Maori to gather online through internet first

Maori to gather online through internet first Tuhono’s Online Registration Service; putting Maori in touch with their iwi

Maori leaders are excited about the proposed launch of an online internet based registration service for Maori.

The service will be launched by Tuhono in October and the level of interest and enthusiasm from iwi throughout the country supports the view of the Hon. Koro Wetere, who considers this initiative as one of the most significant advancements in modern Maori.

It will also clearly establish Tuhono as the most effective Maori internet communication facility ever developed.

Tuhono spokesman, Koro Wetere said the Tautoko Maori Trust which governs the Tuhono initiative, is confident that there is now a real prospect to realising the potential of Maoridom gathering on-line for a single purpose – to register with their iwi using the Tuhono network.

Tuhono’s Online Registration service goes live on October 8.

The concept encourages those already registered with Tuhono (98,000 Maori to date) to help encourage the registration of their whanau members, thus providing a channel where individuals can keep their contact details up-to-date and remain informed by their iwi on issues that maybe of interest or benefit to them.

Ultimately, it is hoped this will create greatly enhanced cultural, economic, social and educational, opportunities for whanau members, says Mr Wetere.

The aim is to increase registered numbers from the current 98,000 to 250,000 by June 2008, bringing closer the number of Maori internet users (72% as at Q4 2004) to that of non-Maori (81.1%).

“Tuhono is passionate about optimising cultural growth and development for Maori which is driven by the commitment of the current trustees to contribute to aspirations for identity, wellbeing and potential. With the enthusiastic support of iwi and the proactive participation of our people experienced to date, I feel Tuhono’s continued success is already under-written,” says Mr Wetere.

Tuhono is the only organisation authorised to receive electoral information of declared Maori voters, subject to their consent, and then to pass this information on to the authorised organisation that represents their selected iwi or group. As such, it continues to be an advocate for, and contributes to, networks of Maori individuals, iwi organisations and other entities.

Therefore, through data management capabilities, Tuhono offers a fully automated and integrated internet based service to Maori and iwi.

Acknowledgement must be made to the Government and Te Ohu Kai Moana in their commitment and dedication in facilitating the amendments to legislation and approvals to resource the Tuhono initiative,

In the past six months most iwi organizations, collectively representing almost 95% of the Maori population, have registered their interest in receiving data from Tuhono, giving further credence to the development of Tuhono’s secure and private Online Registration Service.

By extending this database with the October 8 Online Registration Service launch, Tuhono will also aid in the process of ensuring iwi meet the legal requirements to receive their settlement assets in respect to iwi registers. For more information about Tuhono please see our website www.tuhono.net.

© Scoop Media