A headline I hope we never see here again. "Maoris evicted from aussie owned land."
"A group of Maori squatters in New Zealand have lost their appeal against an eviction order from a property owned by an Australian investor.
In the High Court at Whangarei on Friday, Justice Ailsa Duffy dismissed the appeal of the group, saying she did not doubt their sincerity in claiming traditional rights over the land."
It's not and will never be aussie owned land. They are not and never will be squatters
But with the cabinet sitting together over is oz at the moment - are you really sure that they aren't thinking of ways to make more money and if the country has to be sacrificed - well that is just tough. Do you really think they wouldn't do a deal with aussie and china to house another 10-20 million over here because of all of our land not being adequately used? Think of the jobs, the economic activity - everyone could afford to have 2 dishwashers and all we need to do is let 10-20 million chinese in - hell won't even notice them... and think of how many jobs for kiwis etc etc etc
The only way to save this country is for maori to accept their mana and their rights and work with others to govern. Without maori there is no country.
And as for these protestors - yes we have the law, yes there is right and wrong but sorry - the aussie who bought the property at a firesale was misled. We are sick of our assets being taken and given/sold to others. And they didn't pay the mortgage - so what, where does all the money go? to aussie banks like this one. 1 billion dollars profit - and that is just ONE QUARTER (3 Months) line up suckers...
So again i side with the protestors and i don't care what the laws says.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Lew vs RedLogix on maori at the standard
A very interesting discussion about maori on The Standard "Will Key fold"" post.
From the comments section
RedLogix
August 21, 2009 at 11:42 am
@Lew
Well in an earlier post you said something along the lines that the Treaty promise Maori a ‘hell of a freaking lot’.
It might argued that if Maori had remained a demographic majority in the country, then the Treaty, the establishment of the Crown, democracy and Parliament would have assured Maori all the representation they could want for.
But’s that’s not likely how it would have turned out is it? Tribal power was never about democracy as we know it. Certainly it had nothing much to offer the Maori slave class. Although the rangatira were never absolute autocrats in the sense of say the European monarchy, that probably because Stone Age technology limited their ability to impose their power without the wider co-operation of the iwi. But given the inevitable impact of the outside world, surely that would have changed, just as the advent of muskets in the hands of Hone Heke had already turned the Maori world upside down by 1840.
It’s interesting to speculate exactly how an Aoteoroa that had delivered to Maori the ‘hell of a freaking lot’ you have in mind, ie the full exercise of tribal sovereignty, might have evolved as a society. I imagine it would look more like the political landscape of Tonga, than what we currently have. There is no doubt in my mind that lingering in the back of some ‘upper class browns’ in this country, is a hankering for the restoration of the tribal powers they once enjoyed. (A theme not restricted to just Maori of course…)
Where do we go from here? There cannot be two competing sources of sovereignty in one nation, but neither can the currently dominant Pakeha model assume that it will remain unchallenged forever. Both sides will have to move.
Reply
Lew
August 21, 2009 at 12:00 pm
RL,
"Well in an earlier post you said something along the lines that the Treaty promise Maori a ‘hell of a freaking lot’. "
Yes, it did.
"It might argued that if Maori had remained a demographic majority in the country, then the Treaty, the establishment of the Crown, democracy and Parliament would have assured Maori all the representation they could want for. "
Yes. If the Treaty had been properly adhered to, tangata whenua would be in a very strong position compared to where they’re at now.
"It’s interesting to speculate exactly how an Aoteoroa that had delivered to Maori the ‘hell of a freaking lot’ you have in mind, ie the full exercise of tribal sovereignty, might have evolved as a society.I imagine it would look more like the political landscape of Tonga, than what we currently have. There is no doubt in my mind that lingering in the back of some ‘upper class browns’ in this country, is a hankering for the restoration of the tribal powers they once enjoyed. (A theme not restricted to just Maori of course…) "
It is interesting, but idle. And it seems like you’re drifting towards the sort of white man’s burden argument, that it’s a good thing the Crown didn’t adhere to the Treaty, because those dam natives would have just screwed it up and we’d all be living under a brown feudalism – or they would have just killed each other if the settlers hadn’t done so.
This argument, that natives were never going to be able to run a proper country because they couldn’t handle the responsibility is an awfully paternalistic line to take, although unfortunately not uncommon, even among people who ought to know better.
"Where do we go from here? There cannot be two competing sources of sovereignty in one nation, but neither can the currently dominant Pakeha model assume that it will remain unchallenged forever. Both sides will have to move. "
Indeed; an agreement will need to be struck and it will require deep compromise from all parties. What’s critical is that any agreement proceed from a position of goodwill, consent and with consideration to previous agreements. There aren’t two sources of sovereignty, though – in the strictest terms, the only thing (other than military force) which gives tau iwi the right to live here is the Treaty of Waitangi. If the settlers of the day had conquered Aotearoa and annexed it (as they did elsewhere) then that would give them the de facto right, but they chose to treat, and if there is to be rule of law in this country the crown must be bound by that decision and its consequences. So the first question of constitutional reform needs to be something like “why should tangata whenua accept a new agreement rather than simply insisting on adherence to the existing agreement?’
There are plenty of good possible answers, and this question being asked and considered deeply and in full is fundamental to the issue of consent, which is necessary before any change to the constitutional status of the nation and its people can really be considered.
L
Reply
RedLogix
August 21, 2009 at 12:15 pm
There was no magic force field bubble surrounding Aoteoroa keeping out the modern world. The whalers, sealers, loggers, missionaries , prostitutes, land-grabbers, farmers and soldiers were always going to arrive… and along with them was always going to come a technical, cultural, legal and poltical system that was frankly more developed and advanced than the Maori had.
This was reality, not paternalism. It does not say that the Maori were ever an inferior people, all it says is that their culture, evolved in relative isolation from the rest of the world was going to get a dramatic, and quite involuntary kick up the arse, in order to catch up with the modern world. That is not a statement of blame or guilt, it was a simple historic inevitability.
"because those dam natives would have just screwed it up and we’d all be living under a brown feudalism "
I take it that you aren’t defending feudalism, of whatever colour, white or brown? It’s not paternalistic to say that I object deeply to any form of feudal tribalism as a political system…. regardless of the skin colours involved.
Reply
Lew
August 21, 2009 at 12:29 pm
RL, the whole premise of ‘cultural evolution’, and especially ‘political evolution’ is paternalistic.
I’m certainly not defending feudalism; I’m saying that it’s wrong to assume that that’s what would have inevitably emerged from an alternate history where the crown adhered to the Treaty, and presuming such says a lot about your attitude toward tangata whenua. In addition, the argument you’re running here that the end (society as it is, rather than some made-up counterfactual) justifies the means (mass slaughter, resource alienation, cultural oppression, etc.) doesn’t wash, unless you accept that the Pākehā the means favoured are intrinsically more important than Māori that suffered from it. Naturally, you feel like you can argue from this position, since you’re one of those who benefitted – there’s no downside for you, really.
Māori have not been dragged kicking and screaming into democratic politics, as you suggest – they have been systematically barred and dissuaded and excluded from it, and have managed to wedge themselves in anyway.
L
Reply
RedLogix
August 21, 2009 at 1:04 pm
"I’m saying that it’s wrong to assume that that’s what would have inevitably emerged from an alternate history where the crown adhered to the Treaty "
Well at least the Tongan model I pointed to is a real one, not an assumption.
"the whole premise of ‘cultural evolution’, and especially ‘political evolution’ is paternalistic. "
Can’t accept that. If all progress and change is just ‘paternalistic’, I might as well be arguing with the dining room table. You claim not to be defending feudalism, but by your logic my rejection of it is just a paternalistic smear upon our own ancestors for whom that was the only way of life they knew. Sorry but you cannot hide behind cultural relativism all the time, at some point you have to make choices, between right and wrong, the status quo and change.
"In addition, the argument you’re running here that the end (society as it is, rather than some made-up counterfactual) justifies the means (mass slaughter, resource alienation, cultural oppression, etc.) doesn’t wash, unless you accept that the Pākehā the means favoured are intrinsically more important than Māori that suffered from it. "
By looking around I see very few Maori choosing to live in pre-European, Stone Age, tribal conditions. Most of those Maori families descended from their slaves (those who haven’t gone to Australia that is) seem to turn up the opportunity to return to their former chattel status. Many Maori avail themselves of modern foods, clothing, education, health care and so on. Many Maori become highly qualified professionals and use the technical, cultural and legal systems brought here by us ‘paternalists’ for their own desired and legitimate purposes.
Gone are the days of the summer war parties. Gone are the days of a life expectancy of less than 40, when you left behind a skeleton marked by stressful, often brutal life. Gone are the days when the life of those at the bottom of the highly rigid and finely graduated Maori class system, hung by the whim of those further up it.
So yes I conclude that for all the losses you mention, there were also gains. If you want to measure and weigh these up, then look about you and see what the people themselves have chosen.
In this respect Maori have made exactly the same journey as have us Europeans; no-one stands on any moral high ground, nor should lay claim to any special grievance… we all progress through history… each on our own path, each with it’s own turns, accidents and chance meetings.
Reply
Lew
August 21, 2009 at 1:31 pm
RL,
I should have been more clear: the idea that one culture, or political system, is objectively better or worse than another is paternalistic because these things cannot be objectively measures without a (culturally laden) set of benchmarks. My objection was to the equation of ‘evolution’ to ‘increase in quality’, rather than evolution as change which may or may not be beneficial, but usually is because deleterious adaptations die off – which is clearly and obviously the case. The reason it’s paternalistic is that it presumes purpose – a non-industrial (or pre-modern) civilisation when judged by industrial or modern standards will always be found lacking precisely because the question of what is valuable has been begged.
My point with all that is that it’s wrong for you to simply argue, as you have done, that imposing modern ways on the natives was justified and for their own good. If they are prepared to argue that, it’s another matter – and if they avail themselves of the social and technological changes manifest in those systems, it doesn’t necessarily follow that those systems are superior; especially in the NZ case, this argument is falsified by the fact that Māori were denied (by alienation, suppression of language, etc) their traditional ways of life and the modern evolutions which would develop and had no choice but to assimilate into the urban slums.
I’ve italicised that section to highlight your assumption that the Māori ways, unlike the civilised white man’s ways, would have remain unchanged all this time. This also is paternalistic – like those fools who say that Ngāi Tahu should be allowed to catch as much fish as they like with flax nets and bone hooks, but buying into Sealord is somehow cheating. The thing Māori were denied by the mass alienation and other breaches of the treaty wasn’t just the wealth of their resource – it was the opportunity and means to continue their cultural development and pursue change and reform on their own terms – as a matter of tino rangatiratanga. Instead, they have had to develop under terms imposed upon them by economic, political and military force – and people wonder why it’s so dysfunctional!
With due respect, to say that Pākehā and Māori have walked the same path ignores the fact that one was hungry, blindfold, barefoot and at gunpoint to the one behind, riding on a white horse and wondering what all the complaining is about. And to an extent, it remains thus. Talk of putting grievances behind us, forgetting the past and forging on as brothers is cheap and easy from those who haven’t borne the political, economic and cultural brunt of those grievances over eight generations. The grievances can only be shelved when Māori are prepared to shelve them, willingly and secure in the knowledge that things will be better.
L
Reply
RedLogix
August 21, 2009 at 2:54 pm
"The reason it’s paternalistic is that it presumes purpose – a non-industrial (or pre-modern) civilisation when judged by industrial or modern standards will always be found lacking precisely because the question of what is valuable has been begged. "
I understand the argument quite well, but in the end I have to reject it. While industrial civilisation has many obvious defects, it is preferred by most people to any alternative. Most people when faced with a life-threatening injury or illness choose retain access to some form of modern health care, as against solely committing to the ministrations of a tohunga for instance.
While it is easy to romantacise the putative freedom of the ‘noble savage’, the reality was a slavery to bad weather, poor and erratic food supplies, non-existent health care, and bad neighbours. The only rights and property one could lay claim to were those you or you whanau could defend or enforce by warfare.
"this argument is falsified by the fact that Māori were denied (by alienation, suppression of language, etc) their traditional ways of life and the modern evolutions which would develop "
As you say an idle argument. Even if left in total isolation Maori would probably have continued on much as they had for a thousand years prior. But that is not what happened, there was no magical bubble protecting them from change.
The simple, irrefutable fact is that the coloniser’s inevitable arrival imposed change, ipso facto. No good intentions could change that fact, no-one can be held accountable for denying the chance to allow Maori to create their own modern evolutions, because that became only a hypothetical possibility.
The only place where Polynesians had the opportunity to evolve their own modern adaptions in relative isolation was Tonga; and excuse me if I don’t wholly support the outcome.
"With due respect, to say that Pākehā and Māori have walked the same path ignores the fact that one was hungry, blindfold, barefoot and at gunpoint to the one behind, riding on a white horse and wondering what all the complaining is about. "
Not my family. Most of them fled persecution and poverty at home, arriving here after a dangerous, traumatic sea-voyage, with little more than what they wore. In one case that was literally true; she swam ashore with nothing. She later had a stand up argument with an armed Hone Heke himself and won the concession from him she wanted. She herself descended from families who had won freedom from serfdom through generations of a dramatic turbulent European history, and heritage that morally empowered her to stand up for what she wanted.
It was not the colonisers who imposed change on the Maori, it was the political and legal heritage they inevitably brought with them. "
It's well worth following these discussions because they highlight misconceptions that people have and also show depth of arguement without personal attack. The arguement is fierce but not nasty.
