Maori youth factor in voting apathy
A conference on Maori participation in the electoral process has been told the relative youth of the Maori population is a major factor in the low Maori voting levels.
Electoral Commission chief executive Helena Catt says turnout in the Maori seats is consistently lower than in general seats, and Maori voters on the general roll are also less likely to turn up at the polling booth.
Dr Catt says the fact the median age of Maori is 13 years young than the average is a factor.
“One of the things that’s really coming through is it’s as much about age and income as it is about Maoriness, so the fact that the Maori population tends to be younger and tends to be poorer may be a large part of the explanation rather than being something inherently about being Maori,” Dr Catt says.
She says the research done for the conference may help the Electoral Commission find more effective ways to encourage Maori to vote.
TREATY DEADLINE LAW SLAP IN FACE FOR MAORI
Green Party Maori spokesperson Metiria Turei says the passing of the Maori Purposes Act last night shows the Government's total disregard for Maori rights.
The Act sets a deadline of September 2008 for lodging historical Treaty of Waitangi claims, and it raises the number of judges who can sit on the Maori Land Court.
Ms Turei says the Act was a knee jerk response to Don Brash's Orewa speech on race relations, and was written with minimal Maori consultation.
“Maori now have a deadline for when they can put in historical claims. There’s no deadline for the Government to settle them. There’s no deadline for the (Waitangi) Tribunal to have reports, and you wouldn’t expect there to be, but Maori have a deadline, and we’ve opposed it because there’s no justification for why Maori should have a deadline,” Ms Turei says.
She says no other player in the treaty settlement arena is working to a deadline.
NGAPUHI COUPLE MARRIED 61 YEARS
The search for the longest married Ngapuhi couple is over, and they will be the toast of the Ngapuhi Kaumatua Ball tomorrow night in Kaikohe.
Lahni Souter from Te Runanga O Ngapuhi, says although airfares and accommodation were part of the prize, they won't be needed.
She says the winning couple is from Whirinaki, and is active in Maori affairs in the North.
“Mata Adam Pickering and his wife Rau. They’ve been married for 61 years. They’re in their 80s. A lot of the things that are going on up here and a lot of hui on a whole range of different subjects, they’re still really active in the community and they’re there in a whole lot of these hui, so I’m so pleased they entered the competition,” Ms Souter says.
She says the Kaikohe op shop has sold out of ball gowns.
SHARPLES SAYS FAILED OPTION CAMPAIGN WORTH EFFORT
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says even though an extra Maori seat now looks unlikely, he's confident Maori voters will recognise the efforts his party made to secure one.
A 7.7 percent increase in the South Island resident population will probably outweigh the slight increase in the Maori electoral roll when the calculations are done in February.
During this year's Maori electoral option, the four Maori Party MPs fanned out across the country to encourage Maori to switch rolls.
Dr Sharples says it was worth the effort.
“It was worthwhile going on the road. We have more Maori enrolled on the Maori roll now. Our people know we’re genuine. I look forward to greater participation by Maori in the next election, even though there may be only seven seats,” Dr Sharples says.
UNVEILING FOR FIRST MAORI BISHOP MARIU
One of the Maori Catholic community's most beloved leaders will be remembered tomorrow, a year after his death.
All five Maori Catholic priests will be at Otukou Marae south of Taupo for the unveiling of the headstone for Bishop Max Takuira Mariu.
Bobby Newson, the chair of Te Runanga o Te Haahi Katorika, says the first Maori Catholic bishop was well liked and respected, and he had a style of his own.
“He was such a quiet man but very deliberate. He would sit and contemplate on things, and sometimes it would frustrate you, but he was a sure thinker. That’s what I liked about him,” Mr Newson says.
The unveiling will begin with a powhiri at 10 am.
MAORI KING TIES HIS MANA TO HMNZS TE MANA
The bond between the Navy and Tainui will be reinforced tomorrow when King Tuheitia visits the frigate Te Mana at its home port in Tauranga.
Warrant officer Mark Pirikahu, the Navy's Maori cultural adviser, says Te Mana's patron was King Tuheitia's mother, the late Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
Mr Pirikahu says the ship has asked King Tuheitia to succeed to the role.
The king will be welcomed to the region at a powhiri at Huria marae, and then will head down to the port about 3 pm.
“He'll come on board Te Mana which will be berthed in Tauranga. He’ll receive the same thing form the Navy’s perspective, and then following the powhiri there’ll be presentation made by the chief of the Navy handing over the sponsorship of Te Mana to him, or the people of Tainui,” Mr Pirikahu says.
