Maori lawyers oppose claim deadline

The Maori Law Society says the Treaty of Waitangi claims process is moving along at a natural pace and there is no need for a deadline.

The Maori Purposes Bill now before Parliament will stop historical claims being lodged after September 2008.

Society spokesperson Jolene Patuawa says if the Government wants to speed up the claim settlement process, it should fund research for areas which have yet to lodge claims, such as Rangitikei, Horowhenua, Manawatu and Waikato-Raukawa.

Ms Patuawa says the deadline is politically motivated

“If we don't put out a final filing date on it, is this going to dribble on forever, and my answer to that is no, and it’s very important that the wider New Zealand public understands that, because the tribunal process does It has been closed off and you can’t then lodge further claims in respect of that issue,” Patuawa says.

Jolene Patuawa says the Waitangi Tribunal has made considerable progress in the 20 years that historical claims have been allowed.

DIABETES RESEARCH COMPARES MAORI, ABORIGINAL

A new diabetes research project is comparing the insulin resistance of young Maori and Aboriginal men.

The project is a joint initiative by Massey University's research centre for Maori health and development, Te Pumanawa Hauora, and the faculty of health sciences at Sydney University.

Research head Chris Cunningham from Ngati Raukawa says both groups are five times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than non-Maori.

Dr Cunningham says the researchers want to find out if the groups have a physiological resistance to insulin, which controls the way the body uses sugars.

“Trying to understand the process whereby fit young healthy people transfer to becoming not so healthy and developing diabetes in their 30s and 40s, which is earlier than Pakeha people,” Cunningham said.

Chris Cunningham says diabetes is a significant factor in the lower life expectancy of Maori men.

MAORI NEWSPAPERS SUBJECT OF NEW BOOK

The Maori newspapers which thrived at the start of the land wars are the subject of book published this week.

Author Lachy Paterson says Colonial Discourses - Niupepa Maori 1955 to 1863 reveals a surprising diversity of opinion by Maori.

Dr Paterson, who lectures in Maori history at Massey University, says only one of the newspapers, the Kingitanga's Te Hokioi, was produced by Maori.

The rest were produced by missionaries or by the Government, but because they allowed letters to the editor, they offer a window into Maori thinking.

“Maori saw the newspapers, even ones put out by Pakeha, as a taonga. It was something they could read which was other than religious material, and they did appreciate them,” Paterson said.

Lachy Paterson says the newspapers stopped being produced after the invasion of the Waikato in 1863.

LANDLESS MAORI COULD BE DOUBLE HIT BY DEADLINE

The Maori Law Society says a deadline on lodging historical treaty claims after September 2008 could harm the groups most affected by the colonial process.

The society made submissions yesterday against the change, which is contained in the Maori Purposes Bill now before Parliament.

Spokesperson Jolene Patuawa says there has been little outcry against the bill because the major tribal areas have their claims in the system or have already settled.

But Ms Patuawa says there are parts of the country which have not yet quantified the extent of their loss.

“The sad fact of the matter is the people most harshly affected by the Crown treaty breaches are the ones likely to be in this position where they’ve been so affected they’ve become disassociated from their land or landless. They’re the ones that are so affected they have not been able to lodge a claim,” Patuawa said.

Jolene Patuawa says there is no need for a deadline, because the Waitangi Tribunal process is working effectively to identify and hear claims.

LOW COST GP SUBSIDY WELCOMED

The chief executive of the Tamaki Public Healthcare Organisation says increased funding for doctors who charge low fees should boost Maori health.

Guy Naden says many medical organisations working in low income communities will often waive fees for GP visits because their patients can't afford to pay.

Dr Naden says PHOs have been arguing that their healthcare model is saving money elsewhere in the system.

“We lobbied the minister and the ministry to increase the amount of moenhy going into these low low cost health practices, so from October 1 there’s an extra $11 million going into these providers that charge practically nothing,” Naden said.

Guy Naden says one size doesn't fit all in health, and targeted interventions are needed to make a difference.

GANGSTAS TAINTING POLYNESIAN YOUTH

Taitokerau iwi liason officer Paddy Whiu says the influence of American gangsta rap culture is affecting the way young people interact with police.

Mr Whiu says new street gangs are emerging which are having a negative effect on the behaviour of a generation of young Maori and Pacific island people.

He says Maori and Polynesian youth have cultures to be proud of, yet they mirror an alien street culture from the United States.

“Maori youth are modeling themselves on black America, but you also have to look at some of the videos and things you watch on tv, the movies, the violence, and you just got to think if they’re watching it, they’re going to do it, It’s a very big concern for us,” Whiu said.