Community spirit in Motueka

This is a good story about a community working together to protect and provide comfort for elders.

"Motueka's new, state-of-the-art community hospital will be opened tomorrow, ending a 16-year fight to retain a public hospital in the town.

The 45-bed hospital was constructed by the Friends of the Motueka Community Hospital Trust, which was formed in 1993 when the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board threatened to close the existing hospital.

The trust has spent the last 16 years raising funds, purchasing land and working towards the building of the Courtney St hospital, and it will finally realise its dream tomorrow.

The hospital will be used primarily for aged care, although it also has four beds for medical patients. Mr Inglis said the new hospital would be a big asset for the community because it "will keep the families together"."

Keeping families together with elders in our lives, that is worth working towards.

On a slightly different note I am not sure if I know of any name more abused than Motueka. Anyone who doesn't care pronounces it 'mot-chew-ay-car' when the actual pronunciation is closer to 'more-two-ear-ka'.

Te Wai Pounamu iwi and Hauraki iwi all work together

I like this comment, in relation to the payment of 97M in redress over marine farming, from Ngai Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Mark Solomon:

"Chairman Mark Solomon described the deal as a unique moment in inter-iwi co-operation.
"It's the first time in my time involved with iwi that all the tribes of the South Island have come together alongside the Hauraki tribes and have reached a settlement" Solomon said.
"I'm really proud of the achievement we've made together.""

It is a good sign that Te Wai Pounamu iwi are working together. This is a pretty small amount of compensation for there being "no coastal space available for marine farming, a cash settlement was the only means of redress."

I am not of the camp where "all marine farms are good and we should just set them up all over the place." But i do think maori should have not only a say but the big say regarding this area.

"The $97m was agreed last October after complex negotiations. It represents the financial equivalent of 20 per cent of developed aquaculture space, over which iwi were granted a right by the Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act in 2004. They retain a right to a 20 per cent share of any future space allocations.

The 2004 act followed a Waitangi Tribunal finding that Maori aquaculture interests formed part of a "bundle of rights" and should be recognised."

Hard to pull the barb backwards - it gets messy

Sorting out an unworkable deal...

"Ten iwi are to be paid $97 million to replace an unworkable deal that gave them a share of marine areas for fish and shellfish farms.
The original deal gave iwi 20 per cent of all marine farming space created between 1992 and 2004, when it was signed. It also guaranteed to Maori 20 per cent of any new space created after 2004.
But not a single transaction has resulted for farms created before the signing date."

"The bulk of the iwi come from the top of the South Island, a group known as Te Tau Ihu tribes. The Hauraki confederation on the Coromandel and Ngai Tahu make up the group."

I hope this new one doesn't come with as many fishhooks as the last one...