Panoramic view of Maungapohatu (Boxing Day 2006)

A New Beginning – He Tiimatanga Hou - Nga mihi o te Tau Hou and Welcome to our 1st issue for 2007.

The team at TangataWhenua.com are back from a short holiday break. We've heard that many of you have been enjoying the sun, gathering with whanau, eating delicious food and recovering from the hectic 366 days of 2006. Last year was a leap year, meaning that many of us were on the hop in one form or another. But we're back now and ready to accept the promises and challenges of a New Year.

Looking back to 2006 it was with great sadness that we lost many leaders, inspirational community figures and whanau members.

We pay homage to Whatumoana and the whanau of Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu who we sadly farewelled and recognise in unison the ascendancy of Arikinui Kingi Tuheitia. We all felt the loss of the young Kahui Twins and many of us still have questions unanswered. We bowed our heads in thanks, remembrance and celebration as we ushered off the great Te Ao Peehi Kara, the gifted Wii Kuki Kaa, the elegant Sir Hugh Kawharu, the knowledgeable Hohepa Delamere, amongst others. In our whanau, we mourned the loss of Cousin Manunoa Tule, Cousin Henna Boy, Nanny Jack (Haupai) and Uncle Junior Rakuraku. We'll always remember the advice, the support and the smiles you all gave.

The year 2006 was colossal as we experienced the Tawa Collection of taonga held by Gilbert Mair at Te Pataka Gallery in Porirua, heard stories about the restoration project of the wharenui Hinemihi o te Ao Tawhito in England by Jim Schuster, witnessed the opening of the Auckland International Airport Marae and read about the launch of Te Parapara – a pre-contact Maori Garden within the Hamilton Gardens. It was also awesome to hear that all three houses came together to celebrate the acclaimed Parihaka Peace Festival just recently.

We started our year by discussing the often sensitive subject of body organ donations, finding little support for the giving of organs but huge demand for the use of them. On a healthy note, the Kawhia Kai Festival was a major success last year and is back again, bigger and better, this year. It was also good to learn about the co-operative  Te Waka Kai Ora, the Maori Organic Food Growers Association. Initiatives like Hauora.com were heavily utilised as an online resource, a group of committed whanau and friends made the trek to Wellington to bring their Hikoi against P and messages of hope to Parliament and the AIDS Awareness campaign remembered 25 years of fighting back. We do all acknowledge that  Maori health remains a priority issue across the wellbeing spectrum and is critical in certain high-risk areas.  Diabetes, asthma, obesity, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, bad food ~ come on whanau, let's make that New Year's resolution stick and make a change for the better, a positive change for life.  We would dearly like to acknowledge the many organisations providing health support and student scholarships in the health profession, one particular stand out is Tui Ora Ltd.

It was great to hear that the 2nd Annual Wairoa Maori Film Festival was held to rave reviews, expanded audiences and a growing international reputation.

Another pleasantly surprising development came when Maori TV invited broadcasters Wena Harawira and Judy Bailey to co-host the ANZAC Remembrance Ceremony. This piece of TV history was magic, as they co-presented from 4.30am until 11.30pm (Maori Television was the only station to screen the Dawn Service at 6am), capturing the mood and feelings of the day - we'd like to give an extra special thanks to Maori TV, Wena Harawira and Judy Bailey for this effort. Our thanks also extend out to all Iwi Radio, to Maori on TV and radio, all Maori publications and all Maori media.

Top rated TV shows like Code, Coast, Kai Ora and Kai Time on the Road continue to show the many faces and flavours of Maori; Radio New Zealand continue to compile and air ground-breaking Maori audio shows; Mika continues to prove who is the biggest diva this side of Te Wai Pounamu (and has a great new site) and the team from Eye to Eye continue to put Willie Jackson face to face with the leading opinion makers and news breakers of the day.

