NZ Post admits it's licked on kapa haka stamps

New Zealand Post has binned stamps featuring stylised kapa haka performers after negative reactions from Maori, but it's not licked yet.

Chief executive John Allen says the stamps won't be issued because of complaints from the New Zealand Maori Council and arts body Toi Maori.

He says New Zealand Post still wants to celebrate the Maori performing arts.

"Within the Maori community and particularly the Maori performing arts community, quite a few people found the way the individual characters were depicted in the stamps offesnive. That doesn't achjioeve our aim of celebnrating kapa haka and its role in the New Zealand community, so we have made the decision not to issue these stamps and try again," Allen said.

The decision will cost New Zealand Post almost 180 thousand dollars.

CABLE BAY BRIDGE ROUSES NGATI KAHU

Maori in Cable Bay in the far north say they are ready to go head on with a develop who wants to build a pedestrian overbridge between an exclusive condominium development and the beach.

Tina Yates says locals are angry because the Far North District Council did not publicly notify the development or the bridge.

Work on the wood an steel bridge over State Highway 10 has been delayed by legal wrangling, but developer Chris Hook says he can now go ahead at any time.

Ms Yates says local Ngati Kahu people will take direct action to stop construction.

IN: It doesn't suit our enviornment, we don't like the idea of big concrete buildings put oin the hill without our agreement and then a bridge being put over the road onto the beach, onto the foreshore," Yates said.

Tina Yates says the community would prever Mr Hook to put in a pedestrian crossing instead of a bridge.

NGATI POROU LOOKING FOR LOG SCIENCE

The chief executive of East Coast's Ngati Porou Whanui Forests says Maori foresters need to embrace science and technology to get better returns for their timber.

Chief executive Chris Insley says Treaty settlements anmd the drive by Maori to make better use of their land means Maori are taking a greater role for Maori in the forestry sector.

He says for Ngati Porou Forests, science and research as the key to future development.

"It's about how we can use science and technology to find different types of products, remanufactured proiducts or a different set of products, not just relying on harvesting trees and selling logs to generate revenue. So we have formed some substantive relationships with leading science providers in the country."

Chris Insley says he wants to use knowledge he gained at the Harvard School of Business to develop a model to globalise Maori business.


WAITITI FILM GETS US DISTRIBUTION

Taika Waititi's first full length feature is now likely to get a showing in suburban cinemas across the all important United States market.

Industry giant Mirimax Films has picked up North American rights to Eagles and Sharks, which is currently in post-production in Wellington.

Waititi says the deal means there is a good chance the New Zealand Film Commission will see a return for its $1.8 million investment.

Mirimax was shown a promotional reel which included a trailer for the film and copies of his earlier shorts, Two Cars One Night and Tama Tu.

Eagles and Sharks is described as an off-beat romantic comedy, and it should appeal to teens, the lifeblood of Hollywood.

"It's amazing, I didn't set out to make a film that would appeal to that demographic. We had test screenings a few months ago and they tested it on 16-25 year old range and they really liked it which is good but somewhat scary for me to find I can write something they they would like," Waititi said.

HOANI WAITITI BABIES TAKING ON KAPA HAKA GIANTS

\How good are they really?

The kapa haka group from West Auckland's Te Kura Kaupapa o Hoani Waititi have dominated the at Auckland Secondary Schools' cultural competitions for many years.

Now former students will be testing themselves against the region's best adult groups at the Auckland Regional competitions at the Aotea Centre tomorrow.

Nga Tumanako was established to reunite students from the kura, and most of the performers are in their early 20's.

Group member Amomai Pihama says it will be be challenge coming up against well established roopu, such as Te Waka Huia, Te Roopu Manutake, Te Rautahi and Te Manu Huia.

She's confident the new group will do well enough to be one of the three groups chosen to represent Tamaki Makaurau at the nationals next February.

She says either way, the formation of Nga Tumanako has strengthened the whakawhanaungatanga between Hoani Waititi's ex students.

Maori challenge DoC for greater role

Maori are challenging the Department of Conservation to involve them more in the management of the nation's natural heritage.

Environmentally-minded Maori met in Wellington yesterday at a hui called by the Maori members of the New Zealand Conservation Authority, Piri Sciascia, Lorraine Stephenson and Charles Croft.

Tata Lawton, the department's Maori issues manager, says while the department has made an effort over the past five years to connect with te iwi Maori, it is still struggling.

He says that raises some important questions the hui tried to tackle.

"How do Maori participate and what's their role? Succession planning for Maori members on the conservation boards and authority, communication in that iwi interface and how come we're not getting of major buy in by Maori," Lawton said.

Tata Lawton says the department has established programmes to prepare its staff to engage with Maori.

RONGOWHAKAATA KEEN TO DIVIDE CATCH

The head of Gisborne iwi Rongowhakaata, Stan Pardoe, is confident agreement can be reached with neighbouring tribes about the final size of their fisheries settlement in time for the October fishing season.

Te Ohu Kaimoana fisheries settlement trust has ruled that Rongowhakaata Charitable Trust has the mandate to represent the tribe, so it can receive $2.1 million in assets, including cash, shares in Aotearoa Fisheries and 75 percent of its deepwater quota.

