EHARA TE TOKA I AKIHA, HE TOKA WHITIANGA RA. KA PATAUA KO TE TOKA I MAPUNA, KO TAU E KITE AI, KO TE RIPO KAU. E TE IWI E POWHIRITIA ANA KOUTOU KI TE HUI. KO MIHINGARANGI TENEI. E KARANGA ATU NEI, NAU MAI, TAHUTI MAI RA. WELCOME TO THE HUI, MAORI CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR ALL NZERS. ON TODAY'S AGENDA ` HE WAS A MUCH LOVED AND RESPECTED TEENAGER WHOSE LIFE WAS SNATCHED AWAY FROM HIM AFTER A DECISION TO HEAD TO A PARTY ENDED WITH HIM BEING FATALLY STABBED IN THE NECK. AS SOON AS I CAME IN, THEY JUST POINTED TO THE NECK, AND INSTANTLY, I WAS JUST LIKE, 'NO, THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.' I'VE` YEAH, I WAS JUST WAITING TO WAKE UP, AND EVER SINCE THEN, THAT DAY, I'VE JUST STILL BEEN WAITING TO WAKE UP. TODAY THE WHANAU OF LUKE TIPENE SPEAK ABOUT THE PAIN OF LOSING HIM AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THEY SAY HAS FAILED THEM. I DON'T CALL IT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM ANY MORE; IT'S THE LEGAL SYSTEM, COS THERE WAS NO JUSTICE SERVED WHATSOEVER FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND MY SON. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2016 KARAHUIHUI MAI. WELL, LATER IN THE PROGRAMME WE'LL DISCUSS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS WITH THE NGAPUHI MANDATE, ENGARI MATUA RA I TENEI ATA ` HE'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS A RISING LEAGUE STAR, BUT TO HIS WHANAU, LUKE TIPENE WAS SO MUCH MORE. HE WAS THEIR WORLD. IN 2014, LUKE WAS KILLED AFTER BEING STABBED IN THE NECK OUTSIDE A PARTY IN AUCKLAND'S GREY LYNN, AND ON FRIDAY, HIS KILLER, VINCENT SKEEN, CAME UP FOR PAROLE JUST FOUR WEEKS AFTER BEING SENTENCED FOR LUKE'S MANSLAUGHTER. NOW LUKE'S WHANAU TELL THEIR STORY, AND WE REVEAL NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE. HERE'S REWA HARRIMAN. PENSIVE MUSIC TERRY, CAN YOU BELIEVE FOUR WEEKS, JUST FOUR WEEKS, AFTER VINCENT SKEEN WAS SENTENCED FOR YOUR` FOR KILLING YOUR SON, YOU ARE NOW ON YOUR WAY TO HIS PAROLE HEARING? NO. IT'S, UM, UNBELIEVABLE, JUST LIKE EVERY PART OF THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN ` JUST ANOTHER` ANOTHER KICK IN THE GUT. IS THIS YOU FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AGAIN FOR YOUR SON TODAY? YUP, ABSOLUTELY. (EXHALES) I'LL` I'LL KEEP FIGHTING UNTIL, YOU KNOW` EVENTUALLY HE'S GONNA BE LET OUT, BUT I'LL MAKE SURE HE DOES AS MUCH OF HIS TIME AS` AS POSSIBLE. PENSIVE MUSIC CONTINUES SINCE THE DAY HE DIED, THE WHANAU OF LUKE TIPENE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE IN A NIGHTMARE FROM WHICH THEY WILL NEVER WAKE. IMAGINE THE PAIN OF LOSING A CHILD THEN HAVING TO WEATHER A CONFUSING LEGAL SYSTEM IN WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A HARROWING TWO-YEAR ORDEAL. I BELIEVED THAT THE LEGAL SYSTEM WAS THERE TO HELP ME AND MY FAMILY. MY WHOLE REVELATION OUT OF ALL THIS IS THAT IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT A` IT'S NOT` I DON'T CALL IT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM ANY MORE; IT'S THE LEGAL SYSTEM, COS THERE WAS NO JUSTICE SERVED WHATSOEVER FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND MY SON. LATER WE WILL REVEAL NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEENAGER THAT STABBED