No help for Graham-Rakena Venice venture

NO HELP FOR GRAHAM-RAKEN VENICE VENTURE

The chief executive of Creative New Zealand says there's no way it will help fund a New Zealand entry to this year's Venice Biennale.

Stephen Wainwright says the government arts body decided to skip the art world's most prestigious fair this year.

Artists Brett Graham and Rachel Rakena are looking for $250,000 to show their multi-media installation Aniwaniwa at Venice.

Stephen Wainwright his organisation has other priorities.

“We're an organisation that is in the fortunate position that there’s no shortage of great ideas that come to us, and as a publicly funded organisation, we’ve got to ensure we take a long term view on how we support the arts in New Zealand,” Mr Wainwright says.

Creative New Zealand is sending five people to the Venice, Frankfurt and Basel art fairs to help it develop a strategy for future participation in international events.

MAORI PARTY TOYING WITH LABOUR’S FIELD

The Maori Party says it will back former Labour MP, Taito Phillip Field if he wants to set up a Pacific party.

The Mangere MP was expelled from Labour after he threatened to stand as an independent next election.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says he and Tariana Turia met with Mr Field and offered to cast his vote when he is not in the house.

Dr Sharples says there is life after Labour for the Samoan MP.

“If he wants to set up an independent Pacific Islands group or some independent party, we’ll be totally supportive of that, because we feel our own party has made some mileage on behalf of people as an independent voice, and we think the Pacific Island people could get mileage out of an independent voice as well,” Dr Sharples says.

MANGROVE CLEARING DRAWS PUNISHMENT THREAT

Coromandel iwi Ngati Whanaunga wants Environment Waikato regional council to prosecute the people who cleared two hectares of mangroves from the Whangamata harbour.

Environment unit head Nathan Kennedy says mangroves or maanawa are an important fish habitat.

Mr Kennedy says there's a lot of anger in the community, and Ngati Whanaunga won't let the matter rest.

“In terms of punishment we’re going to seek to act within the law as we always have and if it seems that EW won’t prosecute we’ll look at some enforcement action ourselves,” Mr Kennedy says.

He says Environment Waikato's failure to prosecute anyone after the last mangrove clearing session 18 months ago may have emboldened those who see the plant as a pest.

ANTE-NATAL PROGRAMME LAUNCHED IN BAY

An antenatal programme launched in the Hawkes Bay this morning is the first to be designed specifically for expectant Maori women.

Henare Kani from Maori midwives group Nga Maia says the Whanau Mai programme aims to keep alive traditional Maori birthing practices.

Mr Kani says there is a strong taha Maori focus, and as well as advice on health and diet, mothers learn about rituals connected with birth, such as the burial of the whenua - the Maori word for both the land and for the afterbirth.

“It keeps alive Maori concepts, like there’s a wananga whare tangata, birth planning, and how to keep fit. If the whenua is what keeps us alive, then it’s the whenua we’ve got to look after,” Mr Kani says.

A trial programme in South Auckland last year led to an increase in Maori women attending antenatal classes.

GRANDPARENTS MAY QUALIFY FOR MOKOPUNA MONEY

Kaumatua caring for their mokopuna are being urged to contact Work and Income to see what benefits are available to help.

Changes to eligibility rules introduced as part of changes to the government's Working for Families scheme means children being looked after by relatives may now qualify for the unsupported child benefit.

Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta says that will help many Maori, who may be bringing up their children's children.

“Some kaumatua are a bit hesitant to even make the inquiry into Work and Income on whether or not they are eligible, because they are receiving the pension and they don’t want that to be affected,” Ms Mahuta says.

She says there also need to be changes in the way children looking after parents or elderly relatives are funded.

STREET PRESENCE DRAW FOR WARDENS

A Wairarapa Maori warden says bringing back street patrols in Masterton is encouraging new recruits.

Former New Zealand First MP Edwin Perry says the patrols make the wardens more visible to the community.

Mr Perry says a dozen people have contacted the wardens this month about joining up.

He says while people don't become wardens for the money, secure funding would help, and he's looking to his former boss for help in that regard.

“I know that Winston Peters is vying to get the $15 million out of Dr Cullen. Remunerating our Maori wardens, the days have gone when we expect our people to do things for nothing. We need to look a bit forward, and they need to put kai on the table like we all have to,” Mr Perry says.

Delays punishing for north

Ngati Kahu leader Sir Graham Latimer says unnecessary delays settling the Muriwhenua land claims is leading to new injustices for people of the far north.

Ngati Kahu members are picketing a nine hectare block on the Karikari Peninsula, which state owned farmer Landcorp is selling off as 20 lifestyle sections.

The block is part of the Rangiputa Station, which claimants want returned.

Sir Graham says the sale of high priced coastal sections by Landcorp will make it harder for the tribes to get a fair settlement because of the unfair way the Crown is valuing land used in settlements.

“I did tell Doug Graham that when he was Minister of Treaty Affairs, that when it comes back we would want to pay the existing rate that was present when we talked about it, not adding on the rate. And so really, if we’re going to do it, we want a quick settlement before it explodes out of bloody reach,” Sir Graham says.

He says the delay in settling the Muriwhenua claims is the Crown's fault, because of the way it went about choosing who it was prepared to talk to.

WARDENS BACK ON MASTERTON STREETS

The reintroduction of street patrols by Maori wardens in the Wairarapa is getting the thumbs up from the community.

One of Masterton's six new wardens, former New Zealand First MP Edwin Perry, says a small group of young Maori in the region have been going off the rails and causing trouble.

Mr Perry says he's been getting favourable comments from Maori and Pakeha alike.

