MIL-OSI Export

Source: Radio New Zealand

Would you pay a tax on Temu to help support local retail?

New Zealand’s clothing retail sector has been hit particularly hard by a downturn in spending, economists say – and the organisation representing retailers wants a levy imposed on people shopping at retailers such as Temu and Shein.

ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner said the past few years had been “brutal” for clothing retail.

Its latest card spending data showed that apparel spending lifted at about half the rate of total spending over the past 10 years, and had softened notably from a peak in 2022.

As a subset, children and babywear shops were still experiencing activity near 2016 levels.

Zollner said it was possibly because people had shifted their shopping to online retail giant Temu, or other general retailers for whom the apparel component could be split out.

“Bricks and mortar clothing retail – and for that matter their online offerings – could be losing market share, as well as people spending less on clothing. Clothing is one of those things where you can make do with what you’ve got for longer if you are watching your pennies, and it’s notable that until the last month, second-hand stores have been doing very well – and I’m sure a very big chunk of that is clothing.

“Clothing is obviously a necessity but there’s a lot of flexibility in how much you choose to spend on it and when, so I’d say it’s been behaving more like a discretionary item through this cycle.”

Westpac senior economist Satish Ranchhod agreed a change had happened.

“Retail spending on apparel has been tracking flat for quite an extended periods. Past the pandemic, we haven’t seen much growth over the last couple of years.”

He said more affordable consumer goods had been affected by the changes in e-commerce.

“If you think about fast fashion, you know, a lot of that stuff, you can bring it in cheaply from offshore, and our local retailers are competing with these big overseas-based or online-based retailers, including things like Temu and AliExpress.”

Carolyn Young, chief executive at Retail NZ, said New Zealand could look at what France and South Africa had done, as models of how a tax or levy could be applied to help local retail.

France is implementing an environmental fee on ultra-fast fashion brands, which will rise to 10 euros per item by 203.

“When you think about a business in New Zealand, they pay New Zealand staffing rates. They comply with the health and safety regulations in New Zealand and their products do as well.

“They have to comply to the Fair Trading Act and the Consumer Guarantees Act. There’s always costs involved in those areas. And anything you get in from offshore, you have no idea what their labour environment is like or what they’re paying their people. The product doesn’t have to meet any health and safety standards and they’re not compliant with New Zealand regulations around fair trading and consumer guarantees.”

She said the government should impose stronger measures to help level the playing field, such as a levy paid by shoppers.

“If you were buying from offshore, what we would want to see is that there would be a levy that would be applied to that, that would be at a level that would be some sort of equaliser between what New Zealand businesses have to do and comply with.

“Will everybody come back from shopping with them? I don’t know, but we have to try because that’s just going to make it much more difficult because as soon as you shop offshore, the money goes offshore. It doesn’t stay in New Zealand, doesn’t create jobs in New Zealand, doesn’t, you know, keep businesses open. And at some point, that’s going to really matter.”

She said if everyone would shop in New Zealand, it would help the economy significantly.

Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick said she agreed there was a problem but the French experience had shown a levy could be an unwieldy way to address it.

Gareth Kiernan, chief forecaster at Infometrics, said it was interesting that the electronic card transactions painted a bleaker picture than the retail trade survey or GDP data on household consumption.

“Spending on durables and semi-durables tends to get put under pressure during a recession, because people tend to make what they have last longer … I expect the shift towards online retailing – both onshore and overseas retailers – might be skewing some of the numbers that we’re seeing.”

Stats NZ data showed the number of enterprises in the retail trade sector dropped from 29,244 in February 2023, to 29,094 in February 2024, 28,791 in February 2025 and 28,554 in February this year.

Other sectors that experienced declines over that time included agriculture, forestry and fishing, mining, manufacturing, wholesale trade, professional, scientific and technical services.

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

MIL OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

The latest Business of Ageing report shows older people are increasing their contribution to New Zealand’s economy through paid work, running businesses, taxes, spending, and unpaid care, Seniors Minister Casey Costello said today.

“Everyone with parents and grandparents knows about the incredible contribution of our seniors,” Ms Costello says.

“This report quantifies, in economic terms, how big that contribution is. Paid work by people aged 65 and over is now valued at nearly $9 billion a year, with a further $5 billion coming from self-employment.

“Older people are also contributing through taxes, spending and investment, and importantly, through unpaid work that often goes unrecognised. That work is not just economically valuable – it strengthens our social fabric, supporting families and sustaining community organisations and services.”

The report shows:

• The value of unpaid work by older people has passed $20 billion a year
• Paid work by people aged 65 and over now contributes around $9 billion a year
• Self-employment adds a further $5 billion a year
• Seniors pay more than $13 billion in tax annually
• Annual consumer spending by over-65s is close to $55 billion

“While these are significant figures, the Business of Ageing Report also looks ahead and forecasts how these numbers grow as our population ages, reshaping the workforce and the economy over the coming decades,” Ms Costello says.

“A key takeout is that New Zealand needs to think a lot differently about the older workforce and how to utilise its skills and provide opportunities for the increasing numbers of over-65s who will be in work. As more New Zealanders live longer and stay active, the number of older people in work is projected to more than double over the next 50 years. 

“Nearly half of those aged between 65 and 69 are currently in the workforce and this participation rate – as well as that for 70–74-year-olds, is forecast to increase.”

The Business of Ageing report was prepared by the New Zealand Institute for Economic Research (NZIER) for the Office for Seniors and is part of a series that has been in place since 2011. It was last updated in 2023.

“This information matters. If we understand how ageing is reshaping our economy and our communities, we can make better decisions about how to support people to continue to contribute and to live well as they age,” Ms Costello says.

“Older people are a vital and growing part of New Zealand’s workforce, economy, and communities and the Government’s policies must reflect that reality.”

The Business of Ageing report is available at: www.officeforseniors.govt.nz/businessofageing

MIL OSI

Source: Radio New Zealand

Older New Zealanders are contributing to a structural economic shift through increased work, tax, and spending, according to a new economic study.

The report from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research found population ageing was happening faster than expected.

NZIER’s latest Business of Ageing report for the Office for Seniors used official population and labour force projections to track the economic contribution of people aged 65 and over.

It found people aged 65 and over made up a larger share of the workforce than at any point since the Business of Ageing series began in 2011, with their paid work valued at nearly $9 billion a year.

Self-employment income was reported to be worth around $5b.

