Information to help landowners

Massey University is leading a project to Maori landowners decide how best to use their land.

Tanira Kingi, the leader of the three-year Integrated Maori Land and Resource Development framework, says it is initially advising four trusts how to access planning tools and models.

About half of Maori land is considered underutilised, and large land blocks around the country aren’t used for any kind of production at all.

Dr Kingi says this of often because of lack of support for owners, and the Massey framework aims to demystify the development process.

“There’s large areas of Maori land that is under-utilised, land blocks that don’t have management structures, and blocks that do have a trust or some kind of structures where owners can get together, it’s very difficult for them to access information on the quality of the land and the alternatives they can use the land for,” Dr Kingi says.

The project, which also involves Landcare Research, AgResearch, Scion and Te Arawa Lakes Trust, is being trialed in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay and Manawatu.

SOUTH AUCKLAND POLICE TAKE STATION TO THE STREETS

South Auckland police have a new station .. . on wheels.

The Counties Manukau mobile police unit will be deployed to hotspots to provide high visibility patrolling as well as operational support for major incidents.

Richard Wilkies, the senior sergeant in charge of the unit, says allows police to work with the increased numbers of Maori Wardens on the streets.

“We have a high population of Maori in south Auckland and being able to call upon our colleagues in the Maori warden office and work with them sends a clear message that we’re supportive of our Maori community and we’ve been able to show that high visibility that is required in areas that require it because of what’s been happening,” Mr Wilkies says.

He says being able to put a police station into the heart of a community is reassuring for the public.

TSUNAMI PLANNING INCLUDES COASTAL MARAE

Maori communities are being encouraged to think about what they would do if a tsunami comes.

The Ministry of Civil Defence is Emergency Management is holding seminars for local authorities, welfare agencies, emergency services, utility companies and marae on what to do before and after a tidal wave strikes.

The director of civil defence, John Hamilton, says tsunamis are infrequent, people in coastal communities underestimate the risk.

“All communities that are on the coast, particularly the east coast, and of course there are a number of Maori communities on the east coast which are at risk. The East Coast is the most prevalent area for tsunamis, particularly large ones either generated by local earthquakes or earthquakes way over in South America,” Mr Hamilton says.

He says coastal communities need to plan their response, councils need to signpost areas at risk, and the country as a whole needs to develop an early warning system.

WAAHI TAPU DEFENDED IN NEW LAND STRATEGY

A new development strategy is looking at how Maori can get the most out of their land without compromising waahi tapu.

Tanira Kingi, from Massey University, is working with trusts from Te Arawa, Ngati Hine, Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Rangitane which have underutilised land.

He says the Integrated Maori Land and Resource Development framework differs from other programmes because it integrates places like waahi tapu and urupa into the plan.

“There are a lot of examples around the country where urupa and other sites have been damaged as the land has been brought into commercial production, and this information on the significance of these sites wasn’t taken into account. So that’s one off the things we are going to be looking at in the programme is giving an examples of how that information can be collected and stored by the landowners and how that information can be used in development plans,” Dr Kingi says.

He says the historical significance of sites was a key consideration for Maori land owners,

AUCTION TO HELP AUCKLAND’S POOR AND HOMELESS

Maori homeless are among those who will feel the love as Aucklanders auction their services for charity.

Everyone from plumbers to party boys have put themselves forward for the Auckland City Mission's third Trade Me On Trade Me auction, which starts tomorrow.

City Missioner Diane Robertson says there has already been a 21 percent increase in demand this year, and winter has just started.

“Everybody who’s living in poverty, for people who are living on the streets, for family trying to feed their children on low incomes, winter power bills are high, it’s tough to cope with children who are sick, getting your children to kohanga reo and back in the morning, the cost of petrol, all of those things, finding accommodation, all expensive and winter is just an additional stress for them,” Ms Robertson says.

The Auckland City Mission gives out more than 5000 food parcels a year

TAHA MAORI HIP HOP ON NEW HANSELL EP

A Ngapuhi musician says there is room in hip hop for taha Maori.

Hayley j Hansell’s latest EP, "You are not who you know". Includes a collaboration with Hungarian producer Illegalvoice.

She says her writing is influenced by Maori hip hop artists like DLT and Che Fu.

“Everything about what I do might not come across overtly but it’s definitely pro-Maori and pro-people against a certain system that might hold you back,” Hansell says.

MAORI TEAM PREVAIL AFTER SHAKEY START

The New Zealand Maori rugby team overcame an error-filled first half to down Japan 65-22 in Napier on Saturday.

Japan led 22-17 at the half after taking advantage of some loose passing, but were unable to stop seven second half tries.

The Maori team takes on the other unbeaten side, Australia A, next weekend.