Waatea News Update

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

My Photo
Name:
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Friday, October 12, 2007

Treaty resources needed

OCTOBER 11 BULLETIN 2
National's leader believes more resources need to be put into the treaty claims sector to ensure durable settlements.

On the 32nd anniversary of its creation, John Key says the Waitangi Tribunal has provided a valuable forum for Maori to put forward their claims and the rationale as to why they are legitimate.

But he says it's clear the tribunal continues to be under-resourced, which puts pressure on what is already an extremely complex and time-consuming process.

“Even with all the money in the world, which it doesn’t have, but if it did, there are still bottlenecks around the historians and the people who can credibly pass judgment on these issues,” Mr Key says.

He says it's no good to iwi or to the country if settlements aren't durable, so it's important to get things right from the start.

GRANTS FOR NUTRITION PLANS

Nelson Malborough District Health Board is handing out money to improve nutrition in the community.

Richard Butler from the board's nutrition and physical activity programme says $5000 mini-contracts are available for Maori-led nutrition initiatives, and community projects which support vulnerable people and families

There are also micro grants of up to $1000, with priority given to Maori to develop their own responses to improving whanau nutrition.

He says groups have until the second of November to apply for the funds, which can be used for anything from growing gardens to running exercise programmes.

“The best outcome for us is that some of the groups that receive the small contracts, the $5000 initiatives, that they will be coming back to us or other funders or have the resources to sustain the initiatives that they trial with these grants and small contracts,” Mr Butler says.

Nelson Malborough District Health Board's long term objective is to lower rates of obesity, diabetes and cardiac disease in the community.

TATTOOED HEAD RETURNING FROM FRANCE

A tattooed head imprisoned in a French museum for more than 130 years is coming home.

The koiwi was given to the Museum d'Rouen by a private collector in 1875.

Herewini Te Koha, Te Papa's acting manager of repatriation, says the return of the head later this month followed a call for the return of all Maori remains from musem collections around the world.

He hopes the Rouen decision sets a precedent for that country.

The Rouen head was removed from the permanent display in 1996.

SIO DEFENDS MANUKAU ANALYSIS

A Manukau City councilor is standing by his view the country's largest Polynesian city won't elect a Maori and Pacific Island mayor this time round.

Su'a William Sio has come under fire from mayoral candidates Arthur Anae and Willie Jackson for his prediction, made during an interview with a Pacific Island radio station.

The two former MPs say the Otara ward representative's comments are belittling, and could discourage Maori and Pacific island people from voting.

But Mr Sio says he's just giving his analysis of voter sentiment and behaviour in a city where Maori and Pacific Island people make up 43 percent of the population.

“We aspire to have a Maori or a Pacific mayor for Manukau City, and Manukau City will certainly deserve a Maori or Pacific mayor, but during this election period, I do not believe of the candidates that are there, that the voters will vote for that,” Mr Sio says.

Voters will be looking at a candidate's track record rather than the colour of their skin.

ENTERTAINMENT A BUSINESS, OLD TIMERS SHOW

The Minister of Maori Affairs wants to see more Maori succeed in the entertainment business.

Parekura Horomia opened today's Maori Entertainers' Music Conference in west Auckland, which is offering musicians young and old a chance to learn from each other and from industry veterans.

He says talent doesn't guarantee success, and Maori performers have long known they need business smarts as well.

“You go back to the Quin Tikis, Sir Howard, Tui Teka, Dalvanius, in their own right they were business and entrepreneur icons but this next couple of days are a serious look at the opportunities in TV, the movie world, the stage world. It’s a huge business and it’s a thing I believe we’re naturally good at,” he says.

Tomorrow, Parekura Horomia will be attending hui in Wellington on Maori broadcasting and electronic media organised by Te Puni Kokiri.

WIKI COMMISERATES ON ALL BLACK LOSS

Rugby League great Reuben Wiki has some words of commiseration for the defeated All Blacks.

The former Kiwis captain says he's been in enough losing test sides to know how Richie McCaw and his squad will be feeling now they're home from the World Cup.

Mr Wiki is in Wellington hoping to inspire this year's Kiwi squad to salvage some pride for the country by beating Australia on Sunday.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home