Kei nga ihoiho o nga maunga whakahi, kei nga wai whakatere taniwha, nau mai, tahuti mai ki Te Hui. Ko Mihingarangi tenei e mihi atu nei ki a koutou katoa. Welcome to The Hui, Maori current affairs for all New Zealanders. E taro ake nei ` To his patients, he's a hero, curing thousands of excruciating cases of eczema. He cured our son from a lifetime of agony and pain. Over decades, Dr Joe Williams has developed his own special eczema treatment with remarkable results. Within a week of using that magical potion, our son's been cleared of the eczema ever since. He has a special place in our heart, Dr Joseph Williams. So why is he being ordered to pay $150,000 in fines and costs? There's nothing wrong with Dr Joe, and there's nothing wrong with his practice of mixing these emulsions. To us, he's a hero. And hence the reason why I'm so passionate about helping clear his name. And she's the first Maori wahine to be elected student president of Victoria University of Wellington. She's a pioneer already, breaking new ground and walking back up the stairs to say, 'Well, if I can do it, you can do it.' A small-town girl with big dreams, Tamatha Paul now has her sights set on Parliament. Yeah, I would actually love a career in politics. We meet the tenacious Tamatha Paul. Karahuihui mai. To his patients, it's a miracle cream, but to the Medical Council it's anything but. Eczema specialist Dr Joe Williams was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay $145,000 in tribunal costs after he was disciplined for over-prescribing a cream that's a combination of a powerful steroid and antifungal drug. The case highlights the divide between those who love his cream and the medical profession who say he's been prescribing it without adequate research. Now some of his patients are speaking out in his defence. Anybody with eczema will tell you the worst thing in the world is the incessant itch that will not go away. An irritating, excruciating disease. When people have got eczema and they scratch, they don't care about ripping the skin off. And that's what I was doing. A disease that's hard to face. It's raw, very stinky. Just raw and sore. All these patients suffer from the skin disease eczema. And the one person who's been able to provide them with relief is now the subject of a disciplinary action by the country's top medical tribunal. I think he deserves a knighthood. (ACOUSTIC GUITAR) Tekou-O-Rehua's son Isaiah was born with eczema. When he was just 2� weeks old, his parents noticed mild forms of the disease on his skin. We found ourselves going to different specialists for his skin. None of which worked. And by the time he was 6 months, he had a severe case of eczema. Dad. Yeah, no, you can't have this. It's too sharp. And then we found out about Dr Joseph Williams. Um, our hero. And his magical potion. And within a week of using that magical potion, our son's been cleared of the eczema ever since. On top of that, the diet our son was given. He was given a great diet, and we stick to that diet to this day. From his Mt Wellington clinic in East Auckland, Dr Jo Williams has been treating people with eczema for 18 years. They come from far and wide to see him. One of his new patients is former Cabinet minister Tau Henare. I went in on Monday. Today is Thursday. I haven't scratched. My self esteem ` cos you can't wear short-sleeved T-shirts ` which I love to wear ` because of my elbows. It just looks paru. Now he's one of thousands of people Dr Jo has successfully helped through his unique cream called Betaclom, along with a detailed eczema treatment plan, which includes eliminating around 38 different foods like junk food, milk products, lollies, tomato sauce, Milo and acidic fruits. He introduced me to not only the cream but the dietary stuff, trying to figure out what have you been eating to cause this. And it's a whole lot of things. It's a bit of a process of elimination. But it's this Betaclom ointment that many of his former patients describe as a miracle cream. It's a combination of steroid and antifungal creams developed by Dr Jo over decades of treating patients. It's actually an immediate reaction to the cream ` his mix of medicines. I was over the moon. Stand in front of the mirror just being amazed at watching the stuff go in front of my eyes. But despite producing what can only be described as miraculous results, Dr Jo's Betaclom cream is anything but a miracle to the Medical Council of New Zealand. Several complaints by fellow medical practitioners saw Dr Jo brought before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. I didn't even imagine that anybody would have complained against me, because of the results that I have witnessed. Throughout the hearing, the Medical Council concentrated on the concerns of mixing an antifungal cream with the potent steroid cream without proper analysis of the consequences and adequate formal research. The doctors said that the quantity and the potency of the cream was far in excess of what was needed and that Dr Jo did not sufficiently assess potential side effects. Another major factor was Dr Jo didn't adhere to the concerns raised by medical professionals regarding his treatment. The tribunal found he also failed to keep detailed notes. What's surprising about this is of all the 12 patients or parents of patients whose examples were used to build the case against Dr Jo, not one of them had made a formal complaint about his treatment. There's a lack