Tuhoe states all will be welcome

Confirmation of what we already knew - Tuhoe have stated their views around Te Urewera and the rest of the country and their view is of sharing and not keeping people out. As the headline states this iwi won't practice apartheid (the Afrikaans word meaning ‘separation’).

From Stuff

"Mr Kruger said Prof Anaya, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights and indigenous peoples, was keen to talk about the breakdown of treaty negotiations brought about by Prime Minister John Key's sudden decision in May that the Government could not live with a settlement handing ownership of the 212,000-hectare park back to Tuhoe.

Mr Kruger said Prof Anaya "delved into" the issue of mana motuhake - the concept of separate Maori identity and autonomy sought by Tuhoe.

"I took from his questions that he wanted to satisfy himself that this was not apartheid dressed up.

"He asked whether we were going to kick out all the non-Tuhoe people. He wanted to know whether this was evolving democratically, or whether it was racially motivated.

"We assured him it was not exclusive."

Prof Anaya asked about the "logic and workability" of Tuhoe achieving self-government within the remnants of its homeland.

On the park itself, Prof Anaya wanted to know whether Tuhoe would share it with other New Zealanders.

Mr Kruger said the delegation, which also comprised Tame Iti, Huka Williams, Patrick McGarvey and Kirsti Luke, assured him other New Zealanders would be welcomed.

Well it doesn't get clearer than that - of course some may think that Tuhoe are just saying whatever they want to and they will reverse their statements if when Te Urewera was is returned to them - but those people know nothing of mana.

the measurement will be unpleasant

There is a saying that if you lie down with dogs you will get up with fleas.

From Waatea news

"Maori Party leader Tariana Turia is expecting tough talk from the UN's top official on indigenous issues about Maori poverty and access to justice.

UN Special rapporteur James Anaya spent last week in the country talking to Maori groups and Crown ministers and officials.

Mrs Turia says while Professor Anaya was measured in his comments before he left, she is confident he won't shy away from highlighting the areas that need action.

“I know he has been stunned about the high Maori incarceration rate, poor health stats, poor educational achievement. One has to take responsibility for it. Those of us who are part of government, we are the ones that have to stand up and be counted on these issues,” Mrs Turia says." (my emphasis)

Yes the measurement is beginning and it will be unpleasant. You cannot support right-wing policies that directly negatively affect maori, that reduce maori aspirations, that tread on maori mana and then believe that you are supporting maori rights and tino rangatiratanga. They are mutually exclusive.

unthinking digging

Unthinking digging - dig first and sort it out later. This ethos has been quite popular in this country and most people would imagine that we have gone a bit past that - but we haven't. We dig first and bugger any maori artifacts or any sacredness around the site or area. And this happens in our biggest city.

From NZH

"A heritage protection group and local iwi want greater protection of volcanic cones after Auckland City Council works seriously damaged archaeological sites.

Ngati Whatua o Orakei leader Ngarimu Blair said fenceline construction and excavations on Mt Wellington had caused "horrific" damage to its historic features.

"It was two weeks between the work happening and us finding out. Workers or treasure-hunters could have taken other pieces in that time."

Archaeological scarps, terraces, house sites and kumara pits had been dug up and modified."

There is a massive disconnect when tangata whenua are not consulted or even informed about work that directly affects them and their taonga. The council are embarrased -

"The council was working with iwi to repair the land.

The chairman of the council's arts, culture and recreation committee, Greg Moyle said the council had accepted full liability for the damage.

Mr Moyle said he was deeply disturbed by the damaged sites."

Greg we need to stop it happening rather than fixing it after it happens. This is why maori must be included in all councils and boards relating to local bodies as of right!

"They (the contractors) needed to understand that what is acceptable in a farm paddock is not acceptable on a volcanic cone."

Start seeing this area as a bit more than a volcanic cone and you will be getting close greg. Check with your local marae or perhaps the Waitangi Tribunal for some deeper understanding.

And maybe that is actually the starting place. If a person is elected unto a council then they should have access to the history of the area. The maori history. This would help them understand the tensions around their role and the decisions they will make. It is not good enough to have some elected officials with zero or less knowledge and understanding of the indigenous people of this land.

12 week Te Reo challenge

Email recieved - are you up for the challenge!

Nei rā te reo manahau ki a koutou, It is Māori Language week for 2010, Kotahi mano Kāika has a wero / challenge for you all. We have created the 12 week Te Reo Challenge, which we officially launched yesterday. It caters for all levels, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. It hopes to be a fun and interactive way of building up your knowledge of te reo Māori and to get you out into the community speaking te reo Māori. Kaua e noho haumumu ( Don’t sit silently ) kua takoto te manuka whānanu.


The challenge has been laid. Now is the time to register, go to http://www.kmk.maori.nz/challenge/ complete the registration process, everyone has the opportunity to win prizes daily and weekly. Prizes range from KMK clothing, Generation Reo clothing, Ipods the list goes on.

If you have any problem’s with downloading the forms please ring or email the team at Toitū te kura, we are more than happy to walk you through the process if need be.

Mēnā he kōrero, he whakaahua, he kiriata, he amuamu āu e pā ana ki tēnei whakataetae, tēnā koa, hono atu ki http://www.facebook.com/kotahimanokaika He waka eke noa - Ka tautūtakitaki ētahi atu māia i reira hai manawa, hai taituarā ā, ka kōrerorero tātou katoa mo ngā piki me ngā heke!

If you have any kōrero you would like to share, photo's or videos pertaining to this KMK 12-Week Challenge, please feel free to join our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/kotahimanokaika. You can give us regular updates on your weekly tasks and also find other participants to discuss your ups-and-downs with!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128690997173585

Thanks Keela and the KMK team

dino-duo dusting off

News that peters and laws may team up again to resurrect the NZFirst beast isn't a worry but it is disturbing. Do we really want to have more of peters and laws style of politics - where they pick on maori and minorities. If you agree with the line that we get the politicians we deserve then we are in real trouble if these two get anywhere near the reins of power.

