Ngai Tahu emissions heat up

Ngai Tahu leader Mark Solomon says the iwi has lodged a Waitangi Tribunal claim in case negotiations with the Government over carbon credits fail.

The parties have been talking for months about the effect of new emissions trading legislation on forestry land.

Mr Solomon says in 2001 Ngai Tahu used its deferred purchase rights to buy Crown forest land in the South Island, with the intention of converting much of the land to other uses.

He says when the deal was signed, the Government must have known its adherence to Kyoto protocol conditions would affect the value once the forest owners remove the trees.

“If we don't immediately replant as the landowner, we face carbon liabilities in the millions. Our argument is, you should have put this on the table when we discussed conversion to farming – we paid best use prices. Ten years after settlement, to have $100 million wiped off the bottom line doesn’t speak much to the endurability of the settlement,” Mr Solomon says.

A spokesperson for Climate Change Minister David Parker says select committee amendments to the Emissions trading bill now before Parliament will increase Ngai Tahu's carbon credits from the forests, and an independent reviewer will investigate other aspects of its claim.

KAWERAU GEOTHERMAL POWER STATION COMMISSIONED

Kawerau iwi hope a new geothermal power station will bring down their power costs.

Mighty River Power has commissioned the 100 megawatt station next to the Norske Skog pulp and paper mill under budget and ahead of time.

Waaka Vercoe from Ngati Awa says his iwi and Tuwharetoa will get a royalty from the state-owned generator.

He says they also hope whanau living in the area will benefit.

“The real benefit as we see it is the cost of electricity in this area is one of the highest in the North Island and we hope that stations like the one that’s coming onstream will hopefully ease the high cost that local people are having to bear,” Mr Vercoe says.

He says Mighty River Power has worked well with Maori interests.

MAINSTREAM MEDIA ON ANOTHER WORLD FOR TERROR COVERAGE

The editor of a book on last October's so-called terror raids says news coverage of the time showed dramatic differences between Maori and mainstream media.

The raids are having their sequel in the Auckland District Court, where lawyers have today successfully argued there should be blanket suppression of police evidence in the depositions hearing against the 18 people arrested.

Danny Keenan says a chapter in Terror in our Midst by media analyst Sue Abel looked at how TV1, TV3 and Maori Television handled the story.

“There was an entirely different world view presented by TV1, TV3 who persisted in running shots of Tame Iti with a shotgun event though it’s 15 years old now, that shot. Maori TV presented entirely different language, entirely different view of the raids,” Dr Keenan says.

FORMER ALL BLACK VIC YATES DIES

A former Maori All Black captain says his teammate Victor Yates had all the attributes needed to play rugby at the top level.

Mr Yates, who died unexpectedly on Sunday aged 69, will be buried tomorrow in Pukepoto, near Kaitaia.

Bishop Muru Walters says the Yates whanau was one of Northland's most prominent sporting families.

As well as being a member of the Maori team, Vic Yates played nine matches for the All Blacks in 1961 and 62, including three tests.

His brothers Simon and John represented New Zealand Maori in rugby league, following in the footsteps of their father Moses, who made the Maori team in the early 20's

Bishop Walters says Vic Yates thrilled crowds with his skill.

“He was fast, he was strong, and the opportunities that North Auckland presented itself, which was always to run the ball of course at all moments, and the Maori teams were just the kind of games which suited Victor and he didn't disappoint,” Bishop Walters says.

GOUT HITTING INCREASING NUMBERS OF MAORI IN MANUKAU

An upsurge in a painful hereditary disease is having a major economic impact on Maori in south Auckland.

Rheumatologist Peter Gow says the number of Maori men with gout has jumped from 6 to 10 per cent over the past 2 decades because of changes in lifestyle and diet.

He says every year the condition costs about 400 Maori and Pacific Island men in the city their jobs because they are in too much pain to work.

Dr Gow says it needs further study, because there were no recorded cases of gout among Maori before 1900

“The colonists who came to New Zealand who knew all about gout because it’s been round for 2000 years haven’t got any descriptions of Maori with gout at that time. Probably there’s been the genetic factor there but the lifestyle at the time where people did have to keep pretty fit to survive and exercise and their muscles were very efficient at keeping uric acid levels down,” he says.

Dr Gow wants to do more research into the gene that keeps uric acid levels high in Maori and Pacific Island men.

TREATY DEADLINE LEAVES HUGE TASK

The Greens Maori Affairs spokesperson says the massive influx of historical treaty claims to meet an artificial deadline puts the onus of the Crown to come up with fair and fast settlements.

The Waitangi Tribunal received more than 2000 claims during August.

It's likely many will not be accepted because they cover issues which have already been investigated, or they may fall into the category of contemporary claims.

Meteria Turei says while there was no need for a deadline, the exercise has helped focus iwi, whanau and Maori individuals on the need to hold the Crown to account for past treaty breaches.

“The tribunal's got a big job ahead of it now and so the Maori communities in pursuing and preparing and finalizing their claims but I think it’s a really good thing to see so many claims come in in that period of time,” she says.

Metiria Turei says a future government should consider re-opening the window for historic claims.

Ngai Tahu emissions heat up

Ngai Tahu leader Mark Solomon says the iwi has lodged a Waitangi Tribunal claim in case negotiations with the Government over carbon credits fail.

The parties have been talking for months about the effect of new emissions trading legislation on forestry land.

Mr Solomon says in 2001 Ngai Tahu used its deferred purchase rights to buy Crown forest land in the South Island, with the intention of converting much of the land to other uses.

He says when the deal was signed, the Government must have known its adherence to Kyoto protocol conditions would affect the value once the forest owners remove the trees.

“If we don't immediately replant as the landowner, we face carbon liabilities in the millions. Our argument is, you should have put this on the table when we discussed conversion to farming – we paid best use prices. Ten years after settlement, to have $100 million wiped off the bottom line doesn’t speak much to the endurability of the settlement,” Mr Solomon says.

A spokesperson for Climate Change Minister David Parker says select committee amendments to the Emissions trading bill now before Parliament will increase Ngai Tahu's carbon credits from the forests, and an independent reviewer will investigate other aspects of its claim.

KAWERAU GEOTHERMAL POWER STATION COMMISSIONED

Kawerau iwi hope a new geothermal power station will bring down their power costs.

Mighty River Power has commissioned the 100 megawatt station next to the Norske Skog pulp and paper mill under budget and ahead of time.

Waaka Vercoe from Ngati Awa says his iwi and Tuwharetoa will get a royalty from the state-owned generator.

