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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Low hikoi turnout backfires

Prime Minister John Key is taking the small turnout for the second foreshore and seabed hikoi as an endorsement for his government's Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill.

About 300 people marched on Parliament yesterday, swelling the ranks of the 70 who had traveled down from Cape Reinga to protest the way the bill will extinguish customary rights.

Mr Key says that's a good indicator of Maori feeling.

“The fact it is relatively small, you have to take it as an indication for the most part people are satisfied with the changes we are making. If there was really widespread concern I think there would have been a lot more people on that protest,” Mr Key says.

He believes a similarly small percentage of Pakeha oppose the bill, with the majority supporting the Government's handling of the issue.

MAORI LINING UP AS NZ FIRST CANDIDATES

Meanwhile New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who is trying to mine disquiet about the foreshore to build up support, says his party will have more Maori MPs after the next election than any other party.

New Zealand First is currently picking its candidates, although the unlikelihood of it picking up an electorate means the rankings on its party list will be critical.

Mr Peters says many Maori high achievers are putting their names forward.

“We will put up more Mari candidates who will get into Parliament than the rest of those other parties as we always have. These people have got Maori in their background. We will have by the looks of it a number of people who have got all sorts of qualifications, but one of the things they have on their cv is that they have a Maori background,” Mr Peters.

STORIES OF HOPE COLLECTED FOR BOOK

A Maori author is taking a leaf out of one of her books to support Christchurch.

Tina Makereti of Ngati Tuwharetoa, Te Atiawa and Ngati Maniapoto is contributing a story about Pania of the Reef to Tales for Canterbury, an anthology raising money for the Red Cross Christchurch quake relief fund.

She says the story, from her 2010 Huia collection Once Upon a Time in Aotearoa, fitted the brief of hope and survival.

Tales for Canterbury will be available next month in print and e-book versions.

EMOTION AFFECTS BUT FAILS TO SWAY TURIA

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says despite the emotion displayed at yesterday's hikoi against the Marine and Coastal Areas - Takutai Moana - Bill, she won't be withdrawing her support for the bill.

The 300 marchers adopted an attitude of mourning, coming on to Parliament's grounds as if on to a tangi.

She found the sight of the kuia coming on to the grounds weeping deeply moving.

Mrs Turia welcomed the hikoi because, despite disagreeing about whether the bill was the best that could be done for Maori, it was important to show manaakitanga.

GREENS KEEN TO SEE TANGATA WHENUA INFLUENCE PLAN

Greens co-leader Meteria Turei says Maori need to be involved in decision making about the future shape of Auckland.

Ms Turei was among the 400 people who attended today's summit on the Auckland spatial plan, which is supposed to provide a blueprint for the super city's development over the next 30 years.

She says the Greens will have something to say in Maori are omitted from the way the process develops.

She says in many areas such as public transport and public safety, the views of the city's planners seem to coincide with those of the Greens.

KOLOHE KAI WINS MAORI REGGAE FANS

A Hawaiian reggae band is winning legions of young Maori fans.

Kolohe Kai is touring the country with Maori support from 1814 and Sons of Zion.

Backing vocalist Jasmine Moikeha says it has been a great tour so far, with lead singer Roman De Peralta making a real connection with audiences with his themes of family, land, and the iocean.

Kolohe Kai plays the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua tonight, then Hawera, Mount Maunganui and Auckland's Logan Campbell Centre on Saturday night.

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