Coming up on Te Karere... Maori police come together to combat a rampant 'P' problem. Trump gives the green light for the building of the pipeline at Standing Rock. And James Rolleston talks about his latest movie just months after a life threatening accident. 25 January 2017 Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. The number of pokies in this country has decreased, but spending on the gambling machines continues to rise. Problem gambling advocates say more needs to be done to find out where the spending is coming from. Irena Smith has more. These machines are still raking in the big dollars. The big question is, who's feeding them? According to the Department of Internal Affairs, pokie spending increased by 30%. The Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand and those working with Maori are concerned that those who are suffering from gambling addiction are not receiving any of the funding from the charitable trusts. And there are also concerns that even though pokie machine numbers have decreased, the majority of machines out there are still in lower socio-economic areas, which happen to be populated mostly by Maori and Pasifika. Maori are still the highest problem gamblers and the foundation says whanau and communities need to do more to help their own who are addicted. Irena Smith, Te Karere. The New Zealand Police have stepped-up efforts in their fight against methamphetamine by taking the battle to marae nationwide. Police are urging marae to join the fight by encouraging trustees and hapu to work with police to keep the class 'A' drug out of their communities. This drug may seem harmless but for the NZ Police and Maori communities it isn't. The NZ Police were welcomed onto Waiteti Marae in Rotorua today to discuss ways to combat the spread of the drug throughout NZ communities. Our people from our marae and communities are calling on the police to ask for help to combat and stop this drug from spreading. Representatives from the Waitemata DHB, along with NZ Drug Foundation representatives also participated in today's workshop. In the past there were mainly two reasons for people's death, woman and land but today and now we are seeing more people die of more things like drug addiction, alcohol problems, domestic violence, and guns in the wrong hands. Police aren't the only ones at the coalface of the methamphetamine problem but they know working together with a wide range of groups and services, including marae like this one, would help in the battle against the class A drug. Riki also said that next week a hikoi against methamphetamine will take place in the north just before Waitangi to highlight the damage the drug is doing up there. Roihana Nuri, Te Karere. Donald Trump is already getting down to business, just days in to his new role as the American president. He's signed an executive order to advance the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The 1900km pipeline is set to carry oil through South Dakota and Iowa, a route that skirts the indigenous Standing Rock Sioux tribe reservation. While Maori joined in on the action where camps were set up late last year to oppose the construction, reports suggest that Trump is turning a blind eye to what environmental groups say will increase runoff and erosion near an aquifer estimated to hold 17 trillion gallons of water. Maori actor James Rolleston has opened up about his recovery in the lead up to the premiere of his latest movie. Rolleston has was involved in a serious car crash in July that left him in a five week coma. Speaking on TVNZ's Breakfast program, he spoke about how he's trying to get his speech right. Rolleston is set to appear at the red carpet opening for his latest film Pork Pie tomorrow night. After the break, All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder makes an important announcement about his rugby future. And later, we bring you the colour and ceremony from Ratana as followers mark the birthday of their founder. The deputy principal of a wharekura in Wellington says Maori mainstream teachers should consider kura kaupapa and wharekura in a bid to lift teacher numbers. The comment comes from Hukarere Greenings of Nga Mokopuna in Seatoun and Education Minister Hekia Parata seems to agree. Ripeka Timutimu has the story. The school year is just around the corner, Hukarere Greenings says many hands make light work. Greenings agrees there is a Maori teacher shortage, A recent survey from Te Riu Roa found primary school leaders were suffering stress and burnout. Despite the minister's response Greenings says Maori should look to their own for solutions. So Nga Mokopuna will start their school year with a full roster of teachers, other kura around the country though won't be so lucky. Ripeka Timutimu, Te Karere. One of Ngati Porou's favourite sons has resigned to stay at his beloved Hurricanes for another three years. Nehe Milner-Skudder, who joined the 'Canes back in 2014, has resigned with the club through to the end of the 2019 season. Injury has kept him on the side-lines for the past two seasons but he is eyeing up a potential return at the Brisbane 10s. Tamati Rimene-Sproat has the story. Despite the cold... Milner-Skudder is staying in Wellington. This cowboy from the East Coast has just signed on for three years to the Hurricanes. A decision that came easily to Skudder who's been in Wellington for three years. Since injuring his leg two years ago, he's been side-lined. But Milner-Skudder knows, if he plays to his potential this year, he could find himself back in the All Blacks playing the British and Irish Lions. But for now, his biggest goal is to get back into a yellow jersey and is biting at the bit to play for the 'Canes at the 10's in Brisbane. It is believed he will play in the Hurricanes' warm up match against the Blues, with fans hoping he stays fit for the remainder of the season. Tamati Rimene-Sproat, Te Karere. Staying with rugby and the Highlanders have named their co-captain to replace Shane Christie and it is none other than Ash Dixon. The Ngati Tahinga descendant captained the Maori All Blacks on their recent Northern Hemisphere tour and was the logical choice for coach Tony Brown. He also captained Hawke's Bay and has been at the Highlanders for the past three years. To league and the Warriors are reportedly eyeing up a young Maori forward who has been plying his trade in Melbourne. Fox Sports in Australia have reported Stephen Kearney is keen to sign versatile forward Tohu Harris to the Warriors as his contract with the Melbourne Storm runs out this year. Harris, who has 14 test caps for the Kiwis and over 100 appearances for the Storm, has played under Kearney at the Kiwis before and was given his first test cap under Kearney. After the break, Ratana faithful celebrate And we have the weather. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. It was a politician-free zone at Ratana today. For the church's faithful, it was a chance to commemorate the birthday of founder Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana born 140 years ago today. But what is the state of the religion that was founded close to 100 years ago? Eruera Rerekura reports. Ratana faithful commemorate the 144th birthday of their church founder. This follower has been making the annual pilgrimage to Ratana for decades, so what motivates him to make this annual trek? But that is a stark contrast to the young people's perspective. In 2006, the Ratana church had 50,196 followers. The latest statistics show that number has dropped to 40,000. T.W. Ratana is remembered as a religious leader who also fought for Maori rights under the treaty. It's that mix of religion and social justice that resonates with many. And next year is set to be a milestone event as the church will mark its centenary commemorations. Eruera Rerekura, Te Karere. To end our bulletin today, we're playing out Rob Ruha's track Waiaroha which features the beautiful, Maisey Rika. That's all we have for today. Kia ora tatou katoa. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Mangai Paho. Copyright TVNZ 2016.