NCEA bringing positive change for Maori students

Maori under-achievement at school is being rapidly turned around.

The president of the Secondary Principal's Association, Patrick Walsh, says latest figures show a huge increase in the number of Maori staying on until year 13 and passing levels 1, 2 and 3 of the National Certificate of Education Achievement.

He says while a lack of jobs in the economy means students are more likely to stay on, Maori also find the greater range of subjects under NCEA attractive.

“When you look at the way things were four or five years ago, there’s been a huge leap in the achievement of Maori students and more Maori students are entitled to attend universities. I think that’s a fantastic thing for schools when you also conider that what we’ve got now in New Zealand of course is the browning of New Zealand, we are going to have more Maori and Pacific students in our schools,” Mr Walsh says.

The improved engagement of Maori students in schools is leading to less anti-social behaviour and a reduction in criminal offending.

CIVIC LEADERS’ HERITAGE SPAT AS ELECTION LOOMS

Relations between Auckland Regional Council chair Mike Lee and city mayor John Banks have plummeted over attitudes to heritage management.

Mr Lee accuses the super city mayoral candidate of politicking over converting century-old sheds on Queens Wharf into Rugby World Cup party central, while at the same time his council is fighting the ARC in court over protection of an ancient Maori settlement site on Waiheke.

But Mr Banks says in the five months he has left in the job, Mr Lee should reflect on how hard it is to do business with the regional council.

“He's quite bitter and quite twisted about anyone that has any view that he doesn’t share. If it’s not his view, he doesn’t share it, they’re wrong, they’re mad, they’re bad. You can’t be like that in politics. You have to disagree without being disagreeable,” Mr Banks says.

WARDEN ROLE FOR WORLD CUP CONSIDERED

Police are considering how they can use Maori wardens to help with any extra work associated with the Rugby World Cup.

Superintendent Grant O'Fee, who's in charge of police planning for the event, says wardens and police are working more closely after a police-led training programme.

He says it makes sense to include them in planning for the cup.

He says how each district uses wardens will be a partnership between the police and the wardens.

Superintendent O'Fee says the response from Maori wardens to being involved has been extremely positive.

RESEARCH UNCOVERS HIGH CHLAMYDIA LEVELS

Health Waikato researchers have found young Maori in the region have the highest reported infection rates in the world of the sexually transmitted disease Chlamydia, which can cause infertility.

Research head Jane Morgan estimates one in 10 under 25 year olds have Chlamydia with one in five young Maori women testing positive compared to one in nine non-Maori.

She says similar research in other parts of the country would probably uncover similar rates, and they are almost certainly due to high levels of testing compared to other countries.

“The last message I want to get out there is there is any difference in sexual behaviour. It may be that some young women have greater difficulty getting their partners to use a condom. That might be and issue but it’s not an issue of promiscuity, it’s an issue of access. Access to antibiotics. Access to condoms – how do young people actually get condoms,” Dr Morgan says.

She says 70 percent of people with Chlamydia don't know they have it.

MAORI PUT BET ON GAMBLING TREATMENT

The head of the Problem Gambling Foundation says the organisation is starting to make a dent in Maori gambling.

Graeme Ramsey says the number of people seeking treatment was up 25 percent last year, and more than a third of those assisted were Maori.

He says awareness campaigns and the impact of the recession are encouraging gamblers to face up to their sickness.

“Treatment works. We can help people who are impacted by gambling whether that is gamblers or their whanau or even the employers of gamblers,” Mr Ramsey says.

More than 70 percent of problem gambling comes from pokie machines which have a particular attraction for Maori, so the sinking lid policies many councils are adopting are starting to have an impact.

LISTENING SERVICE BRINGS OUT HARROWING STORIES

A Maori community worker is finding his new job listening to victims of state abuse is unexpectedly harrowing.

Bobbie Newson from Te Rarawa is part of a new Confidential Listening and Assistance Service for people who claim they were abused in psychiatric hospitals, health camps, child welfare care or special education homes before 1992.

He says many of those wanting to tell their stories are Maori, and what he's hearing at sessions in Arohata women’s prison, and Rimutaka Prison show the need for the service.

“I can only take one or two of these a day. You can sit there, you can cry, you can laugh with them and then it’s like they bring their life before you, and some of it is really really sad,” Mr Newson says.

The panel can't pay compensation, but it can suggest ways people can get further help.

