Our vision for a thriving food industry is one where there is an abundance of small, locally owned and operated food producers and mobile food/drink businesses offering a diverse range of choices at reasonable prices. This would support regular markets and community events that transform our public spaces into community spaces of music and cultural vibrancy; play, laughter, connection, and warm full bellies.   One of the greatest barriers to running such businesses is the resourcing (cost, time and energy) required to comply with food safety regulations. Currently, the logistical, administrative and financial burden of registration and certification is the same for all domestic food businesses, regardless of size. A small coffee cart that only operates at a few summer events each year pays $500 - $1,000 annually in compliance costs, depending on region. While a large restaurant - such as a fast food outlet - pays the same amount even though it has exponentially higher revenue from being open all day on most (if not all) days every week and so can easily absorb these costs. High regulatory costs for small food businesses to operate impede their economic viability and their ability to remain competitive.   Furthermore, due to loss and lack of government funding, MPI recently passed legislation to charge all domestic food businesses a new annual "Food Act" levy of $132 (plus an $11 collection fee) for expanding five of its existing services (including rules setting; oversight; and education) and adding three entirely new services (nationwide interventions to raise performance; national monitoring programmes; and systems auditing). The levy is a flat fee for all businesses (regardless of size) however, because the fee is charged on a “per site” basis, small mobile food businesses that prepare food in a kitchen and sell food from a vehicle (e.g. food truck or cart) would end up paying double the levy! This is totally unfair given a fixed premise, like a large restaurant, would only pay the base fee. The new levy would be the third annual fee all food businesses in Aoteaora (whether they are registered with their local council or MPI) have to pay to retain their registration to legally trade in food. The fee would also be “growing annually in line with inflation assumptions”. As with the existing regulatory fees structure, charging the same levy for all businesses - regardless of size or revenue - means a mobile food vendor that only operates one morning a week will have to pay the same fee as a McDonald's restaurant that is open all day, every day of the year. For small food businesses, such as mobile food vendors and coffee carts, the current regulations are already too cumbersome and costs beyond sustainable. They will never benefit anywhere close to enough to justify these additional costs, let alone the current costs and requirements of compliance. The full, 52-page proposal is available here: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/60877-Proposal-to-maintain-and-expand-New-Zealand-Food-Safetys-regulatory-services-under-the-Food-Act-2014-Food-Act) Based on past experience, we also believe Food Safety NZ has been excessive and inefficient with its spending of funding for services and are concerned that increasing funding will lead to greater inefficiency of spending with no benefit to small food businesses. Small food businesses have many unique benefits including: supporting local economy; supplying a more diverse and unique range of food that is made locally from ingredients that are local, fresh, and wholesome; allowing innovation; creating competition (which encourages lower food prices); supporting community and fundraising events (such as school fairs); adaptability and flexibility. The Covid pandemic specifically highlighted the value of food markets and mobile food vendors, where the ability to shop outside was an important option to avoid spreading disease. The current food safety system favours large businesses and promotes an industry where small, unique and community-oriented businesses struggle to survive and will gradually disappear resulting in a monopoly of large, homogenous food businesses. The change will not be immediate and obvious, but it will be very significant and detrimental to our well-being and quality of life. We already have plenty of examples where large, multinational businesses have dominated over and replaced small, local businesses. Whilst food safety is important, it is also vital that regulations and fees are not so burdensome that the viability of small food businesses is undermined. Especially as inflation and high costs are already making it challenging for these businesses to stay afloat. The costs and requirements to comply with food safety regulations for small food businesses need to decrease significantly and more accurately reflect their level of risk and the revenue they are able to generate so they can continue to support vibrant, connected and sustainable communities. Imagine a future where our local food scene isn’t just a significant player in the economy but also a shining star in New Zealand’s culture, making life richer for locals and visitors alike.

