Waatea News Update

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Landless iwi Pahauwera inks deal

Once deemed a 'landless' iwi by the Waitangi Tribunal, Ngati Pahauwera today signed the first document of settlement negotiations.

The northern Hawkes Bay iwi centred on the Mohaka River today made history by signing an Agreement in Principle dealing with historical Treaty and foreshore and seabed claims.

Ngati Pahauwera negotiator Tom Gemmell says an important part of the AIP is securing a section Te Heru o Tureia Conservation area, a culturally significant block of land.

Mr Gemmell says it was the Waitangi Tribunal's description of Ngati Pahauwera that made land the key negotiation point.

“ Initially there was something like 150,000 hectares of land that was subject to a sale in the 1800s. At that time there was only something like 6000 left in the hands of Pahauwera. Hence the Waitangi Tribunal finding that Pahauwera was a landless iwi. It was on that basis we negotiated with the intent of getting back as much land as we could,” Mr Gemmell says.

Ngati Pahauwera has been working well and quickly with the Crown and hope to continue on with that speed.

LAW AND ORDER UNSTATED HEART OF RACE DEBATE

A Maori who has been closely involved in the treaty settlements process sees the big issues of race relations and treaty settlements being eclipsed by poverty issues facing young people in areas like South Auckland.

Labour MP Shane Jones says fare to many young Pacific islanders and Maori are falling prey to drugs as a result of social dislocation.

“More and more people I talk to, that’s the thick end of what race relations policy means on the ground. Treaty settlements are an important chapter that we’re going through as a country but the outstanding business really lies in the area of law and order, when you’re looking at our young people and young Pacific Islanders,” Mr Jones says.

He says political parties are moving closer together in cobbling together a strategy on race relations, paving the way for the issues facing young people to be focused on more.

NATIONAL PARK PLAN FOR SIX SURF BREAKS

A Maori surfer is supportive of plans to protect six of the country's top surf breaks by giving them national park status.

Under the Department of Conservation's proposed coastal policy, the six surf breaks of national significance ... including Shipwrecks in Ahipara, Raglan, and Stent Road in Taranaki .. would become protected surfing reserves.

Te Kauhoe Wano, who's toured the country's surfing spots as co-host of Maori Television's surf show Te Hikoi Mahanga, believes leaving the breaks under the control of local councils leaves them vulnerable.

“That's what's happened with Whangamata. The council, they’re wanting a marina because it’s going to bring money into the area. It’s going to be a rich man’s playground and that’s a concern for Whangamata as it’s going to destroy one of the premier left hand breaks in New Zealand, the Whangamata bar, so the protection will be a major benefit for those six beaches,” Mr Wano says.

He says iwi in each area need to be consulted, before any deal is done.

SOFTER POLICIES GOOD FOR MAORI BUT LABOUR BETTER

Maori Labour MP Shane Jones sees National's move away from the policies of former National leader Dr Don Brash as a good thing for Maoridom.

However the list MP says Maori should not be fooled by what he calls the trail of bread crumbs National is laying down to attract whanau and the Maori party to join forces with them.

“None of us
 stood to profit from Don Brash’s toxic approach and at one level it’s good we move closer together in respect of cobbling together a strategy to deal with race relations issues,” Mr Jones says.

He says National's Maori policy released this week borrows on the work of Minister of Treaty Settlements Dr Michael Cullen but the key thing is that National has not abandoned the idea of abolishing the Maori seats

WARD FILM GETS ENDORSEMENT FROM BAY LOCALS

Vincent Ward's new movie "Rain of the Children" is getting the thumbs up from locals who remember the key events and characters depicted clearly.

It follows the life of Puhi... chosen by Tuhoe prophet Rua Kenana to marry his son.

She survived the 1916 police invasion of Maungapohatu and went on to have 14 children, most of who died before she did.

Ray Bell... who is now in his eighties... lived in the Urewera where his Scots-Irish whanau ran the local store.

“My dad used to trade with Rua. Rua would bring his entourage down from Maungapohatu and come and trade at his store. The regular order would be half a ton of flour and half a ton of sugar, plus all the bits and pieces that went with it and they would have to take it up the valley in trucks until eventually they packed it through the middle of the Urewera to Maungapohatu, all on packhorses, so they were hard times if you can imagine
,” Mr Bell says.

He says Vincent Ward captured the period extremely well.

"Rain of the Children" opened in cinema around the country last week.

FIRM COMBINES CULTURAL STRENGTHS

A new Rotorua firm is trying to make a business out of two different forms of Maori knowledge.

Rakai Limited incorporates Maori art, including piupiu making, raranga and contemporary pieces alongside Maori language services.

Directors Ruihapounamu Ruwhiu and Karl Leonard are part time tutors at Te Wananga o Raukawa in Otaki, and juggle their business and teaching commitments with raising four children under the age of 6.

Ms Ruwhiu says combining their talents into one company wasn't hard due to the cultural link.

“His was mahi-toi weaving and mine is te reo, Maori language services and things like eciting, running te reo courses. We come under the one name, one is language and the other is art, but they are both connected by the matauranga Maori aspect,” Ms Ruwhiu says.

She says they hope to be working full time for Rakai within three years.

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