From the comments section
RedLogix
August 21, 2009 at 11:42 am
@Lew
Well in an earlier post you said something along the lines that the Treaty promise Maori a ‘hell of a freaking lot’.
It might argued that if Maori had remained a demographic majority in the country, then the Treaty, the establishment of the Crown, democracy and Parliament would have assured Maori all the representation they could want for.
But’s that’s not likely how it would have turned out is it? Tribal power was never about democracy as we know it. Certainly it had nothing much to offer the Maori slave class. Although the rangatira were never absolute autocrats in the sense of say the European monarchy, that probably because Stone Age technology limited their ability to impose their power without the wider co-operation of the iwi. But given the inevitable impact of the outside world, surely that would have changed, just as the advent of muskets in the hands of Hone Heke had already turned the Maori world upside down by 1840.
It’s interesting to speculate exactly how an Aoteoroa that had delivered to Maori the ‘hell of a freaking lot’ you have in mind, ie the full exercise of tribal sovereignty, might have evolved as a society. I imagine it would look more like the political landscape of Tonga, than what we currently have. There is no doubt in my mind that lingering in the back of some ‘upper class browns’ in this country, is a hankering for the restoration of the tribal powers they once enjoyed. (A theme not restricted to just Maori of course…)
Where do we go from here? There cannot be two competing sources of sovereignty in one nation, but neither can the currently dominant Pakeha model assume that it will remain unchallenged forever. Both sides will have to move.
Reply
Lew
August 21, 2009 at 12:00 pm
RL,
"Well in an earlier post you said something along the lines that the Treaty promise Maori a ‘hell of a freaking lot’. "
Yes, it did.
"It might argued that if Maori had remained a demographic majority in the country, then the Treaty, the establishment of the Crown, democracy and Parliament would have assured Maori all the representation they could want for. "
Yes. If the Treaty had been properly adhered to, tangata whenua would be in a very strong position compared to where they’re at now.
"It’s interesting to speculate exactly how an Aoteoroa that had delivered to Maori the ‘hell of a freaking lot’ you have in mind, ie the full exercise of tribal sovereignty, might have evolved as a society.I imagine it would look more like the political landscape of Tonga, than what we currently have. There is no doubt in my mind that lingering in the back of some ‘upper class browns’ in this country, is a hankering for the restoration of the tribal powers they once enjoyed. (A theme not restricted to just Maori of course…) "
It is interesting, but idle. And it seems like you’re drifting towards the sort of white man’s burden argument, that it’s a good thing the Crown didn’t adhere to the Treaty, because those dam natives would have just screwed it up and we’d all be living under a brown feudalism – or they would have just killed each other if the settlers hadn’t done so.
This argument, that natives were never going to be able to run a proper country because they couldn’t handle the responsibility is an awfully paternalistic line to take, although unfortunately not uncommon, even among people who ought to know better.
"Where do we go from here? There cannot be two competing sources of sovereignty in one nation, but neither can the currently dominant Pakeha model assume that it will remain unchallenged forever. Both sides will have to move. "
Indeed; an agreement will need to be struck and it will require deep compromise from all parties. What’s critical is that any agreement proceed from a position of goodwill, consent and with consideration to previous agreements. There aren’t two sources of sovereignty, though – in the strictest terms, the only thing (other than military force) which gives tau iwi the right to live here is the Treaty of Waitangi. If the settlers of the day had conquered Aotearoa and annexed it (as they did elsewhere) then that would give them the de facto right, but they chose to treat, and if there is to be rule of law in this country the crown must be bound by that decision and its consequences. So the first question of constitutional reform needs to be something like “why should tangata whenua accept a new agreement rather than simply insisting on adherence to the existing agreement?’
There are plenty of good possible answers, and this question being asked and considered deeply and in full is fundamental to the issue of consent, which is necessary before any change to the constitutional status of the nation and its people can really be considered.
L
Reply
RedLogix
August 21, 2009 at 12:15 pm
There was no magic force field bubble surrounding Aoteoroa keeping out the modern world. The whalers, sealers, loggers, missionaries , prostitutes, land-grabbers, farmers and soldiers were always going to arrive… and along with them was always going to come a technical, cultural, legal and poltical system that was frankly more developed and advanced than the Maori had.
This was reality, not paternalism. It does not say that the Maori were ever an inferior people, all it says is that their culture, evolved in relative isolation from the rest of the world was going to get a dramatic, and quite involuntary kick up the arse, in order to catch up with the modern world. That is not a statement of blame or guilt, it was a simple historic inevitability.
"because those dam natives would have just screwed it up and we’d all be living under a brown feudalism "
I take it that you aren’t defending feudalism, of whatever colour, white or brown? It’s not paternalistic to say that I object deeply to any form of feudal tribalism as a political system…. regardless of the skin colours involved.
Reply
Lew
August 21, 2009 at 12:29 pm
RL, the whole premise of ‘cultural evolution’, and especially ‘political evolution’ is paternalistic.
I’m certainly not defending feudalism; I’m saying that it’s wrong to assume that that’s what would have inevitably emerged from an alternate history where the crown adhered to the Treaty, and presuming such says a lot about your attitude toward tangata whenua. In addition, the argument you’re running here that the end (society as it is, rather than some made-up counterfactual) justifies the means (mass slaughter, resource alienation, cultural oppression, etc.) doesn’t wash, unless you accept that the Pākehā the means favoured are intrinsically more important than Māori that suffered from it. Naturally, you feel like you can argue from this position, since you’re one of those who benefitted – there’s no downside for you, really.
Māori have not been dragged kicking and screaming into democratic politics, as you suggest – they have been systematically barred and dissuaded and excluded from it, and have managed to wedge themselves in anyway.
L
Reply
RedLogix
August 21, 2009 at 1:04 pm
"I’m saying that it’s wrong to assume that that’s what would have inevitably emerged from an alternate history where the crown adhered to the Treaty "
Well at least the Tongan model I pointed to is a real one, not an assumption.
"the whole premise of ‘cultural evolution’, and especially ‘political evolution’ is paternalistic. "
Can’t accept that. If all progress and change is just ‘paternalistic’, I might as well be arguing with the dining room table. You claim not to be defending feudalism, but by your logic my rejection of it is just a paternalistic smear upon our own ancestors for whom that was the only way of life they knew. Sorry but you cannot hide behind cultural relativism all the time, at some point you have to make choices, between right and wrong, the status quo and change.
"In addition, the argument you’re running here that the end (society as it is, rather than some made-up counterfactual) justifies the means (mass slaughter, resource alienation, cultural oppression, etc.) doesn’t wash, unless you accept that the Pākehā the means favoured are intrinsically more important than Māori that suffered from it. "
By looking around I see very few Maori choosing to live in pre-European, Stone Age, tribal conditions. Most of those Maori families descended from their slaves (those who haven’t gone to Australia that is) seem to turn up the opportunity to return to their former chattel status. Many Maori avail themselves of modern foods, clothing, education, health care and so on. Many Maori become highly qualified professionals and use the technical, cultural and legal systems brought here by us ‘paternalists’ for their own desired and legitimate purposes.
Gone are the days of the summer war parties. Gone are the days of a life expectancy of less than 40, when you left behind a skeleton marked by stressful, often brutal life. Gone are the days when the life of those at the bottom of the highly rigid and finely graduated Maori class system, hung by the whim of those further up it.
So yes I conclude that for all the losses you mention, there were also gains. If you want to measure and weigh these up, then look about you and see what the people themselves have chosen.
In this respect Maori have made exactly the same journey as have us Europeans; no-one stands on any moral high ground, nor should lay claim to any special grievance… we all progress through history… each on our own path, each with it’s own turns, accidents and chance meetings.
Reply
Lew
August 21, 2009 at 1:31 pm
RL,
I should have been more clear: the idea that one culture, or political system, is objectively better or worse than another is paternalistic because these things cannot be objectively measures without a (culturally laden) set of benchmarks. My objection was to the equation of ‘evolution’ to ‘increase in quality’, rather than evolution as change which may or may not be beneficial, but usually is because deleterious adaptations die off – which is clearly and obviously the case. The reason it’s paternalistic is that it presumes purpose – a non-industrial (or pre-modern) civilisation when judged by industrial or modern standards will always be found lacking precisely because the question of what is valuable has been begged.
My point with all that is that it’s wrong for you to simply argue, as you have done, that imposing modern ways on the natives was justified and for their own good. If they are prepared to argue that, it’s another matter – and if they avail themselves of the social and technological changes manifest in those systems, it doesn’t necessarily follow that those systems are superior; especially in the NZ case, this argument is falsified by the fact that Māori were denied (by alienation, suppression of language, etc) their traditional ways of life and the modern evolutions which would develop and had no choice but to assimilate into the urban slums.
I’ve italicised that section to highlight your assumption that the Māori ways, unlike the civilised white man’s ways, would have remain unchanged all this time. This also is paternalistic – like those fools who say that Ngāi Tahu should be allowed to catch as much fish as they like with flax nets and bone hooks, but buying into Sealord is somehow cheating. The thing Māori were denied by the mass alienation and other breaches of the treaty wasn’t just the wealth of their resource – it was the opportunity and means to continue their cultural development and pursue change and reform on their own terms – as a matter of tino rangatiratanga. Instead, they have had to develop under terms imposed upon them by economic, political and military force – and people wonder why it’s so dysfunctional!
With due respect, to say that Pākehā and Māori have walked the same path ignores the fact that one was hungry, blindfold, barefoot and at gunpoint to the one behind, riding on a white horse and wondering what all the complaining is about. And to an extent, it remains thus. Talk of putting grievances behind us, forgetting the past and forging on as brothers is cheap and easy from those who haven’t borne the political, economic and cultural brunt of those grievances over eight generations. The grievances can only be shelved when Māori are prepared to shelve them, willingly and secure in the knowledge that things will be better.
L
Reply
RedLogix
August 21, 2009 at 2:54 pm
"The reason it’s paternalistic is that it presumes purpose – a non-industrial (or pre-modern) civilisation when judged by industrial or modern standards will always be found lacking precisely because the question of what is valuable has been begged. "
I understand the argument quite well, but in the end I have to reject it. While industrial civilisation has many obvious defects, it is preferred by most people to any alternative. Most people when faced with a life-threatening injury or illness choose retain access to some form of modern health care, as against solely committing to the ministrations of a tohunga for instance.
While it is easy to romantacise the putative freedom of the ‘noble savage’, the reality was a slavery to bad weather, poor and erratic food supplies, non-existent health care, and bad neighbours. The only rights and property one could lay claim to were those you or you whanau could defend or enforce by warfare.
"this argument is falsified by the fact that Māori were denied (by alienation, suppression of language, etc) their traditional ways of life and the modern evolutions which would develop "
As you say an idle argument. Even if left in total isolation Maori would probably have continued on much as they had for a thousand years prior. But that is not what happened, there was no magical bubble protecting them from change.
The simple, irrefutable fact is that the coloniser’s inevitable arrival imposed change, ipso facto. No good intentions could change that fact, no-one can be held accountable for denying the chance to allow Maori to create their own modern evolutions, because that became only a hypothetical possibility.
The only place where Polynesians had the opportunity to evolve their own modern adaptions in relative isolation was Tonga; and excuse me if I don’t wholly support the outcome.
"With due respect, to say that Pākehā and Māori have walked the same path ignores the fact that one was hungry, blindfold, barefoot and at gunpoint to the one behind, riding on a white horse and wondering what all the complaining is about. "
Not my family. Most of them fled persecution and poverty at home, arriving here after a dangerous, traumatic sea-voyage, with little more than what they wore. In one case that was literally true; she swam ashore with nothing. She later had a stand up argument with an armed Hone Heke himself and won the concession from him she wanted. She herself descended from families who had won freedom from serfdom through generations of a dramatic turbulent European history, and heritage that morally empowered her to stand up for what she wanted.
It was not the colonisers who imposed change on the Maori, it was the political and legal heritage they inevitably brought with them. "
It's well worth following these discussions because they highlight misconceptions that people have and also show depth of arguement without personal attack. The arguement is fierce but not nasty.
maori more likely to self-harm - shame on this country
Why are maori more likely to self-harm than non-maori?
"Maori, at 75.1 hospitalisations per 100,000 people, were more likely to self-harm than non-Maori, with rates of 61.6 per 100,000.
The Health Ministry said anti-suicide initiatives included better follow-up care, mental health awareness campaigns and addressing suicide rates among the Maori community in particular."
Why? And what are the iwi organisations doing about it as over 13% of maori are unemployed and it could go up to 30% - 40%.
What specific initiatives are TRONT doing for Ngai Tahu in this area? Or are we going to have to wait until more of our people kill themselves, or try to.
"Maori, at 75.1 hospitalisations per 100,000 people, were more likely to self-harm than non-Maori, with rates of 61.6 per 100,000.
The Health Ministry said anti-suicide initiatives included better follow-up care, mental health awareness campaigns and addressing suicide rates among the Maori community in particular."
Why? And what are the iwi organisations doing about it as over 13% of maori are unemployed and it could go up to 30% - 40%.
What specific initiatives are TRONT doing for Ngai Tahu in this area? Or are we going to have to wait until more of our people kill themselves, or try to.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Waitaha group fight on against holcim
Interesting that for some tangata whenua the fight goes on.
