Waatea News Update

News from Waatea 603 AM, Urban Maori radio, first with Maori news

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Friday, December 15, 2006

Claims deadline shortchanging Maori

Maori Academic Rawiri Taonui says iwi will be shortchanged by the imposition of a claims deadline.

Under the Maori Purposes Act passed last week Maori have until September 2008 to lodge historical claims with the Waitangi Tribunal.

Mr Taonui, the head of Maori and Indigenous Studies at Canterbury University, says the deadline puts pressure on claimants to accept quick settlements.

He says with compensation running at about 2 percent of what tribes lost, that's clearly unfair and will damage race relations.

“In the spirit of reconciliation, we need to do the job properly. Maori tribes are entitled to a full hearing of the facts of every claim. In terms of natural justice, that’s the right of any victim,” Mr Taonui says.

He says while 1300 claims have been lodged with the tribunal, less than 300 have been settled.

MAUI SOUGHT FOR TIKI TOUR

The co-producer of the stage production, Maui - One Man Against the Gods, is looking forward to taking the show offshore next year.

Andre Anderson says New Zealand audiences warmed to the age old stories of Maui told with sophisticated staging including aerial and trapeze work, contemporary kapa haka and weaponry.

Mr Anderson says he's received several requests to present the show overseas.

“Places as bizarre as Fayetteville, Arkansas expressed serious interest in this show, and of course there’s performing arts centres in Hawaii where there’s a natural connection with the same demigod from mythical history,” Andre Anderson says.

He says great reviews from the Wellington and Christchurch seasons helped drive overseas interest in Maui.

HAYMAN MAORI PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Otago prop Carl Hayman was named the Tom French Memorial Maori player of the year at last night's annual rugby awards.

Hayman, who hails from the central North Island iwi of Ngati Tuwharetoa, was the anchor of the All Black scrum during the Tri Nations series and the tour of Europe.

New Zealand Maori coach Donny Stevenson says the award is an appropriate acknowledgement of Hayman's contribution to the game.

“I don't think it came as a surprise to anyone. I think he had an outstanding year and it was reflected in the fact he was one of three that Graham Henry named as critical top his team: Carl Hayman along with Daniel Carter and Ritchie McCaw, so it’s a well deserved accolade for Carl,” Mr Stevenson says.

TE HANA TO GET NEW POU

A 5 metre carving will be unveiled at dawn tomorrow at Te Hana, just north of Wellsford, in what tangata whenua hope will be the start of a revitalisation of their village.

Thomas de Thierry, the chair of the Te Hana Community Development Charitable Trust, says the kai poutiaki is carved by Abe Paul of Tinopai in the traditional Ngati Whatua style.

It will be the centrepiece of a proposed $6 million marae and tourism centre to be built on 10 hectares beside Steate Highway One.

Mr de Thierry says the pou features the Ngati Whatua ancestor Te Hana, who the village and nearby battle site are named after.

“This poutiaki carving will symbolize the guardian of the area, and she’s facing south towards Auckland and faces down the river, the Te Hana creek. So all those people that pass the site, she is acting as a guardian for the site. Once we unveil her, it gives the charitable trust to move into the development stage,” Mr de Thierry says.

FOCUS ON MAORI MEN NEEDED

Former Labour MP John Tamihere says Maori men have some catching up to do with Maori women.

Mr Tamihere, who's now back running Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust in west Auckland, says many Maori women have taken advantage of improved education and career opportunities over the past 20 years.

He says there has also been an improved focus on whanau ora and women's health, which has improved overall health statistics.

But Mr Tamihere says Maori men still have an aversion to going to their doctor for a check up.

“So we got some catching up to do as menfolk. To do that, we’re going to have to support them, and menfolk are no brought up to ask for help. It’s like pulling teeth to find out what’s wrong with them. A lot of our elderly men die prematurely from things that are preventable. We have to actually stand up and take some ownership of that, some responsibility for it,” Mr Tamihere says

The Brothers concert Waipareira is running in Henderson on Sunday afternoon will include free health checks for Maori men.

KAUHI IMPRESSES MAORI COACH

Waikato rising star Richard Kahui has been named Air New Zealand Cup player of the year.

Kahui was a standout at centre this year for Waikato, which was judged champion province for 2006.

Maori coach Donny Stevenson says 21 year old Kahui, who also represented the New Zealand Colts, is a player to watch:

“After the Churchill Cup and then he went to the Colts he just had an awesome year with Waikato and then there was times there when they were talking about his as a possible tourist for All Blacks so he’s certainly a boy for the future and one I’m sure Graham Henry and them will be having a good look at him in the Super 14,” Mr Stevenson says.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Aotearoa mounts drives to keep EFTS up

The largest Maori tertiary institution is on a recruitment drive to try to keep its student numbers up.

Te Wananga o Aotearoa chairperson Craig Coxhead says all tertiary institutions are struggling to attract students, so staff and councilors are getting out into the Maori community encouraging people to sign up for Maori language and other foundation courses.

Mr Coxhead says the wananga was ahead of budget this year, with almost 20 thousand students.

But restructuring costs, including the 100 thousand dollars a month it pays for Crown managers from accounting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers, means it will make a loss this year.

The Crown managers were imposed by former Tertiary Education Minister Trevor Mallard because of fears at the wananga's growth, but Mr Coxhead says they won't be there forever.

