Sorry, Garvin, I wasn't clear. The error happens in the editing panel. It simply does not update, but rather shows the error message. Here's a _complete_ version, after trying to add a speech (BUT I was just able to add a long entry that did NOT contain special Maori characters, so I bet you're right - is there a Maori language pack?)
Error:
INSERT INTO serendipity_entries (title,timestamp,body,extended,isdraft,allow_comments,moderate_comments,exflag,comments,last_modified,author,authorid) values ('FITEC Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony', '1253612348', '<p>Tēnā koutou, good evening ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for inviting me to join you for your annual awards ceremony.<br /></p>\r\n<p>Thank you, Ian Boyd for your introduction. I would also like to acknowledge FITEC Council Chairman, Grant Carruthers, the Mayor of Rotorua Kevin Winters and Kaumatua, Perenu Callaghan. </p><br />\r\n<p>We are here to recognise and applaud the achievements of tonight\'s finalists - individuals and companies who have demonstrated a commitment to the highest standards of professional development in the wood industry. </p><br />\r\n<p>I would like to offer my personal congratulations to each and every one of you. It is a privilege to be joining with your guests, your friends and family and key members of the forest and wood processing industry in celebrating your achievements.</p><br />\r\n<p>Your sector has huge potential to expand through training and education. It can deliver enormous promise in terms of growth and productivity.<br /><br />I don\'t need to convince anyone here that forestry is a crucial part of New Zealand\'s economy - and as your Minister, it is a priority for me.</p><br />\r\n<p>Today, the total planted production estate is nearly 1.8 million hectares with the private sector owning and managing forests on 93 percent of this.</p><br />\r\n<p>Annual production is over 20 million cubic metres of logs and forestry export earnings total around three and a half billion dollars per year.</p><br />\r\n<p>This contributes over three percent to our GDP and directly employs more than 20,000 people.</p><br />\r\n<p>But the sector\'s contribution to employment is even greater than this. It\'s estimated that the flow-on benefits from your sector account for around 100,000 associated jobs. </p><br />\r\n<p>For a country of just 4.2 million people, that\'s pretty impressive.</p><br />\r\n<p>The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry forecasts that over the next 15 years, a lot more wood will become available for harvesting in many regions around the country. </p><br />\r\n<p>Depending on the availability of markets, the harvest could potentially double over this time, requiring even more skilled workers.</p><br />\r\n<p>More people will be needed as timber is increasingly used in the construction of commercial buildings; they will be needed in the area of bio-fuels and bio-materials; and they will be needed as new methods are developed for harvesting trees.</p><br />\r\n<p>There\'s no end of potential for your sector.</p><br />\r\n<p>In fact, there\'s a lot more to the wood industry than most people realise; it has a huge supporting infrastructure from forestry crews and mill workers, through to scientists, technicians and engineers, and let\'s not forget office managers, dispatchers and marketing and sales people. </p><br />\r\n<p>These people must have a broad range of education and skills.</p><br />\r\n<p>Fortunately, your industry is well served with an organisation like FITEC providing leadership in the skills and training arena. The fact that so many of you are here tonight tells me that there are great levels of commitment to future-proofing a successful industry. </p><br />\r\n<p>FITEC must be getting its message across about the value of training to both employers and employees - last year\'s total number of trainees with FITEC was 11,400, of which 35 percent were Māori.</p><br />\r\n<p>This 35 percent figure is significant because of the return to Maori of large areas of forest land currently owned by Government through the Treaty of Waitangi settlement process. </p><br />\r\n<p>Māori are substantial forest and forest land owners, with potential ownership of over 250,000 hectares, about 14 percent of the national estate.</p><br />\r\n<p>So, yes, yours is an industry of opportunity. But if there\'s one challenge that seems to run across the primary sectors, it is the vexing question of how to attract more young people.</p><br />\r\n<p>The fact is, farming and forestry can be an attractive career option.</p><br />\r\n<p>Too many people think working in forestry is limited to either planting or harvesting; in truth, New Zealand\'s forest industry offers a full range of career options in science and technology, research and development, management, leadership... and the list goes on.</p><br />\r\n<p>Because our forests provide many benefits other than timber, we also need managers and operational people who are skilled in dealing with the downstream values of forests, such as water quality management, soil erosion control and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.</p><br />\r\n<p>To this end, I applaud FITEC for identifying the need to broaden training around some of these areas, and for the efforts being made to highlight the many career options available in forestry.</p><br />\r\n<p>I know you\'re keen to move on to the important part of the evening - the first awards - but before I conclude, with so many representatives of the forestry sector here, I want to briefly touch on the Emissions Trading Scheme. </p><br />\r\n<p>The Government will be taking time to consider the recommendations of the Select Committee before making any announcements. However, our preference remains an amended ETS. </p><br />\r\n<p>We will continue discussions with other political parties to find a way forward that balances our environmental responsibilities and our economic opportunities. It is our ambition to go to Copenhagen in December with the policy and legislation for our emissions trading scheme settled.</p><br />\r\n<p>One thing is for sure - forestry plays a crucial role in enabling New Zealand to meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments. Forestry will play a significant role in any future climate change policy for New Zealand.</p><br />\r\n<p>This is another good reason for having well-trained people working in forestry.</p><br />\r\n<p>I would like to finish by saying that I believe training and education are a cornerstone of your industry. It is through training and education that you will develop profitable business models and a new way of thinking.</p><br />\r\n<p>As with all industries, the current economic climate is making this difficult, but I know that you can meet this challenge with the support of organisations like FITEC and the commitment demonstrated by tonight\'s award recipients.</p><br />\r\n<p>Your determination will ensure your sector builds a skilled workforce - which in turn will build a strong and viable wood industry. </p><br />\r\n<p>Congratulations to all this evening\'s finalists - from forestry to furniture making, you represent excellence across the entire industry. Well done, and I wish you all the best.</p><br />\r\n<p>Thank you.</p>', '', 'false', 'false', 'true', '0', '0', '1253612348', 'admin', '1')
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