Coming up on Te Karere The New Zealand House in Paris has been blessed and has officially opened for athletes and visitors from New Zealand. The report of the royal commission in to abuse in state care showed that Māori were disproportionally impacted. With submissions closing soon to reintroduce charter schools, St Stephens school is set to reopen under a charter school model. 25 July 2024 Tēnā koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. They maybe miles away from home, but our NZ athletes still have a piece of home with them at the Olympic games in Paris. A small team of Māori experts are the go-to gurus for the NZ's Olympic teams. They're responsible for leading out whakatau and taonga ceremonies in Paris for all the athletes. Joining us live from Paris is Harata Brown. Harata. Good morning, good morning, and good morning Rapaera Tawhai. What you've said is correct. The Māori team of experts is lead by Sir Derek Lardelli. I saw them doing group prayer and karanga to the street here. There is a very special building here for Aotearoa and Paris, France. Māori customs in full swing to clear and formally open the Maori familiarities of home, with the name of the structure being, Aotearoa/Pou Tangata. Our task is to deliver incantations properly so that this site and place is fit and right for us. Our pillar of tikanga, in our very small team is Sir Derek Lardelli, knowing that he brings all his skills and knowledge of traditional customs to protect the workers, the backbone and all visitors that come here to this place. This is just one of many Maori ceremonies and practices that this team is leading out. There's much to do to various places like conduct pōhiri, conduct whakatau, deliver karakia and traditional taonga to those who are central and part of events. The mauri stone, which hails from Ngāi Tahu here. Serving as a guardian for those who've come from afar, from the other side of world. Because that's we as Māori do, we won't go in to a place that is unfamiliar inside, I'm talking here for the spiritual world, we have customs and practices in the Māori world so while we are on this side of the world, we shouldn't leave them behind at home. A home away from home, protecting and caring for Aotearoa NZ's Olympic team. And as for the games themselves, the rugby sevens team have broken the ground in and they are currently the winners of their pool. They will be in the quarter finals. Tonight my time, tomorrow morning your time, we'll get to find out who the flag bearer is. I don't know if it'll be the Tino Rangatiratanga flag or what for the opening ceremony that are due to start over the next two days. Thank you to you both, you and your flag, Harata Brown. Perhaps you should be the flag bearer for the Tino Rangatiratanga flag for the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympic games. Thank you so much for your report, Harata Brown. St Stephens, a prestigious Māori boys' boarding school, is set to reopen under a charter school model next year. Submissions are closing soon on a proposed law change to reintroduce charter schools with Associate Education Minister David Seymour prioritising regulation over financial concerns. Lineni Tuitupou has more. St Stephen's school is reopening with a new chapter. This is a new path. What we want to ensure is that we have autonomy. The charter school is offering a fresh start for students come next year. A refreshed St Stephens will be here for the children of today and prepare them to go out into the world. Charter schools aregovernment-funded but privately run. But they must meet high standards and be accountable following issues with the earlier model. Funding is precious. So it's important to look after it carefully to enable our schools to flourish. According to the Associate Minister David Serymour charter schools should focus on the teaching resources to educate students, not negotiate new multi-employer agreements. And provide financial statements as recommended by charter school operators. But here at Tīpene the charter school model intends to provide academic excellence with cultural immersion. We'll be focused on every child. Every classroom size will remain limited. Teachers will be able to directly focus on the child. Aiming to optimize resources and improve student success. Lineni Tuitupou, Te Karere. Māori children made up the majority of those in state care, with the inquiry finding they were also more likely to be sent to harsher institutions and endured higher levels of physical abuse than other ethnicities, while also giving rise to gang membership. Political reporter Te Okiwa McLean spoke with some survivors who say urgent change is required immediately. The rise of gangs in Aotearoa between the 1950s and 1980s can be traced back to state care abuse. I'm very concerned. This can go one of two ways. Which many survivors say was a ticket to prison. This is a start. It's only words, and money, however. The Commission found between the 1950s and 1980s, Māori experienced heightened state surveillance and targeting by NZ Police and other government agencies. Māori children are still overrepresented in state care today, according to figures 67% of them are Māori. Ihorangi Reweti Peter left state care in October last year after eight harrowing years. Stripped of their culture in care causing Māori to have intergenerational scars. Intergenerational scars now to be healed with immediate action. The Royal Commission has done what it has needed to do. Now it's time for the Government to act. The Commission now being tabled to parliament and requires urgent action so that survivors can receive the closure they need. It's time to stop talking and start acting now. Te Okiwa Mclean, Te Karere. After the break Labour Party MP Willie Jackson joins us live to discuss the latest in politics. Labour Party MP Willie Jackson joins us live to discuss the latest in parliament. Willie thank you for joining us on the show today. Kia ora, kia ora Rapaera. Kia ora. Yes, thank you so much. Yesterday the Royal Commission released their report in child abuse in state care with Maori identified as being the majority of those abused. What are your thoughts on the survivors, should