Coming up on Te Karere... Are controversial medicinal cannabis laws set to be watered down? A Kura Kaupapa Maori hits back at claims of frivolous spending for an overseas trip. And we track the development of Maori in soccer, and we reveal on Te Karere the first Maori women's soccer team. 19 December 2017 Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. The government seems be bracing for a back down on medicinal cannabis legislation, with Health Minister reportedly at pains to manage expectations. And as Ripeka Timutimu reports, one advocate for medicinal cannabis is asking the government to reconsider its position. Dr Huhana Hickey says the cost of medicinal cannabis products has forced her to go back to a cocktail of prescription medication. And she has a message for the government. Hickey suffers from multiple sclerosis and says medicinal cannabis products offer her some pain relief. She says there is now a black market for the products. Today the government stayed quiet on exactly what the bill will look like. Hickey says products should be made in New Zealand to cut costs for people like her. The government is expected to push the bill to its first reading in the house to tomorrow afternoon. Ripeka Timutimu, Te Karere. The Auckland Relocation Grant Scheme will be cancelled by the government. The government says offering people $5000 to help them move out of the city is "just moving housing pressure to other parts of New Zealand". The previous government introduced the scheme in June last year to help relieve Auckland's housing shortage. Several hundred families and individuals took it up and it was extended in December last year. Housing Minister Phil Twyford says it has had the effect of increasing state house waiting lists in other towns and cities. Phil Twyford says the scheme will be cut by February. A perfect storm has hit renters with the number of rental properties on the market halving since last year and prices hitting a record high, Trade Me says. It found the country's median rent hit a record $460 per week in November as there were 49% less properties listed compared to a year earlier. Wellington was hardest-hit with 71% less rentals. The biggest rental market - Auckland is still struggling to meet demand - with 35% less rentals compared to last year. The whanau at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Hoani Waititi are furious they have has been lumped in an Auditor General's report of schools with questionable spending practices, over an overseas trip. The board chair says the whanau worked and saved hard to make the journey of rediscovery a reality. Te Okiwa McLean has more. The chairman is highly annoyed. We're not worried one bit, who paid the trip? The school did. In 2016, the kura whanau embarked on a major international curriculum project that involved the entire kura travelling to Rarotonga to engage in an indigenous foreign cultural exchange. The swam in the waters our ancestors swam in, they touched the seven stones of the waka that voyaged across the Pacific Ocean, so mate, there's no better experience than that! $250,000 funded 250 staff members and students and the chairman of the school says it was all pure hard work. We are concerned at the system this group has followed - the money was raised over the last 10 to 15 years and we aren't concerned one bit. The Auditor-General reported a number of schools who had been involved in fraudulent and questionable financial activity. Blockhouse Bay intermediate in 2016 spent $7000 on a farewell party. Kingsford School in Mangere, gave its principal Rex Buckley $10,000 worth of vouchers as a leaving gift last year. Manurewa West School paid for five staff to visit Kuala Lumpur in 2016 as part of a tour of schools in Singapore, and no evidence of educational outcomes was presented to the board for this part of the trip. If Waititi was in danger we would hire in a commissioner or our school would be closed but is it like that? No! We are financially stable and nor do we owe funds to the MoE or the government. We're just experts at fundraising. Minister of Education Chris Hipkins is reluctant to single out specific schools and awaits another report from the MoE. Te Okiwa McLean, Te Karere. There are mixed options among government ministers as to whether or not there should be a combined Maori language tv news service. The head of Maori broadcasting funding agency Te Mangai Paho, Larry Parr says it doesn't make any sense for it to be funding two separate Maori language tv news bulletins. TVNZ's CEO Kevin Kenrick has confirmed that there have been discussions about this with Maori TV and Te Mangai Paho. However, Labour minister's Nanaia Mahuta and Peeni Henare had varied opinions. What I would like to see is what the plan forward for us is. Because when it comes to journalism it's not only just about TV now. I have no opinion on this, on whether it will be good or not. In my opinion, this is something that should be looked into by those who are in the know. If the government does buy into a single Maori language tv news bulletin, it wouldn't happen until 2019. Former Chief Executive of Air New Zealand, Rob Fyfe, has been appointed an independent adviser for the Pike River re-entry. The