Te Uri o Hau fighting tide power on all fronts

Kaipara Maori say the government can't give the go ahead for a tidal power station on the Kaipara Harbour until ownership of the Seabed and Foreshore is settled.

Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust has sought an urgent hearing of the Waitangi Tribunal to consider whether the Minister of Conservation can consent to the project, and it's also seeking injunctions from the Maori land Court and the High Court.

Chairman Russell Kemp says Crest Energy's project, which is backed by the Enviroment Court, would wreck the harbour.

“We’re totally opposed to it because it will kill the Kaipara. What they are going for is a 35-year property right on a prized area of the Kaipara where there is an abundance of fish,” Mr Kemp says.

Crest Energy wants to build up to 200 five-storey turbines near the entrance to the Kaipara.

BAIT AND SWITCH SEEN WITH WHANAU ORA KAUPAPA

The head of Maori and indigenous studies at Canterbury University believes Whanau Ora has lost its focus on Maori, and is being used to justify major changes to welfare delivery across the board.

Rawiri Taonui says the Maori Party talked up the initiative last year as a way to devolve services and decision-making to Maori.

But this week Prime Minister John Key said Whanau Ora would be available to New Zealanders of all races who are in need.

Mr Taonui says that shows the policy has been captured by mainstream departments - to the detriment of the kaupapa.

“One of the modifications has been to do that not only for Maori social service providers but to do it for all services generally and that constitutes a lack of recognition of the structural prejudice Maori people face when they are engaging with social services, health, education, and so forth,”
Mr Taonui says.

Unless the government tackles issues of inter-generational poverty, structural racism and Maori rights, there will be no change in negative Maori statistics.

SHOWCASE AIMS TO SEND NEW ZEALAND ACTS INTO THE WORLD

A Taranaki businesswoman wants to sell New Zealand music to the world.
Emere Wano is putting together next month's Sounds Aotearoa showcase in New Plymouth in March to introduce the country's musical talent to international buyers.

She says it's cheaper to bring international buyers to watch artists here than to send the artists to perform on the other side of the world.

“They really wanted a point of difference which I think New Zealand can offer not only through our Maori and Pacific artists by our New Zealand artists, we have a different sound and look and way about us,” Ms Wano says.

She hopes Sounds Aotearoa can lead to acts like Anika Moa, Kora and Little Bushmen getting overseas releases and tours.

TREATY PLAN SEEN AS THREAT TO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP

Auckland Regional Council chair Mike Lee is opposing a plan to use the region's largest park to settle a Treaty claim.

Treaty Settlements minister Chris Finlayson has written to the council with a proposal that Ngati Whatua o Orakei and Te Kawerau a Maki be brought in to co-manage the Centennial Park in the Waitakere Ranges, in a similar way to that being considered for the city's volcanoes.

Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey is backing the idea.

But Mr Lee says public ownership needs to be protected.

“Public ownership represents a unified New Zealand of equality of all people and those assets which I came in to politics to defend need to remain owned by all the people, not given away, however worthy the cause, to settle injustices of the past,” Mr Lee says.

Centennial Park was bought with public donations to mark the city's centenary in 1941.

KEY WORD CHOICE IRKS GREEN LEADER

Green co-leader Metiria Turei is accusing the Prime Minister of paternalism for the way he referred to Maori in this week's statement of government priorities.

John Key promised to find better ways to tackle the child abuse, family violence, poor educational results and crime continue to characterise the lives of too many Maori families.

Ms Turei says Mr Key seemed to be harking back to the 19th century.

“He talks in his speech about ‘our Maoris’ and other people have noticed it, but there are a few times in his speech where he talks about ‘our Maori community’. I think that paternalistic 19th century attitude to Maori and also other vulnerable communities as well like beneficiaries, like the low paid, is really telling,” Ms Turei says.

She says the real message for Maori and low income communities in the speech was that they would be hammered by an increase in GST.

MOTOWN CONCERT SLOT AN HONOUR FOR STEVENS

Entertainer Frankie Stevens says he's honoured to take part in tonight's Maori Motown concert in Taradale.

The event is a low cost local alternative to tomorrow's Mission Estate concert featuring acts like Martha and the Vandellas, the Four Tops and the Temptations.

Stevens will perform alongside other Maori soul singers like Rewa Ututaonga, Thomas Stowers and Brannigan Kaa.

He says the family concert, which will raise money for marae rebuilding and a methamphetamine awareness campaign, is a great idea.

If any of the Motown stars want to drop in, they'll be welcome up on the Otatara Pa stage.