Mangere too safe to sacrifice

Labour leader Helen Clark says she has no doubts Labour will retain Mangere, whoever is standing.

Sitting MP Philip Field is under increasing pressure over his dealings with constituents, and the Prime Minister has told him to think about his future as an MP.

While there have been suggestions Mr Field could run again as an independent, Ms Clark says as long as there has been a suburb called Mangere, there has been a strong Labour president in it.

“It's got to be remembered that the Labour vote in Mangere was higher than anywhere else in New Zealand at the last election. Now it’s important not to take anyone’s vote for granted, but the Mangere electorate is one that has benefited hugely from having Labour in government, and that will continue to be the case,” Clark said.

Helen Clark says the nine-month inquiry by Queens Counsel Noel Ingram showed a number of ways that Mr Field was working were not appropriate, and the party is trying to deal with that.

NGAPUHI SETS OWN PACE

Ngapuhi won't be hurried just to please the Waitangi Tribunal or the politicians.

That's the response from Ngapuhi runanga chairperson Sonny Tau to the frustration expressed by tribunal member Ranginui Walker at the slow progress with northern claims.

Mr Tau says the tribunal is there to hear the claim, not to say what the claim should be.

He says it's important Ngapuhi historical grievances are heard and time should not be a factor:

We're not about to hurry our claims up to suit some political electoral agenda. We’ve been hurting since 1840 and it’s not going to change in one or two years just to suit some parliamentary process, and Ngapuhi is quite adamant about that,” Tau said.

Sonny Tau says the Ngapuhi claims design group is meeting for two days this week and should make progress.

TOLAGA BAY PLANNING NEW YEAR RUMBLE

The small East Coast settlement of Tologa Bay is planning a big bash for New Years Eve.

Local art group Toi Hauiti have pulled together resources and funding from groups such as Creative NZ and Ma Te Reo to put together its second Ruawa concert.

The line-up includes Whirimako Black, Ruia Aperahama, Ardijah, Tohu and hip hop MC Tyna Keelan.

Organiser Mark Kopua says the concert aims to promote kaupapa driven music.

“Maori kaupapa is the thing we want to push. To prmote also Maori bands. Although we have an international artists like Renee Geyer, our kaupapa is to push Maori groups who are pushing Maori kaupapa,” Kopua said.

Mr Kopua says the lead up to the concert will also include a New Year's Parade and free event through the main street of Uawa.

ARAWA LAND SETTLEMENT EXPOSING GAPS IN PROCESS

Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Floavell says the Office of Treaty Settlements dosn't seem to have a strategy to deal with iwi who won't join in with what it calls large natural groupings to advance their claims.

Mr Flavell says the amalgamation process was developed to speed up claims, but it is in fact shutting out many Maori groups.

The Government has signed a deed of settlement to settle Te Arawa land claims with Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa, which represents about half the confederation's members.

Mr Flavell says the iwi and hapu who aren't members of Nga Kaihautu are trying to find out how much is left to settle their claim.

“ The crown is very reluctant, in fact has not and will not provide an amount of money. Why? Because it’s an easy way to put all the Maoris into one hat, give them one collective amount, and if they want to get out, leave the Maoris to scrap over it, and that causes further division,” Flavell said.

Te Ururoa Flavell says the mandating process for the Te Arawa settlement lacks any credibility.

NEW KING TO MEET THE PEOPLE AT POUKAI

The new Maori king, Tuheitia Paki, will attend his first poukai as Tainui Arikinui at Whatapaka Marae in south Auckland this Thursday.

Poukai are held on 29 marae affiliated to the Kingitanga and are the main forum for discssion of tribal issues.

Turangawaewae media liaison Moko Templeton says the event will be closed to media.

Ms Templeton says the media people needs to give the new Arikinui time to adjust to his new role.

She says other iwi also are expressing interest in becoming more involved with Kingitanga, but their time will come later.

“We're not saying no to that but us as ourselves, as guardians of the new king, as guardians of the Kingitanga, as the spearhead of moving this waka forward, we just want to make sure get it right first,” Templeton said.

Moko Templeton says Tuheitia Paki will be unavailable to media until the first anniversary of his coronation.


SECOND TIER ARAWA TEAMS CHOSEN FOR TE MATATINI

Te Arawa kapa haka Groups are trying to find their way back into the national performing arts competitions, Te Matatini.

But Trevor Maxwell from Ngati Rangiwewehi says there needs to be compromise on both sides before that can hppen.

The Te Arawa regional competitions were completed on the weekends despite the absence of previous national winners Ngati Rangiwewehi and Te Matarae I O Rehu.

Tuhourangi and Te Rau Aroha were selected to represent the region at next February's nationals.

Mr Maxwell says the boycotting groups asked Te Matatini's organising committee to allow the representative teams to be chosen from an invitational competition run last year, but this was turned down.

He says the groups are concerned Te Arawa is not being represented by its best talent.