NZ News Media
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Ardern Puts Forward Plan to Honour Maori Ancestors With Economic Incentives
Jacinda Ardern announced on Palm Sunday a package of legislation dealing with the economic situations of New Zealand's Maori people. Part of the package included payments to each Maori citizen in work of $2,000 a month, discounts on key retail like groceries and clothes.
"We want to make sure that every day, we take into account the historical disadvantages that marked the founding of our nation. The purposeful stealing of land from Maori who had discovered this land, Aotearoa, first was wrong. As part of a wide spread initiative to express the Government's deepest apologies, we must first honour the land we stand on today. This land was first settled by the Ngati Porou tribe. We ask for welcome to their country as we embark on this initiative. Next, we want to ensure that our Maori citizens are well taken care of in this land, the land that they found. Therefore we will be looking into financial packages and incentives for them including government payments and discounts," Prime Minister Ardern said from Wellington.
The Government will introduce the legislation during the week. The National Party has already indicated that it will vote against the measures.
