Waatea News Update

News from Waatea 603 AM, Urban Maori radio, first with Maori news

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Don’t trust National says Ron Mark

Don’t trust National says Ron Mark

New Zealand First MP Ron Mark says the Maori Party would be naive to get too close to National.

Relations between the parties, which became strained under former leader Don Brash, appear to be on the mend after new leader John Key's first major speech this week.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says she was impressed with the tenor of the speech, which called for New Zealanders' cultural, religious and ethnic differences to be celebrated.

Mr Mark says the Maori Party seems to be running towards National with open arms, just because it has changed leader.

“I remind the Maori Party, the National Party has changed its leader five times in seven years. They’re an unstable lot, they can’t be trusted on past track record, but I’m a generous chap, John Key is different to some of the others,” Mr Mark says.

He says New Zealand first will judge National's new leaders by what they do, rather than what they say, because there is often a difference between the two.

SERVICE WORKERS SHRUGS OFF KORU THREAT

The Service and Food Workers Union is shrugging off a threat by Air New Zealand that it will sue over the use of its koru trademark on protest stickers.

Jill Ovens, the union's northern secretary, says the stickers draw attention to the airline's plans to outsource the jobs of many ground staff.

She says a letter from the airline's lawyers claims the koru is the company's exclusive intellectual property.

“My view is have they asked tangata whenua, because surely a corporation such as Air New Zealand has no exclusive claim on a Maori design like the koru,” Ms Ovens says.

She says the union is considering its own legal action over the attempts by Air New Zealand to undermine it.

TAINUI TO CELEBRATE KAPA HAKA STRENGTH

Tainui kapa haka groups are preparing for a massed performance next week to celebrate the rohe's strength in the Maori performing arts.

Organiser Craig Munz says the Founders Theatre in Hamilton will ring to the sounds of some of the country's best groups, including secondary schools' champion Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga, Super 12 winners Te Iti Kahurangi, and Raroera, who brought the Mata Wananga trophy from the recent Te Wananga o Aotearoa-sponsored event.

Mr Munz says there will also be a mass bracket with 120 performers from the three Tainui contenders for next year's Te Matatini national championships, Tamarau, Te Iti Kahurangi and Taniwharau.

“It's kotahitanga, bringing Tainui waka together as a roopu to showcase the art form to the broader community, but it’s also a chance to support our national representatives heading to Te Matatini in 2007,” Mr Munz says.

WHANGAREI MWWL TACKLES RANGATAHI CRISIS

Northland community groups are meeting today to find ways to support rangatahi in the region.

Hui organiser Jenny Galpin from the Taitokerau Maori Women's Welfare League says the youth hui at at Terenga Paraoa Marae in Whangarei will involve health, education and training providers as well as young people.

Youth Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will also attend.

Ms Galpin says a spate of recent incidents has brought home the extent of the problems the region faces, but there are also positive developments which can be built on.

“As late as last Friday we had an incident in the CBD where a young boy was stabbed. There’s been a lot of murder cases, but there has also been a lot of good things going on,” Ms Galpin says.

She says many rangatahi feel their voice goes unheard, and the hui should provide a safe forum for them to give their opinions.

PM PAYS VISIT TO PAPAKURA

Papakura Marae helped celebrate a quarter century in parliament for the Prime Minister yesterday.

Helen Clark and MPs Parekura Horomia, Nanaia Mahuta and Dave Hereora dropped in to monitor progress at the marae's health clinic.

Chief executive Brian Joyce says the marae environment has proved an effective way to deliver services such as Tamariki Ora or child health, immunisation and healthy lifestyle promotions.

He says health services have become a major feature of the marae, which opened in 1990.

COOPERATION HELPING WHALE STRANDING CLEAN UP

Patuharakeke spokesperson Dave Milner says clear distinctions between roles is helping with the aftermath of a whale stranding in Northland.

The hapu of Ngati Wai has put a two week rahui or ban on taking kaimoana from the beach near Ruakaka where a pod of pilot whales beached this month.

Mr Milner says there were both Maori and Pakeha protocols to be followed in cleaning up the decomposing carcasses.

“DoC were a major part of the whole process as well, excellent as far as co-managing the whole process. It’s the modern age now so we need to be aware of the Occupational Safety and Health factors, the environmental factors and also the customary factors,” Mr Milner says.

AWARD WILL HELP

Patricia Grace says the Prime Minister's award she received this week couldn't have come at a better time.

The author of Potiki, Tu, Dogside Story and other novels and short stories is credited with playing a major role in the emergence of Maori fiction in English.

Patricia Grace says the 60 thousand dollar grant will allow her to spend more time researching her new book.

“I'm writing a work of non-fiction at the moment where I have to do a lot of research. I have to go to Crete, for example. It’s really good to have this support and know that I’ll be able to do what I need to do in the way of research,” Grace says.

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