Waatea News Update

News from Waatea 603 AM, Urban Maori radio, first with Maori news

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Tarawera eruption anniversary

Rotorua is today remembering the natural disaster that shaped the region 122 years ago.

More than 150 members of Tuhourangi lost their lives when Mt Tarawera erupted in 1886, covering the Pink and White terraces and the villages of Te Wairoa, Moura and Te Ariki.

Pam McGrath says staff at her Buried Village tourism venture are marking the anniversary by dressing up in Victorian outfits and explaining the tragic event to visitors.

She says many of the villagers were away at Whakarewarewa when the eruption happened, and some of those who survived took shelter Guide Sofia’s whare nearby.

Entry to the Buried Village will be free this weekend so locals can explore the history of their region.

IDEAS SHARED AT WAIPAPA CONFERENCE

It's a time a sharing at Auckland University's Waipapa Marae.

More than 200 tangata whenau from Aotearoa, Australia, Pacific Island nations and Great Turtle Island are attending the third international traditional knowledge conference hosted by Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, the Institute for Maori Research Excellence.

Opening speaker Moana Jackson says it's a rare chance for Maori to see what other indigenous nations are doing.

He says Maori don’t have all the answers and sharing of ideas is beneficial.

The conference is covering everything from health and education to new models of economic development.

PAUA PICKLE TURNED INTO A FAMILY BUSINESS

A Te Kuiti couple is turning a traditional Taranaki paua recipe into a successful business.

Glen and Kristin Katu make abalone pickles and chutneys under their Toku Gourmet label and export it to the world.

Mr Katu says the business started after one of their children suggested they start bottling the family's special sauce.

He says they're using farmed and wild paua and locally grown vegetables to create a versatile food product.

“When we were brought up we used to have it on bread and butter and take it with our lunches to our schools. If we were lucky enough to have meat around, we would have it with our meat sandwiches. It went with our boil ups, it went with hangi. It goes with range of food. We’ve found it quite versatile, from the number of chefs that have given it a go,” Mr Katu says.

Now they have proven the business in the commercial kitchen they installed on their farm, they are looking for investors to expand the business.

DUNNE ALIGNING POLICIES WITH NATIONAL

The Prime Minister seems resigned to the fact one of her confidence and supply partners is lining up with National.

Peter Dunne from United Future is proposing a series of constitutional referenda, including one on the future of the Maori seats.

Helen Clark says Labour's position is clear, that the seats remain as long as Maori keep enrolling on them.

“He's lined himself up with the National Party which a big priority for them is to get rid of the Maori seats. Well that’s not our policy. That’s why I think Maori are looking at this election with a lot of interest,” Ms Clark says.

She says the government is getting huge traction on treaty settlements, which would be put at risk by a change of government.

The Minister for Treaty Negotiations, Michael Cullen, will be in Rotorua tomorrow to sign a revised deed of settlement with Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa, which is a precursor to the Treelord forestry settlement with the Central North Island iwi collective.

KAITIAKI FOR OWN HEALTH NEEDS

Maori woman are urged to become the kaitiaki for their own health.

Denise Wilson from Ngati Tahinga, a senior lecturer in nursing at Massey University, delivered the annual Oteha lecture to the Maori Academy of Research & Scholarship on culturally appropriate health services for Maori women.

She says many mainstream services don't take Maori norms and attitudes into account, leading to lower outcomes.

Maori woman need support to keep themselves healthy and to access to health services in a timely manner.

“Maori women are strongly socialised to put others ahead of themselves and often when they need timely intervention or to go and see a doctor or a nurse, they usually put themselves at the end of the line and put their tamariki or their partner or other whanau members ahead of themselves,” Dr Wilson says.

Even simple things like making women feel welcome in a clinic, and giving them time to understand the information they are given, can make a big difference to outcomes.

MOEREWA MOVING AGAINST DRUG CULTURE

Ngati Hine has had enough of drugs in its communities.

Members of the Northland tribe are meeting in Moerewa tonight to discuss the widespread access to drugs.

Community worker Peter Tipene says revelations the town's dairy was selling a chemical used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and cannabis oil has fired up the community.

“We said we've had enough and we know that everyone else in the Moerewa Kawakaewa community is saying enough. This is really about the Ngati Hine leadership after having met with other community leaders and looking to galvanise our collective commitment towards improving our own community,” Mr Tipene says.

The incident with the shopkeeper is only a symptom of a deeper problem in the community which needs addressing.

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