He says they also hope whanau living in the area will benefit.

“The real benefit as we see it is the cost of electricity in this area is one of the highest in the North Island and we hope that stations like the one that’s coming onstream will hopefully ease the high cost that local people are having to bear,” Mr Vercoe says.

He says Mighty River Power has worked well with Maori interests.

MAINSTREAM MEDIA ON ANOTHER WORLD FOR TERROR COVERAGE

The editor of a book on last October's so-called terror raids says news coverage of the time showed dramatic differences between Maori and mainstream media.

The raids are having their sequel in the Auckland District Court, where lawyers have today successfully argued there should be blanket suppression of police evidence in the depositions hearing against the 18 people arrested.

Danny Keenan says a chapter in Terror in our Midst by media analyst Sue Abel looked at how TV1, TV3 and Maori Television handled the story.

“There was an entirely different world view presented by TV1, TV3 who persisted in running shots of Tame Iti with a shotgun event though it’s 15 years old now, that shot. Maori TV presented entirely different language, entirely different view of the raids,” Dr Keenan says.

FORMER ALL BLACK VIC YATES DIES

A former Maori All Black captain says his teammate Victor Yates had all the attributes needed to play rugby at the top level.

Mr Yates, who died unexpectedly on Sunday aged 69, will be buried tomorrow in Pukepoto, near Kaitaia.

Bishop Muru Walters says the Yates whanau was one of Northland's most prominent sporting families.

As well as being a member of the Maori team, Vic Yates played nine matches for the All Blacks in 1961 and 62, including three tests.

His brothers Simon and John represented New Zealand Maori in rugby league, following in the footsteps of their father Moses, who made the Maori team in the early 20's

Bishop Walters says Vic Yates thrilled crowds with his skill.

“He was fast, he was strong, and the opportunities that North Auckland presented itself, which was always to run the ball of course at all moments, and the Maori teams were just the kind of games which suited Victor and he didn't disappoint,” Bishop Walters says.

GOUT HITTING INCREASING NUMBERS OF MAORI IN MANUKAU

An upsurge in a painful hereditary disease is having a major economic impact on Maori in south Auckland.

Rheumatologist Peter Gow says the number of Maori men with gout has jumped from 6 to 10 per cent over the past 2 decades because of changes in lifestyle and diet.

He says every year the condition costs about 400 Maori and Pacific Island men in the city their jobs because they are in too much pain to work.

Dr Gow says it needs further study, because there were no recorded cases of gout among Maori before 1900

“The colonists who came to New Zealand who knew all about gout because it’s been round for 2000 years haven’t got any descriptions of Maori with gout at that time. Probably there’s been the genetic factor there but the lifestyle at the time where people did have to keep pretty fit to survive and exercise and their muscles were very efficient at keeping uric acid levels down,” he says.

Dr Gow wants to do more research into the gene that keeps uric acid levels high in Maori and Pacific Island men.

TREATY DEADLINE LEAVES HUGE TASK

The Greens Maori Affairs spokesperson says the massive influx of historical treaty claims to meet an artificial deadline puts the onus of the Crown to come up with fair and fast settlements.

The Waitangi Tribunal received more than 2000 claims during August.

It's likely many will not be accepted because they cover issues which have already been investigated, or they may fall into the category of contemporary claims.

Meteria Turei says while there was no need for a deadline, the exercise has helped focus iwi, whanau and Maori individuals on the need to hold the Crown to account for past treaty breaches.

“The tribunal's got a big job ahead of it now and so the Maori communities in pursuing and preparing and finalizing their claims but I think it’s a really good thing to see so many claims come in in that period of time,” she says.

Metiria Turei says a future government should consider re-opening the window for historic claims.

Upper reaches of river in settlement

The Waikato River is back in the spotlight this week with Te Arawa and Ngati Raukawa set to sign a deal relating to the upper reaches of the Waikato River.

Last month around 1000 people gathered in Ngaruawahia to witness the inking of Waikato-Tainui's river deal.

As part of the settlement of that historical treaty claim Waikato-Tainui were granted a substantial say in the future management of the lower regions of the river from Karapiro to Te Puwaha o Waikato... or the mouth of the river.

This week it's the turn of Te Arawa and Ngati Raukawa... who are kaitiaki of the stretch of river between Karapiro and Huka.

Their Agreement in Principle is likely to mirror the Tainui settlement... with its focus on the health and well-being of the river rather than monetary compensation.

NO ONE MISSING OUT ON TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

The chief judge of the Waitangi Tribunal Joe Williams is welcoming the number of claims lodged with the tribunal.

He says that the number of historical claims lodged before Monday's deadline ... estimated to be more than 2000 does not indicate an increase in grievance but a desire among Maori to move forward.

“But what this tells us is that the fear that I personally felt that people might miss out or be locked out of the truth and reconciliation process after September 1 because they hadn’t got their claims in has not been realised, that Maori people have rallied and I think they have rallied because they want to be part of this,” Chief judge Williams says.

FATHERING THE FOCUS FOR WAITAKERE WEEK

Maori and Pacific Islander fathers are getting positive feedback in Waitakere City with a special week dedicated to fathering.

Elaine Dwyer, the organiser of Focus on Fathering, says the city's diversity is being given special attention in activities planned throughout week.

SUPPOT FOR TREATY SETTLEMENTS DETECTED

The chief judge of the Waitangi Tribunal says negativity towards Treaty settlements by non-Maori is nothing like it used to be.

Commenting on the more than 2000 historical claims lodged with the Tribunal before Monday's deadline chief judge Joe Williams says both Maori and non-Maori today have a much better attitude towards the Treaty process... which is reflected in the cross-party political support.

“There was a time when treaty settlements was one of the least trusted areas of government activity, and I don’t get that sense at all now. I mean there’s still some inevitable jealousy and negativity around but nothing like things were like when I was a lawyer in the mid-90s and I think people have realised that what is good for nga iwi is in fact very good for Aotearoa whanui tonu,” he says.

LIST SPOT GREAT FOR BUILDING CREDIBILITY

Politician turned political commentator John Tamihere says Labour candidate Kelvin Davis has achieved the unthinkable.

The former principal of Kaitaia Intermediate is standing in Taitkokerau where he will go head to head against Hone Harawira from the Maori party.

Mr Tamihere, a former Labour cabinet minister says at 29 on the party list released over the weekend, Mr Davis is assured of a spot in the house, and will use the next three years establishing political credibility.

