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 The View from the Shoulders of Giants Leaders of Inspiration, Thinking and Connecting
We often look for people who empower us, who allow us to shine and who themselves aspire to new heights, facing challenges that force us to think and then in an instant, moves us into action. We tend to admire their foresight, acknowledging the wide range of views and opinions they possess and then, watch in awe as they move with giant strides onto the stage of the world and into full view of society, with saying that, it was with great pleasure that TangataWhenua.com attended three very special events to meet three very special leaders, leaders of inspiration, thinking and connecting.
 The first leader of inspiration is Aroha Pareake Mead. It was our honour to be present and to hear her speak at the release of her book ‘Pacific Genes and Life Patents' last week. We met co-editor Dr. Steven Ratuva and heard Maori Party Co-Leader Tariana Turia link genetic testing to genetic sovereignty, forcing us to wonder what future lay ahead for us here in the Pacific, especially with bioprospecting and genetic marketing moving in, a truly terrifying prospect. We are currently reading this pivotal book and will be following up the subjects of genetic inheritance, biotechnology and genetic commercialisation in future issues; so for now, we here at TangataWhenua.com commend the continued study, research, writings and efforts of Aroha Te Pareake Mead.
 The second leader of thinking is Joris de Bres. Mr de Bres is the Race Relations Commissioner and we were fortunate to hear him speak at the book launch of ‘Special Measures to Reduce Ethnic Disadvantage in New Zealand: An Examination of Their Role' by Paul Callister (a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies) and an accompanying leaflet  ‘Guidelines on Measures to Ensure Equality' (for private and public sector organisations seeking to put in place policies to reduce ethnic disadvantage). Mr de Bres' enthusiasm helped focus on the positive work being done to enhance race relations and the notion of diversity across the country. There was also an opportunity to listen in to the experiences of Tilley and Tamati Reedy, who were in attendance. So our thanks go to Mr de Bres for getting amongst it and helping to champion the notion of peace in Aotearoa. Kia ora also to Te Puni Kokiri here in Wellington for hosting this great book launch in such wonderful surrounds.
 The third leader of connection are a group, Te Awe, the Wellington Maori Business Network.
Te Awe is a well established Wellington-based group who meet regularly, providing networking opportunities for their members and bringing in some impressive speakers to give presentations and to take questions. We have been privileged to attend the breakfast seminar ‘Maori in the Economy' (featured in Issue 3) and most recently, joined Te Awe as presentations were made by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), it was here we learned about the numerous possibilities and opportunities for Maori development through international diplomacy, trade and knowledge exchange and were made aware of numerous funding avenues available to Maori ventures capable of successfully trading in foreign markets; we also noticed the clear lack of Maori input into our country's trade policy, but again, this for another issue. We would like to acknowledge the work of Peter and James Johnston, Maria Rolleston and the whanau of Te Awe and look forward to being active members of in the near future.
So this issue, we wanted to recognise and appreciate the efforts of those leaders who make the commitment to lifting our collective spirits by setting high standards of expectation and achievement. We have appreciated the invitations to meet face to face and look forward to reading through all the material we have gathered in the last 10 days. We would also like to acknowledge the behind the scenes work of countless administrators, managers, publishers, editors, caterers, cleaners, drivers, partners and kids, you're all awesome leaders too.
 Get TangataWhenua.com's News Feed delivered daily to your Web Browser! In Issue 3 we spoke of the importance of innovation in terms of growing and strengthen Maori business opportunities.
In an effort to actualise this notion we have recently updated our website and added new services such as Job Space (see below for new listings). We have also decided to syndicate TangataWhenua.com as an RSS News Feed.
 Our research suggests that TangataWhenua.com is the only site that to-date is offering this type of service, that is a one-stop-shop for all things Maori. News, events, employment and information that is relevant and useful to us, our whanau, hapu, marae, and iwi, our communities, our
colleagues
and our friends.
TangataWhenua.com's RSS (which stands for
Really Simple Syndication) News Feed is an add-on to the services we already offer. It is an alternative means of accessing the vast amount of information that now exists on the World Wide Web. Instead of having to browse countless websites for information of interest, our service sends Maori-relevant information directly to you. For example once you subscribe, you can then personalise Google, Yahoo, NewsGator, etc. so that you can receive our News Feed instantly (ka rawe!) and as we update the info you get the most recent feed.
