Waatea News: Māori Radio Station

Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa is warning proposed changes to the NCEA system could threaten the future strength and integrity of Māori-medium education pathways across the country.

Represented by chief executive Hohepa Campbell, the organisation says planned reforms increasing external assessment and standardised testing risk clashing with the kaupapa Māori foundations that underpin Kura Kaupapa Māori and wharekura learning environments.

The concerns centre on proposals to place greater emphasis on externally assessed achievement standards, which Te Rūnanga Nui believes may undermine teaching approaches grounded in Te Aho Matua — the philosophical framework guiding Kura Kaupapa Māori education.

Leaders say kaupapa Māori learning prioritises holistic development, collective achievement, cultural identity, whānau engagement and the nurturing of te reo Māori, rather than narrow measurement through standardised assessment systems.

There are fears the reforms could force kura and wharekura into models that privilege mainstream academic structures over Māori ways of teaching, learning and evaluating student success.

Te Rūnanga Nui says externally driven assessment systems may place additional pressure on kaiako and tauira while limiting the flexibility kura currently have to tailor learning around te reo Māori immersion, mātauranga Māori and community priorities.

The organisation is also warning the changes could weaken Māori-medium pathways long-term if students become disconnected from culturally grounded learning environments that have been central to the success of Kura Kaupapa Māori over recent decades.

Education leaders say Māori-medium education has played a critical role in language revitalisation, strengthening cultural identity and improving outcomes for many Māori learners by allowing them to succeed as Māori.

Concerns have also been raised that a standardised national framework may fail to adequately reflect the diversity of Māori educational approaches or recognise the distinct goals of kura kaupapa and wharekura.

Te Rūnanga Nui is calling on the Ministry of Education to work directly with Māori education leaders, kura communities and whānau to ensure any reforms uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and protect the autonomy of kaupapa Māori education.

Among the assurances being sought are stronger protections for Te Aho Matua principles, culturally appropriate assessment models, meaningful Māori governance over reform design and long-term investment into Māori-medium pathways.

The debate comes as the Government continues wider reforms across the education sector, including curriculum redesign, literacy benchmarks and changes to NCEA assessment structures.

#KuraKaupapaMāori #NCEA #TeAhoMatua #MāoriEducation #Wharekura #TeReoMāori #MātaurangaMāori #EducationReform #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea

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Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner Juressa Lee is calling on the Government to reject a proposed minerals agreement with the United States, as more than 26,000 people sign a petition urging Prime Minister Christopher Luxon not to proceed with the deal.

Lee, who is of Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi and Rarotongan descent, says growing public opposition reflects widespread concern about foreign access to Aotearoa’s natural resources and the environmental risks associated with seabed mining.

The petition comes amid increasing international competition for critical minerals used in renewable energy technology and battery production, with governments and corporations seeking access to seabed resources including rare earth minerals and iron sands.

Environmental groups warn seabed mining poses major threats to fragile marine ecosystems, particularly off the Taranaki coast where proposals for iron sands extraction have faced years of legal and community opposition.

Greenpeace says disturbing the ocean floor could damage marine habitats, threaten fisheries, disrupt whale and dolphin migration routes and release large amounts of stored carbon from deep sea sediments.

Concerns are also being raised about the long-term impacts on customary fisheries and Māori relationships with the moana, with critics arguing extractive industries conflict with Indigenous principles of kaitiakitanga and environmental stewardship.

Lee says the strong public response to the petition demonstrates growing unease over overseas influence on New Zealand’s environmental decision-making and increasing resistance to large-scale resource extraction projects.

The proposed minerals agreement with the United States is understood to be linked to broader international efforts to secure mineral supply chains for clean energy technologies as countries move away from fossil fuels.

Greenpeace argues Aotearoa should instead focus on reducing mineral demand through recycling, resource efficiency and investment in truly sustainable renewable energy systems that do not rely on destructive mining practices.

The organisation is also calling for stronger protections for ocean ecosystems, greater Indigenous leadership in environmental governance and a transition strategy centred on conservation, climate resilience and community wellbeing rather than resource extraction.

Debate around seabed mining has intensified again in recent months as companies continue pushing for access to offshore mineral deposits despite earlier court rulings and widespread environmental opposition.

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Latest Kōreo from the rohe and motu. Ngā kaupapa nui, ngā reo o te hapori. Listen Live or Online on Waatea Digital

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Latest Kōreo from the rohe and motu. Ngā kaupapa nui, ngā reo o te hapori. Listen Live or Online on Waatea Digital

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E ai ki a Toka Tū ake arā te Natural Hazards Commission He tokomaha ake ngā tāngata e tiro ana ki ngā mōrearea taiao pēnei i te waipuke me te rū whenua i mua i te hoko whare,

The post Matthew Gifford | Kei te kaha ake te aro a ngā kaihoko whare ki ngā mōrearea taiao. appeared first on Waatea News: Māori Radio Station.

