Coming up on Te Karere... A central figure in one of Waikato's most baffling cold-cases has admitted killing a Kerepehi woman. Mark Pakenham has admitted to a reduced charge of manslaughter of Sara Niethe. The man convicted killing Wellington journalist Phillip Cottrell was sentenced today. And a special waharoa was unveiled at Clendon School in Manurewa today. Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. A 50 year old beneficiary Mark Pakenham pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Sara Niethe mother of three who went missing ten years ago after leaving his Kerepehi home. Despite intensive police searches in the area her car and body have never been found. For close to 10 years, no plea, but today... He was to stand trial in June for murder but not anymore. Instead he has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. It is now believed he gave Niethe P and she died. Parkenham who is of Te Arawa and Ngapuhi descent was the last man to see her alive. He told the police they drank almost half a bottle of bourbon, had two cannabis cigarettes and Pakenham was also coming down from methamphetamine. Niethe's family reported her disappearance to police three days later, after she did not return home. To this day he is still reluctant to tell police where her body is. Tini Molyneux, Te Karere. And in the Wellington High Court today the man convicted of killing Wellington journalist Phillip Cottrell was sentenced to a 13 year jail term with eight and a half year minimum non-parole period. Nicho Allan Waipuka, 20, was acquitted of murder in December, but found guilty of manslaughter. In a formal admission during his trial, Waipuka agreed the deadly assault was "wholly unprovoked". He admitted punching Cottrell once in the jaw and taking his wallet, containing $80. Cottrell was attacked on Wellington's Boulcott St, as he walked home from a night shift at Radio New Zealand in the early hours of December 10, 2011. He died of head injuries in Wellington Hospital the next day. The meeting between the Iron Man organisers and the Tuwharetoa Trust Board to discuss the iwi's plans to charge competitors to enter the event have been rescheduled for next week. It's understood the iwi wants $56,000 or $40 per person for use of Lake Taupo next month. Both organisations declined to comment saying negotiations are still taking place. A 2007 deed of settlement between the iwi and the Crown saw Ngati Tuwharetoa handed ownership of the Taupo waters - which includes the lakebed and the airspace above Lake Taupo and Te Karere understands the Iron Man organisers have been made aware for some time that a fee structure would be implemented. A collective of Waikato Maori Trusts says its campaign for the Crown to acknowledge Maori water rights could ultimately be defeated by its own small budget. Claimants are waiting for a Supreme Court decision, after losing a high court bid to halt the government's intention to sell shares in some hydro power stations until Maori interest in freshwater is addressed. Waikato River and Dams Claims Trust and Pouakani Claims Trust are among the groups taking legal action, headed by Tamati Cairns. Mr Cairns says they've spent about $300,000 on the Supreme Court action and might run out of funds. He says that's the history of Maori claims across a range of kaupapa. Mr Cairns says the process of righting wrongs is a costly one. Ratepayers may immediately face a big bill to install the east stand sound barrier. Councillors voted 12-7 to accept an offer from Sports Minister Murray McCully for the government's interests in Eden Park, the Cloud and Queen's Wharf, subject to working on minimising the risks before a final decision next month. Auckland Mayor Len Brown said the offer in relation to Eden Park was a risk-free gift to Auckland. Other councillors saw it as the beginning of a ratepayer bailout for the financially troubled stadium. The Council was united on the offer of the government's half share in Queen's Wharf and the Cloud, After the break, a special waharoa was unveiled at Clendon School in Manurewa today. Students at South Auckland's Clendon Primary School has unveiled a waharoa at their school, something they helped to carve. The students are part of the schools bilingual unit, Te Whanau Awhina. The project has given them more pride and knowledge of the Maori art form. A gift made by the children for the community. The entrance way has been named The Children. Students from the schools bilingual unit spent many hours working on it alongside their carving tutor. It's a Decile One school, and teachers say kids come to school sometimes with no lunch and no shoes. This is a project that gives the kids pride while learning local history. It's something that uplifts the school and the wider community of Manurewa and South Auckland. The school is also taking pride in the fact that they got a good review from the education review office recently, stating they were one of the top Decile One schools in the country. The bilingual unit is about families working together. Teachers and students have a good relationship also and hopefully that reaches out to the whole community. A grand occasion to start the school year off with, putting them in good stead for the rest of the year and years beyond. Irena Smith, Te Karere. Just a week left before the defenders of the Te Matatini title, Te Matarae I Orehu take the stage, back to where it all started for them, and Te Hau Mitai-Ngatai is excited for the chance to stand there with his dad, Wetini. As he closes in on his third nationals with Te Matarae I Orehu, Te Hau Mitai-Ngatai is overwhelmed with excitement at the challenge ahead. Te Hau and his father, Wetini Mitai-Ngatai have spent the last year running a business in Dubai. This competition in particular will be a special one for Te Hau, as he will be performing with his father on the stage Honours aside, there's still a huge task ahead, in defending a national title, 42 other teams from across the country have their sights set on. Win or lose, he has only one thing at the front of his mind. A desire that will no doubt be manifested at the end of next week. Kereama Wright, Te Karere. The gay community is looking forward to the return of the Auckland Gay Pride tomorrow. Once known as the hero parade, it was started to instil pride in gays and lesbians and to bring down the views public had of them. But it's not just for gay people, as our reporter Anzac Pikia found out. By day, he's a man. And by night, a Queen. He's one who's looking forward to the return. He's entering a float, one of the 40 or so which will be in the parade. It's about instilling pride in young gays. But it's not just about the Gay community. The Hero Parade started in the 90's. In 1998, the Auckland City Promotions Committee voted against funding the Parade. The 2000, Parade was cancelled for a lack of organised financial backing. In the year to follow, it saw the Hero Trust Board make a significant loss. The organisation responsible for the Hero Parade (the Hero Trust Board) The Auckland Gay Pride Parade begins tomorrow at 4pm, Anzac Pikia, Te Karere. Now let's take a look at the Maori Programmes TVNZ has to offer over the weekend. Sunday, 10.30am. Waka Huia profiles Hekenukumai Ngaiwi Puhipi, expert waka builder, astronavigator expert waka builder, astronavigator and leader of his people. After the break, we have sports with Tumamao Harawira, and the weather. And now, I have Tumamao Harawira with me to talk sports. Tumamao, tena koe. We're unable to provide subtitles. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. That's all we have for today. Turou Hawaiki. Captions were made possible with funding from NZ on Air. Copyright TVNZ Access Services 2013.