CACTUS SAVES MAORI PARTY MONEY

For all the followers of the Hone debacle - read this and the Maori party could save squillions if they read it as well.

Cactus has done for free what Mai Chen will do for squillions. And it begs a question why wont the Maori party use Maori constitutional lawyers?

FINALLY - MAORI LEADERS SEE THE MOA IN THE WHARE

We have been harping on about the crap Maori leaders who do a lot of schmoozing and grooving but bugger all to guide their own people out of the poverty pit.

But two recent pronouncements have given us some hope. One , from Mark Solomon, sounds good and wise , but anything from Mark needs to be considered against the backdrop of his fragile leadership. It has the feel of an orchestrated PR campaign.

However, despite the motivation, it is fantastic that Ngai Tahu's big cheese is finally calling for the tribe to tackle domestic violence. Excellent. Now we expect him to follow with some more unpalatable truths, like too many of the tribe have gang affiliations and he needs to condemn them too. And that poverty is still a big issue.So a good start from Solomon. But now we have heard what he thinks we want to know what he is going to do .

Iif Solomon's admittance, that it was time for Maori to take ownership of the issues that Maori have been trying to blame on everyone else wasn't a big and happy surprise , it was a bigger andhappier surprise when Pita Sharples followed suit.

The story is in the Dom this morning and the headline "Put health before beaches says Sharples" - gives you the picture. We think that this speech is a turning point for the party. It is an acknowledgment of what really matters to the rank and file.

It shows that there are many more things that will change the destiny of Maori than some technical access and ownership to some land that is well used and cared for now.

"For many of my friends they dont even know whats going on with the foreshore and seabed......

But they know whats going on at home when they are hungry.

They know whats going on at home when then havent got jobs....

These are the sorts of things that our people are dealing with day to day and thats why I really would like us to think why we are in parliament.

There were a few good stories in the media this morning but none more important than Sharples telling the Maori Party Conference that the issues of health and crime were far more important to Maori than beaches.

It is the best thing that Sharples has said for a bloody long time. The grievances of old need to be sorted but in terms of priority, diabetes, domestic violence, infanticide, education and drugs merit more effort and attention.

Maori dont need to "own the beaches" to feel better or have a better life. But they do need to own the social problems they are facing collectively and individually.

As two of the more prominent Maori leaders have now put this issue on the the nations paepae

we think that the debate will gain some momentum. Whanau Ora could well be the start. Ad it begs the question - Is this the beginning of the true Maori renaissance?

OUCH!

We fell about laughing when we read this bit in the Herald today...

Mr Kruger who is leading the negotiations with the Crown said the politics around ownership should never have surprised Mr Key. Not only did the tribe meet with him to discuss it but the PM is the also the chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations.
That's the committee which vets proposals before it goes to a full cabinet meeting.The last time the deal was put to the committee was in mid-March, he said.
"In that proposal is ownership [of Te Urewera] - what, you're the chair and you've never heard of this before?
"We had our one go up twice and get the big tick.

"Well, either he doesn't read his minutes ... some of my marae committee members are like that. You know, when I have a hapu hui some of my uncles and aunties don't bother read the minutes they just tell me to hurry up so they can get to the biscuits and tea

It is a very fine example of a Maori put down.  However we think that Kruger  is playing a dangerous game and at the end of the day this government offers them the best chance at a decent and speedy resolution to their grieveances.

Now even Ngai Tahu didnt get all it wanted in the settlement. We, in the south, wanted Codfish Island. But there was no way that the Government of the day was going to give one of the great conservation jewels to the tribe. We got the windswept and barren Centre Island instead and incidently the Foreshore and seabed around it.

So its in Tuhoe's best interests now that they have had their bit of fun to get back to negotiating a deal with National.


Krugers comments remind me of one of the great and subtle Minsterial kneecapping I was ever party to.

This particular Minister arrived on the Marae for a meeting with the tribal elders. The Upopko ( chief ) was a wily bugger ..

Anyway he sat and listened to the Minister go on and on and on about what he wanted and what he would do and what he wouldn't do. He was on transmit only.  We were really embarrassed.

The chief just sat there and at the end of the Ministers diatribe he turned to me and gave me a subtle  wink.

Then he  stood and said to the Minister...


" Thank you for taking the time to come and visit us and tell us your thoughts. I have seen the man many times on TV and  it is nice to finally  meet the boy."

I could barely contain myself - the Minister just blithely carried on yabbering, unaware that he had been slighted.  The chief gave me another sly wink.

