Rush to sell water before treaty issues settled

The Greens say there should be no contracting out of water services until Maori rights to own and manage water have been resolved.

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has introduced legislation to allow councils to contract out water services for up to 35 years.

Greens leader Meteria Turei says as well as transforming water services from public good to a source of private profit, the bill ignores Maori and treaty interests.

“Issues around who owns water or who has the right to manage water from a tikanga Maori point of view has not been settled yet so any attempt to start the process of charging for water needs to be preceded by a proper sorting out of the Maori interest in water,” Ms Turei says.

PHONE GAMES HELP MAORI TEENS TACKLE DEPRESSION

Auckland University psychiatrists are working with Maori computer game developers and kaumatua to develop high tech games which can help adolescents overcome depression.

Professor Sally Merry says one in five Maori women will have suffered a bout of depression by the time they are 18, and psychiatrists need to find culturally appropriate interventions.

She says game developer Maru Nihoniho worked with doctoral student Matt Stewart and kaumatua Rawiri Wharemate on Internet and cell phone games which make use of Maori mythology.

“There's a particular need for Maori adolescents because they are at particular risk for depression, but also we have protocols to actually work in partnership with Maori and I have been fortunate to have a kaumatua we have worked with for years to try to ensure anything we do is appropriate for Maori,” Professor Merry says.

The team has been fired up by the enthusiastic response the games got from this week's congress of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists congress in Auckland.

LAND TRUST LOOKS AT GETTING PROPERTIES THAT PAY WAY

A successful central North Island Maori land trust is on the hunt for poorly performing farms it can turn around.

Chairperson Andrew Kusabs says Rangatira 8-A 17 used profits from subdividing what used to be a sawmill's rubbish dump to buy the 220 hectare dairy farm at Reporoa, which is a finalist in this year's Ahuwhenua awards for Maori farming excellence.

He says the trust, which represents 1500 owners from the Rauhotu hapu of Ngati Tuwharetoa, still owns 15 hectares of land around Taupo.

Some of that land could be swapped for farm land once market conditions improve.

“It's possible we could subdivide that and do the same thing we’ve done in this case, purchasing a farm or other properties. I don’t care what we buy as long as it’s self-sustaining,” Mr Kusabs says.

An Ahuwhenua open day will be held on Rangatira 8-A 17's Reporoa property tomorrow.

TAINUI EXPRESS HEADS FOR WELLINGTON

It's all aboard the Tainui Express, as members of the tribe head to Wellington to witness the third reading of a bill giving the iwi a say in the management of the Waikato River.

Spokesperson Moko Tini-Templeton says three buses of kaumatua are traveling down overnight, and dozens more people are traveling by car.

They'll be welcomed by Taranaki Whanui on to Pipitea Marae at 11 before heading over to Parliament.

The Waikato-Tanui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill is due to be passed about 3.30pm

THREE STRIKES BILL OUTWEIGHS THE POSITIVES

The Greens say the three strikes bill which passed its second reading yesterday shows the government is out of touch with Maori.

Leader Meteria Turei says the criminal justice system is already weighted against Maori in arrests and sentencing, and the bill is likely to subject many Maori to extremely long sentences.

She says that will harm Maori whanau and communities.

“This is a government that on one hand is going out and doing their best to schmooze Maori in all sorts of areas and then at the same time where it counts, where the policies directly affect us, they’re quite happy to have corrections policy that is more likely to put us in jail for longer,” Ms Turei says.

She says Corrections and Police Minister Judith Collins has taken a narrow and conservative approach and refused to engage in real dialogue on Maori issues.

GREAT BARRIER IWI NOMINATES TOKI FOR UN ROLE

A woman from one of New Zealand's most remote communities will represent indigenous people will represent the indigenous peoples of the Pacific on the United Nations permanent forum on indigenous issues.

Valmaine Toki is from the Ngati Rehua hapu of Ngati Wai, based on Aotea-Great Barrier Island.

The Auckland University law lecturer says she's had a keen interest in global and indigenous issues, so she saw the opportunity of a three-year term on the 16-member council as a great way to encourage Maori participation in the forum.

She spotted the notice of the election while scanning the UN site for information for a research site, and brought it to the attention of her iwi trust board which nominated her.

Valmaine Toki says her nomination was in before New Zealand finally affirmed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, but the timing could have helped her case.

