Posts by Catherine Delahunty

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  Green vision for education or charter schools? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Bill that will facilitate charter schools went through the second reading last night. It relies on the Māori Party for support as no one else apart from National and ACT will vote for it. The Bill is a privatisation device to assist education franchises and groups who do not want to be accountable under [...] read more
  May 16, 2013 10:38 am - 24 Comments
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  Tui Mine – Healing the Maunga - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Tui Mine was abandoned in the 1970s on the side of Mt Te Aroha. It was a small copper and gold mine which left an ugly legacy. The mine’s toxic waste dump was unstable and cracking and the water downstream of the underground mine workings were poisoned by the heavy metals leaching from the [...] read more
  May 9, 2013 4:00 pm - 1 Comment
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  Police murder citizens preparing to protest in West Papua - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Last week West Papuans suffered more abuse and injustice from Indonesian Police personnel. The 1st of May marked 50 years of West Papua suffering under Indonesian rule. Citizens throughout Papua prepared to commemorate this day, however, events that occurred just prior to this date, typify and  highlight the injustices that Papuans have suffered over the [...] read more
  May 9, 2013 12:16 pm - No Comments
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  Sports missing from Race Relations Commissioner criteria - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Just checked the Human Rights Act 1993 to see if being a celebrity sportsperson is a criterion for the Race Relations Commissioner, and you know what? It isn’t. The criteria in fact are high falutin requirements that the minister making the appointment needs to consider. They include that the person: a)    Has an understanding of [...] read more
  April 30, 2013 1:45 pm - 94 Comments
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  Te Kotahitanga – a successful programme is cut - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  For more than ten years a programme has been developed, implemented and monitored that has a proven ability to help teachers work effectively with all students. Te Kotahitanga was developed by Russel Bishop, Mere Berryman and a team at Waikato University to help teachers become culturally responsive and inclusive. More than 40 schools have used [...] read more
  April 26, 2013 9:46 am - 2 Comments
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  Schedule 4 open for drilling! - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Many of the Frogblog readers would have supported the fantastic campaign in 2010 to love and protect the Schedule 4 areas of our beautiful country from mining. You will not be impressed by the news that the Government which promised to protect Schedule 4 is now eroding the promise. You will not be impressed by [...] read more
  April 12, 2013 3:22 pm - 105 Comments
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  “Western Civilisation” – the Danish right wing version - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Danish politician who attacked the powhiri she experienced as “uncivilised” is not an isolated individual with bad manners. The context for her comments was explained in an excellent column in the Herald today by Dane, Rune Hjarno Rasmussen. It appears she is part of a political movement which extols “western civilisation” as superior to [...] read more
  April 10, 2013 9:07 am - 57 Comments
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  Fonterra coal mine protest - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  On Monday, local residents and Auckland Coal Action educated the Easter traffic on State Highway 2 about Fonterra’s proposed open cast coal mine at Mangatawhiri on the Hauraki Plains. The coal is to be used for energy at the milk powder factories in the region.   The banners highlighted the issues of a dirty energy [...] read more
  April 3, 2013 4:24 pm - 2 Comments
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  Denniston too precious to mine - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I am concerned that the interim decision of the Environment Court does not rule out the mining of the Denniston Plateau. The interim decision of the Environment Court acknowledges that the Denniston Plateau has high biodiversity values which would be impacted by mining and that the situation is too close to call. However the decision [...] read more
  March 28, 2013 2:53 pm - 9 Comments
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  Maori TV exposes shameful treatment of Guarani Kaiowa people - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Last night on “Native Affairs” there was a compelling story about the Guarani Kaiowa people of Brazil who have been violently displaced by the ethanol and soy bean farmers growing crops for biofuels on indigenous land. Maori Television sent their own film crew to Brazil to tell the story of these abused people some of [...] read more
  March 26, 2013 9:49 am - 7 Comments
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  “Not a very complicated job” – the new Race Relations Commissioner - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  OK so it is day one for Susan Devoy but what about the Government? Why did they appoint a person to the role with no background in Te Tiriti issues or diversity politics? Why did they choose someone who is on the public record doubting the relevance and value of Waitangi to New Zealanders? What [...] read more
  March 21, 2013 10:23 am - 71 Comments
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  Miners oppose my rivers clean up Bill - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Last week the Local Government and Environment Select Committee started hearings on my Resource Management (Restricted Duration of Certain Discharge and Coastal Permits) Amendment Bill. Most of the submissions support the Bill because it will clean up rivers and provide certainty, however not the mining industry. The mining and petroleum industries submitted against the Bill [...] read more
  March 19, 2013 5:35 pm - 10 Comments
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  Fonterra: stick to dairying, not mining - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  On Thursday night, the local community at Mangatawhiri on the Hauraki Plains hosted a public meeting about the Fonterra coal mine proposal in their back yard. Fonterra own the farm where the coal is to be mined in an open cast pit for use in the milk powder processing factories on the plains. No processing [...] read more
  March 8, 2013 3:48 pm - 7 Comments