From Stuff

"Speculation is rife that NZ First leader Winston Peters and his former adviser Michael Laws are to team up again as part of a "relaunch" of the party this year."

It seems time for some new parties to come forth - how about a proper 'left' party or a maori left party to contest the national/maori party seats.

folded together

folded together

we are our

landscape.

my graze is

breathing us

entwined.

mirror time

It takes three generations to ensure a language survives. You learn and use and you teach your children and then they teach their children and if that has been achieved, your mokopuna's teach their children and the language is safe. How many of us are even attempting that? If we don't - what does that say about us. When are we going to take action, when are we going to realise that it is up to us to save our language - it is up to us TODAY.

From NZH

"With numbers of fluent speakers dropping from 70,000 in the 1970s to just 18,000, revitalisation was still finely balanced, he said.

However, Massey University academic Dr Rangi Mataamua described the situation as alarming and said radical re-directing of funding to programmes that emphasised use was needed immediately.

"I think the situation is desperate and I think Maori can't use the excuse any more that, 'Oh, I can't speak it because my koro was smacked'.

"We're all responsible for our language. If you can't speak it, learn it. If you can't be bothered about it, then don't pretend you're enthusiastic about it. What makes us Maori isn't the colour of our skin or the tattoo on your arm, it's the language - and the ability to express our thoughts and hopes and desires in our own language."

Kaore ano kia tino hoki mai te reo Maori i te mate, i muri i te hekenga o te tokomaha o nga kaikorero i te 70,000 i nga tau 1970 ki te 18,000, e ai ki a Erima.

Heoi ano, na te kaiako o Te Kunenga ki Purehuroa na Takuta Rangi Mataamua i ki, me ohorere ka tika te tangata i enei ahuatanga, a, me tino whakatikatika te whakahangai i nga putea ki nga hotaka e whakamahia ai te reo i te tuatahi, inaia tonu nei.

"Kei te tino morearea te ahua o te reo ki ahau, a, ki a ahau me mutu inaianei te karo a te Maori i ki ra tatou 'ko au tetahi kaore e mohio ki te korero Maori na te mea i patua taku koro i te kura'.

"Te tikanga kei tena kei tena o tatou te kawenga mo te reo, ki te kore koe e korero Maori, akona. Mehemea kaore koe e aronui mai, kaua e rupahu ki te tangata he kaitautoko koe i te reo.

"Ko te ahua o te Maori ehara i te tae o te kiri, i te moko ranei kei te kiri o te ringaringa.

Ko te reo te tino ahua Maori o te tangata - ko to tatou reo ake hei rerenga korero kawe i nga whakaaro, i nga tumanako, i nga moemoea ki te ao."

It is up to all of us to save our taonga - give te reo a go, enjoy the weather in maori and the correct names for our places, use our language - don't be discouraged - keep trying.

communication with coaches

Sometimes a news story isn't really a story but within the non-story is an interesting angle that could be a story.

Case in point

From SST

"Former Kiwi Richie Blackmore has been overturned as head coach of the new Manukau provincial rep side – partly because he doesn't speak Maori.

Directors of the Counties Manukau zone board vetoed a New Zealand Rugby League appointments panel recommendation to give the job to Blackmore, head coach of top Auckland club Otahuhu.

One of three reasons they cited in a report written on the coaching u-turn was that their preferred candidate, Rusty Matua, spoke fluent Maori and had an understanding of tikanga.

Both coaches are Maori; Blackmore has served as assistant coach of New Zealand Maori.

Looks like a story

"Despite referring to the language issue in the written report, zone board chairman Ken Lotu-Liga said the factor of Matua's fluency in te reo Maori had been "taken out of context and wasn't really factored in the decision"

Lotu-Liga couldn't be reached yesterday, but told today's Sunday News: "People have said that this [speaking Maori] is something that he [Rusty] can do, but realistically it wasn't really part of the main decision as to why he was selected. It's been read incorrectly. It was part of what he can do in terms of listing his skills that he can bring to the job."

Nah not really a story - or perhaps the story is about imposing something on others without proper consultation, or maybe personalities. Nevertheless some have waded into the fray.

"Former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott slammed the decision as "ridiculous".

"That's ridiculous if it was used as a criteria. I don't believe that should be the case for missing a job," he said. "If that is the case, then it is discrimination at its worst.

"It is up to the zone board to make their own decisions, but if that was one of the criteria why one coach got it over another, I think it is totally out of order. I am a Pakeha and have coached Maori and Island players all my life and never had a problem communicating... so that leaves me absolutely stunned."

And for me a story could start here - how can frank say that he has coached these players without knowing their language and, "there has never been a problem communicating" How would you know frank - you can't speak the language. There is much that is being missed, much that cannot be communicated in english. It would seem like a good idea that top coaches DO learn te reo so that they can help their charges achieve their potential. How great would it be to have all of the top teams and coaches speaking te reo - for the sporties - that would help everyone win. It would be a strategic and tactical advantage. For the rest of us it would be a bridge building exercise that would help bind this country together.

If they started now the all blacks might be ready to sing in te reo by the time the cup comes along.

bombing collins

Bomber at Tumeke blog provides a great little service - he reviews 'The Nation' and 'Q&A'. His analysis is often very funny and sometimes he uncovers deep insights. Previously I have gone to the source and watched the video plus read the transcript but alas I have tried to find this transcript but so far (might be too quick) I have been unable to. You may have broadband and can watch it for yourself. Police, Corrections and Veterans' Affairs minister judith collins offers her insight on why our imprisonment rates are so high and there is one group to blame - maori. Maori have made the stats look bad!