The number of older people in work was projected to increase from 217,400 in 2024 to 477,800 by 2074.

Earnings from paid work was projected to rise from $8.7b to $50.2b by 2074, but more than half of this ($29.3b) was expected to come from self-employed income.

More people were relying on accumulated assets, which was set to rise from $14.2b to $104.7b.

Older people’s tax contributions were also set to rise sharply, as both incomes and population numbers increased, and their consumer spending was projected to grow from $54.7b to $357.7b.

“These projections show that population ageing represents long-term structural economic change, with effects that go well beyond fiscal settings, shaping labour markets, household incomes, spending patterns, and community life,” the report said.

“Understanding this shift will be essential for sound policy, business decision-making, and long-term planning in the decades ahead.”

However, the report also found the value of unpaid activity (such as caregiving, volunteering, and household work) exceeded $20b a year, and unpaid work was predicted to reach between $121b and $138b by 2074.

NZIER acknowledged its modelling sought to value the income of the older workforce, but not issues affecting potential or performance.

It pointed to existing reports around physical and mental wellbeing, issues around succession, retirement, and ageism, and reports that suggested a growing number of senior entrepreneurs would shift the value of remuneration towards the self-employed.

Minister for Seniors Casey Costello said the report quantified in economic terms how big the contribution of seniors was.

“Older people are also contributing through taxes, spending and investment, and importantly, through unpaid work that often goes unrecognised. That work is not just economically valuable – it strengthens our social fabric, supporting families and sustaining community organisations and services.”

Costello said understanding how ageing was reshaping the economy meant governments could make better decisions on how to support them to continue to contribute.

“A key takeout is that New Zealand needs to think a lot differently about the older workforce and how to utilise its skills and provide opportunities for the increasing numbers of over-65s who will be in work,” she said.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The largest pastoral farmer in Aotearoa, Pāmu Farming, is sending $10 million in special dividends back to its owner the Crown, after the historic sale of Fonterra’s consumer brands business.

Shareholders received their capital repayment from the dairy co-operative’s Mainland Group divestment this week, including $9.5 million for Pāmu, formerly Landcorp.

The firm manages nearly 360,000 hectares across 112 farms involving the livestock, horticulture and forestry sectors nationwide.

Chief executive Mark Leslie said the board was confident to make the payment.

He said the business had been focused on improving performance, as it reached the midpoint of a five-year reset.

“Over the past three years we have been focused on lifting on-farm performance, improving productivity, and running a tighter, more disciplined business. The results we’re seeing reflect the commitment and hard work of our teams across the country. Our strong commercial performance requires high people, environmental and animal welfare outcomes, as well as responsibility for the communities in which we operate.

“As a state-owned enterprise, Pāmu manages its land and farming portfolio to deliver a financial return, return land under Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlements, and grow the future of agriculture for generations of New Zealanders.”

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown said the payment would bring Landcorp’s total dividends to the Crown to $25m for the 2025/26 financial year.

He said it demonstrated confidence in the firm’s financial position and its ability to deliver value for taxpayers.

“Every dollar returned to the Crown is available to support the government’s investment in the public services New Zealanders rely on, including schools, hospitals, roads, and frontline services like police. That is central to our plan to deliver better outcomes for Kiwis.

“I’m pleased to see the continued improvement in Landcorp’s performance, with recent half-year results pointing to a strong full-year outcome, supported by improved operations and favourable commodity prices.”

Pamu recorded a $95m profit after tax for the six months to December 31, following a $139m profit for the year to June 2025.

The $4.2 billion sale will transition well-known brands like Anchor and Mainland to French dairy giant Lactalis.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Seven business leaders who have made a significant and lasting impact on the economic and social development of New Zealand will be inducted into the Business Hall of Fame Laureates this year.

“The Hall of Fame exists to recognise individuals whose impact through business has helped shape our nation, while also showcasing role models who inspire the next generation of leaders we engage with every day,” Young Enterprise Trust* interim co-chief executive Abbie McKoy said.

The following laureates had demonstrated enterprise, dedication, and success across their careers, serving as an inspiration to emerging business leaders, she said.

• Carmel Fisher CNZM – a pioneering figure in the investment landscape, recognised for building Fisher Funds into a leading fund manager
• David Irving ONZM – a remarkable career across business, education, and entrepreneurship, with a lasting impact on the commercial landscape
• Dame Rosanne Meo – a business leader with more than three decades of board leadership across the corporate, public and community sectors
• Sir Robert McLeod – a distinguished tax practitioner and governance leader who has played a significant role in shaping New Zealand’s economic policy and commercial landscape
• Sir Michael Daniell KNZM – an electrical engineer, business leader, and director who has played a pivotal role in shaping New Zealand’s medical technology sector, with a career spanning nearly five decades at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
• Tom Sturgess – Nelson-based businessman and philanthropist, involved in leadership roles in agribusiness, manufacturing, distribution and venture capital with a focus on regenerative and climate friendly business practices
• Naomi Ballantyne ONZM – a pioneering leader in life insurance industry and became the first female founder in New Zealand to sell a start-up for more than $1 billion

Naomi Ballantyne

Ballanytne has been a leading figure in the life insurance industry for more than 40 years, and established a number of companies, including one that was sold for a billion dollars.

She said the induction into the hall of fame was a big honour for her and recognition of what she had achieved.

“But I think more than what it means to me is what it means to other people who aspire to take that risk and make that mark,” she said.

Sir Michael Daniell

Former managing director and still company director of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, as well as a number of other leading New Zealand technology companies, Sir Michael said the tech sector was tracking in the right direction, though would still need more people to realise its growth potential.

“I’m an optimist about New Zealand’s opportunities, particularly in the broader tech sector. And over the past few years, there’s been quite a lot of progress. We have a number of companies now that are quite substantial.

“We’re based here in New Zealand, but generating a lot of their revenue from outside New Zealand.”

He said his success in business had been a team effort.

“The reality is success is due to the capabilities and efforts of a huge number of people, and ongoing success will be the same.

“It’s important, of course, that we we have capable people who are able to to drive that progress and ongoing investment in education in particular.”

*About the Business Hall of Fame

The Business Hall of Fame was established in 1994 by Young Enterprise, an entrepreneurial education charity, that honours lifetime achievement in business and celebrates those who have shaped New Zealand’s commercial landscape.

