BEST FACEBOOK COMMENT OF THE DAY

Mike King So, it took Maori 25 years to get one billion dollars in treaty settlements, yet it only took 25 minutes for Pakeha to get 1.6 billion dollars...? WTF? How does that work?

KEY NOT COY WITH TUHOE

Thank goodness. We were a bit nonplussed when watching Tv3 one night about a month ago, when  Patrick Gower speculated on the government giving Tuhoe  the Urewera National Park  lock stock and punga trees but allowing public access.


Today John Key took the unusual step of making sure that Tuhoe was clear on the matter and that the rest of New Zealand was clear on the matter.


We are glad about that. It was shaping up to be a bloody big mess.

We also think that there is a real need for some  more clarity around some of the Foreshore and Seabed issues as well. 

Now if only we could get some more sanity around the ETS....... 

REALLY?

We ar off to a sparrrow fart  early breekie with PR and Communications types to hear  this fella talk. Eugene Ryder.  Thought we would do a bit of  home work  - we have crossed paths in our past. So it seems that Mr Ryder thinks that gang problems  stem from colonisation and that is worthy of a  treaty claim .

Pullleaaaase!...

apparently we are going to hear how to do PR for difficult types...  

The chick in charge of the NZ  Prostitutes Collective Catherine Healy is also going to talk on the same topic.

PADDY NEEDS A WACK

We watched Patrick Gower's shift from the Herald to TV3 with interest. He has some talent but  on the face of it  his latest story about Tuhoe stepping up to get "total " control of the Ureweras as part of a treaty settlement is a beat up. A really big beat up - the sort that fuels redneck racism. 
So why do we think its a beat up  - well because the Treaty Minister the gracious Chris Finlayson says so. We are very glad he did. It would be an outrage if the Government was going to give away a big corner of the country lock stock and punga trees   to one group of families as their exclusive fiefdom  because that's essentially what the story meant.

Hon Christopher Finlayson Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
19 April 2010	Media Statement

Statement on Treaty negotiations with Ngai Tuhoe

At no point in the negotiations have Ngai Tuhoe asked for any form of separatism from New Zealand or an independent Tuhoe state.  Those issues are simply not part of any negotiation the Crown is undertaking.  The Crown has not, and will not, make any offer to Ngai Tuhoe that includes such forms of redress.  Any claims by TV3 or other media organisations are simply untrue.

The Crown and Ngai Tuhoe have been engaged in negotiations for nearly two years.  The negotiations raise a number of complex issues which both parties are working through in a constructive manner and we hope to see progress in the near future.

Ngai Tuhoe have discussed the importance of Te Uruwera and the Crown is currently exploring with them what form any redress might take.  The Crown has made clear its position that any settlement must recognise the rights of all New Zealanders, including public access and conservation values.

So there we have it... Its not a runner...  However we reckon up in the mists of the Ureweras there will be a little band of Tuhoe who think that its all true and even if it never comes to pass, its the way they will see things anyway and if white people venture too far up that a -ways well they just might not come back.....They are the silly buggers Gower probably had a yarn to. 

So Patrick - you owe us a beer for scaring us and the rest of TV3 watchers unnecessarily....

WAITANGI TREATY IRRELEVANT?

The Treaty of Waitangi is holding NZ back was the topic up for debate yesterday on TVNZ's Marae.

It was an interesting debate. And it came to the conclusion that the Treaty is not holding NZ back.

Marae is well worth a watch if you want to keep up with Maori politics and views. This debate was well structured and the best prepared speeches came from Matthew Hooton and Stephen Franks. However Hana O'Regan came into her own in the free for all. Shane Taurima is a broadcaster to watch. He was the perfect ringmaster for this intellectual circus. The audience, were a good mix.

Anyway for those who missed it - it is definitely worth a sit down look see.

NGAI TAHU NIGEL NO MATES?

