Te Heuheu Brash bash on seat policy
National Party MP Georgina te Heu Heu says the party's policy on abolishing the Maori seats stems from the current leader's attitude, and not because National has never won a Maori seat.
She says National had a long-standing policy that the seats would remain until Maori people said they no longer wanted them. That changed with Dr Brash.
"Our policy for the previous 30 years was not influenced at all by the fact we never won them. Political parties over time change their policy. Under the leadership of Don brash, who puts the 'one law for all' notion ahead of everything else, we have a change in our policy," te Heuheu said.
She says Dr Brash is trying to balance the one law for all policy with National's other core values of freedom, democracy, individual responsibility and the right to choose.
MAORI PRIVATE WELFARE SECTOR UNDER PRESSURE
Former Labour MP John Tamihere hopes today's Budget will boost funding for private sector Maori welfare organisations - but says there is not much chance of that happening.
Mr Tamihere, who is back running west Auckland's Waipareira Trust, says pre-Budget announcements indicate a spend-up by the Crown on its own agencies.
He says that's a pity, because Maori organisations running health, welfare education and justice programmes have proved extremely effective. Mr Tamihere says such organisations need help.
"We're running into some major problems in the funding of core operations in Maori infrastructure up and down the country thatr delvier on a private contracted basis because they are funded by their competitor, ruled by their competitor, and their competitor has received extraordinarily good funding from the government over the last six years," Tamihere said.
He said the Budget is likely to be a boost for the Maori Party, who will get plenty of opportunties to point out the lack of attention to Maori matters.
MAORI DAIRY FARMER A PAKEHA
The man who runs the most successful Maori owned dairy farm in the country, says more Maori should consider a career in the sector.
Ross Clark and his wife are Pakeha, and are sharemilking on a South Taranaki farm run by the Paraninihi Ki Waitotara Incorporation.
Their 36 hectare dairy unit was PKW's winning entrant for the Ahuwhenua Trophy.Mr Clark says the ongoing support they've received from PKW contributed to the win. He says dairy farms are a good environment to raise a whanau, and he's keen
to see more Maori get involved.
BATTLERS AT BOTTOM NEED BUDGET ATTENTION
Former Labour Cabinet Minister John Tamihere says today's Budget needs to adress those Maori who still struggle, despite improvements in the overall status of Maori under Labour.
Mr Tamihere's former colleagues are increasingly pointing to improvements in Maori employment and other economic indicators as a way to deflect criticism.
Mr Tamihere says while a Maori middle class has emerged in recent years, there are still problems.
"That doesn't discount the fact there is a significant hard out little tail which continues to procreate, continues to create a range of difficulties, and in good economic times it's not good enough to concentrate on your successes, your society must surely be judged on its failures, and our failure rate we still must address," Tamihere said.
John Tamihere says Government can't fix the problem, and he wants to see money in the budget to help Maori organisations like his Waipareira Trust which are taking ownership of fixing the problems.
FISH SHORTAGES THREATEN SETTLEMENT
The head of Northland's Ngapuhi tribe says the Government needs to get fisheries management right or it will reignite Maori anger over fisheries claims.
Sonny Tau says the $8 million the government is putting in today's Budget for fisheries management plans and marine reserves will just prop up existing bureaucracies.
He says Ngapuhi is concerned many inshore species in its rohe are under unsustainable pressure, and if there is no fish, there is no fisheries settlement.
"For Ngapuhi, 100% of our commercial asset is in fish, 100% of our ability to recreaitonallyy fiosh for our children is in fish, and our ability to manaaki our manuhiri is in fish. If our asset is threatened, that could be the relitigation of the fisheries settlement," Tau said.
He says the government needs to work harder to involve tangata whenua and recreational fishers in fisheries management, rather than locking up large parts of the coast in reserves.
KAPA HAKA INNOVATION THRIVING
Expect to see some innovative performances at next year's Te Matatini national kapa haka competitons in Palmerston North, if the performances at the regional finals are anything to go by.
Te Matatini judge Te Rita Papesch says the Gisborne competitions over the weekend showed teams are putting more effort into voice production, diction and stage movement.
She says the broad age range in most of the 40-strong kapa haka groups means they are able to reinvent older styles while incorporating new ideas.
Newcomers Tu Te Manawa Maurea, from Manutuke, will join veterans Waihirere and Whangara mai Tawhiti in representing Tairawhiti at the nationals.
