Misgivings over the funding agency that paid for a controversial hip-hop study have deepened after claims it also funded a male strip revue at a Maori women's function.
Sources claim Christchurch-based Otautahi Maori Women's Welfare League used Community Employment Agency (CEG) money to pay for a $10,000 strip performance by revue group Kiwi Fire.
The league was given Government money for a two-day hui and awards dinner in 2001, held for "profile Maori women".
The gathering attracted about 100 women who paid $60 a head for the dinner at the Chateau on the Park hotel at which Kiwi Fire performed.
Otautahi yesterday refused to comment on whether any of the funds, earmarked to develop business opportunities for Maori women, were used to pay for the six-man revue.
CEG, which said it would have to make a formal request about the funding through the Official Information Act, was unable to rule out the spending yesterday.
In 2001, Otautahi president Aroha Reriti-Crofts described the Kiwi Fire performance as "high-class entertainment".
"They're not going to show their diddles, for God's sake," she said.
CEG figures show the agency gave more than $300,000 to the Maori Women's Welfare League in 2001.
The money was distributed among league branch offices, including Otautahi in Christchurch.
CEG said it did not believe any of its funding was used for the performance, but was "not able to provide" a copy of a grants report which would have detailed spending by the league.
The report was archived "off-site", and the agency said it would be released only if an Official Information Act request was made.
Several questionable grants have been given by CEG, including $26,000 for a hip-hop investigative tour, $7000 for an overseas trip to study gay and lesbian sports participation by Pacific people, and $15,000 for a woman to attend a macadamia nut conference in Australia.
* Associate Maori Affairs Minister Tariana Turia has again put herself offside with Labour colleagues for defending the hip-hop "investigative tour".
Mrs Turia, already at loggerheads with the Government over its foreshore and seabed policy, said in a speech on Friday it was "eminently sensible" that the origins of hip-hop were studied.
Prime Minister Helen Clark has come out strongly against the tour and ordered an inquiry into how the grant and similar ones were given out.
But Mrs Turia said hip-hop had been "unfairly maligned".
"If the media and political reaction to this decision is any indication of public attitudes and relationships towards people who are involved in hip-hop, then our community health is in a sorry state."
Clayton Cosgrove, Labour MP for Waimakariri, said Mrs Turia's comments could be seen as a challenge to Helen Clark. Her attitude was "offensive" and he was angry she had made the speech.
"It's worrying that she is so out of step."
A spokesman for Helen Clark said she had not seen Mrs Turia's speech.
- NZPA
Strip show follows hip-hop
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