of transparency here about what did he do wrong. I can't figure out what he did wrong. He's still fixing our kids, our babies, our mokos, you know? And for that, I think he deserves a knighthood. Dr Jo was found guilty by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. He was fined $10,000 and he was ordered to pay $145,000 in tribunal costs. We wanted to ask the Medical Council why they saw the prosecution of Dr Jo as a priority and whether they thought the fine was appropriate, given no one was harmed by his treatment. But they declined to speak to us about his case. However, in an email, they said the Medical Council expects all doctors to ensure that their prescribing of potent steroids is appropriate and responsible and that any such prescribing takes into account relevant warnings and contraindications. Have you paid it? No. Will you pay it? The, um, the $145,000 I understand is going to be paid by the Medical Protection Society. The $10,000 I have to pay myself. Now thousands of his former and current patients have come out in support of Dr Jo on social media, even starting petitions to clear his name. He cured our son. He cured our son from a lifetime of agony and pain. He has a special place in our heart, Dr Joseph Williams. And that's why I'm passionate about making sure he gets his name cleared. I've just been completely surprised by the thousands and thousands and thousands of people on Facebook. When I see this type of reaction, the result, it's... makes me feel good. There's no doubt in my mind that it works. And people are showing that by vote of confidence they have. The recent Facebook revelations are quite telling. To the Minister of Health, all I would ask is have a look into it. Not your officials, but you. Have a look into it. Dr Williams appealed the tribunal's decision to the High Court and lost. But at 83, he hasn't lost his passion for helping eczema sufferers and is still working from his clinic in Mt Wellington, much to the relief of his patients. We've had people ring up and say, 'Are you still open? Is Dr Williams still practising?' 'Is he still giving the cream out?' There are calls even from Australia. From Australia that` And are you? Are you still operating? Yes. Yes, we're still operating. But in operating, I still have to adhere to what the Medical Council has asked me not to do, and that's not to give the beta cream for people below the age of 12. But what we've given as an alternative, the mixture of hydrocortisone and clomazol, is doing just as good. And that's good news for kids like Isaiah. Na Billie Jo Ropiha tera purongo. In an email to The Hui, the Medical Council says it does not intend to comment on the tribunal's penalty decision against Dr Williams other than to note the purpose of professional discipline and penalties is to protect the public and maintain professional standards. Next on The Hui, we meet the first wahine Maori to be elected student president of Victoria University. Hoki mai ano. One of the oldest and largest university student associations in the country is undergoing a changing of the guards ` a change that's been more than 120 years in the making. For the first time in its history, Victoria University Student Association will have a Maori woman as its president. Ruwani Perera went to Poneke to meet Tamatha Paul, who's breaking barriers in the university's hallowed halls. 21-year-old Tamatha Paul is a breath of fresh air in one of our oldest tertiary institutions, becoming their very first wahine Maori to be elected student president. There's so many ways that the educational structure disadvantages Maori. And there's so many people like myself that are willing to contribute to it to make it less so. Steeped in colonial history, she's ringing in the change at Victoria University. She's a pioneer already, breaking new ground and walking back up the stairs to say, 'Well, if I can do it, you can do it.' (LAID BACK MUSIC) Tamatha was elected president of Victoria's student association earlier this month after a successful campaign on issues that were close to her heart. Uni is really stressful for everybody. Doesn't matter how rich your family are or where you come from, if it isn't your studies, then it's your finances, and if it isn't your finances, then it's your health. But what are we actually gonna do about it? That's kinda how I got into it, and just catching that bug for campaigning and being able to create real, tangible change, is, I think, the most addictive thing about it. And then also seeing the benefits that come into other people's lives. She says she never campaigned on the fact that she would be the first wahine Maori president, but given the university is over a century old, it was about time. It's an honour to be the first. But it's also a little bit sad that` You know, Victoria's been around since 1899, and VUSA has been around for many, many decades, and that we are only just now getting our first wahine Maori president. And I think about all the very capable Maori women that I know who've come through this university, and I just think to myself ` if only VUSA had grasped those opportunities rather than sticking with what they've traditionally stuck with. But I'm really happy. Better now than never, I suppose. Tamatha was dux of Tokoroa High School. Pretty impressive for someone who describes themselves as an angry young person and a less-than-perfect student. I think it came from being from a small town, being