South Island growth rules out extra Maori seat
A jump in Canterbury's population over the past five years has ended any chance of an eighth Maori seat in Parliament.
The number of Maori seats is determined by a complicated formula including the number of people who choose to be on the Maori electoral roll and the number of people in the South Island.
Despite a spirited campaign by the four Maori Party MPs, this year's Maori Electoral Option led to only a slight increase in the Maori roll.
Labour list MP Shane Jones says the census data released this week shows the increase in the South Island population since 2001 outweighs the option gain, and Maori will be lucky to hang on to the current seven seats.
He says Maori are voting with their feet against the style of politics brought to Parliament by Tariana Turia's Maori Party.
“It turns off far too many Maori voters because it’s backward looking, and it’s opportunistic. It does not have a long term vision which encompasses the whole country, and a lot of our families, now that they are more integrated into the economy, they don’t want all that separatist nonsense,” Mr Jones says.
The Electoral Commission will announce the number of Maori seats in early February
INDIGENOUS HEALTH HUI HELPFUL TO MAORI MEDICS
The former head of the medical school at Auckland University says this week's conference in Rotorua for indigenous doctors from around the Pacific has been a useful forum for discussing health issues affecting the entire region.
Professor Colin Mantell, says Maori doctors are held in high regard by their peers, and strategies to increase their numbers are closely watched by Pacific countries.
He says Maori have been able to to learn from their overseas counterparts, especially in the servicing of clients in remote regions.
“In terms of recruitment into health, I think people come to New Zealand to share our ideas, but there are some good initiatives relating to changing of diet and provision of healthcare in difficult circumstances that the Hawaiians or the Australians can teach us a thing or two,” Professor Mantell says.
The conference continues today.
PREPARE FOR YOUR TANGI, SYDNEYSIDERS TOLD
A Sydney-based Maori broadcaster says her constant message to Maori living in Australia's largest city, is save for your funeral.
Ngawai Denning from Ngati Toa Rangatira hosts a Maori programme each Sunday afternoon, on a multi cultural community radio station.
She says too many Maori are in Australian cemeteries, because they hadn't made arrangements to be brought back to New Zealand.
“Being on radio, I put the panui out. Don’t wait until the last minute, because our whanau in Aotearoa here cannot help you. If you come to Australia, you come for the mahi, save if you want to come back. Because if you don’t come back, you know where you will be going to? Right in the back of the urupa,” Mrs Denning says.
CENSUS SHOWS WHERE POLICY NEEDS LIE
The head of Labour's Maori Caucus says the census results show the need for politicians to develop policies to upskill young Maori and Pacific Island people.
Shane Jones says the Maori median age of 22.7, compared with 35.9 for the total population, points to a large bulge coming into the workforce over the next couple of decades.
He says it's important they don't just become labourers and drivers.
“All politicians need to come up with policies that ensure that that group is educated so that they are economically able to contribute to society and that they are not branded as talkers but they are the creators, promoters and generators of wealth,” Mr Jones says.
He says as the Pakeha population gets disproportionately older, there is potential for tension unless people appreciate they are all in the waka together.
AIDS FOUNDATION IN TREATY ROW
A former head of the Aids Foundation, says Maori are being shortchanged by the organisation.
Maori medical researcher Clive Aspin says Maori rates of infection continue to rise, and there is no room for complacency.
Dr Aspin says the foundation's reversal of its Treaty of Waitangi policy shows a disregard for the needs of tangata whenua.
“They voted unanimously, the members of the foundation, to remove all references to the Treaty of Waitangi in their constitution. They want to have a commitment to biculturalism, whatever that means, and they don’t believe they should have a commitment to the treaty. So basically the main Aids organisation in this country is saying to Maori, you need to go somewhere else to get your services,” Dr Aspen says.
Aids Foundation chairperson Jeremy Lambert says the policy change was supported by many Maori, who believed the Treaty clauses were holding back the organisation from developing effective programmes for Maori.
DEEP SOUTH SERVICE TARGETS YOUNG MAORI
Young Maori in Central Otago are being targeted in a new Maori focused health service.
Former Auckland medical school head Colin Mantell, an advisor to service provider Uruuruwhenua Health, says almost half the thousand or so Maori who live in the Otago District Health Board catchment area, are aged under 15 years.
Professor Mantell says a hui of stakeholders at Alexandra this week agreed that's where the resources should be put, which should have positive spin-offs in the future.
“Taking a 55 year old with diabetes and putting some concentration into their care was OK, but it was never going to take away the diabetes. We should be spending the time and effort and money on the under 20s ensuring they don’t develop diabetes. Certainly our focus will be on young people,” Professor Mantell says.
The number of Maori seats is determined by a complicated formula including the number of people who choose to be on the Maori electoral roll and the number of people in the South Island.
Despite a spirited campaign by the four Maori Party MPs, this year's Maori Electoral Option led to only a slight increase in the Maori roll.
Labour list MP Shane Jones says the census data released this week shows the increase in the South Island population since 2001 outweighs the option gain, and Maori will be lucky to hang on to the current seven seats.
He says Maori are voting with their feet against the style of politics brought to Parliament by Tariana Turia's Maori Party.
“It turns off far too many Maori voters because it’s backward looking, and it’s opportunistic. It does not have a long term vision which encompasses the whole country, and a lot of our families, now that they are more integrated into the economy, they don’t want all that separatist nonsense,” Mr Jones says.
The Electoral Commission will announce the number of Maori seats in early February
INDIGENOUS HEALTH HUI HELPFUL TO MAORI MEDICS
The former head of the medical school at Auckland University says this week's conference in Rotorua for indigenous doctors from around the Pacific has been a useful forum for discussing health issues affecting the entire region.
Professor Colin Mantell, says Maori doctors are held in high regard by their peers, and strategies to increase their numbers are closely watched by Pacific countries.
He says Maori have been able to to learn from their overseas counterparts, especially in the servicing of clients in remote regions.
“In terms of recruitment into health, I think people come to New Zealand to share our ideas, but there are some good initiatives relating to changing of diet and provision of healthcare in difficult circumstances that the Hawaiians or the Australians can teach us a thing or two,” Professor Mantell says.
The conference continues today.
PREPARE FOR YOUR TANGI, SYDNEYSIDERS TOLD
A Sydney-based Maori broadcaster says her constant message to Maori living in Australia's largest city, is save for your funeral.
Ngawai Denning from Ngati Toa Rangatira hosts a Maori programme each Sunday afternoon, on a multi cultural community radio station.
She says too many Maori are in Australian cemeteries, because they hadn't made arrangements to be brought back to New Zealand.
“Being on radio, I put the panui out. Don’t wait until the last minute, because our whanau in Aotearoa here cannot help you. If you come to Australia, you come for the mahi, save if you want to come back. Because if you don’t come back, you know where you will be going to? Right in the back of the urupa,” Mrs Denning says.
CENSUS SHOWS WHERE POLICY NEEDS LIE
The head of Labour's Maori Caucus says the census results show the need for politicians to develop policies to upskill young Maori and Pacific Island people.
Shane Jones says the Maori median age of 22.7, compared with 35.9 for the total population, points to a large bulge coming into the workforce over the next couple of decades.
He says it's important they don't just become labourers and drivers.
“All politicians need to come up with policies that ensure that that group is educated so that they are economically able to contribute to society and that they are not branded as talkers but they are the creators, promoters and generators of wealth,” Mr Jones says.
He says as the Pakeha population gets disproportionately older, there is potential for tension unless people appreciate they are all in the waka together.
AIDS FOUNDATION IN TREATY ROW
A former head of the Aids Foundation, says Maori are being shortchanged by the organisation.
Maori medical researcher Clive Aspin says Maori rates of infection continue to rise, and there is no room for complacency.
Dr Aspin says the foundation's reversal of its Treaty of Waitangi policy shows a disregard for the needs of tangata whenua.
“They voted unanimously, the members of the foundation, to remove all references to the Treaty of Waitangi in their constitution. They want to have a commitment to biculturalism, whatever that means, and they don’t believe they should have a commitment to the treaty. So basically the main Aids organisation in this country is saying to Maori, you need to go somewhere else to get your services,” Dr Aspen says.
Aids Foundation chairperson Jeremy Lambert says the policy change was supported by many Maori, who believed the Treaty clauses were holding back the organisation from developing effective programmes for Maori.
DEEP SOUTH SERVICE TARGETS YOUNG MAORI
Young Maori in Central Otago are being targeted in a new Maori focused health service.
Former Auckland medical school head Colin Mantell, an advisor to service provider Uruuruwhenua Health, says almost half the thousand or so Maori who live in the Otago District Health Board catchment area, are aged under 15 years.
Professor Mantell says a hui of stakeholders at Alexandra this week agreed that's where the resources should be put, which should have positive spin-offs in the future.
“Taking a 55 year old with diabetes and putting some concentration into their care was OK, but it was never going to take away the diabetes. We should be spending the time and effort and money on the under 20s ensuring they don’t develop diabetes. Certainly our focus will be on young people,” Professor Mantell says.
posted by Adam | 12:16 am
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home