Issue 77 - editorial

Nga piki mi nga heke

Tena ano tatou

Since our last issue we Maori have experienced a tremendous high and an equally deep low.

The high was provided by the news that Corporal Willie Apiata who grew up in the eastern Bay of Plenty at Te Kaha, left school at 15, kicked around for a bit before qualifying to join the SAS, had been awarded a Victoria Cross for his bravery in a battle in Afghanistan.

The surprise was all the greater because the battle took place three years ago in a war which few New Zealanders knew that our boys were actively taking part in.

Our cover story is about this quietly-spoken, very modest, hero.

The low has come with the death of three-year-old Nia Glassie, from ill treatment by people around her, who we will probably learn – as the story unfolds in the coming weeks – made her short life a nightmare.

Finger-pointing and recriminations have been coming thick and fast in recent days, including calls for Maori to take ownership of and to do something about the over- representation of Maori kids among those being abused. But where too are the agencies that are funded for, and charged with preventing and dealing with these matters?

It’s highly likely that as the facts unfold there will be no goodies in this story.

Mana 77 is once again packed with good reading. We farewell the late and very great Don Selwyn, with reminiscences from two former colleagues - one Maori, one Pakeha. They show us just how inspirational this former teacher, actor, writer, director, and mover of minds really was.

Read on.