Coming up on Te Karere More allegations of sexual misconduct at Oranga Tamariki residences emerge. The illegal tree felling ring in the Pureora National Park exposing a black market for native wood. And we talk to Māori reggae band, Corrella - about the reo, Māori identity and gearing up for One Love. 22 June 2023 Tēnā koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. More allegations of sexual misconduct by Oranga Tamariki staff have emerged. It comes as two staff members were stood down for serious allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour towards vulnerable children in Oranga Tamariki residences. For the latest developments in this saga, let's cross live now to our political correspondent, Te Okiwa McLean who is live from Parliament, Te Okiwa, more allegations levelled at Oranga Tamariki? Can you elaborate more? That's right Scotty. This issue keeps on getting worse and worse for Oranga Tamariki as a victim has come forward to talk about their experiences and their being silenced when they were in the care of Oranga Tamariki last year. This person did not want to be filmed or named publicly for their current and future wellbeing of their family. Let's check out this report. A victim of state care abuse speaks out for the first time. She was only 17 years-old when she claims to have been touched inappropriately in private parts of her body by an Oranga Tamariki staff member. The claims occurred in a care and protection facility, a facility that is meant to care for children. The Children's Commission has long been calling for all care and protection facilities to be closed down. With over 50 per cent of Māori children in these facilities, the Children's Commissioner says it's about time for a Māori and by Māori approach to be implemented. And the minister Kelvin Davis has being criticised for not getting his tone right on this issue. But at the end of that talk my words did not convey the full seriousness of this issue. While a rapid review is underway, they want to see change. A ministry once again under pressure. Te Okiwa, Chappie Te Kani has spoken to the media including yourself yesterday. Have you heard more from Oranga Tamariki bosses today? I reached out to Oranga Tamariki to talk about this issue, however, they say they are not responding to media enquiries under investigations and reviews in this issue are completed. But the hope is that won't be any more cases coming forward now and in the future, Scotty. This is a deep and serious issue, Te Okiwa. Thank you for diving into this so we can all understand the ins and outs of it. Thank you very much Te Okiwa Mclean. A 49-year-old man has been arrested and charged as the investigation into the death of senior Mongrel Mob leader, Steven Tiwana Taiatini continues. This morning police announced a male has been arrested and charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. Police believe Taiatini was run down by a four-wheel drive in Ōpōtiki earlier this month. Police are also still appealing to the public for any information over the case. Authorities are investigating illegal tree felling in the Central North Island. Locals in Pureora Forest are left fed up, suspecting that their native trees are being cut down and sold off to the black market for profit. Taroi Black has more. Ancient trees, some predating the arrival of humans, left in ruin. For local iwi, efforts to find the criminals, are stuck. I'm not angry. But I'm feeling disappointed, because they're ignorant enough for not having the understanding of this forest. It was too late to save this forest giant, but iwi were able to get the log before poachers could take it. These are worth thousands of dollars. Pureora is 78,000 hectares of dense forest. It sits on conservation land which makes native tree felling a criminal act. Unfortunately for DOC, it's incredibly hard to police. Nothing filmed was captured. The thieves had found it and formatted the card. Cutting down these trees is quite an operation. DOC says the criminals often fell them and leave them to season, before trucking them off months later when no one is around. When you look around you can clearly see those people have been camping here. A crime that could land someone in prison. Taroi Black, Te Karere. Kaikōura's seabed show promising signs of recovery just four years after the 2016 earthquake. The marine reserve was among the most biologically productive deep-seabed environments on the planet, but the 7.8 magnitude earthquake nearly completely wiped out some of its ecosystems. Kruze Tangira has more. As they say Tangaroa is alive. In 2016, Kaikōura was hit by an earthquake and destroyed everything. According to Manawatū, the ocean is the life source for the iwi. Niwa is researching the attributes of the Hikurangi Marine Reserve. They can see the difference from the earthquake. Despite that, the moana is climbing to healthy levels. We must also be at the alert. There are still negative signs lingering. A long journey is still ahead. Manawatū also says iwi and Niwa must work together to revitalise the moana. As the saying goes, a united heart, a vibrant