posted 24 May 2001 11:04 AM         

The Department of Corrections is inviting Maori to help re-shape New Zealand’s corrections laws – and is lending a hand to help them make submissions on a new bill.
The Department’s Cultural Perspectives Manager, Charlie Tawhiao, says it’s time for some changes because the Penal Institutions Act is now 50 years old.
Among the issues where there could be changes are prison visits, discipline, placement of inmates and dealing with complaints by offenders.
There are also questions relating to tikanga Maori within the prison system – and access by kuia, kaumatua and tohunga.

Steven Wallace

A Maori lawyer, Moana Jackson, says ill feeling will continue in the wake of the police shooting of Steven Wallace in Waitara a year ago, as long as a number of the issues remain unresolved.
Moana says there are still doubts about some aspects of the Police Report – and there is still a need for an independent procedure so that the Police aren’t seen to have the final say on their own conduct.
There is, in fact, he says, an argument for bringing in overseas experts to look at the case, and at Maori and Police relationships.

TV channel

There are indications that the budget will include some funding for a Maori TV channel that could be on air early next year.
It may operate under an Autonomous Crown Entity (ACE) or a Crown Owned Company (CROC).
But already the Government handling of the issues has drawn flak from National where Murray McCully says the reason for the slow progress is the lack of leadership from Marian Hobbs and Parekura Horomia.

Old music

The Rotorua Competitions Society is branching out beyond the conventional instruments, such as the piano and violin, this year.
It’s begun a new competition called Taonga Puora, which will be judged by Hirini Melbourne, and which is open to players of traditional Maori instruments including
the koauau, porutu, nguru, putatara and pukaea.
And it’s not too late to enter. You can still drop a line to PO Box 1194, Rotorua.

Black Ferns

Farah Palmer has been chosen once again to lead the Black Ferns in a test series.
She’s one of ten Maori players in the squad selected by Darryl Suasua to meet England in two tests next month.
The Black Ferns (Nga Mamaku) now have a record of ten years without a loss.