“They've said ‘Hell, it’s good to see them back on the road. Even though I’m a Pakeha, when we were young Ed, we’d go into the hotel and see the Maori wardens come through and oop, here’s a Maori warden, so everybody knew.’ The vibe from the young people we’ve spoken to in the last cuple of weeks, they know we’re around and Maori wardens are back on the street, so that's good,” Mr Perry says.

The wardens are trying to show the Wairarapa's youth alternatives to disruptive behaviour.

GRANT TO FINISH WHAKAIRO FOR NAPIER MARAE

The group building an urban marae for Napier has received $50,000 from Eastern and Central Community Trust to complete the task.

Pukemokimoki Marae project manager Mike Taane says the money will be used to complete the traditional whakairo, tukutuku and kowhaiwhai within the buildings.

He says by the time the complex is completed, building costs will be over a million dollars, which has come from the trust and other community organisations and fundraising activities.

“We're very grateful to Eastern and Central Community Trust. They previously also funded the actual building project as well, so the $50,000 received will go towards the carving project,” Mr Taane says.

When Pukemokimoki Marae is formally opened in June, it will be the culmination of a 40-year dream for the community.

SETTLEMENT FAILURE FRUSTRATING

Far north leader Sir Graham Latimer says a protest over the sale of Landcorp sections on the Karikari Peninsula is a sign of increasing frustration at the government's failure to settle the Muriwhenua Claim.

Ngati Kahu members are picketing a 9 hectare block of Landcorp's Rangiputa Station, which the state owned farmer is selling off as 20 lifestyle sections.

Sir Graham says in the 10 years since the Waitangi Tribunal released its Muriwhenua Land Claims report, the Crown has mishandled settlement negotiations, and now it's selling off assets which should go to claimants.

He says it can't go on.

“They can't sideline them because we’ve been going too long, so every day every month, the people get that much more bitter about the plight they're in,” Sir Graham says.

He wants the government to come back and talk to Muriwhenua as a collective group, so they can get the settlement negotiations back on track.

SOLUTIONS NEEDED FOR CANCER

A Maori health administrator says people are looking at negative Maori health statistics rather than looking for solutions.

Guy Naden, the chief executive of the Tamaki Primary Health Organisation, says Maori are bombarded with information, like the fact Maori with cancer are twice as likely to die from it as non-Maori.

But Dr Naden says those statistics don't seem to be taken into account when the health research dollars are allocated.

“We're being researched to death rather than researched to life, and there’s an opportunity here with cancer. We know the numbers, regarding Maori cancer patients and our incidence, and how often we get cancer, and there’s an opportunity her to go on the front foot and do something about it,” Dr Naden says.

He says Maori should be given control of a block of the research putea so they can set their own priorities for the funding.

CALL FOR FLAG FOR ALL TRIBES

A Waikato man who has proudly flown his own Maori flag for more than a decade, says it is time for Maori leaders to unite under a pan-tribal flag.

Monty Raniera's purple, white and black flag depicts the kumara, the koru, and the earth, papatuanuku.

He was there at Maungakeikei on Waitangi Day. flying his flag alongside the Maori Party, United Tribes and Kawariki banners.

Mr Raniera says it's something Maori should be able to reach agreement over.

“You got to get to the main chiefs eh, like chiefs of Ngati Porou and Tainui and Ngapuhi and all that, to sort of get together to decide on a flag that represents all tribes,” Mr Raniera says.

Rangiputa sell off sparks protest

Ngati Kahu in the far north is protesting the sales of part of Crown farmer Landcorp's Rangiputa Station for lifestyle blocks.

The Muriwhenua tribe wants the 3000 hectare station to be included as its compensation package, but talks are currently stalled over mandate issues.

Taitokerau kaumatua Nuki Aldridge says the call has gone out to picket the land, which is on the Karikari Peninsula east of Kaitaia.

“We're telling the descendants of those rangatira the land was taken off by Lands and Survey and all those people to go up there and do something, and that's what's happening,” Mr Aldridge says.

Landcorp chief executive Chris Kelly says the Landcorp is only selling a nine hectare block of scrub which is unsuitable for farming.

Mr Kelly says the sections being sold will contain memorials on the titles, so they could be bought back if needed for a settlement.

MAORI NEED RESEARCH CONTROL

An Auckland GP says Maori should be in control of any research funding looking at cancer in Maori.

Guy Naden from Tamaki PHO says Maori cancer research should be a priority, given Maori with cancer are twice as likely to die as non-Maori.

But Dr Naden says what communities want and what researchers want are at odds.

“Research money goes to universities. Universities then decide which sort of topics are of interest to them, but there’s a disconnect between the community wants and the university view of the world, so we want to have a meeting of those two areas,” Dr Naden says.

He says cancer services needed to be developed specifically for Maori.

URBAN MARAE NEARING COMPLETION

An urban Marae in the Napier city district is finally near completion after 40 years in the making.

Project Manager Mike Taane says three buildings have been completed for Pukemokimoki Marae, including the wharenui and wharekai, and the site is being landscaped.

He says they're aiming for a June opening, which will celebrate all the cultures in Napier.

“We’re expecting multitudes of people turning up and showing their support for the marae. That’s people of all races, because after all it’s a marae for the community of Napier, and not just Maori,” Mr Taane says.

Pukemokimoki is named after a mountain that was quarried away during the early development of Napier.

LANDCORP SAYS RANGIPUTA SALE NO THREAT

The head of state owned farming company Landcorp says its sale of part of the Rangiputa Station in the far north should not affect the Muriwhenua land claim settlement.

Members of Ngati Kahu have been staging a protest outside the land on the Karikari peninsula, which is to be sold by tender later this month.

Chris Kelly says Landcorp is only selling a nine hectare block of the two thousand hectare Rangiputa station, broken up into 20 smaller lifestyle sections.