From Tumeke

"Prison population rising, she argues that Corrections isn't influencing the crime rate, so it isn't Corrections fault. Guyon makes the point however that we lock people up more than almost anyone else, Crusher the astoundingly says the reason why we have such a high lock up rate is because of MAORI???????????? WTF IS SHE SAYING? She says the Maori population is the reason why we have such a high incarceration level when compared to the rest of the world?????? She is claiming it's not the raw law and order meat policy she is implementing that is locking more and more NZers up, she is saying our high incarceration levels are because of Maori???

TVNZ video

When you get up off the floor from laughing or crying just have a real think about the attitudes and worldview that pour forth from this minister. It is astounding to consider the low grade thinking going on, from a minister making decisions that affect us all, that is coloured by racism. It would be good for collins to consider why maori are in the position they are in. Perhaps she could have a look here. And for some reason it reminded me of rick ellis and this.

brownlee exposed

Gordon Campbell gives gerry brownlee the full frontal here. It is so enjoyable to read a strong, accurate writer who isn't afraid to tell it like it is.

From Scoop

"... Because there too, the same pattern is evident in Brownlee’s modus operandi. First, an over-statement of the possible returns, second a reassurance that all this is merely exploratory so no need for concern, and third, an inability to clarify the net gains to this country. Moreover, Brownlee has shown a readiness to barge ahead with the oil exploration business plan and sign contracts with foreign bidders before the consultation, ownership and compensation claims with respect to local Maori are fully sorted out – which is still the situation with respect to both the exploration of the Raukumara drilling off East Cape, and the Reinga block up north."

"Those are crises in waiting. For the opposition, Brownlee is the gift that just keeps on giving."

I have to say that I am sick of his giving - I'd rather have no more giving from brownlee - that would suit me. On the other hand he is so useless that it is quite good to have him there.

Haven't the maori party been very quiet on this issue?

they buzz they bite

What do the young gnats, at their recent conference, think of maori?

This may not be representative but nevertheless it is a sample and here is a sample of the sample - oh dear.



for the full interview go here

The Standard's take on it - very funny

Hat tip The Standard

real gold

open our eyes to the real value

consult doesn't mean a con + salt

Has kingkey consulted with maori in the far north around the minerals they want to exploit?

From Waatea News

"The Northland Regional and Far North District Councils yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Economic Development to conduct an aeromagnetic minerals survey of one and quarter million hectares."

Haami Piripi from Te Runanga O Te Rarawa says tangata whenua were left out because the Crown has taken the rights to the most valuable metals.

“This is very serious issue from our point of view. It reflects the extent to which there is any goodwill on the part of the Crown in terms of treaty settlements. We see the conservation estate as not available for treaty settlements but it is available for mining. That really expresses the hypocrisy,” Mr Piripi says."

Yes I have an issue with that point as well. The conservation estate is not being protected for all people - it is being slowly eroded as they commodify it. Why is it that? Why can they do that on one hand and on the other they say "no, no no we cannot put the conservation estate into treaty settlements - even though the land was stolen and cheated they still cannot consider it because - it is being protected for all people - but it isn't being protected - is it?


kingkey has waded in

"The Prime Minister says Tai Tokerau iwi were consulted about plans to conduct an aerial survey to identify mineral deposits in Northland."

But John Key says there are opportunities for discussion throughout the process.

“The far north and the West Coast of the South Island, both will be subject to an aerial survey of non-schedule 4 land so they’re not the pristine conservation stuff. We’re gong to fly over, have a good look, decide whether there is much there. At that point we will say ‘yes there are substantial mineral deposits there and we want to issue a prospecting license,’ at that stage then obviously there will be potential discussions,” Mr Key says.

Maori would have rights to minerals found on their land, other than gold, silver, oil and gas.

"They're not the pristine conservation stuff" - tells you a lot about kingkey and none of it good if you believe in protecting our world.
Is it a good idea to have the 'potential discussion' after they find their minerals rather than before? Does that make sense in any worldview? Of course it makes sense if you are not really going to discuss or consult at all because remember maori don't have the rights to anything other than what they are given. The crumbs from the table, the leftovers. This whole approach is topsy-turvey. Have the discussion and consultation NOW, get some way forward NOW, treat people with respect NOW.

kingkey turns no into yes

Maybe I missed something but what the hell is john key talking about?

From Stuff

"Prime Minister John Key said the Government had stuck to its promise to listen to public feedback.

"New Zealanders have spoken reasonably strongly that they actually do support the expansion of our mining and exploration activities, but they don't support them on pristine parts of the national parks ... "

This is just made-up. There is no evidence that the public "have spoken reasonably strongly that they actually do support the expansion..." Where is the survey or is this more of the gnats polling. Made up rubbish.

"... both he and Mr Brownlee made it clear that they now considered the Government had a green light to allow mining on any areas outside schedule 4. "As the discussion has progressed, it's identified very clearly where the industry can go and where it can't go in the future," Mr Brownlee said.

The Government would fund a significant aeromagnetic survey of non-schedule 4 land in the West Coast and in Northland to identify mineral deposits, with an "expectation" of increased mining."

What low-lifes these guys are. They get told No and they turn it into a YES. They are just going to pretend, to just ignore and keep treating people like dogshit on their shoes. But one thing to consider teamkey and that is that we are onto your game. When we said NO we meant NO.

the sounds get an oil well

Well it doesn't take long or maybe it is just fate. Sure this isn't within one of our national parks but it is bloody close. News that drilling just out from D'Urville Island is starting, beggars belief. This area is so beautiful and so precious. Of course the drillers say 'No problem' but isn't that what BP said?

From stuff

"Australian company AWE is about to drill a well close to the Marlborough Sounds, targeting a prospect that could hold up to 100 million barrels of oil, after drilling three duds in Taranaki."

