19 July 2012 Coming up on Te Karere... She's been missing for eight years. A coroner has ruled Iraena Asher likely drowned. But it's little comfort for her family. Closing submissions have been made to the Waitangi Tribunal's urgent hearing on the claim to halt asset sales. And Pita Sharples takes a break from the trials of political life to open Tauranga's newest Maori Language secondary school. Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. Coroner Peter Ryan has judged that Iraena Asher drowned accidently but her family say that the police must still take responsibility for their girl's death. Potaka Maipi was at the summing up and spoke to Iraenas family. A decision the Iraena Asher s family have been waiting for, for eight years. Regardless of the decision it won't bring her back. In November 2004 Iraena Asher went missing in Piha. At the time the police were criticized for the way they handled the situation. In response to her call Police sent a taxi instead of police car. The coroner says the Police must take some blame for her disappearance. The family agree. The Judge said the Police have had a chance to fix their procedures to ensure this doesn't happen again. Regardless of who's at fault, the family will never get over the pain. Although she's be taken by the ocean, her memory will always remain. Potaka Maipi, Te Karere. The Waitangi Tribunal are summarising discussions over the urgent water claims and asset sales. Court proceedings are predicted following the government recent comments. They can't create new laws to restrict Maori from claiming their right to resources. The Maori Council says the dust may have settled by there are more battles on the horizon. The last day of the hearing about water rights before the Waitangi Tribunal with the Maori Party changing their stance from objective to supportive. Let's just say that at the moment, they are going back on what they have said and I applaud it. It seems the anger has subsided compared to when the case was first dragged before the Tribunal. There's a reason why Tainui is familiar with this process. Tainui's claims settlement includes a contractual agreement to work with the Crown and the Council to revitalise the Waikato River. When the Waikato deal was struck, the question of ownership came up and has yet to be resolved. At the function, he came to speak on behalf of King Tuheitia and his people. Each hapu, each iwi has the prerogative to take their claims before the Crown. That's the truth. In the Maori Council's battles for our traditions, it seems more issues have added to the pressure. Maanu Paul believes that it's just another Government scheme to oppress Maori like when they refused to pay for the Council's deffecne lawyer Felix Guyreinger who's fee is small compared with the Crown's lawyer who charges $400 an hour. It seems to be another challenge to throw the team off. We all need to understand that the Maori Council's role. Who would be able to stand against the Maori Council? We need to support the council. Tini Molyneux, Te Karere. The Maori Party says it's pleased with the outcome of their meeting with the Prime Minister. The two sides met for two hours last night after John Key suggested the government could ignore the findings of the Waitangi Tribunal. The Maori Party co-leaders say the government has pledged it won't legislate against any court decision upholding Maori rights and interests in water. However the PM's confident the law will be on the government's side and the share float in Mighty River Power will go ahead in September. However the PM's confident the law will be on the government's side and the share float in Mighty River Power will go ahead in September. Maori council co-chair Maanu Paul has been highly critical of the Maori Party and its support of the government. The two sides met yesterday afternoon and after the meeting Pita Sharples told Te Karere the council had apologised for its comments. But earlier today Maanu Paul told us a different story. There was a meeting between you and Pita Sharples yesterday I'll say this; I did not apologise. We talked about a possible coalition between the Minister of Maori Affairs and the Maori Council and he's agreed to meet again with us next month. We requested that we meet every two months. Are you worried about the case summary today? Our lawyer is doing a great job. I thank him because he did not sleep out of anger at the injustices of the Ministry when they refused to pay for the proceedings. Despite that, he continued to fight. From what I heard, he was there every step of the way defending us against the Crown. So I thank him. Do you believe John Key when he says that his relationship with the Maori Party remains strong but that he won't legislate the rights of the Tribunal? We need to believe that statement because what the PM says goes. He says that he does not wish to use the law to condemn us so the Maori Council will believe in that. We understand that if he fails, it's his loss. The Asset Sale will go ahead in September do you object? Put it this way if you compare this horse with that horse and its jockey, the jockey at the time will give us an indication on how to handle the matter. Right now, the horse is Mighty River Power and his jockey. We need to tie that horse up so that it can't make off with our Maori assets. That was Maanu Paul from the Maori Council. For more on these issues and his own particular view, Mana Party leader Hone Harawira joins me now. Hone, tena koe. We're unable to provide subtitles. Hone Harawira, thank you for joining us. After the break, A new total immersion Maori language school, Te Wharekura-o-Mauao, opens in Tauranga and an Otara primary school launches 'Kids Kai time', providing breakfast for children in schools. At OPSM, we use precision technology to look deep in the eye, helping us better detect eye disease such as glaucoma ` just one of the ways we look deeper. Talk to OPSM about an eye-health check-up today. BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEPING INCREASES Could I have a price check on TENA bladder weakness liners, register 7? Well, it's just a slight weakening of the pelvic muscles. It's no big deal. One in three women have it, so one of them probably has it. I'm fine with it. Do you have a loyalty card? It's no big deal with TENA. Te Whanau-a-Apanui has lodged another legal bid with the court of appeal, to stop the deep-water search for oil. The iwi and Greenpeace are appealing the ruling that the crown did not have to consider environmental obligations when a five-year permit was issued for the Raukumara basin. They're also challenging the finding that the crown did not breach its Treaty of Waitangi obligations including proper consultation with the tribe. Pita Sharples took a break from the political turmoil of Wellington, to open Tauranga's newest Maori language secondary school today. Te Wharekura o Mauao will be guided by the language and culture of its local tribes. Ngahuia Wade was there. These are the students at Tauranga's newest Maori secondary school. I salute all of you who have come to honour our school. Te Wharekura o Mauao on this special day. Opened by the Minister... It's great this school has been opened in this area. But not everyone in this affluent community was happy. There was much controversy over the establishment of this school but we got there. There was huge opposition but today is another day. There was huge opposition but today is another day. It's envisaged these elders will guide what is taught at the school. We will gather research about our Marae, our mountains, our rivers and our communities guided by our elders who will teach is. Teachers say there are currently 120 students enrolled and that this is expected to increase. Ngahuia Wade, Te Karere. A pilot programme to help feed children in the Auckland region was launched today. The programme is called 'Kids Kai Time' and isn't just giving kids breakfast but lunch as well. Anzac Pikia was at Sir Edmond Hillary School for the launch today. 80% of kids here are Pacific Island and 20% are Maori. Most of them come to school hungry. 80% of kids here are Pacific Island and 20% are Maori. Most of them come to school hungry. They're not only getting breakfast but lunch is also part of the Kids Kaitime Programme. This is the first school in Auckland to jump on board this programme. Lots of companies like BNZ Bank, Just Water and Hubbards are feeding these children today. McArthur hopes other companies will help with sponsorship so that the programme can be taken to other schools throughout NZ. Anzac Pikia, Te Karere. After the break, the weather. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.NZ. That's all we have for today. Turou Hawaiki. Captions were made possible with funding from NZ on Air. Copyright TVNZ Access Services 2012.