“It's non usable for farming land. Basically it is scrub. We have signaled that we are selling that to the Office of Treaty Settlements, which we are obliged to do. They have reported to us that they do not wish to land bank the property,” Mr Kelly says.

The sections will be sold with memorials on the title, so if they are needed for a future treaty settlement they can be bought back by the Crown.

NO NCEA NOT END OF WORLD

The Minister of Maori Affairs says leaving school without a National Certificate in Educational Achievement is not the end of the world.

Parekura Horomia has come under fire from National's Tau Henare over the fact half the Maori school leavers in 2005 did not have even level one NCEA.

Mr Horomia says many of those young men and women were raised to believe they were heading for the unemployment queue, but that's not where they're heading.

“What they’re not saying is where they are going. A lot of them are going into modern day apprenticeships. We had 22,000 in there. A lot of them are going to get work, to get a job, and that’s a great thing for Maori,” Mr Horomia says.

He says under Tau Henare's party, Maori were left with no such options because National destroyed the apprenticeship system.

WAKA AMA PADDLER SETS SITES ON SACRAMENTO

A champion waka ama paddler has had to move from Ruatoria to Gisborne to pursue her sporting ambitions.

16-year-old Bayleigh Harrison says the move is saving her 1000 kilometres of travel a week.

Harrison is ranked in the top six internationally for her age group, and won five gold medals at the waka ama nationals last month.

Her former teacher, Geri Hiini of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Waiu, says Bayleigh is setting a high standard.

“Bayleigh is a very good role model in the world of waka ama. She’s a very humble person, she’s a very happy person as well, and she shares that sunny nature of hers with the people around her. She goes into things with a deep focus on the water,” Ms Hiini says.

Harrison is setting herself for the world waka ama championships at Sacramento in the United States next year.

Wind farm plan sparks incorporation revolt

A south Kaipara woman is trying to rally opposition the Otakanini Incorporation's plans to build a wind farm on its land.

Denise Hapeta from Ngati Whatua ki Kaipara ki te Tonga says the plans aren't supported by the majority of owners of the 3 thousand hectare block.

She says it's yet another example of a board of management ignoring the needs of owners, many of whom live in poor conditions in Auckland and would like a chance to return to the land.

“There's a big forest down the back that down belong to the Maoris, that belongs to the Crown but no they won’t stick it on the Crown land, they’ve got to stick it on the poor Maoris land. Nobody wants these windmills. But the owners do not have a say,” Ms Hapeta says.

Otakanini Incorporation will get no income from the windmills for at least a decade.

RATES INPUT SOUGHT

The Federation of Maori Authorities is encouraging members to make submissions to an inquiry into the rating system.

Executive deputy chairperson Paul Morgan says none of the inquiry members have experience in the complex issues facing the rating of Maori owned land.

But he says it's a longstanding problem, and Maori need to front up to the hui if they are to get change.

“I've got members that would argue they’re paying very significant rates on Maori land and they get no services. On the other hand, you’ve got local authorities saying Maori land is a problem and no one ever pays the rates. Somewhere in the middle there we’ve got to find a way forward,” Mr Morgan says.

Inquiry chair David Shand says the panel will look specifically at the impacts of rates on land covered by Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993, and will meet with Maori, the public and councils at a number of hui.

TANGIHAERE ACTING HEAD AT TAIRAWHITI POLY

The former head of Te Runanga o Turanganui a Kiwa has become the first Maori woman chief executive in the polytechnic sector.

Tracey Tangihaere, from Maniapoto and Ngati Porou, has been appointed acting CEO of Gisborne-based Tairawhiti Polytechnic.

Ms Tangihaere says there are challenges in the sector coming from new technology and from wananga and private training establishments.

“There are a lot more options for people to select now, with online learning distance learning, with wananaga being available to our people, which is great, but it asks really the polytechnic to change what they are delivering and how they are delivering, so that takes a lot of talking with our communities, with our other providers as well,” Tracey Tangihaere says.

Enrolments for 2007 are steady, but Tairawhiti Polytech are always encouraging more.

BOARDING SCHOOLS FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL

The chair of a group representing the six Maori boarding schools says the sector is fighting for its survival.

Matt Matamoa says Pairangi met last week to work through such issues as the upgrading of hostels and problems with government funding.

Mr Matamoa says the sector has been on the back foot since the two Auckland-based Anglican boarding schools, St Stephens and Queen Victoria, were closed.

He says that seems to have given the Education Ministry some wrong ideas.

“There was some thinking going on in the ministry that perhaps the Maori boarding schools were coming to an end, and of course we disputed that, thought that no, that’s not the case. We could see there has been an increase in kura Maori. That’s okay. We still believe there is a place for Maori boarding schools,” Mr Matamoa says.

He says even with the rise in kura kaupapa and Maori immersion classes in mainstream, Maori parents deserve the choice that boarding schools offer.

OPEN FIELD FOR INFLUENCE

Labour's coalition partners may not like it, but the Greens are determined to capitalise on Taito Philip Field’s ousting from the Labour caucus.

Green MP Metiria Turei says having one less vote means the government must be more flexible in its relationship with the Greens and the Maori Party.

Ms Turei says Labour should have been talking to the parties before now.

“Hopefully some of the difficulty between our parties because of historical reasons will be worked through better, and we will be opening a relationship that means we get real changes made and Labour will have to be a little more flexible with its position on some things,” Ms Turei says.

United Future has said it will be vigilant to ensure the Greens don't get more influence.

MANUTUKE CHURCH GETS MAKEOVER

A 100 year old Maori Anglican church in the small East Coast settlement of Manutuke is to get a makeover.

Eastern and Central Community Trust has pledged 40 thousand dollars towards the restoration of the Toko Toru Tapu church, which will expected to cost up to half a million dollars.

