Coming up on Te Karere... Emotional scenes from parliament, as the Whanganui River Bill is passed into legislation. Another iwi with strong Whanganui River links, Ruapehu's Ngati Rangi, begin their own journey to settlement. Auckland's annual ASB Polyfest kicks off, with a special ceremony dedicated to former James Cook High figure, the late George Pomana. 15 March 2017 Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. The longest running case in NZ's legal history was settled today with the passing of the Awa Tupua legislation. The settlement named ruruku whakatupua is compensation for a litany of treaty breaches that systematically shut iwi out from management and use of the Whanganui River. Looking at some of the key numbers of the Whanganui River claim... 1870 is when iwi rangatira first petitioned the Crown over river rights. $81m will be paid as the settlement redress. An additional $30m will be provided for the establishment of Te Korotete, a group charged with the management and care of the river. Political reporter, Eruera Rerekura, has been watching this historic event unfold all day and joins us live. We're unable to provide subtitles. We're unable to provide subtitles. So tomorrow brings a new day, a new 'world' for the descendants of the river. The shackles of grievances are shed, and the main focus will be restoring the health and wellbeing of the river and themselves. Thank you for the update. Eruera Rerekura live in Wellington. Meanwhile another iwi with strong links to the Whanganui River is just at the beginning of their treaty settlement process. Ngati Rangi hail from Mt Ruapehu in the Central North Island region. It is estimated the claim is worth $17 million. The lead negotiators say they are committed to gaining an agreement that ensures environment protection as well as better wellbeing for their people. We're unable to provide subtitles. Irena Smith, Te Karere. Police and honey industry experts are teaming up in a bid to reduce the rise in beehive thefts. Since July last year, there's been over 400 reports of stolen bees, hives and honey in the North Island region, costing the industry millions. Police say the thefts are organised crime. A central database is being set up for clearer procedures A central database is being set up for clearer procedures and police are getting advice from those in the industry. After the break, Auckland's annual ASB Polyfest kicks off, with a special ceremony dedicated to former James Cook High figure, the late George Pomana. And we catch up with Northern Mystics rising star, Brooke Watt of Ngai Te Rangi descent. Serious claims of prisoner abuse are being levelled at the Department of Corrections. It's alleged that inmates at Springhill Prison, near Te Kauwhata are being locked down for 22 hours a day and the practice has been going on for months. However, as Hania Douglas reports, Corrections are refuting the claims. We're unable to provide subtitles. Hania Douglas, Te Karere. The 42nd ASB Polyfest kicked off today at Manukau Sports Bowl. It's the biggest Polynesian event where students will compete on five stages, performing traditional items from the following cultures - Cook Islands, Tongan, Niue, Samoan and Maori. More than 9000 students from 220 performance groups from 60 different schools around Auckland will be performing at the four-day event. To elaborate more on the festival we cross live to Te Okiwa McLean who's on the ground. As morning breaks, the flags rise. Not long after sunshine rose upon the 42nd ASB Polyfest 2017. To remember one of the festival's former stewards, the late George Pomana. The biggest thing for him was the well-being of our children above all. He would always say came from a good place. So it is difficult for us as usually we would turn to him to organise and settle everything, but now he is gone. Three newly carved taonga in memory of Pomana were carried on by Pomana's former students from James Cook High and placed at the foot of the Maori stage. That trophy will be given to the school who is the most passionate to the cause and who stays the most traditional on and off the stage as that was what Hoori was like. George Pomana played many roles at the ASB Polyfest as leader of James Cook High School cultural groups, and Tumuaki and Kaiako of the school's Maori unit. Hammond says this Polyfest is all for him. His spirit was the main reason we arrived to fulfil this part. To bring on his death onto the stage, it has been more than 30 years since we have done this. Next year, Pomana's beloved school, James Cook High School will host the Maori stage. The performances for day one are nearly finished. However, do not forget there are three days left. Tomorrow will be the second day and will see the remainder of the schools in Division Three perform. One Tree Hill College will start off at 8.30am, Rapaera. After the break, Northern Mystics launch their ANZ season, we catch up with up and coming netball star Brooke Watt of Ngai te Rangi descent. And we have the weather. