Bad news, then the good news for southern hui a tau

The head of the Ngai Tahu Runanga says Saturday's hui a tau at Moeraki will be told the worst is over.

The tribe made an $11 million loss last year on revenue of $174 million, driven by a $22 million write off in the value of assets in its seafood and tourism divisions.

Kaiwhakahaere Mark Solomon says a structural review has trimmed operating costs, and improved market conditions should help the fishing business in the current year.

Mr Solomon says the annual hui will also be told Ngai Tahu will be looking to work more with other tribes.

“This financial year coming, one is we’ll get back on track with the returns from the Holdings Corporation, but I also think there are a lot more opportunities opening within iwi katoa of closer relationships, more working together culturally, financially, socially and environmentally,” Solomon says.

Mark Solomon says highlights include being recognised as a mandated iwi organisation to receive the fisheries settlement assets, and the launch of the Whai Rawa tribal saving scheme.

TPK NOT DELIVERING – TE HEUHEU

List MP Georgina Te Heuheu says the Ministry of Maori Development is failing to deliver value to Maori.

The Maori Affairs select committee this week held a financial review of Te Puni Kokiri.

Mrs te Heuheu says MPs were alarmed at the $7 million spent on consultants, the high staff turnover, and what appears to be a lack of expertise in the ministry.

She says National is not convinced Te Puni Kokiri is helping disadvantaged Maori:

“We've been asking them now to convince us that they really do bring value to lifting Maori, and I suppose from the point of view of Maori in enhancing rangatiratanga. In the end I suppose iwi do that themselves,” te Heuheu says.

SIR PETER BUCK COMMEMORATED AT URENUI

The late Sir Peter Buck will be remembered this weekend at his papakainga in Taranaki.

Also known as Te Rangi Hiroa, Sir Peter was the first Maori medical doctor, the MP for Northern Maori from 1909 to 1914 and a distinguished anthropologist.

Ngati Mutunga kaumatua Tahuaroa McDonald says the commemoration begins this evening with a kawe mate at Ruapekapeka Marae in Urenui.

Mr McDonald says Te Rangi Hiroa has a special place on the marae.

“Te Rangihiroa grew up on our marae, and he was whangaied by our tupuna kuia called Roimata. When he born, a whare was built for him, and it still stands today. It’s a raupo whare, and that’s called Maihi Tamariki, and the whare paremata or Rangipuahoaho,” McDonald says.

Tahuaroa Mc Donald says Saturday the Royal Society of Scientists will present its Te Rangihiroa Award of Excellence, and there will be speeches from descendants of te Rangi Hiroa and fellow Young Maori Party members Maui Pomare and Pohau Ellison.

FRESH START NEEDED TO OVERCOME VIOLENCE

Childrens Commissioner Cindy Kiro says Maori need to find alternatives to violent behaviour within their whanau.

Dr Kiro says today's white ribbon campaign should remind people ahead of the stressful Christmas period that violence is not acceptable.

She says it's not good that the rates of family violence for Maori are higher than other ethnic groups.

“There's all sorts of reasons for that. Most importantly it’s the way in which we’ve been brought up and learn to react in times of stress and contact, and we’ve got to find other ways to behave,” Kiro says.

The government Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families is trying to revive the Te Rito Family Violence prevention strategy, which made Maori-based approaches a priority.

HEREORA SAYS TPK SPENDING FIT FOR PURPOSE

Maori Affairs select committee chairperson Dave Hereora says spending by Te Puni Kokiri is in accordance with policy guidelines.

Committee member Georgina Te Heuheu this week grilled chief executive Leith Comer about the $7 million the Maori development ministry spent on contractors.

Mr Hereora says Mrs te Heuheu was getting sidetracked by the numbers.

“You actually need to get into the detail of what the spending was for and the reasons for it. Their spending was in accordance with the policy framework that they are employed to do,” Hereora says.

Dave Hereora says he's more concerned about the agency's high staff turnover and what appears to be a shortage of skills in house.

POTIKI RESIGNATION SHOWS SUCCESSION PLANNING NEED

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia says the shock resignation of Ngai Tahu chief executive Tahu Potiki highlights the need for iwi to build up skilled people.

Mr Horomia says while his departure is a loss to the wider tribe, it could benefit the Otakou Runanga, where Mr Potaka is headed.

“Tahu Potiki has a lot of skills like a lot of people his age in Maoridom, and I’m very keen that people like that get the succession plan in order and start to ensure that we have the right pack up Maori around us and the right skills.” Horomia says.

Mr Potiki quit in advance of tomorrow's Ngai Tahu hui a tau, at which the runanga will attempt to explain to beneficiaries why it made an $11 million loss last year.

MAORI SURFERS FACE OFF ON LEFT HAND BREAK

The best Maori surfers in the country are gathering at Poihakena Marae in Raglan to be welcomed for the annual Maori surf champs.

Defending masters champion Te Kauhoe Wano says Maori surfers dominate the New Zealand surf scene, and he expects competition to be tight.

He says those showing their skills on the country's longest left hand break include Daniel Kereopa, Morehu Roberts and Chris Malone in the men's section and Lisa Hurunui, Misha Davis, and Jess Santoric battling for the women's crown.

“Competition there is pretty fierce, but there’s that whole kotahitanga thing, whanungatanga thing, so we always have a good time. My kids are going down, they’re 11 and 12, youngest age group is 16, they’re going to put their hats in and go out for a paddle, so it’s a real whanau affair,” Wano says.