New Zealand buries Maori queen, celebrates new king  Monday Aug 21, 2006 Report by M Sonny Mercan for SNTC WELLINGTON. Aotearoa (New Zealand) -- On Monday tens of thousands of Maori gathered to bury the Maori Queen. Her successor and new Maori King is her son Tuheitia Paki. Britain's Queen Elizabeth sent her condolences as well as her son Britain's Prince Charles and New Zealand's titular head of state. People from all races and various political leaders attended. She died at age 75 from kidney failure. Before the crowning of the new king the crowd was asked if he should be crowned and everyone responded with yes.

Prince Charles Sends Greeting to the Maori Queen  Tuesday May 23, 2006 Report by M Sonny Mercan for SNTC TURANGAWAEWAE MARAE. Aotearoa (New Zealand) -- It is the 40th anniversary of the coronation of the Maori Queen, Dame Te Arikinui Atairangikaahu. Celebrations to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the coronation of the 74 year old Maori Queen were on from 17th of this month till the 22nd when she delivered her address. In her address she spoke in both English and Maori. Dignitaries include the King of Tonga, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, Prime Minister Helen Clark, the paramount chief of Rarotonga, Pa Tepaeru Marie Ariki, and royalty from Samoa and Hawaii attended Maori leaders from throughout the country are also attended. Prince Charles wore a special feathered cloak, korowai, during his address: "Te Arikinui, congratulations. The 40 years of the leadership, courage and stability you have so far given to the people of Aotearoa New Zealand and indeed to the wider world ... is an immeasurable treasure. Kia ora."

In New Zealand/Aotearoa in Wanganui a new movie is made, it's about the Maori  and it caused concerns with the Maori , New Zealand Native Nation, because it is touching on things sacred to the Maori  that are not supposed to be used in entertainment movies.

The Waitangi Day celebrations mark the day when the Waitangi Treaty was signed between the English who occupied Aotearoa/New Zealand and the Maori Natives on Feb. 6. 1840. Unlike in Australia where the National Day marks the  first day the English colonized Australia and the Aboriginals call "Invasion Day".

Dr. Paul Moon a treaty academic at Auckland commented that the National Day of Aotearoa/New Zealand the Waitanigi  Day is no more than a parade of politics and protests. Te Tai Tokerau Member of Parliament said that Dr. Paul Moon's comments about the Waitangi Day celebrations were misplaced and arrogant. Activist Hone Harawira said that Dr Moon's comments were unfounded and ignorant. Activist Hone Harawira said that it's not a day of protest but a day of reflecting the Aotearo/New Zealand's history.

Didymo Invasive Algae Spreading

Environment Centerbury regional waterway experts say their rivers may look like open sewers if the algae takes. Biosecurity New Zealand says it is impossible to contain the  invasive algae from spreading to other waterways. The invasive algae has been found spreading in Arkansas, Montana, South Dakota in the US , in British Columbia in Canada, in Poland and now New Zealand.