Schools are a place where kids go to learn, connect, and grow. But they can’t do this if they are hungry. In Aotearoa, one in five children live with food poverty. And poor nutrition is not limited to kids in food poverty, with only 5 per cent of children aged 0-14 years getting the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables per day. Nutritious food is essential for learning but many kids are missing out on this. This is why Ka Ora, Ka Ako - the school lunch programme was created. It currently offers 230,000 students in about 1,000 of the least advantaged schools lunches, and is a major safety net against food poverty and poor nutrition. If the Government chooses to remove the programme from schools it would rob students of their potential and then we all lose from the missed contribution they can make to our communities. Research from the PISA (Program for International Student Achievement) shows that students who miss meals due to lack of money are two to four years behind their peers who never miss meals in educational achievement(1). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said his Government is focused on enhancing school achievement. Cutting school lunches goes against this - and will instead reduce school achievement. Parents of children at schools with free lunches told researchers the lunches helped reduce their grocery bill, increased financial security and helped change their child’s food choices - towards healthier options(2). Principals at schools receiving Ka Ora, Ka Ako say the programme has made a huge and lasting impact on students and losing it would be a tragedy. Principal of Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae in Māngere East Arihia Stirling said on TVNZ’s Breakfast programme, children are more focused and the number of students having to work to help pay for family basics has fallen as a result of the free lunch programme(3). “What I say to the Associate Minister of Education is do not take the food out of our children’s mouths…this is so needed in the communities we serve.” Seletute “Tute” Mila, principal of Arakura School in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, told The Press, Ka Ora, Ka Ako was a “critical programme” which her students loved(4). The same story reported comments by Chisnallwood Intermediate year 8 student Ryder who said the lunches should stay “... mainly because that is a lot of students’ meal for the entirety of the day ... most people don’t have food at home.” Before the lunches were introduced in 2022, Ryder said he struggled to learn “because my brain just got like, ‘oh, I’m so hungry’.“After I ate the lunches I’d always have energy to do stuff.” All students at these schools receive a free healthy lunch which they share together. The provision of tasty, healthy lunches to all the students encourages them to eat nutritious food that will fuel their bodies and minds, and promotes social bonding through sharing a meal together. Students all over New Zealand should have healthy and free school lunches - which are essential to address food poverty and poor nutrition. This is why we are asking the government to keep the free school lunch program, if you agree please sign and share this petition. References (1) https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/food-poverty-nz-teens-creating-achievement-lag-four-years (2) https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article/38/4/daad093/7243592?login=false (3) https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/05/no-doubt-free-lunches-programme-has-helped-results-principal/ (4) https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/350201994/most-people-dont-have-food-home-students-and-staff-fear-impact-lunch-cuts

The decision to delay modern slavery legislation affects everyone, from the beginning of the supply chain to the end consumer. Urgent action is needed. In July 2023, the Labour government announced its plan to draft a modern slavery disclosure law, requiring companies earning more than $20 million a year in revenue to publicly disclose and address the risks of modern slavery within their supply chains. Detailed advice, including advocating for due diligence, was received from advocacy groups and experts in modern slavery legislation. Significant progress was made on drafting legislation, covering both business and public sector supply chains. But, despite repeated urging from the public, it was not introduced into Parliament before the last election. Now it is your turn. We are depending on your government to do the right thing, to introduce this legislation into Parliament and make it law. But we have since been told that your government has “yet to make a decision” on this proposal (3). Not only does this lag put New Zealand behind other OECD countries, but it affects businesses that are trying to do the right thing as they continue operating in a market where unfair competition can thrive due to unethical labour practices. New Zealanders want legislative action on modern slavery. An open letter from the business community was written in 2021 along with a 37,000-strong public petition. In 2023, more than 6,000 people demanded that the then government stop delaying progress. In February this year, ethical investors urged