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Famous mural on display in Whakatane
noted New Zealand artist Colin McCahon.
A triptych, the painting was commissioned by the then-Urewera National Park Board in 1975 and was displayed at the park headquarters and Visitor Centre at Waikaremoana. Responsibility for the care and management of the painting transferred to the Department of Conservation in 1987. In 1997, The Urewera Mural was removed by activists. After its recovery and conservation, it went back on display at Waikaremoana before being placed on long-term loan with the Auckland Art Gallery.
Whakatāne District Council Museum and Arts Team Leader, Hamish Pettengell, says that at the request of Ngai Tūhoe and DoC, who wanted the artwork “moved closer to home”, the Urewera Mural has been relocated to the Whakatāne Museum Research Centre.
“As is standard practice, we contracted the services of a specialist conservator to condition report the artwork on arrival at the museum. It is now re-housed in its crate and in a part of the building that is constantly monitored for any changes in temperature or humidity,” Mr Pettengell says.
The Museum will care for the Urewera Mural until such time as its future location is decided.
Charter Schools 'a direct attack on kura kaupapa Maori'
direct attack on kura kaupapa Maori, and on public education generally," said Hone Harawira, Leader of MANA and MP for Te Tai Tokerau.
"Although successive governments have starved kura kaupapa of funding from the get-go, they remain one of the most successful educational initiatives for Maori by Maori, in the last 100 years" said Harawira. "But today, the Maori Party is supporting their National and ACT Party buddies spending massive amounts of money on charter schools while kura get bugger all."
Massey University Professor of Education, John O’Neill, said that early indications are that charter schools will cost the taxpayer more than twice as much as state schools.
"It’s one thing for the rich white boys to give their mates all the lollies while laughing at the poor little Maori kids getting by on scraps … it’s another thing entirely when their Maori buddy is cheering them on."
"The Maori Party should be ashamed for turning their backs on everything that kura kaupapa Maori stands for."
"Maori fought long and hard to get kohanga and then kura kaupapa because we knew that a commitment to the language, a commitment to whanau, and a commitment to kaupapa Maori were key elements in educational achievement for Maori students, and kura kaupapa have proven that to be the case time and time again."
"Charter schools will have no accountability to whanau, no commitment to Maori language, no requirement for kaupapa Maori, no commitment to the Maori or NZ curriculum, no commitment to put registered teachers in front of kids, no accountability or transparency under the Official Information Act or the Ombudsmen Act - and they’re going to get more money than kura kaupapa ever got!"
"And without the oversight of the Auditor-General’s Office, they’re a scam waiting to happen" said Harawira, whose claims were backed up by Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu’s submission on the Education Amendment Bill which said that charter schools were highly susceptible to fraud, waste and abuse.
Other submissions raised the fact that the charter schools model has failed overseas, including that of Dr Bronwyn Hayward, political scientist and senior lecturer at the University of Canterbury. Dr Hayward said that the charter school model was "naive and reckless" and that "our children deserve better."
"Our kids all deserve the very best in education, not failed experiments from overseas."
"This Thursday is Budget Day. That’s when we’ll see whether the Maori Party can deliver. If the Budget does not show at least a 25% increase in funding for kura kaupapa, an extension of the Kotahitanga programme, and a reinstatement of the Manaaki Tauira programme to assist Maori students in tertiary education, then the Maori Party will have failed. And if they have, Peter Sharples should resign as Associate Minister of Education with responsibility for Maori Medium Education for his failure to grow or even protect the success of kura kaupapa Maori while supporting the failed charter school model."
Tuhoe hapu protests against settlement
Voting has closed on whether Ngāi Tūhoe will accept a treaty settlement with the Crown, but protests from disaffected hapu are continuing.
Last week a group from Maungapohatu mounted a protest in Murupara, and on Sunday Ngāti Haka Patuheuheu occupied the main road at Waiohau, which it says was built illegally on Māori land.
Spokesperson Robert Pouwhare says there will be a further protest in Opotiki on Friday, and hapū are also planning to take a stand at parliament as the settlement goes through the legislative process.
