Latest news with #TākutaFerris
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Twice The Impact, Half The Budget: Budget 25 Must Invest In Whakaata Māori
Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Broadcasting, Tākuta Ferris, and MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, are demanding the Government significantly increase its investment in Whakaata Māori in Budget 2025. The call comes following the release of the network's 2025 Social Value Report at an event today, attended by MP Kemp, highlighting more than $114 million in measured impact across Aotearoa. 'Whakaata Māori is not just a broadcaster — it is a cornerstone of cultural survival, education, and national identity,' said Tākuta Ferris. 'This latest report proves what our people have known all along: kaupapa Māori media changes lives, strengthens whānau, and brings te reo Māori into the hearts of homes across the motu.' The report, independently developed by Social Ventures Australia, affirms that Whakaata Māori's work is delivering more than double its operating budget in social value — from improved reo Māori use to stronger cultural identity and cross-cultural understanding. 'With 78% of Māori viewers feeling more connected to their identity and 69% of parents saying their tamariki are speaking more reo and practising tikanga at home, this Government must now future-proof these outcomes with targeted investment,' says Takutai Tarsh Kemp. Ferris and Kemp are calling on the Government to urgently prioritise a meaningful funding boost for Whakaata Māori in Budget 2025, following 17 years without an increase to the network's baseline operational funding. 'For too long, successive Governments – and especially this one – have paid lip service to te reo Māori and Māori development, while refusing to back it with resources,' said Kemp. 'The network has not received a baseline funding increase since 2008. The numbers presented today speak for themselves - Whakaata Māori delivers where it matters most: to the people. Budget 2025 must reflect that,' concluded Ferris.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Denying The Right To Vote Is A Breach Of Te Tiriti And Human Rights
The National Party's announcement to reinstate a total ban on prisoner voting is a shameful step backwards. Denying the right to vote does not strengthen society — it weakens our democracy and breaches Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 'Voting is not a privilege to be taken away — it is a fundamental human right. Stripping whānau of their right to participate in democracy only deepens the cycles of marginalisation and injustice that our people have been subjected to for generations,' says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Justice, Tākuta Ferris. 'This govt is locking people up for what they wear, increasing sentences across the board, and now they are telling those people that they have no right to participate in the system that has incarcerated them. 'Paul Goldsmith has been advised by his own Ministry that his policies will exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in prison. 'He is knowingly disenfranchising Māori as the Minister for Justice and Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations. 'This announcement is the opposite of justice and everything Te Tiriti o Waitangi stands for; he should be ashamed of himself.' Te Pāti Māori is clear: We will reinstate the right for all whānau in Corrections facilities to vote. We reject a justice system that punishes instead of heals. True justice is about restoration, not exclusion. 'Once again, National is showing that their vision for Aotearoa is not one of transformation, healing, or fairness — it is one of punishment, control, and division,' concluded Ferris. Te Pāti Māori will continue to fight for a justice system that restores whānau, not destroys them and we will continue to advocate for those who are being left behind.
Scoop
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Education Should Be Led By Experts-Not Economists
Press Release – Te Pati Maori Research shows that a strong sense of identity is central to the success of tamariki Mori. A government that develops education policy within David Seymours cost-cutting Ministry, shows a clear disregard for the future of our tamariki Mori. Te Pāti Māori are appalled by Cabinet's decision to agree to 15 recommendations to the Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector following the regulatory review by the Ministry of Regulation. We emphasise the need to prioritise tamariki Māori in Early Childhood Education, conducted by education experts- not economists. 'Our mokopuna deserve an education system shaped by their needs – and that must be led by the total immersion Māori education sector,' said Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for education, Tākuta Ferris. 'Research shows that a strong sense of identity is central to the success of tamariki Māori. Instead of defunding key programmes and continuing to allocate just 1% of total education funding to Māori education, the government should be investing in the Māori educational systems that are already delivering for our tamariki. 'A government that develops education policy within David Seymour's cost-cutting Ministry, shows a clear disregard for the future of our tamariki Māori.' 'There is no table fit to make decisions about the education of mokopuna Māori without Kōhanga Reo and Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori at it,' says Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for total immersion education. 'They are more equipped than any government body to know what our tamariki need – not just in the classroom, but for their future. 'The government must be held to account for its commitment to the recommendations made in Wai 2336. That means creating standalone legislation with policies specifically designed to support Māori education and to give whānau real, meaningful choices,' concluded Maipi-Clarke. Te Pāti Māori remains resolute in protecting the mana and mauri of Kōhanga Reo by ensuring all policies and regulations uphold and advance its kaupapa as a taonga tuku iho for our babies and mokopuna.
Scoop
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Education Should Be Led By Experts-Not Economists
Te Pāti Māori are appalled by Cabinet's decision to agree to 15 recommendations to the Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector following the regulatory review by the Ministry of Regulation. We emphasise the need to prioritise tamariki Māori in Early Childhood Education, conducted by education experts- not economists. 'Our mokopuna deserve an education system shaped by their needs - and that must be led by the total immersion Māori education sector,' said Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for education, Tākuta Ferris. 'Research shows that a strong sense of identity is central to the success of tamariki Māori. Instead of defunding key programmes and continuing to allocate just 1% of total education funding to Māori education, the government should be investing in the Māori educational systems that are already delivering for our tamariki. 'A government that develops education policy within David Seymour's cost-cutting Ministry, shows a clear disregard for the future of our tamariki Māori.' 'There is no table fit to make decisions about the education of mokopuna Māori without Kōhanga Reo and Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori at it,' says Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for total immersion education. 'They are more equipped than any government body to know what our tamariki need - not just in the classroom, but for their future. 'The government must be held to account for its commitment to the recommendations made in Wai 2336. That means creating standalone legislation with policies specifically designed to support Māori education and to give whānau real, meaningful choices,' concluded Maipi-Clarke. Te Pāti Māori remains resolute in protecting the mana and mauri of Kōhanga Reo by ensuring all policies and regulations uphold and advance its kaupapa as a taonga tuku iho for our babies and mokopuna.