“Part of what we've been going through is the wananga once again getting its own autonomy and so we’re looking to move the Crown manager and have them exit as soon as we can and we’ve actually been working on an exit plan with the Crown managers. We would be very disappointed if the Crown manager is around with us this time next year,” Mr Coxhead says.

He says the wananga is also rationalising its extensive property portfolio.

OTARA CENTRE TOO HOT FOR WARDENS

Otara Maori wardens have told the Manukau City Council they now fear for their safety in Otara after dark.

Otara Wardens head Mereana Peka told the community safety committee that groups groups of people are gathering around the Otara mall at night drinking, fighting, and, when the urge takes them, using shop doorways and even ATMs to relieve themselves.

Committee chair Dick Quax says it was a shocking report, and the community needs to take action.

“There are more liquor outlets in places like Otara and Manurewa than there are in some of the other areas like Howick and Pakuranga. We should be looking at making sure that there are not that many liquor outlets so people can go from one place to another and drink excessively all night long,” Mr Quax says.

GIVE ‘EM WHAT THEY PAY FOR – HOWIE

Maori entertainer, Sir Howard Morrison say if he has learnt something from his 50 years in show business it's give the people what they pay for.

He says a mistake many entertainers make is changing their style unexpectedly.

Looking back over his career, Sir Howard says he always made it a priority to ensure both his employers and his audience knew what to expect when he went on stage.

“I've been around for a long time. I am unashamedly middle of the road. I entertain three generations in an audience and they know what they’re buying, so you don’t take that for granted,” Sir Howard says.

WANANGA TALKING TO INSTITURE OVER LIBRARY DEAL

Te Wananga o Aotearoa is looking to sell its Glenview library and conference centre complex in Hamilton to the Aotearoa Institute.

The Te Awamutu-based institute set up the wananga, but the relationship has been at times rocky since the wananga became a Crown-run tertiary institution.

Wananga chairperson Craig Coxhead says Glenview is part of a settlement package being negotiated with the institute.

There’s a whole range of things including Aotearoa Institute was prior to Te Wananga o Aotearoa so there’s course issues, intellectual property in terms of courses, a whole range of issues including properties. So we’re looking for a deal witch won’t affect us cashwise and is best for the wananga and also best for Aotearoa Institute,” Mr Coxhead says.

He says the wanganga is ahead of target for the year, with almost 20 thousand full time equivalent students, but it still stands to make a financial loss because of restructuring costs.

HOKIANGA SEEKS TO LURE TOURISTS FROM BAY

Tourists heading for Kerikeri or Paihia this summer may be reminded there's more to Taitokerau than the east coast.

A new Maori run venture has been set up to lure visitors to the western side.

Crossing Hokianga director Shane Lloyd says the tour will start in the Bay of Islands, because that's the tourist accomodation hub of the north, but the action is in historic Hokianga.

Mr Lloyd says as well as visiting one of the most magnificent stands of kauri in the country, they will also be able to go horse riding and surf the sand dunes of Mitimiti, or visit the resting place of Bishop Pompalier, the first Catholic missionary to New Zealand.

“They head over to the Hokianga, do the Footprints Experience in the Waipoua forest, where a cultural and ecological perspective is given to them of Tane, and then at 1 o’clock they get onto a Crossings boat and it takes them up to the heads and then up to the upper parts of the harbour, namely Kohukohu, Horeke, Mangungu, so it's a great experience,” Mr Lloyd says.

He says Hokianga tourism is also due to get a boost mid-year, when a new gallery and cafe complex opens at Opononi.

TE PAPA TAONGA TIKI TOUR TO TOKYO

120 artifacts from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa will today start the long journey to Tokyo.

The Mauri Ora exhibition will run for 12 weeks from late January at the Tokyo National Museum.

Curator Arapeta Hakiwai of Ngati Kahungunu says Mauri Ora is an exchange for an exhibition of Japanese treasures at Te Papa two years ago.

Mr Hakiwai says the museum has tried to present a cross section of Maori culture.

“The exhibition is made up of those 120 tanoga from carvings to puoro to whaturaranga toki and nga ra kouti matuaranga so there’s a wide diversity and range and at least 20 odd have known tribal provenances and histories,” Mr Hakiwai says.

The Mauri Ora exhibition is expected to rouse keen interest in Japan about Maori culture.

Recreational take too much for iwi to swallow

Labour's Maori caucus has fired a shot across the bows of the Fisheries Ministry over its plans to increase the amount of fish which can be caught by the recreational sector.

Chairperson Shane Jones says the caucus met with Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton to express its concern about the shared fisheries proposal.

It is also urging iwi and hapu to lodge submissions before the February 28 deadline.

Mr Jones says with the Maori fisheries settlement less than a generation old, iwi are concerned at anything that could reduce the benefits they get from their fisheries.

“The biggest problem that we can see is that if there is to be an eventual redistribution between the commercial quota owners and recreationalists, then without compensation we feel that a new raft of grievances may very well rise to the surface,” Mr Jones says.

He says much of the recreational take is actually fish caught on charter boats, so it should be considered differently to traditional recreational activities.

MAORI JOIN HOT ASSIGNMENT IN AUSTRALIA

A large group of Maori are among the 45 strong contingent of New Zealand firefighters heading across the Tasman to help tame the Victoria fires.

