Taser trial further attack on brown men
A South Auckland criminal defence lawyer says Maori parents should be concerned at plans to trial tasers in the city.
Jenna Philson says the protocols justifying the use of the stun guns, which deliver a 50 thousand volt jolt, are too open to interpretation by police officers on the ground.
Ms Philson says the statistics show brown men aged 18 to 24 are more likely to be arrested than non Maori, so the fact Counties Manukau is one of four areas chosen for taser trials doesn't look good for young Maori.
“Go into any district court, the front part of the court is all white, it is the judges and the lawyers, and the back part of the court is all brown, it is our whanau, and you have to ask yourself, why are they trialing this here in Counties Manukau.”
Jenna Philson from Nga Turei Kaitiaki ki Waikato Community Law Centre in Manukau.
KURAHOUPO KEEN FOR SETTLEMENT
The chairman of the Kurahaupo claimants at the top of the South Island says his people are itching for a settlement.
Kurahaupo, which represents Ngati Apa, Ngati Kuia and Rangitane, is the only top of the South Island iwi which has so far got a mandate to negotiate.
Richard Bradley says Treaty Negotiations Minister Mark Burdon will come to Blenheim next month to kick off formal negotiations.
Neighbouring iwi say the total settlement could be up to $100 million, but Mr Bradley says claimants are unlikely to get more than a fraction of the value of the land taken off them.
He says the settlement package will be affected by what assets the Crown has in the region.
“Large cash components are not a favoured option. In some cases the ability to look at some of the Crown assets – one thing we always thought would be a good thing was to get the title to the police station and the court house, because they would be really good tenants, and they’re not likely to go out of business,” Bradley said.
NCEA GOOD FOR MAORI STUDENTS
The head of Maori Studies at Manukau Institute of Technology is defending the National Certificate of Educational Achievement.
A study done for the Ministry of Education says students lose motivation and do the minimum required to pass their NCEA levels.
But Wiremu Doherty says the system is good for Maori.
He says exam-based assessment systems such as the old School Certificate exam had a too narrow focus:
“When you look at assessment, when you look at external moderation, it is your chance to show and tell what it is you have learnt. It is not about finding out what you don’t know. It is an opportunity for you to put on paper what it is you have learnt and how you learnt it and draw from that vast experience of knowledge you have been exposed to in your classrooms,” Doherty said.
HAURAKI IWI STAND BEHIND CARTER MARINA BAN
Ngamani on marina
Hauraki iwi are standing behind Conservation Minister Chris Carter's decision to block a 205 berth marina at Whangamata.
The High Court will next month hear the Whangamata Marina Society's application for a judicial review of the minister's decision.
Leanne Ngamani, the Hauraki Maori Trust Board's environmental manager Leanne Ngamani, says Mr Carter was acting in the best interests of the area.
“From what we know the way he made the decision is sound, is in line with legislation he needs to pay regard to, and we are just playing a waiting game as to what the outcome of the high court decision might or might not be,” Ngamani said.
BENEFIT BASHING BASHED
The Green Party spokesperson on Maori Affairs says it is wrong to blame a whole sector of society for the actions of a few.
Meteria Turei says violence against children is not unique to those receiving benefits, but that seems to have been lost on callers to talkback radio - and on the government.
The Government plans to target households where clusters of beneficiaries live.
Ms Turei says that is a knee jerk reaction to the deaths of the Kaahui twins, and it makes sense for people on benefits to live together and share expenses.
“The Kaahui case has raised a huge number of issues about dysfunctional families and taking care of our own and children at risk, but that should not mean that beneficiaries as a class are irresponsible and incapable,” Turei said.
DOCO PROJECT HONOUR TO BE PART OF
One of the producers of a documentary about this year's Easter reunion of the 28th Maori Battalion says it was an honour to be part of such a special occasion.
Melissa Wikaere is from Ngati Hine, and her grandfather and great grandfather were in the battallion.
She says the challenge was to condense the footage shot at Omapere over the entire weekend into a one hour programme, which screens tonight on Maori Television.
She says there were some wonderful glimpses into the lives of those who were part of the battalion, as seen by some of the 70 survivors of the 3700 who served.
Ms Wikaera says she came away from the Hokianga Harbour with an enduring image of the Last Post being played against a cloudless sky.
