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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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New Zealand: Election 2011: Te Tai Tokerau candidates
The Northern Advocate Monday 21 Nov 2011 Today we have the responses of the candidates for Te tai Tokerau, Kelvin Davis, Labour; Hone Harawira, Mana Party; Maki Herbert, Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party and Waihoroi Shortland, Maori party. We asked: List all the clubs/ organisations you are affiliated with. Z Describe (briefly) home and family life. What do you do for fun? Who would you vote for outside your party and why? Why should people vote for you? Who has been the greatest influence on you and why? Questions posed by the Advocate and readers. 1) Do you think recreational fish limits should be reduced and why/why not? 2) Do you support the retention of the Northland/Auckland rail link and link to Marsden Pt and why/ why not? 3) Do you support spending $1.69 billion on the Puhoi-to- Wellsford highway and why/why not? 4) What is the biggest issue facing your electorate and what would you do about it? 5) What is your view on opening Northland up for more mining/mineral extraction? 6) What would you do to create more jobs in Northland? 7) If you had $20 million to spend on one project in your electorate what you use it for? 8) Do you support the retention of MMP and if not what system do you support and why? Kelvin Davis: I have recently being asked to become a Trustee of the Kawakawa Vintage Railway, Te Rarawa Rugby Club. Describe (briefly) home and family life. I am married to Moira we have three children aged 16, 14 and 12. They are typical Maori children who understand Te Reo, are intelligent, polite and respectful. We live in Kaitaia although I am from Karetu (Ngati Manu) and was raised in Kawakawa. Politics consumes much of my time but to relax I like to take the longline up the beach and go fishing. I have an old boat that I get out on occasionally to fish and have taught the kids to waterski. Over summer we try to camp out on the whanau land at Karetu where there's no cellphone coverage, no electricity, a long drop and a creek for swimming in. I enjoy all sport but rugby in particular. I wouldn't vote for anyone outside the Labour Party. I grew up in Kawakawa in the 1970's. My family didn't have much but through sheer hard work my two brothers, my sister and I all learned to speak Maori and how to succeed in life. My oldest brother is a police sergeant in Kaikohe, my next brother a district court judge, I'm the school principal turned politician and my sister is also a successful teacher and former principal. We have walked the road to success, and I can help others along that road. Maori success doesn't come down to chance or luck. All Maori can be successful if we do what we know we have to do. My parents (have been the greatest influence). Without them none of our family's success would be possible. From the day we were born we knew two things, 1. we were going to get an education, no excuses, 2. when they said "No" they meant "No". Too many parents these days are afraid to say "No" to their children and mean it, so kids get away with too much, and when they drop out of school early, the parents have left it too late to do anything about it. 1) No. People just need to stick to the current limits, or better still only get enough for a feed. 2)Yes. We need an integrated transport system - rail, road and coastal shipping. Opening Northport to rail is essential to the ongoing viability of the railline. I'm sick and tired of getting stuck behind trucks on my regular drive from Kaitaia through to Auckland. We need to reduce the number of trucks, which will help open the roads. we can do that by using rail and coastal shipping more. 3) I recommend using $1.69 billion in this way.. $500 million to fix the blackspots on SH1 (Dome Valley, Windy Ridge etc), $500 m on upgrading the Whangarei-Auckland rail line, $100 m on building the rail link to Marsden Point and the remaining $600 m on a fund to create jobs, wealth and opportunity in Northland/ Te Tai Tokerau - such as promoting Northland to the International and Domestic Tourism market and developing our export industries (agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, etc) so that we create jobs for our people. 4) A recent survey in Te Tai Tokerau said the top three concerns were - 1. Education, 2. Employment and 3.. Whanau. If people want to care for their whanau, such as being able to pay for the bills, the rent or mortgage, they need a decent job. to get a decent job these days people need a decent education.Everything comes back to education and that is my strength. I have a heap of exciting ideas to create the conditions where Maori will be successful in education and therefore be able to get a job, and to care for their whanau. 5) We need to have the conversation and Maori need to be active participants in the decision making process. A GNS Report says there are 1 trillion barrels of oil equivalent off the West Coast of Northland. If we were to receive just $1 from every barrel we'd have 1 trillion dollars to address every issue that we have here in Northland. So we'd be stupid to dismiss the idea out of hand. 6) Focus on our strengths - tourism, agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, Maori culture. But we need a financial catalyst to kick start things which is why I'm speaking to whanau, hapu, iwi, civic and community leaders to get behind a centrally funded Tai Tokerau development fund. 7) Build a school of business and enterprise where students would be supported to develop a business, grow it, employ people, reinvest, diversify and become millionaires by the time they turn 25. 