Turia backs wealth tax for rebuild

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says clawing back some of the tax cuts from the top tax bracket will go a long way to pay to rebuild Christchurch.

The Maori Party voted for the tax cuts as part of its support agreement with the government, but Mrs Taria says the $15 billion price tage on earthquake recovery means it's time to reconsider.

She says everyone needs to dig deep, but it's only fair that more of the burden should fall on the 300,000 people earning over $70,000 a year.

“Now if Australia can ask the whole country to give $800 each to help them out of the situation they are in, and they’re a lot wealthier than we are, then I think asking those on the top incomes in this country to contribute a lot more than $800 each, then we should do it,” Mrs Turia says.

She says there is no substance to ACT leader Rodney Hide's criticism that an earthquake tax would take money out of the economy, because the money would be spent rebuilding.

MOBILE BARBEQUE HITS THE SPOT IN CHRISTCURCH EAST

A mobile barbeque operating in Christchurch's eastern suburbs has been under seige by hungry people.

Flaxmere identity Henare O'Keefe took his tunutunu barbeque south to offer people hot food in area where power is still not back on.

Broadcaster Derek Fox says the response has been eye-opening, with people in the grip of real hunger.

He says Henare O'Keefe's volunteer effort has exposed flaws in the official relief effort, which has put resources into recovering bodies from the central business district rather than making sure people in the shattered eastern suburbs have what they need to survive.

HIDDEN MAORI SIDE TO NEW MP

Botany's new National Party MP says he doesn't know his Maori side.

25 year old Jamie Lee Ross comfortably won the by-election called after Pansy Wong quit amid questions about her use of parliamentary travel privileges.

He says he's keen to take up an offer from former Alliance MP Willie Jackson to take him to the East Coast to get to know his Ngati Porou side.

“Unfortunately I was one of those young boys who grew up without a father. He decided he didn’t want anything to do with me. That was his choice. So I haven’t had a lot of opportunity to learn a lot about my Maori side. But it’s certainly something I do want to learn about, get in touch with more. I’ll be better off learning about my whakapapa and history and heritage and that is something I’d certainly like to do,” Mr Ross says.

While as an Auckland City councilor he opposed separate Maori representation, he is pleased Maori can get elected in general seats.

JOB LOSS ON TOP OF EARTHQUAKE SHOCK

An Aranui woman says her biggest shock since the earthquake is finding out she's jobless.

Debbie Tamaiparea-Graham says she found out she'd lost her hotel job when her husband looked on the company's Facebook page.

She says it's a big setback after finally getting their power and water back on ... but it's an all too common story.

“Everyone I have spoken to has lost their jobs. We’ve all still got to pay our rent and our bills. At the moment I’m going through the shock of losing my job and telling you to find another job but everyone is out there looking for another job nut you can’t there's nothing there,” Mrs Tamaiparea-Graham says.

Her next step is to go to Australia to stay with relatives.

HEALTH MINISTRY CHARTS MAORI POVERTY

Associate health minister Tariana Turia says health services need to respond to the fact more than half of Maori over 50 are living in poverty.

The figure comes from the 2011 Health of Older Maori Chart Book - Tatau Kura Tangata.

Mrs Turia says while many Maori don't like the focus on negative statistics, planners need to know where services are needed.

“Fifty three percent of our elderly are living in the more poverty-stricken areas and on the lowest incomes. Now that’s a worry because it means that our people are eking out an existence so we don’t wonder that their health is not as good as it should be,” Mrs Turia says.

DAVIS LOOKING TO FUTURE AS HARAWIRA STRIKES OUT ALONE

Aspiring politicians who want to ride Hone Harawira’s coat tails into Parliament might find Labour list MP Kelvin Davis in the way.

Mr Harawira is sounding out support for a new political movement now he is no longer a member of the Maori Party.

Some commentators believe he could pick up enough list votes to bring another MP into the House if he retains his Taitokerau electorate.

But Mr Davis says that is by no means certain, as ordinary voters tire of Mr Harawira’s protest movement rhetoric.

“It’s not about looking back and protesting about what happened in the past. It’s about looking forward to the future and we can have any number of flags flying from any number of flagpoles but it’s not going to make Maori successful. That’s the plan I have is to make Maori successful through education,” he says.

