Waatea News Update

News from Waatea 603 AM, Urban Maori radio, first with Maori news

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Friday, September 05, 2008

Ministry resumes dialogue with Hokianga Accord

Ngapuhi's chair is welcoming the return of the Fisheries Ministry to meetings of the Hokainga Accord.

Wayne McNee, the ministry's recently-appointed chief executive, and other members of his senior management team, attended this week's hui in Waitangi, which brought together commercial, customary and amateur fishing interests in the mid-north iwi.

Sonny Tau says the ministry refused to attend the last three hui because it wanted to split out Maori from non-Maori fishers, but the new management seems to be taking a more constructive approach.

“By the ministry returning to our forum, we can actually help the ministry do a good job, or a better job of managing our fisheries than they’re currently doing. And vice versa, the ministry is able to give us the up to date information on where the Ministry of Fisheries is moving in terms of improving the management of our fisheries,” he says.

Mr Tau says the main issue at the hui was concern over proposed changes to the Fisheries Act, which would give the Minister of Fisheries greater powers to cut quotas.

NGATI APA CLAIM SETTLED WITHOUT TURIA INPUT

She may be the most high profile member of the iwi, but Tariana Turia has had to step back from Ngati Apa's treaty talks.

The iwi this week signed a deed of settlement over claims arising from the Crown's 1849 purchase of the 260 thousand acre Turakina-Rangitikei block.

The Maori Party co-leader says her political position means she had to leave the job for others.

“Our young people have taken that settlement through, and because I have particular views about settlements I’ve had to keep wahanui otherwise I’d put all our young people off, but they’ve worked constructively with the government, getting back about 1.5 percent of what was taken, but he aha,” Mrs Turia says.

She says no government can expect settlements to be full and final if justice is not served.

UNIQUE FLAVOUR FOR STYLE PASIFIKA SHOW

The organiser of tonight's Westfield Style Pasifika fashion show says the cultural flavour of Maori and Pacific peoples makes the designs unique.

More than 150 garments from designers all over the Pacific will be modelled in the Vector Arena spectacular to a soundtrack that mixes kapa haka, bhangra, rap and opera.

Stan Wolfgram says it's a winning mix of indigenous culture and high fashion.

“The flavours do come from our tangata whenua and from our Pacific people, and it comes through in the design. We’ve got some inspiration from the Maori Battalion. We’ve got some weaving brought in. It’s just amazing what is brought in as far as designers are concerned,” Mr Wolfgram says.

Some 300 performers, models and crew are involved in the show.

MAORI PARTY SEES PETERS AS KAUMATUA

National and ACT may be gunning for Winston Peters, but the Maori Party would be sad to see him go.

The New Zealand First leader is caught up in multiple investigations into how donations made to his party and to his legal fund were handled.

Tariana Turia, the Maori Party's co-leader, says because of his length of service and contribution to the country, Mr Peters has kaumatua status among his fellow Maori MPs.

“I'm hoping these issues that are confronting him right now, that we’ll see a positive outcome, because this is someone who has contributed hugely to this country and he’s been an interesting politician, probably more interesting than most of the others and probably a lot brighter too,” Mrs Turia says.

MAORI PRESENSE STRONG FOR ADDICTION CONFERENCE

There's a strong Maori presence in this year's Cutting Edge addiction treatment conference, which finishes tomorrow in Christchurch.

Sessions have included discussion of Maori whole-of-whanau treatment approaches, the development of a framework so Maori expertise can be valued in addiction and mental health work, and the launch of a book tracing the history of Maori addiction programmes since the 1980s.

Organising committee member Tuari Potiki from the Alcohol Advisory Council says the hui has become an annual highlight for people working in the field.

“These conferences started off being very research based and very clinical, lots of doctors and lost of academics coming along to talk about numbers and statistics and things, but over the years they’ve changes and we now have very strong attendance and participation from Maori alcohol and drug workers as well as a very strong Pacific group as well,” Mr Potiki says.

Many in the non-Maori sector are now looking at methods used by indigenous people to treat their own patients.

STYLE PASIFIKA COMPETITION CAN BOOST CAREER

A former winner of the Westfield Style Pasifika Supreme Award says her passion for Maori art is key to her designs.

Charmaine Love from Ngati Porou topped the annual fashion show in 2004, and followed it up the next year by designing the golfwear worn by Michael Campbell when he won the 2005 US Open.

Her designs have also been worn by stars like Robbie Williams and Ben Harper.

Ms Love says the competition turbocharged her career what it is today.

“I've always been passionate about exposing Maori art to the world really and teaching people what the designs mean and what they mean to Maori, and I guess Style Pasifika, it really gave me a lot of confidence to get out there and design heavily focused on exposing Maori art, Maori design,” Ms Love says.

Westfield Style Pasifika is on tonight at the Vector Arena in Auckland.

