Auckland council deaf to mana whenua prayers
Auckland City Council commissioners today refused to allow representatives of Ngai Tai address them on proposed extensions to the city art gallery which the iwi says will encroach on an ancient village.
Emily Karaka from the Ngai Tai ki Tamaki claims committee says the commissioners also refused to allow kaumatua to start the hearing with a kararakia.
She says council planners are ignoring earlier findings that Ngai Tai shares mana whenua status within Auckland city.
Ms Karaka says because of her history with the gallery, she was upset and angry at the way the commissioners behaved.
“I'm actually contained in the gallery in my own right as an artist, I’ve hung with the best of them like Picasso, I know that business, I know that edifice, and I certainly know what it’s worth, but I also know our cultural heritage is not to be swiped away by saying it’s not valid,” Karaka said.
Emily Karaka says Ngai Tai will consider a High Court challenge to the planning process.
NGATI RANGI ELDER WANTS PRISON PLAN AUDIT
The former head of the Ngati Rangi Development Society says he wants the government to review plans to involve the society in the running of Northland regional Prison at Ngawha.
Andy Sarich was ousted as chairman by Wiremu Puriri, and responded by getting the Corrections Department to delay signing a $240,000 contract to provide cultural support services.
Mr Sarich says elders were concerned about funding issues within the society, and about the power struggle at the top.
He says the issues will be aired at a hui this weekend.
“The thing needs to come out and be aired so people can make a judgment themselves. Instead of getting snippets from Wiremu Puriri, people can judge for themselves,” Sarich said.
FIELD GETS SUPPORT FROM TURIA
Embattled Labour MP Taito Philip Field is getting support from an unexpected quarter.
A report by Queens Counsel Noel Ingram cleared Mr Field of any conflict of interest in relation to helping people with immigration matters, but Opposition parties claim the Mangere MP's reputation has been fatally tarnished.
But Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says Mr Field has always been a tireless worker for his people and his electorate:
“I think that one of the major difficulties for Taito is that because of who he is, it is only natural people with immigration issues will go to someone they feel will understand their issues. What he does is he goes out of his way to advance what is best for their interests. I have no difficulty with that whatsoever,” Turia said.
HEADS ON WAY HOME FROM ABERDEEN
Te Papa kaihautu or Maori leader Te Taru White says the return of nine toi moko or preserved heads from Scotland is a sign the world's museums are starting to unlock their vaults to indigenous peoples.
The heads are part of a collection of 80 thousand Maori items held at the Marishal Museum in Aberdeen University.
Mr White says Liverpool Museum also plans to return four heads and some skeletal remains.
He says it has been a long term project to identify such remains in museums round the world and get them returned, but Te Papa feels it is making real progress with the Aberdeen decision.
“It's an indicator that internationally museums are beginning to unlock the vaults and taking some stock abut why they hold these ancestors, looking at why we want them returned, and our arguments have to be quite strong, and they are, and it’s. quite a process,” White said.
PAKEHA ROLE IN REO REVIVAL
Maori language commission chief executive Haami Piripi says Pakeha have a major role to play in normalising te reo Maori in New Zealand.
Mr Piripi says he was encouraged by the fact many the 170 people who turned out for the official launch of Maori language in Wellington this morning were Pakeha.
He says many Pakeha are committed to the widespread acceptance of the language by supporting concepts such as bilingual signage, and encouraging the use of te reo in the workplace.
Mr Piripi says Pakeha need to feel New Zealand's Indigenous language belongs to them too.
“The language is already become a signature of our nationhood through the haka and other events. Probably 20 percent of those there today were Pakeha people. That’s what will really make it a true language of the nation, when Maori and non-Maori start to speak it naturally and normally as and ordinary everyday language. We’re a long way from that really, but with the right kind of support we can achieve that,” Piripi said.
Haami Piripi says Maori Language Week is a time for everyone to have a go at using Maori words, even if their pronunciation isn't spot on.
GREEN MP SAYS MIDEAST CHOICE CLEAR
The Green Party spokesperson on Maori affairs. Metiria Turei, says Maori should feel for indigenous communities in the Middle East, now embroiled in war.
She says as a colonised people, Maori can relate to having outside forces impose their will upon them.
Ms Turei says Maori families should make a point of discussing the situation in the middle east with their young people, and look at it from a Maori perspective.
“It's worthwhile remembering we are part of an indigenous international community, and this is an indigenous people that is being attacked. Israel has massively overreacted to what is going on and is holding the government and people of Lebanon responsible for the actions of this one group,” Turei said.
