Land Stories
June 27, 2025
Most of us understand that treaty settlements with New Zealand Maori are about trying to redress past wrongs. Growing up in Christchurch, I didn't give much thought to the matter, as I recall there was only one Maori kid at our high school, indeed there were probably more Asian exchange students back then. Besides Canterbury was purchased and paid for and native rights had been extinguished when the first European settlers arrived. What we weren't taught was what a shonky and dishonest that deal it was. Enterprise and prosperity followed colonisation, but not for all, Maori were made beggars in their own land. This is a sponsored story for the Christchurch Methodist Mission. My thanks to Dr. Jane Higgins for allowing me to share her work.
A sponsored story produced to explain how water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis works, providing a clear picture of the process and the basic science behind it. New Zealand's first Water Cremation service was opened in 2025 beginning a new era in funeral practices in Aotearoa. This story gives the background.
There are important lessons here for those watching New Zealand's own homegrown platforms which are taxpayer supported through NZ on Air. Whether freeview or payview, what are we actually seeing and why? what are we actually paying for and why? Are we simply paying millions to subsidise commercially fragile kiwi media platforms or are we paying to ensure a future for kiwi made factual content? These questions are particularly relevant as the government considers new funding models for both film and television.