Waatea News Update

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Finances show dependency thing of past

National's deputy leader says a solid financial result from Tainui shows it is possible to get Maori out of the dependency trap.

Bill English says the $64 million profit from Tainui Group Holdings shows the tribe has put behind it the problems it experienced in the first years after its treaty settlement with the Bolger government.

He says other iwi have been watching.

“The success of groups like Tainui and Ngai Tahu are the high profile ones, but increasingly a lot of smaller iwi, is shifting the whole outlook of many Maori because they see the path ahead now as being about successful enterprise, business, and getting out of some of the traps of the past,” Mr English says.

Maori groups are now more willing to foot it in the commercial sector rather than seeking help from the government at every turn.

OLDIES ENCOURAGED BACK INTO KAPA HAKA

The Minister of Maori Affairs will put money behind an oldies' kapahaka festival.

The Taikura stage, which featured performers aged over 55, was one of the most popular at this year's Matatini Maori performing arts festival in Palmerston North.

Members enjoyed the exercise so much they're getting back together for a turn at the Kahungunu Matariki concern in Hastings tomorrow night.

Parekura Horomia says he'd like to put the movement on a more solid base.

“We'll support it next year to bring them together. I hear they’re talking about being at Matatini but also doing their own thing together, and I think it’s a great thing where our older people do something they enjoy. It’ll be a fabulous evening,” Mr Horomia.

Tomorrow's event at the Hawkes Bay Opera House also includes the inaugural Kahungunu music awards.

MULTICULTURALISM NEEDED IN NEWSROOMS

Maori should look further than biculturalism.

Veteran journalist Jim Tucker says a new report on the role of the media highlights the need for acceptance of multiple cultures.

The report, which came out of this month's Asia-Pacific Interfaith Dialogue in Waitangi, focused on the role of the media in fostering understanding.

Mr Tucker says the New Zealand media has become accustomed to Maori culture, and now needs to embrace all cultures.

“Maori have quite rightly clung to the idea through the renaissance that biculturalism was the first issue we have to deal with, but I think we’ve moved past that point and multiculturalism now really affects everyone. I think Maori have made sufficient gains now to be quite relaxed about the fact they can broaden their approach,” Mr Tucker says.

The Journalists Training Organisation head says newsroom staffing falls well short of reflecting the country's ethnic diversity.

WAIPAREIRA LOSES SAM WAITI

Te Whanau o Waipareira Trust in West Auckland are mourning the loss of one of its staunchest supporters.

Chief executive John Tamihere says Hamiora Mangakahia Waiti, or Uncle Sam as he was known to thousands in the west, had a colourful life.
The former wharfie of Ngati Porou and Hauraki ancestry was known for his strong Christian values.

Mr Tamihere says that helped guide him through the trust's darkest days.

He says the whanau at Waipareira has lost a special man.

“He's been one of the stalwarts of Hoani Waititi Marae, a stalwart of Whanau o Waipareira, in fact he was a foundation trustee for Waipareira Trust. He was a very unassuming chap, but his passing away will have the impact of the loss of a Jack Wihongi, or Auntie Mavis Tuoro, or Tuini Hakaraia, he’s in that ilk, he’s in that status and that standing,” Mr Tamihere says.

Sam Waiti is at Hoani Waititi marae until tomorrow, when he'll be taken to Te Kie Kie marae at Waipiro Bay for his funeral on Monday.

NO CONFLICT AT TRIBUNAL

A former manager of the Waitangi Tribunal says there is no basis to claims of conflict of interest in the appointment of tribunal members.

New Zealand First MP Pita Paraone yesterday introduced a bill to prevent judges of the High Court or Maori Land Court serving on the tribunal, because they might have to preside over the same matters in their own courts.

It proposes instead the jobs be filled by retired judges.

But Ian Shearer says in his 11 years at the tribunal, there was never any suggestion of the sort of conflict of interest New Zealand First is alleging.

He says the bill is an unjustified attack on the tribunal.

“The more you get to know Maoridom, the more you realise that a very great deal of the numbers of the people throughout New Zealand are in one way linked I with others so where does this conflict of interest start and end, if they’re going to allege that,” Dr Shearer says.

He says if serving judges are barred, there aren't enough suitable retired judges who would be willing to serve on the Waitangi Tribunal.

DAWN VIGIL PLANNED FOR MANGERE VIOLENCE

Manukau Police plan a repeat of last year's dawn vigil against family violence.

Several hundred people gathered on Mangere Mountain to show their anger at violence which resulted 14 homicides in Counties Manukau in one year, including the Kahui twins.

Police iwi liaison Maryanne Rapata says people are reporting domestic violence earlier, and that's contributed to a drastic reduction in deaths.

“I think last year we had to show the severity of family violence in our district of Counties Manukau and this year we’re still going to do the same, but it’s about moving forward as opposed to being stuck in the past,” Ms Rapata says.

The vigil will be held next Wednesday.

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