Piki Thomas of the Rotorua Fire Service says most of the group sent overseas are from the rural fire sector, and have expertise in fighting the sort of wild fires razing huge stretches of the Australian bush.

He says they have a positive attitude.

“There are Maori staff in amongst the group that has gone across there and when we put our minds to tasks like this, Maori perform very very well. It’s not a surprise to see Maori in there doing the hard work,” Mr Thomas says.

NEW TAURA WHIRI HEAD HAILS HOHEPA

The new head of the Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Maori has paid tribute to his predecessor.

Erima Henare says Patu Hohepa has contributed a huge amount as Maori language commissioner.

Mr Henare says Dr Hohepa was able to build on his already considerable accomplishments from his time at Auckland University's Maori studies department.

“The father, along with Bruce Biggs, of early Maori teaching. It will be a big loss, but Pat being Pat, I’m sure he will always make that experience available if requested,” Mr Henare says.

The Ngati Hine member is a former chief executive of the commission.

CROSS PARTY RELATIONSHIPS BOON TO TEAM

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says the four members of her caucus have developed strong relationships with MPs from other parties in their first year in parliament.

Mrs Turia says it is an acknowledgement of the MPs' hard work and the efforts they have put into getting around the Maori electorates.

She says the party has spoken on every bill, and contributed where they could to committees.

“We've also developed good relationships across all the political parties. I believe that our members have earned the respect of the other political parties and I believe that’s really positive and augurs well for us as we go into the 2008 elections,” Mrs Turia says.

HOROMIA WARY OF TURIA

But Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia says relations with the Maori Party may not be as cosy as Mrs Turia thinks.

Mr Horomia says the MP for Te Tai Hauauru has still to earn his trust.

“I've always disciplined myself to have a working relationship with all Maori who do the right thing, but there’s all sorts of numbers being played by other parties at the moment and still do wonder about the Maori Party slipping around National at the moment because the hard right agenda won’t really help us, and I'm very clear on that,” Mr Horomia says.

NAPIER AT RISK YOUTH PROGRAMME EXTENDED

A Napier City Council -funded programme tackling the problems of at risk Maori youth from Maraenui is so successful it has been extended.

Safer Napier chairperson Rob Lutter says Ka Hao Te Rangatahi includes a strong marae based tikanga component.

Mr Lutter says it's about showing young people they do have options.

“They don't have to go down the course of being a gang member. There arte other options. What we also do is try and get them on a career path. Being employed will soak up their time and they won’t be looking at disorderly behaviour and so forth,” Mr Lutter says.

HENARE APPOINTMENT ASTUTE

The appointment of Erima Henare from Ngati Hine as the new Maori Language Commissioner has been hailed as an astute move.

Mr Henare takes Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori from Ngapuhi academic Patu Hohepa.

Haami Piripi, the commission's outgoing chief executive, says Mr Henare is known for his proficiency in te reo and the depth of his knowledge of Maori culture.

Mr Piripi says he represents the language as a living force in the home and the community.

“The big challenge for us now is to try and grow language in the home as the language of use, and that’s something I know that Erima Henare continues in his own home and I guess it’s something we can try to extrapolate into the rest of the nation,” Mr Piripi says.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Maori caucus fires shot across bows

The chair of Labour's Maori caucus says quota can't be taken off commercial fishers without compensation.

Shane Jones says the Maori caucus is encouraging iwi and hapu to make submissions on the Fisheries Ministry's shared fisheries plans, which would give amateur fishers a priority allocation in some species like snapper, blue cod, kahawai, rock lobster and gamefish.

Mr Jones says some changes are needed to take into account the growth of charter fishing since the quota management system was introduced 20 years ago.

“When you're debating how much fish ought to be in the ocean for commercial purposes, and recreational purposes, chartered vessels may be taking people out on a recreational experience, but they are businesses, and any quota that is taken from the Maori iwi and the Maori hapu without compensation, will lead I believe to a new level of treaty based strife,” Mr Jones says.

He says the Maori Caucus had a good hearing from Fisheries Ministry Jim Anderton on its concerns.

TREATY FREE CURRICULUM SHORT CHANGES STUDENTS

An Auckland University education lecturer says the draft new curriculum will shortchange the education of all New Zealanders.

The time for feedback on the curriculum has expired, and Education Ministry officials are now working on its final shape.

Vicki Carpenter says the curriculum is like other curriculums around the world, and is not strongly New Zealand.

She says with no reference to the Treaty of Waitangi and very little mention of Maori, children will miss out unless their individual school has a strong commitment to biculturalism.

“The education of Maori children is of real concern, and the draft should be far more inclusive of Maori children and of Maori tikanga and te reo fore everyone, not just Maori, because we all need to learn and understand,” Dr Carpenter says.

She says despite the submission deadline being closed, parents should still tell the Education Ministry what they want to be in a curriculum.

WRITE IN SUPPORT FOR CANAL PLAN DISHONEST

Manukau City Council will today consider changing its district plan to allow a 300-section canal development near Clevedon, south-east of Auckland.

The plan is drawing fierce opposition from tanaga whenua and neighbouring residents.

James Brown from Ngai Tai Umupuia Te Waka Totara Trust says it will wreck the fragile environment of the Wairoa river estuary and destroy wahi tapu or sacred sites.

