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.

Drivers of crime given priority

December 18

The government has pledged to address the drivers of crime for Maori as a priority of its new approach to crime fighting.

This follows a ministerial hui on the Drivers of Crime in April which found far too many Maori children end up in prison after growing up in households and communities disrupted by crime and punishment.

The new approach based around government agencies working together will support Maori designed, developed and delivered initiatives.

Maori party MP Te Ururoa Flavell says the approach is heading in the right direction.

“You can either say we haven‘t got a problem and do nothing or accept you have got a problem and move around strategies to get there and that’s where we’ve come,” Mr Flavell.

MODERATION MESSAGE FOR HOLIDAY BREAK

A South Auckland community leader is warning whanau not to overextend themselves this Christmas.

Manukau City Councillor Alf Filipaina who has spent 33 years in the police says big hearted Maori want to do the best by their families at Christmas time.

But he says with the recession hitting many Maori families hard it is important to realise that love is more important than any present.

Alf Filipaina who is of Maori and Samoan decent says when alcohol is followed by domestic violence Christmas is ruined.

GREEN THEMSE FOR PARIHAKA PEACE FESTIVAL

There'll be a green theme at next month's Parihaka Peace Festival.

Director Te Miringa Hohaia says the annual gathering is a platform to acknowledge the iconic Taranaki village's tradition of passive resistance.

He says while top line musical acts are a draw card, the festival has discussion forums to talk about issues like as global warming, and how marae can lead by example with sustainable environmental management.

“Marae throughout the motu need to be placing themselves so that they are leaders in their communities. That’s how we’re using this event. We’ve gained that experience and we’re transferring it back into how we run the pa and how our families coming into the pa are responding to these urgent issues facing the whole country and the whole world,” Mr Hohaia says.

WAIKATO RIVER IWI SIGN SETTLEMENT FOR AWA MANAGEMENT

An agreement was signed yesterday between Waikato-Tainui tribal leaders and the Crown to set up a single authority to co-manage the Waikato River.

Iwi executive chair Tuku Morgan described his people as being in a state of euphoria.

Tom Roa, the head of the tribal parliament, said the joy was only tempered by the knowledge of the work that lay ahead.

He says there was a clear sense of the history of the moment from those present at the Hopuhopu ceremony.

The new Waikato River Authority, which will have equal iwi and Crown representation will draw from both tikanga Maori and tikanga Pakeha. It will have $210 million to spend on a river clean-up.

“The tikanga is the base and our history is our base. But the future is with our young people, our young scientists, our young lawyers, our young people who can work in those spheres to ensure the vitality of the river,” Mr Roa says.

There is already a substantial amount of work being done with Environment Waikato, local farmers and other iwi to improve water quality and clean up the river.

MAORI PARTY TORN OVER EASTER TRADING BILL

The Maori Party found itself in a dilemma yesterday when a private members bill to allow shops throughout the country to stay open over Easter came before parliament.

At present shops in some parts of the country can open on Easter Sunday but in others they can’t.

Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell says its a problem for tourist towns like Rotorua.

“Our people are involved in the tourist industry in Rotorua but on the other side of the coin Easter is the time Maori families in particular are generally tied up with unveilings, sports tournaments, church gatherings such as Hui Aranga and so on,” Mr Flavell says.

He says while the Maori Party was prepared to support the bill to a first reading it would have probably withdrawn its backing down the line but didn't have to make this decision when it wasn't supported by other parties.

ROBERT KENNEDY JR WELCOMED TO AOTEAROA

A member of America's royal family...or almost royal family... the Kennedy's... is sampling some tikanga Maori today

He's Robert Kennedy Jnr who, as the name suggests, is a son of Bobby Kennedy who was assassinated 1968.

This morning he'll be welcomed at Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau, the largest kaupapa Maori provider for Maori with intellectual disabilities.

Waitai Petera, from Te Aupouri and Ngati Kuri, says the Kennedy whanau has a long history of helping people in need.

He says Mr Kennedy's aunt... Eunice Kennedy Shriver... was instrumental in the foundation of the Special Olympics while their support for racial equality... at the height of the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s... and more recently... will undoubtedly be mentioned in the whaikorero.

“I think the Kennedy whanau helped indigenous America to be where they are and they wrre also the whanau that endorse Barack Obama, they got in behind him, the late Ted Kennedy. That is something we will as Maori will never forget,” Mr Petera says.

Robert Kennedy Jnr came to New Zealand to speak on environmental issues at a charity dinner.

Flag baggage sign of fading generation

Bulletins December 17, 2009

A Maori educationalist says pakeha who see the country having two flags as separatist and divisive should get over the baggage they are carrying.

Rawiri Taonui who heads Canterbury University's Maori and ethnic studies department says Pakeha familiar with Maori ways have no problem with the tino rangatiratanga flag.