minister responsible for Pike River re-entry, Andrew Little, said today Mr Fyfe will provide "crucial advice" to ensure the quality of information he receives from the Pike River Recovery Agency and to ensure another safeguard for the families of the victims. Mr Fyfe will take up the role from January 31 next year, when Te Kahui Whakamana Rua Tekau ma Iwa - Pike River Recovery Agency will be formally established. A 90-year-old whose failing eyesight was worsened by a cobra strike when he was a serving New Zealand soldier in Malaya has won his fight for compensation. Patrick Edwards has argued with military pension providers about his cover since 1966, with veteran's affairs and the crown repeatedly saying his condition could not be linked to his service. He served in the New Zealand army from 1959 until 1962. He was spat at by a cobra, getting venom in his eyes, while on patrol in 1961. By 1989 he was totally blind but the argument has always been whether the venom caused it. A judgement released by the High Court at Wellington on Monday by Justice Joe Williams, says the pension should have been granted after his release from the army in 1966. After the break, Curtis Rona is being chased hard by union and league clubs. Where is he going next year? The Maori football teams have been named for the upcoming clashes against Australia's indigenous teams! I've got more details after the break. To sport news now and there's been a major development for Maori soccer today. Te Karere can exclusively reveal the Maori women's team, named Mauri, will play the Mariya, the indigenous Australian side, in January. Tamati Rimene-Sproat caught up with one of the Mauri key players and also spoke to a very excited coach. Maori football flying into the field of dreams. Both Sam and Dan have been selected for Maori men's and women's teams to play in the inaugural games against Australian indigenous teams. The games, set to be played in January, The games, set to be played in January, are a first for Maori football as it continues to grow and develop. Haua has long been in and under Maori football systems. Tawharu has also represented NZ at u17 level and its likely looking at u20 selection. Both are excited by the future of this new venture and the opportunities it will bring. The competition is expected to be tough. The women's have been named, the men's team will be named in the coming weeks. Tamati Rimene-Sproat, Te Karere. And for the full 'Mauri' team list as well all the support staff, go to Te Karere Facebook page. Wallabies back Curtis Rona's desire to play at the 2019 world cup has led to him signing for the NSW Waratahs, instead of going overseas or returning to rugby league. Rona played three tests for the Wallabies this year after moving across from NRL side Canterbury to join the Western Force. With that franchise cut from super rugby, Rona opted to sign a two-year deal with the Waratahs. The 25-year-old only had one season in rugby with the ill-fated Force but opted to stay I n Australian rugby despite having offers to go overseas and return to rugby league. To netball now, mid-courter Grace Kara and defender Phoenix Karaka will make their return to the Silvers Ferns for the Netball Quad Series in January. The recently married Kara (nee Rasmussen) and Karaka both missed the 4-0 Constellation Cup defeat to Australia in October. They have been included in a 14-strong touring squad for the series in England and South Africa, which also involves the Diamonds. The series is the last chance for players to press their claims for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April. Let's take another look at today's top stories. Are controversial medicinal cannabis laws set to be watered down? A Kura Kaupapa Maori hits back at claims of frivolous spending for an overseas trip. And we track the development of Maori in soccer, and we reveal on Te Karere the first Maori women's soccer team. After the break, the presenter who's taking Maori produce to the world. And we have the weather. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. A new television series for TVNZ 1 aims to show NZ what it takes to get Maori produce into some of the highest value markets around the world. From the Gate to the Globe is the name is the series and for the young presenter of the show, it's also been a journey of getting to know more about his own Maoritanga and gaining a sense of pride that Maori are smashing it on the world stage. Gate To the Globe, a new show that highlights Maori business. Tim Lambourne is the man who connects the people of the land and sea and their products to the markets where they are sold. He says butter that comes from milk on Maori farm Paraninihi ki Waitotara is very popular in Southeast Asia. And it's the story and values of the food and the people who care for it that resonates with overseas consumers. Lambourne is of Ngati Kahungunu descent but he says it was the series that gave him a sense of Maori pride. Gate to Globe's first episode will air on January 17. Irena Smith, Te Karere. That's all we have for today. Kia tau te mauri. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Mangai Paho. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Mangai Paho. Copyright TVNZ 2017.