PKW wins farming title
May 15, 2006
More young Maori should consider a career in the farming sector.
That's the opinion of Doug Hauraki, who co-ordinated the Ahuwhenua Maori Farming Awards held in Rotorua on Friday.
He says Maori control 15 percent of New Zealand's farm production, and there is huge potential for growth.
The awards evening aknowledged excellence in dairy farming, and this year's winner is Taranaki based Paraninihi ki Waitotara Incorporation, which oversees an asset base in excess of $50 million dollars.
Mr Hauraki says the judges noted their financial performance, governence structures, strategic plan, Maori tikanga, and contribution to the iwi.
He says PKW has also managed to attract talented young Maori to become involved both on the land and in the board.
---
Te Puni Kokiri chief executive Leith Comer says a stronger regional network is improving the way his ministry monitors government programmes.
The Ministry of Maori development came under fire from a parliamentary select committee earlier this year for what was seen as a lessening of its monitoring function.
Mr Comer says it takest hat function seriously, but some of the things it used to do were a waste of time.
He says it doesn't spend a lot of time now auditing and monitoring other agencies.
"What we try is use our 10 regional offices to provide on a rergular basis their view of what is working and not working. What we want to do is relate to Maori and get a really good feel about how government services are actually impacting out in the regions," Comer said.
Leith Comer says rather than focus on negative statistics, Te Puni Kokiri is now looking for ways to unlock Maori potential so the whole of society can benefit.
--
A Northern kaumaatua says a new prisoner rehabilitation programme will help prisoners to reintegrate back into society.
The Corrections Department's Prisoner Employment Strategy for the next three years looks to boost the range, quality and relevance of work prisoners can do.
Department kaumatua Hone Komene says if prisoners can learn some skills and then be helped into paid employment on release, they usually stay out of trouble:
Hone Komene says the majority of prisoners were unemployed before they went inside.
--
Te Puni Kokiri chief executive Leith Comer says the argument has been done that if the country is to go ahead, Maori must go ahead.
Mr Comer says his ministry is embarking on a significant new policy agenda, as it seeks to unlock Maori potential.
He says the new policy is more positive than previous initiatives like closing the gaps and monitoring the responsiveness of other government agencies to Maori.
"And we've won the argument that Maori have potential and government should invest in that potential, so our whole approahc is about identifying where that potential is, and with some government assistance, particularly from Te Puni Kokiri, we can assist Maori to realise their own aspirations, their own potential, not only for Maori but for the good of the country," Comer said.
Leith Comer says the ministry considers education and skills training will be critical to Maori achieving their potential.
---
A Rotorua Maori tourism operator says the Tourism Industry Awards present an an unlevel playing field in tourism between Maori and Pakeha operators.
Tikitere's Hells Gate trustee Jim Grey says his firm didn't even make the finals this year, despite being judged Rotorua's top visitor attraction in the Rotorua Business Awards.
The finalists were announced this month, to give them a longer marketing window before the awards ceremony in August.
Mr Gray says changes are inevitable as overseas visitors insist on authentic indigenous experience, but the mainstream tourism industry isn't making room for Maori enterprise.
Jim Gray says Maori entrants get stuck in the culture and heritage category of the awards, where they have to compete with publicly-funded museums.
----
A Maori firefighter says Maori communities are taking more responsibility for preventing fires.
Piki Thomas says three marae fires over the past year have woken up some Maori to the fire safety issues affecting them.
Mr Thomas says the Fire Service's Te Kotahitanga programme, which aims to educate New Zealanders about fire safety and promote safer communities, is also starting to make an impact.
He says since it started in 2001, Te Kotahitanga fire safety ambassadors have clocked up over a million kilometres spreading the message that communities need to build their capacity to help themselves.
More young Maori should consider a career in the farming sector.
That's the opinion of Doug Hauraki, who co-ordinated the Ahuwhenua Maori Farming Awards held in Rotorua on Friday.
He says Maori control 15 percent of New Zealand's farm production, and there is huge potential for growth.
The awards evening aknowledged excellence in dairy farming, and this year's winner is Taranaki based Paraninihi ki Waitotara Incorporation, which oversees an asset base in excess of $50 million dollars.
Mr Hauraki says the judges noted their financial performance, governence structures, strategic plan, Maori tikanga, and contribution to the iwi.
He says PKW has also managed to attract talented young Maori to become involved both on the land and in the board.
---
Te Puni Kokiri chief executive Leith Comer says a stronger regional network is improving the way his ministry monitors government programmes.
The Ministry of Maori development came under fire from a parliamentary select committee earlier this year for what was seen as a lessening of its monitoring function.
Mr Comer says it takest hat function seriously, but some of the things it used to do were a waste of time.
He says it doesn't spend a lot of time now auditing and monitoring other agencies.
"What we try is use our 10 regional offices to provide on a rergular basis their view of what is working and not working. What we want to do is relate to Maori and get a really good feel about how government services are actually impacting out in the regions," Comer said.
Leith Comer says rather than focus on negative statistics, Te Puni Kokiri is now looking for ways to unlock Maori potential so the whole of society can benefit.
--
A Northern kaumaatua says a new prisoner rehabilitation programme will help prisoners to reintegrate back into society.
The Corrections Department's Prisoner Employment Strategy for the next three years looks to boost the range, quality and relevance of work prisoners can do.
Department kaumatua Hone Komene says if prisoners can learn some skills and then be helped into paid employment on release, they usually stay out of trouble:
Hone Komene says the majority of prisoners were unemployed before they went inside.
--
Te Puni Kokiri chief executive Leith Comer says the argument has been done that if the country is to go ahead, Maori must go ahead.
Mr Comer says his ministry is embarking on a significant new policy agenda, as it seeks to unlock Maori potential.
He says the new policy is more positive than previous initiatives like closing the gaps and monitoring the responsiveness of other government agencies to Maori.
"And we've won the argument that Maori have potential and government should invest in that potential, so our whole approahc is about identifying where that potential is, and with some government assistance, particularly from Te Puni Kokiri, we can assist Maori to realise their own aspirations, their own potential, not only for Maori but for the good of the country," Comer said.
Leith Comer says the ministry considers education and skills training will be critical to Maori achieving their potential.
---
A Rotorua Maori tourism operator says the Tourism Industry Awards present an an unlevel playing field in tourism between Maori and Pakeha operators.
Tikitere's Hells Gate trustee Jim Grey says his firm didn't even make the finals this year, despite being judged Rotorua's top visitor attraction in the Rotorua Business Awards.
The finalists were announced this month, to give them a longer marketing window before the awards ceremony in August.
Mr Gray says changes are inevitable as overseas visitors insist on authentic indigenous experience, but the mainstream tourism industry isn't making room for Maori enterprise.
Jim Gray says Maori entrants get stuck in the culture and heritage category of the awards, where they have to compete with publicly-funded museums.
----
A Maori firefighter says Maori communities are taking more responsibility for preventing fires.
Piki Thomas says three marae fires over the past year have woken up some Maori to the fire safety issues affecting them.
Mr Thomas says the Fire Service's Te Kotahitanga programme, which aims to educate New Zealanders about fire safety and promote safer communities, is also starting to make an impact.
He says since it started in 2001, Te Kotahitanga fire safety ambassadors have clocked up over a million kilometres spreading the message that communities need to build their capacity to help themselves.
posted by Adam | 1:49 pm
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