The inshore quota and remaining deepwater quota will be handed over when a deal is struck with Ngati Porou to the north and Aitanga a Mahaaki in the south.

Mr Pardoe says it's not so much a case of drawing a line in the sand as dividing the catch.

"There are areas that we all shared. It will probably be more likely we agree on some sort of percentage of the coastline. We shared that whole coastline. We are just trying to be fair to everyone, because at the end of the day if we whakapapa, we're all linked," Pardoe said.


COLONISATION AFFECTING MAORI DRUG NEED

The head of Auckland Maori public health organisation Hapai Te Hauora says drug and alcohol programmes for Maori need to recognise the experience of colonisation.

Hapai Te Houora presented its Mauri Ora healing model to a New Zealand Drug Foundation hui at Orakei Marae yesterday.

Chief executive Kathrine Clarke says Maori need to develop their own strategies to address drug and alcohol abuse, which have a community and historical perspective.

"Substance use is a substitute for something else. And one of those something else is that lack of tino rangatiratanga really that we all feel. The treaty is considered one of the issues in terms of disparities of health and until we actually address the issues around the treaty we are always going to have this gap that needs filling."


Kathrine Clarke says young people need to be supported to come up with their own anti-drug programmes.

She says international experience presented to a New Zealand Drug Foundation hui at Orakei Marae yesterday confirmed what people here have learned, that most school anti-drug education doesn't work.

Ms Clarke says young people respond best to their peers.
"We need to actually give then the resources and the tautoko so that they can actually develop strategies that work for them. And as adults, we need to provide the infrastructure and the support for that to occur. We just need to understand that our role as whanau in that is to tautoko."


Kathrine Clarke says Maori have particular issues to cope with regarding substance abuse, so they can't be expected to accept outside solutions.

POUWHENUA FOR NATION DREAM

A man who helped co-ordinate the construction of pouwhenua in the Hokianga is hoping other iwi will do the same.

Patariki Briggs from Kohukohu says the three poutiaki in the township have been warmly received by Maori and non Maori residents, as well as tourists visiting the area.

The carvings, called tika , pono and aroha, stand over three metres tall, and were completed by students working under master carver Nopera Pikari.

They represent the kaitiakitangaa, or guardianship of the foreshore and seabed, and add to those already erected in Ahipara, Pangaru and Rangi Point.

Mr Briggs says pouwhenua are a bold statement of Maori identity, and he'd like to see other iwi do the same.

MANUTUKE IN SWING OF MARAE DIY

Manutuke Marae, just south of Gisborne, is resounding to the sound to hammers, paintbrushes and concrete mixers.

Whaanu have arrived from all over the country to give the complex a makeover for Maori Television's Marae DIY series.

Marae spokesperson, Jody Toroa, says the marae carvings have just been restored with the help from the Historic Places Trust, and this weekend's makeover is icing on the cake for the whanau.

Paraparaumu airport development reveals sale sham

Te Whanau a te Ngaarara spokesperson Peter Love says development plans for Paraparaumu Airport are a farce designed to hide the fact the land is surplus and should go back to the original Maori landowners.

Kapiti Avion Holdings has sold the 131 hectare block for $40 million to Paraparaumu Airport Holdings, which plans a $750 million business park development on the airport fringes.

Kapiti Avion bought the land in 1995 for $1.65 million from the National Government, which claimed it did not need to offer it back to its original Maori owners because it was still being used as an airport.

Mr Love says the development is out of scale for the airport, which services relatively small turbo prop planes.

He says the next step for Te Whanau a te Ngaarara is to go back to court.

IN: We're going to challenge the Crown but more particularly we are going to challenge the Kapiti Coast District Council which should not aid and abet this development knowing it is going on land which was stolen from Maori way back when," Love said.

Peter Love says Maori support the retention of an airport, but want back the land which is obviously surplus to that use.

RAKAUMANGA SCHOOLS MINISTERS ON SUCCESS

Ministers have been told well schools need well communities.

Education Minister Steve Maharey and associate Parekura Horomia visited Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga yesterday in Huntly as part of a recess week tiki tour of schools around the country.

Deputy principal of Huntly's Rakaumanga School Robyn Hata says the school credits is high achievement rates to the fact its pupuls know where they are from and are proud of who they are.

She says the school also relies on strong community support.

IN: We are what our community is around us, and we support our community and our commmunity supports us. That is a strong ground for achievement in any kura, so we said to the ministers we need to have a well community to have a well school," Hata said.

Robyn Hata says Rakaumanga also nurtures its own teaching staff, with 10 of its teachers being ex-pupils.

RUGBY WHAKAPAPA DEFENDED

aori All Black manager Peter Potaka says questions being asked about the eligibility of Maori players are ill founded.

Queensland-born Morgan Turinui, who wants to get into the team after being dropped from the Wallabys, has queried the ethnicity of some current and past Maori players including Paul Tito and Tony Brown.

Potaka says the Maori team goes to great lengths to confirm iwi and whakapapa connections, and Turinui is off the mark.