8) Yes. Hone Harawira: My home is where I can relax, where the mokos can pound on me, where I can share a few quiet moments with my wife, and where I am surrounded by people who remind me about who I am, where I have come from, and what is important in life. Fun; Getting away to the beach, doing anything with the mokos, waka ama (not enough), and the odd motorbike ride (don't tell Hilda!) Metiria Turei. She's Maori and the Greens have been a big help. When I'm on the street, people beep their horns and call out ``u da man!'' or ``chur bo!'' or ``MANA hard bro!'' They're comfortable coming up to say hello and talk about what they're thinking. That tells me I'm still in touch with the heart of my community and that the things I say and do represent the feelings of my electorate. I am a fighter but I am also a builder; I am a politician but I am also a family man; and I am a leader but I will always be a son of the north. Influence: Muhammad Ali - a fighter for his people's rights, a world champion, and an inspirational figure. Syd Jackson - leader of Nga Tamatoa and courageous fighter for Maori rights. My wife Hilda - my greatest supporter, my toughest critic, my darling and my boss. My mum - because she's my mum. 1) Not at the moment, no. But we should be reviewing the way in which the fish quota system is managed. Maori should be included in the way in which quota is set and managed rather than just be part of the quota system. Maori should be a partner in setting the rules that govern the system rather than just be quota holders. Maori principles should be the basis of how our fishery is managed. The principles of kaitiakitanga have been set aside for a system based around managing fishing for a commercial return, and we need to get back to a philosophy based on a sustainable future. 2) It's important for people to remember the reasons why this very question is being asked. Labour privatised NZ Rail in the first place, wiping out hundreds of apprenticeships and jobs and leading to a cutback on rail services. I support keeping the rail link open because rail remains a cheaper option for transporting goods produced in Northland, it reduces the fuel load, it lessens the numbers of truck juggernauts ruining our roads and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. And my thanks to the Save Our Rail Northland Group who have been doing some great work to keep the link open. 3) If I had a choice, I'd rather see the money spent on rebuilding a viable rail network in the north. 4) Poverty is the number one issue facing our people right now. Under both Labour and National our people have gone backwards as the gap between the rich and the poor widens. All of MANA's policies are geared towards helping those who struggle to make ends meet. But it's one thing to have great policies. You also have to need the credibility to front the issues, and be willing to fight policies that work against your people. Under Goff, Labour has been a complete failure and that's why National is getting a free ride in the polls. All of MANA's candidates have a long history in advocating for the rights of Maori and the poor and they will provide genuine leadership in the house. 5) I am dead against it. If people think the Rena disaster was bad then thank God, thank Greenpeace and thank Te Whanau a Apanui, Ngati Porou for stopping a deep sea oil disaster in the Raukumara Basin that would have truly boggled the mind. And be thankful too, because next in line for deep sea oil drilling - is Northland. The Maori Party stayed with National and ACT over the survey and drilling, even though they knew iwi had no rights (the survey was eventually abandoned because the iwi ignored the Maori party and stopped it anyway). MANA's position is unequivocal. Deep sea oil drilling is not safe. We will not support it. Furthermore, MANA will not support land-based mining unless such practices have clear iwi management plans, environmental standards, community participation, strong and safe employment practices and local business involvement in place. 6) Restart community employment projects to get everybody off the dole and into work, at a decent wage. The jobs would be in schools, hospitals, old-peoples homes, kaumatua and kuia flats, marae and community facilities. I'd also start a scheme to encourage sustainable community-owned businesses to employ people, and to subsidise businesses into taking more people on. All this talk about an export-led economy is great - but at the moment it's just talk, and I want people out working now. Yes, it would cost money, but do we want our people sitting around getting morose and angry at life or do we want them out working? Everybody is better off when they're working. Their families are happier. The community is happier. There's less crime. There's more positive thinking. And people feel challenged to improve themselves once they get started up the ladder. Cost? What cost? 7) Give everybody earning less than $30,000 or less a one-off Christmas Hardship Grant of $1000 to take some of the financial stress away from whanau. Make sure every child gets a proper feed every day, through our FEED THE KIDS programme. A society that can't feed it's kids is in a bad way. And kids that are well fed are ready to learn. And kids that are ready to learn are a plus to our future. Get everybody