Hot air deal down to CPI inflation

The Prime Minister says most of the benefit increase the Maori Party claims it won for support for National's emission's trading scheme was due to happen anyway.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says he pushed for an increase to allow people on benefits to cope with new expenses brought about by carbon charges on petrol and power.

John Key says the question is how to compensate people who may be out of pocket

“I mean generally speaking you want them out of pocket because you want them to change their behaviour, that is the whole purpose of this thing, but where somebody can’t afford do that, obviously you have to think again. So as long as the inflation adjustment took account of the fact their income is being reduced because they don’t have as much, all you need to do is neutralize it and that’s the bit that we’re looking at and working our way through. CPI adjustment should take care of it but Bill English is doing a bit of work on it so Pita’s not 100 percent right but he’s not 100 percent wrong either,” Mr Key says.

KIRIKIRIROA RUNANGA CHALLENGES MAORI REPRESENTATION RULES

A Hamilton urban Maori authority has lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal which could open the way for Maori representation on all local authorities.

Matiu Dickson, the chair of te Runanga o Kirikiriroa, says while the claim targets the Hamilton City Council, it was lodged when it became clear that Maori were not going to get seats on the Auckland super city.

The Waikato University law school lecturer says mechanisms in the 2002 Local Government Act to allow Maori seats aren't working.

“We claim the legislation has done absolutely nothing for Maori. Maori representation on councils is extremely low and therefore the Maori voice on councils is also very low to non existent and so we are saying the legislation is inadequate to meet our needs and our rights under the treaty,” Mr Dickson says.


He is disappointed the tribunal refused to grant the claim urgency, because the Kirikiroa runanga wanted action before next year's local body elections.

GIRLS SHINE IN MANU KORERO AS HIGH STANDARDS PREVAIL

The girls shone at this year's Maanu Korero national secondary school's speech competitions in Rotorua, winning three of the four major prizes on offer.

The Pei Te Hurinui Jones prize for senior Maori went to Te Wairere Ngaia from Waikato kura Nga Taiatea.

Keria Paki from Rotorua's Te Kura o te Ahorangi took the Rawhiti Ihaka prize for junior English.

The Korimako senior English trophy was taken home to Gisborne by Karli Rickard from Lytton High School, and Taylor Taranaki from Te Wharekura o Nga Tapuwai in South Auckland won the Sir Turi Carroll junior English category.

One of the judges, Jim Perry, says the competition shows the language is in good hands with a very high standard of performance.

WHANAU ORA STRATEGY ALLOWS PLANNING FOR POSITIVE OUTCOMES

A West Auckland Maori provider says the Government's whanau ora strategy is a much needed evolution in the delivery of social services.

Hauora groups from the Waikato to the far north met in Tamaki yesterday to hear from associate health minister Tariana Turia, Health Ministry officials and leading Maori providers on how changes to the way the government intends funding primary healthcare will affect Maori.

Arohia Durie from Waiora, a health joint venture between the Waipareira Trust and the Engineers and Service Workers unions, says whanau ora will allow Maori providers to move families forward together.

“Instead of the whanau going to individual services, we meet with the whanau first, we identify a future mapping process, a future plan that’s identifies what are the outcomes we want to achieve, positive outcomes rather than focus on what’s wrong with the whanau first and then look at a plan and a map to help provide those support services to them,” Ms Durie says.

The last of the four Maori health providers' hui will be in Christchurch next week.

NGATI AWARDS CREAT DIGITALLY LITERATE NGATI POROU RANGATAHI

One of the judges of this week's Nati Awards says the East Coast institution shows how technology is helping rangatahi in the remotest places realise their creativity.

Pita Turei from Nga Aho Whakaari, the association of Maori in film and television, says Ngati Porou is on to a winner with the annual film and digital media awards for East Coast schools.

He says Nga Aho Whakaari will encourage other tribal areas to take similar initiatives.

“The digital revolution is one we can drive ourselves from wherever we are and what Ngati Porou is doing ids making Ngati Porou digitally literate. We’re seeing the voices coming through rangatahi. These are the people who will drive the digital revolution,” Mr Turei says.

Improving broadband services to rural communities will give young Maori a chance to set their sights on careers in career digital media.

KAPA HAKA TAKING IT BACK TO 1979

An south Auckland kapa haka is reforming this week to celebrate the 30th year of its founding.

Te Kupenga Maori club from Otara hasn't performed for 15 years, but original member Takurua Tangitu says Auckland members have been practicing hard for four months.

He says those from round the country and from across the Tasman will also be keen to show they haven't forgotten the old moves.

The group was started in 1979 by Hillary College Maori language teacher Henare Mahunga, but it quickly became a community-based group with a young but keen membership.

“Most of us grew up in this kapa haka roopu so it’s a big weekend for us celebrating our 30 year reunion,” Mr Tangitu says.

The Te Kupenga reunion is tomorrow at Whairoa marae in Otara.