Flaxroots News

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 13, 26 January 1978, Page 5

Flaxroots News

Highway 61 Gang Members distributed Christmas Gifts in the Childrens ward of the Wellington Hospital. They were working on the hospital blocks alongside the Childrens Ward and decided to raise some money to give the kids a brighter Christmas — nice one!! Joe Hawke, spokesperson of Bastion Point was found guilty of an assault charge on the 29 November 1977. His lawyer Kevin Ryan is appealing against the conviction. Gold Prospecting plans on Mount Tapuaenuku in Marlborough have provoked widespread criticism in the province including the Marlborough Maori Community as the mountain is sacred to the Maori people of the province. Mr Tamahae Stirling became Wellington’s first Maori Baptist missioner and is one of only six Maori Bap-

tist missioners in the country. Maori Study Grants were made by Queen Elizabeth Arts Council toTara Werner, Duncan Kapa, Arnold Wilson and Eranora Hetet. Porirua Pa plans an early start on their new meeting house Toa Rangitira which will be built over the existing building. Mr Kohe Webster a master carver is to undertake the poupou work. The Department of Maori Affairs has had a rush of applications from students for the new community services division. Mr Kara Puketapu, the Secretary of Maori Affairs initiated the programme and this is one of his first reforms to be acted upon. Mrs Mary Hammond, a staff nurse at Porirua Hospital has recently returned from Toronto where she studied psychodrama, a

therapy where patients act out their problems under controlled conditions. The Mawhera Incorporation in Greymouth is attempting to have the shole of the river bed of the Arahura River, including the whole of the catchment area, which contains a mother lode of greenstone restored to the Poutini Ngai Tahu. Raglan, Mr V. Young, the Minister of Lands has committed himself to returning the golf course to the Tainui people, but how he can accomplish this without returning all the land taken for emergency purposes during the war, is yet to be seen. St Stephens School first fifteen made a brilliant tour of Wales, England and Amsterdam winning all their games with good sportsmanship and excellent form. A credit to their school, people and country. The University of Waikato will be offering for the first time a Master of Arts course in Maori Studies Fred Graham a prominent Maori artist is going to Seattle Washington, for a year, on an exchange scheme with an American teacher. They will be making a complete switch including houses and cars. Witi Ihimaera left February 22 for Canberra where he will take a diplomatic post for 3 years. On February 3-5 the N.Z. Womens Liberation Congress 1978 is meeting at the Church of the Nazarene Camp at Piha. Papers being presented cover a braod field of women in the Women’s movement in N.Z. in particular a paper on Maori women by Rebecca Evans and Donna Awatere. For further information contact Rebecca Evans 75-122, or Donna Awatere 763-149. A social evening was held at the Freemans Bay Community Centre earlier this month, organised by the Maori Writers and Artists, to farewell Fred Graham, and Witi Ihimaera. Fred, is travelling to Seattle on an exchange scheme with an American art teacher for a year. Witi is going to Canberra where he will take up a diplomatic position for 3 years. No reira e nga tohunga, nga whetu marama, haere atu me nga manaakitanga a te iwi Maori whanui.