"One of his comments was about Tito. I said he should ring home and find Tito is as Maori as Turinui is. Bottom line, all our players meet the requirements, they know their tupuna, and that's all you need to know," Potaka said.

PARAPARAUMU AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGED

Paraparaumu residents are asking when is an airport not an airport.

They hope the answer is when it is a giant industrial development.

Kapiti Avion Holdings, which bought Paraparaumu Airport from the National Government in 1995 for $1.6 million, has sold the 131 hectare block for a reported $40 million.

The new owner, Paraparaumu Airport Holdings, plans a $750 million business park development on the airport fringes.

Peter Love from Te Whanau a te Ngaarara, wholse land was taken for the airport in World War 2 without compensation, says it's all a sham to avoid declaring the land surplus - in which case its orginal owners could claim it back.

Mr Love says the developer's plans would suit an airport the size of Chicago's O'Hare of New York's Kennedy Airport, which is ridiculous.

"He does admit that the largest airopoirt hat would land there would eb a Dash 8 turbo prob but no jets. The plans he has for the airport could not possibly require 133 hectares," Love said.

Peter Love says Te Whanau a te Ngaarara will challenge the sale in court, and it wants the governemnt to step in and stop what has become an on-going farce.


MIDWINTER MATARIKI FASHION SHOW

Maori fashion designers are seeing in Matariki, the Maori new year, with at show in an Auckland graffiti gallery.

Exhibitor Bethany Edmunds says tomorrow night's opening at the Disruptive in Karangahape Road will feature live models.

The clothes, or kakahu, will be at the gallery for another month so people can see the intricate work being done by Maori designers.

Ms Edmunds says her own work combines traditional techniques and modern materials.

Other designers in the Matariki Maramataka show include Huhana and Janine Clarken, Matarika from Tribal Fibres and Carmel from Aotearoa House.

MAORI MASSAGE TEAMS UP WITH NATURAPATHS


Taranaki rongoa specialist Karangaroa, which teaches traditional Maori massage, has teamed up with the Naturopathic College of New Zealand, to offer a course that combines both fields of study.

Spokesperson Mahinekura Reifield says the five month Ka Ora programme is recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

She says the alliance will allow students the best of both worlds.

Te Ohu Kaimoana ahead of schedule

The Maori fisheries settlement trust is ahead of schedule for getting Maori fisheries assets into the hands of the tribes.

The latest iwi to complete mandating processes is Gisborne-based Rongowhaata, which is set to receive $2.1 million in deepwater quota, cash and shares in pan Maori fishing company Aotearoa Fisheries.

It now just needs to reach agreement on its coastal boundaries with neighbours Ngati Porou and Te Aitanga a Mahaki to receive the balance of its inshore quota entitlement.

Te Ohu Kaimoana chief executive Peter Douglas says he's pleased at progress, particularly after earlier complaints that the trust was moving too slowly.

"Rongowhakaata is now the 22nd of the 57 tyribes we are required to mandate, which is ahead of schedule - we are required to have 24 done by the end of this year - but my objective is now to have all of them done by the first quarter of the next calendar year," Mr Douglas says.

He says the pressure will now be on the East Coast cluster of tribes to reach agreement on inshore boundaries in time for the October fishing season.

GREEN MP WANTS MAORI ON DRINK PANEL

Green MP Metiria Turei says a government review panel looking at the regulations covering alcohol advertising should include a Maori community representative.

The panel includes Tim Rochford, a lecturer in Maori studies at the Wellington School of Medicine.

But Ms Turei says while the effects of alcohol consumption on Maori are not so different to non-Maori, there are other differences.

"For individuals who have problems and families, the interventions needed and programmes needed are different, so there should be specific representation of Maori community organisations and alcohol addiction groups on that review panel," Turei said.

Metiria Turei says if it's good enough to have a representative of the advertising industry on the panel, it should be good enough to have proper Maori representation.

WHARE MATAURANGA CENTRAL TO NAPIER KURA

Napier's Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Ara Hou is rethinking the way schools should be built.

The kura has secured $5.9 million in government funding to replace the overcrowded, badly heated and leaky buildings it inherited from Wycliff intermediate, the previous users of its site in south east Napier.

It has a roll of 190 students, ranging from new entrants to seventh formers, and principal Wii Pohatu says the new complex should cater for up to 220 students.

He says it will have 14 classes circling around a central whare matauranga or house of learning.

"It's going to be a space that can be utilised as a teaching space, smaller spaces or a huge space, it can be turned into classrooms. It is not just a wharenui as we have on a marae, it is using that idea but not," Pohatu said.

Wi Pohatu says the kura whanau believed it was more important to have a teaching space than a space to receive manuhiri, although the whare mataurangi can be used for that.

BROADBAND CONCERN FOR MAORI IN BUDGET

Labour MPs have spread out around the country selling the Budget.

Maori MPs Dover Samuels, Dave Hereora and Shane Jones were in Northland yesterday with communications minister David Cunliffee meeting Maori and business leaders.