She says National had a long-standing policy that the seats would remain until Maori people said they no longer wanted them. That changed with Dr Brash.
"Our policy for the previous 30 years was not influenced at all by the fact we never won them. Political parties over time change their policy. Under the leadership of Don brash, who puts the 'one law for all' notion ahead of everything else, we have a change in our policy," te Heuheu said.
She says Dr Brash is trying to balance the one law for all policy with National's other core values of freedom, democracy, individual responsibility and the right to choose.
MAORI PRIVATE WELFARE SECTOR UNDER PRESSURE
Former Labour MP John Tamihere hopes today's Budget will boost funding for private sector Maori welfare organisations - but says there is not much chance of that happening.
Mr Tamihere, who is back running west Auckland's Waipareira Trust, says pre-Budget announcements indicate a spend-up by the Crown on its own agencies.
He says that's a pity, because Maori organisations running health, welfare education and justice programmes have proved extremely effective. Mr Tamihere says such organisations need help.
"We're running into some major problems in the funding of core operations in Maori infrastructure up and down the country thatr delvier on a private contracted basis because they are funded by their competitor, ruled by their competitor, and their competitor has received extraordinarily good funding from the government over the last six years," Tamihere said.
He said the Budget is likely to be a boost for the Maori Party, who will get plenty of opportunties to point out the lack of attention to Maori matters.
MAORI DAIRY FARMER A PAKEHA
The man who runs the most successful Maori owned dairy farm in the country, says more Maori should consider a career in the sector.
Ross Clark and his wife are Pakeha, and are sharemilking on a South Taranaki farm run by the Paraninihi Ki Waitotara Incorporation.
Their 36 hectare dairy unit was PKW's winning entrant for the Ahuwhenua Trophy.Mr Clark says the ongoing support they've received from PKW contributed to the win. He says dairy farms are a good environment to raise a whanau, and he's keen
to see more Maori get involved.
BATTLERS AT BOTTOM NEED BUDGET ATTENTION
Former Labour Cabinet Minister John Tamihere says today's Budget needs to adress those Maori who still struggle, despite improvements in the overall status of Maori under Labour.
Mr Tamihere's former colleagues are increasingly pointing to improvements in Maori employment and other economic indicators as a way to deflect criticism.
Mr Tamihere says while a Maori middle class has emerged in recent years, there are still problems.
"That doesn't discount the fact there is a significant hard out little tail which continues to procreate, continues to create a range of difficulties, and in good economic times it's not good enough to concentrate on your successes, your society must surely be judged on its failures, and our failure rate we still must address," Tamihere said.
John Tamihere says Government can't fix the problem, and he wants to see money in the budget to help Maori organisations like his Waipareira Trust which are taking ownership of fixing the problems.
FISH SHORTAGES THREATEN SETTLEMENT
The head of Northland's Ngapuhi tribe says the Government needs to get fisheries management right or it will reignite Maori anger over fisheries claims.
Sonny Tau says the $8 million the government is putting in today's Budget for fisheries management plans and marine reserves will just prop up existing bureaucracies.
He says Ngapuhi is concerned many inshore species in its rohe are under unsustainable pressure, and if there is no fish, there is no fisheries settlement.
"For Ngapuhi, 100% of our commercial asset is in fish, 100% of our ability to recreaitonallyy fiosh for our children is in fish, and our ability to manaaki our manuhiri is in fish. If our asset is threatened, that could be the relitigation of the fisheries settlement," Tau said.
He says the government needs to work harder to involve tangata whenua and recreational fishers in fisheries management, rather than locking up large parts of the coast in reserves.
KAPA HAKA INNOVATION THRIVING
Expect to see some innovative performances at next year's Te Matatini national kapa haka competitons in Palmerston North, if the performances at the regional finals are anything to go by.
Te Matatini judge Te Rita Papesch says the Gisborne competitions over the weekend showed teams are putting more effort into voice production, diction and stage movement.
She says the broad age range in most of the 40-strong kapa haka groups means they are able to reinvent older styles while incorporating new ideas.
Newcomers Tu Te Manawa Maurea, from Manutuke, will join veterans Waihirere and Whangara mai Tawhiti in representing Tairawhiti at the nationals.
posted by Adam | 9:37 am
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