Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Kemp

Last week, Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, announced her ‘growth’ Budget for 2025.

In the Budget, multiple initiatives received a boost in funding. 

Operational funding and capital funding for Māori education received a $54 million boost and $50 million boost respectively for Māori learner success, with a $14 million injection for Māori wardens, Pacific wardens, and the Māori women’s welfare league.

However, a variety of Māori initiatives have faced substantial cuts.

The Māori Development Fund has had $20 million cut over four years, $32.5 million has been cut from Māori housing initiatives, and $375.5 million cut to the Kāhui Ako programme.

Labour’s Māori Development spokesperson, Willie Jackson, claims that overall, in Budget 2025, Māori initiatives are seeing cuts of roughly $750 million.

For our weekly catchup, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Te Pāti Māori’s Takutai Kemp about Budget 2025 and it’s impacts on Māori initiatives.

They also spoke about the debate on the potential suspension of Te Pāti Māori co-leaders, Rawiri Waititi, and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, and MP Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, being pushed back prior to the Budget debate. 

As well as this, notably, during the Budget debate itself, both Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer were absent.

However, they first discussed the 2025 Budget and Māori initiatives

Last week, the controversial Pay Equity Amendment Bill passed under urgency.

The bill makes drastic changes to the Equal Pay Act 1972, making the criteria for equity claims stricter, and could can the 33 existing claims, affecting 150,000 female workers.

The passing of the bill has faced significant opposition from the Labour Party, Green Party, and Te Pāti Māori, over concerns this bill would set women back, and resulted in nationwide protests.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to Te Pāti Māori’s Takutai Kemp about the passing of the Pay Equity Amendment Bill, and how this would impact marginalised communities.

They also spoke about the Ministry of Education releasing the draft relationships and sexuality education, or RSE, framework, for students years 0 to 13, and the party’s concerns regarding this.

But first, they discussed the Pay Equity Amendment Bill

Last week, the controversial Treaty Principles Bill was voted down in its second reading.

The bill received 112 votes against the bill, with only the ACT Party voting in favour of the bill with 11 votes.

Since the inception of the bill, the bill has faced significant backlash. Te Pāti Māori MPs, Hana Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, Rawiri Waititi, and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, protested the first reading of the bill by doing the haka in Parliament. The bill also resulted in what many believe is one of the largest hīkoi the country has seen, with the bill also receiving over 300,000 public submissions, 90% against the bill.

For our weekly catch up, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Te Pāti Māori’s Takutai Kemp about the second reading of the Treaty Principles Bill voting the bill down.

As well as this, following the bill being voted down, Te Pāti Māori announced they will be running candidates in general seats.

They also discussed this, and why the party has decided to run candidates in general seats.

But first, they discussed the Treaty Principles Bill being voted down.

On Sunday, Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, announced plans to combat the supermarket duopoly between Foodstuffs and Woolworths. This could include breaking-up or restructuring the current chains, with Cabinet also announcing a formal request for information, or RFI, into the matter.

For our weekly catch up, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel,  spoke to Te Pāti Māori’s Takutai Kemp about this announcement, and whether she, and the party, thinks this will be enough to address food accessibility in Aotearoa.

We also discussed the comments made by Green MP, Tamatha Paul, about the police, and whether she believes these comments have become sensationalised.

Finally, we discussed the party’s calls for mandatory police body cameras.

But first, they started off by asking Kemp about how the party are feeling about Nicola Willis’ most recent announcements into the supermarket duopoly.