Jones learning tricks of trade

The newest Maori cabinet minister is looking forward to a period of intense learning and mentoring.

Shane Jones picked up the building and construction portfolio in yesterday's reshuffle, along with associate duties in immigration, trade and treaty negotiations.

He's expecting to learn many of the tricks of the trade from Trade Minister Phil Goff and new Treaty Negotiations Minister Michael Cullen.

Mr Jones says as both senior minister and attorney general, Mr Cullen is in an extremely influential position to resolve long-standing grievances.

“Marrying the treaty settlement portfolio with the attorney general responsibilities in terms of the treaty issues is a nice fit, and going forward obviously what he is going to need is a good two IC who can bring experience, vigour and some ideas to the table,” Mr Jones says.

His experience as chair of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission gave him valuable skills and experiences to bring to the Cabinet table.

ABUSE TRUST FOCUSING ON PARENTING

A trustee from the new Manaaki Tamariki Trust says multiple approaches are needed to tackle child abuse in Maori families.

Ella Henry says government departments responsible for the welfare of children overlook the need to improve parenting skills.

She says some Maori parents have never had a chance to learn those skills.

“How can you change behaviour if the people behaving that way don’t know any other way to behave. If they’ve grown up with sexual abuse and violence and substance abuse and drugs and poverty and hunger, if that’s where the level of dysfunction is, then we have to change a whole whanau to protect a tamariki,” Ms Henry says.

One useful step could be to train Plunket nurses to identify problems in homes so they can call in specialised help.

STUDY OF MAORI MOVE ONLINE

A Massey University researcher has scored a $107,000 grant to study ways to Maori are using the Internet.

Whetu Simon says the three year Te Tipu Putaiao Fellowship will look at the potential of online digital environments.

He'll be talking to Maori businesses, whanau, marae and iwi organisations who are using the net, and charitable trusts.

He hopes to identify successful models others can follow.

“If there was a Maori organisation that hasn’t made the move onto the Internet, this research will identify pathways where they can move onto the Internet and develop a web presence,” Mr Simon says.

He will do his research through Massey University's Centre for Indigenous Governance and Development.

NORTHLAND RESEARCHERS TO SWAP NOTES ON PROGRESS

Northland treaty claim researchers are meeting today to chart progress in collecting evidence for what will be the last major regional claim.

The hui at the Copthorne Waitangi Hotel is hosted by the Crown Forestry Rental Trust, which is funding the oral and traditional research projects.

Hinerangi Himiona, who has been interviewing Hokainga elders, says researchers have to tread carefully to get the kaumatua and kuia to share their personal, family and tribal histories.

She says taking other kaumatua along can often be the key to unlock those stories.

“We've got to interview either individuals or groups of people. I’ve preferred to go with groups of people so they can help keep each other accountable to their korero, and I think they’ve liked that, being brought together and talk about and some value given to them in their lives and what they know,” Ms Himiona says.

Today's hui will help claim managers decide whether the claimants are ready to start seeking hearing dates from the Waitangi Tribunal.

WANGANUI COUNCIL APPOINTS MAORI COMMITTEE

Wanganui District Council hopes to turn around its sometimes chilly relationship with Maori.

It has established a Maori standing committee, headed by its two Maori councilors, Rangi Wills and former MP Rana Waitai.

Mr Wills says the council has had structures to deal with Whanganui iwi, but other Maori living in the rohe may not have been well served.

“People who are not tangata whenua will have an opportunity to speak. The difficulty in doing so is there are not what you would call large representative groups who have spokespeople, who have committees and elected representatives who can come to the committee,” Mr Wills says.

He says the new committe will allow the council to respond to law changes requiring better Maori representation.

LAWYERS’ PANEL ON TERROR CHARGES

Maori and environmental activists caught up in police anti-terrorism raids will be back in court in Auckland today.

The hearing is expected to be largely technical, as the court tries to establish a timetable for pre-trial hearings for the 17, who currently only face firearms charges.

Meanwhile two layers working on the case, Annette Sykes and Moana Jackson, will be fronting a panel discussion at Auckland Central Library this evening.

Hui organiser Tia Taurere from Conscious Collaboration says the aim is to tell people about the implications of the new anti terror laws, and to support the whanau of those arrested.

“They're sort of living in fear and shock at the moment, so organising a lot of support for them. Fundraising money because they need to be able to get up to court to be here for their families, their brothers and sisters and fathers that are being held captive and just to educate them a little bit more on the processes of court and what’s happening now, where to go to from here,” Ms Taurere says.

The hui starts at six, with entry by koha.