Big gaps in cancer death figures

The latest figures on cancer deaths show a significant gap between Maori and non-Maori deaths for some cancers.

In 2006, the latest year for which full figures are available, Maori mortality rate of 217 per 100 thousand of population was 72 percent higher than the non-Maori rate.

John Childs, the national clinical director for the Ministry of Health's cancer programme, says high Maori smoking rates explain why more than twice as many Maori men and three times as many Maori women will die of lung cancer than non-Maori.

He says more research is needed on some cancers to explain the difference, and there are also issues about treatment quality and access which the health systems must address.

“There clearly do appear to be patterns of differential treatment depending on a number of factors, whether you are Maori or non-Maori. There would also appear to be differential according to socioeconomic status and there are also differential according to where people live,” Dr Childs says.

Maori living in rural areas may find is harder to get cancers detected and treated promptly.

PAPAKURA ON PATHWAY TO SUCCESS

Papakura High School is trying to get more of its Maori and Pasifika students to University.

It's taking part in Auckland University's Pathways pilot, which gives students one on one counseling about their options through their secondary school years.

Project manager Di Corban says while NCEA offers students more choice, it can also lead them off the path.

She says the aim is students pick the right subjects by year 11 or 12 to be able to do the university course they are interested in.

kusabs farm
The head of a Taupo Maori land trust wants to see more professional Maori farm managers.

Andrew Kusabs chairs Rangatira 8-A 17, which runs dairy cows on 220 hectares near Reparoa on behalf of 1500 owners from the Rauhoto hapu of Tuwharetoa.

It's a finalist in this year's Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori faming excellence.

Mr Kusabs says its success is down to keeping distinct lines between management and governance, and seeking out the best managers.

“A lot of Maori farms growing along the same lines as us are using good expertise, and I don’t care who the expertise is, from Maori or Pakeha, as long as we have the best and I am hoping Maori will play a full role in these things from now on, and I’m sure they're there,” he says.

An Ahuwhenua Trophy field day will be held at Rangatira 8-A 17 on Thursday.

MAORI ART ON THE LEVEL AT SYDNEY BIENNALE

An ope of Maori artists is across the Tasman this week installing their works in the 17th Sydney Biennale.

The nine New Zealanders among the 400 artists in the three month event include sculptor Brett Graham from Tainui, painters Shane Cotton from Ngapuhi and Reuben Patterson from Ngati Rangitihi, and photographer Fiona Pardington from Ngai Tahu.

Graham's show at the Museum of Contemporary Art includes almost life scale models of a stealth bomber and a Russian scout car, carved with Maori surface patterns.

He says Biennale curator David Elliot has put indigenous and western art on an equal footing.

“The curator's quite keen to promote indigenous art or art that looks at indigenous issues and put it on a parallel with western art, which is a bit of a change. We’re used to western art pinching ideas from indigenous art sources but at least this is an attempt to address that an in western art there are hierarchies between arts and craft which don’t necessarily exist in te ao Maori,” Graham says.

The Sydney Biennale opens on May 12.

MAORI NURSES GROOMED FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Auckland District Health Board is leading a new Health Ministry-backed programme to help Maori become leaders in nursing and midwifery.

Taima Campbell, the board's executive director of nursing, says more Maori are needed in clinical leadership roles.

The programme to be launched in Tamaki Makaurau later this week, Nga Manukura o Apopo, will help develop those leadership skills.

“If you have more Maori in leadership positions they are more likely to have some influence about the way that systems work, the way we desing the care we give and supporting the workforce as well, and because we have more Maori in nursing and midwifery positions, that was thought to be a good place to start,” Ms Campbell says.

Other health disciplines will hold similar programmes.

COMPUTER GAMES TACKLE ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION

Maori-designed computer games could help young people fighting clinical depression.

Developer Maru Nihoniho and kaumatua Rawiri Wharumate have been working with Sally Merry from Auckland University to develop high-tech therapies.

At the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists congress in Auckland yesterday, Professor Merry unveiled an online fantasy game, Spark, and a mobile phone game, Memo Positive Space, which features four teenage characters and a dog.

She says by talking to young people the developers found they preferred a Bro’town look to the animation, so one of the Bro’town animators helped create the characters.

Professor Merry says 22 percent of Maori girls are likely to suffer depression in the high risk years between 15 and 18, compared with 15 percent of non-Maori girls.