LUKE, BUT FIRST, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WHO LUKE TIPENE WAS. HE DESERVES THAT. HIS WHANAU DESERVES THAT. THIS WAS A TEENAGER WHO WAS DEEPLY AMBITIOUS, A FLUENT MAORI SPEAKER, A PERFORMER, A SPORTSMAN, A 17-YEAR-OLD WHO HAD MANA BEYOND HIS YEARS. WHEN HE WAS ON THE STAGE OR AT LEAGUE OR IN PUBLIC, HE WAS REPRESENTING ALL OF US, HIS WHANAU, SO THAT'S, UM, THE WAY HE SAW THINGS TOO, SO IF HE WAS DOING THINGS HALF-PIE, IT DIDN'T REPRESENT OUR` OUR WHANAU IN A GOOD LIGHT, SO HE WAS QUITE SERIOUS. BUT THEN HE ALSO HAD A CORNY SENSE OF HUMOUR. HE THOUGHT HE WAS VERY FUNNY, ACTUALLY. HE THOUGHT HE WAS, YOU KNOW` BUT WE JUST LAUGHED, BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY WAS. HIGH-PITCHED: # IT'S A MYSTERY, BUT MY LOVE JUST WON'T SET ME FREE. # (LAUGHS HIGH-PITCHED) LUKE WAS A BOY WHO HAD TO GROW UP QUICKLY. HIS FATHER, CHRISTOPHER, DIED IN 2002, LEAVING BEHIND FOUR CHILDREN. LUKE WAS THE ONLY BOY. HE STARTED TO UNDERSTAND HIS ROLE AS A MALE WITHIN OUR` OUR WHANAU, AND HE TOOK THAT SERIOUSLY. LIKE, MOWING THE LAWNS, DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO CLEAN THE GUTTERS AND ALL THAT, HE JUST, 'I'LL DO ALL THAT, MUM. DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT THAT SORT OF STUFF.' THAT TYPE OF FOCUS AND RESPONSIBILITY ALSO SHOWED IN SCHOOL. AUCKLAND RUTHERFORD COLLEGE PRINCIPAL GARRY MOORE REMEMBERS LUKE FONDLY. HE WAS A GUY WITH A HUGE HEART, CARED FOR OTHER PEOPLE, AND EVERYONE KNEW IT. EVERYONE KNEW THAT HE WAS A CARING, WARM-HEARTED, KIND, UM, AND VERY TALENTED YOUNG MAN. SO, IS THAT, LIKE... AND LUKE'S TEACHER, WILL FLAVELL, SAYS HE WAS A GENTLE SOUL WHO STOOD UP IF HE SAW INJUSTICE. HE HAD HIS WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF HIM. HE HAD HIS FUTURE, YOU KNOW, MAPPED OUT AND PLANNED, AND IT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT HE WANTED TO ACHIEVE IN LIFE, WHAT HE WANTED TO ACHIEVE FOR HIS FAMILY, FOR HIS IWI, FOR HIS MARAE, AND, YEAH, VERY INSPIRING YOUNG MAN. PEOPLE SING WAIATA LUKE DREAMT OF BECOMING AN NRL STAR. HE WAS ALREADY A MEMBER OF THE WARRIORS DEVELOPMENT SQUAD,... CHEERING ...AND OFF THE FIELD, HE WAS A STAR OF RUTHERFORD COLLEGE'S KAPA HAKA GROUP. (CHANTS HAKA) BY HIS SIDE THROUGH ALL OF THIS WAS HIS EQUALLY SUCCESSFUL AND AMBITIOUS TWIN, KRISTINA, A SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT AND REPRESENTATIVE NETBALL PLAYER. WE BOTH LOVED OUR SPORT, BUT WE LOVED WATCHING EACH OTHER PLAY AS WELL. LIKE, IT WASN'T JUST A 'I LOVE NETBALL AND HE LOVED LEAGUE'. IT WAS LIKE, I LOVED WATCHING HIM AND HE LOVED WATCHING ME AS WELL. YOU GUYS WERE REALLY TIGHT. YEAH. HE WAS LIKE MY BETTER HALF. IT WAS KIND OF LIKE WE BALANCED EACH OTHER OUT, BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS SO, LIKE, POSITIVE AND HAPPY, SO I JUST ALWAYS, LIKE, MOODY AND GRUMPY, SO WE KIND OF BALANCED EACH OTHER OUT, BUT, YEAH, I'D SAY HE WAS MORE THAN A BEST FRIEND; HE WAS LIKE MY` MY BETTER HALF. SOMBRE MUSIC WHAT MAKES KRISTINA'S PAIN ALL THE MORE HEART-BREAKING IS THAT SHE AND LUKE WERE EACH OTHER'S GREATEST PROTECTORS, SOMETHING SHE FEELS SHE FAILED TO DO ON THE NIGHT HE WAS KILLED WHEN SHE TURNED DOWN AN OFFER TO GO TO THE NIGHT MARKETS WITH HIM. I WAS LIKE, 'NAH. I'M ALL RIGHT. I'M OK.' THEN HE