"Waitaha wants Minister of Maori Affairs Pita Sharples to help protect its cultural and spiritual values from a proposed cement plant development in the Waiareka Valley.
Waitaha wants special recognition for the Whitston Escarpment, also known as Te Ana Raki, which will be mined by Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd for limestone and tuff for its $400 million development."
"The Waitaha Taiwhenua O Waitaki Trust Board and Te Runanganui O Waitaha Me Mata Waka Inc were interested parties in an appeal heard in Oamaru by the Environment Court earlier this year against the cement plant development.
Waitaha Taiwhenua O Waitaki Trust Board spokesman Stephen Bray said yesterday the resource consents process had failed right from the start because Holcim had not consulted Waitaha.
That continued with the Otago Regional and Waitaki District Councils, which granted resource consents for the development, also failing to consult Waitaha."
"Mr Bray also believed divisions between itself and Ngai Tahu could be settled, if Ngai Tahu was prepared "to sit at the table and discuss them".
During the Environment Court hearing, Waitaha and Ngai Tahu, the statutory body responsible for the area, clashed over Maori cultural and spiritual values in the valley.
Ngai Tahu said its Moeraki runanga had mana whenua (status) over the valley.
It had reached a memorandum of understanding with Holcim.
Waitaha claimed mana whenua and said Ngai Tahu was not sufficiently knowledgeable on Waitaha values and sites and not able to represent its interests.
However, in its decision upholding the resource consents issued for the cement development, the court declined to get involved in that debate.
The court said it was apparent the issue was more deeply seated and Waitaha did not consider Ngai Tahu had authority to speak for it."
Who has mana whenua status - the whenua knows and reveals.
"Waitaha wants Minister of Maori Affairs Pita Sharples to help protect its cultural and spiritual values from a proposed cement plant development in the Waiareka Valley.
Waitaha wants special recognition for the Whitston Escarpment, also known as Te Ana Raki, which will be mined by Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd for limestone and tuff for its $400 million development."
"The Waitaha Taiwhenua O Waitaki Trust Board and Te Runanganui O Waitaha Me Mata Waka Inc were interested parties in an appeal heard in Oamaru by the Environment Court earlier this year against the cement plant development.
Waitaha Taiwhenua O Waitaki Trust Board spokesman Stephen Bray said yesterday the resource consents process had failed right from the start because Holcim had not consulted Waitaha.
That continued with the Otago Regional and Waitaki District Councils, which granted resource consents for the development, also failing to consult Waitaha."
"Mr Bray also believed divisions between itself and Ngai Tahu could be settled, if Ngai Tahu was prepared "to sit at the table and discuss them".
During the Environment Court hearing, Waitaha and Ngai Tahu, the statutory body responsible for the area, clashed over Maori cultural and spiritual values in the valley.
Ngai Tahu said its Moeraki runanga had mana whenua (status) over the valley.
It had reached a memorandum of understanding with Holcim.
Waitaha claimed mana whenua and said Ngai Tahu was not sufficiently knowledgeable on Waitaha values and sites and not able to represent its interests.
However, in its decision upholding the resource consents issued for the cement development, the court declined to get involved in that debate.
The court said it was apparent the issue was more deeply seated and Waitaha did not consider Ngai Tahu had authority to speak for it."
Who has mana whenua status - the whenua knows and reveals.
go on rodney - jump!
Yah - see you later rodders
"It was revealed last night that a senior National MP - believed to be Tau Henare - sent an email to his caucus colleagues telling them ACT had threatened to end its relationship with the Government if it "gave in to Maori" and agreed to having special Maori seats on the council.
Mr Hide said he would have to resign as minister if the Maori seats were enshrined."
"It was revealed last night that a senior National MP - believed to be Tau Henare - sent an email to his caucus colleagues telling them ACT had threatened to end its relationship with the Government if it "gave in to Maori" and agreed to having special Maori seats on the council.
Mr Hide said he would have to resign as minister if the Maori seats were enshrined."
The change is coming rodders and you can try to look after your big-noter mates but maori aren't going to take being victimised again. So start packing your bags and reducing your expenditure because the ministerial warrant you hold, will soon be handed in.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Akaka Bill moving but still with very big. barbed fishhook
The Akaka Bill - a difficult one to decide upon. Yes it is crazy that Native Hawaiians are not considered an indigenous people in the US. Yes they need resources and the ability to deliver services to their people. But the fish-hook clause of giving up their ability "from pursuing claims against the United States for past wrongs in court." is a very big one. And i just about can't get past that, but here is the latest...
"WASHINGTON – With the backing of the Obama administration, the Akaka Bill has received a big boost of support that may provide enough weight to push the proposed legislation through Congress this year.
Hawaii’s congressional delegates have tried to pass some version of the Akaka Bill for almost 10 years. The bill is named after its originator, Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii. Supporters of the bill – the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act – welcomed the endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice at a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing Aug. 6."
The bill will give Native Hawaiians much of the same rights as other indigenous people in the US, namely the Native American Indians and Native Alaskians. At the moment Native Hawaiians are not considered indigenous under US law. That means that any program they develop that is for their people can, and has been, challenged via civil rights legislation. When the bill passes Native Hawaiians will be able have some self government.
"The latest version of the Akaka Bill would authorize a process for establishing a Native Hawaiian governing entity and would grant the equivalent of federal recognition to Native Hawaiians, allowing them to be treated on par with American Indians and Alaska Natives. However, it would not allow gaming, create reservation trust lands, give any land back to Native Hawaiians without legislative approval, or change any existing laws."
The Apology Resolution signed into law in 1993 by former President Bill Clinton on the 100th anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, acknowledged the illegality of the U.S. government’s military-backed regime change of “the sovereign Hawaii nation” in 1893 and its support for the illegally created “provisional government” in violation of treaties and international law. The insurgents were wealthy American and European financiers and colonists who owned sugar plantations.
The key statement in the apology reiterates Hawaii’s continuing independence: ‘‘The indigenous Hawaiian people never directly relinquished their claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people or over their national lands to the United States, either through their monarchy or through a plebiscite or referendum.”
And this is where it gets very sticky.
"While all those testifying were generally in favor of the Akaka Bill, no representative of Hawaii’s sovereignty movement was invited to speak. The sovereignty movement seeks full independence from the United States based on decolonization and de-occupation under international law.
Representatives of the movement have been excluded from the discourse in Congress and in the recent Supreme Court case, which ruled earlier this year that Congress’ apology for overthrowing the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 bears no moral, political or legal weight in stopping the State of Hawaii from selling 1.2 million acres of land seized during the illegal regime change before land claims by Native Hawaiians are resolved.
David M. K. Inciong, II of Pearl City, a Native Hawaiian, said the hearing was “farcical.”
“Here we are, foreign nationals made stateless in our own country and the U.S. wants to forcibly incorporate us into their country as indigenous Native Americans; yet again through their domestic laws to be under the plenary authority of U.S. Congress.
“Instead of living a lie by creating more lies, the U.S. needs to take stock of its situation, de-occupy Hawai’i, and return our already recognized sovereign nation-state back to us who love our country as much as the U.S. Americans love theirs. We are peers to the U.S. as nation-to-nation. Why would we submit to being a lesser status of a nation within a nation which is translated into a belligerent occupation which we already live under?”
Kehaulani Kauanui, a Native Hawaiian and associate professor of American Studies at Wesleyan University, said the discussion of constitutionality was inadequate.
“What was missing, of course, is the fact that under the U.S. Constitution, the Hawaiian Kingdom was regarded as a foreign nation, an independent sovereign state. Foreign nations do not have any relationship to the U.S. Department of the Interior precisely because that department is about areas considered by the U.S. government as internal to the U.S.A, (Indian tribes, U.S. Island Territories and National Parks). Foreign nations relate to the U.S. Department of State."
What lessons can we learn from this?
Nothing is 100% good or 100% bad.
To take two steps forward you sometimes have to take a step back first.
When the controllers put in place processes to disengage their control - they are still in control.
further reading
For the bill from a Native American perspective
Against - a very interesting angle on the apology
"WASHINGTON – With the backing of the Obama administration, the Akaka Bill has received a big boost of support that may provide enough weight to push the proposed legislation through Congress this year.
Hawaii’s congressional delegates have tried to pass some version of the Akaka Bill for almost 10 years. The bill is named after its originator, Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii. Supporters of the bill – the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act – welcomed the endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice at a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing Aug. 6."
The bill will give Native Hawaiians much of the same rights as other indigenous people in the US, namely the Native American Indians and Native Alaskians. At the moment Native Hawaiians are not considered indigenous under US law. That means that any program they develop that is for their people can, and has been, challenged via civil rights legislation. When the bill passes Native Hawaiians will be able have some self government.
"The latest version of the Akaka Bill would authorize a process for establishing a Native Hawaiian governing entity and would grant the equivalent of federal recognition to Native Hawaiians, allowing them to be treated on par with American Indians and Alaska Natives. However, it would not allow gaming, create reservation trust lands, give any land back to Native Hawaiians without legislative approval, or change any existing laws."
The Apology Resolution signed into law in 1993 by former President Bill Clinton on the 100th anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, acknowledged the illegality of the U.S. government’s military-backed regime change of “the sovereign Hawaii nation” in 1893 and its support for the illegally created “provisional government” in violation of treaties and international law. The insurgents were wealthy American and European financiers and colonists who owned sugar plantations.
The key statement in the apology reiterates Hawaii’s continuing independence: ‘‘The indigenous Hawaiian people never directly relinquished their claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people or over their national lands to the United States, either through their monarchy or through a plebiscite or referendum.”
And this is where it gets very sticky.
"While all those testifying were generally in favor of the Akaka Bill, no representative of Hawaii’s sovereignty movement was invited to speak. The sovereignty movement seeks full independence from the United States based on decolonization and de-occupation under international law.
Representatives of the movement have been excluded from the discourse in Congress and in the recent Supreme Court case, which ruled earlier this year that Congress’ apology for overthrowing the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 bears no moral, political or legal weight in stopping the State of Hawaii from selling 1.2 million acres of land seized during the illegal regime change before land claims by Native Hawaiians are resolved.
David M. K. Inciong, II of Pearl City, a Native Hawaiian, said the hearing was “farcical.”
“Here we are, foreign nationals made stateless in our own country and the U.S. wants to forcibly incorporate us into their country as indigenous Native Americans; yet again through their domestic laws to be under the plenary authority of U.S. Congress.
“Instead of living a lie by creating more lies, the U.S. needs to take stock of its situation, de-occupy Hawai’i, and return our already recognized sovereign nation-state back to us who love our country as much as the U.S. Americans love theirs. We are peers to the U.S. as nation-to-nation. Why would we submit to being a lesser status of a nation within a nation which is translated into a belligerent occupation which we already live under?”
Kehaulani Kauanui, a Native Hawaiian and associate professor of American Studies at Wesleyan University, said the discussion of constitutionality was inadequate.
“What was missing, of course, is the fact that under the U.S. Constitution, the Hawaiian Kingdom was regarded as a foreign nation, an independent sovereign state. Foreign nations do not have any relationship to the U.S. Department of the Interior precisely because that department is about areas considered by the U.S. government as internal to the U.S.A, (Indian tribes, U.S. Island Territories and National Parks). Foreign nations relate to the U.S. Department of State."
What lessons can we learn from this?
Nothing is 100% good or 100% bad.
To take two steps forward you sometimes have to take a step back first.
When the controllers put in place processes to disengage their control - they are still in control.
further reading
For the bill from a Native American perspective
Against - a very interesting angle on the apology
our valleys future decided in switzerland
We lost...
"The environment court found in favour of Holcim in a decision released on Monday, rejecting an appeal by the Waiareka Valley Preservation Society.
Holcim will decide whether to build the $400 million plant.
Holcim will evaluate the project now the court decision has been released and a final decision on whether the plant will be built is expected later next year, from its parent company in Switzerland. "
So the future of this development in our country, in our valley will be decided in switzerland... how sad - how pathetic
And also important to note that "The court, during the hearing, was faced with a clear divergence in opinions between Te Runanga o Moeraki, representing Ngai Tahu, and sub-tribe Waitaha, which appeared as interested parties, on the effects on Maori values.
That had its genesis in the complex historical relationship between Ngai Tahu and Waitaha, but the court said it was not possible for it to attempt to unravel these "complicated traditions". "
"The environment court found in favour of Holcim in a decision released on Monday, rejecting an appeal by the Waiareka Valley Preservation Society.
Holcim will decide whether to build the $400 million plant.
Holcim will evaluate the project now the court decision has been released and a final decision on whether the plant will be built is expected later next year, from its parent company in Switzerland. "
So the future of this development in our country, in our valley will be decided in switzerland... how sad - how pathetic
And also important to note that "The court, during the hearing, was faced with a clear divergence in opinions between Te Runanga o Moeraki, representing Ngai Tahu, and sub-tribe Waitaha, which appeared as interested parties, on the effects on Maori values.
That had its genesis in the complex historical relationship between Ngai Tahu and Waitaha, but the court said it was not possible for it to attempt to unravel these "complicated traditions". "
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Save the Hurunui River
Hurunui RiverSave the Hurunui River
Why?
"The Hurunui provides outstanding habitat for native fish and birds, especially nationally endangered black-fronted tern and black-billed gull and the dotterel (in decline). It is one of the most popular rivers in New Zealand for fishing, white-water rafting and kayaking.
