Seat scrap plan arrogant, immoral

The head of Waikato University's Maori Education Research Institute says National's plans to get rid of the Maori seats by 2017 is immoral.

Dominic O'Sullivan says National Party leader John Key is telling a large group of the country's citizens they can only participate in society in terms he can understand.

Dr O'Sullivan says Mr Key is behaving in a high handed and arrogant fashion by setting a timetable and ruling out consultation with Maori.

“If he has a genuine argument against the Maori seats and a genuine belief that New Zealand and Maori will benefit from their abolition, then he needs to be willing to engage with Maori on what alternative measures there might be for Maori to engage in the political process,” Dr O'Sullivan says.

FLAVELL LOOKS TO ANECDOTE FOR JOBLESS PLIGHT

Maori Party employment spokesperson Te Ururoa Flavell says although the Government has done some good work addressing Maori unemployment, there is still much to be done.

While unemployment is at historic lows, Maori are still twice as likely as the rest of the population to be out of work.

Mr Flavell believes the figures understate Maori joblessness, give the sort of situations he encounters in his Waiariki electorate.

“The feedback that I’ve had from various constituents that have come into our office , many of them who have been struggling with regards to being unemployed or coming in and out of situations of receiving benefit, it doesn’t really paint a real good picture about the true statistics with respect to unemployment,” Mr Flavell says.

He says the government needs to devote more resources to tackling the stubborn rump of Maori unemployment.

RAUKAWA LAUNCHES POSTGRAD PROGRAMME

Te Wananga o Raukawa is on the hunt for more post graduate students.

Tumuaka Whatarangi Winiata says the Otaki-based Maori tertiary institution now offers eight masters degree subjects on top of its 16 bachelor degree courses.

Professor Winiata says it's part of Ngati Raukawa's long term planning for its second 25 years, and it has value for all Maori.

“Our need over the next few decades is to have more of our people undertaking advanced studies, and that we think is quite vital to the survival of Maori as a people, as we as we look to compete as an identifiable cultural group on the global scene,” Professor Winiata says.

Because half of the wananga's 2000 students are studying by distance learning from home, the wananga is holding a roadshow over the next two weeks to explain the new degrees.

It starts this evening at Tuakau, and moves to Kaikohe tomorrow, Rotorua Wednesday and Gisborne Friday.

ILL-TAUGHT TEENS TICKING TIME BOMB

A Waikato University education researcher says continued underachievement by Maori boys at high school level is a time bomb waiting to explode.

Russell Bishop says the fact more than half of Maori boys leave school with no qualifications is an indication of the bad deal Maori boys get from the education system.

Professor Bishop says it's a problem that has been round for years without serious action being taken.

“And it's just not good enough. It’s not good enough for Maori, in terms of social justice. It’s not good enough for Maori in terms of the treaty, because article three guarantees Maori a fair go in society, and it’s also no good for the economy and for society as a whole to have a large group of people who are under-achieving,” Professor Bishop says.

He says the knowledge economy requires everyone in it to be a high achiever.

SHARPLES LOSING PATIENCE WITH POLITICS

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says politicians are too quick to put down the ideas of other parties.

Dr Sharples says ideas are judged by who put them up, rather than whether they are any good.

He says that means many ideas which could benefit Maori can't get off first base.

“For example the prisons are overcrowded, so the Labour Government puts an initiative in to reduce the numbers, It’s a fairly good idea, it was part of an idea, but National had to oppose it, because they’re in Opposition,” Dr Sharples says.

He's getting frustrated by the constant short sighted politics.

TAINUI NURSING SCHOLARSHIP REOPENED

Wintec, the Waikato Institute of Technology, has reopened applications for its Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu Nursing Scholarship.

Polytechnic kaumatua Hare Puke says no suitable applicants were found for the three year scholarship, launched last year just before the death of the Maori queen.

The scholarship is open to students of Tainui descent doing a range of nursing courses at Wintec.

Mr Puke says the late Dame Te Ata was keen to give her name to the scholarship because of her desire for an overall improvement in Maori health.

ICONS TARGETED FOR MUSIC AWARDS

Organisers of the first Maori Music Awards intend to start by honouring many of the icons of Maori Music.

The awards will be held on February the 21st at Palmerston North's Regent theatre, kicking off the Te Matatini national kapahaka competition.

Matatini chairperson Tama Huata says legendary composers like the late Sir Apirana Ngata and Paraire Tomoana never got awards, so it will be good to honour some of the legends who are still with us.

“The icons that we’re honouring at our inaugural launching are Sir Howard Morrison, Missy Teka, who with Tui, his work, Bub and Nan Wehi and Tommy Taurima,” Mr Huata says.