He expects it will be an emotional event, because of the close links the ship had with the late Dame Te Ata.
Electoral Commission chief executive Helena Catt says turnout in the Maori seats is consistently lower than in general seats, and Maori voters on the general roll are also less likely to turn up at the polling booth.
Dr Catt says the fact the median age of Maori is 13 years young than the average is a factor.
“One of the things that’s really coming through is it’s as much about age and income as it is about Maoriness, so the fact that the Maori population tends to be younger and tends to be poorer may be a large part of the explanation rather than being something inherently about being Maori,” Dr Catt says.
She says the research done for the conference may help the Electoral Commission find more effective ways to encourage Maori to vote.
TREATY DEADLINE LAW SLAP IN FACE FOR MAORI
Green Party Maori spokesperson Metiria Turei says the passing of the Maori Purposes Act last night shows the Government's total disregard for Maori rights.
The Act sets a deadline of September 2008 for lodging historical Treaty of Waitangi claims, and it raises the number of judges who can sit on the Maori Land Court.
Ms Turei says the Act was a knee jerk response to Don Brash's Orewa speech on race relations, and was written with minimal Maori consultation.
“Maori now have a deadline for when they can put in historical claims. There’s no deadline for the Government to settle them. There’s no deadline for the (Waitangi) Tribunal to have reports, and you wouldn’t expect there to be, but Maori have a deadline, and we’ve opposed it because there’s no justification for why Maori should have a deadline,” Ms Turei says.
She says no other player in the treaty settlement arena is working to a deadline.
NGAPUHI COUPLE MARRIED 61 YEARS
The search for the longest married Ngapuhi couple is over, and they will be the toast of the Ngapuhi Kaumatua Ball tomorrow night in Kaikohe.
Lahni Souter from Te Runanga O Ngapuhi, says although airfares and accommodation were part of the prize, they won't be needed.
She says the winning couple is from Whirinaki, and is active in Maori affairs in the North.
“Mata Adam Pickering and his wife Rau. They’ve been married for 61 years. They’re in their 80s. A lot of the things that are going on up here and a lot of hui on a whole range of different subjects, they’re still really active in the community and they’re there in a whole lot of these hui, so I’m so pleased they entered the competition,” Ms Souter says.
She says the Kaikohe op shop has sold out of ball gowns.
SHARPLES SAYS FAILED OPTION CAMPAIGN WORTH EFFORT
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says even though an extra Maori seat now looks unlikely, he's confident Maori voters will recognise the efforts his party made to secure one.
A 7.7 percent increase in the South Island resident population will probably outweigh the slight increase in the Maori electoral roll when the calculations are done in February.
During this year's Maori electoral option, the four Maori Party MPs fanned out across the country to encourage Maori to switch rolls.
Dr Sharples says it was worth the effort.
“It was worthwhile going on the road. We have more Maori enrolled on the Maori roll now. Our people know we’re genuine. I look forward to greater participation by Maori in the next election, even though there may be only seven seats,” Dr Sharples says.
UNVEILING FOR FIRST MAORI BISHOP MARIU
One of the Maori Catholic community's most beloved leaders will be remembered tomorrow, a year after his death.
All five Maori Catholic priests will be at Otukou Marae south of Taupo for the unveiling of the headstone for Bishop Max Takuira Mariu.
Bobby Newson, the chair of Te Runanga o Te Haahi Katorika, says the first Maori Catholic bishop was well liked and respected, and he had a style of his own.
“He was such a quiet man but very deliberate. He would sit and contemplate on things, and sometimes it would frustrate you, but he was a sure thinker. That’s what I liked about him,” Mr Newson says.
The unveiling will begin with a powhiri at 10 am.
MAORI KING TIES HIS MANA TO HMNZS TE MANA
The bond between the Navy and Tainui will be reinforced tomorrow when King Tuheitia visits the frigate Te Mana at its home port in Tauranga.
Warrant officer Mark Pirikahu, the Navy's Maori cultural adviser, says Te Mana's patron was King Tuheitia's mother, the late Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
Mr Pirikahu says the ship has asked King Tuheitia to succeed to the role.
The king will be welcomed to the region at a powhiri at Huria marae, and then will head down to the port about 3 pm.
“He'll come on board Te Mana which will be berthed in Tauranga. He’ll receive the same thing form the Navy’s perspective, and then following the powhiri there’ll be presentation made by the chief of the Navy handing over the sponsorship of Te Mana to him, or the people of Tainui,” Mr Pirikahu says.
He expects it will be an emotional event, because of the close links the ship had with the late Dame Te Ata.
posted by Adam | 11:30 pm
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