Mental health stigma attacked

A new study has identified a sense of hope as crucial for those fighting mental illness.

Judi Clements from the Mental Health Foundation says there were two common responses to illness among Maori surveyed for the Whawhai Atu te Whakama Hihira or Fighting Shadows report, which looks at Self-Stigma and Mental Illness.

Some felt their sense of mana protected them from self-stigma.

Others tangata whai ora said they were affected by people's negative reactions.

"The things that could make a difference were if people were accepting of their difference, and if there was an affirmation of peoples' human rights so the right to a quality of life that includes the sort of thing that everybody wants like partnership and a job and decent lifestyle. People should be encouraged and included in activities within their whanau," Ms Clements says.
 
IMMIGRANT FEAR DRIVEN BY DEMOGRAPHIC SWAMPING

A Maori academic says Maori should concentrate on constitutional protections for their place in New Zealand society rather than get hung up on immigration policy.

The Maori Party says it's hearing a lot of concern from members about Asian immigration.

Rawiri Taonui, the head of Maori and indigenous studies at Canterbury University, says more immigration is inevitable.

He says Maori can avoid a sense of being swamped by protecting their Treaty of Waitangi rights and hanging onto the Maori seats.

"Our colonial history history, besides the wars and the land theft and all those sorts of things, the biggest driver of what went on there was demographic swamping. In 1840 there were 80, 100,000 Maori, something like that, and 2000 Pakeha. By 1885 there were 100,000 Pakeha and about 60,000 Maori. Demographic swamping, and we don't want to experience that a second time," Mr Taonui says.

He says cultural diversity should be welcomed as bringing greater tolerance.
 
MURUPARA SCHOOL TRIES IWI-DRIVEN MODEL

A Murupara kura is putting iwi at the centre of how children are taught.

Principal Pem Bird says Te Kura Kaupapa Motuhake a Tawhiuau could be a blueprint for iwi-driven schools.

He says 14 schools signed up for the model launched last week ago at Hirangi Marae in Turangi which gives schools a  more direct relationship with their iwi, alongside the relationship they have with the Crown.

"Our aim is derived from taonga tuku iho, passed on to us from our old people, including te reo Maori, our dialects that is, traditions, customs, histories, whakapapa, world view. and using that the basis to design curriculum as values to underpin the way we teach," Mr Bird says.

Existing legislation covering character schools allows iwi to work alongside schools and convert them into kura a iwi or tribal schools.

PRISONS WELCOMING IWI INPUT
 
The Corrections Department says Maori input will be welcome at the new Auckland Prison.

Neil Campbell, the department's treaty relationships manager, says tangata whenua played a major role in a soil turning ceremony to mark a start on replacing the 120-year old Mt Eden Prison.

He says iwi whanui gave a Ngai Tuhoe kaumatua, Bert McLean, the honour of leading the karakia.

"Their ancestor Mokomoko was buried in Mt Eden Prison, later pardoned and his remains returned to Tuhoe so that was a lovely gesture by iwi whanui to give that honour to a kaumatua from Tuhoe to perform," Mr Campbell says.

He says relationships with iwi Maori helps the prison and prisoners build links with communities offenders must return to.
 
ROTORUA WARDENS DENIED PARKING PERK

Give the wardens a park.

That's the response of the Maori Wardens northern regional co-ordinator to Rotorua District Council's refusal to give the city's wardens two free carparks.

George Ngatai says Auckland and Manukau wardens can use police car parks.

He says the volunteers do a lot for the communities they work in, but their contribution is often taken for granted.

"We will be supporting and working with councils as well, so providing one free car park should not be too much of a hassle for the council and the Maori wardens," Mr Ngatai says.

Funding was given in the budget to buy the wardens vans to increase their effectiveness.
 
HEALTH PROMOTION AT TOP OF SOUTH ISLAND

Maori in Te Tau Ihu are being encouraged to see a doctor sooner rather than later.

Joe Puketapu, the chair of the Nelson Marlborough Iwi Health board, says many Maori never see a general practitioner.

Their first taste of medical treatment is often when they get to hospital.

"Maori have not been good at getting to the doctor so they can identify chronic health issues that they have early, and what normally happens is that when we don't identify early, by the time we do identify the problem has gotten too far," Mr Puketapu says.

He says many Maori are still unaware GP costs have been slashed by the government.
 
LEAGUE A SWEET MEMORY FROM GREAT BARRIER

The Aotea branch of the Maori Woment's Welfare League is what a Tuwharetoa woman will miss most about Great Barrier Island.

Rereahu Woodcock is returning to the mainland after almost 40 years in the Hauraki Gulf.

The former school principal says the branch has become a focal point for the whole community since it was formed in 1994.

"The greatest achievement is bridging, because we have Pakeha in our group and they are very active, and while we hold the offices they are, we have seen a whole lot of reaching across and people embracing our kaupapa," Mrs Woodcock says.

It's time she and her husband, who hails from the north, put some time and effort into their own tribal affairs.