Waatea News Update

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Monday, December 17, 2007

Tuhoe to sue police

Friday December 14

The police have left Tuhoe with little choice but to ask the courts for justice over the October anti terror raid on Ruatoki.

That's the reason Tuhoe spokesperson Tamati Kruger is giving for a planned action to be taken by about 30 people caught up in the raid.

Auckland Queen's Counsel Peter Williams is acting for the group.

Only one person was formally arrested in the eastern Bay of Plenty township during the raid, but armed police maintained checkpoints until late afternoon, detained people, searched vehicles and buildings, seized computers, and made people stand beside their vehicles to have their photos taken.

Mr Kruger says Tuhoe had attempted to get explanations and apologies from police, with no success.

He says Tuhoe is concerned about the costs of any action, but it needs to make a stand for what is right.

TE MANGAI PAHO PUTS SQUEEZE ON TVNZ

Te Mangai Paho is losing patience with the way Television New Zealand treats its Maori programmes.

The Maori broadcast funding agency is in talks with the state broadcaster about continuing funding.

The chief executive, John Bishara, says it is keen to continue funding Te Karere, Waka Huia and Marae, which are rebroadcast on Maori television.

But he has questions about TVNZ's commitment, give the poor time slots it gives Maori language programmes.

Mr Bishara says the Maori programmes have a loyal audience who will follow them to whichever time they are scheduled.

RINGAWERA GET CHANCE TO CELEBRATE IN PARK

Opotiki is celebrating Christmas early.

One of organisers of tonight's Christmas in the Park in the eastern Bay of Plenty town says it's chance for the community to show appreciation for the tireless work done by volunteers in the region.

Up to 4 thousand people are expected at the concert, which features bands kapa haka group Opotiki Mai Tawhiti, the third place getter in this year's Matatini competition.

Tania McCormack says a special call has gone out to kaimahi from the local marae.

CROWN WITHDRAWAL BEGINS FROM WANANGA

The Crown has loosened its grip on Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
A Crown manager and observer were put into the wananga three years ago as the government moved to check its rapid growth, which was straining its systems.

The chairperson, Craig Coxhead, says at today's council meeting, all handed financial delegations were handed back to the chief executive, Bentham Ohia.

The council asked the Crown manager from accounting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers to stay on for a few months until it can find a chief financial officer.

While the wananga is predicting a strong financial result this year, it hasn't fared well in the latest allocations from the tertiary Education Commission.

Its grant for 2008 is up only 3.8 percent to $113 million, compared with an 18 percent rise at te Wananga o Raukawa, 25 percent at Awanuiarangi and a 15 percent average across all tertiary institutions.

POLICE BROKE RULES IN TUATOKI RAIDS

A high profile lawyer says the police broke all the rules during the so called terror raids in Ruatoki on October.

Peter Williams QC says the police have failed to respond to offers of an honourable settlement, so he has been instructed to sue the force on behalf of about 30 Ruatoki residents.
It will take a couple of months to prepare and file up to 30 writs, and apply for legal aid.

Peter Williams says there was no interest in taking the case to the Independent Police Complaints Authority

WEEKEND FOR STARGAZING NAVIGATORS

Stargazers in Wellington are getting the chance to learn the astral trails of ancient Maori navigaters.

Carter Observatory has invited today's navigators to mark the start of the voyaging season, when the constellations rise that guided tupuna across the ocean in their waka hourua.

Hector Busby, Jack Thatcher, Hoturua Kerr and Matahi Brightwell, are talking this weekend at Te Pataka in Porirua and Wellington's Museum of City and Sea.

They're also taking part in tonight's Mata Ora concert at Queen's Wharf, along with astronomers and singers including Rhian Sheehan, Jess Chambers, and Mina and Maaka.

Toa Waaka, the observatory's Maori advisor, says it's about reclaiming an ancient knowledge base.

Toa Waaka says the Matariki star cluster can be seen in the northeast sky at dusk - joining the other markers of Polynesian astro-navigation.

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Pita Pangari was not entrusted with the claim by our elders, he was one of a number asked to progress it.

12:02 pm  

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