Restoration project trustee Tracey Tangihaere says it's the third church on the site, with the first erected in 1860.

Ms Tangihaere says parishioners can't take all the load of preserving the historic church.

“The communities of Manutuke, Muriwai and Patutahi traditionally use the church, but in recent years the flocks have been dwindling, so the marae trustees and the Rongowhakkata Iwi Trust have taken a more proactive responsibility,” Ms Tangihaere says.

The trust is working in partnership with Waiapu Anglican diocese on the project.

Turei harpoons whalers in flak

Green MP Metiria Turei says the Maori fisheries settlement trust should stop using Japanese whaling industry spokesperson Glen Inwood as its communications advisor.

Ms Turei says the Japanese deliberately blur the line between indigenous whaling, which some Maori support, and Japan's industrial whaling.

She says by speaking for both the Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research and Te Ohu Kaimoana, Glen Inwood is laying Maori open to claims they are supporting whaling in the southern ocean.

“The Japanese commercial whaling, which is effectively for human food and for dogfood, of whales which are supposed to be protected in our own Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is outrageous, and no Maori organisation should have an association with that kind of behaviour, and I don’t believe the Maori owners of the resource want there to be that connection,” Ms Turei says.

Sealord Group, which is co-owned by Te Ohu Kaimoana and Japanese fishing giant Nissui, has already had to deal with consumer boycotts because of Nissui's former whaling activities.

FIELD DAY FOR TURIA

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says disgraced Labour MP Taito Philip Field hasn't had a fair deal.

Labour is moving to expel the Mangere MP because of his treat to stand as an independent next election.

He has been under suspension from his parliamentary duties while police investigate allegations of corruption and bribery against him.

Mrs Turia says the police have taken far too long dealing with Mr Field's case.

“He's had to put up with a very public laundering of issues which he’s never ever had the right to give his side too. So we think he hasn’t had the right to be heard and he hasn’t had the right to justice,” Mrs Turia says.

TE AUTE JOINS CHORUS AGAINST FUNDING REGIME

The principal of Te Aute Maori College says government funding changes are putting whanau off sending their boys to the Maori boarding school.

Tairua Takurua says in the past, grants like Matihi Pounamu have helped parents with the fees.

Mr Takurua says for reasons he can't understand, the age of entitlement to the grant has gone up.

“I’m certainly a bit baffled by what goes on in the minds of those who make decisions. You have to be 14 years of age before you actually qualify for the financial assistance. It has placed more financial burden on our families about sending their sons to Te Aute and it has a big impact on families making their decision,” Mr Takurua says.

BEYER BOWS OUT OF HOUSE

One of the most colourful Maori MPs bowed out of Parliament today.

As well as being the world's first transsexual MP, Georgina Beyer had the rare distinction among Labour Maori MPs of holding a general seat.

She was elected MP for Wairarapa in 1999 and 2002, and returned to the House last election as a list MP.

Ms Beyer says there were many highs, particularly the way she was able to inspire others in minority situations.

She says her major conflict was over the Foreshore and Seabed Bill, when she had to put loyalty to the party over her concerns as a Maori.

“I actually gave quite serious thought that if I walked from Parliament with Tariana Turia at that time, as the holder of a general constituency seat and I happened to be Maori, I was loathe to think of what example tht may have set to any Maori in the future who wished to run in a general seat in the future, because my bad example might be thrown back in their face,” Ms Beyer says.

Her next job is acting in a play at Dunedin's Fortune Theatre, and she'll then consider whether to contest the Wellington mayoralty.

PERFORMANCE NOT GOOD ENOUGH

National's Maori Affairs co-spokesperson says Minister Parekura Horomia must face the music over Maori leaving school with no qualifications.

More than half of Maori boys and 45 percent of Maori girls leave school without level one NCEA.

Tau Henare wants to know how Mr Horomia intends to address the problem.

He says the minister has had seven years to make a difference.

“It seems to me that what they want us to be is uneducated, unskilled labourers, because that’s what it sounds like when they don’t do anything about the lack of qualifications for Maori kids,” Mr Henare says.

RAGLAN PROTEST CELEBRATION PLANNED

Tainui Awhiroa has already started planning for the 30th anniversity of the occupation of the Raglan Golf Course next February.

Spokesperson Angeline Greensill says the highlight of week's commemoration on the land was the gift of a sculpture by Eruera Nia, one of the 17 protesters arrested back in February 1978.

The arrests and subsequent court cases eventually led to the return of the land, which was taken during the second world war as an airstrip.

Ms Greensill says a much larger Te Ao Marama festival is planned next year,

“We're going to call our people back. They’re all over the world. So just trying to plan ahead to make sure we give them enough notice to come home and celebrate and commemorate that 30 years since the arrests and also our declaration of independence we launched in 1996,” Ms Greensill says.

She says surviving protesters arrested along with her mother Eva Rickard will also be called back.

Brett Graham bags Venice invite

An art piece about a drowned Maori village could be on its way to one of the world's largest art fairs.

Brett Graham and Rachel Rakena are trying to raise a quarter of a million dollors to get their collaborative work Aniwaniwa to the Venice Biennale, which starts in June.

New Zealand is not sending an official entry, but the multi-media sculpture was picked up by the biennale's curator after its run at Te Manawa gallery in Palmerston North.

Graham says Aniwaniwa uses video screens mounted in fibreglass sculptures hanging on the ceiling to tell the story of his father's home kainga Horahora, which now lies below Lake Karapiro on the Waikato River.

“We built these large forms because it was all about drowning and submersion. The idea was creating something so big it was actually gave you the impression you were experiencing some sort of disorientation, almost like you were under the water,” Graham says.

He has attended two Venice Biennales, and they always challenge what he thinks is sculpture.

