Coming up on Te Karere... Local hapu in North Hokianga band together to buy back privately owned Motukaraka Island. Workers' Unions are calling today's equity pay settlement a massive win for low-paid workers. 18 April 2017 Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. A hapu in the Far North is banding together to buy back Motukaraka Island. According to them, Motukaraka is a sacred place and it will stay as a reserve for the public. However, the island is currently owned by a Pakeha family and time is running out to make an offer of purchase. Irena Smith has this report. This island is for sale, but Ngai Tupato hapu say it needs to be protected for the benefit of all. They've started fundraising to buy the island. The hapu say they're doing it for a very important reason. The island has been privately owned by a Pakeka family for 150 years, the hapu say despite requests the owners didn't consent. The family who own the island say that if the hapu wants to they are more than welcome to put in a bid to buy the island. Buying group, Bayley's, says the 14 HA island is worth $85,000. The island is in the Hokianga Harbour and is accessed via ferry from Rawene. One week remains for fund raising. Next Wednesday is the deadline for the tendering part of the process. Irena Smith, Te Karere. Workers' unions are calling today's equity pay settlement a massive win for low-paid workers who are mainly women. The government is about to announce that employees who work in the aged residential care, home support and disability service sectors will be getting a pay increase. Our reporter Eruera Rerekura joins us live where unions are celebrating the announcement. This is without a doubt a significant day for low wage workers and the union. Behind me, they are celebrating what they have been fighting for, to increase the income of workers in the health sect like Kristine Bartlett. The unions are calling it a big win for low paid workers - the majority of them women. There will be a pay increase for 55,000 workers. It will affect workers in three government sectors. Kristine Bartlett is one of those workers whose pay will increase by 43% to $23 an hour. And, he believes that economy will grow in those communities. And Kristine Bartlett believes New Zealand has paved the pathway for women who've been paid less. So that's right, Bill English will announce all of those particular aspects. The new payments will start in July, Rapaera. A new education report produced for the treasury has found that teacher bias in schools is harmful to Maori, but a kura kaupapa Maori in West Auckland with a stellar pass rate says that schools aren't the only problem, and that students are putting off attending university for the same reason. Hania Douglas reports. There's a report on the negative impacts teacher bias has on Maori students. However, this kura kaupapa Maori stalwart says it's nothing new. The treasury report, by Prof Helen Temperley and Sarah Mayo, advises teachers have lower expectations of Maori students, so their students aren't realising their potential. Bev Manahi says these inconsistencies don't just appear in schools, they're also apparent in tertiary education. Whaea Bev has long been a fixture at TKKM o Hoani Waititi, a school that features highly in education stats. She says education needs to focus on and highlight Education Minister Hekia Parata has said Maori students are able to meet expectations set for them, which is why teachers expectations need to be raised. Hania Douglas, Te Karere. After the break, Waikato-Tainui's Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga is named the top decile one school in the country. With parliament in recess for the next two weeks, we spoke to the Minister of Maori Development Te Ururoa Flavell earlier today. We're unable to provide subtitles. Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga have been named the top decile one school in the country. The Huntly based kura a-iwi are really proud with their outcome. As Te Okiwa McLean reports, as well as academics, the school is a kaupapa driven school including Kingitanga events, poukai, and NZ land war commemorations. Kura a-iwi takes full flight in academics. Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga have been named the top decile one school in the country. Their students excelled NCEA level 1 at 92%, level 2 at 100% and level 3 at 95%. This has been a long term goal. Besides class room activities, they have a full on extra-curricular programme, being involved in Kingitanga events and commemorating the land wars. According to the board - they must go up a notch this year. It's the embodiment of the saying a child that is nurtured on home soil will go out into the world and thrive in excellence. Te Okiwa McLean, Te Karere. Let's take another look at today's top stories. A Hokainga-based hapu are banding together to buy back Motukaraka Island. Worker's union celebrate pay increase as a massive win for low-paid workers. Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi discuss the bias their students encounter outside of school in tertiary education. After the break, we touch base with Crusaders assistant coach Leon MacDonald as they look to maintain their unbeaten record in this year's super rugby comp. And we have the weather. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. The Crusaders are at the top of the super rugby table, unbeaten after seven rounds. Led by Maori assistant coach and former Crusader full back Leon MacDonald. They will be looking to maintain their premier form against the Stormers this weekend, the first South African team they have faced all year. Tamati Rimene-Sproat has the story. A legendary All Black, and Maori All Black. He is leading his team to the top of the super rugby competition. This year is Leon Macdonald's first in the super rugby competition with the Crusaders and they are tasting success as well. He's excited about this season and the many challenges that lay ahead. One of them is leading the Crusaders against the British Lions in June. He is also excited for the clash against the Stormers this weekend. They are a new opponent to take on. It'll be a stimulating year ahead for him and his team. Kick-off is at 7.30PM in Christchurch. Tamati Rimene-Sproat, Te Karere. To netball the Central Pulse claimed their third victory in the national premiership over-night after out-shining the Northern Stars 53-44. Despite having home court advantage, the Stars struggled against a formidable Pulse defence. The Central Pulse move to second on the ANZ Premiership table behind the unbeaten Southern Steel. That's all we have for today. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Mangai Paho.