Ngapuhi offered early treaty hearing

The Waitangi Tribunal has called a judicial conference on whether it should make an early start to hearings on the Ngapuhi claim.

Chief Judge Joe Williams told the northern iwi he was considering its view that the first hearing should be on Ngapuhi understandings of the Treaty, and it should be held at Te Tou Rangatira in Waitangi, where chiefs in 1840 debated whether to sign the treaty offered to them by William Hobson on behalf of Queen Victoria.

He says addressing such a core issue early could help the iwi decide whether to proceed to full hearings or enter direct negotiations.

Ngapuhi chairperson Sonny Tau says such a hearing would be a major undertaking for the iwi.

“It is the only iwi that can take this claim. It is the only iwi that has the evidence. The Crown has no evidence whatsoever to support its whitewash of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and going to a translation of the Maori text. Hobson couldn’t understand Maori, so he got it translated. The Crown now hangs its hat on the translations,” Mr Tau says.

The judicial conference will be held at Waitangi on September 25.

RIVER TRIBES COME TO CLEAN UP PARTY

In a flurry of activity, more of the tribes along the Waikato River have been formally brought into the plan to clean up the awa.

The government yesterday initialled agreements with Maniapoto, Raukawa and Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa, representing Ngati Tahu and Ngati Wheao, bringing them into the guardians framework set out in the Waikato-Tainui river settleemnt.

The Maniapoto deal also covers the Waipa River, the largest tributary of the Waikato.

Dickie Farrar, the general manager of the Ngati Raukawa trust Board, says no one body can do the job alone, and the iwi’s focus is on co-management and how all can work together to clean up the river.

LESSONS OFFERED FROM MAORI ADDICTION EXPERIENCE

Methods developed to treat Maori with addictions are being offered as offering something that also works for non-Maori.

Researchers from Christchurch's Maori Indigenous Health Institute have written a history of Maori programmes since the 1980s.

Tuari Potiki, the strategy manager for the Alcohol Advisory Council, says the guiding principle that the whanau needs to be treated along with the individual is being widely picked up.

“Things that not only Maori but other indigenous groups around the world use similar models. Aboriginals in Australia, native Hawaiians, native Americans, they all tell the same stories and they all use the same ways of working with people. More recently the non-Maori sector is starting to see some value in what we’re doing, so it’s turned around a bit,” Mr Potiki says.

CYNICAL APPROACH TO SETTLEMENTS DECRIED
National leader John Key is accusing the Government of cynicism in its treatment of treaty claims.

There have been another flurry of activity this week, with Ngati Apa signing a deed of settlement, and Raukawa, Maniapoto and Te Pumautanga o te Arawa initialling agreements to become part of the Waikato River settlement.

Mr Key says that's in sharp contrast with the first eight years of Labour's rule, where nothing happened while first Margaret Wilson and then Mark Burton had the treaty portfolio.

“You've seen a big difference in Michael Cullen being there because of his ability to sign off on those deals and partly, let’s be honest, it’s cynically been driven because it’s election year and they’re trying to make sure the Maori Party doesn’t cane them too bad in all the seats they’re fighting over at the moment,” Mr Key says.

He's keen to maintain the pace of treaty settlements in National wins the election, because it's important all iwi are put on the same economic footing.

GOOD DEAL FOR NGATI APA

Menawhile, Rangitikei iwi Ngati Apa is seeking ratification from its constituent hapu for what it calls a good deal.

Negotiators from Te Runanga o Ngati Apa this week signed a $16 million deed of settlement, a $2 million increase on last year's agreement in principle.

Chairperson Adrian Rurawhe says there's a great deal of work still to be done, and it may take another year to get settlement legislation through Parliament.

SILVERSMITH TRADES TIPS WITH HOPI MASTER

A Maori silversmith has just completed a successful exhibition in New Mexico, alongside the Hopi artist who taught him the craft.

Dargaville-based Alex Nathan has been carving silver jewelry since he attended a workshop run by Michael Kabotie in 1991.

They reunited for a show at the Glenn Green Gallery near Sante Fe, which shows a number of native American and Maori artists including Sandy Adsett, Wi Taepa and Noelle Jakeman.

Mr Nathan says it was great to catch up.

“I've developed in a certain direction using the basics that he had taught me but I’ve taken the work in a completely different direction in the way I treat the material. He still works very much in the traditional manner of the Hopi in terms of the overlay techniques. I utilize the overlay techniques but I also carve the metal as though it were wood,” Mr Nathan says.

A highlight was visiting the Hopi tribal homelands, including what's regarded as the oldest settlement in North America.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

River tribes sign on to clean up plan

Ngati Raukawa and Te Arawa hapu Ngati Tahu and Ngati Whaoa are getting a say in how the upper reaches of the Waikato River are managed.