LACK OF STATE CASH CRAMPING BOARDING SCHOOLS

The head of a Feilding's Hato Paora College says changes to scholarship rules is starting to have a significant negative effect on Maori boarding schools.

Tihirau Shepherd says the age pupils qualify for a state grant has been raised, and students are less likely to start a new school mid way through their secondary schooling.

He says that means demand has fallen off from some of the schools' main catchments, Maori living in remote areas like the East Coast and Northland.

“Many of them had the option of going off to boarding schools and they were under grants and scholarships, but I’m sad to say that in terms of Maori education and the promotion of Maori education, creating opportunities for Maori, certain people in the kawana went and changed mid stream and put the scholarship eligibility to age year 10, year 14,” Mr Shepherd says.

He says the Maori boarding schools get better academic results than Maori can expect from mainstream schools.

MAORI TARGETED FOR UNI ORIENTATION

It's orientation week at the country's tertiary institutions, and some of the universities and polytechnics are paying special attention to their new Maori students.

Colleen Noble from the Auckland University of Technology says this year AUT has about 1300 Maori students at its two campuses.

Ms Noble says higher education can be daunting for young Maori, and the university tries to welcome them into a whanau environment which can give them support during their studies.

“We're transitioning new Maori learners into the university environment. For some of them, they’re first generation Maori learners as well, so it’s just about allowing them to come through, get a feel for the campus and for the whanau that’s going to on the campus to help them for their studies,” Ms Noble says.

The majority of AUT's Maori students are studying health-related courses.

SUBMERGED VILLAGE TO SUBMERGING CITY

New Zealand won't be officially represented at this year's Venice Biennale, but Maori artists Brett Graham and Rachael Rakena will be at one of the world's most prestigious art fairs.

Their collaborative work, Aniwanawa, has been accepted as one of the collateral events running alongside the main biennale from June to November.

The work, which has been shown at Te Manawa gallery in Palmerston North, consists of five fibreglass sculptures suspended from the ceiling.

Graham says internal video screens play pictures and films about Horahora, the Waikato town where his father grew up, which is now submerged under Lake Karapiro.

“Because I grew up with those stories, I’m sort of using that idea of submersion as a metaphor for cultural loss and we’re taking the picture out to refer to global warming and the rest of it with all the Pacific islands that are under threat, and of course it has so many repercussions with the fact that Venice is under threat,” Graham says.

TEACHERS KEY TO BOYS’ ACHIEVEMENT

South Auckland educationlist Te Keepa Stirling says the way to tackle low Maori achievement rates is to find teachers who identify with Maori boys.

More than half the Maori boys who left school in 2005 had not achieved level one in the National Certificate of Education Achievement.

Mr Stirling says Maori boys see few positive Maori male role models in their schooling, and they suffer from a lack of knowledge about their culture and background.

“We need to have teachers who can relate to our Maori boys, teachers who understand their tikanga Maori, the culture, our protocols that gives us that status, but at the momennt we’re still struggling to overcome a lot of these areas. And of course the result is our boys are suffering,” Mr Stirling says.

He says many teachers see Maori boys as being a problem rather than as having potential.

RAGLAN ARRESTS REMEMBERED

The 29th anniversary of the arrests at Raglan Golf course was celebrated quietly this year, but plans are afoot for a big celebration next year.

Angeline Greensill says there was a small ceremony this week at what is now known as Whaingaroa to mark the occupation led by her mother, the late Eva Rickard.

The arrest of 17 protesters and subsequent court cases opened the country's eyes to the history of the land, which was taken from Tainui Awhiro for an airport during world war two.

Ms Greensill says it also opened her eyes and led to her commitment to Maori nationalism.

“I was absolutely appalled at the fact that here were the people standing up on an urupa singing Tama Ngakau Marie, which is a son of peace hymn, and being dragged off into the paddy wagon because they were breaking the law,” Ms Greensill says.

Principal drums up interest in schools

The principal of Hato Paora says it may take a change of mindset for Maori parents to consider sending their rangatahi to Maori boarding schools as an option for their rangatahi.

Tihirau Shepherd says pupils at the Feilding-based college are mostly doing well at the National Certificate of Educational Achievement of NCEA, compared to mainstream schools where more than half of Maori boys end up with no qualifications.

But he says all six Maori boarding schools struggle to get pupils.

Mr Shepherd says the cost of private schooling puts many parents off.

“There's a fear too that if they’re involved in the philosophies and programmes that are too pro-Maori, they are doing a disservice to the tamariki, and who promotes that? It’s the dominant culture, certainly not us,” Mr Shepherd says.

He says many of the people driving the Maori renaissance went to Maori boarding schools.

CLARK DEFENDS RECREATIONAL CATCH BIRTHRIGHT

The Prime Minister says the Fisheries Ministry wants to protect the New Zealand birthright that people can catch a fish for their supper.

Iwi are up in arms over the Government's shared fisheries plan, which would cut quota in species like snapper, paua and rock lobster where there is competition between commercial and recreational interests.

Helen Clark says it's a plan drawn up in good faith to address the tension between the sectors.

"If it did lead to some reduction in quota, then compensation would have to be considered but I don’t think people should get too carried away on this. There are two sides to it,. There are many Maori who go out to look for fish for the family, just as there is a big Maori commercial stake in the fishing industry, and the same goes for Pakeha,” Ms Clark says.

KINGITANGA SEMINARS PLANNED

People wanting to learn more about the Kingitanga will get a chance at a series of seminars kicking off at Hopuhopu tomorrow night.

Coordinator Mamae Taakarei says the fortnightly seminars are part of the build up to the 150th anniversary of the Maori King Movement next year.

The first speaker is musician and broadcaster Ruia Aperahama on the relationship between the Ratana church and the Kingitanga.

