Iti shots compared to Naval salutes
The son of a leading figure in the Maori rights movement, says there is a place for symbolic protests.
Joseph Cooper, the son of the late Maori Land March leader Whina Cooper, says Tuhoe activist Tame Iti's shooting of a New Zealand flag should be seen as part of a long tradition, like Hone Heke cutting down the flagpole at Kororareka or Mike Smith cutting down the pine on One Tree Hill.
Iti is on trial in Rotorual District Court on a charge of unlawful possion of a firearm, in connection with a protest during a welcome for Waitangi Tribunal members in Ruatoki last year.
Mr Cooper says Iti's actions could be compared to the rituals the Crown puts on every Waitangi Day in the north.
"And you have the strong guns booming out in the harbour from the frigates that take part. What is that? Is that a show of strength, or some other means of celebration? So this is a symbolic gesture on his part," Cooper said.
FIELD FRIEND OF LABOUR FOREVER
Prime Minister Helen Clark says she has no fears about a Pacific party splitting off to join the Maori Party.
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia is encouraging embattled Mangere MP Taito Philip Field to quit Labour and form such a party, saying he would be in a good position to win concessions for his people.
But Ms Clark says Mr Field has made it very clear he is sticking with his current party.
IN: He is a very loyal member of the Labour Party. Labour Party's been good to him. He's been good to us as well. End of story. Unfortunately, loyalty wasn't something Mrs Turia understood wehn she was a member," Clark said.
Helen Clark says Labour values its relations with the Pacific Islands communities, taking more than 80 percent of the Pasifika vote in the last election.
MAHUTA FEARS KOI DAMAGE TO WAIKATO LAKE
Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta says Koi carp are causing a huge amount of damage to a Waikato Lake.
Ms Mahuta says the Lake Taupo and the Rotorua lakes settlements have resulted in increased interest among Maori about pollution in lakes.
She says the threat facing Lake Waikare near Te Kauwhata is a population explosion of introduced freshwater fish.
"Ongoing degradation as a result of having koi carp in the lake, and that is breaking down the wildlife that filters the water. They have to find a way of growing plants in the lake and getting rid of the carp. One of the ways is growing freshwater mussels, which filter quite a bit of the water," Mahuta said.
1080 RECERTIFICATION COULD SPARK MAORI INTEREST
The Maori arm of the Environmental Risk Management Authority expects huge Maori interest in the recertification process for 1080 poison.
Spokesperson Zack Bishara says the possum killing poison will be on the agenda of Nga Kaihautu's annual hui at Rotorua today, at which it reports back to Maori on its activities.
Mr Bishara says there is Maori have concerns about pest eradication programmes, but they also want to ensure the natural environment is protected.
"The area of potential impact these substances could have to te iwi Maori is to the mauri of taonga species, perhaps flora and fauna, and iwi are concerned substances like this are having and adverse impact beyond our control," Bishara said.
Zack Bishara says while some iwi oppose 1080, others have seen birdlife return to their forests after poisoning programmes.
PETERS ENDORSES ARMY TRAINING PLAN
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says using the military to train young Maori who are going off the rails is a good investment in the future.
The party's defence spokesperson, former soldier Ron Mark, is advocating such a policy, and it is part of New Zealanbd First's manifesto.
Mr Peters says too many young Maori are leaving school without qualifications, losing their way with their parents, and causing problems in the community.
Expanding the the Limited Service Volunteer and cadet core schemes is a way to give those teenagers a second chance.
COAST MAYOR VALUES LINKS WITH MAORI
Gisborne mayor Meng Foon says he is keen to find ways to strengthen his council's relationship with Maori.
Te Runanga o Turanganui-a-kiwa and Te Runanaga o Ngati Oneone are asking the for the council's long term council community plan give mana whenua iwi a more formal role in the region's governance.
Mr Foon says his office enjoys a good relationship with Maori, but there is always more that can be done.
"We have a process at the present time where they can come and participate in our process, but more particularly they want us to come and participate in theirs," Foon said.