My hometown of Rotorua was in the spotlight when the District Council sought to ban repeat criminals from entering the Rotorua CBD; Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi was cited for his actions in Tunisia in 1943, being posthumously presented with an award comprised of an altar cloth, representing "For God", which  went  to Saint Faith's Church, Rotorua, near his resting place; a letter from the Queen acknowledging his bravery, representing "For King"; and a sword gifted to Te Arawa, representing "For Country", and just down the road in Tauranga, no one heard the emergency tsunami sirens, scary.

In our new hometown of Wellington, we have had a great time exploring the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, visiting Te Papa Tongarewa, strolling through the Botanic Gardens and enjoying long walks along Oriental Parade. We heard about exciting new fashion design houses like Tutina Pasene, Blackberri, House of Hank and have discovered talented artists like Theresa Reihana and Grace Voller.

Maori in business largely benefited from the optimistic financial sense here at home, with record employment levels, increased wages and more benefits thanks to some legislative reform. While Maori business developed in key sectors (tourism, small business, investment), there had been some concern that we lack sufficient experience and had trouble retaining skilled staff within some  sectors. New training institutions like Mauri Ora Associates helped to lift capacity levels through training, BrightStar helped deliver training and conferences, internet pioneer Ross Himona launched the Kingston Strategic Group, Wheeler Campbell developed a specialised Maori recruitment service, Mahi.co.nz equally helped Maori find work, the Global Entrepreneur Monitor (GEM) found that about one in three Maori aged 35-44 years were business entrepreneurs making them the world's third most entrepreneurial people and some clever fulla came up with the Multi-Kai Cooker and put an ad for it on TV.

For those looking for more excitement than usual, Australia, America and the United Kingdom offered great opportunities (we heard that over 600 Kiwis a week migrate to Oz), that some new prospects were being forged between Maori and Chinese businesses and even heard about an African-Maori joint initiative called EcoNet – really looking forward to the launch of this venture. However, farming, fishing and forests remain the mainstay of the Maori economy.

We commented on some curious products last year – from glow and fire poi to snow skis adorned with Maori patterns to touch rugby shoes with Maori names - we thought we'd seen it all. Then came the Halloween Face Tattoo Packs, a Residential Property Development in the US calling itself Kiora Apartments and now a health food franchise calling itself Ka Pai, which prompts me to ask "Are Maori the new sexy?". Then there  was the successful appearance of Maori inspirational leader Ella Henry on NZ Dragon's Den and the flawed release of  kapa haka stamps deemed too offensive to distribute. Win some, lose some I guess.

Politics was very interesting in that ex-National Party leader Dr Don Brash started the year with a rush of enthusiasm before he was rushed out the back door and replaced by John Key; the Labour Party celebrated its 90th Birthday, reflecting on how the Party had managed to change with the times but conscious that massive challenges lay ahead. The Maori Party continued to establish a strong presence in the House of Representatives, delivering quality views and diverse opinions, always with an eye for the future; while the Green Party selected a new co-leader, lead thought on climate issues and challenged conventional views on sustainability. New Zealand First recovered from a disastrous election to remain relevant, as Winston Peters entered the World Stage; we didn't really see Peter Dunne or Jim Anderton out and about, but the talking point for 2006 was the stellar effort of Epsom MP and ACT leader, Rodney Hide, during his TV1 appearance on ‘Dancing with the Stars'. His attitude on the floor and his “took time to realise” reflection when re-entering the House showed us that he can relax, focus on the real issues and give it a go. Let's see what happens this year then…

The Treaty2U Exhibition spent one year traveling the length and breadth of the country; land protestors still remain in Waimana, Taurewa and Mahia; the Waitangi Tribunal had shortened filing timeframes put into action and the UN Special Rapporteur, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, released a startling report, which was both praised and condemned. Tumu te Heuheu (Te Heuheu Tukino VIII), Paramount Chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa, was named the new Chair of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee; dissident Tim Selwyn was charged with sedition for distributing pamphlets that likened the ax attack on the window of Helen Clarks' Electorate Office to the theft by the Government from Maori of the seabed and foreshore, Winston Peters' introduced into Parliament a Bill that sought to "delete the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi from all legislation".