working next. A working man is a happy man. Build 3,000 homes, because a commitment to building homes leads to apprenticeships and jobs in building, carpet-laying, plumbing, painting, roofing, landscaping, glazing and a whole host of other jobs. And where does the money come from? As soon as you've built the first 5 houses, the rent starts paying the debt for the rest to be built. Easy. 8) Yes. It's a fairer system than First Past the Post and nobody understands the others. Maki Herbert: Manager/player for Tokoroa Womens Soccer Club. I have been Club Captain for the Mt Maunganui Mid Week Womens Badminton Club. Became Kiwi Swim Tutor at Mt Maunganui Swimming Club, manager for under16 girls waka ama for Nga Horo Pawarenga, a C.O.G.S committee member for two years Northland branch, Kaiwhakahaere o Te Kohanga Reo o Te Raki Hokianga; Member of Te Roopu o Oteha Mahi Raranga Tawhito and currently a active member at the Daktory working towards Law Reform against Cannabis Prohibition. I have two grown up children and two granddaughters that are the apple of my life. I was born in Tamaki- ma-kaurau, to a half cast Maori tane and a Pakeha wahine in August 1959. Went to Glen Avon Primary school, Blockhouse Bay Intermediate, Lynfield College and also Tokorua High, during that time of my life my whanau always went back to Pawarenga where my father is from for the holidays. I'm one of many Herberts. I left school at 15, went into retail 4square store in Tokoroa, sewing factory, at 17 I had my first pepe and 19 with the second pepe....when my tamariki went to kura I started to re-educated myself through all the free courses I could sign up for - accountancy, small business practices, computers, all of the above set me up for the future in later years. When I moved up to Pawarenga in the 90s I found work at the Pawarenga resource Centre after doing an Administration course run by the Resource centre and gaining employment as the Co- Ordinater for the centre. Then a job came up for Administrator at the Pawarenga Te Kohanga Reo which I apply for and got because of the recent up skilling gained for the Resource Centre. Then I went on to became the Kaiwhakahaere for Te Raki O Hokianga Te Kohanga Reo. After the disbanding of the Te Kohanga Reo Units, I went down to Tamaki to found work. I starting off cleaning for Spotless Ltd and worked myself up the ladder to CEO2 and after awhile I decided I wanted to be a Hairdresser, so off I went and got my trade in 2005 at the age of 44. I then started my own mobile hairdressing service mainly for the older person in the community that couldn't get to go to a salon. Then my grandmother became very ill and needed to be cared for. I am have been looking after my grandmother for nearly 5 full time who is 94 1/2 years old. (Fun) Walking around our walk ways with my nana, lots of swimming, maori weaving, ice cream at the beach, Zumba, gardening,being with friends and whanau. (Vote for) Mana, the passion to get Northland out of the shameful state of very low economics that our government's have inflicted on us. Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party(ALCP) believe we have the solution to the depression of Northland that is to 'Grow the Economy' by creating jobs through Industrial Hemp. Cannabis Prohibition is costing the country $93,000 per prisoner per year and you multiply that by 762 prisoners =$708,6600.00 plus the cost of policing and prohibition is just under $200million....that's a lot of tax payers money on failed policies. We also believe that Cannabis should be taken out of the Criminal Sector and put it into the Health Sector. Our policy is simple with three planks: R18 - Recreational availability - Dutch style/Daktory style cafes, will reduce the black market - deglamourize for children; Medicinal - access for many ailments - Sativax currently only available for Multiple sclerosis - but good for nausea and appetite for wasting diseases like Aids and cancer - latest research - reduces tumours; Hemp industry - fast growing and sustainable - supplies all the basics of life -bio fuel, clean burning fuel, building materials, clothes and food - hemp seed perfectly balanced for human consumption rich in Omega 3 and 6. A possible 10,000 small business could be earning over 400billion dollars for the country every year. ALCP Finance Plan 1. - Ending prohibition will save $500,000.00 (half a billion)per year. 2. - Horticulturist Mike Nicholls from Massey University says medicinal cannabis industry would be worth billions to NZ. 3. - Nearly 400,000 cannabis consumers (NZ Drug Harm Index figures 2008) Now that figure is probably closer to 500,000 all spending a moderate average of $40.00 per week = 1 Billion per annum. 4. - Hemp industry also worth billions as well as saving the environment. The Result is more money for Health. Education, Social and Business development. It fulfils the triple bottom line requirements for success. The ALCP brings a new pie to the table - not a rehash (refries) of the old one! It is time NZ woke up and took a better look at this incredible versatile herb from God! Remember it has also been discovered that the human body has cannabis receptors - very interesting... 5 - Bottom line argument - Cannabis is a health not a criminal matter - If there is a problem send the poor person to the doctor - not to jail - that is not the way to treat someone who may have a problem. 