MPs have limited role in forest stoush

Labour list MP Shane Jones says he can't pitch in to help resolve the current standoff between Maori landowners and Carter Holt Harvey.

Maori are upset the forestry giant is selling its interests in central North Island forests to overseas investors, denying Maori a chance to invest in the timber growing on their own land.

Earlier this week, Maori Council vice chairman, Maanu Paul, said Shane Jones was in a position to protect Maori interests.

Mr Jones denies that.

“Despite his very handsome view about the power associated with our Finance and Expenditure select committee, I hate to disappoint both myself and him. We don’t actually have the power to prohibit international transactions,” Jones says.

Shane Jones says that decision was most likely made by the Commerce Commission and the Overseas Investment Commission.

He supports Maori landowners taking their cases to the Maori Land Court for resolution.

TOLAGA BAY HARMONY PUT UNDER SPOTLIGHT

East Coast writer Stephen Donald has received $10 thousand to research a book on Maori Pakeha relations at Tolaga Bay over a 170 year period.

The grant was awarded to Mr Donald by the New Zealand History Research Trust Fund to write a history of the area covering the time from Captain Cook’s arrival there in 1769 through to 1940.

Mr Donald says the task is a daunting one given the many events and changes which took place during that time.

“We feel there’s a need for a consistent history, especially with the Waitangi Tribunal hearings coming up along the side of the coast. It’s very much a dual heritage community, and Aitanga a Hauiti are a very distinctive group alongside of the very distinctive Pakeha community, with lots of links between the two,” Mr Donald says.

HUI LOOKS AT TRANSGENDER ROLES

A hui discussing the needs of transgender people was held in Auckland yesterday.

It's part of an inquiry being conducted by the Human Rights Commission, which aims to address the problems transgender people confront daily.

Stacey, who has been an advocate for trangsgender issues for the past 13 years, says although there are many Maori who are accepting of trannsgender people, there still exists a stigma that is difficult to overcome.

She says the hui was about equality.

“The inquiry itself is to establish what rights we need as transgendered people to gain equality of service in the health sector and the Corrections Department, general government departments such as WINZ and the right to be identified as transgendered people as opposed to the scourges of society,” Stavey says.

PACIFIC ROLE RULED OUT IN TURIA ROLL ROW

Labour list MP Shane Jones says Pacific Islanders shouldn't be allowed on the Maori electoral roll for practical reasons.

His comments come after the Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said yesterday that it's time to talk about opening up the Maori roll to other ethnic groups.

Mr Jones says Mrs Turia should focus on the needs of the Tai Hauauru electorate who voted her into her position rather than the political affairs of Pacific Islanders.

He says she should remember the Maori seats are a result of the Treaty of Waitangi, and as far as he recalls, there were no Pacific Islanders at the signing of the Treaty.

“The Samoan, Tongan, Tokelauan, Niuean, did not sign the Treaty of Waitangi. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed by our tupuna, through the various tribes, and the British Crown. I see no scope and I see very little interest among our people to close down the Maori roll and hand it over to the Pacific islanders,” Mr Jones says.

He says Tariana Turia's comments contradict those of her fellow Maori Party MP Hone Harawira who says he will not represent those not on the Maori roll.

AMBASSADOR SUPPORTING FIRST NATIONS ARTISTS

Visitors to the home of the American ambassador in Wellington, are likely to see Maori artwork on the mantelpiece.

The works are included in an exhibition which includes pieces from First nations artists, and his home stat of Oregon.

Darcy Nicholas the cultural services director at the Pataka Museum, who helped source some of the maori artwork on display, says the exhibition is an example of the growing relationship between indigenous artist here and in America.

He says Ambassador Bill McCormick hosts many visitors from overseas, and it is fitting that Maori artwork be including.

“I think it’s a good step because a lot of the native American artists come down here and they’re very much like family to us now and with the artists, we communicate a lot with each other and I think it’s wonderful that that relationship between the native Americans and Maori is recognised by the ambassador,” Mr Nicholas says.

HERENGA WEAKA MARAE TURNS 20

It's twenty years today since the opening of a marae in Wellington that has played a part in the lives of thousands of students.

Te Herenga Waka marae at Victoria University has been a home away from home for students staff and the wider community, and has played hosts to dozens of conferebces and international forums.

Piri Sciascia, the professor of Maori studies at the university, says the marae is an important focal point for the campus's Maori community over the past two decades.

Today’s celebrations will recognise those who had the foresight to push for a marae to be built at the varsity, many of whom have since passed on.

Mr Sciascia says at the time, the construction of Te Herenga Waka was seen as a trailblazing initiative.

“Since we were the first university to put a marae on campus, it was very much in its initial stages the laboratory, the teaching adjunct to Maori studies, so it became a place where Maori knowledge, Maori language can be kept alive and revived and be heard,” Professor Sciascia says.