He says Ngāti Haka Patuheuheu withdrew from Te Kotahi ā Tūhoe four years ago because it did not trust the negotiators to act in its interests.
Mr Pouwhare says Ngāti Haka Patuheuheu won’t give up, and it will give its younger generations the knowledge to keep up the fight.
-waateanews.com
Hundreds march against asset sales
Over 200 people marched through Tauranga's main street this morning as part of a national day of protest against asset sales and privatization of New Zealand state owned assets.
Labour and Mana Party supporters were among the many people who marched today chanting "Stand up fight back, Aotearoa is not for sale"
Joe Carolan spokesperson for Aotearoa is not for sale says today is a national day of protest to fight for what is ours and what is our kids.
"We know the majority of New Zealanders are opposed to our power companies being sold off. Today's protests was to the National Government and about bringing thousands of people across the country who are angry over issues like charter schools, public service cuts and unemployment,"
"Our message to John Key today is to stop the madness and end the asset sales. And our message to New Zealand is that people have the power to make sure Aotearoa is not sold out by the National Government," Mr Carolan says.
Today's national day of protest saw people take to the streets in Auckland, Hamiltom, Wellington, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Story: Lani Hepi | Photos: Cameron Avery
Relationship agreement with Tuhoe
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has signed an agreement with Ngai Tuhoe to work more closely together.
The Relationship Protocol was signed this week by Ngai Tuhoe Treaty settlement entity Te Uru Taumatua Chief Executive Kirsti Luke and Regional Council Chief Executive Mary-Anne Macleod.
Ms Macleod said there would be positive gains for both parties from a collaborative engagement which respected their distinct needs.
"Tuhoe and the Regional Council choose to work together to benefit their communities. We will both be looking to increase opportunities to work on shared goals, projects and initiatives," she said.
Ngai Tuhoe is one of the largest iwi groups within the Bay of Plenty. The tribe has initialled a Treaty Deed of Settlement and are likely to sign soon. The new Relationship Protocol is outlined in the Deed.
The signing took place at Te Uru Taumatua office in Taneatua, with Regional Councillors and staff and iwi members including Tamati Kruger (former Chief Negotiator), Te Hau Tutua and Glen Mitchell, and trustees Max Temara, Patrick McGarvey and Huka (Irene) Williams.
Treaty settlements are very significant in the Bay of Plenty; Maori make up about 27 percent of the population and about 33 percent of the land is Maori-owned. The region has at least 36 iwi, more than 200 hapū and more than 260 marae.
Bay of Plenty has also achieved eight comprehensive Treaty settlements, six iwi have signed Deeds of Settlement and another 11 claims are being progressed. Last year the Crown enacted three settlements and several others are likely to be completed this year.
Maori life expectancy narrowing gap
The gap between Maori and non-Maori life expectancy at birth has narrowed to 7.3 years, based on death rates in 2010-12, Statistics New Zealand said today. Maori life expectancy at birth reached 72.8 years for males and 76.5 years for females in 2010-12. This compares with 80.2 years for non-Maori males and 83.7 years for non-Maori females.
This continues the trend which saw the gap narrow from 9.1 years in 1995-97 to 8.5 years in 2000-02 and to 8.2 years in 2005-07.
"Both Maori and non-Maori life expectancy have increased, but Maori death rates are still higher than non-Maori at nearly all ages," population statistics manager Andrea Blackburn said. "About 60 percent of the difference between Maori and non-Maori life expectancy comes from higher death rates at ages 50 to 79 years."
For the total New Zealand population, life expectancy at birth has reached 79.3 years for males and 83.0 years for females, an average of 81.2 years, based on death rates in 2010-12.
Tauranga iwi settlement signed and sealed
The Crown has signed a deed of settlement for historical Treaty claims with Ngati Pukenga at Te Whetu o Te Rangi Marae near Tauranga, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.
The deed settles the comprehensive claims specific to Ngati Pukenga in the region. Ngati Pukenga is also negotiating redress relating to its shared and overlapping interests in the region as part of the Tauranga Moana Collective, along with Nga Hapu o Ngati Ranginui and Ngai Te Rangi.