In keeping with Young Enterprise’s mission, each Laureate was paired with a YES (Young Enterprise Scheme) student who will host them at the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame annual black-tie gala on 6 August 2026.

The ceremony would conclude with a student speaker, which was a tradition seen as a symbolic passing of the baton.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The opposition is voicing its cautious support for a crack down on black market tobacco, but warns the tobacco industry itself could be stoking fears.

A report into the illicit tobacco trade, released by Retail NZ on Tuesday, pushed for the formation of a unified response from Customs, Police, Health NZ and Inland Revenue.

Its chief executive says we need to act quickly, but the prime minister isn’t convinced.

Chief executive Carolyn Young said there needed to be a dedicated, collaborative effort.

“You also have to have the ability to arrest people, you’ve got to have the ability to seize product, you’ve got to have the ability to close the store,” she said.

“If we really want to get on top of this we need to attack it now, with dedicated resources, and funding appropriately.”

An RNZ investigation found multiple shops operating in Auckland selling the cheap smokes, with one charging just $13 for a pack, less than half the excise duty required by law to be paid.

Importing cigarettes without paying the excise duty is illegal, and offenders can be charged with defrauding customs revenue.

It was also illegal for retailers to sell illicit cigarettes, with offenders facing a six-month prison sentence, a $20,000 fine or both.

Young said she was open to legislative changes to make a taskforce more effective.

“Without having appropriate penalties that would deter criminals from wanting to continue down this pathway, then they’re just going to continue…”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is supportive, but sceptical.

“We’re certainly open to looking at how we can support a crack down on the illicit tobacco trade,” he said.

He didn’t believe the black market was as big in New Zealand as it was overseas.

“I’m also very mindful that often a lot of the fear-mongering around the illicit tobacco trade is actually stoked by the tobacco companies themselves, but is there more we can do to ensure that we don’t have illicit tobacco trade in New Zealand, if there is a need for more action there, we’re very open to it.”

Hipkins said he was yet to see proof on an illicit market here.

“I think the key thing is we’ve got to identify what the problem is that we’re trying to solve here,” he said.

“I’ve yet to see significant evidence that there is an illicit tobacco trade in New Zealand, but if it’s out there, we do want to see it dealt with.”

In 2024, the illicit market reached 27.2 percent of total tobacco use, according to data from tobacco industry groups.

But when asked about supporting a potential taskforce, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was unenthusiastic.

“That’s not a priority for me right now,” he said.

Customs minister Casey Costello welcomed Retail NZ’s report, and told RNZ the illicit market had been a concern since she had been in the role.

“I think a joined up taskforce is a priority, is achievable, and is something that we really need, and it is consistent with my desire around organised crime to have much better connectivity between agencies.”

The minister said a joint task force would be essential, and has already sought advice around a broader “force multiplier” response from health, police, and Customs.

Police minister Mark Mitchell said he was concerned about any black market or illicit trade, which often linked back to organised crime, though said he had not read the Retail NZ report yet.

“We’ve just got to be vigilant and constantly working on ways of making sure that we don’t allow that type of black market to really become and entrenched baked in in New Zealand.”

At the moment, we were better placed than Australia, he said.

“We want to make sure that we stay there, and that we can continue to deal with these issues.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Honey exporter Comvita is taking steps to recapitalise the business, with an offer of up to $30 million of new shares at 65 cents each.

“The capital raise and refinancing package mark a significant milestone for Comvita as we continue to execute against our strategic plan,” chair Bridget Coates said.

The offer details:

• 65 cents per share offer is a 4.4 percent discount to the last traded price of 68 cps.
• Rights offer of up to $30 million open to all eligible shareholders.
• Proceeds to repay bank debt, refinancing includes a $20m working capital facility.
• Partially underwritten by F&N Ventures, a subsidiary of Singapore-listed consumer group Fraser and Neave, who will join the Comvita register as a strategic investor with a 19.99% stake following completion of the offer.

Coates said package was the result of an extensive process to recapitalise the business.

“Together, they provide the stability and financial flexibility to build on the company’s improved position and deliver long-term value for shareholders.

“We are pleased to be delivering a structure that provides certainty and participation for all eligible shareholders while minimising dilution for those who do not participate – alongside the introduction of a new investor with genuine strategic relevance to the next phase of Comvita’s development.”

She said F&N’s entry to the Comvita register was a significant and deliberate component of the offer.

“We are excited about the opportunities that co-operation with F&N may present – including in channel and market expansion, digital, data analytics, new product innovation, R&D, sustainability and efficiencies across operations, supply chain and technology.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Fonterra’s thousands of shareholding dairy farmers are being encouraged to spend their Mainland Group capital return wisely with a focus on farm resilience.

Tuesday marked the payday for around 8000 shareholders of the co-operative for the divestment of its consumer brands business of well-known products like Anchor butter and Mainland cheese, to French dairy giant, Lactalis.

Proceeds to farmer-shareholders will vary, but the payout was calculated to be around $400,000 on average each, which is now trickling into bank accounts.

It followed overwhelming support for the deal, with 98 percent of shareholders voting in favour of it, in February.

ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley expected to see farmers pay down debt, and maybe some maintenance or capital spending for the farm.

He said rural communities in key farming areas would benefit from the cash injection.

“This is a big, one-off payment.

“It will take time for some of the spending impacts to flow through, but that is going to benefit rural communities. And also, we think it’ll put the dairy farming sector in a more resilient position.”

Tuffley said some older farmers were planning their departure from the industry.

“It will also set up some dairy farmers for their future as well, particularly if they’re looking at diversifying and putting that money to use in other ways that will help them at that time of life if they move off the farm.”

‘Never hard to spend money on a dairy farm’

Meanwhile, John Dawson, a Morrinsville-based farm management consultant of nearly 30 years, said paying down debt would be the number one priority for most of the farmers.

He said others were also planning on re-investing the money into their farm operations, like the cow shed.

“It’s never hard to spend money on a dairy farm. There are often deferred maintenance issues that need to be attacked, things like fencing and milking plant maintenance.

“There are compliance issues, which you can throw a lot of money at, perhaps upgrades to effluent systems and environmental initiatives.”

He said another option could be opportunities for improvement projects, like new buildings or upgrades to machinery.

“The other thing is that there’s the opportunity for expanding the business, you know, more cows, upgrades to cow sheds.”

Dawson said the payout also represented a chance for succession planning, which a few clients were looking at.

