Stories by Gareth Thomas
News
Family, friends step up in flood
It's just as well Justin Patterson has good mates, caring neighbours and family nearby.
Water claims delay 'like foreshore and seabed'
A Treaty lawyer says the Crown's approach to recognising Māori water rights is no better than its handling of foreshore and seabed claims.
Should the Māori fisheries body be canned?
MPs have heard iwi don't want the Māori fisheries body to be abolished, which is at odds with an independent report suggesting it should go. Audio
Watchdog criticises Whānau Ora
The way in which Whānau Ora has been run in its first four years has come in for heavy criticism from the public spending watchdog, the Auditor General.
Maori-made food from Palmy to Dubai
An iwi-owned company has landed a new deal to supply Dubai with emergency food pouches.
Te Reo plan 'overlooks' urban Maori
Urban tangata whenua are being overlooked in the Government's plans for a new agency to lead the kaitiakitanga of Te Reo, the Māori Language Commission says.
Iwi's water dispute with council ongoing
Ngāti Kahungunu says its litigation of its regional council is not a good example of what a partnership should look like.
Fruitless search for commission's CEO
The Māori Language Commission says a $200,000 cap on the chief executive salary is hampering its ability to find someone with the right skills for the role.
Ngati Toa sets Te Reo goals
The lower North Island tribe, Ngāti Toa, wants all of its members to be speaking or learning Te Reo Maori in four years' time.
MPs grill Māori TV's main man
Māori Television is considering changing its policy after it came under fire for censoring a haka that was critical of the channel.
Iwi 'bypassed' on Maori ward vote
The Far North District Council is accused of bypassing iwi in a vote on creating Māori wards.
Fever vaccine would be 'huge step forward'
An infectious disease specialist says the prospect of an effective vaccine to combat rheumatic fever is an exciting development. Audio
Proposal to abolish Te Ohu Kaimoana
A proposal's in place to abolish the fisheries body - Te Ohu Kaimoana. It's one of a number of plans from a review of how the Māori quota is managed.
Treaty settlement 'landlocks' bach
Bach owner Jim Harre says planned Treaty of Waitangi settlement legislation would 'landlock' his holiday home and his access to it would be short-lived.
Christian camp fails to block wāhi tapu status
A campground north of Wellington has lost its fight to stop land being declared wāhi tapu - or sacred to Māori.
Indigenous food sales fall short
A Crown-run indigenous food brand has missed its takings target, earning four times less than it wanted.
Ngati Porou maps coastline for claims
Tairāwhiti tribe Ngāti Porou is applying for customary marine title for a "reasonable" stretch of the coastline in its territory, as it seeks to protect its beaches, it says.
The challenge of building on Māori land
Māori with dreams to build homes on their own land are putting their plans in the "too-hard basket" - one of the key findings in a new Auditor General's report holding Crown agenices to account.
Crown berated over Maori Wardens
The Maori Council has scored a win against the Crown over who should control the Maori Wardens, with the Waitangi Tribunal ruling the Crown has breached the Treaty of Waitangi. Audio
Catholic Diocese 'letting down' students
Labour's Kelvin Davis says the Catholic Diocese of Auckland is letting down Hato Petera College, and is urging religious leaders not to put students' education at risk.
Ministry urged to intervene at college
An Education Review Office report has found a lack of agreement between Hato Petera College and its religious landowner is holding back the Māori boarding school.
Māori radio legal action in the air
A Crown media funder is preparing for legal action from Māori radio stations not funded by the Government. Te Māngai Pāho says significant iwi groups do not have a pūtea.
Law to fix tribe's Treaty breaches
Members of an Auckland tribe with no marae and virtually no land have watched politicians begin putting to rest long-standing grievances created by the Crown.
Maori police numbers up; more wanted
The proportion of Maori in the police has risen to its highest level in eight years, with 1200 tangata whenua in the service, but still short of reflecting the national Maori population. Audio
National extends settlement deadline
National has released its Treaty of Waitangi and Māori Affairs policies and pushed its Treaty of Waitangi settlements deadline out by another three years, to 2017.