Poetry it was  - poetry.

HOME IS CALLING

We got all teary eyed when we saw this in the Press today..
the Annual Maori vs Pakeha Rugby match on Stewart Island.

Its a great game and race relations is always a winner on the day.
We have been to a couple of these matches and even a few more after match functions over the years. Stewart Island is a good place to live if you are a Maori or a pakeha. Life, for the most part, is pretty harmonious.

And despite having respect for each other - they still take the piss.

It would be a better place to celebrate Waitangi Day. It's a melting pot - a good example of what we have become as a nation.

And the Kai there is waaay better than anywhere else.

Paua, mussels, White tail venison, Crayfish, muttonbirds, fab veges, salmon, - the list goes on.

Damn its makin us homesick again for the Land of the Glowing Skies.

NEW ZEALAND DAY

"Not my cousin," was a phrase we used to use a lot. It was said when a relative did something that was embarrassing, invoking an act of emotional terrorism that blew your family apart.

Now all Maori are supposed to be related. So - why is it that the most embarrassing acts always come from Nga Puhi?

Their attitude to the media is silly, spurious and in the past its been racist.

They bring shame on all Maori.

The latest move is to charge the media to cover events on Te Tii Marae.

And we were appalled that any of the media stumped up with any cash at all.

For once the media club should have stuck together. They should have walked away told them to stick the whole day up their collective sorry brown arses.

New Zealand is so over this posturing, elitist, isolationist shit.

Waitangi Day has become a national joke - a sad embarrassing day - nothing to be proud of. Its a tatty little sideshow run by arrogant little minded people.

The good thing is we think that this petulant bunch of posturing wankers and wankeresses are not representative of the true heart and collective mind of our country.

John Key says today that he doesn't really see the need to do much about the flag. We think he is so very wrong.

We have been watching the flag debate with interest. And you can taste the desire for change. People are talking about it on the buses , on trains, in bars and coffee houses.

We finally feel proud of ourselves as a country. We are happy to listen to ourselves on the radio and watch ourselves on TV.

After years of trying to copy America and Britain we seem to have got to that place where we know who we are.

However, we think it is time for the Government to take the energy for change and help mould our nation for the future. It will be testy but we need to be brave and have that debate.
We want a new flag. A big fucking bold proud as - Flag.

And we want a National day to go with it that speaks of our Nation and its place in the world today.

It is Time for New Zealand Day - a real holiday where we celebrate all that we have been, all that we are and all that we want to be.

And we see no reason for it to be centred on Waitangi. Its far to big and important to be held in a place full of intellectual and social pygmies.

WHALE NEEDS TO LEARN TE REO

We thought this was a lovely story this morning , the language that was used in the blockbuster movie Avatar was in fact partially based on Maori.
We think that's very very cool. It will help promote the language - which tourists who come here love to try out.
So we reckon that Whale has been playing with his dork - and unlike most of his yarns he got a serious fact wrong. Hana O'Regan is a woman and as a dusky mate of our said - a bloody stroppy one at that. She is a staunch advocate of Te Reo - a keeper of the linguistic fires of our people and we have enormous respect for her in that regard.

So she will not be a lone voice - in fact she echos the growing chorus of young Maori who look for new and innovative ways to preserve the Maori language which can now be translated by Google.

That James Cameron chose Maori as the basis for the Avatar language is something all New Zealanders should be proud of.

The tourist spin off for Aotearoa from this movie have yet to be exploited but any exposure will increase opportunities.

So Whale -tēnā rūkahu tēnā, you are wrong - there is no shame in the world doing a little korero Maori.

We will all be a little whakapai for it.

TINOPAI!

At last we have some direction over the the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

Today we have a Parliament that sees Maori walk the corridors of power with National and now we have a report which clearly shows the dissatisfaction with this odious piece of legislation. It is a report that lays out the issues clearly and calls for the Act to be biffed.

We are in a prime position for the development of a solution that should unify this country and heal some deep deep wounds.

Well done guys - well done.

MAORI TASKFORCE

At the risk of labouring the point - we want to see more details around Pita Sharples Taskforce. It is costing $4.5 million a year.

We want to know how that money is being spent. And we wonder why greater use is not being made of some of the fine young minds in Te Puni Kokiri. You see many of them have been wasting their talents monitoring the performance of other government departments for nine years or wasting away on projects they knew were of no benefit to their people. Why not devolve a heap of that responsibility and let them loose on how to reduce the impact of the recession on Maori. If they had been given this task they would have a cause that would light the fires of passion that we know still burn in many of the best there. The big wigs at the top table should just be there to grease the wheels and open the doors as required.