The Tuatara-1 well is about 10 nautical miles (18 kilometres) west of D'Urville Island and about 45km north-east of Nelson. It will take up to a month to drill, starting within the week.

"We will do everything in our powers to make sure we don't have any adverse reactions there," AWE corporate development manager Garry Marsden said yesterday.

"But we are conscious we are in a very environmentally sensitive area there," he said.

Greenpeace campaigner Simon Boxer said the plan to drill close to the Marlborough Sounds was "quite alarming" in an area known for its tourism, recreational and commercial fishing and aquaculture.

"It is a concern, because this is taking place before [Environment Minister] Nick Smith has put together any new health and safety and regulatory structure" for the oil industry, he said.

The review of practices relating to offshore petroleum and mining activities in New Zealand's exclusive economic zone aims to make sure they are up with international best practice.

"Given the lessons of the Gulf of Mexico are still unknown ... it shows us we know very little about frontier deep water [drilling]," Mr Boxer said. Oil drilling was going ahead when it was unclear if a major oil leak could be stopped.

Drilling in this place is not on. Until the lessons from BP and the whole industry are cleaned up then drilling should stop. Just think what an incentive to tidy up their dirty industry having no holes would give them. Too much is at stake, too much that could be lost. Have tangata whenua been consulted? How close to Stephen's Island and our tuatara's is this well? Isn't there a fault line under there? Who signed off this madness?

back away from the dangerous animal

I'm not going to gloat - too much - but this is a great victory. They have seen the people and their anger and they have backed away from their dangerous plans to open up more of our most protected areas to mining. Thank you to all who contributed to this win. Now onto the next one, because their will be a next one. This backdown has drawn a line in the sand and that is good for opponents of this governments policies. It will be easier to get another line in the sand, and then another and before you know it, they will be gone. And whilst not wanting to get personal the biggest loser is gerry brownlee.

from Stuff

"Mr Brownlee and Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson this morning announced that plans to allow mining on 7000 hectares of Schedule Four conservation estate land - which included parts of the Coromandel, Paparoa National Park and Great Barrier Island - had been permanently shelved."

"Mr Brownlee acknowledged the decision was influenced by the huge public outcry and concerns that controversy over allowing mining on a small area of the conservation estate would undermine an industry with "enormous potential''."

"... Greenpeace Senior Climate Campaigner Simon Boxer said the decision was "a heartening example of people power in action"."

"This is a historic victory for the record number of New Zealanders who stood up to protect our most treasured places and for a vision of a truly sustainable and progressive 21st century economy for New Zealand."

"... Forest & Bird advocacy manager Kevin Hackwell said the decision effectively created a cross-party consensus against mining on protected conservation land."

"''The decision is a victory for the tens of thousands of New Zealanders who marched in Auckland and other centres against the proposal and who sent almost 40,000 submissions during the consultation.''"

"... Green Party leader Metiria Turei has a private members bill in the ballot that would require such a change."

"Today's decision is a major embarrassment to the Government, whose senior ministers were touting mining earlier this year as one way to lift New Zealand's economic performance and help bring about a "step change"."

All very good and now we must raise our gaze to the oil and gas exploration and black sand mining and the various other ways they are trying to exploit our world and us.

will they be honorable

Big day today - Cabinet decides whether to take schedule 4 protected lands out of that protection so it can be mined for gold and coal today.

I've just heard key say that the hole at Waihi where they have cut into papatuanuku is a tourist attraction - what a dipshit key is, and don't forget he is the minister of tourism.

This is the cabinet

1 Hon John Key
2 Hon Bill English
3 Hon Gerry Brownlee
4 Hon Simon Power
5 Hon Tony Ryall
6 Hon Dr Nick Smith
7 Hon Judith Collins
8 Hon Anne Tolley
9 Hon Christopher Finlayson
10 Hon David Carter
11 Hon Murray McCully
12 Hon Tim Groser
13 Hon Dr Wayne Mapp
14 Hon Steven Joyce
15 Hon Georgina te Heuheu
16 Hon Paula Bennett
17 Hon Phil Heatley
18 Hon Pansy Wong
19 Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman
20 Hon Kate Wilkinson

Minister outside cabinet
21 Hon Maurice Williamson
22 Hon John Carter
23 Hon Nathan Guy

SUPPORT PARTY MINISTERS
Hon Rodney Hide
Hon Heather Roy
Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Hon Tariana Turia
Hon Peter Dunne

There you go - they like to be called Hon for honorable - today will give us an idea of where they stand with that ideal but really the quality of the people mentioned above is pretty poor IMO and that doesn't bode well for their decision making.

Open forum

I'm going to keep trying new things to see how they go. One thing I've been thinking would be good is a roundup of indigenous news from around the world, with links. What do you think? I've also been considering an open forum where issues can be raised by readers of mars2earth. So let's go with that one. You know the areas that we cover - what's on your mind? Do you believe BP? Any thoughts on the maori party or politics? Is there a question you want to ask? Got an environmental or conservation issue that is getting up your nose? I'd particuarily like to hear about positive news. The truth is there are many great things happening out there. Things that are bringing us together and healing our wounds.

five new mataitai

Great news in the ODT that five mataitai in Te Wai Pounamu came into effect last thursday. We are still waiting on the decision about the Otago Harbour mataitai (I have posted about that here and here).

What are mataitai? From DOC

"Mataitai reserves are created in areas of traditional importance to Maori for customary food gathering. Within them, tangata whenua are authorised by the Minister of Fisheries to manage and control the non-commercial harvest of seafood through a local committee.

Shellfish gathering

A tangata tiaki/kaitiaki can recommend bylaws to manage customary food gathering in keeping with local sustainable management practices, and issue customary food authorisations.

Mataitai reserves are permanent, though the bylaws can change over time. Once a mataitai reserve is established, commercial fishing is not allowed unless recommended by the tangata tiaki/kaitiaki. Maori and non-Maori may fish in mataitai reserves."

