STRATEGIC PAPER #111 - GLOBAL CONFLICT AND LOCAL MAURI
The Global Crisis
When we look at the state of our world today, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the heavy clouds of conflict gathering overseas. The ongoing devastation in the Middle East, particularly the heartbreaking conflict between Israel and Palestine, is a tragic display of a broken system. This conflict functions like a massive engine of destruction, burning through countless lives, innocent communities, and precious resources. It is a broken, high-entropy structure that generates pure chaos and leaves families in a state of deep exhaustion.
As tāngata whenua here in Taitokerau, we might think these distant wars have nothing to do with us. But we must open our eyes to how these global events impact our own lives. When human systems choose violence, division, and control over unity, they drain the collective life force of humanity, creating waves of unrest that roll across the entire planet.
Overcoming Spiritual Suppression
Our recent learnings from Research Report #270 highlight a deeper truth, global conflicts are not just material or political disagreements, they represent a widespread form of spiritual suppression. When heavy institutional structures use physical force and political manipulation, they actively suppress the natural spiritual energy and inherent dignity of regular human beings. This systematic crushing of the human spirit creates a state of spiritual starvation, trapping people in cycles of fear and retaliation.
STRATEGIC PAPER #110 - FUTURE JOBS FOR OUR RANGATAHI IN THE NORTH
Stopping the Brain Drain
For too long, our beautiful home in Taitokerau has operated like a leaky bucket. We watch our raw logs, our precious data, and worst of all, our talented rangatahi get shipped away to benefit outside markets. Our regional youth NEET rate sits at 14.5 per cent, and Māori unemployment is high at 10.3 per cent compared to the national average of 3.4 per cent. It breaks my heart to see our people struggling when there is so much vital work to be done right here on our own soil.
To fix these structural leaks, we are moving toward Te Ōhanga Mauri, the Economy of Life Force. This is all about keeping our wealth, our energy, and our people cycling within our local communities. By focusing on real local career options for our rangatahi, we can build a strong, self-sustaining economy. We want to guide our young people into meaningful paths that look after the land, the culture, the people, and our local wallet.
Solid Practical Foundations
The single biggest demand in our region right now is in building and construction. Back in 2022, we had a shortfall of over 8,400 vertical construction workers, and that gap is still keeping our families out of good homes. We need rangatahi to step up as house builders, carpenters, and machine operators. By learning these trades, our youth can work with local timber to build warm, dry houses for our whānau, stopping the housing shortage that forces our workers offshore.