The Maori Electoral Option was held last year, with a total of 21,588 Maori changing their type of electoral roll and another 10,280 Maori enrolled for the first time (we'll find out in a few months whether this equates to an additional Maori seat or not); climate change was brought to the fore by ex-US Vice President Al Gore, a new model for  tribal post-settlement structures, Te Waka Umanga, was put up for discussion by the Government and a 2nd Decade of Indigenous Peoples was granted, although the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People failed to be voted for. To the numerous and tireless leaders, communicators, networkers, radicals and revolutionaries out there, we thank you for fighting on our behalf – extra special thanks go to Aroha Mead, Sandy Gauntlett, Kane Te Manakura, Tony Fala and all those who we worked, talked and fought  hard last year.

We signed up to MySpace and met some wonderful new friends - Indigenous Fly Girl is a notable ‘wahine toa' we've encountered online and it was great to hook up with Te Anau Tuiono and Gareth Seymour on there too. It is all a part of our plan to "indigenise the media".

The KURA-Bus sign controversy got more people talking about the use of te reo Maori in everyday situations and is Bro Town a successful TV show or what? (Not even owww). We heard that Youth Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta launched a health resource for rangatahi Maori called "Whaia Te Ara Mou; Ko Tenei Au", that more nutritional snacks and lunches were being encouraged at school and wasn't it wicked to see D'Ziah win Silver at the Hip Hop Dance Competitions in LA. Too much. We heard a great deal about numerous international exchanges held throughout the year – congrats to all involved. It was also good to hear about more parents getting involved in their local School Committees.

One incredibly positive initiative was the use of digital technology to upload the wonderfully creative podcasts developed by Korero Pt England School (check them out – these rangatahi are so talented). A more confrontational move was the fight to get rid of youth rates in the workplace. We  would like to take the time to thank Te Kawe Ratu for hosting heaps of youth events and dance competitions all throughout Auckland and Northland – awesome effort. We also celebrated alongside Sarah Smith (Ngati Kuri), who wore her dazzling  korowai during the graduation ceremony at Hunter College in New York, causing a massive sensation.

Ardijah proved that time makes a classic band, keeping their buzz up by performing some amazing live gigs, Fat Freddy's Drop cracked it, the D'Konz and the Dawn Raiders dropped it, Kora sold it ("Poli-poli-poli-politician, can you make a right decision, for all of us? You can talk the talk but do you walk the walk…?") and where did Holly Smith come from? 

Our nod for the best local male was Warren Maxwell, dude was everywhere and rockin it', looking forward to the Little Bushmen.  Our award for best wahine in a singing role was Bic Runga, Birds got good play and made us listen a bit closer.  Best group had to be Ardijah, playing the music of our generation.  The video for 2006 was 4 Corners' "Now I know" featuring Ladi 6, lyrically and visually summed up the life of a young Maori trying to make it in this big bad World (it ain't easy ya know...).  We liked the album "Soul Sessions' by Whirimako Black and the group for 2006 must have been Spacifix, with that much talent, enthusiasm and energy, they're bound to be a creative force for years to come.

A great big mihi goes out from us to all students, parents of students, teachers, care-givers and child care providers for looking after our collective future. Congrats to all those who passed NCEA this year and I personally lament the end of Manaaki Tauira, a grant which helped out during my years as a Uni student.

