Coming up on Te Karere Two Oranga Tamariki staff members stood down after allegations of sexual assault in residences. Ōpōtiki College is forced to take refuge at Terere Marae after unsafe building materials found in classrooms. And the new state of the art infrastructure giving Ngāi Tāmanuhiri clean drinking water all year round. 21 June 2023 Tēnā koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. Two Oranga Tamariki staff members have been stood down pending a police investigation over allegations of sexual behaviour towards five young people in its residences. Oranga Tamariki officials fronting media earlier this afternoon saying "these two cases are two too many" For the latest developments, let's cross live to our political reporter, Te Okiwa McLean standing by at Parliament, Te Okiwa, what can you tell us? Definitely Scotty. Two Oranga Tamariki staff have been removed for their alleged involvement in abuse with five children across two cases that are currently under investigation. We spoke with Oranga Tamariki heads who are absolutely angry because this casts a dark shadow on all the good work Oranga Tamariki has achieved in fixing the system over the past year. Let's check out this report. Oranga Tamariki is the ministry responsible to care for the country's most vulnerable children. But they are now back on the chopping block. There are a total of five children affected in the two cases, with allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour by two Oranga Tamariki staffers. The incidents occurred across a youth justice and care protection facility. One being this facility in Waiwhetu, the location of the other is unknown. 67 percent of children in state care are of Māori descent, a topic that had MP's fired up. A lot of our uplifted tamariki are victims to sexual assault and inappropriate touching going on. That's why we're saying that funding should be given to iwi and hapū because we're more than capable of looking after our own. This isn't the first time OT has being under fire for such allegations, the minister is brassed off as they have made so much progress in the last few years. In these facilities designed especially for our young people I am hearing these accusations. Those claims need to be investigated. Former Police Commissioner Mike Bush is leading the rapid review into Oranga Tamariki facilities to identify any red flags to address, so, that this is not repeated. The rapid review into the ministry's facilities will kick off this Friday with more information on the case once investigations are complete. Scotty, this isn't the only major issue to come to light here in Wellington. Just in the last hour PM Chris Hipkins has confirmed Michael Wood will step down and resign as Transport Minister. Why? Because he did not correctly disclose his shares and interests in trusts throughout Aotearoa. He's brought this on himself for not declaring properly his shares with Auckland Airport. Here's what the PM had to say earlier. It's been a busy day here at Parliament. I'll be keeping a close eye on everything happening over the next few days. My friend that's two very big issues you've covered off today. Thank you for doing that, tēnā koe. After having the water from their land taken to supply the town of Gisborne for 70 years, the iwi of Ngāi Tāmanuhiri and Muriwai community in Te Tairāwhiti now have access to drinking water all-year round, with the installation of a new community water fountain. Te Kuru Dewes has more. After a long battle across three generations, the rural community of Muriwai has its own water supply. The elders over the years, perhaps seventy years they fought this battle, so it’s a important day for the elders of Ngāi Tāmanuhiri. For Ngāi Tāmanuhiri and the community of Muriwai, water is invaluable and a foundation of their identity. The water comes from Mangapoike, from the lands and waters of Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, down into Gisborne, now it comes back through the pipes to this here water station. Four taps are set to fill a range of containers, a 750ml drink bottle, 2L container, 10L container and a cube in an automatic push-button system. There’s also a pump to fill a tanker that is for refilling the rainwater tanks in the community when there’s a drought. This station is for all of the villagers of Te Muriwai and all of Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, they can come and fill up their own bottles and containers, as well as their tanks. The land where it stands is owned by Kiwirail and was gifted back to the iwi for this project. Historical narratives has been used to adorn the station by Ngāi Tāmanuhiri artist Maia Gibbs. This land is where the soldiers disembarked the train after WWII, on their way back to Gisborne, the nannies stood here and yelled at them to disembark, so those stories are represented here in the arms of this water station. The 2.5 million dollar project was funded by the Government in 2020. We are carefully weaving those relationships with local council and the Crown so this is a new pathway for us to move forward. Water is life. Te Kuru o te Marama Dewes, Te Karere. Ōpōtiki College has had to relocate to a local marae due to black mould throughout its buildings, local iwi leaders are calling on the government to take action. Timoti Tiakiwai has the latest. Learning no matter what. That school is out of commission, it's over-grown with mould. With it being over grown it's dangerous and so Ōpōtiki has had to seek a solution. Ōpōtiki College has been closed due to black mould in some of its buildings. This has meant classes have had to scatter around Ōpōtiki. The children of Te Whakatōhea remain the priority. What do they need to do. Some of them have come here to Terere Marae, some have gone to Ōpōtiki Primary while others have headed to a sports facility. Te Whakatōhea are calling on the Government to help them and their school especially with the incredible amount of issues the iwi have had to deal with over the last few weeks. They knew about this problem for three years but they did not take timely action to correct since then. Some students are at Terere Marae and they are finding there is a lesson to be had there. They're learning to work together, to learn together, being together, and they're also learning how to care for the marae and the ancestral meeting house. But at the end of it all, the iwi are making one call to the Government. Fix up our school, fix up our college. It's known that they've turned their backs on our Māori schools and communities for a long time. If there are a lot of Māori in the community they turn their backs on us. Live proof