It is a dam shame that the Maori Party has put all its efforts into the development of an expensive tasforce rather that use the vast pool of talent that rests not a hundred yards up the road.

And we want to see regular updates on the outcomes from the Taskforces - both this and the Job Summit.

We cannot afford a single cent to be wasted. Nor see any human resource wasted. And we will be the first to say we got it wrong if the taskforce turns out to actually achieve anything of note but for us the jury is out.

WHY?

We don't get this - Tamihere has been annointed by the Maori Party. We have already blogged on it - we reckon its the first time the Maori Party has seriously wrong footed on an issue.
This morning Tamihere says he was sidelined by Labour and he is getting " much more " under National - We ask why? Nothing has changed. The guy is a dork.

Labour didn't want him so why would he suddenly be annointed by the Nats and the Maori Party. We remain dumbfounded.

WATERLOO FOR SOLOMON?

Mark Solomon is facing what may be the most critical meeting of his tribal political career this weekend when steps up to his own people at Kaikoura. The meeting which is being held on Sunday is considered to be the most pivotal in the battle for control of the table is being fought by what has essentially become two factions within the tribe. Issues were bought to a head with the ousting of Wally Stone as Chair of Ngai Tahu Holdings some weeks ago.

We understand from sources throughout the tribe that the call for Solomon to step down are strengthening. While many are divided over the rights and wrongs of the issue of the ousting of Stone and the proposal of the House of Tahu, there is growing concern that for the sake of the future of the tribe that Solomon needs to step down and let a new leader take over to bring cohesion back to the governing body Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu Table.

We agree. The division at the Table does the tribe no favours.

Doing the right thing is often the hardest thing but for the future of the tribe it is time for those at the Table to do the right thing.

NGAI TAHU IS ANGRY

We understand that Te runanga O Ngai Tahu chair Mark Solomon's Deputy Donald Couch has been removed by his runanga at Rapaki - Lyttleton . More Solomon supporters are expected to face the wrath of their constituents in the coming days and weeks.

And we hear that Maori Television is also covering the story in depth either tonight or tomorrow night.

MAORI TELEVISION TO COVER NGAI TAHU CONTROVERSY

Maori Television Tonight 7.30, looks at the dismissal of Wally Stone from Ngai Tahu.

NGAI TAHU LEADERSHIP FOUND WANTING

Today we fear for our people. Ngai Tahu is in turmoil. Our phone has been ringing hot from people within the tribe and from those who have worked alongside Wally Stone who heads the tribes commercial arm known as Ngai Tahu Holdings.

Wally was ousted over the weekend by Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu board the tribes governing body. The vote was 11- 7 by the runanga ( regional councils) representatives to the Board. The tribe has been been split for sometime over issues of financial prudence and governance. Essentially, some at the "Table," as the Board is known, want a greater say in the running of the Ngai Tahu Holdings - the tribes commercial holding tank.

The 11 members of the board who voted to oust Wally Stone, nationally regarded as one of our finest entrepreneurs who also commanded wide respect for his financial management, have also voted in principal to spend $52 million on the House of Tahu - a glorified concrete monument to the extreme egos that dominate the " Table."

In the days coming we will reveal the way that the ousting was carried out - it was neither honourable or just. Integrity and honesty were the first victims. The Kaikoura runanga chairman is reported as being gobsmacked. Their representative at the table is chair Mark Solomon. So the actions of the tribal board members is at odds with their own people.

It is a travesty that Ngai Tahu, a tribe that has won national and international acclaim for its growth of assets and stewardship of social programmes, that have made a real difference to so many rank and file iwi members, is now riven by the soul consuming desire by some to create a concrete legacy in the commercial jungle of Christchurch. At issue is the need to borrow millions to complete the House of Tahu. At a time when leadership is required and caution should prevail, Ngai Tahu's anointed ones have been found wanting.

Last year the tribe came extraordinarily close to ripping itself apart over similar issues of financial prudence and governance. In the next few days, we think that this issue will be a touch paper for the tribe. What is needed is all Ngai Tahu to stand up and say no. They have the power to do that via their runanga.