He says the developer gathered signatures from people with no connection to the Clevedon area, to make it look like there is more support for the proposal than there is.

“What's happened is in that thrust that the developer’s dobne, it’s balanced out the opposers and the supporters. On the surface they’re promoting it as even, but it’s nowhere near even and I welcome all those idiots who signed that form to come to Clevedon some day so we can meet them kanohi ki te kanohi and explain to them why not,” Mr Brown says.

HANNAH COTTER LAID TO REST

A link with some of the pioneers of Maori development will be laid to rest today.

Hundreds of people have been through Korongata Marae in Bridge Pa over the past two days to farewell Hana Cotter, who died aged 92.

Former Maori Affairs deputy secretary Neville Baker says Mrs Cotter was was a class act, whose activities spanned the wool business, horticulture, the performing arts and education.

Mr Baker says she was a leader in the Kahungunu and Hawkes Bay communities, and also participated on a national level in many Maori activities.

“She was around when Apiranga Ngata and Turi Carroll and others were helping to put strategies in place for development of farm trusts and stuff like that. She was certainly a very strong influence,” Mr Baker says.

He says Hana Cotter took a particular interest in the welfare of young people.

The funeral will be held at Korongata Marae at 11am.

TURIA WANTING CHANGES TO PROTECT RONGOA

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia is hopeful a bill creating a trans Tasman agency to regulate therapeutic remedies can be modified to take into account Maori concerns.

The Maori Party along with the Greens opposed the introduction of the bill, because of its effect on Maori working in the field of rongoa, using traditional remedies such as kawakawa and korimako.

Mrs Turia says she took heart from the hearing she got from the MP sponsoring the bill, former Minister of Health Annette King.

“Thirty of the rongoa practitioners came to see me and I raised their concerns and she immediately rang my office to offer to work through those issues with us and to make sure the legislation addresses the issues people had raised, That was great because we don’t get that very often,” Mrs Turia says.

WAHO WANTS BILINGUAL TEACHERS COUNCIL

Newly-appointed Teachers Council member Tony Waho says he intends pushing the registration and standards body down the path of bilingualism.

Mr Waho, who is principal at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Mana Tamariki in Palmerston North, says when he was approached to take up the role, he indicated he wanted to take a particular interest in Maori immersion teaching.

Mr Waho says to earn credibility with Maori teachers, the council needs to champion the language.

“In my world where I work, engaging in the Maori language 100 percent of the time is really important, so having the forms that teachers apply to the council to become a registered teacher for example being made in Maori, having an impact on the website, those are the sort of things I would be very interested in raising and having a discussion with,” Mr Waho says.

Tony Waho says he will also look at what is appropriate for Kohanga Reo teachers and the revitalisation of Te Reo Maori.

Draft curriculum needs challenging

The time for consultation on the new draft curriculum has expired, but an Auckland University education lecturer says that shouldn't stop Maori telling the Education Ministry they're not happy with it.

Vicki Carpenter says the consultation process was far too narrow, and didn't allow people to challenge flaws such as the removal of the Treaty of Waitangi as a required area of study.

Dr Carpenter says the curriculum will mean many Maori and Pakeha students will grow up with little understanding of the links between historical events in this country and contemporary issues.

She says it will set back education for Maori children in the mainstream system.

“I think there's enough research around that shows that if children feel valued and their culture feels valued, they’re more likely to achieve, However, the document as it is written, if people want to ignore that aspect of children’s lives, then I think they can,” Dr Carpenter says.

She says the curriculum is a missed opportunity for Maori and Pakeha alike.

SHARPLES OPPOSES TREATY VALUATION

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says the Treasury should stop trying to put a monetary value on the Treaty of Waitangi.

Dr Sharples says since the early 1990s the government bean counters have insisted on putting a price on the document held in the National Archives.

The current estimate is $32 million, based on other collections of a similar nature.

Dr Sharples says the whole process is outrageous.

“It's rather like telling people our history and what we stand for. The treaty should be the matua document of our laws and can’t be taken cheaply like something to be bought and sold. Neither can it be compared with the Gettysburg address or the Magna Carta. It belongs to this country. It contains the essence of our partnership in Aotearoa here,” Dr Sharples says.

Wellington filmmaker Alistair Barry is making a documentary on the valuation process.

WAIPAREIRA APPOINTS MEN’S HEALTH WORKER

West Auckland's Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust has created a new position to target the health of Maori men.

General manager Paul Stanley says the new hauora tane position is a first for any Maori service provider.

Mr Stanley says men's health hasn't been given the attention it deserves.

“The negative aspects that come out of Maori health is actually being driven by the negative health of Maori men. And certainly in terms of the way a lot of men see themselves and the way they’re perceived by society, is that they’ve violent, they’re fat, they’re unhealthy, they’re ugly, all this other types of stuff,” Mr Stanley says.

Waipareira is hosting a free concert in Henderson on Sunday which will have a focus on men's health, including free health checks.

UNESCO SIGNS UP FOR TE AMATATINI EXPOSURE

New February's Te Matatini national Maori performing arts festival will get global attention, thanks to a team up with United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation.

Te Matatini chairperson Tama Huata says UNESCO will promote the festival through its global networks as a premier cultural event.