In regards to the Otago Harbour mataitai a commenter said,

"A better option would have been a Taipure . This allows discreet areas species to ring fenced if necessary In Blueskin Bay there is a Taipure."

I found this distinction

"The Tangata Kaitaki/Tiaki can propose bylaws regulating fishing in a Mataitai (species, quantities, size, fishing methods, areas); and these must be approved by the Minister. A taipure committee can recommend regulations under the Fisheries Act 1996 are promulgated, and the Minister may implement those recommendations.

The taipure regulations are required to treat people equally as no person can be refused access to or required to leave or cease to use any taiapure-local fishery because of the colour, race, or ethnic or national origins of that person or of any relative or associate of that person. (s185(5)).

 
The five new mataitai,  "Oreti Mataitai Reserve, near Invercargill, the Pikomamaku, Kihuka and Horomamae within the Titi Islands, and the Wairewa Mataitai Reserve, " are a great addition to sustainable management and protection of these important areas. And the even better news is that there are 31 other proposed mataitai under consideration.

"For the remaining applications, the required consultation between the local community and commercial fishers had been completed for 21 proposed mataitai, with the remaining 10 at various stages in the application process, MFish spatial allocations manager Randall Bess said.

Of those 31 applications, 20 were for South Island fishery waters and the remaining 11 were for the North Island."

Protection is part of kaitiakitanga. By respecting maori values we lift up everyone. I'm looking forward to more and more of these initiatives coming through.

Our UN Review of Indigenous rights coming up

It will be interesting to see what the report says, after the visit of United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples Professor James Anaya, from 18 to 23 July.

From ODT

"Prof Anaya will review the issues reported by his predecessor, Rodolfo Stavenhagen who visited in November 2005 to investigate whether the Foreshore and Seabed Act breached Maori rights."

He recommended the Act be repealed and a constitutional review to recognise Maori rights of self-determination based on the Treaty of Waitangi and international law.

The Government is now consulting over plans to repeal the foreshore law and prefers to legislate that no one owns it.

What a joke - I hope Professor Anaya sees what a no-solution this national and maori party solution is. I felt a bit sick when I read this bit from pita sharples

"This Government remains committed to building and maintaining constructive relationships with Maori to achieve better results for Maori, which will benefit New Zealand as a whole. We welcome the UN's perspective of our country's progress," Minister of Maori Affairs Pita Sharples said.

Especially when I remembered this proposed extension to the 90 day period where an employer can fire you without even giving you a reason, from RadioNZ

"But Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell says the proposed change could add salt to the wounds of young Maori who are already finding it hard to get jobs.

He says the Maori Party will be vigorously opposing any move that further marginalises young Maori.

And I thought about what is happening in prisons to many maori, the double bunking, the reduction of rights, the increased likelihood of maori being in prison and being imprisioned. And i considered the GST rise, the cutting of night classes and the new provisions that have been put in place to restrict someone from seeking help from ACC when they have been sexually abused, and the unemployed, the abuse of Tuhoe and Ngati Porou, the destruction and desceration of our sacred places, of our rights as indigenous people, of the waterways and the land and all of the other government policies and you know what Pita - I don't agree with you. There has been a massive attact upon maori rights and the lives of all maori, along with the poor and vulnerable in this country. There is no pass mark from me.

I hope the truth is told but I somehow doubt that Prof Anaya will hear much of it around the government table.

Footnote - I have chosen to rant on about the things that need to be changed but there are some good things happening at all levels for maori and I want to acknowledge that too.

helping john key

Renowned soothsayer john key today delivered his much anticipated evidence to show that this country is on the verge of major refugee/boat people chaos - from Stuff

"At least six boatloads of asylum seekers have considered heading for New Zealand in the past year, and those who don't believe a ship could one day reach these shores are "deluding themselves", Prime Minister John Key says."

Let's break it down

"At least six..."

A weak start and six is such a funny number - would have been better to go for double figures - it would make better headlines and is just as unreliable. The use of 'at least' is good because it implies many, many more without providing any evidence at all.

"asylum seekers"

Not a good term because it could generate compassion - better to call them 'trafficed people' or 'queue jumpers' to get the blood and fear flowing.

"... have considered..."

Again not good - just use 'have' - they have decided to float here but before they set off they changed their mind.

"... in the past year"

Bloody hell - is that right? Using one year heightens the fear but to really generate heat you need more years. Just think if at least six boatloads have considered in one year then over 10 years 60 boatloads have just about decided to make the harrowing journey. And again 60 is a funny number so let's go for 100 - everyone likes 100.

So here is what he should have said

"Over the last 10 years over 100 boatloads of queue jumping trafficed people have made plans to head here. Anyone who isn't concerned about this just doesn't understand middle NZ."

And that statement is as meaningless and vacuous as keys first quote, which sums him up IMO.

visual poem

thunder on my tongue

the solid-rain-wall descends

propelled as crescendo

a slap at my stillness

a shout at my whisper,

exhaling,

it passes me by

it's not yours to sell

Is it racist to not want to sell land to foreigners? IMO No - it is not - it might be xenophophic but I don't think it is racist. But there is a racist aspect to the whole scenario and that relates to where the right to the bloody land came from in the first place, that allows people to believe that they can sell it.

From Brian Rudman NZH

"... more than one million hectares of land already in foreign ownership.

Indeed, about 7 per cent of our commercially productive land area has overseas owners. And that was as of 2005. Overseas Investment Office figures in last Saturday's Weekend Herald recorded that in the five years since then, an additional 150,248ha of agricultural land went into overseas ownership.

The top three purchasing nationalities were the UK, Italy, US - each buying between 34,000ha-40,000ha, then Israel (26,132ha) and Australia (11,705ha). Looming large in the Israeli portfolio is the iconic Walter Peak station and its 25,758ha Crown pastoral lease."

