Waatea News Update

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

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Whangamata marine approval upsets Hauraki

December 19
Hauraki Maori say they are shattered by a decision to allow the construction of a 200 berth marina at Whangamata.

Daisy Te Moananui from the Hauraki Maori Trust Board says it's the worst possible news before Christmas.

She says the marina will destroy kaimoana beds.

“That's shattering to us. They could at least have waited to after Christmas. What is there to celebrate for us as the people of Hauraki? There's nothing,” Mrs Te Moananui says.

CULLEN DEFENDS CLAIM PROCESS CHANGE

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minster of finance says the partnership between Maori and the Crown has not been broken by the imposition of a September 2008 deadline for lodging historical claims.

That criticism came from Rawiri Taonui, head of Maori and indigenous studies at Canterbury University.

Dr Cullen says iwi and hapu should know by now know about their historical claims, and new claims can still be lodged, because the treaty partnership is a living relationship.

He says how long the claims take to settle, depends on the resources available to both the claimants and the crown, and that process can't be rushed.

“The Crown can't push that too hard, can’t say, we want you to get this done in the next six months because that then in my view would be a breach of that treaty relationship. The process itself is part of that partnership. Now the Crown as a partner can’t put artificial deadlines on the process,” Dr Cullen says.

PARENTS FUEL YOUTH ALCOHOL RISK

Maori parents are being urged to keep a closer eye on what their rangatahi are up to over the festive season.

That call has come from Glen McKay, the iwi liason officer for the Auckland Police District.

He says young people today are more exposed to more temptation than the previous generation.

Glen McKay says alcohol and drugs are more readily available, faster cars and peer pressure adding to the risks.

“There's a whole lot more out there that our rangatahi, our young kids are dealing with that we never used to deal with. Back in the day if you had an accident in a car, you were driving a Humber 80 and it never got dinged and you all walked away laughing about it. These days the vehicles they are traveling in travel at 140, 150, 160 k, and you’ve got young ones behind the wheel with not that experience driving, that’s a recipe for disaster,” Mr McKay says.

MORGAN SLAMS TAX CHANGE EFFECT ON MAORI

Maori risk losing billions of dollars, if a proposed Government package limit carbon emissions is approved.

The Federation of Maori Authorities executive deputy chair Paul Morgan says an option put forward is a flat deforestation tax for changing land use, which would be devastating to Maori land owners.

Mr Morgan says that could result in a $7 billion deforestation liability, devaluation of land and limited carbon posting access next year.

He says this is unacceptable for Maori who own 40% of the NZ forestry sector, either as Maori freehold land or Crown Forestry Licenses.

“If you wish to change your land use and you’re in the business of forestry, there will be a flat tax or a deforestation tax to change land use. Now that’s of a concern for Maoridom because we have the largest land base in the forestry sector,” Mr Morgan says.

He says the FOMA executive met the Minister of Climate Change David Parker to discuss Maori concerns.

Unite Union director Matt McCarten says a collaboration between the union and Te Wananaga o Aotearoa is giving low paid workers the chance to increase their skills and prospects.

Mr McCarten says he's been a long time supporter of the Maori tertiary institution and its style of teaching.

He says the partnership is allows the union to meet its objective of increasing options for members.

“Many of our members on our sites are doing courses, Courses are free, there are computer courses, the Maori course and so on. Very exciting so workers who are on minimum wage jobs, they are getting them into education in a Maori way which I think is a good way to learn,” Mr McCarten says.

Matt McCarten is the trade union representative on the wananga board.

PIZZA STUNT HELL FOR CATHOLIC

Prominent Maori Catholic Bob Newson says an advertising stunt by a pizza delivery chain runs against Maori cultural principles regarding food.

Hell Pizza had distributed free condoms to promote its brand.

Mr Newson says Catholics feel a simlar level of outrage as they did to the Virgin in a Condom artwork displayed at Te Papa and the screening of a Southpark episode feature the Virgin Mary menstruating.

He says the use of a condom in association with food cuts right across Maori traditions.

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