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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Ngati Porou won’t bow for new king

The head of the Ngati Porou runanga says his iwi does not need to come under the mantle of the Kingitanga to work with other iwi on common issues.

Api Mahuika attended the weekend hui at Pukawa on Lake Taupo where there was discussion of future structures for Maoridom.

On the agenda was how the King Tuheitia could be supported in his work and whether the new King should become involved in Maori politics or remain in a largely ceremonial and cultural role.

Mr Mahuika says his East Coast iwi has has never joined the King Movement and never will.

But he says that won't stop iwi working together on political, social or economic issues that impact on them collectively.

“All these issues collectively and individually have no requirement for Tuheitia or for any iwi to have control of the process and therefore control of the mana of other iwi,” Mahuika says.

Api Mahuika says Ngati Porou has never joined the King Movement and never will, but it has pledged to suppot King Tuheita on specific issues if requested.

MAORI ACADEMICS UNDERVALUED BY UNIS

The head of the Nga Pae o Te Maramatanga Centre of Research Excellence says academic institutions still under-value the contributions of their Maori staff.

Linda Smith from Auckland University says a hui in Rotorua last week for Maori social scientists was a chance for academics to share experiences and plan for the future.

Dr Smith says a recurring theme was how marginalised many highly qualified Maori feel in the academic workplace.

“Even in their disciplines, they feel that they’re not taken seriously, that the things they are absolutely expert in is undervalued by the institutions and the departments they work in, and a lot of the work they do with Maori is over and above what they are expected to do in their daily work life,” Smith says.

Linda Smith says Maori academics feel an obligation to contribute to the development of Maori communities.

SPORT AND EDUCATION A NECESSARY MIX

The new Maori sports personality of the year says combining sport and education enhances your chances of success.

Farah Palmer, from Ngati Mahuta, says rangatahi showing potential in the sporting arena need to be encouraged to take on academic study as well.

During the 10 years she's been a member of the national women's rugby squad, has found time to gain a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Otago.

Dr Palmer says education increased her options.

“When people use sport as a means to an end rather than as an end in itself, they set themselves up better for the future. You can risk just concentrating on sport and not really concentrating on your education. I think when you’ve got the two together, that’s when things can really happen,” Palmer says.

SHARPLES ENDORSES MAORI STRUCTURAL REVIEW

Maori Party co leader Pita Sharples says it is imperative to review the effectiveness of Maori political structures.

He says Maori have been well represented over the years by established organisations, but everything should be on the table for review.

Dr Sharples stayed away from the weekend gathering of tribes at Pukawa, but says he's keen to see any initiatives to give Maori a stronger voice.

“It's a very good time to have that korero because in some areas, the Maori Council is working extremely well. In other areas, the Maori Women’s Welfare League has a very strong hold. Still, you have the tribal authorities. It’s time we had that whole talk about how we want to be represented,” Sharples said.

MAORI SUICIDE DOUBLES RATE

The head of the Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee says the high rate of Maori suicide should be a concern for all society.

Barry Taylor says Maori suicide rates are twice the national average.

Professor Taylor says the committee was also alarmed by the increase in suicides in the 10 to 14 age group.

"It seems hard to understand why children as young as 12 are killing themselves. I think at that age you can be somewhat more impulsive than at older ages.” Taylor says.

Barry Taylor says the increase in suicides is in part because people are choosing more lethal methods to kill themselves.

MORE MAORI SOCIAL SCIENTISTS BOOSTING CAPACITY

Auckland University academic Linda Smith says the growth of Maori in the social sciences is giving Maori the ability to set their own agenda.

Maori social scientists have just held their first hui in Rotorua to share research and discuss the challenges they face.

Dr Smith, who heads up the multi-university Nga Pae o Te Maramatanga Centre of Maori Research Excellence, says it has taken this long for there to be enough Maori academics to make such a hui possible.

She says the hui showed the growing capacity Maori have in a wide range of social sciences.

“Clinical issues in health, public health, education, sociology, philosophy, political philosophy, Maori studies, and when you put all those together, there is so much more that we can do as Maori that we don’t need to rely on others to do to us or for us,” Smith says.

Linda Smith says Maori academics still face major challenges being taken seriously by their peers and institutions, especially when they choose to conduct their research in Maori communities.

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