Kiro backs anti-smack

Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro says the support by six Taitokerau iwi for Green MP Sue Bradford's anti smacking bill is visionary.

Earlier attempts to remove the section in the Crimes Act allowing parents the defence of reasonable force have failed, in part because of lack of Maori support.

Cindy Kiro, who has whakapapa links to one of the iwi, Ngati Kahu, says other iwi should take a lead from the north.

“I just have such enormous respect for the position they have taken. This is one of moral and political leadership that is desperately needed. They are saying they will step up to the mark, and that is what is needed,” Kiro said.


LAWYER BEMOANS REO TRIAL COVERAGE

Maori lawyer Annete Sykes says Maori journalists missed a major opportunity to showcase the Maori language by not covering Tame Iti's trial in Rotorua last week.

Judge Chris McGuire has reserved is judgment on the case, in which the veteran activist faced a firearms charge in relation to piece of theatre during a powhiri for Waitangi Tribunal members at Ruatoki last year.

Ms Sykes says some of the best exponents of te reo Maori in the country were on the witness stand, and the case with wide ranging implications.

“It was very disappoint for someone who has been a Maori language activities, to have one of the few cases heard in the general jurisdiction of the court in our language, to have not one radio station and very little from Te Karere or Maori Television, it’s like they just wanted a 30 second soundbite,” Sykes said.

LEAGUE PLAYERS WAITING FOR CALL UP

A warning to young players in the New Zealand domestic rugby league competition.

Be ready for the call-up.

That's the word from New Zealand Warriors hardman, Reuben Wiki from Ngapuhi, who says the talent knocking at the door for the Auckland based NRL franchise is positive for the future.

The Warriors had a well deserved victory over the Newcastle Knights over the weekend, and Wiki says home-grown talent contributed to the win.

He says the club's scouts are keeping a close watch on the form of players in the domestic competition.

PARIHAKA CEREMONY COINCIDES WITH MATARIKI

It's a special time of the year for Taranaki Maori.

Like many areas, the rohe is celebrating the Matariki, the Maori new year.

Te Miringa Hohaia from Parihaka says it is also a Taranaki custom to remember Parihaka prophets Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kaakahi, at a time they call Puanga.

Because of Matariki and Puanga, particularly for us Punaga, it’s a month our whanau pani might choose to bring there hare mate on those ra, the 18th and 19th, that’s been good,” Hohaia said.


turia tamariki

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says reconstituting the Maatua Whangai programme could help prevent the deaths of more Maori children.

Police are currently treating the deaths of head injuries of the three-month old Kahui twins from Mangere as a homicide investigation.

Mrs Turia says every violent death of tamariki is in some ways preventable.

She says Maori would like to take more responsibility of keeping their children safe, but they are often blocked by government agencies who won't share information or reach out to the Maori community.

“Of one family has issues, instead of going to the extended whanau, they behave as if all of the family are a risk to the child, which is of course is simply not true. If we could reconstitute Maatua Whangai, it could be a first step to aiding families in this situation,” Turia said.

Tariana Turia says it was a mistake to scrap the programme started by the old Department of Maori Affairs which tried to involve the wider whanau when problems arose with children and young people.

TE AHO CALLS FOR LAND COURT END

Maori lawyer Willie Te Aho says the Maori Land Court has had its day.

The Maori Purposes Bill now before Parliament will increase the maximum number of Maori Land Court from eight to 14, because recent laws like the Maori Fisheries Settlement Act have given the court more work to do.

Mr Te Aho says rather than tinker with the court, the government should replace it with a structure more suited to the needs of contemporary Maori.

“The Maori Land Court should be abolished. You look at the fisheries, in five years our people have total discretion what to do with the fisheries resource. The same with land. I think the Maori Land Court has served its purpose, we should be moving on and looking for structures that suit our people today, not hanging on to paternalistic mechanisms of the past.” Te Aho said.

PORTER TAKES REINS AT TE HIKU TV

A boost for the second Maori television channel.

Tiny Te Hiku TV, which broadcasts for two hours a day in Kaitaia, has secured the services of long time radio and television journalist Gideon Porter as its chief executive.

Mr Porter, whose family home is in nearby Ahipara, says it's a four-person, one room operation with the bare esentials for putting programmes to air, but that doesn't mean it can't produce exciting television.

“If we get a successful model up here, it’s a model we’d be only to pleased to chair with other iwi, other rohe, who may want to set up their own little regional channels,” Porter said.

Gideon Porter says the quality of home digital cameras and editing software means programme making is no longer just for professionals, and Te Hiku TV will encourage talented amateurs to have a go recording what is happening in their community.