Māori current affairs for all New Zealanders, Hosted by Mihingarangi Forbes.
Kaupapa tuatahi: 7 years after being arrested for carrying 5 kilos of cocaine, Sharon Armstrong (Organised Deception) has written a book about her experience of being used by a sophisticated drug smuggling ring. After spending time in an Argentinian prison, Armstrong hopes she has moved on from being a victim and into the process of moving forward with her life.
Perhaps 20% of women in international prisons have been part of a romance scam operation. The Argentinian jail in which Armstrong was imprisoned held roughly 60 International women for drug smuggling and trafficking offences. Armstrong learned a lot about the women involved in the drug industry and found many of them were forced into being drug mules by criminal groups.
During the time she was being romanced, Armstrong occasionally had her doubts but was reassured by the scammer and had a rose tinted view of the relationship. Armstrong felt very ashamed at her vulnerability and gullibility being exposed following the arrest and media attention. Following her return to Aotearoa, Armstrong felt she needed to talk about the issue and draw attention to the use of women as unwitting drug mules. She now works with a group called Mule who hope to give support to whanau who find their family members caught up in drug smuggling scams. Armstrong was informed by women working in the scamming industry that Aotearoa is seen as an easy target with a large amount of trusting and naïve people.
Kaupapa tuarua: The Ngāti Manuhiri trust talks with Mihingarangi Forbes about allegations of inadequate consultation and irregularities in the tribal register and leadership.
John Paki (Ngāti Manuhiri Trust Settlement Trust Chairman) and Terrence Mook Hohneck (Ngāti Manuhiri Trust Settlement Trust) talk about the arrangement to sell 30 hectares of land for a luxury property development and the 175 hectares transferred to Auckland City Council in the Te Arai point agreement. Both Paki and Hoheck say that the voter register must be out of date and incorrect and the manner of registration is acceptable and suitable for representation of the Iwi.
Paki and Hohneck defend the perceived conflict of interest by Trustees and the Trust board. Paki and Hohneck say that they have voided the election results and board trustees had to stand aside from the validation committee and play no part in the administration of the election.
Paki and Hohneck say that the Rahui fund will be used for the betterment of the Iwi and Hapu and the marae has already received over 22 thousand dollars in grants for maintainance and insurance. Paki says that an education scholarship is being developed for the future.
Kōrero tuatahi: Mihingarangi Forbes talks with Honourable Ron Mark (Veterans Affairs and Defence Minister) about the Nepata brothers claim for compensation from the New Zealand Defence Force for injuries they sustained in a training exercise.
The Burnham Inquiry into New Zealand Defence Force operations in Afghanistan and alleged civilian deaths and casualties.
The return of the bodies of New Zealand soldiers from Malaysia and Fiji and the need for specialist disinterment teams.