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31 March 2006
FoMA OFFICE
CHECK OUT THE NEW LOOK OF FoMA WEBSITE
We have finally been able to take complete charge of our website, FoMA website is now completely in house managed. So go check out the new look and tell us what you think. We would like to hear from you as to what improvements you would like to see. Also if you have any information that would be of interest to others we would like to see it and maybe publish on the site.
GOVERNMENT
MAORI ELECTORIAL OPTION
From the 3rd of April until the 2nd August, Maori will have the opportunity to choose to be on the Maori Roll or General Roll. This will affect the number of Maori seats offered in the next election. Read More
WORKING FOR FAMILIES PACKAGE
Thousands of families will qualify for extra financial support from the 1st of April with the Government's new Working for Families Package. Read More
STUDENT LOAN INTEREST
From the 1st April Student Loans will be interest free for those who choose to stay in New Zealand. The interest free scheme will be a saving of thousands of dollars for many people who have a student loan. People who choose to travel or work abroad will still have interest charged to their loans. Read More
MAORI TELEVISION ANZAC BROADCAST
"Maori Television devoting its entire broadcast on Tuesday 25th April to commemorate ANZAC Day 2006 is a significant undertaking" Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said. This is a great opportunity for all New Zealanders to experience some of the stories of our past in relation to the war. Read More
FISHERIES
FISH SUBSIDY BAN
The New Zealand Government has been putting pressure on the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation to end fish subsidies in the developed world. Subsidies in this industry increase the risk of unsustainable fishing without any economic benefits. Resistance is expected from World Trade Organisation Members who provide big subsidies. Read More
RED LOBSTER
Rebuilding progammes for lobster in the Southland and Otago regions are growing faster than anticipated. The growth is a positive sign that these programmes are working and numbers are substantially higher. The programme involved catch limits being reduced by 40% to achieve the desired results by 2014. Read More
AGRICULTURE
MEAT BOARD AMENDMENT
Amendment to the Meat Board Act will promote business certainty according to the Hon. Bill Anderton. He further added that the amendment will relate to the allocation of access to meat quota markets. The amendments would offer financial benefits to be offered to the wider New Zealand meat industry. Read More
The Amendment went into parliament on Thursday for reading, so watch this space.
APPLE INDUSTRY
New Zealand Apple growers are putting the pressure on Australian Authorities to allow the export of New Zealand apples into the Australian market. If this fails there are threats to go into the international arena. Read More
FARM VALUES DECREASING
According to reports the value of farms is decreasing. Confidence in the industry is decreasing as the New Zealand dollar increases, and international lamb prices decrease. Rural farm providers will be hit by this as improvement investments to farms decrease. Read More
ORGANIC TO GET BOOST
The organic sector in New Zealand is to get a $1.5 million boost from the government. Trevor mallard has said that although this is a small sector the international market opportunities are huge and the New Zealand sector has the opportunity to grow. New Zealand needs to position itself for the potential growth over the next three years. Read More
TREATY OF WAITANGI
TREATY2U
The Treaty is currently travelling around New Zealand in a bid to increase New Zealanders' knowledge. The road show dubbed Treaty2U is on a five month tour around New Zealand. Read More
KNOWLEDGE INCREASES
Recent surveys by Human Rights Commission have shown that New Zealanders' knowledge of the Treaty has increased, especially in the under 30s age group. Knowledge access has increased through various mediums like websites, booklets and the Treaty2U Read More
DEVELOPMENT
TOP RUGBY PLAYERS BUILD UP MAORI LEADERSHIP
E Tu Taitama, a future leader development initiative aimed at increasing Maori Rugby players rugby and life skills is to be launched on the 5th of April in Waikato, and if successful may be extended to other provinces.
Tiki Edwards, NZRU Maori Liaison Officer has said the programme is about more than just rugby. Our aim is to help these U13 players to be better people and take up leadership roles in their communities. The programme complements the NZRU and All Blacks’ philosophy of ‘better people make better players’. Read More
MAORI IN AUSTRALIA
More and more Maori are moving to Australia for various reasons, these may be for job opportunities, higher standard of living or to get away from various circumstances in New Zealand. At present 1 in 7 Maori currently live in Australia, but as many as 1 in 3 may do so by the second half of this century. Te Puni Kokiri is currently investigating a support system to help Maori who relocate to Australia. Read More
HEALTH
MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINE
7 out of 10 Maori preschoolers have had their first meningococcal vaccine but of these only 51% have completed the programme. Maori appeared to be initially slow at taking up the vaccine programme but progress has been made. The vaccine is free to anyone under 20 years of age. Read More
TE TAHUHU – IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH
Consultations are occurring at present for input into the action plan to improve mental health and addiction issues. Written submissions can be made until the 28th April. Hui will be held between the 4th to the 11th April. Read More
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BUSINESS
TAX CUTS FOR BUSINESSES
$1.1 billion in tax cuts will be implemented over the next four years to New Zealand Businesses. This is the most comprehensive business tax cuts in the last two decades. These reforms are designed to enhance New Zealands economic growth. Read More
EASTERN SEA FARM LTD GET GO AHEAD
Eastern Sea Farms Limited is a joint venture between Whakatohea Maori Trust Board, Tasman Mussels and New Zealand Sea Farms Limited. The company is predominantly Maori owned. The Ministry of Fisheries has recommended a marine farm permit be granted to Eastern Sea Farms Limited for a 3,800 hectare mussel farm. Until a resource consent is granted the Ministry cannot grant a permit to allow the process to continue. The resource consent is currently under review.
The Trust has said that this has the potential to create hundreds of jobs, but there is still along way to go before anything can be finalised. Read More
CULTURE
PA TO BE PROTECTED
3 pango structures were discovered in Wellington and are thought to be part of the original Te Aro Pa. These will be protected and can be viewed by the public in the near future. This is a rare finding as Maori structures are rarely uncovered intact. Read More
If you have any questions or comments in regards to this Panui, please contact Maia @ maia@foma.co.nz