How to keep the payments tax-free

The payments were not considered income or a dividend, so would be tax-free for shareholders.

But much of the shareholding will be held within farming companies, which could funnel payments through the farm company bank account.

Tax adviser Craig Macalister of Southland firm Findex said tax implications could bite farmers if they spent their payments from the farm bank account on a personal asset, like a new holiday home or a holiday.

“There hasn’t really been a lot of discussion on what happens when people want to take that money out of their dairy milking company, and that’s where the tax implications could bite,” he said.

“Capital can go into a company, but it can’t come out in any other form that is not taxable unless you effectively wind that company up. That’s the problem that people will face.”

Macalister recommended farmers speak with their accountants before spending up.

From the sale of Mainland Group to France’s Lactalis, the 8000 or so farmer-shareholders will get their split of $3.2 billion, while the remaining $1b will go into the co-op.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

It is pay day for dairy giant Fonterra’s 8000 or so shareholding farmer-suppliers from the sale of the co-operative’s Mainland Group consumer business.

The proceeds from the dairy co-op’s multibillion-dollar sale of its Mainland consumer brands business were landing in most shareholders’ bank accounts this week.

The average payout would be about $400,000 from the $4.2 billion sale of the business behind well-known brands including Anchor butter, Kāpiti ice creams and Mainland cheese.

Tuesday marked the official payment date, after the sale was first proposed in August last year.

Reducing debt a priority

Waikato farmer Gary Reymer, who had supplied milk to the co-op for nearly 50 years, ran around 500 cows on two farms near Cambridge.

He started with the co-op as a sharemilker in the late 1970s, originally to the New Zealand Dairy Group, before the merger with Kiwi Co-operative Dairies formed Fonterra.

Reymer said it would differ how farmers used their payment, as some were more comfortable into the long-term than others.

“Some will have drinks on them, some will take a bit of travel, some will go for debt reduction, and some will go for capital improvement,” he said.

“For ourselves, it’ll just be consolidating our position, nothing extravagant… debt reduction.”

Reymer was among the 98 percent of shareholders who supported the divestment of Mainland Group, and said it was smart to sell it because the brands were no longer adding value.

“Turning off the brands business was probably the final conclusion over many, many years, decades on the back of discussion,” he said.

“Everybody’s just come to the understanding that it was a really difficult nut to crack, and this is probably the best strategy.”

Reymer said not all was lost, as the deal enabled the co-op to continue supplying the ingredients for the new owner, Lactalis.

“I see it as very much a win-win and I think that’s where the majority of shareholders have got to.

“We’ve lived through farming long enough or farmed for long enough and there’s plenty of cycles, and you’ve got to make sure you bank the good times so you can move to the bad times.”

Debt, farm equipment and family holiday

Meanwhile, for Waikato’s Wallis farming family, the mega-payment was going towards reducing debt, buying new farm equipment and a long-awaited family holiday.

Sixth-generation farmer Ross Wallis ran around 285 cows on 108 hectares with his wife and four kids near Raglan. Wallis joined the co-op in the year 2000 and said the consumer brands business had even been a “bone of contention” since back then.

“I think with consumer goods, it was kind of – you were pulled too many ways, and it was just evident that we’re really not a consumer business. We’re not good at it, for whatever reason that might be.

“But ingredients and business-to-business foodservice, I mean we’re exceptional at and we do really well. We’re probably world leaders in that space.”

In support of the deal, he said his payments were already accounted for.

“There’ll be a good chunk of it going into debt reduction, which is greatly needed. But also we’ve just purchased a tow and fert.”

He said the $34,000 investment into the 1000-litre piece of equipment would help reduce his fertiliser bill.

“With fertiliser prices skyrocketing, we just need to be more efficient at what we’re putting on, and so tow and fert allows you to put on less with more bang for your buck.”

Now only using locally sourced fertilisers, Wallis said the new equipment would allow for a more efficient use of spraying lime, small seeds and the seaweed-based fertilisers he used to improve soil biology.

“We’re [also] going to put a little bit towards an overseas holiday later in the year.”

Wallis said many farmers would likely invest in technology to drive on-farm efficiencies, as he had.

“I think we’ve got some exciting times ahead.”

Deferred maintenance, effluent system and succession

Jonn Dawson, a Morrinsville-based farm management consultant of almost 30 years, said many of his clients will be using the payout to pay down debt as their number one priority.

Dawson said others were also planning on reinvesting the money into their farm operations, with the cowshed especially the basis of all dairy farm operations.

“It’s never hard to spend money on a dairy farm,” Dawson said. “There are often deferred maintenance issues that need to be attacked, things like fencing and milking plant maintenance.”

He said compliance and projects like new buildings or machinery updates were other options.

“There are compliance issues, which you can throw a lot of money at, perhaps upgrades to effluent systems and environmental initiatives,” he said.

“The other thing is that there’s the opportunity for expanding the business, you know, more cows, upgrades to cow sheds.”

Dawson said the payout also represented a chance to consider succession planning, which a few of his clients were looking at.

He said the cash injection will be good for communities which supported dairy farmers, especially in regions like Waikato and Taranaki.

ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley did not expect any consumer spending binge, but obvious moves to pay down debt and do some maintenance and capital spending.

“This is a big one-off payment,” he said.

“It will take time for some of the spending impacts to flow through, but that is going to benefit rural communities. And also, we think it’ll put the dairy farming sector in a more resilient position.”

He said a theme coming through was that older farmers were looking to their departure from the industry.

“It will also set up some dairy farmers for their future as well, particularly if they’re looking at diversifying and putting that money to use in other ways that will help them at that time of life if they move off the farm.”

Meanwhile, the co-op’s president of global ingredients Richard Allen was announced on Monday as the new incoming chief executive, following the resignation of Miles Hurrell, announced last month.

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MIL OSI

Source: Radio New Zealand

An urgent inquiry into the government’s decision to remove school boards’ legal obligation to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and overhaul the national curriculum is underway, with iwi and the Education Union warning of long-term impacts for Māori.

The Waitangi Tribunal is hearing evidence this week after granting urgency to a claim brought by Northland iwi Ngāti Hine and hapū Te Kapotai, alongside the country’s largest education union, NZEI Te Riu Roa.

The claim challenges changes to the Education and Training Act 2020, which removed the requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti, as well as the reset of Te Mātaiaho and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.