"Crown initiated military conflict in 1864 and subsequent actions including confiscation left Ngati Pukenga without sufficient land in Tauranga to meet their economic and cultural needs," Mr Finlayson said. "We can never fully compensate for these wrongs. However this settlement will enable the people of Ngati Pukenga to look forward to a stronger future."
The settlement includes includes financial and commercial redress of $5 million; the return of culturally significant properties including Liens block, Pae ki Hauraki, Te Tihi o Hauturu and Otukopiri; $500,000 for cultural revitalisation, and $180,000 for marae revitalisation in Manaia.
"Signing this deed of settlement with Ngati Pukenga is an important step towards settling all historical grievances in the Bay of Plenty and New Zealand as a whole," Mr Finlayson said.
The settlement will be given effect through legislation.
Danish Mp disses powhiri as "uncivilised and grotesque"
A Danish MP has dissed the powhiri she received on a visit to New Zealand as "uncivilised and grotesque".
She wrote in an opinion piece in a Danish newspaper, politician Marie Krarup says she was shocked to be welcomed by a dancing "half naked man."
She says on arrival at the Devonport Naval Base, her group was greeted by a man shouting and screaming in Maori, and poking his tongue out.
Krarup goes on to say she felt like an idiot giving a hongi and the waiata performed by naval personnel sounded like a Danish children's song about a happy ladybird.
The politician was part of a defence delegation which visited last month
Thousands expected at Tuhoe festival
This years festivities include kapa haka, debates and sporting events.
This year marks the 41 year anniversary with organisers saying with the progression of its settlement and with a new $15mil headquarters currently under construction, this could signal an end to the Ahurei being held in Ruatoki.
"The decision is in the hands of the commitee on whether or not the festival stays or go." Organiser Hukarere Williams says.
"The issue is not being given over lightly, this is a mater for what our Iwi want." She says.
The festival is held over Easter Weekend.
Cultural diversity in the classroom
Mention the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and it may conjure whimsical thoughts of magic carpets and genies but there’s nothing whimsical about fresh opportunities for the region through a new collaboration between Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and the Saudi Arabian King Abdullah Scholarship Programme.
In total 22 Saudi students are currently enrolled at the Polytechnic and last week a group of diplomats from the Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission visited the region to see how their students were settling into life as Kiwi students.
In attendance were His Excellency Dr Sattam Alotaiby, Cultural Attaché, Mr Mohammed Yaghi, Director of Academic Affairs and Mr Bahaa Elmohands, Student Advisor for TVTC (Technical and Vocational Training Corporation) students. All were pleased with the students’ progress, some of whom are now into their second and third years of study.
Anne Young, International Manager at the Polytechnic, said economic benefits to the region were significant, both in terms of the dollars the students contributed and the greater opportunities for tourism with students’ families also visiting the region.
“In addition to the financial benefits, there is also the intangible value of having culturally diverse students in our class mix,” says Anne. “They contribute to diversifying our student body and helping us to meet our internationalisation goals. As they are spread among different classes and subjects they bring a different perspective to class discussions which give all students (domestic and international) a more global view of their subject and better prepares them for a globalised workforce.”
Eight of the Saudi students are studying Fashion with the Polytechnic; four are in the third year of the Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of Design (Fashion) while the other four are in the second year of a Diploma in Design (Fashion). A further six students are studying Applied Computing, five Tertiary Studies and the remaining three Business Studies.
“It was important to have the opportunity to host the Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission and discuss ways of enhancing our cooperation and to accept more Saudi Arabian students in the future,” said Dr Alan Hampton, Polytechnic Chief Executive.
“Increasing the number of international students at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic is strategically important in further internationalising the campus, student experience, Tauranga city and our region.”
Te Teko cooks to take on new cooking show
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| Photo: [Team Tu Teao Marae / Supplied] |
Te Teko's Tu Teao Marae are among the eight teams chosen to blend the best ingredients with a distinctly marae flavour.
Teams representing Te Ngaere Bay in the Far North to Kaikoura in the South have been selected from almost 100 marae wanting to be part of the exciting new series.
