Flaxroot News

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 12, 25 December 1977, Page 4

Flaxroot News

On November 30th, the Te Ika A Maui Players opened with their first ever performance which was a production entitled “Death of the Land”. The one act play runs for 45 minutes and was written by Rowley Habib. Rowley says the play is a story of how a Maori family was alienated from its land. The cast was completely Maori and included such notables as Jim Moriarty, Don Selwyn, Rawiri Paratene, Kiri Kaa, Bruce Stewart, Pam Ormsby and several others. The Kimiora project was launched on the 29th of October and is the name

Te Atairangikahu has given to the raising of their last $150,000 needed to make Kimiora debt free. The committee is calling friends, supporters and organisations to organise fund raising efforts in their own districts. People wishing to organise such fund-raising activities should let the committee know the time, date and place. All donations should be sent to the Kimiora Project Fund Committee, P.O. Box 62, Huntly. The Chairman is Napi Waaka and he can be contacted at 11 Union Street Hamilton. Phone 59-684. The fund-raising project will end on the 31st of March 1978.

Matiu TeHau, well known Maori Educationist recently retired from his job at the University. “Uncle Matt” as he has been affectionately known by generations of Maori students at Auckland University has helped and guided generations of students. It is hoped that his knowledge is not lost altogether, and that he will be given some position at the University where he can continue to advise and assist Maori students. Matt is Maori Vice-President of the National Party, a former Chairman of the Auckland District Maori Council, a New Zealand Maori Councillor and a member of many other organisations. MANA wishes Matt and his wife Aroha a long and pleasant retirement. Tena koe Matt e kaumatua nei i RUNGA O NGA MAHI E HIAHIA NEI KOE.

The conditions that staff and visitors have been subjected to at the Auckland Office of the Department of Maori Affairs have been a major concern to both staff and the Public Service Association for some time. MANA understands that the new Secretary of Maori Affairs, Mr Kara Puketapu is also concerned about condi-

tions and will be looking at this during his visit to Auckland this week. It is hoped that some urgency is given to finding alternative office space so that both staff and visitors can meet in healthier and more congenial surroundings.

Visitors to Auckland this week were Kara Puketapu and new Assistant Secretary, John Rangihau. We believe that John is going to undertake the restructuring of the Community Officers role in the department leaving Kara free to look at the Court, Land and Housing side of the department’s activities. Maoris will be united in their belief that Urgent priority should be given to reassessing these parts of the department’s activities as well. It is long overdue. The Maori Language Department at the Polytechnic has asked the Education Department for permission to run extra courses in Maori Language. The Department has been running three intensive Maori Language courses, and to date 43 students have passed through the first phase of the language curriculum. Martin Winiata, who initiated the courses which began this year, says he hopes they will return next year for the intermediate and advanced stages. The ultimate aim, he says is to teach students to be as fluent as possible but to do this there had to be an ongoing run of courses from intermediate through to the “super advanced.” The Education Department is to start a Maori Studies Programme in Kindergarten. A 32 page resource booklet has been published which list games, guidlines and waiata for incorporating Maori into the syllabus. MANA hopes that the value of these courses will not be lost because Maori is still not being given its rightful place in our Primary schools. Mr John Tahuparae believes that teaching the martial arts can provide an answer to Maori truancy and other social problems among the young. John is the national organiser of the Whanake Rangataua. He has been running a martial arts school in Wellington since 1970 and has schools in both Wainuiomata and Porirua. Volunteers man other centres around the North Island. John is convinced of the need to set up a permanent venue in which to fashion a school-marae concept which would instil Maori

protocol and discipline in conjunction with martial arts. John considers a curriculum can be devised encompassing the broad spectrum of Maori Arts. The vital Marae atmosphere would be created by having Maori elders assisting and advising and by having community groups also using the complex. We understand negotiations are underway for a suitable school in Wellington.

Up until publication ACORD and NGA TAMATOA had still be refused their legitimate right to appear before the SOCIAL SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE to present their submissions on the Children and Young Persons Amendment Bill. ACORD was instrumental in arousing the issue to begin with and the submissions bring to light that of the six children remanded per week to the adult prisons in New Zealand, four of these children are Maori and Polynesians. Nga Tamatoa is also the only Maori organisation involved in presenting submissions. Needless to say that such a denial may ensure that such atrocities will continue. The Grey Lynn Neighbourhood Law Office will be open over Xmas-New Year period. Hours: Mon-Fri. 9 a.m. — 5 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m. — 12 noon. Mr Hone Green will be returning to Auckland University next year to complete his B.A. degree. Mrs Jane Green, teacher at Mangere College will be attending Auckland Secondary Teachers College next year. What a sad loss for Mangere College.