Ms Taakarei says the seminars will be particularly useful for rangatahi.

“To understand the establishment of Kingitanga and the purpose of Kingitanga in its last 148 years. The presentations are informative, they’re entertaining, they’re very structured and very professional, but the wairua Maori is still evident,” Ms Taakarei says.

GLASS HALF FULL FOR PM

Prime minister Helen Clark says while too many Maori are still leaving school with no qualifications, a lot more rangatahi are sticking round until they do get something.

Analysis of Education Ministry data by Waikato University education professor Russell Bishop found that 53 per cent of Maori boys who left school in 2005 did not even have level one of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement, compared with 20 per cent of Pakeha boys.

Ms Clark says while that is a concern, more Maori are sticking round to get NCEA level two and higher.

“The numbers of Maori school leavers with that qualification have more than doubled from 2001 to 2005. Now that’s pretty good. So I just am always a little cautious about these headline figures that come on that sort of dump on people. There is progress being made,” Ms Clark says

She says more Maori parents are encouraging their children to stay on longer at school.

FITZSIMONS TO STAY AT GREEN HELM

One of the developers of the Green's Maori policies says the decision by co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons to stay on will be welcomed by the party's Maori members.

Bevan Tipene-Matua, a Christchurch based researcher, says the party has embraced the Maori version of the Treaty of Waitangi.

He says that position had the support of Ms Fitzsimons and the late Rod Donald, and her decision to lead the party through the next election will reassure the small but vocal group of Maori within the Greens.

“Toru toru no ihonga, kanohi Maori roto i te paati. There’s only a small cohort of us driving the kaupapa but committed – commitment that comes down from Jeanette. That’s what I like about the party is its commitment to kaupapa Maoir and the alignment that non-Maori have to things Maori,” Mr Tipene Matua says.

TE ARAWA BOYCOTT ON TE MATATINI TOTAL

One of the strongest areas for Maori performing arts won't be represented at next week's Te Matatini kapa haka competitions.

Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao, the only team from Te Arawa, has pulled out.

Its departure came shortly after the death of Ngati Rangiwewehi matriach Atareta Maxwell, one of the pou of Maori perfoming arts in the Rotorua area.

Te Arawa has had up to six teams performing in previous national, but a dispute between its leadership and the current Te Matatini heirarchy means top teams like Ngati Rangiwewehi and Te Matarae i o Rehu are refusing to compete.

That means the 31 teams will battle it out in Palmerston North on the 23rd and 24th, with the haka-off between the final six being broadcast live on Maori Television of February the 25th.

Shared fishery proposal substandard as policy

Maori want the government to kill a proposal to take fishing quota off them an other industry members so recreational fishers can catch more.

Te Ohu Kaimoana trustee Archie Taiaraoa says last week's hui of more than 80 iwi representatives was unanimous in condemning the Shared Fisheries plans.

Mr Taiaroa says the government seems unaware of fishhooks in the Fisheries Ministry's plan, including exposing the Crown to a billion dollar compensation bill across the whole industry, undermining the Maori fisheries settlement, and collapsing support for the quota management system.

He says the fisheries ministry doesn't have the science to back its proposed changes, and it needs to be held to account.

“We're concerned about the whole paper and the whole thing, and what we’re saying is what is there is not good enough,” Mr Taiaroa says.

He says if government wants to improve fisheries management, it could find out how much recreational fishers take, especially those running charter fishing businesses.

MAORI ASKED FOR CLIMATE CHANGE VIEWS

Iwi development expert Willie Te Aho says Maori have a stake in tackling climate change.

Mr Te Aho facilitated a Ministry of the Environment hui at Te Poho O Rawiri marae in Gisborne yesterday aimed at consulting Maori on the government's proposed climate change strategy.

He says any strategy will affect the Maori asset base, and he is urging communities to make their concerns known.

“It's important for Maori because Maori are hugely involved in the primary industries of agriculture and forestry, and those industries have a major role to play not only in the carbon area but the nitrogen area in discharges and emissions into the environment, and that has a major effect on the climate,” Mr Te Aho says.

As individuals Maori can do their part by using their cars less, recycling, improving the energy efficiency of houses, appliances and businesses, and looking for alternatives to fossil fuels.

The next climate change hui will be at Rotorua on Wednesday.

ISLAMIST MP SHOULD HAVE NATURAL ALLIES

Green Party list MP Keith Locke says Maori should be natural supporters of Algerian asylum seeker Ahmed Zaoui.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe has refused to let Mr Zaoui's wife and four children to join him in Auckland while his security risk status is determined.

Mr Zaoui fled Algeria in 1993 after the army refused to let him and fellow Islamic Salvation Front MPs take their seats in the country's Parliament.

Mr Locke says Maori have a history of giving refuge to people who challenge authority, and they'd be skeptical of the terrorism convictions entered against Mr Zaoui in three countries.

“When Te Kooti was running around the countryside, various iwi gave him refuge, and Maori people have a history of understanding frame-ups too, be it Rua Kenana or Te Whiti or whoever else was chucked in jail framed up. I think they can understand a chap like Ahmed Zaoui was framed up because was against the military dictatorship,” Mr Locke says.

FISH COMPO COULD GO ON TREATY SETTLEMENT BILL

A Te Atiawa fisheries trustee says compensation paid for quota cuts under the government's proposed shared fisheries plan could affect other Waitangi claims.

Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton has said quota owners, including iwi, would be compensated if his ministry cuts to total available commercial catch to make more fish available for recreational fishers.

But Morrie Love says iwi got their quota as part of a treaty settlement, and they don't want it tampered with.

Mr Love says iwi could be due up to $100 million in compensation.

“If compensation were paid, one of the concerns is, would this compensation to be considered to come out of the fiscal envelope, an additional part of overall settlement of claims. It is of some concern that that might be the case, particularly given the size of compensation that may be needed,” Mr Love says.