We have a team of six ringawera with two reserves who will step up to the challenge. Tu Teao Marae cooks, Lorraine Hale and Phillipa Moses say.
"Its going to be a crack up, but it should be good." Lorraine and Phillipa said.
Filming of Marae Kai Masters begins next week around the country with teams showcasing their culinary skills on their home turf before they travel to Auckland to compete.
"It’s shaping up to be a great contest," says associate producer and presenter, Nevak Rogers.
"We’re pitting some of the ringawera greats from around the country against one another in a series of challenges that will not only test their skills and creativity, but their nerve and teamwork too."
The eight teams vying to become the inaugural Marae Kai Masters are:
Te Ngaere Marae, Ngapuhi, Northland
Whiti te Ra Marae, Ngati Whatua, Kaipara
Waipapa Marae, Ngati Hikairo, Kawhia
Huria Marae, Ngati Ranginui, Tauranga
Kutarere Marae, Whakatohea, Opotiki
Tu Teao Marae, Ngati Awa, Te Teko
Pukemokimoki Marae, Ngati Kahungunu, Napier
Maungamanu Marae, Ngai Tahu, Kaikoura
Thousands expected at Kapa Haka fest today
With the mercury hovering at temperatures of around 30 deg C, strong crowds have been recorded at the four-day festival, which began on Thursday with pool competition and finishes today with nine finalists competing for the national title.
The Executive Director of Te Matatini Society, Darrin Apanui, said turnout for the national kapa haka championships, at the Rotorua International Stadium, had been extremely strong, with around 15,000 people watching the performances today.
“We expected a good showing not only from kapa haka enthusiasts around Aotearoa, but also Australia and further afield. Online ticket sales were excellent in the weeks leading up to the festival and casual day sales have been around a couple of thousand each day, so we’re very happy with the response,” he said. The performances this year have been extremely competitive, with the local iwi Te Arawa fielding six teams.
Mr Apanui said he expected the crowds to swell even more if the locally based teams made it to today's final. “I would expect that a lot of Rotorua people will turn out to support their local teams on the day if any of them make it to the final,” Mr Apanui said.
Te Matatini is responsible for fostering, developing and protecting traditional Māori performing arts throughout Aotearoa.
The organisation this year celebrates its 40th year hosting the biennial competition. Te Matatini is able to promote kapa haka through sponsorship from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Te Puni Kokiri. Major sponsors for the festival include Waikato University, New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute, New Zealand Post, Kiwibank and Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
TVNZ banned from Kapa Haka fest
Te Matatini Incorporated Society has banned TVNZ from conducting interviews within the Rotorua International Stadium on finals day (Sunday 24/02/13) of Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival 2013 after its Maori news bulletin Te Karere breached media guidelines.
Te Matatini managing director Darrin Apanui said he was disappointed with TVNZ’s actions, after they previously adhered to news access guidelines on Thursday. However a Te Karere reporter abused the privilege of being given access to a space by the VIP lounge to interview dignitaries and instead recorded a piece to camera within a restricted area which was broadcast in its bulletin on Friday. All media were told at a briefing that such recordings were off limits.
After banning TV3 for using material on Wednesday, Mr Apanui wanted to remain firm but fair in policing the commercial agreement between Te Matatini and host broadcasters Maori Television who have exclusive rights.
Maori education director resigns
Kuku Wawatai (Ngati Porou), Director Education and Maori Development at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, resigned his position last week leaving behind a legacy of commitment and passion for education, specifically in improving Maori participation and success and engaging disconnected youth.
Mr Wawatai has most recently been at the forefront of leading the Polytechnic’s Youth Guarantee programme, a government initiative to help at risk young people into job training. His innovative and highly successful methods of reconnecting with disadvantaged youth has seen the Polytechnic lead the ITP sector in Youth Guarantee success and completions.
Dr Alan Hampton, Polytechnic Chief Executive, said Mr Wawatai had made a significant contribution to the Polytechnic’s development and performance. "Kuku has made the whole institution really think about how we fulfil our role as an education provider, understanding and responding to the learning styles of our students from a cultural and individual perspective. This has seen the institution make significant improvements in our success and completion rates across the whole institution."
