Bilateral Indigenous Australia – Aotearoa hui
Photo caption: Pita Tipene pictured with Aotearoa and Australian delegates, February 2024, Melbourne
Ngā Toki Whakarururanga co-convenor Pita Tipene attended the inaugural Aotearoa New Zealand – Australia First Nations Economic Dialogue held from February 14-16 in Townsville, Queensland on behalf of NTW. The delegation was led by Traci Houpapa and included representation by Te Manatu Aorere led by Charlie Rahiri.
The bilateral discussions saw constructive dialogue and a commitment to building inclusive, sustainable and economic development for First Nations peoples from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and across the Pacific.
Pita said, “Our delegation enjoyed the manaakitanga provided by our Australian hosts including the leadership provided by Justin Mohammed the Ambassador for First Nations People who actively led and facilitated the meetings.”
The final workshop meeting was also attended by Linda Burney, Minister for Indigenous Australians and Senator Dorinda Cox, Senator for Western Australia representing the Greens.
The meeting underscored the adoption of First Nations values-based approach to socio-economic development under the motto Healthy Country – Healthy People, recalling the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, emphasising the foundations of self-determination, cultural leadership, self-empowerment, self-reliance, and inclusive partnership and leveraging existing bilateral and multilateral architecture.
Moreover, a number of priority actions were agreed and finalisation of those priorities is now being progressed.
Tiriti analysis on NZ EU FTA at select committee
NTW pūkenga Maui Solomon was given a mere 10 minutes to present the Tiriti o Waitangi assessment of the New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill to the select committee on the bill. His spoken submission is available to be viewed in the video above. To view NTW’s online submission click here.
Lynell Tuffery Huria also presented a submission on behalf of the Mānuka Trust in the video below. A review of select committee process for international treaties is expected to take place where NTW will demand a Tiriti-compliant approach.
He Whenua Rongo
As part of NTW’s hua parakore project for Te Puni Kōkiri, Papawhakaritorito Trust, Te Waka Kai Ora and Ngā Toki Whakarururanga are co-hosting the He Whenua Rongo – International Indigenous Seed, Soil and Food Sovereignty Symposium. The hui will take place on April 11 to 13 at Te Mahuruhuru Marae and Papatūānuku Kokiri Marae in Tāmaki Makaurau.
The symposium is designed to support research and practices that champion kai atua and deliver biodiversity, food security and cultural heritage. It has been organised by Jessica Hutchings and her team. The first day will focus on the links with free trade agreements, with Annette Sykes, Aroha Mead, Donna Kerridge, Maui Solomon, Jane Kelsey and Jessica all contributing. To register please visit the website here.
IPEF texts and Tiriti assessment imminent
The US-driven negotiations of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) on the trade pillar remain paralysed by US politics.
That pillar includes issues of agriculture and GMOs, digital, inclusivity, environment and labour. Whether those negotiations will ever resume again depends on US politics. The other three pillars – supply chains, clean economy (climate change), fair economy (tax and corruption) – and an organisational agreement have been finished and will likely be released shortly.
Ngā Toki Whakarururanga has drafted a Tiriti assessment which will be released shortly after the secret texts are made public.