The Hurunui is Canterbury’s sixth largest river by volume. Lake Sumner and seven smaller lakes formed by retreating glaciers are considered icons of the South Island high country.
As well as being one of Canterbury’s most loved rivers, it is also home to some of our most endangered species.
It is an example of one of the most diverse river catchments in Canterbury, ranging from bush-fringed lakes, steep, rocky headwaters and gorges to braided shingle riverbeds, and supports an equally diverse range of habitats and native biodiversity.
Fifty-eight bird species have been identified in the catchment, including 17 threatened species. Significant river birds include three nationally endangered species: the black-fronted tern (between 5-12% of the entire population), black-billed gull (in serious decline) and banded dotterel (in gradual decline). The catchment is also home to birds uncommon in most of Canterbury, especially grey teal and NZ shoveler.
Twenty-five native fish species have been identified in the catchment, including six threatened fish species. It is also an important recreational fishery for brown trout and salmon, with an estimated 20,000 angler days per season.
The surrounding beech forest supports a healthy population of endangered mohua (yellowhead) and critically endangered orange-fronted parakeet (kakariki). "
So Ngai Tahu what are we going to do? We have NT Property trying to dam and destroy the river. No doubt local kaumatua and Papatipu Runaka will be trying to save the river and it's mauri.
This is what the damn dammers say
"Who is behind the Hurunui Water Project?
Why?
"The Hurunui provides outstanding habitat for native fish and birds, especially nationally endangered black-fronted tern and black-billed gull and the dotterel (in decline). It is one of the most popular rivers in New Zealand for fishing, white-water rafting and kayaking.
The Hurunui is Canterbury’s sixth largest river by volume. Lake Sumner and seven smaller lakes formed by retreating glaciers are considered icons of the South Island high country.
As well as being one of Canterbury’s most loved rivers, it is also home to some of our most endangered species.
It is an example of one of the most diverse river catchments in Canterbury, ranging from bush-fringed lakes, steep, rocky headwaters and gorges to braided shingle riverbeds, and supports an equally diverse range of habitats and native biodiversity.
Fifty-eight bird species have been identified in the catchment, including 17 threatened species. Significant river birds include three nationally endangered species: the black-fronted tern (between 5-12% of the entire population), black-billed gull (in serious decline) and banded dotterel (in gradual decline). The catchment is also home to birds uncommon in most of Canterbury, especially grey teal and NZ shoveler.
Twenty-five native fish species have been identified in the catchment, including six threatened fish species. It is also an important recreational fishery for brown trout and salmon, with an estimated 20,000 angler days per season.
The surrounding beech forest supports a healthy population of endangered mohua (yellowhead) and critically endangered orange-fronted parakeet (kakariki). "
So Ngai Tahu what are we going to do? We have NT Property trying to dam and destroy the river. No doubt local kaumatua and Papatipu Runaka will be trying to save the river and it's mauri.
This is what the damn dammers say
"Who is behind the Hurunui Water Project?
The Board of HWP
The Board of the Hurunui Water Project is small but diverse. Our common ingredient is an interest in the future well-being of the Hurunui District. We include representatives from the Hurunui Irrigation and Power Trust (HIPT), Ngai Tahu Property, Mainpower and Eskhead Station.
• HIPT represents the interests of more than 200 Hurunui farmers who formed a trust in 2002 to look at the opportunities for using water in the district.
• Ngai Tahu Property has interests in the sustainable management of the soil and water resources of the Hurunui District together with satisfying the wider interests of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, Ngai Tuahuriri and Kaikoura runanga. "
What is the TRONT position? Who speaks for Ngai Tahu? Are NT Property considering the wider interests with this project?
And if Ngai Tahu are too concerned about the profit and money they will make via NT Property - then what does that say about us, about our kaitiakitanga role and if we won't save this river - who the hell will!
Ngai Tahu offers to help Aorangi School
Good news about support for Aorangi from Ngai Tahu.
"Ngai Tahu has offered to pay for the rebuilding of Christchurch's Aorangi School in what would be the first public-private school partnership between an iwi and the Crown.
The proposed deal for the school, which faces closure because of a falling roll and a dispute over replacing its dilapidated buildings, would see its buildings owned by Ngai Tahu and leased to the Crown."
"Aorangi board of trustees member Andrew Oh said the Government had been promoting the idea of a public-private partnership (PPP) and Ngai Tahu's commercial arm had been looking at getting into education, so Aorangi School was a "perfect opportunity".
"This is a commercial decision. The bottom line is it does tie in nicely with what they have been trying to do, especially in protecting their language," he said."
Is it really a commercial decision?
"Ngai Tahu chairman Mark Solomon said the iwi was "strongly supportive" of Aorangi School.
"Ngai Tahu has fewer fluent reo speakers than other iwi and so it is concerning when we hear that a school like Aorangi School in Christchurch, with its bilingual unit, may be shut down. We have therefore been proactive in support of the school and have held discussions with the Government and other people of influence."
That sounds like a bit more than a commercial decision to me - I hope they are keeping an arms-length seperation especially regarding the outcomes that they want to receive. You see, a commercial decision is different to a decision to help an organisation which is helping our people become more educated and more knowledgeable around Ngai Tahutanga - IMO
"Ngai Tahu has offered to pay for the rebuilding of Christchurch's Aorangi School in what would be the first public-private school partnership between an iwi and the Crown.
The proposed deal for the school, which faces closure because of a falling roll and a dispute over replacing its dilapidated buildings, would see its buildings owned by Ngai Tahu and leased to the Crown."
"Aorangi board of trustees member Andrew Oh said the Government had been promoting the idea of a public-private partnership (PPP) and Ngai Tahu's commercial arm had been looking at getting into education, so Aorangi School was a "perfect opportunity".
"This is a commercial decision. The bottom line is it does tie in nicely with what they have been trying to do, especially in protecting their language," he said."
Is it really a commercial decision?
"Ngai Tahu chairman Mark Solomon said the iwi was "strongly supportive" of Aorangi School.
"Ngai Tahu has fewer fluent reo speakers than other iwi and so it is concerning when we hear that a school like Aorangi School in Christchurch, with its bilingual unit, may be shut down. We have therefore been proactive in support of the school and have held discussions with the Government and other people of influence."
That sounds like a bit more than a commercial decision to me - I hope they are keeping an arms-length seperation especially regarding the outcomes that they want to receive. You see, a commercial decision is different to a decision to help an organisation which is helping our people become more educated and more knowledgeable around Ngai Tahutanga - IMO
Ngai Tahu let down by Waitangi tribunal
I'm disappointed by this decision.
"Six top of the south iwi are jubilant they have successfully defended a Waitangi Tribunal decision which says they have customary rights overlapping with those of South Island powerhouse iwi Ngai Tahu.
A High Court decision released on Friday by Justice Alan MacKenzie dismissed the Ngai Tahu challenge to the tribunal's decision.
Ngai Tahu is considering appealing the decision."
More lawyers, more cost but I am sure that this will go all the way. We have fought too long and too hard to give up any of our takiwa.
"Six top of the south iwi are jubilant they have successfully defended a Waitangi Tribunal decision which says they have customary rights overlapping with those of South Island powerhouse iwi Ngai Tahu.
A High Court decision released on Friday by Justice Alan MacKenzie dismissed the Ngai Tahu challenge to the tribunal's decision.
Ngai Tahu is considering appealing the decision."
More lawyers, more cost but I am sure that this will go all the way. We have fought too long and too hard to give up any of our takiwa.
Monday, August 17, 2009
trev - no point sending them to jail
mallard has a view, and don't forget that this is the guy who says he is indigenous because his grandparents or whatever arrived here. I'm not saying you don't love this country mallard - but you are not indigenous.
"A senior Labour MP says five Maori who avoided imprisonment for the exorcism killing of a relative would have gone to jail if they were Pakeha.
Trevor Mallard posted his comments on the Labour Parliamentary Caucus's blog, Red Alert.
Mallard said that in sentencing the five to community sentences, Justice France had "sent a signal that's the wrong one" about what was effectively "torture"."
A couple of points mallard - you have been a minister and your answer is to put more people in jail. We are already second only to the US for imprisionment. It doesn't work.
This verdict shows how far maori have fallen because of the disengagement with their culture because of colonisation. I cannot say if this attempt was tikanga but I am sure there were many ways of trying to get the atua on side. Pakeha laugh at the so called superstition involved yet there are more things unknown than known.
We need seperate yet interconnected, justice systems where the cultural aspects of a case can be consider. This and the takamore case show that the system is not working. No use putting this group in jail they need to be in their community where the error of their ways can be shown.
The more I think about it, community is the answer to just about every problem that we face.
"A senior Labour MP says five Maori who avoided imprisonment for the exorcism killing of a relative would have gone to jail if they were Pakeha.
Trevor Mallard posted his comments on the Labour Parliamentary Caucus's blog, Red Alert.
Mallard said that in sentencing the five to community sentences, Justice France had "sent a signal that's the wrong one" about what was effectively "torture"."
A couple of points mallard - you have been a minister and your answer is to put more people in jail. We are already second only to the US for imprisionment. It doesn't work.
This verdict shows how far maori have fallen because of the disengagement with their culture because of colonisation. I cannot say if this attempt was tikanga but I am sure there were many ways of trying to get the atua on side. Pakeha laugh at the so called superstition involved yet there are more things unknown than known.
We need seperate yet interconnected, justice systems where the cultural aspects of a case can be consider. This and the takamore case show that the system is not working. No use putting this group in jail they need to be in their community where the error of their ways can be shown.
The more I think about it, community is the answer to just about every problem that we face.
Friday, August 14, 2009
April 1870, at Onoke - Smithyman
Smithyman
219
APRIL 1870, AT ONOKE
Chiefs of Hokianga met Governor Bowen
at Maning's. One after another spoke,
Aporo spoke before Papahurihia. Aperahama was present.
Papahurihia said:
"I dreamt before the coming of Governor Browne:
a black man had taken a feather out of my hair."
He did not offer to explain.
He said, again he did not explain:
"I am not a prophet; the chief Justice is a prophet."
He was reported as 'a chief of Nga ti Hau'.
He was 'the famous tohunga or priest'.
219
APRIL 1870, AT ONOKE
Chiefs of Hokianga met Governor Bowen
at Maning's. One after another spoke,
Aporo spoke before Papahurihia. Aperahama was present.
Papahurihia said:
"I dreamt before the coming of Governor Browne:
a black man had taken a feather out of my hair."
He did not offer to explain.
He said, again he did not explain:
"I am not a prophet; the chief Justice is a prophet."
He was reported as 'a chief of Nga ti Hau'.
He was 'the famous tohunga or priest'.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Hubble deep space 3D flythrough - Wow!
Wow!!!
It takes a bit of thinking about but if the universe is expanding - the explaination used is dots on a balloon. As it is blown up the dots move away from each other. Viewing from any dot shows the other dots moving away.
The really freaky thing is that just as it is the balloon expanding which causes the dots to move away from each other - so it is space itself expanding that causes the galaxies to appear to be moving away from us.
Hat tip wreck1080 kiwiblog general debate comments
It takes a bit of thinking about but if the universe is expanding - the explaination used is dots on a balloon. As it is blown up the dots move away from each other. Viewing from any dot shows the other dots moving away.
The really freaky thing is that just as it is the balloon expanding which causes the dots to move away from each other - so it is space itself expanding that causes the galaxies to appear to be moving away from us.
Hat tip wreck1080 kiwiblog general debate comments
Thanks Forest & Bird for helping save the Kaki
KakiWell done Forest and Bird for helping to save these wonderful birds.
"More than 40 rare black stilts raised in captivity had their first taste of freedom yesterday when they were released near Lake Tekapo by 13 South Canterbury Forest and Bird members."
"More than 40 rare black stilts raised in captivity had their first taste of freedom yesterday when they were released near Lake Tekapo by 13 South Canterbury Forest and Bird members."
Amazing to think in the late 1970's there were only 23 birds alive making the Kaki (Black Stilt) the rareist wading bird in the world.
"Yesterday's release boosted the wild population to more than 200 birds."
I didn't see mention tangata whenua being involved - i hope we were.
"Yesterday's release boosted the wild population to more than 200 birds."
I didn't see mention tangata whenua being involved - i hope we were.
Two Ecan councillors we could do without
harrow and murray
Whilst not really wanting to give this too much air-time it is worthwhile just noteing it.
"Pat Harrow Ecan councillor said the specific mention of tangata whenua values in ECan's regional policy statement, as is required by law, was "discrimination".
"This is a form of apartheid.
"I speak for a lot of people out there in the community when I say the Treaty of Waitangi should be consigned to the history books out of law.
"I hope this will happen one day and we'll all be equal under the law."
You speak for a lot of people harrow? Then how come...
"Harrow sought to include separate recognition of "non-Maori values" in the planning document, but the motion was lost by 10 votes to two. The only other councillor supporting it was Bronwen Murray."
Treaty of Waitangi expert Robert Consedine described Harrow's comments as an "angry rant" made more from ignorance than a thoughtful critique.
Te Tai Tonga MP Rahui Katene said she was not taking Harrow's comment seriously.
Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu chief executive Anake Goodall said Harrow's comments were "unfortunate", but not representative of today's views.
"They're from another time and place," he said. "They don't deserve too much time and attention."
Rik Tindall, another Ecan councillor, asked if Harrow could define Maori. It meant normal, so Harrow wanted to recognise "non-normal values".
"It's not clear what that means."