“He parachuted into the top ranks of the party. Phenomenal really. I’ve never seen a bloke make a move like this, particularly a Maori, so it’s quite clear he’s got union backing because they control large votes on the moderation committee that picks the list so he’s done very well to obtain the backing of such a significant support base,” Mr Tamihere says.

WHAT’S THE PLAN STAN IN TRANSLATION

The Ministry of Civil Defence is keen to teach tamariki what to do when disaster strikes

More than 300 Maori immersion and bilingual schools recently received a resource package Kia Takatu... which is designed for 8 to 12 year olds... and was adapted from the English language programme "What's the plan, Stan?"

Rick Barker... the Civil Defence Minister... launched Kia Takatu yesterday at Te Kura Maori o Porirua.

He says while each rohe will have hazards that are more likely to occur in their area it's crucial for every New Zealand child to know what to do in an emergency.

“It's important for people to identify a risk that is significant in their locality. Now some areas will be coastal and more prone to tsunamis than others,” Mr Barker says.

"What's the Plan Stan?" will now be translated into Tongan, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Samoan and Arabic.

Claims on tipping point

The chief Judge of the Waitangi Tribunal Joe Williams says treaty claims have reached a tipping point were Maori are getting right behind the process for settling past grievances.

His comments come with the Tribunal having received more than 2000 historical claims when the deadline for such claims closed at midnight.

“It’s not just about how good government does this stuff. It’s just as much about how well Maori do their side of the deal and Maoris have come up to brief with great power in the past 12 months and I can’t see that changing,” Chief Judge Williams says.

He is also sensing an increasingly positive attitude among non- Maori towards treaty settlements.

NEW MOOD TO GET CLAIMS SETTLED

Prime Minister Helen Clark says she agrees with Waitangi Tribunal Chief judge Joe Williams that there is a new mood among Maori to get Treaty issues settled.

She says Judge Williams’ comments make a lot of common sense and support what she is picking up.

“Around the country iwi can see what‘s the outcome for those who have already settled and people want to be part of the action, they want to get on with it. These things happened in our history, they have to be acknowledged, they have to be dealt with, they can never be forgotten, but we can resolution, through reconciliation, move on to a new space, and I think that’s what we are doing,” Ms Clark says.

CONICIDENCE IN RELEASE OF TERROR BOOK

The release of a book on last October's so-called 'Terror Raids' coincidentally falls at the same time as a related court case.

Yesterday a deposition hearing started in the Auckland District Court for 18 people including Tuhoe rights campaigner Tame Iti who are facing a range of charges including for fire arms offences.

Terror in Our Midst editor Danny Keenan from Victoria University says much of the dialogue in the book was edited following legal advice.

Mr Keenan says the release was held up and subsequently fell at the same time as the Court case.

The 16 contributors, 14 of them Maori, all had a strict timeframe of two months to submit their writings.

HONE HARAWIRA MAKES GRAVE STATEMENTS

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira has launched a stinging attack on the Labour Coalition Government describing it as stale, arrogant and looking like a corpse.

He says big business is rubbing its hands at what the emisions trading scheme is likely to look like while the carry on with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is dragging the government into the mud.

“I've actually spoken to Labour’s Maori MPs on a number of occasions lately and I’ve said to them ‘Guys, I know that you think we should be talking coalition, but you’ve really got to get your numbers up. You’ve really got to do a hell of a lot better than you are at the moment. Because at the moment you’re actually looking like a coalition corpse, not a coalition partner,’” Mr Harawira says.

He says the polls are showing that its likely National will be forming the next government but he wants Labour to be a coalition option after the election.

Maori party co-leader Tariana Turia says the party has expressed no preference for Labour or National as a coalition partner and will not do so until it has consulted widely after the election.

JONES SAYS HARAWIRA CULTURALLY OUT OF ORDER

However Labour MP Shane Jones is rejecting claims by Hone Harawira that the Labour Coalition Government is stale, arrogant and looks like a corpse.

He says such language is grossly unhelpful to Maori parliamentary political dialogue.

“That expression tupapaku or corpse in the Maori world is a no no. It’s what the kaumatua call a karanga mate which is almost you’re inviting misfortune. So I’ll put the term down to Hone’s rhetorical style. The election date is yet to be set. We’ve no doubt in our minds that once the date is set an the campaign begins with gusto, then Maori voters are going to have a clear choice,” Mr Jones says.

The choice for voters will be between the Maori Party... which has yet to reject overtures from National... and Labour which he describes as a party of genuine equity... which has made major advances in Treaty settlements.

BOOK CHARTS MAORI CROAT MIX

The quick tongue of the Croats who immigrated to the Far North earned them their name 'Tarara'.

Senka Bozic, the author of Tarara: The cultural politics of Croat and Maori identity in New Zealand, says the name Tarara has a humorous origin.

“The word Tarara is a Maori word and just because the Croatian language, what Maori heard was tararara so they decided to call them Tarara.

Ms Bozic says generally Maori-Croatian relationships which started in the late 19th century have been very positive for the community.

Williams sanguine over claim flood

The chief judge of the Waitangi Tribunal Joe Williams is confident that a flood of Treaty claims which came in prior to the midnight deadline for historical claims will be dealt with expeditiously.

Joe Williams says all political parties in parliament agreed that the process should not be allowed to dribble on which means the treaty process generally will not fail for want of resources.

“What’s happened probably over the past 12 months of treaty settlements is about as intense and fast as I have seen in my entire career either as a judge or a lawyers, so I don’t think we are going to be sitting here or our children are going to be sitting here in 20 years time wondering when the conclusion of this process of historical claims will be done,” Judge Williams.

Since the deadline for historical claims was set the Waitangi Tribunal has received more than 1400 claims most of which have come in during August.

This is equal to the number of claims since 1975.

LABOUR COALITION A CORPSE SAYS HARAWIRA

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira has launched a stinging attack on the Labour Coalition Government describing it as stale, arrogant and looking like a corpse.

He says big business is rubbing its hands at what the emissions trading scheme is likely to look like, while the carry on with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is dragging the government into the mud.

“I've actually spoken to Labour’s Maori MPs on a number of occasions lately and I’ve said to them ‘Guys, I know that you think we should be talking coalition, but you’ve really got to get your numbers up. You’ve really got to do a hell of a lot better than you are at the moment. Because at the moment you’re actually looking like a coalition corpse, not a coalition partner,’” Mr Harawira says.

