Waatea News Update

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

My Photo
Name:
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

FOMA fears forest lock in

The Federation of Maori Authorities is still trying to get last minute changes to the bill setting up an emissions trading scheme.

The bill would impose penalties on changing the use of land which was in forest before 1990.

Paul Morgan, the federation's chief executive, says that would affect about 700,000 hectates of Maori land, as well as land returned under treaty settlements.

He says it will have a serious negative effect on the value of those lands.

"They will be locked up into forestry. many of those lands have actually got a far better use. They should be used for higher value activity and it's still a major issue for Maori, the loss of value and the loss of flexible land use," Mr Morgan says.

The Bill as it stands could expose the Government to billions of dollars in compensation claims.
 
PARENTING COURSES NEEDED FOR TEENAGERS

The head of a Whangarei public health organisation says parenting courses are needed for the region's teenagers.

Chris Farrelly from Manaia PHO says more than half the children born in Taitokerau each year are Maori.

He says child poverty in the region is high, leading to high rates of illness.

He says putting pressure on beneficiary parents to get part time work, as National is promising, isn't the answer.

"What I do back is increasing work being done in our teen parent units, in our ante-natal units, education, in actually preparing our young people for parenthood. That is a huge issue we have to address and get working rather than coming in from the other side and hitting the benefit side," Mr Farrelly says. 

Manaia PHO is backing the Children's commissioner's call for sustained action to end child poverty.
 
WHITEBAIT FEATURE IN CHILDREN'S BOOK

A love of kaimoana spurred a Pukekohe wahine to publish her first children's book.

Candice Reading's book The Maketu Whitebait, illustrated by Vonnie Sterrit, was launched on Saturday.

It describes the life story of three juvenile whitebait.

Reading, who writes under the name Werohia, says she was promoted to write the book by a cousin who knew of her long invovlement in conservation issues.

RANGITANE PLANS FIRST TRIBAL FESTIVAL

Organisers of the first Rangitaane Festival hope to bring together the tribe's scattered branches.

More than 5000 people are believed to affiliate to the iwi, which is spread in pockets from Manawatu and Hawke's Bay down to the top of the South Island.

Bridgette te Awe Awe Beavan says more than 1000 are expected at the three-day festival in Palmerston North in November.

They're hoping to make a similar impact to the festivals held by iwi like Takitimu, Ngapuhi and Tainui.

The festival will include sports, kapa haka, historical and cultural events and a whole lot of whanaungatanga.

 
MAORI PARTY STANCE BOGGLE'S SAMUELS' MIND

Retiring Labour MP Dover Samuels is stunned Maori voters could support a party which will work with people hell bent on destroying its chances of parliamentary representation.

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira has told Waatea News he's willing to work with National if they win this year's election.

Mr Samuels says Maori Party supporters must be are walking around with blindfolds  if they are unaware of National's intentions.

"One of their not-negotiable policies was to get rid of Maori representation in the Parliament. And then we hear Maori members of the Maori Party saying they could work with the Tories. Now I'm absolutely mind boggled," Mr Samuels says.
 
MAHIA BLACKMORE AND BULLFROG RATA DUET

This Sunday's Sonny Day tribute concert in Auckland is bringing together two highly regarded Maori musicians for the first time.

Bulls-based singer songwriter Mahia Blackmore is road testing material with blues legend Bullfrog Rata on the way up the island this week.

She's confident the collaboration will sit well with those gathered to acknowledge the contribution to New Zealand music made by Day, who died a year ago

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home