Kei te hiahia te Kāwanatanga ki te whakarerekē i ngā ture tiaki taiao mā te whakahohoro i ngā tukanga a Te Papa atawhai, te whakangāwari i te whakawhiti, te hoko rānei i ngā whenua tāpui me te whakauta i ētahi utu uru i ngā tūruhi ka tae mai i tāwāhi.

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19052026 Holly Beckham

Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Rangi adventurer Holly Beckham is taking on a gruelling 300-kilometre endurance challenge as part of a campaign supporting rangatahi, while continuing her ambitious mission to become the first wāhine Māori to summit Mount Everest carrying the Tino Rangatiratanga flag.

Beckham is participating in the “Move Mountains for Youth” initiative, a fundraising and awareness campaign connected to the Graeme Dingle Foundation, which supports programmes helping young people build confidence, resilience and leadership skills across Aotearoa.

The challenge combines physical endurance with kaupapa-driven advocacy, with Beckham using her journey to inspire rangatahi and promote positive pathways for young Māori navigating challenges around identity, wellbeing and opportunity.

Move Mountains for Youth brings together adventurers, athletes and community leaders who undertake major endurance events to raise funds for youth mentoring and development programmes delivered through the Graeme Dingle Foundation.

The Foundation works with thousands of young people nationwide through initiatives focused on mentoring, education, outdoor challenges and long-term personal development, particularly for youth facing barriers and hardship.

For Beckham, the kaupapa is deeply personal. She says supporting rangatahi aligns closely with her own journey of pushing boundaries, reconnecting with culture and proving Māori can thrive in spaces where indigenous representation has historically been limited.

At the same time, Beckham continues intensive training for her long-term Everest goal — an expedition she hopes will symbolically carry Māori identity and tino rangatiratanga onto one of the world’s highest and most internationally recognised summits.

Her aspiration to raise the Tino Rangatiratanga flag atop Everest has already attracted strong support across Māori communities and among young people inspired by her determination and visibility as a wāhine Māori in extreme endurance sport.

Beckham says the wider message behind the campaign is about resilience, whakapapa and believing that Māori youth can achieve extraordinary things regardless of the obstacles they face.

The endurance challenge also highlights growing conversations around mental health, youth support and the importance of culturally grounded mentoring programmes that help rangatahi build confidence and connection.

As preparations continue for Everest, Beckham says she hopes her journey encourages young people across Aotearoa to dream boldly, stay connected to who they are and understand there are no limits to what they can achieve.

#RadioWaatea #HollyBeckham #TinoRangatiratanga #Everest #Rangatahi #MāoriNews #Ngāpuhi #NgātiRangi #GraemeDingleFoundation #MoveMountainsForYouth #Aotearoa #WāhineMāori

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Debate is intensifying over whether New Zealand should raise the pension age in line with increasing life expectancy, with economists and social policy experts warning the move could deepen inequality and disproportionately impact Māori and Pacific communities.

Retirement policy expert Associate Professor Susan St John says linking the age of eligibility for New Zealand Superannuation directly to life expectancy risks ignoring major differences in health outcomes, income levels and lifespan between different population groups.

The discussion comes as governments around the world grapple with ageing populations and rising pension costs, prompting renewed calls from some business and economic groups for New Zealand to gradually lift the superannuation age beyond 65.

Supporters argue people are living longer and remaining in the workforce later in life, making the current pension system increasingly expensive and difficult to sustain over coming decades.

However, critics say average life expectancy figures mask deep inequities across society. Māori and Pacific peoples continue to experience lower life expectancy and higher rates of chronic illness compared with non-Māori populations, meaning many would receive the pension for fewer years despite contributing through taxes throughout their working lives.

St John warns the policy could unfairly penalise workers in physically demanding industries who may be unable to continue working into older age due to health issues, injury or burnout.

The debate is also unfolding during ongoing cost-of-living pressures, with many older New Zealanders already struggling with rising rents, food prices, power bills and healthcare costs.

Advocates for older people say now may be the wrong time to consider reducing access to superannuation when financial insecurity among retirees is already increasing.

Rather than lifting the pension age, St John has suggested alternative approaches including targeted taxation measures aimed at wealthier superannuitants who continue receiving universal payments despite having substantial assets or high retirement incomes.

Possible options discussed by policy analysts include adjusting tax settings, introducing income-based clawbacks or applying new tax thresholds that would allow affluent retirees to contribute more back into the system while preserving universal access for lower-income older people.

The issue remains politically sensitive in Aotearoa, where New Zealand Superannuation has long been viewed as a universal entitlement and a key pillar of retirement security.

The wider debate now raises broader questions about fairness, ageing, intergenerational equity and how future governments balance fiscal pressures with social wellbeing in an increasingly unequal society.

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Regional Development and Resources Minister Shane Jones says critical minerals, regional infrastructure and economic decentralisation will play a major role in securing New Zealand’s future, as debate intensifies over mining, regional investment and opportunities for young people outside the main cities.