The claimants argue the removal of Treaty obligations risks significant and irreversible harm to Māori learners and their whānau, including reduced access to te reo Māori, tikanga and mātauranga Māori, and a loss of cultural safety in schools.

Ngāti Hine kaumātua and claimant Te Waihoroi Shortland previously told RNZ the decision to remove Treaty obligations reflected a long-standing pattern in Crown behaviour.

“People forget that two nations made this deal (Te Tiriti o Waitangi). One of them was Māori and one of them was the Crown of England … then one nation turns around and swallows the other one up and says, everything we decide is for your good.

“It’s been that way for 186 years. These kind of actions remind us that we haven’t moved very far in all of that time.”

In granting urgency, the Tribunal found the changes carried constitutional significance, “especially so in a case where Māori have not been consulted”.

It also found the removal of the statutory obligation could have immediate consequences for both the status of Te Tiriti and outcomes for tamariki Māori within the education system.

The hearing, which begins on Wednesday morning, is expected to run through to Friday.

‘Pattern of undermining’ Treaty obligations

NZEI Te Riu Roa president Ripeka Lessels told RNZ the inquiry would allow the Tribunal to examine how the changes were made and their wider impact on the education system.

She said the union would present evidence showing what it believes is a pattern of Crown conduct that has “systematically undermined and dismantled” Treaty obligations in education.

Lessels said the removal of section 127 of the Act, which previously required school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti, had shifted responsibilities away from boards and weakened accountability.

“While the Crown says that schools are not Crown entities, they are very much Crown entities. They are a reflection of the Crown. So there is an obligation on their part to be able to give effect to the Treaty, to be able to ensure that things like strategic planning, policies, ensuring that localised curriculum are… part of a school’s strategic plan.”

She said the change could affect how boards engage with iwi, whether they prioritise Māori representation, and how they reflect Te Tiriti in decision-making.

“For instance… whether or not they must have a Māori representative on their board or not… that’s an impact that will resound quite loudly for some schools,” she said.

Lessels said giving effect to Te Tiriti was about embedding te ao Māori across all aspects of schooling, from governance to teaching and community engagement.

“It reflects tikanga Māori, kaupapa Māori, mātauranga Māori, te reo Māori… in every aspect of the school,” she said.

Research showed students were more likely to engage in learning when they could see themselves reflected in their school environment.

The union is asking the Tribunal to recommend the government reinstate the mandatory requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti.

Lessels said this was essential to ensure consistency across the system and maintain progress made since the obligation was introduced in 2020.

“There was a time in our history where we didn’t have it… and nobody taught it, nobody made references to it,” she said.

She said schools had made significant progress in recent years, but that could be undermined without a legal requirement in place.

“Since 2020, since the Education and Training Act, schools have had to give effect to [Te Tiriti]. And I must say schools have done a wonderful job of giving effect to the Treaty. But this way here, what the Ministry or what the Minister has done is nothing short of just dismantling the Treaty of Waitangi and the ways in which schools should be obligated to give effect to it.”

The union is also calling for a halt to the rollout of the new curriculum, arguing consultation has been insufficient – particularly for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.

“While both consultations close on 24 April 2026, the Ministry of Education opened the English-medium process on 28 October 2025. This leaves tumuaki and kaiako with only half the time to provide feedback on the draft Te Marautanga o Aotearoa framework and Tau 0-10 wāhanga ako. For the Pūmanawa Tangata wāhanga ako (social science learning area), the draft was released on 7 April, leaving the sector with only 18 days for feedback.”

Lessels said the shortened consultation timeframe for Māori-medium education signalled a lack of priority given to mātauranga Māori.

“We need to be able to have some authentic consultation… where those who need to be in that conversation are in that conversation,” she said.

NZEI is also calling on the government to:

• Establish an independent monitoring body, which will include NZEI and Māori education sector representatives, to oversee Crown compliance with Te Tiriti obligations in education
• Reinstate funding for Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori and Resource Teachers Māori
• Set binding requirements for future Ministerial Advisory Groups, ensuring all members have a demonstrated commitment to Te Tiriti and te ao Māori

The Tribunal will hear evidence from claimants, including iwi representatives and the union, as well as responses from the Crown over the coming days.

The Minister of Education has been approached for comment.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Far North Mayor Moko Tepania has defended having unelected iwi representatives on the council’s Māori liaison committee – and says the Far North is being unfairly targeted because it’s just one of 57 councils around the country with similar arrangements.

The committee’s membership has been thrust into the national spotlight after former TV journalist Duncan Garner interviewed councillor Davina Smolders on his podcast last week.

In the podcast Garner claimed a council committee had 15 unelected iwi representatives to six elected councillors, which he believed was “illegal”, “undemocratic”, and “co-governance on steroids”.

The committee Garner and Smolders were referring to was the Te Kuaka Māori Strategic Relationships Committee.

The committee’s makeup will be decided at a council meeting on Wednesday morning but alongside the six councillors it is proposed to have two members from Northland’s iwi chairs forum, and one from each of the eight hapū or iwi with which the council has a Memorandum of Understanding, making a total of 10 appointed members.

Council documents show the six other council committees have at most two unelected external members, and some have none.

Tepania said the furore took him by surprise, given that Te Kuaka’s membership had yet to be confirmed, and because Māori liaison committees were nothing new.

He said the appointed members would have voting rights on the committee, but the committee could only give advice with the full council making any final decisions.

“I mean, we’re not alone in having a mechanism like this to incorporate Māori into our decision-making … We’re one of 57 councils that have a committee like this. Our cousins in Whangārei and Northland Regional Council have strategic relationship committees as well,” Tepania said.

“So it’s definitely not something new, or something that we alone are trying to push forward. It’s a mechanism that allows us to meet our statutory obligations under the Local Government Act, which is to ensure that we include Māori participation in our decision-making. And that’s what we’re doing,” he said.

He said some committees – such as Te Koukou Transport and Infrastructure Committee – did have delegated powers to make decisions and sign off contracts up to a certain value, but not Te Kuaka Māori Strategic Relationships Committee.

Tepania rejected claims the committee was illegal or undemocratic.

“This is what’s really unfortunate, because when opinion is stated as fact, it gets people up in arms. Is the Far North District council breaking the law? Actually, it’s not. The Local Government Act allows for any council to establish committees and to have non-elected members on those committees. The only requirement is that they have at least one elected member.”

