Te Roopu Pounamu
Te Roopu Pounamu is a Maori network within the Green Party Aotearoa New Zealand, established in 2000 after the Otaki Summer gathering. We have a small but resourceful membership. We speak only for our members and not for Maori generally within the Green Party. At a hui at Hirangi marae in December 2001 we agreed on our overall relationship with the Green Party. We resolved that:
"Acknowledging the Green Party's commitment to honouring te Tiriti o Waitangi Te Roopu Pounamu accepts the responsibility to actively support and advocate for the inclusion of a Maori dimension in all Green Party processes, policies and practices, in the context of a reciprocal relationship of aroha betweeen Te Roopu Pounamu and the wider Green Party."
We also decided that, as part of our whanaungatanga, membership of Te Roopu Pounamu consists of Maori members and the partners of Maori members.
There are certainly significant challenges for Maori within a political party but it seems that in general Maori believe the Green Party to be a viable alternative for both membership and votes because it is a principled party which is committed to both social justice and ecological wisdom.
Te Roopu Pounamu uses an elist and conference calls for regular discussion. If you would like to participate contact the National Office (phone: 04 801 5102, email: greenparty [at] greens [dot] org [dot] nz) or one of the following:
Office Holders
Policy Networkers: Mikaere Curtis, email: mikaere [at] ihug [dot] co [dot] nz
Representative on Green Party Executive: Jenny-Kaye Potaka, ph 021 2579240.
Contacts
Tamaki Makaurau
Mikaere Curtis, email: mikaere [at] ihug [dot] co [dot] nz
Te Whanga-nui-a-tara/Wellington
Jenny-Kaye Potaka, ph 021 2579240
Te Waipounamu/South Island
Bevan Tipene-Matua 027 5408705, email: tipene-matuab [at] cpit [dot] ac [dot] nz
Step change is a step backwards
The “Step Change” report on Education misses the point that the only real way to lift educational performance is to address underlying inequality, the Green Party said today.
Green MPs on Waitangi day
Green MPs attend Waitangi day celebrations
Green Party Co-Leaders Metiria Turei and Dr Russel Norman, along with Green MPs David Clendon and Catherine Delahunty will attend Waitangi Day celebrations in Waitangi over the next two days.
Reduce inequality if you want to improve education
If the Government really wants to raise national standards of literacy and numeracy it needs to get serious about reducing socio-economic inequalities in our society, the Green Party said today.
Hand of Hide all over Supercity
Councillors on the new Auckland supercity will have their hands tied when it comes to running the city, due to the unprecedented powers granted to the Minister of Local Government in a Bill to be debated today, the Green Party said.
Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill — Second Reading
The Greens are pleased to make a short speech on the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill and to continue to support it through the House. The 2004 Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act, which this bill seeks to amend, was seen by some as an indication of the Crown’s willingness to deal fairly and even generously with Māori in respect of settling Treaty claims.
Maori effectively sidelined in SuperCity sleight of hand
The model for Maori representation in Auckland’s SuperCity is a cynical and undemocratic ploy by Rodney Hide to deny any real power to tangata whenua, said David Clendon, Green Party Spokesperson on Auckland governance issues and Maori Affairs.
Whanganui Iwi (Wanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Wanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — First Reading
Ki te mana o ngā iwi o Whanganui, tēnā koutou.
[To the integrity of the Whanganui tribes, greetings.]
The Green Party acknowledges with respect the work and endurance of the hapū, the whānau, and ngā kaumātua rangatira [the chiefly elders] of Whanganui, who have worked and who continue to work for the return of what is rightfully theirs and what has been taken from them.
Respect Māori rights in any new foreshore law
It is crucial that any new foreshore and seabed legislation respects Māori customary rights, said the Green Party today.