Mr Huata says Te Matatini is a great place for people to come to see the best in the Maori performing arts in one place.

“We're representative of 14 rohe around the country. That’s 100 groups, and then in terms of our national profile, it’s an organisation that has been around since 1972, so it certainly gives that for Unesco,” Mr Huata says.

He says the Te Matatini and UNESCO partnership will not change the years of tradition within the festival.

NZ FIRST ANZTPA SWITCHAROUND SLAMMED

The Greens are accusing New Zealand First of hypocrisy for going back on its earlier opposition to the creation of the Australia and New Zealand Therapeutic Products Authority or ANZTPA.

New Zealand First voted in favour of a bill setting up the authority when it was introduced in Parliament yesterday.

Green MP Metiria Turei says party leader Winston Peters is on record opposing giving Australians control of what remedies are available here, but now he's Minister of Foreign Affairs he has changed his tune.

Ms Turei says it's a disappointment for ANZTPA opponents.

“There's been a huge long campaign opposing the trans Tasman agency. We don’t want an Australian body making decisions about what can and can’t be sold in New Zealand. But New Zealand First had said in the past it wouldn’t support the bill, and it has decided to support the bill,” Ms Turei says.

She says the bill is a threat to Maori who attend rongoa clinics, where traditional Maori remedies such as kawakawa, korimako and ti kouka products are dispensed.

HENARE SAYS MORE NEEDS DOING FOR LITERACY

The National Party spokesperson for Maori education is demanding Government action to raise the literacy levels of Maori children.

Tau Henare says the latest Student Outcome Overview covering the years from 2001 to 2005 shows only 69 percent of Maori students met level 1achievement levels, compared with 84 percent of Pakeha students.

Mr Henare says more emphasis needs to be put on the first years in school.

“Once you've reached seven or eight, no one should be illiterate. One of the greatest skills a person can have is the ability to read and the ability to write. Let’s go all out and put in place some mechanisms and some programmes that actually say that by the time a kid turns 7, 8 ior 9, they can read and write,” Mr Henare says.

He says the situation needs urgent attention so young Maori school leavers don't end up on the dole.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Hana Cotter dies age 92

Ngati Kahungunu is mourning the loss of one of its matriarchs, 92 year old Hana Cotter.

While bringing up eight children, Mrs Cotter worked as a shearer, shearing contractor and orchardist as well as representing New Zealand in hockey.

She was active in arts and culture in the Hawkes Bay, writing songs and performing in culture groups, including one which toured the United States in 1963.

She was also active in treaty claims, challenging the closure and sale of Napier Hospital.

Kohanga Reo National Trust chairperson Timoti Karetu says Mrs Cotter's support was vital for the emergence of Maori immersion education in the Hawkes Bay.

“They were the original ones who endorsed the whole idea of the Kohanga Reo concept, sort of just drowning young children in the language the way any young children learn language, she was part of that whole philosophy. And as a native speaker of Kahungunu dialect, she was quite a resource to have around,” Professor Karetu says.

Hana Cotter is lying at Korongota Marae at Bridge Pa south of Hastings, where she will be buried tomorrow (Thursday).

BRASH’S LAST SPEECH STRAINS CRED

The author of a book on the National Party says former leader Don Brash's valedictory speech strained credibility.

Saying his farewell to Parliament yesterday, Dr Brash claimed his views on the Treaty of Waitangi were misunderstood as an attack on Maori.

Nicky Hager, whose book The Hollow Men included a chapter on the origins of the Orewa speech on race relations, says Dr Brash must be hoping people haven't read the book.

“The strategy papers which his staff put together, the discussions that they had, the whole origin of that speech was about how they could raise his poll ratings and lift him up as the new leader before he was attacked by Labour and sagged in the polls, so it was a very deliberate, cynical attempt to use an issue to help him politically,” Mr Hager says.

He says while Don Brash was the front person, the people who advised him and wrote the Orewa speech are still in the party.

GOLDIE ON SHOW AT UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

A Goldie painting of a Hauraki chief is back in Auckland after spending the past 70 years in Canada.

Auckland University pro vice chancellor Maori Jim Peters says the painting, called Planning Revenge, is hanging in the university library.

It was painted in Sydney in the early 1920's and depicts Hori te Ruinga Pokai from Ngati Maru and Ngati Paoa.

Mr Peters says the painting has given those students with whakapapa connections a chance to learn a little more about their ancestor.

“He was there at the signing of the treaty, and for the next 20 years or so he was regarded as being an important person fro Ngati Maru and also of course particularly for Ngati Paoa,” Mr Peters says.

BRASH CYNIC TO THE LAST

Author Nicky Hager says former National Party leader Don Brash will be remembered as an extremely cynical politician who was prepared to attack Maori for political gain.

Dr Brash delivered his valedictory speech in Parliament yesterday, complaining that his views on the Treaty of Waitangi were misunderstood as an attack on Maori, and he was just trying to raise serious issues.

Mr Hager says the emails, speech drafts and briefing documents which formed the basis for his book The Hollow men show Dr Brash and his advisors knew exactly what they were doing with the 2004 Orewa speech.

He says that is Dr Brash's legacy.

“A pretty ordinary man did very very cynical things when he became a politician, including being prepared to put down and dump on the Maori part of the community to raise himself in the polls,” Mr Hager says.

