18 March 2015 Coming up on Te Karere... Hohepa Wallace is put behind bars for attack on elderly couple. And the largest Polynesian festival marks its 40th anniversary today. Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. Hohepa Wallace has been sentenced five years and nine months by a judge for attacking an elderly couple last year. He's only 18-years-old, He's only 18-years-old, so is he entirely at fault or does the blame lay with the family? Heta Gardiner has more. The strain of knowing you are going to spend the rest of your teen years in jail. That's the sentence handed down to 18-year-old Hohepa Wallace for viciously attacking an elderly couple in Waikanae. But the question is, how can a youth his age, do something so sinister? His family called out in court... His own mother didn't come to support him and was absent at his earlier appearances before the judge over the last few months. The judge also stated his family have provided little support. Wallace has gone from home to home since he was a child. To make matters worse, since his early teens he has had a drug and alcohol addiction. His grandmother says his friends are to blame. Whether the blame for this crime lies at the feet of family, friends or anyone else, he has to face the serious consequences. Heta Gardiner, Te Karere. The Feed The Kids bill goes before Parliament this afternoon; created by Hone Harawira, now sponsored by Metiria Turei who says the Government needs to start providing more food to kids in need. She went along to a school in Porirua today to help serve lunches but an invite to the PM to join her wasn't taken up. Food to build strong kids. The kids at Windley Primary School are fed breakfast and lunch through donations and volunteers from church groups and parents. Metiria Turei says the Government needs to do more to help those in need. Turei has taken on Hone Harawira's bill. But like when he was in Parliament, the bill does not have enough support. Metiria Turei's Feed the Kids bill is not the only one that will be heard in Parliament tonight Labour's David Shearer's similar bill is also up for a first reading. Despite the Government already investing in food in schools programmes, poverty is still a big issue. Although the two bills are not likely to gain support, schools like this will continue to feed the kids in the hope they grow to become good leaders. Irena Smith, Te Karere. This year is the 20th anniversary of the Waikato raupatu settlement. Tainui and invited guests gathered at Turangawaewae Marae today to celebrate the occasion and progression of the iwi since the Crown apology. Peata Melbourne was there. King Tuheitia preparing for the visitors who've come to celebrate the signing of Waikato's Raupatu Settlement 20 years ago. 300 of them travelled by train to Wellington to witness the signing in Parliament. Parliament that day heard about the invasion of the Waikato in 1863. With the stroke of a pen, their land was taken by the Crown. 130 years later Tainui were given an official apology, and compensated. Even though they lived on the land they did not have legal rights to the land. Since then Tainui has thrived and expanded... Some of the goals set out until 2050 include... For future generations to be strong in both Kingitanga and financial affairs. But to finish off the day at Turangawaewae today, they'll be sharing stories on the invasion so that history can be passed on to the next generation the tales of their ancestors. Peata Melbourne, Te Karere. After the break, the largest Polynesian festival celebrates its 40th anniversary. And those who graduated with the new Whanau Ora diploma. Today the multitudes arrived for day one of the largest Polynesian festival held in Auckland. A short time ago, I spoke to our reporter on the ground Raniera Harrison. The sun has risen to greet Polyfest 2015. This is a big thing for the local iwi. Eru was at the forefront of this movement in the past. This was his treasure. Tributes flowed this morning at the raising of the flag of his King. Calling on the spirit of elder, Eru Thompson, a stalwart of the ASB Polyfest for the past 40 years. A great loss to those left behind. He would remind us how to run the event in a fashion that would not compromise Maori customs, or a Maori feel. An amazing entrance this morning in Manukau, Auckland. 64 schools in total are taking part in the Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi Maori Stage, all vying to win the first qualifying regionals of the year to cement a place at the Secondary Schools National Kapa Haka competition to be held in Hastings next year. Those were his words - he wanted every single school in Auckland to gather at this event. But for now his dreams have been realised, the old net has been cast asunder, and the new nets set for work. He would say that these here are the leaders, and not just for tomorrow. But right now, in the present. Those that are standing on stage. But there's the old adage that when an old leader falls, another rises. In time we will be able to honour his deeds and the hard work he did while he was here. Through what avenue? Through the food of chiefs. Pandemonium breaks loose. This competitive kapa haka festival hosts the most kapa haka team entries in the world. Behind me is St Peters College, the first of 64 schools who will be taking the stage throughout this week. Our 3rd stand for this competition, and we're happy we get to open up for the other teams who will be standing. The 64 teams have been split up in to three pools. Today seeing the newly introduced teams to kapa haka and the competition itself. To show Auckland, there are Maori faces in St Peters College and to support the 40th celebration of the festival. 40 years this festival has stood 40 years this festival has stood as a meeting ground for secondary schools across Auckland. In the beginning, there were only 4 teams who performed at the very first Polyfest. But as years went by you saw teams such as Queen Vic and St Stevens. And Nga Tapuwae. And you can still feel the spiritual power produced by the teams, no matter which division. To my understanding it's a place for students to showcase their culture, their genealogy, their traditions by their older folk. No matter if you're Maori, or from the islands, the main purpose of this festival is to provide a place to share those gifts to the community and to the world. Groups will perform for the remainder of the week, finsihing up on Saturday with highly regarded schools of the regions. Pere Wihongi, Te Karere. Whanau Ora might be in the early phase of its development, but there's already a Whanau Ora diploma on offer. Today, a group received diplomas in this specialised field. And as Manawa Wright reports, it gives Whanau Ora agencies confidence that graduates have the skills to do the job. A day of recognition for those that have dedicated themselves to delivering Whanau Ora. Whanau Ora is still in its infancy, but a diploma developed by Te Whanau o Waipareira has been engineered to cater solely to the wide ranging skills required Whilst also developing their skills in delivering Whanau Ora to families, this diploma is accredited level 5 by NZQA. Amazingly it was an education insisted on, developed and delivered in the most part by Waipareira. We all want to be as successful as possible for our tamariki. That's why we do it - for our tamariki. Waipareira has over 10,000 Whanau Ora cases per annum, they know the importance of a high calibre workforce to deliver Whanau Ora, also the kind of assurance the government demands. This is exactly the type of outcome Dame Turia envisioned for families. Manawa Wright, Te Karere. Let's take another look at today's top stories. Five years, eight months behind bars the sentence handed down to Hohepa Wallace today for the assault of an elderly couple in their home in December 2014. The Feed the Kids Bill will appear before parliament for its first reading this afternoon. The biggest Polynesian festival in the world celebrates 40 years. After the break, young Maori talent are pushing to the limit young Maori talent pushing to the limit to make the NZ Sevens team. And then we have the weather. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. The NZ Sevens are in camp mode in Mt Maunganui preparing to travel to Hong Kong and Tokyo next week. The team's Maori players, Beaudean Waaka and Dylan Collier, are working hard to make the side. A newbie who's had a taste of the top. They were both chosen at the national tournament in Rotorua at the beginning of the year. Their professional careers were sealed when they played in Wellington and Las Vegas last month. Now there are 20 young players are all chasing 12 positions in the squad heading for Hong Kong next week. And these two have high hopes. The side were crushed in Vegas which left them with many injuries. Gillies Kaka's hand injuries are coming right, while another is off injured. The coach is also not 100%. As for these lightning feet, they need to put themselves out there before the side is chosen on Friday. Kereama Wright, Te Karere. That's all we have for today. Kia ora tatou katoa. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Mangai Paho. Copyright TVNZ 2015.