This is edition 2025/113 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Welcome back. It's 2025 and 20 years since I started writing about politics and anything else that took my fancy. Thank to my VIP members for making this site what it is today. In July we will be having a 20th birthday celebration. Stay tuned for more announcements.
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
1. What is in a name? Te Puna Aonui
Ani O'Brien
- 🏛️ Minister Karen Chhour renames Te Puna Aonui to reflect a broader, more inclusive mission, addressing family and sexual violence for all New Zealanders.
- 🔄 Name change controversy: The name "Te Puna Aonui" was unclear to the public about its function and audience, leading to confusion about its focus and services.
- 🏢 Agencies involved: Multiple government agencies, including Te Kaporeihana Āwhina Hunga Whara and Oranga Tamariki, are part of the initiative.
- 📜 Te Aorerekura's guiding principles: A vision of enhancing wellbeing (ora) and mana, but its unclear language has drawn criticism for failing the Plain Language Act 2022.
- 🌍 Language issues: The hybrid use of English and te reo Māori in government communications may alienate non-te reo speakers, with only 2.3% of New Zealanders fluent in the language.
- ⚖️ Criticism of Māori-led initiatives: Some argue that Māori-specific solutions have not delivered long-term improvements for Māori, with a need for a broader approach.
- 🤝 Restructuring the advisory board: The new board will be multicultural, including Pasifika and Asian communities, replacing the Māori-only Te Pūkotahitanga group.
- 🗣️ Opposition to changes: Some critics accuse Chhour's changes of downplaying Māori needs, even as she stresses the importance of addressing all victims of violence.
- 💪 Chhour's bravery: Despite facing significant backlash, Minister Chhour remains steadfast in her commitment to inclusive, non-racialised support for victims of family and sexual violence.
- 👏 Personal reflection: The author expresses gratitude for Chhour's decision, acknowledging the challenge of advocating for non-Māori victims in a system that increasingly prioritizes Māori issues.
