Coming up on Te Karere The government inquiry into the response to the extreme weather which battered the North Island last year has been released. The prison where Māori leader Te Kooti spent time before his exile could be closing its doors for good. The Black Ferns have announced their 40 contracted players with two Māori half backs set to make their debut. 23 April 2024 Tēnā koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. The response to the extreme weather which battered the North Island last year. Cyclone hale, the Auckland anniversary flooding and cyclone Gabrielle hit in January and February 2023. 15 people died from the three severe weather events in a six-week period which put huge pressure on our emergency services. Recommendations include putting people and local communities at the heart of an integrated emergency system with added support and education. Recognizing the critical role of iwi during emergencies like the use of marae to house and feed people. And increasing the staffing and resourcing for Nema. The national emergency management agency including an alternative civil defence headquarters outside Wellington. Marena Mane has more. Towns, farms under water by an unprecidented storm. It was chaotic. No one was prepared. We have seen the work from mana whenua, the people, the marae, however, we have no authority. The government inquiry report over the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and the floods was that it wasn't good enough. What's important to me is, that the government needs to work with those in the regions, working together with us. And it was too little too late for this Hawke's Bay whānau. Jack and Ella Collins tried to flee with their two children. My advice to them is to change the legislation to give more authority to Māori. In the midst of this disaster, iwi stepped up. Mārena Mane, Te Karere. Environmental protections for farming are being watered down as part of the government's first stage of reforms of the Resource Management Act. Farmers applying for resource consent will no longer have to demonstrate how their activities will impact water health. Councils will have requirements to identify Significant Natural Areas, suspended for three years. It's about serving the mokopuna. Looking after the environment. That's a government responsibility. But this idea of just not caring about the environment, what a people unfriendly government this is. It's bad. Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says the government's push for mine consenting in particular will be at a cost for iwi. Submissions on the controversial new "gang bill" are currently being heard by the select committee at parliament. Gang members are expected to voice their concerns over the proposed laws along with police and lawyers. If passed the legislation will see patches banned and police given extra powers to stop gang gatherings. This stigamatizes people. Submitter and former gang member Eugene Ryder says the laws should be based on behaviours. New Zealand’s oldest prison, the Napier Prison, a place where Māori leader Te Kooti spent time before his exile and eventual pardon, could be closing its doors for good. Toro Waaka who has operated Napier Prison Tours for 22 years has been told by Land Information New Zealand the site is unsafe, but he believes a full shutdown is unnecessary. It's closing down but the public still want in. The site is located on Bluff Hill and is a site of significance to Māori. Many Māori have been unlawfully imprisoned. So i think they need to close it down and demolish it. And local iwi say the closure is warranted. They weren't my direct ancestors but they belong to our Kahungunu tribe. The treatment towards them inside this prison was bad. The issue is the surrounding retaining wall has been deemed an earthquake risk and needed strengthening work done. This building is one of the oldest in New Zealand, the prison was built in 1862 and it was decommissioned in 1993. In that time it imprisoned a group of Hauhau followers including Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki who fought against the government. if you were to walk inside this building you will feel the pain and suffering of our people. The building is a heritage site and is deemed one of the most haunted in New Zealand. Waaka has until the end of the month to vacate so inspection work can begin. Aroha Treacher, Te Karere. Former minister for Māori development Willie Jackson joins us live from Nga Whare Waatea Marae to discuss the latest issues. Willie thank you for joining us on the show today. Greetings to both you and our marae behind you in the background there. Greetings to you Scotty. It's great to come to our marae. Greetings, thank you so much. That marae is a famous one. It's a marae that looks after the many thousands of people residing in Auckland from all around and from further afield as well. And so Willie, first topic for us to discuss. The government is set to bring back a revised three strikes law. How could this affect Māori? Will this cause trouble for our people with the return of the three strikes law? It's problematic, it's a big problem for Māori society. It's huge. As we know Scotty it's going to have a big impact on Māori. No doubt it will see an increase of more of our people headed to prison. We know it my friend. That's the reason why we of the Labour Party did not support this legislation in the past under the Key government. We changed this during Kris Faafoi's time in 2021. We understand that the legislation is a waste of time. It's not good, it's not correct for us as Māori. We're really angry with this law