He says the way the polls are stacking up the only option for government is National but the Maori party wants Labour to be a coalition option after the election.

NATIONAL COALITION WOULD BE DEATH KNELL FOR PARTY

However Labour's challenger to Hone Harawira in the Taitokerau electorate has gone onto the front foot in response to the Maori party MPs criticism of the Labour Party.

Ranked 29th on the party list released over the weekend Kelvin Davis is virtually assured of a seat in Parliament.

He says while some commentators are calling the Maori Party 'kingmakers' because they may hold the balance of power after the election, it's obvious Maori voters want the Maori party and Labour to unify to stave off the threat of a National-led government.

“They are probably saying that themselves more than anything, but if they make the wrong decision, it will be the death knell. In other words, if the jump in bed with the National Party, then I can’t really see the Maori electorate standing for that and I think it will be the death knell of the Maori Party in years to come,” Mr Davis says.

TE TAURA WHIRI LAUNCHES MAORI-ONLY DICTIONARY

The Maori Language Commission has launched He Pataka Kupu – te kai a te rangatira, a monolingual Maori language dictionary for highly proficient speakers of Te Reo Maori.

Sharon Armstrong, project co-ordinator with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori says yesterday's launch of the dictionary is a significant point in efforts to foster and sustain Maori language proficiency.

“Probably the most important distinction between this dictionary and all those others that have come before is this one is monolingual so there are no Pakeha words in it whatsoever,” Ms Armstrong says.

She says the 1200 page dictionary with 24,000 entries is the culmination of seven years work from a team of dedicated writers.

It includes synonyms, tribal variants and some of the more recent developments in Maori language.

IRITANA TAWHIWHIRANGI HONOURED BY TE WAKA TOI

One of the founders of the kohanga reo movement, Iritana Tawhiwhirangi, will receive this year's premiere $20,000 award from the Maori arts board of Creative New Zealand.

Creative NZ awards organiser Haniko Te Kurapa says Mrs Tawhiwhirangi will be presented with the Te Tohu Tiketike a Te Waka Toi award at a ceremony later this year.

“Iritana has been a staunch advocate for the Kohanga Reo movement. In fact she was one of the drivers in there. The actual award is more about the recognition of her hard mahi in driving that because te reo is an art form in Maoridom so this is why she was given this award, because of her tireless mahi over the years in terms of te reo,” Mr Te Kurapa says.

Mrs Tawhiwhirangi graduated as a teacher on the East Coast in 1948, before shifting to Maori Affairs and coming became the first general manager of the Te Kohanga Reo National Trust Board in 1982.

Past recipients of the award included Sir Howard Morrison, Diggeress Te Kanawa and Don Selwyn.

POKIES DAMAGING LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES

The Greens spokesperson on gambling says the party can no longer tolerate the damage poker machines are doing to low income communities.

Sue Bradford say their policy on gambling released yesterday gives local councils the power to determine whether pokies are allowed in their communities.

The outspoken former head of the union for unemployed workers says Maori and Polynesian gamblers make up the bulk of those seeking help for problem gambling, and most are getting into trouble on the pokies.

“The dreadfully harmful and terribly addictive machines are placed deliberately in low income communities like South Auckland, Waitakere, Kaikohe and elsewhere around the country. Maori and Pacific Island people are totally disproportionality affected by problem gambling and we’d like to do something about it. We think it’s a disgrace the major parties in our Parliament have done something about it,” Ms Bradford says.

Operation 8 hearings start

The deposition hearing for the Operation 8 defendants started in Auckland today.

18 people including Tuhoe activist Tame iti face a range of firearms charges relating to several camps in the Urewera ranges during 2007.

They were arrested in dramatic police raids in Ruatoki, Wellington, Whakatane and other centres last October.

At the start of the morning, Auckland District Court was ringed by police with long batons, glowering at small groups of protesters on the street outside.

By the first break most of the police, and the metal detector in the foyer, were gone.

Courtroom 8 seems to have been chosen for language rather than logistics – it was too small for the families of the Operation 8 defendants and all of the media who wanted to attend, and the back row of lawyers – all but one of the 18 defendants have at least one – complained they could not hear Judge Mark Perkins.

The first order of business was to read the charges – up to 27 in the case of Tame Iti, all alleging possession of particular firearms on dates in January, June, September and October 2007.

After five excruciating minutes of the registrar stumbling through the Maori names on the first few charge sheets, lawyers pointed out the wrong sheets were being read, and the judge adjourned for a long lunch while the mess was being sorted out.

The depositions hearing has been set down for four weeks.

TURIANA OPPOSES TASER DECISION

Maori party co-leader Tariana Turia has strongly criticised the Police adoption of Tasers without proper consultation with Maori.

She says it is outrageous that Police Commissioner Howard Broad made the decision to introduce Tasers without properly consulting Maori when 56 percent of those Tasered during trials were Maori.

“He's already got a reputation after the Tuhoe raids. One would have thought this man may have seen this as an opportunity to work with the Maori community to do the right thing rather than continue to go over the top and not give any consideration to the impact this is going to have,” Mrs Turia says.

CONCERT TO RAISE VOTING AWARENESS

Rangatahi should be aware of the importance of their voice in the coming general election.

The Maori answer to 'Rock the Vote' kicks off next month with a series of concerts called Maori Side Tour heading to areas where most Maori live.

Starting in Rotorua the message is 'Enrol Maori, Vote Maori'.

Organiser Whenua Harawira says voting is important, but awareness is the key.

“When we first sat down, we talked about what are the key issues for young people, so a lot of people have been asking us ‘when we get there, do we have to vote?’ No you don’t have to vote. It’s about raising awareness. It’s about letting our people make informed decisions about our future,” Ms Harawira says.

Sons of Zion, DJ Poroufessor and House of Shem are a few acts to take to the stage.

SLOW START TO OPERATION 8 DEPOSITIONS

There’s been a slow start to hearings on whether anyone should stand trial on charges arising from Operation 8, last year’s police surveillance of alleged terrorist training camps in the Urewera ranges.

Police put on a major show of security at the Auckland District Court.

Police with longs batons were posted around the courthouse, outnumbering the 18 defendants gathered inside and the small groups of people protesting in support outside.

People going into the court had to go through a metal detector, and one row of seating in the court was left empty … for security reasons, according to Judge Mark Perkins.

The Solicitor General last year ruled against terrorism charges, so the police are trying to make multiple firearms cases against the defendants, a mixture of Maori and Pakeha, young and old.

