Stories by Craig Ashworth
News
Toxic clean-up refusal stalls Treaty deal
A hapū due to reclaim a Hāwera school site wants the Crown to remove toxic asbestos and lead but its' refusing.
'Brave and bold': Iwi praise councils for Māori wards stand
All four Taranaki councils oppose the government's decision to block Māori wards by public referendums.
'Scary to be them' - warnings over whalebone theft
The theft of whale jawbones and teeth has left a Taranaki iwi fearful for the wellbeing of the thieves.
Taranaki leaders fear maunga deal at risk
Leaders say they fear their deal with the Crown over Taranaki Maunga will not withstand the new government.
Three Waters cash funds environmental scholarships for Māori
The scholarships flow from the Three Waters reforms 'better-off funding' which remains up for grabs despite the National-led government's axing of the water shakeup.
Giant windmills blow hapū to UN
Hapū of Ngāruahine iwi are set to challenge fast-track resource consenting after failing to stop New Zealand's tallest wind power turbines being built in South Taranaki.
Iwi and council join forces as government signals cuts to co-governance
South Taranaki's iwi and council have drawn up a new partnership agreement just as the new coalition government plans to take an axe to co-governance.
Rivers, lakes in Taranaki dubbed 'poor', unsuitable for swimming due to E coli risk
All of Taranaki's river swimming spots - and some lakes - have rated poorly for the risk of getting sick from a faecal bug in the latest report card on the region's water quality.
In a first, Māori King to visit Parihaka to strengthen bonds
Kīngi Tūheitia will visit Parihaka Pā for the first time next week in a bid to strengthen historical and spiritual bonds between Taranaki and the Kīngitanga - and forge greater political unity.
How Ngāruahine plans to bring financial focus back home
Ngāruahine iwi is changing the way it spends and invests to bring more benefits back home to its whānau and the local area.
Iwi and Taranaki Regional Council seek help from nature for flooding
Ngaa Rauru is joining up with Taranaki Regional Council to search for "nature-based solutions" to flooding of the Waitōtara River catchment in the face of climate change.
'Shattered': Māori health board head says National plans a huge step back
The head of Te Punanga Ora says National's policies for changes to Māori health partnership boards would 'lock in' poorer health for whānau.
National would demote Māori health boards
A National-led government would demote the Māori partnership boards which currently have a deciding say over regional health plans.
Police call for help on Waitara dirt bike 'nightmare'
Waitara police have called for community help to tackle dirt bike riders buzzing the town and taunting police.
Taranaki Maunga deal gets popular tick
Members of Taranaki's eight iwi have voted to approve the redress deal for the confiscation of Taranaki Maunga negotiated with the Crown.
Māori hopeful health changes will stick despite election
Māori health advocates are optimistic they will retain their new power in the public system even if the National wins October's election.
Parihaka hopeful drillers will be kept off historical lands
Parihaka trustees are optimistic no drilling for oil and gas will be allowed on the pā's historical land, despite silence from the Minister of Energy and Resources.
Final push for Taranaki maunga deal before election
Iwi are making a final bid to get the negotiated redress for the confiscation of Taranaki maunga approved and in front of Parliament before the election.
Cathedral to host 'Super-Awesome Origin Story of Co-Governance' talks
The organiser of a series of talks about co-governance says he wants to dispel needless fears around the issue.
Racecourse scratches anti-co-governance meeting
New Plymouth's racecourse has refused a bid from Stop Co-Governance to hold a meeting at the venue this weekend because of safety worries.
Swap to Māori roll popular in hot Te Tai Hauāuru race
With just days left for Māori voters to change electoral rolls, Te Tai Hauāuru electorate has the second-highest rate of voters swapping to the Māori roll.
Paritūtū could go back to Māori in park revamp
Hapū have been leading an overhaul of the reserve management plan, emphasising Māori values in the future of Paritūtū Centennial Park.
Poutama says shift Taranaki border for councils
Hapū on the northern edge of Taranaki want the regional border shifted south of Mt Messenger so the area becomes part of Waikato region, saying it would better align with Māori boundaries.
Council wants seabed mining banned in NZ
Seabed mining should be banned in New Zealand as any economic benefits won't outweigh the effects of "environmental vandalism", South Taranaki District Council says.
Paltry payouts as bids surge for new council Māori fund
Many applicants fell short of their hopes for a new fund to boost community grants for Māori in New Plymouth after scant council dollars were doled out evenly between bidders.