The current so called "leaders" of the tribe should hang their heads in shame that a good man and a brave man has been cast a side in a sad, sad egoistic show of might. What those "leaders" have proved is that the tribe is in sore need of men and women who make decisions that are in the best interests, not of themselves but of the people they serve.

It is a day of great mateatea for our people. ( embarrassment and disgrace) but it must not go unchallenged.

GOOD ON YA ARCHIE

Now more that ever we need Maori to work together.

Archie has always been one of our favourite Maori leaders, he is a quiet but steely man and very gracious.
It ia times like these we need leadership..

Press Release by Te Ohu Kaimoana - The Maori Fisheries Trust at 10:02 am, 30 Jan 2009

Te Ohu Kaimoana has now transferred more than $440 million worth of Fisheries Settlement assets to iwi - a resource that could play a key role in helping Maori come through the current global economic crisis, the organisation's Chairman Archie Taiaroa told Maori leaders today.

Speaking at Te Ohu Kaimoana's annual meeting which was opened by Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley in Wellington, Mr Taiaroa, said wise use of the Settlement resources by iwi, particularly in the regions, can help keep Maori employed.

"We must look at ways of assisting our people through these tough times - and by doing so look after our country - through putting our economic resources back into the regions to allow our people to manage their own economic base.

"Maori and iwi are significant players in fisheries, and we should all be looking at how we can utilise Settlement resources to support our people at this difficult time," Mr Taiaroa said.

He told delegates that 48 of the nation's 57 iwi now had Mandated Iwi Organisations (MIOs) to which assets could be allocated and, crucially, 25 iwi now had full or partial coastline agreements.

Under the Maori Fisheries Act, the Fisheries Settlement is allocated to MIOs on the basis of an iwi's size and the agreed length of its coastline.

"Te Ohu Kaimoana is putting a tremendous amount of work into assisting neighbouring iwi reach coastline agreements, and a lot has been achieved in the last year," Mr Taiaroa told delegates, including Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley.

Mr Taiaroa said Taranaki had been a particular success story with the first big group of six adjoining MIOs - Ngati Mutunga, Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Nga Ruahine, Ngati Ruanui and Nga Rauru - having "come to the very wise conclusion that co-operation was in their mutual best interests".

He said after many years, Ngati Kahungunu and Rangitane on the North Island's east coast have come to agreement, and Ngapuhi have settled all their coastline through a number of agreements with other iwi.

"I can't emphasise enough that our future success is all about how we co-operate as iwi," he said.

TINAOPAI BOYS

We were a bit sceptical if the Maori hui yesterday would help chart a course through the choppy economic seas we are sailing on. But it seems that the big boys thought big. They are, as a result of Treaty settlements sitting on some big piles of dosh. They have, after a few years in the fishing game, working out that consolidation of assets leads to better returns.
So they are saying that instead of being the bum boys driving the dozers - they want to be financing the roads in partnership with the government. Infrastructure is a good choice - but we would also like to see some thinking from some of the younger ones about investing some of that money in JV's in broadband and other IT projects. There are more and more Maori who are in the IT industry and we are surprised that that has not emerged from the summit as a key way for Maori to work in partnership to oil the wheels of the economy.

KEY CEMENTS TIES WITH MAORI

TVNz reported John Key met with Maori leaders today at Pukawa. We hear it went well and there are murmurings that many Maori leaders see Key as someone who will listen and is willing to remove some of the barriers to Maori development.

What many people don't know is that Maoridom has been quietly regrouping and for the first time in over a decade is working together at the highest level. This unity will give them strength and coupled with a Prime Minister who genuinely wants to help pull people out of poverty , Maori have a good chance to improve their woeful social statistics.

While Maori leaders are now working together, it is also time for grass roots , ordinary Hine and Hone, to change the way Maori view and treat alcohol, drugs, crime,gangs, tobacco, and domestic violence. All the TV campaigns in the world will only reach a few who would have probably changed anyway. It is time for Maori society to start the change from within - to reach out to those languishing at the bottom of the heap and to set higher standards of behaviour from their whanu and hapu.

While the meeting today was about economic development - Maori leaders and PM cannot take their eyes of Maori social issues.

MAORI PARTY KNOW WHERE TO GET THEIR REWENA BUTTERED.

I watched Marae this morning and saw Tariana Turia talk about the future. She is clear the Maori Party will do the best for Maori. She is not closing the door to anyone and certainly not to National.
Stuff has a round up here

This is what she said on Marae.

"If National was prepared to meet the aspirations of our people I can't see our people saying no, you wait in opposition for another term and we'll wait until Labour finally makes it back into government."

