FOMA no to bank plan

The Federation of Maori Authorities wants the government to rethink plans for a Maori development bank.

Chief executive Paul Morgan says FOMA's members support the first part of bill now before Parliament, which will split the Maori Trust Office from Te Puni Kokiri.

But there is little backing for the second part of the bill, which will use the Maori Trustee's accumulated profits to create a new organisation, Maori Business Aotearoa New Zealand.

"We're supportive of the concept but we don't think enough development work and thinking has gone into what would be the vision and purpose of such a fund. There's been no consulation with the Maori business community. If it's going to be successful, it needs to be able to work alongside Maori business and Maori people," Mr Morgan says.

He says it's not appropriate that the Maori Trustee continue to be appointed by the Minister for Maori Affairs, and many parts of the bill show a paternalistic approach which takes Maori back 100 years.
 
TUHOE SIGN RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

The mist descended on Wellington today as the Tamariki o Te Kohu... the children of the mist... gathered in the capital to sign terms of negotiations for their treaty claims.

Issues include the loss of Tuhoe land and lives by Crown actions, the execution of unarmed prisoners during the new Zealand wars of the 1860s and 70s and the 1916 raid by armed police on prophet Rua Kenana's settlement at Maungapohatu.

Parekura Horomia, the Minister of Maori Affairs, says tribal leaders are now keen to talk with the Crown.

"It's only about the third time they've ever stepped up to try and work things through with the Crown. They never signed the treaty but they certainly had the land confiscated and I think today's a wonderful start heading towards something that should have been put right generations ago," Mr Horomia says.

An agreement in principle is expected in eight to ten months.

EDUCATED WOMEN MISS OUT IN PAY STAKES

A Maori academic says the huge imbalance between the earnings of male and female graduates shows women still aren't valued in the community.

A study for the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee found that on average men with degrees were earning 50 percent more than their female former classmates.

Linda Tuhiwai Smith, the pro-vice chancellor Maori at the University of Waikato, says Maori women are entering tertiary study in increasing numbers ... but they may start questioning the rewards at the end of it.

"We're not valued in the labour market. We're not earning what we ought to be earning. And it says to Maori women our status is still very low in society and it's probably low in our own community as well even though many women are also the primary wage earners for their family," she says.

Professor Smith says the wage gap could also be a disincentive to Maori men seeking to extend themselves through further education, as they can probably earn more than higher-qualified women.

NGATI MANAWA BACKING TUHOE ATTEMPT TO SETTLE AND MOVE ON

A month after coming to Wellington to ink its acceptance of the Central North Island forestry settlement, Ngai Tuhoe was back in Parliament today to sign terms of negotiations for its individual claims.

The negotiations will cover the attacks on the tribe by the Crown during the wars of the 1860s and 70s, the loss of its lands including Te Urewera, the socioeconomic effects of past government policies and the constitutional relationship between the iwi and the Crown.

Bill Bird from the neighbouring Ngati Manawa iwi, was there in support.

He says all while tribes in the central North Island each have specific grievances, they also has many concerns in common.

"There's a determination there for getting out of grievance mode. I think we're all on about getting into an independent mode, not being dependent on handouts. We want to get out of grievance mode and move on," Mr Bird says.
 
MINISTER WANTS TO PUSH ON WITH BANK PLAN DESPITE CRITICISM

The Minister of Maori Affairs is defending a proposed new Maori development bank.

The Federation of Maori Authorities says the plan for Maori Business Aotearoa New Zealand, or M-banz, was included without any consultation in a bill overhauling the Maori Trust Office, and it needs further work.

The Maori Trustee has also criticised the scope of the reform.

But Parekura Horomia says it's a good idea, and the Government is putting its money, and the Maori Trustee's money, where its mouth is.

"We've made available $40 million of Crown money,. We want to see the Maori Trustee go wider in the sense of hat they do with our people and certainly I'm very supportive of MBANZ which is getting together a board and income and revenue to support Maori from different areas," Mr Horomia says.

He says it could be possible to split the Maori Trustee and Maori Development Bill, as the Federation of Maori Authorities is suggesting, so the separation of the Maori Trust Office from Te Puni Kokiri could go ahead.
 
MAORI LAWYERS HAVE ASSETS ON THEIR MINDS

Maori lawyers have been meeting to discuss better ways to control and manage Maori assets.

Karen Waaka, from Te Arawa says seventh Maori Legal Forum at Te Papa looked at some of the structures Maori have to work with, and whether they are relevant.

She says Maori need to balance development with the desire to maintain their heritage for future generations.

"We are risk averse, particularly because we have a collective responsibility. It's not the same as western philosophy of an individual property right or share. So Maori at this time are looking at all of our assets, all of our resources, and how we can maintain and control those or have a share of that management and control," Ms Waaka says.

Maori are looking for a way to achieve sustanable development without relying on government support.