Mr Davis says Hone Harawira has a small core or militant backers who will support him through thick and thin.

Christchurch quake test for wardens

The head of the New Zealand Maori Wardens Association says the Christchurch earthquake is demonstrating the value of the organisation.

Gloria Hughes says Maori wardens don’t seek the limelight, and they have quietly gone about their work in Maori communities for years.

She says as a trained and disciplined force they were quickly able to slot into the task civil defence gave them in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs.

She says the presence of the wardens has stopped looting, and it has comforted people who were frightened to open the door.

Ms Hughes says the wardens’ actions on the ground says more than the submissions made to the recent Maori Affairs select committee inquiry into the organization’s statute.

POEMS WILL COME FROM SHAKING

Maori Television presenter Julian Wilcox says the existence of the channel means Maori have been able to tell the story of the Christchurch earthquake in their own way.

Mr Wilcox says in an event of such magnitude, Maori can feel overlooked, and Maori Television is there to show what Maori are doing.

He says the Christchurch earthquake will provide the moteatea, like the rich store of songs and laments Te Arawa have about the Tarawera eruption of 1886.

FARAWAY TAONGA GET OWN BOOK

The publication of a book on taonga Maori held at the British Museum could open up opportunities for iwi to reconnect with the work of their ancestors.

Oceania curator Natasha McKinney says the museum holds the most extensive collection of Maori artifacts outside New Zealand.

The book includes photographs and descriptions of more than 2000 items, including carvings, model canoes, cloaks, baskets, tools and weapons.

Natasha Mc Kinney says the Maori collection is the most visited within the Oceania section of the British museum.

HAUMAHA DEFENDS RELIEF EFFORT
The head of the police’s Maori, Pacific and ethnic services team is defending relief authorities from claims they had neglected Christchurch’s eastern suburbs.

Wally Haumaha says it’s clear many in the areas with high Maori populations feel they were the last to get help.

But he says as soon as they arrived Maori wardens and Te Arawa’s health team were dispatched to the city’s east.

“There hasn't been a deliberate approach to leave the eastern suburbs out. I think what’s happened is because of the magnitude of this whole disaster, getting equipment into the areas quickly has certainly been an issue,” Superintendent Haumaha says.

His team has also been involved with seeing to the cultural needs of victims' families.

NEIGHOURS BEST FRIENDS AS DISASTER SHARED

A Christchurch Maori mental health workers says while the earthquake has torn lives apart, it is also bringing people together.

Karaitiana Tickell has been working as a trauma counselor since the 6.3 magnitude earthquake destroyed much of the city and its infrastructure and killed an estimated 200 people.

He says out of adversity is coming cooperation and hope.

“Even though there is a lot of despair and tragedy, at the same time there is a lot of strength and growth amongst the people. There are times when we are still viewing a lot of laughter, a lot of happiness a lot of joy and people say I never knew may neighbours yesterday but today they are my best friends. There is camaraderie and whanaungatanga growing among people and that is what will drive them forward,” Mr Tickell says.

Sharples advocates Christchurch rebuild on tick

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says the government should borrow to rebuild Christchurch.

Prime Minister John Key has suggested Working For Families and interest-free student loans could be shaved to pay for central government's share of the reconstruction.

But Dr Sharples says the costs should fall on those who can afford it.

“To resurrect the city we need either to borrow, and maybe that’s the best solution – we seem to shop ourselves out of debt ok. So we should bite the bullet and say we’re going to save Christchurch and borrow. Failing that I don’t think we should touch Working for Families. It was set up for families that really need help. There could be a graded tax along the lines of ‘we give what we can afford,” Dr Sharples says.

He says tax rises should start on people earning over $30,000.

GREEN MP UNDERSTANDS PORTALOO FRUSTRATION

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei says she understands the frustrations of eastern Christchurch residents who feel they have been left in the dark.

The Green MP and Christchurch resident is working with Comfort for Christchurch delivering food, water and information to residents in Dallington and Aranui.

She says most people need certainty back in their lives.

“The east parts are still the bits without the water, sewerage and power. They’re the last ones to get portaloos and things. It is coming but it is going to take a few more days and people are genuinely running out of patience,” Ms Turei says.