Last October, when US-owned Foley Family Wines bought NZ Wine Fund (59.85 per cent NZ-owned), Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan noted that sale meant nearly half of the country's wine production was in the hands of overseas companies. Lincoln University's professor of farm management and agribusiness, Keith Woodford, goes further, calculating that because the surviving New Zealand-owned vineyards are the smaller ones, "on a volume basis about 70 per cent is foreign-owned".

Our forest plantations are even more alienated, says Professor Woodford, blogging in April that, by his calculations, about 72 per cent of pine forests were foreign-owned as of 1999, with US companies owning 35 per cent and Asian companies about 12 per cent. He says that since then, off-shore plantation ownership "appears to have further increased".

Many people fear that this government will keep selling our assets, our land and our destiny - I am one of those people. I say NO MORE SALES. In fact i agree 100% with Hone, again - from Scoop

"About 27 million hectares of Aotearoa's prime real estate has been sold off to foreigners under both National and Labour, and that policy is simply not in the best interests of the citizens of Aotearoa, Maori or otherwise.

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira says he is seriously looking at drafting a bill to ban the sale of land in Aotearoa to foreigners.

“The Maori land march to Wellington 35 years ago had as its slogan 'Not One Acre More' because Maori were scared about how much Maori land was being gobbled up by the Crown,” Mr Harawira said.

"Somebody needs to take a stand on this. And given the pain that Maori people have suffered from land loss, who better than the Maori Party to take steps to save Aotearoa from the hands of foreigners."

Lots of good words there but let's see some action.

No more sales, no more short termism that doesn't consider the future or our mokopuna. NO MORE!

Where did all this land come from anyway that these people can decide to sell it? Stolen, cheated and tricked from maori - give it back and that will create a platform for the correct growth of this country.

Footnote - I just want to make the point that I am talking about companies and corporations buying and selling land for profit - I am not talking about people from anywhere who choose to come and live here and raise their families. I encourage people to choose this country and come and build a life here. We want you, we need you. Maori are tangata whenua - the indigenous people of this land and that is good. Let's all work together to allow the potential of this country to shine.

Good call Hone

Hone has come out in support of Pete Bethune and anti whaling. Calling bethune a hero is a bit too far for me but I agree that he has taken a brave stand - even braver if the cameras weren't there, but I spose that's the point - maximum media coverage - that is what spooked the japanese IMO.

I want to focus on these paragraphs

From Stuff

"He said Maori had a special relationship with whales; guarded their right to harvest stranded whales and supported rights of indigenous people internationally to exercise their traditional whaling.

"But Maori have never, we do not, and we never will support the right of Japanese whaling companies to swoop down into our southern oceans to slaughter these gentle children of Tangaroa.

"If the Japanese want to kill whales, do it in their own territory. And when they run out because they've killed them all, then stop. We don't want them to come down into our seas to chase, terrorise, harpoon, maim, and slaughter our cousins of the deep. Those iwi leaders who say they support them, speak for themselves and their own private financial arrangements. They do not speak for the great majority of Maori people."

I agree with all that. Hone doesn't speak for all maori but he speaks for me and most people I know, when he forcefully expresses these excellent views.

a wanker in Wanaka

It is wankers like Carrick Jones, a Wanaka Community Board member, that give some towns a bad reputation. Apparently carrick finds maori a bit hard to pronounce and just cannot understand why some street names should be named in maori. As he so sweetly puts it, from ODT,

"I would understand it if we were in the far north, where there is a sizeable population of Maori, but that's not the case here [in Wanaka]," he said.

You might not see us, but maori are around, just as we always have been - after all, generations of our people walked, hunted, loved and died all over the south - they still do. Perhaps carrick should get a maori dictionary and look up wanaka.

prison growth is a disgrace not a profit opportunity

This announcement is a shocker. Consider that 50% of male prisoners in our jails are maori and 60% of female prisoners are maori - so when corrections minister judith collins says, from NZH

"A new prison to be built in South Auckland will bring $1.2 billion in economic benefits over 30 years."

what is she actually trying to get at?

"Ms Collins said she would like nothing more than to see lower crime levels and fewer prisoners."

I don't believe ms collins, because she then says

"But in the meantime we have a record number of prisoners behind bars in this country and that number is forecast to keep growing."

Yes a growth industry - with lots of profit potential - don't worry about the worry of prisons being a growth industry and the disturbing influence that will have on maori communities and therefore all communities in this country. Disgrace is a very modest word to use when our people are being thrown on the garbage heap by a government that makes the right noises but doesn't care even slightly about maori. Well here's some news for you collins - your plan is broken, you have underestimated maori, as your type is wont to do. Maori cannot and will not leave their people to rot in jail, could you cut your arm off and leave it on the ground? The maori in jail are our people.

Good story on some solutions here.

Ngāi Tahu election update July 2010

Congratulations to Michael and Ngaire for being elected as Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representatives for Waihōpai and Ōnuku respectfully.

Confirmed representatives to date are


Waihao - Gerald Te Kapa Coates
Tūāhuriri - Tutehounuku Korako
Arowhenua - Quentin Hix
Ōraka-Aparima - Stewart Bull
Koukourārata- Elizabeth Cunningham
Makaawhio - Tim Rochford
Ōtākou - Tahu Potiki
Taumutu - Sandy Lockhart
Rāpaki - Wally Stone
Waewae - Lisa Tumahai
Puketeraki - Matapura Ellison
Wairewa - James Daniels
Hokonui - Terry Nicholas
Moeraki - Gail Tipa
Waihōpai - Michael Skerrett
Ōnuku - Ngaire Tainui-Wybrow

Just Awarua and Kaikōura to go
 

 
The quality of the alternates is important and we have some very fine people who have put themselves forward to help their iwi. A strong rep and a strong alternate means strong representation at the table and that can only be good for all of us.

changing something again

time for a change - what do you think? Too busy? Colours a bit funny?

fly a kite

The term 'flying a kite' has a few meanings, in ideas you 'fly a kite' when you put an idea out there to see the reaction, or if anyone takes up the idea. We need to fly more kites not just metaphoric ones but real ones too. Why? Ideas from left field can bring up solutions that are innovative. Too often we dismiss new ideas without actually considering them very much. It is part of our 'speed' culture. The other reason to fly real kites is to celebrate matariki and the connection between us all.

