17 November 2014 Coming up on Te Karere... The Crown appeals the court's decision The Crown appeals the court's decision for the Maori king's youngest son Korotangi Paki. The future of Ngati Awa's customary harvesting of kuia bird is threatened by warmer waters. Thousands turn out to the opening of the Maori battalion's C Company museum. Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. The judge has reserved his decision on whether to overturn a ruling that saw the son of the Maori king escape conviction on drink-driving and theft charges. Korotangi Paki was discharged without conviction earlier this year after his lawyer argued a conviction would ruin his chance of following his father to the throne. Peata Melbourne reports. Crown lawyers said today in court Judge Cunningham simply got it wrong. A ruling back in July by Judge Phillippa Cunningham said one of the reasons for discarding Paki without conviction is that it would be a barrier to succession. Paki's lawyers continued on that ground in court today. Paki admitted earlier this year to driving over the alcohol limit and stealing surfboards in Gisborne. Since then he has undergone a programme run within his own iwi that assists in restorative justice. The Crown today, however, is seeking a conviction against his name. The decision for a successor is essentially left with Tainui rangatira, but it does stand that any potential successors to the role of Maori king must have an unblemished record. The judge's decision will be released in the next few days. Peata Melbourne, Te Karere. More than 200 students took to exam rooms across the nation today for the top Maori exam of the year - Level 3 Te Reo Rangatira. Two of those taking the exam were Year 13 students from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Puau-Te-Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa. Pere Wihongi spoke with the pair after the exam. They entered nervous. But left relieved. My legs were shaking at the start. The hardest part was the audio section, but we're finally finished. There are only two Year 13 students from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Puau Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, from the east of Auckland. The pair drove all the way to Hoani Waititi Marae on the west to sit the Level 3 Te Reo Rangatira exam. It was such a long drive. I was reading the Bible to settle my mind so it will be a good exam. We arrived at 8.10am, and it started at 8am, so we arrived late, but luckily were still allowed in. This is the highest exam for reo Maori students. 259 students sat the exam this morning; 259 students sat the exam this morning; 66 will return again tomorrow morning for the Te Reo Rangatira Scholarship Exam. I know the stress exams cause, but we need to work hard to achieve those credits. But for these two it's the last exam of their school life, a life they've spent entirely at their school since their first year. Thank you to all our Puau family. If it weren't for you all I wouldn't have been able to complete my work and achieve my dreams. The fruits and results of Te Aho Matua and Kura Kaupapa, though small, are still growing strong. Pere Wihongi, Te Karere. It's a customary practice that's under threat. Ngati Awa descendants went about harvesting kuia bird on Whale Island this weekend, but environmental changes are impacting on bird numbers. Kereama Wright reports. We're unable to provide subtitles. More criticism of the Anti-Smacking Bill has emerged. Family First NZ say the bill is netting good parents, but an organisation that promotes non-violent parental methods disagrees. Manawa Wright has more. A parent's right or the law of the land? Family First NZ has submitted a legal opinion that challenges the application of the anti-smacking law. It's a protective law to the majority. To others the law is incorrect. The anti-smacking law was passed in 2007. We supported it because of the appalling statistics of abuse on Maori children by their parents, what else is a better sign for us to pass the anti-smacking law, what else is a better sign for us to pass the anti-smacking law? This law is right, In 2009 this is what the PM said. Indeed, this section of the act has been picked and prodded by this legal opinion, but Mana Ririki say that the whole approach is wrong. NZ should put more focus on upskilling NZ's health services and the parents of NZ to improve the quality of parenting in NZ. And therein lies the question whether or not the PM will address the legal opinion put forward by Family First NZ. Manawa Wright, Te Karere. After the break, Maori give a special welcome for Hawaiian waka. And language experts call for university students to focus more on Maori language. Hundreds of people went to Waitangi last weekend to welcome two waka that have sailed here from across the Pacific. Ancient navigational knowledge lead those Hawaiian waka here. More than 100 paddlers sailed Ngatokimatawhaorua. The start of a special powhiri. This is Hokule'a's second time here. It first arrived here in 1985 and was welcomed by Sir James Henare. However, it's for environmental reasons that our whanaunga are here. There Maori navigation experts lead these waka from Samoa. Hikianalia is new to these shores. But she's only the second of Hawaii's eight waka to venture this far to Aotearoa. More than 600 came to Waitangi to see these types of waka, a first for many. After the Bay of Islands they'll travel around the coast of Aotearoa this week. Oriini Tipene-Leach, Te Karere. As the tertiary calendar for the year draws to a close, Auckland University's Nga Tauira Maori have taken it upon themselves to hold a wananga reo, calling upon the services of some of the top speakers in the country. And one of the tutors is calling for an increased focus on the language as we head in to a new year. The language used needs to be exemplary, flowing and clear. We need to challenge ourselves and allow our language into our homes. That's the call from Anaru Martin, language warrior who has been pushing for a long time for Maori to be the main language spoken in all Maori homes across the country. We go in to the classroom and speak Maori in there, explore the language in depth, but when we're at home English is being used. That was some of what was shared at the annual Wananga Reo o Waipapa held at the weekend. There was plenty of good Maori language to be exposed to. We're just amazed at the eagerness of the students to learn and improve their language abilities. Hopefully a yearning has been planted within the hearts of the students that will grow in them over the years into the future. Listening and speaking both aid in learning. We work together in blocks. You have what you need to do, I have what I need to do, and together we can hopefully achieve what we set out for. And the sentiment all around is that we should all chase the language unreservedly to the ultimate depths of the pool of speechmaking. It's a long journey, it's not something that can be done away with and mastered in a short period of time. Maybe that'll serve as something to be handed down. Raniera Harrison, Te Karere. All children in our schools will get the opportunity to learn Maori history. That's one of the aims of Tangata Whenua, the world's first illustrated history of Maori. An encyclopaedia for all Maori iwi. It's a great database for all iwi - it may inspire them to write their own histories. Where did Maori come from? Maybe this book has the answers. It's not the be all and end all, but here's hoping it will make people research their own history. It's an illustrated history - a first of its kind in the world about Maori. Pita Sharples came up with the idea for the book while he was Associate Education Minister. He was concerned at the lack of Maori history taught in mainstream schools. I'm glad it's finally completed so it can be distributed to schools and teachers. The book has been six years in the making - Harris wasn't the only author who worked on the book. Atholl Anderson of Ngai Tahu and the late Judith Binney who died 2011 also worked on the book. The book retails at $99. Anzac Pikia, Te Karere. After the break, thousands turn out to the opening of the Maori Battalion's Company C Museum. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. The opening of the new c company memorial house in Gisborne has been described as historic and emotional by those who attended. Thousands turned out to honour the occasion, including one man who came home from service in Afghanistan. The public had the honour of being there on their day. For the crowds that gathered to witness the opening, they were excited to see their forebears. This soldier took leave from his UN role in Afghanistan to be here. While it's the deeds of Maori soldiers past that are being honoured, he reminds that it is still dangerous for modern soldiers to head off to conflict zones. These 60 young men were the real stars of the day wearing in period uniforms. All of them are descendants of soldiers of the 28th Maori Battalion. It was a time of reflection for when their forefathers left for war. There are now hopes to establish similar museums for the other companies of the 28th Maori Battalion in other parts of the country because of how well this project has proceeded along. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 12pm to 3pm. It is a koha entry. Irena Smith, Te Karere. That's all we have for today. Turou Hawaiki. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Mangai Paho. Copyright TVNZ 2014.