She says now people are no longer running on adrenaline, they are just worried about what to do next.

BIG CROWDS EXPECTED AT NGAPUHI FESTIVAL

The country's biggest iwi will gather in south Auckland tomorrow for the annual Ngapuhi Festival.

Hone Sadler, the chair of Te Taurahere O Ngapuhi Ki Te Tonga O Tamaki Makarua, says many of the 50,000 people expected at Sir Barry Curtis Park in Flatbush will be there for the music, the stalls or the kai.

There will also be forums to discuss issues like the tribe's response to the Marine and Coastal Area Bill and progress on its historical Treaty of Waitangi claims.

He says a lot of Ngapuhi are concentrated in south Auckland, and it’s a chance to see where they are going collectively as an iwi.
CRACKED HOME DOESN’T MERIT ASSITANCE

As officials deny they have been slow to get relief supplies into the most damaged of Christchurch's eastern suburbs, one Aranui mother is expressing frustration at Housing New Zealand.

Te Rina Anderson says her house sunk into the ground after last week's earthquake, and its walls and foundation are laced with cracks.

She fears for her children's safety and needs to get out now ... but officials say the house is suitable for living in.

“They said to me look we have to put you down on the priority list because it’s not like you have lost your house which is a bit unfair because a lot of people I know have gone through Housing New Zealand, they haven’t lost their home either. We’re also the ones waiting for power and water and I know that Aranaui is not feeling like a massive priority. Aranui feels they're forgotten,” Ms Anderson says.

She's moving to Dunedin in a week, but still needs a safer place to stay until then.

HATLEY SAYS TRY AGAIN FOR HOUSING HELP

Meanwhile, Housing Minister Phil Heatley says Christchurch residents who have been rejected for accommodation should try again.

He says officials have logged more than 2000 offers of accommodation around the city, and only about 500 people so far requiring emergency housing.

Mr Heatley says Te Rina Anderson might get a more sympathetic hearing if she applies again.

“Housing New Zealand would have to look at the case. The reality is we are dealing with those particularly high needs people at the moment. She might well fall into that category and if so it will be dealt with so I encourage her to contact their help centre,” Mr Heatley says.

EAST COAST RADIOTHON RAISES $60,000

Radio Ngati Porou and Turanga FM have raised more than $60,000 for Christchurdch earthquake relief through a 24 hour East Coast Radiothon.

Ngati Porou station manager Erana Keelan Reedy says the event went to more than 27 hours, with the phone lines only being turned off just after midday once the pace of donations slowed.

Solomon warns of logistical nightmare

Ngai Tahu head Mark Solomon says Maori wanting to help with Christchurch relief efforts should first contact the 0800 KAITAHU hotline.

He says the iwi appreciates the concern shown by Maori around the country, but accommodating workers is a logistical nightmare.

The Maori relief effort is currently run from Ngai Tahu's Wigram air base and from the relief centres established by Te Puni Kokiri and urban Maori groups at Rehua Marae and Nga Hau e Wha Marae.

Tainui set up a base camp near lincoln university yesterday for its 60 medical and catering staff, and Ngai tahu is also working closely with the Salvation army and the student army.

TUNUTUNU BARBEQUE HEADING SOUTH

Meanwhile, Flaxmere kaumatua Henare O'Keefe says he's ready to take his mobile barbeque to Christchurch.

The tunutunu barbeque has become a centre for community organising around Hastings, with the popular district councillor using it as a way to attract people to street meetings.

He says even though he has nothing in life but the shirt on his back, when people heard he'd been asked to take go to Christchurch they opened their hearts and wallets.

He's also taking his guitar to help him raise people's spirits.

TAONUI ENCOUNERS AID RESISTANCE

Maori academic and Christchurch resident Rawiri Taonui says some Christchurch residents don't seem to want to take help from a brown man.

Mr Taonui says the Maori response led by Ngai Tahu and Te Puni Kokiri has been great, with relief offered to Maori and non-Maori alike.

But he says at an individual level, Maori can be made to feel in the minority.

“From about day two onwards we spend most of my time walking round the neighbourhoods with my two kids helping people dig out and we noticed the further away from our street, the greater the frequency of people not really wanting to accept our offer of help. It had a bit to do with a large black man walking down the street with his big shovel might be casing out there house rather than being there generally to help,” Mr Taonui says.

