debbiepacker

Iwi slams Oranga Tamariki

Iwi slams Oranga Tamariki’s decision to advertise for caregiver on Trade Me

Iwi have criticised Oranga Tamariki for advertising for a caregiver on Trade Me, and including some of the child’s personal information. An advertisement seeking a caregiver or caregivers for a girl in Whanganui was posted on the website’s job section by Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry for Children.  The listing included the girl’s iwi, her interests, and details about …

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sperm whale strandings

Unprecedented number of young male sperm whales stranding worries South Taranaki Māori

South Taranaki Māori are concerned about an unprecedented number of young, male sperm whales stranding along the area’s coast. The 13th whale found stranded on Ngati Ruanui Hapotiki hapū in less than two weeks was discovered last Friday at a remote location accessed on foot along the Waihi Beach coastline. “It is highly unusual and …

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Debbie 2018

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Ruahine, Ngā Rauru) has worked in various roles at Māori Affairs, TVNZ and iwi radio. She is kaiarataki for Te Runanga o Ngāti Ruanui and technical adviser to the Iwi Chairs Forum and campaigned successfully to stop experimental seabed mining off the West Coast in 2014. In 1999, Debbie brought …

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poor-voter-turn-out

Poor Turn-out of Local Government Voters

I’m concerned at the poor turn-out of local government voters, particularly given we have some amazing candidates who have courageously put themselves forward. For me, I think it shows a growing disconnection from Maori who are not being engaged and are not being encouraged to participate. Local Government make decisions on our immediate environment, who …

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Maori leader learns more from failures than successes

A year into running, spin, core and step classes has a group of grass roots fitness buffs transforming their lives. IronMaori Ki Hawera Whanau Training and Support was formed to create a family-based, non-judgmental environment to support all levels, sizes and ages. Each member is supported in achieving their own goals while aiming for events such …

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Debbie Packer

Challenges transform runanga CEO

Being treated differently is something Debbie Ngarewa-Packer knows a thing or two about. These days she is the head of Te Runanga o Ngati Ruanui and oversees a treaty settlement portfolio worth about $60 million but she admits has never quite shaken the stigma attached to her when she was a 19-year-old single mother. After …

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