NZ News: Dunedin Property Buyouts and Māori-Crown Relations
Today’s briefing covers potential government buyouts of hundreds of Dunedin homes due to climate change and a debate over the state of Māori-Crown relations. We also look at the use of automated tools for benefit decisions and several safety incidents in Auckland.
The Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka, has rejected claims that the relationship between the government and Māori is at an "all-time low." During a political exchange, Potaka dismissed criticisms from opposition members regarding the government's current approach to its partnership with Māori. This relationship is centered on the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding document that defines the partnership between the New Zealand government and Indigenous Māori.
In South Dunedin, between 1,100 and 1,700 properties may need to be purchased by authorities to manage risks from climate change. The plan involves making room for public works, raising land levels, or creating new green spaces to protect the area from rising sea levels and flooding. Some residents reported being blindsided by the possibility of losing their homes to these public works.
Government officials have defended the use of automated tools to make decisions about social security benefits, calling the move a "no-brainer." During a committee hearing, officials argued that using technology to process some benefit applications is efficient, though the practice has faced questioning regarding how these automated decisions are monitored.
In Auckland, one person died after a vehicle crashed into a food outlet at the Red Beach shopping centre. In a separate incident at Okahu Bay, a police officer used an axe to smash a car window and rescue a driver as their vehicle was being pulled underwater at a boat ramp. Meanwhile, a trial continues regarding a body found in Gulf Harbour; the court heard about notes found on a defendant's laptop that suggested a warning to "cooperate better" in the future.
The Public Service Commission is facing a review that could cost up to $67,000. The investigation focuses on the purchase of social media advertisements related to public sector negotiations, which is significantly more expensive than previously reported.
Visit the app's News section for more, including the commercial success of a local aerospace company, a court ruling for a high-profile athlete, and calls to ban the sale of drug utensils in Northland shops.