Mr Jones, the chair of the Maori caucus, says there were no questions about Manaaki Tauira student grants, the future of Maori Affairs minister Parekura Horomia or other issues which have exercised political circles in Wellington.

Instead they wanted to know about the extra funding for numeracy and literacy, apprenticeships, and what the impact of telecommunicaitons reform was likely to be on rural areas.

"Lots of Maori women in particular are coming back in mid-career to do long distance learning, and they were out in force today pointing out the quality of the telecommunications infrastructure is going to guide them as to whether they can continue to study," Jones said.

He said people in the north are keen that the Probe initiative to get broadband to schools should also be extended to other community organisations.

MAORI SOCIAL WORK UPSKILLING NEEDED

assey University social services lecturer Fiona Te Momo says not enough Maori are involved in paid social work.

Dr Te Momo says most Maori workers are involved on a voluntary basis but don't hold a recognised qualification.

She says the profession needs to find better ways to recognise prior learning and to build the capacity of Maori volunteers, community workers and social workers.

Dr Te Momo says there are significant questions to be answered.

"How do we encourage our people not in the homes but in the wider community to see that type of work as a profession so they can get employment, get a job, and how do we value a lot of our Maori people dong that kind of mahi anyway," Te Momo said.

Fiona Te Momo will be delivering the annual Oteha lecture at Massey University's Te Mata o Te Tau Academy Research and Scholarship in Albany tomorrow.

LANGUAGE BOSS DREAMING OF RAROTONGA

Next week's New Zealand mission to the Pacific led by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will include represantation for the Maori language commission, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori.

Chief executive Haami Piripi says it's the first time the commission has been asked to be part of such a delegation, and he's looking forward to discussing language issues with his counterparts in other Pacific nations.

Mr Piripi says he and commissioner Pat Hohepa are particularly looking forward to visiting Rarotonga, whose language is very close to New Zealand Maori.

"The Cook Islands still has living language communities, people who grow up speaking Maori, people who go to bed and dream in Maori. In New Zealand, while we have a strong push towards regeneration of language, it is at acquisition of language rather than the high proficiency end. We are losing high proficiency speakers becuase our elders die much earlier than other New Zealanders," Piripi said

Rongowhakaata ready for $2.1m fish share

Gisborne-based Rongowhakaata iwi has completed the mandating requirements which allows it to collect the first part of its fisheries settlement assets.

Te Ohu Kaimoana fisheries settlement trust chief executive Peter Douglas says the Rongowhakaata Charitable Trust will receive the population-based component of the settlement, $2.1 million in deepwater quota, cash and shares in pan-Maori fishing company Aotearoa Fisheries Limited.

Mr Douglas says the next step is to negotiate with neighbouring iwi on how to divide up the inshore quota, which allocated according to the length of a tribe's coastline.

IN: The good news for them is the tribes on either side, Ngati Porou and Te Aitanga a Mahaaki, have also passed the mandating process, so they are able to agree between them how they are going to share the inshore fisheries, which will allow them to get the remainder. The same applies to Aitanga a Mahaaki, which can do a deal with Rongowhakaata and Ngai Tamanuhiri," Douglas said.

Mr Douglas says Rongowhakaata is the 22nd iwi to establish a mandate.

OPTIMISM ON NON-SMOKING FUTURE

It may take generations for Maori to kick the smoking habit, but it will happen.

That's the view of Irene Walker from Maori heart foundation Te Hotu Manawa Maori.

Ms Walker says she is heartened by the Maori response to World Smokefree Day today, and the numbers who have turned out to Maori smokefree events around the country.

She says the key is making young people not only realise the dangers of smoking but take on leadership roles in the fight against tobacco.

MAORI HOPPING TASMAN TO BECOME WALLABIES

Maori rugby commentator Te Kauhoe Wano says new Wallaby Tai McIsaac is part of an increasing number of Maori chosen to represent Australian sports teams.

McIsaac gave up water polo to take up rugby at the age of 24 and has quickly showed his star class, playing hooker for the Western Force in this year's Super 14 and now being named in the 33 man Wallaby squad.

Mr Wano says a lot of Maori now live across the Tasman, so it's not a surprise to see them being picked at national level.


SMOKEFREE CAMPAIGN HAVING IMPACT

Smokefree Coalition head Shane Bradbrook says anti-smoking programmes aimed at Maori are starting to show positive effects.

Today is World Smokefree Day, and there have been events around the country pushing the Auahi Kore message.

The Smokefree Coalition is targeting tobacco companies, and it is also supporting Maori Party MP Hone Harawira's call for a total ban on tobacco sales

The most recent figures showed 47 per cent of Maori over the age of 15 smoke, but Mr Bradbrook says there is a downward trend.

"2003 to 2004 there was a 5% drop and there are some stats coming out shortly which will hopefuly show a continued decline, but we are below 50 % for the first time in years, so that's all good," Bradbrook said.


Shane Bradbrook says whanau support is important for quitting tobacco.

STUDENTS CLAIM GOVERNMENT FUDGING GRANT AXING REASONS

Maori Students Association President Veronica Tawhai says the Government's claim that only 9000 Maori students applied for Manaaki Tauira grants is incorrect.

