Turia urges Maori to get diabetes checks

Associate health minister Tariana Turia is appealing to Maori to get tested for diabetes.

The type 2 diabetes sufferer says Maori have a gene which means the majority will get diabetes at some time in their life.

She says many won't know they have the illness until it's too late, and Diabetes Awareness Week is a good time to get checked.

“Really really important to get checked. Really important to get the treatment early, because there are treatments you can get, and of course one of those treatments relies on you being able to eat the right kai,” Mrs Turia says.

The kind of food Maori eat now affects their ability to process insulin.

PHD SCHOLARSHIP IN HONOUR OF SIR HOWARD MORRISON

A scholarship in the name of the late entertainer Sir Howard Morrison is designed to build up future generations of Maori business leaders.

An endowment fund has been set up for the scholarship to Auckland University's business school with seed money from expatriate freight magnate Owen Glenn, a friend of Sir Howard.

Associate dean Manuka Henare says the aim is to get at least half a dozen Maori with doctorates in business and economics over the next two decades.

He says that fits with Mr Glenn's vision of business.

“He has been particularly interested in PhD level formal education for business leaders. He’s very aware of the trends internationally where more and more CEOs of significant commercial entities require PhDs as part of their formal education,” Dr Henare says.

Owen Glenn accompanied Lady Kuia Morrison and other members of the Morrison whanau in bringing Sir Howard's kawe mate to last night's Maori Business Awards at the university.

MEMORIAL UNVEILED FOR TAINUI LEADER AND SPORTSMAN

Waikato Stadium has unveiled a memorial to one of Tainui's greatest rugby players.
Hare Puke, who died last year, played for the new Zealand Services team straight after the second world war and then for the Maori All Blacks in 1946 and 7.

His sister, Heketerangi Broadhurst, says he was small and fast but with strong thighs and a high-kneed running style which made him hard to tackle.
She recalls a game against East Coast team where the first five caught the ball near half way, and sidestepped the great fullback George Nepia to score a try.

In later years Hare Puke was involved in coaching and administration, as well as chairing the Tainui Maori Trust Board.

MAORI INVOLVEMENT IN PRISONS CRITICAL FOR REHABILITATION

A former Corrections head says Maori need to be involved all levels of prison management.

Kim Workman, who now heads prison fellowship organisation Rethinking Crime and Punishment, says a bill now before parliament allowing private management of prisons leaves it up to managers to decide on Maori involvement.

That makes it like the cultural needs of half the prison population will be ignored.

“Especially if you've got overseas prison managers, a lot of them will do absolutely nothing and just run the place as a warehouse so I think community engagement should be a key part of the contract,” Mr Workman says.

Involving iwi and other Maori groups is the way to stop violence in prisons and is vital for integrating prisoners back into their communities.

NGATI APA BILL BRINGS OUT EMOTIONS FOR MINISTER

Maori party co-leader Tariana Turia says the second reading of the Ngati Apa settlement bill has been an emotional event for her.

Mrs Turia says her Rangitikei-based iwi lost 99 percent of its land during colonisation and was never given the reserves they were promised.

She says that had a huge impact on the iwi, and led to the loss of much traditional knowledge.

“Our people were moved between two rivers, taken away from their own lands. It was quite devastating. None of my generation with the reo. Sometimes you get on with your life and you try not to think too deeply about it and then all of a sudden it all comes back,” Mrs Turia says.

She feels proud the young people who negotiated the settlement were able to put the past behind them.

The settlement will include an apology from the Crown, $16 million in commercial and financial redress and a right to purchase 6,500 hectares of Crown forest licensed land.

RUGBY BROADCAST NEGOTIATIONS NEARING END

Maori Television expects to know within a week whether its joint bid to cover the 2011 Rugby World Cup has been successful.

Chief executive Jim Mather says the process in deciding broadcast rights has been convoluted with politicians stepping in and blocking Maori TV's bid to cover the games on its own.

But the International Rugby Board, which issues broadcast rights, is close to a decision.

“I can't be specific because negotiations are still being finalised. However, I would feel fairly confident it would be within the next week,” Mr Mather says.

He is disappointed Maori TV can't broadcast the games on its own but he's confident the channel will benefit if its joint bid with TVNZ and TV3 is successful.