you to act. There is no need for any more hold-ups. We ask once again that your National-led coalition government make urgent progress on this issue. We pride ourselves on being a country that cares, a place where everyone gets a fair go. By stalling work on a modern slavery law, aren't we falling short of that ideal? Prime Minister Luxon, in 2022 you said, “Something I feel very passionate about is modern slavery… I’ve been really passionate about [it] for a long time. That’s something I think we could do a better job of and have modern slavery legislation, and make sure that we’re holding ourselves up to a standard.” (4). We are holding you to your own standards. Please Introduce a Modern Slavery Act into New Zealand Law Now! Yours sincerely, Fair&Good Ethical Directory With the support of: Hagar NZ, Tearfund, World Vision, Trade Aid, Fairtrade, Sustainable Business Network, Ethically Kate, Mindful Money, Walk Free, The Wilberforce Foundation, Mindful Fashion, Kowtow, 27 Seconds, All Good, AS Colour, Addington Café, Aho Creative, Bennetto, Borneo Bags, Burrow&Be, Caritas, The Centre for Research on Modern Slavery (UoA), Collective Canvas, Common Good Coffee, Common Sense Organics, Conscious Copy, Crave Café, Direct Impact Group, NZ Ethical Employers, Ethos&Co, Fairfield Trust, Fairplay, Fashion Revolution, Grow Good, Good Gold, Hamodava Coffee, HEED Consulting, Holi Boli, House of March, The Human Trafficking Research Coalition, IncaFe Organic Coffee, Joyya, Just Kai, Karma Drinks, Kind Café, Krama&Co, The Lucy Foundation, Made Good, The Modern Day Slavery and Labour Exploitation Advocacy Group, Morning Cider, Pickers Pocket, Phat Philly, Reca, Recreate Clothing, Regina Scheyvens, Professor of International Development, ReMade Agency, Sawubona, Seeds, Side Hustle, The Salvation Army, UnionAID, Yeastie Boys, Ziwi Baby References: (1) Walk Free Global Slavery Index 2023 https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/ (2) World Vision Risky Goods Supply Chain Risk Report 2023 https://wvnzintegrationprod.blob.core.windows.net/pdf/WVNZ%20Risky%20Goods%202023%20Report-Final.pdf (3) Newsroom 18/1/2024 https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/01/18/modern-slavery-law-plans-up-in-air/ (4) Video Interview with Guyon Espiner, 7 June 2022 https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/468615/how-christopher-luxon-is-rebranding-the-national-party

Onoke Pā is a well known wāhi tapu to the hapū of Te Kamo and nationally significant to our shared histories. Hapū of Te Kamo have fought through the generations protection of Onoke Pā through Council processes and won in the Environment Court 1996 where it was recommended the land should be reserved as wāhi tapu, this did not occur. 2yrs ago we were advised that a developer Onoke Heights Limited sought to build 93 homes on Onoke Pā. Whangārei District Council Planners advised Council to decline the resource consent siting 'significant cultural impact'. Council elected to engage an Independent Commissioner to hear the case. Hapū of Te Kamo alongside concerned residents and members of the community gave evidence in the hearings late 2023. On Monday 19 Feb 2024 hapū were advised of the Commissioner's decision to approve the consent application to build 93 homes on Onoke Pā. We oppose this decision! And seek your support as we campaign to Protect Onoke Pā sacred site for the wellbeing of the people of Te Kamo and future generations. We now have a give a little page! Nau mai ki te tautoko https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/protect-onoke-pa-whangarei 01/03/2024 Te Hiku FM Haukainga Series https://tehiku.nz/te-hiku-tv/haukainga/44483/onoke-local-hapu-staunch-in-opposition-of-housing-development?fbclid=IwAR1ppA7Dca4UAkHZZmUXDAQRAjQ8x5kjS-NhobY46GwyZGNFwWk0xniDmmI 29/02/2024 Northern Advocate https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/future-of-onoke-heights-subdivison-in-whangarei-at-risk-developer-says/SO447AUFN5F3RPHATRO67KTOHA/ 28/02/2024 Te Ao News https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2024/02/26/whangarei-iwi-livid-at-decision-to-build-homes-on-wahi-tapu/

Our health system has failed Māori for far too long. Report after report has demonstrated institutional racism and exclusion of Māori leadership that has led to devastating outcomes and inequity. For all those years, hapū, iwi, health workers, lawyers, health researchers, and many more have fought for better, and called for practical solutions they knew would work. Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority) is the result of their vision for a health system that better honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and better cares for whānau. A truly Māori-led agency that has the power to resource and lift up kaupapa Māori, and iwi and hapū health services, can improve health for Māori, and all communities in Aotearoa. Without a clear plan to improve hauora Māori, the National, ACT, and NZ First parties have vowed to disestablish Te Aka Whai Ora. The coalition Government plan to introduce the disestablishment legislation just days before the hearing of the Urgent Waitangi Tribunal claim is set to begin. This bad-faith move restricts the jurisdiction of the Tribunal to fully consider this breach of Te Tiriti, and the impact on Māori. It is unacceptable for the Crown to unilaterally move ahead and block tangata whenua from being heard. We demand a health system that treats everyone fairly, in ways that uplift them and their whānau, and honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We stand with people on the frontline of the health system: allied, public, and mental health practitioners, nurses, doctors, and many more health professionals, who know Te Aka Whai Ora is important and necessary to deliver healthcare well. Disestablishment is a major threat to Māori health. That’s why we’re calling for the Government to change course now and protect Te Aka Whai Ora. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUTDpxDh90E