The grants, which were available through the Maori Education Trust, were axed in the Budget, with the funding transferred to a scheme which aims to improve the way Maori students are taught in mainstream schools.

Ms Tawhai says the figure of 9000 relates to the number of students who met the stringent eligibility criteria required to receive the scholarship, not the total number who applied.


MAUI STRIDES THE BOARDS IN TE WAKA A MAUI

The legendary character Maui returns to the stage tonight.

Maui - One Man Against the Gods is an innovative dance theatre production being given a two-week run at Christchurch's Isaac Theatre Royal.

Artistic director Tanemahuta Gray says the show explores Maui's life and his eventual downfall.

He says he wanted to tell the story because Maui was an epic tupuna, on par with the Greek myths.

IN: For me he's dominant as Hercules is, especially around Polynesia, but the rest of the world would have no idea of who he is, except for those with a little awareness of Hawaii and the island of Maui, and I thought his stories are so worthy of being told and what he achievfed," Gray said.

Tanemahuta Gray says he hopes to take the show overseas.

Harawira wants to see Big Tobacco in court

Today is World Smokefree Day, and one of the most high profile Maori anti smoking advocates says he wants to see the tobacco companies in court.

Taitokerau MP Hone Harawira says he is setting a goal of getting the tobacco multinationals out of the country.

He says that could require action on both the legal and political fronts.

"We've already got lawyers working on cases against the tobacco industry. Preliminary advice suggests that those tobacco companies are in breach of a number of New Zealand laws, and in second of cause, is a bill to make the whole production, manufacture and sale of tobacco products illegal here in Aotearoa," Harawira said.

Hone Harawira says when he first called for the sale of tobacco products to be made illegal, many Maori smokers thought he was having a go at them, but support is coming in now people realise it is the companies he is after.

TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND IN SOUTH AUCKLAND

South Auckland is the latest area to take on the Turn Your Life Around programme for young offenders.

Better known as TYLA, the Police-led programme has been running for 10-years in Avondale.

TYLA Charitable Trust chief executive Toni-Maree Carnie says troubled teenagers get extra social support to stop them drifting into crime and anti-social behaviour.

The support continues until the rangatahi enrol in tertiary study or land permanent jobs.

Ms Carnie says the programme includes camps, school and home visits, literacy and numeracy tuition, leadership activities, and a strong cultural component.

"Now the beauty of TYLA is that it reflects the local community. So, if you got a strong group of Maori people involved then it will be culturally reflected in the propgramme for Maori young people. We have local people working on the local programme content," she said.

Toni-Maree Carnie, from the Turn Your Life Around Charitable Trust.

CHIEFS FLANKER TO MAORI'S CHIEF

The surprise inclusion of Chiefs hardman Jono Gibbs in the New Zealand Maori side has been a huge boost for the team.

Coach Donny Stevenson says the omission of the blind side flanker from the extended All Blacks squad meant he could take his place as the Maori side's captain.

Gibbes will lead the team to the Churchill Cup in Canada, where they'll play in a five team tournament.

Stevenson says the the whole team has been lifted by Gibbs' arrival.

COROMANDEL HUI FAILS TO RESOLVE CUSTOMARY SPLIT

A hui on customary rights on the Coromandel Peninsula has failed to resolve disputes between Hauraki iwi and a splinter of the East Coast Ngati Porou tribe.

Ngati Porou ki Hauraki has land at Kennedy by and Mataora near Whangamata, an legacy of earlier cooperation between the tribes.

But members of Hauraki iwi Ngati Tamatera are upset Ngati porou is now claiming customary rights to the foreshore.

Spokesperson Koro Ngapo says those rights were retained by Hauraki.

He says Hauraki iwi turned out in force to a hui convened by the Ministry of Justice, but the ministry refused to allow discussion of tuku whenua , the traditional way the land was gifted to Ngati porou, and the obligations that went with that.

"The Crown was trying to say that the tuku whenua was separate from this taku taimoana issues and Hauraki said straight out no its not 'it's the founding document is suppose for Ngati Porou ki Hauraki. But certainly we're not gonna sit there we're going to start running around the iwi of Hauraki to see what we can do legally I guess."

Koro Ngapo says intermarrige has resulted in many Hauraki Maori also having whakapapa connections back into the gifted lands.

MAORI TARGET OF ALCOHOL AD REVIEW

The man heading a review of alcohol advertising regulations says the review team will be looking closely at the effect of advertising on maori communities.

Dr Ashley Bloomfield, the Health Ministry's chief public health advisor, says earlier research has indicated the way Maori consume alcohol can lead to harm.

"It's important to have Maori input and the pattern of consumption against Maori is the one that tends to be associated with the harms in other words its that higher per occasion consumption what we might call binge drinking," Bloomfield said.

The review team also includes Tim Rochford, a lecturer in Maori studies at the Wellington School of Medicine.

MAORI RURAL MOVE MAPPED

Statistics New Zealand says the trend of Maori moving back to rural areas is showing up in the latest statistics.

The department has released its first data from the 2006 Census, showing the total population at 4.1 million, up 7.8 percent on 2001.

