Waatea News Update

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Fisheries ready iwi for next step

December 22
2007 should mark a new era for Maori fisheries settlement trust Te Ohu Kaimoana.

Chief Executive, Peter Douglas says the progress in allocation this year means a critical mass of iwi now have control of their own assets and are looking at ways to best use them.

The trust had manadated 35 iwi this year.

“We’ve seen a lot of cooperation between iwi organisations and with our companies around the country, so people are thinking about what are they going to do next and how can they take on these responsibilities in a worthwhile way so they can produce the sort of results their critics or their observers are expecting of them,” Mr Douglas says.

He says the 22 iwi that haven't yet gone through the mandating process should complete the task by this time next year.

FUNDING INFUSION SHOULD HELP KURA SECTOR

A Palmerston North Kohanga Reo teacher has welcomed a government injection of $6 million in building funds for the Early Childhood sector.

Pene Poutu from Mana Tamariki Kohanga Reo says Education Minister Steve Maharey's announcement can only be positive for mainstream and immersion Maori language facilities who want to expand.

Ms Poutu says Mana Tamariki has already accessed the fund to help with the funding of its new Kura and Kohanga Reo complex.

She says in the past Maori education has suffered from lack of funds in capital development.

“Early childhood including kohanga reo isn’t a compulsory sector, and it’s much harder for us to get money together to build or expand our buildings, and we’re saying that Maori children need access. The government has targeted Maori so yay, they’re going to put money in, and as long as kohanga reo are able to access that, we’d be really happy with it,” Ms Poutu says.

TE RARAWA ROLE FOR PIRIPI

Outgoing Taura Whiri chief executive Haami Piripi says he's moving on from his job ensuring the survival of the Maori language to ensuring the survival of his iwi.

Mr Piripi says he'll relocate to Kaitaia when he leaves the Wellington based Maori language commission in February.

Mr Piripi was elected Chairman of Te Runanga o Te Rarawa in October. He says he'll be taking a long term view.

“It's only a governance role, it’s a role that’s lots of love and lots of commitment but it’s not very lucrative, but essentially I’m moving back to the north to establish my iwi as a corporate entity able to take 15,000 constituents into the next couple of hundred years,” Mr Piripi says.

NGAI TAHU BUYS GUIDING COMPANY

Ngai Tahu has strengthened its position in the South Island tourism sector with the purchase of Franz Josef based The Guiding Company.

Ngai Tahu Tourism general manager John Thorburn says the iwi has now brought stakes in 10 tourism companies including Shotover Jet, Dart River Safaris, Rainbow Springs, and Whalewatch Kaikoura.

Mr Thorburn says guiding is a traditional activity for Ngai Tahu, and the purchase compliments other tourism initiatives the iwi operates on the iconic Franz Josef Glacier.

“We already have a glacier guiding business. This was the minor operator that operated alongside of that, which enables us to complement our existing operation. We believe that the West Coast is an attractive and growing tourist destination. This purchase enables us to extend our investment in this particular region,” Mr Thorburn says.

He says the West Coast tourism market is burgeoning, with around a million visitors a year.

NZEI RECOMMENDS SUPPORT STAFF SUPPORT DEAL

The New Zealand Educational Institute is recommending its members accept 3 percent pay rise and improved holidays for support staff.

The deal covers support staff including teacher aides, reo Maori kaiarahi, health and office workers.

Union negotiator Mereana Epi Mana says the move should make it easier for schools to recruit aides with the necessary Maori language skills.

“Our kaiarahi are people who are experts in te reo. In some cases we have kaiarahi who are the main speakers in that particular class, especially in mainstream and immersion classes. Unfortunately, because of the way they are funded, they also are in the packet of losing hours and losing funding for their pain,” Ms Epi Mana says.

The Boards of Trustees Association says the decision is a disappointing outcome as the Government continues to increase costs when schools are struggling to make ends meet.

SUPER 12 FORMAT FOR INNOVATION

The organiser of the annual super 12 kapa haka competition in Gisborne says the event is encouraging innovation in cultural performance.

The competition involving 12 groups with 12 members performing for 12 minutes will be held at the Soundshell on Waikanae beach in Gisborne, December 29th.

Wille Te Aho says since 1999, the standard has steadily improved, with groups incorporating non-traditional instruments to enhance their performances.

Mr Te Aho says while the style of performance may differ from the 40 strong teams who will compete for the National Te Maatatini Kapahaka in February, there are still similarities.

“You know the heart of this is still te reo Maori, but the kaupapa is set and it’s celebrating being proud to be Maori so people have to reflect that though their performance, and we’ve seen some really innovative costumes, we’ve had saxophones, drums, electric guitars, so it’s been really great from that perspective,” Mr Te Aho says.

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