Emily Karaka from the Ngai Tai ki Tamaki claims committee says the commissioners also refused to allow kaumatua to start the hearing with a kararakia.
She says council planners are ignoring earlier findings that Ngai Tai shares mana whenua status within Auckland city.
Ms Karaka says because of her history with the gallery, she was upset and angry at the way the commissioners behaved.
“I'm actually contained in the gallery in my own right as an artist, I’ve hung with the best of them like Picasso, I know that business, I know that edifice, and I certainly know what it’s worth, but I also know our cultural heritage is not to be swiped away by saying it’s not valid,” Karaka said.
Emily Karaka says Ngai Tai will consider a High Court challenge to the planning process.
NGATI RANGI ELDER WANTS PRISON PLAN AUDIT
The former head of the Ngati Rangi Development Society says he wants the government to review plans to involve the society in the running of Northland regional Prison at Ngawha.
Andy Sarich was ousted as chairman by Wiremu Puriri, and responded by getting the Corrections Department to delay signing a $240,000 contract to provide cultural support services.
Mr Sarich says elders were concerned about funding issues within the society, and about the power struggle at the top.
He says the issues will be aired at a hui this weekend.
“The thing needs to come out and be aired so people can make a judgment themselves. Instead of getting snippets from Wiremu Puriri, people can judge for themselves,” Sarich said.
FIELD GETS SUPPORT FROM TURIA
Embattled Labour MP Taito Philip Field is getting support from an unexpected quarter.
A report by Queens Counsel Noel Ingram cleared Mr Field of any conflict of interest in relation to helping people with immigration matters, but Opposition parties claim the Mangere MP's reputation has been fatally tarnished.
But Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says Mr Field has always been a tireless worker for his people and his electorate:
“I think that one of the major difficulties for Taito is that because of who he is, it is only natural people with immigration issues will go to someone they feel will understand their issues. What he does is he goes out of his way to advance what is best for their interests. I have no difficulty with that whatsoever,” Turia said.
HEADS ON WAY HOME FROM ABERDEEN
Te Papa kaihautu or Maori leader Te Taru White says the return of nine toi moko or preserved heads from Scotland is a sign the world's museums are starting to unlock their vaults to indigenous peoples.
The heads are part of a collection of 80 thousand Maori items held at the Marishal Museum in Aberdeen University.
Mr White says Liverpool Museum also plans to return four heads and some skeletal remains.
He says it has been a long term project to identify such remains in museums round the world and get them returned, but Te Papa feels it is making real progress with the Aberdeen decision.
“It's an indicator that internationally museums are beginning to unlock the vaults and taking some stock abut why they hold these ancestors, looking at why we want them returned, and our arguments have to be quite strong, and they are, and it’s. quite a process,” White said.
PAKEHA ROLE IN REO REVIVAL
Maori language commission chief executive Haami Piripi says Pakeha have a major role to play in normalising te reo Maori in New Zealand.
Mr Piripi says he was encouraged by the fact many the 170 people who turned out for the official launch of Maori language in Wellington this morning were Pakeha.
He says many Pakeha are committed to the widespread acceptance of the language by supporting concepts such as bilingual signage, and encouraging the use of te reo in the workplace.
Mr Piripi says Pakeha need to feel New Zealand's Indigenous language belongs to them too.
“The language is already become a signature of our nationhood through the haka and other events. Probably 20 percent of those there today were Pakeha people. That’s what will really make it a true language of the nation, when Maori and non-Maori start to speak it naturally and normally as and ordinary everyday language. We’re a long way from that really, but with the right kind of support we can achieve that,” Piripi said.
Haami Piripi says Maori Language Week is a time for everyone to have a go at using Maori words, even if their pronunciation isn't spot on.
GREEN MP SAYS MIDEAST CHOICE CLEAR
The Green Party spokesperson on Maori affairs. Metiria Turei, says Maori should feel for indigenous communities in the Middle East, now embroiled in war.
She says as a colonised people, Maori can relate to having outside forces impose their will upon them.
Ms Turei says Maori families should make a point of discussing the situation in the middle east with their young people, and look at it from a Maori perspective.
“It's worthwhile remembering we are part of an indigenous international community, and this is an indigenous people that is being attacked. Israel has massively overreacted to what is going on and is holding the government and people of Lebanon responsible for the actions of this one group,” Turei said.
posted by Adam | 10:42 pm
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