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  Will Christchurch finally be listened to? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Today is D day for Aranui schools to present their case for survival to the Education Minister. I, like them, will anxiously wait to learn if they will finally be listened to. On Monday I visited four schools in Christchurch. The  Aranui schools were all looking at options that could work such as combining Aranui [...] read more
  March 7, 2013 10:11 am - 19 Comments
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  Tame Iti and the Mana Motuhake of Tuhoe - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  A quiet road outside Hamilton, the Hukanui Marae car park is full of journalists. Hone Harawira, David Clendon, I and a few others are welcomed on by Ngāti Wairere. This is Tame Iti’s mother’s marae so on the first day of freedom he comes here to start his journey home. Tame is in the wharekai [...] read more
  February 28, 2013 9:32 am - 65 Comments
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  WHO study highlights dangerous chemicals - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Chemicals are the building blocks of life but synthetic chemicals in numerous combinations can be incredibly dangerous. A new study by the WHO has alarming news that over 800 chemicals are known or suspected to be EDCs (endocrine disrupting chemicals). Our endocrine system is our hormone system, which means that ECDs are capable of interfering [...] read more
  February 26, 2013 5:55 pm - 26 Comments
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  Christchurch schools – proposals or promises? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  At the schools rally in Christchurch on Tuesday, Board Members and parents were talking about the promise broken by the Minister of Education. A number of schools such as Central New Brighton and Branston Intermediate had been clearly told they would have until the end of 2014 to prepare for merger or closure. The announcement [...] read more
  February 21, 2013 12:12 pm - 16 Comments
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  Christchurch education rally - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
    Another hot afternoon and a stadium full of homemade banners. I saw the pride and hurt on the faces of schools facing closure for reasons they could not fathom. I stood for a few minutes with the man who runs the Community Centre at Phillipstown School. They have been marked for closure and with [...] read more
  February 20, 2013 12:47 pm - 11 Comments
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  Benny Wenda’s Freedom Tour a great success - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This week Benny Wenda from ‘Free West Papua’ and Jennifer Robinson of International lawyers for West Papua brought the “Freedom Tour” to Auckland and Wellington. The Auckland day was hosted by the hard working “Indonesian Human Rights Committee.” Wellington also went very well despite the lack of co-operation from the new Speaker David Carter and [...] read more
  February 13, 2013 4:04 pm - 4 Comments
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  Keep Our Assets – inspired by Invercargill - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Downtown Invercargill may not be as heavily populated as downtown Auckland, or Wellington, but I have never met such a supportive and friendly group of random strangers. read more
  February 11, 2013 10:30 am - 19 Comments
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  Reflections on Waitangi Day - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Waitangi this year had many highlights overlooked by the media. Metiria, Kennedy, Denise, David, myself and other young Greens and local volunteers spent two days in the sun, meeting all kinds of people and listening to the flaxroots and grassroots voices of our nation. David Clendon spoke extremely well in the powhiri for the Greens [...] read more
  February 7, 2013 11:23 am - 6 Comments
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  Paddy and me – a journey - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Bad weather can often be the subject of some pretty boring conversations, but this week it was the cause of a whole lot of debate, disputes and predictions as Paddy Gower of TV3 and I decided to share a car and drive to Waitangi when our plane was cancelled due to the weather.   It [...] read more
  February 5, 2013 11:45 am - 10 Comments
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  Te Tiriti o Waitangi and constitutional change - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  In the two weeks leading up to Waitangi two public forums were held at Te Papa on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and constitutional change. They were excellent contributions to the national conversation, the first being lawyers Moana Jackson (Ngati Kahungungu and Ngati Porou) and Matthew Palmer. Both speakers had a deep understanding of the issues [...] read more
  February 4, 2013 9:45 am - 27 Comments
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  Spin doctor goes from Newmont to manage mining for Govt - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The former public relations manager at Newmont Gold, Sefton Darby, is going to start a new job as national manager for minerals at New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals – an arm of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. In my opinion this is a considerable conflict of interest. While working for Newmont Mr Darby [...] read more
  January 31, 2013 12:52 pm - 8 Comments
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  Back to school - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Despite the Novopay chaos and the depressing Government commitment to undermining public education, school starts today and can be a great place. The Green Party is keen to support students and teachers to stay positive and keep working together. We want to see more schools working closely with their communities, more Enviroschools, more early childhood [...] read more
  January 28, 2013 3:59 pm - 1 Comment
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  Engaging Maori Learners - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  On Wednesday I drove to Waitangi to participate in the “Engaging Maori Learners” conference of about 400 principals and teachers. I was especially pleased to hear the korero from Dr Chris Sarra from Bundaberg, Queensland who is one of about 20 aboriginal school principals in Australia and who has led some exciting changes in schools. [...] read more
  January 25, 2013 9:21 am - 5 Comments
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  Education Minister missing in inaction - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  It’s not every day that the highest profile public servant, the chief executive of one of our biggest Government departments, stands down, a  week before Christmas, and after a year in which her department was almost never out of the spotlight, for all the wrong reasons. The resignation of a public service chief under fire [...] read more
