Waatea News Update

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

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Turbines seen as threat to snapper

Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira says an experimental tidal power plant to be built in the Kaipara Harbour is a threat to fish suplies.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson last week approved Crest Energy's plan to build its first three of 200 turbines near the harbour entrance.

Mr Harawira says the minister had failed to listen to iwi and local arguments against the plan.

“It's like dumping a mountain load of cars in the middle of the harbour which is the biggest snapper nursery in the whole country so if you want to eat snapper for breakfast, dinner, then stop the turbines because that turbine farm is gong to wipe out the snapper nursery,” he says.

Mr Harawira says Crest Energy is using untried technology.

MINISTRY OFFERS 500 HEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS

The Health Ministry is looking to fill 500 scholarship places in its Maori workforce development programme.

Programme leader Renee Reweti of Te Whanau a Apanui says the scholarships cover a wide range of disciplines and levels, from dentists, doctors and health managers to dentistry and health management, to midwifery, nursing and diploma level courses.

She says Maori are under-represented throughout the health workforce.

Renee Reweti says the scholarships are available to anyone with a Maori whakapapa studying health at tertiary level, with applications closing next month.

TUA AND MAORI TELEVISION PART ON HIGH NOTE

Maori Television and boxer David Tua have ended their relationship on a positive note.

More than 300,000 viewers tuned in to Saturday night's bout against Demetrice King, which the 38-year-old Tua won comfortably on points.

Maori Television chief executive Jim Mather says the three-fight deal gave the Samoan a chance to get his stalled career back on track.

He says it was a mutually beneficial relationship, and the contractual terms have been honoured.

Mr Mather says David Tua's post-fight thanks to MTS was heart felt and well received.

DEMAND FOR RETURN OF FORESHORE TAONGA

Today's foreshore and seabed hikoi to Parliament will demand the return of taonga given to the Maori Party after its first year in Parliament.

Spokesperson Ropata Paora says the marchers will be joined by kaumatua and kuia from Kaipara and Tamaki Makaurau, who presented the two metre matau and punga or hook and anchor as a sign of support for their local MP, Hone Harawira.

He says the Maori Party MPs have not been true to the kaupapa represented by the taonga.

“The matau is also symbolic of knowledge and the moana and the anchor was to keep the roopu focused on the issues, the main one being the protection of our lands, forests and fisheries. We believe now the canoe has sailed so it may be better served somewhere else,” Mr Paora says.

The kaumatua have asked that the taonga be placed at the bottom of parliament's steps, so they don't have to go into the building to retrieve it.

MAHUTA WAITING FOR WIND TO BLOW ON GOFF

Another of Labour's Maori MPs has broken ranks with leader Phil Goff over working with former Maori Party MP Hone harawira.

Mr Goff ruled out including the Tai Tokerau MP in his post-election planning because he says he was extreme and unreliable.

But Waikato-Hauraki MP Nanaia Mahuta says Mr Harawira has taken similar positions to Labour on issues such as the 90-day bill, raising the minimum wage, and greater protection for employee rights.

“But the real proof is what happens after election 2011 and I’ve been in politics long enough to know that the wind blows both ways and you can’t rule anyone in and out before that day. That’s the day that matters,” she says.

Ms Mahuta has confirmed she will stand again this year, despite stepping back in Labour's rankings for health and family reasons.

NGATI RUANUI UNVEIL STONE FOR ANCESTORS

A south Taranaki iwi is unveiling a kohatu or stone in Otago today to honour ancestors held prisoner there during the land wars.

Ngati Ruanui chair Ngapari Nui says the group was taken there in 1869 after the end of the war against Titokowaru's forces.

He says while attention has been given to a later group of prisoners taken south after the invasion of Parihaka a decade later, his iwi needs to remember its own ... including those who never returned.

He says it’s telling Ngati Runanui’s history, instead of Parihaka’s history.

He says some of the Ngati Ruanui ancestors were arrested for a second time at Parihaka and again sent south.

1 Comments:

Blogger takutaimoana4sure said...

We object to the Political Party named “The Maori Party” within the New Zealand Government, voting in support of the legislation named “The Marine and Coastal Area (Takutaimoana) Bill.

This legislation violates and breaches Maori Rights embedded in the treaty named “Te Tiriti O Waitangi” and the Declaration named “He Whakaputanga o nga Rangatira o Niu Tireni”.

We also object to the Maori Party,s continuation of support to this legislation.

Therefore,we would like to state Maori Party’s vote of support for the Marine and Coastal Area Bill DOES NOT represent our support or tautoko.

We request that the Political Party named the Maori Party cease immediately their continuation of support of the “Marine and Coastal Area(Takutaimoana) Bill, as it continues to violate and breach “Te Tiriti O Waitangi”.

For the asaid reasons given above

We request that Assent is NOT GIVEN to the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutaimoana) Bill by the Governor General of New Zealand.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/we-object-to-your-political-party-named-the-maori-party-within-the-new-zealand-voting-i/

9:58 pm  

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