Waatea News Update

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

My Photo
Name:
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

FOMA joins Cut the Rate campaign

The Federation of Maori Authorities is backing a campaign fight for lower mobile phone charges.

Chief executive Rino Tirikatene says FOMA has joined at campaign to regulate termination charges for ending calls or texts from other fixed or mobile networks allowing Telecom and Vodafone to stifle competition.

“Maori, just like all New Zealanders, are being ripped off and charged exorbitant costs to make their mobile phone calls and texts and we are encouraging the minister to adopt the Commerce Commission recommendation and cut those mobile termination rates so new entrants like Two Degrees are given a fair go and there is greater competition in the marketplace,” Mr Tirikatene says.

Organisations in the campaign include new mobile operator 2degrees, Consumer New Zealand, Federated Farmers, the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, the Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand, and the Unite union.

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS DAY PASSES UNHERALDED

A leading indigenous rights advocate says a lack of acknowledgment for last weekend's World Indigenous Day highlights the absence of support for Maori as equal treaty partners.

Aroha Mead, from Ngati Awa and Ngati Porou, says not many people knew about the day, which was organised up by the United Nations and deserved to be celebrated in a grand style.

She says the government has failed to address many recommendations by the United Nations on indigenous rights making acknowledgement of the day even more important.

SCAFFOLDER ACKNOWLEDGED FOR HARD WORK IN TRAINING

A Maori labourer's hard work has been recognised at a recent awards conference.

The Scaffolding and Rigging New Zealand Association recently awarded the Scaffolding Student of the Year award to Reihana Fraser, the team leader of Daveron Scaffolding in Christchurch.

He says his rise from unemployment to becoming team leader is all down to hard work.

Reihana Fraser has been awarded a scholarship from Te Tai Poutini's Diploma in Scaffolding Management.

GOFF WISHES TUHOE WELL IN SETTLEMENT PROCESS

Labour leader Phil Goff has wished Tuhoe well in their campaign to get compensation from the Crown for confiscations and injustices done in the 1800's.

Tuhoe leaders are in Wellington today to receive a settlement offer from the government expected to be in the order of $150-170 million before taking it back to their people at hui tonight and tomorrow.

Phil Goff says it is important that grievances are addressed and an adequate level of remedy can be found.

“This is something we do want to complete, we do want to put that process behind us so we can look forward to how we can build a better life for all of our people, Maori and Pakeha alike,” Mr Goff says.

Compromises will have to found and in many senses treaty settlement is a symbolic process.

INBOUND TOUR OPERATORS LOOK AT BRINGING MAORI ON BOARD

Ways Maori tourist operators can maximise their commercial potential is among the kaupapa being discussed at the Inbound Tour Operators annual conference which started in Gisborne today.

Graham Breckell, Chief Executive of Tourism Eastland says the conference of 200 delegates is a great chance for Maori operators to see how they can work to grow businesses for their whanau and their region.

Following last weeks Eco tourism conference Gisborne is committed to exploring and developing local business.

MAORI BOOK AWARDS TO MARK LIBRARY WEEK

Maori children's book awards were held yesterday to start off the country's Library Week celebrations.

Library & Information Association spokesperson, Alice Heather says past challenges for judges have been comparing books of different genres against one another and the addition of four new awards has proved helpful and exciting.

The overall winner was Mihiroa by Peehi Nohotima.

Other prizes went to Toheroa by James Te Tuhi and Hinemoa te Toa by Tim Tipene. The translation prize went to Katerina Mataira.

The LIANZA children's book awards have been held annually in Wellington since 1945 with the Te Kura Pounamu section added in 1996 to recognise children's books written in te reo Maori.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home