Prisons right place for Maori culture

New Zealand First corrections spokesperson Ron Mark is challenging claims by a former probation officer that there is too much emphasis on Maori culture in prisons.

Josie Bullock says the basics of being a good prison officer get lost in all the cultural training.

But Mr Mark says because a high proportion of inmates are Maori, bringing culture into the rehabilitation process is appropriate.

“Unfortunately a large portion of our prison population is made up of Maori people, and there’s a lot that’s done in prisons in terms of occupying people giving them exposure to their culture and their whakapapa that actually helps to rebuild a sense of belonging and self esteem of some inmates,” Mr Mark says.

HOCKEY PLAYERS TAKE ON NZ INDIANS

The New Zealand Maori men's hockey team lines up against a New Zealand Indian squad in Rotorua on Sunday.

Last time the two teams met, the New Zealand Indians won 5-2.

Former women's national coach Margaret Hiha says such games are the best way to improve the skills of Maori players.

She says a lot could be gained by taking the Maori rep teams on an internal tour.

“We should really tour our own country and play the rep teams, because that gets you together and do a bit of tikanga and waiata and haka and that when you’re on tour, which is also very good for our players,” Mrs Hiha says.

In Sunday's game she expects players like Bevan Hari and Mark Kake will inspire younger members like Tenga Rangitauira and Natana Waaka.

TAKI TUA TAKES ON ITALIAN FLAVOUR

Theatre company Taki Rua brought in Italian expertise for its new production about the Maori Battalion in Italy.

Strange Resting Places runs from Sunday to Thursday at the Auckland War Memorial Museum auditorium, as part of the Auckland Festival AK07.

Rob Mokoraka says he and fellow writer and performer Paolo Rotondo drew on the stories of their won family members who fought on both sides of the conflict.

He says by focusing on a small incident near Monte Cassino in 1944, they try to tell a bigger story of what happened in 1944.

“We looked at the entire historical outlook of it from a world perspective and then we just got into a whanau perspective which was much more appealing when it’s closer and personal,” Mokoraka says.

KELLY DAVIS, HOLDER OF NGAI TAHU TRADITIONS

A planned meeting this weekend to discuss the leadership battle within Ngai Tahu has been postponed because of the death of a runanga executive member.

Kelly Te Maire Davis of Hateatea, the upoko of the Waihou Runaka of southern Canterbury, died yesterday on the eve of his 60th birthday.

Ngai Tahu elder Rakiihia Tau says Mr Davis was one of only three members of the executive who took part in the tribe's Ngai Tahu claim.

Mr Tau says Mr Davis had a huge store of traditional knowledge and was one of the few people who could still make mokihi or traditional reed boats.

“He has always been an expert in the sea, the lakes and rivers, the mountains and the bush. Lived off them, come from a traditional background, one of the last who can still make mokihi, taught many of them, so him and I come from that traditional background. Hunters. Experts in mahinga kai, gathering food. We always do it. Well I still do it, he still did it, right up to the day he died,” Mr Tau says.

Kelly Davis has been taken back to his marae at Morven.

SERGEANT’S GRIPE DISMISSED AS DUKE WELCOMED

A former Maori Battalion sergeant isn't getting a lot of support from Te Arawa in his boycott of tomorrow's presentation in Rotorua by the Duke of York of royal taonga to honour the late Haane Manahi.

Sonny Sewell says nothing but the Victoria Cross is enough to mark the heroism Sergeant Manahi displayed charging German gun positions at Takrouna Ridge in North Africa in 1943.

But George Rehu, who was in A company of 28 Maori Battalion, says Te Arawa fought for 20 years to upgrade Sergeant Manahi's Distinguished Conduct Medal, and it has to accept it got the best outcome possible.

“We fought the fight when we took it to the Queen, and she told us then and there, she will never change any decisions her dad made. That’s what she said. She didn’t say if it was right or wrong,” Mr Rehu says.

Prince Andrew will present an altar cloth for St Faith's Church in Ohinemutu and a sword from the collection of his grandfather George the sixth which will be presented by Te Arawa to each incoming armed forces chief.

WORLD ARTISTS TAUGHT TO HONGI

International artists coming to the World of Music and Dance festival in New Plymouth this weekend have been given a crash course in Maori culture and etiquette.

Maori coordinator Wharehoka Wano says organisers didn't want a repeat of the embarrassing stand-off last year, when members of reggae great Jimmy Cliff's band refused to hongi their hosts.

Mr Wano says the three busloads of artists from arouind the world welcomed onto Owae Marae yesterday were briefed on the significance of the haruru at the end of the powhiri.

“We live and learn and we’re very careful about our explanations and the whole idea of hongi and sharing breath and bringing us together in a physical sense was explained a little bit better this time,” Mr Wano says.

Womad kicks off tonight with acts including Portugese fado sensation Mariza, Afrobeat star Femi Kuti and kapa haka from Taranaki Whanau and Whitireia.