Te Reo

Ko taku mate ko te timatanga o te reo Maori. Engari he mea nui kia mohiotia to tatou hoa kirimana me te whakauru i tetahi whārangi ki ta tatou atu reo. Kua whai hua ahau ki te mahi i runga i nga take nui e pa ana ki nga take Maori. Kua puta mai ahau ki te Kooti Whenua Maori me te Kooti Maori Appellent, me te Kooti Teitei me te Kooti Whakamana mo nga take Maori.

He maha nga take ka pai ake te whakatau i te whiriwhiringa me te matapaki. He tino rerekē nga tauira e hiahiatia ana mo te whakataunga tautohe o nga take Maori. Hei tauira, me whakahaerehia te tautohe ki tetahi tari, ki tetahi marae ranei? Mena he rereke te raruraru i waenganui i nga hapori me nga Iwi, me whakamahi te marae? Ko wai e hiahia ana kia noho mai? Ko nga whakatau a te Maori e hiahia ana kia whai hononga tahi atu i roto i nga whanau me nga roopu e pa ana. He mea nui hoki kia mohio ki nga kaumātua ko nga whakaaro e pa ana ki te whakatau ka me korero ki a ratou. Ko te hanganga o te takawaenga me mohio ki nga tauira tuku iho o te korero. Ko nga waahanga kia whakauru atu ki a ratau ki te whakatairanga tika, ki te ohaoha me te manaaki, me te whakatuwhera me te karakia me te whakaoti me te inoi.

There are many issues which are better resolved by mediation and discussion. There are very different models required for dispute resolution of Maori issues. For example, should the dispute to be held in an office or on a Marae? If the dispute is between different hapu or Iwi, which marae should be used? Who needs to be present? Decision-making by Maori requires a collaborative approach among all of the affected families and parties. It is also important to recognise the kaumatua is any ideas about resolution must be discussed with them. The very structure of the mediation needs to recognise the traditional models of discussion. So the parties should introduce themselves with an appropriate introduction, greeting and welcome and likely open with a prayer and conclude with a prayer.

Te Reo
Mediation on Maori Issues

Unfortunately I am only a beginning speaker of Maori language. But it is important to recognise our treaty partner and include a page in our other language. I have been privileged to work on a number of important cases involving Maori issues. I have appeared in the Maori Land Court and the Maori Appellent Court, as well as in the High Court and Court of Appeal on Maori issues.