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.

Whines not wins in race day speech

Labour MP Shane Jones says Pita Sharples' race relations’ day speech of Orakei Marae was an admission of failure.

The Maori party co-leader said National's rejection of Maori seats on the Auckland super city council and its failure to adopt the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples had strained the relationship between the parties.

Mr Jones says Dr Sharples could also have mentioned National raising the GST rate over Maori Party opposition, turning over the conservation estate to Australian miners and its failure to address Maori unemployment.

“If the Maori Party is unable to stop that type of toxic policy being visited again upon our people, then they’ve really got to question all these trophies to do with flags and foreshore and seabed, how important is it if the daily grind Maori families go through forces them to become poorer and poorer as a result of this government’s policies,” Mr Jones says.

He says the Maori Party seems to have just woken up to the vipers they are in bed with.

TAINUI BASE DEVELOPMENT AT RISK THROUGH COUNCIL STUNT

Tainui Group Holdings says its plans for further development of The Base could by stymied by an 11th hour change to the district plan.

Chief executive Mike Pohio says the company is at the early stage of planning to add a hotel, hospitality and tourism training centre, offices and a health facility to the 76 hectare former air force base at Te Rapa, complementing the existing retail and cinema development.

But the area comes under variation 21, which the Hamilton City Council rammed through on the eve of changes to the Resource Management Act.

Mr Pohio says any development larger than a three bedroom house is now non-compliant.

“Now that's despite the fact we have always advanced the case for The Base as a regional centre, as a mixed use activity, and these have up until September 29 last year been activities we have an entitlement to proceed with,” Mr Pohio says.

Waikato Tainui has sought a judicial review of the council's decision, which will be heard in the High Court at the end of the month.

RAKI PAE WHENUA PHO READY TO PICK UP ITS GAME

A Maori primary health organisation named among the worst five in the country believes it has turned the corner.

Te Puna Hauora has more than 10,000 people on its books from Devonport to Wellsford.

General manager Lyvia Marsden says only a small percentage are elderly, which explains its failure to meet some targets, such as flu jabs for the elderly.

The PHO also takes on clients other providers don't want.

“A majority, 67 percent of the 10.500 people on board now are high needs people right across the spectrum of nationalities. They’re not really wanted by general practice. They’re considered too much work and costly,” Ms Marsden says.

Te Puna Hauora has taken on new staff to cope with the demands... and is now on track to meet the Ministry targets.

COROMANDEL MINING BATTLE TO RESUME FOR TANGATA WHENUA

Coromandel Maori are vowing to fight the area being opened up to mining.

Long time anti-mining campaigner Betty Williams says the government's decision to let the industry in to 7000 hectares of conservation land on the Coromandel Peninsula, Great Barrier Island and Paparoa National park is an insult.

She says while a small number may see jobs or other economic benefits, most Maori on the Coromandel peninsula are totally opposed.

“Gold has no use. Gold has become a very important topic for those who want to exploit it because the price escalated to $2000 an ounce why people want to open up the Coromandel peninsula and it’s not abut serving a community need. It’s about servicing the pockets of the profiteers,” Mrs Williams says.

She has been part of the anti-mining campaign since the mid-1970's and saysthere is no way the peninsula's residents will allow miners onto the land.

SCIENCE AND STRAIGHT TALKING BEST FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

The head of Massey University's new School of Public Health believes a combination of science and straight talking can improve Maori health.

Former children's commissioner Cindy Kiro, from Ngapuhi, Ngati Kahu and Ngati Hine, says most people are familiar with the health benefits of good food, exercise and sleep.

She says there is also material coming out of environmental and occupational research that can change people's lives.

“It's understanding the way these things interact and the balance of probability in what we can do to actually keep ourselves healthy. The new school I think will create the opportunity to bring that together and make it more available to people,” Dr Kiro says.

The new School of Public Health brings together five existing research centres ... including Te Ropu Whariki and the Research Centre for Maori Health and Development.

KAUMAUTA KEEN ON KIWI FOR MUSEUM TOP JOB

A Ngati Whatua representative on the Auckland War Memorial Museum Board says he'd like to see a New Zealander leading the institution.

Danny Tumahai won't comment on the performance of Canadian Vanda Vitali, whose controversial tenure as chief executive has ended because of a breakdown in relationships with the museum board.

But he says the importance of the museum and its taonga to the people of Auckland and Aotearoa means it needs someone with a sense of New Zealand's cultural mix ... and possibly a suitable Maori candidate might emerge.

“I would hope they would look here before they go offshore. I’m sure there are people round in New Zealand. At least they should look. I think our Maori should have experience across the board but there are Maori that have that,” Mr Tumahai says.