He says if any future National politicians try to play the race card, his book will remind people what a cynical strategy it is.

YOUNG PEOPLE WARNED ABOUT PASSENGER DANGER

Police Auckland Maori liaison officer Glen Makay says many rangatahi don't realise how vulnerable they are as passengers in cars.

Mr Makay says the danger was highlighted by the weekend incident in which a 14 year old girl is now looking at a long stretch in hospital after the 16 year old driver of the car she was in crashed while trying to outrun police.

The driver, who had been drinking, escaped virtually unscathed.

Mr Mackay says it's a warning to rangatahi.

“I can't stress highly enough at this time of the year, if you’re getting in a vehicle with someone, make sure please that they are not under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and that they do know how to drive. We’ve seen it time and time again. It’s usually the guy that’s driving lives, and it’s the passengers that end up dead,” Mr Makay says.

AUTHORS ON LOOKOUT FOR EARLY PHOTOS

One of the authors of a new book on photographs of Maori says there are some extraordinary images still to be unearthed.

Auckland art dealer John Gow and co-author Michael Graham-Stewart based their book Out of Time on photographs of Maori taken between 1860 and 1940, which they have collected over the past 15 years, mostly from Britain.

Mr Gow says while some images by photographers like the Burton borthers and William Partington may be familiar icons of New Zealand photography, most are previously unseen.

He says the 90 images were chosen from a collection of several hundred.

“We were driven to the images by the images. You look at these photos and say is this a great image or is it art. And you make that decision by looking at lots and lots of images. I mean there’s one by James McDonald of Lake Waikaremoana in 1908. It’s just an extraordinary photo showing exactly how the times were. It’s quite magical,” Mr Gow says.

He hopes the book will raise awareness of early photography

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.

Ngapuhi adds 20,000 members

Northland iwi Ngapuhi will be reviewing its communications strategies to ensure it reaches all its new members.

In the latest Census, the number of people identifying themselves as being of Ngapuhi origin jumped 20,000 to 122,000, or almost one in five Maori.

Ngapuhi Runanga chairperson Sonny Tau says most of the increase came from people living outside the Ngapuhi tribal area, and shows people trying to split their hapu off from the main tribe lack wider support.

“A lot of Ngapuhi are just sick and tired of the politicking and the creation of other organisations and other groupings that quite frankly was understood to be Ngapuhi, and this I think is some backlash from that,” Mr Tau says.

He says publicity over Ngapuhi's financial turnaround and the progress it is making towards getting its treaty claims heard may have helped boost numbers.

COMPO SMALL RETURN FOR VIETNAM VETS

New Zealand First spokesman on Defence, Ron Mark, says no amount of money can make up for the way New Zealand soldiers were treated both in Vietnam and on their return home.

The former career soldier says the settlement negotiated between the RSA and the Crown is not perfect, but goes some way towards addressing the medical needs of soldiers and their families affected by the spraying of the defoliant, Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

Mr Mark says the $30m package can't take away the sacrifices New Zealand’s Vietnam veterans made for their country.

“I don't think you will ever come up with a perfect compensatory deal for Vietnam veterans, end of story. There is no way anyone can make up for the hurt, the embarrassment, the ridicule, the loss of self esteem they suffered when they came back from Vietnam,” Mr Mark says.

TERTIARY PART FOR TAITOKERAU STUDENTS

Auckland University's new pro vice chancellor Maori at Auckland University wants to encourage more Maori from the north to study at tertiary level.

Before his stint in Parliament as a New Zealand First MP, Jim Peters from Ngati Wai was principal of Northland College and the chair of the Northland Regional Council.

Mr Peters says he has made it a priority to develop the infrastructure needed to make sure Maori students from Taitokerau and other areas have a pathway to university education.

“Endeavouring to have more Maori students come, more Maori students stay longer and compete their degree, and probably more important than that, more Maori going to masters and doctorate level, and particularly across the whole range of disciplines,” Mr Peters says.

He says there is a dire shortage of Maori studying maths and science to a post graduate level.

NGAI TAI OPPOSING CLEVEDON CANAL PLANS

A Ngai Tai member says a planned canal development at southeast of Auckland totally ignores the iwi's whakapapa connections to the land.

Pita Turei says the Manukau City Council needs to consider Ngai Tai's historic and whakapapa connections to the Clevedon area before voting on a proposal to build almost 300 new homes on canals near the mouth of the Wairoa River.

That connection was recognised a decade ago when a planned marina was stalled by the discovery of an urupa under the high tide mark, making the land tapu.

Mr Turei says Ngai Tai wants its values respected.

“There's been the thing in Tamaki where we’ve hosted the waves of immigration over the generations now, so there’s not a principle of being anti development as such but there are the efforts to include into the considerations our values,” Mr Turei says.

He says recent development to the Clevedon area has covered over or dug away many the marks left by Ngai Tai and Te Uri Karaka people on the land.

PETERS WANTS MORE RURAL STUDENTS AT UNI

Auckland University's new pro vice chancellor Maori says Maori students in rural schools deserve the same access to quality education as their urban counterparts.

Jim Peters, who was principal at Northland College before serving as a New Zealand First list MP, says he has longstanding concerns about the standard of maths and science teaching in Taitokerau schools.

He says it means some students find the going too tough at tertiary level.