Hanerua trial in small block dairy development

A farming operation on the shores of the Kaipara harbour is showing how treaty settlements can help Maori development.

Te Uri o Hau set up Hanerua Farms after the Ngati Whatua hapu received its historic treaty settlement in 2002.

The 176-hectare operation now in the top two percent of dairy farms for financial performance and a finalist in this year's Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori farming excellence.

Trustee Earle Wright says Hanerau Farms leases underperforming small units and pays the Maori owners a dividend.

“We benefit, they benefit, just on the profit of it. It they stayed like they were, they’d struggle. There’s not doubt all Maori land in small parcels do struggle because you need a lot of area now to make a profit. That is our aim, to develop their land, and we don’t have to put in the capital to purchase that land. It’s already owned by Maori,” he says.

The first Ahuwhenua field day is this Thursday at Waipapa 9 Trust, west of Taupo, with the Hanerau Farms field day next week.

SELF PROMOTION LACKING IN ARCHITECTURE CIRCLES

The head of the head of Unitec's Te Hononga centre for Maori architecture wants to see more Maori architects stand up for their designs.

Over the past week two non-Maori architects have featured in national and international awards for their work for Maori clients.

Rau Hoskins says similar work by Maori architects is often overlooked, because it doesn't get entered in competition.

“It's an issue of self-promotion. Maori architects, like a lot of other Maori are not perhaps so focused on self promotion and it’s partly a kumara and a sweetness issue and it’s also partly people being busy people,” Mr Hoskins says.

He's pleased to see an increase in the amount of Maori symbolism being appropriately used in architecture.

TOUGH GAME WOULD BE FITTING APOLOGY

Former Maori All Black coach Matt Te Pou says a Springbok game against the Maori team this winter would be a fair apology for past indignities.

Debate has been raging about whether an apology is needed for past policies like the exclusion of Maori players from tours to South Africa.

But Mr Te Pou, who coached the Maori team to victory against the British Lions in 2005, says a mid-week game between the July tests would be seen as a magnificent gesture by current and former players and fans.

“It's a way to move forward together. It’s an opportunity to play one of the top countries. They’re the reigning champions. Maori players always like to play the best, so it would be good for both sides,” Mr Te Pou says.

He says a Maori-Springbok game would be a fitting way to celebrate 100 years of Maori rugby.

ORWELLIAN CAST TO FORESHORE AND SEABED MEETINGS

Attorney General Chris Finlayson is detecting a barnyard theme at public meetings on his review of the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

Mr Finlayson says daytime consultation hui have been uniformly friendly and courteous, despite the strong views being expressed.

But he says the evening public meetings have attracted their share of malcontents.

“There seems to be a surprising repetition of references to Animal Farm; ‘all animals are equal but some are more equal than others,’ so obviously that’s the line people have been told to say by whoever. I said ‘yes, that’s the idea everyone should be equal which is why we want to restore rights that were taken away from Maori in 2003, 2004,’” Mr Finlayson says.

The minister is in Akaroa tomorrow for a hui, followed by a public meeting in Christchurch in the evening.

NEW SITE A MARAE VERSION OF FACEBOOK

A new social networking site claims to be the Maori answer to Facebook.

Whanauconnect.co.nz was launched last week from Waiwhetu Marae in Lower Hutt, and manager Kataraina Hetet says it's picking up strong interest.

She says many whanau want to communicate wherever they are in the world, but the want greater security than some other sites offer.

“If a marae decides to form a marae group with all their whanau members on board, they need to approve all these members being part of it, so it is v much under the control as to who sees their information and they way they form groups to share that information,” Ms Hetet says.

The whanau connect site can be a place where groups can store their historical records and information online.

HENARE LEAVES TEEN STAR STAR-STRUCK

One of the young stars of Maori Television's new series Kaitangata Twitch says it was an honour to work with one of the kaumatuta of stage and screen.

Thirteen year old Te Waimarie Kessal plays the lead role in the 13-part series opposite George Henare.

She says learning stagecraft from the veteran actor was a real highlight.

Kaitangata Twitch, which was adapted from the novel by Margaret Mahy, won a Platinum Remi award at this weekend's Houston Worldfest film and video festival in Texas.

Finalists found for Ahuwhenua trophy

Three dairy farms have been named as finalists for this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori Excellence in Farming.