The agreement in principle signed at Parliament this afternoon flows on from the river settlement signed with Tainui last month.

It provides for a committee to oversee strategy for the river from Huka Falls to Lake Karapiro, and a million dollars a year to fund iwi participation in co-management.

Dickie Farrar, the general manager of the Raukawa Trust, says the focus for the iwi is the clean-up and sustainability of the Waikato.

She says her iwi has a 600-year long relationship with the river, and the settlement has been a long time coming.

“It's a culmination of a lot of time, energy, tangis. Our people have memories going back so far that sometimes it’s really difficult to put it into words. The words of our kaumatua and the words of out people at this present time,” Ms Farrar says.

REAL TEETH IN CO-MANAGEMENT REGIME

Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa says today's agreement will give power back to the iwi.

Spokesperson Rawiri Te Whare says representatives from Ngati Tahu, Ngati Whaoa and Raukawa will join Waikato-Tainui on the Guardians of the Waikato River.
The guardians will appoint trustees to the Waikato River Clean Up Trust, which will administer the $7 million dollar a year special clean-up fund.

He says that's the sort of influence the iwi wants.

“The agreement that we have negotiated is around a co-management regime that will have power and influence to make firm decisions and get firm directions and advice on how the river should be cleaned up. I think it will be a body with teeth and influence, otherwise we just wouldn’t go there,” Mr Te Whare says.

COMMUNITY PEOPLE WISE UP ACADEMICS ON RESEARCH NEEDS

New ways of looking at Maori have been under the microscope today in Christchurch.

More than 300 academics and researchers are attending the two day Nga Kete a Rehua Symposium hosted by Canterurbury University's Aotahi: School of Maori and Indigenous Studies.

Spokesperson Rawiri Taonui says a quarter of them are from South Island universities - a big advance on a decade ago when there were only a handful of Maori academics in Te Wai Pounamu.

He says there's also some important flax roots input.

“We've got quite a number of community members, people who work in health and people who work in education giving papers on what university research should be contributing to Maori communities,” Mr Taonui says.

Maori researchers tend to look for practical applications in the community for their mahi.

NGATI APA SETTLE TO BOOST CULTURE

Ngati Apa has made cultural revitalisation a priority in its treaty settlement.

The Rangitikei iwi yesterday initialed the final wording of a deed of settlement, which includes a $2 million increase on the quantum to $16 million and the chance to buy 6700 hectares of Crown forest land.

The claim relates mainly to the Crown's 1849 purchase of the 260 thousand acre Turakina-Rangitikei block.

Adrian Rurawhe, the chair of Te Runanga o Ngati Apa, says the iwi's 3000 members will get a chance to affirm their heritage.

“We have accepted five pieces of land for the reestablishment of papakainga and also a putea that can be used for development of a cultural redevelopment plan, its implementation and also the publication of a book about our history,” Mr Rurawhe says.

The Ngati Apa Runanga will now conduct a four week ratification process with hapu.

TE ROROA BILL THROUGH COMMITTEE STAGE

Meanwhile, a Northland hapu has moved a step closer to getting back land around the Waipoua forest, with Parliament this morning passing the Te Roroa Claims Settlement Bill through its committee stages.

The hapu of Ngati Whatua signed off on a $9 million dollar settlement on the eve of the 2005 election, but deal came under fire from National, the Greens and the Maori Party for being too small to be economically viable.

It also ignored concerns about koiwi taken from burial caves in the Waimamaku area.

Negotiator Alex Nathan says Te Roroa continued to talk to the government, which added enough to the pot to satisfy the minor parties - and the hapu.

“The fact the smaller parties weren’t supporting it caused perhaps a rethink and we just continued the discussions with a number of the politicians and the result is an offer that is perhaps more palatable and perhaps closer to what it should have been right at the outset,” Mr Nathan says.

The farms Te Roroa will buy under the settlement, including one formerly owned by Allan Titford, will continue to be leased to local farmers until the iwi is ready to take over management.

PETERS DEFENDED FOR VISION FOR MAORI

The Minister of Maori Affairs is still supporting the embattled Winston Peters.

The New Zealand First leader appeared in front of Parliament's privileges committee today for another grilling on a $100,000 donation from expatriate businessman Owen Glenn to pay the costs of his Tauranga electoral petition.

Parekura Horomia says people should taihoa on their criticism of Mr Peters until all the facts are on the table.

He says the former Minister of Maori Affairs has always had a vision of Maori advancement.

“He has been consistent about trying to ensure that Maori get into the modern opportunities and he has been a diehard, even to the extent where 15 years ago people used to call him Pakeha Maori, but he certainly had foresight and vision, and another thing he is well ahead of most politicians is his support for pakeke and kaumatua rights,” Mr Horomia says.

Maori taking hands on role in research

Maori approaches to research will be canvassed at a symposium starting in Christchurch today.