I'm finding that sports in Aotearoa-New Zealand is fast in pace and furious in execution, leaving the spectator in a numb heap but showing all how great for the mind and body any movement is, anything from walking to water skiing, star jumps to skipping, it's all good.  We heard about the numerous Pa Wars happening throughout the motu, learned a little more about Ki-o-Rahi, shouted ourselves horse at Waka Ama events and  went back to playing marbles in the dirt with the little ones.  Whanau told us that the Maori Sports Awards were amazing, that the National Hockey tournament held in Rotorua was awesome and that the New Zealand Maori Rugby team are on their way to being modern day legends (read the latest  review for 'Against the Odds').  The Waka Ama World Sprint Champs were contested  in style at Lake Karapiro last year, while we tuned our TV  into the Melbourne Commonwealth Games (interesting fact - NZ was 9th equal (with Kenya)  overall, bringing home 6 Gold, 12 Silver and 13 Bronze medals). We  now have the cricket season in full swing, winter sports about to rev up, the Super 14 Rugby series starting on Feb 2, the Magic have a cup to defend and the Boys in Black have a Rugby World Cup to prepare for, so I suggest we get our gears ready, get into a routine and get ready for a big season.  Jeepers, I love sport.

Now, we'd like to end our 2006, and start 2007 with a round of acknowledgments and thanks to all who supported us last year (and throughout the 4 years we've been publishing).  It's shaping up to be a good year and judging by the responses we've had so far, can see that our service will be playing a vital role in informing and discussing news, info and events relevant to Te Ao Maori.  Please, if you have panui or opinion you wish to share, please email us and we'll be more than happy to support.  We'd also like to thank the following for all their support and hope you can support them too:

Mahi Ora, BrightStar, Te Wananga o Raukawa, Huia Publishing, Toi Maori, Te Puni Kokiri, Tu Mai Magazine, Ata Te Kanawa & whanau, Waka Prints, Maori in Oz, Christel, Kevin & whanau, Maori Music, Dingdots, Tuhono, Kowhai Consulting, Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, Maori Auctions, Luana & whanau, Te Raranga Maori Business Association, Rachael Tata & whanau, Taiohi Magazine, Tearway Magazine, Vodafone, Aotearoa House, FoMA, Te Roopu Pakihi, Asia New Zealand, The Big Idea, Jacquie Clark & whanau and the Human Rights Commission.

Finally, I would like to personally thank Nikolasa and baby Atutahi for everything we have done together, would like to send lots of love to all our whanau and friends and hope this year brings forward the dreams in our heads and the wishes in our hearts. Nga mihi nui ki a tätou ~  tënä koutou, tënä koutou, tënä koutou katoa.

na Potaua

Against the Odds – the story of Matt Te Pou and Maori Rugby by Matt McIlraith (Huia Publishers) is the definitive sports biography for 2007.  This rewarding book follows one of the most enigmatic sports coaches as he led Maori rugby into a platinum decade of growth, admiration and victory. 

Most only glimpsed this epic phase at its triumphant end, when the touring British Lions were tamed by the New Zealand Maori team in 2005.  The nation stood in awe of the players and in respect of the man who had put them there – Matt Te Pou.  By pulling together a talented group of individuals, he was able to score wins against top international teams like Scotland, Samoa and England, showing the fans that Maori rugby was exciting and well worth following and telling the coaches that his players were more than worthy of an All Black jersey.  Matt McIlraith had the great fortune of following the team and interviewing Matt, so this book is a rare opportunity to get behind the scenes and into the minds of some of our most skilled rugby players and coaches.  This book is a must buy for every rugby enthusiast and a must read for anyone wanting to be a fly on the wall as players like Jono Gibbes, Taine Randall and Rico Gear talk about their life on the road, in the scrum and on the field under the guidance of the Master, Matt Te Pou.

For those interested in this year's must-read go to Huia's website and email them regarding your sales enquiry. The book retails for $39.95 but if you order through Huia you can get the book for $35 including postage and packaging!

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To hear a wrap of what happened in Te Ao Maori, check out the final broadcast of National Radio's Ahi Kaa for 2006. To access the Podcast, simply drag this link into your Podcast software.

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