[Sigiii-l] Fwd: Maori have a new representative/support body on the Internet

[Michel J. Menou]

A lot to think about in this annoucement
Michel

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Maori have internet representative/support body
Wednesday, 5 November 2003, 10:52 am
Press Release: Aotearoa Maori Internet Organisation
http://www.amio.maori.nz

Maori have a representative/support body on the Internet

With the growing frustrations amongst Maori online developers at the
seemed disappearance of the sole Maori internet representative, this
has lead to serious questions being raised about whether or not Maori
still have a functioning representation in this arena.

The creation of a new Maori Internet group “Aotearoa Maori Internet
Organisation” by several of the former executives from the mostly
defunct NZ Maori Internet Society including Past Chairs Karaitiana
Taiuru and Bernadette Murray, and past Vice Chair Te Rangikaiwhiria
Kemara with the support of the former NZMIS kaumätua Ross Himona,
promises to be an active group for Maori and an authoritative spokes
group.

A much needed group such as this, for Maori has been in demand for a
number of months since the demise of the NZMIS and resistance by NZMIS
executive to hand its authority over, said AMIO Chairperson Karaitiana
Taiuru.

The new Aotearoa Maori Internet Organisation (AMIO) recognise the
urgent need for Maori to begin defining what the Internet is to Maori,
how are and will Maori be affected, and Maori culture and identity
impacted by this. Also it is pertinent to be able to foresee and
predict its long term impact on Maori society and identity.

The Aotearoa Maori Internet Organisation (AMIO) believe that the
migration and increased participation of Maori onto the internet and
world wide web need not be limited to being mere participants only in
the current structure and facilities available.

Rather, we believe that the internet and World Wide Web can be
fashioned and shaped to better encapsulate our culture and discourses.

The Aotearoa Maori Internet Organisation (AMIO) recognises that Maori
have a long history of resistance to the commodification of their
culture and knowledge.

We also recognise that current intellectual property laws are completely
inadequate at protecting Maori culture from commercial exploitation said
Karaitiana Taiuru.

The Aotearoa Maori Internet Organisation (AMIO) believes that modes of
communication and dissemination of information are inadequate to
encompass and promote future dynamic growth of Maori culture, values
and discourse, online.

Already in the past several weeks of establishing itself AMIO has:

1. made the only submission on behalf of Maori re the 2ld survey to  
protect
.iwi.nz and .maori.nz

2. sent a representative to a community conference to speak about
Maori IP rights and at least one delegate to the “World Summit on the
Information Society “Global Forum of Indigenous People and the
Information Society” in Geneva this December

3. Sent a delegate to the Communities Online conference in Wellington to
discuss “Lessons learnt on the Internet for Maori organisations and IP
rights.

4. Provided several free self help books from its web site including
how Iwi can protect themselves in cyber space

5. Approached for a second time a cyber squatter who has taken many
Iwi and other sensitive Maori names

6. Established a web portal for its member at http://www.amio.maori.nz
which has up to date statistics on .iwi.nz and .maori.nz .

Objectives of the Aotearoa Maori Internet Organisation include:

1/ to promote and define a strong Maori presence and entity on the  
internet.

According to early anthropologists, Maori would disappear by the
turning of the 19th century. Yet this culture of people are still
alive and well, and struggling to survive and maintain identity in a
heavily colonised and commercialised world.

With the push by western block countries for a singular consumer
culture, the internet currently presents a new and more devastating
tool of neo-colonisation and assimilation into the larger dominant
western paradigms and super-culture.

Currently the only definably Maori aspects of the internet are a small
assortment of websites, a few pieces of application software and the
<.maori.nz> second level domain name. Along with an ever growing
number of commercial products that have commodified Maori culture and
expression.

2. The Aotearoa Maori Internet Organisation (AMIO) will participate
and seek relationships with many national and International IT bodies
and actively participate in:

(a) Government submission processes on legislation

(b) Represent Maori on government consultation processes

(c) International discussions and forums that can/do impact Maori.

(d) National submissions, surveys that concern the .nz Internet space

The Aotearoa Maori Internet Organisation (AMIO) will work directly with
Maori Internet community including individuals, Iwi and Hapü and will
support any non Maori organisation that wishes to advance Maori in
Information Technology.

3/ to promote internet service creators vs/over services users and
participants.

We recognise that the majority of Maori are participators only in the
internet.

In order for the internet and World Wide Web to become more supportive
of Maori culture and identity, then there is a dire need for Maori
internet developers who can become authors and creators of web
functions and web structures more conducive to our modus operandi.

This means moving on from just web design and email list management to
web programming, application development, communications enhancements
to better suit Maori styles and values of communications.

Also advanced online community building systems that promote Maori  
culture and discourses.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =