Latest news with #Marae
1News
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 1News
Stuntwoman Dayna Pomare-Pai trailblazing for others to follow
Dayna Pomare-Pai (Ngāpuhi) is an award-winning stuntwoman to the stars, but it's what she does on the ground that's shaping the future of the industry in Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Rauhiringa Brown caught up with Pomare-Pai on her stomping grounds in the Hunua Ranges for TVNZ's Marae. Watch part one of this two-part report on TVNZ+ now. When she's not on a film set, you can find Pomare-Pai at home on Sky High Ranch, training grounds to the next generation of stunt performers. 'Everyone who comes here says it feels like therapy,' she said. On this visit, the kind of therapy students are going through at the New Zealand Stunt School - which she founded - require swords and shields. ADVERTISEMENT 'We've just done three days of Roman riding and saddle falls and swords, and all sorts of things, and all horse-related stuff. Then, today, we're just bringing in some of the New Zealand stunt course students and getting them a bit around the horses.' At one stage they are paired off to go through the motions of pulling people off a barrel in a scenario set up to mimic someone on horseback being attacked. They each get a turn at being the victim and perpetrator. Stunt student Puriri Koria attempts to pull a clasmate off the 'horse'. (Source: Marae) For trainee Puriri Koria, stunt work was never on the radar. 'There's some of us here that are new to this, like myself. I was at first - I didn't know stunts was a thing.' He said he 'gave it a go' and found it was like play fighting. 'But that's what I love about this kind of mahi, the environment, these kinds of people.' He's relishing the opportunity to learn off one of the best in the industry - "she's kei runga noa atu.' ("She's top of the game.") ADVERTISEMENT Pomare-Pai first founded the school in 2010, and then, soon after, the New Zealand Action Talent Agency to represent homegrown talent for international projects. 'When we were training them up and then kind of going, 'well, they're so good how do we get them work?'' Pomare-Pai in her element. (Source: Marae) From there onwards, the pathway's foundation was laid. She started to bring others to run the agency and put graduates forward for stunt work. People from all over the world travel to take part in training at the ranch. In 2020, she brought her two worlds together, launching the New Zealand Horse Team where her love for horses and stunt work became one. 'We've actually been really busy, like we've just finished a six-month job," she said. 'We had 75 horses on that job over the six months – a whole big horse team of wranglers. So everybody was really, really busy, and then there's other horse jobs coming this year, and you know, we had heaps last year come through from commercials to Netflix shows.' ADVERTISEMENT A horse-riding stuntwoman is born Pomare-Pai fell into stunt work when she was asked to audition for a role on the iconic 90's hit show Xena: Warrior Princess. 'I was so active - I was a horse rider, dancer, gymnast - I did all these things and they were like, 'you'd be great', you know, 'give this a go'.' She got the gig and it was the beginning of a 30-plus year career stunt doubling for some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Her past credits, under her former name Dayna Grant, include Mad Max: Fury Road, Snow White and the Huntsman, and Wonderwoman. Despite her success in stunting, it comes second to her love for horses. Stuntwoman Dayna Pomare-Pai trains next generation of stunt performers (Source: Supplied) 'Horses has been my thing from day one. Like, I'd go and do stunts and I'd come back and my thing was getting back to the horses.' ADVERTISEMENT She recalls fondly how her dad would tie her into a saddle before she could even walk or talk. "I was only just sitting up and we would do six-week cattle drives and stuff like that and he'd worked a big station. He'd climb in the saddle, and I was happy on the horse. We'd go off and I'd fall asleep on there," she said. "I felt more comfortable on horseback, like, if I was crying, he'd put me on a horse. Straight away stopped crying. Happy as, go to sleep. So, yeah, that was from my dad.' Next chapter In 2021, Pomare-Pai sustained a serious head injury on set – a brutal reminder of the risks of stunt work. Scans later revealed an 8mm aneurysm that required urgent surgery. She raised the funds to go private and underwent a lengthy recovery stint. Stuntwoman Dayna Pomare-Pai trains next generation of stunt performers (Source: Marae) ADVERTISEMENT 'I'd spend days in a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, and I learnt to meditate, which I never thought somebody with ADHD would be able to do. 'I didn't think I could teach myself to meditate, I didn't think it was possible, but I was put into a state where I had to learn how to meditate and that has now helped me out in life.' Now, she's turning that experience into helping those who need it the most. For part two of Dayna Pomare-Pai's story - Watch Marae on TVNZ1 on Sunday at 10.30am or on TVNZ+
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Herald
Bay of Plenty traffic expert David Taui defends te reo Māori signs
