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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Lonely Planet gets down to the pa

Grassroots Maori tourism ventures have made a big impression on the Lonely Planet.

The latest edition of the guidebook advises independent travellers that small-scale Maori operators can give a more genuine experience.

Its highlights include the Footsteps over Waipoua, Whakarewarewa Village and the Kawhia Kai festival, as well as tiki touring round the East Cape.

John Barrett, the chair of the Maori Tourism Council, is welcoming recognition of the character and quality of the Maori sector.
 
"We've been banging on about it for a few years now and the international market is certainly picking up on it. Lonely Planet put some of its spies into the marketplace and came across some of our really great and unique little Maori operations scattered around the country and they've certainly got appeal," he says.

Mr Barrett says operators who get into the Lonely Planet need to keep their standards up to ensure a consistent experience.
 
POSITIVE DIRECTIONS FROM PORT NICHOLSON BLOCK CLAIMANTS

The deed's been signed, and now Port Nicholson Block claimants are getting down to the business of becoming one of Wellington's biggest landlords.

There was a large turnout at Pipitea Marae this morning to witness the settlement marking the end of almost 170 years of protest by Taranaki Whaanui that the terms of their deal to sell land around Wellington harbour was never honoured.

Through a combination of direct land transfers, lease back arrangements with government agencies and the right to buy surplus Crown land, the 15-thousand strong claimant community will end up with a large property portfolio.

Shane Jones, an associate Minister of Treaty Negotiations, says while the settlement will require significant commercial acumen to administer, the claimants aren't losing sight of the cultural and social implications.

"Well what I was excited about when I heard the Wellington Tenths leadership speak is that they actually wanted to do very practical things, quite apart from property management. They want to see more of their people housed. They want to do partnerships with the Government. They want to see more of the land and resources they are going to get back turned not only into commercial development but as homes and residences for both young and old," he says.

Mr Jones says it's an amazing feat that the five tribes involved have remained a united and coherent body in the 21 years since the claim was lodged.
 
MAARA GOING IN ON WAIKATO RIVER BANK

Ancient Maori gardening practices are being revived central Hamilton with the help of Lottery funds.

The lotteries Commission's Significant Projects Fund has given $438 thousand to the Hamilton City Council to complete Te Parapara Garden.

Wiremu Puke, the council's cultural advisor, says the maara in Hamilton were once abundant, feeding not just the Waikato tribes but the new settlement in Auckland.

"The preparation of a maara reaches to the core values of our culture, particularly where kai is concerned. The basis of traditional food preparation is centered around a celebration of kai," Mr Puke says.

The design of the garden is based on oral knowledge and on descriptions by travellers like Edward Shortland, who journeyed up the Waikato river in 1842.

TAINUI NOT AFRAID TO EMBRACE THE SQUAMISH

Tainui leader Tukoroirangi Morgan says a memorandum of understanding signed at Turangawaewae today with the Squamish people of British Columbia unites like minded people.

Senior leaders of the Vancouver-based First Nations people are at Ngaruawahia to pledge cooperation on cultural and economic initiatives.
Mr Morgan says the Squamish are one of the Canada's most commercially successful indigenous groups, with assets totalling over $4 billion including a major marina in downtown Vancouver.

"We're very careful about who we have a strategic alliance with, both cultural and economic, even in this country. We have to be cautious and selective about who we line up (with) commercially, and the Squamish nation is hugely successful," Mr Morgan says.

The MOU will open doors to global opportunities.

The Koroneihana hui continues tomorrow with kawe mate mo te motu, followed by an evening of kapa haka.

SPECIAL WHALE HARBINGER OF CHANGING TIMES FOR IWI

Hauraki iwi say a rare whale which is on its way to Te Papa is a tohu mai Tangaroa - a sign from the sea.

The melon-headed whale, which beached itself last year on the shore of Te Whanganui-a-Hei, has been buried under the sand in front of Ko Te Ra Matiti Marae near Whitianga.

Joe Davis from Ngati Hei says it was nicknamed 'Ki Uta', which means come ashore.

He says a whale stranding is always considered a sign from Tangaroa, but Ki Uta was a bit more special.

"This particular whale, when we found out it was a very rare one, the status of that particular tohora became quite clear to us and quite important to us. We looked at that and felt that this tohora was great promise, it looked like it could be changing times ahead not just for Ngati Hei but also Hauraki and maybe even Maoridom," Mr Davis says.

By exhuming the whale, Ngati Hei is building up its relationship with Te Papa, and it intends to be involved when the bones are displayed in about five years time.
 
DENNIS MARSH TOP MALE COUNTRY SINGER AFTER 20 YEARS

After two decades in the music business, Maori country music star Dennis Marsh has won recognition from his pee's

At the national awards in Hamilton on the weekend, Marsh was named Male Country Music Artist of the Year at the National Awards in Hamilton.
The former trucker and carpenter began his musical career began in 1984 after he was dragged along to his first country music club in Manurewa and cajoled into taking the mic.

He's released 20 albums, including two this year, and says his voice is getting better with age.

Dennis Marsh will be on the road for 17 solo shows later this year; and he's also been asked to join a Legends of Country Music tour.

 
 
 

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