The institution’s commitment to the principles of Te Waka Hourua, the twin hulled waka, exemplify the impact of Mr Wawatai’s initiatives in influencing how the Polytechnic goes about its business regardless of race or creed. Te Waka Hourua is a philosophy which encompasses taking all people on their learning journey together to the same place, providing the leadership, direction, resources, initiatives and passion to support all learners in their quest to reach their full potential.
With a career balanced heavily to working with both Maori and non-Maori disadvantaged youth, Mr Wawatai has also held positions with Te Whare WÄnanga o AwanuiÄrangi, and the Gisborne District Council and the Manukau City Council. He also has previous experience with current affairs having worked as a TV presenter and talkback host on Radio Aotearoa making him a natural with engaging with people from all walks of life.
Mr Wawatai grew up in the small town of Tikitiki in Waiapu Valley near Gisborne. His maunga is Hikurangi and his awa is Waiapu. He steps down from his position after eight years with the Polytechnic and is looking forward to taking on fresh projects with Ngati Ranginui in areas of health and wellbeing.
Maori students to represent Warriors at youth summit
Four high-achieving Maori secondary school students have been confirmed as the first Vodafone Warriors representatives at the annual All Stars Indigenous Youth Summit being held in Brisbane from February 5-10.
The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has organised the event to recognise outstanding achievement and application to education, culture and the community by selecting a total of 64 young Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous Australian) and New Zealand Maori students from all 16 NRL clubs.
The summit is held in conjunction with the annual All Stars match, which will be played at Suncorp Stadium for the first time on February 9.
Two of the pupils chosen as the Vodafone Warriors’ representatives - Matiu Love-Henry (17) from Taupo and Dane Clark (16) from Tokoroa - travelled to Auckland to meet staff and players and were also shown around the club’s facilities at Mount Smart Stadium on Thursday.
The two girls selected - Savannah Matua (16) from Manukau City and Nikita McGruer (15) from Tauranga - visited the club of the Vodafone Warriors on Friday.
As well as being chosen for the summit, the promising Love-Henry has recently been signed as a development player by the Vodafone Warriors.
Tribal (iwi affiliations) for McGruer, who attends Te Wharekura o Mauao in Tauranga, are Ngati Porou/Ngati Haua while Matua, a student at Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae in Auckland, is Ngati Whatua/Te Atiawa.
Clark (Tokoroa High School) is Tainui/Ngati Porou and Love-Heny, who attends Taupo’s Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whakarewa i Te Reo Ki Tuwharetoa, is Ngati Tuwharetoa/Ngati Awa.
All Stars team captains Johnathan Thurston and Benji Marshall and their team-mates will teach life-skills to the 64 students when they gather in Brisbane next month.
The event is part of the 2013 All Stars Week and will see students arrive in Brisbane on Tuesday, February 5, for mentoring and life skills workshops with both the Indigenous All Stars and NRL All Stars team members.
Activities will include physical challenges, career-advice training and job interview sessions, as well as attending the All Stars Community Festival and DEEWR Learn Earn Legend! Jobs Expo (February 8). They will also play a role in the pre-match entertainment at Suncorp Stadium before the All Stars game.
Students from Melbourne and New Zealand will take part in the summit for the first time, with others travelling from areas as remote as Weipa in the Gulf of Carpentaria and Mount Isa in north-west Queensland.
"This year’s group consist of students from extremely diverse walks of life," said NRL General Manager for Community, Culture and Diversity Trish Crews.
"For the first time we have been able to invite participants from every club and we extend a special welcome to our attendees from across the Tasman.
"We have students who have grown up in highly populated suburbs including Punchbowl (NSW), Caboolture (QLD) and Reservoir (VIC), spending the week with students from areas as remote as Charter Towers and towns and communities with populations of no more than 8000 people.
"There is a great opportunity for the group to learn from our Indigenous All Stars who have only just completed their own Indigenous Players Camp on the weekend prior as well as the NRL All Stars, coaches, mentors and their own peers."
