The exclusion of Māori burial grounds from legislation covering maintenance and support is "institutionalised racism", a New Plymouth District Council committee has heard. Peter Moeahu told the first meeting of the council's Te Huinga Taumatua Committee of 2019 that Māori urupa should receive the same protections as other district cemeteries. Moeahu asked the committee, a partnership between the council and iwi, to repeal Section 3 of the Burial and Cremations Act 1964, which excludes Maori burial grounds from protections unless expressly provided for. He labelled Section 3 "institutionalised racism" and said it was a breach of both the Treaty of Waitangi and the Human Rights Act. Co-chair Liana Poutu said the urupa report was due to be presented to Te Huinga Taumatua in April or May.

Source: Stuff February 05, 2019 05:03 UTC