Rawiri Taonui from the Aotahi School of indigenous studies at Canterbury University, which is hosting Nga Kete a Rehua, says 300 Maori and Pakeha researchers from institutions around the country have registered.

He says it's a growing area of study, and Maori are making a real contribution to the way they are studied.

“Maori researchers tend to take better account of how their work is going to impact on Maori communities, how it’s going to contribute to Maori communities, and also how the views and the perspectives of Mari communities are with respect to academic research, which was something that was missing a decade or so ago,” Mr Taonui says.

The symposium will include papers from community members working in areas like health and education, who will tell the academics what they expect from them.

CLAIM LODGED OVER MATAPOURI WAHI TAPU

One of the last minute claims filed to the Waitangi Tribunal before Monday's deadline was over a live dispute at Matapouri northeast of Whangarei.

Kris Macdonald, the chair of Te Whanau o Rangiwhakaahu Hapu Charitable Trust, says it was filed in case no other way can be found to protect a waahi tapu on the coast.

The hapu say the land was part of a block it sold to the Crown in 1969 for a reserve.

Under a deal put through the Maori land court, a woman living in a house on the block was given a lifetime interest.

Now her descendants say the land is theirs, and they want to develop it.

Mr Macdonald says the land wasn't properly surveyed, and regardless of ownership, the land is too sacred to build on.

“Well it was used as a burial site. It was used as a site where traditional processes around preparing bodies for burial such as scraping and drying bones, wrapping them in flax and burying them, so the whole area is an urupa,” Mr Macdonald says.

As well as the treaty claim, the hapu is taking the Department of Conservation to the high court for mismanagement of the land transfer.

GUMFIELD ROMANCES LEAD TO BOOK

The gumfields of the far north are being remembered as the place a unique bond was formed.

Senka Bozic says that's where young men from the coast of Croatia, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, came in the late 19th century and quickly formed relationships with Maori.

Dr Bozic's new book Tarara charts the course of many of those relationships, and includes many early photos treasured by whanau.

She says life digging kauri gum was hard, but it gave rise to many stories and memories which were passed on to the children of those original settlers who she interviewed in settlements like Ahipara, Awanui and Ngataki.

Senka Bozic migrated to New Zealand in 1996, and is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

PURPOSE OF KEY MARAE STRATEGY REVEALED

A National Party Maori affairs spokesperson says John Key's exposure to Maori communities over the past year should help in any post-election talks with the Maori Party.

Georgina te Heuheu says Maori issues are a major part of any government's work, and that is only going to increase.

She says there has been a deliberate effort to help Mr Key develop relationships with Maori.

“I guess in the sense that one might be anticipating that there may be a need for some arrangements after the elections, we’ve focused on having John get some exposure to our communities, to our marae, to the way our people are doing, and get some understanding of their aspirations, and that’s where we’ve put our efforts in the past 12, 15 months and hopefully that will hold us in good stead when the election is held, if we will be looking to have some arrangements with the Maori Party,” Mrs te Heuheu says.

PUBLIC END FOR AOTEAROA FILM FEST

The Aotearoa Film festival has its final screenings in Auckland tonight.

Trevor Moeke, the Northern manager for Te Wananga O Aotearoa, says the seven films from Samoa, Hawaii, Australia, North America and Aotearoa were well received throughout the country.

He says it was also a chance to bring together the filmmakers, including Maori directors Taika Waititi and Tearepa Kahi, and introduce them to the communities.

“As we've hosted them around the various venues in Tairawhiti, Hamilton and here in Auckland, our students, our communities have responded pretty well. And in terms of the filmmakers, some of them have never met Maori before, some of them are very used to being with Maori, and the mix of films they have brought has really created some high interest,” Mr Moeke says.

Tonight's screening is off campus at the Academy Cinema.

VICTOR YATES SPORTING PROWESS REMEMBERED

A member of one of Northland's most prominent Maori sporting families is being laid to rest today.

Vic Yates died unexpectedly on Sunday. He was 69.

His father Moses played league for New Zealand Maori in the early 1920's, and in the 1950s brothers John and Simon also made the national Maori team.

Vic Yates was a star of the "run the ball from anywhere" Northland teams of the early 1960's, and soon made the All Blacks.

Bishop Muru Walters, a noted fullback and Maori All Black captain of the era, says Vic Yates was a fantastic footballer and friend.

“I can always remember playing a match with Victor. It was raining and we were uncertain as to how we would play it, and I asked him what we should do, and he says ‘Throw the ball as if we were playing on a hard rock dry ground’ which we did and won a very good match. But that was the nature of Victor, a fun loving person, good character, and a good friend,” Bishop Walters says.

The funeral service for Victor Yates starts at 11am at Pukepoto marae between Kaitaia and Ahipara.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

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.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

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.

Monday, September 01, 2008

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.