They are Hanerau Farms Trust near Dargaville, which is owned by Te Uri o Hau and run by 2009 Northland Sharemilkers of the Year Dean and Tania Mischeski ... Waipapa 9 Trust, west of Taupo ... and Rangatira 8A 17 Trust near Reporoa.

Organising committee chair Kingi Smiler says a new set of judges will go in to review the farms.

“So there'll be a whole set of questions and analysis of their business and the next day they operate a field day where it’s open to the public and again that’s part of the judging round and they demonstrate the strengths of their business and how hey operate and give other dairy farmers and particularly Maori dairy farmers the opportunity to ask questions and see what systems they have,” Mr Smiler says.

The supreme Ahuwhenua Trophy winner will be announced on May 28.

CANTERBURY HEALTH REPORT SHOWS UNMET NEED

A snapshot of health in Canterbury shows Maori enjoy better health than other Maori around the country, but still lag non-Maori.

The Hauora Waitaha report identified unmet need in areas like heart disease and cancer, where diagnosis rates are lower but death rates are higher than for non-Maori.

Compiler Matthew Reid says the report will give the District Health Board a better idea of how to plan for the needs of the 7.2 percent of Cantabrians who identify as Maori.

Dr Reid says the report doesn't try to delve into the specific reasons for health differences.

IMPEDIMENTS VISIBLE IN DEVOLUTION PLAN

Former Maori affairs minister Parekura Horomia says devolving resources for Maori language promotion to community and iwi groups is a good idea, but some capacity building could be required.

The Maori language comissioner, Erima Henare, has recommended Te Taura Whiti be merged with broadcast funding agency Te Mangai Paho to save administration costs, and spending on te reo by other government agencies also be scrutinised to avoid duplication and waste.

Mr Horomia says there are risks in devolution.

“How you go to the iwi, how you make sure there is a fair whack at it and they run it and I’m sure some are more capable than others. Some are so strong and forward they could do it tomorrow, but a whole lot aren't,” Mr Horomia says.

He says a devolution strategy needs to acknowledge that some agencies of departments have unique roles in preservation and promotion of the Maori language.

PARIHAKA PART OF TARANAKI SETTLEMENT TALKS

A Taranaki claim negotiator says the iwi won't be constrained by earlier settlements within Taranaki Whanui.

Taranaki, whose territory covers most of the coast from Opunake to New Plymouth, and its northern neighbour Te Atiawa this week signed agreements to negotiate settlements, making them the last two iwi in the region to enter the process.

Mahara Okeroa says while many of its issues relate to the land confiscations that affected the whole region after the wars of the 1860s, it has a specific duty to win redress for the sacking of Parihaka in 1881.

“The impact has been right through Taranaki, mai runga, mai raro. The distinction in this case if Parihaka sits squarely in the middle of the rohe, so that adds another dimension. We are going to pursue this as a specific iwi clai, not necessarily related to what has happened in Taranaki prior to this claim, we’re looking at it as a clean table so to speak,” Mr Okeroa says.

Taranaki also intends to contest the Crown's ownership of oil and gas, despite the Prime minister's contention the issue off the table.

PAST PLAYERS SOUGHT FOR MAORI RUGBY CELEBRATION

Anyone who has pulled on boots for the Maori All Blacks is being sought by the NZRU.

The union has just announced a three match centenary series in June... with games against England and Ireland and an as yet unnamed team.

Wayne Peters, the chair of the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board, says as well as the games there will be special functions to commemorate one hundred years of Maori rugby.... and the union is keen to hear from as many former players as possible.

“The invitations are not only to players who are present but families of players who have passed on so we will endeavor to make this as inclusive as possible, recognizing the contributions that a lot of people have made to Maori rugby over a long period of time,” Mr Peters says.

Kaitakaro o mua or their whanau can email maoricentenary@nzrugby.co.nz or contact NZRU offices on 04 499 4995.

WHALE OF A BOOK TO BE WRITTEN

Writer Brad Haami plans to use the first ever Maori residency at the Michael King writer's centre in Devonport to explore the special place whales have in Maori culture.

Mr Haami is working on the book with his aunt Ramari Stewart.

He says his interest in the giant mammals was sparked growing up in Whakatane.

“Since then I have been interested in trying to find out how did Maori people classify whales, how did they understand them, how did they portray them in narrative. I’ve always been interested in that so I’ve been collecting stuff for a number of years and decided to put it together in a manuscript,” Mr Haami says.