We have been listening to the whispering sands as the tribes and the government gather at Waitangi this weekend. There was a move by the government to consider the notion contained in the fluffy foreshore seabed paper proposal we detailed here. However, we understand that apart from Ngai Tahu, the spurious paper has found little favour among other tribes and there is concern about how the paper came to be leaked. It has lead to a new level of mistrust among many of the parties.

So its probably off the agenda for any meetings between the government and tribal leaders.

We think that there is a fair chance that Ngai Tahu is about to learn that it has fallen out of favour with many powerful tribes. It's to do with a perception that the Southern tribes leaders have become arrogant. And there is growing suspicion that they would rather cut private deals with the Government than look to developing solid, bound- in - law principled solutions that will benefit all Maori.

They have apparently spent close to one million dollars on what the tribal beauracrats call "Strategy and Influence."

Commonly called lobbying.

Money that could have been spent giving our old people a Christmas top up or indeed bolstering the tribal superannuation scheme.

Instead the tribe has spent a million bucks a- hui - ing and a- hongi-ing with politicians and power brokers. Schmoozing. What they have achieved is not clearly obvious to the tribal rank and file. But in Wellington they have succeeded in producing one change. Some tribal leaders and many of the paid lickspittles are now viewed with contempt and suspicion.

While there will be posturing and posing for the cameras at Waitangi, it will be the backrooms where there could be some interesting proposals put forward. Our money is not on Ngai Tahu leading any solution. Sadly - it has become the problem.

SANITY BY CULLEN

Excellent stuff. John Key give Cullen a job and the bugger rewards him with a good idea that is likely to take the heat out of one of the most controversial pieces of legislation affecting this country's race relations.

What many people don't know is that unlike Clark, Cullen is very highly regarded in Maoridom after his pragmatic get down to business approach over a number of high profile Treaty claims. So this move will increase his mana. However the cynic could suggest that this move by Cullen is just a ploy to ensure a continuing and lucrative career in Treaty negotiations withy his new best brown friends.

SATURDAY ROUND UP

SEVENS
We had a great day at the sevens. It was good to catch up with people we hadn't seen for a while. the crowd heaved with good humour and the lengths that some people go to to dress up is mind boggling.
DOCKSIDE
We had a very average lunch at the Dockside choosing pork belly which should be all sticky and moist and gooey and melty but it was dry and bordering on cold and the potatoes were overcooked as well. However the company was great.
BACK TO THE SEVENS
But Dockside was the place to be to watch the crowds migrate their way to the stadium along the waterfront. Arabs and tutus seemed to dominate. The Loaded Hog was pulsing with hundreds of people enjoying the great weather and the costumes. It is staggering to see the number of normally staid men dress up as women. Sadly, the fun police were out in force at the Stadium removing all helmets and plastic swords, and a few other bits and pieces. We also think that just about every bar and restaurant was surcharge free. That raises a very interesting point - if it was good enough for all bars and restaurants not to charge it why the hell did the Stadium continue to charge it? ? What did happen was the people were tanking up on the way to the stadium so they didn't spend much while they were there.

WAITANGI
John Key showed that one of his finest attributes is his ability to think on his feet and judge the moment. After being jostled by protestors - he then adopts a couple of kids and tells the crowd that the future is all about them. It was a wonderful gesture, from the heart that will be the enduring memory for many at Waitangi.
We have talked to many Maori and everyone is just simply ashamed at what happened. It was also very unexpected. Everyone was very relaxed about this Waitangi day so the protestors came out of left field.

ITS A HOLIDAY

We are still appalled at what happened at Waitangi to the PM. We have never condoned the personalised violence that seems to marr a day that should bring us altogether as one nation.

Anyway - Key says he will be back next year - good.



Anyway we are off to the Sevens. She'll be a good day - one in the Box. A bit of conspicious consumption and all that. Toodle Pip.

THERE IS ONE IN EVERY HAPU

Bloody mad Nga Puhi. I can understand why my whanauka never had much truck with them. On the one day where they should be celebrating unity and a shared vision some silly dope addled no hoper decides to be a twat and rough up the PM. My pick is that they will be getting a thorough kicking out the back.

Silly silly tamariki.

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...