The defendants stood one at a time to hear a long list of charges read against them.
The rest of them sat slumped in their seats, conserving their energy for what will be four weeks of hearings.

Their lawyers, who only got the updated charges today, say it’s impossible to tell from the charges what the thrust of the case will be – they hope the prosecution’s opening address tomorrow will clarify the situation.

DEADLINE RUSHES NECESSARY PROCESS

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says while there is a general mood among iwi to get treaty settlements finished, there are others who only find they have unsettled grievances through engaging with the Crown and their iwi.

She says the assumption for the Crown is that all potential claims will be washed up in the iwi settlements process.

“That may not be so and what I’m worried about is everybody at least has the opportunity to have their grievances heard and settled. That’s the important thing and we’ve been encouraging people even just to write a letter. They’ve got until midnight and that’s what they should do,” Mrs Turia says.

The Office of Treaty Settlements has been flooded with claims over the past week with midnight being the deadline for historical Treaty of Waitangi claims to be lodged.

DECADE OF EFFORT PRODUCES NEW REO DICTIONARY

The Minister of Maori Affairs says this morning's launch of a comprehensive Maori dictionary that has taken over a decade to compile is a welcome resource for the revitalisation of te reo Maori.

The MP for Ikaroa Rawhiti was joined by many of the country's senior Maori orators for the launch at Te Papa, of the monolingual dictionary coincidentally called, Te Papa Kupu.

Parekura Horomia says the compilation has taken a long time but was worth the wait.

“It has 24,000 words, biggest dictionary in the Maori language ever, Mr Horomia says.

TURIA PLAYS DOWN COALITION TALK

Maori party co-leader Tariana Turia denies media suggestions the party is edging closer towards National than Labour.

She says the party has always been really clear that it will go back to its constituents post-election to get a direction of what they should do.

“But we are not edging towards National or Labour. We have always been very clear we’ve got a set of policies that are the aspirations of our people and that’s what we will put on the table,” Mrs Turia says.

Kelvin Davis rockets up party list

Some Maori MPs and candidates have fared well on Labour’s list, but others will have to win an electorate to stay in.

Labour is likely to win between 20 and 24 electorates, with questions over all three of its remaining Maori seats.

As a Labour front-bencher, Maori Affairs minister Parekura Horomia is coming back to the capital whether or not he holds Ikaroa Rawhiti, where broadcaster Derek Fox is challenging strongly.

But at number 40, Te Tai Tonga MP Mahara Okeroa has fend off the Maori Party’s Rahui Katene to keep his MP’s salary.

Nanaia Mahuta has proved a competent minister, and she’s been rewarded with the number 10 slot if she can’t keep Angeline Greensill out of the Waikato-Hauraki seat.

Shane Jones is unlikely to topple John Carter in Northland this time round, but at 15 he gets to stick around a bit longer.

Mita Ririnui lost Waiariki last election and has almost no chance of winning it back, and he hasn’t drawn attention to himself in his associate minister roles. But the party hierarchy believe he’s critical to winning the Ratana vote, so he’s at number 23.

The big winner though is Tai Tokerau candidate Kelvin Davis.

It will be a tough ask to beat Hone Harawira this time round, but on current polling he could be the last in the door through the party vote … and that gets him three years as a list mp to build up name recognition and act as if he was the electorate MP.

But at 42 and 43, Dave Hereora and Luisa Wall are heading back to civvy street – unless Wall pulls off the upset of the election and ousts the hugely popular Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples in Tamaki Makaurau.

TRIBUNAL EXPECTING LAST MINUTE CLAIM RUSH

The Waitangi Tribunal is gearing up for a last minute rush of Treaty claims, with the window for lodging historic claims closing at midnight tonight.

Angela Pointon, the acting registrar of the Waitangi Tribunal, says although they expected a last minute flurry they've been surprised by the sheer number of individuals, whanau, hapu and even iwi putting paperwork through.

“We have received about 500 claims in the month of August. That’s compared with last year, when we would have got five to 10 claims. So a great deal more than usual,” Ms Pointon says.

The tribunal will have staff on until midnight to deal with email and faxed claims.

MAORI PARTY PREPARED TO EMBRACE CHINA

Maori Party co - leader Pita Sharples says that while the party opposed the free trade agreement with China it does not mean that they do not see a need to embrace Chinese people and their culture.

Dr Sharples who recently attended the induction of a new consul general for China says it would be stupid not to work with other minority groups such as the Chinese.

“The Maori Party is till not happy about the Free Trade Agreement and its timing on various issues that are coming, the dropping of subsidies for different products, but at the end of the day they are part of our New Zealand community and we have to be involved,” Dr Sharples says.

HUNDREDS OF CLAIMS RECEIVED IN RUSH

The Waitangi tribunal is confident it can handle the hundreds of claims lodged by Maori in advance of today's cutoff date.

Angela Pointon, the acting registrar, says despite a last minute flurry of claims... over 500 in August alone... the tribunal will methodically work their way through the cases before them.

There's no legislative pressure to hear or settle the claims at a particular pace.

“The tribunal runs a district inquiry programme so claims are heard by the district they relate to and most of those inquiries have been done. There’s a few districts to go and a few districts under way. At the end of those the tribunal will reassess where it’s at with the claims, and perhaps do generic claims of the mop up where they look at all the claims that haven’t been heard and inquired into, so there’s no deadline on that,” Ms Pointon.

The deadline for lodging historic Treaty claims is midnight tonight, and the tribunal will have staff on to monitor the faxes.

PARATA STANDS UP FOR TE HEUHEU LISTING

The National Party Mana Electorate candidate has come out in defence of fellow National MP Georgina Te Heu Heu saying her placing on the party list shows her importance.

Georgina Te Heu Heu is placed at 17 as a list MP, two places higher than in the last election.

Green Party MP Metiria Turei criticised the placing of National's co-Maori Affairs spokesperson saying her caucus were not treating her fairly.

However Hekia Parata, who is listed at 36, says as the only Maori woman in the top 20, Georgina is in a prime place.

“First of all it’s an improvement on where Georgie was ranked at the last list and I think really on our current polling she’s in the top 20 and that’s not to be sniffed at and I think it reflects the regard she’s held by the party so I’m very proud she’s in our top 20,” Ms Parata says.

SHARPLES ARMS HIMSELF FOR CAMPAIGN SORT OF

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples took off his parliamentary duty cap to take part in a traditional weaponry grading over the weekend.