UPDATE: 203,653 Signatures were handed over at Parliament on Tuesday 19th of November! But you can still sign to add your power - we'll keep you updated about submissions opposing the Bill so we can turn this milestone petition into a landslide! In 1835, 189 years ago, a gathering of great chiefs of Aotearoa signed He Whakaputanga with representatives of the British Crown. Five years from that date, Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed between Māori and the Crown. This momentous decree came as a great beacon of light and hope for both parties that allowed the establishment of a government that acknowledged Māori chiefs having rangatiratanga over their lands and ensured all peoples in this country would be treated the same.  184 years after the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Julian Wilcox reminded us of the vision of Mohi Tāwhai, which told of a time when the mana of Te Tiriti would be trampled on and requested his signature be removed from Te Tiriti. When Governor Hobson said no, and Mohi Tāwhai replied ‘Governor, may your words float like balsa wood in the net, and my words sink to the bottom of the sea like stone’. 184 years later, Mohi Tāwhai's words have sunk to the bottom of the sea like stone. It is obvious today that the current Government has an agenda to diminish the unique place of Māori in relation to the Treaty, by trampling on its mana. The introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill is a transgression against Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy, the promises afforded in Te Tiriti. Today we call all young people and their whānau to action. We ask that we ready ourselves to oppose in all constructive forms the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill. In saying this, it is not just our job to stop what is currently being passed through, we must also ensure the introduction of another Bill that entrenches the text of He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti as the constitution of Aotearoa. The proposed Treaty Principles Bill states: • Principle 1: The Executive Government of New Zealand has full power to govern, and the Parliament of New Zealand has full power to make laws, (a) in the best interests of everyone; and (b) in accordance with the rule of law and the maintenance of a free and democratic society. • Principle 2: (1) The Crown recognises, and will respect and protect, the rights that hapū and iwi Māori had under the Treaty of Waitangi/te Tiriti o Waitangi at the time they signed it. (2) However, if those rights differ from the rights of everyone, subclause (1) applies only if those rights are agreed in the settlement of a historical treaty claim under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 • Principle 3: (1) Everyone is equal before the law. (2) Everyone is entitled, without discrimination, to (a) the equal protection and equal benefit of the law; and (b) the equal enjoyment of the same fundamental human rights. The urgency of this petition cannot be overstated. For Māori, this bill represents a direct assault on our rights, our culture, and our identity. It threatens to perpetuate the injustices of the past, widening the gap of inequality that still persists in our society today, and taking this into our future. But this fight is not ours alone; it is a collective struggle for justice, equality, and dignity that we hope resonates with every soul who calls this whenua home.  We need you to prepare your submissions opposing the bill, inaction means complacency. If we do not oppose it now, in great numbers, it sends a message to the Government that we support this bill and in effect, support the continued trampling and transgressions against Te Tiriti. Historically, we have not used the submission process system to amplify our voices, and legislation continues to remain unchallenged. The time to amplify our voice is now. Kāti, hai whakatepe ake te kōrero, me pēhea e kore ai e mutu ki te reo Māori. He nui rawa ngā kōrero mō Te Tiriti o Waitangi, kai te mārama kē koutou ki te horopaki o tā tātau hōhā ki te whakaparahakotanga o Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mārama kehokeho ana mātou te Iwi Māori ki ngā atikara o te Tiriti, ko tāku kia koutou te Kāwana, whai tonu i te māramatanga i te pōuri, mā reira pea ka hoki tātau ki te ia o Te Tiriti, he mahi tahi mo te oranga o te katoa, kaua ko te raupatu, kaua ko te whakamate reo, kaua ko te kaikiri ki tōku Iwi Māori. Ka mutu ki ngā kupu a te Haka o Ngāti Whakaue “Hoariri Karauna - Ka riri au.”