Murray said she objected to Tindall's "insulting" remarks."
Don't worry about your insulting remarks murray, you hypocrite.
Oh dear, Christchurch can be such a racist, ignorant place, populated by yesterdays thinkers like harrow and murray.
"Pat Harrow Ecan councillor said the specific mention of tangata whenua values in ECan's regional policy statement, as is required by law, was "discrimination".
"This is a form of apartheid.
"I speak for a lot of people out there in the community when I say the Treaty of Waitangi should be consigned to the history books out of law.
"I hope this will happen one day and we'll all be equal under the law."
You speak for a lot of people harrow? Then how come...
"Harrow sought to include separate recognition of "non-Maori values" in the planning document, but the motion was lost by 10 votes to two. The only other councillor supporting it was Bronwen Murray."
Treaty of Waitangi expert Robert Consedine described Harrow's comments as an "angry rant" made more from ignorance than a thoughtful critique.
Te Tai Tonga MP Rahui Katene said she was not taking Harrow's comment seriously.
Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu chief executive Anake Goodall said Harrow's comments were "unfortunate", but not representative of today's views.
"They're from another time and place," he said. "They don't deserve too much time and attention."
Rik Tindall, another Ecan councillor, asked if Harrow could define Maori. It meant normal, so Harrow wanted to recognise "non-normal values".
"It's not clear what that means."
Murray said she objected to Tindall's "insulting" remarks."
Don't worry about your insulting remarks murray, you hypocrite.
Oh dear, Christchurch can be such a racist, ignorant place, populated by yesterdays thinkers like harrow and murray.
Luckily others, such as those mentioned above, treat these views with the contempt they deserve.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
sealords and maori - who is losing?
The SFWU National Secretary, John Ryall has started a blog and one of his first posts is to say that Mark Solomon's proposal that PPP's be done with maori because we will be here forever is flawed because of the actions of Sealords. he has some very strong words to say about the way workers have been treated at sealords and i agree with him.
i also think it is an absolute shocker for maori to be making maori redundant so that they can increase their profit. i have heard the CEO of TRONT say that they have no influence with sealords and it's just business - i don't agree with that view, not even slightly.
If you look after the people you will get your damn money.
If you look after the money you will lose all the people.
i also think it is an absolute shocker for maori to be making maori redundant so that they can increase their profit. i have heard the CEO of TRONT say that they have no influence with sealords and it's just business - i don't agree with that view, not even slightly.
If you look after the people you will get your damn money.
If you look after the money you will lose all the people.
Hone Harawira - a man of mana and leadership
Hone Harawira the maori party MP is leading from the front.
"Maori Party MP Hone Harawira has proposed a novel way to cut his travel costs - he will hitch-hike around his electorate."
“It’s not a big deal, I’ve been doing it for the last three years,” he told Radio New Zealand.
He said that by travelling this way he would run into people that he would not otherwise meet and it allowed him to relax and “enjoy the day”.
“You get into a car and sooner or later they’ll start talking to you about the issues that are important to them.”
He said it was the best way to talk to people about what was important."
I wish more MP's were like Hone. It would be a very quick way for MP's to gauge how they are going. But of course many MP's don't really want to know that... unless it is election year.
Good on you Hone - a true leader and man of mana.
"Maori Party MP Hone Harawira has proposed a novel way to cut his travel costs - he will hitch-hike around his electorate."
“It’s not a big deal, I’ve been doing it for the last three years,” he told Radio New Zealand.
He said that by travelling this way he would run into people that he would not otherwise meet and it allowed him to relax and “enjoy the day”.
“You get into a car and sooner or later they’ll start talking to you about the issues that are important to them.”
He said it was the best way to talk to people about what was important."
I wish more MP's were like Hone. It would be a very quick way for MP's to gauge how they are going. But of course many MP's don't really want to know that... unless it is election year.
Good on you Hone - a true leader and man of mana.
No more clear-felling for any reason!
A very big issue at stake - "what should happen when the $20 million New Zealand taxpayers spent to protect Maori-owned native forests in the South Island runs out in June next year.
Efforts to rescue the most precious 5000ha of native forest from the risk of being unsustainably felled look so far to have protected only a sixth of it.
Efforts to rescue the most precious 5000ha of native forest from the risk of being unsustainably felled look so far to have protected only a sixth of it.
Not good enough
The Nature Heritage Fund has negotiated protection deals on seven sections totalling only 808ha for $7.166m - the equivalent of $8868/ha, or $44.3m if the cost was similar for all 5000ha.
It has committed another $8.12m for other owners."
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) on the 6th announced a review of the rescue policy put together in 2002 to protect the old-growth forest on land set aside under the 1906 South Island Landless Natives Act (Silna). The act covered 57,538ha - 400 blocks mostly in Southland and Stewart Island, with small areas on the West Coast and in Marlborough.
About 5000ha - outside Stewart Island, Waitutu and Whakapoai blocks - is regarded as priority for conservation: the Tautauku-Waikawa blocks on the southeast Otago coast, and the West Rowallan and Waitutu blocks on the Southland coast.
My whanau is from Waikawa, and some are still there, my mother went to school at Niagra and is part owner of Maori land at Tautuku, my whanau are buried in the urupa.
Taxpayer funding started as bid to stop Silna landowners clearfelling trees.
Some Silna landowners filed a Treaty of Waitangi claim in 1990 arguing they were not getting full economic use of the land - mainly because of restrictions on logging native forests.
The Silna owners claimed their lands were exempted from obligations in law to sustainably manage indigenous forest because they were given as compensation to Maori early last century.
But Crown lawyers eventually said the land was given to Maori as a gift, rather than as compensation for not having other land from which they could earn a living.
Problems came to a head with clearfelling of native forest on Silna land in the scenic Catlins region, south of Balclutha.
The Government signed up more than half the remaining landowners of Silna forests in other areas to a moratorium under which they received money for paying the rates - effectively holding off on destruction of the bush.
Initial payments from 1999, described by MAF as a "goodwill payment" of $34/ha in exchange for a voluntary moratorium on logging of Silna forests, ran until 2006.
In 2002, taxpayers provided another $19.691 million - initially over seven years - to extend the voluntary moratorium on logging, and to protect forest.
As I said a very big issue. i don't know all of the ins and outs of this issue but I do know that we will not be able to grow native forest like these blocks again. So I say a line in the sand must be drawn. NO MORE CLEAR FELLING. For us and our children after us.
Taxpayer funding started as bid to stop Silna landowners clearfelling trees.
Some Silna landowners filed a Treaty of Waitangi claim in 1990 arguing they were not getting full economic use of the land - mainly because of restrictions on logging native forests.
The Silna owners claimed their lands were exempted from obligations in law to sustainably manage indigenous forest because they were given as compensation to Maori early last century.
But Crown lawyers eventually said the land was given to Maori as a gift, rather than as compensation for not having other land from which they could earn a living.
Problems came to a head with clearfelling of native forest on Silna land in the scenic Catlins region, south of Balclutha.
The Government signed up more than half the remaining landowners of Silna forests in other areas to a moratorium under which they received money for paying the rates - effectively holding off on destruction of the bush.
Initial payments from 1999, described by MAF as a "goodwill payment" of $34/ha in exchange for a voluntary moratorium on logging of Silna forests, ran until 2006.
In 2002, taxpayers provided another $19.691 million - initially over seven years - to extend the voluntary moratorium on logging, and to protect forest.
As I said a very big issue. i don't know all of the ins and outs of this issue but I do know that we will not be able to grow native forest like these blocks again. So I say a line in the sand must be drawn. NO MORE CLEAR FELLING. For us and our children after us.
Yes - compensation must be sought and lets support that bid and make the amounts meaningful and influential but cutting down the last remaining forest is not the answer - to any question!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Marshall island tests and International Day of the World's Indigenous People
This video is very affecting. The abuse that has occured against indigenous people is mind-numbing.
Indigenous people are still struggling to be heard.
Go here to read about the International Day of the World's Indigenous People - haven't heard about it? Neither have most people and isn't that a shocker.
Thanks Ana for posting these.
Hat tip Whenua Fenua Enua Vanua
Whenua Fenua Enua Vanua: Collateral Damage: Atomic Testing in the Marshall Islands#links
Indigenous people are still struggling to be heard.
Go here to read about the International Day of the World's Indigenous People - haven't heard about it? Neither have most people and isn't that a shocker.
Thanks Ana for posting these.
Hat tip Whenua Fenua Enua Vanua
Whenua Fenua Enua Vanua: Collateral Damage: Atomic Testing in the Marshall Islands#links
mapua mound too toxic and costly to move
MapuaOh dear. The mound of soil is too toxic and costly to move... so we will leave it for the kids to play on.
"A mound of soil left after the clean-up of the former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site in Mapua is too contaminated and costly to shift, says a Tasman District Council manager.
Mapua residents have been left horrified by the remark and are struggling to understand why the grassed mound is too toxic to be dumped at the Eves Valley landfill, but considered safe enough to be left next to houses."
Mr Bush-King told the meeting that contaminated piles of soil on the eastern side of the site were too contaminated to meet resource consent criteria for dumping at the Eves Valley landfill.
About $13 million had already been spent on the clean-up and it would cost the council too much to move the soil, he said.
Only soil with a contamination rate of up to 50 parts per million can be dumped at the Eves Valley landfill. The soil on the eastern side of the Mapua site, which has been deemed fit by the audit report for commercial and open space use, is contaminated up to 200 parts per million.
This is the site where a waterfront park for the community will be developed."
I'm looking forward to reading that report.
"A mound of soil left after the clean-up of the former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site in Mapua is too contaminated and costly to shift, says a Tasman District Council manager.
Mapua residents have been left horrified by the remark and are struggling to understand why the grassed mound is too toxic to be dumped at the Eves Valley landfill, but considered safe enough to be left next to houses."
Mr Bush-King told the meeting that contaminated piles of soil on the eastern side of the site were too contaminated to meet resource consent criteria for dumping at the Eves Valley landfill.
About $13 million had already been spent on the clean-up and it would cost the council too much to move the soil, he said.
Only soil with a contamination rate of up to 50 parts per million can be dumped at the Eves Valley landfill. The soil on the eastern side of the Mapua site, which has been deemed fit by the audit report for commercial and open space use, is contaminated up to 200 parts per million.
This is the site where a waterfront park for the community will be developed."
Is this good enough?
I'm looking forward to reading that report.
Obama as the joker
Is this image racist or political satire?Does this image work in terms of getting you to think a certain way?
Do you think the (unknown) creators achieved their purpose?
Is it as Steven Mikulan of LA Weekly blogged “It has a bit of everything to appeal to the drunk tank of California conservatism: Obama is in white face, his mouth (like Ledger’s Joker’s) has been grotesquely slit wide open and the word ‘Socialism’ appears below his face . . . The only thing missing is a noose.”
Or is it as Thomas Lifton blogs, “It is starting. Open mockery of Barack Obama, as disillusionment sets in with the man, his policies, and the phony image of a race-healing, brilliant, scholarly, middle-of-the-roader.”
Read this post and comments.
Footnote
Good discussion about this country and political satire on Kiwipolitico here
Do you know our pasifica cousins?
Reading the Maps: Who needs the beach?
What do you think you know about Samoa?
Once again Maps at Reading the Maps has offered a different view from the tourist brochures. If you want to read quality go and visit.
What do you think you know about Samoa?
Once again Maps at Reading the Maps has offered a different view from the tourist brochures. If you want to read quality go and visit.
Te Waipounamu Maori Heritage Centre now open
Fantastic new Te Waipounamu Maori Heritage Centre in central Hokitika.
Congratulations to all. It doesn't get much better than this.
Hat tip - Introducing Maori Lifestyles and Roarprawn
Congratulations to all. It doesn't get much better than this.
Hat tip - Introducing Maori Lifestyles and Roarprawn
SAS and the sea - interrelated?
Just a couple of wee ones.
SAS to Afghanistan - hard one, if you have soldiers they need to know how to fight. But this war is a Uncle Remus tar baby and i suspect once in, we will be bleeding over there for a long time... but a least we will be saving the UK and USA from terrorism - not!
Why is the sea killing things? perhaps a balancing is going on. You can't treat the water and Tangaroa like shit and expect them not to fight back, can you? This is happening in many places around the world and meanwhile we whistle away, trying to make money... what a sad way to live.
Are these two stories interrelated?
China pressures Maori TV
Don't do it Maori TV
"China is to pressure Maori Television to screen its own, government-produced film on riots in a Muslim-majority province instead of an independent documentary on an exiled leader.
Maori TV is to screen 10 Conditions of Love, an Australian film about the struggle of Muslim Uighur people in Xinjiang, the scene of recent ethnic riots, and their figurehead, Rebiya Kadeer.
Beijing, however, has produced its own documentary, Xinjiang Urumqi July 5 Riot: Truth and has asked Maori TV to screen it instead.
In the Chinese-produced film, Kadeer is branded a terrorist and accused of instigating and orchestrating the ethnic riots in the northwestern Xinjiang region last month that left at least 197 people dead.
"The film shows what kind of a person Rebiya Kadeer actually is," a spokeswoman for the Chinese Embassy in Wellington said. She would not say if a formal complaint had been laid with the New Zealand Government, but added: "We are firmly opposed to any foreign countries providing a platform for her anti-China separatist activities."
Indigenous people's rights need support from all indigenous people.
