The announcement follows three selection hui held within the electorate this week to determine if it would be Leon Hawea or Te Hamua Nikora.

There was intense interest in who Mana members would select and in the end it was Te Hamua who was picked reflecting a fresh approach to representation in Parliament.

Te Hamua’s strength lays in his work at the coal face. He understands the community and the challenges they face. With that said his own challenge will be proving to the electorate that the “funny fella” has the skills to represent his people at a national level.

From our analysis Te Hamua ticks all the right boxes, he’s affable, approachable, smart and brings something new to the table, something that just might invigorate an electorate which sees its highest enrolments taking out the 18-24 year old age bracket.

If Te Hamua can capture these voters, the seat will be his.

(WaateaNews) Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated has bought one of the North Island’s biggest sheep and cattle stations.The 3680ha Tautane has been owned by the Herrick family for 111 years.

It includes 12 kilometres of coast including Cape Turnagain.

Tautane is the place where Henare Matua established the Repudiation Movement, an attempt to overturn all Maori land sales in the 1860s.

Asset holding company chair Rangi Manual says the land will be leased to Taratahi Agricultural Training for New Zealand, which will create opportunities for people from the iwi to be trained as farm managers and agri-scientists.

The coastal area could be used for aquaculture, sea ranching and reseeding of kaimoana stocks, and the iwi also sees the farm as part of its “gate to plate” plan to sell quality food into high end Asian markets.

“Tautane Station is one of the North Island’s most prestigious and iconic farm stations covering 3,680 ha of prime coastal farm land. Located on the east coast of the North Island which incorporates the majestic and historic Cape Turnagain, the property is blessed with topography of varied contours and around 12 kilometres of scenic absolute waterfront. Tautane Station spreads over rolling hills, sandy coastline and majestic hill country that ends at the Pacific Ocean, providing a wide variety of desirable natural and environmental features. While Tautane Station’s uniqueness is derived from its outstanding features, location and history, it is further enhanced by the quality and scale of the property and its breeding stock is highly recognized with store stock widely sought after in the market place.”

Local hapu Ngati Kere has adjacent farm blocks.

Producers are looking for stand-out family pairs – grandchild and grandparent, aunties and nephews, kids and mum or dad – who can speak a little te reo Maori and are available to film in Auckland. Contestants must be at least 15 years old with a 15-year age gap between the two teammates.

The 13-part series will be fun, fast-paced and entertaining, with Matai Smith (winner Best Presenter – Entertainment/Factual at the 2012 NZ Television Awards) at its helm.

In every episode, two teams of family pairs – plus a celebrity team leader – will go head to head in a battle that tests their musical, mental and physical skills over three rounds, in the hope of winning a jackpot of fantastic prizes.

Harking back to an era of light-entertainment, but with a modern twist, WHANAU FACTOR mixes key elements from successful overseas shows with old-fashioned Maori humour and a healthy dash of family rivalry.

This is the perfect opportunity for you and your whanau to shine on Maori Television,” says Matai Smith. “Don’t just read this and ignore it – register now to win prizes galore.”

Episodes will be filmed in front of live studio audiences at Maori Television’s Newmarket studio throughout June and July.

If you have a whanau member to team up with and would like a chance to win some great prizes, or would like to register to attend the live shows, email whanau@scottieproductions.co.nz.

WHANAU FACTOR starts Friday September 6 at 8.00pm on Maori Television.

Of Pakeha heritage, Dr Nunns has been researching and performing with taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments) for more than 40 years.

Richard’s journey with these instruments and his reflections on what he has learnt is being filmed as he travels through some of Aotearoa’s most resonant landscapes,” says Dr Wolffram.

“Richard has been widely recognised as a ‘living treasure’. His careful and sensitive research continues to be an important contribution to the revival and preservation of these instruments and traditions, unique to this country.”

The film also documents Dr Nunns’ on-going struggle with Parkinson’s disease, which threatens his ability to continue performing and presenting these instruments to international audiences.

“Richard is remarkable for his energy and tenacious determination to continue to perform,” says Dr Wolffram.

“When he lifts an instrument, his concentration, ability and musicality continue to astound audiences. Despite his challenges, Richard is in good health and remains passionate about sharing his knowledge and insights into the deep relationship between taonga puoro and the landscapes of Aotearoa.”

Filming on ‘Nga Reo O Te Whenua – Voices of the Land’ continues into September this year, supported by funding from Victoria University. Dr Nunns was awarded an honorary doctorate of music from Victoria in 2008.

Contributions towards the film’s production can be made via a pledge me page: https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/978.

During New Zealand Music Month a concert is being organised at Te Papa Tongarewa in honour of Richard’s contribution to music in Aotearoa.

In 2012 Dr Wolffram received the Jean Rouch prize from the Society for Visual Anthropology in San Francisco for Stori Tumbuna: Ancestors’ Tales, his feature-length documentary about the Lak people of Papua New Guinea.

The selection wananga saw three high calibre candidates present to the Maori Party members gathered at Ruahapia; Te Rangihau Gilbert; Na Raihania and Mark Kopua.