WAS LIKE, 'OH, OK. WELL, I'M OFF.' I WAS LIKE, 'OK, COOL. BYE,' AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM, AND EVERY DAY I THINK I SHOULD'VE WENT, AND I SHOULD'VE SAID, 'YUP, I'LL COME. YUP, COME BACK AND PICK ME UP.' IS THAT WHAT EATS AWAY AT YOU? YEAH, EVERY DAY. (SNIFFS) EVERY DAY I JUST THINK, 'I SHOULD'VE TOLD HIM TO COME BACK AND GET ME,' BUT I DIDN'T. (SNIFFS) SOMBRE MUSIC SO JUST WHAT DID HAPPEN THAT NIGHT? WELL, LUKE AND HIS COUSIN DID GO TO THE NIGHT MARKETS, BUT THEN THEY RECEIVED A TEXT FROM A FRIEND WHO WAS WORRIED ABOUT GETTING INTO A FIGHT OUTSIDE A GREY LYNN PARTY. IT WAS HERE WHERE LUKE TIPENE WOULD COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH VINCENT SKEEN. 16-YEAR-OLD VINCENT WAS A WESTERN SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO, LIKE LUKE, GREW UP FATHERLESS. VINCENT HAD GONE TO THE PARTY TO PICK UP HIS GIRLFRIEND. WHEN LUKE ARRIVED, A FIGHT WAS UNDERWAY. MUFFLED SHOUTING THE COURT HEARD THAT VINCENT SKEEN THEN GOT INVOLVED. SHOUTING CONTINUES, GIRL SCREAMS LUKE TOLD HIM TO STAY OUT OF THE FIGHT, BUT WHEN HE DIDN'T, LUKE INTERVENED, PUNCHING SKEEN TO THE GROUND. THE CROWN ARGUED THIS ENRAGED SKEEN IN FRONT OF HIS PEERS. HE RETALIATED, USING A BROKEN BEER BOTTLE, SWINGING AT LUKE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STABBING HIM IN THE NECK, CUTTING HIS JUGULAR VEIN. (GROANS) SOMBRE MUSIC CONTINUES LUKE'S MUM HAD NO IDEA HOW BADLY HER SON WAS INJURED. SO, WE, YOU KNOW, HEADED OFF INTO, UH, AUCKLAND HOSPITAL, AND I JUST THOUGHT THE WHOLE TIME, 'HE'S GONNA GET IT, YOU KNOW, 'COS HE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AT A PARTY, COS I DON'T DO THOSE PARTIES. HE KNOWS I DON'T DO THOSE PARTIES.' BUT WHEN LUKE'S FAMILY ARRIVED, THEY HEARD THE UNTHINKABLE. HE'D BEEN BROUGHT IN, AND THEY'D PUT HIM INTO A COMA, COS HE'D HAD A STAB WOUND IN THE NECK, AND AS SOON AS I HEARD NECK, I THOUGHT, 'OH, THAT'S NOT GOOD.' NECK IS NEVER GOOD, AND SO I, SORT OF, SAT THERE THINKING, 'PLEASE, PLEASE,' AND THEN SHE SAID, 'NO, WE COULDN'T SAVE HIM,' AND THAT WAS IT. JUST... (EXHALES) JUST LIKE THAT, A WHOLE WORLD GONE. YEAH, AS SOON AS THEY CAME IN, THEY JUST POINTED TO THE NECK, AND INSTANTLY I WAS JUST LIKE, 'NAH, THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.' I` YEAH, I WAS JUST WAITING TO WAKE UP, AND EVER SINCE THEN, THAT DAY, I'VE JUST STILL BEEN WAITING TO WAKE UP. IT'S ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. (SNIFFS) JUST... (SIGHS) (INHALES) IT WAS JUST` LIKE, FIRST, I JUST THOUGHT, 'WOW.' I JUST` I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS SHOCK, BUT IT WAS LIKE THIS` I JUST FORMED` THIS BUBBLE JUST SEEMED TO APPEAR, AND YOU KNOW HOW YOU SEE IN THOSE MOVIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE TALKING AND YOU CAN'T HEAR THEM...? (SNIFFS) AND JUST FROM THEN ON, IT WAS (EXHALES) SO... UNBELIEVABLE. SOMBRE MUSIC IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE WHAT TERRY WAS GOING THROUGH THAT NIGHT, HER WORST NIGHTMARE COMING TRUE. MY FIRST THING WAS IN THE CAR PARK, MY BOY IN THE BACK OF A F...ING HEARSE. (SNIFFLES) AND I JUST` OH, THAT WAS IT. AT THAT MOMENT, I COULD'VE KILLED VINCENT SKEEN, JUST QUI` I WOULD'VE. IF I HAD FOUND HIM, I WOULD'VE KILLED HIM, (SNIFFS) SEEING MY BOY