Kaumatua a practical person
Wainuiomata Marae chairman and Ngati Porou elder Rongo Wi Repa is being remembered as a practical person who made a huge contribution to Maori life.
Mr Wi Repa died on Sunday aged 71.
Former Maori Affairs deputy secretary Neville Baker says Mr Wi Repa came into Maori Affairs in the 1970s to help set up programmes such as kokiri skills development centres and trade training.
Mr Wi Repa brought to the job his love for sport - he was a former Maori All Black - his experience as a plumber, his skill in oratory, and his belief that the marae Maori was central to Maori life.
Mr Baker says he will be particularly missed at the marae he built in Wainuiomata.
“While Rongo was a very proud Ngati Porou and Rongowhakaata etc, he was a very good leader in a Maori sense because he would roll his sleeves up and encourage everybody to participate, so as a result of that Rongo’s efforts will live on and people will talk about him as someone wh really made a contribution to Wainuiomata,” Baker said.
Rongo Wi Repa will be taken to Te Araroa this morning.
BENEFIT CONCENTRATION CAMPS RESULT OF PLAN
Northland Labour list MP Shane Jones says a call by urban Maori authorities for Maori social service providers to be given control of some welfare benefits is the start of a slippery slope.
Mr Jones says the call, coming as it does in the wake of the public furore over the killing of the Kahui twins, is too emotional and stigmatises all whanau on benefits.
He says urban Maori advocate John Tamihere hasn't through the idea through properly.
“The logical long term conclusion is some sort of welfare concentration camp and that is a slope none of us want anything to do with. Tough love must not be used as a basis for ushering some kind of authoritarianism where people just give up,” Jones said.
Shane Jones says while many families rely on benefits for short periods, only a few stay on the dole long term.
FLAVELLS SAYS TEACHERS ARE LEADERS
The Maori Party's education spokesperson says Maori communities still regard Maori teachers as leaders of their communities.
Te Ururoa Flavell was a speaker at the PPTA Maori teachers conference in Taranaki this week
Mr Flavell says at such a hui, it is important to remember of the efforts of kuia and kaumatua who paved the way for Maori in the education sector, such as John Tapiata, Whare Te Moana, Mona Rini and Toby Rikihana.
MAORI PARTY PROUD OF OPTION EFFORT
Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell says the Maori Party can hold its head up high over how the Maori electoral option is going.
With a month to go the Maori roll is still more than 3000 voters short of the numbers needed to create a Maori seat, despite the efforts of his Party to encourage voters to switch.
Labour MP Shane Jones has called the result a vote of no confidence in the Maori Party.
But Mr Flavell says the party is trying to build long term support for a separate Maori voice in Parliament.
“What we've done is try to act honorably and repsonsibly by asking our people to take up the option, what we are positive about is many of the people who have switched over are the rangatahi, and they are the ones who will determine our future, so that’s where we will put our energy,” Flavell said.
More than 7000 Maori have enrolled for the first time, with five and a half thousand of those opting for the Maori roll.
KAITAHU READIES FOR TE PAPA PAEPAE
Ngai Tahu is getting ready to take over the paepae at the museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Kaumatua Kukupa Tirikatene says thousands of Ngai Tahu will gather at dawn on Saturday for the poiwhiri marking the start of the exhibition of the tribe's taonga, which will run for the next two and a half years.
Mr Tirikatene says the challenge will be to make sure there are always interesting activities for visitors.
“ That is the challenge to Ngai Tahu, to make sure there is something there, so each and every person can say hey, that’s where my roots started from, and make them feel good about themselves,” Tirikatene said.
HAKA HULA OUT WEST
Kapa haka from a different age will be on display tonight at Hoani Waititi Marae in West Auckland.
It's not the marae's home team, Te Roopu Manutaki, but films of historical cultural performances held by the New Zealand Film Archive.
Co-ordinator Rewi Spraggon, from Ngati Hine, says the Te Tira Haka programme has been put together as part of Waitakere City's celbration of Matariki celebrations.
He says the films include rare footage of leaders like Sir Apirana Ngata, Sir Maui Pomare, and Princess Te Puea Herangi.
Mr Spraggon says Maori involved in the contemporary kapa haka scene may be surprised at how much has change, and how the haka of the past had similarities to the Hawaiian hula.
