Te Matatini draw leaves crowded pool A

Some of the country's top kapa haka groups will be out in the first round in a draw prepared for next February's Te Matatini national competiton.

In past years, immediate past finalists were evenly spread among the three pools, meaning the strongest six teams were likely to do battle on the third day of the event.

This time the pools were chosen at random, and five of the top teams have ended up in pool A.

Kingi Kiriona, a tutor for Waikato kapa haka Te Iti Kahurangi, says he won't let the draw faze him, as the battle to the finals is never easy.


CANCER VACCINE SUBSIDY NEEDED

A south Auckland health worker says the government needs to make sure a new cervical cancer vaccine is accessible to Maori.

Kim Wii, a nurse at Turuki Healthcare, says the $450 price tag for the Gardasil vaccine treatment will mean it is unaffordable for many Maori women.

Between 50 and 100 women die each year from cervical cancer.

Gardasil is causing controversy overseas because it has been cleared to be given to girls as young as nine.

NEW TEACHING METHODS NEEDED

Maori educationalist Wiremu Doherty says changes in pedagogy are the key to improving the achievement of boys at high school.

National's education spokesperson MP Bill English has expressed alarm at the fact 50 per cent more girls than boys gained university entrance last year.

Mr Doherty, the head of Maori studies at Manukau Institute of Technology, says the needs of boys are different to those of girls - as are those between Maori and Pakeha students.

Mr Doherty says that those differences must be recognised and changes made in teaching practice:

TAINUI PREPARE TO HONOUR TONGAN KING

Tainui elders are discussing their response to the death overnight of the King of Tonga, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.

It's likely the new king, Tuheitia, will go to Tonga for the funeral.

Representatives of the Tongan Royal family attended the tangi of the late Maori queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, and gifted a ceremonial tapa for her burial.

Tainui chairperson Tukoroirangi Morgan says the ariki families of the Pacific maintain their links with each other.

Tukoroirangi Morgan says Dame Te Atairangikaahu, was a frequent guest at major state events held by King Tupou .

WORLD TRADE CENTRE DOWNFALL REMEMBERED

A New Zealand lawyer who was in New York on September the 11th five years ago says the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre needs to be seen in its proper context.
From his office window, Tama Potaka could see the iconic towers burning and eventually falling.

He says anyone who was in the city will remember that day.

But Mr Potaka says people should not forget the suffering and devastation in other parts of the world.

Tama Potaka says the American response to 9 - 11 has not made the world a more peaceful or stable place.

TARANAKI READY FOR MANU KORERO

Surf Highway in South Taranaki will well travelled over the next couple of days as Maori converge on the seaside town of Opunake for the annual national Maori secondary schools' speech competetions, Nga Manu Korero.

Rawiri Tinirau, who is co-ordinating the event, says the competition remains a forum that helps nurture future Maori leaders.
52 rangatahi, winners in the 14 regional comps held around the country will give prepared and impromptu speeches in both te reo Maori and English.

Mr Tinirau says each competitor brings both whanau and school supporters, so pressure is on to find accomodation in the region.

The powhiri is being tomorow at the Sanfords event centre in Opunake, and the competition proper kicks off Wednesday morning.