Spokesperson Tamati Olsen many rural areas with traditionally high levels of Maori population like Whanganui, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, Bay of Plenty high levels of growth which bucked more long-standing trends of rural decline.

Mr Olsen says the trend may not be sustainable because of moves such as the decision by Work and Income to refuse unemplyment benefiots to peole who move to rural areas where there is little prospect of employment.

Mr Olsen says more specific information about Maori population trrends will start coming out in October, and there will be extensive data available on the make-up of individual iwi.

PM sets powhiri ground rules

Prime Minister Helen Clark says it's her kaupapa that counts, not that of the tangata whenua.

Labour's Maori MPs are showing a lack of enthusiasm for Ms Clark's edict that women can sit in the front row during powhiri or formal welcomes in government institutions.

But Ms Clark says she expects departments to arrange welcomes in such a way that women dignataries are not put down in any way.

"The reality is that when I as Prime Minister or another woman minister or member of Parliament goes to any kind of state institution, we expect to be greeted in a way which is consistent with our kapapa, and that means we are not accorded a place which, frankly, is unreasonable," Clark said.

Helen Clark says there are ways to accommodate visitors without giving offence to anyone.


NGAITERANGI WALK OUT OF MUAOU MEETING


Ngaiterangi leaders are unrepentant about walking out of a weekend hui aimed to resolve who has traditional ownership rights over Mauao at Mount Maunganui.

The mountain is to be returned to tangata whenua, and four iwi have staked their claims.

Ngaiterangi chairman Hauata Palmer says he is comfortable for the other two Tauranga Moana iwi, Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga, to be recognised, but Te Puke hapu Waitaha shouldn't even be in the room.

Ngaiterangi drove Waitaha off the mountain in the 1700s, after itself being driven out of Maketu by Waitaha.

Mr Palmer says those battles are the basis for today's rights.

"i the same way Waitaha has said in their historical evidence that Ngaiterangi has no connection at all to Maketu, whihc Ngaiterangi used ot occupy, we are using their argument and saying Waitaha has no historical connection to Muaou," Palmer said.

WAIHIRERE TAKE ON HAKA PIRATES

Copy their moves and they will do a haka on your head.

That is the message from top East Coast kapa haka Waihirere Maori Group to a spate of unauthorised recordings of its performances.

Legal adviser Willie Te Aho says last week's performance at the Tamararo Festival in Gisborne was filmed without permission, and copies are already circulating around the North Island.

Mr Te Aho says Waihirere will try to get the culprits banned from festivals..

"hen someone takes a copy of our performance, they are belittling the alue of our taonga. We want everyoe out there to know the culture of, 'Oh, it'll be OK,' isn't OK any more," Te Aho said.

Willie Te Aho says Waihirere has always been willing to allow recordings of its performances, if the proper processes are followed.

CLARK DEFENDS MAORI MINISTER FROM "MINDLESS" CRITICISM

The Prime Minister says National Party attacks on Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia are just mindless oppostion.

National MPs Georgina Te Heuheu and Tau Henare have called on Mr Horomia to resign because he didn't ask for more money in the Budget for the Ministry of Maori Development.

Helen Clark says since it came into office in 1999 the Labour Government has tripled the amount Te Puni Kokiri gets.

She says whatever Mrs te Heuheu says, it is clear National would never increase the amount it spends on Maori.


"e Puni Kokiri would be luicky to survive at all becuase Digger Don, her leader, doesn't believe there should be a ministry of Maori affairs at all, so for her to attack Parekura Horomia, who is part of a government that has made a huge difference to Maori whanau, is simply unreasonable and ridiculous," Clark said.

Helen Clark says Te Puni Kokiri is mainly a policy ministry, and the huge gains for Maori have come in the spending of mainstream departments like health and education and through the Working for Families tax rebates.

NGATI POROU FEAR TUSNAMI

In the wake of this month's tsunami scare in Gisborne, East Coast people are finding out what to do if a tidal wave really hits.

Civil Defence is coming to Waiapu Valley this week to discuss contingency plans.

Ngati Porou kuia Keri Kaa says the Asian tsunami should have been a wake up call for all coastal communities, but it took this month's panic to bring the threat home.

She says a tsunamic could come inland far up the Waiapu River valley.

Keri Kaa says she is particularly concerned for the safety of kaumaatua and the disabled, who may not be able to evacuate their homes quickly.

FIRE SHAKEUP COULD IMPROVE SERVICES FOR RURAL MAORI

he proposed shake up of the fire service could be a good thing for rural Maori communities.

Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker wants to put urban and rural firefighters under one organisation.

There are now more than 85 organisations under the National Rural Fire Authority.

Fire Service Maori spokesperson Piki Thomas says it should improve service away from towns and cities.

Piki Thomas says in the past the Fire Service has tried to do a lot of fire safety education in rural areas to make up for potential gaps in its ability to respond operationally.

Maori soldiers proud peacekeepers

Goff maori

The Minister of Defence says Maori should be proud of the work being done by Maori soldiers in the region's trouble spots.