He says under that scenario, the government would have to pay Ngai Tahu and Tainui additional compensation because the total treaty settlements will blow out the billion dollar fiscal envelope.

TE KOTAHITANGA LIGHT UNDER BUSHEL

The developer of a teaching system aimed at improving the performance of Maori students in mainstream schools says the Education Ministry is sitting on data proving its success.

Russell Bishop from Waikato University's school of education wants to see his Te Kotahitanga system rolled out to all high schools,

But he says the ministry won't release the achievement rates of Te Kotahitanga students in the 2004 - 2005 year.

He says the data would show people there is no excuse for more than half of Maori boys to leave school with no qualifications.

“The solutions are basically to change the way that teachers relate, and interact with Maori kids in the classrooms. We’re now working with 33 schools, and we’re seeing in these 12 schools we worked in in 2004-05, we’re seeing dramatic changes taking place,” Professor Bishop says.

He says while the Ministry funds Te Kotahitanga, it has to go through the Education Minister to release the results.

ORIGINALITY VALUED IN MAORI MUSIC

One of the perennial debates in the Maori music scene has re-emerged, with the head of Te Matatini national kapa haka festival, Tama Huata coming down on the side of original composition.

Since Maori first adopted western song forms, many composers borrowed popular melodies of the day for their waiata.

In more recent years composers like Te Reo Takiwa Dunne and Pita Sharples have insisted on original melodies to go their words.

Mr Huata says that's the spirit he wants to encourage with the inaugural Maori Music Awards, which will be the curtain raiser to the Te Matatini Festival at the end of next week.

“I'm encouraging our people, for the Maori music awards, that I don’t want demo tapes, I want people to record their music so that it’s going into the industry so it’s helping to lift our levels,” Mr Huata says.

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.

No time for contemporary claims

A long time adviser to Waitangi claimants says the Waitangi Tribunal has become bogged down in the historical claim process, meaning Maori have nowhere to go with contemporary claims.

Auckland University law professor David Williams, whose involvement with the tribunal started with the Orakei claim in the 1980s, says it has insufficient resources, a huge workload and governments who feel they can ignore or sideline its recommendations.

He says the treaty settlement process is creating a huge workload for the tribunal..

“Almost all of the Waitangi Tribunal focus now is on dealing with the historical claims and dealing with urgent inquiries when people don’t like whom the government has chose to settle with,” Professor Williams says.

He says the Maori Party's idea of a treaty commissioner appointed by Parliament is a good one, because it could bring back a much-needed focus on the place of the treaty in contemporary New Zealand life.

CORONERS ACT CHANGES EXPLAINED

The Justice department is getting out into Maori communities to explain changes in the way the coroners system works.

The new Coroners Act coming into effect in July will replace 55 part time coroners with about 20 full timers, who will be responsible for establishing the cause of sudden or unexplained deaths.

Fiona Cayle, the manager of the Coroners Implementation Project, says Maori communities have some common concerns about the effect of the new law on coroners' activities.

“The length of tiem that it takes for the return of body back to family, the manner in which body parts were either removed, handled, retained or returned to whanau, the lack of ability for Maori to be included in some of the decisions that get made,” Ms Cayle says.

Rather than imposing a calender for consultation, her team is waiting to be invited by iwi at times that suit their cultural calendars.

It has already spoken at a Tainui poukai, and on Tuesday it will share information wih urban Maori at Nga Whare Waatea Marae in South Auckland.

DIG SHEDS LIGHT ON NGATI AWA ANCESTORS

Ngati Awa's new chief executive says an archaelogical dig at Matataa is giving iwi members a chance to learn what life was like for their ancestors.

Jeremy Gardiner says the excavation of Te Kohika paa is the third and final survey of the area by researchers from Auckland University.

Mr Gardner says the archaeologists have to move fast once they clear the soil.

“The site used to be under water so all the taonga were being preserved by the sediment. Now the site’s been exposed, there’s potential danger to the taonga,” Mr Gardiner says.

A number of important artifacts have already been uncovered since the first dig at Te Kohika in the 1970s, and many of them are on display at Whakatane museum.

ACCESS TO FINANCE NO LONGER PROBLEM FOR MAORI

The organiser of last week's Maori innovation summit says ideas and governance structures are what's holding back Maori land owning bodies, rather than finance.

Murray Hemi says Maori land holds the key to New Zealand's economic development.

Mr Hemi says the idea collective ownership of Maori land is an impediment to development is not longer true.

“I've been to a lot of meetings with a lot of banks, I’ve talked to a lot of Maori innovators who actually find if they have the right idea and the right structure and right governance and leadership behind a project, banks aren’t scared about lending. They’re familiar, in the New Zealand context, with the multiply-owned asset base of Maori,” Mr Hemi says.

He says Maori need to develop strong networks with each other and with government research and development agencies.

DEPARTMENT WAITING TO BE INVITED

A Justice department team is meeting with Maori communities to explain the impact of changes to legislation covering the coroners’ office.

From July, 20 full time coroners will replace 55 part times who determine the causes of unexpected deaths.

Manager Fiona Cayle says her team is waiting for invitations from iwi, rather than dictating when and where the hui are held.

She says too often, Crown agencies hold hui to suit their own calendar, with little consideration of the needs of the communities they visit.

Ms Cayle says she's taking a different approach.

“We should extend the tokotoko and ask communities to take responsibility for hosting us and inviting us into their community, and working out on their own iwi and Maori community calendar a significant event where discussing this topic would be well appreciated,” Ms Cayle says.

The next hui is tomorrow at Nga Whare Waatea Marae in South Auckland.

