scrape past 14-12 at Whangārei, en route to claiming a Four Nations crown.

There have been some big margins along the way.

In the 2023 Pacific Championships, the Kiwis inflicted a 50-0 pounding on their rivals, with wingers Jamayne Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo grabbing try doubles, and Isaako converting seven of the nine tries scored.

Historically, Samoa have been used as warm-up opponents before more meaningful fixtures against major rugby league powers, but the exodus of top players to their Pacific roots has brought new meaning to this rivalry.

Form

The Samoans really announced themselves as bona fide contenders on the world state, when they reached the final of the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, losing 60-6 to England in poolplay, but turning the tables 27-26 in the semis, before losing 30-10 to Australia in the final.

Like Tonga before them, their programme has undoubtedly benefited from the decision by NRL stars to pledge allegiance to their heritage, rather than New Zealand or Australia.

Strangely, Samoa’s 34-6 win over Tonga two weeks ago was their first win since that World Cup semi-final three years ago.

They were out of their depth against the Kiwis and Kangaroos in the 2023 Pacific Championships, and then lost two tests on their England tour last year.

New Zealand also looked better against Tonga last weekend than they did against Samoa in their tournament opener.

Keano Kini in full flight against Tonga. Photosport

After inflicting a record defeat on Australia in the 2023 final, the Kiwis were understrength last year, under new coach Stacey Jones, losing to Australia and Tonga, and having to defend their place in the top flight against Papua New Guinea.

Some of the youngsters blooded in that campaign have continued to develop, particularly centre/winger Casey McLean and fullback Keano Kini in the backs, and Naufahu Whyte in the forwards.

They have certainly been better this year under Jones’ continued stewardship and should go into the final as favourites on the basis of their earlier win.

Teams

Kiwis: 1. Keano Kini, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Matt Timoko, 4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 5. Casey McLean, 6. Dylan Brown, 7. Kieran Foran, 8. James Fisher-Harris (captain), 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Isaiah Papali’i, 13. Joseph Tapine

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison

Reserves: 18. Scott Sorenson, 19. Zach Dockar-Clay, 20. Josiah Karapani

Jones has named the same line-up that took the field against Tonga last week, although that wasn’t the one he originally named.

Before kick-off, he lost Mulitalo and reserve forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona to injury, and had to reshuffle his backline, moving McLean to the wing, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to centre and bringing Kini into fullback.

Kiwis half Kieran Foran in action against Tonga during the Pacific Championships. Brett Phibbs/www.photosport.nz

That configuration performed well, so it stays intact.

Veteran half Kieran Foran, 35, will make his final appearance for his country, 16 years after debuting as a teenager, after already retiring from the NRL at the end of last season.

Brisbane Broncos forward Xavier Willison made his Kiwis debut last week against Tonga and will again come off the bench.

Isaako, Erin Clark, Moses Leota and Isaiah Papali’i have all turned out for Samoa previously, while several others are eligible.

Player to watch

The injury that brought Keano Kini into last week’s starting line-up may have saved the Kiwis’ Pacific Championship hopes. Not that Nicoll-Klokstad deserves to be dropped and thankfully he is versatile enough to find a place in the centres, but Kini provides the x-factor that may make a difference, as the big Samoan forwards tire.

Samoa: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. Brian To’o, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Deine Mariner, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Blaize Talagi, 7. Jarome Luai (captain), 8. Francis Molo, 9. Jazz Tevaga, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Jaydn Su’A, 12. Simi Sasagi, 13. Junior Paulo

Interchange: 14. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 15. Benaiah Ioelu, 16. Terrell May, 17. Josh Papalii

Reserves: 18. Ata Mariota, 19. Ativalu Lisati, 20. Clayton Faulalo, 21. Lyhkan King-Togia

The only change from the team that beat Tonga sees Su’A replace second-rower Jeremiah Nanai, who suffered a shoulder injury in that encounter.

Coach Ben Gardiner originally named Tevaga and Papalii to start at hooker and prop for that game, but switched them back to the bench before kick-off, replaced by Ioelu and Molo. Tevaga has again been named to start at dummy half, but Papalii remains on the interchange.

Tuivasa-Sheck has previously captained the Kiwis, before switching international allegiances. Taulagi, Haas and Papali’i have all represented Australia, while several others have played State of Origin for NSW or Queensland.

Player to watch

Front-rower Payne Haas is a force of nature and one of the main reasons Brisbane Broncos took out the NRL premiership this season. The last meeting between these two teams was his Samoan debut and the Kiwis will need to neutralise him to win the forward battle.

Payne Haas in action for Toa Samoa against the Kiwis. Brett Phibbs/www.photosport.nz

Venue

When the Pacific Championship draw was announced, New Zealand was allocated two blockbuster games against Samoa and Tonga in Auckland, but the final was strangely scheduled for Sydney.

With the Kangaroos currently touring England, Australia would be unrepresented in the men’s showcase and, given the three teams in contention, it seemed weird that the decider shouldn’t also be held in the city with the world’s largest Polynesian population.