 Simply click on the image
to subscribe.
 TangataWhenua.com is now on MySpace! In an effort to diversify our presence we've created a profile and are beginning to network with some incredibly cool peps around the world.
We've talked about MySpace
is a social networking website offering an interactive, user submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos.
MySpace is currently the world's fifth most popular English-language website as well as the fifth most popular website in any language. We're also working on our Bebo site and will feature info on this next issue.
We've had an incredible response to our Maori Career Centre, Job Space! The following new jobs have been listed and are definitely worth a look - get in quick as some are closing soon:
-
 Project Manager - Research, Huia Education, Wellington
- Research Assistants (x2), Huia Education, Wellington
-
 Takawaenga Mäori, Christchurch City Council, Christchurch
 He Oranga Poutama Kaiwhakahaere, Sports Waikato, Lake Taupo Maori Communications Coordinator, Massey University, Optional - Practice Manager,
Family Start Manukau, Manukau
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 The evaluation of the Maori Provider Development Scheme (MPDS) has begun with the Request for Tender (RFT) being released on the Government electronic tender service (GETS) website.
The overall aim of the evaluation is to describe the role of the MPDS in accelerating and improving strategies of Maori individuals and organisations to enable them to enhance and support the delivery of effective health services to Maori. All tenders must be in by April 15 2007. To view the RFT go to the GETS website.
 The Ministry of Health has launched the Maori Provider Development Scheme for 2007/08, and is inviting funding applications from Maori Health and Disability Providers and National Maori Organisations.
The closing dates for applications are as follows:
- Maori Health and Disability Providers - 4.00pm, Friday 27 April 2007
- National Maori Organisations - 4.00pm, Friday 25 May 2007
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
This year, providers will be required to submit one electronic copy of the application via email, and two hard copies with necessary attachments. The Ministry of Health will not be distributing hard copy application forms. Instead, providers will receive an electronic application form via email. Application forms may also be downloaded below.
It is important that providers complete the form in full and attach all supporting documentation that may be required (e.g. quotes) in the hard copy applications.
For any further information please email  MPDSadministrator@moh.govt.nz.
Application forms
- Download the forms below:
- Email a request for the forms to MPDSadministrator@moh.govt.nz.
 It was recently announced that one of our tauira Maori, sleep scientist
Te Hereripine
Sarah-Jane Paine (Tuhoe), has won a Fulbright Travel Award to present her PhD research at a leading international conference.
Ms Paine holds the Health Research Council Maori Health PhD Scholarship, and is based at the Sleep/Wake Research Centre at the Wellington campus.
She will present a paper at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, the world's premier meeting on sleep science and medicine, to be held in the United States in June.
 Her PhD research, titled Circadian versus Psychosocial Factors in Habitual Sleep Timing, investigated the extent to which the circadian biological clock controls our preferred timing for sleep and other activities, also known as morningness/eveningness. Morning-type people, or early birds, get up early and prefer to be active in the morning. On the other hand, evening-type people, or night owls, stay up late.
"The study found that one in four New Zealanders aged 30-49 are morning people, one in four are evening types, and the rest are in the middle," says Ms Paine.
Ms Paine will meet leading international researchers at Harvard Medical School's Division of Sleep Medicine, participate in their Sleep Medicine Day and present a lecture.
The Sleep/Wake Research Centre is a multi-disciplinary team that works to improve the health, performance, safety, and well-being of New Zealanders through basic and applied research.
Originally from Wairoa in the Hawke's Bay, Ms Paine attended Nelson College for Girls and later spent five years in Dunedin at the University of Otago. Sarah-Jane joined the Sleep/Wake Centre in 2001 having completed an MSc in Reproductive Biology at the Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology of the University of Otago. Her first project involved a large national survey of insomnia symptoms and sleeping problems in the general population of New Zealand.
Sarah-Jane is committed to carrying out research that is beneficial for Maori, and continues to develop her understanding of kaupapa Maori research methodologies and she is particularly interested in the development of a tikanga-based approach to health research ethics.
Click here to view her bio and a listing of her publications.
