Waatea News Update

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Elders' council plan endorsed

Tainui chairperson Tukoroirangi Morgan says there is merit in a call by Human Rights Commissioner Jori De Bres for a council of Maori elders and chiefs to interface with government.

Mr De Bres made the suggestion in his annual report on race relations which identified problems Maori have in dealing with government on broad policy issues.

Mr Morgan, who chairs the electoral college which selects new members of the Maori fisheries settlement trust Te Ohu Kaimoana, says iwi are looking for new ways to combine so they can get their views heard in Wellington.

“I think De Bres is not too far away from the ideal situation that Maori seek to try to galvanise this place in a unified and a collective way. It is probably a mix of iwi leadership and those people who have mandated authority,” Mr Morgan says.

He says in the past Maoridom relied on the Maori Council but it no longer enjoys support in all regions.

DRUG HABIT STARTING EARLY IN NELSON

The police iwi liaison officer for Nelson and Golden Bay says there are an alarming number of young people in the region using drugs.

Archdeacon Harvey Whakaruru says an influx of methamphetamine or P is depressing the price of cannabis, which makes it more accessible to young people.

Mr Whakaruru says the Maori wardens are increasingly coming across stoned young people.

“We know young people as young as 10 have been known to smoke cannabis, pinch their parents' cannabis,” Mr Whakaruru says.

WAKA BUILDER NOTES GROWING INTEREST

Waka builder Hekenukumai Busby says interest is growing in the ancient art.

The Muriwhenua elder, who has made 22 waka, was last week made a Fellow of Northland Polytechnic for his contributions to the region.

Mr Busby says his next project is helping a team in the King Country build a waka.

He's keen to pass on the techniques and traditions, because it makes it less likely the know-how will be lost.

“You know I think that is one of the ideas too, when I go down to Maniapoto in a couple of weeks time, they are very interested to take part and try to learn, you know,” Mr Busby says.

His waka include the voyaging canoe Te Aurere and Te Ika aa Maui, which will support the New Zealand team at this year's America's Cup regatta in Valencia.

MAORI PATIENCE FLAGGING FOR SETTLEMENTS

Haami Piripi says if a review of the Crown's land holdings doesn't result in meaningful change for Maori, the government can expect more occupations.

On the heels of occupations of Landcorp farms in the far north and Coromandel, the Government of Friday announced it would review the procedures for disposal of surplus land by all government departments, agencies and state owned enterprises.

However, the government has emphasised the conservation and heritage value of such land, rather than its possible use in settling treaty claims.

Mr Piripi says Maori are becoming increasingly frustrated at the slow pace of treaty settlement processes.

“We've lost a tremendous amount of value, we’ve lost time, we’ve lost tons of opportunity, and it’s absolutely no surprise to me that communities who exist in these outlying areas, really oblivious to the government and its policies, are being left high and dry in terms of what’s been promised to them over the years,” Mr Piripi says.

KORORAREKA MEMORIAL ATTRACTS KEEN CROWD

More than 200 people were out at dawn in Russell yesterday for the commemoration of the 1845 sacking of Kororareka.

The ceremony took place on te Maiki Hill, the site where Ngapuhi chief Hone Heke cut down the flagpole.

For that action, to protest crown breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, Heke was joined by another chief, Kawitit.

One of his decendants, Raumoa Kawiti, says there was considerable support for the commemoration in the small northland community.

“A lot of Pakeha, the Pakeha of Kororareka, and there were a lot of Maori, from Parliament, like Hone Harawira, Pira Paraone, and Shane Jones was here yesterday. It was good to see them supporting the blessing of that pou and remembering those who died, Maori and Pakeha,” Mr Kawiti says.

NURSING COURSE TAKES MAORI INTAKE

A new programme for Maori nurses has just taken its first intake of 23 trainees.

Spokesperson Dolly Rewha says Puu Ora Matatini aims to address the critical shortage of Maori health workers in South Auckland.

It's a collaboration between the government, Manukau Institute of Technology and Otahuhu Maori health provider Te Kupenga o Hoturoa.

Ms Rewha says the programme is taking a long term view.

“This is the first of many, because we’re looking at over 10 years we want 100 Maori graduates and hopefully in another 10 years we want to have Maori nursing advisers to the Ministry of Health. We need to grow our own.” Ms Rewha says.

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