Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. 19 January 2012 A message from a local family after a teen was killed on the road. A Maori baseball player has his sights set on America. Will we see a Maori canoe at the celebration of the Queen of England's Diamond Jubilee? And the weather. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. Don't speed on our roads! A word of warning from a Te Teko family following the death of Shane Hohepa on Galatea Road in Te Teko. Shane Hohepa was travelling on the back of a ute when his brother swerved and he was thrown off. A vehicle following them is meant to have also ran him over. Ngahuia Wade reports from Te Teko. Eria and Mere Moses are no strangers to death on Galatea Road, their daughter also died here. I'm fine about it now, but at the time I went crazy with grief. But with a lot of help I got better. You just manage to forget and this happens to bring it all back again. Their 7-year-old daughter was run over on Galatea Road when she got off the school bus. There have been three deaths on this road, all family. We had our road blessed by our Maori priest we didn't think this would happen again. These are the only signs that Shane Hohepa died on this road. Today only a road inspector was there and very little traffic. Yesterday, Shane Hohepa and his cousin were travelling on the back of a ute when the ute driven by his older brother swerved. This is Galatea Road where Shane Hohepa died. Locals say it's not the road that is wrong, but the drivers. It's speed that kills. The lesson is drive safely and be good on the roads. Those kids are so good, always with their parents unlike other kids who roam the streets. Police investigations continue into the accident. Shane Hohepa will be taken to Tu Teao Marae later in the day. Ngahuia Wade, Te Karere. Hundreds gathered in Wellington today for the funeral of Ben Hana aged 54 years who passed away last Wednesday. He was affectionately known as the Blanket Man. He died of medical problems stemming from alcohol misuse and malnutrition. An icon to some and a nuisance to others - his friends and family say he chose to live on the streets of Wellington in protest to the plight of homelessness in this country. These were his last words to his brother a week before he died. But it wasn't to be. Over 200 people gathered at Waitangi Park in Wellington today to farewell this descendent of Ngati Whatua and Taranaki Whanui. Local kaumatua Sam Jackson was among those who paid tribute. I feel a bit sorry for him. Homelessness was the path he chose and today he's getting buried for it. Ben Hana lived on the streets of Wellington for 11 years he spent the first of those living just outside Parliament Ben Hana lived on the streets of Wellington for 11 years he spent the first of those living just outside Parliament where he protested. He had no material things to leave his grandchildren and his friends say the measure of this man was in his words and actions. It's a sign of the times. Nobody cares about what's on the inside we judge a man by the material things he owns. Nobody cares about what's on the inside we judge a man by the material things he owns. Well, he owned nothing. Following the service, Ben Hana was taken to rest at Makara Cemetery in Wellington. A Maori has signed a contract with an American major league baseball club. Pita Rona of Te Atiawa will play for the Baltimore Orioles. He follows in the footsteps of the Moanaroa brothers and Te Wera Bishop. This is an auspicious day for Pita Rona one that he'll remember forever. This descendant of Te Atiawa is the newest drafted player for the American Major League Baseball club the Baltimore Orioles. Although still young at 17-years-old his skills in this sport are inherited. Although his signature isn't valuable today one day it could be worth millions. Pita Rona is the fourth Maori to sign a contract with an American Baseball club so the question is who will sign tomorrow? Despite that, it won't be long before Baltimore is his second home. Roihana Nuri, Te Karere. If you're talking about tennis, no doubt the Williams sisters will come up. If you're talking about rowing, then the Evers-Swindell twins will come up. Now in the sport of waka ama, the Taka sisters will be remembered. Potaka Maipi has this report from the National Waka Ama Sprint Champs. Their name will be remembered at Karapiro. The Brown sisters are from the Pouherenga Waka Club. They took out the top spots for the U19s singles. The sisters finished first and second. The third day of competition is for the singles. But the professional says... Students of the TKKM o Ruamata crew were still after the gold. Tomorrow, the seniors will take to the water. They will enter the finals of the U19s division. Tomorrow, the seniors will take to the water. Potaka Maipi, Te Karere. Maori are over represented in the drowning statistics so there's a big focus on water safety at the waka ama champs. 