Coming up on Te Karere Today marks one year since the passing of New Zealand soldier Kane te Tai over in Ukraine. ASB Polyfest, The world's largest Māori and Pacific cultural festival kicked off today. Tāwhiri and Kaa Williams receiving an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Auckland today. 20 March 2024 Tēnā koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. When New Zealand fighter Kane te Tai went to Ukraine he knew he might not come home. He was the third Kiwi killed in the conflict since it began. Today marks one year anniversary since his death. And while his body was returned it cannot make up for the loss that his family deals with every day. Right up until the very end... ...Māori soldier Kane Te Tai was fighting on the front line. It was cold, it was dangerous, and it was relentlessly hard. And it was a long, long way from home. His plan was just one last mission. Before returning home, to here, Ahipara, paradise in the Far North. Today marks one year since Ngaire and Keith's boy died. Kane was Ngaire's first born. And by the time he was 17, a drive and determination to help others. His decision to leave a steady job and life in New Zealand and go to war in Ukraine in early 2022 was no surprise. But it was a difficult decision for his parents to accept. But the letters and updates and the videos were reassuring. Until the worst news arrived. This week, another first, the unveiling of Kane's headstone. Kane had left the New Zealand armed forces by the time he went to Ukraine. Ngaire wants people to know, Kane went for the right reasons. That it was always for the right reasons. Taroi Black, Te Karere. Te Pati Māori's members bill is set to go through the house this afternoon for its first reading The bill proposes to remove GST from all kai, this was a Kaupapa the party campaigned strongly on over the General Election. For more lets cross live to our political reporter Te Okiwa McLean standing by live outside parliament Te Okiwa, how will this bill help low-income whanau? What an important piece of legislation designed to assist whānau who are struggling. The whānau who live off of yearly incomes from around 30,000 ― 40,000 dollars. This legislation is for them. Te Pāti Māori says the amount of income received from the government through this is around 3 to 4 billion dollars. Regardless, this issue is still being investigated and debated at this very moment at Parliament behind me Scotty. So, I went out and asked the parties around the house about this issue. This is what they had to say. Wow my friend, ACT, Greens, Labour and NZ First, all of them say they oppose the bill and they are going to oppose it. So, how will the bill fare if there aren't parties in support of it? What does Te Pāti Māori say about the almost universal opposition to the bill? Te Pāti Māori said to me earlier that this isn't an opposition to the strategic plan of theirs which seeks to remove GST from food. Instead, this is about opposing the removal of poverty from Aotearoa. Primarily, says Rawiri Waititi, Australia, Canada and other countries have already removed taxes on food as a means to assure and assuage any concerns whānau in their countries may have. Here's what Waititi said before. The House will announce whether or not the opposition supports this bill soon. We know that perhaps the Government won't support it when it comes to being political. However, we'll find out. Whether the Greens support us, that'd be great. If Labour does too, that's also awesome. But the people will see soon enough whether or not they support the removal of poverty in Aotearoa. We've heard what politicians have had to say, so have you spoken to any whānau about their thoughts on this bill? I've spoken to some whānau who are on a yearly income of about 30,000 ― 40,000 dollars. If this bill is enacted into legislation it would mean there would be more money left over. I also reached out to other whānau who are well off and they say that prices have gone up weekly and they are paying twice what they used to be at the supermarkets. They say the weekly shop has gone up from 650 dollars to 1100 dollars. So that increase is almost double what whānau are paying however it is important Scotty that it's not just poorer whānau feeling the pinch of high prices in Aotearoa but it's also more well off whānau as well. Here's Rawiri Waititi again explaining how much money whānau would save per week. Whānau would be able to hold onto their money, approximately up to seven week's worth for what they would put in their trolleys. That's it. Food is very expensive. It's expensive living here. This is a policy that is being debated currently at the moment. Despite parties around the house opposing it, Te Pāti Māori said they would continue to advocate for this bill moving forward. Furthermore in the next two hours Grant Robertson, long standing Labour MP, will give his final address. His career spanning 25 years as a politician, including his time as Finance Minister. No doubt he will touch on the high and low lights in his final address at Parliament. Furthermore, Te Okiwa, Grant Robertson leaves Parliament and will be headed to Otago University. So Rawiri's bill is unlikely to succeed. But who knows right? You might be able to tell us about the fate of that bill later on in the week. Thank you so much Te Okiwa for that excellent update. Thank you. Freyberg High School has released a statement regarding the haka that was performed to Associate Education Minister David Seymour last Thursday. Principal Graeme Williams says that the school are using the events of last Thursday as a learning opportunity, the statement also goes on to say that no students have been stood down or suspended as a result of the