MANA LETTERS

Mana (Auckland), Volume 2, Issue 2, 20 April 1978, Page 2

MANA LETTERS

Friends, I am concerned about the report on the Law Conference in your issue 1 -20th April. The Law Conference has been and gone with absolutely no benefits to those of us who are affected by the laws that lawyers and magistrates administer. Are we as Maoris to believe that in. this day and age, that the only positive contribution to a conference of this magnitude, is to be asked to play hostesses, provide a hangi and involve ourselves in entertainment? It seems that the message presented by our professionals, Te Ika a Maui group from Wellington, was lost because of poor attendance by the lawyers and magistrates. I question the use of the Maori symbol that was used throughout the conference. If in fact it symbolises chieftainship, then why were we as Maoris denied the right to make positive changes in the laws that affect us? Personal racism, institutional racism and Maori land issues continue to exist in Aotearoa. Were it not for Dr Sutherland’s positive contribution, then nothing would have been heard about the tokenism that we are subjected to by the law. If our Maoris were rudely treated by the conference, then we have only ourselves to blame. It is time we learnt to stop performing for Pakehas. Heoi ano, Ms Titewhai Harawira Avondale

Special thanks to P.LP.E.F.F. The Cook Islands Students’ Association has expressed special thanks to Rev. Sio, the Chairman of the Pacific Islands Polynesian Educational Foundation Fund and to his committee for the special fellowship they have shown in helping Polynesian students attending university. The fellowship, a subsidy grant from the government in New Zealand, and the dollar-to-dollar contribution from the Polynesian people in New Zealand has enabled to help solve a great part of financial difficulty facing most Polynesian students. The scheme has been existing for about four to five years now. However, the appeal for continual contribution from one or two of the island group in Auckland is of slow progress. We wish and hope that such charity deal to our Polynesian students should continue to exist with vast recognition from our island communities. We wish the chairman and his committee the best of luck — God Bless You All. Cook Islands Students association, Auckland University.

Friends,

We take this opportunity to convey our apologies for any confusion concerning Mana socials. As with any new venture on a multi cultural basis there are bound to be errors of a human nature. We ask you to accept our humble apologies for any inconvenience. The next Mana fundraising social will definitely be held on Friday May 19 at the Ponsonby Intermediate School Hall. We hope you can make it along. Koe Etita. Friends, Pacific Viewpoint is a programme for the Maori and for all the peoples of the South Pacific living in New Zealand. In many ways it is an access programme — people and groups can approach South Pacific Television with ideas and items they’d like to see on the programme, in their own languages. We need your help to know if the items you want Pacific Viewpoint to cover are cultural, are concerned with consumer affairs, land or housing, politics, interpreting Polynesian mores to others in our society, education, language, leadership, customs, news background material... if we can do it within the programme’s resources, we will tackle your concerns. John Rangihau, Research Fellow at the Centre for Maori Studies and Research, Waikato University, is the presenter and studio interviewer for Pacific Viewpoint. Liaison with Pacific Viewpoint is through Jillian Ewart, Producer, South Pacific Television, P.O. Box 9544 Hamilton (telephone: 82-799) or Researcher John Mitchell at the same address. In Auckland, Liz Cooke is full time researcher and co-ordinator for Pacific Viewpoint and she can be reached at South Pacific Television, P.O. Box 3819 Auckland (5 Hargreaves Street, College Hill, Freemans Bay), phone 360-954. Home phone number: 762-672. Each of us would be happy to discuss your ideas for Pacific Viewpoint. Recording of the programme will normally take place in Hamilton and a courier service will transport Auckland guests on the programme to and from Hamilton. Film items can be done in Auckland when the situation warrants and in other parts of New Zealand. Pacific Viewpoint is a fifteen minute programme to be screened each Sunday at 1.45 p.m. from April 16. Liz Cooke, Sth Pacific Television Auckland