at the moment my friend. For hammering Māori no one does it better than this government, Willie. Another issue that seems to be connected to us as Māori and our relations is the gang patch bill. The Justice Select Committee heard submissions today regarding the bill. Do you know the content of what were some of the submissions made to the select committee were? I don't know all the content presented today, Scotty, because I'm here in Auckland currently. I heard what Eugene Ryder had to say. His speech was amazing. I know this man. In the past he supported our work in the community. So, I'd like to acknowledge him, Eugene, for his work. My friend, I do not support the gang patch bill. We know that it can't work, Scotty. It can't be done. It can't be enforced. The police can't do it. We understand this. In my opinion it's better if we can be better than this. It's better that we have presence in every single community. It'll be more beneficial to support what urban Māori authorities are doing, the Māori providers around the country. This proposed legislation is a waste of time. We've found that policies like these were a waste of time. I support what Eugene Ryder has to say. This won't be good for Māori society. Willie, it's appropriate that you're at Waatea to discuss these issues because Waatea is a place that helps our relations who have fallen into legal trouble as well as helping people in gangs looking for a new way forward. It also helps our young people who are in need. So segueing into the judicial review into a Waitangi Tribunal summons issued to Minister for Children Karen Chhour concluded at the High Court yesterday. What do you think will be the end result and where will the court side? Scotty, as you're aware it's hard to talk about this issue at the moment because it is a live case before the High Court. So, it is hard to talk about it. But what I can talk about, and what I'd like to talk about is Seymour. What he said is ludicrous. He claimed that his MP had more mana than the Waitangi Tribunal. What he said is absolutely out of line. We know the work the tribunal has produced in the past. What they've done is excellent. I was really angry to read when he said that Karen Cchour has more mana than the Waitangi Tribunal. I know a lot of leaders are on that tribunal. So many acclaimed personalities. You know some of the other leaders who are on the tribunal such as Pou Temara, Hirin Moko Mead, and so many others. The mana in that tribunal is enormous. I'd like to thank you for them for their efforts especially in the past with supporting Māori issues. However, currently Scotty it would be becoming of me to comment on a matter that is active before the High Court. Well, Act are unleashing the kraken if they want to challenge those people, especially the ones you mentioned. Sir Pou Temara, Hirini Moko Mead, and Linda Smith. All those intelligent experts. If Act provokes them, they're going to get in trouble? Who is he to talk like that? What he is saying is way out of line especially with his denigrating them. We know the tribunal. I was the minister for this and it was an enormous honour being able to run them and so I'd like to pay my respects to them. Regardless, it is not appropriate to make a comment on an active case before the court. We're waiting for the release of the decision tomorrow. Thank you so much Willie. What you’re saying is correct. Thank you once again Willie for those answers and thoughts you shared with us from our marae at Ngaa Whare Waatea. Thank you so much, tēnā koe e hoa. Kia ora, Scotty! After the break, the Black Ferns have announced their 40 contracted players With two Māori half backs set to make their debut. With two Māori half backs set to make their debut. Welcome back The Black Ferns have announced their 40 contracted players with two Māori half backs set to make their debut. Maia Jospeh wants to follow the footsteps of her father Jamie Joseph who played for the All Black back in the days, however, its a different story for Khalia Awa, as her journey for rugby has only just started. Kruze Tangira has this report. Maia has been around rugby since her childhood. Now, she is following in her father's footsteps. Joseph would know what it would take to be an international rugby player, a former All Black and also a well-known coach. And he's sharing that knowledge with his daughter. A surprising call-up for Khalia Awa, although she was a standout in the Aupiki final, she still couldn't believe it. And despite their inexperience, these two are ready to get better and better. Stars on the horizon, ready to showcase their skills to the world. Kruze Tangira, Te Karere. Slim margins separate the top three on the Anz Premiership ladder after the Northern Mystics beat the Southern Steel. Steel showing improvement from round one but still not good enough to upset an experienced Mystics outfit going down 61 to 52. We saw the veteran team, the Mystics, they were successful. That's thanks to the skills of Peta Toeava, Grace Nweke, Phoenix Karaka, and Michaela Sokolich-Beatson. They're probably the most experienced team members. They're also the ones Noelene Taurua is probably keeping a close eye on for the Silver Ferns. The Steel are still strong, however, they've lost their goal shoot George Fisher and that's impacted their play and I feel for them. The Mystics will play their first home game of the season on Monday. After the break we have the weather. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. That's all we have for today. Turou Parea. Turou Hawaiki. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Māngai Pāho. Copyright TVNZ 2024.