haka. It also follows a petition led by Dr Hinemoa Elder and Ria Hall that gained thousands of signatures in support of the students' actions. ASB Polyfest, the world's largest Māori and Pacific cultural festival kicked off today in Manukau, with a record 8,000 students taking part across six stages. The theme of this year's event focuses on looking back into the past to determine the future, as the event looks to celebrate 50 years of competition in 2025. Ethan Oneroa reports. A chilly start to the morning with things quickly heating up. I've come to uplift and retain the life force of the event. Since the time of the late Maori Queen to today for Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII. Ngā Puna o Waiōrea leading the pōwhiri with support from mana whenua. An initiative unique to the Māori stage where students can also excel academically. Sixty nine groups from across Auckland have entered into the comps, 56 groups will stand on the Māori stage from tomorrow right through to Saturday. And with the 50th anniversary coming up, organisers are looking to broaden their horizons. So that the festival blossoms in the many years ahead. Ethan Oneroa, Te Karere. After the break, Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono joins us live to discuss the latest in politics. Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono joins us live to discuss the latest in the house. Teanau thank you for joining us on the show today. Tēnā koe, otirā, tēnā koutou katoa. What a great hat you're wearing today my friend. So stylish. Why thank you. You're welcome. I salute you. There are lot of issues for us to discuss today. First off, the Green Party co-leaders announced an investigation would be taking place after Green MP Darleen Tana was accused of migrant exploitation. Not the best start to the new year for the Green Party, what's it going to take to correct course? You're right. We're at the start of the year and we've had a lot of issues. When it comes to my relation Darleen, we've established a process and once that process has been completed we will know what needs to happen to move forward. But that's all I'll say on that to support the process that is underway for her. However, you're right, our man Fa'anana Efeso Collins' death all the way up to these recent weeks you are quite right to say that we've had trouble. Nevertheless we are eager and we are a strong party. So, despite the high and low lights we continue on. You'll need to gather yourselves and say karakia to ensure you make it through this. That's probably the path to pursue. My friend... ...amen men... Māori Party MP Rawiri Waititi was looking for support from other MPs for his GST off kai bill. Does the Green Party support it? I heard Chloe Swarbrick saying that you wouldn't support it. What are your thoughts? I am happy that his bill come out of the biscuit tin. But for us as the Green Party the pathway forward to assist those in poverty is actually through a wealth tax which we've strongly advocated for throughout election year. The capital gains tax was also another part of it and by implementing that we'd be able to give money straight into people's pockets. As we counted the money and funding if we were to remove GST from food we found we wouldn't be able to tell if that money would actually make it's way to people's pockets or the bank accounts of supermarkets. So based on that we don't support the bill. This week was Chloe Swarbrick's first appearance in the house as co-leader of the Green Party. How is she taking on the role so far, in your personal assessment? She's doing so well I think so. She's been able to question the Prime Minister and that was great. Her first public appearance was when we went to Tuurangawaewae to speak together with the Kiingitanga. That was her first public engagement. She's had a good start, yeah. We're happy. I heard from my Tainui relations that the King was impressed with her and her intelligence so those are all good signs. Thank you Teanau and your hat today. Te Karere thanks you so much. Tēnā koe, otirā, tēnā koutou katoa. Two stalwarts of te reo Māori have been honoured again. Tāwhiri and Kaa Williams receiving an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Auckland today, for their contributions and efforts towards the language. Kruze Tangira has more. As the saying goes “to hold leadership, one must embody the qualities of leadership.” And these two do exactly that. This is amazing. We have reached this level and these prestigious degrees. After 60 years of service the University of Auckland is awarding Tāwhirimātea and his wife Kaa Williams honourary doctorates. For me the language is different. We've lost the language of the past. It's tough to regain that but we've accomplished a lot and a lot of strong students have emerged from our teachings. Their students and staff from Te Wānanga o Takiura shared in their special day. University leader Geremy Hema says these honourary doctorates are well deserved. An important day to grant these degrees, similar to a dame or knighthood and to award them to these two. Five years after the te reo petition the Williams were in charge of Ruatoki school, the first to become bilingual in the country. Both receiving first class honours here at the university 24 years ago with a Masters. Last year these love birds both held each other as they were made companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit. The main thing, to see our kids speak and enjoy the language. A challenge for us all to continue to revitalise Te Reo Māori. Kruze Tangira, Te Karere. After the break we have the weather. After the break we have 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 Te Māngai Pāho. Copyright TVNZ 2024.