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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Wardens better than triads in south

The Prime Minister says Asian communities should look to the example of the Maori Wardens rather than consider using vigilante Triad gangs for protection.

Helen Clark says she understands the concerns raised during Saturday's 10,000 strong anti-crime march in Botany Downs, but some of the ideas which have come up since, such as bringing in the triads, are too outrageous for words.

She says the Maori Wardens have a long and proud tradition.

They are now getting increased government funding, training by police, and support to work in places like Manurewa,

“Parallel to that we’re trialing Pasifika patrols because we think that will help. Now, what I say to our Asian communities is work alongside our police, work on your neighbourhood support, work to see if there’s some kind of parallel of the community patrol, but the key is we have to work with our police, not work against them,” Ms Clark says.

NATIONAL BACKS MAORI TELEVISION, BAGS TVNZ PUTEA

National's Maori spokesperson says the future of Maori Television is safe under a National-led government.

The party's broadcasting policy promises continued support to the channel, but Television New Zealand will lose its charter and the $15 million that goes with it.

Georgina Te Heuheu says that money will go to New Zealand On Air for a contestable fund open to all free-to-air broadcasters and independent producers.

She says it's a straightforward policy.

“It means exactly what it says. We support Maori TV. We will continue current levels of funding and look forward to engaging with Maori TV and grow their influence, because it’s pretty broad now isn't it,” Mrs Te Heuheu says.

JONES PREDICTS PRIVATISATION THE END ROAD

But a Labour Maori MP predicts Maori interests will be sidelined under National.

Shane Jones says National has no record of commitment to public and Maori broadcasting.

He says the policy clears the way for privatisation of TVNZ - whatever denials National makes about whether the state broadcaster will go on the sale block.

“They have promised massive tax cuts. They want to reengineer the state and their proven track record is they do it through shrinking budgets and selling assets. Quite frankly, that will be a disastrous outcome for te ao Maori and the community in broader terms because without the involvement of the state, without the putea of the government, a lot of these community-based broadcasting services will not survive,” Mr Jones says.

PLUNKET SEEING MORE MAORI BABIES

Plunket is reporting a 48 percent increase in the number of Maori mothers and babies it is seeing compared with five years ago.

Hemi Toia, Plunket's acting manager Maori health, says the organisation is developing multiple access channels, so it has more ways officers can use to make contact with babies and mothers.

He says other policy changes affect Maori.

“Mothers and babies who are in areas of deprivation receive a greater number of support visits, so it will also to some extent reflect the fact that significant numbers of Maori babies and mothers live in high deprivation areas,” Mr Toia says,

Plunket offers support and training to iwi providers, and it is looking to expand the ways it interacts with Maori.

POLICE LOOKING AT NEW ENVIRONMENT

The police are preparing for their first National Responsiveness to Maori conference since last October's anti-terror raids.

Huri Dennis, the Maori strategic advisor, says the big questions will be around the amount of discretion officers have in their decision-making.

He says new thinking is needed.

“We're asking our guys, our managers to have a little bit more courage, to make some bold decisions and sort of step outside the square. We’ve got rules and regulations for quite a few things, laws etc that we have to abide by and they are very important. But in the areas of discretion and other things, we are saying well does an arrest need to be the way to go, what are the other options, what other service providers of Maori options are there,” Mr Dennis says.

Maori initiatives, such as iwi liaison officers, can be translated into relationships with other ethnic groups.

ORAL HISTORIES LODGED IN ALEXANDER TURNBULL

The oral histories of three of Maoridom's top artists were lodged at the Alexander Turnbull Library today.

Journalist Carol Archie interviewed Diggeress Te Kanawa, Pakariki Harrison and Arnold Manaaki Wilson for the Arts Foundation of New Zealand's Icon project.

Simon Bowden, the foundation's executive director, says the stories of artists like master carver Harrison are of great significance to the history of New Zealand.

“Paki of course had the most huge., valuable and precious knowledge of carving throughout New Zealand. The man can read a carving and tell you the history, the people that created it, the stories it tells. He can tell you if the person who carved it was born in that community or stolen from that community, quite remarkable insights,” Mr Bowden says.

The Icon series also includes oral histories of Margaret Mahy, Ans Westra and Maurice Gee.

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