Maori Party news in brief for Tuesday September 6, 2011

Maori Party on Tuhoe raids
The long drawn-out court case has come to an end for 13 of the 17 accused over the Urewera police raids, but our MP for Waiariki Te Ururoa Flavell says the entire battle could have been avoided.
For more, go to our website http://www.maoriparty.org/

Maori Party on the Pacific Islands Forum
Our co-leader Dr Pita Sharples has been responsible for organising today's powhiri to Pacific leaders who are in Auckland this week to discuss the big issues affecting our region. On Thursday, he will also meet with a tangata whenua delegation from Tahiti, who are wanting support to pursue rangatiratanga over their traditional island lands. Our party will be there to support our indigenous whanaunga.
For more, go to our website http://www.maoriparty.org/

Rugby World Cup
Check out our co-leader Dr Pita Sharples' korero on the Rugby World Cup and how whanau can benefit from the gains we have negotiated - gains that have resulted in Maori Television being able to air them for free in both languages.
For more, go to our website http://www.maoriparty.org/

Big mihi to Dr Cathy Dewes and Hana O'Regan
The Maori Party is sending out a big congratulations to two mana wahine who have contributed so much toward the development of te reo Maori Cathy (Te Arawa, Ngati Porou) was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Waikato at Ruamata Marae in Rotorua today. Hana (Ngai Tahu) was awarded a fellowship to the International Centre for Language Revitalisation at Auckland University of Technology.

Maori Party on Ruatoki bus crash
Our staff in Waiariki are monitoring the incident in which more than 30 people, mainly school children, were injured after their bus and a truck crashed. Our aroha goes out to all those injured and their whanau. As a result of the accident, one of the ideas being proposed is that all school buses be fitted with seat belts. We're keen to know what you think. Post your comment on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MaoriParty

Maori Party position on immigration
With immigration issues back in the news, we want to take the opportunity to inform our people on where we stand. It is important that new citizens share our understanding of history. We have longed proposed that all new citizens complete a course in the history of Aotearoa and the Pacific as part of receiving citizenship. And we will continue to advocate that this course be put in place.

Maori Party on today's proposed laws
Below is a list of bills expected to be voted on by Parliament tonight. Bills must pass three readings before they become law. We will inform you of how we voted on these bills in tomorrow's Maori Party news update
• Local Government Borrowing Bill - 2nd Reading - Being proposed by Rodney Hide.
• National Animal Identification and Tracing Bill - 2nd Reading - David Carter.
• Trade Marks (International Treaties and Enforcement) Amendment Bill - Committee Stage - Simon Power.
Maori Party pays tribute to Corporal Doug Grant
Our co-leader Dr Pita Sharples paid respects to Corporal Grant, in the House today, and expressed our party's maemae for his whanau.
For more, go to our website http://www.maoriparty.org/

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