Waewae the 35 walks all over expectations

Social media star, Te Aorere Pewhairangi, is walking more than 200 kilometres along state highway 35 to raise funds and awareness for the communities on the East Coast that have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

The 27-year-old, Ngāti Porou, started his journey on the 13th March from Tairāwhiti and reached Wharekahika in 7 days (beating his goal of 10). His hīkoi had been aptly named “Waewae the 35”

Pewhairangi said he was inspired by his cousin Hoana, who started a pop-up school in her carport in Tokomaru Bay for about 20 children who could not access their schools in Ruatōria and Tairāwhiti due to the collapse of Hikuai Bridge. He said he wanted to tell the stories of people who are still struggling after the cyclone and help them get what they need.

“I’ve just had to call cousins, call favours, call mates just to get it off the ground,” he told Stuff.

Pewhairangi has set up a Givealittle page that has raised $50,000 so far. He said he also wants people to share his posts on social media to show their support and solidarity.

Along his route, Pewhairangi had visited schools and marae that have been impacted by the cyclone. He said he was impressed by how they are teaching children about sustainability and resilience.

He also said he was not too worried about the physical challenge of walking such a long distance.

“I’m relatively fit, I do a lot of running, I play touch. I’m not sure, I’ll soon see but the pain I’ll go through is nothing compared to them,”

Pewhairangi’s main hope for his hīkoi was to inspire others to create their own destiny, which was also the theme of this year’s ASB Polyfest that took place in February, Mana Motuhake, which Pewhairangi translates as “the power within yourself”.

Ginny Andersen takes over as police minister after Stuart Nash’s resignation

Ginny Andersen, the MP for Hutt South, was appointed as the new police minister by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on Monday. She replaces Stuart Nash, who resigned last week amid controversy over his repeated breaches of the Cabinet manual.

Andersen, who was only sworn in as a Cabinet minister earlier this year, has a relevant background in the police portfolio. She worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and was a strategic advisor on Māori, Pacific, and ethnic services. She also worked on policy issues such as methamphetamine and organised crime.

Andersen said she recognised the importance of Kiwis having confidence in the police and that she was looking forward to seeing their work on the ground and in communities.

“New Zealanders deserve to feel safe in their communities and I’ll be giving it everything I’ve got,” she said.

Hipkins said he had high expectations of Andersen and outlined some of her priorities. He said he wanted her to focus on retail crime, youth offending, organised crime, and legislation targeting gangs. He also said he would be having conversations with her about his reprioritisation of the Government’s work programme.

Hipkins, who was police minister before becoming prime minister and had a personal interest in the portfolio, said Andersen was one of his first choices for the role.

“I think she’ll do an outstanding job,” he said.

National police spokesman Mark Mitchell criticised Andersen’s appointment and claimed it was a signal that Labour had “given up on law and order”. He pointed to Andersen’s level of ministerial experience and the increase in reported victimisations since 2017.

Indigenous football groups sign treaty ahead of World Cup

Indigenous football authorities from Australia and New Zealand have signed a historic ‘Football Treaty’ to promote recognition and inclusion of their communities in the sport.

The Australian Indigenous Football Council (AIFC) and Māori Football Aotearoa (MFA) signed the agreement in Brisbane last Thursday, ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted by both countries later this year.

The treaty aims to foster collaboration and empowerment between the two groups, who represent more than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and tangata māori respectively.

It also calls for direct funding, self-determination, and recognition of Indigenous representative teams by FIFA and national football federations.

AIFC chairperson Lawrence Gilbert said the treaty was inspired by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which seek greater participation and voice for Indigenous peoples in all aspects of society.

“We’re delighted to sign this formal sporting treaty … with the full support of the traditional owners of South-East Queensland, where we stand,” he said.

MFA chairman Phill Parker said the treaty was a milestone for Māori football, which has been operating since 2008 to support Māori players and communities through various events and projects.

“We exist to empower Māori through football. We are committed to staying innovative and development-focussed, procuring the best football talent in New Zealand,” he said.

The signing ceremony was attended by representatives from FIFA, Football Australia, New Zealand Football, and local Indigenous elders.

Both AIFC and MFA hope to meet with FIFA president Gianni Infantino to discuss their aspirations and concerns ahead of the World Cup, which is expected to bring economic and social benefits to both countries.

Food prices eating at our wallets

Food prices have increased by 12 percent in the year to February 2023, according to Stats NZ’s food price index.

The main drivers of the annual rise were fruit and vegetables (up 23.1 percent), grocery food (up 12.2 percent), and meat, poultry, and fish (up 9.8 percent).

Tomatoes and potatoes were among the items that saw the biggest price increases, up 117 percent and 48 percent respectively.

Stats NZ said severe weather events across the North Island had affected the supply and quality of some crops, leading to higher prices.

Industry representatives said growers were facing one of their worst years despite the high prices, as they struggled to meet demand and cover their costs.

Some analysts expected food prices to rise further in the coming months, contributing to inflationary pressures in the economy.