SHARPLES SLAMS EAST-WEST DIVIDE IN SHATTERED CITY

Maori affairs minister Pita Sharples says not enough is being done for those parts of Christchurch with high Maori populations.

Dr Sharples says the Te Puni Kokori and Ngai Tahu are working with iwi around the country to get relief assistance and supplies into the city's eastern suburbs.

But he says other agencies seem slower to identify the need in those areas.

“The official civil defence team says we have not forgotten the eastern suburbs but the reality is it’s getting on for two weeks and they still haven’t got toilets, they still haven’t got water and power, and one would think ‘how come others had toilets and water within a few days after the earthquake?’ and it’s the poorer area,” he says.

Dr Sharples says it's hard on old people to still be digging holes in the garden for toilets more than a week after the quake.

QUAKE FUNDING PLAN HEARTBREAKING

Greens co-leader Meteria Turei says the Government's talk of cutting benefits to pay for the Christchurch rebuilding is heartless.

Ms Turei was in the city yesterday working with the 1000-strong student volunteer army that is helping to distribute relief supplies and clear silt and rubble.

She says the students were shocked by Finance Minister Bill English's signal that interest free student loans and working for families tax credits could be cut.

“It's heartless. The economic ideas the government has are heartless at a time of such incredible strain for all whanau, not just those who are in Christchurch,” Ms Turei says.

Maori families are also concerned they could be hit by an across the board tax levy to pay for the damage.

PRESSURE TELLING AS NUMBERS PILE UP

A Maori trauma councellor working with whanau in Christchurch says the pressures are starting to tell.

Christchurch resident Karaitiana Tickell and his wife have sent their tamariki to relatives out of town, but stayed on to help in the relief effort.

The mental health professional says the devastation wreaked by last week's quake traumatised everyone from tamariki to kaumatua, especially in the eastern suburbs.

He says people are moving in with relatives, so there are the problems that come with overcrowded housing.

Karaitiana Tickell says it's even harder for those staying in the suburbs without power, water or sewerage.

TPK brings Nga Hau e Wha into relief effort

Te Puni Kokori is setting up a second base in Christchurch, closer to the hard hit eastern suburbs.

The Maori ministry established its initial aid distribution centre at Rehua Marae on the edge of the CBD the day after last week's devastating earthquake.

But chief executive Leith Comer says most of the city's Maori families live in the east, which makes Nga Hau e Wha Marae a more suitable base for the task at hand.

“The main thing is for people whose power might be off or who might not be well is to door knock. A lot of the information is now being passed by the Maori wardens working with Ngai Tahu and some of our staff walking around the streets and knocking on doors. Hood information is gold both to the people who need the resources and the people who are trying to plan where those resources should go,” Mr Comer says.

The Nga Hau e Wha support centre will be up by tomorrow and working closely with the relief teams at Rehua Marae and Ngai Tahu's base at the former Wigram airforce base.

WHANAU WAITING FOR INFORMATION AND HELP

Many whanau in suburbs like Aranaui and Papanui are still waiting for help ... and information ... to arrive.

Debbie Tamaiparea-Graham, who lives next door to Nga Hau e Wha Marae, has lost her phone, although she still has power and water.

She's too scared to leave home, so her only contact with the outside world is through neighbours or her husband venturing out to get a newspaper.

Debbie Tamaiparea-Graham says what the people in Aranui really need right now are masks to protect them from the fine dust particles.

MAORI MOST VULNERABLE TO DISASTER LOSS

Maori academic Rawiri Tanui says as a group Maori will have been hardest hit by the Canterbury earthquake.

The former head of Maori and ethnic studies at Canterbury University says the history of New Zealand is that Maori have often borne the brunt of natural disasters.

“That's not wanting to minimize anything that’s happened to anyone else but simply Maori are poorer, they live in poorer areas, in more vulnerable areas, and that’s true in Christchurch, there’s a large Maori population in the east of Christchurch,” Mr Taonui says.

He says it's testament to the strength of the Maori rennaissance that tribal organisations led by Ngai Tahu are able to take a lead in coordinating relief in the eastern suburbs.

