Tangi starts for Maori queen

Tainui people have arrived in their thousands on the first day of the Tangi for Dame Te Atairangikaahu, who died yesterday aged 75.

Waaatea News reporter, Manaia Clarke from Te Hoe O Tainui, says while the mood at Turangawaewae is of great sadness, people also speak of their joy the Maori queen was able to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her coronation earlier this year and her 75th birthday a fortnight ago.

Mania Clarke says the tangi is expected to be the biggest ever held in the Waikato, and Maori and non Maori from around the country to pay their last respects over the coming week.

RENATA SAYS TAMIHERE CHALLENGING MANDATE

Hauraki Maori Trust Board chairperson Toko Renata says former MP John Tamihere isn't being fully transparent in his attacks on the board.

Mr Tamihere has accused Mr Renata and three other officials of being a gang of four who make all the decisions and ignore the wishes of constituent iwi.

He says his iwi Ngati Porou ki Hauraki wants to leave the board, but is being locked in.

Toko Renata says what Mr Tamihere and others are really upset about is that the trust board was the mandate to settle claims on behalf of the Hauraki whanui.

HAKA IMPACT COULD BE GLOBAL

Arts marketer Toi Maori is looking for ways for Maori performing arts to make a global impact.

Chief executive Garry Nicholas says the organisation met the New Zealand Music Industry Commission yesterday to discuss ways to market waiata worldwide.

Mr Nicholas says the commision is not meeting its responsibilty to promote waiata and other Maori performing arts.

Mr Nicholas says there is a growing number of young people involved in kapa haka and in producing Maori material, and they want wider recognition for their efforts.

Gary Nicholas says 80 percent of schools have a kapa haka, and the secondary schools cultural competitions are becoming exciting and keenly fought events.

PETERS TRIBUTE TO DAME TE ATA

winston on queen

Maoridom has been in turmoil today at the tribes make arrangements to get to Ngaruawahia for the tangihanga of Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.

Busses have been booked, phone calls made and other arrangements made for what is the largest tangi oif a generation.

Craig Coxhead, the chairperson of Te Wananga o Aoteartoa, says for organisitions with a large Maori workforce, it has required a huge amount of activity to ensure there is sufficient capacity to keep operating while people fulfil their tribal and personal duties.

The tributes have also continued to flow for the Maori gueen, who died yesterday after a long illness aged 75.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says it is an extraordinarily sad time as people remember Dame Te Ata's contributions to Maoridom and the country during her 40 years as head of the Kingitanga.

WHANAU SUPPORT CRITICAL FOR MEDICAL CAREER

A veteran Maori doctor says the key to getting more Maori into the profession is supportive whanau.

Toby Ruakere from Te Atiawa Medical Service says that hasn't changed in his 40 years on the job.

He says many Maori don't appreciate that while the entry bar to a medical career is high, it is achievable with the right kind of whanau support.

Dr Tony Ruakere, who has just been made a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.

DIGITAL RIPOFF PART OF AGE

The digital age is making it increasingly difficult for Maori to protect their images and intellectual property rights from commercial exploitation.

Tama Huata runs Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre, which has been on the international circuit for more than 15 years.

Mr Huata says a lot of work has gone into composition, costuming and choreography, but the group has learned there is not much it can do to stop people on ripping off ideas, especially not that many people carry cellphones with cameras.