But he says Pakeha who have not had much to do with Maori can see it as separatist.

“The good thing is that population is declining and the good population in increasing. In 10, 20 years time this will just become two flags on Waitangi Day as a matter of course and our children won’t really be bothered,” Mr Taonui says.

FLAVELL SAYS FLAG CONTROVERSY WILL BE SHORT LIVED

Maori party MP Te Ururoa Flavell agrees with Maori academic Rawiri Taonui that Pakeha who know something about Maori have no problem with the tino rangatiratanga flag.

Mr Flavell says it’s the same with attitudes towards the Maori party.

“There won’t be riots in the street. The tino rangatiratanga flag has been round at Waitangi for yonks. Like the singing of the national anthem in Maori, in 10 years time we will look back and say what the hang was all the fuss about,” Mr Flavell says.

He says Maori and Pakeha have lived well together for generations and they will go on doing so with the tino rangatiratanga flag flying.

EUPHORIA OVER STREAMLINED RIVER SETTLEMENT

There's a sense of euphoria among many Waikato Maori today with the signing of a revised deed of settlement covering the Waikato River.

That's the word from Tukoroirangi Morgan who negotiated the deal with the Crown which sets up a Waikato River Authority to look after the awa.

This single body... with equal iwi and Crown representation... replaces the six statutory boards envisaged when the original deed of settlement was signed last year, but never put into effect.

The authority will have $210 million to spend on a river clean-up.

Mr Morgan says the signing finally looks like righting wrongs done 146 years ago when colonial troops invaded the Waikato taking 1.2 million acres and the Waikato river.

“There's a sense of euphoria, a sense of deep satisfaction that we are a long way down the track now. What remains is the legislative process. The deed of settlement has to be enshrined in law, and that point it will be a momentous opportunity for the people of this tribe,” Mr Morgan says.

TURIA DEFENDS FUNDING SHIFT FOR VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN

Associate social development minister Tariana Turia has accused former health Minister Annette King of using the family violence issue for mischievous political point scoring.

In parliament this week Mrs King questioned whether the “It's not OK” anti-family violence campaign was being replaced by a new campaign aimed at Maori.

She said 33 women had been killed through family violence so far this year, double last year's figures.

Mrs Turia who heads the ministerial committee on family violence says the "its not ok" campaign is not being stopped.

“Its hugely disappointing that we would use family violence as a political point-scoring opportunity as Annette King did in the House because it’s really mischievous to use statistics without sourcing where they’ve come from,” Mrs Turia says.

She says the Aroha in Action campaign is being paid for with unused money set aside for victim advocates, as anti-violence practitioners see targeting communities rather than individuals as better use of the money.

PARAONE KEEN TO HELP NZ FIRST BACK INTO PALIAMENT

Former New Zealand First MP Pita Paraone is keen to get back to Parliament.

Mr Paraone went back to his former job as a regional manager with Te Puni Kokiri in Tai Tokerau, and he's also been made chair of the Waitangi National Trust.

But he says the party founded by Winston Peters still has some life in it yet.

“Comments that have been made around the country as New Zealand First visits have been very positive and so I’d certainly like to be part of the team that helps to see New Zealand First back in parliament,” Mr Paraone says.

HANGI CHOICE PLANNED FOR KAWHIA KAI FESTIVAL

Visitors to next year's annual Kawhia Maori kai festival on Waitangi Day will face a HUGE problem.

That is which hangi to chose... from around 6000 being put down to meet demand for food cooked the traditional way.

The festival sees the population of the West Coast township where the Tainui canoe landed in the 14th century leap from 380 to nearly 10 thousand, as curious foodies lineup for a taste of delicacies such as huhu grubs, dried shark, and mussel chowder.

Organiser Lloyd Whiu says hangi is the undoubted favorite which is why twice as many will be cooked next year.

He says when the festival started six years ago they wanted to celebrate February 6th in a unique way but no one expected it would be so popular.

“Out of that whakaaro the kai festival grew. It’s about bringing people together from different backgrounds and celebrating something everyone likes doing, that’s eating,” Mr Whiu says.

He says hangi are extremely popular with Pakeha many of whom have never tried the earth-cooked kai.

GREENS OPPOSED TO NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS

Greens co-leader Meteria Turei says national education standards won't benefit Maori.

Ms Turei says international research from around the world shows that indigenous people do worse under such assessment regimes.

She says they create winners and losers among schools and students, and the resources end up going to the winners, with the rest left behind.

“For low decile schools and for Maori kids who are often in those lower decile schools, this is going to be a disaster for education and I think the teachers are right to oppose it. The schooling system has gone through a huge amount of reform in the last 10 years, just a ridiculous amount, and this is another huge burden,” Ms Turei says.

She says schools find ways around testing some kids so they don't bring their averages down, and the practice will become widespread if national standards are introduced.