Sharples looking for dole action
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharpes says he's had 40 years experience getting young Maori get off the dole, and he knows it can be done.
Employment Minister David Benson Pope dismissed Dr Sharples' call for a return to work for the dole schemes, saying they didn't work when National tried them.
But Dr Sharples says he wants to develop the idea as one of his party's policy planks.
I've run programmes now for 30, 40 years at Hoani Waititi Marae and before that in the community and they’re very good. People actually learn something and move on. We’ve taken people out of court, just for minor offences, and now they’re teaching fully qualified with a degree. It can happen,” Dr Sharples says.
He says too many Maori are trapped on benefits and need to either work or be on courses that enhance their job prospects.
WORK SCHEME UNDERMINES MINIMUM WAGE
A long time advocate for the unemployed says she is confused by the Maori Party's work for the dole call.
Before entering parliament, Green Party MP, Sue Bradford headed the unemployed and beneficiaries union.
She says the last time there was a fair work for the dole scheme was almost 20 years ago with the PEP schemes, where unemployed workers were paid award rates for short term projects.
She says working for the dole isn't good for the unemployed nor for workers' conditions overall.
“The Maori Party tends to have quite good policy on wages which is why I wonder why they’re forcing people to work for way below the minimum wage,” Ms Bradford says.
The Maori Party supported the call for the minimum wage to be lifted,
ATIAWA SEEKING SOUTH COAST PROTECTION
Te Atiawa wants a series a mataitai or non-commercial reserves wrapped around Wellington's south coast to protect remaining crayfish and paua stocks.
Spokesperson Anania Randall says the Fisheries Ministry isn't putting in the resources needed to tackle the well-organised poaching gangs plundering the resource.
Mr Randall says the situation has been dragging on for two long, and it's time for the Minister to use his powers to get reservations in place before it's too late.
“Our main problem is that when we have a tangi on or something like that, we go out to our traditional fishing grounds and gone are the days where can just hop in and dive waist deep out to 10 feet of water. You’ve got to go deeper and deeper now just to find the resource,” Mr Randall says.
He says the Fisheries Ministry took away the warrants of six Te Atiawa honorary fisheries officers, but the tribe maintains its kaitiaki role in the area.
RAY MERCER SEEKS NEW DIREKTION FOR CITY
Wellington city councillor Ray Ahipene Mercer has thrown his hat in to be the capital's first Maori mayor.
The conservationist and musician has topped the poll the three times he's stood for council, and hopes that support will carry him into the top job.
Mr Ahipene Mercer says he draws his support from across the political spectrum.
“I believe that is because of the work I have done bringing people to some positive direction, particularly on environmental/social issues, and so I can bring a leadership that contrasts quite strongly with the incumbent mayor and the other contenders so far,” Mr Ahipene Mercer says.
Mr Ahipene Mercer will be up against incumbent Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast and at least two other councilors, with Labour list MP Georgina Beyer also considering a run.
WORK FOR DOLE NEEDED FOR DRASTIC EFFECT
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says drastic action may be needed to shake Maori out of a dependent mentality.
Dr Sharples is calling for a return to work for the dole schemes, and says he doesn't care what the Maori community thinks about the idea.
He says while some might think he is coming down on a sector of the community doing it toughest, he sees it as giving people a hand up.
“I don't really care what sort of reaction I get from the Maori community to this sort of suggestion. I just know that many families get into trouble and a lot of these families are into that whole anger syndrome I mention a lot. If people are going to react negatively to this, I want to hear their reasons why,” Dr Sharples says.
He says although the number of Maori without jobs has come down, there are still too many Maori on the unemployment benefit, and that is a major reason there are so many dysfunctional Maori families.
INDIANS LOOK FOR MAORI LINKS
An Indian scientist living in Rotorua says there a some extraordinary similarities between Maori and India's classical language, Sanskrit.
Guna Magesan will be talking about his experiences in New Zealand at the World Hindu Conference in India next month.
Dr Magesan says there are almost 200 Indian words which mean the same or similar in Maori - including mana which to Indians means pride or self respect.
He has co-ordinated marae visits for groups of visiting indian academics keen to learn more about the relationship, and Maori researchers may have the opportunity to travel to India to do the same.
“We are thinking ... of sending at least two people from here to study Indian culture in India, and Indian people to come here and learn about Maoir culture, so the exchange can take place and more research be done,” Dr Magesan says.
He says making links between the languages and cultures can make it easier for Hindu people to integrate themselves into New Zealand society.
