Waatea News Update

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

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Monday, August 11, 2008

Warm houses means fewer sick kids

A programme to insulate Northland homes is cutting the number of children getting sick with respiratory illnesses.

Chris Farrelly, the head of Whangarei-based Manaia public health organisation, says 250 homes have been insulated over the past few months.

He says up to 4000 more will be done over the next five years.

"Go into these homes and people will say, 'this time last year we were taking our kids to the doctor every second day. We haven't been to the doctor once this winter.' To prevent little kids going to the doctors with severe respiratory issues is just stunning and it's not rocket science. It's on thing we can do," Mr Farrelly says.

Priority in the insulation programme is being given to houses where there are lots of children, or elderly or disabled people.
 
HOHAIA STEPPING UP TO WARRIOR CHALLENGE IN ANY POSITION

Waikato-bred Warrrior Lance Hohaia is getting praise for his willingness to cover a multitude of positions for the Auckland based NRL side.

Hohaia has been dropped as starting fullback to make way for Wade McKinnon, who is back from injury.

But the man known as the Huntly Hurricane came off the bench on Saturday to make a valuable contribution to the 16-12 win over the Brisbane Broncos at Mt Smart.

Duanne Mann, a former Kiwi and founding Warrior, says a new maturity in the utility's game makes him a valuable asset as the team makes a desperate effort to make the final eight.

"The players love what Lance is doing this year with his form. He is the true utility. He's happy to give it a shot whenever he can and when he gets on the field he'll give it his best. A lot of maturity coming from Lance this year both on and off the field and Wade McKinnon is our number one fullback, but Lance, whatever number he wears on his back, he'll give it his best," Mann says.
 
HAKA KEEPS UP TEAM KAHA

The haka may give New Zealand's Olympic athletes a sporting edge.

Veteran broadcaster Kingi Ihaka says criticism that the haka is being overused in Beijing fails to see it's a strong motivator - as other codes have shown.

"At the level the All Blacks perform it at, it does give them a slight edge, because soon after that haka they are fizzing. Many sports people organising rugby have tried to dampen it down because of the edge we get," Mr Ihaka says.

He says the use of the haka is a good sign tikanga Maori is alive and well.

TAMIHERE BACKING WORK FOR THE DPB PLAN

A former Labour cabinet minister is offering guarded support for John Key's new social welfare policy.

The National leader is promising to make solo parents do work or training for at least 15 hours a week once their youngest child reaches the age of six.

John Tamihere, who now heads west Auckland's Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust, says creating an expectation that beneficiaries should work if they are able to can be positive.

"I've got huge sympathy for those that are trapped there. In the other hand, a number of our people have got it as a lifestyle now and can't break out because whilst it was a safety net it has now trapped them so badly they will need some management processes out of it," Mr Tamihere says.

He would have concerns if work was used as a punishment for beneficiaries.
 
DIGITAL SERVICE DOESN'T EXCITE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

The pan Maori group which appoints the board of Maori Television is concerned at what the channel is doing with its new te reo service.

The digital channel was launched in March and broadcasts three hours of commercial-free Maori language content a night.

Tu Williams, the chair of Te Putahi Paho, says the programming was discussed at a hui last week.

"We're getting feedback so it's not only us sitting round a table as Te Putahi Paho, our constituency would expect us to ensure that the kind of programming that is coming across on the new channel is programing that is quality in terms of the content, the language and the genre as well, the range of genres," Mr Williams says.

Te Putahi Paho intends to meet with Maori Television in the next few days so its concerns can be incorporated into the board's strategic planning meeting this month.
 
NGATI POROU GETTING SIGN OFF FROM FORESHORE HAPU

The Ngati Porou Runanga is going back to its members to get agreement on the wording to its historic foreshore and seabed settlement.

Negotiator Mataanuku Mahuika says the runanga has made considerable progress since the heads of agreement was signed in February.

He says the constituent hapu, whose rights are being protected throught the deal, are keen to see the fine print of the Deed of Agreement initialled last week.

Time is tight, but a lot of the groundwork has been done.

"There's a reasonable amount of information already been circulating. In the lead up. we will have another hui of some description with key hapu contacts that we have been working with in relation to this, and then we will go into the ratification process proper. The aim is to get it completed by the second half of September," Mr Mahuika says.

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