Tuhoe leader want time out for tribe

A Tuhoe leader says the iwi is being swayed by the prospect of quick settlements, and needs to take a step back.

Tama Nikora says the process in the Central North Island forestry settlement bill for resolving ownership of the underlying land is a denial of natural justice.

He says corners are being cut which will affect the tribe's prospects of securing a good outcome for its other treaty claims.

The former secretary of the Tuhoe Maori Trust Board says the Crown is having too much say in who in the tribe it talks to.

"The trouble with Te Kotahi a Tuhoe and all of that who have been running around it, they have been funded by the state, by Crown Forest Rental Trust and all of that, but they're not properly elected people. You can't keep up with them because of the funding, hence they've been able to hop in the middle and away they go and they're recognised by the government. This mandate process is thick as thieves on the road, it's worse than Mugabe," Mr Nikora says.

He says the first thing Tuhoe needs to do is merge its various representative organisations into one runanga.

TUHOE NEGOTIATOR TAKING REALPOLITIK STAND

But Tuhoe's chief negotiator says the iwi is dealing the hand it was dealt.

Tamati Kruger says there are a range of views in the tribe about how its claims should be settled, and the sorts of political arrangements or mana motuhake it should seek.

He says it's important to use the current appetite for settlements to move forward.

"If we want our political issues addressed and resolutions sought, we have no choice but to follow the process that the Crown has in place. It's not as if there is another vendor down the road that is dealing with Treaty of Waitangi claims," Mr Kruger says one thing all Tuhoe seem to agree on is the full unconditional return of Te Urewera land.
 
WHOLE OF COMMUNITY APPROACH EFFECTIVE FOR DIABETES PREVENTION

A major study has shown community initiatives can reduce the number of Maori contracting type two diabetes.

Te Wai o Rona, which brought together the Waikato District Health Board, community health groups and universities, tested 5000 Maori and set up large intervention and control groups.

The research leader, Elaine Rush from AUT University, says the project was cut short after three years, but it proved a  national diabetes prevention strategy was possible.

She says the key to it was the way Maori health workers who were known in their communities were able to get across simple messages about diet and lifestyle change, which were taken up by their relatives and friends.

"The main finding was that it could be done within a community,. No other diabetes prevention strategy has been aimed through the community. The big one in America was one on one individualised advice, but this one was for the whole family for the whole community," Professor Rush says.

Six percent of the 5000 people pre-screened for Te Wai o Rona were found to already have diabetes and were immediately put on treatment programmes.

HEPATITIS CAMPAIGN LONG TERM EFFECTIVENESS SHOULD BE RECOGNISED

Hepatitis B campaigner Sandor Milne wants to prove vaccination booster shots for the disease aren't needed and the money should be better spent ensuring all Maori and Pacific Island children are immunised.

The former Whakatane Hospital lab worker challenged the health establishment with his research proving the disease had been in the south west Pacific for centuries... and indigenous populations such as Maori have been particularly hard hit.

He's now looking for funds to test people vaccinated 20 years ago, to confirm they still have immunity.

He says a positive finding will comfort front line workers like police, prison officers and health workers.

"If they've been vaccinated against hepatitis B, that's it. They don't need to worry, they don't need more tests, they don't need boosters and they're OK. But would they please turn their minds to making sure babies get protected," Mr Milne says.

He says a quarter of New Zealand infants, the majority of them Maori, are still not getting the hepatitis B vaccination they need.
 
MAORI MUSCLE THREATENS MUSSEL SUPPORT INDUSTRY

The $2 million mussel spat industry... which supplies a $70 million mussel farming industry... is causing headaches for a Far North hapu.

Ruben Porter from Te Rokeka hapu of Te Rarawa says spat collectors used to operate in Ngati Kuri territory, but they've now moved their operations to the southern end on Te Oneroa a Tohe, 90 Mile Beach.

He says the collectors have the government permit they need, but the hapu are angry there was no consulation with them.

"The companies that do mussel spat gathering have been told that should they come into the region of Te Rarawa, south of the Waipapakauri ramp, that they will be confronted by the hapu," Mr Porter says.

The hapu is not ruling out confiscating harvesting machines.
 
DAVIS WARNS MAORI PARTY TRIFLING WITH SEAT SAFETY

Labour's Te Tai Tokerau candidate says the Maori seats are too important to play games with.

Kelvin Davis says the way for Maori to ensure they continue to have separate dedicated representation is to vote for a Labour government ... and the quickest way to lose the seats forever is to back a National win.

He says his rival Hone Harawira's admission he is now prepared to work with a National government shows the party which holds four of the seats can't be trusted.

"The Maori Party will dice with the devil basically by saying they're happy to go into coalition with them. I think that's really dangerous stance they are prepared to make and I'm not sure why they are prepared to jeopardise the Maori seats," Mr Davis says.

Only Labour has a constitutional requirement to put Maori high enough on its party list to make it into Parliament.