Foreshore changes to be rushed through

Labour leader Phil Goff says the government isn't giving enough time for debate on its alternative to the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

A discussion paper will go out tomorrow, and the Prime Minister, John Key, says there will be four weeks of consultation.

Mr Goff says is seems the government intends to push through its changes in the same way it is opening the conservation estate to mining.

“These are areas that were preserved, protected under law by bi-partisan agreement in the parliament over many many years. Suddenly the proposal is there, we’re going to mine and there’s six years there for the public to make submissions. Likewise with foreshore and seabed,” Mr Goff says.

He expects the government will try a sleight of hand, saying it is repealing the law but leaving the underlying customary rights regime in place.

TAINUI TAKES ON HAMILTON CITY OVER VARIATION 21

Waikato Tainui is in the High Court challenging a Hamilton City Council district plan change that blocks further development of Tainui's Base retail complex at Te Rapa.

Variation 21, which was rushed through in September under the old Resource Management Act, aims to restrict all office and box store development to a commercial service zone in the central business district.

Tainui Group Holdings chief executive Mike Pohio says the case is over the council's deliberate failure to consult.

“They did not believe that any consultation with Waikato Tainui prior to the issuing of variation 21 would have made any changes. That is a key issue if Waikato Tainui are to make a submission. If in issuing variation 21 there wasn’t going to be change, what’s the chance of any change through the submission making process,” Mr Pohio says.

If it is allowed to stand, Variation 21 will mean a major financial loss to Tainui and its 50,000 members.

The hearing finishes tomorrow.

NGATI REHIA KAUMATUA JUDAH HEIHEI DIES

Ngati Rehia and Ngapuhi are mourning Te Hurihanga Judah Hei Hei, who was buried today at his whanau wahitapu – Te Ahirau - at Te Tii in the Bay of Islands.

Mr Heihei, a diabetic, died in an ambulance on Friday on his way to Kawakawa Hospital. He was 69.

He was a leading member of Te Taumata Kaumatua o Ngapuhi and was also prominent in the Hokianga Accord, which tries to build consensus between customary, recreational and commercial fishers in the north.

Ngati Rehia kaumatua Kingi Taurua says his whanaunga was a true gentleman who always put his whanau and hapu first.

He was descended from Tareha from Ngati Rehia who refused to sign the Treaty of Waitangi.

TAMIHERE RULES OUT MAYORAL RUN

Former Tamakai Makaurau MP John Tamihere is ruling out a run for mayor or deputy mayor of the Auckland super city.

Television Three yesterday claimed Mr Tamihere's team had sounded out Auckland mayor John Banks about running as his number two.

But the Waipareira Trust chief executive and radio talkback host says he has made no such approach, and ruled out a return to politics at this stage.

“My life is going extraordinarily well without getting involved in it. My social conscience work at Waipareira and whanau ora is going extraordinarily well. The commercial side of my life is going extraordinarily well. Why would you want to ruin that for the likes of political pundits like Willie Jackson, Matt McCarten, Matthew Hooten and the rest of the shooting match,” Mr Tamihere says.

He says anyone wanting to enter the mayoral race would need a lot of money, a high public profile and an organisation to match the resources National and Labour will be putting into the campaigns of John Banks and Len Brown respectively.

TE OHU KAIMOANA SEEKING STRATEGY AND ROLE

Te Ohu Kaimoana wants to take the lead in finding a balance between customary, commercial and recreational fishing interests.

The fisheries settlement trust outlined its growth and seafood strategy to the fifth Maori Fisheries Conference in Napier today.

Chief executive Peter Douglas says people in the various sectors need better information so they can see the impact of their activities have on the overall fishery.

Peter Douglas says more cooperation is needed throughout the fisheries sector.

BOY HIT IN FIRST DAY AT BOX OFFICE

The producer of Taika Waititi's new film says its popularity is due to its ability to connect with all people.

Boy premiered in Auckland last week.

Producer Ainsley Gardiner says she's confident Boy will do well because of word of mouth and positive media coverage from the Sundance and Berlin Film Festival ... bar one review.

“The negative one said he had scrubbed it of all its cultural specificity. Basically they were saying where were the grass skirts, where were the karakia, where are the whales, where are the fistfights and the drinking so we didn’t put a lot of stock in that particular review,” Ms Gardiner says.

Boy earned more at the box office on its first day than Whale Rider, The World's Fastest Indian and Sione's Wedding.

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.