We are short 700 social workers, 940 psychologists, 1000 teachers, 1,050 midwives, 1,700 doctors, & 4,800 nurses to name a few. Our hospitals, GP practices, schools, mental health & social services are more stretched than ever. Dangerously low staffing levels & overworked professionals make for burnt-out workforces & inaccessible services. This means long waitlists for surgeries or specialist appointments & long wait times in ED. Delayed access to mental health assessments, treatment, crisis support, & suicide prevention. Family harm & child protection services stretched beyond capacity. Large class sizes in schools mean reduced capacity for individual learning needs to be met & homeschooling for parents when teachers are off sick. The ripple effect of workforce shortages is massive. More staff are needed but it’s nearly impossible to complete course requirements with the current cost of living. Students are burning out & dropping out of study at rates of up to 45%. They can’t afford to work for free when rent, food, & power still cost money. - Students training in professions with placement requirements complete between 500 & 2400 hours of unpaid training depending on registration requirements. Medical students complete 20-42 weeks of unpaid placements for 3 years (after a 3yr BSc Health Science). - Students are often required to live or work away from home to complete placements. The cost of double rent & the impact on part-time work opportunities are significant. For students with on-call requirements, maintaining paid work is almost impossible. - Students must cover course related costs such as textbooks, uniforms, immunisations, equipment, travel, parking, supervision, & childcare arrangements. $1000 course costs loans are insufficient to cover these expenses. - Students participate in paid work to pay their bills on top of unpaid placements, often working up to 80 hours a week to make ends meet. Students from backgrounds of hardship or those caring for tamariki/whānau get excluded from these professions as they have limited financial flexibility or capacity to take on high student loans, unpaid labour & course related costs. - Student hardship disproportionately affects Māori & Pasifika because of existing inequities in Aotearoa New Zealand. We need greater diversity & experience to better serve the needs of our communities but without financial support to study our professions are at risk of becoming more short-staffed & less diverse. Post-graduate students Support must also be available for post-graduate students undertaking placements as part of their registration requirements. Currently, postgraduate students are ineligible for student allowance. - Many degrees are completed at a post-graduate level via an applied/professional masters. - Registered psychology professions & psychotherapy are only available at postgraduate level. - Lifetime student allowance limits are significantly lower for those over 40 years of age. - Mature students’ only option is to take on huge student loans & living costs. Working for free while collecting debt is especially prohibitive for students with additional domestic, family, and financial responsibilities. We must incentivise New Zealanders to gain qualifications in registered professions. Tradies receive support through packages like the Apprenticeship Boost and Police are paid to train while provided bed and board. Paid training for our health, education, and social work professionals must become the norm too. The solution! Provide students with a universal, non-repayable, annually increasing stipend. We are calling on the government to pay students a universal stipend while they train in registered professions with compulsory placement requirements. This is non-repayable & should increase annually to reflect the year-on-year increase in placement hours, skill development, & responsibilities. First year undergraduate programs with placement requirements must start on at least equivalent to the training wage for Aotearoa New Zealand. Postgraduate students should start on at least equivalent to the living wage to reflect their existing qualifications & professional experience. What is a stipend? A stipend is not a wage. It is a tax-free fund to support students to cover living costs, enabling them to fully engage with their studies & placement requirements. A stipend does not make students employees. It will not affect training, practice, or supervision