KAITAHU 0800 NUMBER PROVING VALUE SECOND TIME AROUND

Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu's call centre is proving invaluable as Maori in the city struggle to contact relatives and seek assistance.

Manager David Perenara-O'Connell says experience setting up the 0800 KAITAHU number after the September earthquake meant it could be reactivated the day after last week's quake.

He says while it can't take donations, it's a great coordination tool.

“We're at least taking a log of requests coming through from Ngai Tahu whanaui but also from iwi katoa and wider members of our community. As that number got out there and known it’s become busier doing everything from receiving direct calls from whanau on the ground looking for assistance through to ensuring marae have food available to provide for people staying there, food blankets, that type of thing,” Mr Perenara-O'Connell says.

EARTHQUAKE ENDS URBAN-IWI WRANGLING

The head of Christchurch's urban Maori authority says the earthquake has brought Christchurch's Maori population together after years of wrangling between mana whenua, taura here and urban Maori groups.

Norm Dewes is turning Nga Hau e Wha Marae in Aranui into a relief base.

He says all contributions are valuable.

“We don't want to think that Maori aren’t doing enough becuae the Maoir population has really rallied together and this is under the umbrella of the urban authority, under Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu as well. They have played a magnificent role in helping bring the Maori community together. There is going to be some real benefits out of this but it is sad it had to happen through an earthquake,” Mr Dewes says.

The doors of Nga Hau e Wha Marae will be open for everyone.

HELP COMING TOO LATE FOR ARANUI WHANAU

Meanwhile, one of Nga Hau e Wha's neighbours says help can't come soon enough for the people of Aranui.

Te Rina Anderson says the area was badly hit by liquefaction, and most houses on the street are still without power or water.

She says donations of food and water have only started in the past couple of days.

“I've actually pushed my mother off to Australia because if we have another big one I don’t want them here. All my family is scattering and we’re actually splitting up which kind of sucks for me but we’ve all got to get ourselves to safety,” Ms Anderson says.

She's looking for accommodation anywhere in the country for her and her two children.

Tainui establishes quake base at Lincoln

Waikato-Tainui is establishing a camp on Ngai Tahu land near Lincoln University to coordinate its contributions to Christchurch earthquake relief.

Executive chair Tukoroirangi Morgan says as a major health provider in its own rohe, the iwi has the capacity to respond quickly to the disaster.

He says Tainui's tents, catering equipment and mobile clinics are on their way to the city.

“In the next day of so we will have medical teams on the ground and they will be a combination of doctors, nurses, trauma counselors. We are also bringing down a catering staff not only to feed our 50-strong team but also to prepare kai we will distribute out to whanau the community,” Mr Morgan says.

Tainui has more than 1200 registered members living in Christchurch, many in the hard-hit eastern suburbs.

SELF-SUFFICIENCY ESSENTIAL FOR QUAKE VOLUNTEERS

Meanwhile, the manager coordinating Te Puni Kokiri's response in Christchurch says Maori who are keen to volunteer to help in the quake ravaged city need to go through formal channels.

Herewini te Koha says the clean-up will take months, and people will be needed to relieve those on the ground now.

He says the karanaga will eventually go out from Ngai Tahu.

“In the here and now, in the last five days say post the quake, the hard and fast realities are that people can come in but they are then confronted with the realties of safe accommodation, access to toilets and fresh water for drinking so every new body that is coming in is placing a strain on a broken infrastructure so being judicious about that or people coming largely self-sufficient is absolutely key,” Mr Te Koha says.

KEY SEES VALUE IN MAORI COUNSELLING SKILLS

The Prime Minister says Maori providers will have an important long-term role to play looking after people who have been traumatised by the Christchurch earthquake.

John Key says he's impressed with the way Maori responded to the disaster, with marae quickly turned into emergency accommodation and money and goods flowing in from iwi around the country.

They are also providing comfort to grieving families from many cultures.

“The broader issues are going to be around people and the trauma of those who have seen people perish in front of them, those who have had their confidence shattered by the constant earthquakes and the fair there might be another one, all of those things are going to require a lot of support and I think you will see the iwi play an important role helping people through that giving them counseling and giving them support,” Mr Key says.

FOX SLAMS ALLOCATION OF RELIEF EFFORT

Broadcaster Derek Fox says resources are being misallocated in the Christchurch relief effort.