 In Issue 9 (2006) we featured a piece on Maori Television's compelling new reality series Ngati Porou Hauora. This unique reality show is back and profiles both patients and health professionals from the remote East Coast. The premiere of the second series of Ngati Porou Hauora is on Sunday April 1 at 5.30pm.
Produced by Auckland-based Butobase Limited, the 13-part documentary series follows the dedicated health workers from one of the most successful health systems in the country who often travel long distances and endure extreme weather conditions in order to serve the community of Ngati Porou.
Topics range from dealing with the loss of a whanau matriarch and immunisation programmes at the kura to the impact of diabetes and obesity. "Over the course of the series, we reveal how the people within this medical community draw strength and pride in their Ngati Porou heritage and their ability to care for their own. The mantra of Ngati Porou caring for Ngati Porou is a constant theme. The first episode on Sunday April 1 at 5.30 PM reunites viewers with the tribe's diverse range of health services. Ngati Porou Hauora cultural advisor John Coleman hosts a group of Aboriginal health workers while hospital services manager Georgina Paerata is on duty in the 'mobile surgery'.
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 The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago told Prime Minister Helen Clark on March 23 that it has agreed to return of fourteen Moko Mokai (heads of Maori Ancestors) after several years of negotiations with Te Papa. The Moko Mokai date back more than 150 years.
The curator of Pacific Anthropology at the Field Museum of Natural History, Dr John Terrell says the museum has been considering returning the koiwi (bones) for the past two or three years but the board only made the final decision on Monday.
Terrell said the museum had acquired the koiwi from a New York scientific supply company in the late 19th century, but it was not known how they came to be in the United States.
 He said it was decided to return the bones because the request from Te Papa in
Wellington was genuine and sincere. Te Papa's policy on human remains is that they should be returned to New Zealand if possible. It is believed that more than 200 heads remain in overseas institutions.
Uncertainty,
however, still surrounds the future of a huge range of other Maori
artifacts
at the museum, which has one of the biggest Pacific collections in the world (Espiner, Waikato Times, 23 March 2007).
One of the biggest marae outside New Zealand, Ruatepupuke Marae from Tokomaru Bay, on the North Island's east coast, stands in the museum's Pacific wing. The museum bought the marae in 1905 from Dutch traders in who bought it from a Maori chief.
The marae is one of only three known to be outside New Zealand, and is the best preserved. It took the museum 20 years to reconstruct it.
A delegation comprised of both whanau and Te Papa staff are expected to travel to Chicago to bring back the bones.
 Akopai Marae will be celebrating their 20th anniversary between 1-5 May at the Karori Campus, University of Victoria.
On the morning of May 2, 1987, the wharenui at Akopai marae was opened under the guidance of tohunga Pateriki Rei (Te Arawa, Ngati Toarangatira), Huirangi Waikerepuru (Tangahoe, Ngati Ruanui, Nga Rauru, Nga Ruahine, Taranaki, Ngapuhi), and Amster Reedy.
This year sees the wharenui enter its 20th year. You are invited to come and celebrate this occasion with the whanau at Akopai, to re-live past memories, and celebrate the many important occasions held at Akopai Marae. Celebratory Dinner: 2 May 2007; cost $25 each (seats are limited). For further details contact Peihana Ruhe Taurima  04 463 9553  04 463 9548.
 A final reminder that the Ahurei will be held in Ruatoki from April 6-8.
TangataWhenua.com will be selling cool Messenger, Beach and Carrier bags there as a fundraiser so be sure to come say 'Kia Ora' and grab a bag! If you can't make the Ahurei but are keen on purchasing one of our bags contact us and order one.
Turoa Kohanga Reo Gala will be holding a Gala Extravaganza on
Saturday 31st March 2007 from
10am-2pm at Turoa Kohanga Reo, Te Rauparaha Street, Otaki. There will be Harley rides, farm animal petting station, a giant garage sale, sausage sizzle, games, cake stalls, belly dancers, face painting, competitions, art & craft stalls and much much more. For more info contact 06 364 6241  021 0 555 267.
