18 July 2012 Coming up on Te Karere... Victoria Cross hero, Willy Apiata is leaving the NZ Army. Victoria Cross hero, Willy Apiata is leaving the NZ Army. John Key and Maori party leaders meet tonight over the water rights row. Will it heal the rift caused by the Prime Minister's stand? And Tainui providers meet with family court officials about the care of state wards. So Waikato Tainui can look out for all of our youth and kids. Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. Victoria Cross recipient Willy Apiata has announced he'll be leaving the NZ Defence Force. Minister of Defence Jonathan Coleman said Apiata had decided to pursue other ventures. Anzac Pikia has more. The Defence Minister is dismissing comments that Willie Apiata left the Defence force under controversial circumstances. The Minister wasn't able to clarify details surrounding Apiata new employment but had may great things to say about him. In 2007 Apiata was awarded the Victoria Cross from the NZ Army. In 2004 he rescues a fellow officer in Afghanistan. He is the only surviving Maori soldier that holds a Victoria Cross. The Defence Force has no details on where Apiata will be going. Anzac Pikia, Te Karere. The future of the National and Maori party coalition looks safe... For now... John Key will hold a crucial meeting with Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia over the water rights row tonight. The Waitangi Tribunal is considering the Maori council's urgent claim that Maori have special rights to fresh water and geothermal assets. But the Prime Minister has been dismissive... Saying the government may ignore the Tribunal's recommendations. For the PM to understand what iwi want and to acknowledge the value of the Treaty in our customs. That's his thoughts. Maori have benefitted from the coalition with National, we agree with that, but that's not the purpose of the meeting. We're seeking his thoughts on the Tribunal's work and the report that they'll release. The meeting is due to start at 9 o'clock tonight. Earlier today the Maori council met with the Maori Party. Co-chair Maanu Paul had agreed to speak to us about the meeting, but pulled out a couple of hours ago. Mr Paul has attacked the Maori Party leadership and said they must walk from the government. But it appears he has had a change of heart. Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples has confirmed to us that the council has apologised for its comments. He's challenged us, but has since apologised. So we're working closely together now. Erima is fine, Maanu was the only one who spoke against us. Now we're all working together. Today marks days two of the inquest into the death of Iraena Asher who went missing eight years ago. Rapaera Tawhai was at the inquest and he joins us now from our Auckland newsroom. Iraena Asher's father Michael Asher and his sister Angelique Campbell starting proceedings today. They say they cared for Iraena before she went missing. They considered ringing the police but say Iraena asked them not to. They gave her a meal, utilities to shower They considered ringing the police but say Iraena asked them not to. They gave her a meal, utilities to shower and a bed to sleep in but soon after she fled. The family made submissions in court and say she was affected by bipolar. Her disability may explain her unusual behaviour on the night. But a specialist in this area has a different opinion. It was clear to see the family heard all the details surrounding her disappearance. Her father believes the inquest has been a waste of time. The question still remains whether or not drugs played a part. It's expected that witness submission will be complete by the end of the day. Tomorrow the judge will make a ruling and present the Coroner's report. Thank you Rapaeara, that was Rapaera Tawhai from the Auckland newsroom. After the break, Tainui providers meet in Ngaruawahia with family court officials about caring for state wards. Maori customs and protocols are up against the law in the Supreme Court due to the deceased remains of James Takamore. His widow, Denise Clark, says she has authority over where his remains lie, but his wider Tuhoe family disagree. This is where James Takamore is buried in the Kutarere cemetery next to his father and the family believes this is where he should remain. Much of the legal argument centers on whether traditional Maori custom Much of the legal argument centers on whether traditional Maori custom outweighs the rights of someone in charge of a dead person's will. His wider family took his body from Christchurch against the wishes of his wife. Not happy with the family's actions, she turned to the courts, testing the right of a wife against the right of Maori custom and won. The courts ruled she could exhume her husband's body and take it back to Christchurch. Five years have passed since he was buried here, but the fight to keep him here is still very much alive. Five years have passed since he was buried here, but the fight to keep him here is still very much alive. Tini Molyneux, Te Karere. The youth court wants iwi to take over the care of children who are state wards. Judge Beecroft and Judge Henwood challenged Waikato Tainui to take the lead in the hope of stemming the tide of children who get into trouble. Praying for iwi to look after Maori kids. There are on average of 2,200 Maori kids in state care and of that amount 200 of them are Tainui. Judge Henwood is challenging the prison industry. They hope to decrease the number of Maori in prisons especially young males. The challenge has been laid in front of the iwi. I believe the iwi can do it, and should do it. We as Maori or Waikato Tainui can take care of our own youth and children. The government has the finance to take these children. Iwi are yet to establish social services to take on the challenge. Potaka Maipi, Te Karere. Joining us now is Labour Party MP Parekura Horomia. Tena koe Parekura. We're unable to provide subtitles. Parekura Horomia, thank you for joining us. After the break, he's a late addition, but decathlete Brent Newdick of Tainui will compete at the Olympics, and the weather. Brent Newdick was only notified last week about his inclusion to the Olympics as the decathlete for NZ. Despite the late notice, he says it won't affect his training. He's currently in Cardiff, Wales, preparing himself for the Games. Brent Newdick will soon be testing his skills on the world stage. He left home at the end of last month before his selection in the Olympic team was confirmed. Now he is focused and preparation is going well. He won a silver medal at the Commonwealth games in 2010. This is his first Olympic games. He says he knows his strengths and that will hopefully put him in a good position against the world's best. His sporting skills could be in the blood, he is the cousin of swimmer Hayley Palmer and they're both from Tainui. He starts his competition in three weeks. Irena Smith, Te Karere. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.NZ. Soon you might see a new edition to the pie family in cafes and petrol stations around the country. This is the company of a Maori cook whose hangi pies were launched during the Rugby World Cup last year. All it takes is one bite. They try it and well, they come back for more They try it and well, they come back for more some even buy five pies. At the moment these hangi pies are being sold at festivals. However the dream is to sell them in cafes and petrol stations throughout the country. They produce 5000 pies once a month. We're hoping to produce weekly batches. If they're introduced in BP stations and cafes then we'll be able to increase production to weekly batches. At the moment it's only monthly. The hangi in the pies is made the traditional way. It takes three cooks to bake the pies every month. The pies contain watercress, pork, kumara, stuffing, potato and all of those sorts of foods that are found in a hangi. The pie business was started last year during the Rugby World Cup and due to their popularity, the business continued. We were fortunate that all of our pies sold out. So the idea that Maori foods are produced for the general public is still ongoing. Each pie is $5, and that's cheaper than an actual hangi. Anzac Pikia, Te Karere. 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.