Coming up on Te Karere... The Maori Council want to be in an advisory role to the government on all issues. We speak to the new co-chair about their proposal. Te Whanau o Waipareira is challenging the Ministry of Social Development in the high court. But why? Snow is still causing havoc in the South Island. Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. How can the role of the Maori Council be developed. Maori Affairs Minister, Pita Sharples, says the Maori Council and iwi leaders need to work together. If the groups provide a united front there is potential they could provide an advisory role to the government on all Maori issues. Our reporter Hinerangi Goodman spoke to Manu Paul from the Maori council. The New Zealand Maori Council has been rejuvenated but another Maori group has been advising the government on all matters Maori, which has resulted in the following comment. We feel we have being insulted. We have new leaders to lead this council forward which include Sir Eddie Durie and I. The Maori Council has been in a statutory role for the last 50 years and over the last few months the act which defines the organisation is under review. It may be the government's preference to stay with the iwi leader's forum for advice and use the Maori council when needed. Two voices for Maori issues may work in favour for Maori, especially when it comes to issues like water rights. If we win ownership of the water before the Tribunal next month, they'll be paying us. If both options provide more advantages then surely it's beneficial. Hinerangi Goodman, Te Karere. Even though the government has said there aren't any risks over iwi taking them to court over asset sales, they might be mistaken because the Supreme Court has ruled the Crown has denied Pouakani's waterway rights. For more details on the issue we now cross live to Peata Melbourne in our Wellington office. We're unable to provide subtitles. Te Whanau o Waipareira is challenging the Ministry of Social Development in the high court over termination of its family start contract. For more details we cross live Irena Smith in our Auckland studios. We're unable to provide subtitles. After the break, we'll discuss the latest in politics with Shane Jones, and a new publication relating to Maori from Statistics NZ. Labour MP Shane Jones now joins us from our Wellington studios. Tena koe, Shane. We're unable to provide subtitles. Shane Jones, thank you for joining us. Despite the Police budget shortfall for this year, the Maori MP for Te Waiariki, Te Ururoa Flavell, is encouraging the Police Conduct Authority to continue with their work in producing a report on police conduct during the Tuhoe Raids. Five years on, Flavell says, the country is still overshadowed by the violations of human rights that occurred on 15 October 2007. Flavell also says the Maori Party believe it's time to let the country know what happened. That's it. The country has long been waiting for the judges' decision on the Tuhoe raids. Four years we've been waiting. Four years we've been waiting. We still don't know why this has happened. It's now over and done with and the information should be released so we can see what the Police did in that time. Five years on from the raids in Ruatoki and there is still no report from the state agent established by the government. According to the Maori Party, this is a miscarriage of justice. A high demand for information relating to Maori statistics is the result of the publication titled Te Ao Marama. As we speak, the publication is being released by Statistics NZ in Wellington. Earlier today I spoke to Statistics NZ project manager Atawhai Tibble. We've heard Maori concerns over the lack of statistical information to strengthen their strategic plans. Statistics that are included in this booklet include Maori population; stats on the Maori language and its customs; Maori health, education and economy. There are also some data on Maori PMs as well as Maori environmental stats. We hope that this information will provide some understanding and discussion points, hence the name 'Te Ao Marama'. Can you expand on what these stats are all about? The idea of Te Ao Marama is to present some figures The idea of Te Ao Marama is to present some figures around how Maori are currently faring and its future development. This booklet has been made to fit in a person's pocket. It's for parents, students, schools and teachers to take, to discuss, to read and to analyse the stats presented in the booklet. How did this booklet come about? This project has been carefully thought out. Firstly, it's a response to the call from Maori for Maori stats. Secondly, we've researched the statistics in government departments where some think there's a lack of stats out there concerning Maori that's wrong. We've seen in our research the amount of data out there that explains aspects of our Maori world. Thirdly, we know for some people - especially those who don't like maths like me - statistics can be intimidating. But we've worked together with designers and photographers to create a booklet that's easy on the eye, and easy to read and understand. When will they be available to Maori? The booklet will be launched today and if there are some people out there who are interested, they'll also be available tomorrow. Ring us or go to our website where you'll find details on how to get one of these booklets. There are only 30 more days left until the start of the London Olympics. A NZ village has been erected to promote the country to the world. In this big city of London, the focus now is on coming together to support the NZ team who have reached the utmost in their chosen sports. The cost to the Olympics Committee is half a million dollars to erect this building to lift the spirits of those staying here. After the break, we have the weather. Oh, my throat. If your sore throat needs warming comfort, try Strepsils Warm. It has a special formulation, with proven antibacterial and a gentle warming sensation. Ah! Mm. Mm. (GIGGLES) Wrap up with Strepsils Warm. And if you can buy NZ's trusted brands, you can make sure that colds, flu and sore throats will be kept at bay so you don't lose a day. For a second day in a row, much of Otago and Southland is covered under snow and ice. Cars have been abandoned where they became stuck. There are tell-tale signs of motoring mishaps, There are tell-tale signs of motoring mishaps, forcing closures to roads and schools. Power has also been cut to more than a thousand homes. Road Safety NZ is warning everyone to take care while driving because of black ice on the roads. To the weather now. 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.