From NZH

"Sea creatures will be dancing high above the waters of the Waitemata Harbour today, playing their part in Matariki Festival celebrations."

Festival producer Mikki-Tae Tapara says that during Matariki, kites are significant as they are seen as connectors between the heavens and Earth. The event also includes traditional manu aute/kite making at Orakei Marae, storytelling and lessons in poi and haka.

"We are targeting non-Maori. It's an event where we want people to feel free to walk up to the marae and be a part of things and not feel shy."

Good effort - matariki is for everyone and kite flying is for everyone and the marae is for everyone. I hope you go out and fly some kites.

i love my greens

Well done to the greens for supporting the rights of the indigenous people of this land. They have kept the pressure on gerry brownlee and he has nowhere to hide. A great sadness that the maori party are almost silent on this issue of drilling for oil and gas without the proper environmental protection and with out consulting maori.

The greens care.

such as Brownlee thinks he knows best for East Coast

"Monday, 28 June 2010, 3:27 pm Press Release: Green Party

“Digging a hole on land requires public consultation, but offshore oil drilling is pretty much at the whim of the Minister”, Dr Kennedy Graham, Green Party Energy Spokesperson said.

The public have been denied a say in whether Petrobras can drill an exploratory oil well in the Raukumara Basin. Beaches across the Bay of Plenty and East Coast were set alight by peaceful protesters yesterday, who are calling on the Government for proper consultation.

“Having failed to make a case for expanded mining in our National Parks, the Minister is using his powers under the Crown Minerals Act to bypass any significant consultation with local iwi or the general public”, Dr Graham said.

“The Minister is convinced he knows what’s best for the local people and instead of asking them, he’s telling them".

and Maori put ‘on hold’ while Brownlee ignores claims

"Wednesday, 7 July 2010, 3:16 pm Press Release: Green Party

A Crown Minerals official told the Waitangi Tribunal’s Management of the Petroleum Resource Inquiry in April that Te Aupouri had formally asserted its rights over the Reinga Block area, calling for a halt to the process. The official also testified that Te Aupouri was sent a ‘holding response’ letter from Crown Minerals while the Minister considered the issue. However, no formal response to Te Aupouri was ever sent and the Reinga Block offer formally opened in January of this year, despite their claim.

“The Minister is trying to hide behind the Continental Shelf Act, claiming that ownership of petroleum and the EEZ is vested in the Crown, but his Ministry has testified otherwise and has acknowledged Te Aupouri’s assertion to the Waitangi Tribunal.”

Crown Minerals confirmed to the Tribunal that the Crown does not own the petroleum in the EEZ and is obliged to investigate to see if there are customary rights extant when those are raised; that it is an obligation under both international law and under the Treaty of Waitangi.

“The Waitangi Tribunal is aware, Crown Minerals is aware, but the Minister doesn’t seem to care,” David Clendon, the Green Party Maori Affairs Spokesperson said."

and Brownlee ignores aboriginal title

"Tuesday, 6 July 2010, 4:20 pm Press Release: Green Party

“All offshore oil exploration permits should be suspended until clear title to the resource has been established beyond the 12 nautical mile limit,” David Clendon, the Green Party Maori Affairs Spokesperson said today.

“I am disturbed to learn that Crown Minerals is aware of aboriginal title issues but that Minister Brownlee is proceeding with permit offers as if it doesn’t matter.

A Crown Minerals official told the Waitangi Tribunal’s Management of the Petroleum Resource Inquiry in April that he was aware of issues with aboriginal title. It is not clear whether aboriginal title outside the 12 nautical mile limit has ever been formally extinguished by the Crown."

That is all really good stuff. There are so many reasons to oppose this madness and the greens are leading the way with continued pressure on brownlee. He is the weak link and he should be placed under the microscpopic, because he just hasn't got it and he knows it, and by his foolishness their pack of cards shall fall - that's my hope anyway :)

visual poem

consecutive napping,

the sea strives increasingly

to regain a seat

on land an iceberg drifts by,

convection pattern.

you don't deserve it

I saw a very interesting comment here which connected a couple of dots. The reduction of rights for prisoners, 50% of the males are maori and 60% of the females, by the ban on smoking and the bill to not allow prisoners inside for 3 years or more to vote, seem to be strangely linked. Once the prisoners work out who has taken the smokes away, namely national and the maori party - well they won't want to vote for them will they? And if they aren't going to vote the way the powers that be want them to, well, we may as well take away their right to vote then at least our opponents won't get their votes. Too devious to be likely? Hard to say but it certainly seems that their is little political support for our people imprisoned.

Hat tip Te Karere Ipurangi

provide refuge for people

Idiot/Savant at no right turn says exactly what I think about these plans to build a detention processing centre on East Timor for refugees and the motivation behind john keys fears of an invasion of boat people. We all want to stop people trafficers but additionally abusing the victims is not the answer.