Mr Fox is in the city to report for the iwi radio network.

He says apart from the work needed to recover bodies and stabilise building in the central business district, more effort seems to be going in to clear silt from rich Pakeha suburbs that were only lightly damaged than to tackle people's immediate needs in the worst-hit areas.

“There is a real need out in the pohara suburbs, out in the eastern suburbs where the greatest damage was done in terms of affecting human life because there are people out there that are still without water, without sewerage, without kai, without transport, without petrol,” Mr Fox says.

He says relief efforts need to be door to door, because many Maori don't have power, phones or Internet connections to ask for help.

RELIEF WORKERS BEING SPELLED

The head of Te Puni Kokiri's Christchurch relief team says it's important relief workers aren't allowed to burn out.

Herewini Te Koha says waves of professional and volunteer relief workers will be needed over the coming months.

He says the government, NGO and iwi groups co-ordinating the Maori response put support for local staff as a top priority.

“Our small team has been really stoic, like all Cantabrians. They didn’t leave the line. They were trying to balance the stress back home with trying to go about their jobs the best they could. We moved in very quickly to make sure we had enough cover to pull those guys away so they could turn their minds to family, their households, their loved ones and regroup and regather,” Mr Te Koha says.

A week after the quake, organisations are starting to send the first wave of outside relief workers back home for rest and respite.

NGATI POROU OPENING HEARTS AND HOMES TO WHANAU

Meanwhile, East Coast iwi Ngati Porou is looking a how it can bring its people back from Christchurch to give them a break from the aftershocks.

Chief executive Victor Walker says rather than send a team south immediately, the runanga has opened a cash appeal and set up drop-off points for non-perishable supplies in Gisborne and Ruatoria.

It's working closely with its Christchurch taura here, Ngati Porou ki Waitaha, to co-ordinate relief and offer a haven to its people.

“We've had a marvelous response from iwi kainga who have opened up their hearts, they homes and their marae and have invited any and all whanau to come home. They will be able to get some respite back with the whanau. We have already had whanau traveling back. They are really traumatised. They have lost their houses, they are injured, but thankfully they are able to get home safely,” Mr Walker says.

Radio Ngati Porou is holding a 24-hour radiothon tomorrow to raise funded for earthquake relief.

Team ups helping quake response

The Canterbury WINZ regional commissioner is praising the efforts of Te Puni Kokori and Ngai Tahu to help quake survivors.

Sue Rissman says ministry staff and iwi members have joined Work and Income mobile teams traveling around the eastern suburbs.

She says the co-operation is working well, with help given for people to fill in Red Cross and Civil defence payment forms.

Sue Rissman says reports that some Maori were turned away from relief lines because they did not have two forms of identification were wrong, and people needing emergency financial assistance will get it regardless of whether they have ID or not.

BOXJUICE DONATES SONG TO EARTHQUAKE APPEAL

Auckland Maori reggae band Box Juice is donating the proceeds of its latest song to the Christchurch earthquake appeal.

Manager Ray Bishop says Warriors was written for the league team of the same name, with a chorus designed to be sung by the crowd every time the Warriors score a try.

He says the band is keen to do its part, and it hopes to match the $20,000 already donated by the Warriors.

Ray Bishop says Box Juice is recording a video of the song at Mt Smart Stadium on Thursday, which it will also turn into a fundraiser.

MAORI PARTY CONSIDERS TAI TOKERAU SALVAGE

Maori Party co-leader Tariaina Turia says the party needs to ensure it does not lose the confidence of Maori in the north now Hone Harawira is an independent MP.

As part of the deal which led to the rebel MP quitting before he was expelled, the party agreed not to stand a candidate against him in Tai Tokerau.

Mrs Turia says many party members in the electorate want to know how they can continue to contribute.

“We've had some emails from people who are really concerned abut what does this mean for them as members of the Maori Party because they are still big supporters of the party, many of them. They want to know what the future holds for them so we have work to do to talk to them as well,” Mrs Turia says.

She says both the Maori Party and MP Hone Harawira have moved on from the row.

NO HOLDING BACK IN CHARITY LEAGUE CLASH

Former Warriors captain Monty Betham says the Legends of League won't hold anything back at next week's Charity Match for Christchurch earthquake relief.