He never met Michael King, but is honoured to to work at the centre set up in memory of the late writer and historian.

Ngati Whatua wants mana whenua to prevail

The chair of Auckland's Ngati Whatua hapu wants the Maori advisory board for the super city to be limited to the 12 iwi and hapu who this month signed a framework agreement to manage the city's maunga.

The government has yet to announce the board's structure.
Grant Hawke says Ngati Whatua has reluctantly agreed to go on the board, despite its preference for Maori seats on the full council.

“If we all boycott it that means that others who would want to be there who don’t represent us entirely will be doing the negotiation from their perspective, not from the mana whenua perspective,” Mr Hawke says.

Ngati Whatua will continue to push for the Royal Commission's recommendation of seats on the council.

KEY SAYS LOAN CRACKDOWN CRITICS SCAREMONGERING

Prime Minister John Key is assuring Maori students his Government won't be cutting them off from access to student loans.

Comments in the Prime Minister's speech to Parliament about toughening up on loan recipients have been interpreted by

Canterbury Maori studies head Rawiri Taonui and Massey University vice chancellor Steve Maharey as a threat to Maori, who tend to enter university later in life.

But Mr Key says no-interest student loans are here to stay.

“People might want to run around and scaremonger but we have universal access rights to universities in New Zealand and universal rights to student loans providing people follow the rules and do what’s required of them at the time,” Mr Key says.

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce is yet to start his review of student funding.

ENVIRONMENT STEWARDSHIP FACTOR IN DAIRY AWARDS

The chief judge of the Ahuwhenua dairy farming awards says Maori tend to take greater care of the environment than other farmers.

It's the third time Doug Leeder has been on the panel to pick to top Maori farmer.

The Opotiki farmer says this year care for the environment has jumped up the judging criteria.

“The cultural aspect Maoridom in terms of managemenrt of the land nad guardianship of the land, has demonstrated to us probably a higher level of compliance than would have probably been seen across the general dairy industry,” Mr Leeder says.

Good environmental practices are vital for the long-term sustainability of farming as a business enterprise.

Initial judging takes place next month, with field days on the three regional finalists in April and the prizegiving in Taupo at the end of May.

TRIBUNAL DELAYS START OF NGAPUHI HEARINGS

The start of hearings on Ngapuhi's historical claims has been put off again.

The hearing of the last major tribal grouping to go before the Waitangi Tribunal was due to start on late March with evidence on the northern iwi's understanding of the meaning of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the 1835 Declaration of Independence.

But the tribunal has sought a two month delay because it was not able to field the full panel of members that week.

Nuki Aldridge from Te Kotahitanga o nga hapu o Ngapuhi says if it drags on further, important kaumatua evidence could be lost.

“The people that are going to present the korero, they are elders. If the korero needs to be spoken by them, give them the opportunity to do that. And I know the ones that passed on wanted to be there, they couldn’t and that’s because of all the damn holdups,” Mr Aldridge says.

He says it's important the evidence is heard by the full tribunal panel.

THREE STRIKES THROWS RANGATAHI FURTHER INTO MIRE

Labour's Maori affairs spokesman Parekura Horomia says many Maori will end up unfairly penalised by ACT's three strikes legislation.

The National Government is pushing through the bill despite concerns voiced by the Justice Ministry and by prison reform and human rights groups.

Mr Horomia says rangatahi Maori are already getting strikes they do not deserve.

“The real danger for Maoridom is a lot of our youth unnecessarily penalized because of their immaturity and their inability to understand the legal process and the system,” he says.

Mr Horomia says legal aid duty lawyers often tell young Maori to plead guilty to crimes they have not committed to speed up the system and avoid a full trial.

GENERATIONAL COMPLAINTS SIGN OF REO HEALTH

An expert in New Zealand English says it's a sign of a healthy language when elders complain how the younger generation is using it.

Jeanette King, the head of linguistics at Canterbury University, says all languages change over time because of changes in society and technology.

She says because Maori went through a long period of neglect, the recent revival of te reo in the education system meant the Maori Language Commission needed to build up a vocabulary of modern terms.

“Te Taura Whiri got the job of purring the job together and received a lot of flak. Sometimes they say its something about the way younger people speak, but we do also have to remember that older Pakeha complain about younger Pakeha and how they speak,” Professor King says.

PM’s comments upset mobile phone insurgent

Mobile phone operator Two Degrees is taking the Prime Minister to task for his suggestion New Zealand may not be big enough for three mobile networks.

John Key made his comments in a discussion with Radio Waatea host Dale Husband on why Maori seemed reluctant to invest further in the company, which uses frequences gained through Treaty claims.

Two Degrees chief executive Eric Hertz says many countries of comparable size or smaller have multiple networks, including Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland and Iceland.

He says Mr Key needs to create the conditions for fair competition.

“I would like to see the government drive down those wholesale costs tat each carrier pays each other so that 2Degrees customers aren’t subsidizing Telecom New Zealand by the high cost to call those customers and I think that’s really the key thing that will level the playing field and make it much more easy to be successful over the long term, to drive those wholesale prices, those mobile termination rates down more quickly,” Mr Hertz says.

He says a Commerce Commission recommendation that Telecom and Vodafone be allowed to gradually lower wholesale prices won't benefit New Zealand consumers fast enough, and the Government needs to regulate.

COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS MAORI DAIRY PRESENCE

The chief judge of this year's Ahuwhenua awards for Maori dairy farming excellence says unemployed rangitahi should look towards the industry.

Opotiki dairy farmer Doug Leeder says Maori are already major players in dairying, and more opportunities will be created if plans come off for a Maori-owned processing plant.

He says when one in three young Maori is jobless, the sector needs to be seen as a source of job creation.

“The days of agriculture or the dairy industry being seen as the poor cousin to other types of employment is long gone. It’s now a skilled industry and I think the future is looking good both in terms of employment for Maori and the success of Maori enterprises,” Mr Leeder says.

He employs a number of young Maori on his Opotiki farm.

TA MOKO ARTISTS WORKING LIVE IN EXHIBITION

An East Coast ta moko expert says the wider public is keen to learn more about the ancient Maori art form.

Mark Kopua and his colleague Turumakina Duley have spent the past week tattooing people in the Face Value Exhibition at Waikato Museum.

The photo and video exhibition, curated by Serena Stevenson, explores the relationship between ta moko artists and their subjects.

He says there is a lot iof interest from Maori and non-Maori, who get a surprise when they see some of the artists featured in the exhibition are in there working.

Face Value is at Waikato Museum and Art gallery until the end of March.

REGULATION NEEDED FOR FAIR COMPETITION

The chief executive of 2 Degrees says the Government needs to regulate the mobile phone market to give his company a fair chance to compete.

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday New Zealand may be too small for the third network being created around frequencies which were allocated to Maori as a result of treaty claims.

But Eric Hertz says many comparable countries are running three or four networks.

He says if Mr Key wants real competition, his government needs to reject a Commerce Commission recommendation that Telecom and Vodafone continue to set the wholesale price for switching calls between networks.

“The role of the government and the regulator in this situation is to make sure that the playing field is leveled so you can stimulate more competition because it is competition that brings out innovation and brings prices down. What the commerce Commission has recommended will not bring the benefits to New Zealand consumers fast enough,” Mr Hertz says.

He says apart from wholesale pricing, most of the conditions for true competition are now in place.

GLAMOUR NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OFF GAMBLING

A Maori lawyer says Maori should think about ways to get rid of gambling machines from their communities.

Moana Jackson addressed an international problem gambling conference in Auckland yesterday on the indigenous responses to gambling.

He says gambling has long been a part of Maori life, but were often community activities housie or poker schools where the benefits flowed back to the marae or hapu.

That's change with modern state-sanctioned initiatives like Lotto and poker machines.

“When it became industrialised it got marketed and sold as this glamorous activity and when you do that the costs then get swept under like for years smoking was a glamour acticity, it was cool to smoke It took a long time to break that down but I think the same process is happening with gambling and that needs to be broken down as well,” Mr Jackson says.

He says pokies are disproportionately in poor and Maori areas, but the profits are taken out of those areas.

MAORI DOCUMENTARY FEATURES IN EDGE FESTIVAL

The director of the Documentary Edge Festival says viewers might be challenged by a documentary which is almost completely in Maori.

He Wawata Whaea - The Dream of an Elder profiles educator and Ngati Kuri kuia Meremere Penfold.

Dan Shanan says it was chosen for the New Zealand Competition section not only for its subject but because director Shirley Horrocks wanted the entire documentary to be in Maori.

The Documentary Edge Festival starts in Auckland tomorrow.