The former Te Kura o Hoani Waititi Principal and Te Roopu Manutaki leader helped grade around 130 Taiaha-welding men over the two days.

Te Whare Tu Taua O Aotearoa teaches the art of taiaha which Sharples describes as the Maori version of Samurai.

There are eight levels to the art and all aspects, not just weaponry, are taught.

“It's quite a comprehensive programme. They’re required to learn language. They’re required to learn customs. They’re required to learn their own history about their whakapapa. It’s all positive. And they learn the restraints because you can get a whack in mau rakau and you’ve got to learn this is about respect for each other and control of your feelings,” Dr Sharples says.

Te Whare Tu Taua has around 2000 students in Aotearoa, Hawaii and Australia.

Turanga AIP signed off

The Government has signed an agreement in principle to settle the historical claims in the Gisborne area.

The negotiations have involved a cluster of hapu and iwi coming together under the mantle of Turanganui a Kiwa.

Waatea News reporter and former Gisborne resident Marire Kuka has been reading the small print in the $59 million settlement.

Gathered at Mangatu Marae north of the city were representatives from Ngai Tamanuhiri ... Te Pou a Haokai, which includes Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Whanau a Kai, NgaAriki Kaiputahi, Te Whanau a Wi Pere and Te Whanau a Rangiwhakataetaea ... and Rongowhakaata, including Ngā Uri o Te Kooti Rikirangi.

It was the circumstances around Te Kooti's imprisonment and subsequent escape from the Chatham Islands in 1868 which gave rise to many of the grievances.

The claimant iwi, who represent about 12,000 members, are being offered $59 million dollars in commercial redress to buy about 20,000 hectares of Crown Forest Land, with the option to buy another 18 Crown-owned properties over the next two years.

Another 16 properties from the landbank of surplus Crown properties are being gifted, along with two Gisborne District Council properties which were subject to longstanding grievances about the way they were acquired.

Cultural redress includes more properties, recognition of Rongowhakaata's ownership of the house Te Hau ki Turanga, which is now in the national museum Te Papa, and the return of wahi tapu including Young Nicks Head Historic Reserve.

MAORI PARTY FEELS FOR TROUBLED PETERS

Maori Party co leader Pita Sharples says the Party is feeling strong empathy for New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters and his team as he comes under fire over donations.

Dr Sharples says he is confident that the other Maori in New Zealand First will be standing loyally with Winston Peters.

"He's quite rightly named his party New Zealand First and that's how he sees it so he's hell bent on pursuing economic and safety goals for ll of New Zealand and does not show any preference or priority for Maori issues in that sense but his pride in being Maori and enjoying life as a Maori is very clear and very evident," he says.

Dr Sharples says while this is in direct contrast to the Maori Party which is championing Maori rights and promoting Maori aspirations the two parties are heading in the same direction in terms of building strong New Zealand unity and nationhood.

RON MARK DEFENDS BOSS

New Zealand First MP Ron Mark is confident his leader Winston Peters and the Party will weather the storm surrounding political donations.

Ron Mark says there is pure hatred towards Winston Peters and New Zealand First by business and other interests who don't want to see them in Parliament.

"The goal for me right now and other New Zealand First MPs is to take care of the business that's before the House right now firstly and foremost, right through to when Parliament lifts, and then obviously to fight a campaign and make sure New Zealand First is back there, to make sure people understand what's happened to us, and don't allow these people to win in the long run," Mr Mark says.

YOUNG NICKS HEAD TO BECOME MAORI OWNED NATIONAL RESERVE
 
Turanganui-a-Kiwa claimants have outlined a plan to turn the first land seen by Captain Cook's crew into a national reserve.

It's one of cultural redress items in a treaty settlement agreement in principle signed today at Managatu Marae near Gisborne by representatives of iwi in the 12,000-strong cluster.

The settlement covers a turbulent history.

On September the 24th, 1769, 12 year old Nicholas Young spotted mountains south of Poverty Bay.

To mark the feat, Captain James Cook named the landmark at the southern end of the Bay Young Nick's Head.

Tribes in the area knew it as Te Kuri a Paoa, and losing the name of their maunga was the first of many losses to those who came in the tall ships - of lives, of land, of language, culture and livelihood,

The settlement package which negotiators from Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Mahaki and Ngai Tamanuhiri will nail down over the next year includes a $59 million dollar commercial redress package of forests and surplus Crown land, as well as 18 properties which will be bought and leased back to government agencies.

A number of wahi tapu will come back, including the 38 hectare Young Nicks Head Historic Reserve.

It will be held and administered as a historic reserve, and declared a national reserve in recognition of its significance to the whole country.

The deal also includes $100,000 to build a memorial to those Tūranganui-a-Kiwa who lost their lives as a result of past Crown actions.
 
LAST GAME FOR RUBEN WIKI ON HOME GROUND

Fans of Ruben Wiki will be at Mt Smart this weekend as the Maori rugby league legend plays what is likely to be his last home game for the season.

The former Kiwi captain played 55 test matches... and became the first New Zealand player to play 300 first grade NRL games after stints with the Canberra Raiders and the New Zealand Warriors.

Gordon Gibbons, from Auckland Rugby League, says he's pretty sure that when the Warriors' season ends the Otahuhu-born prop will resist the temptation to head to the Super League competition in the UK.

"Regardless of the dollars I think Ruben being the family man he is will admit to the fact that's it and hang up the boots but hey, stranger things have happened," Mr Gibbons says.

The Warriors play the Penrith Panthers on Sunday

 

Welfare progress gets pass mark

Improving... but could do better.

That's the verdict on Maori in the Ministry of Social Development's Social Report for 2008.

The report pulls together information from a range of government departments and researchers to get a picture of what life in New Zealand is like... and how it's changed over time.

Don Gray, the Deputy Chief Executive for the MSD says there have been substantial gains for Maori since the 1990s... in employment, education and health.

Maori unemployment rates have dropped... far more Maori are getting educated... there are jumps in both early childhood and tertiary education... and Maori smoking and suicide rates have fallen ... which has contributed to an improvement in Maori life expectancy.

"The challenge is that we've still got disparities so even though we've got better employment rates for Maori than we had in the mid-90s, they're still lower than the general population. Similarly we've got an improvement in life expectancy for Maori, but there's still a gap between Maori and non-Maori," Mr Gray says.
 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER PRAISED FOR JOB WELL DONE 

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia has praised the work of embattled New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters.