Some Maori have been critical ofhte money spent on deployment of troops overseas while Maori issues at home remain unresolved, but Phil Goff says New Zealand can't ignore its own neighbourhood.

New Zealand troops are currently on the ground in East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

Mr Goff says Maori military personel are adding to New Zealand s growing reputation for resolving political unrest.

He says most of those troops have a cultural affinity with the indigenous communities they encounter.


HUI TAUAMATA SPARKING BUSINESS INTEREST

If the hui taumata roadshow is building confidence in the Maori business community, it deserves the thumbs up.

That's according to Manuka Henare, from Auckland University's associate dean of Maori and Pacific development.

He says the series of hui, which continue this week at Palmerston North tomorrow and Christchurch on Thursday, is a way to maintain the momentum from last year's Hui Taumata economic summit.

Manuka Henare says for generations Maori have been a source of cheap labour, and few Maori ran their own businesses. That is changing.

WHALEWATCH LEADS KAIKOURA GROWTH

If plans are approved, next time you go to Kaikoura, you could watch a whale, play a round, eata a steak, and lay down your head, without leaving town.

Wally Stone, the CEO of Whalewatch Kaikoura, says even though the business is one of the most suceessful Maori tourism ventures, bad weather can leave many of their clients out on a limb.

The company has bought a prominent headland, where they plan to develop a a golf course with accomodation and conference facilities.

Mr Stone says applying for a resource consent gave the Whalewatch board a good chance to plan its future.

Wally Stone says with only four and a half thousand residents, Kaikoura lacks the tourism infrastructure of towns like Queenstown or Rotorua, and there is plenty of development which needs to be done.
and planning.

WHANAU URGED TO TACKLE DRUG SCOURGE

Maori families are being challenged to do more to combat drug abuse.

Paddy Whiu, the police iwi liason officer for Taitokerau, says many whanau know about the drug scene in their communities, but are not doing anything about it.

Mr Whiu says the drug trade is built on demand and supply, and Maori families should make sure their rangatahi are aware of the dangers.

KUIA KEPT TA MOKO ALIVE

Ta moko artist Gordon Hadfield says it was kuia who kept the art alive at a time when it was most vulnerable.

He says while there has been a resurgence in ta moko, as young Maori proudly display their cultural identity, it's worth remembering the role elderly Maori women had in keeping the practice alive.

Mr Hadfield, who has just completed more work on international singer and songwrier Ben Harper, says he is often confronted by people who say ta moko was nearly lost.

He says it never went away, but just went to sleep for most of the century.

Wananga hurt by funding games

The head of Whakatane-based Maori tertiary institution Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi says government funding policies are hurting polytechnics and wananga.

Dr Hirini Mead says the wananga will have to cut staff because of a drop in student numbers since 2004.

Te Awamutu-based Te Wananga o Aotearoa is also shedding staff and courses, as the result of falling enrolments and government moves to limit the growth of the wananga sector.

Dr Mead says the government is making survival difficult.

POLL FIGURES SWEET FOR MAORI PARTY

New Zealand First's Maori spokesperson Pita Paraone says the Maori Party can be satisfied with its 3 per cent showing in the latest Colmar Brunton poll.

While New Zealand First polled at 4 percent, Paraone said there was a fundamental difference.

He said because the Maori Party is after electorate seats, it does not have to worry about the 5 percent threshhold for list-only parties to enter Parliament - so it can be well pleased it is holding its support.

GOVERNMENT POWHIRI TOO LONG A WAIT FOR CUP OF TEA

Ngati Porou kuia Keri Kaa says powhiri or traditional Maori welcomes in government departments have got too complicated.

Ms Kaa says there is a lot of confusion about powhiri, because Pakeha are trying to impose a feminist view on Maori by saying it’s not right women should take the back seat at government powhiri.

She says Maori need to ask another question ...... whether they should be conducting such ceremonies in a government environment.

She says people are losing sight of all the fat they need to do is welcome someone in, have a short mihimihi in reply, and get to the cup of tea.

Keri Kaa says it is up to Maori to have the argument about how powhiri or any other tikanga or cultural practice should be
conducted, not for Pakeha politicians or feminists.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION NECESSARY STRATEGY

Maori academic Dr Ranginui Walker says the government needs to embrace proper affirmative action programmes for Maori or face a potential time bomb.

Maori-specific programmes have been off the agenda since the political backlash against the Closing the Gaps policy in the first term of Helen Clark’s government, and the emphasis is now on needs- based delivery of services.

But Dr Walker says affirmative action it is an essential tool to reverse historical grievances and current Maori disadvantage.

He says despite opposition from some parts of the public to Maori receiving a helping hand, the fact is the colonial experience in New Zealand was that governments took land from Maori owners and transferred it to Pakeha owners.

The consequence of that was Maori impoverishment, a situation which cannot be allowed to continue.

PAREKURA TOUGHTS IT OUT

The Minister of Maori affairs is unconcerned at calls for him to resign, saying critism is part of political life.

Parekura Horomia has been under fire since he admitted to the Maori Affairs last week that he had not asked for more money in the Budget for his department.