"Australia's policy is racist, illegal and immoral." sums it up from here

and

"We've never had a boat full of illegal immigrants arrive in New Zealand (unless you count the British in 1840). We've never had one even get close. But we have politicians whipping up racism and fear, culminating today in Key echoing Howard in saying "We reserve the right to determine who comes to New Zealand and who doesn't come."" from here

There is something off about this attitude to people in need. I have just moved and that was stressful enough - to move countires and cultures and continents, to be forced to, to be so afraid - I have not had that experience but I do know that it must be terrifying. I listened to a wonderful radio play last week "The Outsiders, by Ben Story" which looked at refugees from a kiwi perspective - ordinary kiwis were the refugees and to hear their woes and situation, their confusion and incomprehension of what was happening and what had happened, was frightening. And to know that the radio play was based upon the testamony of actual refugees and that everything in the play actually happened to someone - well, it really blew me away and made me think about how we have to do everything we can to help support these people and help them build a home and some safety.

a blowout preventer for gerry

A brilliant article by Gordon Campbell in werewolf on the proposed search for oil and gas in the Raukumera Basin. This article is so good it should be required reading for everyone. Go here to read the whole article I highly recommend it.

The article dissects many areas of the multinational oil systems and how dirty they play the game. It also shines a light into some murk.

“at present, there are no binding international rules, standards or practices for oil rig platforms.

Therefore, when Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee is giving out assurances that industry best practice will be observed and would be enforced with respect to the likes of Petrobras and Exxon-Mobil, he is uttering empty assurances in a void.”

Thus the truth of the lies that gerry brownlee tells is revealed.

"As things stand, New Zealand is simply not taking the necessary steps to separate the economic and environmental dimensions of petroleum exploration to the same degree as Australia, the UK, Norway and (belatedly) the United States are now doing. Anyone who has watched the mining in national parks debacle this year – and the capitulation by Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson to the lure of economic gains from resource extraction – can have no faith in the government’s ability (or desire) to strike a better balance with respect to oil and gas exploration."

Yes there is much interlinkage.

"Alaska, Ecuador, the Nigerian delta, Colombia, the Timor oil spill last year…. for any government, the common lesson is that governments need to be pro-active, and need to do more than merely put out a welcome mat for oil companies. The stakes are too high to assume that oil companies will be good corporate citizens, and toe the line. In the weeks and months leading up to the fatal April 20 explosion on Deepwater Horizon rig, there is mounting evidence that BP and its contractor either ignored or suppressed the warning signs, and skimped on some of the relevant safeguards."

The layers of deception that these companies go to, to protect the profit for their shareholders.

"On what basis then, can we assume that New Zealand officials will have the experience, tools, platform access and mandate to measure and counteract the increasingly sophisticated methods that oil companies are using to mask their extraction rates, and the royalties they are liable to pay? The risks to the New Zealand environment from oil exploration and extraction can hardly be balanced by the economic returns, if we have inadequate means of detecting whether or not we are being diddled in these transactions.

Once more with feeling : is the government willing to create and equip a stand alone agency equal to the task – even if this incurs the displeasure of the oil industry ? I think we know the answer to that one already.

Finally, the willingness to proceed in the shadow of the Deepwater Horizon disaster and to take the risks involved with deepwater oil extraction around our shores stands in striking contrast to our “ no nukes” stance. After all, much of the resistance to nuclear power in this country is based on the enduring harm that a major leak would do to our natural environment, and to our way of life. Well…again, perhaps we should ask the people of the Nigerian delta or the rain forests of Ecuador about that. They would probably tell us that major oil spills mean goodbye to the natural habitat forever, too."

This is quality writing I once again urge you to read and disseminate this article – I think the arguments within squash any that brownlee can put up. This abomination can be stopped and this article provides some important arrows for our quiver. Thank you Gordon.

The arguments for mining and oil and gas exploration are weak. They deliberately downplay the risks whilst hyping up the potential benefits but it is all an illusion. Maybe I am too generous but I cannot believe anyone is as ignorant as gerry brownlee appears to be and that leads me to ask the question - what is the real reason for doing it. What does the recent political influence from the mining lobby in australia portent. Anyway it will all come out in the wash. We definately have a fight on our hands and our opponents are strong and ruthless. We have fires on the beach and fire in our hearts and with simple, strong messages their lies will crumble.

Hat tip The Standard

light your fire

I like the idea of fires of warning on the beach. It is a traditional method of saying something is wrong, and that is exactly the tone needed when discussing the attempts to mine and find oil and gas reserves off the coast. The fires want be lit and be lit they will be.

Ngai Tahu artists

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Thanks e hoa

big C and the big L

Change – Sometimes change is incremental, almost unseen and that type of change is very effective over time because it is so slight in our sight, we hardly even notice it or its effects. For instance the continents move at the same rate our fingernails grow. Not very fast yet, over time – well big things can happen. I imagine this is the strategy of the maori party. Dig in, take each extra fingernail width advantage and build on that, take each concession and lock it in. It works but it just takes a long time.

Another type of change is much quicker, a cascading type of change where each piece seems to slip into place, very quickly, almost without effort. And before you know it you look around and the world has changed and changed big-time. I’ve just undergone the second type of change. And I went into it willingly, with choice. I’ve moved to the country, I’ve enrolled in full-time study and I’ve done a few other things too. Why? Love is the answer. And isn’t it often love that is the catalyst for big massive life altering changes that we sometimes experience? My son means everything to me and I love him. The maori party didn’t form because of hate for labour or it’s disgusting legislation, it formed because of love. LOVE! Love for maori. This is the wellspring that the maori party should always connect to, and cascading change will occur.

I’m not too sure how my personal changes will affect mars2earth. The house I’m house-sitting only has dial-up but I’ve been pleasantly surprised – it’s not actually as bad as I remember. It may still take a few weeks to get into the flow and find the new rhythm, what with the study and all but luckily the area of study I am undertaking is also in alignment with the kaupapa of mars2earth so everything should strengthen. I’d imagine the number of posts I do will diminish and I may write in a bit more depth on issues that interest me.

I’m excited and enthusiastic about the next phase.