LYING IN THE BACK OF A HEARSE LIKE THAT WITH THOSE MARKS ON HIS FACE, AND YOU COULD SEE THE MARKS ON HIS NECK. (SNIFFS) I JUST THOUGHT, 'WOW. HOW THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN?' (SNIFFLES) SOMBRE MUSIC CONTINUES COMING UP NEXT ` THE TRIAL OF VINCENT SKEEN AND THE SENTENCE THAT SHOCKED LUKE'S FAMILY. KIA MAU TONU MAI RA. NEXT WE REVEAL NEW INFORMATION ABOUT LUKE'S DEATH. HOKI MAI ANO. WELL, AS YOU'VE SEEN, LUKE TIPENE WAS A TEENAGER WITH MANA BEYOND HIS YEARS, A BOY WHO DREAMED OF ONE DAY BECOMING A GREAT FATHER. HE'D EVEN CHOSEN THE NAMES FOR HIS UNBORN CHILDREN. REWA HARRIMAN PICKS UP HIS STORY. THE DEATH OF LUKE TIPENE WAS FELT FAR AND WIDE, NONE MORE SO THAN THE COMMUNITY HE GREW UP IN IN WEST AUCKLAND. HUNDREDS PAID THEIR RESPECTS TO THE MUCH-LOVED TEENAGER AT HIS GLENORA RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB. LUKE WAS THEN TAKEN UP NORTH TO BE LAID TO REST, NEXT TO HIS FATHER AT THE WHANAU URUPA IN AHIPARA. FROM THAT DAY, THE FAMILY SAYS IT FEELS LIKE THE CLOCKS HAVE STOPPED. GRIEF CONSUMES THEM. OUR HEALTH WAS` WE WERE IN SHUTDOWN. WE CLOSED THE CURTAINS, THE DOORS, AND WOULD SIT HERE FOR DAYS CRYING, TRYING TO ANALYSE HOW WE GOT HERE. YOU SIT HERE AS A MOTHER AND YOU CAN HEAR THEM IN THE SHOWER CRYING. YOU CAN HEAR THEM IN THE ROOM CRYING, AND YOU JUST THINK, 'HOW AM I GOING TO GET MY GIRLS...?' YOU KNOW. SO THE WALLS ARE CRYING, AND YOU'RE SITTING HERE THINKING, 'I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET MY GIRLS OUT OF THIS DARKNESS.' COS YOU'RE SITTING THERE YOURSELF, BUT AS MUM YOU'VE GOT TO SUCK IT UP AND TRY YOUR BEST. WHILE ALL OF LUKE'S SIBLINGS WERE HURTING, HIS DEATH WAS ESPECIALLY HARD ON HIS OTHER HALF, TWIN SISTER, KRISTINA. I DON'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT IT THAT MUCH COS IT'S NOT SOMETHING I REALLY WANT TO RELIVE. I FEEL EVERY TIME I TALK ABOUT IT, IT JUST TAKES ME STRAIGHT BACK TO THE FIRST DAY. BUT THE FAMILY HAS HAD TO RELIVE THE HORROR, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE. VINCENT SKEEN HAD OFFERED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER, BUT THE CROWN INSISTED THAT IT WAS A CLEAR-CUT CASE OF MURDER; THAT SKEEN HAD INTENDED TO STAB LUKE. WHEN HE DID IT, NOT AFTERWARDS, NOT EARLIER IN THE NIGHT, HE DIDN'T GO THERE TO KILL ANYBODY, BUT WHEN HE DID WHAT HE DID, HE WAS MEANING TO KILL LUKE TIPENE. IN 2015, THE FIRST TRIAL ENDED IN A HUNG JURY, SO TWO MONTHS AGO, VINCENT SKEEN WENT ON TRIAL FOR MURDER AGAIN. IT LASTED JUST SEVEN DAYS. THIS TIME THE JURY MADE A DECISION BUT IT WASN'T THE ONE THE FAMILY HAD HOPED FOR. ON CHARGE ONE, THE CHARGE OF MURDER, DO YOU FIND THE DEFENDANT VINCENT ANGENE SKEEN GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY? < UH, NOT GUILTY. PEOPLE IN COURT GASP DO YOU FIND VINCENT ANGENE SKEEN GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER? < GUILTY. I JUST HAD TO LEAVE THE ROOM. I COULDN'T LISTEN` ONCE THEY ASKED FOR THE VERDICT OF WHETHER HE WAS GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY, AND HE SAID NOT GUILTY, I LEFT. I LEFT THE COURTROOM, AND, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO THE CAR. AND AGAIN, THE WORLD JUST CRASHED DOWN COS IT'S JUST LIKE, 'WOW. HOW AGAIN ARE WE HERE?' 17-YEAR-OLD BOYS ARE