Mr Horomia says that whatever the outcome of investigations into New Zealand First donations there is no denying that Winston Peters has done a good job as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"I think he has been outstanding. I think he has done things that only Winston could have done. His skills and talents have really moved this country's partnerships forward. He's hard working and his international reputation has built up but he's certainly has to manage this issue at home and over the next couple of days hopefully all be revealed," Mr Horomia says.

He was surprised by the National Party decision that it wouldn't enter into a coalition with Winston Peters after the election commenting that people in glass houses should not throw stones.
 
WAKA TOI AWARDS CELEBRATE ARTISTIC RICHNESS

The cream of Maori artistic talent will be heading to Wellington this weekend for Nga Taonga Toi a Te Waka Toi.

Garry Nicholas, from Toi Maori, says the awards recognise artists from a range of creative fields.

Past winners include singer Sir Howard Morrison, weaver Diggeress Te Kanawa, carver Cliff Whiting and the late Don Selwyn.

"They bring out some some of the people that work in the communities, that just operate quietly, as well as the iconic great leaders within the arts too," Mr Nicholas says.

Two $4000 scholarships will be given to rangatahi planning to study arts at tertiary level.
 
LAST GOLDIE FETCHES HEFTY PRICE AT AUCTION

What is thought to be the last portrait painted by Charles Goldie has been sold at auction for more than $400,000.

A Noble Relic of a Noble Race, an oil painting of Ngati Manawa and Tuhoe rangatira Wharekauri Tahuna, was sold to an anonymous private buyer at an auction in Wellington last night.

Garry Nicholas from Toi Maori says prices like that puts many of these taonga out of the reach of their descendants.

However, through whakapapa, those tipuna continue to live on.

"Our only other consolation is that the people who purchase those do value them, not necessarily with the same value as us but they do have a value for it so it's unlikely it is going to be desecrated in any way that would diminish the value that we have for those old paintings and those tipuna," Mr Nicholas says.

Two other Goldie paintings... of Arawa chieftainess Ahinata Te Rangituatini, also known as Kapi Kapi... and Ngati Rauwaka and Arawa chief Tumai Tawhiti... are set to be sold at auction in Auckland in October.
 
DOUBLE HULLED WAKA TO BE LAUNCHED

World-renowned traditional navigator and waka-builder Hekenukumai Busby will launch his newest creation this weekend.

The double-hulled or 'Waka-haurua" sailing canoe with the help of the young man on his waka-building course will launch in Taipa tomorrow.

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia says Mr Busby is a living gift to Maoridom.

"People like Hec Busby are rarities. He's an icon in his own right. He is one of the few recognised international navigators, in an elite group of about seven. He's quite a simple fellow but the knowledge that he has is enormous," Mr Horomia.

Mr Busby recently returned from the launch of a waka in Hawaii made in tribute to the late Bill Kapuni.
 
ANONYMOUS COMPLAINANT OFF THE MENU

Historian Paul Moon says common sense quashed a complaint to the Human Rights Commission about a book he wrote on cannabilism.

An anonymous letter complaining about the book 'This Horrid Practice' was rejected after the Commission stated they do not uphold anonymous complaints.

Dr Moon says there is a movement of academics around the world who would like to pretend cannibalism did not happen.

He says this does not change the fact cannibalism is a part of Maori history.

"Basically they said the whole book was racist because it said Maori were cannibals and they said that was a racist statement so they wanted the book banned, and I think common sense prevailed and people realise what cannibalism did take place in this country so they rejected the complaint," Dr Moon says.

He says his research shows that cannibalism was not only ceremonial but a part of everyday Maori life.

 

Turanganui a Kiwa to sign AIP

Turanganui-a-Kiwa will tomorrow sign their Agreement in Principle with a claim settlement timeframe of two years in mind.

The iwi whakapapa to Te Toka a Taiau, is the first landing place of Captain Cook's Endeavour in Gisborne.

The Agreement in Principle will represent Rongowhakaata, Ngai Tamanuhiri and Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki and areas of significance will be researched in the two years following the signing.

Maori Affairs Minister, Parekura Horomia says the claim has been going for a long time.

"The Turanganui a Kiwa claim was to be the model of accelerating claim process. Chief Judge Joe Williams really led with that and got to a stage where we have been negotiating with them for the last three years and certainly they've been positioned and tomorrow we go to Mangatu to encourage them to finalise things," says Mr Horomia, who will take part in tomorrow's signing.
 
HENARE CLAIMS CREDIT FOR CLAIMS DEADLINE

National MP Tau Henare believes his party should take credit for the speed Treaty of Waitangi claims are being dealt with.

The government have announced next Monday as the cut-off date for the lodging of all historical treaty claims.

Mr Henare says in the nine years Labour has been in power the only real progress has been noted in the past 12 months.

He says now the end of Treaty claims is in sight.

"I think if it hadn't been for the pressure put on by our side, things would have been meandering on. The government needed a bit of a kick up its backside in terms of its processes. we've certainly seen a rush of agreements in principle and I think it's a good idea that people get focused on a date in terms of the furnishing of a claim. The issue is, get the claims in, get them sorted, so we can move on," Mr Henare says.

He says the huge interest in the lodgement of claims shows Maori are able to work with the deadline.

CHEF HAS THE RECIPE FOR CANCER SUFFERERS
 
It's the New Zealand Cancer Society's daffodil day tomorrow, and one of the most popular Maori chefs in the country says her new cookbook is aimed at people who are battling the disease.

Anne Thorp is the host of Kaiora,  a food show on Maori TV that features sumptuous meals using traditional and easily accessible Maori kai.

She says as a 10 year survivor of breast cancer, and having completed 3 series of her popular cooking show , she didn't hesitate when asked to write a cookbook for people dealing with the disease.

"Eating healthy is one of the major ways of getting better through any disease. My book is co-written and endorsed by Trevor Smith who is a leading New Zealand cancer and breast cancer expert and he'll be putting his two cents in for both of us to create a fabulous cookbook," Ms Thorpe says.

She's still gathering recipes for the yet to be named cookbook due out by mothers day next year.

MAORI AT RISK FROM TASER POLICY

Former Green MP Nandor Tanczos says young Maori men will be those most detrimentally affected by the Police decision to arm officers with tasers.

Police commissioner Howard Broad has announced that the Police are pressing ahead with plans to reintroduce 32 Tasers in the three Auckland districts and Wellington this year and throughout the country next year.

Mr Tanczos says while there is an argument for non lethal options to guns this avoids the fact that people like Steve Wallace in Waitara did not need to be shot in the first place.

