PSA Rūnanga representatives from across the five PSA Sectors attended Hui Taumata, the National Māori Congress for PSA Māori delegates, held on Thursday, 22 and Friday 23 July.
More than 100 Māori delegates attended the hui at the Brentwood Hotel in Wellington.
The hui theme was “Te tangata I runga ake te hua" People over Profits, in line with this year’s PSA Congress theme.
Representatives from the Labour Party, Te Pati Māori, and the Green Party were invited to hear from delegates and express their views and priorities within the current political environment. Delegates heard from Labour MP Shanan Halbert (Ngāti Whitikaupeka, Rongowhakaata and Ngāti Kahungunu) and Green MP Teanau Tuiono (Ngāpuhi/Atiu).
Topics discussed included: addressing the disparities in health outcomes; strengthening Māori participation in decision making at local and national levels; housing, protecting Māori rights in natural resource management and conservation, and preserving te reo Māori and Tikanga.
Our aim was also to strengthen our relationships with these parties and discuss the pressing issues affecting our members, particularly the significant job cuts in the public service.
These changes are causing considerable concern amongst Māori members, who have been directly targeted by the government with many facing job insecurity and uncertainty about the future of their roles.
Building alliances are invaluable during this challenging time as we seek to address these issues and collaboratively support a change to a worker friendly government, that recognises Te Tiriti o Waitangi and respects Māori sovereignty.
A panel discussed the governments attacks on Māori Wards and the government imposed public voting at the next local government elections to determine if Māori Wards are to be disestablished.
The panellists were Councillor Babe Kapa from the Far North District Council, representing the Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward, Councillor Bridget Bell for the Ngā Tapuae o Matangi Māori Ward on the Manawatū District Council and Nīkau Wi Neera representing the Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward on the Wellington City Council.
Discussions with the panel included local body support for: addressing disparities in health, education, and employment, te reo Māori and Tikanga, meaningful engagement with iwi in decision-making, and addressing housing affordability and homelessness, particularly for Māori and whanau.
Many delegates also supported the rally against the disestablishment of Māori Wards held outside the Local Government New Zealand Conference at the Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre. It was a strong show of support for Māori Wards and Te Tiriti o Waitangi from PSA Rūnanga members.
The Marlene Pitman Award was presented to Hinonga Māngai Māori within the Dunedin City Council Monique Goodhew. The retiring Te Rūnanga Ngā Toa Āwhina Tuakana Lesley Dixon was also recognised for her work in this important role.
Workshops were held on the Mana Wāhine claim, Waitangi constitutional claims and a Rangatahi session, as well as all attendees discussing a review of the PSA’s Te Tiriti Policy.
The Mana Wahine sessions, led by Te Kaihautū Māori Janice Panoho and Whaea Georgina, highlighted the significance of the four Tribunal Te Tiriti o Waitangi claims submitted on behalf of Māori members across the State Sector. These claims carry great weight, as they reflect the voices of Māori members who have participated through feedback and individual interviews.
The claims address several key issues:
- Disestablishment of Māori Specialist Positions: Māori members are facing the loss of critical roles dedicated to advancing Māori perspectives and needs within the public service.
- Replacement of Te Reo Māori Names with English: There is concern about the removal of Te Reo Māori names from organisations and their replacement with English counterparts, undermining cultural recognition.
- Suppression of Te Reo Māori in Professional Settings: Ministers and managers have asked staff to exclude Te Reo Māori, including greetings, from official letters and documents.
- Restrictions on Karakia: Staff have been discouraged from using karakia to open and close meetings, a practice integral to tikanga Māori.
- Reclassification of Te Reo Māori Allowances: Te Reo Māori allowances being described as "bonuses" undermines the importance of language use in the workplace.
- The removal of the 7AA Te Tiriti o Waitangi clause from the Oranga Tamariki (OT) legislation. This clause is crucial as it mandates that Oranga Tamariki must uphold and reflect the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in their work, particularly in relation to the care and protection of tamariki Māori.
- The re-write of the Treaty principles, which fundamentally alters how Te Tiriti o Waitangi is interpreted and applied across government agencies and services.
The re-write of these principles threatens to diminish the core protections guaranteed to Māori under Te Tiriti. These principles are at risk of being redefined in ways that undermine Māori self-determination (tino rangatiratanga) and reduce the Crown’s obligations toward Māori. By altering these principles, the government may attempt to shift its focus away from genuine power-sharing arrangements and meaningful inclusion of Māori perspectives.
These claims reflect a broader challenge to uphold and respect the rights guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi within the workplace, particularly around cultural practices and the use of Te Reo Māori.
All in all, Hui Taumata focused on whakawhanaungatanga, kotahitanga and the need to be united against the government’s attacks against kaimahi Māori in Public and Community Services, Iwi Māori and and Te Tiriti o Waitangi itself, with a desire to improve the ability for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi to provide good support to its Māori members in these trying times, as we move into the future.
