House collapse kills two at Manurewa Marae

There's shock and sadness at Manurewa Marae in south Auckland, where a house being moved on for use as a health clinic collapsed, killing two people and putting two others in hospital with serious injuries.

Meanwhile, the opening of another marae-based health clinic will go ahead tomorrow morning in Port Waikato despite the tragedy in Manurewa.

Tony Kake, the programme manager for Counties Manukau Health's Kahui Ora Maori health team, says the whare oranga is one of four the district health board intended to launch this year.

It's a joint venture between the DHB, Oraeroa Marae, Huakina Trust and south Auckland public health organisation Procare network.

Mr Kake says the clinic will offer podiatry, smoking cessation, nutrition and exercise programmes and other services determined by community needs.

“Whare oranga aims to provide the right health services at the right place and at the right time and for Maori, we’re trying to build up this whole healthy lifestyle buzz around marae. We intrinsically understand the protocols involved with whare kai, whare tupuna, so we want whare oranga to automatically roll off with a similar vein of respect,” he says.

Mr Kake says further whare oranga will be opened later in the year at Pukekohe, Mangatangi Marae near Kaiaua and Manurewa.

SHARPLES OUTFLANKED AT CABINET COMMITTEE BY HIDE

Tamaki Makaurau MP Pita Sharples is shaping for an uphill battle with Rodney Hide to get Maori seats on the Auckland super-city council.

Dr Sharples says he objected at yesterday's super city Cabinet Committee meeting to the way the Minister for Local Government was pre-empting what was supposed to be a joint report on options for Maori representation.

He says Mr Hide has moved to put processes in place which would ensure no Maori at the top table.

The Maori Party has proposed a way to get two elected Maori seats.

“We're sort of playing the democratic game if you like but he’s pretty adamant on his lines so it’s become very political now so I guess the right wing National supporters will probably support him and that’s why the Government probably will have to support him too. I mean that’s my reading of it, the way it's going,” Dr Sharples says.

The joint report will be delayed, so there is still a chance to put pressure on Rodney Hide and Prime minister John Key over Maori seats.

FUNDRAISER FROM PROMISING NGAPUHI OPERA SINGER

A promising opera singer will be the toast of Whangarei tonight.

A black tie mayoral benefit concert is being held to send 18 year old Kawiti Waetford to study and perform at London's Globe Theatre.

Mr Waetford, from Ngati Hine, Ngati Wai, and Nga Puhi, says the tour is an annual event for New Zealand's Young Shakespeare Company.

He sees it as a step towards a professional opera career.

NEW WHAREKAI FOR MOTATAU MARAE
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Ngati Hine will rise before dawn tomorrow to open a new kitchen and dining hall for Motutau Marae near Kawakawa.

Whanau member Pene Henare says the $2 million project, which includes a new ablution block, has taken six years.

He says the wharekai is named after Mihiwira Tipene, who played an important role getting the marae built in the 1920s to serve as a place to host guests of the Northern Maori MP of the time, Tau Henare.

Guests at the opening include Tuwharetoa chief Tumu Te Heu Heu, who was welcomed onto the marae this afternoon.

COMPETITION STEPPING STONE FOR FASHION TALENT

Maori fashion designers will tomorrow vie for entry to the New Zealand Fashion week in September.

The catwalk spot is the top prize of the Maori Fashion Awards being held at Massey University's Wellington campus in Buckle St.

Project manager Ata Te Kanawa from Ngati Maniapoto says Fashion Week founder Pieter Stewart will head the judging panel, alongside Georgina Te Heu Heu, Kyla Russell, Simon Wi Rutene and Liz Mellish.

The competition is for design concepts rather than complete collections.

Ms Te Kanawa says all the 20 designers are showing good commercial potential