We'd like to announce another whanau reunion. The Otimi Whanau Event will be held 6-9 April 2007 (Easter Weekend) at Parekaitini Marae, Mangatea Road, Te Kuiti. This event is a gathering for descendants for the Otimi whanau to reconnect to the Marae and prepare for the Maniapoto games in Oct 2007. Contact: Putiputi Te Wake-Munro 06 879 6472.
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 Recently, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, Business New Zealand and the Department of Labour hosted “Leave No One Behind”, a collaborative Hui focused on Maori Workforce Development on March 15 2007.
The organisers sought the input of stakeholders into potential projects around Maori workforce development. The interactive workshop-based hui involved a mix of small group discussion and panel presentations. The organisers presented potential projects and assessed interest from participants in future involvement in these initiatives. Click here to check out their website and here to view related documents:
 The 2007 Small Business Expo, is being run in Auckland for the third successive year from 30 May - 1 June, 2007.
This year's expo is simply brimming with ideas and information for owners of small to medium-size businesses according to organiser Sarah Trotman. As Trotman explains, most business owners value the opportunities to think about growing and improving their business but many are so caught up in the day-to-day running of their business that they can't find the time.
 "That's where the Small Business Expo comes in... a one-stop-shop with over 200 providers of quality products and services all focused on helping the owners of small to medium-size businesses. Business owners can come to the Small Business Expo to seek advice specific to Maori business owners in the Te Puni Kokiri Maori Business Development Zone and the Pacific Capacity Building Zone.
The Small Business Expo runs from Wednesday 30 May to Friday 1 June, 2007, at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane, Auckland. Tickets are $20, available at the door and include attendance to all three days of the expo, all the exhibition halls and The National Bank Seminar Series.
 The Small Business Expo 2007 website will soon have full details of the speakers and topics being covered in The National Bank Seminar Series. From the website, www.businessexpo.co.nz prospective attendees can:
- purchase tickets online;
- pre-register for specific sessions of The National Bank Seminar Series;
- pre-register for free appointments in the Business Brokering Zone and the Vodafone Business Mentoring Zone.
 Radio NZ reported that the " Federation of Maori Authorities (FoMA) is preparing to take a case to the Waitangi Tribunal challenging any government moves to deny forest owners carbon credits or to impose taxes for converting forest land to other uses. The federation has joined forestry organisations opposing government climate change policy proposals for dealing with deforestation.
The Government maintains foresters cannot claim carbon credits as a property right, but forest owners contend they are entitled to claim the credits that their forests will earn under the Kyoto Protocol.
FoMA says Article Two of the Treaty of Waitangi guarantees Maori undisturbed possession of fisheries, forests and other land. It says that means the ownership of all rights relating to the forests and the right to develop them and other land economically. Paul Morgan of the federation says any government attempt to deny access to carbon credits or to impose taxes for clearing forest would be a clear breach of the Treaty.
 He says the federation wants to be in a position to lodge a Treaty claim if the Government confirms its policies. The Kyoto Forestry Association (a non-profit organisation formed to represent forest owners), which has been leading the campaign against the government proposals, supports the federation's plan to go to the Waitangi Tribunal.
Association president Roger Dickie says success would set a precedent that the Crown cannot confiscate carbon credits from their rightful owners - whether they are Maori or anyone else.
"FoMA, which represents Maori business interests, estimates that about 200,000 hectares of New Zealand's 1.8 million plantation forestry estate is Maori-owned, and about 700,000 hectares of the land under the forests is either Maori-owned or subject to Waitangi Tribunal claims (Andrew, Dominion Post, 22 March 2006).
Maori controlled around 5.5 per cent of land in New Zealand, Mr Morgan said. "It's only a residual estate and we cannot afford to have the value of that estate diminished any more."
Click here to read the  FoMA's Media Release in full.
 Creating flavours from native plants is the aim of a new $1 million Crop & Food Research programme that will see distinctive New Zealand food products developed for niche, high-value, export markets.
The Federation of Maori Authority, the largest Maori Business Network in Aotearoa, is a partner in the research programme and some of its members will help identify traditional use of native plants in foods and flavourings.
 Authority chief executive Paul Morgan says the research has the potential to transform the small-scale, gathering of crude flavour materials into a commercial food ingredient industry capable of targeting mass food markets. Leader of the flavour programme Dr Meto Leach, Crop & Food Research, says scientists will work with members of the authority, including companies exporting meat, dairy and seafood and convenience food products.