Local Government New Zealand confirmed to RNZ the approach taken by the Far North District Council to its committees was allowed under the Local Government Act 2002.

Tepania said it was “disheartening” the controversy erupted while the council was dealing with the aftermath of the March storm and preparing for Cyclone Vaianu.

“It does feel like we’ve been unfairly targeted out of the councils in this country that are doing the same and it does honestly feel like race baiting. It’s very hōhā (annoying) and we’ve got too much mahi to do for all of the people of the Far North to have to put time and energy into this.”

Tepania was, however, concerned by Smolder’s statement that she felt “threatened, bullied and intimidated”, including at the council table.

All members had to abide by a code of conduct – which included how they behaved towards each other – and if any councillor believed that had been breached, he urged them to make use of the processes in place “to keep everyone safe”.

Tepania said the upcoming general election was a good chance for the Far North to make itself heard by central government, but it could also ramp up divisions and he expected to see a lot more opinions presented as fact.

He urged people to “do their homework” and seek information from “reputable sources”.

Meanwhile, Tepania said he apologised to Garner, and the people of the Far North, for responding to an interview request with a two-word email stating “f*** off”.

It wasn’t the kind of response people expected from their mayor, or that he expected from others in his position.

“If circumstances were different I wouldn’t have reacted in that way. It was just the initial reaction to something that was blowing up, causing me concern, and at the end of the day, I guess we’re all human,” Tepania said.

Davina Smolders rejected Tepania’s characterisation of the podcast as misinformation.

She conceded Garner was incorrect when he claimed having appointees on a council committee was illegal, but maintained – and said she had been advised by her lawyer – that it went against the intent of the law.

She said the Te Kuaka committee already had four Māori Ward councillors, so the extra hapū and iwi appointees were an unnecessary double-up.

If the podcast failed to mention that the committee in question was the Māori liaison committee, that context had likely been lost in the editing process when the 48-minute interview had been cut down to 30.

Smolders said she had made 13 complaints to police about threats against her, but none related to incidents in the council chambers.

Eleven related to threats made via social media.

She said police had been “incredibly proactive and reassuring”, in one case even identifying a Facebook user who went by a false name.

Smolders said she expected some of her supporters to attend Wednesday morning’s meeting, as well as supporters of the council’s current direction.

“I respect the democratic right of Ngāpuhi, and all citizens, to peacefully protest and make their voices heard,” she said.

“This is a direct result of the fundamental breakdown in trust and effective governance at the Far North District Council. We can’t continue with the status quo. The cracks in this council’s democratic foundation are now on public display, and I’m once again urging Local Government Minister Simon Watts to step in and appoint a Crown observer.”

However, Minister Watts confirmed to RNZ he would not be appointing an observer to the Far North District Council.

He said he was aware of concerns about tensions within the council.

“The local council and its members are locally elected, it’s not for Wellington to go intervene every time they do something I don’t personally agree with. Given the high statutory threshold required for such powers, I am advised that the council’s current actions do not constitute formal ministerial intervention at this time,” he said.

“I have, however, asked officials to engage with the council and report back to me if they identify any concerns or issues that warrant further investigation.”

Watts’ office confirmed the council was not being investigated, despite news reports to that effect.

The Minister’s letter to the council stated he was “satisfied that the council is conducting its governance appropriately and any disagreements between council members can be managed through its governance processes”.

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

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government will receive a $10 million special dividend from Landcorp Farming Limited today, State Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown says. 

“We expect our state-owned enterprises to operate efficiently, maintain strong balance sheets, and return value to New Zealanders,” Mr Brown says.

“Including this payment, Landcorp will have returned a total of $25 million in dividends to the Crown in the 2025/26 financial year, reflecting Shareholding Ministers’ expectations for appropriate capital returns.

“Every dollar returned to the Crown is available to support the Government’s investment in the public services New Zealanders rely on, including schools, hospitals, roads, and frontline services like Police. That is central to our plan to deliver better outcomes for Kiwis.”

“It also demonstrates confidence in Landcorp’s financial position and its ability to deliver consistent value for taxpayers.”

Mr Brown says the dividend follows a capital payment from Fonterra and highlights the strength of Landcorp’s recent turnaround.

“I’m pleased to see the continued improvement in Landcorp’s performance, with recent half-year results pointing to a strong full-year outcome, supported by improved operations and favourable commodity prices.

“This progress reflects disciplined management, a sharper operational focus, and a clear commitment to delivering value for taxpayers.”

Landcorp received a $9.5 million capital repayment as a shareholder in Fonterra. The special dividend represents a pass-through of this non-operating receipt and sits outside Landcorp’s ordinary dividend policy.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Support workers suggest the government spend a day with them to understand why an increase to 82 cents per kilometre is a joke.

The government has announced a temporary 30 percent increase in mileage reimbursement rates for home and community support workers to offset soaring fuel costs.

This is still under the recommended reimbursement rates set by Inland Revenue before fuel prices climbed towards $4 a litre.

“Here’s a tiny little bit of ‘let’s keep everybody quiet’… It’s almost like a joke.”

Helen has been a support worker for 18 years.

Each year she thinks it will be her last, but every year she says no, wanting to wait until after a client has died. Each year she finds another person to wait for.

Across nearly two decades Helen has arrived to find her clients have hurt themselves, died overnight, she’s helped families dress their dead. She knows everything about them. Their kids’ names, what they do, how they like their coffee. As a support worker, she becomes part of the family.

She knows the job and the roads in Waikanae like the back of her hand.

On this particular Thursday she had six appointments, although it was likely to be more; they get added into her day.

‘It shouldn’t have taken a fuel crisis to get an increase’

She starts the morning shift at 7.15am with 140km left in the tank.

The last time she filled the car it cost $163.

“It shouldn’t have taken a fuel crisis to get an increase,” she said.

She needs her own car each day to travel between clients, but this increase doesn’t cover the car itself, or any maintenance.

The increase is also only available for a year, or until petrol prices are below $3 per litre for four consecutive weeks.

After that it’s back to 63.5c per kilometre.

“A lot of us are on the living wage…the new people that are coming on, that are still going through their qualifications, I mean, they’re on minimum wage, plus they’re having to prop up their own petrol and obviously car maintenance and things.”

For support workers it’s not just the petrol payments that upset them. They also lost their pay equity claim, and feel undervalued by the government.

