'HIKOI - Inside Out' Wednesday 21st July @ 9.30pmon TV1.

BILLING In this programme we join two young women as they journey to Parliament with the Hikoi. Te Whenua Harawira (25),of Te Rarawa/Te Aupouri/Ngapuhi lives in the Hokianga, and has been involved in indigenous youth work for many years. She started her journey April 22nd at Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) ­ on a two week hikoi to Wellington, heading south through the central North Island.

"I think out of all my family members I've been the one that's been groomed to take on Mum and Dad's role...there's an expectation for me to be on it but what has motivated me is I feel the same as hundreds of thousands of other people out there and I don't agree with what's happening"

Tere Harrison (30), of Ngati Porou/Ngati Kahungunu is a journalist based in Rotorua. She was asked by her people to help organise the Kahungunu hikoi, particularly the logistics for its arrival into Wellington. Tere¹s journey began in Mahia on May 3rd and travelled through Wairoa, Napier, Waipukarau, Masterton and through to Wellington.

"No Mauitenei whenua. Ka riro te whenua, ka riro toku mana...If I lose my land, I lose my place in this land. . . then I lose myself."

We see behind the scenes ­ the early morning rises, the preparations and planning, the convoys, hikoi and rallies in towns as they pass through. We experience the hikoi from their perspectives.

In addition to following these two journeys we provide information inserts where we explore just some of the issues at the heart of this debate.

We look at the legislation, background history to the debate, Waitangi Tribunal findings, Human Rights and Due Process issues, and the predicted outcomes of the legislation.

These inserts feature Interviews with: Dr Michael Cullen - Moana Jackson Annette Sykes - Grant Powell - lawyer representing Te Tau Iwi in the Marlborough Sounds Case John McEnteer - Hauraki Treaty Claims Manager

MEDIA RELEASE Who owns the foreshore and seabed? This question has been hotly debated since a June 2003 Court of Appeal decision said that the Maori Land Courthad jurisdiction, to determine whether or not the foreshore and seabed in the Marlborough Sounds was Maori customary land.

Fearing that any Maori ownership of the foreshore and seabed would not be acceptable to the majority of New Zealanders, the government acted swiftly to prevent such an outcome. Just days after the court of appeal decision, the government announced that it would legislate to secure crown ownership of all areas of the foreshore and seabed not already under private title.

In consultation hui around the country, the government's policy was unanimously rejected by Maori and the Waitangi Tribunal, citing breaches of the Treaty and they urged the government to undertake a longer conversation with Maori to resolve the issue.

However, the government forged ahead with drafting legislation. In late 2003 Ngati Kahungunu began discussing protest action in the form of a hikoi. By April 2004 other Iwi had committed support. The result was the largest unified mobilisation of Maori in history. Police estimates are that 80 000 people participated in the hikoi over its entirety.

ENDS

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