'Once the flavours have been identified, our scientists will extract them from the plants and their chemistry, sensory appeal, safety, stability and whether they can be readily sourced and concentrated will be evaluated,' says Leach.
Ethnic cuisine is a growing international trend and pre-packaged convenience foods and homemade meals - that are healthy with exotic flavours - are in demand, according to Leach.
Crop & Food Research are also partnering with Maori to investigate the following areas:
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 The UNANZ National Conference 2007 will be held 20-22 April at Bureta Park Motor Inn, Tauranga. This conference takes place in April and will look at ways the UN and NZ communities interact and influence each other.
The future of New Zealand depends vitally on international developments. Whether its international conflict, disease control, the environment or energy resources, we are integrated with the rest of the world. Increasingly, we need to have global perspectives on complex global problems. The UN is one avenue in which we can focus global attention onto critical issues.
For more info contact Gray Southon 07 578 7119.
The Miringa Te Kakara Marae will be holding a Special General Meeting on 7 April at
Miringa Te Kakara Marae in Te Kuiti. The hui commences at11am. The purpose of meeting is to replace and elect new trustees. For more information contact
Tukino Turu 07 896 7177.
 Ngati Porou will be holding a series of hui to discuss the Foreshore and Seabed. The following details key dates, venues and times, for more info contact Ruihana Paenga 06 864 9004:
Date: Tuesday 10th April 2007
Time: 5:00pm
Location: Pakirikiri Marae, Tokomaru Bay
Date: Wednesday 11th April 2007
Time: 4.30pm
Location: Hiruharma Marae, Ruatoria
Date: Tuesday 17th April 2007
Time: 5pm
Location: Whangara Marae, Whangara
Date: Wednesday 18th April 2007
Time: 4.30pm
Location: Hinerupe, Te Araroa
Click here to view Herald Advert announcing the hui.
 Ngati Kahungunu are holding a two-day Hui A Iwi for whanau, hapu and iwi members, agency private sector and community representatives interested in progressing responses to environmental and economic development issues. The hui will be held 20-21 April at Te Aute College Waipawa, Central Hawkes Bay.
This Wananga will include a hunters and gatherers meal, field trips, kaumatua, rangatahi and whanau, community and agency leaders, environmentalist and trustee workshops and a dinner recognising the contribution of tamariki, rangatahi and groups and individuals in Kahungunu environmental and economic development issues and solutions.
Some of the themes include sustainable development and renewal, urban environmental issues, food gathering, water issues, conservation, organic farming, waahi tapu.
Throughout the conference there will be up to four concurrent workshop strands. These will include the following:
- Whanautanga: Whanau, Rangatahi, Tamariki workshops, traditional and contemporary development issues and field trips. Including: making your own rongoa with Millstream Gardens, water testing, mahinga kai, organic farming, Te Angiangi reserve, Lake Poukawa, Eeling.
- Kahungunutanga: Kaumatua-Mokopuna workshops, traditional knowledge, mahinga kai and waahi tapu. Field Trips.
- Tino Rangatiratanga: The Academy to the Community, development of iwi responses to environmental and economic development issues. Action planning workshop.
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Private sector, local government, agencies and iwi governance workshop, values, partnership opportunities and relationship development.
In addition there will be three guest speakers and an open/report back/future focus session from each of these workshops, and Ngati Kahungunu Environment & Development awards event. For further information contact
Kym Hamilton 06 876 2718 06 876 4807. Participant numbers are limited to 120.
Registrations of interest are currently being taken and costs are estimated to be approximately $45 per person or $120 for whanau (2 adults, 2 tamariki/rangatahi). This will include 4 meals, accommodation and workshop costs. Click here for a registration form. Click here to view the programme.
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|  Pikihuia Awards for Maori Writers 2007 - The Pikihuia Awards for Maori Writers 2007 is about encouraging diversity in writing and supporting innovation by recognising outstanding work by Maori writers.
Entries are being received now from Maori writers of novels, short stories and film scripts. Download and complete the entry form Pikihuia Entry Form.
