Poroporoaki – Sergeant Patrick Paddy Whiu
Our MPs travelled to the north this week to attend the tangihanga of Sergeant Patrick Whiu (Ngapuhi, Ngati Tuera and Ngati Hinearo o Whanganui). Known to most as Paddy, Sergeant Whiu dedicated 41 years of his life to the New Zealand Police Force. During his time in the force he worked with people from all walks of life. He was Northland’s first iwi liaison police officer. He helped train Maori wardens in conflict management and negotiation and worked with his people in the north to help keep young men out of prison and find new direction in their lives. Paddy was well-known, well-liked and loved – a people’s man and a people’s cop. In his final days he received the Silver Merit Award – the highest honour for police duties – by the Police Commissioner in the presence of his family and the Commissioner’s Maori Advisory Board. A fitting tribute for a man who dedicated so much of his life to the community. Moe mai ra e te rangatira.
Launch of www.MaoriFutureMakers.com
On Thursday Pita launched a website aimed at inspiring Maori, young and old, to take up tertiary education. The resource was developed by Black Pearl Limited, led by Moana Maniapoto, and maps out educational pathways and profiles role models that rangatahi can identify with who have gone into different careers. Over 500 young people and their whanau helped to develop this website which reflects their preferred format, and collates the information that they want to see on educational offerings.
The launch took place at Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Tapuwae in Mangere, and feeds in to the Maori Economic Strategy āHe Kai Kei Aku Ringa’ by supporting our rangatahi to be self-reliant and resilient. Check it out at www.MaoriFutureMakers.com
Whanau Ora expansion supported by Finance Minister
Finance Minister Bill English has endorsed Whanau Ora as “the one programme that does appear to have the ability to reach those families in real deprivation, and their surrounding communities, and to catalyse a sense that the world and their lives can change. That is why we have continued to support its roll out and expansion.”
Mr English was responding to a question from Te Ururoa in the House on Wednesday: “Does he believe that things like reports alone will not solve a deep-rooted, serious problem like poverty, and that what is needed is a completely different approach that helps people to take control of their lives and break out from the cycles of dependency, deprivation, and desperation-in other words, WhÄnau Ora?”
Te Waka Awhina o Aotearoa Conference
Also on Thursday Pita spoke at a conference run by Te Waka Awhina o Aotearoa. This organisation has been set up for Maori staff in local and regional councils across the motu, and provides training and support. The conference provided an opportunity for Maori in local government to hui, discuss and debate about various social, economic and political issues that impact on Maori, and to assess ways for improving effectiveness in setting and achieving Maori goals for local government.
Pita talked to them about his experiences as a Maori politician and Maori Minister and how he has navigated through our current political system to create change. One of the things that he talked about was the background to the establishment of the Independent Maori Statutory Board in Auckland which gives tangata whenua and mataawaka a say on Council issues in Auckland. We think this is a highly successful model of ensuring Maori representation and participation in local government issues – and we are pleased that the Maori Party were part of establishing this model.
Tangata whenua recognised as the first people
This week Te Ururoa put a motion to the House that was passed unanimously – Parliament congratulated the indigenous people of Australia for finally being recognised by the Australian House of Representatives as tangata whenua – the first people.
The passing of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Bill 2012 is another positive step in the right direction for Ahitereiria. It was only five years ago that their Prime Minister apologised to the stolen generation and now they are looking at including recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Constitution. This is an exciting development which we will be watching keenly as the momentum builds for our own constitutional review!
Launch of Waiata Moteatea Resource – Ngati Maniapoto Marae Pact Trust
Tariana launched a resource for the Ngati Maniapoto Marae Pact in Waitomo this week. The group is a marae based whanau collective who have produced a CD of waiata moteatea. The collection also includes a booklet with the lyrics in both Maori and English. Tariana was inspired by their collective commitment to their young people. Despite receiving little resource from the state, Maniapoto Marae PACT Trust has believed that their young people should be supported to grow and benefit from every opportunity around them.
Opening of the South Seas Integrated Family Service Centre and Whanau Ora Service Delivery, Otara
Tariana officially opened a new integrated health facility which will cater for one of the largest Pacific populations within the Counties Manukau region. The South Seas Integrated Family Service Centre delivers a Whanau Ora service to more than 4000 clients. Tariana spoke about the strong Pacific leadership in the community that played a vital role in laying a strong foundation for the development of āby Pacific for Pacific’ services in New Zealand. The Pacific community chose a Whanau Ora approach to work with their families to improve their health and well-being.
TU asks TAB to come clean
Te Ururoa sent a letter to TAB general manager Martin Saunders seeking an explanation for the company’s involvement in the controversial boxing match between Sonny Bill Williams and Francois Botha earlier this month.
The match has become notorious following claims that Francois Botha was offered a bribe to lose the fight. Further to this, there was uproar that the bout was unexpectedly reduced from 12 to 10 rounds, claims were made that Botha failed a drugs test and also that no representative of the sanctioning body was in attendance. Te Ururoa will investigate this further in order to ensure sport does not become corrupted by gambling.
We’ve been everywhere man!
There’s been some focus in the media on ministerial expenses . Just to put this into context, over the last three months of last year (which was the media’s focus) our Ministers travelled to Gisborne, Hawera, Whakatane, Kaitaia, Tokoroa, Napier, Te Puia, Murupara, Greytown , Master ton, Wairoa, Pukehou, Hiruharama, New Plymouth, Coromandel, Hastings, Bulls, Taumarunui, Whangarei, Waikanae, Levin, Rotorua, Te Hauke, Palmerston North, and Auckland (many times). He aha te mea nui o te Ao? He tangata he tangata he tangata. When the people ask for us to come we respond. It’s about kanohi kitea.
