Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Kemp

Following the foreshore and seabed controversy of the early 2000s the government introduced a system for Māori to make claims to coastal land.However Māori claimants had to prove they had exclusively used and occupied an area from 1840 to the present day without substantial interruption. 

Last year the court of appeal made a decision that groups only needed to show they had enough control over the area that they could keep others from using it - making it substantially easier for Māori to claim their rightful land. 

But one year on, the government now wants to overturn this, claiming the decision will affect other New Zealanders rights to the land. 

I spoke Te Pāti Māori's Mariameno Kapi-Kingi about the government's backwards move and what it means for Māori. 

We also talked about the recent findings of the Inquiry into Abuse in State Care, and the disproportionate representation of Māori. 

For our weekly catch-up, New and Editorial Director spoke to Te Pati Māori's Takutai Kemp about the government increasing benefit sanctions as well as the government announcing new support for Ukraine and the Prime Ministers of New Zealand, Australia, and Canada issuing a joint statement urging Israel against a military operation in Rafah.