Maori, and always having decisions made for us. And I always felt that that was wrong. And I think that's what interested me in being able to represent the people that were around me and myself properly, rather than having other people speak for us. Helping the community in her home town is Tamatha's main motivation for pursuing a tertiary education, becoming the first in her whanau to go to uni. I always thought to myself, 'I'm the first; I need to do this strongly 'and I need to make my family proud.' They're just so supportive and so proud, yeah. And it wouldn't have been possible were it not for a generous $30,000 grant. Would university have been an option if you hadn't got that scholarship? Nah. No way. I'm so appreciative for that scholarship, and there's no way I would've been able to go to uni without it. Her historic appointment is being applauded by Victoria University's deputy vice chancellor Professor Rawinia Higgins. About 11% of our student population are Maori. We're hoping to grow that over the years. So I think with people like Tamatha showing leadership in that space, it sends a signal that Maori voices are wanting to be heard at the university. So I have the utmost faith in her and her leadership style. BOTH: Kia ora. How's it goin'? She's still keen to learn and make new connections. Tamatha was introduced to MP for Rongotai Paul Eagle while she was campaigning for the presidency. I can tell you this ` when she came in, she needed no help. She was very clear around what she wanted to campaign on. And that impressed me. I thought, 'Wow, this person's pretty special.' Eagle is the first Maori man to win a general electorate seat in Labour's 100-year history, and the two now catch up regularly. He says her energy and fresh ideas offer something unique to the presidency role. She will bring a completely different perspective, and she will be magnetic. She will attract a new kind of student and probably open doors to people who thought that sort of an institution. But Tam will be able to open those doors up and go, 'Welcome. Haere mai.' Tamatha says while she's not aligned to one political party, she's always admired former prime minister David Lange. He was a prime minister for the people. He's just an amazing orator. I wish I could speak as well as him, and hopefully one day I will be able to. I like the way that he articulates his thoughts and the way that it's always people-centric. And tonight she's channelling her idol, making an oral submission at an environmental select committee on offshore oil permits. How can we fulfil this duty when some of those entrusted with the resources that we need to prosper are so short-sighted and preoccupied by economic gain and 'innovation' that they cannot see the long-term, irreparable damage that they are contributing to that we have to deal with? It's just about having our voice heard and being considered in those conversations. It's just hoping that it informs their decision-making, and that's why I try to appeal to people's humanity. If you can get someone to empathise with you and with your cause and with your kaupapa, you'll probably be a lot more powerful. Despite being the first female Maori president, Tamatha certainly doesn't feel alone. I'm very lucky that I've been able to be surrounded by tuakana that have helped me through this experience, and I wouldn't be here without them, for sure, and that's just older students and lecturers and older figures in my life that have all helped me get to this point. Tamatha is excited to lead a new executive team next year, one that better reflects its 22,000 student members. It's definitely the most diverse group of student members that we've ever had. It's 70% people of colour, and I think that's a real strong point for us. I'm just buzzing with ideas about how we can bring it all together and how we can all work together. In December, Tamatha will graduate with a degree in political studies at Vic Uni's Te Herenga Waka Marae before taking up her role as president ` a first step in what looks like a promising future in politics. She's got a bright future ahead. The council chamber of Victoria University is too small. She'll be knocking on Parliament's door. This amendment has the power to change... Her appearance at select committee a taste of what's to come. I'm not as embarrassed to say that I wanna be a politician any more because I think that I have the values that are missing, the humanity that's missing. So, yeah, I would actually love a career in politics. Na Ruwani Perera tera purongo. Kia mau tonu mai ra te titiro ` coming up, a special word slam performance. Auraki mai ano. You'll remember earlier this year we broadcast a performance by a group of poetry slam artists from Nga Puna o Waiorea at Western Springs College. Well, they ended up winning the competition, and now Nga Hine Pukorero will compete at the Trans-Tasman Poetry Slam in Melbourne. But they need some help getting there, so to tell us about it I'm joined now by Terina Wichman-Evans, Arihia Hall, Matariki Bennett and Manaia Tuwhare-Hoani. Tena koutou. Well done. Congratulations. ALL: Thank you. What was the feedback from the judges about your performance? We were, um... ...awesome? ...awesome, yeah! No, there was a lot of positive feedback about the kind of messages we were spreading, which is exactly what we wanted. And it was just amazing to get our message out there and to perform it the way that we wanted