  December 20, 2012 11:32 am - 12 Comments
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  All we want for Christmas is good education leaders - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The appointment of the very competent Peter Hughes as acting head of the Education Ministry is a welcome present for families this Christmas. But only if it heralds wider change in the Ministry and a new Minister as well. My heart bleeds for the families of Christchurch who are ending another year in uncertainty and moving [...] read more
  December 19, 2012 2:42 pm - 14 Comments
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  Salisbury School - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Green Party is pleased that Salisbury school for girls with learning disabilities is to remain open for at least another year. We are not attacking other schools or their capacity to keep young people safe from abuse. We are also not the champions of residential schools as a long term model for disabled students. [...] read more
  December 14, 2012 12:24 pm - 40 Comments
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  Correnso proposal to undermine Waihi residents - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  On Monday I attended the hearings in Waihi for a new mine underneath a residential area. This proposal known as Correnso will immediately affect 30 houses but as residents have told me effects can ripple in unexpected directions. I attended the hearings to hear the mining company Newmont Gold employees submitting that the Mine would [...] read more
  December 12, 2012 6:16 pm - 1 Comment
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  TPP Protest - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  On Saturday afternoon I marched against the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) talks which are being held in secret. The crowd in Auckland was a great mix of tangata whenua, union networks, GE free New Zealanders, asset keepers and citizens who cannot be manipulated. The Greens and the Mana Party were the only MPs visible and [...] read more
  December 11, 2012 1:52 pm - 86 Comments
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  Ōtautahi/Christchurch teachers vote to strike for education - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Yesterday I attended the industrial action meeting held by primary school teachers of Christchurch. The meeting was held in the vast Riding for the Disabled Arena at the Canterbury Agricultural Show Grounds and more than 1000 teachers attended the event. Many schools were represented and teachers were grouped around the banner for their school. Before [...] read more
  December 6, 2012 4:49 pm - 62 Comments
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  Enviroschools Award for Cool Ngaruawahia Kindy - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Yesterday I had the privilege of attending an Enviroschools Award ceremony at Newcastle Kindergarten in Ngaruawahia. They had won a bronze award for their sustainability efforts and focus at the centre. During the powhiri the children performed waiata with confidence and listened very politely to the speeches of the adults. We then had the chance [...] read more
  November 23, 2012 11:35 am - 1 Comment
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  Christchurch education rally - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Last week I attended a rally in Hagley Park and marched through the streets of Christchurch with some of the schools under threat of merger and closure. The mood was angry and frustrated. The schools are demanding a proper consultation process not a maze of rhetoric, deadlines and confusing threats. Are they being fair to [...] read more
  November 5, 2012 9:39 am - 2 Comments
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  World Teachers Day - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This is the day we acknowledge the huge contribution of our teachers to our lives and communities. A teacher who helps students liberate their imagination and capacity is a lifelong gift. Yes, we can all remember teachers who acted as if they would rather have been in the army or spoke in incomprehensible codes but [...] read more
  October 26, 2012 10:00 am - No Comments
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  My Citizenship Amendment Bill - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Last week I placed a Bill in the Members’ Ballot which is aimed at ensuring citizenship ceremonies inform new citizens about Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The Bill came about because some individuals contacted me saying they had participated in some of these ceremonies and were horrified to find no reference to Te Tiriti o Waitangi [...] read more
  October 23, 2012 10:33 am - 4 Comments
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  Crown Minerals Policy – Who calls the shots? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The news that mining industry spin is being uncritically adopted by officials advising the Minister of Energy and Mining is no surprise. A read of the Crown Minerals Bill shows that the Government is enthusiastically promoting and facilitating a range of minerals, oil, and gas exploration. On the ground this Bill disempowers communities which may [...] read more
  October 11, 2012 8:11 am - 24 Comments
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  On the Mike Tyson debacle - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Green Party is pleased Mike Tyson has been refused a visa to come here on a money-making speaking tour and we are grateful to the campaigners who exposed the issue. There is no need or excuse to re-traumatise rape victims by touring someone convicted of rape as a celebrity. We are also pleased to [...] read more
  October 5, 2012 12:41 pm - 15 Comments
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  How Finland escaped GERM (Global Education Reform Movement) - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  As New Zealand starts experiencing a wave of educational reforms,  real debate about what actually works for schools  is crucial. On Thursday morning I am hosting an education forum at Parliament with special guest Pasi Sahlberg from Finland and Associate Professor Graeme Aitken of Auckland University. My co-host is fellow Education Select Committee member Scott Simpson. This forum [...] read more
  October 2, 2012 1:20 pm - 27 Comments
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  Escapist YouTube moment after Q and A on education - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I needed some light relief after watching the Education Minister, Hekia Parata, smirking her way through an interview on Q+A this weekend about “ropey” National Standards and Christchurch school closures. Thanks to Caitlin Moran on YouTube there were some laughs available. Caitlin has a refreshing view of women in the 21st Century and you have [...] read more
  October 1, 2012 12:35 pm - 2 Comments