Claim process causing tribal splits

Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell says the Crown's treaty settlement process is causing splits among whanau, hapu and iwi.

Mr Flavell says the Crown's insistence that it will only settle with large groups rather than individual hapu is a recipe for division.

He says it's a return to the 19th century strategy of throwing the money or trade goods in the middle and letting Maori scrap between themselves.

He says the government doesn't seem to care.

“When it comes to another three or four years time, the Labour government will come out and say we’ve got five six seven claims settled, so we’re very happy, but they don’t count the cost actually, and that’s the real dilemma and the shame about the whole process,” Flavell said.

Te Ururoa Flavell says the Government needs to overhaul the Crown process or face revisiting settlements in the future.


RATANA BOOK DEFENDED

Former Labour MP Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan has come to the defence of a new book on the Ratana church.

An Auckland-based apotoro or apostle, Raiti Aperahama, says Ratana Revisited should not have been written because of a church proscription on commercialisation, and because author Keith Newman was not a morehu or church member.

Mrs Tirikatene-Sullivan, whose father Eruera Tirikatene was the first Ratana MP, says she also had doubts, but they went away when she read the book.

“I do not really look at things with that viewpoint, that only a Maori can write about Maori things, only a Ratana can write about Ratana, no, I don’t think like that. Somebody with the skills to do that and the time, and if someone is prepared to do that, I welcome the contribution to the overall knowledge,” Tirikatene-Sullivan said.

MAORI, ASIANS FACE SIMILAR CHALLENGES

Maori and Asians face many similar challenges in their relations with mainstream New Zealand.

That view will be put tomorrow at the Going Bananas Conference in Auckland by Maori-Chinese academic Jenny Lee.

Ms Lee says the conference is looking at Chinese culture in Aotearoa, so the Maori experience becomes relevant.

“Some of the things that are topical are issues around juggling to be Chinese in New Zealand context, issues of racism and discrimination, but also focusing on those things that don’t get media attention, like the positive things people in Chinese communities are achieving, a lot of what like Maori experience through media,” Lee said.

The conference will be held at the Auckland University of Technology.

AUTHOR DEFENDS SOURCING, INTERPRETATION

The author of a new book on the Ratana church says critics would change their minds if they actually read the book.

Keith Newman has come under fire by some church members for what they perceive as commericalising sacred knowledge, and because many of his sources were younger members.

But Mr Newman says Ratana Revisited took 20 years to write because he was determined to make it as accurate as possible.

“I spoke to anybody that would allow me access. There were a lot of people who didn’t allow access, and a lot of those people who were initially opposed to the book have turned around and said ‘Now that we’ve read the book, Keith, we apologise, we’re sorry we made such a fuss because we see you have been respectful to our movement and our family members,’” Newman said.

Keith Newman says church founder Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana is a neglected figure in history, given the influence his movement had on shaping New Zealand society.

YOUTH BITE BACK ON APATHY CHARGE

On the eve of International Youth Day, the political system is being blamed for the lack of political involvement by young Maori.

Labour list MP Shane Jones has claimed rangatahi are more apathetic than the youth of 20 years ago.

But Kaapua Smith, who is doing a doctorate in Maori politics at Auckland University, says the group tagged Generation Y don't protest as much as past generations, but they are active in its own way.

Ms Smith says politicians are out of touch with youth issues.

“There is a certain disconnection in terms of youth involvement in politics, I don’t think it’s a young person’s problem. I think it’s the problem of the political system itself. It’s been set up in such as way to ignore young people’s issues. Would you be interested in a whole lot of 50 year olds talking about 20 year old issues,” Smith said.

KIOSK DRAW IN YOUNG MAORI TO HEALTH INFO

A Maori-owned company says its new kiosks are giving young Maori and Pacific Island people unprecedented access to health information.

Hamilton-based Webhealth this week won a health informatics award for its innovative website which helps people connect to health and social service providers.

Manager Tahi Tait says it is also putting the information on kiosks, which are proving popular with people who do not have Internet access.

“From the kiosks it’s 15 years olds up to 25 and it’s Maori and Pacific Islanders who are the big users. It’s an absolute turnaround. If you have the information available, they’ll take it up,” Tait said.

Tahi Tait says the Webhealth site and kiosk appeals to people because they can make inquiries about sensitive subjects in a confidential way.