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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Friday, June 16, 2006

PM defends Auckland treaty deal

The Prime Minister says the Ngati Whatua settlement for central Auckland is a good one, and cross claims unlikely to upset it.

Hauraki and Tainui tribes say the proposed settlement includes areas they have strong traditional attachments, too, but the secretive nature of the negotiations meant their views were not considered.

Helen Clark says even if Ngati Whatua's claims had been heard through the Waitangi Tribunal, it was probably inevitable there would be people holding different views.

She says more important is widespread support for the settlement process, including an editorial in the New Zealand Herald newspaper.

"“It does bring joy to the iwi, it does bring some redress which enables people to rebuild their economic base and get on with doing some good for their people, and it makes iwi significant participants and investors in the local economy, and that is good for all of us, so I think we’re over the threshold,” Clark said.


ITI RAHO PROTEST UNACCEPTABLE SAYS DOVER

Labour list MP Dover Samuels saying too many of Tame Iti's protest actions are offensive and unacceptable.

The Tuhoe activist is in court in Rotorua defending a firearms charge stemming from a protest when the Waitangi Tribunal started its hearings on the Tuhoe Claim last year.

Mr Samuels says Iti should apologise to Maori for spitting on the marae, shooting the NZ flag and various other action during the powhiri for the tribunal.

He says it is a clear breach of Maori tikanga and kawa.

“If his kaumatua and kuia and Tuhoe think their kawa should encompass spitting on the marae, showing off his raho or penis, shooting the flag, then I would be very surprised,” Samuels said.

LANGUAGE COMMISSION BOSS PRAISES MATARIKI REVIVAL

Maori Language Commission chief executive Haami Piripi says the growth in popularity of Matariki or Maori new year is overdue.

Matariki has grown into a significant event with more than 30,000 people taking part in celebrations in Hawkes Bay alone last year.

The occasion will be celebrated in communities around the country both and after the actual day, which this year is June the 27th.

Mr Piripi says the renaissance of Matariki over the past decade has been community-driven.

“Matariki emerged as an iwi event. People digging up the writings,of their ancestors, From there, smaller community groups started seeing the value of it. In fact in New Zealand we don’t celebrate any indigenous festivals, and we thought Matariki was a good thing to do,” Piripi said.

CLARK NO FEAR FROM GUN PROTEST

Prime Minister Helen Clark says the use of firearms in Maori welcomes needs to be resolved.

Tuhoe activist Tame Iti is on trial in Rotorua for unlawful possion of a firearm during a powhiri for the Waitangi Tribunal near Ruatoki last year.

Ms Clark says while she had no fears for her own safety when Iti discharged a firearm at one powhiri she attended, the police have been concerned by some of his theatrical protests.

"When we're all out and about, do we expect to see someone brandishing a gun. No we don't. We take a much stronger views towards firearm than someone wielding a stick -taiaha or whatever in a ceremony of a traditional kind. I think that is the issue that has to be dealt with in some way," Clark said.

MAORI COULD ADD POWER TO GRID FIX

The Maori Party says adopting a Maori collective approach to solving environmental and infrastructure problems is the way to go.

The party's spokesperson on environmental issues Te Ururoa Flavell says politicians don't have all the answers to problems such as Auckland's recent power blackouts.

Mr Flavell says putting aside political hats in the interests of the country is the mature response but hasn't yet been embraced by parliament.

He insists that planning and co-operation are the key to overcoming these and other challenges:

SQUARE BASHING FOR YOUNG BASHERS

New Zealand First defence spokesperson Ron Mark says the government should use the military to train up at risk young Maori.

Mark, a former army soldier, says he can't understand the resistance to compulsory military training.

He says the Limited Service Volunteer and cadet core schemes are ideal for building confidence, self-esteem, responsibility, and self-discipline among young people who are going off the rails.

"New Zealand First has always advocated that line, it is core NZ First policy, we publish that policy every election, and still people who say they want it don't vote for us in the numbers that would make it a reality in Parliament," Mark said.

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