23% of all those who have drowned in recent years were Maori. An awareness campaign has been set up to educate Maori around the dangers of the water, but also around how to enjoy the water. The aim is to develop the swimming skills of the young ones. We teach them different styles of swimming, like doggy-paddle, breath stroke. If they're wearing a life jacket then they know how to use one. Maori families love water sports, like surfing gathering seafood. After the break, why is it that half of kohanga reo teachers smoke? Will a Maori waka play a part in the river pageant of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee? A Kiwi group hungry to buy the Crafar farms has hired legal big guns that are poised to seek a judicial review of Overseas Investment Office (IOI) processes. The Crafar Farms Purchase Group of NZ farmers and iwi, headed by businessman Sir Michael Fay, said it had retained QC Alan Galbraith and law firm Bell Gully to lead a legal challenge should the OIO recommend the government approve the offer from Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin this month. Group spokesman Alan McDonald said a legal approach seemed to be the only avenue to bring transparency to the application information and process behind any approval. The presence of a Maori canoe will be absent from celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's 60th succession anniversary. Toi Maori and Te Puni Kokiri have submitted a request to have a Maori canoe participate in the river pageant celebrations on the Thames River, but to no avail. However, Toi Maori will persist. Irena Smith reports. Te Hono ki Aotearoa is the name of the waka that will be launched on the sacred London river. A grand jubilee will be held to celebrate the 60 year reign of the Queen of England. However, the Safety Group says they can not accommodate a Maori canoe and all they paddlers. It's sad news for this elder of Ngati Ranana. That's the question the Maori Minister asked, perhaps he can help. Despite the decision, Despite the decision, Toi Maori will not give up the hope of having a Maori canoe involved. Ngati Ranana have always supported Royal events. Perhaps by involving a Maori canoe, it will create stronger relations. The Diamond Jubilee will be held in June. Perhaps enough time for Toi Maori to lobby their wish. Irena Smith, Te Karere. Nearly half of kohanga reo teachers smoke, these are the findings of research conducted by Otago University. The statistics have highlighted an important issue within Maoridom. These are the leaders of tomorrow. But how are they been taught at kohanga? I think that all kohanga teach the kids about the dangers of smoking. Otago university research says almost half of kohanga teachers smoke cigarettes and they aren't good role models for our children. Harata Williams has been working in kohanga reo for years. She's currently teaching at Te Tira Hou's kohanga reo which is a smoke-free premise. She strongly disagrees. I haven't seen a child taken to hospital while at kohanga, so what's all the fuss about? She's a former smoker who has given up. She says you cannot do anything about it, they'll see it outside of kohanga. One of our staff member's smokes, but out of sight. NZ Ash research states that there has been a 30% decline in youth smoking in comparison to 10 years ago. We contacted the kohanga reo office to comment on this issue but received no reply. She says there's an easy resolution. Close down the factories that make cigarettes. Harata Williams says we need to look after our future generations. Rapaera Tawhai, Te Karere. Skye Kimura is an advisor with the Cancer Society and is dedicated to helping Maori to give up smoking. She says 80% of Maori are willing to give up smoking it's all about changing the people's mind set. We cross live to her now. The following will not be subtitled due to the live nature of the interview. Go to our website after 7pm to watch this interview with subtitles. Skye Kimura, thank you for your time today. After the break, your weather. He gets angry over nothing, his wife gets scared, and he controls his kids by hurting them. His brother, his parents, his neighbours, friends and his workmates. They've all noticed how he treats his family, but no one's speaking up. It's hard to know what to do. Hey, Geoff. Hey, Geoff. Hey, mate. Hey, Geoff. Hey, mate. Saw your boy the other day. Oh, yeah? But the sooner you reach out to someone with a family violence problem, the sooner they can get help to change. Find out more at... To the weather now. For weather see Teletext p103 or tvnz.co.nz. That's all we have for today. Kia ora tatou katoa. Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Copyright TVNZ Access Services 2012