Ground broken for Tainui Airport hotel

Maori King Tuheitia has broken the ground for Tainui's new hotel at the entrance to Auckland Airport's international terminal.

Tainui Group Holdings chief executive Mike Pohio says yesterday's dawn blessing was a significant milestone for the project, with construction starting early in the new year and the 12-storey hotel due for completion in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Tainui will own 70 percent of the four star hotel, with the Auckland Airport Company owning 20 percent and multinational hotel operator Accor the remaining 10 percent.

Mr Pohio says it's an excellent time to be building, with construction companies providing keen pricing.

“We'd done a lot of work developing a budget and it’s fair to say we are marginally under budget so it’s a good time to be building, We see over the next 18 months as we start the opening it’s a good time to be on the uplift if you like of that economic bounce back,” Mr Pohio says.

The hotel is on a 100 year lease, and Tainui sees it as an excellent long term income stream for the tribe.

OFFSHORE NOT FORESHORE MANTRA FOR NEW FISHERIES CHAIR

The new chair of Te Ohu Kaimoana says Maori need to focus on marketing their goods and services internationally.

Ngahiwi Tomoana from Ngati Kahungunu says that could be done as part of a Hawaiiki brand, which also draws in their Pacific cousins.

The kaupapa will be a key feature of the fifth Maori Fisheries Conference early next year.

He says while Maori have put a huge amount of passion and energy in recent years fighting for the foreshore, the real prize is offshore.

“We need to be kotahi about going offshore and presenting Maori Pacific Hawaiki in the most positive light. That’s what we’re doing next year, we’re calling the Pacific in to our conference and we’re saying kotahitanga offshore for sure,” Mr Tomoana says.

He says New Zealand doesn't make enough of Maori in its branding, so Maori need to do it for themselves.

MAORI LANDOWNERS USING GRANTS FOR EROSION CONTROL

Maori landowners have picked up more than half this year's grants to plant trees on the East Coast.

The fund was set up after Cyclone Bola in 1992 to encourage erosion control measures in the catchment.

Randolph Hambling from the Ministry of Agriculture says more than 1000 hectares of Maori land will be planted over the next three years at a cost of $1.8 million.

“The successful grantee is given the right to go ahead and plant or to revert the land, put up fences and things like that to keep stock out. When they’ve done that work they will get the grant payment,” Mr Hambling says.

The grants will be particularly useful for Maori land owners wanting to gain carbon credits as part of the emissions trading scheme, as most of the planting to be radiata pine, douglas fir and eucalptus.

KATENE DEFENDS MAORI INVOLVEMENT IN PRIVATE PRISONS

The Maori Party says iwi groups lining up to help run private prisons.

Justice spokesperson Rahui Katene says while she can't name the groups because of commercial confidentiality, the Maori Party supported a low change allowing private management because of the likelihood of Maori participation.

“If there is money to be made, why shouldn’t Maori be making money and the other thing is that once you get a Maori prison, a Maori unit, you get Maori running it then you are gong to be bail to get those programmes in place so you can reduce reoffending,” Mrs Katene says.

She says the Corrections budget has swelled to more than $1.5 billion a year, and the time is overdue for complete review of the justice system through a royal commission.

PROPERTY BOUNCE BACK HELPING TAINUI PROSPECTS

Tainui's commercial arm is enjoying a bounce back in residential property sales.

Tainui Group holdings chief executive Mike Pohio says only 16 sections were sold last financial year at its Huntington subdivision at the northern edge of Hamilton, but twice that many have gone this year.

He says while prices have come back from the highs of the property boom, the tribe is not offering the deep discounts some other developers have been forced to make.

It's also dusting off some plans that stalled as the slump hit.

“There were two residential developments we did put on hold, one at Ruakiwi Rd, it was a townhouse development, and another in Queens Ave just by the train station. We’re starting to pull those plans off the shelf and dust off the resource consents and consider the marketing for the timing on those,” Mr Pohio says.

Tainui Group Holdings is concentrating on the next stage of development of the Base retail complex at Te Rapa and the Auckland Airport hotel, which is due to be completed in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

MOHI EXCITED BY MOTEATEA UNCOVERED FOR SHOW

Musician and television producer Hinewehi Mohi wants to give viewers a better appreciation of the poetic craft that keeps Maori oral traditions alive.

She's now putting the finishing touches on the seventh Moteatea series for Maori Televison.

Over the years the programmes have delved into the stories and composers behind old waiata.

She says the new series will get viewers even closer to the waiata she's uncovered in the Radio New Zealand archives.

“We have Apirana Ngata singing famous moteatea from the coast. To hear these old voices and their original way of performing waiata koroua has just been fantastic,” Mohi says.