of the aphorism ‘as one home dies, another home lives'. Timoti Tiakiwai, Te Karere. After the break, an Olivier Award-winning best play premiere's tonight in New Zealand, and the sole actress is Māori. Let's cross live now to Minister of Māori Development, Willie Jackson. Willie, thank you for joining us today. Willie welcome to the show. I hope you are doing well, tell us how you are going? I’m going great, I’m really good Scotty. Really good. I’m happy, I’m happy for you my friend because Michael Wood's resignation as a Minister. Not a good look before elections. Willie you’re OK, but how is the Labour Party? Is the Labour Party falling apart? No. Don’t talk like that my friend. I know that our party is stronger than ever my friend. But, but the thing is Scotty, we’ve all been very surprised. We’re quite surprised at the moment because Michael is a really good minister, my friend. He’s been an important minister. He’s been a shining star over the last few years. So, we’re very surprised Scotty to see this. Michael forgot to speak to our PM about the shares. He forgot. So, the Māori caucus, well, the entire caucus are surprised at the moment. However, we’re strong, and the party continues forward. It’s appropriate we acknowledge Michael however the party moves on. It's difficult to believe you Willy because a lot of problems have happened for Labour recently. Quite a lot. Huge problems have happened for you but you still say ‘we’re still strong’? We are strong, my friend. It’s not good to just talk about the problems all the time, Scotty. Let’s just stick with the kaupapa, Scotty. Don’t talk like that. The next issue coming up is quite a big one because two Oranga Tamariki staff removed from residences after allegations of sexual assault emerged today. What will the Government be doing to correct this? Scotty it’s not appropriate to make a comment about this kaupapa presently. That’s because this issue currently before the court. So, it’s not ok or appropriate to discuss this. However, my hope is this will be good for whānau. But that’s what we really hope for currently. But currently at the moment it’s not appropriate for ministers to make a comment on this one. It’s a sad kaupapa and we know that. But yeah it’s currently in front of the courts. And we are all deeply saddened and upset from what we’ve heard has been allegedly happening with these children. Onto the Māori Party now, Willie. Heather Te Au-Skipwith has announced she will no longer be contesting the Tukituki electorate for the Māori Party. Hawkes Bay has been the focus of Māori political attention, I understand you're very close to announcing Labour's Ikaroa-Rāwhiti candidate? First of all, your opinion Heather Te Au-Skipwith no longer contesting for the Māori Party? Well, it’s appropriate that I applaud Heather for her efforts in advocating for issues all the time. She is a wahine toa. I pay tribute to her. I am saddened but those of us who know her know she is a fierce advocate for sports. So, I applaud her and her whānau today. But next week my friend I will speak about our new candidate. She is a wahine toa too. I’ve told her to come and have a chat with you on Te Karere. So, that’s next week my friend! Great, so next week we’ll have an exclusive announcement from you about who will be contesting for Te Ikaroa-Rāwhiti live on Te Karere, right? This candidate. Yes, she is wahine toa from Ngāti Porou. She is known. Glenis Philip-Barbara? Well, she’s a wahine toa too... Cushla Tangaere? Don’t say anything, don’t speak. It’s not appropriate. Wait. Next week, my friend, I’ll bring this wahine to come and talk to you. Great, tēnā koe Willie. We’ll be waiting in anticipation for that so we can find out who this brand new candidate is. Thank you very much Willie for your answers. I know you’re a very busy person so thank you for making yourself available. Tēnā koe. Tēnā koe, kia ora Scotty. Air New Zealand and National Geographic have partnered to deliver photography wānanga for youth around New Zealand. The programme started in 2019 however this is the first time the gallery will be shown in the metaverse. Astley Nathan spoke to one of the rangatahi Māori who was a part of the programme. The world is changing. And so are some of our customs. We and National Geographic visited five regions throughout Aotearoa to work with local rangatahi to teach them about photography. Air NZ and National Geographic worked together to create a programme to teach photography skills to our youth around the country. We are passionate about photography however, Nat Geo is world-renowned for their photography skills. All the photos are being displayed in the Metaverse a first for this programme in the hopes of making it easier for people to see the creations of our rangatahi. From this Metaverse, digital pathway, the wider world will be able to check out just how skilful our young people in Aotearoa are. Although our youth are very accustomed to taking photos on their phones, Rongo says photography isn't easy. There’s a lot of comments that happens when looking at photos. These things are easy to do, my Instagram has better photos but at the end of the first day all of that arrogance was shut down. Despite that, she believes this is a right fit. For most of the week, I felt the love, care and custodianship from day one right to the last day. For our rangatahi, the world is in their hands. So pursue excellence so you can be excellent. Exactly that, the future is in the hands of our rangatahi. Astley Nathan, Te Karere. After the break, an Olivier Award-winning best play premiere's tonight in New Zealand, and the sole actress is Māori. An Olivier Award-winning best play premiere's tonight in New Zealand, and the sole actress is Māori. Ngāti Maniapoto's Acushla-Tara Kupe will star in the one-woman play, Prima Facey. Maika Akroyd caught up with Acushla about the heavy but important message of the play. A world-renowned one-woman play. And that woman is Māori. She has starred in The Crown, The Gone and performed with Ngāti Rānana. Now, Acushla-Tara Kupe is the sole actress in the one-woman play, Prima Facie. This descendant of Mainapoto has learned 84 pages of lines for this. And she has a greater reason for telling this story. A difficult topic to talk about but her goal is to create change. The show premieres tonight at Herald Theatre in Aotea Centre. Maika Akroyd, Te Karere. That's all we have for today. The weather will be fine in the South Island. But the East Coast, Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel can expect storms. Kia ora tātou katoa. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Māngai Pāho. Copyright TVNZ 2022.