Mana | Movement of the People

 

Mana Waiariki leads debate on work crisis

Candidates for Waiariki are set to debate what is the most serious issue affecting Maori.

The Bay of Plenty – an area named for its endless potential and opportunities will provide the backdrop for a debate between Waiariki Candidates over the ever increasing issue of unemployment.

The Tauranga Maori Business Association will tonight host the political debate with the intention of highlighting the promises made by the three candidates to effect change. Chairman of the Association, Buddy Mikaere, said;
“The forum was of intense interest to Maori voters who wanted to be informed about what the three Maori candidates were promising to deliver on these two important take. Unemployment in the Tauranga area was an issue that needed addressing urgently. As at the end of June 2011, urban Tauranga, with a population of just over 100,400 had approximately 9,000 people or nearly 10% listed as unemployment. The largest single group within the demographic were young people aged 18-24 and of that group more than half were Maori.

MANA Waiariki candidate Annette Sykes stance is simple “MANA is clear we need a change in approach not more of the ‘tinkering’ that successive National and Labour governments where strategies of leveraging Maori resources for corporate success has been the focus of Iwi leaders discussions between Maori and the Crown while Maori unemployment rates soar and our whānau are denied rights of entitlement through benefit policies like the no go zone that prevent them from even living on their own tūrangawaewae while they seek work.”

“Development objectives must embrace peoples realities which must be the central focus of any proper strategy for social wellbeing and economic justice. MANA will bring that change and be strong advocates for different outcomes for the poor and the marginalised who are most affected by these failures.”

The hui to be held at 6pm, Huria Marae, Kaponga Road, Judea, Tauranga, will be chaired by veteran broadcaster and political commentator Derek Fox.

Annette is embracing the opportunity to debate the issue alongside the other candidates “Tonight will be an opportunity to debate whether the Treaty Settlements regime is delivering real economic and social development to Maori and to critically appraise policies implemented by National Act and the Maori party to stimulate economic initiatives which clearly have had no impact in Maori communities in the Bay of Plenty as Mr Mikaere’s comments highlight .

The negative impact on the New Zealand economy in recent years has had an enormous effect on Maori families and was reflected in the continuing migration of Maori to Australia in search of better work opportunities. Many Tauranga Maori whanau had member’s overseas working in the Australian mining industry or in the service sector. There were also specific local impacts such as the effect of the PSA virus on the kiwifruit industry in the Western Bay of Plenty.

PSA had made the future of the seasonal employment that so many relied upon, uncertain”.

For all media enquiries contact Te Ringahuia Hata [email protected] or 021 236 0931
Tauranga Maori Business Association www.tmba.co.nz