WHARENUI CAN STAY IN TE PAPA FOR NOW

Rongowhakaata chairperson Stan Pardoe says the Poverty Bay tribe's carved totara meeting house Te Hau ki Tuuranga will remain in the care of Te Papa for now.

The wharenui, carved by Raharuhi Rukupo, was removed from the bay in 1868 and taken to the Wellington Colonial Museum.

The Waitangi Tribunal has found the meeting house was illegally taken from Rongowhakaata, but also heard a plea from the national museum to keep what it regards as an iconic treasure in its care.

Mr Pardoe says it's appropriate the whare stays where it is in the short term.

“It's of value not only to Rongowhakaata but to the country as a whole, but because it’s been in an enclosed space, top bring it back we would have to have a somewhat similar area to do that, and realistically, there’s nothing in Gisborne that we’ve got at this stage we could put it in to, not to say if may happen, it could be the next five or 10 years,” Mr Pardoe says.

Rongowhakaata will keep its options open for the longer term.

No time for contemporary claims

A long time adviser to Waitangi claimants says the Waitangi Tribunal has become bogged down in the historical claim process, meaning Maori have nowhere to go with contemporary claims.

Auckland University law professor David Williams, whose involvement with the tribunal started with the Orakei claim in the 1980s, says it has insufficient resources, a huge workload and governments who feel they can ignore or sideline its recommendations.

He says the treaty settlement process is creating a huge workload for the tribunal..

“Almost all of the Waitangi Tribunal focus now is on dealing with the historical claims and dealing with urgent inquiries when people don’t like whom the government has chose to settle with,” Professor Williams says.

He says the Maori Party's idea of a treaty commissioner appointed by Parliament is a good one, because it could bring back a much-needed focus on the place of the treaty in contemporary New Zealand life.

CORONERS ACT CHANGES EXPLAINED

The Justice department is getting out into Maori communities to explain changes in the way the coroners system works.

The new Coroners Act coming into effect in July will replace 55 part time coroners with about 20 full timers, who will be responsible for establishing the cause of sudden or unexplained deaths.

Fiona Cayle, the manager of the Coroners Implementation Project, says Maori communities have some common concerns about the effect of the new law on coroners' activities.

“The length of tiem that it takes for the return of body back to family, the manner in which body parts were either removed, handled, retained or returned to whanau, the lack of ability for Maori to be included in some of the decisions that get made,” Ms Cayle says.

Rather than imposing a calender for consultation, her team is waiting to be invited by iwi at times that suit their cultural calendars.

It has already spoken at a Tainui poukai, and on Tuesday it will share information wih urban Maori at Nga Whare Waatea Marae in South Auckland.

DIG SHEDS LIGHT ON NGATI AWA ANCESTORS

Ngati Awa's new chief executive says an archaelogical dig at Matataa is giving iwi members a chance to learn what life was like for their ancestors.

Jeremy Gardiner says the excavation of Te Kohika paa is the third and final survey of the area by researchers from Auckland University.

Mr Gardner says the archaeologists have to move fast once they clear the soil.

“The site used to be under water so all the taonga were being preserved by the sediment. Now the site’s been exposed, there’s potential danger to the taonga,” Mr Gardiner says.

A number of important artifacts have already been uncovered since the first dig at Te Kohika in the 1970s, and many of them are on display at Whakatane museum.

ACCESS TO FINANCE NO LONGER PROBLEM FOR MAORI

The organiser of last week's Maori innovation summit says ideas and governance structures are what's holding back Maori land owning bodies, rather than finance.

Murray Hemi says Maori land holds the key to New Zealand's economic development.

Mr Hemi says the idea collective ownership of Maori land is an impediment to development is not longer true.

“I've been to a lot of meetings with a lot of banks, I’ve talked to a lot of Maori innovators who actually find if they have the right idea and the right structure and right governance and leadership behind a project, banks aren’t scared about lending. They’re familiar, in the New Zealand context, with the multiply-owned asset base of Maori,” Mr Hemi says.

He says Maori need to develop strong networks with each other and with government research and development agencies.

DEPARTMENT WAITING TO BE INVITED

A Justice department team is meeting with Maori communities to explain the impact of changes to legislation covering the coroners’ office.

From July, 20 full time coroners will replace 55 part times who determine the causes of unexpected deaths.

Manager Fiona Cayle says her team is waiting for invitations from iwi, rather than dictating when and where the hui are held.

She says too often, Crown agencies hold hui to suit their own calendar, with little consideration of the needs of the communities they visit.

Ms Cayle says she's taking a different approach.

“We should extend the tokotoko and ask communities to take responsibility for hosting us and inviting us into their community, and working out on their own iwi and Maori community calendar a significant event where discussing this topic would be well appreciated,” Ms Cayle says.

The next hui is tomorrow at Nga Whare Waatea Marae in South Auckland.

WHARENUI CAN STAY IN TE PAPA FOR NOW

Rongowhakaata chairperson Stan Pardoe says the Poverty Bay tribe's carved totara meeting house Te Hau ki Tuuranga will remain in the care of Te Papa for now.

The wharenui, carved by Raharuhi Rukupo, was removed from the bay in 1868 and taken to the Wellington Colonial Museum.

The Waitangi Tribunal has found the meeting house was illegally taken from Rongowhakaata, but also heard a plea from the national museum to keep what it regards as an iconic treasure in its care.

Mr Pardoe says it's appropriate the whare stays where it is in the short term.

“It's of value not only to Rongowhakaata but to the country as a whole, but because it’s been in an enclosed space, top bring it back we would have to have a somewhat similar area to do that, and realistically, there’s nothing in Gisborne that we’ve got at this stage we could put it in to, not to say if may happen, it could be the next five or 10 years,” Mr Pardoe says.

Rongowhakaata will keep its options open for the longer term.