Waatea News Update

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

My Photo
Name:
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Friday, May 08, 2009

Sharples clarifies reason for Fiji outreach

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says a proposed trip to Fiji won't be a purely Maori Party exercise.

Dr Sharples says he accepts that neither he nor fellow minister Tariana Turia can go to the troubled island state, because they would be considered official representatives of the New Zealand Government.

But he says work continues on organising a delegation led by Maori Party president Whatarangi Winiata and MP Tau Henare, with possible involvement by other leaders like King Tuheitia and Tuwharetoa chief Tumu te Heuheu.

“He whanaunga tatou. Whether we like it or not, we are the same people and we are children of the Pacific, these are our cousins, and he raruraru he reira, they’ve got difficulties, it’s only right we should go over and show support for them, not necessarily to take sides at all politically but just to be there and if we can be an ear and if there’s an avenue we can help the situation, then that's good,” Dr Sharples says.

He expects to be back in his home village of Takapau in the Hawkes Bay this weekend, where the community is mourning the death of police senior constable Len Snee, who was shot in Napier yesterday.

MAORI NEED TO STAND UP FOR REDUNDANCY ENTITLEMENTS

The retirement commissioner is urging Maori who have lost their jobs or face redundancy need to seek help from community and government agencies.

Diana Crossan says Maori are often to whakamaa or shy to ask for what they are entitled to.

She says with Maori unemployment now close to 12 percent, whanau need all the help that's available.

Dianna Crossan says if they don't seek proper advice, Maori may miss out on Work and Income's special redundancy help or redundancy tax credits, and they also need to make sure their mortgage, credit card or hire purchase debts don't get out of control.

PETER GODON BRINGS FUSION FLAVORS TO KING’S HANGI

New Zealand super-cook Peter Gordon will put down his first hangi for the Maori King this weekend.

The gourmet steam-up at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia will be part of Tainui's celebrations of Matariki, the Maori new year.
The Ngati Kahungunu chef says as well as traditional fare like whole baby lamb, pork loin and chicken, he'll be adding some fusion flavourings.

“What I love is when you open the pit and get that lovely earthy aroma. What I thought would be interesting is to introduce things like Thai red curry paste, and lots of herbs, rosemary and thyme and kawakawa and horopito so what I want is when it’s unearthed. There’s this lovely aroma that bursts out of the ground, and that’s probably going to be the highlight of a few many years actually,” Mr Gordon says.

The event will raise money for Hinewehi Mohi's Auckland-based Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre, with Mohi, Hollie Smith and Dave Dobbyn performing for the expected 700 diners.

HIRIA REEDY NOTED FOR DISTINGUISHED FAMILY

Ngati Porou is in mourning for Hiria Te Kiekie Reedy, the mother of National list MP Hekia Parata, who died in Gisborne on Wednesday at the age of 75.

Relative Willy Te Aho says the kuia brought together the bloodlines of two distinguished East Coast whanau, Ngarimu and Reedy, and many of her 10 children have also had distinguished careers in public service.

They include Te Matatini chairperson Selwyn Parata, senior Educaiton Ministry official Apryl Parata, television producer Maraki Parata and Tolaga Bay Area School principal Nori Parata.

Hiria Reedy is lying in state at Hiruharama Marae in Ruatorea, with the funeral service at 11 tomorrow at Te Horo Marae in Waiomatatini.
patch – workman

GANG PATCH LAW A RECRUITMENT AID

A former head of the Corrections Service says Wanganui's gang patch ban is likely to boost gang recruitment.

Kim Workman, who now heads lobby group Rethinking Crime and Punishment, says if the new law could make gang life attractive to disaffected young Maori by driving it further underground.

“It's not going to do anything at all to decrease the number of gangs in our community, In fact what it might do increase it because often when you start legislating against people in that way, they see that as a challenge against the authorities,” Mr Workman says.

JOBS NOT JABS SAYS HARAWIRA

Meanwhile, Taitokerau MP Hone Harawira says gangs need jobs, not bans.

He says the law barring gang insignia from the city centre won't eliminate anti social behaviour, and it won't change the people inside the patches.

“It doesn't change the poverty, the educational underachievement, the lack of work. You don’t change by taking something of someone’s back. You do it by putting something in their belly,” Mr Harawira says.

MARSHALL READY FOR CAPTAIN’S ROLE

The manager of the New Zealand Rugby League squad says Benji Marshall is the right man for the job.

The talented Tuhoe playmaker leads the Kiwis in their annual Anzac test match in Brisbane tonight.

Gordon Gibbons, who has managed the team for the best part of a decade, says the West Tigers halfback and former New Zealand touch rep has grown into a complete footballer able to lead from the front.

A win tonight will be the first time the Kiwis have scored back to back wins over the Aussies in more than 50 years.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home