Coming up on Te Karere... The quest for the return of Mt Taranaki to iwi reaches a significant milestone. And as medicinal cannabis legislation reaches parliament, an iwi enterprise is already gearing up to be the first NZ based producer of such products. The controversial walking track up Te Mata o Rongokako is being challenged legally. 20 December 2017 Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. A significant milestone is happening right now at parliament for Taranaki iwi. For more let's cross live to political reporter Eruera Rerekura Eru. Scotty, the powhiri to Ngati Maru finished a few minutes ago. Ngati Maru is here to sign the first phase of their treaty settlement. Last of the Taranaki iwi to settle. It triggers a collective of Taranaki iwi push for the return of Taranaki Maunga. Earlier I spoke to the Treaty Negotiations Minister and here's what he had to say. Eru, apparently once the maunga is returned, Taranaki iwi have another request that is similar to their southern neighbours in Whanganui? I've just spoken to Ngati Maru negotiator Andrew Marshall and he added that aside from the return of the maunga they want Taranaki to be declared a living entity like the Whanganui river. Scotty this was also a significant day for Ngati Tuwharetoa and there'll be a full comprehensive report tomorrow on Te Karere on this historic day iwi. Eruera Rerekura, thank you. Pharmacies could soon be responsible for distributing medicinal cannabis that's grown in New Zealand. Health Minister David Clark is introducing the misuse of drugs amendment bill to parliament today, which he says will make cannabis products more available to patients with a terminal illness or in chronic pain. An advisory committee will be established to review the current standards surrounding the medicinal cannabis. The scheme also allows for the domestic cultivation and manufacture of medicinal cannabis products, including oils and balms. And it seems like a Ruatoria-based business is all set to make the most of future opportunities in the medicinal cannabis market. Hikurangi Enterprises has already successfully conducted a hemp growing operation. Irena Smith reports they've also started the process of getting its own medicinal cannabis products to clinical trials. It's made his day and gives Hikurangi Enterprises the mandate to continue the work they have already started. These are some of the products they have already trialled, oils and balms which are products of their first hemp harvest. Nine months after their Hemp harvest they have a licence to grown medicinal marijuana. They believe the medicine must be affordable. Christmas has arrived early but it a gift that the community will benefit from but also those who are suffering the pain of terminal illness. Irena Smith, Te Karere. A ban on seafood harvesting has been placed on the popular Matai Bay on the Karikari Peninsula this morning in Northland. The rahui has been put in place to replenish the fisheries which local iwi say is seriously depleted. The rahui will be in place until at least March 2020. Rahui supporters will be patrolling the beaches to ensure members of the public are well informed. A Givealittle page has been set up to fundraise for the cause. After the break, the controversial walking track up Te Mata o Rongokako is being challenged legally. Waikaremoana locals foster their food producing traditions. The controversy over a walking track on Te Mata o Rongokako reached another level today. The iconic Hawke's Bay landmark is the focus of a battle after a local vineyard received resource council consent to carve out a walking track up the mountain. The development has upset local iwi, and as Hania Douglas reports, an environmental legal group has now entered the fray demanding the site be returned to its former glory. And so the fight for Te Mata o Rongokako gains a new soldier. Ngati Kahungunu was upset to find a walkway dug into their sacred mountain. And Garry Taylor of the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) says they are right to be upset. We at TVNZ made contact with the Hastings District Council. Spokesman John O'Shaughnessy says 'the proper process has been followed, and the issue of the resource consent for the track was the correct outcome of that process. Taylor says that while Craggy Range may be able to claim ignorance, the council should have known better. The iwi is happy to have the support of EDS, Tomorrow, we the mana whenua will meet with EDS Taylor goes on to say that if Craggy Range does not agree to restore the damage to the mountain, they will be taking court action in the new year to render the resource consent void. Hania Douglas, Te Karere. The pristine beauty of Lake Waikaremoana is well known, here and abroad. Its tracks that traverse the Urewera National Park are classified as one of NZ's 'Great Walks'. But the area is also home to Tuhoe and Ruapani. And they organised an event at their marae that celebrates their unique identity, their food harvesting traditions, and as Rapaera Tawhai reports, they're also adopting modern techniques to produce food. Planting food and also planting the seed of education into their descendants. It's learning our Tuhoe traditions. Planting the ideas into the heads of our younger generation. The initiative is a smaller part of the Taraipara o Waikaremoana Initiative where families from Waikaremoana come together at Waimako Marae to learn ways of planting food, cooking and just having fun. Learning our Tuhoetanga and ways of the marae, and how to look after the well-being of our families as well. It was cool to hang out with my cousins. It was cool to hang out with my cousins. According to Stats NZ, the population of Waikaremoana is under 500 people. So the good thing about this initiative is it draws its people home. This place as you can see is beautiful too. The younger generation agrees. What's so great about Waikaremoana? The sea, the view, the mountains, the tracks, swimming and many horses. Yes, the many horses that I own. Don't worry if you missed out, they will be holding similar workshops next year. Rapaera Tawhai, Te Karere. From an iwi in the hinterlands to one based in our country's biggest city. Ngati Whatua Orakei is set to launch an app for visitors that tells the iwi's history in Auckland. As Te Okiwa McLean reports, it's a multi-lingual resource that charts stories from ancient to modern times. An insight into Ngati Whatua Orakei's history. It was asked, who would these korero be for? They're for all Ngati Whatua Orakei and the wider public. Ngati Whatua Orakei is embarking on a ground-breakinghigh-techventure with the launch of an augmented reality (AR) walking tour of Takaparawhau, Bastion Point. The augmented reality aspect is just outstanding. Tourists have been coming here for a long time, to do what? To sightsee. Now they can also learn history and whakapapa and gain a deeper appreciation for the history of this land. This part of town gets packed with tourists and this app provides three languages, te reo Maori, English and Chinese. We'll likely add support for other languages as well. The iwi's vision is to expand its resources. Tourism and all the industry it brings is huge. We'd like to see Ngati Whatua Orakei get a slice of the tourism pie. This app is now available on Google Play and App Store on January 9. Te Okiwa McLean, Te Karere. Let's take another look at today's top stories. The quest for the return of Mt Taranaki to iwi Let's take another look at today's top stories. The quest for the return of Mt Taranaki to iwi reaches a significant milestone. And as medicinal cannabis legislation reaches parliament, an iwi enterprise is already gearing up to be the first NZ based producer of such products. The controversial walking track up Te Mata o Rongokako is being challenged legally. After the break we have the weather. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. That's all we have for today.