Takamore's body to be exhumed
The decision by the Supreme Court last year decided, after a five-year legal battle, that Mr Takamore's wife Denise Clarke can bury him where she chooses.
James Takamore's body was taken by his Tuhoe family following his death in 2007, and was buried in a whanau cemetery in Kutarere in the Bay of Plenty.
Lawyer for the Takamore family, Moana Tuwhare, says immediate and extended whanau have started talks about how the disinterment process should take place.
She says they want to make sure Ms Clarke knows proper protocol around exhuming the body, and have commenced talks with a Maori cultural expert in tikanga.
Kiwis in Oz proud of NZ roots
New Zealanders living in Australia strongly display their national loyalties when it comes to sport but some change their accents because they are sick of being picked on, a University of Canterbury researcher said today.
UC’s Rosemary Baird, who has completed a doctorate thesis on Kiwis living in Australia, said some Kiwis became loyal Australians while many others adamantly remained New Zealand citizens. The majority realised gradually that although New Zealand still claimed their national loyalty, over time Australia had become home, she said.
A lot of Kiwis in Australia love to show their New Zealand connections during a trans-Tasman sporting match but others try and hide their Kiwi heritage because they get sick of being teased,’’ Baird said.
Many Kiwis over there are proud when they choose to be, although many are happy to fly under the radar.’’
Baird carried out her research looking at 1960-1990s Kiwi migrants under supervision by Professor Philippa Mein Smith and Associate Professor Lyndon Fraser.
Professor Mein Smith said the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated in 2009 that 529,000 New Zealanders were recorded as living in Australia. The number is believed to be substantially higher than that, she said.
Baird’s survey found the strain of sustaining relationships across the Tasman led them to return to New Zealand but most ended up returning to Australia.
Most Kiwis disliked Australians’ negative attitudes towards indigenous Aboriginal Australians and prided themselves on New Zealand’s supposedly superior race relations with Maori.
Those Kiwis who lived in rural Australia interacted more with aboriginal Australians and were more likely to have witnessed severe social problems among Aboriginal communities.
Behind people from the United Kingdom, New Zealanders are the second biggest migrant group in Australia. During the latter half of the twentieth century growing numbers of Kiwis crossed the Tasman in search of happiness, love, financial success, adventure and new beginnings.
Kiwis in Australia are in many ways invisible migrants. Once in Australia, trans-Tasman networks sustained migrants emotionally but also caused feelings of homesickness. Creating networks with others in Australia was vital in helping migrants find companionship, practical support and a sense of belonging.
She said the pessimistic, economically-focused coverage of New Zealand migration to Australia is a one-sided representation. It fails to take into account New Zealanders’ complex motives for moving to Australia and their ongoing migration experiences.
Kiwis who move to Australia are neither traitors, nor faceless participants in a social trend. Rather they are individuals with their own complex mix of hopes, dreams, problems and relationships.’’
Moving to Australia usually left most Kiwis bereft of close and supportive relationships. Australian contacts played a vital role in easing new migrants into their new life.
Do you have a kapa haka addiction?
Do you eat, sleep and dream kapa haka? Then Maori Television wants to hear from you.
The exclusive broadcaster of the 2013 Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival is offering you the chance to win four reserve seated tickets (worth $500 each) as well as weekly spot prizes in the lead up to the event, which takes place February 20 - 24 in Rotorua.
All you have to do is send in a photo of your dedication to kapa haka, whether it be a photo of your one drawer dedicated to black performing undies, a photo of you and your haka idol, or a photo of your floor-to-roof kapa haka video library.
Be creative, be funny, and be yourself. If you’ve got a mete or whanau member who is of the ngati haka freak nature, make sure they enter or just send in a photo of them doing their thing. Please caption the photos, which will be uploaded to our Facebook page daily.
Prizes up for grabs include two double allocated seating ‘club 500’ passes to Te Matatini 2013. Spot prizes will be announced on Facebook every Friday leading up to the event.
