Waatea News Update

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Taranaki occupation supported

The Maori Party is supporting south Taranaki hapu occupying two recently closed schools.

Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell, who last week urged Maori to occupy disputed land, says the Crown has a moral obligation to return the Te Kiri and Pihama sites near Opunake.

Mr Flavell says the land was confiscated from Nga Ruahine in 1863, which puts it in a different category to other Education properties.

“If they were confiscated there is only one way to go and that is to hand the land back. It wouldn’t be over the top too to look at issues of compensation, bearing in mind that our people haven’t had access to use that land in any way, shape or form and that others have benefited from it,” Mr Flavell says.

He says many of the sites in the Education Ministry's surplus land portfolio were gifted for education purposes, so the Crown should not be trying to make a profit on it now.

HONGI HITLER NO, GENGIS HIKA YES

A descendent of Hongi Hika says it's deeply offensive to compare the Ngapuhi warrior chief with Adolf Hitler.

David Rankin says he's disappointed at a decision to paint over a two metre picture of portrait of his ancestor at the new Rotorua Events Centre because of concerns from some in Te Arawa.

Rotorua District councilor Bob Martin backed the decision, saying it was like flying of a Hitler flag outside the RSA on ANZAC day.

David Rankin says that's over the top.

“It's not only knocking Hongi and Ngapuhi, but it’s also knocking every other Maori soldier that fought in world war two against that fascist regime. Hitler was the enemy of us as a people. Our people fought against him. Maybe if they said Hongi was like Napolean or Gengis Kahn or someone else, not a problem, but not Hitler,” Mr Rankin says.

He says in 1935 Ngapuhi chiefs went to Te Arawa to make peace for the events in 1823, when Hongi's forces rampaged through the Rotorua region in revenge for the killing of a nephew by Te Arawa.

EL NINO MEANS NO OYSTERS

Climate change is being blamed for poor harvests of Bluff oysters and muttonbirds.

Michael Skerrett from Te Ao Marama, a resource management and local government consultancy for the four Southland runanga, says Murihiku Maori are seeing high mortality of oysters and muttonbirds.

He told a climate change hui in Invercargill this week that El Nino weather conditions, including warmer sea temperatures, means less plankton, the base of the animal's food chain.

Mr Skerrett says people need to take a long term view.

“We can't stop it. It’s just going to continue. But we need to stop accelerating it and making it worse. Otherwise you just don’t know what future there is. It’s alright for us, but two or three generations later, unless we’re doping something now, there could be real trouble,” Mr Skerrett says.

MINISTER PRAISES SOLOMON CONTRIBUTION

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia says embattled Ngai Tahu leader Mark Solomon has made an outstanding contribution to his tribe and to Maori development.

Mr Solomon has been locked in a three year battle with a nine-member faction on his board, and last week offered to resign.

He is now calling for all 18 runanga executive members to resign and seek a fresh mandate.

Mr Horomia says such battles seem to come with the territory.

“Well I think it’s a real pity if Mark steps down. You know this is a thing we’ve got to get right among ourselves, and I think Mark has made an outstanding contribution. This is the issue about transition, there’s always someone who thinks for whatever reason they’ll do better,” Mr Horomia says.

He says Mark Solomon has led his iwi through a difficult period after it achieved its treaty settlement..

FLUORIDATION PRMOTED FOR BENEFITS TO TAMARIKI

The Public Health Association says fluoridating Kaitaia's water will greatly benefit the dental health of Maori children.

Association chairperson Gay Keating says the Far North District Council needs to consult widely with the Maori communities to sell the benefits of the plan.

Dr Keating says research indicates Maori will gain more from the change than any other groups.

“In general Maori kids- teeth are worse off than Pakeha kids so that for those who live in areas where there’s town supply water, it’s extra important and extra beneficial for the Maori kids that the city council does the right thing for Maori health and fluoridates the water,” she says.

Gay Keating says fluoridation is extremely safe.

KIWI TO GET THE ROYAL TREATMENT

Te Arawa is arranging for its royal visitor to meet some very special kiwis on his visit to Rotorua next week.

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, will be at Ohinemutu on Saturday the 17th to present the tribe with taonga in honour of Haani Manahi, who was denied a Victoria Cross for his role in attacks on German positions at Takrouna Ridge in North Africa in 1943.

The taonga include a sword from the collection of George the sixth, which will be presented by Te Arawa to each incoming defence force commander in chief.

Rotorua deputy mayor Trevor Maxwell says on the Sunday, Prince Andrew will be taken to Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua to resume a royal connection.

“His father, the Duke of Edinburgh, he came across there some years back and released some kiwis and everything on the island – our pest free island,” Mr Maxwell says.

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