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. Chiefs' halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow is the most recent All Black to be lured offshore. The 26-year-old has just signed a three year deal with French top 14 club La Rochelle and is set to leave the country at the end of 2017 allowing to play out this year's Super Rugby season and helping the Chiefs to another title. Kerr-Barlow made his debut for the All Blacks in 2012 and has since played 25 tests for New Zealand. The Northern Mystics have officially launched their season today and one of their up and coming stars, Ngai Te Rangi's Brooke Watt is biting at the bit to get out on the court. It's her first season at the Auckland-based team and for the Wellington native, it might not be for the team she wanted to play for as a kid, but she is happy and ready to play at the Mystics. Jumping headfirst into a new team in a new city. Watt has been selected for the mystics this year, something she dreamed about as a kid. Grab She grew up in Wellington and it was there she found her love for Netball. Under the guidance of her father Richard, a famous rugby figure and now Hurricanes assistant coach. Another aspect that shows in her play is her fitness. Something she gained from her other passion of Surf Life Saving. And Watt will be showing that fitness off in the new look Netball competition when it kicks off on the 26th of March. Tamati Rimene-Sproat, Te Karere. That's all we have for today. Turou Hawaiki. Kia tau te mauri. Kia ora tatou katoa. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Mangai Paho. Copyright TVNZ 2016. Let's take another look at today's top stories. Now to Economics and Finance. Earlier I asked Brook Grant We're unable to provide subtitles. Brook Grant, thank you. Tumamao Harawira is here to talk sports ahead of the weekend. We're unable to provide subtitles. Tumamao Harawira, thank you. Let's check out our weather cams out in the regions today. We're unable to provide subtitles. We're unable to provide subtitles. Now let's take a look at what Maori Programmes on offer over the weekend. This week on Waka Huia. 10am Sunday TV One. This week on Marae. 10.30am Sunday TV One. And now we talk sports with Jenny-May Coffin. Tena koe, Jenny-May. We're unable to provide subtitles. Jenny-May Coffin, thank you for your time. Let's take another look at this week's top stories. We've had a lot of feedback on our Facebook page. NOT TO BE USED FOR TV - text below is for Twitter - We're on in 10mins. Watch Te Karere LIVE with online streaming. http://bit.ly/S76lXm --- Stream Te Karere LIVE online | Mataki i a Te Karere a-matawa nei ma te ipurangi -- If you have a story for us, email us at TVNZ.co.nz/tekarere. We have Education Minister Hekia Parata live with us now. Tena koe, Hekia. (INSERT FIRST QUESTION HERE) We're unable to provide subtitles. Hekia Parata, thank you for your time. We have Mana Party leader Hone Harawira live with us now. Tena koe, Hone. (INSERT FIRST QUESTION HERE) We're unable to provide subtitles. Hone Harawira, thank you for your time. We have Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta Tena koe, Nanaia. We're unable to provide subtitles. Nanaia Mahuta, thank you. Tena koe, Pita. (INSERT FIRST QUESTION HERE) And we have the weather. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. Chiefs' halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow is the most recent All Black to be lured offshore. The 26-year-old has just signed a three year deal with French top 14 club La Rochelle and is set to leave the country at the end of 2017 allowing to play out this year's Super Rugby season and helping the Chiefs to another title. Kerr-Barlow made his debut for the All Blacks in 2012 and has since played 25 tests for New Zealand. The Northern Mystics have officially launched their season today and one of their up and coming stars, Ngai Te Rangi's Brooke Watt is biting at the bit to get out on the court. It's her first season at the Auckland-based team and for the Wellington native, it might not be for the team she wanted to play for as a kid, but she is happy and ready to play at the Mystics. Jumping headfirst into a new team in a new city. Watt has been selected for the mystics this year, something she dreamed about as a kid. She grew up in Wellington and it was there she found her love for Netball. Under the guidance of her father Richard, a famous rugby figure and now Hurricanes assistant coach. Another aspect that shows in her play is her fitness. Something she gained from her other passion of Surf Life Saving. And Watt will be showing that fitness off in the new look Netball competition when it kicks off on the 26th of March. Tamati Rimene-Sproat, Te Karere. That's all we have for today. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Mangai Paho. Copyright TVNZ 2016.