Settlement allows Atihau to invest in future
Settlement allows Atihau to invest in future
The Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation has big investment plans after winning $23.5 million in compensation from the government.
The settlement, which was negotiated on the incorporation's behalf by former prime minister Jim Bolger, relates to law changes early last century which changed leases to make them heavily in favour of Pakeha lessees.
Chairperson Dana Blackburn says since the 101 thousand acres between Ruapehu and the Whanganui River came back to the owners in 1970, the Incorporation has pursued a policy of buying back leases when they come up for renewal.
"Through prudent management we've been able to buy back about 80,000 of the original 101,000 (acres). It's ben a huge cost to us. This settlement will be offset against debt, which relieves a lot of that burden, but it also releases us to be able to move forward and develop the properties and lift their production levels to the same as everybody else," Mr Blackburn says.
As well as fertiliser and better breeding stock for its sheep and beef blocks, Atihau-Whanganui is considering investing in windfarms and other non-farming activities.
ASIAN IMMIGRATION NUMBERS NO CAUSE FOR PANIC
A Waikato University demographer says Maori don't need to feel overwhelmed by immigration.
Richard Bedford and colleague Elsie Ho from the university's Population Studies Centre have just completed a study of changing Asian populations in New Zealand, based on the 2006 census.
He says the term Asian covers at least 27 nationalities and multiple ethnicities and language groups.
Professor Bedford says people also need to distinguish between recent migrants and populations that have been in Aotearoa for several generations.
"We have to be much more nuanced and much more understanding of that diversity if we are to avoid perpetuating stereotypes and constantly creating nervousness and concerns which might be quite unwarranted in the population," Professor Bedford says.
He says it's understandable that some Maori are concerned about the volume of immigration, because of the swamping experienced by their 19th century ancestors.
NEW DANCE PIECE BRINGS TOGETHER THE BEST
Two of Maoridom's top dancers have brought together two of the country's top choreographers.
Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete of the Okareka Dance Company are developing a 70-minute show which will include sections by Douglas Wright and Michael Parmenter.
Mr Mete, from Ngati Kahungunu, says they're filming a piece called Pito this weekend to serve as the opening sequence.
He says the end of Tama Ma will remember another artistic icon, the late Mahinaarangi Tocker, who named the last act Whanaungatanga.
Taane Mete says Tama Ma will debut at the Tempo Festival in Auckland in October.
KAWAHAI WASTED ON AUSTRALIAN PETFOOD
Ngapuhi is putting its weight behing a case which aims to preserve kahawai for Maori and recreational fishers.
It has joined recreational fishing groups in an appeal against the way quota for the species is set.
They want the Supreme Court to uphold a High Court judgment which gave more weight to the needs of Maori and recreational anglers.
Commercial fishers successfully overturned that decision in the Court of Appeal.
Sonny Tau, the chair of the Ngapuhi Runanga, says the fishery is being abused by the commercial sector.
"Kahawai that is exported, mainly to Australia, is used mainly for crayfish bait, catfood and dogfood. So that is the obnoxity - kahawai for Maori is one of their staple diets," Mr Tau says.
RESEARCH TO FIND NATURAL POSSUM TOXINS
Lincoln University scientists are looking into whether toxins in native plants can provide a safe way to control animal pests.
Shaun Oglivie, from Te Arawa and Ngati Awa, says the idea came to the university's wildlife management team when they were discussion 1080 poison drops with iwi groups.
The project has won funding from Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, the Maori centre of research excellence.
Dr Oglivie says while possums are an introduced species, Maori knowledge of toxins could provide clues to their control.
"Plants that are in the bush that are known to be toxic, we are looking at what the active compounds are and whether any of those might be useful for control of things like possums and rats and mice and things like that too," Dr Oglivie says.
Lincoln will work with two Tuhoe groups in the Urewera ranges.
NEW WEB PORTAL FOR PHD STUDENTS
A new web portal aims to make Maori doctoral students feel less isolated.
The site will be launched in Palmerston North today at a symposium of 70 Maori PhD candidates.
Te Kani Kingi, the director of Massey University's Academy for Maori Research and Scholarship, Te Mata o Te Tau, says similar technology is proving useful in developing the Maori mental health workforce.
He says it has three elements: a cyber community; a web portal containing resources for Maori doctoral students; and an audiovisual system which allows institutions to provide online support for students.
The portal was designed by doctoral student Audrey MacDonald and will be coordinated by Massey researcher Dr Rangi Mataamua.
TE PUIA RENOVATION TOP ARCHITECTURAL TASK
An award for one of Maoridom's top tourist attractions.
The Property Council has judged the redevelopment of Te Puia ... the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute and the Whakarewarewa Thermal reserve ... as top in its tourism and leisure property category.
The council's chief executive, Connal Townsend, says the architectural refit of the Rotorua attraction kept faith with the original Maori design elements.
"More than that, it really lifts quite an older, well established tourism project and gives life and soul back into that part of Rotorua. I think it's just great," Mr Townsend says.
The Rotorua attraction has hosted tourists for more than 135 years.
The Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation has big investment plans after winning $23.5 million in compensation from the government.
The settlement, which was negotiated on the incorporation's behalf by former prime minister Jim Bolger, relates to law changes early last century which changed leases to make them heavily in favour of Pakeha lessees.
Chairperson Dana Blackburn says since the 101 thousand acres between Ruapehu and the Whanganui River came back to the owners in 1970, the Incorporation has pursued a policy of buying back leases when they come up for renewal.
"Through prudent management we've been able to buy back about 80,000 of the original 101,000 (acres). It's ben a huge cost to us. This settlement will be offset against debt, which relieves a lot of that burden, but it also releases us to be able to move forward and develop the properties and lift their production levels to the same as everybody else," Mr Blackburn says.
As well as fertiliser and better breeding stock for its sheep and beef blocks, Atihau-Whanganui is considering investing in windfarms and other non-farming activities.
ASIAN IMMIGRATION NUMBERS NO CAUSE FOR PANIC
A Waikato University demographer says Maori don't need to feel overwhelmed by immigration.
Richard Bedford and colleague Elsie Ho from the university's Population Studies Centre have just completed a study of changing Asian populations in New Zealand, based on the 2006 census.
He says the term Asian covers at least 27 nationalities and multiple ethnicities and language groups.
Professor Bedford says people also need to distinguish between recent migrants and populations that have been in Aotearoa for several generations.
"We have to be much more nuanced and much more understanding of that diversity if we are to avoid perpetuating stereotypes and constantly creating nervousness and concerns which might be quite unwarranted in the population," Professor Bedford says.
He says it's understandable that some Maori are concerned about the volume of immigration, because of the swamping experienced by their 19th century ancestors.
NEW DANCE PIECE BRINGS TOGETHER THE BEST
Two of Maoridom's top dancers have brought together two of the country's top choreographers.
Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete of the Okareka Dance Company are developing a 70-minute show which will include sections by Douglas Wright and Michael Parmenter.
Mr Mete, from Ngati Kahungunu, says they're filming a piece called Pito this weekend to serve as the opening sequence.
He says the end of Tama Ma will remember another artistic icon, the late Mahinaarangi Tocker, who named the last act Whanaungatanga.
Taane Mete says Tama Ma will debut at the Tempo Festival in Auckland in October.
KAWAHAI WASTED ON AUSTRALIAN PETFOOD
Ngapuhi is putting its weight behing a case which aims to preserve kahawai for Maori and recreational fishers.
It has joined recreational fishing groups in an appeal against the way quota for the species is set.
They want the Supreme Court to uphold a High Court judgment which gave more weight to the needs of Maori and recreational anglers.
Commercial fishers successfully overturned that decision in the Court of Appeal.
Sonny Tau, the chair of the Ngapuhi Runanga, says the fishery is being abused by the commercial sector.
"Kahawai that is exported, mainly to Australia, is used mainly for crayfish bait, catfood and dogfood. So that is the obnoxity - kahawai for Maori is one of their staple diets," Mr Tau says.
RESEARCH TO FIND NATURAL POSSUM TOXINS
Lincoln University scientists are looking into whether toxins in native plants can provide a safe way to control animal pests.
Shaun Oglivie, from Te Arawa and Ngati Awa, says the idea came to the university's wildlife management team when they were discussion 1080 poison drops with iwi groups.
The project has won funding from Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, the Maori centre of research excellence.
Dr Oglivie says while possums are an introduced species, Maori knowledge of toxins could provide clues to their control.
"Plants that are in the bush that are known to be toxic, we are looking at what the active compounds are and whether any of those might be useful for control of things like possums and rats and mice and things like that too," Dr Oglivie says.
Lincoln will work with two Tuhoe groups in the Urewera ranges.
NEW WEB PORTAL FOR PHD STUDENTS
A new web portal aims to make Maori doctoral students feel less isolated.
The site will be launched in Palmerston North today at a symposium of 70 Maori PhD candidates.
Te Kani Kingi, the director of Massey University's Academy for Maori Research and Scholarship, Te Mata o Te Tau, says similar technology is proving useful in developing the Maori mental health workforce.
He says it has three elements: a cyber community; a web portal containing resources for Maori doctoral students; and an audiovisual system which allows institutions to provide online support for students.
The portal was designed by doctoral student Audrey MacDonald and will be coordinated by Massey researcher Dr Rangi Mataamua.
TE PUIA RENOVATION TOP ARCHITECTURAL TASK
An award for one of Maoridom's top tourist attractions.
The Property Council has judged the redevelopment of Te Puia ... the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute and the Whakarewarewa Thermal reserve ... as top in its tourism and leisure property category.
The council's chief executive, Connal Townsend, says the architectural refit of the Rotorua attraction kept faith with the original Maori design elements.
"More than that, it really lifts quite an older, well established tourism project and gives life and soul back into that part of Rotorua. I think it's just great," Mr Townsend says.
The Rotorua attraction has hosted tourists for more than 135 years.
posted by Adam | 12:50 am
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