Helen works incredibly hard, her clients know that too. One of them tries to give her morning tea to take away, knowing that between appointments, she will barely have enough time to cover the travel, let alone breaks.

Waikanae town and the beach are just over 7km away from each other, her clients are spread between the two.

” I just say I’m staying in Waikanae and that’s the end of it… the further you go, the more it’s going to cost you.”

However Helen said many staff go back and forth up and down the coast, sometimes travelling from Palmerston North and the Hutt Valley.

A morning shower, first thing in the afternoon…

But she still does her fair share of bouncing around. Her first and third appointments were two streets over from each other, but instead she had a 14km trip to see the client in between.

Her company does the roster to meet what the client needs but when only some of the petrol is covered doubling back is a hard pill to swallow.

It’s also a problem trying to meet people’s needs; most want their shower early, but staffing shortages mean a morning shower comes at 1pm.

Everything is timed to the minute.

“This morning we had 10 minutes for dressing, 20 minutes for hygiene, which is a shower, 15 minutes for meal preparation, and five minutes for medication.”

She sets a timer to see if it’s possible to achieve it all in 45 minutes.

That’s her least favourite bit, often the time to do the tasks takes longer than allocated, meaning she either must leave unfinished, or the rest of her clients wait.

Her alarm went off right on time, she only makes it out because her client had already made himself breakfast.

Leaping in the car, she’s off to the next one.

The problem is despite the fact she’s so far on time, it’s after 9am. She has two 30-minute appointments at different houses and then needs to be 7km away at 10am.

But that math doesn’t add up. More than an hour’s worth of work, but less than 60 minutes to fit it into.

‘We’re going to be late’

“We’re going to be late” – 30 minutes late to be precise.

But she doesn’t dwell, delicately weaving her way through the streets to her next location, a client with terminal cancer.

“The lady that we’re going to now has been waiting for, it’s called a multi-chair that you can interlink with a system that goes over the bath and into the shower.

“She hasn’t had a proper shower in a year.

“We’ve all just been kind of hoping that she’ll get her chair before she goes so she can at least experience one chair before she leaves.”

By visit five, Helen’s clocked up 30km and an hour behind the wheel between bookings.

She hadn’t stopped for food, water or even a loo break, just sprinting between clients.

Helen had to do that once, not sprinting but walking. Her car broke down, she had no other options and no help from her company, so she packed a backpack and requested clients close together, because she’d be hitting the pavement.

“I feel very privileged doing my job and I’m sure everybody else that works in the same job feels very privileged as well.

“It’s a real feel-good job.

“People really appreciate us coming and that’s lovely but we can’t come if we can’t afford to come….

“Unfortunately, our cars don’t run on feel-good feelings.”

Support workers do the work no one else will

Her day ends at about 12.45pm with 45 kilometres clocked up.

She’s right, those good feelings won’t fuel the car. For today’s rebate she will receive around $37.

That’s $15 short of what IRD suggests for petrol repayments. That doesn’t cover car maintenance or costs to keep it on the road.

Helen said she wouldn’t be doing it if she didn’t love it and feel appreciated by the clients, but the reality is, it costs her money.

“I challenge anyone to come out and spend the day with me… see what we do for a day and actually how much we do and see how much of a difference we make in the community but also how hard we work to make that difference.”

Her last but enduring question she asked herself, “who would do this if we didn’t?”

Who looks after the elderly, the sick, people post-surgery? Where do they go, the overfilled hospitals, retirement homes they can’t afford?

“We are fighting for the time for them, but we’ve also got to fight for ourselves… it’s a fight all round.”

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

Source: New Zealand Government

From June, it will be easier and more affordable for parents to get treatment for their children for a range of common health conditions, with expanded services proposed to be delivered through community pharmacies, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister David Seymour say.

“We know many New Zealanders are facing long wait times to see a GP, and this can be especially frustrating for parents trying to get timely care for their children. These changes are about making better use of community pharmacies as a convenient, additional option for the treatment of straightforward conditions,” Mr Brown says.

Health New Zealand is proposing that participating pharmacists be able to provide funded medicines for children and their families for pain and fever management, oral rehydration, and common conditions such as scabies, head lice, and conjunctivitis. The proposal also covers treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections and emergency contraception.

“Currently, families either pay full over-the-counter costs for treatment or need to visit a GP to access it at a subsidised cost.

“Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals. Under the proposal, pharmacists will be able to assess patients, provide a consultation, and supply funded treatment where appropriate, similar to a GP visit.

“This means treatment can be provided at a lower cost, rather than paying full over-the-counter prices, or without waiting for a GP appointment.

“It will make it easier for children and families to get timely care for simple conditions, particularly when a GP appointment isn’t immediately available, while also supporting more consistent access to care across the country.

“In many communities, pharmacies are among the most accessible health services. Expanding their role will improve local availability of funded treatment and care for these conditions.”

To support delivery, Health New Zealand has established a $5 million per year Extended Pharmacy Services Fund to help ensure these services are available nationwide.

“It’s important to Kiwis that they have fast access to the medicines they need close to home. Today’s proposal is one more step this Government is taking to achieve that goal,” Mr Seymour says.  

“Often people living in rural and remote areas or communities with higher health needs find it difficult to get timely GP appointments. This is a common-sense approach that, if approved, will make life easier and more affordable for many families across the country. 

“The proposed changes would enable Direct Provision of already funded medicines by Pharmacists as part of provision of Health New Zealand funded Extended Pharmacy Services, in accordance with their pharmacy agreement. To support the implementation of these changes Pharmac will update the Pharmaceutical Schedule.” 

Mr Brown says the proposed changes recognise and build on the important role pharmacists already play in communities.

“Pharmacists are trusted, accessible health providers and are often the first-place people go for advice. Enabling them to deliver more services strengthens access to care and helps ensure Kiwis receive the right care at the right time, close to home.”

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Source: New Zealand Government

The latest Business of Ageing report shows older people are increasing their contribution to New Zealand’s economy through paid work, running businesses, taxes, spending, and unpaid care, Seniors Minister Casey Costello said today.

“Everyone with parents and grandparents knows about the incredible contribution of our seniors,” Ms Costello says.

“This report quantifies, in economic terms, how big that contribution is. Paid work by people aged 65 and over is now valued at nearly $9 billion a year, with a further $5 billion coming from self-employment.

“Older people are also contributing through taxes, spending and investment, and importantly, through unpaid work that often goes unrecognised. That work is not just economically valuable – it strengthens our social fabric, supporting families and sustaining community organisations and services.”