6. - The powerful Law Commission has just completed a Review of the Misuse of Drugs Act and recommends we change the way we deal with people who choose to use drugs - They recommend we stop criminalising people for this activity and recognise social dealing among other findings. The summary is at the beginning of the Law Commission Report. Waihoroi Shortland: Chair Te Maara a Hineamaru, Executive Member Te Manawata pu o Ngati Hine, Trustee Matawaia Marae, Okaihau Golf Club. Married to Rahera Shortland, we have a grown up family of six, with 21 grandchildren including 8 great. We live in the Waitakere ranges where we both lead a busy life involved in varied interests around the revival and advancement of Te Reo Maori. Over the last 26 years I have worked mainly in Maori media including Television, radio, print and film. This is my first foray into politics at any level. For fun, I'm an avid golfer presently playing badly off a 14. I do Soduku almost as well as I play golf. While I grew up within a traditionally National background, for the past 30 years excluding Labour, I have always voted for parties that have been clearly aligned to Maori interests. As Mana is clearly not an option for me, I guess given reverting to type is not an option in Te Taitokerau, it would have to be Labour. Te Tai Tokerau deserves better than it has. It needs to have someone who is totally focused on being part of government whoever that might turn out to be. It cannot afford to be misled by a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal. It must trust that its representative will bring back the resources through government that will enable Maori to take charge of their own destiny. I am someone who is committed to raising expectations and aspirations and delivering substance rather than feeding the desperation of our people with empty rhetoric and no hope platitudes. My parents shaped, influenced and gave substance to my life, they had simple wisdom, good conscience and a strong sense of social justice and service to others. They knew who they were and the value of good citizenship. I am a cutting from that puriri tree. 1) I come from a tradition where you only took enough to feed yourself and your whanau. To provide for those who mightn't have the opportunity to get any. It was called manaki tangata, being benevolent. It was never a license to plunder. Fishing wasn't about recreation it was about sustenance and there in lies my answer. You cannot eat what is no longer there. 2) Yes I do, it is a crazy notion to take away viable infrastructure in a region where road usage is concentrated on a narrow passage way that will only come under more pressure. It is vital to the growing Maori economy as it must be to the North as a whole. 3) With Wellsford and Warkworth close to being satellites of the super city there must be some clamour to provide the best and safest passageway for those who commute daily. Given the state however of roads in other parts of Te Tai Tokerau there would be an equally valid argument that maybe enough is enough, how much better can you get than what you have there now. On balance then I would probably support reviewing it in terms of the wider needs of the North. 4) It is a close race between housing and employment and seeing the latter is addressed later I'll pump for housing and in particular Maori housing. For me good housing is the preamble to good health. Failure here diminishes all the effort we put into raising the other. The Maori Party is driving initiatives that would see Maori service providers and organizations become major players in the provision of social housing options for Maori. From rent to own, through to first home ownership.. Where the state is looking to exit rental housing, Maori enterprise will be engaged in filling the gap. We must become more proactive than reactive to changing the housing landscape in Te Tai Tokerau. 5) My view will always be tempered by what is in the best interest of Maori. It is an iwi choice. Environmental issues aside all economic opportunities should be given due consideration. We cannot simply expect the social disparities to be met or dealt with if we don't give equal weight to the economic opportunities that may yet present themselves to us. 6) I am new to this game but I am hard pressed to remember when a politician created a single job except his or her own. I believe the best we can do is provide opportunities and the resources to those in the North who can make it happen. It is people and people in business in particular who create jobs. In the Maori area, the under utilization of Maori land will be a primary focus, taking away the anomaly of land ownership as a barrier to investment. Re- creating marae as the - hub of communities - where meaningful projects in skill for work training can occur with a particular emphasis on saleable skills in Northland. And finally investigating incentive driven job search programs based on public and private partnership that focus on training, placing and keeping the client in employment rather than simply sending them out to look for a job that they a ill prepared for, or just don't exist. 7) This is the hardest question to answer because whatever I choose it ought to be worthy. But if it came down to it, I would choose the elimination of those preventable diseases that plague Northland, rheumatic fever, whatever must be done about Meningococcal meningitis and the prevention of diabetes. 8) This is the simplest question to answer, Maori should tick MMP and ignore the other two silly questions. http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/election-2011-te-tai-tokerau-candidates/1182119/
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