requirements. Year 1: Training wage (tax-free stipend) $32,084.64* Year 2: Minimum wage (tax-free stipend) $39,312.72* Year 3+: Living wage (tax-free stipend) $44,008.58* *Take home amount students would receive at the current rates. These should be reviewed & adjusted annually in line with equivalent wage rates. Additional allowances should be available for on-call requirements, mandatory therapy, & supervision costs. Please sign & share this petition for paid training in healthcare, education, & social work. Funded workforce development will improve accessibility to training, increase the diversity of staff, & enable better access to quality services for whānau & community. Follow Paid Placements Aotearoa’s advocacy on: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PaidPlacementsAotearoa Instagram https://www.instagram.com/paid.placements.aotearoa/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/authwall?trk=bf&trkInfo=AQGfBgJOR0gsnwAAAY0K0NJQ4VSzObpB_5YpuuKfAs4gSu9gxg1BfhglPpZqhKz9ODj2xKAUWfio4DrWWjGr5yXqlQNvywhjI4U3p6L5VKxhaSXw35UEoahOPDPewg04X9Xqqrw=&original_referer=&sessionRedirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fpaid-placements-aotearoa-nz-236384272%2F

Whether these lands are called stewardship lands or Schedule 4 lands they are all part of the DOC estate and many areas contain rare species or act as buffers for their habitats. We urge you to protect the waterways above and below ground and prevent the creation of thousands of tonnes of toxics waste containing heavy metals. Climate change is already affecting the natural world and creating serious environmental stress. To sacrifice species such as the 200 million old Archeys frog species so that overseas corporations can make large profits, is bad for the economy and our reputation. You will recall that in 2010 40,000 people marched down Queen St in Tamaki to protest the proposed mining of conservation lands and National Parks. There is no mandate for the destruction Shane Jones is determined to impose, in fact there is huge public support for protecting the natural world. These places are too precious mine and we need leaders in Cabinet to actively protect them.

Israel’s long running siege of the Palestinian territories and its current destruction of Gaza are illegal under international law. This has been well documented in UN Security Council and General Assembly Resolutions, International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court rulings, and by international legal experts and human rights organisations. On 12 December 2023, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) – a federation of 188 human rights organisations from 116 countries – stated that Israel’s actions against the Palestinian people constitute an unfolding genocide and that states and individuals who provide assistance to Israel are rendering themselves complicit. They called on the International Criminal Court to immediately issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials who are responsible for international crimes against Palestinians. Under international law, all states including New Zealand have the individual obligation to prevent atrocity crimes. Currently, however, the New Zealand Government is ignoring national and international appeals to preserve human life and uphold international law. The Government appears oblivious to the serious humanitarian violations taking place, including the murder of civilians in refugee camps, churches, schools, hospitals and UN facilities. And it has said nothing about Israel bulldozing people as they sleep in their tents, or the collapse of the health system, spread of disease and unfolding famine. This makes our country complicit in the war crimes of genocide, targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, and denying the right of a people to self-determination. New Zealand has traditionally taken a strong moral position on serious injustices around the world, including acting to end apartheid in South Africa and to stop the genocide in Rwanda. New Zealand also recognised universal jurisdiction as a well-established principle of international law in 2018. This provides a legal basis for States to prosecute and punish war crimes and crimes against humanity, regardless of where the conduct occurred and the nationality of the perpetrator. We must therefore ask our Government to show the moral courage to stand up to these crimes against humanity and take immediate action.