Players who have put their hands up to strap on their boots at Mount Smart Stadium on Thursday week include include Rueben Wiki, Stacey Jones and even Tawera Nikau, who is prepared to play on his articial leg.

Betham says he and fellow organisers Nigel Vagana and Gary Freeman are taking the lead from last week's state of origin league legends game which raised thousands of dollars for Queensland flood and cyclone relief.

As well as the footy a number of the country's top bands will be playing.

Tamaki wardens set off for Otautahi

The first contingent of Maori wardens from Auckland is on its way to Christchurch.

Spokesperson Thomas Henare says the group is taking its vehicles and other equipment to the devastated city, and they will pick up other wardens on the way.

He says they expect to be assigned to suburbs where they can assist Maori communities.

“We've selected those wardens with training in first air, road training, civil defence, and who are fit and ready to go. No disrespect to our other wardens but it is around the safety and taking those wardens who are ready to work on the ground,” Mr Henry says.

TE ROOPU HAUORA LOOKS TO DISABLED EVACUEES

Te Roopu Hauora has received an enthusiastic response from people offering to look after clients with disabilities who are being moved out of Christchurch.

Chief executive Tania Kingi says the Maori disability support provider has few resources of its own.

But she says the call went over its networks, and there was an instant response to what could be a significant area of need.

“I'd heard for one of the primary health organisations that up to 2000 people are arriving in Auckland in the next couple of days so we’ve got to have mechanisms in place locally to be able to support them as they come in,” Ms Kingi says.

She was disappointed television broadcasters covering the earthquake took three days to start providing sign interpretation, despite Christchurch having the second highest deaf population in the country.

CIVIL DEFENCE TRAINING NEEDED IN MAORI COMMUNITIES

An authority on tikanga and te reo wants to see more civil defence training for Maori in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake.

Taiarahia Black from Massey University says the calamitous events of the past week has shown the importance of having local people skilled in rescue and recovery.

He says many Maori still live in isolated communities where help may be some distance away.

“We establish rescue teams for our language, for our culture, what happens if there was a devastating earthquake in Martawaia for instance, in Ruatoki. We can’t even make the adjustments ourselves, we have to bring outsiders in to help us, which they will. Where is Maori in planning for these types of devastation,” Professor Black says.

MAORI NURSES HELP IN DOOR TO DOOR CHECKS

Ngai Tahu leader Mark Solomon says Christchurch residents are welcoming the help of Maori nurses and trauma counsellors.

Nurses from Te Arawa and a group of Maori trauma counsellors are in the teams going door to door in the quake-ravaged city.

He says more than the medical equipment they are carrying, the value of the team is helping people cope with stress and anxiety.

“The best buzz form the people’s perspective was a face came knocking on the door, that kanohi ki te kanohi interaction, that’s what the people need. So getting these people out into the community door knocking, speaking, making sure they have water, food etc, that personal touch certainly helps,” Mr Solomon says.

TAHU FM BACK ON AIR IN LIMITED CAPACITY

Christchurch-based iwi station Tahu FM is back on air after being knocked out by Tuesday's quake.

Programme director Carlin Goodwilly says a link with Wellington's Te Upoko o te Ika has allowed it to broadcast vital information and keeping people in touch.

He says it’s moving with other Ngai Tahu operations to Wigram airport, and once a studio is set up there will be more local content going.

NGATI MANAWA UNHAPPY WITH CLAIM SETTLEMENT BILL

Ngati Manawa claimants want extensive amendments to the bill settling their treaty claim.

The Maori Affairs select committee met in Murupara yesterday to hear submissions on the bill, which also settles the claim of neighbours Ngati Whare.

Maanu Paul from Ngati Manawa says the bill needs to be split into two, because in its current form it will rewrite history - especially with regard to waahi tapu.

“This government has lumped two people together and said they would share Tapiri Pa. We defended that pa against Ngati Whare. Now this government has the audacity to make us share the battleground where we stopped them. If that is not oppression of humungous proportions, I don’t know what is,” Mr Paul says.

He says the bill also tries to settle with named hapu of Ngai Manawa, rather than the normal practice of going back to a shared ancestor, in this case Tangiharuru.