"China is to pressure Maori Television to screen its own, government-produced film on riots in a Muslim-majority province instead of an independent documentary on an exiled leader.
Maori TV is to screen 10 Conditions of Love, an Australian film about the struggle of Muslim Uighur people in Xinjiang, the scene of recent ethnic riots, and their figurehead, Rebiya Kadeer.
Beijing, however, has produced its own documentary, Xinjiang Urumqi July 5 Riot: Truth and has asked Maori TV to screen it instead.
In the Chinese-produced film, Kadeer is branded a terrorist and accused of instigating and orchestrating the ethnic riots in the northwestern Xinjiang region last month that left at least 197 people dead.
"The film shows what kind of a person Rebiya Kadeer actually is," a spokeswoman for the Chinese Embassy in Wellington said. She would not say if a formal complaint had been laid with the New Zealand Government, but added: "We are firmly opposed to any foreign countries providing a platform for her anti-China separatist activities."
Indigenous people's rights need support from all indigenous people.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Aoraki Bound - go for it!
Aoraki Bound. Ngai Tahu are leading the way with this initiative and now with the percentage of maori unemployed at 13% and likely to go anywhere up to 30 - 40% perhaps Aoraki Bound will be one of the answers to the question, "How can we help our people?"
"Aoraki Bound is a cultural and personal development programme combining Ngāi Tahu cultural knowledge and expertise with the experience and reputation of Outward Bound in a 20-day journey-based course that builds leadership, cultural awareness and personal development."
Wouldn't it be great if every Ngai Tahu member could go on this experience.
Mark Solomon says, "A strength of the course is that it is not just for Ngāi Tahu, but for all New Zealanders. If we want to be seen as an active member of the community, then we need to involve the community. Enhancing cultural tolerance and understanding doesn't come from being exclusive, we have to be inclusive and the learning and sharing of knowledge works both ways. You can't be proud of something unless you know what it is all about."
And yes it is for all NZers but let's look after Ngai Tahu first.
Why not do a ballot where each year 3 or 5 people from each Papatipu Runaka are selected to go, at minimal cost. Some may choose not to go and they can give their place to someone else.
Go to the Ngai Tahu website to read about Aoraki Bound. Tell your whanau, talk to Kari and set your sights on completing this journey.
Once again thank you to Iaean, Craig, Eruera, Brett, Kari and all of the wonderful Ngai Tahu who have made this happen.
"Aoraki Bound is a cultural and personal development programme combining Ngāi Tahu cultural knowledge and expertise with the experience and reputation of Outward Bound in a 20-day journey-based course that builds leadership, cultural awareness and personal development."
Wouldn't it be great if every Ngai Tahu member could go on this experience.
Mark Solomon says, "A strength of the course is that it is not just for Ngāi Tahu, but for all New Zealanders. If we want to be seen as an active member of the community, then we need to involve the community. Enhancing cultural tolerance and understanding doesn't come from being exclusive, we have to be inclusive and the learning and sharing of knowledge works both ways. You can't be proud of something unless you know what it is all about."
And yes it is for all NZers but let's look after Ngai Tahu first.
Why not do a ballot where each year 3 or 5 people from each Papatipu Runaka are selected to go, at minimal cost. Some may choose not to go and they can give their place to someone else.
Go to the Ngai Tahu website to read about Aoraki Bound. Tell your whanau, talk to Kari and set your sights on completing this journey.
Once again thank you to Iaean, Craig, Eruera, Brett, Kari and all of the wonderful Ngai Tahu who have made this happen.
Ram in a thicket - Smithyman
I have been introduced to the poems of Kendrick Smithyman by maps.
I enjoy them. Here is a random (perhaps) one from Atua Wera
245
RAM IN A THICKET
Darkness along crests of the ranges
not end of day darkening, a something which spread up
out of the sea all over early afternoon.
Lightnings played from ridge to ridge,
then thunder, more thunder.
Everyone knew, somebody important was going to die.
Bound to be a few who claimed they heard
the hokioi bird as well, thunder's close friend
whose cry means things won't work out as they should
even for a man under command told
what to do to be saved,
and to save those deserving.
The world was about to get cast away
where outer darkness was, unless.
Maori could be saved, if.
Pakeha, a different question. Perhaps, some of them?
Perhaps indeed. What pakeha ever saw the hokioi —
that bird! You just can't describe it, and who
ever saw it twice? Once is enough.
I enjoy them. Here is a random (perhaps) one from Atua Wera
245
RAM IN A THICKET
Darkness along crests of the ranges
not end of day darkening, a something which spread up
out of the sea all over early afternoon.
Lightnings played from ridge to ridge,
then thunder, more thunder.
Everyone knew, somebody important was going to die.
Bound to be a few who claimed they heard
the hokioi bird as well, thunder's close friend
whose cry means things won't work out as they should
even for a man under command told
what to do to be saved,
and to save those deserving.
The world was about to get cast away
where outer darkness was, unless.
Maori could be saved, if.
Pakeha, a different question. Perhaps, some of them?
Perhaps indeed. What pakeha ever saw the hokioi —
that bird! You just can't describe it, and who
ever saw it twice? Once is enough.
He built an altar.
He offered up dogs. Owls too, which puzzled northern folk.
Sheep, they could understand why sheep.
These were only indications,
more would be needed.
Another too, a more considerable altar:
Moses handed down the design.
At such time a terrible lack, to have no son.
He hunted all around, nowhere to find a ram in a thicket.
For her family's sake his daughter was willing.
The Resident Magistrate with his police detail rode in.
They interfered, they saved the girl, they said.
They did not save the people; that was put off
for another day.
He offered up dogs. Owls too, which puzzled northern folk.
Sheep, they could understand why sheep.
These were only indications,
more would be needed.
Another too, a more considerable altar:
Moses handed down the design.
At such time a terrible lack, to have no son.
He hunted all around, nowhere to find a ram in a thicket.
For her family's sake his daughter was willing.
The Resident Magistrate with his police detail rode in.
They interfered, they saved the girl, they said.
They did not save the people; that was put off
for another day.
virtual history good - if it is the truth
I'm not sure about this. If Maori are involved - good, and if not, then, not good.
"Massey University associate professor Erik Champion is leading a charge to "virtualise" New Zealand's heritage content and sites, and says the move could boost the tourism industry here.
Digital media developers could create virtual worlds or games that allow people to explore and interact with ancient cultures and distant places that were previously inaccessible or dangerous."
Who controls this? If not Maori, then it is not right.
And I find the rationale "to boost tourism here" to be a bit funny, how about trying to create tools to teach people the true history of this country, as an example. (But i conceed i might be being a bit precious here)
"Virtual technology could also recreate fragile heritage sites that may one day be off limits, such as the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru and Stonehenge in England."
Imagine these sites off limits to the people. Who makes these indigenous sites off-limits? And who will be able to go? The scientists, the gatekeepers - I wonder if many of the indigenous people will get a say.
"Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton says anything that helps to promote New Zealand's history and culture would be welcomed, but "nothing will ever replace a trip to New Zealand to enjoy the country first hand".
"This concept could also provide a useful tool for New Zealand tourism operators to show the history and development of tourism products."
Well let's hope they use the real history of this country not the sanitised, one people rubbish that is often bandied about.
And having these virtual worlds, if they are created via an indigenous viewpoint will be excellent tools to teach the people of this country the history.
"Massey University associate professor Erik Champion is leading a charge to "virtualise" New Zealand's heritage content and sites, and says the move could boost the tourism industry here.
Digital media developers could create virtual worlds or games that allow people to explore and interact with ancient cultures and distant places that were previously inaccessible or dangerous."
Who controls this? If not Maori, then it is not right.
And I find the rationale "to boost tourism here" to be a bit funny, how about trying to create tools to teach people the true history of this country, as an example. (But i conceed i might be being a bit precious here)
"Virtual technology could also recreate fragile heritage sites that may one day be off limits, such as the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru and Stonehenge in England."
Imagine these sites off limits to the people. Who makes these indigenous sites off-limits? And who will be able to go? The scientists, the gatekeepers - I wonder if many of the indigenous people will get a say.
"Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton says anything that helps to promote New Zealand's history and culture would be welcomed, but "nothing will ever replace a trip to New Zealand to enjoy the country first hand".
"This concept could also provide a useful tool for New Zealand tourism operators to show the history and development of tourism products."
Well let's hope they use the real history of this country not the sanitised, one people rubbish that is often bandied about.
And having these virtual worlds, if they are created via an indigenous viewpoint will be excellent tools to teach the people of this country the history.
Arohanui to Tonga
I just want to add my voice to support the Tongan people in this difficult time. Maori have also lost many people to the sea...
And to the royalty going on holiday when the bodies are still in the water - well it reminded me of queen liz and her mutterings on di's death. I'm afraid that if royalty are not connected to the people, and don't care about the people... well then the people have to look after themselves, don't they? So bye bye royalty. And this is a lesson for our leaders too.
And to the royalty going on holiday when the bodies are still in the water - well it reminded me of queen liz and her mutterings on di's death. I'm afraid that if royalty are not connected to the people, and don't care about the people... well then the people have to look after themselves, don't they? So bye bye royalty. And this is a lesson for our leaders too.
carter - fuss on costs cos your troughing not cos you're gay
Wrong carter - it's not because you are gay that so much attention has been placed on you and your partners overseas trips at taxpayers expense. It's because you, like most of the politicians are using the full extent of the system to feather your own financial nest - and you are an example of someone who has flown round and round the world with your partner, going to all sorts of conferences on all sorts of things... for what? Oh you are a spokesman... have you heard of the internet mate?
Some may be against you because of your sexuality, not me, I think you are just like all the rest of the greedy at the trough of public money, your sexuality is irrelevant.
But using your sexuality to try and create distance from your troughing... well, that really is disgusting.
Some may be against you because of your sexuality, not me, I think you are just like all the rest of the greedy at the trough of public money, your sexuality is irrelevant.
But using your sexuality to try and create distance from your troughing... well, that really is disgusting.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
BB doesn't like Mark Solomon
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei
This weekend marks the end of the three-year Mō Tātou exhibition about Ngāi Tahu at Te papa.
On sunday they have this
4pm–5pm
Ngāi Tahu historical films
A collection of fascinating archival footage about the Ngāi Tahu iwi. In association with the NZ Film Archive.
Soundings Theatre, Level 2
The films are:
•Across the Mountain Passes of New Zealand 1910
•Muttonbirding 1921
•The Sea Hath its Pearls 1927
•Maori Netting Whitebait at the Mouth of Opihi, Timaru 1925
•A Maori Catching Eels 1932
•Kaiapohia Pa Centenary 1931
•Mutton Birders 1951
•Eel History Is a Mystery 1960
If you are in Wellington go to Te Papa to support this event. Congratulations to all involved.
And this is what the exhibition was about
After two years of planning Ngāi Tahu stories and taonga were presented to the world to positive accolades at the ceremonial opening of Mō Tātou.
The taonga on display spans eight centuries of Ngāi Tahu history and experience and is being hailed as the most significant exhibition of South Island Māori art in decades.
The exhibition comprises four themes:
•Toitū te iwi – Culture
•Toitū te rangatiratanga – Tenacity
•Toitū te ao tūroa – Sustainability
•Toitū te pae tawhiti – Innovation
These are drawn from our whakataukī – "Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei – For us and our children after us" – the guiding principle for the exhibition and are cultural characteristics expressing our ideals and practices from our beginnings through to today
I hope they can put it online or on permanent display somewhere. I saw the exhibition and i was mesmerised. I felt connected, proud and sad. I cried.
On sunday they have this
4pm–5pm
Ngāi Tahu historical films
A collection of fascinating archival footage about the Ngāi Tahu iwi. In association with the NZ Film Archive.
Soundings Theatre, Level 2
The films are:
•Across the Mountain Passes of New Zealand 1910
•Muttonbirding 1921
•The Sea Hath its Pearls 1927
•Maori Netting Whitebait at the Mouth of Opihi, Timaru 1925
•A Maori Catching Eels 1932
•Kaiapohia Pa Centenary 1931
•Mutton Birders 1951
•Eel History Is a Mystery 1960
If you are in Wellington go to Te Papa to support this event. Congratulations to all involved.
And this is what the exhibition was about
After two years of planning Ngāi Tahu stories and taonga were presented to the world to positive accolades at the ceremonial opening of Mō Tātou.
The taonga on display spans eight centuries of Ngāi Tahu history and experience and is being hailed as the most significant exhibition of South Island Māori art in decades.
The exhibition comprises four themes:
•Toitū te iwi – Culture
•Toitū te rangatiratanga – Tenacity
•Toitū te ao tūroa – Sustainability
•Toitū te pae tawhiti – Innovation
These are drawn from our whakataukī – "Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei – For us and our children after us" – the guiding principle for the exhibition and are cultural characteristics expressing our ideals and practices from our beginnings through to today
I hope they can put it online or on permanent display somewhere. I saw the exhibition and i was mesmerised. I felt connected, proud and sad. I cried.
maori are perfect PPP partners
Strong words from Mark Solomon.
"Mark Solomon, director of South Island iwi Ngai Tahu, said yesterday that talks about PPPs had been ongoing for at least 18 months.
"Talks are very fruitful and I think that some time not too far in the future there will be public-private partnerships, not just for Maori but for New Zealand companies."
