Happy Waitangi Day!

What are you doing? It's Waitangi Day - don't read this. Relax and enjoy the day.

However, for those of you who can't - maybe the talkback racism and calls for New Zealand day are getting to you - you can distract yourself with Tu Mai Te Toki. TMTT is a new blog from Karla Akuhata. It focuses on Ngati Awa affairs, but the blog speaks to deeper issues about wider iwi politics and the challenges Maori face in a post-settlement world. Issues like iwi investment and communication between the hierarchies and the people. Enjoy.

New Maori blog - By Microwave

We've got a new Maori blog - By Microwave by Karla Akuhata:

By Microwave blog, named after a description of a set experiences I faced as a junior reporter, will endeavour to look at Maori issues as they are portrayed in the media. 

This is a great concept. There is precious little written on Maori and the media and even less on how the media treats Maori issues. 

By Microwave is written by Karla Akuhata, a former journalist from the Waikato Times (and a good one too). Take time to check out and keep up with her blog here. 

Eraka's blog

I forgot to mention that a few days ago I added a new blog to the Maori blog list. Eraka's blog is an anonymous blog focussing on Tainui politics. It's a fascinating read. The author provides a valuable, albeit frenzied, perspective and sheds some light on the rotten goings on in Te Arataura and Te Kauhanganui. You can check it out here.

New Maori Blog

There’s a new Maori blog in the mix. Kaapua Smith which is, you guessed it, Kaapua Smith’s blog. Kaapua is number two on the Maori Party list. Of particular interest are her discussions of the “rourou economy” and the political divide at the Te Tai Tonga debate.

New Maori blog

Maori Law and Politics is a great new Maori blog by Joshua Hitchcock. Joshua is a lawyer working in the Treaty of Waitangi field. He is far more charitable towards the Maori Party than I. Meaning he is more objective than I, and more sensible some would say, when it comes to discussing the Maori Party. This is what Joshua has to say about his blog:  

As much as possible, Maori Law and Politics will be a forward-looking, positive expression of our potential as Maori.  Policy ideas will be discussed and floated for comment and legal issues will be dissected.   The reality of Aotearoa/New Zealand is that we, as Maori, now share this beautiful country with people of many different races and creeds.  I am a strong believer in Tino Rangatiratanga – the right of the whanau and hapu to decide their own approach and take control of their own affairs, but at the same time I am an Officer of the High Court of New Zealand and I take this responsibility seriously.  Like it or not, we are part of a collective society and any commentary on Maori law and politics needs to be grounded in this fact.  While this position may leave me open to criticism from many Maori activists, I make no apologies for it.

                                                                                                                         

Sounds promising. I look forward to reading more of what Joshua has to say.

Maori blog list

I’ve finally created a Maori blog list. You can find it down the left side of the page. If I’ve missed any flick me an email or leave a comment.