Waatea News Update

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Lobby group member makes transition

A spokesperson for super city lobby group IHI or Iwi Have Influence says the appointment of co-founder Ngarimu Blair to the board of one of Auckland's council owned organisations won't stop it fighting for Maori seats on the council itself.

Helen Te Hira says just because organisation take to the streets to make their point doesn't mean members can't take up governance roles.

She says the Ngati Whatua o Orakei manager will make a valuable contribution to the Auckland Waterfront Development Agency.

“Very happy for Ngarimu. He’s still a valued member of IHI but I think his appointment has come into a role that acknowledges he is from Ngati Whatua and as heritage manager takes with him a lot of knowledge about Ngati Whatua,” Ms Te Hira says.

IHI plans a hui on September 11 for those people unhappy with the super city's structures to have their say.

IWI BEING CREATIVE IN 1000 YEAR DEALS

The chief executive of Te Ohu Kaimoana, Peter Douglas, says he's impressed with the way iwi are managing the Maori fisheries settlement at ground level.

Northernmost iwi Ngati Kuri has just completed the mandating process, meaning that far north iwi can now negotiate among themselves how quota for coastal species in their region should be divided up.

Mr Douglas says going on how other regions have managed the task, he's confident of a rapid outcome.

“The way you look at these things, they are 1000 year deals. You have to say ‘this is how we think we should share the fish along this coasts’ and you don’t want to brass of the people to the south or north of you so you try to look for solutions everyone feels comfortable with and I think it’s a good exercise to go through and it’s an important thing for more enduring relationships,” Mr Douglas says.

By achieving its mandate, the Ngati Kuri Trust Board gets access to the population-based part of the settlement, amounting to just over $3 million in deepwater quota, cash and shares in Aotearoa Fisheries.

JOSEPHS STAMPS MARK ON SOUTHERN FRANCHISE

The Highlanders' new coach Jamie Josephs has stamped his mark on the Otago team with the signing of five new players, including Jarrod Hoeata from Taranaki, and Canterbury first five Colin Slade.

Commentator Karl Te Nana says the former Wellington and New Zealand Maori coach is showing he has the right temperament and skills to make the Highlanders a real force in the Super 15 competition.

The former New Zealand Sevens captain says Joseph's challenge now is to mould his players into a winning combination, and the results are likely to show in a couple of years.

HOROMIA KEEN TO SEE REPUBLICAN DEBATE RESUMED

With Prime minister John Key off to Scotland next week to see the Queen, Labour's Maori Affairs spokesperson Parekura Horomia says it's time for New Zealanders to start thinking about becoming a republic.

Mr Horomia says Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's call for Australia to cut its ties to the monarchy once the current incumbent dies makes sense for this country too.

He says Aotearoa has some unique issues, but these can be resolved.

“There are only two lots of people who signed the treaty, descendants of Queen Victoria and us, the tangata whenua, and I think it’s really important to make sure that the essence is preserved, it’s not lost, and I’m nit sure how you do that, but I think time has come for a republic, we've grown up,” Mr Horomia says.

EXPERTS GATHER TO DISCUSS REO VALUE

The expert panel looking at Maori language strategy has called reo advocates to a hui at Parliament's banquet hall today.

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples has asked the panel to say whether the government is getting value for the $200 million a year it spends on the reo.

Its chair, Tamati Reedy from Ngati Porou, says it also has to assess whether what's being done by government is in line with the aspirations of iwi and Maori.

“Apart from value for money there are other values such as what is it doing to create an identity within the nation, identity within Maoridom itself, how is it contributing to the well being of the Maori people, and so those are deep philosophical questions and who is to carry this great task of nurturing the reo so it lives on for all time,” Professor Reedy says.

MESSAGE FOR FORMER ADDICTS FOR GAMBLE FREE DAY

It's Gamble Free Day, and the manager of a Maori problem gambling service says that's a great a chance to reflect on the damage pokie machines are causing to communities.

Zoe Hawke from south Auckland Maori public health provider Hapai Te Hauora Tapui says although many councils are bringing in sinking lid policies, there are still far too many gaming machines in poor suburbs.

She says former addicts are driving the kaupapa, bringing to it their experience of how addictive pokies are.

Gamble Free Day was started in 2004 by delegates at a community action on gambling conference in Rotorua.

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