Hold sought until seabed sorted

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says it makes sense to put plans for a tidal power station in the Kaipara Harbour on hold until the review of the Foreshore and Seabed Act is complete.

Te Uri o Hau told a consultation hui last week it wanted a stay of Crest Energy's resource consent application.

Dr Sharples says it’s a issue he will take up with his government colleagues this week.

“I think it’s a wise call to complete the foreshore and seabed issues before we do major things. We’re holding back issues like aquaculture until we complete the foreshore and seabed,” he says.

A spokesperson for attorney-general Chris Finlayson says he is looking into the moratorium request.

YOUNGER CHILDREN NEED SAFE SEX MESSAGE

A Maori sexual health worker says even intermediate age children need to about safe sex.

Harley Kaihe-Katterns works for Te Kaha o te Rangatahi, Auckland's only Maori sexual health provider, covering schools from Franklin to Rodney.

He says at the intermediate level the main issue is teaching children about puberty, but they could do more, if schools and parents agree.

“We actually need to come in and talk to them about STIs and contraception because a lot of them are sexually active and they’re only 11, 12. Yet again we do encounter a lot of Maori whanau that, their parents don’t want us to teach their kids, they don’t want us to talk to them about it,” Mr Kaihe-Katterns says.

Te Kaha o te Rangatahi’s programmes are developing a greater emphasis on the importance of healthy relationships.

MOA CONSIDERS WAIATA REMAKE

Anika Moa is considering branching out into waiata Maori.

The Ngapuhi singer songwriter releases her fourth album this week, Love in Motion.

She says the Maori side of her work hasn’t been apparent so far, but that could change.

“But I do want to start branching out into writing Maori waiata and writing albums so al the local iwi statinos can start playing my songs ... in Maori,” she says.

NGAITERANGI TAKES GLOVES OFF ON TATTOOS

Tauranga iwi Ngai te Rangi is offering people a chance to remove gang or prison tattoos.

Manager Paul Stanley says the Ungloved initiative is part of the Peaceful Warrior programme aimed at helping people move on with their lives after deciding to step away from gangs or crime.

He says a dozen people started the laser process yesterday with tattoo removal specialists Invisible Ink.

The first session is free, and Ngai Te Rangi will support those going through the process.

NUFFIELD SHOWS VALUE OF MAORI INCORPORATIONS

A Nuffield scholarship winner will be a featured speaker at a conference the farm training organisation is holding in Gisborne next month.

Gregg Pardoe, the operations manager for Arai Matawai Incorporation, is only the second Maori to win a Nuffield scholarship in the 60 years the scheme has been going.

He looked at indigenous farming in Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, and returned convinced of the value of the Maori incorporation model of farming on behalf of large groups of owners.

Gregg Pardoe will encourage other Maori to apply for the scholarship.

The Nuffield conference will be held at Manutuke marae between 13 and 16 May.

HUIA AND KIA UNVEIL QBOOK TO WORLD

Kiwa Media and Huia Publishers are at the London book fair this week to unveil their revolutionary digital picture book.

Kiwa Media has adapted two of huia’s most popular children’s books, Barnaby Bennett and Oh Hogwash Sweet Pea!, to its new QBook format.

Business development vice president David Shakes says the QBook can be read on Apple’s iPad, IPod or iPhone … and in English, Spanish and Maori.

“To have a leading edge digit tech app like the Qbook for the iPad and have it in te reo Maori is a real first. There’s nothing like it in the world. There’s no one offering anything even remotely close to what we’re doing and in that sense it’s just putting Maori on the map, it’s giving them a place and a stake at the table of digital publishing,” Mr Shakes says.