Vote early but count late

The Maori party candidate for Waikato Hauraki is encouraging Maori who will be out of the electorate on November the 8th, to vote early so an accurate count can be made on polling day.

Angeline Geeensill says she's aware of significant events being held outside the rohe on election day and that could skew election night results.

"There is a poukai that happens outside out electorate of election day, and there is also a Ratana hui on the same day, so Maori are going to be leaving their electorates in droves and we're trying to get them to advance vote. They won't be counted for some time, so we will get a distorted picture of election day results," Ms Greensill says.

She has been getting a good response at the poukai she has been attending in the Tainui region.

HOROMIA BULLISH ON MAORI BROADCASTERS' PROSPECTS

Maori Affairs minister Parekura Horomia is predicting Maori will be the key
players in the broadcasting fraternity in the next five to ten years.

He says the Government has brought a huge number of Maori to the broadcasting platform by helping Maori radio and television, while the mainstream broadcasters haven't brought youngsters through.

He says it is measures like this that voters will remember on election day.

TIKANGA MAORI UNDERSTANDING LACKING IN IVORY TOWERS

A Maori academic says mainstream institutions lack a deep understanding of
Tikanga Maori.

Auckland University's Dr Te Tuhi Robust says the lack of cultural understanding can be found through the establishment of University based Marae such as that set up at Auckland university.

"Because of the protests that were part of the history of this marae in the mid-80s, the university council and management went about and had a marae designed. They then summoned Sir Hugh Kawharu and he said 'That's nice. Now what are you going to do with it.' He indicated they needed to go and talk with the local people," Dr Robust says.

Marae are a way for Maori students and faculty to acknowledge their culture appropriately within the context of the tertiary education.


CONCERN AT CONTINUED NGAWHA TENSION

Ngapuhi Maori are calling on the Corrections department to sit down with
them and sort out problems surrounding Ngapha prison near Kaikohe which has
suffered extensive construction problems due to local advice being ignored.

Iwi liaison officer for the Far North District Council Ted Wihongi says it
will cost at least $2 million to rectify structural problems with buildings
sinking but the issue goes far deeper.

Ted Wahongi says the mana of the kaumatua was ignored when outsider advice
that the site was suitable was listened to.

GREENSILL HAPPY WITH SPLIT VOTE CALL

The Maori party candidate for Waikato Hauraki Angeline Greensil says the
Maori party recognise the loyalty many Maori voters have for the Labour
party that they have traditionally voted for and she is comfortable with the
call to split votes in her electorate.

Last week fellow Maori party MP Hone Harawira spoke at tainui poukai where
he suggested Maori voters could get two MP's as Labour's Nanaia Mahuta is
guaranteed a spot on the list.

Maori Party Co leader Pita Sharples says while that strategy suits the
special circumstances of the Waikato Hauraki electorate the party
maintains its 2 tick strategy nationally.

Angeline Greensill says she does appreciate that for many Maori voters
loyaly runs deep.

HIDE PREJUDICED AGAINST ETHNIC PARTIES

Meanwhile Act leader Rodney Hide says it could be very damaging if the Maori
party ends up in the role of King Maker after the election.

The colourful MP for Epson says while the country is lucky because the Maori
party has put New Zealand's interests first he is opposed in principle to
ethnically based political parties.

Mr Hide says Indians, Chinese and white Europeans could find themselves
asking where is their seat.