Respected kaumatua Rongo Wi Repa dies
Ngati Porou is mourning the death of kaumatua Rongo Wi Repa, who played a major role over the years connecting Maori communities with government agencies.
Mr Wi Repa was known in his younger days as a strong rugby player, going from the Te Aute First Fifteen to the Wellington representative side, and going on to become a Maori All Black.
He worked as a plumber for 20 years before being brought in to Maori Affairs as a community officer, and maintained a strong commitment to trade training.
After the department was disestablished Mr Wi Repa worked for the Central Regional Health Authority, visiting every marae from Wairoa to Motueka to help Maori set up their own health providers.
Mr Wi Repa has been taken back to Te Poho o Rawiri Marae in Gisborne.
BAY IWI GO FOR ZERO TOLERANCE
Western Bay of Plenty kaumatua want to promote a culture of zero tolerance to drug abuse, alcohol abuse and violence in their community.
That was the outcome of a hui this weekend at Tauranga's Maungatapu marae, at which members of from Ngaiterangi, Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga looked at ways to cut the escalating problem of family violence.
Hui facilitator Rahera Ohia says more eyes and ears are needed in the community, and one of the ideas coming out of the hui was for a whanau helpline so people could seek advice and help.
PARENTS KEY TO NON-SMOKING TAMARIKI
Health researcher Maarewa Glover says parents are key to stopping children smoking.
Dr Glover is heading a three year, $700,000 project called Keeping Kids Smokefree.
She says it's no good must targeting young people, as parents must change their behaviour first.
FIAT HAKA AN OPPORTUNITY
Maori arts administrator Garry Nicholas says Maori won't get anywhere by moaning about the cultural insensitivity Fiat "ka mate" car ad.
In the ad, a group of women on a city street perform the Te Rauparaha's haka, before one of the women drives off in a black Fiat.
Mr Nicholas, the general manager of Toi Maori Aotearoa, says Maori should see the Italian automotive giant's use of their culture as an opportunity to promote their culture in Europe.
LAKE POLLUTION ALL AT SEA
Maketu Maori are objecting to a plan to build a one and a quarter kilometre steel wall in Lake Rotoiti to channel nutrient-laden water from Lake Rotorua directly into the Kaituna River.
The Environment Court is hearing appeals against the resource consent 6granted last November for the ohau Channel diversion.
Raewyn Bennett from Nga Tangata Ahi Kaa Roa o Maketu says the plan will push more pollution down to the coast, wiping out the Maketu people's traditional kaimoana grounds.
She says ignoring the interests of Maketu residents is a kind of racism, as poor communities get used as a dumping ground for pollution.
NGAPUHI WANT NO PART OF BENEFIT CONTROL
The head of the country's largest iwi says giving social service providers control of beneficiaries' budgets would be a massive step backwards into dependence.
Sonny Tau from the Ngapuhi Runanga says the proposal from the National Urban Maori Authority is another layer of unnecessary bureaucracy.
The authority says it's clear some people don't have the skills to ensure their tamariki have proper food and shelter, so Maori social service providers hsould step in to make sure basic household needs are met/
Mr Tau says Maori have to look after their own whanau, and not have the state do it.
KIA ORA TO FIAT HAKA AD
A big kia ora to Fiat from New Zealand Maori Council spokesperson Maanu Paul.
Mr Paul has done a haka in the past over inappropriate use of Maori culture in commerce, challenging Danish toymaker Lego's use of Maori characters and New Zealand's Post's depictions of Maori performers on stamps.
But he says the Italian carmaker's ad for the new Fiat Idea, which features Italian women doing the haka in the street, is a bit of fun.
Mr Wi Repa was known in his younger days as a strong rugby player, going from the Te Aute First Fifteen to the Wellington representative side, and going on to become a Maori All Black.
He worked as a plumber for 20 years before being brought in to Maori Affairs as a community officer, and maintained a strong commitment to trade training.
After the department was disestablished Mr Wi Repa worked for the Central Regional Health Authority, visiting every marae from Wairoa to Motueka to help Maori set up their own health providers.
Mr Wi Repa has been taken back to Te Poho o Rawiri Marae in Gisborne.
BAY IWI GO FOR ZERO TOLERANCE
Western Bay of Plenty kaumatua want to promote a culture of zero tolerance to drug abuse, alcohol abuse and violence in their community.
That was the outcome of a hui this weekend at Tauranga's Maungatapu marae, at which members of from Ngaiterangi, Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga looked at ways to cut the escalating problem of family violence.
Hui facilitator Rahera Ohia says more eyes and ears are needed in the community, and one of the ideas coming out of the hui was for a whanau helpline so people could seek advice and help.
PARENTS KEY TO NON-SMOKING TAMARIKI
Health researcher Maarewa Glover says parents are key to stopping children smoking.
Dr Glover is heading a three year, $700,000 project called Keeping Kids Smokefree.
She says it's no good must targeting young people, as parents must change their behaviour first.
FIAT HAKA AN OPPORTUNITY
Maori arts administrator Garry Nicholas says Maori won't get anywhere by moaning about the cultural insensitivity Fiat "ka mate" car ad.
In the ad, a group of women on a city street perform the Te Rauparaha's haka, before one of the women drives off in a black Fiat.
Mr Nicholas, the general manager of Toi Maori Aotearoa, says Maori should see the Italian automotive giant's use of their culture as an opportunity to promote their culture in Europe.
LAKE POLLUTION ALL AT SEA
Maketu Maori are objecting to a plan to build a one and a quarter kilometre steel wall in Lake Rotoiti to channel nutrient-laden water from Lake Rotorua directly into the Kaituna River.
The Environment Court is hearing appeals against the resource consent 6granted last November for the ohau Channel diversion.
Raewyn Bennett from Nga Tangata Ahi Kaa Roa o Maketu says the plan will push more pollution down to the coast, wiping out the Maketu people's traditional kaimoana grounds.
She says ignoring the interests of Maketu residents is a kind of racism, as poor communities get used as a dumping ground for pollution.
NGAPUHI WANT NO PART OF BENEFIT CONTROL
The head of the country's largest iwi says giving social service providers control of beneficiaries' budgets would be a massive step backwards into dependence.
Sonny Tau from the Ngapuhi Runanga says the proposal from the National Urban Maori Authority is another layer of unnecessary bureaucracy.
The authority says it's clear some people don't have the skills to ensure their tamariki have proper food and shelter, so Maori social service providers hsould step in to make sure basic household needs are met/
Mr Tau says Maori have to look after their own whanau, and not have the state do it.
KIA ORA TO FIAT HAKA AD
A big kia ora to Fiat from New Zealand Maori Council spokesperson Maanu Paul.
Mr Paul has done a haka in the past over inappropriate use of Maori culture in commerce, challenging Danish toymaker Lego's use of Maori characters and New Zealand's Post's depictions of Maori performers on stamps.
But he says the Italian carmaker's ad for the new Fiat Idea, which features Italian women doing the haka in the street, is a bit of fun.
posted by Adam | 10:02 am
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