Jones this week hosted international critical minerals investors and industry leaders at Parliament as the Government accelerates plans to expand exploration and extraction of minerals considered essential for renewable energy, defence technology and advanced manufacturing.

The Government argues New Zealand holds significant untapped reserves of minerals including rare earth elements, antimony, tungsten and vanadium, which are becoming increasingly valuable as countries compete for secure supply chains in the global energy transition.

Jones says the focus is not simply on extraction but on creating long-term regional jobs, apprenticeships and economic development opportunities capable of supporting smaller communities facing population decline and limited employment options.

Discussions have also included possible minimum pricing mechanisms and strategic partnerships aimed at ensuring New Zealand captures more value from its natural resources rather than exporting raw materials with limited local benefit.

However, the push has triggered growing concern among environmental groups and some iwi leaders, who argue fast-tracked mining approvals and weakened environmental protections risk damaging whenua, waterways and Treaty relationships.

The debate has become increasingly heated in Parliament, with critics accusing the Government of prioritising short-term economic gains over long-term environmental sustainability and indigenous rights.

Jones maintains regional development cannot occur without difficult conversations about resource use, arguing many provincial communities have been economically neglected for decades while growth concentrated in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

At the same time, rising concern over regional infrastructure has been highlighted by the struggle to keep Originair’s Wellington-Westport air service operating after soaring fuel costs threatened its future. Interim support has kept the route alive for now, but questions remain over the long-term sustainability of transport links connecting smaller regions to major centres.

Regional leaders warn unreliable transport infrastructure risks further isolating rural communities and limiting access to healthcare, education, tourism and business opportunities.

Jones says maintaining regional connectivity remains critical to ensuring smaller towns can survive and grow, particularly as many communities attempt to attract investment and retain younger generations.

The minister has long positioned himself as a champion of provincial New Zealand, arguing economic opportunity must be spread more evenly across the country if young people are to see a future beyond the major urban centres.

The wider debate now reflects growing national tension over how New Zealand balances economic development, environmental protection, Treaty obligations and regional equity in an increasingly competitive global economy.

#RadioWaatea #ShaneJones #RegionalDevelopment #CriticalMinerals #Mining #MāoriNews #Aotearoa #RegionalNZ #Infrastructure #NZPolitics #EconomicGrowth #TreatyOfWaitangi

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Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says new investment in tourism infrastructure is part of a broader push to modernise New Zealand’s conservation system, but the Government’s proposed reforms are drawing growing criticism over fears of privatisation, over-development and weakening Treaty protections.

The Government has announced a $1 million investment to upgrade tracks and visitor infrastructure around Lake Tarawera and Lake Ōkataina, aimed at improving access and supporting regional tourism growth. The funding will go toward track maintenance, safety improvements and visitor facilities in one of the country’s most popular conservation and recreation areas.

Potaka says the investment reflects increasing pressure on public conservation land as international tourism rebounds and visitor numbers continue rising across Aotearoa.

The funding announcement comes alongside sweeping proposed reforms to conservation laws that the Government says are needed to cut bureaucracy, speed up decision-making and create new revenue streams to support conservation projects.

The reforms include proposals allowing greater use of international visitor charges and commercial concession fees, with ministers arguing the changes could raise around $60 million annually to reinvest into conservation infrastructure and biodiversity protection.

However, critics say the proposals risk shifting conservation priorities toward commercial tourism and opening public land to intensified private development.

Opposition parties and environmental groups have warned the reforms could dramatically expand commercial access across large areas of the conservation estate. Concerns have been raised that easier concession approvals and streamlined development processes could weaken environmental oversight and public protections.

The Government has rejected claims the reforms would allow the sale of conservation land, insisting safeguards remain in place through existing conservation legislation, environmental approvals and public ownership protections.

The proposals have also triggered alarm among iwi leaders, including Ngāi Tahu, who say changes to decision-making processes could undermine Treaty settlement arrangements and reduce iwi influence over conservation areas with deep cultural and whakapapa significance.

Māori groups argue conservation land management cannot be separated from Treaty obligations, customary relationships and co-governance arrangements developed through decades of settlement negotiations.

Potaka maintains Treaty responsibilities and iwi partnerships will remain protected under the reforms, saying Māori participation continues to be a core part of conservation management.

The debate highlights growing tension between economic development, tourism growth, environmental protection and indigenous rights as the Government pushes ahead with one of the biggest overhauls of conservation law in decades.

Public consultation and political scrutiny over the reforms are expected to intensify in coming months as iwi, environmental organisations and tourism operators prepare submissions on the proposed changes.

#RadioWaatea #TamaPotaka #Conservation #TreatyOfWaitangi #NgāiTahu #Tourism #MāoriNews #Environment #Aotearoa #DOC #PublicLand #NZPolitics

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