She said the Maori Party had to operate realistically within an MMP environment which might require it to work with a National or Labour-led government.

"We've got a responsibility to do something and that is what we are going to do," Mrs Turia said.

Meanwhile the Maori Party, based on four Marae DigiPolls has a major stranglehold on the four Maori seats it holds and is ahead on the party vote as well. That shows just how little Labour has done for Maori.

Labour may have arguably provided Maori with better targeted social services but they have done little to improve their economic development and this is where National's policies will help.

Tariana has already signalled its time to take the velvet gloves off and make the unemployed work for their government sponsored keep. Work for the dole is tough to deliver and up front can be expensive but in the long term it provides more self worth and work readiness among the ranks of the longer term unemployed, which is where Maori are disproportionally represented.

Gang numbers are on the rise again and that is always a sign of failed social welfare programmes and a lack of targeted and hard line policing. Maori will be the first and most prolific victims of any economic recession but if Tariana has her way she will line up with the party that ends up with the most votes on election day so that her party can help work out ways to minimise that impact. That party is National.

Tariana has again proved to be one of the most formidible and savvy politicians we have.

RISING MAORI BUSINESSMAN

This well known Maori PR guru is now a director of one of the capitals most prestigious PR firms.

Chris Wikaira is now a director / part owner of Busby Ramshaw Grice.

He is undoubtedly one of the best in his field and has garnered huge respect for his knowledge and work in Maori issues. He has played a part in just about all the major Maori events over the last decade.

He is a bloody good bastard as well. But never let him near your fridge - He really enjoys a kai.

Nationals Maori Policy - will be music to the Maori Party

Here are some highlights from the Nats policy and more here

Heres a summary and some comment

Putting a big focus on investment in education, including national standards, trades in schools, our Youth Guarantee, promoting greater participation in early childhood education through Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa, and expanding Te Kotahitanga.



Good stuff - Maori have developed these educational institutions and any investment here will benefit Maori and NZ

• Improving health and housing outcomes for Maori, including working with Maori health providers and Maori collectives on housing.

Good idea - and when it comes to health there are some good community models that can be replicated -

• Working to increase investment in Maori assets and enterprises, including working with iwi enterprises and their leaders to help overcome barriers to economic development.

Good stuff but these have to be real with real futures - not just work for work sake.
• Acknowledging the importance of Maori language and culture, including committing to Maori broadcasting and the promotion of Maori language, arts and culture.

Yip it is now being quietly woven into the fabric of New Zealand
• Working with Te Puni Kokiri to strengthen and expand successful and proven Maori-led programmes to advance outcomes for Maori.

TPK needs to pull its socks up - its still very policy centric - I see the hand of Hekia Parata over this one.

"The settlement of historic Treaty grievances is very important to the National Party.

"National's record in the Treaty area in government in the 1990s is a proud one.

"National intends to devote fresh energy and leadership to advancing Treaty settlements, and aims to achieve just and durable settlements of all historic Treaty claims by 2014.

Good - the quicker the better ...

Overall some good stuff.

this shithead used to get government money

As much as it pains me I am pleased that Labour has distanced itself from this obscenity.

This sort of pathetic claim undermines the mana of all Maori.

so if we follow Ryders logic, all Maori

• drug addicts
• diabetics
• alcoholics

should lodge a treaty claim.

10 years ago Ryder was being paid by the government to do community work - he probably is still - one way or the other. But people like Ryder, who still wear the colours, are not trying to stop kids from entering gangs - they are still glorying in being part of it. and he is further legitimising Black Power by making the claim - that should not happen - all parties should not support anything that legitimises these gangs.

This from STUFF

Treaty Negotiations Minister Michael Cullen says there is no legal basis for the Black Power gang to lodge a Treaty of Waitangi claim.
His associate minister Shane Jones went further, saying the idea was a joke.
It was reported today the gang had lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal.
The claim was one of thousands received in the rush leading up to the September 1 deadline imposed by the Government for historic claims.
Wellington gang spokesman Eugene Ryder, understood to be a major driver behind the claim, would not provide specifics about it but said the gang was not seeking money.
Gangs existed because of colonisation and what they wanted was education, he said.
"The object of the claim is education as to why we're in the position we're in," he said.
"It's the story of our lives really and the way we're treated. From our perspective there have been multiple Treaty breaches, every article has been broken."

The only thing that is broken, Ryder, is your arse...