Together we can build a future where everyone, regardless of their background or where they grew up, is a respected part of a vibrant, connected community and country. Where everyone feels a sense of belonging and knows their children will have what they need to thrive. We already have a blueprint to make this future a reality. Te Tiriti o Waitangi guides us to live peacefully and respectfully together.(1) In recent decades, we’ve seen a growing understanding of the importance of honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including amongst tauiwi (non-Māori).(2) Many of us have experienced the benefits of Māori leadership and changes which reflect Te Tiriti commitments to work together and share decision making on important issues. We value the development of respectful and reciprocal relationships between tāngata whenua and tāngata Tiriti (people of Te Tiriti). Through these relationships we are better able to care for our land and waterways, improve the care we receive in our health system, and to build an education system that values the unique strengths of all of our tamariki (young people).(3) We’ve seen important steps taken and we know that there is still much more to do. Since it was signed, people in successive governments have breached what was agreed to in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. They've created laws, policies, and decision-making processes that harm whānau, hapū and iwi. The actions by the kāwanatanga (Government) – controlling decision-making, suppression of language, culture and tikanga, and alienation of land - have created intergenerational harms and injustices, and damaged relationships. We are seeing a continuation of this harm in the actions of the members of parliament in the new coalition Government. They are undermining efforts for a healthier, more unified society for future generations by removing or rewriting legislative Te Tiriti commitments, restricting the use of te reo Māori, repealing laws and withdrawing funding from initiatives that seek to heal and rebalance inequities caused by colonisation. Whilst spouting racist rhetoric with the aim of dividing us from each other. These actions reach far beyond this current Government's mandate. They don’t align with the unity and respect for each other that most people value in our daily interactions in our places of work, faith, learning, and community. We know that by honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi we can lay the foundations for a future where all people can feel a deep sense of belonging in Aotearoa. We understand that whānau, hapū, and iwi, having the power and resources to determine their own futures (tino rangatiratanga), as was promised in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, creates a better society for us all. We know that when Māori are empowered, all our lives are enriched. We know the potential that learning from our past, healing the harms of colonisation and bringing reciprocity and balance to our relationships, holds for our collective future. It has taken us a long time to get to this point, and there is still so much to achieve together. Now is the time to stand up and show the Government that we intend to stay on course. That instead of being divided, we are determined to remain united, to grow and strengthen the relationships we have built, and continue to work together for a just and flourishing Aotearoa for all. There will be many ways you can take action on this important issue in the coming days, weeks and months, one thing you can do today is sign this petition calling on Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa - The New Zealand Government to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi. References: 1. Te Tiriti o Waitangi: https://nwo.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Treaty_Poster_with_Declaration_of_Independence.pdf 2. Human rights and Te Tiriti/ Treaty issues (views and understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi/ Te Tiriti o Waitangi), Horizon Research 2023: https://tikatangata.org.nz/cms/assets/Horizon-Research-Te-Tiriti-o-Waitangi-results-for-Te-Kahui-Tika-Tangata.pdf 3. Te Tauihu iwi, councils sign up to historic partnership, Te Ao News 2023: https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2023/12/12/te-tauihu-iwi-councils-sign-up-to-historic-partnership/ Iwi and council join forces as government signals cuts to co-governance, RNZ 2023: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/503396/iwi-and-council-join-forces-as-government-signals-cuts-to-co-governance

Dunedin city centre should prioritise walking as a carefree right and allow retailers to thrive off a steady flow of safe, comfortable, and eager customers. The current renovations on George Street have made progress towards this ideal, but they have been undermined by the decision to permit car travel between the pedestrian zones. Cars will only cause congestion and damage to the tiled road surface, resulting in great harm both for retailers, who have endured a pandemic on top of everything else, and pedestrians. Given that the city has survived without direct vehicle transit through George Street for many months now, it is self evident that cars are not needed within the city centre. We call on the Dunedin City Council to change its approach and fully pedestrianise the renovated George Street once it is reopened. In doing so, pedestrians can safely enjoy their town and retailers may enjoy a steady flow of foot traffic to support their small businesses. Let’s keep the charm of our inner city by making it car free, sign the petition if you agree!

Bringing people living with dementia together to work, share food, use their long learned skills and remind them that they are valued members of our society, helps keep people well for longer. It improves their quality of life and enriches our communities. But currently, the Ministry of Health only provides the financial support needed to attend daycare services to the full time carer of someone who is terminally ill, someone who has ongoing health or mental conditions or someone who has an age related disability. The carers needs are assessed based on their situation and the disability/illness of those they are caring for. They are then allocated a number of days per year to allow them respite from those they are caring for, or they can get financial support to bring the person who is ill to a daycare facility. People who live on their own or their carers are still in employment do not qualify for this support. Often resulting in people being unable to afford daycare programs that would greatly benefit their quality of life. Ensuring funding for people living with dementia, regardless of whether they have a carer or not, means enabling people to attend services where they can be part of a community while in a safe environment. Dementia can hit everyone, is not picky about age, or intelligence. When it hits a person who is young and therefore still working, it can take a while before it is recognised/diagnosed. Because of this, often people are lonely, having lost their job, their income and their working community. More and more people are living alone because of the loss of partners, and have no carers around. All people living with dementia deserve to be cared for and given opportunities to be part of a community.