Jenna Philson says the protocols justifying the use of the stun guns, which deliver a 50 thousand volt jolt, are too open to interpretation by police officers on the ground.
Ms Philson says the statistics show brown men aged 18 to 24 are more likely to be arrested than non Maori, so the fact Counties Manukau is one of four areas chosen for taser trials doesn't look good for young Maori.
“Go into any district court, the front part of the court is all white, it is the judges and the lawyers, and the back part of the court is all brown, it is our whanau, and you have to ask yourself, why are they trialing this here in Counties Manukau.”
Jenna Philson from Nga Turei Kaitiaki ki Waikato Community Law Centre in Manukau.
KURAHOUPO KEEN FOR SETTLEMENT
The chairman of the Kurahaupo claimants at the top of the South Island says his people are itching for a settlement.
Kurahaupo, which represents Ngati Apa, Ngati Kuia and Rangitane, is the only top of the South Island iwi which has so far got a mandate to negotiate.
Richard Bradley says Treaty Negotiations Minister Mark Burdon will come to Blenheim next month to kick off formal negotiations.
Neighbouring iwi say the total settlement could be up to $100 million, but Mr Bradley says claimants are unlikely to get more than a fraction of the value of the land taken off them.
He says the settlement package will be affected by what assets the Crown has in the region.
“Large cash components are not a favoured option. In some cases the ability to look at some of the Crown assets – one thing we always thought would be a good thing was to get the title to the police station and the court house, because they would be really good tenants, and they’re not likely to go out of business,” Bradley said.
NCEA GOOD FOR MAORI STUDENTS
The head of Maori Studies at Manukau Institute of Technology is defending the National Certificate of Educational Achievement.
A study done for the Ministry of Education says students lose motivation and do the minimum required to pass their NCEA levels.
But Wiremu Doherty says the system is good for Maori.
He says exam-based assessment systems such as the old School Certificate exam had a too narrow focus:
“When you look at assessment, when you look at external moderation, it is your chance to show and tell what it is you have learnt. It is not about finding out what you don’t know. It is an opportunity for you to put on paper what it is you have learnt and how you learnt it and draw from that vast experience of knowledge you have been exposed to in your classrooms,” Doherty said.
HAURAKI IWI STAND BEHIND CARTER MARINA BAN
Ngamani on marina
Hauraki iwi are standing behind Conservation Minister Chris Carter's decision to block a 205 berth marina at Whangamata.
The High Court will next month hear the Whangamata Marina Society's application for a judicial review of the minister's decision.
Leanne Ngamani, the Hauraki Maori Trust Board's environmental manager Leanne Ngamani, says Mr Carter was acting in the best interests of the area.
“From what we know the way he made the decision is sound, is in line with legislation he needs to pay regard to, and we are just playing a waiting game as to what the outcome of the high court decision might or might not be,” Ngamani said.
BENEFIT BASHING BASHED
The Green Party spokesperson on Maori Affairs says it is wrong to blame a whole sector of society for the actions of a few.
Meteria Turei says violence against children is not unique to those receiving benefits, but that seems to have been lost on callers to talkback radio - and on the government.
The Government plans to target households where clusters of beneficiaries live.
Ms Turei says that is a knee jerk reaction to the deaths of the Kaahui twins, and it makes sense for people on benefits to live together and share expenses.
“The Kaahui case has raised a huge number of issues about dysfunctional families and taking care of our own and children at risk, but that should not mean that beneficiaries as a class are irresponsible and incapable,” Turei said.
DOCO PROJECT HONOUR TO BE PART OF
One of the producers of a documentary about this year's Easter reunion of the 28th Maori Battalion says it was an honour to be part of such a special occasion.
Melissa Wikaere is from Ngati Hine, and her grandfather and great grandfather were in the battallion.
She says the challenge was to condense the footage shot at Omapere over the entire weekend into a one hour programme, which screens tonight on Maori Television.
She says there were some wonderful glimpses into the lives of those who were part of the battalion, as seen by some of the 70 survivors of the 3700 who served.
Ms Wikaera says she came away from the Hokianga Harbour with an enduring image of the Last Post being played against a cloudless sky.
posted by Adam | 10:33 am
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