Send your story and completed entry form to Pikihuia, PO Box 17-335, Wellington or Pikihuia@huia.co.nz. Entries close on 15 May 2007.
In the following categories the winner will receive a cash prize of $2000:
- Best short story written in Maori
- Best short story written in English
- Best novel extract written in English
- Best short film script written in English
Selected winners and finalists will also be published in Huia Short Stories 7 - the contemporary Maori fiction series published by Huia Publishers.
Two highly commended finalists in each category will receive a cash prize of $500 each.
In the Secondary School Award Category the winner will receive a cash prize of $500 and their school will receive $500 of Huia books. Two highly commended finalists will receive a cash prize of $250 each with their school receiving $250 of Huia books.
Entries for the 2007 Awards are being received now and close on 15 May 2007.
WINHEC JOURNAL CALL FOR PAPERS 2007 - The World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium invites papers for the 2007 edition of the WINHEC Journal. The 2007 edition will be published online in October 2007.
The theme of this edition is Indigenous voices - Indigenous visions.
Contributors are asked to broadly address the themes by either reporting on research, which has affirmed indigenous voices in culture, language or education - or on practice that affirms indigenous visions in education, culture or language. We encourage writers to use interviews with indigenous peoples (voices) as the basis of their papers. The 2006 Edition can be viewed online by clicking here.
 This years 2007 Journal Editor is Rachael Selby (Ngati Pareraukawa descent). She lives in Otaki, and is actively involved in hapu activities at Ngatokowaru, Levin, where she chairs the marae committee. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work at Massey University, New Zealand and a kaiawhina at Te Wananga-o-Raukawa in Otaki.
T he deadline for Papers July 1st 2007. For more information, including the guidelines for Papers, please contact: Bonnie Marino, WINHEC Journal.
 How can indigenous peoples and the conservation community overcome the present barriers and share their knowledge to work together for nature conservation? That was the main question asked at a recent dialogue session with representatives from the indigenous and conservation communities, hosted by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and The Conservation Commons. Indigenous peoples throughout the world have amassed generations of observational knowledge of local environments. The global conservation community, meanwhile, is active in conservation efforts on or near traditional lands. Barriers exist, including in some case years of distrust, to sharing knowledge and experience between indigenous communities and conservation groups.
The dialogue session held on 13 and 14 March in Canada addressed the following issues:
- The notion of traditional ecological knowledge, and the appropriate role of this knowledge in conservation efforts;
- Building trust between the indigenous and conservation communities which share many common goals;
- A code of ethics for conservation and scientific organizations to ensure respect for the knowledge, culture and heritage of indigenous peoples in the context of biodiversity conservation;
- Exploring the notion of a discreet indigenous component to the Conservation Commons.
“Despite many common conservation goals, much distrust remains between indigenous groups and conservation organizations. Adopting a framework code of ethics can help rebuild the level of trust needed between these communities to work together in good faith,” said Aroha Te Pareake Mead, IUCN Councilor and Special Advisor on Indigenous Issue.
 Under the direction of Aroha Te Pareake Mead and Stephen Augustine, Curator of Ethnology and Hereditary Chief of the Mi'gmaq of eastern Canada, a total of 35 individuals participated in this workshop from Canada, the USA, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Peru, including representatives from indigenous groups, conservation organizations, the Government of Canada, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
 Canadian indigenous groups present included the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, the Grand Council of the Crees, the Metis National Council, and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, as well as the Indigenous Peoples Caucus and the First Nations Land Management Resource Centre. This event was made possible through generous contributions from Environment Canada and The Nature Conservancy.
Click here to view the Draft CBD Code of Ethics, Agenda, List of Participants and
The Conservation Commons.
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Thirty rangatahi recently took part in Nelson's first Rangatahi Hui. The Whakatu branch of the Maori Women's Welfare League organised the hui and rangatahi came from six secondary school from throughout the region, including Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough (Mitchell, Nelson Mail, 2007).
Participants took part in heated political discussion in the Nelson City Council chambers with most having never been in the chambers and all excited about the presence of Te Tai Tonga MP and Associate Arts and Culture Minister Mahara Okeroa. Mr Okeroa had nothing but praise for the "absorbing exchanges" he saw particularly concerning the anti-smaking bill and commented that "this exercise has been more informative than the exercise we've gone through in Parliament".
