WELLINGTON: A group from the Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Ministry and the Sarawak Native Court are now in New Zealand.
Beginning last Saturday, the group led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas comprising 36 people, have been tasked with studying the country’s agricultural sector and the Maori Land Court and Laws.
Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin and Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah are also in the group.
So are Datuk John Sikie Tayai (Native Law and Custom Assistant Minister), acting State Secretary Datuk Jaul Samion, his deputy Datuk Ik Pahon, Native Court president Sarawak Datu Thomas Akin, Chief Registrar Datu Michael Dawi, Deputy DUN Speaker Dato Gerawat Gala and members of parliament Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Taha and Datu Alexander Nanta Linggi.
There are also senior officers from the Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Ministry, State Finance Office, State Attorney General’s Office and Sarawak Veterinary Services Department.
On Sunday morning they visited the Maori Land Court (MLC) Office and the Waitangi Tribunal (WT) Unit at Fujitsu Tower.
On arrival they were accorded a Maori “Powhiri” (traditional) welcome which included the “Karanga” (calling by a female staff member of MLC and WT), the “Karakia” (prayer by a male staff), the “Waikorea”(welcoming speech in English by Judge Damien Stone) and then the “Hongi”(greeting).
Also meeting them were Deputy Chief Judge Caren Fox, Judicial Administrator Francis Cook and other members of the MLC and WT.
The Malaysian Ambassador to New Zealand Wong Mee Choo was also present during the visit to MLC and WT Headquarters office.
Uggah in his speech said Sarawak was in the process of transforming the Sarawak Native Court.
“We, especially our Native Court officials, are here to learn from the experiences of the MLC and WT in dealing with Maori land,” he said.
He then thanked judges, senior officials and staff for giving them the unique Maori welcome conducted in the Maori language.
Uggah in making the early part of his speech in Iban (as requested) said in jest that it was the first time that he had spoken in Iban to a group that did not understand even a word.
Later they attended a one-day briefing of the roles and responsibilities of the MLC and WT given by Caren Fox, Judge Patrick Savage, Judge Damian Stone and Francis Cook.
Today, the Sarawak Native Court officials led by Datuk Michael Manyin will leave for Gisborne to see the MLC operations including a tour of court buildings and other related programmes.
Meanwhile Uggah will lead his group to pay courtesy calls on the Minister of Primary Industries Damien O Connor and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Winston Raymond. They will then pay a visit to the Meat Industry Association.
On Wednesday, they will leave for Hamilton to visit Dairy NZ Limited Farm, the Livestock Improvement Corporation, Turners and Grower Global Limited Farm among others.