NOT ADULTS... SO SKEEN WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY OF MURDER, BUT GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER. I SENTENCE YOU TO FIVE YEARS AND TWO MONTHS IN PRISON. IN SENTENCING, THE JUDGE SAID A REPORT FROM CORRECTIONS STATED THAT VINCENT SKEEN HAD NO HISTORY OF VIOLENT OFFENDING. SHE ADDED THAT THIS SEEMED COMPLETELY OUT OF CHARACTER. BUT WHAT THE HUI CAN REVEAL FOR THE FIRST TIME IS VINCENT SKEEN WAS KNOWN TO POLICE, AND HE WAS ON BAIL WHEN HE KILLED LUKE. WE'VE ALSO MANAGED TO OBTAIN THIS POLICE STATEMENT BY A WITNESS THAT WAS NEVER CALLED DURING TRIAL THAT SAID VINCENT SKEEN HAD THREATENED TO BOTTLE HIM EARLIER THAT YEAR. THAT MAKES THE FIVE-YEAR-TWO-MONTHS SENTENCE SKEEN RECEIVED AN EVEN HARDER PILL FOR TERRY TO SWALLOW. THE WAY THEY JUST TALK ABOUT IT, IT'S SO COLD. YOU HAVE A STARTING POINT AND THEN YOU HAVE A DISCOUNT FOR THIS AND A DISCOUNT FOR THAT, AND YOU'RE JUST SITTING THERE, 'WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT ` DISCOUNTS! 'THIS IS MY SON'S LIFE, OR DEATH IN THIS CASE.' TO BE CLEAR, TERRY SAYS SHE ISN'T EXCUSING HER SON'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIGHT. SHE ACCEPTS HE THREW THE FIRST PUNCH. I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY NOW TO RECTIFY WHAT LUKE DID BECAUSE THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME. IF THAT HAD NOT HAPPENED, I'D HAVE FOUND OUT HE WAS IN THAT PARTY AND GOTTEN INVOLVED IN IT. I WOULD HAVE TAKEN` YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE DEALT WITH THAT. BUT THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF MY HANDS, AND THAT NIGHT VINCENT SKEEN BECAME THE JUDGE, JURY BUT THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF MY HANDS, AND THAT NIGHT VINCENT SKEEN AND EXECUTIONER. NOW THE FAMILY IS JUST TRYING TO COME TO TERMS WITH WHAT THE NEW NORMAL LOOKS LIKE WITHOUT LUKE. OH, DO YOU KNOW WHEN HE MOVED UP NORTH? (LAUGHS) THEY HAVE FOUND DIFFERENT WAYS TO REMEMBER HIM. TERRY GIVES OUT A SPECIAL AWARD IN LUKE'S HONOUR ANNUALLY AT THE LOCAL LEAGUE CLUB. THIS IS IN RECOGNITION OF LUKE. KIA ORA. SO THIS IS BECAUSE OF MY SON'S PASSING. AND TWIN, KRISTINA, FINDS COMFORT IN SHARING HER BROTHER'S PASSION FOR KAPA HAKA, LAST YEAR PERFORMING FOR LUKE'S SCHOOL AT POLYFEST IN HIS HONOUR. AND I'LL BE THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR THAT FOREVER BECAUSE WE DID DEDICATE MY BRACKET TO MY BROTHER. IT WAS REALLY EMOTIONAL JUST BECAUSE WITH KAPA HAKA IT DOES BRING OUT ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EMOTION. IT GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO, LIKE, SHOWCASE AND DISPLAY THE LOVE HE HAD FOR KAPA HAKA AND THE LOVE I HAD FOR HIM. AND IN AMIDST THE DARKNESS, THERE HAS BEEN SOME LIGHT. LUKE'S SISTER SHAWNY HAD A BABY BOY IN MARCH. IN TIME, BABY LUKE WILL HEAR ALL ABOUT THE UNCLE HE WAS NAMED AFTER ` THE PERFORMER, THE SPORTSMAN, THE KIND-HEARTED FRIEND, THE BELOVED BROTHER TO WAIKERI, SHAWNY, KRISTINA AND DAVINA, AND THE SON WHO STOLE HIS MOTHER'S HEART. EVEN THOUGH HE'S GONE, I'M STILL HIS MUM. I STILL WORRY ABOUT WHETHER HE'S OK ON THE OTHER SIDE. I TALK TO MY TUPUNA, 'CAN YOU GO GIVE HIM A CUDDLE?' SO I THINK THAT'S` FOR ME, WHAT'S KEPT ME GOING IS THAT I NEEDED