Wainuiomata nursery for new community approach

A former head of Maori Affairs says communities need to be given the power to tackling the problems facing them.

Kara Puketapu says big stick approaches, like a return to work for the dole schemes being advocated by Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples, don't work.

Mr Puketapu is the head of Runanga o Taranaki Whanui, which runs a programme called Tamaiti Whangai in the Wellington suburb of Wainuiomata.

He says the runanga has an integrated contract with eight government agencies, including Hutt City Council, Accident Compensation and Petone-based polytechnic Weltec, to deliver trade training, free school holiday programmes and a family advocacy service.

“It is what I call the whole of community governance. This is where we believe the new approach can be more successful. It is getting rid of the silo system out of government. We are determining out of our space in Wainuiomata how to move it,” Mr Puketapu says.

Other communities around the country are now looking to pick up the Tamaiti Whangai model.

NEED FOR MAORI PROFESSIONALS

A medical educator says the shortage of Maori doctors would only be addressed if New Zealand's two medical schools only trained Maori for the next five years.

Keri Ratima, the Maori programme manager for the Royal New Zealand college of general practitioners, says that's not going to happen, so it's important all doctors have an appreciation for how to deal appropriately with Maori patients.

Dr Ratima says the number of Maori going through medical school is increasing, but not fast enough to meet demand.

She says it's positive that Maori now aspire to careers in health.

“It's really important to get to their kids and to their parents, families abut these types of careers in health sciences, not just doctors and nurses but there’s pharmacists, and physiotherapists and a whole range of careers out there for the kids to be considering,” Dr Ratima says.

She says there are high expectations on Maori doctors, and they often need extra training or support to cope with the unique challenges they face.

NZ FEST PLANNED FOR JAPAN IN WAKE OF MAURI ORA

The Associate Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage is keen to pursue further cultural relationships with Japan.

Mahara Okeroa accompanied King Tuheitia for the opening of the Mauri Ora exhibition of Maori taonga at Japan's national museum in Tokyo.

Mr Okeroa says the Japanese are interested in diverse art forms, including those of the Maori.

He says a festival later in the year could be on the cards to strengthen the bond between the two cultures.

“We are very keen to reinvigorate those relationships culturally by having a New Zealand festival towards the end of this year and beginning with a celebration of our 55 years of diplomatic relations with Japan,” Mr Okeroa says.

MCKAY QUITS SEALORD FOR BOOZE, CHICKS

Sealord Group is losing its chief executive to the liquor industry.

Doug McKay has resigned from New Zealand's largest fishing company, to become executive chair of Independent Liquor and non-executive chair of two other Pacific Equity Partners companies, Tegel and Griffins.

Sealord is half-owned by pan-tribal company Aotearoa Fisheries, with the other half in the hands of Japanese giant Nissui.

Aotearoa chairperson Rob McLeod says in his five years at Sealord the company has produced record results in very difficult business conditions.
In the year to June 2006 Sealord's sales exceeded $600 million for the first time.

Under Mr McKay, the company strengthened its presence in overseas markets, especially in Europe, and increased the amount of product it sold from fisheries outside New Zealand to 60 percent.

CANTERBURY HEALTH RECRUITING MAORI MEDICOS

Young Maori in Te Waipounamu are being urged to take up a career within the health sector.

Hector Matthews, Canterbury District Health Board Maori and Pacific Island Director, says the Te Waipounamu Maori Recruitment Specialist Programme will target Year 9 and 10 students in highly Maori populated secondary schools.

Mr Matthews says Maori make up just over 7 percent of Canterbury's population is Maori, but make up just 3 percent of Health workers.

He says the figures don't add up.

“We're just not getting enough Maori that are graduating from med school, from nursing training and other health professions like physiotherapy and occupational therapists. They’re just not entering into those tertiary training institutions, so our health workforce does not reflect the community we serve,” Hector Matthews says.

The health board will work with Ngai Tahu Communications to create promotional material for school presentations.

SECURITY BOOSTED FOR SOUTH AUCKLAND CELEBRATION

Security will be on hand at next week's Waitangi day celebrations in Manukau to discourage unwanted protests.

Organiser Rose Whaiapu says members of a white supremicist group tried to use last year's event at Hayman Park as a to promote their views.

She says organisers were able to defuse a potentially explosive situation.

“Last year we had the National Front, they came to protest about the Treaty of Waitangi, and how we were being hard done by, and we asked them to please leave the grounds, this is not a day or place for promoting yourself. We have other issues over here and they don’t include people like you who want to try and disrupt,” Ms Whaiapu says.

She says while everyone is entitled to their views on the treaty, the celebrations at Manukau can do without the animosity such protests can create.