Joseph Cooper, the son of the late Maori Land March leader Whina Cooper, says Tuhoe activist Tame Iti's shooting of a New Zealand flag should be seen as part of a long tradition, like Hone Heke cutting down the flagpole at Kororareka or Mike Smith cutting down the pine on One Tree Hill.
Iti is on trial in Rotorual District Court on a charge of unlawful possion of a firearm, in connection with a protest during a welcome for Waitangi Tribunal members in Ruatoki last year.
Mr Cooper says Iti's actions could be compared to the rituals the Crown puts on every Waitangi Day in the north.
"And you have the strong guns booming out in the harbour from the frigates that take part. What is that? Is that a show of strength, or some other means of celebration? So this is a symbolic gesture on his part," Cooper said.
FIELD FRIEND OF LABOUR FOREVER
Prime Minister Helen Clark says she has no fears about a Pacific party splitting off to join the Maori Party.
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia is encouraging embattled Mangere MP Taito Philip Field to quit Labour and form such a party, saying he would be in a good position to win concessions for his people.
But Ms Clark says Mr Field has made it very clear he is sticking with his current party.
IN: He is a very loyal member of the Labour Party. Labour Party's been good to him. He's been good to us as well. End of story. Unfortunately, loyalty wasn't something Mrs Turia understood wehn she was a member," Clark said.
Helen Clark says Labour values its relations with the Pacific Islands communities, taking more than 80 percent of the Pasifika vote in the last election.
MAHUTA FEARS KOI DAMAGE TO WAIKATO LAKE
Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta says Koi carp are causing a huge amount of damage to a Waikato Lake.
Ms Mahuta says the Lake Taupo and the Rotorua lakes settlements have resulted in increased interest among Maori about pollution in lakes.
She says the threat facing Lake Waikare near Te Kauwhata is a population explosion of introduced freshwater fish.
"Ongoing degradation as a result of having koi carp in the lake, and that is breaking down the wildlife that filters the water. They have to find a way of growing plants in the lake and getting rid of the carp. One of the ways is growing freshwater mussels, which filter quite a bit of the water," Mahuta said.
1080 RECERTIFICATION COULD SPARK MAORI INTEREST
The Maori arm of the Environmental Risk Management Authority expects huge Maori interest in the recertification process for 1080 poison.
Spokesperson Zack Bishara says the possum killing poison will be on the agenda of Nga Kaihautu's annual hui at Rotorua today, at which it reports back to Maori on its activities.
Mr Bishara says there is Maori have concerns about pest eradication programmes, but they also want to ensure the natural environment is protected.
"The area of potential impact these substances could have to te iwi Maori is to the mauri of taonga species, perhaps flora and fauna, and iwi are concerned substances like this are having and adverse impact beyond our control," Bishara said.
Zack Bishara says while some iwi oppose 1080, others have seen birdlife return to their forests after poisoning programmes.
PETERS ENDORSES ARMY TRAINING PLAN
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says using the military to train young Maori who are going off the rails is a good investment in the future.
The party's defence spokesperson, former soldier Ron Mark, is advocating such a policy, and it is part of New Zealanbd First's manifesto.
Mr Peters says too many young Maori are leaving school without qualifications, losing their way with their parents, and causing problems in the community.
Expanding the the Limited Service Volunteer and cadet core schemes is a way to give those teenagers a second chance.
COAST MAYOR VALUES LINKS WITH MAORI
Gisborne mayor Meng Foon says he is keen to find ways to strengthen his council's relationship with Maori.
Te Runanga o Turanganui-a-kiwa and Te Runanaga o Ngati Oneone are asking the for the council's long term council community plan give mana whenua iwi a more formal role in the region's governance.
Mr Foon says his office enjoys a good relationship with Maori, but there is always more that can be done.
"We have a process at the present time where they can come and participate in our process, but more particularly they want us to come and participate in theirs," Foon said.
posted by Adam | 2:51 pm
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