Mr Wi Repa died on Sunday aged 71.
Former Maori Affairs deputy secretary Neville Baker says Mr Wi Repa came into Maori Affairs in the 1970s to help set up programmes such as kokiri skills development centres and trade training.
Mr Wi Repa brought to the job his love for sport - he was a former Maori All Black - his experience as a plumber, his skill in oratory, and his belief that the marae Maori was central to Maori life.
Mr Baker says he will be particularly missed at the marae he built in Wainuiomata.
“While Rongo was a very proud Ngati Porou and Rongowhakaata etc, he was a very good leader in a Maori sense because he would roll his sleeves up and encourage everybody to participate, so as a result of that Rongo’s efforts will live on and people will talk about him as someone wh really made a contribution to Wainuiomata,” Baker said.
Rongo Wi Repa will be taken to Te Araroa this morning.
BENEFIT CONCENTRATION CAMPS RESULT OF PLAN
Northland Labour list MP Shane Jones says a call by urban Maori authorities for Maori social service providers to be given control of some welfare benefits is the start of a slippery slope.
Mr Jones says the call, coming as it does in the wake of the public furore over the killing of the Kahui twins, is too emotional and stigmatises all whanau on benefits.
He says urban Maori advocate John Tamihere hasn't through the idea through properly.
“The logical long term conclusion is some sort of welfare concentration camp and that is a slope none of us want anything to do with. Tough love must not be used as a basis for ushering some kind of authoritarianism where people just give up,” Jones said.
Shane Jones says while many families rely on benefits for short periods, only a few stay on the dole long term.
FLAVELLS SAYS TEACHERS ARE LEADERS
The Maori Party's education spokesperson says Maori communities still regard Maori teachers as leaders of their communities.
Te Ururoa Flavell was a speaker at the PPTA Maori teachers conference in Taranaki this week
Mr Flavell says at such a hui, it is important to remember of the efforts of kuia and kaumatua who paved the way for Maori in the education sector, such as John Tapiata, Whare Te Moana, Mona Rini and Toby Rikihana.
MAORI PARTY PROUD OF OPTION EFFORT
Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell says the Maori Party can hold its head up high over how the Maori electoral option is going.
With a month to go the Maori roll is still more than 3000 voters short of the numbers needed to create a Maori seat, despite the efforts of his Party to encourage voters to switch.
Labour MP Shane Jones has called the result a vote of no confidence in the Maori Party.
But Mr Flavell says the party is trying to build long term support for a separate Maori voice in Parliament.
“What we've done is try to act honorably and repsonsibly by asking our people to take up the option, what we are positive about is many of the people who have switched over are the rangatahi, and they are the ones who will determine our future, so that’s where we will put our energy,” Flavell said.
More than 7000 Maori have enrolled for the first time, with five and a half thousand of those opting for the Maori roll.
KAITAHU READIES FOR TE PAPA PAEPAE
Ngai Tahu is getting ready to take over the paepae at the museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Kaumatua Kukupa Tirikatene says thousands of Ngai Tahu will gather at dawn on Saturday for the poiwhiri marking the start of the exhibition of the tribe's taonga, which will run for the next two and a half years.
Mr Tirikatene says the challenge will be to make sure there are always interesting activities for visitors.
“ That is the challenge to Ngai Tahu, to make sure there is something there, so each and every person can say hey, that’s where my roots started from, and make them feel good about themselves,” Tirikatene said.
HAKA HULA OUT WEST
Kapa haka from a different age will be on display tonight at Hoani Waititi Marae in West Auckland.
It's not the marae's home team, Te Roopu Manutaki, but films of historical cultural performances held by the New Zealand Film Archive.
Co-ordinator Rewi Spraggon, from Ngati Hine, says the Te Tira Haka programme has been put together as part of Waitakere City's celbration of Matariki celebrations.
He says the films include rare footage of leaders like Sir Apirana Ngata, Sir Maui Pomare, and Princess Te Puea Herangi.
Mr Spraggon says Maori involved in the contemporary kapa haka scene may be surprised at how much has change, and how the haka of the past had similarities to the Hawaiian hula.
posted by Adam | 10:38 am
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