Taui disagreed. 'Not every country uses English stop-go signs, but most people understand that red means stop and green means go,' Taui said. Taui has worked in traffic management since 1994. Taui said most people understood what green and red signs meant at roadworks. He had watched more cars speeding than not when a temporary speed limit was in place, he said. 'I'm going to tell you that 97.9% of all drivers who go through the roadworks site do not do 30km/h.' He simply wanted to save the lives of tangata whenua and all Kiwis driving. 'They [te reo signs] are more respected by Māori than the Stop sign,' he said. 'Because nobody likes to be stopped. Stop is a command, and human beings do not like to be commanded to do something.' Taui said he knew the rules and regulations around signage very well and that any signs could be used in risk management, as long as a plan was in place. 'Every sign is not approved until it gets approved, and that is when you write the traffic management plan.' He said that if more road signs were in te reo or closer to his designs, there would be fewer accidents because people would pay more attention to them. A spokesperson for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kōtahi said it valued te reo Māori as an official language of New Zealand and would continue to use it. 'Safety on the road is non-negotiable and the use of approved signs is critical to ensuring all road users and traffic crews remain safe around work sites,' the NZTA spokesperson said. The only official sign under the traffic control devices (TCD) rule is the Kura sign for schools. 'This was introduced in 2022 and remains on our roadsides and is legally required to be used, as specified in the TCD rule.' The TCD rule was a transport regulation, and the Minister of Transport was responsible for it, the spokesperson said. 'NZTA cannot change it on its initiative.' NZTA must follow the law as a road controlling authority and only used signs specified in the TCD rule. Only a small number of traffic signs in the rule conveyed a message just in te reo (eg, Marae, Kōhanga Reo, Tangi), according to the spokesperson. 'Most traffic signs are presented in English,' the spokesperson said. The new Government policy statement on land transport 2024 has been finalised, and bilingual and te reo Māori traffic signs are not identified as the Government's priority, the spokesperson said.
1News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- 1News
‘Treaty Principles 2.0' – law experts concerned by regulatory bill
Legal experts have raised concerns about the Regulatory Standards Bill, dubbing it the Treaty Principles Bill "2.0". Claimant lawyer Tania Waikato and law academic Dr Carwyn Jones appeared on TVNZ's Marae yesterday to raise their concerns over the legislation and its widespread impact. Their comments come after the Waitangi Tribunal last week recommended the immediate halt to the bill after a claim was lodged by Māori rights group Toitū Te Tiriti. The legislation, which was expected to be approved by Cabinet for introduction in the House today, has been led by the ACT Party as part of its coalition agreement with National, with the Minister of Regulation David Seymour leading its charge. For the full Marae interview, watch on TVNZ+ According to the minister, the bill's aim is to 'ensure regulatory decisions are based on principles of good law-making and economic efficiency'. 'In a nutshell: If red tape is holding us back, because politicians find regulating politically rewarding, then we need to make regulating less rewarding for politicians with more sunlight on their activities,' Seymour said in a statement. The bill will require all future and existing legislation to conform to a particular set of criteria. But the difficulty of that, said Jones, is the criteria is a 'very limited set of principles'. 'It is very much focused on things to do with protection of property rights and wealth, and doesn't include things like environmental protections, and requirements for equity, or indeed any protections for Te Tiriti. 'So all of those rights are weakened by this bill and the assessments that will be required in terms of all law trying to conform with this.' Waikato dubbed the proposed legislation the Treaty Principles Bill 'version 2.0'. 'We had all of these principles in the Treaty Principles Bill which were going to undermine Te Tiriti, copied and pasted, put it over here, dress it up in complex, legal language that nobody understands, make it sound really boring, not consult with anyone, and then try and shove it through.' Jones said the Regulatory Standards Bill will provide a means to weaken Treaty protections and remove the legal meaning and effects of Te Tiriti from the law, 'which is what the Treaty Principles Bill's all about'. 'So I think I see the Regulatory Standards Bill really is just finishing off the work that was started by the Treaty Principles Bill, [that was] ultimately rejected.' Waikato believes all New Zealanders should be concerned, not just Māori. The power the bill will give to the Regulation Minister over 'every single law that comes in' and 'every single existing law that we've got' is 'really dangerous' and 'really concerning', she said. 'Professor Jonathan Boston [academic and professor of policy studies at Victoria University of Wellington], who gave evidence for us in the Tribunal, he calls this 'the Everything Bill' because it literally covers everything: every single law, every aspect of society will have to pass through… this control gate that David Seymour is in charge of.' She said that if the legislation is passed, it will cause a fundamental constitutional shift in Aotearoa. ACT leader Seymour reacted to the tribunal decision at the end of last week, saying: "The Tribunal's main objection is that the Bill requires 'equality before the law', which is mentioned repeatedly in the document. "What it doesn't understand is that equality before the law is fundamental to a functioning democracy. We can address New Zealand's problems without racial discrimination."