“It has been an amazing day of korero; fuelled by the optimism and the energy of these three wonderful men” said Pem Bird, Maori Party President. “All three spoke about the paramount importance of kotahitanga – the spirit of unity – that had driven them to stand for the Maori Party”.

Mr Raihania has extensive experience in tribal leadership, advocating for workers’ rights, Maori health, corrections, education and Treaty negotiations.

“My greatest apprenticeship for this role has, however, been learning from the inspiration and influence of my father, Nolan. Dad served in the Maori Battalion C Company in 1944, and returned home, determined to honour the service of his friends and whanau, by devoting his life to the community. I have learnt from him, that the people come first and foremost”.

The hui was buoyed by some exciting results from recent polling, revealing that at the start of this campaign, it is a two way race between the Maori Party and the Labour Party .

“A particular strength for us, is the fact that Na had such a brilliant practise run in the 2011 campaign, and we intend to build on that experience and the excitement of today’s turnout, to bring home a Maori Party member of parliament for Ikaroa Rawhiti” said Hon Tariana Turia, co-leader of the Maori Party.

“Na brings with him the richness of a whakapapa that extends from Ngati Horowai, Ngati Rangi, Ngati Ira, Te Whanau a Ruataupare, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Ngai Tamanuhiri, Rakaipaaka, Rongomaiwahine and Ngati Kahungunu” said Hon Dr Pita Sharples. “He is a man of and from the people and the land of this electorate”.

“The Maori Party want to acknowledge both Te Rangihau and Mark for participating in the nomination process. Both of these men display leadership qualities, integrity and absolute commitment to advancing Maori aspirations. We were so impressed with all three candidates that it was indeed a nail biter today.”

ENDS

Note: Na Raihania will be at Wairoa Freezing Works at 9.30am Sunday 19 May with Dr. Pita Sharples.
Media Contact 021-627-921

Profile Notes
Na is currently a trustee for Ngai Tamanuhiri Iwi, Chair of the iwi board for Tairawhiti District Health Board and Midlands Health Board. Na is also a trustee for Te Runanga o Turanganui a Kiwa and the Kahungunu/Turanganui representative for Te Kawai Taumata.

(NZ Herald) A group of waka sailors are due to arrive in Doubtless Bay in Northland today after completing a ten month historic voyage across the Pacific Ocean in two traditional double hulled waka.

Hundreds of people are expected to greet them.

The group successfully sailed from Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour last August to Rapanui (Easter Island), and are now returning, using only the stars, moon, sun, ocean currents, birds and marine life to guide their way on the 10,000 nautical mile adventure.

Waka Tapu organiser and New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute (NZMACI) director, Karl Johnstone says this weekend’s arrival completes a monumental milestone in New Zealand’s modern day navigation history.

“The crew has closed the final corner of the Polynesian Triangle defined by Hawaii in the North, New Zealand in the South and Rapanui in the East,” he said.

“This project also recognises a life’s work by our esteemed tohunga tÄrai waka (waka building expert), Hekenukumai Busby. Without Hekenukumai and the support given to him from some of our elder statesmen who have now passed on, the likes of the late John Rangihau, Simon Snowden and James Henare, none of this would have been possible.”

The return trip from Rapanui saw the crew sail back via Tahiti, Moorea (for a stop over during cyclone season), Rarotonga and to its final destination, New Zealand.

Overall there have been 60 crew members sailing on various stages of the journey ranging in age from 18 to 67, descending from a number of iwi around New Zealand.

“It will be a very emotional welcoming, as families will reconnect again after almost a year of being apart,” said Johnstone.

“During this time our crew overcame the challenges of the open ocean voyage by weathering storms, cold weather, extreme swells and much more. They now have fresh stories to pass down the generations of this incredible journey.”

The trip has inspired many of the communities around the Pacific, with huge welcoming groups turning out at each of the islands to celebrate and share the vision of the trip, said Johnstone.

“The full significance of this voyage will continue to be realised in the years to come,” said Johnstone.

The public can track the last week of the journey by visiting the Waka Tapu website www.wakatapu.com.

As the President of MANA I am humbled that two such outstanding nominees have chosen to contest the MANA candidacy.  Te Hamua Nikora (Ngati Porou, Te Whakatohea, Ngai Tai, Ngati Konohi and Waikato) has enjoyed an illustrious career in Maori broadcasting and is most well-known as the iconic presenter for the Maori programmes Pukana, Kai Time on the Road and Homai Te Pakipaki.  Leon Hawea (Ngati Kahungunu, Te Whatuiapiti and Rongomaiwahine) has spent his lifetime as an advocate for his people in such roles as the Iwi Liaison Officer for the Hastings District Council and in his current employment as the District Manager for Te Kohanga Reo.

Selection hui have been organised in Gisborne (Saturday 18th May), Hastings (Sunday 19th May) and Wainuiomata (Monday 20th May) and the announcement of the successful candidate will be made on Thursday 23rd May.

ENDS
For further information please contact Malcolm Mulholland on 027 765 6380.