Mr Solomon said last year's pullout of the Canadian suitor for a large stake in Auckland Airport had prompted Maori to approach the Government then and ask why no one had thought to speak to them. "Surely given that we are multi-generational, that we're never going to leave the country and everything we earn will stay in the country, aren't we in effect your perfect partner?"
To the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday, Mr Solomon said he believed that iwis would become financial powerhouses in the years ahead.
"Mark Solomon, director of South Island iwi Ngai Tahu, said yesterday that talks about PPPs had been ongoing for at least 18 months.
"Talks are very fruitful and I think that some time not too far in the future there will be public-private partnerships, not just for Maori but for New Zealand companies."
Mr Solomon said last year's pullout of the Canadian suitor for a large stake in Auckland Airport had prompted Maori to approach the Government then and ask why no one had thought to speak to them. "Surely given that we are multi-generational, that we're never going to leave the country and everything we earn will stay in the country, aren't we in effect your perfect partner?"
A very good point - Maori are the perfect partner for all sorts of reasons. We are not going to sell out to overseas interests. Anyone who wants our assets to stay under our control should be encouraging government to set up PPP with maori.
He said the talks were broad and the Crown would be likely to set up an infrastructure committee to look at the issue. "All we want to know is, if it's a viable option, let's have the talk on what you are going to put up for New Zealanders to invest in their nation."To the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday, Mr Solomon said he believed that iwis would become financial powerhouses in the years ahead.
This is an area where I have a concern, i am not sure if the flow on effect for ordinary iwi members has occured. If the people aren't looked after or they don't feel looked after then what is the point of having a billion dollar iwi? No point at all, in my view.
Ngai Tahu had grown its asset base from a treaty settlement of $170 million in 1998 to $606 million today, Mr Solomon said. It had more than 500 employees, had major tourism and seafood export operations, a 6.5 per cent stake in Ryman Healthcare, and owned several civic buildings.
These things were just the beginning for Maori, and they were gaining increasing critical mass, which made them natural partners for the government.
"We see further public/private/iwi partnerships, perhaps on roads, airports and other strategic infrastructure. It is not impossible to imagine iwi as cornerstone shareholders in state-owned enterprises making them state-iwi owned enterprises."
We need to be talking about this and it is good that Mark has spoken about it. Maori are the natural partners of government and the sooner the government gets with the program the better off we will all be. We don't have to sell to overseas buyers - let's look after it ourselves.
leave the haka alone please
Well, what can I say. This is just so bad, I'll let it speak for itself, but i will say one thing. Shame on all concerned.
"English Premier League club Everton commissioned a team of Maori dancers to perform the "Everton haka" at the official launch of its new away uniform in Liverpool this week."
I might just say a little more. Why is it bad? IMO using maori culture to sell anything not connected with maori culture is an area where permission should be sought. It's not up for anyone to just come and use whatever they want without considering that maori culture is still here, and still alive.
"English Premier League club Everton commissioned a team of Maori dancers to perform the "Everton haka" at the official launch of its new away uniform in Liverpool this week."
I might just say a little more. Why is it bad? IMO using maori culture to sell anything not connected with maori culture is an area where permission should be sought. It's not up for anyone to just come and use whatever they want without considering that maori culture is still here, and still alive.
Marshland development rejected, NT Property likely to appeal
This line of this story caught my eye;
"The appeal would probably cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and would decide the future expansion of Christchurch."
which came after this,
"I think we are bound to appeal. We do not agree with the decision, so there is an opportunity to appeal and we will take it," That is Ngai Tahu Property general manager Tony Sewell talking about this;
"A suburb of 6000 people proposed for Marshland has been rejected by the Christchurch City Council, and the developers plan to appeal in an Environment Court test case."
"The scheme is a joint venture between Ngai Tahu Holdings, supermarket giant Foodstuffs and developer CDL Land New Zealand."
Why was it rejected?
"Council planning general manager Michael Theelen said the scheme was outside areas identified by the council for housing development in the southwest and the Belfast corridor to the north.
"It is going in a very different direction to how development is outlined in the city plan," he said."
So the reason that that line caught my eye is that NT Property are probably going to be involved in an appeal which could have major ramifications for the future development and expansion of Christchurch, are they only working for the commercial interests or are they representing their owners views.
"The appeal would probably cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and would decide the future expansion of Christchurch."
which came after this,
"I think we are bound to appeal. We do not agree with the decision, so there is an opportunity to appeal and we will take it," That is Ngai Tahu Property general manager Tony Sewell talking about this;
"A suburb of 6000 people proposed for Marshland has been rejected by the Christchurch City Council, and the developers plan to appeal in an Environment Court test case."
"The scheme is a joint venture between Ngai Tahu Holdings, supermarket giant Foodstuffs and developer CDL Land New Zealand."
Why was it rejected?
"Council planning general manager Michael Theelen said the scheme was outside areas identified by the council for housing development in the southwest and the Belfast corridor to the north.
"It is going in a very different direction to how development is outlined in the city plan," he said."
So the reason that that line caught my eye is that NT Property are probably going to be involved in an appeal which could have major ramifications for the future development and expansion of Christchurch, are they only working for the commercial interests or are they representing their owners views.
Friday, August 7, 2009
NZ 6% unemployed - maori 13% unemployed
Maori unemployment is up 55% to 12.6%
Hey, lets call it 13%. Pasifica peoples are around the same figure but overall employment is 6%
So maori unemployment is twice that of most others. Shouldn't that be a source of great shame for this country, that the indigenous people have twice the percentage of people with no jobs, than non-maori.
And one of the big problems is that the numbers will continue to rise and be disproportionate to non-maori. When will something be done - at 25% at 30%, what about 50% of eligible Maori workforce without jobs - when will the seriousness of this situation cut through the politics.
How will Maori cope when every 3rd or 4th person is unemployed?
That is the area where thought is needed. The hui are okay but the hui are just hui - they actually don't do anything, they don't put kai on the table or pay the bills. And at the hui are people on $250,000 - and that means they are removed from the difficulties that someone on $25,000 is on. Can a person earning 10 times what another person does, actually understand and have empathy?
What are all of these unemployed Maori going to do? What are they doing now?
A solution - Te Reo and maoritanga training subsidised at an equivalant rate to the dole.
This could be a massive opportunity to support and strengthen maori culture. We could seriously train and upskill our people in our culture and use that upskilling and knowledge to drive the commercial imperatives.
Heres an example of how we could do it.
"The Navajo Nation Council, responding to ongoing requests from a coalition of tribal members and other supporters, voted to create a Green Economy Commission designed to stimulate both traditional and modern forms of economic activity.
The Commission's focus will be not only to create jobs in this depressed region, where the unemployment rate is 44 percent, but to do so in sustainable, culturally appropriate ways. Current proposals include wool mills and weavers' co-ops, as well as traditional agriculture, green construction, home weatherization, renewable energy, and other projects to promote energy and water efficiency. It will also apply for federal money earmarked for green jobs and economic stimulus.
"A green economy is not a new concept to Navajo," said Tony Skrelunas, a member of the coalition that proposed the bill. "There are many green business opportunities that fit perfectly with our culture. We must once again hearken to such processes to truly build our own economy that puts high value on our tradition - old and modern economic pursuits. In this way, we will build a vibrant economy for the future generations while honoring our great ancestors."
It's not enough to just have jobs we need culture and protection of our environment too. And they can be worked on together.
Hey, lets call it 13%. Pasifica peoples are around the same figure but overall employment is 6%
So maori unemployment is twice that of most others. Shouldn't that be a source of great shame for this country, that the indigenous people have twice the percentage of people with no jobs, than non-maori.
And one of the big problems is that the numbers will continue to rise and be disproportionate to non-maori. When will something be done - at 25% at 30%, what about 50% of eligible Maori workforce without jobs - when will the seriousness of this situation cut through the politics.
How will Maori cope when every 3rd or 4th person is unemployed?
That is the area where thought is needed. The hui are okay but the hui are just hui - they actually don't do anything, they don't put kai on the table or pay the bills. And at the hui are people on $250,000 - and that means they are removed from the difficulties that someone on $25,000 is on. Can a person earning 10 times what another person does, actually understand and have empathy?
What are all of these unemployed Maori going to do? What are they doing now?
A solution - Te Reo and maoritanga training subsidised at an equivalant rate to the dole.
This could be a massive opportunity to support and strengthen maori culture. We could seriously train and upskill our people in our culture and use that upskilling and knowledge to drive the commercial imperatives.
Heres an example of how we could do it.
"The Navajo Nation Council, responding to ongoing requests from a coalition of tribal members and other supporters, voted to create a Green Economy Commission designed to stimulate both traditional and modern forms of economic activity.
The Commission's focus will be not only to create jobs in this depressed region, where the unemployment rate is 44 percent, but to do so in sustainable, culturally appropriate ways. Current proposals include wool mills and weavers' co-ops, as well as traditional agriculture, green construction, home weatherization, renewable energy, and other projects to promote energy and water efficiency. It will also apply for federal money earmarked for green jobs and economic stimulus.
"A green economy is not a new concept to Navajo," said Tony Skrelunas, a member of the coalition that proposed the bill. "There are many green business opportunities that fit perfectly with our culture. We must once again hearken to such processes to truly build our own economy that puts high value on our tradition - old and modern economic pursuits. In this way, we will build a vibrant economy for the future generations while honoring our great ancestors."
It's not enough to just have jobs we need culture and protection of our environment too. And they can be worked on together.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
sacred hill bulldozed for new store
Destruction of sacred moundImagine a mound of earth created by Native American 1500 years ago - now imagine that,
"The hill, which many Native Americans from several tribes use for prayer and make pilgrimages to each year, is being torn down in order to provide fill dirt for a new Sam’s Club store, which is a partner of Wal-Mart."
The multi-billion dollar company has received assurances from Oxford Mayor Leon Smith that the city isn’t really damaging anything of significance."
Not to you smith, not to you.
"But Smith’s claims go against the findings of researchers who have said the hill and structures on it are of traditional importance to various tribal members. A city-commissioned study has even found tribal artifacts in the clay that composes the mound.
As the bulldozers started digging, all kinds of information about the sacred site began to be distributed online by Native activists from coast to coast. Facebook and MySpace pages, as well as other Web sites, have sprung up in dedication to the issue, with some now having thousands of group members."
Destroying a sacred site is par for the course for these greedy developers and the insensitive major. Using twitter and social networking to create interest in these destructions is new. Would be good to have more networks of like-minded people talking and working on issues that we need to know about here. Hmmmm perhaps that is part of what we are doing.
"The hill, which many Native Americans from several tribes use for prayer and make pilgrimages to each year, is being torn down in order to provide fill dirt for a new Sam’s Club store, which is a partner of Wal-Mart."
The multi-billion dollar company has received assurances from Oxford Mayor Leon Smith that the city isn’t really damaging anything of significance."
Not to you smith, not to you.
"But Smith’s claims go against the findings of researchers who have said the hill and structures on it are of traditional importance to various tribal members. A city-commissioned study has even found tribal artifacts in the clay that composes the mound.
As the bulldozers started digging, all kinds of information about the sacred site began to be distributed online by Native activists from coast to coast. Facebook and MySpace pages, as well as other Web sites, have sprung up in dedication to the issue, with some now having thousands of group members."
Destroying a sacred site is par for the course for these greedy developers and the insensitive major. Using twitter and social networking to create interest in these destructions is new. Would be good to have more networks of like-minded people talking and working on issues that we need to know about here. Hmmmm perhaps that is part of what we are doing.
foraging for free food - back to the past for the future
A good example of looking to the past for the way into the future.
"Free food is plentiful throughout Christchurch and a foraging group wants to help people find it.
The Otautahi Urban Foraging group provides a "treasure map", highlighting where food grows naturally.
With a Google maps page and a Facebook page, the new group is pointing people towards community food sources like fruit trees and herbs.
Scattered throughout Christchurch, food sources include pear, apple, walnut and plum trees, along with mushrooms and celery.
Co-founder Kerry Nisbet said the Otautahi group planned to share resources and build a sense of community."
Good idea and all the best for the success of this. Building community, foraging for free food, working together... this is for the future of this country.
"Free food is plentiful throughout Christchurch and a foraging group wants to help people find it.
The Otautahi Urban Foraging group provides a "treasure map", highlighting where food grows naturally.
With a Google maps page and a Facebook page, the new group is pointing people towards community food sources like fruit trees and herbs.
Scattered throughout Christchurch, food sources include pear, apple, walnut and plum trees, along with mushrooms and celery.
Co-founder Kerry Nisbet said the Otautahi group planned to share resources and build a sense of community."
Good idea and all the best for the success of this. Building community, foraging for free food, working together... this is for the future of this country.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Ngai Tahu elections
Further to the Ngai Tahu GNA issue.
Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka have completed their selection of the appointment committee and have elected their TRoNT Representative. Congratulations to Stewart Bull and Ann Wakefield.
I note that there are approximately 1500 Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka members who are non-contactable or GNA.
Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka have completed their selection of the appointment committee and have elected their TRoNT Representative. Congratulations to Stewart Bull and Ann Wakefield.
I note that there are approximately 1500 Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka members who are non-contactable or GNA.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
If Bolivia can do it - why not here?
Good news for indigenous people in Bolivia.
"The Bolivian government has begun implementing provisions outlined in the new constitution that give indigenous people the chance to govern themselves.
President Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous leader, enacted a decree setting out the conditions for Indian communities to hold votes on autonomy."
Mr Morales said it was "a historic day for the peasant and indigenous movement".
