Coming up on Te Karere... Parliament is about to make it law but asset sales may face a legal challenge from Ngati Tuwharetoa. Will lowering its language quota make Maori TV more accessible to language learners? Critics say no. Iwi Saver - it's a new Maori company that aims to boost Maori participation in KiwiSaver. Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. The mixed ownership model bill will pass through parliament today - by just one vote. But in developing news, the Government's plans to privatise Mighty River power could be challenged by Ngati Tuwharetoa. Irena Smith is in our newsroom with more. Irena. The bill is being debated in Parliament as we speak. Over 30 protesters gathered outside opposing the bill today. The bill is expected to go through tonight but Ngati Tuwharetoa will legally challenge the process. What is the legal action posed from Tuwharetoa? Tuwharetoa are disputing that they didn't fully understand how the Governments plans would affect their water resources like the ones in Taupo. This isn't the first time they've opposed plans because they presented their case to the select committee last month. This isn't the first time they've opposed plans because they presented their case to the select committee last month. When will the Waitangi Tribunal hear the Maori councils claim for freshwater? The hearing will deal with a claim by the Maori Council and 11 others that the sales breach the Treaty and a more general claim that the Crown has denied or violated rights over freshwater and geothermal resource, and is due to take place on July 9. However, Mr Key said the risk was not significant. Irena Smith from our Auckland newsroom. Maori Television Service (MTS) is reducing its Maori language content to make the channel more accessible. Critics say the move goes against why the service was set up in the first place. Peata Melbourne reports. Maori Television has been promoting the Maori language and its customs for eight years. The channel plans to broadcast an extra five hours of language learning programmes every day. But they're reducing their Maori language quota from 60 to 51% during prime time hours. I don't like it however it's great they've started to engage learners of the language through their viewers, but I'd prefer they'd increase the Maori language quota. Maori Television receives $33 million every year to run two channels and make in-house programmes. An additional $20 million goes to independent programme makers. The law says Maori Television must ensure that it broadcasts mainly in the Maori language during prime time. MTS says the new quota meets that. But is 51% enough? Maori TV says the change is about making the channel more accessible. If viewers want to watch programmes all in the Maori language, they can turn to Te Reo channel. Perhaps they want to increase their funding from mainstream funding agencies as well, I'm not sure, they need more funding but I haven't had that conversation with them yet. Peata Melbourne, Te Karere. We now go to our Maori issues commentator Keith Ikin in Rotorua. We're unable to provide subtitles. Visit our website after 7pm to watch interview with subtitles. This is the proposed site on the corner of Te Ngae Road where TransPacific Waste Management is looking at turning it into a refuse transfer station. However this has caused a great deal of anger, specially from this local. Also of concern is how this will affect patrons of the bath house directly across the road from the proposed site. We spoke by phone to Andew Whitburn of TransPacific Waste Management. He says he's aware of some concerns and will continue to hold on-going talks with local Maori. It looks like this will probably take some time before a resolution is reached. It looks like this will probably take some time before a resolution is reached. Hinerangi Goodman, Te Karere. After the break, Maori reaction to the finding that school zones deliberately included rich neighbourhoods and excluded poor ones. And we speak to Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell about state assets and Maori television. We're unable to provide subtitles. Visit our website after 7pm to watch interview with subtitles. Te Ururoa Flavell, thank you for joining us. According to one deputy principal, they're not surprised that some schools manipulate zones to include wealthier districts. Of 49 schools that were researched, 39 were found to have manipulated zones. It's not news to this deputy principal. We know fully well that this has been the case for some schools of a higher decile. Some schools believe by altering their school zone they can get a higher decile to attract wealthy students from good areas. However the Minister of Education says some schools are mistaken. Right through the country, whether the district is considered poor or not, the main thing is the quality of education, principal and teachers of the school. University of Illinois professor Chris Lubienski studied 49 schools in the Auckland area last year and found 36 school zones did not match their immediate area. Some principals of those higher decile schools Some principals of those higher decile schools might not want students from lower-decile schools. This is something the Minister is looking into. I'm waiting on a report from the Ministry of Education which I will carefully consider before taking action on this issue. Some schools believe government should revise the decile rating system to remove the incentive to manipulate school zones. Anzac Pikia, Te Karere. The body of Hone Hikitia Te Rangi has been taken to Kauaetangohia Marae in the heart of Te Whanau-a-Apanui. He was the last surviving senior commander of the 28th Maori Battalion. He was a brave soldier who fought for his country. He will be sorely missed. He will lie in state at his marae for two days before his burial on Thursday, 11am. A new investment company has been launched with Maori at the helm. Their aim is to grow Maori savings under the auspices of KiwiSaver. 'Aim for the lofty goal' is the vision which began many years ago that is now about to embark on a plan to change financial habits and improve the wealth of ordinary New Zealanders. This is a new direction we must pursue to enable families to improve their wealth and gain knowledge of how to manage and grow their money by applying uniquely Maori values and perspectives. Under the KiwiSaver plan, very few Maori have joined. The aim now, under the new Iwi Investor KiwiSaver product, is for many more to be encouraged to join. To begin with, $100 will be paid by the government towards this scheme for every person joining. This is a first for Maori. And the government will put in more than $4 billion. Compare that to Treaty Settlements total of $1 billion. It began here in Tuwharetoa 16 years ago however since then its growth has now expanded nationwide. A new pathway open to others Hinerangi Goodman, Te Karere. After the break, we have tomorrow's weather. To the weather now. Now to your feedback on Maori TV's decision to lower its quota of Maori language content during its primetime slot. Rongomai Alison Wharehoka says, 'if te reo Maori is reduced it could be detrimental'. Matua Daniel Hapuku says, 'let's not forget there's another channel for fluent speakers'. 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.