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Government Supports Tairāwhiti Marae To Relocate To Safer Ground
Press Release – New Zealand Government The Marae Trustees of Puketawai, Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna, Okuri, Takip, and Rangatira Marae supported by their whnau and hap have made the difficult decision to relocate and re-establish their respective marae in new locations. Hon Mark Mitchell Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Five Tairāwhiti marae impacted by the North Island weather events of early 2023, are moving to safer locations with support from the Crown,' said Mark Mitchell, Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery and Tama Potaka, Minister for Māori Development. 'The Marae Trustees of Puketawai, Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna, Okuri, Takipū, and Rangatira Marae – supported by their whānau and hapū – have made the difficult decision to relocate and re-establish their respective marae in new locations. 'The local council designated these marae, as Category 3 – High Risk, and not safe to occupy because of unacceptable risk to life from future extreme weather. 'Each of the marae have accepted the Crown's support package and have acquired new sites to relocate to. The new sites are in close proximity within, or close to, their respective tribal boundaries,' says Mark Mitchell. 'The impact of the severe weather on the marae was devastating for the many whānau and hapū connected to these marae and their wider community. 'The decision to relocate is not an easy one and has come from the desire of the Marae Trustees to keep their marae, and their respective whānau, safe and secure, protecting the lives of those who might otherwise be at real risk from any future severe weather events.' Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka says relocating the individual marae will take time. 'We expect the relocation works, including the rebuild of wharenui and whare kai where required due to the damage, will take place over the next two or so years. For some of the marae, the project is a complete rebuild. 'Reaching this point is a significant milestone. Most importantly, it will provide affected whanau and hapu peace of mind, and will have the added benefit of creating opportunities for SMEs and jobs. This augments the growing construction capability on the East Coast as a result of the mahi at Toitū Tairāwhiti and others,' says Mr Potaka. Of the five marae three are located in the Uawa – Tolaga Bay area and the other two are in Te Karaka. 'The Crown is also working with two Kahungunu Marae, Tangoio and Petāne in Hawke's Bay with support packages available to both marae so they too can reestablish in safer locations. These marae were also designated, by their local council, as having an unacceptable risk to life.' A total of $136.215m, allocated from Budgets 23 and 24 will fund the entire Whenua Māori and Marae relocation Programme after North Island weather events. It includes the costs to relocate owners of 24 whenua Māori properties to safety as well as demolition of residential structures and covers some assistance to support affected sites of cultural significance, principally urūpa. 'The Crown recognises moving a marae requires careful navigation. This is not an easy journey, and we would like to thank the Marae Trustees for working with us to ensure the safety of people on marae,' Mr Potaka says. Notes: In all cases ownership of the whenua remains with the existing owners. The cost for each Marae relocation is commercially sensitive due to procurement undertakings. Geographic location of all Category 3 Marae in Tairāwhiti:
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
Government Supports Tairāwhiti Marae To Relocate To Safer Ground
Hon Mark Mitchell Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Minister for Māori Development Five Tairāwhiti marae impacted by the North Island weather events of early 2023, are moving to safer locations with support from the Crown,' said Mark Mitchell, Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery and Tama Potaka, Minister for Māori Development. 'The Marae Trustees of Puketawai, Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna, Okuri, Takipū, and Rangatira Marae – supported by their whānau and hapū – have made the difficult decision to relocate and re-establish their respective marae in new locations. 'The local council designated these marae, as Category 3 – High Risk, and not safe to occupy because of unacceptable risk to life from future extreme weather. 'Each of the marae have accepted the Crown's support package and have acquired new sites to relocate to. The new sites are in close proximity within, or close to, their respective tribal boundaries,' says Mark Mitchell. 'The impact of the severe weather on the marae was devastating for the many whānau and hapū connected to these marae and their wider community. 'The decision to relocate is not an easy one and has come from the desire of the Marae Trustees to keep their marae, and their respective whānau, safe and secure, protecting the lives of those who might otherwise be at real risk from any future severe weather events.' Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka says relocating the individual marae will take time. 'We expect the relocation works, including the rebuild of wharenui and whare kai where required due to the damage, will take place over the next two or so years. For some of the marae, the project is a complete rebuild. 'Reaching this point is a significant milestone. Most importantly, it will provide affected whanau and hapu peace of mind, and will have the added benefit of creating opportunities for SMEs and jobs. This augments the growing construction capability on the East Coast as a result of the mahi at Toitū Tairāwhiti and others,' says Mr Potaka. Of the five marae three are located in the Uawa - Tolaga Bay area and the other two are in Te Karaka. 'The Crown is also working with two Kahungunu Marae, Tangoio and Petāne in Hawke's Bay with support packages available to both marae so they too can reestablish in safer locations. These marae were also designated, by their local council, as having an unacceptable risk to life.' A total of $136.215m, allocated from Budgets 23 and 24 will fund the entire Whenua Māori and Marae relocation Programme after North Island weather events. It includes the costs to relocate owners of 24 whenua Māori properties to safety as well as demolition of residential structures and covers some assistance to support affected sites of cultural significance, principally urūpa. 'The Crown recognises moving a marae requires careful navigation. This is not an easy journey, and we would like to thank the Marae Trustees for working with us to ensure the safety of people on marae,' Mr Potaka says.