So get snapping now and send your photos to tohu@maoritelevision.com.
Scholarships to help Māori development
Applications are now open for the 50 scholarships worth $10,000 each, which form part of an expanding programme created by Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust, an independent charitable trust set up as part of the Māori fisheries settlement.
Three individual scholarship programmes have been created to target specific areas of Māori economic development, including a new farming and agriculture scholarship being launched this year. Worth a total of $100,000 annually for Māori who are enrolled in farming and agriculture degree-level study, the Whānui Scholarships are the result of an exciting new 50:50 funding partnership between Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust and the Federation of Māori Authorities. Ten Whānui Scholarships worth $10,000 will be offered annually.
The Federation of Māori Authorities is a national body representing Māori trusts and incorporations, the majority of whom are involved in agriculture with dairy, beef or sheep farming operations. The partnership with Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust on this scholarship acknowledges the growing focus on building Māori capability in the farming sector.
In 2011, the Trust – in partnership with the Māori Education Trust – established the annual Tāwera Scholarship of $10,000 each for up to 30 Māori enrolled in business, commerce or management degrees. In 2012 Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust added the Rona Scholarship – 10 scholarships of $10,000 for students working toward a degree in fisheries, aquaculture or marine sciences.
The Tāwera, Rona and Whānui scholarships are symbolically named after stars which early Māori used to guide their voyages and signal important times of the year. The star Whānui (Vega) is associated in Māori tradition with harvesting.
Trust chair Richard Jefferies said the Trust was working closely with Māori business and industry leaders nationally to determine the priorities for strategic education and training initiatives. “There is potential to build the programme in future years with scholarships supporting other key industries,” Mr Jefferies said.
“This is a crucial time for Māori. As iwi settle their Treaty claims and develop economic capability, there is a pressing need for education and training support in general business as well as specific industries.
“Our scholarships are a key element of our strategic focus to lift the number of Māori with management, commerce and industry science skills who will be able to take up middle and senior management roles across a broad range of industries.”
Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust was established in 2004 under the Māori Fisheries Act with a fund of $20m to support education, training and workforce development. Its activities include helping struggling primary school children in a pilot literacy and numeracy programme and investigating new schooling models to lift Māori success in education.
As part of the Trust’s scholarship programme, recipients attend the Trust’s two-day annual conferenceNgā Whetū Hei Whai: Charting Pathways for Māori Industry Futures. Mr Jefferies said the national conference provides a valuable opportunity for New Zealand’s future economic leaders to meet the movers and shakers of today’s business world, to learn first-hand from their experiences and insights, and to begin building professional networks.
“Our scholarship recipients are preparing to move into the workforce to gain critical industry experience. They are potential Māori business leaders who, on graduation, will be well-positioned to contribute to economic growth, and many of them have long-term aspirations to use their skills and knowledge to benefit their iwi and the Māori economy generally.”
For more information about scholarship applications, go to Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust’s websitewww.tpwt.maori.nz
New food show to screen on Maori TV
Are you stuck in a rut when it comes to the kitchen? Perhaps you’d like to expand your culinary horizons…
Maori Television’s latest cooking show, JOE’S WORLD ON A PLATE, is set to inject new life into meals at your place starting this Sunday, January 13 at 7.00pm.
Tune in to see executive chef Joe McLeod (Ngai Tuhoe), who worked in top restaurants all over the world before returning to New Zealand, as he prepares his best international recipes using local ingredients.
Each week, a new entree, main and dessert will be on the menu. And for those who are up to the challenge, JOE’S WORLD ON A PLATE will show viewers how to prepare and present dishes such as goose from Alaska, snake from Papua New Guinea and pickled pork from Germany.
JOE’S WORLD ON A PLATE is produced by Reuben Collier and Jo Santamaria of Rotorua’s Maui Productions - which also produces the successful food show, Kai Time on the Road for Maori Television.
Like Kai Time on the Road, JOE’S WORLD ON A PLATE is a 50 per cent Maori language series that is accessible for everyone.
Tune in to Maori Television on Sundays at 7.00pm to watch Joe show you his world on a plate.