Brisbane hosted the Samoa v Tonga clash, with about 45,000 cramming into Suncorp Stadium. Given the patronage, commentators wondered aloud if the NRL had undersold the competition final by staging it at a venue with only 30,000 capacity.

“CommBank Stadium is one of those stadiums where you’re right on top of it and the sound doesn’t get released anywhere, it just bounces off the walls,” former NZ and Samoa international, and now Kiwis selector, Monty Betham told RNZ’s Midday Report. “The atmosphere will be unbelievable – you’ll be able to hear it at home.”

What will happen

Both teams took a step up in their respective games against Tonga, with Samoa (28) enjoying a better points difference than the Kiwis (24).

The winners will be the team that finds another gear and adjusts better from their previous meeting.

The speed of Kini and McLean in the open field could prove the difference in a Kiwis victory.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Teenager charged after staff member injured at Youth Justice residence

Source: Radio New Zealand

Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice residence. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with assault with a weapon after a staff member was injured at a Youth Justice facility in Auckland.

A police spokesperson said they were called to a residential facility on Kiwi Tamaki Road in Wiri about 7.30pm on Sunday, following reports of an assault.

Auckland’s Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice residence is on the road.

Oranga Tamariki acting deputy chief executive youth justice services and residential care Neil Beales earlier confirmed a staff member sustained minor injuries from the incident.

The youth was expected to appear in the Manukau District Court on Monday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Country Life: Jemma Ostenfeld, a heritage seed collector with an eye on the future

Source: Radio New Zealand

Jemma Ostenfeld RNZ/Sally Round

Growing up gardening with her grandmother sowed the original seed for heritage seed collector and grower Jemma Ostenfeld.

Originally from Australia’s Gold Coast, she’s been in New Zealand five years and after learning the ropes of seed collecting in Hawke’s Bay, she now collects and sows heritage varieties on a patch of borrowed land at Poroporo in eastern Bay of Plenty.

She grows the seedlings and heritage crops and sells her produce at farmers’ markets in the region.

“I try for over 100 years old – they hold the memory of all the times that they’ve been grown before, so they have more resistance to pests and disease and any environmental conditions like drought,” she told Country Life.

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It takes Jemma a good few hours to sow each batch of seeds RNZ/Sally Round

Heritage seeds are from a plant that has reproduced naturally through “open pollination” and been passed down through the generations.

They are “true-to-type”, Ostenfeld explained, meaning the plant that grows from them is genetically identical.

They can be traced back to early seed catalogues and in the case of traditional Māori vegetables – kamokamo and beans for example – can go back centuries.

When Country Life visited she was in her hand-built greenhouse sowing a heritage lettuce variety from a trusted collector in Northland.

“Every time a seed is grown, it will take on those environmental conditions from that season.

“If it’s grown in a different soil type, it will become adapted to that soil type, plus all the different soil types that it’s been grown in before, so by diversifying the environment that the seeds are grown in, it’s going to take on more qualities of pest resistance, of resistance to harsh environmental conditions, so it gets stronger and stronger year after year.”

Jemma grows out her seedlings too RNZ/Sally Round

Jemma considers herself a large-scale home gardener RNZ/Sally Round

She found her passion for seed collecting on her initial travels around New Zealand, connecting with growers and others in the small seed collecting community.

“A lot of the seeds that have come into New Zealand have been smuggled in by like people in the war, sneaking them in their socks, or a lot came over with the Dalmatian gum diggers as well. So they originate in other countries, and then they come here, and they’ve got these amazing stories.”

Ostenfeld has been passed on a few different varieties and been approached to take on a whole seed collection by someone who wants to ensure his seeds are well looked after.

“Sometimes it gets to a point where families can’t necessarily look after those lines anymore, but they still want to keep that seed alive, because it means so much to them.

“It’s one of those things that’s it’s hard to ask for, I think they come to you when the time is right.”

Jemma sources her heritage seeds from trusted suppliers, grows them out and collects her own RNZ/Sally Round

Ostenfeld leads an off-grid life at present in the remote valley, sowing weekly in the spring and watering by hand, heading to farmers’ markets with her certified organic produce at the weekend.

She’s also an educator.

“I’m kind of turning into a mini garden centre trying to provide the average home gardener with the tools to be able to grow healthy food in their garden, as well as education and engagement through workshops.”

She must abide by international seed-saving rules, ensuring strict germination rates, adjusting her growing routines to ensure the best outcome.

She also ensures she can pass on the history of the seeds.

Labelled seedlings at The East Field RNZ/Sally Round

“Before I sell them, I make sure that I go into a deep dive of where they originate from. It might be a plant breeder in the 1800s.”

Seed libraries should be sprinkled around the country, she believes, to ensure seed security in case of major events like Cyclone Gabrielle and Covid which disrupted distribution, she said.

“When we were all locked down, there was such a high demand for seeds that those people almost sold out of a lot of their ranges.

“I think the more people that are growing and saving heritage seeds and distributing them out across the country creates a more secure food system for us.”

Ostenfeld is on the look out for a new patch of land to lease or collaborate on in the Bay of Plenty which has ideal growing conditions, she said.

Learn more:

  • Find our more about Jemma Ostenfeld here

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand