Tauranga contemporary claims heard

Tauranga iwi say the way their land was taken for public works was another form of raupatu or confiscation.

Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga are this week presenting evidence to the Waitangi Tribunal on their claims covering issues after 1886.

The tribunal has already reported on the confiscations following the land wars of the 1860s.

Ngai Te Rangi claims co-ordinator Riri Ellis says it's focusing on the remnants of land left to the iwi and the social and economic deprivation the people have undergone.

“We're hoping that the Tribunal easily comes to the conclusion that the Crown acted to breach the treaty by taking our land through post-confiscation means such as public works and the creation of dubious legislation to take land in other ways. It’s not just the ports, it’s the waterways, the rails, all those types of things,” Ms Ellis says.

She says Maori land seemed to be targeted whenever public works were required.

ISLAND BAY ISLAND GIVEN WAHI TAPU STATUS

Wellington iwi Te Ati Awa has endorsed the decision of the Historic Places Trust to declare Taputerangi Island as a wahi tapu.

The 3 hectare island in Island Bay off Wellington's south coast contains the remains of an old pa and has a long and colourful pre European history.

Te Ati Awa spokesperson Morrie Love the declaration will help Te Atiawa's efforts to clean up the island, which also has links to Ngati Ira, Ngati Toa and Ngati Mutunga.

“We also want to use it as a lever somewhat to ensure that the island is kept in good condition,. Not only that, but it’s the sea around it which is important, which is likely to be part of the new marine reserve, so there are a number of things happening almost simultaneously,” Mr Love says.

He says protecting sea life will help preserve the island's ecology.

MAORI PHOTOS UNCOVERED IN BOOK

A new book just out has uncovered many previously unknown photographs of Maori people taken between 1860 and 1940.

Auckland art dealer John Gow and co-author Michael Graham-Stewart collected the images from auctions and sale rooms, mostly in Britain, over the past 15 years.

Mr Gow says while there is a world-wide interest among collectors in early photography, the images get their strength by being back in a New Zealand collection.

“The relevance for these photographs are to be contextualized in our history, so it’s much more appropriate that they come back here and be displayed in a manner in which people can look and digest in their own time, which is why we wanted to produce a high quality well designed hardback covered book,” Mr Gow says.

He says the 90 photographs in Out of Time: Maori and the Photographer 1860-1940 were selected from several hundred in the Ngawini Cooper Trust Collection, and represent some of the best images taken in this country.

MEN'S HEALTH GIVEN PRIORITY

The new general manager of Waipareria Trust's health and social services divisions says Maori communities can do more to lift the self esteem of Maori men.

Paul Stanley says men's health has not been a priority in the health sector, and Maori men are dying younger than they should.

Mr Stanley employment issues also affect health, and middle aged Maori men are particularly vulnerable.

“Often a bloke who will lose his job up around 55 years of age, is dead within 18 months, because he feels he has passed his use by date, so the whole idea of this Brothers event this weekend is bringing back a celebration about our Maori men and the role they play in our world,” Mr Stanley says.

Wai Health will offer free health checks to men who come to Brothers, a free concert in Henderson on Sunday.

MAORI SOUGHT FOR POLY PILL TRIAL

Gisborne Maori are being recruited to participate in a drug trial for a pill to reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Anthony Rodger, the director of Auckland University's Clinical Trials Research Unit, says the polypill packs four drugs into one pill, including aspirin, a cholestrol lowering drug and two blood pressure potions.
Professor Anthony Rodger says the trial will involve 600 people.

“We're hoping that at least half the participants will be Maori and we think that’s a really important thing to do for a number of reasons. Maori have particularly high levels of heart disease and stroke, so you want the evidence to accrue in those who might benefit most from these kind of treatments,” Professor Rodger says.

YOUTH PARLIAMENT TO GIVE RANGATAHI EYE ON FUTURE

Youth Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta says rangatahi need to get more involved in electoral politics.

Ms Mahuta says she is encouraging young Maori to put themselves forward for the fifth youth parliament, which will be held at parliament next July.

She says there are real benefits to participation.

“By 2025 Statistics New Zealand shows that there will be a browning of the population. What that means is that young people in particular can have a critical influence in the way this country goes. What we do know is that young people do not participate in electoral processes, so my involvement is to encourage rangatahi to get involved,” Ms Mahuta says.

She says the youth parliament gives rangatahi a taste of what it's like to run the country.