TO` I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MY SON AND THE ONLY DISAPPOINTING THING IS THAT I COULDN'T REALLY DO THAT IN THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE. I JUST ALWAYS TELL MYSELF THAT HE TOOK AWAY MY BROTHER'S LIFE, THAT I'M NOT GOING TO LET HIM TAKE AWAY MINE, AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET WHAT HE DID DEFINE ME, AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT I'M GOING TO FORGET ABOUT MY BROTHER AND I'M GOING TO MOVE ON, COS I'M NOT. I ALWAYS TELL MYSELF TO NOT LIVE LIFE JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR HIM AS WELL. YEAH. E LUKE, KA HINATORE MAI TOO WHETUU HEI RAMAROA MA TO WHANAU, KA MURAMURA TE AROHA MO AKE TONU ATU. NA REWA HARRIMAN RAUA KO SARAH HALL TERA PURONGO. AND VINCENT SKEEN'S APPLICATION FOR PAROLE ON FRIDAY WAS DECLINED. AFTER THE BREAK, IT'S CRUNCH TIME FOR THE NGAAPUHI MANDATE. NEXT WE'RE JOINED BY OUR PANEL OF NORTHERN BROADCASTERS. TAUTI MAI ANO. WELL, THE FUTURE OF NGAPUHI'S TREATY SETTLEMENT NOW HANGS BY A THREAD AFTER A HUI ON FRIDAY ENDED IN TURMOIL. FOUR BOARD MEMBERS ` MOANA TUWHARE, SAM NAPIA, SHERYL TURNER AND HELENE LEAF ` RESIGNED FROM THE TRIBE'S SETTLEMENT BODY, TUHORONUKU SAYING IT WON'T FULLY ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING PARTY TASKED WITH DEVELOPING A FAIRER SETTLEMENT MODEL. THE MARANGA MAI REPORT HAD ALREADY BEEN ACCEPTED BY TUHORONUKU'S RIVAL BODY, TE KOTAHITANGA, AND THE MINISTER OF TREATY SETTLEMENTS. HOWEVER, IT'S UNDERSTOOD TUHORONUKU CHAIR HONE SADLER AND TE RUNANGA O NGAPUHI CHAIR SONNY TAU WANTED TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE SET UP. BUT IS IT TIME UP? TO DISCUSS THIS, I'M JOINED BY THREE NORTHLAND JOURNALISTS ` RADIO WAATEA'S TUMAMAO HARAWIRA, TE NEWS BLOG EDITOR PIERRE LYNDON AND RNZ'S LOIS WILLIAMS, WHO'S COVERED THESE ISSUES FOR ` I WAS GONNA SAY 30 YEARS, BUT SHE'S TOLD ME 27, BUT VERY CLOSE. TENA KOUTOU KATOA. KIA ORA. WELL, THERE WAS MEANT TO BE A DECISION ON FRIDAY. THE TREATY MINISTER WAS LOOKING FOR A YES OR A NO TO THE MARANGA MAI RECOMMENDATIONS. IS IT CLEAR TO YOU WHAT'S BEEN DECIDED, LOIS? YOU WERE THERE FOR THE DAY. NO, IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S CLEAR TO THE MINISTER YET EITHER. WE` WE HEARD THIS MORNING THAT HE'S STILL WAITING FOR AN UNOFFICIAL, UM, NOTIFICATION FROM TUHORONUKU'S LEADERSHIP OF WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DECIDED, SO, NO, IT'S NOT CLEAR. HOW ABOUT YOU? ARE YOU SURPRISED WITH, UM, WHAT YOU'RE HEARING, THE OUTCOME? IT'S NOT A CLEAR YES OR A NO? YOU'RE` YOU'RE NOT HEARING...? I THINK THE MINISTER'S CALLING IT RIGHT, AND I THINK THERE IS CERTAIN INEVITABILITY ABOUT THE OUTCOME. UM, THE TIMING IS NOW. THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER OPPORTUNITY. UH, THE KAUMATUA` EVERYONE WANTS A SETTLEMENT, AND WE'VE GOTTA MOVE THE IMPEDIMENTS OUT OF THE WAY. THEY WENT AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR MARANGA MAI. WE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING. AT THE 11TH, UP` ON GOES THE HANDBRAKE. SO I THINK THE MINISTER'S CALLING IT RIGHT, AND I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE AHEAD, AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE POSITIVE. TUMAMAO, UH, WHAT DOES IT MEAN, DO YOU