"You go through the justice system top to bottom, and young brown men, particularly young Maori men, tend to be treated more harshly by the system - more likely to be stopped by police, more likely to be searched by police, more likely to be arrested is there's anything going on, likely to get a harsher sentence and certainly add Tasers into that equation and there's no doubt in my mind that primarily who's going to be Tasered is young Maori men," he says.

Mr Tancos says there is no effective sanction on Police if they breach the guidelines for using Tansers so there will be nothing to stop the Police randomly using Tasers.
 
HENARE ATTACKS TRUSTEE PLAN AGAIN 

National MP Tau Henare is continuing to accuse the Government of theft with its plans to use $35 million from the Maori Trustee to set up a fund for Maori economic development.

In parliament yesterday Mr Henare attacked the government for the planned move and continued the criticism on Radio Waatea this morning.

He says the Crown Law Office has said the money legally belongs to the Maori Trustee but the government still wants to take it from Trustee beneficiaries and use it for other purposes.

"Now the idea may be nice about Maori economic development in that you would find no one to stand in the way of Maori economic development but it's the way you go about it, and you shouldn't be able to go about stealing other people's money, because that's exactly what this is," Mr Henare says.
 
NEW FOOD SERIES BY CANCER SURVIVOR

Maori celebrity chef Anne Thorpe wants Maori battling disease to eat better.

Anne Thorpe a 10 year survivor of cancer says an improved diet played a big part in her recovery.

Her Maori TV cooking show Kaiora features recipes using the finest Maori kai , and has been a hit with both Maori and non Maori foodlovers, both here and overseas.

The Pakiri beach based chef says her next series will show how food can help people recover from illness.

"The kai that I'll be focusing on is for all those people that have got diabetes and cancer and heart disease, who are overweight, such as myself, which are all prevalent conditions in Maori and of course for all of those who enjoy happy and healthy lifestyles," Ms Thorpe says.

 

 

Smaller claimants disadvantaged by deadline

Green MP Metiria Turei says smaller claimant groups are the ones who will be most diadvantaged by next week's deadline on historic treaty claims.

Maori have until Monday to lodge claims for Crown breaches of the treaty from 1840 to 1992.

Metiria Turei says while larger iwi have been able to develop relationships with the Crown, those groups who were worst hit by the processes of colonisation and war may miss out.

"Their claims aren't any less legitimate or even any smaller than other ones. It's just that they have ended up at the back of the queue. So it's a grossly disadvantageous and discriminatory thing to do especially since the government has no such deadline. They didn't change anything about their process to make sure it goes faster," Ms Turei says.

The Greens tried unsuccessfully to stop the deadline.
 
MAORI BUSINESS SAVVY SHOWING THROUGH

The head of a Maori business development agency says Maori are getting more savvy about business.

The Poutama Trust invests a couple of million dollars a year in small and medium size businesses, as advice, micro-loans or equity participation in ventures.

Chief executive Richard Jones says in the two decades the trust has been operating there have been marked changes in the way Maori go to market.

"If you asked then for a business plan or a set of financial accounts, you were lucky to get that sort of thing,. You were more likely to get a bank statement. Now when we ask for that, no problem, We get a relatively good business plan. We get a set of financial accounts which have been done up with the help of an accountant. People are getting more business savvy," Mr Jones says.

While urban based-Maori busiensses are still relatively small and entrepreneurial, the larger rural organisations are starting to diversify away from the primary sector or cluster together for greater efficiency.
 
YOUNG MUMS CAN'T COOOK, KIDS SUFFER

A Maori dietician says the health of young Maori mothers and their children is suffering because they lack cooking skills.

Hiki Pihema, who works for the Tairawhiti District Health Board, says many Maori women are ill equipped  to provide healthy food for their whanau.

She says many of them don't get past frying or heating food up in a microwave, because parents and grandparents may not have understood the link between healthy eating and health," Ms Pihema says.

Maori health will be one of the themes of a Dieticians Conference in Hamilton next week.

MASON BROTHERS REPAIR SPLIT, BOOST LABOUR MESSAGE AMONG MOREHU

A split in a leading Ratana family has been repaired, which could boost Labour's vote.

Last election Errol Mason, the son of tumuaki Harry Mason, was Labour's candidate in Te Tai Hauauru, while his brother Andre was telling church members or morehu they should cast their lot with the Maori Party.

This time Errol Mason is again contesting the seat held by Tariana Turia, and he's being backed by his brother.

Errol Mason says their shared commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi brought them together, and they're campaigning together.

"When we're going around talking to our people, we know they are passionate about the treaty and the fact we go back to what our founder was seeking in his time and it's that thing that turns the light on with a lot of our people," Mr Mason says.

He says the important thing is that Maori take part in the democratic process and vote.
 
DAM PROJECT PLANNED FOR MOTU RIVER

Te Whanau-a-Apanui could benefit from a proposed hydro-electric dam on the Motu River in the eastern Bay of Plenty.

Haki McRoberts, a member of the iwi and chair of the Opotiki District Council's coast community board, says the region needs a more secure electricity supply.

Consultants have identified four potential dams on the river, and another three possible sites on the nearby Ruakokore River.

Mr McRoberts says Te Whanau-a-Apanui would need to be involved in any development, and it could even consider investing.

"There is a way Te Whanau a Ap-anui could get a good base from it money wise by hooking into them annd selling their power off at 10, 15, 25 cents, something like that, being part of it to build Te Whanau-a-Apanui's kitty," Mr McRoberts says.

The iwi is talking with Wellington based Horizon Energy about the venture.
 
MAORI SHOWBAND REVIVAL ON GOLD COAST

Labour list MP Dover Samuels will be dancing to a different beat this weekend, as formerf members of the Maori showbands gather in the Gold Coast for a reunion.

The former Taitokerau MP was an accomplished entertainer in his younger days, filling in at times for members of the Maori Volcanics and the Quintikis.

He says at least 30 Maori entertainers of yesteryear are expected at a powhiri today, and the sold out sign is up for the gala performance at Billys' Beach bar on Saturday night.

Mr Samuels says while the reunion is being held across the Tasman to make it easier for Australia-based entertainers to attend, the Maori Community Centre in Auckland was where it all started.

"They formed different groups like the Volcanics, the Hi Fives, the High Quins, and the demand for that type of live entertainment really launched the whole concept of Maori showbands not just in New Zealand but right around the world," Mr Samuels says.

It was their incorporation of Maori humour and culture into a musical entertainment that made the showbands unique.