"Your president, your companion, your brother Evo Morales might make mistakes but will never betray the fight started by our ancestors and the fight of the Bolivian people," he said.
Mr Morales has championed Bolivia's indigenous people, who for centuries were banished to the margins of society and did not enjoy full voting rights until 1952."
It will be great when this country begins to go down the same road. If Bolivia can do it I can't see why we cannot also do it.
Hat tip - Tumeke
"The Bolivian government has begun implementing provisions outlined in the new constitution that give indigenous people the chance to govern themselves.
President Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous leader, enacted a decree setting out the conditions for Indian communities to hold votes on autonomy."
Mr Morales said it was "a historic day for the peasant and indigenous movement".
"Your president, your companion, your brother Evo Morales might make mistakes but will never betray the fight started by our ancestors and the fight of the Bolivian people," he said.
Mr Morales has championed Bolivia's indigenous people, who for centuries were banished to the margins of society and did not enjoy full voting rights until 1952."
It will be great when this country begins to go down the same road. If Bolivia can do it I can't see why we cannot also do it.
Hat tip - Tumeke
rivers are our countries veins
Mohaka RiverA good bad-report on Frogblog about the Upper Mohaka river in Hawkes Bay.
"Iain Maxwell, Regional Manager of Fish & Game NZ. is talking about the upper Mohaka in the Taharua valley. This small area is home to a third of the region’s total dairy herd, some 9,000 dairy cows. Saturate a free-draining pumice soil with that many cows and the situation is right for the increased nutrient levels observed in the upper reaches of the river.
Says Maxwell: “The increase in nutrient is almost certainly the result of concentrated urine patches from 9,000 dairy cows leaching nutrient into the groundwater and then appearing in the surface waters of the nearby Taharua River.”
Maxwell notes that the Mohaka is the only river in Hawke’s Bay supposedly protected by a Water Protection Order, yet it appears to be deteriorating … in part because the Regional Council lacks the appropriate mechanisms in its Resource Management Plan to regulate the land use that is the suspected cause.
We must protect our rivers. They are the veins and arteries of our country. If they are clogged and polluted - guess what? We die - just like when the bodies blood vessels block.
Hattip - Frogblog
"Iain Maxwell, Regional Manager of Fish & Game NZ. is talking about the upper Mohaka in the Taharua valley. This small area is home to a third of the region’s total dairy herd, some 9,000 dairy cows. Saturate a free-draining pumice soil with that many cows and the situation is right for the increased nutrient levels observed in the upper reaches of the river.
Says Maxwell: “The increase in nutrient is almost certainly the result of concentrated urine patches from 9,000 dairy cows leaching nutrient into the groundwater and then appearing in the surface waters of the nearby Taharua River.”
Maxwell notes that the Mohaka is the only river in Hawke’s Bay supposedly protected by a Water Protection Order, yet it appears to be deteriorating … in part because the Regional Council lacks the appropriate mechanisms in its Resource Management Plan to regulate the land use that is the suspected cause.
We must protect our rivers. They are the veins and arteries of our country. If they are clogged and polluted - guess what? We die - just like when the bodies blood vessels block.
Hattip - Frogblog
Monday, August 3, 2009
Nelson outed for racial abuse
Boulder BankThis story is disturbing to say the least.
"More than 90 percent of non-Europeans in Nelson have experienced some form of racial abuse, a survey has found.
The survey was part of a report into racist incidents in the Nelson and Tasman area."
90% - thats a lot.
"The survey was conducted in April and June, and 184 people of 48 ethnicities participated. It asked groups about being treated badly because of their ethnicity.
Some reports ranged from abuse directed at children as young as five, through to frequent comments shouted from cars."
Granted it's a pretty small sample but Nelson is a pretty small place.
"The survey was conducted by a visiting lawyer on holiday from Ireland, Debbie Kohner.
It was sad to hear that so many people had accepted racist abuse as simply being part of life in New Zealand, Ms Kohner said."
She means the people doing it not the people getting it. No one who has been subject to racism accepts it as part of life in this country. No right-minded person, of any race, accepts it.
The really disturbing aspect is how prevelant are these attitudes, actually. Is Nelson just an example of what you would find when you scratched any NZ town's surface. I think it could very well be.
Ngai Tahu members 'Gone No Address'
We have a problem within Ngai Tahu with gone no addresses (GNA's). It's alarming to know that somewhere between 25 and 30% (and whatever the figure is the argument is the same) of registered Iwi members have not kept the Office up to date with their details. They are considered GNA and they don't receive any communication from the iwi. Why aren't these registered Iwi members letting the Office know when they move? The short answer is that they feel minimal connection and that is why they don't make the effort. I don't blame anyone for this. My point is, what do we do about it?
It doesn't seem possible and certainly not desirable to have only half the waka paddleing. All of the GNA's are Iwi members with something to offer. How can important events such as elections be fair if a sizeable number of people are not contactable. Finding these GNA's must become a higher priority. And once they are found, we have to work out how to keep them engaged, how to keep them conncected. And I am not saying that efforts, in all these areas, aren't being made, they are, and that is great. But we need to do more, much more.
For instance we could do this: we know that all Ngai Tahu are related, so someone must know where the GNA's are. Let's pay our people to update the datebase. Yes pay them! We pay plenty of non-Ngai Tahu for all sorts of things, and probably will to find the GNA's, it's a waste of money. Let's pay ourselves. let's pay our people – for doing a job that we need done anyway. There are many ways of calculating the value of finding a GNA and that can be assessed against the cost of finding them. But just for the sake of argument lets say that we have 10,000 GNA's and we pay people $50 for every GNA that gets updated into the database. That would cost $500,000. Someone would have to run it and so on so add on another $300,000. Hell, lets make it $500,000 to bring it up to a nice round million. Divide a million by 10,000 and you get $100 per person. That's $100 to find a GNA.
I think that is worth it, especially when most of the money goes back to whanau members. i think it is worth spending $100 to reconnect with an Iwi member. A member who has something to contribute, something to learn.
So once we have found them, how do we keep them. We have to get them involved and interacting with the Iwi. But first we have to get to know them and break down the barriers. Once those barriers have been breached we can then show all of the benefits of being connected via the Office.
And how do we get to know all of these GNA's? Why not go and visit them. Why not! Let's employ someone or some people to visit each and every Iwi member and find out how they are going and show them some of the areas of Ngai Tahutanga that they could be involved with. Ask them about what they want from their Iwi. I know we do surveys but I'm talking about doing things the old way, kanohi ki te kanohi – face to face.
We need our GNA'as much as they need us. And they do need their connection to their Iwi, even if they don't think they do, today. As more and more become disillusioned by the unsatisfying and exploitive consumerist society that we live in, they will look for the things that are real. And nothing is more real than Ngai Tahu. They are part of the indigenous culture that was here long before the europeans arrived and they belong, they have a place to stand. The economic tsumani will also cause distress and drive people back to the basics and the most basic is kin. We are seeing a resurgence of Ngai Tahu mana and maori mana. Our people will come back and we have to be ready for them.
There is a lot to do and we need everyone lending their back to the cause. The best part of the whole thing is that everyone wins. The individuals that are no-longer GNA get connected and they get the magazines and the letters. The Iwi reestablishing links to the Iwi member. Further connection can be facilitated to marae and runanga level.
This problem of GNA's is common, but not many organisations have the solution under their fingertips... the people, the people, the people.
It doesn't seem possible and certainly not desirable to have only half the waka paddleing. All of the GNA's are Iwi members with something to offer. How can important events such as elections be fair if a sizeable number of people are not contactable. Finding these GNA's must become a higher priority. And once they are found, we have to work out how to keep them engaged, how to keep them conncected. And I am not saying that efforts, in all these areas, aren't being made, they are, and that is great. But we need to do more, much more.
For instance we could do this: we know that all Ngai Tahu are related, so someone must know where the GNA's are. Let's pay our people to update the datebase. Yes pay them! We pay plenty of non-Ngai Tahu for all sorts of things, and probably will to find the GNA's, it's a waste of money. Let's pay ourselves. let's pay our people – for doing a job that we need done anyway. There are many ways of calculating the value of finding a GNA and that can be assessed against the cost of finding them. But just for the sake of argument lets say that we have 10,000 GNA's and we pay people $50 for every GNA that gets updated into the database. That would cost $500,000. Someone would have to run it and so on so add on another $300,000. Hell, lets make it $500,000 to bring it up to a nice round million. Divide a million by 10,000 and you get $100 per person. That's $100 to find a GNA.
I think that is worth it, especially when most of the money goes back to whanau members. i think it is worth spending $100 to reconnect with an Iwi member. A member who has something to contribute, something to learn.
So once we have found them, how do we keep them. We have to get them involved and interacting with the Iwi. But first we have to get to know them and break down the barriers. Once those barriers have been breached we can then show all of the benefits of being connected via the Office.
And how do we get to know all of these GNA's? Why not go and visit them. Why not! Let's employ someone or some people to visit each and every Iwi member and find out how they are going and show them some of the areas of Ngai Tahutanga that they could be involved with. Ask them about what they want from their Iwi. I know we do surveys but I'm talking about doing things the old way, kanohi ki te kanohi – face to face.
We need our GNA'as much as they need us. And they do need their connection to their Iwi, even if they don't think they do, today. As more and more become disillusioned by the unsatisfying and exploitive consumerist society that we live in, they will look for the things that are real. And nothing is more real than Ngai Tahu. They are part of the indigenous culture that was here long before the europeans arrived and they belong, they have a place to stand. The economic tsumani will also cause distress and drive people back to the basics and the most basic is kin. We are seeing a resurgence of Ngai Tahu mana and maori mana. Our people will come back and we have to be ready for them.
There is a lot to do and we need everyone lending their back to the cause. The best part of the whole thing is that everyone wins. The individuals that are no-longer GNA get connected and they get the magazines and the letters. The Iwi reestablishing links to the Iwi member. Further connection can be facilitated to marae and runanga level.
This problem of GNA's is common, but not many organisations have the solution under their fingertips... the people, the people, the people.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
councils put profit above public safety
This is bizarre, isn't it?
"A council has been forced to reveal the locations of thousands of potentially contaminated sites, after the ombudsman ruled public safety was more important than the possible effects on property prices."
That's right this council, and others, are more interested in property prices above public safety, and they had to have the ombudman tell them how messed up they are.
"Land is deemed contaminated when hazardous substances are present at levels likely to pose an immediate or long-term risk to human health or the environment.
Orchards, market gardens, sheep dips, wood treatment sites and old petrol stations are among those likely to be contaminated.
Some councils had identified properties that may potentially be contaminated but had not been confirmed as being so."
Those places are all out there and the councils know it but they don't want to tell the people. It really is beyond belief.
"Dr Smith said it was important the councils released the information in a form that "doesn't cause undue public distress".
"The vast bulk of sites are highly unlikely to have any risk associated with them," he said.
"The misreporting of the potential contamination of a site can affect the value of a property by tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. That is why getting the context of this information is important."
Well, Nick at least you are asking the councils to tell us where the sites are - even if you're doing it for the wrong reasons. Bloody hell don't worry about the 'values' mate - start thinking about the people.
And what a disgrace the Hawkes Bay Regional Council is. they "had a list of 3099 potentially contaminated sites since carrying out a study in 1995.
The council gave the information to the region's four local bodies, but had said it would provide details about specific properties only on request and only to people with "a legitimate interest" such as owners, potential buyers, lawyers or neighbours.
It would not identify the sites under an Official Information Act request lodged by The Dominion Post last year.
The Dominion Post filed a complaint with the Ombudsmen's Office on December 5.
In June, Ombudsman David McGee informed the council that "in my view the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1982 does not provide it with good reason to withhold this information".
Well done the the Dominion Post for getting this out there.
"A council has been forced to reveal the locations of thousands of potentially contaminated sites, after the ombudsman ruled public safety was more important than the possible effects on property prices."
That's right this council, and others, are more interested in property prices above public safety, and they had to have the ombudman tell them how messed up they are.
"Land is deemed contaminated when hazardous substances are present at levels likely to pose an immediate or long-term risk to human health or the environment.
Orchards, market gardens, sheep dips, wood treatment sites and old petrol stations are among those likely to be contaminated.
Some councils had identified properties that may potentially be contaminated but had not been confirmed as being so."
Those places are all out there and the councils know it but they don't want to tell the people. It really is beyond belief.
"Dr Smith said it was important the councils released the information in a form that "doesn't cause undue public distress".
"The vast bulk of sites are highly unlikely to have any risk associated with them," he said.
"The misreporting of the potential contamination of a site can affect the value of a property by tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. That is why getting the context of this information is important."
Well, Nick at least you are asking the councils to tell us where the sites are - even if you're doing it for the wrong reasons. Bloody hell don't worry about the 'values' mate - start thinking about the people.
And what a disgrace the Hawkes Bay Regional Council is. they "had a list of 3099 potentially contaminated sites since carrying out a study in 1995.
The council gave the information to the region's four local bodies, but had said it would provide details about specific properties only on request and only to people with "a legitimate interest" such as owners, potential buyers, lawyers or neighbours.
It would not identify the sites under an Official Information Act request lodged by The Dominion Post last year.
The Dominion Post filed a complaint with the Ombudsmen's Office on December 5.
In June, Ombudsman David McGee informed the council that "in my view the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1982 does not provide it with good reason to withhold this information".
Well done the the Dominion Post for getting this out there.
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