Coming up on Te Karere Students from a school in Palmerston North are set to be disciplined after performing a haka to Act MP David Seymour. Kura kaupapa Māori from across the country have gathered at Kaiwhaiki marae in Whanganui to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Te Rūnanga Nui. Some of Aotearoa's most famous musicians are gearing up to perform tomorrow at Jim Beam Homegrown. 15 March 2024 Tēnā koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. Students who gave a vocal welcome to David Seymour are set to be disciplined. Their Palmerston North school says their behaviour was "totally unacceptable" after he was spat at by one student. But a veteran activist says the students should be honoured for what they did. Timoti Tiakiwai has more. Politics can be challenging. And that challenge came to the feet of David Seymour. There was spit and afterwards they clamoured around his Crown car. Principal Graeme Williams says the behaviour of some of their students was unacceptable. The principal needs to speak up and support his students on this issue. There can be no doubt that this is important enough for them to express their hurt. Challenges in pōhiri is nothing new to Paora Sharples and Māori activist Tame Iti. It's just an expression of opinion of what someone is feeling in their heart and mind. Perhaps with knowledge comes understanding. Timoti Tiakiwai, Te Karere. A major update now on the mystery body in a bag fished out of the water in Gulf Harbour, Auckland. Police say the person is a female of Asian-descent, possibly Chinese and small in stature. They've now launched a homicide investigation and are asking for help in identifying the victim. Police are urging anyone with any information on a woman matching the description to get in touch. A fisherman found the body by Gulf Harbour Marina on the Whangaparaoa peninsula on Tuesday. The victims of the mosque shootings are being remembered at a service in Christchurch on the fifth anniversary of the tragedy. People were killed as they prayed. 51 people died and dozens were injured when a gunman opened fire at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre on March 15 2019. Then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called it "our darkest of days". Parliament fast-tracked tighter gun laws and a royal commission of inquiry was set up to investigate. Kura kaupapa Māori across Aotearoa are commemorating a significant milestone with the 30th anniversary of Te Rūnanga Nui, the governing entity of kura kaupapa Māori. Whilst celebrating this important achievement, attention is now drawn to the coalition government to consider their urgent treaty claim to address the long-standing funding imbalances faced by kura kaupapa Māori. Here's Mārena Mane with more from Kaiwhaiki marae in Whanganui, where it all started 30 years ago. Seventy kura kaupapa converge in Whanganui. Performing haka for the love of te reo Māori. This is where it started. Te Rūnanganui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori began here. But who knows what the future holds given the challenges to te reo by this government. The rūnanga has found time to talk to the Minister of Education. Kura kaupapa Māori are based on Māori principles. Māori principles are what kura kaupapa Māori follow, as well as our kura kaupapa Māori families. As the kura kaupapa Māori community looks towards the future, there is hope that the government will respond to the call for action and fulfil its duty to address the historical underfunding of kura kaupapa Māori. Discussions shared at this AGM are left behind closed doors for now. Their stand, their claim. We support them in their journey for more equity. That’s what I see with the claim and the basis for it. It’s about equity for Te Rūnanga in the government’s system. Last year budget saw kaupapa Māori and Māori medium education receive 40.41 million dollars for specialised learning support and facilities. So, government, even though they've already arranged for those degrees, and for others to receive, those degrees are going to empower me. This is the 30th annual general meeting for kura kaupapa aho matua of Te Runanga Nui. And so much is at stake. Marena Mane, Te Karere. The days of using vehicles instead of horses for transport seem to be past us but one man is holding on to the tradition. In Mimiwhangata DOC ranger Mania Armstrong and his horse, Taiaha, traverse the landscape, all while creating memories that'll last a life time. Kruze Tangira has more. A friendship built on respect and trust. A mutual understanding of each other. For the last six years, Mania and Taiaha have been taking care of the Mimiwhangata, Conversation Park. What started as a passion for Mania, riding horse is his way of life and there is nothing Taiaha can't do. And there's no need for the heavy-duty vehicles either. And it's that exact tradition that gives guest of the park something to enjoy. Taiaha brings light to day. But it's not just the joy, according to Armstrong, Taiaha is also teaching valuable lessons to our youth. And it's the soul that connects Mania to Taiaha and Taiaha to Mania. Kruze Tangira, Te Karere. After the break, some of Aotearoa's most famous musicians are arriving in the capital city ready to perform to tens of thousands of fans tomorrow at Jim Beam Homegrown. To entertainment now. Some of Aotearoa's most famous musicians are arriving in the capital city ready to perform to tens of thousands of fans tomorrow at Jim Beam Homegrown. Our reporter Te Okiwa McLean is at the main stage and joins us now from Wellington Waterfront. We're unable to provide subtitles. A neuroscientist says the death of a New Zealand-based rugby player who has since been diagnosed with a traumatic brain condition is significant. Former Blues and Māori All Black halfback Billy Guyton died last year of a suspected suicide. Now, a detailed examination of his brain shows he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE. Neuroscientist Helen Murray says athletes need to be cautious. Murray says symptoms of CTE can be similar to dementia. One of netball's most experienced campaigners to take the court, has now turned from player to assistant coach, for the upcoming ANZ Premiership. Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit will now be grabbing her clipboard for the Mainland Tactix all while balancing a new dynamic with her younger sister. Huinga Selby Rickett was ready to retire from the netball court, but things didn't quite work out. A surprise position for her. It's been a long-playing career for Selby-Ricket. For more than 20 years she's played at top level, making her debut for the Silver Ferns in 2013 but while the playing days are behind her, the transition to coaching has been seamless. But it's not just the new position she needs to get use too. Usually playing against her sister Te Paea on the netball court, that dynamic now changes to a coaching one. A connection of a fine balance between the two. But this doesn't come as a surprise for the younger sibling, she's looking forward to the new and fresh approach her sister will bring. With the preseason tournament coming up this weekend, it'll be just the right time to test out her new coaching position. Kruze Tangira, Te Karere. James Ratana has re-launched his clothing brand forward pack, a brand that looks to improve the mental health and confidence of plus size men, Timoti Tiakiwai sat down to talk to him today about his journey and here is his report. To love people no matter what. No matter who it is or what they look like. James Ratana has revived his business ForwardPack, a clothing brand that focusses on better clothing for larger males. It is also about stripping the stereotypes of large men so that they can be confident physically and mentally when they purchase clothing. A journey that is very close to his heart. He has built a place for men to be proud of who they are. A comforting cloak, to stand tall in the world. Timoti Tiakiwai, Te Karere. After the break we have the weather. To the weather now. That's all we have for today. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Māngai Pāho. Copyright TVNZ 2024.