Mr Peters says there is a critical need for skilled Maori.

“All times are critical, but in education the changes in technology and the way the we’re becoming more and more urban based and citified based and so on means that for Mori students the challenge is even greater, particularly for rural students, because I haven’t been altogether happy about the teaching of maths and science,” Mr Peters says.

HENARE WANTS KURA STANDARDS UPPED

NationaL's new Maori affairs co-spokesperson says he will be keeping an eye on teaching standards within the kura kaupapa system.

Tau Henare says he made it clear to party leader John Key, that his preference in the role was to focus on education and the work being done by the ministry for Maori development, Te Puni Kokiri.

Mr Henare, a former national co-ordinator for the Kohanga Reo Trust, says Maori students learning in a total immersion environment deserve the same quality of tuition available to mainstream students.

“Over the last 20 years Maori education has just grown exponentially but there is still huge focus that has to be done on quality, and standards, and just because there is a kura, does it mean we have to accept lesser quality, lesser standards, lesser funding?” Henare says.

Maniapoto to view new forest tenant

King Country Maori landowners hope a meeting this week with their new lessees may allow them to drop legal action challenging Carter Holt's sale of its forestry interests.

Spokesperson Willie Te Aho says the Australia and New Zealand heads of Hancock Timber Resources, which bought the forests, will be welcomed on to Tokanganui a Noho Marae in Te Kuiti on Thursday.

Mr Te Aho says while there is no set agenda, the landowners hope the pair will be sympathetic to their desire to buy back the leases.

“If we can reach an agreement with Hancock, to proceed with the action is not necessary. I think any party should not rely on legal action to create sustainable solution, the only way we are going to create a sustainable solution is sitting down with Hancock, working it through to reach an agreement,” Mr Te Aho says.

He says if they can't reach agreement, the landowners will go to the Maori Land Court in February to argue that Carter Holt's sale of its forest leases was illegal because it involved interests in Maori land.

MAORI NURSES STRIKE OFF ALONE

Nurses working for Maori health providers want their own collective contract.

The Nurses Organisation has negotiated a contract with the New Zealand Medical Association giving pay increases to 2500 practice nurses, registered nurses, midwives and administrative staff working in the primary health sector.

Maori nurse Hineroa Hakiaha says Maori have become frustrated that some of their concerns have been overlooked, so they are striking off on their own.

“We know we can do a good job with our whanau, but we also need to know that we were going to get the same pay as when we left the hospital. That wasn’t happening. It’s taken almost two years of negotiation, around the table, so Maori decided we would do our own negotiation,” Ms Hakiaha says.

SOUTH CANTERBURY ROCK ART VANDALISED

Ngai Tahu Maori Rock Art Trust curator Amanda Symon says education may be the key to stopping vandalism of rock art sites.

Ms Symon is helping clean up after vandals spray painted racist slurs at three sites near the Raincliffe Historic Reserve in south Canterbury.

She says while some of the sites have protective cages, such defences are not always feasible or effective.

“The rock art itself is caged on that particular site, but it’s in a rural area. Overseas studies have shown the best protection against vandalism is education. It’s just raising people’s awareness about how significant the art is,” Ms Symon says.

She says a Maori rock art centre the trust is developing in Timaru should help people appreciate what a treasure rock art is.

WAITAHA EDGED OUT OF MAUAO RETURN

Te Puke-based hapu Waitaha has dropped its demands to be included as one of the iwi to receive joint ownership of Mauao in Mt Maunganui.

Ngai Te Rangi chairperson Hauata Palmer says Waitaha representative Tame McCauslin informed the other three iwi today that his hapu was dropping its claim, but reserved right to have a say if the maunga is ever commercialised.

Mr Palmer says it's a welcome development.

“The relationship between us and Waitaha is still very cordial. There may be some elements in Waitaha are still not very happy about the outcome, but certainly with Tame McCauslin, he very reluctantly agreed to withdraw, but withdraw they did, and that was what we were after,” Mr Palmer says.

He says while Waitaha's whakapapa connections to Mauao are recognised, the settlement is an acknowlegment the mana whenua is held by Ngaiterangi, Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga.

JONES DEFENDS TREATY DEADLINE

The head of Labour's Maori caucus says the Maori Purposes Bill setting a 2008 deadline for lodging treaty claims is overdue.

The Maori Party and the Greens voted against the Bill, with Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples saying it was rammed through without proper consultation and over the opposition of the majority of Maori submitters.

But Shane Jones says the 21 years since the Waitangi Tribunal was allowed to receive historical claims was time enough to identify any grievances.

“The whole damn country, acre rood and perch, has been claimed over many times, and vast swathes of the country have already been settled. I genuinely feel there is just no appetite out there for prolonging the process of registering the claims, and people, if they are exasperated, are exasperated at how long it takes to derive a compensation,” Mr Jones says.

He says the people screaming loudest are the lawyers, who are the greatest beneficiaries of an extended process.

MAORI WORDS BECOMING NATURAL TONGUE

Increased usage of Maori words by New Zealanders is cause for optimism.

That's the view of John Mc Alistair, a lecturer in Maori studies and linguistics at Victoria University.

His research shows the average kiwi understands more than twice as many Maori words as previously estimated.

Mr McAlistair says people concerned for the future of te reo Maori should be heartened by the trend.