The report shows:

• The value of unpaid work by older people has passed $20 billion a year
• Paid work by people aged 65 and over now contributes around $9 billion a year
• Self-employment adds a further $5 billion a year
• Seniors pay more than $13 billion in tax annually
• Annual consumer spending by over-65s is close to $55 billion

“While these are significant figures, the Business of Ageing Report also looks ahead and forecasts how these numbers grow as our population ages, reshaping the workforce and the economy over the coming decades,” Ms Costello says.

“A key takeout is that New Zealand needs to think a lot differently about the older workforce and how to utilise its skills and provide opportunities for the increasing numbers of over-65s who will be in work. As more New Zealanders live longer and stay active, the number of older people in work is projected to more than double over the next 50 years. 

“Nearly half of those aged between 65 and 69 are currently in the workforce and this participation rate – as well as that for 70–74-year-olds, is forecast to increase.”

The Business of Ageing report was prepared by the New Zealand Institute for Economic Research (NZIER) for the Office for Seniors and is part of a series that has been in place since 2011. It was last updated in 2023.

“This information matters. If we understand how ageing is reshaping our economy and our communities, we can make better decisions about how to support people to continue to contribute and to live well as they age,” Ms Costello says.

“Older people are a vital and growing part of New Zealand’s workforce, economy, and communities and the Government’s policies must reflect that reality.”

The Business of Ageing report is available at: www.officeforseniors.govt.nz/businessofageing

MIL OSI

Source: Radio New Zealand

Far North councillors on Wednesday voted to expand a Māori liaison committee which has been at the centre of a nationwide social media firestorm.

More than 100 people, many carrying flags and home-made banners, gathered outside the Far North District Council chambers in Kaikohe ahead of this morning’s meeting to finalise the committee’s membership.

Unusually, the gathering was called not to protest the council’s plans, but as a show of support for its direction and for embattled Mayor Moko Tepania.

Both the Far North District Council and Tepania had been under intense pressure since a podcast last week by former TV journalist Duncan Garner, in which he interviewed outspoken councillor Davina Smolders and claimed the council’s appointment of unelected members to its committees was “illegal”, “undemocratic” and “co-governance on steroids”.

Both called on the government to step in and appoint a Crown observer.

The controversy centred on the council’s Te Kuaka Māori Strategic Relationships Committee, which includes six councillors – including Smolders – and, as of today, two representatives of the Northland iwi chairs forum, known as Te Kahu o Taonui, and eight hapū representatives.

The Local Government Act states councils can appoint any number of unelected members to their committees, and that councils must involve Māori in decision-making.

Among those at the protest was former Kaipara Māori ward councillor Pera Paniora, who travelled from Dargaville to take part.

She said many of the claims in the podcast were incorrect.

“This committee isn’t illegal or unlawful. It’s a committee that makes recommendations, it doesn’t make decisions, and it’s not a co-governance committee.”

Also there was Taitokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, who said she had helped set up the committee years ago with then chairman Harry Burkhardt.

She said the committee worked well, and the claims she had seen on social media were “disturbing and distressing”.

“To take it away would undo some very good work that has benefited everyone, Māori and non-Māori.”

Pākehā at the protest included Michelle Cels of Kawakawa, who wanted to “stand together against division that’s being sown in the community”.

“There’s so much misinformation out there, and people need to be very clear they are doing their own research, not living in an echo chamber and trusting what people say to them is true.”

Ngāpuhi chairman Mane Tahere, one of the newly appointed committee members, said Māori were already an economic force in Northland – even without a Treaty settlement – and had much to offer in the way of solutions to Northland’s meth and housing crises.

“We’re just carrying on with the mahi and rising above all the rhetoric,” he said.

The social media storm of the past week had, however, been frustrating for Far Northerners dealing with real-world problems such as the cost of living and extreme weather.

It’s hōhā [annoying] for our people with everyday struggles, most recently the floods.”

Only 30 people were allowed inside the chambers during the meeting with the rest having to follow the livestream from the nearby Memorial Hall.

Speakers included Green MP Hūhana Lyndon and Northland Regional Council chairman Pita Tipene.

Tipene drew a link between the social media firestorm and real-life storms of recent weeks, saying people would be better served by calm and rational debate.

“Me personally, I have come here to listen and get the truth. I’m here with everyone else because we need more light and less heat, given the storms of the last couple of weeks.”

Ngatiwai’s Aperahama Keripeti-Edwards, a committee appointee, urged councillors not to be swayed from their current path.

“I ask you to uphold the integrity of your processes. Respect the role of tangata whenua within them. And make decisions that are based on fact, not misinformation, because the future depends on it.”

Advisory committees such as Te Kuaka were necessary, he said.

“You do not make decisions about people without them. You do not speak for others when they can speak for themselves.”

Councillor Smolders said appointing unelected members was allowed under the Local Government Act, but risked going against the intent of the law.

She also said the council could not appoint unspecified hapū representatives to the committee, it could only appoint named individuals.

That meant another resolution would have to be passed later, at another extraordinary meeting, once hapū had decided who would represent them.

The decision to expand the committee’s membership was passed by nine votes to one with one abstention. Only Smolders voted against.

Afterwards she said she was disappointed in the outcome, saying councillors would be outnumbered by unelected members on the Te Kuaka committee.

“And the community has voted for elected members to be their voice,” she said.

The meeting drew the largest media contingent at the Far North District Council in recent years, along with possibly the first ever media stand-up at the Kaikohe chambers.

Tepania said broadening the Māori relationships committee was the right thing to do, and gave credit to the previous mayor under whose tenure the council signed its first Memorandum of Understanding with iwi.

He hoped the next generation would not still have to justify including Māori in decision making, as his tūpuna [ancestors] had done and as he had been forced to do this week.

“It’s hōhā to have to stand and do that right now, but from the aroha of the iwi who have come here today I feel we are coming together. We have a huge road ahead, but we can do it together.”

Last year’s local elections saw Tepania win the Far North mayoralty by a landslide, and Māori elected to six out of 10 council seats.

Far Northerners also voted to retain their Māori ward.

According to the most recent Census data, just over 50 percent of the Far North population is of Māori descent.

Smolders, an ACT Party candidate, was elected last October with the second-highest number of votes, after Ann Court, in the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa General Ward.

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

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