they be paid compensation by the Government, do you think? Well first, it's a good day for the survivors eh? To hear, Rapaera, the Government accepting and agreeing that there was a lot of wrong eh? So, I want to first pay tribute to the survivors for their bravery and their strength. They have been failed. Yesterday was an amazing day. The most important thing to me, is that we were together yesterday. And it was awesome to see the collaboration between Labour and National. They too ought to be thanked because the time has come for everyone to come together on this issue. But when it comes to compensation, it is appropriate. But I don't know, Rapaera, you know, what is it? It's very difficult mate, that whole subject. But it is right, and it's a very difficult thing to do, it should be done, eh? But at this point in time, it was a really important day yesterday. It was a huge honour for us, my friend, to support a special and unique event. But it certainly is an important event for Māori and the country of Aotearoa. Good. So, onto another issue which we just did a report on and that's about charter schools. It appears charter schools are back on the books. Can you give your thoughts on the government requesting this be looked at again, particular the issues surrounding inappropriate use of funds. That's something David Seymour has identified when looking at the running of these schools? Well, I heard what Seymour said. I heard what Seymour said and some of our people really support his ideas. His idea and his dialogue on charter schools. I recognise that. But the problem is that we do not trust Seymour, my friend. Because we do not understand his strategy for te ao Māori. That's the problem for us at this time. So, even though I've heard what some of the teachers have had to say, we te iwi Māori, know, and I understand what they're saying and what their opinions are on this issue. We really understand. We do not support this man because you know what his thoughts and strategy are with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. When it comes to the Treaty Principles, he is very, very different. So, we at this time do not support his strategy for charter schools. Good. So the second reading of the bill repealing Māori wards happened this week. What words were shared Willie, can you enlighten us? What did you say again, Rapaera? Connection isn't good? The second reading for the bill repealing Māori wards happened in the House this week. What do you think about what's being said about Māori wards? Yes, yes, yes, yes. We fought, my friend, about this issue, Māori wards. When it comes to use we do not support this Government's actions, because this Government is racist my friend. How Māori wards are treated is different to how rural wards are treated, or how wealthier people are served. This hasn't had Māori participation. So we do not support their strategy. We continue to fight this. It is appropriate that we salute our sister Nanaia Mahuta, Rapaera, for her strength in supporting the issue of Māori wards, eh? I salute her at this point in time because that's a great thing. But we know the strategy of this government my friend. This government is very racist. We do not support them, but we will always fight for this, for this issue. It hasn't ended. It'll start up again next week. Good. That's all the questions we have Willie. Thank you so much for making yourself available to come back to Te Karere. Thank you so much Willie Jackson. Kia ora, kia ora. A new reo Māori album is out for us to listen to, showcasing an infusion of timeless classics, as well as more contemporary music from Te Tai Rāwhiti. Titled 'Te Ai o Te Rā,' those who worked on the album hope other iwi across the country can follow suit. Ethan Oneroa reports. It's the first place to see the sun. It’s also the place where a new project has come to fruition. To influence us, songwriters; writers from the East Coast, as well as writers from across New Zealand. The album's been titled 'Te Ai o Te Rā' capturing the imagination of those within the media. Where did that title come from? It comes from Nanny Kuini, Nanny Kuini Moehau Reedy. Those topics shouldn’t be taboo. Having sex is quite normal. That’s the reason why we’re talking about it right now. It's a collection of music both old and new that celebrate the 'coastie' style from the classic tunes of Tuini Ngaawai and Ngoi Pewhairangi right down to more modern times. It's a unique style that you'll see, that you'll hear in these songs - a cheeky, teasing style in the compositions. The challenge is set for iwi to jump on the bandwagon, so that the skill of composing songs is sustained. There have been a lot of positives. We've been able to go to Kahungunu and Te Arawa I really want other iwi to join in on these sorts of projects, so that they can see the fruits of their own work come to play. The album has been released on all online music platforms. Ethan Oneroa, Te Karere. The Mystics are in preparation mode as they get ready for one of their biggest games of the season. The defending champions scraping past the Stars in the weekend, means they will meet the Tactix in the elimination final this Saturday. Kruze Tangira caught up with the team ahead of their game. Heading down the important path. On the horizon a battle await. We made it to the battle site. There's a big game ahead. I'm excited. After a tough game against the Stars on Sunday they are a lot more relaxed, advancing through to the elimination final. According to Karaka it was a tough performance for them. Away to the Tactix this weekend the last time these teams played, the Mystics won but they don't expect it to be easy this time around. A big contest, big match-ups and the game is fast. However, despite the big battle that is coming up, they are just focusing on themselves. The biggest thing is to uplift the spirits and uplift the unity within the group. Can they go all the way to the final? We will find out on Saturday. Kruze Tangira, Te Karere. After the break we have the weather. To the weather now. That's all we have for today. Kia ora tātou katoa. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Māngai Pāho. Copyright TVNZ 2024.