heart, a determined heart, this is the heart of Kāi Tahu. Kruze Tangira, Te Karere. Utilising rongoā Māori in food was the central theme of a Matariki brunch for kaumātua and kuia in the Far North. One kuia in particular says changing her diet to incorporate rongoā Māori has helped her eat healthier and lose weight. Harata Brown has this story. Laying out foods from the forests. Putting in rongoā Māori to our food like our hāngī. From the sea, from the rivers. The main ingredient, rongoā Māori. We must acknowledge the ancestors, the forest, mother earth, Te Oneroa a Tohe, the native ingredients which my group put in the food to cook, is all rongoa Maori. As Puanga and Matariki rise up to the skies, it's a feast, with the main objective, to include rongoā Māori ingredients to all foods and drinks. You can do a lot of things with kumarahou, add it to drinks and cook and make butter with kawakawa. Even in the hāngī and puddings. They made jelly as well without sugar, because our Māori people love to eat sugar. This elderly woman has seen the health benefits of taking out sugar from her diet, and using rongoā as a replacement. Indeed, what better way to feast, than that of the spirit of the Māori new year. Harata Brown, Te Karere. After the break, this year's Silver Ferns squad for the world cup get together to train for the first time ever. Is this the beginning of a new Queensland dynasty? The Maroons dispose of NSW at Suncorp last night. Queensland have emphatically wrapped up State of Origin for another year, thrashing New South Wales 32-6 in Brisbane. The result putting the pressure on the Blues to make changes. Astley Nathan reports. Queensland rumbles. As the Maroons claim another title. The embers of resilience were there for NSW but not for long as Queensland completely extinguished those flames to retain the cup once again Queensland impressing on defence. Their attack just as strong. Towards the end of the game with nothing to play for, NSW turned to the biff. Despite that aggression, the new star of QLD continued to shine. The last game of the series is in Sydney, and although the series is all but done, they'll look to avoid a complete whitewash from Billy Slater's side. Astley Nathan, Te Karere. The Silver Ferns met for the first time yesterday since the announcement of the world cup team. With just over a month until the first whistle of the world cup, preparations are well under. For some, this will be a whole new experience and for others, it's that exact experience that will need to be relied on. Kruze Tangira went along to find out more. A childhood dream. To reach this level, this stage, it was my biggest desire because I didn't get to go to England last year so arriving her today to practice, I'm so happy. This is Metuarau's first time heading to the world cup. She's the teams shooter. However, this campaign will be a special journey because she will be following in her mum's footsteps. At the time Noels called me, I ran to mum. I said to her and dad I am going to Africa. The whole house was so happy. While their main strategy is to train hard to be battle ready, they're also including training the mind. While the team's experience is very little when compared to teams like England, Taurua isn't worried. The captain says they must put in the hard work now to remain champions. We've only got 17 days where we will be able to practice together to get ready for this competition. We need to train hard over the next 17 days. Competition starts 28 July. Kruze Tangira, Te Karere. The band Corrella tick one off the bucket list with their recent naming in NZ's biggest reggae festival, One Love 2024. But that's not all, they will show off their new songs in te reo Māori when they start their first ever tour next weekend. For lead singer Pīpwharauroa Campbell, this band and these waiata have helped him reclaim his reo. Maika Akroyd has more. Their name is Corrella. And they've achieved their biggest goal yet. So excited. So excited! Performing at the biggest reggae festival in New Zealand. When we heard we were going to perform at One Love, a lot of us shouted. It was like that. And this eight person band now has a new Māori song to take to the stage. And so was birthed the song, 'Ko Au', and it has a special place in the lead singers heart, Pīpīwharauroa Campbell. I grew up on my marae in Tauranga. I am a native speaker of te reo. However, on joining the navy, he stopped speaking our reo for eight years. I was very embarrassed to identify as Māori. The song 'Ko Au' speaks about never being ashamed of who you are, something that is heavy on Pīpī's heart. Their tour, 'Road From 26', starts next weekend. A nod to how far they have come from the garage of 26 Corrella Road in 2017. It's awesome being able to sing in te reo Māori. Corrella will start in Whangārei and tour the North Island. Maika Akroyd, Te Karere. After the break we have the weather. To the weather now. To close today's bulletin here's Corrella and their summertime song. That's all we have for today. Kia ora tātou. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Māngai Pāho. Copyright TVNZ 2022.