Mr Horomia says it's been a tough week, but nothing he can't handle.

Parekura Horomia says there is too much to be done for him to consider stepping down.

CASHMORE BACK AFTER BACK QUITS

As one stalwart of Maori rugby is lost overseas, another returns home to retire.

Waikato, Chiefs and Maori prop Deacon Manu is ready to join Llanelli (PRON: Clanethli) - the only Welsh team to have beaten the All Blacks in the past half century.

Meanwhile, former Auckland, Blues and All Blacks fullback Adrian Cashmore has cut short his two year contract with another Welsh team, the Ospreys, and because of back problems.

Cashmore says he his giving up the game altogether and returning to New Zealand, rather than risk permanent injury.

Maori coach Donny Stevenson says that is disappointing for Cashmore and the Maori squad, but he is looking forward to seeing the Ngati Awa star on his return.

Funeral for Anne Delamere

At Pipitea Marae in Wellington this morning, a large number of people from around the motu is expected for the funeral of one of Maoridom's most respected kuia, Anne Delamere.

Miss Delamere, died at her home in Hataitai on Friday, aged 85.

In 2004 she was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand order of Merit, the country's second highest honour, equivalent to the old title of Dame Companion.

As well as her long career in Maori Affairs, Miss Delamere contributed to organisations as diverse as the Maori Education Trust, the Ministry of Women's Affairs, Aged Concern, Pacifica, the New Zealand Planning Council and the Prison Chaplain's Advisory Service.

Former Maori Affairs community officer Vera Morgan says as one of the first qualified Maori social workers, Miss Delamere led the way for others.

"She was a woman with two cultures and she was very much for educaiton and also for her taha Maori, but she married those two things where she walked two worlds, and very comfortable and very loved," Morgan said.

Vera Morgan says Miss Delamere was a woman of integrity who was always able to show people a path ahead.

CORRECTIONS POWHIRI PROTOCOL CORRECT

Department of Corrections staff are crying foul at criticism of the way they conduct powhiri.

Cultural adviser Charlie Tawhiao says the department has more reason than most to ensure its observance of Maori cultural procedures is right.

He says tikanga Maori is used extensively in prison rehabilitation, and it makes the effort to ensure standards are maintained.

Mr Tawhiao says the department doesn't dictate cultural practices to Maori, but takes advice on the appropriate kawa or protocols from mana whenua in each region it operates in.

"There isn't a single way of getitng it right so at each place we want to enact Maori cultural practives, we establish what is right for that place, that means we will never have one right way for our department at least, it will depend on what the people of that place decide it is," Tawhiao said.

MOHI UNLOCKS MOTEATEA POWER

Maori songstress Hinewehi Mohi says don't underestimate the power and influence of the old waiata or moteatea.

Mohi has co-produced a third series of programmes on Moteatea for Maori Television.

She says the old songs are part of an oral tradition where knowledge, customs and values are transmitted between generations.

SOLOMON RETAINS NGAI TAHU CHAIR

Ngai Tahu chairman Mark Solomon has beaten off three challengers to retain leadership of New Zealand's richest tribe, but divisions which have paralysed the executive look set to continue.

At a meeting of the runanga executive on Saturday, the 18 members split 9-9 between Mr Solomon and Te Maire Tau.

Mr Solomon described the meeting as sobering, and said the executive was committed to a united future.

The contest has been bitter and divisive, with leaked emails from iwi chief executive Tahu Potiki criticising the tribe's commercial performance .

One casualty was the head of the Ngai Tahu Holdings, Robin Pratt, who quit this month over what he said was his objection to a plan to give the runanga more say in financial matters.

Mr Solomon says changes will be made to the tribe's governance structure this year.

SMACKING THREAT TO MAORI TAMARIKI

Childrens Commissioner Cindy Kiro says there are serious implications for Maori children if Section 59 of the Crimes Act is not repealed.

That's the section which says parents may use "reasonable" force to discipline a child.

The section has been used as a successful defence by parents accused of child abuse.

Dr Kiro says violence or abuse in any form is not the way to go:

"The implications are even more important for Maori children that we reinforce for parents and anyone caring for our tamariki the need to positively parent them, the need to use strategies that don't resort to physical violence or emotional violence," Kiro said.

Cindy Kiro parents need to learn positive methods to create good feelings and clear boundaries and rules for their children.

AUSSIES SAY AYE TO INDIGENOUS CULTURE

More Australians than New Zealanders believe indigenous culture is an important part of their society.

A poll by trend watchers Roy Morgan International found 69 percent of Australians believe aboriginal culture is an essential component of Australian society - up 5 percent on when the survey was last done in 2000.

Only 58 percent of New Zealanders think Maori culture is essential, but thatr's a 9 percent improvement on the previous survey.

Bob Newson, the Maori Spokesperson for the Human Rights Commission, says the result is a surpise given the proportion of New Zealand's population who are indigenous.

But Mr Newson says a lot depends on who was surveyed.

"If I went to young New Zealanders it would be different. If I go to older New Zealanders, they are still contemplating loss of a part of themselves, and it is all about a loss of power and control and everything else," Newson said.