“More and more words are become naturalised, if you like, and they’re becoming more and more familiar to all New Zealanders, whether they’re Maori or non-Maori, I think that will continue to happen because these kids in school are having much greater exposure to these words than their grandparents, for examples, so it suggests over time we should be very optimistic,” Mr McAlistair says.

He says the increasing use of words like whanau, aroha, mokopuna and waka, is contributing to the development of a distinct New Zealand English.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Bennett scholarship graduates thank benefactors

The first graduates to complete their studies in psychiatry with help from a Henry Rongomai Bennett Memorial Scholarship have returned to Te Arawa to show their thanks.

Hinemoa Elder and Cameron Lacey took part in a ceremony during the Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors' Congress in Rotorua to acknowlege the pioneering role of the late Dr Bennett in the mental health field.

Scholarship committee chairperson Mason Durie says in 2002 the pair were among the first five recipients of the scholarship, which is designed to encourage leadership in Maori mental health.

Professor Durie says the health Ministry-funded scholarship has been a boost not just for psychiatrists but for people studying clinical psychology, mental health nursing and alcohol and drug addiction.

“It's helped people who were wondering about a career in mental health but for one reason or another looked at how long that would take and all the difficulties that would come, including the financial commitments that have to be made,” Professor Durie says.

Dr Elder, who gave up her television career to study medicine, is a consultant psychiatrist for Counties Manukau Health, while Dr Lacey has a research fellowship at the University of Melbourne studying epilepsy.

LOW GRADE FOR KURA OUTPUT FAIR REFLECTION

A south Auckland kura kaupapa principal says an Education Ministry study which finds Maori immersion students score high on Maori language subjects but low on reading, writing and maths is fair.

The Maori Medium Student Outcome Overview says the earlier students start at kura kaupapa, the better their achievement is likely to be. It says boys do less well than girls.

George Masina from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otara says lack of basic literacy skills is affecting progress.

“We're find that Maori tamariki struggle to read at all. If they don’t have to read, they won't,” Mr Masina says.

He says while some basic skills are lacking, kura kaupapa students are often able to complete tertiary papers in Maori language while still at school.

MAORI WORDS CREEPING ONTO NZ VERNACULAR

A lecturer in Maori studies and linguistics at Victoria University says increased use of Maori words is changing New Zealand English.

John McAlistair says on average, New Zealanders now understand almost twice as many Maori words as previous research indicated.

He says this is a much greater use of indigenous words than has been observed in other English speaking countries, and it's helping create a distinct New Zealand English.

“In New Zealand we have this richness tht’s coming into our English , thanks to te reo Maori, because people are using words related to human interaction, to relationships, to concepts, to feelings, words like aroha, for example, and I think we probably are unique,” Mr McAlistair says.

He says the widespread use of Maori words by Maori and no Maori alike should give heart to those worried about the future of te reo Maori.

FOCUS ON HEALTH, RESILIENCE RATHER THAN PATHOLOGY

Leading Maori academic Mason Durie says people should start looking at what makes Maori healthy, rather than what makes them sick.

Professor Durie, the head of Maori research and development at Massey University, spoke on Maori resilience at the Pacific Region Indigenous Doctor's Conference in Rotorua.

He says there are positive developments starting to emerge in Maori health, such as a gain in life expectancy so the gap between Maori and non-Maori is starting to close up.

Professor Durie says he wanted to show how focusing on disparity can mean people overlook human potential.

“It was really an attempt to shift some of the debate away from understanding health by understanding illness, and instead to try to understand health by looking at success and why some people have overcome all sorts of adversity to become very healthy,” Professor Durie says.

He says Maori health status has been helped by the increase in the Maori health workforce, with about 3 percent of registered health professionals now being Maori, compared with 0.5 percent 20 years ago.


NATS TAKE MAORI SERIOUSLY, SAYS MULTI PARTY TAU

One of the National Party's new spokespeople on Maori affairs says the concerns of Maori will be an important part of his party's future policy direction.

Tau Henare says he was picked to share the role with Georgine te Heuheu because new leader John Key is seeing how effectively the Maori Party's co-leadership model is working.

Mr Henare says having two spokespeople is an indication how important the portfolio is.

“What John is trying to do is actually say to the people hey,. Maori are quite relevant to where the nation goes, and where the nation goes, Maori have to be there somewhere,” Mr Henare says

He says the selection of lawyer Chris Finlayson as the party's treaty negotiations spokesperson shows National's commitment.

ASSOCIATION PROMOTING STUDY OF MAORI, PACIFIC HISTORY

The Pacific History Association wants more people to learn something about Maori and Pacific history.

The Association has just finished its annual conference in Dunedin on the theme of Te Maoana nui a Kiwa, as the Pacific Ocean is known to Maori.

Association secretary Jackie Leckie says the region is not as extensively studied as other parts of the world, and the conference was a good chance for those in the field to network.

She says the association intends to work with not just universities but polytechnics, wananga and community groups to encourage the study of Maori and Pacific history.

“We're concerned that here still seem to be this idea that history should be about studying the Tudors or the kings and queens of England where in fact we have a rich history in our own part of the world,” Ms Leckie says.

She says Maori and other Pacific peoples face many common issues over questions of land, foreshore and seabed, identity, migration and ecology.