WHAT DO THEY KNOW?

“It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid.  At Christmas time we let in light and we banish shade.”

These are the opening lines to the song Do They Know It’s Christmas written by Bob Geldof and recorded by the supergroup Band Aid just before Christmas 1984 to raise money for famine hit Ethiopia.  With its saccharine lyrics and stellar lineup (including Geldof, Bono, Sting, Boy George, Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson) it went the 1984 equivalent of viral. 

Since then it’s become a Christmas anthem, and at this time of year you’re guaranteed to hear it many times over. 

Apparently Sir Bob, as he has since become, now says it is the worst song ever written and that it ruined his life.  May all his problems be so small.  Because the gloomy truth is that for a very large number of the world’s children, life is indeed a “world of dreaded fear, where the only water flowing is a bitter sting of tears.”

Here in New Zealand that has just been borne out by a report released on Monday 9^th December 2013 on child poverty in this country.  Written by Childrens Commissioner, Dr Russell Wills, the Child Poverty Monitor confirms that indicators like childhood illnesses are all on the rise, and one in four New Zealand children are now living in poverty.

This should not come as a surprise when read in the context of other recent studies such as the 2010 report, Comparative Child Well-being across the OECD which found that, out of 30 OECD countries, New Zealand was the 21^st lowest when it came to the material wellbeing of our children, and the 29^th lowest in terms of their health and safety.  On the up side, we had the fifth highest teen pregnancy rate and the highest youth suicide rate.  Additionally we were the 24^th highest in terms of risk behaviours, but the 21^st lowest in terms of average incomes.  And finally we had the 20^th highest infant mortality rates.

“And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom.  Well tonight, thank God, it's them instead of you.”

The Child Poverty Monitor confirms these trends have all worsened in our country, and yet John Key was on air immediately after it was released denying its findings and talking up what his government had done to reduce childhood poverty. 

Given that the report comes from his own appointed Childrens Commissioner, his denial is startlingly hollow.  Especially when measured against the reality of our own lived experiences in the Far North, where food banks cannot keep up with demand, and annual Christmas Tree appeals cannot meet the need.

“And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy,
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime.
But say a prayer to pray for the other ones,
At Christmastime.

Here's to you, raise your glass for everyone. 

Here's to them underneath that burning sun.

Do they know it's Christmas time at all?" 

IWI CHAIRS FORUM

Last week the Iwi Chairs Forum met at Te Poho o Rāwiri marae in Gisborne with a large attendance of iwi chairs and observers.  Ngāti Kahu’s chair, Professor Margaret Mutu, has provided a summary report of proceedings at the two day hui as follows.

The first day was entirely taken up with various presentations from Crown and other agencies.  As a result, reporting back from the Forum’s own Working Groups was restricted to the morning of the second day.  This drew some criticism. 

The Climate Change group reported a major dispute between the government and iwi who have settled claims to forestry lands. Because the government allowed cheap Emissions Trading Units from Europe to flood the market here, their value has dropped from about $30 to about $2. That has created a substantial loss for many iwi. They have referred the argument to the Prime Minister and have put forward a case for the value of Emissions Trading Units to have a minimum value of $15.

The Freshwater group reported that they have made some progress on ensuring the hapū have input into the management of water. However they are experiencing major difficulties with trying to get the government to talk to them about Māori rights and interests (ownership) of water.

The Whānau Ora group reported that Te Puni Kōkiri had rejected the North Island iwi bid to be the commissioning agency for Te Whānau Ora but had accepted the South Island iwi bid. The North Island one appears to have gone to National Urban Māori Authorities. North Island iwi resolved to meet with the Minister of Māori Affairs and the Minister of Whānau Ora to have that decision revisited.

The Housing group reported that Housing New Zealand is looking to iwi to buy up their housing stocks as part of their settlements.

The Mātauranga (Education) group came in for some criticism for laying the blame for Māori children not succeeding in Pākehā schools with the parents and whānau. Research has repeatedly shown that Māori children are marginalized in Pākehā schools and that teacher attitudes are the main cause. The hui identified racism as the main barrier for Māori children succeeding. The group was reminded that making te reo compulsory in all schools was key to improving the position of Māori.

The Constitutional group reported that they have completed 200 hui and will be presenting a draft model for a constitution to the February hui of the Forum (and at the Forum tent at Te Tii marae, Waitangi on 6 February).

The Iwi Collective is looking at purchasing as many of the properties landbanked for settlements prior to settlements. Ngāti Kahu has asked that properties in our area be excluded until we have pursued legal avenues in respect of our claims.