Employment Minister David Benson Pope dismissed Dr Sharples' call for a return to work for the dole schemes, saying they didn't work when National tried them.
But Dr Sharples says he wants to develop the idea as one of his party's policy planks.
I've run programmes now for 30, 40 years at Hoani Waititi Marae and before that in the community and they’re very good. People actually learn something and move on. We’ve taken people out of court, just for minor offences, and now they’re teaching fully qualified with a degree. It can happen,” Dr Sharples says.
He says too many Maori are trapped on benefits and need to either work or be on courses that enhance their job prospects.
WORK SCHEME UNDERMINES MINIMUM WAGE
A long time advocate for the unemployed says she is confused by the Maori Party's work for the dole call.
Before entering parliament, Green Party MP, Sue Bradford headed the unemployed and beneficiaries union.
She says the last time there was a fair work for the dole scheme was almost 20 years ago with the PEP schemes, where unemployed workers were paid award rates for short term projects.
She says working for the dole isn't good for the unemployed nor for workers' conditions overall.
“The Maori Party tends to have quite good policy on wages which is why I wonder why they’re forcing people to work for way below the minimum wage,” Ms Bradford says.
The Maori Party supported the call for the minimum wage to be lifted,
ATIAWA SEEKING SOUTH COAST PROTECTION
Te Atiawa wants a series a mataitai or non-commercial reserves wrapped around Wellington's south coast to protect remaining crayfish and paua stocks.
Spokesperson Anania Randall says the Fisheries Ministry isn't putting in the resources needed to tackle the well-organised poaching gangs plundering the resource.
Mr Randall says the situation has been dragging on for two long, and it's time for the Minister to use his powers to get reservations in place before it's too late.
“Our main problem is that when we have a tangi on or something like that, we go out to our traditional fishing grounds and gone are the days where can just hop in and dive waist deep out to 10 feet of water. You’ve got to go deeper and deeper now just to find the resource,” Mr Randall says.
He says the Fisheries Ministry took away the warrants of six Te Atiawa honorary fisheries officers, but the tribe maintains its kaitiaki role in the area.
RAY MERCER SEEKS NEW DIREKTION FOR CITY
Wellington city councillor Ray Ahipene Mercer has thrown his hat in to be the capital's first Maori mayor.
The conservationist and musician has topped the poll the three times he's stood for council, and hopes that support will carry him into the top job.
Mr Ahipene Mercer says he draws his support from across the political spectrum.
“I believe that is because of the work I have done bringing people to some positive direction, particularly on environmental/social issues, and so I can bring a leadership that contrasts quite strongly with the incumbent mayor and the other contenders so far,” Mr Ahipene Mercer says.
Mr Ahipene Mercer will be up against incumbent Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast and at least two other councilors, with Labour list MP Georgina Beyer also considering a run.
WORK FOR DOLE NEEDED FOR DRASTIC EFFECT
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says drastic action may be needed to shake Maori out of a dependent mentality.
Dr Sharples is calling for a return to work for the dole schemes, and says he doesn't care what the Maori community thinks about the idea.
He says while some might think he is coming down on a sector of the community doing it toughest, he sees it as giving people a hand up.
“I don't really care what sort of reaction I get from the Maori community to this sort of suggestion. I just know that many families get into trouble and a lot of these families are into that whole anger syndrome I mention a lot. If people are going to react negatively to this, I want to hear their reasons why,” Dr Sharples says.
He says although the number of Maori without jobs has come down, there are still too many Maori on the unemployment benefit, and that is a major reason there are so many dysfunctional Maori families.
INDIANS LOOK FOR MAORI LINKS
An Indian scientist living in Rotorua says there a some extraordinary similarities between Maori and India's classical language, Sanskrit.
Guna Magesan will be talking about his experiences in New Zealand at the World Hindu Conference in India next month.
Dr Magesan says there are almost 200 Indian words which mean the same or similar in Maori - including mana which to Indians means pride or self respect.
He has co-ordinated marae visits for groups of visiting indian academics keen to learn more about the relationship, and Maori researchers may have the opportunity to travel to India to do the same.
“We are thinking ... of sending at least two people from here to study Indian culture in India, and Indian people to come here and learn about Maoir culture, so the exchange can take place and more research be done,” Dr Magesan says.
He says making links between the languages and cultures can make it easier for Hindu people to integrate themselves into New Zealand society.
posted by Adam | 11:17 pm
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