The Nelson Mail reported that Jane du Feu, who adjudicated the debates, said the event helped to develop identity, confidence and leadership among Maori youth.
N elson College for Girls student Arahi Tahu said she had never been involved in a debate before, but enjoyed the experience. She and fellow team-mates spent two days preparing their cases. Other topics debated included the removal of all references to Treaty of Waitangi principles in statutes, and whether Waitangi Day should be New Zealand's national day.
The Council of Trade Unions and Business New Zealand both have stated that the New Zealand economy will not survive unless more young Maori enter the workforce.
Statistics New Zealand figures show that ten years from now there is likely to be a net loss of new workers each year. While other figures show the number of Maori youth is growing.
The Chief Executive of Business New Zealand, Phil O'Reilly, says if more young Maori get into work, they could potentially save the economy. The Council of Trade Unions vice president Maori, Sharon Clair, says unions agree and are proposing several initiatives, including a youth mentoring programme, to get more Maori into skilled jobs.
 The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) will mark the 2007 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 October, with an art competition for children to design a UN stamp on the theme "We CAN end poverty". DESA would like to request the non-governmental organisations around the world to spread the word about the art competition.
The competition is being organized by DESA in collaboration with the Department of Public Information and the UN Postal Administration, and aims at raising awareness about poverty and inequality in the world, in particular among children. The best designs will be presented during the commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October 2007, and will be issued as United Nations stamps in 2008.
 Whanau, this would be a wonderful opportunity for our tamariki and mokopuna to participate in a profoundly significant issue and one that would lead to very positive discussion in terms of how we connect with the world and how our world connects with us.
The best 6 designs selected by the Panel of Judges will be presented during the commemoration of the International Day on the Eradication of Poverty, on 17 October 2007, and will be issued as stamps of the United Nations Postal Administration. The next 20 best designs will receive special commendation. The total of 26 winning entries will be displayed in a special exhibition at United Nations Headquarters in New York in 2007.
Please click here to view the flyer containing the rules of the competition. The flyer is also printable from the following website, here you can also learn more about poverty issues at the UN. You are encouraged to advertise the competition in schools. For more info contact Renata Kaczmarska (Associate Social Affairs Officer Division for Social Policy and Development).
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 The Sport Waikato, Mana Wahine Team Challenge will be held Friday 13th April 2007 from 10am -1pm at Elliott Park on Hyde Avenue. Teams of four women aged 20-60 yrs, Top-Town Games & Challenges will be held. Register at the Western Community Centre on Hyde Avenue in Nawton. The cost is $10 per team.
For more info contact Ranui 07 838 2657 027 446 7040.
The Mataatua Regatta will be held Saturday 14th April 2007 at the Whakatane Information Centre in Whakatane. The 5th annual Mataatua Waka Regatta takes place on the Whakatane River. Racing starts at 9am from the Whakatane Information Centre and the race course involves 300m sprints. Contact Tui Edwards 07 308 4510. For more info also check out Waka Ama's website.
New Zealand's only television show for hunting and shooting enthusiasts, Hunting Aotearoa blasts off with a new series on Thursday April 5 at 9.30pm.
Presented by keen huntsman and entertainer Howie Morrison Junior, the second series of this popular show sees the Hunting Aotearoa team heading to the South Island for the first time. It's a chance for the larger-than-life Morrison to meet local huntsmen, take in the spectacular scenery and bag some big game, Southern-style.
Places visited during the five-week hunting trip included Blenheim, Nelson, Hokitika, Franz Josef Glacier, Queenstown, Fox Glacier, Dunedin and Stewart Island. Rotorua-based Morrison also managed to catch up with former All Black Glen Osborne in Wanganui for a tour of the best shooting spots around Osborne's home area, as well as a stop-off for some hunting action in Taumarunui.
Hunting Aotearoa, made by Hikoi Productions, runs for 13 weeks and all Maori language is fully subtitled in English. It tops off a trio of first-rate shows for sports fans every Thursday on Maori Television, kicking off at 8.00pm with reality series Ngati NRL, which follows the fortunes of young league hopefuls across the ditch, then cult sports-entertainment show CODE at 8.30pm.
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