to perform it. And so how much practice are you putting in for Melbourne? Lots. Yeah, still working hard, but it's hard to put time into it when we've got stuff like exams and fundraising as well. But we're doing well. Tell us about the fundraising that's organised. Cos I guess you need to get on the plane and get over there. Yeah. So what's happening coming up this week? This week we are holding a fundraiser Tuesday night at school, and it is a showcase where we're getting a few other schools that performed in the competition to perform, and we're getting artists like Melodownz and JessB. Coming to support you? Yeah. And we also have Te Kahu Rolleston coming to perform as well. Wow. I said to you earlier, 'Do you guys talk in unison?' (LAUGHTER) All the time. You just find yourself just talking along with each other and finishing off the sentences? Yeah. And it's really funny, we'll just quote poems out of nowhere. We'll come up with lines and say them all together. Mm. Well, we're really excited because you guys are going to share some new material with us shortly. So while we let you get ready, we're gonna have a look at what's happening next week. Hei tera wiki, he kaupapa koko-raho. A generation tasked with righting the wrongs of the past. I am the great-great-great granddaughter of Piripi Te Maari. In the 1800s, Piripi Te Maari fought for 30 years in regard to Wairarapa moana. At the heart of the dispute, the third largest lake in the North Island. What I'd like to see is for the Crown to do the right thing. Is this effectively a protest? It's more than a protest. But not everyone agrees. We have an opportunity to move forward. And quite frankly, some of us have to build a bridge and have the courage to walk over it. Now the descendants of Lake Wairarapa are locked in a bitter struggle with one another. As you push on with your own Treaty claim here, you'll probably ruffle the feathers of the claims that've been settled. Yeah. We're totally conscious every time we took a step forward that we were swimming against the current. That story next week. Now here to perform their latest work, anei ko Nga Hine Pukorero. (CLICKS FINGERS) ALL: Have you ever seen a generation collapse? I haven't. I've only heard about it. Through a phone call. Followed by the smell of smoke. Calling me home. ALL: Getting to the marae some time around dawn,... Sitting by the fire in the kitchen, keeping my feet of the cold concrete floor,... ...watching my mother hold back tears as the flowers fell of the pohutukawa tree. ALL: The burial was not the hardest part. It was having to get a new funeral dress every few years. (SINGS IN MAORI) My dad was in Christchurch, but there was an earthquake, his mind quaked, and the city of his thoughts were sent into shock. ALL: Have you ever heard of the ripple effect? With shaking knees we dropped our tributes into the grave. (SINGS IN MAORI) I couldn't stop thinking about Grandma in the kitchen, or Grandma laughing at the dinner table. ALL: Seeing your face all over my home. (WAHINE SINGS IN MAORI) On book covers, on a mural in a Whangarei tunnel. ALL: My mud-stained hands reaching out for yours. (SINGS IN MAORI) Sitting cross-legged on the church floor, making eye contact with the stained-glass Jesus... ...I've tried to talk to more than my own grandmother. ALL: I don't know what I believe in. Maybe praying will loosen the knot in my throat. Did you know that whanau pani weren't allowed to eat? We were expected to sit by the tupapaku. But death is like hospital food. ALL: NO matter how many times you've eaten it, it never becomes any easier to swallow. Black coffee and life support machines. I seem to think about her illness more than her life. ALL: Breathing in grief and exhaling sorrow. (SINGS IN MAORI) I hear your name when I read mine aloud. Sometimes I wish my only memories of you weren't told by someone else. It's a strange thing. ALL: Knowing someone without knowing someone. (SINGS IN MAORI) There are different variations of the same story through someone else's memory. ALL: I met my grandparents when I heard their eulogies. Dad was standing at the altar, compacting 82 years of life down into a few minutes. ALL: Have you seen the way a librarian can be forgotten in a cemetery? (SINGS IN MAORI) Losing more knowledge than we have obtained. My granddad's books were buried alongside him. They're slowly turning into dust. ALL: It's hard to imagine you were ever alive when all I've seen of you is frozen and fading photographs. I just wish I could remember his voice. Not a recording that I play to remind myself you were here once. ALL: I wonder what you would think of me now, trying to follow in your footsteps. I've been to more tangi than weddings. The fragrance of fake flowers. And engraved headstones. ALL: Black dresses and gumboots. Mum smoothing down my damp hair. ALL: It only ever rains at funerals. I don't know you. ALL: But I have vowed that I'll never forget you. E kore rawa e warewaretia. # Hei kona au # titiro atu ai # o ra mate # Hei au koe noho ai. # Ka pai, he ataahua tera. Tena rawa atu koutou, kua haramai ki te tari nei. Make sure you get along to their fundraising concert this Tuesday at Western Springs College. Tickets available from Eventbrite.com. Or check out their givealittle page on our Facebook page. Kua hikina Te Hui mo tenei ra. Pai marire ki a tatou katoa. Captions by Tracey Dawson. www.able.co.nz Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2018