Te Manu Korihi News for 13 December 2013

The Maori Language Commission says a Judge's decision to stop a lawyer from speaking te reo Maori in the Waitangi Tribunal belittles the language's status; The Associate Dean of Maori in Health Sciences at Otago University, Jo Baxter, hopes a surge in enrolments by tangata whenua will make a dent in poor Maori health statistics in the future; Ngai Tahu says a memoradum of understanding between the iwi and Otago University has resulted in major progress for Maori students in diverse feilds including medicine; The Hawke's Bay Regional Council says it is proud to be partnering with local iwi to form a legislated environment committee.