TradeMe chops protest souvenir bidding

Sometime forestry worker Mike Smith says the reaction to an attempt to auction the chainsaw he used in his 1995 attack on the pine on One Tree Hill has exposed the racism that lurks below the surface of New Zealand society.

Online auction site TradeMe shut down the auction after conducting an online poll which found respondents voting three to one for the listing to be removed.

It also removed his listing for copies of the correspondence he received as a result of the controversy.

Mr Smith says many of the comments and emails could be called hate mail.

“The backlash that occurs, people expose to others some of their more deep seated prejudices and fears. It almost prises off the facard, the mask some New Zealanders like to show to the outside world – they’re being tolerant and all the rest of it – it’s interesting to see what monsters creep out from under the edges of those masks,” Mr Smith says.

The chainsaw has been relisted on EBay.

CENSUS DATA NO CAUSE FOR COMPLACENCY

Maori aren't making enough progress for the Maori Party.

Waiarki MP Te Ururoa Flavell says census data which shows the Maori median income rising 41 percent between the 2001 and 2006 census, still leaves a big gap between Maori and the rest of the population.

Mr Flavell says while the government is keen to give its policies credit for an increase in Maori median income over the past 5 years, the figure doesn't take into account the rise in inflation and cost of living over the same period.

He says the census data shows the government is short-sighted in its refusal to develop specific programmes to tackle Maori disadvantage.

“The statistics talk about the gaps between Maori and non Maori and yet the government seems to be determined not to identify the gaps by way of race. Yet here we have these statistics that tell us clearly that Maori lag behind the rest of New Zealand over health, over education over employment, so let’s not fudge around and say we’re making gains because the bottom line is those gaps are still far too big,” Mr Flavell says.

KEREOPA FINALLY TAKES SURF TITLE

Maori surfer Daniel Kereopa broke a hoodoo over the weekend, winning three titles including the open men's event at the nationals held Oakura in South Taranaki.

The Raglan-based 28 year old has long been regarded as one of the best in the country, but has never before taken the top prize despite making the finals on numerous occasions.

Kereopa says although the win was a long time coming, he is surfing better than ever.

“I think my decisions are getting better. I see things a lot clearer and I don’t get rattled by names of other surfers like I used to. I’m just really enjoying my surfing and my time out on the water,” Kereopa says.

The strength of Maori surfing came through in the Nationals, with Winnie Paul from Sandy Bay near Whangarei winning the open women's title and Jason Mathews from Taranaki the over 35 men’s event.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE PICKS BEST OF BUNCH

Tainui chairperson Tukoroirangi Morgan says the electoral college used to appoint new fisheries commissioners should be used more widely.

Mr Morgan headed up Te Kawai Taumata, which has just filled four slots on Te Ohu Kaimoana.

Ten members of Te Kawai Taumata are chosen by regional clusters of iwi, with the 11th seat reserved for an urban Maori representative.

They then pick from a shortlist of nominations put up by the iwi.

Mr Morgan says its first outing delivered the best people for the job.

“Kawai Taumata provides us with a wonderful opportunity and a model to begin to choose our representatives to take charge of our destiny in all sorts of forums, Kawai Taumata is appropriately poised to do social services, whether it be housing, employment or whatever,” Mr Morgan says.

The electoral college reappointed Koro Wetere and Archie Taiaroa to the commission, where they will be joined by Te Whanau a Apanui chief executive Rikirangi Gage and Kahungunu chairperson Ngahiwi Tomoana.

QUALITY KEY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD FUNDING

A New Plymouth Maori immersion early childhood centre says government criteria can only mean better pre-school facilities for tamariki.

Education Minister Steve Maharey says funding for 20 hours free pre-school education will be provided for centres with registered early childhood teachers, which excludes most Kohanga Reo.

Aroaro Tamati of Te Kopae Piripono says increasing training and qualifications within Maori immersion centres will ensure the best for tamariki.

Ms Tamati says her facility qualifies for the funding because it has insisted on trained teachers.

“Training and qualifications can only mean that children are accessing the best because it means that upskills us. It opens us up to new ideas, so in terms of early childhood the amount of training and qualifications that we at Kopae Piripono have can only make a difference for our children here, our tamariki,” Ms Tamati says.

In 2004 Te Kopae Piripono was recognised by the Ministry for Education as a Centre for Innovation.

QUIET BEACH SCHOOL FOR CHAMPION

Maori living near Sandy Bay north of Tutukaka are celebrating an unlikely victory.

New Zealand surfing competitions tended to be dominated by surfers from the West Coast beachs of Piha, Raglan and Taranaki, as well as those from Tairawhiti.

But a young Maori woman from the small Northlland beach has trumped them all by taking out the open women's event.

Raglan-based surfer Daniel Kereopa says Paul took the right attitude into the national surf championships at Oakura in Taranaki over the weekend.

“You know she surfed really really well and she went out early before her heat and she looked happy, she looked relaxed, and that’s what it took for her to win. Sandy Bay is an unexpected place for a champion to come out of, you don’t get a big range of waves, but It’s good enough for Wini to do it so I'm stoked for her too,” Kereopa says.