Waatea News Update

News from Waatea 603 AM, Urban Maori radio, first with Maori news

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Monday, March 14, 2011

Christchurch not ready for royal visit

March 10

Ngai Tahu chairman Mark Solomon is sceptical about Christchurch hosting a visit to the city by Prince William next week.

Prime Minister John Key says all New Zealanders will appreciate the Queen's gesture in asking the heir to the throne to attend a memorial service for quake victims in Hagley Park on March 18.

However Mark Solomon who has been coordinating the Maori relief effort in the city says it will create a logistical nightmare, as things like roads and parking are not ready.

He says effort needs to go into looking after people rather than getting AMI stadium up to scratch to host rugby world cup games in September.

SURVEY FINDS MAORI STILL BACKING LABOUR

Most Maori want the Maori Party to join up with Labour rather than National in the next government.

The head of new research company Horizon Research, Graham Coleman says a nationwide survey shows although most Maori think the Maori party was right to enter a coalition with National, they want something different next time.

“They would prefer in this election that they would take seats in a Labour cabinet and about two to one they think Labour would be a better government for Maori than National so you can see where the Maori sympathies lie,” he says.

Mr Colman says most Maori will choose an electorate candidate from a party other then the one they give their party vote to.

DEGREE IN KAPA HAKA LAUNCHED

Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi has launched a bachelor's degree in kapa haka.

Coordinator Kylie Pohipi says the university level qualification in Maori performing arts will attract rangatahi who have been performing since they were young children.

She says they will study how wiaata is composed and compare new waitata with classics like Paikea.

The course will be based at the wananga’s Auckland campus, but students will travel to hui such as Te Matatini and Te Koroneihana to see how roopu perform when the pressure is on.

CHRISTCHURCH MANAAKI AND AROHA UPS THE PRESSURE

Ikaroa Rawhiti MP Parekura Horomia says the desperate circumstances many Christchurch Maori face is putting pressure on their whanau back at the hau kainga.

Mr Horomia says Maori up and down the country have been brilliant in offering to house those displaced by the earthquake two weeks ago.

But he says the pressure is starting to tell as people who have lost their incomes and many of their possessions are relying in the hospitality of whanau.

Mr Horomia says hopefully over time families looking after whanau from Christchurch can get better organised.

BUSH REJECTS WORLD CUP PROMISE

Christchurch Maori rugby legend Bill Bush says the city should scrap the idea of hosting games during the rugby world cup.

The former All Black says while there has not been a detailed evaluation of Stadium Christchurch it would clearly need considerable of work to get it game worthy with liquifaction all around the ground.


He says the die-hard rugby people are focusing on getting the city back to a livable state, there are no hotels for people to stay in, and the prospect of rugby fans driving round sight-seeing in the ruins is unappealing.

Bill Bush says there is no way the city could be ready to put on games in September.

The stadium is scheduled to host five pool matches plus two quarter-finals.

FILM WILL GO INSIDE PARIHAKA

An award-winning documentary maker has won permission for elders to make a movie about Parihaka.

Paora Joseph of Te Atihaunui a Paparangi says his work as a clinical psychologist working with Maori youth in New Plymouth has made him interested in exploring where the dysfunction comes from.

He says the movie will have a similar kaupapa to his documentary where he took a group of young people to the historic Taranaki marae to address their marijuana addiction.

“The film I want to produce is about how we as Maori have many lost generations now and we are struggling to maintain our identity, struggling to maintain our values and culture as a people,” Mr Joseph says.

Pre-production will begin next year.

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