Overseas Investment loosening threat to Maori

The Greens' Maori spokesperson says National's plans to overhaul the Overseas Investment Act threatens the interests of Maori landowners.

Maori have already felt the impact of sales of coastal land to foreigners through increased land values which affect their rates.

Meteria Turei says there are also cases where Maori have lost access to waahi tapu or food gathering areas on land bought by foreigner owners.

“Maori have a particular interest in protecting land and keeping it in the hands of New Zealanders wherever possible, so it’s especially dangerous opening up the Overseas Investment Act and allowing greater levels of investment in land as opposed to in the economy,” Ms Turei says.

She says National is showing its true colours, and the review is likely to mean less scrutiny of the environmental and social impact of developments like golf courses, hotels and private mansions.

ASTHMA HITTING MAORI CHILDREN HARDER

Maori health professionals and community workers are currently being welcomed onto Orakei Marae in Auckland for a major conference on asthma and respiratory disease.

Matire Harwood, the clinical director for Tamaki Healthcare, says while the rate of asthma is the same among Maori and non-Maori children, Maori children are more severely affected by the disease.

She says researchers have identified not only economic and social barriers to treatment but some disturbing attitudes among GPs and practice nurses, who are less likely to prescribe drugs or offer asthma management plans to Maori tamariki.

“Part of our issue now is to focus on improving thaqt quality of care within primary care so that Maori and Pacific kids can benefit from good asthma management,” Dr Harwood says.

The conference runs until Friday.

GOOD KAI ON MENU FOR POLYFEST

Healthy food has been put on the menu for this week's Auckland secondary schools Maori and Polynecian culture festival.

Mason Ngawhika, a nutritionist with the Auckland regional public health services, was asked by Polyfest organisers to advise the 53 stallholders on healthy choices for the 80 thousand people expected at the Manukau Sports Bowl over the next three days.

He's trying to get the healthy kai message across to the whole whanau.

“It's always a parent’s responsibility but they don’t always know how so we need to develop strategies to assist and support parents,” Mr Ngawhika

LEGACY RATED CAPITAL HIP HOP DANCE CREW

Hip hop crews from around the country are polishing their moves for next months' national competition in Auckland.

Newtown crew Legacy showed experience counted as it took out the first Wellington regional hip hop dance competition at the weekend.

Manager Liston Peilua from the Pacific Performing Arts Trust says the style appeals to Maori and Pacific rangatahi, and there is some cross over of kapa haka moves, especially in the rhythmic movements.

He says hip hop's lack of formal rules also appeals to young Maori.

FLAVELL MEDIATION REJECTED BY WHAKAREWAREWA VILLAGE CHAIR

Whakarewarewa Maori are telling their local MP to butt out of their treaty settlement.

Willie Te Aho, the chair of the Whakarewarewa Village Charitable Trust and negotiator for Tuhourangi-Ngati Wahiao, says his group is keen for the Government to get on with passing the settlement returning the Whakarewarewa thermal valley and Te Puea Maori arts and crafts centre to his iwi and Ngati Whakaue.

The bill includes a two year process to resolve who holds the mana whenua.

But Mr Te Aho says associate treaty negotiations minister Pita Sharples has bowed to pressure from a faction within Ngati Wahio who want the ownership issue settled before the bill is passed.

The Minister has asked Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell to mediate.

“I'm certainly saying that’s inappropriate. He represented a minority view of Ngati Wahiao that opposed both our settlement and also the current bill so I certainly don’t support Te Ururoa being involved,” Mr Te Aho says.

He has also written to the Speaker asking for a correction to be put on the parliamentary record of statements Mr Flavell made during the introduction of the bill.

WHANAU NEEDED TO IMPROVE CLASSROOM BEHAVIOUR

Whanau have been identified as a key element in tackling disruptive behaviour in the classroom.

Ian Leckie, the vice president of primary teachers union the New Zealand Education Institute, says a summit on the issue heard there are more than 40,000 disruptive children in the system, including a disproportionate number of Maori.

He says solutions will require improved collaboration between whanau, communities, government agencies and schools.

“I think it's a challenge for families to work closely with their schools. It’s a challenge for schools to build those links as well and when those links are really strong and everyone agrees we need to have some changes in and around children’s behaviour, we know that we are well along the track to success when families and schools can work so closely together,” Mr Leckie says.

He says teachers and parents need to learn how to manage disruptive behaviour, because they are not skills that come automatically.

TEST LINED UP FOR KIORAHI

The ancient ball game of ki-o-rahi is to get its first international test.
Coach Harko Brown says the New Zealand team will play France in Paris next year.

He says the invitation arose out of an exhibition game when he took Kerikeri High School students to an international kite festival in Dieppe in 2006.

“When we got to Dieppe and spoke to their tangata whenua, they said they learned the game during the SDecond World War, some of their soldiers learned it from Maori Battalion members, so they’d kept the game alive out of reverence for Maori Battalion members who taught them and also sacrificed their lives to help free the French and also free Europe,” Mr Brown says.

Ki-o-rahi, which is played on a circular field, involves imaginative handling and swift passing of the ki or ball.