THINK, FOR THE MANDATE? IT'S WITH TUHORONUKU, BUT THE TRI` UH, THE TRIBUNAL HAS SAID IT HAS SERIOUS FLAWS. THE MARANGA MAI, UM, WORKING GROUP WAS MEANT TO FIND A CONSENSUS. WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE MANDATE THAT'S THE CURRENT MANDATE, DO YOU THINK? WELL, I GUESS AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S IN, UM, THE MINISTER'S COURT, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, UH, THE MINISTER WILL DECIDE WHO NEGOTIATES ON BEHALF OF NGAPUHI AND WHO DOESN'T. WE CAN, UM, HAVE A BIG HUI AND A BIG ARGUMENT ABOUT THE PARTICULARS OF THE GROUP, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THE MINISTER DOESN'T AGREE WITH THAT PARTICULAR GROUP, AS THE NEGOTIATING GROUP, THEN THAT'S NOT GONNA, YOU KNOW` DO YOU AGREE WITH PIERRE THAT THE TIME IS NOW? WELL, I MEAN, IF WE ALL AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S TIME FOR NGAPUHI TO MOVE ON AND IT'S TIME FOR OUR PEOPLE, UH, TO GET, YOU KNOW, A BETTER POSITION IN LIFE, THEN, YEAH, I'M TOTALLY ALL FOR IT IF THAT'S THE IWI CONSENSUS. UM, I DON'T FEEL THAT, UM, WE'VE DELVED INTO THE ISSUE OF THE REPORT THAT WAS RELEASED BY, UH, THE TRIBUNAL, UM, STATING THAT NGAPUHI DID NOT CEDE THEIR SOVEREIGNTY. WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE MINISTER. THE MINISTER HAS GONE ON CAMERA AND HAS SAID NUMEROUS TIMES AND LAUGHED ABOUT IT ABOUT THAT, UM, NGAPUHI DID CEDE THEIR SOVEREIGNTY; THE CROWN HAS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF NZ. SO WE` WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE MINISTER, AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE MINISTER DOESN'T REALLY TAKE IT THAT` ALL THAT SERIOUSLY. UM, LOIS, THERE WERE FOUR RESIGNATIONS AFTER THE TUHORONUKU MEETING. UH, YOU HAD READ THROUGH` WELL, YOU INTERVIEWED ABOUT THREE OF THEM, AND THERE'S FOUR LETTERS THAT ARE FLYING AROUND ON FACEBOOK AND ONLINE AT THE MOMENT. WHAT WAS THE CRUX OF THEIR RESIGNATIONS? WELL, YES, THEY WERE FOUR TRUSTEES THAT LEFT. THERE WERE` I SUPPOSE MOANA TUWHARE WOULD HAVE BEEN LEADING, UM, THAT GROUP. UH, (SIGHS) SHE` SHE WAS VERY HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE MARANGA MAI, THE` THE HAPU ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, AND THE FEELING WAS THAT, UM,... TUHORONUKU'S LEADERSHIP (CLEARS THROAT) SIMPLY DIDN'T WANT TO ACCEPT WHAT MARANGA MAI RECOMMENDED, THAT THEY WANTED TO TINKER WITH THAT FOR THEIR OWN REASONS, AND THAT AFTER HOURS OF DISCUSSION YESTERDAY, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THAT WAS GOING NOWHERE, SO THEY WALKED OUT AND SAID, 'WE RESIGN.' IT'S QUITE IRONIC, BECAUSE ` CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ` THE WORKING GROUP THAT HAD COME OF THE MARANGA MAI REPORT IS ACTUALLY FROM TUHORONUKU. < HALF OF IT IS. IT WAS` IT WAS A JOINT WORKING PARTY. WHICH IS QUITE` QUITE IRONIC ` IS THAT TUHORONUKU HAS JUST DISREGARDED TUHORONUKU, AND SO I GUESS THAT'S THE REAL TOHU, I SUPPOSE. AND I GUESS THAT IS THE INTERESTING ISSUE. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS AROUND THAT? SO TUHORONUKU ACTUALLY ENGAGED WITH THE WORKING GROUP, AND NOW THEY'RE SAYING, 'WELL, ACTUALLY, WE WANT MORE CHANGES' WHEN... IT'S TIME FOR TUHORONUKU TO LEAVE, SWITCH OF THE LIGHTS, CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND THEM AND LET` LET THE KAUPAPA GO AND LET THE, UH` THE PEOPLE ARE UNANIMOUS THAT WE WANT` THE TIME IS RIGHT. WE'RE 30 YEARS BEHIND WAIKATO AND NGAI TAHU. WE STAND TO` HERE'S SOMEONE WHO'S HOLDING A CHEQUE IN EXCESS OF 300 MILLION. WHO TURNS THEIR BACK ON THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY? THERE'S OPPORTUNITY COST IF WE DON'T TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS, TUMAMAO? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, UH, THE TUHORONUKU HONE SADLER AND TAU` SONNY TAU ARE OFTEN CALLED THE OLD GUARD OF NGAPUHI, AND, UH, THE MOANA TUWHARES AND THE REST, YOU KNOW, THE MARANGA MAI WORKING GROUP AND TE KOTAHITANGA OFTEN THE YOUNGER ONES. DO YOU THINK THEY CAN FIND SOME CONSENSUS? BECAUSE THE IDEA NOW IS THAT MOANA TUWHARE AND SOME OTHERS WILL TRY AND IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES WITHOUT THE TUHORONUKU LOT. MM. AGAIN, I` < POSSIBLE? IS IT POSSIBLE? AGAIN, I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE BALL IN THE COURT OF THE MINISTER, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY HE DECIDES WHICH GROUP IS GONNA BE NEGOTIATING. WE CAN TALK ABOUT, UM, TUHORONUKU, UH, GETTING THE MANDATE TAKEN OFF THEM. UH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS. THE MINISTER HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE ISSUES WITH TUHORONUKU AND YET HAS DONE NOTHING IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY GETTING TO A POINT WHERE TUHORONUKU'S GONNA GET THE MANDATE TAKEN OFF THEM. A GOOD POINT. SO HOW HAS THE MINISTER, MINISTER FINLAYSON, PERFORMED IN THIS SETTLEMENT? WELL, I THINK THAT HE'S DONE HIS VERY BEST TO FIX WHAT'S GONE WRONG. UM, THE CROWN HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THAT JOINT WORKING PARTY AND THE IWI ENGAGEMENT GROUP. IT'S BEEN A TRI-PARTITE PROCESS, NOT JUST TWO SIDES, SO IT HAS BEEN DOING ITS VERY BEST TO FIX THE MANDATE AND TO SEE IF IT CONTIN` CAN CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, SO, YEAH. ALL EYES ON MONDAY. THERE'LL BE A CABINET MINISTER, UH, MEETING, AND WE'RE MEANT TO HEAR SOMETHING THEN. IS THAT WHAT YOU'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING? WELL, THE` THE WHOLE POINT IS, UM, THE POLITICAL WILL IS THERE; THE ECONOMY IS BUBBLING ALONG NICELY TO AFFORD A SETTLEMENT; THE, UH` NGAPUHI AND TE WAIPOUNAMU SPOKE THIS WEEK VERY CLEARLY THAT THEY WANT A SETTLEMENT. UM, UH, THERE'S A TRANSITION VEHICLE, UH, WAITING TO GO OF` OF ALL PARTIES. QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK THIS MINISTER IS GOING TO GO DOWN AS BEING ONE OF THE GREAT MINISTERS. I` I'M MINDFUL HE WAS, UM, COUNSEL PREVIOUSLY FOR NGAI TAHU. HE` HE'S BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE. I THINK HE'S CALLING IT RIGHT, AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO` TO GET ON WITH IT ` TOO MUCH HUI AND NOT ENOUGH DO-Y. KIA ORA. THAT'S THE EDITOR OF` WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME, TUMAMAO. AROHA MAI. BUT, UM, WE'LL BE` WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR BLOGS AND KEEPING US UP TO DATE. KIA ORA. TENA KOUTOU, KATOA. THANKS VERY MUCH. WELL, NEXT WEEK THE HUI BRINGS YOU AN AUCKLAND MAYORAL DEBATE. 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